Voyage issue 1

Voyage broaden your horizons

Get On

Board!

From Scandinavia to Switzerland in search of the white stuff

GOING UNDERGROUND Digging deeper to unearth Europe’s secret hotspots

Relax

The ultimate guide to Lanzarote

...And

Win!

with Liverpool ONE and Formby Hall

Plus: Christmas in Liverpool / Latest news from Liverpool John Lennon Airport / The bloggers’ guide to Berlin / Gifts to give this season / The best festive winter breaks

Oct - Dec 2013 issue 1

Free

Contents 4-5 6

Win a Revival Spa Break for 2 with Formby Hall Golf Resort

11-13

41-43

Christmas Markets

48-53

The bloggers’ guide

54-55

Food Miles

56-57

Airport Guide How to navigate around the terminal

58-59

The word on the street about street food

23

Me and My Holidays Comedian, actor and celebrity chef Les Dennis picks out his favourites

Insiders takes us around Berlin

20-21

Our Guide To...Lanzarote When winter sun beckons

Our guide on where to find the finest festive stalls

14-17

Liverpool’s finest How the city comes alive in winter

Airport News All the latest from Liverpool John Lennon Airport

Winter Warmers What to wear when the temperature drops. Plus the best gadgets too

Welcome Editor’s letter and contact details

7-9

36-37

Our Destinations Where to fly to from Liverpool John Lennon Airport

Know before you go Your questions answered

24-27

Going Underground

24

Finding Europe’s subterranean hotspots

28-35

Ten of the Best Our guide to the finest winter sports resorts

48

41

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03

TAKE OFF TO

FORMBY HALL this

......................................................................................

Fabulous CHRISTMAS PARTY NIGHTS from £29.95

We have the venue, we have the superb

FLOOR-FILLER CHRISTMAS PARTY NIGHT at £29.95

food, we have the entertainment and we

7.30pm prompt. 3 course Set Menu, D.J. and Disco till 1am.

have the atmosphere. All you need is to

FESTIVE CHRISTMAS PARTY NIGHT at £39.95

turn up to these ever popular events and

Welcome drink. 4 course Choice Menu, D.J. and Disco till 1am.

dance the night away with your friends

INCLUSIVE CHRISTMAS PARTY NIGHT from £75.00

and colleagues to celebrate the season in festive style.

Including an overnight stay in a luxurious standard room and full English breakfast.

......................................................................................

Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa, Southport Old Road, Formby, Merseyside L37 0AB

Visit www.formbyhallgolfresort.co.uk or call 01704 875 699 for more details

.....................................................................................

Revival SPA VOUCHERS FROM £39*

Revival SPA DAY

Enjoy a little me time with your Autumn Revival Spa Day voucher.

Revival

SPA BREAK FOR TWO

The Spa at Formby Hall offers a sumptuous oasis of

Relax and revive with a Salt & Oil Scrub or Essential Tension Massage

peace and tranquillity.

(25 minutes) then experience the Pro-Serum Facial (25 minutes).

Your Autumn Revival Spa Break voucher entitles you to one nights REVIVAL SPA DAY VOUCHER INCLUDES:

GIVE THE GIFT OF LUXURY THIS CHRISTMAS The Spa at Formby Hall offers a sumptuous oasis

Either a Salt & Oil Scrub or Essential Tension Massage (25 minutes) • Followed by a Pro-Serum Facial (25 minutes) • Half day access to the Spa Facilities • PLUS a £15 voucher towards product purchased on the day If you are feeling peckish, you can add lunch in The Spa Bistro for only £6 per person.

of peace and tranquility, set in 200 acres of

accommodation in a standard room with breakfast, 2 course dinner and two 25 minute spa treatments. On top of this we are also including 2 for 1 cocktails and a £30 ESPA gift card.

YOUR REVIVAL SPA BREAK FOR TWO INCLUDES: One nights accommodation in a luxurious standard room.

• Full English or Continental breakfast • Two Course Dinner in L|ThirtySeven • A choice of either a Salt & Oil Scrub or Essential Tension Massage (25 Minutes) • Followed by our NEW Pro-Serum Facial (25 minutes) • Half Day complimentary access to the Spa Facilities • One £30 ESPA Gift Card** • 2 for 1 cocktail hour from 6pm

stunning parkland. Our luxurious Revival Spa Days and Spa Breaks are the perfect gift ideas to give the loved ones in your life a little luxury and me-time this Christmas.

We look forward to welcoming you at Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa This voucher needs to be pre-booked. Please visit www.formbyhallgolfresort.co.uk or call 01704 875 699.

Voucher:

Expires:

31st March 2014

We look forward to welcoming you at Formby Hall Golf Resort and Spa This voucher needs to be pre-booked. Please visit www.formbyhallgolfresort.co.uk or call 01704 875 699.

Voucher:

Expires:

31st March 2014

.....................................................................................

FANCY SOMETHING LUXURIOUS TO LOOK FORWARD TO AFTER CHRISTMAS

Win a Revival Spa Break for 2 Voyage Magazine has teamed up with

Your prize is as follows:

Formby Hall to offer one lucky winner and a

• One nights accommodation in a luxurious

guest a luxurious Revival Spa Break,

Deluxe room

including champagne in your room on

• Champagne in your room on arrival

arrival and an upgrade to one of our

• Full English or Continental breakfast

luxurious deluxe rooms.

• Two Course Dinner in L|ThirtySeven • A choice of either a Salt & Oil Scrub or Essential Tension Massage (25 mins) • Followed by our Pro-Serum Facial (25 mins) • Half day complimentary access to the Spa facilities (Normally worth £40) • One £30 ESPA Gift Card • 2 for 1 cocktail hour from 6pm

To be entered into the draw, simply email the answer to the following question to formbyhall@voyageliverpool.com with your name and contact phone number:

How many acres of stunning parkland is Formby Hall set in? .....................................................................................

Closing date December 31st. *Terms and conditions apply. Subject to availability. Prize valid on midweek dates only. Friday, Saturday and Sunday supplements apply at £50 per night per room. Supplements also apply between the 23rd and 31st December 2013. Valid to book from the 1st October till 31st March 2014. Not valid Wed 12th - Sun 16th February 2014.

Hello!

How do you like your winter?

Getting warm on the beach of a sun-kissed island, or warmed by the mulled wine in a snow-dusted old town square? Then again, there’s the warmth you get after you’ve completed a challenging downhill on an Alpine mountain. Or that warm, fuzzy feeling you get Christmas shopping with loved ones along the illuminated streets of a Scandinavian capital. When you think about it, winter’s got something of a bad rap, hasn’t it? How many other seasons offer so many ways to escape the everyday? Welcome to Voyage, a new magazine that promises to put the fun back in your travel - wherever you’re headed. Enjoy, Dave

Editor: David Lloyd

The Team Aurora Media Ltd T/A Archetype Church House,1 Hanover St Liverpool, L1 3DW Tel: 0151 707 7708 www.archetypestudio.co.uk Mo Maghazachi - Account Director mo@voyageliverpool.com David Lloyd - Editor david@voyageliverpool.com Jane Hunt - Sales & Marketing Director jane@voyageliverpool.com Rogelio Narito / Becky Jones - Designers design@voyageliverpool.com Liverpool John Lennon Airport Alison MacDonald Natalie Verdin Chris Scott Voyage Magazine is published by Aurora Media Ltd T/A Archetype on behalf of Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

The contents of this magazine are fully protected by copyright and nothing can be reprinted or reproduced without the express permission of the publishers and Liverpool John Lennon Airport. All the content is correct at the time of going to press. The publisher does not accept liability for any content used by advertisers in this edition.

Printed by Team Impression

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Voyage

Arrivals

News from Liverpool John Lennon Airport and beyond

IT WAS 80 YEARS AGO TODAY... ...well, almost. This Summer saw Liverpool John Lennon Airport reach a very special milestone: as it celebrated its 80th anniversary.

astrology, 8 is the strongest number.

So let’s have a good year to start an amazing journey into the magical and mysterious future!”

“When the Airport first opened, flying used to be accessible for a privileged few,” says Liverpool John Lennon Airport’s Robin Tudor.

As part of the 80th birthday celebrations, the Airport has put together a photographic exhibition which has gone on display in the terminal building featuring various milestone events and activities to enable passengers to see for themselves, the changing face of the airport over the years.

“Today, following the advent of the low cost airlines, air travel is now affordable for far more people.

At Liverpool we have witnessed this change for ourselves having been at the forefront of low cost airline related travel since the late 1990s.”

The Airport also received a special birthday message from Yoko Ono which read: “As you probably know, this year, I am having my 80th birthday too. In Chinese

Many of the photographs have kindly been provided by airport support group, The Friends of Liverpool Airport (FoLA).

An Island in Winter Cyprus: full of eastern promise, any time of the year.

Cyprus is a tonic, whatever season you visit. So, with Liverpool John Lennon Airport’s new year-round route to Larnaca, you can try a touch of warming winter sun, or plan for a reviving week or two’s eastern Mediterranean heat next summer.

The new easyJet route offers twice-weekly flights (Tuesdays and Saturdays) to Larnaca, starting on November 2 with fares from £30.99 one way.

Fly easyJet to Larnaca from November

Enjoy a sense of place Why Liverpool is always ready for its close-up.

Liverpool’s not like any other city. We all know that.

That’s why Liverpool John Lennon Airport’s new Sense of Place project is aiming to bring that unique Liverpoolness into the airport’s environment.

Popping up throughout your journey, you’ll spot super-sized images of the city.

“After passing through security in departures the first thing you will see is our Spirit of Liverpool tunnel,” says the airport’s Christopher Scott. “This shows off some of the uniqueness of our city with some fantastic images. We’ve a lot of great attractions to show off in Liverpool. Our aim is to bring some of that magic into the airport, to make sure people know they’re in a very special city.”

Aspire to Greatness Business or pleasure, there’s only one way to get your journey off to a great start.

Wherever you’re reading your free copy of Voyage, chances are you’ll enjoy it all the more at our Aspire Lounge. Pre book for discounted rates (just £17.49) or walk up and pay £19.99 and you can relax in comfort, enjoy complimentary premium drinks, hot and cold snacks, free wi-fi and complimentary newspapers.

Doesn’t that sound like the way all holidays should start?

Book online at: www.liverpoolairport.com/premiumlounge Issue 1

07

Arrivals Welcome to the very first edition of Voyage, our brand new Airport magazine!

I am pleased to report that staff at the Airport strive to continually improve the passenger experience and Voyage forms a big part of that.

Producing a magazine that people want to pick up and can enjoy during their time at the Airport was something we have been eager to do for a while and Voyage is the result of all that hard work.

We believe it has been worth the wait. Voyage is full of great travel advice, destination reviews and the

latest news about the Airport. And whilst the summer is already starting to become a distant memory, inside this issue are lots of wonderful and different holiday options to tempt you to book a flight and take a break from those cold Winter mornings and darker nights.

Whether that be to somewhere warmer or where the snow doesn’t turn to slush quite as quickly as it does back at home!

As well as our new magazine, we are excited for further developments ahead to the airport terminal itself, in particular those in and around the Arrivals area as we try to incorporate the uniqueness of Liverpool into the Airport.

There is a lot to be excited about at the Airport as we move toward the end of the year and look forward to 2014. This magazine is just the start ... so enjoy the Voyage.

We look forward to seeing you at the Airport soon.

Matt Thomas CEO Liverpool John Lennon Airport.

Executive Travel N/W Ltd

Airport Transfer Specialists

Executive Travel was established more than 30 years ago and has developed into one of the most reliable and respected transfer specialists for customers across the North West.

We specialise in transfers to and from Liverpool Airport for both individuals and groups, and are well known for our courteous and professional service at affordable prices.

All debit and credit cards are accepted without surcharge.

We welcome enquiries from corporate account customers.

Contact us via the booking line on 44 (0) 151 495 2552 www.executivetravelnw.co.uk

With Watch Commander Kevin Hanrahan, a member of the airport’s firefighting team

Our main concern is the runway.

We’re an airport fire service so we’re there to cover incidents from air traffic and passengers. Our response time is calculated from the time of call to the first appliance applying media water, foam-onto a fire. This must be done within 3 minutes.

“You find out your limits and push past them it’s as mental a challenge as it is physical” The 3 minute rule means that we’re basically stuck together within the fire station most of the time. It becomes like a family and you get to know habits, be they good or annoying! But when you’re working as a team it’s It starts as soon as you arrive at the all about bonding, you’re relying on airport because we have to respond the person next to you. If an incident took place it would take 100% from to any incident within three minutes so there’s no time to switch off. everyone to get through it. When it all There’s no reason why the alarms hits the fan it all comes together but couldn’t go off when someone enters that doesn’t mean we don’t spend all Christmas Leaf Space_Layout 12:20thePage in theRLPO middle of the changeover. 1 19/09/2013 day taking mick1out of each other!

My job as a firefighter affords me an unusual lifestyle. In 31 years, no two days have ever been the same. At a moment’s notice you can go from standing still to 100 mph.

To stay sharp we carry out training exercises at the simulator, on a 767 aircraft. Everything is carried out as if it was a major incident. It’s as close to the real thing as we can get, though obviously the real thing isn’t as close to simulation as we’d like it to be!

You find out your limits and push past them - it’s as mental a challenge as it is physical - carrying on when your arms are burning from exhaustion, that’s mental strength. But it’s also important that you don’t try and be a hero because if you were to go down inside a fire, someone has to then go in to save you and you’re putting your team at risk.

We then will have a debrief and any criticisms are raised simply to make sure we do it better the next time.

It’s positive, sometimes heated, but it’s an argubate. We don’t have arguments, we have argubates!

Kevin Hanrahan has been a firefighter at Liverpool John Lennon Airport for 31 years and was part of its own inaugural fire service back in 1982.

Winter Wonderland Saturday 14 & Friday 20 December 7.30pm

Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra

THE SPIRIT of CHRISTMAS

The Spirit of Christmas

Tuesday 17 / Thursday 19 / Saturday 21 / Sunday 22 / Monday 23 December 7.30pm Family Concert

Rudolph on Hope Street Friday 20 December 4.15pm Saturday 21 & Sunday 22 December 11.30am & 2.30pm

Mancini Magic & Hollywood Greats

Monday 30 December 7.30pm

A Hollywood New Year’s Eve Tuesday 31 December 7.30pm

Liverpool Philharmonic Hall Box Office 0151 709 3789 liverpoolphil.com

Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl Film with Live Orchestra Friday 3 January 7.30pm & Saturday 4 January 2.30pm

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Liverpool

24 hours in the company of the 24th letter of the alphabet.

Exhaustive debate, exquisite ideas, exhilarating performances.

November 20-21

www.liverpoolx.com

Top Five: Cities with Christmas Cheer

Want to head away for a winter wonderland of a city break? Combine Europe’s best Christmas markets with a touch of mid-winter sightseeing, and you’ve got the perfect start to a very special festive season...

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Cork Ireland Fly with: Ryanair

This year, A Cork Christmas Celebration promises the city’s biggest-ever Christmas fair, with a Victorian fairground, Alpine-style Gluhwein Bar and an outdoor stage featuring local choirs and musicians performing every weekend on the run up to Christmas.

Expect the best Irish and European artisan food producers, a variety of arts and crafts - from

Connemara marble to fine glassware, handmade chocolates to traditional decorations - along the city’s Grand Parade.

Cork is a likeable city, with plenty to keep you busy for a winter break.

It’s a place well known for its independent spirit, its vibrant arts and culture scene, and its culinary core: Cork’s restaurants are among the country’s finest. The best of the

city’s sightseeing options is the strident Crawford Art Gallery, while its centre, ring fenced by the River Lee, is awash with grand Georgian parades, intriguing 17th Century alleyways, and alwayshospitable bars. Want to escape the cold? North and south of St Patrick’s Street is a lattice of tiny lanes bursting with pubs, cafes, restaurants and galleries.

Krakow Poland Fly with: Ryanair & easyJet

In any league table of ‘most attractive East European cities’, Krakow would always feature somewhere in the upper reaches. That the city survived the Second World War more-or-less intact goes some way to explaining why its assembly of historic buildings and monuments are ranked by UNESCO as one of the world’s top 12 historic gems.

The old town, Stare Miasto, centres on the perfect geometry of the Rynek Glowny, the town square. From here, the town’s colourful Christmas market stalls fan out, jostling for your attention beneath a roll-call of Renaissance and Gothic facades. Take a seat in one of the square’s delightful cafes and see if you can count all the gargoyles before you’ve finished your mulled wine. You’ll appreciate Poland’s keen prices - even the swanky stores along the ul Florianska offer good value.

Despite the grandeur and the gargoyles, Krakow’s a youthful place - its popular university sees to that, and a Christmas weekend break effortlessly allows you to combine world-class sightseeing and cultural, thrilling nights out in the city’s ebullient restaurants and bars.

Poznan Poland

Copenhagen

Denmark

Fly with: Norwegian

Fly with: Ryanair

You’d find it hard to believe that around 60 per cent of Poznan’s old town was flattened during WWII, so meticulously was it rebuilt in the 1950s, complete with Baroque and Renaissance flourishes, gilt statues and splashing fountains. It’s here where the town’s excellent Christmas market sets up its 100-plus stalls, selling fine ceramics, candles, woollens and excellent Polish-made produce (honey, moist Christmas cakes, spicy punch and gingerbread). Look for the Nativity scene, “The Pozna Bethleyem”, the ice sculptures, and the wooden chalet-style bars serving warming mulled wine. Poznan is the perfect winter city - snow is almost guaranteed it’s walkable, full of tempting cafes and bars, and, with its keen prices, great for stocking up on last minute gifts.

Bratislava Slovakia Fly with: Ryanair

Located on the handsome Main Square, Bratislava Market’s opening signals the start of the holiday season for residents and day-tripping Slovakians.

They come for handmade folk products, the traditional delicacies (try the cigánska pecienka, roasted pork or chicken in a bun topped with grilled onion and mustard, or the lokše potato crepes stuffed with cabbage), and if you’re feeling the chill, opt for the brandy topped with a crispy layer of goose fat.

No, really!

Bratislavans treat their annual Christmas market as an excuse not just to shop, but to meet friends, spend a sociable evening together, and toast the season ahead. For 2013, the city is organising a large outdoor party with live music performances, DJs and fireworks in two central squares - Hlavne and Hviezdoslavovo, with displays illuminating the stunning, white battlements of Bratislava Castle, one of the focal points of this charming and vibrant central European capital.

Compact and almost provincial in feel, the Danish capital is perfectly proportioned for a refreshing, Scandinavian city break. A weekend break to Copenhagen offers plenty of time to enjoy this city of parks, palaces, canals and cool, contemporary galleries.

Winding through the heart of the city, Strøget (pronounced ‘stroyer’) is a pedestrianised, ever-busy promenade lined with cafes, boutiques and stylish gift shops. Amber’s a popular gift choice - you’ll see jewellers’ windows dripping in the stuff.

The Tivoli Gardens is a city-centre funground of old-school rollercoasters and amusement arcades, and Christmas in Tivoli Gardens is breathtakingly beautiful. Father Christmas is at home, in the Pantomime Theatre built in 1874, while the stalls and decorations take their inspiration from Danish and Scandinavian folklore. The traditional Christmas market contains about 50 stalls along the illuminated avenues of Tivoli selling gifts, decorations, hot drinks, sweets and food. A weekend trip enables you to take in all of the main sights including the Little Mermaid, Royal Palace and Carlsberg breweries.

Bloggers guide to Berlin Cramming everything Berlin has to offer into one trip just isn’t possible. Festivals, nightlife, history and performing arts present the visitor with a diverse menu from which to choose their itinerary.

To get under the skin of the city we’ve asked bloggers Zoë and James to recommend their favourite sights and sounds.

Fly with easyJet; to book visit www.easyJet.com Photographer Mike Gannon

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DOWNLOAD OUR APP ‘BIERKELLER LIVERPOOL’

Berlin’s Christmas market, one of Germany’s most vibrant, is an unmissable winter tradition - but this resurgent city is a treat for the senses any time of the year. Voyage speaks to Zoë and James, editors of the excellent English-language Berlin travel site, überlin to give us their top ten...

Where to... get a sense of history Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp is a careful reconstruction of the “work camp” where around 30,000 victims of the Third Reich died. It’s an important reminder that Germany continues to deal with its dark past. ...eat with the locals For over 100 years, Henne has been serving succulent roast chicken to Kreuzbergers and visitors as impressive as John F. Kennedy. Order a delicious side of potato salad and wash everything down with the impressive selection of “Alt-Berliner” schnapps. ...have a night to remember Largely disowned by locals because of its tourist appeal, Berghain remains one of the best clubs in the world. The huge former industrial space maintains an air of mystery with a blanket ban on photography, hosting weekend-long techno parties.

Like the graffiti outside says, “don’t forget to go home!” ...escape the bustle of the city Built on marshlands, Berlin is surrounded by beautiful and easilyaccessible lakes. Take the train

to the popular Schlachtensee or Wannsee, or cycle to lesser-known lakes like Großer Stechlinsee in Brandenburg. ...take in a view to remember The former US spy station atop the 80m-tall man-made hill Teufelsberg (“devils’ mountain”) offers impressive views across Berlin, in graffitistrewn surroundings. You have to pay whoever currently holds the lease to gain access. ...buy something that says ‘Berlin’ The monthly Nowkoelln Flowmarkt offers the same vintage delights as the other brilliant Berlin flea markets, alongside arts and crafts from local producers such as the insanelytalented illustrator Josh Bauman, a regular contributor to überlin. ...be surprised When the Tempelhof airport closed in 2008, it reopened a year later not as a mall, or luxury flats, but as a pretty public park. Every summer Sunday, the former airfield buzzes with life, as families barbecue and sporty types cycle, rollerblade and kiteboard. ...act like a tourist The otherwise unremarkable Alexanderplatz sits at the base of the iconic Fernsehturm (TV Tower), which can be appreciated both from the ground and from its 207m-highviewing platform. The nearby Alexa mall houses Berlin’s nerdiest tourist attraction, a miniature railway version of the city called Loxx.

...get romantic Admiralbrücke is a bridge linking Graefekiez, the “Tuscany of Berlin”, with the grittier part of Kreuzberg, known by its old postal code, SO36.

On summer evenings, it is covered with locals and tourists drinking beer, playing guitars, and generally enjoying Berlin’s sense of freedom. ...be awe-inspired The grand Pergamonmuseum on Museum Island houses many historical treasures, including reconstructions of the monumental buildings of an ancient Greek city.

Berlin Christmas Markets: Charlottenburg Castle Christmas Market, the castle and its park are stunningly illuminated, with 150 vendors from all over Germany.

Gendarmenmarkt Christmas Market is in one of the most beautiful squares in the city, and specialises in handicrafts and traditional toys.

The Potsdamer Platz Christmas Market and neighbouring Sony Centre, feature a toboggan run, handicrafts, music and great food.

The Spandau Old Town market is the town’s biggest, and possibly most beautiful, with 250 stalls, historic crafts, a Christmas crib with live animals and carol concerts. www.uberlin.co.uk

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It takes vision to decide to do things differently when the established order has sustained a business sector for many years.

But Cassell Moore, a new, multinational firm of solicitors based in Liverpool, could see that today’s clients needed something more.

Whether servicing individuals, public or private sector businesses, Cassell Moore delivers the same high level of legal and strategic support, through lawyers carefully chosen for their expertise and their ability to engage well with clients.

The Firm has its headquarters in the iconic surroundings of Liverpool’s Grade 1 listed Edward Pavilion at the stunning Albert Dock - one of the city’s architectural gems. It also operates from offices in the leading financial centres of London and Madrid.

Putting a new firm together provided the ideal opportunity to take a look at how client services were delivered and then do it better.

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It was a chance to examine the diverse range of practice areas and sectors and see how best client needs could be met. And if that meant clearing away working methods that has been in place for years, then so be it.

taken lightly. Similarly, if disputes arise then the best route to take is a huge decision for our client. Our team is on hand at the outset with first-rate legal and strategic advice to guide our clients through the decision-making process.

Cassell Moore are determined that their clients won’t find a visit to their offices a confusing experience, leaving them baffled by impenetrable advice.

Their business model is specifically designed for today’s clients.

`Our teams have been recruited from the best law firms in the UK, and their technical excellence is a given.

However, just as important to us in our recruitment of lawyers was the personal attributes of the individuals.

Legal services is a client-facing industry and ultimately people will work with people they like. Our lawyers are friendly, commercial and always looking for opportunities for our clients whether they are relationships or new deals.’

Innovation doesn’t just involve delivery, however, Cassell Moore are acutely aware that clients need a pricing model that works for them, especially in difficult economic times.

Managing Partner Stephen Morris said: `Whilst fortunately we are seeing green shoots, the economic climate in 2013 is still uncertain and challenging. `Even for the most robust businesses, decisions on investment in staff, property and infrastructure are not

The quality of Cassell Moore’s offer can be gauged by its appointment of renowned solicitor Pauline McNamara to head up its Family Team.

Advertising Promotion

“What attracted me to Cassell Moore was the firm’s determination to put the client’s needs and requirements first”.

Stephen Morris

service to the client, and to come up with pricing models that fit the client’s requirements.

Pauline McNamara Pauline brings more than 25 years of experience of complex and difficult matters to the Firm, and frequently acts for high profile clients. She has many examples of cases which resulted in multi-million pound settlements.

Pauline is an Accredited Member of the Law Society Family Law Panel and Specialist Children Panel, specialising in all matters relating to residence. She is also a member of Resolution - the national organisation committed to the constructive resolution of family disputes - and is on the business board of leading children’s charity, the NSPCC. Pauline commented: `What attracted me to Cassell Moore was the firm’s determination to put the client’s needs and requirements first and work backwards from there. The client is at the forefront of everything we do and we work constantly to come up with new and innovative ways to deliver a premium and outstanding legal

`I cover all areas of family law including representing people in divorce, financial settlements, pre-marital agreements, civil partnerships and finances. I deal with all aspects of any private personal dispute between family members.’

Cassell Moore is also delighted to formally announce the arrival of its new Head of Employment Law, Liz Cotton.

such greats as Goran Ivanisevic and Richard Kraijicek.

Cassell Moore will build further partnerships with corporate, foundations, individuals, events and charitable causes in the coming year.

If you would like to know more about Cassell Moore and how they might be able to help you email : info@cassellmoore.com or call 0800 014 9277. www.cassellmoore.com

Liz advises private and public sector clients on all aspects of employment law with particular experience in advising clients across the retail, pharmaceutical and environmental sectors. Liz provides strategic advice to board members and HR on areas including reorganisations, TUPE, executive disputes and severance arrangements. Liz also has significant experience in tribunal litigation particularly in complex discrimination matters. Her personal touch and commercial approach has won her praise from a wide range of clients.

To herald the arrival of the new firm, Cassell Moore joined Etihad, BMW, Sunseeker Yachts and Charles Stanley Financial Services as headline sponsors of the prestigious Boodles Classique tennis tournament held in the splendid surroundings of Mere Hotel & Golf Resort, which featured

Liz Cotton Cassell Moore is a trading name of HH Law Limited, regulated by the Solicitor Regulation Authority 512389. Company registered in England No 6909220

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Food Miles The word on the street

Cheap, fresh, filling and perfect for fuelling up your winter city manoeuvres, street food is enjoying a culinary renaissance. Eating on the move allows you to cram in more sightseeing too. So follow our guide, grab a napkin, and go...

Warsaw

Amsterdam

Naples

Pierogi - dumplings of unleavened dough - traditionally stuffed with potato, minced and seasoned meat, or cheese, are a Polish winter speciality. Look for them being served in vans around Warsaw. Polish food is currently enjoying ‘a moment’ - and we heartily approve. It’s packed with flavour, and robust enough to ward off the bitterest winter days. Current favourite is Po pierozku, which you’ll track down in the Targ Sniadaniowy market (Al. Wojska Polskiego) on Saturdays. Or try Pierogarnia, 28/30 Ul Bednarska.

A peculiar Dutch ‘thing’, and one you’ll see throughout Amsterdam, are the food vending machines - little snackbusting oases, open around the clock.

Look for the FEBO de Lekkerste outlets, they’re the best. Within, you’ll see that their walls are lined with vending machines replete with burgers, cakes, pastries and (our favourite) Bitterballen.

These dumpling-shaped croquettes are stuffed with a gooey mix of veal or beef, cheese or nut loaf. Try the veal ragu and peanut sauce ones, and we bet you’ll be back for more.

You’d expect the city that gave the world pizza would be a sure-fire pit stop for grin inducing street food. And it doesn’t disappoint. The hole in the wall restaurant of Pizzaiolo del Presidente, Via Tribunali 120, is so named thanks to a certain Bill Clinton, who grabbed a margherita here during the G8 summit in 2001. They’ve been dining out on it ever since. Wouldn’t you? The pizzas are suitably statesman-like. Just make sure you don’t stain your dress.

Fly to Warsaw with Wizz Air

Fly to Amsterdam with easyJet

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Fly to Naples with easyJet

Lisbon

Dublin

Salzburg

When in Lisbon, always ask for “Petiscos” not Tapas - unless you want to spark an international culinary incident, that is. And, if you’re out partying in the Bario district, you’ll stumble upon the bifanas caravans they’re ad-hoc BBQs, mostly made of converted metal drums, and are filled with blazing charcoal, on which sizzle seasoned skewers of pork, shrimps and salt cod. If you’re really lucky, you’ll even see a sign proclaiming: Há caracóis: “We have snails!”

What happens when a chef from one of London’s most celebrated restaurants (Moro) sets up stall, literally, in Dublin? You get Ian Marconi’s muchlauded The Paella Guys, concentrating on recipes from Spain, Morocco and the Middle East, such as his melt-in-the-mouth Moorish spiced lamb meatballs in tomato yoghurt and honey sauce, and chicken and chorizo paella. The guys work their way around Dublin’s animated and wonderful food markets. Try Fitzwilliam Square on Friday afternoons.

Scattered throughout Salzburg’s historic core you’ll stumble upon kiosks selling steaming bratwurst sausages with sauerkraut (pickled cabbage) and a roll with mustard or ketchup on the side. Even more filling is the city’s favourite dish; Wiener Schnitzel is served with warm potato salad and berry relish. Head to Getreidegasse in the Old Town and sample the bratwurst at the Balkan Grill, tucked into a covered walkway. Hotdog aficionados (yes, they exist), say they’re among the world’s best.

Fly to Dublin with Ryanair

Fly to Salzburg with easyJet

Fly to Lisbon with easyJet

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u o y h s i W re h e re... we t o h e l p

ults on women a s s a l a u x e s s u The number of serio on holiday increased by 10% last year.

We are here to help. We offer free and confidential help and advice to anyone affected by sexual assault. Call SAFE Place Merseyside on 0151 295 3550 (24 hours a day, 365 days a year) or visit:

www.safeplacemerseyside.org.uk

to 5ºC in Liverpool!). Wander around Lemesos medieval castle, built in the 14th Century on the remains of a Byzantine castle, or laze the day away on the beach before enjoying a warming moussaka in one of the old town’s family-run restaurants. You can fly from Liverpool John Lennon Airport to Larnaca, year round, with easyJet. - Mrs R Roberts, Ormskirk To book with easyJet visit: www.easyJet.com I’ve heard you can insure your winter sports trip against the possibility of there being no snow!

Is this true?

Know before you go Whatever your travel-related conundrum, talk to us at Voyage magazine, and let us help you on your way...

We want to head to New York for Christmas, but we’ve been told it’s faster to travel via Dublin, because you clear US custom there. Is that true?

In a word, yes! From April 3rd 2013 all passengers travelling to New York (JFK) now pre-clear US Customs and Immigration at either Dublin or Shannon airport before departure. The United States Customs and Border Protection (USCBP) facility at Terminal 2 in Dublin Airport is a purpose-built facility that allows US bound passengers to undertake all immigration, customs and agriculture inspections at Dublin prior to departure, allowing for a faster processing through your arrival airport in the United States including the checking through of any baggage to your final destination.

You can fly to Dublin with Ryanair from Liverpool John Lennon Airport, then on to JFK with carriers such as British Airways, Finnair, American Airlines and KLM.

For some insurances, yes. You can be covered for lack of snow or bad weather conditions in your holiday resort and closed pistes (thus preventing you from skiing). Cover is usually only available during the months that constitute the local regular ski season and if you purchase your policy more than 14 days before your departure date. Wherever you’re headed, specialist winter sports travel insurance is essential, for equipment cover, broken skis (and, yes, broken limbs), and even stolen hired equipment. Make sure you’re covered for every sport you intend to try out, too: and your instructors are fully accredited.

- Steve Mason, Preston I keep reading conflicting advice about what you can carry on to your plane. Can you clarify for me, please?

Our general advice is to carry the very minimum of hand baggage, and make sure you arrive early at the airport and allow plenty of time for security screening.

Department for Transport regulations state that hand baggage must not exceed 56cm x 45cm x 25cm per bag, however, airlines apply their own policies. At Liverpool John Lennon Airport, our airlines all accept one piece of hand luggage at the gate. This includes handbags and laptop bags. Additionally, each passenger at Liverpool John Lennon Airport can take one Airport Shopping Bag containing items purchased in the departure lounge.

- D Lawless, Crosby

- JB, Wallasey

Illustration by: Hello Small World

We’re after a blast of winter sun, but don’t fancy the Canaries, and don’t want to travel too far. We don’t especially want excessive heat, but would really like to escape the grey British winter!

What about Cyprus? Winters in Larnaca are mild.

Typically, the average temperature throughout December reaches a pleasant 18ºC, and 16ºC in January. Free from the summer crowds, Cypriot towns offer relaxed and welcoming hospitality - and Christmas festivities are especially colourful. We’d recommend Limassol, on the southern coast, which enjoys a pleasant winter climate, with average temperatures of around 20ºC (compared

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Going underground Get under Europe’s skin, with eight of the best subterranean hotspots

Maybe it’s because we used to huddle together for warmth in caves. Maybe it’s because, much as we love the city, it’s good to have an escape route, deep below the rattle and hum of the streets. Whatever the reason, you can be sure Europe’s best loved cities have as much to recommend them below ground level as they have above.

From darkly inviting jazz bars, to subterranean hotels; basement-level bistros to sweaty cellars pumping out trance til dawn (not that you’d notice) our continent is latticed with a network of must-see attractions tunnelling their way beneath the beaten path.

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Deep Sleeping In France Rochecorbon

Your boutique hotel room is actually carved into the rocks in this subterranean French hotel.

But don’t fret, you’ll not be eschewing all earthly pleasures the hotel is home to a gourmet restaurant (well, this is France after all). Domaine des Hautes Roches was formerly inhabited by the monks of the nearby Abbey of Marmoutier, and the caves have been used to grow mushrooms and age the region’s fine wines. Now the hotel is one of the most romantic in the Loire, and is perfectly placed to visit the gorgeous chateaux of the Loire Valley.

Address: Rue de Bateau, Rochecorbon Fly to: Nantes with: easyJet

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Orchestral Manoeuvres Oslo

Oslo’s striking new Opera House should be squarely on your must-see list while in the city, but there is another orchestra in town. The Oslo Mobile Orchestra - a ragtag army of students, lecturers and friends from the Norwegian Academy of Music, who meet up in the quirky underground bar, Café Mono, for impromptu recitals.

Address: Pløens gate 4 0181 Oslo Fly to: Oslo with: Ryanair

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Meals From The Crypt Copenhagen

A restaurant remodeled from a 14th Century nunnery, this subterranean Copenhagen dining hall is a stone-built warren of cells, lit by candles, and located deep beneath the city’s busy central underground. If you’re after a romantic evening meal with a difference, St Gertruds Kloster is hushed, historic and hauntingly beautiful.

Address: Hauser Plads 32 Fly to: Copenhagen with: Norwegian

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Buried Beats Latvia

Latvia’s underground movement has its roots in the electronic dance parties which developed in the mid 1990s following the collapse of Soviet rule. And they’re keeping the faith alive in a network of underground bars and clubs in the city’s Maskavas district. Kristaps Pukitis runs the Dirty Deal Cafe, which is currently the hottest sub-level hang out in this vibrant Baltic capital. The bar-cum-theatrecum-concert venue is always worth checking out.

Address: 5 Skolas iela. Riga LV-101 Fly to: Riga with: Ryanair

Submerged Sounds Amsterdam It used to be one of the city’s most notorious prisons, buried deep below the frigid waters of the canals. Now it’s home to the best of Amsterdam’s vibrant jazz scenes.

Brug9 is situated under the widest bridge in Amsterdam, the Torensluis, and, once a month, its vaulted ceilings and stone arches reverberate to a showcase of the city’s up and coming jazz musicians, special guests and visiting jazz legends.

Address: Postbus 10375. 1001 EJ Amsterdam Website: www.brug9.nl/foto Fly to: Amsterdam with: easyJet

Underground City Liverpool

Liverpool’s a city that’s never really been sure whether to build up, or build down. A city where, for most of its 800-year history, a lot of the really interesting stuff has been happening under our feet.

Dr David Hodgson is a senior lecturer in Geology at the University of Liverpool. As he explains, cities are shaped by the rocks they rise from. “The landscape is controlled by the bedrock,” he says, “and Liverpool’s was formed around 250 million years ago from huge sand dunes. Sandstone’s easy to work, which is partly why there’s so many tunnels beneath the city.”

Perhaps Liverpool’s most famous underground space is Mathew Street’s Cavern Club - this subterranean space was the cauldron for the city’s musical explosion in the early 60s. But it was the Beatles’ residency (the band played here over 300 times between 1960-1963) that sealed this dank club’s fate. You can visit today to get a feeling of the Merseybeat fervour that swept throughout the world, almost exactly 50 years ago.

Another enigmatic spot is the submerged, triple-decker tunnel system - The Williamson Tunnels - at the top of town. Curator Dave Bridston says there are ‘miles more tunnels’ waiting to be discovered.

“They were constructed on the floor of a deep, open cast quarry,

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stacked on top of each other, to raise the quarry bed to be level with the rest of the city,” he says, of this fascinating, and spooky, city attraction.

Down along the docks, the city is latticed with silent cellars too.

“Architects’ drawings make clear that the warehouses had two subterranean layers,” local historian Joe Sharples says.

“We were a city of trade warehouses by the middle of the 19th Century, storing everything from spirits to imported fruit. The exact conditions that made the cellars so inhospitable made our trade warehouses ideal,” he says, “they were airless, dry and cool.”

They now house bars and restaurants in Albert Dock - including, appropriately enough the Beatles Story museum!

Unearthing History Naples Below ground, Naples is a labyrinth of grottoes, reservoirs, cemeteries, pizza restaurants and Roman ruins. The city’s got so many underground attractions it’s even got its own Underground Museum! Your tours starts in the Museum of San Lorenzo Maggiore with works from the Greek and Roman period, and beautifully frescoed ceilings - then it’s time to don a hard hat and take a trip deep into the Naples Underground on a tour that takes you through the ancient aqueducts now buried under the modern city.

Address: Via Corso, Naples Fly to: Naples with: easyJet

Immersive Art Bratislava

The Danubiana Meulensteen is an art gallery, museum and cafe located on a dam of the Danube river, approximately 20 km from the center of Bratislava.

Despite its below-ground location, cleverly designed ceiling windows flood this cool, contemporary space with light. And curious modern art is pretty illuminating too!

Address:ČCunovo (Vodné dielo), Bratislava, Slovakia Fly to: Bratislava with: Ryanair

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Ten of the best: Winter sports resorts

Not all snow is created equal. So, where will you go to chase the white stuff this season? Voyage tracks down 10 winter sport destinations - from big hitters to lesser known beauties, all with freshly fallen snow guaranteed!

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La Rosière, France Nearest Airport: Grenoble fly with easyJet Set in the heart of the French Alps La Rosiere offers two great ski bowls one in France and one Italy.

La Rosiere shares the ski area with La Thuile, and so benefits from a larger than most ski area, and above average snowfall.

Beginners are well catered for with gently tumbling slopes, an excellent ski school and three free lifts.

Similarly, intermediates have a good range of terrain with long wide runs and spectacular vistas.

More than 12 runs in La Rosiere cater for the more advanced skier and a trip to neighbouring La Thuile across the border offers more challenging terrain.

Overlooking Mont Blanc the vistas in La Rosiere are as glorious as they come.

The village itself is purpose built, but sympathetically so, with traditional pine-clad chalets huddled around an atmospheric central street.

Après Ski There are several good restaurants in the village serving Italian, French and even Lebanese cuisine and if that’s not enough then you can always hop across the border for lunch.

Make no mistake La Rosiere is a quiet ski resort but there is the odd karaoke and cocktail bar for those looking to liven things up.

Le Pub is one of the most popular haunts and the only real club in the village.

Best for: Intermediate skiers

Livigno, Italy

skiing and snowboarding is practically guaranteed throughout the season.

Nearest Airport:

It’s Europe’s highest permanently inhabited village, too, and has access to miles of off-piste and forest tracks, creating an area of peace and solitude throughout the year.

Innsbruck fly with easyJet Livigno, known as the “Little Tibet” of Italy, enjoys a cold, crisp and dry climate - it’s one of the best resorts in the Alps, respected and recommended by beginners and intermediates alike.

This 14km long valley is also a nice place for cross-country skiers - and snow is almost guaranteed until March. The handsome resort is centred on three original villages spread out along the valley, and is close enough to St Moritz to make that swish resort’s facilities easily available.

The ski resort is above 1500m, so skiing to and from your door shouldn’t be a problem, and with its good range of high altitude ( 2500 metres plus) runs, 30

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Après Ski As you’re very close to stylish St Moritz, you really must take advantage of that famous resort’s duty free status. This is a lively resort, with a cool, snowboarderfriendly, clubbing scene, and lots of bars, shows and clubs to sample. Try Marco’s, karaoke joints like Bivio, and clubs such as Cielo and Kokodi. With more than 60 restaurants, all tastes, and budgets, are catered for.

Best for: Nordic/Cross country skiing

Sauze d’Oulx, Switzerland Nearest Airport: Geneva fly with easyJet One of the biggest resorts in the super-resort cluster known as the Milky Way, Sauze d’Oulx has access to nearly 400km of runs more than enough to keep everyone happy. This is a good resort for those who’ve had experience on the slopes before, with a decent range of nursery slopes to sooth first-timers too. Most journeys start at the lofty Sportina Plateau

from where ski lifts and runs begin, and intermediates are well catered for. Those with a few more skiing hours under their belt can try the Gran Pista to Prariond, which descends 650 vertical metres, while snowboarders will love carving along the resort’s ample selection of blue runs - just make sure you dodge the draglifts!

Après Ski The town itself is a handsome place, which has held on to a certain Alpine charm, despite its popularity. It’s particularly attractive the closer you get to the resort’s old centre. Sauze is a party town, with clubs, bars and drinks promotions pulling in a young and up-for-it crowd, yet in recent years, it’s taken great strides towards presenting a more all-inclusive welcome, adding ice rinks, cinemas and more chilled-out evening activities. With more than 30 restaurants to discover, the town’s a dining hot-spot, and quality, as a result, is high. Shopping is excellent, too, with a great Christmas market.

Best for: Experienced skiers and party-goers!

Scheffau, Austria

Après Ski With a handful of restaurants, Scheffau won’t disappoint those who seek a warming, well-earned meal at the end of the day. And there are a few bars where the welcome is just as warm, too. In general, apres-ski is confined to the hotels and larger, neighbouring resorts, lending the village a sedate, family-friendly atmosphere. For big town thrills, you can easily visit cities like Salzburg and Innsbruck, or simply kick back and enjoy the quiet pleasures of a typical Alpine village, well away from the madding crowd.

Nearest Airport: Innsbruck fly with easyJet Pretty little Scheffau is a perfect spot for beginners, and for those who find the larger, more boisterous resorts a little intimidating.

With its picture perfect setting beneath the slopes of the spectacular Wilder Kaiser mountains, the town is linked to the massive Ski Welt circuit which, with 250 kms of runs, is by far Austria’s largest ski zone. The town’s position makes skiing to neighbouring resorts, such as Soll and Ellma (both delightful alternatives for a day’s excursion) a real possibility, and the ‘bowl’ of peaks and valleys above Scheffau makes snow conditions just about perfect,

Best for: Getting your kids hooked! all season round.

Scheffau really is best suited to those who are just starting out, as it offers lots of wide, gentle runs and excellent nursery slopes.

Children, too, are well provided for, with great tuition and lots of safe, nursery slopes. All in all, Scheffau is a great choice for families and mixedability groups.

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St Wolfgang, Austria Nearest Airport: Salzburg fly with easyJet

Situated in Salzburg’s scenic lake district, St Wolfgang is a pretty, well connected resort, perfectly suited to families, beginners and mixed-ability groups of skiers. It’s a lovely, traditional village, with photo-opportunities around every corner, with the shores of Lake Wolfgang just a stroll away.

The area is well criss-crossed with cross country trails and, just a short drive away, there are many more pistes to discover.

For example, Postalm’s alpine plateau is accessed via a memorable ski bus ride (35 mins in total) through gorges and round vertiginous hairpin bends. The resort is best suited for those who appreciate learning on scenic slopes with gentle gradients, and without the crowds. Snowshoeing is growing in popularity, too: traversing through pine-cone forests, wearing mini skis on both feet is great fun, and you can master it in minutes.

Après Ski St. Wolfgang offers a choice of family friendly restaurants and bars where you can relax, enjoy a hearty meal (the fondues are excellent) and warm your aching muscles by an open fire. Try the lovely Kap Horn, the Kraftstoff Bar, the Hotel Post or the Zimmerbrau. There are excursions into Salzburg, for incomparable sightseeing and shopping opportunities, and operetta evenings and torchlit processions are bound to keep the chills at bay long into the evenings.

Best for: Snowshoeing

St. Anton, Austria Nearest Airport: Innsbruck fly with easyJet If you’re serious about snowboarding, St. Anton’s the place. But, then again, the skiiing is also world class. Yes, St. Anton is what you’d call a great all-rounder. But, because of that, it’s also very busy, and not especially the most ‘Austrian’ of Austrian resorts. That said, this resort’s immaculate pistes, and its off-piste action are hard to beat. The resort is especially popular with expert skiers (it claims 180km of additional ‘off piste’ terrain). Reliable snowfall and challenging skiing coupled with plenty of opportunities for intermediates and off-piste fun for little ones makes this vibrant resort a safe bet right through to April. In addition to the skiing in St. Anton itself (all 260km of it), you can easily reach Lech, St Christoph and Stuben.

Après Ski St. Anton is renowned for its great party atmosphere on and off the slopes, with famous (infamous?) après-ski bars lined up along the lower runs and all the way into the village. The hottest spots are the legendary Krazy Kanguruh and Mooserwirt bars, perched 500 metres above St Anton, and there are six warm and welcoming après-ski bars located on the home run from Galzig to St. Anton. Head into the centre of the village itself for live music at the Piccadilly Bar, or a relaxed evening at charming little Pub 37.

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Montgenévre, France Nearest Airport: Grenoble fly with easyJet This smallish, good value resort hugs the Italian border and forms the only direct French link to the huge Milky Way network of resorts, lifts and pistes. It’s well placed, at 1850 metres, for an above-average snow record, and offers plenty of ski-in, ski-out accommodation, along with sensibly priced options perfect for skiing on a budget. The skiing at Montgenèvre is great for beginners and intermediates, while those experienced on the slopes might find their options limited. That said, the more challenging pistes are just over the border, on the Italian side of the mountains. The variety of skiing available in Monty really makes the resort ideal for mixed ability groups, and those of mixed ages too. The perfect family destination, perhaps?

Après Ski As you’re within a snowfall of Italy, you can definitely taste your neighbour’s influence here at Montgenevre. The resort itself is pretty quiet - and is mostly strung out along the one main road. Explore away from here, though, and you’ll discover the lovely old village of Montgenevre a real, typical mountain village of considerable charm.

Apres ski is rather subdued, and is largely confined to the scattering of hotels, a few bars, and some delightful, Italian-inspired mountain restaurants. A good value break, especially by French standards, Montgenevre isn’t suited to those who like to ski all day and party all night.

Best for: A budget ski break

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Saas Fee, Switzerland Nearest Airport: Geneva fly with easyJet It’s not difficult to live the high life in Saas Fee, one of Switzerland’s prettiest, and safest ski resorts - often overlooked in favour of neighbouring Zermatt. But overlook at your peril, for compact little Saas Fee is an Alpine resort of considerable charm, with a safe, car-free centre, lots of bustling and atmospheric bars and excellent snow record.

At a shade under 2,000 feet, the resort’s air is crisp and fresh and, as most of the skiing takes place over 2,500 metres above sea level, you’ll find it no trouble tracking down excellent snow - even towards the end of the season. There are a good range of nursery slopes in the village, with most of the action centred on those of an intermediate level. That said, the cruising run from Mittelallalin back into Saas Fee, with a drop of over 1700m, is a thrill for advanced types too.

Hemsedal, Norway Nearest Airport: Oslo fly with Ryanair Hemsedal is Norway’s second largest ski centre, with skiing at all levels, from first-time to advanced, lots of different terrains, and night skiing down any of nine floodlit slopes.

The children’s area is the best in Norway, with the Gaupeland park offering toddler fun in the shape of snowman building, tobogganing and carousel rides. The Foxnest indoor day

Après Ski Saas Fee has some notable mountain restaurants, the most famous being the must-visit revolving restaurant at Mittelallalin, with panoramic views across the peaks and over to Chamonix. Despite its compact size, relatively, Saas Fee isn’t short on apres-ski options. It’s a bustling, traffic-calmed village (with no cars at all allowed in its cosy centre) with bars, clubs, restaurants and family-friendly amusements aplenty. There are, in fact, over 100 restaurants here, from fine dining to pizza joints.

Best for: Something for everyone - and shopping! (that’s a sport isn’t it?)

care (babysits children from six months of age) is a boon for parents who want to enjoy a couple of hours alone on the slopes.

As you’d expect in Norway, if you want to go cross-country skiing in Hemsedal, you can enjoy huge stretches of groomed tracks and mountain routes through stunning surroundings chances are you’ll have much of the day to yourselves, tramping through untrammelled snow. Wonderful.

Après Ski The resort’s clutch of discos, sports bars and pubs comes alive at weekends.

There are three lively nightclubs, the busiest of which - Hemsedal Café - is famous for its après ski fun on Friday and Saturday nights, while Hemsen is one of Norway’s largest music venues, attracting big name acts throughout the season. Fancy something quieter? During the week there are plenty of cosy inns serving traditional Norwegian dishes. At heart, though, Hemsedal’s a family friendly sort of place, with easy access to the stunning fjords of Norway’s western coast.

Best for: Dog sledding with the Hemsedal Huskies!

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Soldeu, Andorra Nearest Airport: Reus fly with Ryanair Straddling the Andorra mountains, and the micro state’s principal route, the resort of Soldeu is a compact place, with an easygoing, family-friendly and gentle air, but one which livens up somewhat at night. There are great opportunities for beginners and intermediates, and there are a few challenges for the experts amongst you. Snow records are excellent here, and with most skiing above 2000 metres it’s not difficult to find fresh powder for a touch of off-piste activities too. A duty free state, you’ll find prices very favourable for off-piste excursions. Soldeu El Tarter is ideally suited for beginners because of the reputation it has for its first-rate ski school with over 70% of the instructors speaking English as their first language, and many actually from Britain. It’s a fun, likeable place, with none of the pretentiousness that can afflict the Alpine resorts, so if you’re after a good natured break where snow is practically guaranteed (and there are plenty of cannons, too) this is just the ticket.

Après Ski Straddling France and Spain, Andorra enjoys a dining scene taking the best from both cultures, with Catalan influences strongly represented.

Fat Albert’s restaurant serves the best a la carte gourmet meals. The country’s duty free status is excellent, helping your holiday Euros stretch even further. There are lots of bars and pubs, and dancing - the Roc Bar is a great start to the evening, with its excellent cocktails.

Shops are excellent, stocked with winter sports gear, wine stores, and delis - the capital is just 30 minutes away and well worth visiting for its boutique shopping and tax-free booze and perfume shops!

Best for: Your first skiing holiday

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Stay cool this winter 2

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Off to the slopes? Make sure you’re kitted out with the warmest gear, and the coolest gadgets. Ellis Brigham has just the thing…

3. Patagonia Encapsil Down Belay Parka

1. Osprey Kode 22

2. Ortovox 3+ Transceiver

£89.99 The iconic Kode series of backcountry ski packs has been revamped, providing a more user friendly feature set in a clean, modern profiled pack - perfectly to a day straying away from those lift-accessible areas.

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£599.99 1000 fill power down is the most lofty, high performance insulating material on the market - European goose down treated with Patagonia’s unique technology, making it the warmest down on the planet.

£249.99 This technological marvel offers even simpler user experience, whether you’re a casualty or a rescuer in any Avalanche situation. Featuring Ortovox’s Smart Antenna Technology with intelligent position recognition, this technology has been adopted by more than 700 rescue teams around the world.

Advertising Promotion 5

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4. Goldwin Men’s Hiryu Jacket £499.00

7. Dragon Goggles £125.00 - £165.00

Goldwin make clothes that push science to its limits, while keeping you blissfully unaware of all that technology.

Snug, breathable, stretchy and comfortable - no matter what your winter sports adventure brings. Its Hiryu men’s jacket delivers effortless protection and Alpine style.

Whether oversized or frameless, this brand’s eye-catching designs have been lighting up the slopes over the past couple of years. California-based Dragon are on-point in style, performance and comfort: you can be sure you’ve the right lens for any conditions, too.

5. Suunto Ambit2 HR Sapphire

6. YES Hel

£499.99 For those looking to move effortlessly from the boardroom to the mountain this premium version of the Ambit2 HR offers all the functionality and performance of the classic version, but incorporates brushed stainless steel bezel and sapphire crystal glass face in a design that delivers sharp aesthetics as well as performance. Complete with HR belt for performance monitoring.

£420.00 Built around a slightly directional tapered shape, the HEL features Yes’s directional CamRock profile, which is the perfect blend for float and fun, but still holds a solid curve.

The Core 3 wood core is made with carefully selected grades of poplar and beech for the perfect flex.

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YOUR WINTER starts here

Your local shops LIVERPOOL 73 Bold Street, Liverpool L1 4EZ t: 0151 709 6912 e: liverpool@ellis-brigham.com

MANCHESTER 130 Deansgate, Manchester M3 2GQ t: 0161 837 6140 e: manchester@ellis-brigham.com

CHESTER 5-7 Northgate Street, Chester CH1 2HA t: 01244 318311 e: chester@ellis-brigham.com

MANCHESTER Wellington Mill, Duke St, Castlefield, Manchester M3 4NF t: 0161 211 6200 e: castlefield@ellis-brigham.com

24 specialist shops nationwide

www.ellis-brigham.com www.snowboard-asylum.com follow us on

2 inspiring mail order catalogues

Present Sense Christmas is coming. Time to get a head start, and a saving or two on high street prices, at Liverpool John Lennon Airport’s World Duty Free shop…

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1. Boss Jour £50.25 / Dolce & Gabbana £57.50 / Gentlemen Only Givenchy £46.20 2. Jimmy Choo £39.00 / Versace Eros £49.50 / Flowerbomb Victor Rolf £51.95 3. L’Occitane Traveller’s Hand Cream Collection £23.00 / Molton Brown Exclusive Travel Collection £31.65 Clarins All About Eyes £18.00 4. Jura Prophecy High Street price £84.23 / World Duty Free price £58.99 5. Dalmore 15yr old High street price £79.37 / World Duty Free price £54.99 Issue 1

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M en' s , Wome n's and Chi l d re n 's D e sig n e rwe a r 0151 227 4645 9 Cavern Walks , M athew S treet, Li ver pool , L2 6R E Insta gram: @cricketfas hion Twi tter : @c r i c ketec om

Liverpool’s winter wonders

Liverpool comes alive in winter. The city’s elegant spaces welcome Christmas markets, craft fairs, concerts and exhibitions, while the illuminated streets of its compact core are home to stalls offering seasonal produce, locally made arts and gifts, and warming mulled wine.

Add a sprinkling of festive Victorian pubs, thrilling gigs in the city’s snug music venues and a brace of family-friendly pantomimes and you’re looking at a city that’s got winter all wrapped up.

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Best for

Shopping Liverpool ONE will be transformed into a winter wonderland this year, replete with an Ice Bar, toboggan run, seasonal stalls and warming log-cabin styled bars complete with live music. Add to that Liverpool ONE’s 160-plus stores, family dining and multi-screen cinema and, it’s safe to say, your Christmas manoeuvres will begin here.

Visit: www.liverpool-one.com

Liverpool ONE, Chavasse Park

Best for

Music No visit to Liverpool is complete without catching a concert or two - and this winter you’re spoiled for choice. The Bootleg Beatles are, without doubt, one of the very best of the plethora of Beatles-alikes out there. This December, celebrate 50 years of the Fabs with their winter show at the Philharmonic Hall.

Next year sees the 50th anniversary of the Beatles’ appearances on the Ed Sullivan show, and the start of the British Invasion of the US. Philharmonic Hall, Hope Street, 13 December

Visit: www.liverpoolphil.com

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Best for

Sights A crisp winter’s night, a bracing walk (vertically), and a view you’ll never forget. Take a twilight Cathedral Tour in Liverpool’s awesome Anglican Cathedral, topped off with a climb up the massive Vestey Tower, accessible by two consecutive lifts followed by 108 stairs! Don’t worry, the view from the top, over the illuminated city below, will take your breath away, even if the stairs don’t.

Visit: www.liverpoolcathedral.org.uk

Best for

Theatre Liverpool goes a little bit crazy at Christmas - nowhere more so than at its energetic, family-friendly pantos. From the glitz of the Empire (Britain’s biggest theatre, outside of London) with its traditional, star-studded Panto - this year it’s Peter Pan - to the legendary Rock’n’Roll Panto at the Playhouse - Aladdin - It’s Raining Zen, the city’s theatres come alive in mid winter.

Playhouse, Williamson Square (29 Nov- 18 Jan) Empire Theatre, Lime Street (13 Dec - 5 Jan)

Best for

Best for

Liverpool’s fine collection of art and ancient artefacts are displayed in National Museum Liverpool’s treasure houses: all free, and well worth a look. Children will love the Egyptology galleries in the World Museum, complete with grisly mummy heads, bandages carefully removed. The Walker Art Gallery’s collection of pre- Raphaelite works is world class, but check out their current exhibition focusing on the early works of British painter David Hockney.

Liverpool is well placed for easy exploration of some of England’s most beguiling scenery. Take the train to the market towns of Lancashire - Clitheroe’s clutch of independent shops and lively markets, hunkered beneath the brooding Pendle Hill, are well worth the trip. Stay in the ancient Forest of Bowland, at the gorgeous Inn at Whitewell. Or head to the cave systems of Castleton: a town with a labyrinth of twinkling, gem-encrusted caverns, deep within the folds of the Peak District.

Stay at the friendly Peaks Inn, in the heart of this picturesque Peaks village (with great Christmas shopping, too).

Culture

World Museum Liverpool, Walker Art Gallery, William Brown Street liverpoolmuseums.org.uk

Day Trips

Castleton: visitpeakdistrict.com Clitheroe: visitlancashire.com

Liverpool Cathedral, St James Mount

Visit: www.everymanplayhouse.com www.liverpoolempire.org.uk

Do the double

Double Up - and Save!

Combining a bus tour with a ferry trip could save £9.50 on a family combo ticket

Adult £11.50

Family Ticket £31.00

Child £7.00

Concession £9.00

Buy tickets at the airport tourist information desk or online

www.cityexplorerliverpool.co.uk Follow us on

Check us out on

Make your ticket last an extra 24 hours by showing this advert to your driver Save an incredible £9.50 on a Family Combo Ticket

WIN

a New Year Shopping Spree at Liverpool ONE

One of Europe’s leading retail and leisure destinations set in the heart of Liverpool, Liverpool ONE is home to 160 stores, bars and restaurants, a fantastic 14 screen cinema, and an indoor adventure golf course making it the perfect place to shop, eat and relax this Christmas!

This winter, Liverpool ONE also welcomes back its urban ice experience to its very own five acre park, Chavasse Park. Until

HOW TO

ENTER

5 January the shopping district is home to the spectacular Ice Festival, a dazzling winter wonderland featuring an ice rink and a nursery rink (just for the kids!), the UK’s only pop-up ice bar, an Alpine themed café bar, plus Santa’s grotto & workshop and other children’s attractions. For more information on Liverpool ONE and Ice Festival please visit: www.liverpool-one.com

To be in with a chance of winning all you have to do is answer this simple question:

What is the name of Liverpool ONE’s five acre park?

a. Chavasse Park b. Gerrard Park c. Carragher Park

Once the Christmas rush is over we thought you might fancy a treat to see in the New Year, so Voyage has teamed up with Liverpool ONE to offer one lucky reader the opportunity to win a £250 Liverpool ONE Gift Card to spend in its stores, bars and restaurants.

£250 Liverpool ONE Gift Card

Please email your answer to: liverpoolone@ voyageliverpool.com including your name and a contact telephone number.

1. This promotion is free to enter and open to all UK residents aged 18 years and over. Employees or friends and family of employees of Liverpool ONE may not enter the competition. 2. Maximum of one entry per person. 3. Closing date: All entries must be received by 23.59 on 31st of December 2013. 4. The promoter cannot be held responsible for any IT failures. 5. One winner will be selected at random by an independent adjudicator from all complete, correct and eligible entries received by the closing date. Winners will be notified by email or letter within 28 days of the closing date. 6. Winners may be required to partake in PR and marketing activities for Liverpool ONE. 7. Prize: A £250 Liverpool ONE Gift Card, valid for 12 Months. No cash alternatives will be offered. Prizes are non-negotiable and non-refundable. 8. The Promoter reserves the right to amend, alter or terminate the promotion at any time due to circumstances beyond its control. 9. If any winner is not able, for any reason, to accept a prize, or cannot be contacted within 28 days of the first attempt to notify him/her, the Promoter reserves the right to award the prize to another entrant. 10. The Promoter’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. 11. Details of prize winners’ names and county will be available for one month after the close of this promotion by emailing info@liverpool-one. com, stating the name and date of the promotion. 12. The Promoter is Liverpool ONE Management Company, registration No 6444922, 5 Wall St, Liverpool L1 8JQ.

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46

Voyage

Voyage Guides Every issue, Voyage offers an at-a-glance look at some of Liverpool John Lennon Airport’s must-visit destinations, giving you the inside track on the places you simply shouldn’t miss.

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Lanzarote With its duty free status, and its year round warmth, no wonder Lanzarote’s one of your favourite easyJet and Ryanair routes from here to the beautiful Canary islands.

Follow us to the sun...

Why go?

A dramatic, volcanic outcrop less than a hundred miles from the North African coastline, Lanzarote feels wonderfully out-of-this-world.

Maybe that’s because this island’s interior is a starkly beautiful landscape of lava fields and low lying, whispering sands. Whatever the reason, Lanzarote offers its legion of fans something a little different a holiday which gives you the romance and drama of a desert island, but the comfort and convenience of a modern holiday destination.

What to see

Don’t leave without exploring the weird rock formations of the island’s centre. The result of a dramatic volcanic eruption 200 years ago, the site’s a popular location for filmmakers and dramatic photo-shoots.

Timanfaya Natural Park explains this turbulent history - the ground here is so hot that dry twigs, thrown into natural cauldrons in the ground, catch fire instantaneously.

The longest Volcanic Tunnel in the world, the Atlantida, cuts into this lunar-like landscape for over 7 km and includes the La Cueva de los Verdes and Jameos del Agua, both of which are definitely worth exploring, as there’s nowhere quite like them on Earth: two locations, originally formed by volcanoes, now transformed into fascinating grottoes, submerged lakes and auditoriums where summer concerts take place.

For sculptures of an even more dramatic nature, head to the César Manrique Foundation - the island’s undoubted cultural centre is devoted to the works of the world famous island-based artist (you’ll also see his striking, abstract work dotted around the island).

Wind sculptures, environmental installations and even works by Miro and Picasso are on display.

Puerto Del Carmen

A bright, comfortable and modern resort alongside excellent beaches, enjoying a fabulous range of attractions day and night.

Beaches

Eating and Drinking

At the heart of things, Playa Grande is a one-kilometre stretch of golden sands, soft underfoot and lined with water sports operators.

The resort’s popular with windsurfers thanks to its gentle onshore breezes.

The other main beaches here are Playa de los Pocillos, and Playa de Matagorda. Both enjoy sunbeds, pedalos, clean waters and beach bars.

Try the Irish/Polish specialities of Bodecos in the Old Town, the traditional fondant fancies of the English Rose Tea Rooms, the Canarian seafood dishes of Puerto Bahia, in the Old Town’s harbour area, or Emma’s Cantina Mexica, serving Fajitas, Burritos and Quesadillas with a Canarian twist. Montmartre is one of Lanzarote’s few, good, French restaurants.

Playa Chica is the only beach area in the Old Town of Puerto del Carmen. It’s a small cove popular with locals and practicing divers.

In general, the cosier restaurants and bars are clustered around the harbour and streets of the Old Town.

Why Go?

Beaches

A mature resort with a great selection of high end and good value accommodation, holidays in Costa Teguise are also a windsurfer’s paradise, a family-friendly beachfront town, and a great base for exploring the island.

The main beach, Las Cucharus, is famous for its perfect windsurfing conditions, sand is clean, pale golden and level, and the waters are warm enough for bathing all year round. There are windsurfing schools, shops and rental shacks clustered around the promenade at Las Cucharas.

Eating and Drinking

Why Go? Puerto Del Carmen is one of the island’s most delightful places to base your holiday. Clean, light sands, calm waters and a pleasant year-round climate have transformed this once sleepy fishing village into a bright, modern and comfortable resort - but the tradition hasn’t been swamped by tourists.

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Meson La Jordana, just out of town, is the place to go if you want to splash out - it’s even a favourite of King Juan Carlos I of Spain, when he visits the island. The roads leading off the main seafront promenade, too, have dependable establishments - but these often tend to be the ‘fast food’ or ‘all you can eat’ buffets. El Pescador, however, on Pueblo Marinero, off the Avenida de las Islas Canarias (just behind the beach) is one of the town’s best seafood restaurants.

Essential Sights Puerto Del Carmen’s Old Town is an atmospheric enclave of narrow streets tumbling down to a picturesque harbour. Here you’ll get a real sense of what this fishing village was like before the tourists arrived, and it’s a great place for a morning’s amble.

The stylish marina of Puerto Calero, 5km (3 miles) west of Puerto del Carmen, has plenty of excursions available, while, on land, there’s a decent new Museum of Canarian Whales and Dolphins to explore.

Essential Sights Explore the bustling capital, Arrecife, just ten minutes away by taxi. Or, even more historic, the island’s original capital, Teguise, just inland from the resort.

On Sundays it holds the island’s biggest market.

Carefully maintained, and enjoying a smashing sandy beach, Costa Teguise appeals to families and those looking for a laid-back Lanzarote holiday.

Activities Puerto Del Carmen is a good centre for those interested in watersports whether snorkelling off the rocks bordering the tiny cove of Playa Chica, or enjoying easy windsurfing opportunities along the main stretches of sand.

Diving is the principal pastime, though, with a PADI school at the Manta Dive Centre, and lots of excursions by boat into the deep, clear waters just offshore.

Around and About Shopping

Jeep safaris take in some of the dramatic, lunar-like landscapes of Lanzarote’s interior, while a short drive to Costa Teguise offers the watery thrills at Aqua Park.

Puerto del Carmen’s main shopping street is Avenida de las Playas (‘The Strip’).

Specialising in ‘duty free’ goods, you’ll find all manner of cheap electrical goods.

The Biosfera Shopping Plaza in the Old Town is altogether more stylish, with a good range of international brands and Spanish favourites. Arrecife features the island’s most comprehensive shopping, on Calle León y Castillo, with big-name fashions and huge, discounted jewellery and electronics warehouses.

Activities

Shopping

Water sports enthusiasts love the onshore breezes at Costa Teguise, making the resort the best spot for windsurfing. There’s a decent 18 hole golf course just out of town, and a fun water park complete with slides, wave pools and corkscrew flumes.

The shopping zone is centred on the streets around Playa de las Cucharas, with the Las Cucharas Commercial Centre selling electrical goods and fashions. The Sunday market in Teguise (the Mercadillo), the old capital 15 minutes inland, is a must-visit for local crafts and bargains. While you browse, and pick your way through stalls selling delicious homemade bread and locally produced olives and cheeses, you’ll be entertained by folk dancers and musicians.

Boat trips and Yellow Submarine tours from Puerto Calero, ten miles from Costa Teguise, offer fishing, diving or simply sightseeing.

Rancho Texas park is a fun family day out with bird shows, stunts with crocodiles, an Indian village and themed restaurants, just outside Puerto Del Carmen.

Arrecife, the island capital, is just a ten minute taxi ride from Puerto Del Carmen, with a couple of excellent museums, and the César Manrique-designed restaurant at the Castillo de San José art gallery.

Costa Teguise’s excellent Lanzarote Aquarium is a great day out, with the Canary Islands’ largest collection of tanks and pools.

Around and About Lagomar House once belonged to the actor Omar Sharif. Set within a cave system, it’s a totally unique attraction.

The Art Gallery at Castillo de San Jose, in Arrecife, was built in 1799 to protect the town’s harbour from pirates.

At San Bartolome, the Wine Museum of Lanzarote shows how this fascinating industry takes place, against the elements. Two kilometres off Lanzarote’s north coast is the tiny island of La Graciosa, perfect for a day trip.

Nightlife ‘The Strip’ (Avenida de las Playas), is a 3km length of bars, restaurants and discos running along the beachfront and, as such, is where you’ll head for the wildest nights in town. The Centro Comercial Atlántico is the busiest spot, with a selection of lively and loud bars pumping out dance music - and drinks promotions - till the early hours. There’s a casino, too, should you fancy your luck. In the Old Town, bars are more convivial, cosy and altogether more relaxing.

Nightlife Lively without ever being rowdy - that’s the best way to describe your nightlife, Costa Teguise-style. There are a number of discos around Avenida del Mar, and along the streets that run inland from the seafront. Check out the bars around Playa de las Cucharas, Calle las Olas and Avenida de las Islas Canarias for Sports bars, Irish bars, Scottish bars and, yes, even the occasional Spanish bar!

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Playa Blanca

A handsome new development at the south of the island, Playa Blanca is the smart choice for those who seek a quieter, more relaxing Lanzarote holiday.

Eating and Drinking Beaches

A relative newcomer to the Lanzarote holiday map, Playa Blanca is getting everything right. It’s all very attractive, and a world away from some of the less well thought-out resorts of the past.

A wonderful white sand beach - hence the name - takes pride of place on most photographs of the resort. Its Blue Flag status ensures that it’s a safe haven for all the family, too.

Its proximity to the ferry terminal creates something of a frisson when the boats from the neighbouring islands dock at harbour, as the waves break with vigour on the beach.

Why Go?

Beaches

Do you hate arduous transfer times? How does 15 minutes suit you?

Matagorda, just a hop, skip and a jump away from Arrecife airport, has everything you need for a relaxing holiday, with a great beach, easy access to the large, well-run resort of Puerto del Carmen, and enough friendly bars and restaurants within walking distance.

There’s no doubt that, away from the lights of Arrecife runway, Playa de Matagorda’s beach is a real gem – and if you’re looking for a laid-back beach holiday in Lanzarote, this is a good spot to choose: fine, golden sands, little outcrops of rocks at the waterline, and a wide, paved promenade make for an entrancing combination, sizzling in the warm Lanzarote sun. The beach has been awarded the prestigious European Blue Flag for its facilities, cleanliness, and water quality.

Why Go?

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The resort’s lovely new marina plays host to splendid waterfront cafés, restaurants and grill-bars. But, for a touch more authenticity, the old village boasts even more (slightly better value) restaurants too. Good choices include La Chalantina’s modern Canarian fare (on Avenida Maritima) and the British owned, and immaculately presented La Bocaina, with a menu which successfully straddles British, Mediterranean and typically Canarian cuisine.

Eating and Drinking With a new Commercial Centre just opened, Matagorda now has a good range of cafes, bars, and restaurants – there’s a particularly good Sapporo Japanese Restaurant serving inventive seafood and noodle dishes with a touch of theatre, the Irish-owned Casa Gallega O’Orreo specialises in barbecued steaks and great shellfish, while the Musical Pub offers simple tapas and decent Canarian wines.

Essential Sights The old fishing village, in the centre of the resort, is a charming network of tightly packed streets, restrained and welcoming locals’ bars and authentic, salty charm.

It’s a great reminder of how, with foresight, tradition and tourism can exist peacefully together.

Essential Sights Probably the nicest thing to do in Matagorda is to stroll along the wide, trafficfree promenade connecting the beach at Playa de Matagorda to Playa de los Pocillos just 3km south.

Obviously, you don’t have to wander along its entire length!

With charm enough of its own, and the facilities of lively Puerto del Carmen a whisker away, Matagorda couldn’t be better placed.

Around and About Activities

Shopping

Watersports are great, as are quad bike excursions into the island’s dramatic centre.

Guinate Wildlife Park is located in the northern part of Lanzarote, at the foot of an extinct volcano. The Park is made up of gardens, waterfalls and ponds and is home to many species of birds, animals, reptiles and fish.

As is the way of things in the Canary Islands, shops tend to be gathered together in ‘Commercial Centres’ - the resort’s Centro Commercial Papagayo offers all the usual suspects.

The Binatone store offers cut price laptops, digital cameras and portable entertainment systems as well as, should you need one on holiday, kettles and irons galore!

Activities

Shopping

Puerto Del Carmen, just five minutes along the coast, is a good centre for those interested in watersports - whether snorkelling off the rocks bordering the tiny cove of Playa Chica, or enjoying easy windsurfing opportunities along the main stretches of sand.

Diving is the principal pastime, though, with a PADI school at the Manta Dive Centre, and lots of excursions by boat into the deep, clear waters just offshore. Jeep safaris take in some of the dramatic, lunar-like landscapes of Lanzarote’s interior.

Shopping facilities in Matagorda are relatively entry-level, with the Commercial Centre Matagorda offering a simple selection of souvenirs, electrical goods and ‘duty-free’ bargains such as booze, cigarettes, perfumes and cosmetics. If you’re self catering, you’ll find the wellstocked Spar supermarket a boon.

The four islands that make up the Chinijo archipelago have recently been opened up to visitors by a new excursion. Teeming with bird life, and fringed by lovely beaches, three of these islands are uninhabited, and are a protected nature reserve.

Caleta de Famara has one of the best beaches on the island, with stunning views over to the island of La Graciosa. A surfers’ paradise, this is a magnificently moody place.

Around and About Costa Teguise’s excellent Lanzarote Aquarium featuring Atlantic specimens from triggerfish to sharks.

El Jardin del Cactus was designed by the late Lanzarote artist Cesar Manrique, and is one of a number of eyecatching visitor attractions he oversaw.

Nightlife Calm and sophisticated are the watchwords when it comes to nightlife in Playa Blanca - with bars clustered around the marina, and close to the main hotel and villa complexes. There are a number of decent late night spots where dancing is possible, and these tend to be huddled around the Centro Commercial Papagayo - with a rock bar, and a few karaoke taverns.

Nightlife Matagorda’s nightlife is limited to a handful of bars around the resort, in the Commercial Centre, and that of your hotel complex.

There’s even a drag show, should men in frocks belting out Shirley Bassey be on your holiday wish list, as it is on ours. The Arcade in the Commercial Centre will keep the kids happy for the evening.

Other sites well worth a visit include the César Manrique Foundation - the island’s undoubted cultural centre, with displays of the artist’s work (together with other Spanish greats such as Picasso and Miro).

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Me and my holidays: Les Dennis the offer of the lead role in Spamalot! So that was the end of my holiday!

Favourite city?

Our survey said the Spamalot star, and Celebrity Masterchef runner-up, Les Dennis, is one of Liverpool’s bestloved comics-turned thesps. So, when he’s not cooking up a storm on the stage, where do his travels take him?

First holiday memory?

No one had any money for proper holidays in the 50s.

For us, it was day trips to New Brighton - until my dad won £250 on the Pools and treated us to a week in Pwllheli Butlins. I remember being gobsmacked that you could go on the fair all day without paying, for a whole week! I can’t tell you how amazing that felt!

That’s where I found my love of performing too. I entered the talent contest and came third. That was it: I had the bug. I won the contest at Filey when I was 14 - and the prize? A week at Butlins! Brilliant! In those days, holiday camps attracted the real greats - Cannon and Ball, Frank Carson and Tommy Trinder. Butlins was 54

Voyage

the springboard to the rest of my life, really...

First romantic holiday?

I snuck a weekend break to Paris with my first wife, Lynne. It was lovely - but we missed our son Phil so much Lynne spent most of the time on the phone, checking he was all right.

Cost us a fortune!

First luxury holiday?

In my early days as a performer I’d get gigs on cruises, such as the Canberra, or residencies in hotels on the Costas. But they weren’t exactly relaxed affairs. I think my first big, splash-out holiday was to Albufeira in Portugal. It was so long ago the place really was a sleepy fishing village!

What’s your style? Big city or quiet country?

I like both. But as I travel a lot with my job, I do long for a peaceful villa or farmhouse, a good book and quality time with my family. I had one day of it, in a gorgeous Dordogne gite, this summer - until the phone rang, with

After Liverpool, it has to be New York. I’ve visited the Dakota Buildings (where John Lennon lived until his death in 1980). I love John Lennon - I’m an ex Quarry Bank pupil, like him. There’s just so much energy in Manhattan, it’s impossible for it not to infect you!

Holiday nightmare?

We spent a week in a hotel in the Costa del Sol once, and our room overlooked dog kennels. Let’s put it this way, they don’t love their four legged friends the way we do here. It was really upsetting seeing how badly cared for they were.

It’s always difficult when you’re shocked out of your carefree holiday by seeing the suffering of others. I just can’t turn the other cheek.

Most blissful holiday?

Claire (Les’ third wife) and I had a wonderful time in Mauritius - that’s probably our most exotic holiday but bliss, for me, is being with those who I love. We’ve recently had a wonderful time in Cyprus. We stayed at the Four Seasons in Limassol, with GreekCypriot friends, and the kids had a whale of a time in the pool all week. That, to me, is what holidays are all about.

Top of my wish list?

India. I’ve always wanted to

visit it. I’d love to experience something completely different to our way of life. I’m fascinated by the culture, and the food! Hong Kong too, although I hear that’s changing, sadly.

Next holiday?

I’m 60 this year, and I think Claire’s planning a surprise trip to New York. Well, not much of a surprise…

Holiday read?

Janet Street Porter came to see me in Spamalot and recommended The Day of the Locust, by Nathanael West, set during the Great Depression in America.

Not your ideal choice for a beach read, but I always try to read ‘proper’ books when I’m away, as it’s often the only chance I get!

New York

Paris Les Dennis stars in Spamalot at London’s Playhouse Theatre, until Nov 2nd and will star in the play The Perfect Murder, a new crime thriller, on tour next January.

Mauritius Issue 1

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Welcome

to our airport...

Don’t get lost before you set off! Check out our floor-by-floor map of Liverpool John Lennon Airports’ ample selection of bars, shops, rest areas and private lounges.

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“Enjoy a coffee, a bite to eat or a pre-flight drink” Gates this way

Keep in touch

9

“World Duty free save up to 20% on high street prices” “More bars, restaurants and shops downstairs”

“All our gates are located within a 3 minute walking distance of security”

Destinations

OSLO RYGGE OSLO TORP

DERRY BELFAST KNOCK DUBLIN

ISLE OF MAN

LIVERPOOL

SHANNON CORK

AMSTERDAM NEWQUAY

JERSEY PARIS NANTES

GENEVA

LIMOGES BERGERAC GRENOBLE BORDEAUX NIMES PISA NICE CARCASSONNE BARCELONA REUS

PORTO

MADRID LISBON FARO

TENERIFE

LANZAROTE FUERTEVENTURA

GRAN CANARIA

ALICANTE

MALAGA

IBIZA

MURCIA

MENORCA MAJORCA

Subject to change. Correct at time of going to print – October 2013

COPENHAGEN GDANSK

VILNIUS

SZCZECIN BERLIN POZNAN LODZ

WARSAW LUBLIN WROCLAW

KATOWICE

SALZBURG INNSBRUCK

KRAKOW

BRATISLAVA

ZADAR

NAPLES

MALTA

BODRUM KOS RHODES LARNACA

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