Hot Brands Cool Places The Travel Issue January 2013

HOT BRANDS COOL PLACES FASHION CULTURE LIFESTYLE

JANUARY 2013

The Travel Issue

EDITOR’S LETTER Happy New Year! Welcome to our first issue of 2013!

In this bumper Travel special we have fascinating interviews with a quartet of travel specialists; Maxine Roberts, Head of Marketing for Carrier, Simon Ball CoFounder of Tuscany Now, Marie Allen, Marketing Manager, Elegant Resorts and Sarah-Leigh Shenton, Director of Marketing, Red Savannah.

If you are looking to plan your holiday we have a selection of travel guides and ideas of ways of saving for that dream holiday as well as our largest collection of travel companies to help you decide where to go. Enjoy!! www.hotbrandscoolplaces.com Picture Credits Front Cover courtesy of Condé Nast Johansens - Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa Maldives http://www.johansens.com/maldives/addu-atoll/shangri-las-villingili-resort-and-spa-maldives

Also ‘Planning your Dream Holiday’ image used courtesy of Condé Nast Johansens, Park Hyatt - Maldives http://www.johansens.com/maldives/gaafu-alifu-atoll/park-hyatt-maldives-hadahaa

Other images throughout the magazine supplied by the various companies, or publishers featured.Intro Image of our Cool Places Section courtesy of of Condé Nast Please Note All information about products and services are supplied to us by the individual organizations, or agencies acting on their behalf. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure that all information is accurate, it may be subject to change.

Please check with individual organizations for the latest information about all events, products, or news items. Inclusion in this magazine does not imply endorsement by Hot Brands Cool Places. Hot Brands Cool Places does not accept responsibility for the content of any external site.

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CONDÉ NAST JOHANSENS Kick start the New Year with a luxurious getaway to a Condé Nast Johansens recommended property. Featuring a unique collection of the very best luxury hotels, spas and villas from around the world, with some fantastic offers to be had, whether you fancy a beach escape, spa break or ski holiday you’ll be spoilt for choice! http://www.condenastjohansens.com

BOVEY CASTLE Bovey Castle is a five-star hotel set within a 275-acre private estate with its own championship golf course, offering guests the unpretentious grandeur and sumptuous dĂŠcor of true English luxury on Dartmoor National Park www.boveycastle.com

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A & K VILLAS Abercrombie & Kent’s collection of exclusive, luxury villas are hand-picked to ensure they meet the highest standards. Choose from beachside locations villas in the heart of Tuscany or something completely different. The wide range means that whatever size family or group you are they will have a luxury villa perfect for you. www.akvillas.com

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INTERVIEW 6

Hot Brands Cool Places spoke with Maxine Roberts, Head of Marketing from Carrier for an exclusive interview Carrier has been in the travel business for over 30 years, how has luxury travel changed during this time?

The perception of ‘luxury travel’ is that it is all about extravagant uber-luxe hotels in sought-after destinations.

However, over the past few years, clients have increasingly been looking for more authentic experiences; trying something new or getting ‘under the skin’ of a destination, rather than feeling removed from it. There is a skill to finding special places that enable this whilst delivering high service levels and stylish surroundings.

Luxury travel is not purely about the hotels or destinations.

It’s about the service that we offer. Our customers are busy, discerning people and trust us to give them an honest and informed opinion. They want a holiday to meet their exact demands and need someone who knows the destinations, understands their preferences and tastes inside out and can hand-pick the right hotel and secure priority access to it.

Some of the itineraries that our team pulls together are extremely complex and can’t be replicated at the click of a button; real attention to detail is paid to the experience in the destination. Our service offering has evolved accordingly; for example, our travel consultants are on call 24/7 and we recently introduced the Carrier Concierge.

You recently published Carrier’s ‘Luxury Travel Trends,’ predicting the six big trends for 2013, what were these?

Trend 1 - Eco-friendly

With an increased emphasis on the protection of the environment, today’s sustainably-conscious travellers are choosing destinations that take inspiration from their immediate surroundings.

This ‘green’ ethic is at the forefront of our featured hotels and evident in everything from their design aesthetic to their culinary offerings and cultural experiences.

Trend 2 - Off the beaten track

Visiting a destination for the first time is often a truly memorable experience. Part of the thrill emanates from the unknown; the sights, sounds and smells associated with a hidden gem that few people are lucky - or intrepid - enough to visit. Finding your ‘under the radar’ retreat is all part of the journey.

Trend 3 - Mind, body and soul

Taking time out to unwind, rejuvenate your senses and revitalise your body can be a lifeenhancing experience.

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We have selected a variety of places whose ethos is to help you make this happen, whether it be pampering, recuperation or a complete fitness overhaul that is required. Combining health and well-being treatments with a stay at an exclusive resort is the perfect way to recharge batteries.

Trend 4 - Understated luxury Seeking solace from everyday life can often prove difficult, however, there are bolt-holes waiting to be discovered where the pace of life slows down. Design-led resorts with discreet service are becoming more prevalent and private islands are increasingly in demand. These hotels lose the glitzy ostentation but keep the high standards.

Trend 5 - A sense of location

The world of luxury travel features distinctive resorts whose locations are unrivalled; carved into a mountain side, surrounded by sparkling azure waters or perched directly on shimmering white sand beaches.

Trend 6 - Multi-generational Spending quality time together as a family is paramount. Extended families are now frequently choosing to holiday together, gathering generations to share memories or even a specific event, such as a birthday or anniversary.

You offer a Carrier Concierge service, what are some of the more unusual requests you have received?

Our Concierge Manager Emma is highly experienced in sourcing and arranging challenging requests from our clients. Recently these have included: • • • • • • • • • • • •

Cookery classes with a Michelin starred chef in Florence High speed driving on the ice circuit at Val d’Isere Private shopping guides around the souks in Morocco Secret tours of Venice Surprise birthday bush dinners on safari in Africa Fast track Universal passes in California Renewal of vows ceremony in the Maldives Diving with stingrays in Antigua Camel rides in Egypt Dune bashing in Dubai Private yoga and Pilates lessons in Dubai and Thailand Jeep trips in The Grand Canyon

How would you like to see the Carrier brand develop in the future?

Carrier has long held a reputation for delivering outstanding service – for which we have won awards - and we are heavily investing in our back-office operations to ensure this continues into the future. The Carrier brand is synonymous with innovation; we were one of the first specialists to launch a brand marketing campaign, which remains one of the most distinctive in the market today. We are always looking for ways to take this to the next level and recently relaunched our website with the aim of providing discerning travellers with ideas and inspiration.

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The site has a number of unique areas, such as ‘Inspirations’, which allows users to search for holidays based on who they are travelling with, time of year or ambience of hotel; and ‘The Edit’, our lifestyle magazine with interviews and guests edits on fashion, events, food and drink.

In the last year, we have been appointed as the preferred travel provider for a number of likeminded partners including the PFA and Jet Logic, and this approach has huge potential for us in the future.

What are some of your team’s personal travel favourites?

Our knowledgeable travel consultants travel regularly to some of the most exciting destinations in the world; here are just a few of their favourites: ‘Flying over the Okavango Delta in a helicopter, which at the time was in full flood, giving wonderful views of the changing plains and a bird’s eye view of the variety of wildlife below.’ Amanda Bailey, Reservations Manager ‘Snorkelling with Beluga Whales in Canada.’ Lucy Barton, Sales Consultant ‘Tiger tracking through the Bandhavgarh National Park and discovering the sights of Old and New Delhi by rickshaw.’ Sonia Francis, Reservations Supervisor What makes a perfect holiday for you?

My perfect holiday combines a few days relaxing reading a good book with touring about seeing the sights; I can’t sit still on a sun-lounger for too long! The accommodation is important too; I prefer laid-back boutique hotels rather than huge resorts and an outdoor shower is always a bonus! I also love good food, ideally neighbourhood or beachside restaurants serving local dishes rather than the glitzy ‘place-to-be-seen’ haunts. To be honest, one of the hazards of this job is that my holiday wish-list gets longer by the day! Bali and Vietnam are on the hit-list. http://www.carrier.co.uk/

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OS PRIVATE TRAVEL Looking for the ultimate holiday this year? Simply look no further. OS Private Travel offers tailor-made luxury holidays to a wide selection of exclusive villas, yachts, private islands and Summer Alpine chalets. They’ll plan your trip down to the finest detail at no extra cost to you... www.osprivatetravel.com

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GLENEAGLES Gleneagles Hotel is a truly unique experience – a luxury break with a historic 5 star hotel with a magical air... crackling fires, twinkling lights, and the finest Scottish hospitality. In a beautiful setting in the highlands of Scotland, Gleneagles is the ultimate retreat. www.gleneagles.com

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INTERVIEW

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Hot Brands Cool Places spoke with Simon Ball Co-Founder of Tuscany Now for an exclusive interview.

What inspired you to set up Tuscany Now? It is pretty simple, I grew up in a farmhouse in Tuscany and my mother and father decided to rent it out. They used a UK company, but they were not happy with the results so I decided to try myself. That was in 1990. I had studied art, architecture and photography in Florence, so it seemed a simple task. Famous last words, but after all these years we are still here, still enjoying the challenge.

What changes have you seen in the expectations from your guests since you first started?

Expectations are far higher than they were 20 years ago. Our clients now expect high specs. and all sorts of features, like air conditioning, wireless internet, en suite bathrooms, in house services as maids, cooks and also experiences like tours, wine tastings, cooking lessons to name just a few.

Your clients can request a chef service in some of your properties, if you could choose your favourite Italian meal, what would it be?

Pasta alla Carbonara. Don’t ask me why, it’s just my favourite dish!

What are your hopes for your business during 2013?

We are working on increasing the offer of experiences to add to the villa rental using two specialist companies and of course on finding some stunning new properties to add to our collection.

What would you recommend as the ‘must see’ for those visiting Tuscany for the first time?

You have the city of Florence and its surrounding hills which have to be some of the most stunning countryside in the world.

What makes a perfect holiday for you?

Doing as little as possible. I travel constantly so what I want is peace, privacy as well as a good book and some fantastic food. I have stayed in villas in 3 continents and in the end the equation is always the same. http://www.tuscanynow.com/

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BLUE & WHITE Blue & White Locations aims to create and showcase the most comprehensive collection of luxury properties available to rent from around the world. We help you find the chicest luxury ski chalets and villas for your holiday by bringing them together under one roof and presenting them in style on our website: http://www.blueandwhitelocations.com

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HELPFUL HOLIDAYS Relax and unwind in one of our hand-picked holiday cottages in the West Country. From cosy coastal cottages to grand country houses, each one has been inspected and star rated by us so you can be sure of reliable quality, honest advice and good value. www.helpfulholidays.com

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GIC THE VILLA COLLECTION GIC The Villa Collection offers a range of stylish villas across a number of the beautiful Greek islands, dotted through the Ionian and Aegean seas – perfect for those who are looking for a stunning place to stay while discovering the real Greek island lifestyle. www.gicthevillacollection.com

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DISCOVER THE WORLD Discover the World have been creating inspiring tailor-made holidays to Iceland for 30 years.

Whether you’re into the northern lights, volcanoes, waterfalls, wildlife, romance or adventure, we can create the perfect holiday for you, from independent self drives to small group touring. www.discover-the-world.co.uk

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COX AND KINGS Cox & Kings is the world’s longest established travel company, offering high quality group tours, private journeys and tailor-made holidays to many of the world’s most fascinating regions. Our luxury holidays range from the lavish to the adventurous, and are planned by experts. www.coxandkings.co.uk

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HIDEAWAYS Hideaways cottages provide the perfect escape from busy and stressful lifestyles. Located across the south of England from Cornwall to Kent and up to the Cotswolds and Welsh borders, Hideaways specialises in high quality properties – from idyllic, romantic retreats just for 2 to large barn conversions sleeping up to 22. www.hideaways.co.uk

Hot Brands Cool Places spoke with Marie Allen, Marketing Manager, Elegant Resorts for an exclusive interview.

INTERVIEW

Elegant Resorts is celebrating their 25th anniversary, what have been the highlights over the years?

There have been too many to list, so here are just a few... the many awards we’ve received... being leading sales worldwide for many of the hotels and resorts we feature... booking more arrivals to Barbados on Concorde than any other travel company… and most of all building such wonderful relationships with so many incredible people.

What innovations do you think there will be in luxury travel in the next 25 years?

Personally I’m really excited about seeing Virgin Galactic take its first commercial, sub-orbital space flight in the near future. We’ve worked closely with them since 2006, and were the first UK tour operator to be selected to sell space flights. Richard Branson is so innovative, and I hope to eventually witness him develop an airline able to take passengers on a supersonic flight to Australia in a time never thought possible! This would open up so many destinations to our clients who have considered a long-haul flight as simply unfeasible.

Where do you think will be the luxury hotspots for 2013?

The Maldives remains extremely popular, and with so many new resorts opening, I see this as an expanding destination for Elegant Resorts in 2013.

We also anticipate growth in Abu Dhabi with the opening of some magnificent 5 star hotels, and with a flight time of approximately 7 hours, it’s making it more and more appealing for our clients.

We’ve recognised this as a business, and have expanded our product to match the present demand from our clients.

What do you enjoy most about working in the travel industry?

I think for me it’s working with such amazing product, and such wonderful people. It’s a fun and friendly industry, and the people I’ve met along the way are so interesting, many of which I consider as good friends.

It’s also a very fast paced environment, so watching how the world has developed and changed over the years has been fascinating. In the time I’ve worked in travel, I’ve seen some amazing hotels open, destination expand and so many inaugural events take place. I look forward for what is yet to come!

What makes a perfect holiday for you?

Complete escapism from daily life! Whether that’s a relaxing holiday on a beach miles away from reality, or being in the depths of Africa witnessing some of the most spectacular sceneries either can be just as rejuvenating! I believe it’s good for the soul to be back with nature.

What has been your most memorable holiday experience?

It’s a hard choice as I’ve travelled on such a diverse range of holidays – however I would probably say in terms of beauty, perfection, peace, and escapism it would probably be the Maldives. I believe that everyone should go there once in their life time. It ticks every box for me personally, and to top and tail it with business class flights means that you come back feeling completely revitalized. www.elegantresorts.co.uk

HOLIDAY COTTAGES Holiday Cottages is a family owned and operated business with more than thirty years experience as a holiday lettings specialist. We offer some of the finest holiday cottages throughout the country including; Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Dorset, the New Forest and the Cotswolds. www.holidaycottages.co.uk

EXPERIENCE TRAVEL GROUP Experience Travel is the UK specialist in tailor-made holidays to Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Thailand, Burma, Laos, Cambodia, The Maldives and Indonesia. We craft holidays & adventures, tailor-made for you. www.experiencetravelgroup.com

CELTIC MANOR From candlelit dinners in the restaurants to a day of pure bliss and pampering in the awardwinning spa, the luxurious five star Celtic Manor Resort has everything you could desire for a perfect break at any time of year. www.celtic-manor.com

cazenove+loyd cazenove+loyd focus on luxury tailor made holidays in three specialist regions across the world: Africa + Indian Ocean, Central + South America and South + South East Asia. Using their expertise, personal experience and specialist guides on the ground, they create original itineraries to match individual client’s expectations, time and budget www.cazloyd.com +44(0)20 7384 2332.

INTERVIEW

Hot Brands Cool Places spoke with Sarah-Leigh Shenton, Director of Marketing, Red Savannah for an exclusive interview.

How would you describe the Red Savannah Experience?

I would describe it as a personal, memorable journey that exceeds expectations. I’ve worked in travel for over 20 years but I’m constantly impressed by the depth of knowledge and expertise in the team here. They really get to know their clients and what they want – whether it’s a relaxing beach break to restore equilibrium or an epic safari adventure in Southern Africa to inject a bit of adventure into life. Every itinerary is absolutely unique with thoughtful detail woven in. There’s always a ‘wow moment’ too – something unexpected that we do to surprise and delight our clients.

What have been the highlights since the company was established?

The highlights are always the delightful messages from happy clients who have returned from their latest adventure with us. As a relatively small company where we design each itinerary down to the tiniest detail, getting amazing feedback has been particularly important to us and has made all of the hard work involved in setting up a new company so very worthwhile. It’s very motivational to hear we’re doing a great job and to know we’ve created something very memorable.

What can you tell us about The Iconic 50?

The Iconic 50 is a collection of outstanding hotels in Europe personally selected as ‘best in class’ by destination specialists who have spent many years visiting and vetting luxury hotels. The portfolio ranges from palatial city hotels with distinguished heritage to charming auberges set in rural hideaways. What unites them is the ability to go the extra mile to achieve that indefinable, but all important, extra – a quality we pride ourselves on at Red Savannah.

You are an experienced traveller, what are some of your most memorable experiences?

For me it’s all about the people you meet and really getting to know a destination beyond the obvious and superficial. Last February I went to Cambodia – its ancient and recent history has always a fascinated me. I travelled to some of the well-known places – Angkor Wat and Phnom Penh – as well as going off-the-beaten-track to a very beautiful coastal area dotted with islands close to the Vietnamese border. I was privileged to meet a survivor of the notorious Tuol Sleng prison in Phnom Penh, Mr Chum Mey. It was a humbling experience that left me deeply moved.

I’ve also been fortunate enough to sleep under the stars in the Sahara desert, ride a horse across Monument Valley and an elephant through Nepalese jungle; I’ve walked deep into the Grand Canyon, and enjoyed island hopping along Thailand’s beautiful Andaman coast.

When you travel what are the essential items that you always take with you?

My iPod Touch loaded up with playlists and podcasts that I generally don’t have time to listen to at home. My passport, a good lip salve, my Kindle and a travel journal.

What does Red Savannah hope to achieve in 2013?

We hope to continue our excellent record in terms of positive client feedback. We’re also launching a Private Estate collection and a portfolio of Private Gulet Charters which we hope will be received in the same way our tailor-made journeys and villas have been. www.redsavannah.com

SYKES COTTAGES Get together with family and friends, Sykes Cottages have thousands of holiday cottages that are the perfect location for a holiday. Give us a call or visit our website today! www.sykescottages.co.uk

EXCLUSIVE ESCAPES Exclusive Escapes provide you with wonderful villas and boutique hotels all exclusive to them.

All their villas offer a ‘hotel-service’ with welcome hamper, daily maid cleaning and car hire. In 2013 Exclusive Escapes expands its coastal programme to include top-of-the-range seafront townhouses on Kas Peninsula www.exclusiveescapes.co.uk/properties/kas-island-villas-meis

ESSENTIAL SAILING Our vision is to provide a premier yacht cruising,regional culture and cuisine experience in the finest sailing destinations in the world.To be the best in providing outstanding quality, service and value. Essential Sailing offers you a private yacht without the responsibility of owning one, and gives you the thrill of luxury sailing without the need for knowledge and experience of sailing it! Essential Sailing really can tailor-make your luxury holiday to suit everyone on board. Three spectacular destinations, The French Riviera, The Italian Riviera and The Canary Islands. www.essentialsailing.com

MOSAIC HOLIDAYS Explore and discover, relax and recharge, or why not do both! Mosaic Holidays understands how precious your holiday time is and offers a vast array of resorts, hotel styles, excursions and experiences to suit all tastes. www.mosaicholidays.co.uk

Planning your dream holiday Even the most positive people will have found the last twelve months of weather in the UK a little daunting, and most years during January and February we begin to yearn for a break.

Given the economic climate this may seem difficult to achieve, but there are many ways to create that ‘holiday feeling’. Like any ambition anything is possible once you commit to doing something about it.

If you want to do something special like saving up for a late ‘gap year’ this will take more planning to organize, working out where you want to go, what you want to do on your travels, organizing all the options, but the planning is half the fun.

There are numerous ways to save for a holiday, from the most simple, creating a piggy-bank with ‘Holiday’ written on it to the more structured savings plan, it’s amazing how the money starts to accumulate once you start saving.

Think about those other little treats that you spend money on and whether some of it can be re-routed into the holiday fund.

For more significant holidays try setting aside a regular amount each month and putting it in a savings account, or start selling unwanted goods, or find other ways of earning extra money that can be used for your special holiday. Alternatively try explaining to close family that you are saving for a special holiday and perhaps they could give you some money towards it, instead of presents for Christmas/birthdays.

A fun way of getting in the holiday spirit, is to have special weekends or evenings when you create meals, or drinks in the ‘Spirit of’ your favourite destination, e.g. A Parisian breakfast, An Italian lunch, A Moroccan dinner, with optional dressing up! It doesn’t cost much, but it reminds you of why are saving. If you invite friends around it can almost feel like you are on holiday, but watch the costs, otherwise you could spend the cost of a mini-break in food and alcohol!

Learning a language, or going to dance classes, can also help build the holiday spirit. In same theme is going on a city-break, or mini-holiday; surveys often reveal that people don’t take their full entitlement of holiday, and this is particularly true if you are running your own business, or are self-employed. The main reason given is that it is too stressful, or complicated to organize things so you can get away.

It is much easier to organize a short break over a weekend, or to coincide with your quietest time in the week. Above all, whatever your travel plans, the most important thing is to take a break, and when you come back, create a memory board/wall, journal or blog, with all the memories, with photographs, souvenirs and the motivation to start saving for the next one!

Here is a selection of travel guides to get you in the holiday spirit:

DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Japan Synopsis: The DK Eyewitness Japan Travel Guide is your indispensible guide to this beautiful part of the world. The fully updated guide includes unique cutaways, floorplans and reconstructions of the must-see sites, plus street-by-street maps of all these fascinating cities and towns.

The new-look guide is also packed with photographs and illustrations leading you straight to the best attractions on offer.

The uniquely visual DK Eyewitness Travel guide will help you to discover everything region by region; from local festivals and markets to day trips around the countryside. Detailed listings will guide you to the best hotels, restaurants, bars and shops for all budgets, whilst detailed practical information will help you to get around, whether by train, bus or car. Plus, DK’s excellent insider tips and essential local information will help you explore every corner of Japan effortlessly.

DK Eyewitness Japan Travel Guide - showing you what others only tell you. http://www.dk.co.uk/ Hot Brands Cool Places Verdict This is a stunning guide, the photography is beautiful and the guide is packed full with fascinating information. The guide is divided into Introducing Japan, which maps the country and sets it in its historical and cultural context. Tokyo and the eight regional sections describe important sights, using maps, photographs and illustrations. Restaurant and hotel recommendations can be found in Traveller’s Needs, together with general advice about accommodations and Japanese food.

The Survival Guide has tips on everything from transportation to etiquette.

THE ROUGH GUIDE TO VENICE & THE VENETO Jonathan Buckley Synopsis: The Rough Guide to Venice & the Veneto, long established as the most thorough and reliable guide to the city and its surroundings,has been completely redesigned and updated for this ninth edition. Unrivaled in its coverage of the Doge’s Palace, the Basilica di San Marco and all the other major sights, the Rough Guide also reveals the treasures to be found in the districts that lie off the usual tourist trails – and has plenty of maps to make sure you find them easily.

As well as being packed with stories that illuminate the city’s history, the Rough Guide tells you more about the city as it is today than any other guidebook, with features on everything from flood-prevention projects to the travails of Venice’s football team. It will tell you the best places to stay, eat and drink, in all price ranges, from backwater bars to gourmet restaurants, from homely B&Bs to spectacular Grand Canal hotels. Make the most of your time with The Rough Guide to Venice & the Veneto. http://www.roughguides.com/

Hot Brands Cool Places Verdict We love Venice and this guide book will really encourage you to visit, packed with information, it is easy to read and fascinating. This is a classic example of something you might want to read before you go as it will really help with planning your visit.

Even if you are very familiar with Venice, you may still discover some surprises in this helpful guide!

THE BEST PLACES TO STAY IN BRITAIN ON A BUDGET Jules Brown, Samantha Cook, Helena Smith, James Stewart, Steve Vickers Synopsis: Rough Guides’ The Best Places to Stay in Britain on a Budget reviews over 250 establishments, from the Isles of Scilly to Orkney and Windermere to Winchester, taking in rural B&Bs, cool townhouses, historic inns, hikers’ hostels and canal boats. Our selection includes everything from comfortable £12 dorms to ornate £80 doubles, showing that you can stay in wonderful accommodation without breaking the bank.

Full-colour pictures and maps show what to expect and how to get there, while practical details cover everything from check-out times to breakfast options. We’ve highlighted our favourites with feature reviews and lists showing our top picks for families, luxury, bargains, public transport access, outdoor activities and more, while sharp contributions from our experienced writers help you make your mind up.

Whether you want to stay in a big city’s buzzing heart, halfway up a mountain or in rolling farmland, The Best Places to Stay in Britain on a Budget has it covered. http://www.roughguides.com/ Hot Brands Cool Places Verdict The guide is divided into thirteen regional chapters, each chapter begins with a map showing all the places they recommend and a really useful reference chart detailing the best features of each, this is divided into Real Bargain, Treat Yourself, family-Friendly, Great Rural Location, Outdoor Activities, Great Food and Drink, Dorms, Public Transport.

Informative and helpful, this is a great guide to holidaying on a limited budget.

UNDISCOVERED HOLIDAYS “When you think of Jordan, most people often think of Petra and the Dead Sea. Petra is without doubt one of the Middle East’s most spectacular sights, and one definitely not to be missed. There is so much more to see in Jordan other than Petra; ruined Roman cities, crusader castles, desert citadels and powerful biblical sights including the mountain where Moses first cast his eyes on the Promised Land.

Undiscovered Holidays have put together some fantastic tours that we are sure you will love, giving you the opportunity to explore this magical country for yourself! www.undiscovered-holidays.com

SIMPLY RETREATS New for 2013 is the Live Well Retreat from Simply Retreats. Designed to help you take steps towards a healthier lifestyle that’s both sustainable and fun, it includes fitness classes, nutrition workshops, yoga classes, Balinese Massage and Nordic walking. To help you maintain your healthy lifestyle at home, you get sample classes, nutrition information and recipe ideas to take away with you. www.simply-retreats.co.uk/live-well-retreat

EXSUS From the beautifully deserted beaches of Brazil’s North East and Europe’s most uncovered boutique boltholes to the wildest of Africa plains, our first-hand knowledge is second to none.

We offer unrivalled personal service, attention to detail, unbiased advice and up-to-date knowledge. www.exsus.com

Spring Beauty Feature With these cold and chilly days we have gathered together a collection of nourishing creams to help protect against dry and cracked skin.

NEW NEUTROGENA® Norwegian Formula Nourishing Nordic Berry Hand cream To celebrate this landmark birthday, Neutrogena has launched the Norwegian Formula Nourishing Hand Cream with Nordic Berry. Developed with dermatologists, the newest addition to the classic range contains an effective combination of glycerine and the Scandinavian super fruit, Nordic Berry.

The NEUTROGENA® Norwegian Formula Nourishing Hand Cream with Nordic Berry has a non-greasy texture, which is quickly absorbed.

Perfect for normal to mild dry skin, it leaves skin feeling extra soft and looking healthy. In a consumer study, 95% of consumers agree Nordic Berry leaves skin soft. It’s beautiful scent has been specially developed and as well as berry, has hints of apple, red fruit, rose and bergamot.

NEUTROGENA® Norwegian Formula Concentrated Hand Cream Proven to moisturise for 24 hours once applied , the high glycerine concentration means that only a dab is needed each time. Selling one product every five seconds, NEUTROGENA® Norwegian Formula Hand Cream is a proven, much loved beauty essential for women everywhere. www.boots.com Australian Bodycare Hand Cream Contains 1% Tea-Tree Oil to help kill any bacteria, whilst also offering intensive nourishment for dry, cracked hands.

Shea Butter and Argan Oil moisturise the skin, whilst Allantoin helps to reduce the signs of ageing. The multitasking hand cream is easily absorbed so won’t leave hands feeling greasy.

The formula is a gentle and paraben- and perfume-free. www.australianbodycare.com

Eau Thermale Avène Hand Cream with Cold Cream is formulated with nourishing Cold Cream and Avène Thermal Spring Water. This luxurious, silky hand cream provides care and protection for dry, chapped and irritated hands. It also contains sucralfate, a powerful healing agent used in medical products which allows for rapid tissue regeneration.

Dr Organic Organic Virgin Coconut Oil Hand & Nail Cream is a fast absorbing, deeply hydrating and nutritious hand and nail cream formulated with a tropical blend of organic oils and fruit extracts,. The tropical bioactive formulation is a powerhouse of natural, long-lasting moisturising protection using Vitamin C and Vitamin E. www.hollandandbarrett.com/ Trilogy Ultra Hydrating Hand sinks rapidly into the skin, delivering instant intensive hydration and antioxidant protection for super smooth, super soft hands. With a deeply nourishing combination of marula and certified organic rosehip oils, Trilogy Ultra Hydrating Hand Cream also incorporates manuka honey to soften and protect.

Oat extract soothes dry or chapped skin, providing a natural barrier against moisture loss, while antioxidant-rich white tea extract rejuvenates skin and helps protect against free radical damage. www.trilogyproducts.co.uk Elemis Balance & Purify Cleansing Duo Balance and Purify for beautiful skin!

Balancing Lime Blossom Cleanser 200ml This award-winning non-abrasive resurfacing cleanser is boosted with patented Tri-Enzyme technology, helping to protect against environmental damage, while soothing and supporting tired skin Balancing Lavender Toner 200ml High Alpine Lavender helps maintain the skin’s natural pH balance, whilst effectively clarifying the complexion without the use of alcohol for harsh detergents.

Ideal or use on teenage or combination skins. www.timetospa.co.uk/

HOT BRANDS COOL PLACES www.hotbrandscoolplaces.com