Ashdown springsummer2012

A S H D O W N T R AV E L SPRING/SUMMER 2012

* NEWS * LONG HAUL SUMMER * THE SEYCHELLES * * VILLAS IN HOTELS * LOCATIONS INSPIRED BY FILM, TV & BOOKS *

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Welcome to our latest newsletter!

I was sitting at home a few weeks ago watching a film with my family when my daughter said, “Wow Dad! That place looks amazing, where is that?” Being a travel agent, I think she was expecting me to know the answer immediately, which I regret to say I didn’t. However it did prompt the idea to run a feature on some memorable book, TV and film moments. We try to un-ravel where they were set and describe the incredible locations, hopefully giving you inspiration to visit.

We have also seen a large increase in requests from clients that would like the freedom and flexibility of having their own villa, yet still have access to all the facilities of a larger resort.

With this in mind we have decided to run a feature on some of our favourite properties both within Europe and further afield that offer exactly this. These are just a selection, so if you like this concept but want a different

location, then please give us a call as I am sure we can try to find you an alternative.

A number of clients that have travelled extensively in Europe have asked about travelling in our summer months to somewhere further afield where the weather should still be good. You will read a number of recommendations to far flung destinations where historically the weather is hot and sunny with very little rainfall. Long haul hotels at this time of the year can offer excellent value for money, so despite the fact that the flight cost is higher, the overall prices are exceptionally competitive when compared to Europe.

I do hope you enjoy reading this newsletter and hope that we can be of service to you again soon.

Kind Regards, Nick Samuels, Director nick@ashdowntravel.co.uk

New Hotel Opening Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts are recognised by many as one of the leading hotel chains in the world, so any new hotel openings are always highly anticipated. Opening in late 2012 in the magnificent Russian city of St Petersburg will be the latest jewel in their crown. Situated within a 19th Century Royal Palace this luxury hotel will be in a fantastic location just 2 blocks from the Hermitage Museum and close to the Mariinsky Theatre. It promises to be the epitome of luxury and will be a highly desired choice for the discerning traveller. Please let us know if you would like to know more about this exciting new opening.

FREE NIGHTS IN ORIENT EXPRESS HOTELS, SICILY

Villa Sant Andrea

Pay for 5 nights stay 6 between now and 31 May and 24 Sep - 28 Oct 12.

Grand Hotel Timeo

Pay for 4 nights stay 5 between now and 23 May and 21 Oct - 18 Nov 12.

All guests receive a complimentary 2 hour boat cruise along the coast; and can share the facilities between the two hotels.

Front page courtesy: Grand Hotel Timeo/Villa Sant Andrea

A S H D O W N T R A V E L 24-26 Station Road East, Oxted

Cabin Refurbishment In 1992 Virgin Atlantic was the first airline to launch a Premium Economy cabin. Twenty years on, and with several innovative enhancements along the way,Virgin Atlantic is updating their Premium Economy cabin and rolling it out across their entire fleet over the coming 12 months. Several new enhanced features include: an increase in seat width to 21 inches, around 3 inches wider than other airlines; a new leather cover with enhanced ergonomics for increased comfort; an additional 2 degrees of recline and a comfortable 38 inch seat pitch. They are also enhancing their meal service

so it will be different from Economy and served on crockery with metal cutlery, and there will be a fruit-bowl to help yourself throughout the flight.

There will also be a dedicated check-in desk, priority boarding, a state of the art “on demand” inflight entertainment system, and priority baggage reclaim. Virgin Atlantic are also launching some new routes: Cancun commences from Gatwick on 12th June on Tuesdays & Saturdays; Vancouver commences on 24th May direct from Heathrow 4 times a week; and Mumbai will re-launch on 28th October.

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The Algarve, Portugal The Pine Cliffs Resort, adjacent to the Sheraton Algarve Hotel, offers a perfect alternative to a hotel stay, with a choice of self catering accommodation to meet all requirements. Set amongst pine trees, they all feature the best state-of-the-art facilities with fully equipped kitchens and comfortable living space.

The resort’s luxury villas are four-bedrooms each with a private pool and barbecue, allowing you to enjoy an intimate and relaxed atmosphere with the family, away from the excitement and distractions of a busy hotel. There are also luxury residence apartments if you still prefer the privacy and convenience of your own kitchen without the need for your own 4-bed villa! They have

Puglia, Italy two and three bedrooms so you can find one to suit the size of your family and have a dedicated check-in, shared pool, restaurant and deli onsite as well as access to all the hotel facilities. Brand new for 2012 are some modern luxurious townhouses, the Terraces, which will offer a choice of two, three or four bedrooms.

The resort itself has excellent facilities for moments when you do fancy exploring the area, including a 9-hole golf course, well equipped health club and exciting kids’ clubs. With 13 restaurants and bars there is plenty of choice for when you do not want to cook, and there’s also a private elevator leading to Pine Cliff Resort’s private sandy beach.

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Borgo Egnazia allows you to enjoy all the luxuries of a hotel experience whilst retaining lots of space and many of your home comforts. It is situated near the sea with a choice of villas, townhouses and hotel rooms structured in a traditional village.

The two-storey townhouses have a choice of one or two bedrooms with a living room and kitchenette (kettle and microwave) and a shared pool. They are very popular for families with the security of being under the same roof and an added bonus of complimentary half board. Each of the 28 villas, clustered in 7 groups of 4, feature three bedrooms and comfortably sleep six guests, perfect for families or groups of friends looking for a luxury holiday whilst enjoying privacy and

space. All of the villas have modern facilities including beautifully styled living area and dining room; fully equipped kitchens with dishwashers, washing machines, dryers; and of course, their own swimming pools.

Borgo Egnazia’s resort facilities are also excellent, with English-speaking childcare professionals running the kids’ club and an 18hole championship golf course for adults. Guests can choose to dine at one of the hotel’s five restaurants, cook in their own villa or hire one of the hotel’s personal chefs. It is also possible to hire a babysitter so that you can enjoy an evening at one of the hotel’s wine bars.

Beach image below: © Francesco Bittichesu

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St Lucia With British Airways flying daily and Virgin Atlantic three times a week, it is no surprise that the paradise island of St Lucia has seen a huge increase in visitors. To cope with this demand a number of new hotel openings have been happening and one of the newest to catch our attention is The Landings St Lucia.

The 1, 2, 3 & 4 bedroom residences offer state of the art living and dining facilities yet have the full facilities of a resort such as a tennis club, 7 swimming pools, a full service spa and a choice of bars and restaurants. The water sports centre at the

Anguilla beach has a huge range of equipment available and the 24 hour concierge can make reservations for any other sporting and dining requirements that you have.

Inside each residence you will find a full kitchen, living and dining room as well as bedroom and en suite bathroom, and each also enjoys two large outdoor terraces. So far, the feedback from our clients has been excellent, and the location, so close to the thriving resort of Rodney Bay, makes this an ideal base to explore this wonderful island.

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Anguilla, in the northern Caribbean, is a beautiful island with wonderful beaches, great watersports and a wide selection of independent restaurants.

Being only a short hop from Antigua, and with car hire easy to arrange, it’s a great destination to hire a superb private villa.

Or for the ultimate choice and flexibility, why not hire a private villa within the grounds of The Viceroy. These contemporary villas look

out towards Barnes Bay, and have been finished to a very high standard, and the beach is but a few steps away. They all feature full kitchens, great outdoor space with pool or jacuzzi, and daily housekeeping, whilst a private chef can be arranged. When you venture out from your private oasis, The Viceroy offers tempting restaurants, terrific watersports and a wonderfully indulgent Spa.

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Greece Greece has proved to be a celebrated muse to many authors, poets, artists, writers and directors throughout the ages. Whether it’s because of its azure skies, crystal clear waters, ancient mythology and civilisations, glorious sunlight, unspoiled scenery, relaxed way of life, or a combination of it all, it has been the setting for many films and books.

Who can forget Shirley Valentine escaping her dull life and finding romance with a local taverna owner on the island of Mykonos. Ultimately she re-discovers herself and falls in love with the island itself and, with its pristine beaches and cosmopolitan atmosphere, who wouldn’t?

The hugely popular film production of Mamma Mia, based around a family wedding and a girl’s discovery of her real father, is filmed on the island of Skopelos. Luckily it maintains its Greek flavour despite its new-found fame.

Louis de Bernières Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, set on the island of Kefalonia, follows a love story between an Italian soldier and the daughter of a local doctor with a backdrop of war and natural disaster. It was turned into a Hollywood blockbuster filmed on location on the island around the traditional village of Sami.

Norway Zorba the Greek and Victoria Hislop’s The Island both evoke images of the fascinating island of Crete and most flights to Crete are filled with people reading Hislop’s bestseller. Her next novel TheThread, was published in October and is set in Thessaloniki, gateway to the popular resort of Halkidiki.

Sicily We have been inundated with people who have watched the BBC2 series Sicily Unpacked and have been inspired to find out more about this fabulous Italian island.

The 3-part series was presented by art critic Andrew Graham-Dixon and chef Giorgio Locatelli.

They each have a passion for Sicily and together they embark on a journey making your mouth water with culinary treats and your eyes widen as they uncover some hidden cultural treasures along the way.

Jo has visited the island numerous times, Abigail enjoyed her honeymoon there, and Linda is shortly to enjoy its magical delights so it is definitely an office favourite! Photograph below by Genivis Loci

A few years ago the BBC realised Joanna Lumley’s childhood dream of seeing the Northern Lights.

She set off on a journey of discovery into the Arctic, and millions watched spellbound as her dream was eventually fulfilled close to Tromsø in northern Norway.

The programme has inspired many to follow in her footsteps and try and see this amazing phenomenon for themselves. Some have headed straight to the lovely city of Tromsø for a short break, with the option of exciting activities such as husky and snowmobile safaris and a variety of Northern Lights excursions.

It is even possible to book a tour with the guide who found the lights for Joanna Lumley – if you book early enough! Other people have chosen to spend a week or so following the route she took to Tromsø, including a spectacular train journey across the Arctic Circle, and a couple of nights in a cosy cabin in the beautiful Lofoten Islands.

Last winter was a particularly good one for the Northern Lights – and according to NASA scientists next winter, with the approaching solar maximum could give the best displays for 50 years. There has never been a better time to go, so book your place soon!

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James Bond

Lord of the Rings

There have been many memorable James Bond 007 scenes over the years, however here are a few that particularly stand out. The scene of Daniel Craig coming out of the sea in Casino Royale was memorably filmed on the island of Nassau in the Bahamas. The Man with The Golden Gun saw James Bond’s plane destroyed by Scaramanga after he arrived on the villain’s island, in this case around the island of Phuket in Thailand. Jamaica has been featured in many James Bond films, in fact you can now stay at Ian Fleming’s original Jamaican hideaway, GoldenEye. Who can forget the crocodile incident during Live & Let Die which was filmed at Falmouth Crocodile Farm on the island. James Bond films have featured many outstanding car chases, however the stand out one for us was Roger Moore driving the white Lotus down a windy mountain road whilst being attacked by cars, motorbikes and helicopters in The Spy Who Loved Me. This was filmed on location in Northern Sardinia around the resorts of Cala Di Volpe and Porto Cervo.

The epic Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien is set in a fictional world of Middle-Earth. The film director Peter Jackson bought it to life, filming his hugely acclaimed trilogy, in his native New Zealand.

It was shot in over 150 locations, some extremely remote, others are more accessible and they form the inspiration for countless guided tours.

New Zealand was a perfect choice for Jackson, not least as he is a Kiwi, but also due to the huge variety of landscapes spanning the stunning snow capped peaks of the Southern Alps, extraordinary glaciers unusually close to the ocean, and spectacular ice-carved fjords.

On the North Island the lush farmland of Matamata in the Waikato region became Hobbiton.

Further south, the volcanic region of Mt Ruapehu transformed into the fiery Mt. Doom where Sauron forged The Ring. In the same area, hikers can tread the same path as Frodo and Sam by walking the Tongariro Crossing, often described as one of the best one-day walks in the world.

The South Island was the backdrop for countless scenes. Near Lake Wanaka, you can see the backdrop used for Gandalf ’s flight to Rohan. From the South Island’s adventure hub, Queenstown, it is possible to fly, drive, cycle or trek to many of the locations including the Remarkables mountain range featured as Isengard, the Misty Mountains and the Ford of Bruinen. Gateway to the Fiordland National Park, the town of Te Anau was a base for a number of The Two Towers locations including the Great River Anduin and The Dead Marshes.

With the much anticipated release of the Hobbit films at the end of 2012 we expect to see even more interest in holidays to New Zealand.

Image opposite: photograph by Gilbert van Reenen

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Koh Samui

Bali

East Coast Malaysia

Borneo

Thailand is a perennial favourite but it doesn’t have to be just a winter-sun destination. The distinct weather patterns of the region mean the east coast island of Koh Samui is traditionally bathed in tropical warmth from March through to September and when it rains, it tends to be short and sharp, and it’s usually never long until the sun returns.

The main beach resort of Chaweng is buzzing with bars, restaurants and market stalls, and a stunning four mile stretch of powder white sand beach. The quieter resorts of the north such as Bo Phut appeal more to those wanting to get away from it all. We love the SALA Samui, located on Choeng Mon Beach in Samui’s north-east tip. It has 69 stylish, spacious villas of which 53 villas feature private swimming pools. Each one is decorated in white fabrics and dark woods and is well appointed with complimentary wi-fi, flatscreen TVs, and spacious balconies each with an outdoor daybed.

The magical island of Bali has been enchanting travellers for years and it’s best visited in our summer months to take advantage of the hot temperatures and avoid the winter rains.

It’s perfect for summer family holidays and romantic honeymoons with a huge range of stunning accommodation. The choice can vary as to whether you prefer uber-stylish hotels in Seminyak, popular for its amazing surf; to the calmer shores of Sanur where the hotels are more rustic; to manicured Nusa Dua, with its safe sea swimming and resort atmosphere.

We urge everyone who goes to make time to visit Ubud, in the heart of the island. Its galleries and central market are great for picking up some souvenirs, and its scenery and temples will enrich your holiday experience. We love the style and ambience of the Chedi Club Tanah Gajah with just 20 private villas.

Be indulged with morning yoga, afternoon tea, sunset cocktails and individual butler service.

One of our favourite hidden treasures is the Tanjong Jara Resort on Malaysia’s east coast. Not only is it a beautiful luxury haven for honeymooners and spa lovers, but it enjoys warm tropical weather in our summer (in as much as we can predict!), and it is less well known than its Thai neighbours and therefore better value for money.

The resort was built to reflect its Malay heritage and is set along a long stretch of sandy beach. It has fabulous diving off the coast with excellent visibility in our summer and on-site is a multi award winning Spa Village. Rooms are either in two storey blocks or semi detached beach cottages, each stylishly decorated with local fabrics and all mod cons. Whilst there, you are spoilt for choice - relaxing poolside, enjoying a jungle trek, bicycle tour or river cruise, or for those who want to learn a new skill the kitchen also operates cooking classes.

One of two Malaysian states on the island of Borneo, Sabah is home to some of the country’s most endearing attractions, the orang-utans. It also benefits from some world class dive sites, turtles, proboscis monkeys, Malaysia’s highest peak Mt Kinabalu, virgin rainforest, and stretches of golden sandy beaches.

The most popular accommodation choices are Shangri-la’s Tanjung Aru Resort near the capital of Kota Kinabalu; and Shangri-la’s Rasa Ria Resort 45 mins away, located right on the beach with its own orang-utan sanctuary next door.

We are excited at a new deluxe resort opening, sister to Pangkor Laut Resort and Tanjong Jara Resort (left), Gaya Island Resort is a small retreat blending into the surrounding environment on an island within a natural marine conservation area.

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Bermuda Bermuda, an island jewel situated in the Atlantic Ocean, is a long-time favourite of ours. Blessed with a mild year-round climate, some of the best months to visit are April-July, when long sunny days and calm seas showcase the beautiful pink sand beaches. Water visibility is very good and there are over 200 species of hard coral around the islands, which together with the abundance of marine life makes diving and snorkelling an excellent pastime.

To help reduce congestion and pollution, hire cars are banned on the island but the extensive and frequent bus and ferry network make it easy and

Mauritius fun to explore. Dining out is a true pleasure on the island, with everything from ‘pub grub’ through to fine dining.

There is a good choice of hotels: Grotto Bay offers great value for money; whilst the setting for Elbow Beach along the south coast is fabulous; and the waterfront views across to Hamilton from the stylish Newstead Belmont Hills are simply delightful. All these hotels have offers such as ‘stay 7, pay 6’ through the summer months, contact us for details. In summer, direct flights from Gatwick operate daily with British Airways.

To enjoy Mauritius during our summer months, we suggest going to the west coast of the island, which is usually more sheltered from the easterly tradewinds.

Being the first hotel company on the island, Beachcomber had the pick of the prime locations and beaches and chose them magnificently. There are seven resorts on the west coast and one on the south-east coast which range in quality from 4* to 5* deluxe. If you are looking for an unforgettable fun family holiday with exciting land and water sports or simply a romantic hideaway, there will be a property to suit. Each of the hotels has its own personality and charm: for instance Royal Palm exudes elegance and sophistication; Dinarobin and

Paradis are casually refined with excellent facilities; Trou Aux Biches offers some of the best villas on the island; and Shandrani is regarded by many as the finest all inclusive on the island.

There is usually a choice of meal plans which range from bed and breakfast to premium allinclusive. A superb choice of cuisine is provided such as seasonal beach barbecues through to elegant fine dining options. All of the properties have a children’s club which provide amazing activities for all ages as well as offering an excellent range of family friendly accommodation including guaranteed connecting rooms. For the ultimate in personal pampering, some of the most magnificent spas on the island are available at your hotel.

A S H D OW N T EA M T R I P S The Seychelles by Sue My first view of the Seychelles was from the air looking out over the archipelago of over 100 tropical islands.We flew into Mahe, the main island where we were escorted to the dedicated Raffles lounge, a short ride from the airport. Our itinerary began on Praslin, staying at the newly opened Raffles Hotel. Praslin is a 15 minute journey from Mahe aboard a small island plane and the views of the crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches were amazing. Our accommodation for the next few nights were in luxurious villas, built into the granite hillside. Each villa has its own decking area with plunge pool, outside shower and a day bed area, together with a butler. The hotel overlooks the Curieuse National Park, with a choice of restaurants, kids club and a stunning spa all within an easy golf buggy ride, available throughout the resort.

Just around the bay from Raffles a visit to the beach at Anse Lazio is an absolute must. Picture perfect, Anse Lazio is regarded as one of the top ten beaches in the world, with powder white sand framed by superb granite boulders. It is truly out of this world!

A 40 minute boat ride took us across to La Digue and a visit to the Union Estate, home to the famous giant turtles and the copra mills which produce the fabulous coconut oil sold throughout the island. La Digue is a slower and more tranquil island due to the lack of cars, most forms of transport are by bicycle or ox-cart readily available on arrival at the pier!

After flying back to Mahe and a 30 minute road transfer we arrived at the Four Seasons.

Accommodation is in fabulous tree house style villas dotted amongst the hillside, surrounded by green vegetation, home to the fruit bats. Each villa houses an infinity plunge pool, day bed, an outdoor shower and panoramic views.The bathrooms are enormous with a huge sunken marble bath, and floor to ceiling windows to enjoy the spectacular view.

Four Seasons has its own dive centre, with many water sports options, a fitness centre, fun kids club and choice of exotic restaurants as well as 24 hour in-villa dining, perfect for a romantic evening. The hilltop spa has probably one of the most fantastic positions I have ever seen with soaring bay views and a rooftop yoga pavilion. Golf buggies are readily available throughout the resort to take you up and down the hillside to the beach.

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