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To coincide with English Tourism Week the UK and Europe’s biggest visitor attraction operator,Merlin Entertainments (‘Merlin’) has linked with national tourist board, VisitEngland, to launch their first ever joint marketing campaign.  The £600,000 campaign kicks off on 12 March and will run on air for three weeks with a schedule which will include 20 second peak time TV ads; e-shots; and online advertising to target social networking and influential blog sites; supported by national and local PR activity all aimed at encouraging consumers to visit www.visitengland.org/funoffer.

The VisitEngland and Merlin Entertainments activity will highlight a 25% discount on the Standard Merlin Annual Pass, a promotion developed especially for the campaign.  The Merlin Annual Pass gives 12 months access to all Merlin’s 25 iconic English attractions (which will increase to 26 with the opening of an observation tower in Weymouth in time for the Olympic yachting crowds to enjoy); as well as other offers in the 4 hotels Merlin has across 3 of their Resort Theme Parks – Alton Towers; Chessington World of Adventures and, from next week, LEGOLAND Windsor.  Merlin’s attractions also include the EDF Energy London Eye; SEA LIFE, Warwick Castle, Madame Tussauds, Thorpe Park, Dungeons, LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, and the Blackpool Tower.

The campaign supports the wider Holidays at Home are GREAT campaign launched earlier this week,  and aimed at inspiring UK residents to take advantage of 2012’s incredible events like the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, the Torch Relay, the Cultural Festival, and book a holiday at home during this momentous year.

Commenting, Lady Cobham, VisitEngland’s Chairman said “We are particularly excited by this partnership with Merlin, one of our most exciting and dynamic leisure organisations offering world-class attractions throughout the UK.  Now is the time to holiday at home – there is no comparison anywhere else in the world with what is happening here in the UK this year.”

Merlin Entertainments CEO Nick Varney, said “The UK is where Merlin began, and many of our best known and biggest attractions are here.  We strongly support the Government’s efforts to encourage domestic as well as international tourism – not least because a successful tourist industry is also the quickest and most effective way to create new jobs, particularly for young people.  Indeed as the theme park season begins we are ourselves recruiting for several thousand jobs around the country.

We believe that events in 2012 offer new impetus for people living here to rediscover what a fantastic range of activities there are in this country, at all price points, and for all the family.  We hope too that the success of this campaign, on every level, will encourage Government to go even further in the future.”

Deliverance, London’s largest multi-cuisine food delivery service, announces today that it is opening a new kitchen in Herne Hill. Their latest kitchen will prepare and deliver freshly-cooked dishes, developed by top chefs, in just 30 minutes from order.

Delicious food from some of London’s top chefs

In preparing for this launch, the Deliverance team has been working with some of London’s leading chefs to create its new international menu. A recent example includes healthy fast-food chain LEON’s ex-head chef Benny Peverelli. Peverelli spent four months sampling London’s best pizzas in order to create the recipe for Deliverance’s tastiest ever pizza, which has its dough freshly prepared on-site in the Herne Hill kitchen.

Thai food writer Kay Plunkett-Hogge has also been drafted in to work with the Deliverance development team. The Bangkok-born cook has created a range of new dishes including a richly-spiced yellow curry from Western Thailand and fragrant Thai Fishcakes with hints of lime and red curry.

Deliverance’s fastest-ever delivery from a state-of-the-art kitchen

Located under the railway arches of Herne Hill station, the new Deliverance kitchen its first to operate a 30-minute delivery promise.

The faster delivery time is made possible thanks to the decision to serve a smaller area and the of pioneering technology, developed by Deliverance, that ensures that all freshly-cooked dishes are ready to be delivered at exactly the same moment.

The kitchen is also equipped with some of the best cooking equipment available, including an authentic tandoor oven to create springy naan breads and the same rapidly-heating induction woks that are used to prepare tasty stir-fries in Michelin-starred restaurants.

Dishes from the kitchen will be delivered using a fleet of new, low-noise scooters, housed in an off-streetlocation to minimise local traffic disruption and noise pollution.

Good food, cooked fresh, delivered fast

Thanks to the efforts of the Deliverance team and its top international chefs, local Herne Hill residents can now enjoy delicious food from far-flung corners of the world, from freshly-grilled teriyaki salmon to chocolate brownies – more quickly and piping hot.

Spencer Skinner, executive chairman of Deliverance explains, “Without compromise, we want to provide the best quality, freshest delivered food possible. That’s why, we’ve spent the last two years working with top chefs, software engineers, kitchen designers, local residents, and London’s leading food suppliers to launch, the most sophisticated multi-cuisine kitchen in Britain.

Skinner continues, “The whole kitchen is built from scratch, using bespoke technology to allow our cooks to time everything to perfection, so that a grilled burger is done at precisely themoment a fresh stir-fry is ready to be packed. The whole thing is beautifully synchronised so that customers in the Herne Hill area can enjoy good food, freshly cooked and delivered fast”.

Deliverance has high hopes for its new Herne Hill kitchen, which it plans to open as its first-ever customer-facing operation later this year, allowing local residents to place orders online or via an iPhone app, to be ready for collection when they step off the train at Herne Hill station.

For further information, visit www.deliverance.co.uk or download the Deliverance iPhone app. Customers can also follow @DeliveranceFood on Twitter or join the community on its Facebook page www.facebook.com/DeliveranceFood

in:spa bespoke launches as Brits choose

to ‘healthy holiday’ together for 2012

A more health conscious nation coupled with  an increased interest in sport inspired by the Olympic year are factors which seem to be encouraging Brits to ‘healthy holiday’ together for 2012, according to The Healthy Holiday Company  who have just announced the launch of a new style of holiday in:spa bespoke.

The company, which operates the in:spa retreats, fitscape fitness holidays and destination yoga brands, has seen a huge increase in interest for their 2012 holidays and  bookings are currently up 30% on 2011 levels.  A number of additional departures are being added in response to this demand.

in:spa bespoke

In addition to the fixed group departures a new option has just been launched – in:spa bespoke – which takes the tried and tested in:spa retreat formula (delicious healthy eating, regular massages, nutritional consultations, personal fitness training sessions, relaxing yoga, hiking, running and circuit training) and makes it available to family and friends wishing to ‘healthy holiday’ together  in small groups for dates and locations to suit their individual needs.

“The in:spa bespoke holiday will work best for groups in a private villa or small hotel they can take over completely. We move in with our experienced team of chef, yoga instructor, personal fitness trainer(s) and nutritionist and put together an experience completely tailored to the group but focusing on the in:spa principles which we know work well,” commented Kathryn Brown, founder and director of The Healthy Holiday Company.

“Each holiday can be tailor made to group requirements and interests. For example we have just organised a holiday for a fitness mad family who want to try yoga and get into healthy eating as well as have swim coaching for the kids each day.  So we have booked them a luxury villa together with a massage therapist, an in:spa chef and yoga teacher for a week in Ibiza, as well as daily sessions with a swimming instructor.” continued Brown.

Example prices  – a week’s retreat for a group of six staying in a luxury villa in Ibiza starts from £1950 per person during Summer 2012 and includes the full health and fitness programme, all meals, massages and personal nutrition and fitness consultations. Duration of the holidays are totally flexible ranging from 4, 7, 10 or 14 nights.

Other examples of options include:

Biking and Hiking in Morocco - Gather together some mates and create your very own biking and hiking holiday adventure in the Atlas Mountains. in:spa bespoke can organise daily guides and bike hire to suit the experience levels of the group. Accommodation will be in a luxury villa on the outskirts of Marrakech with a healthy eating plan from your personal chef and daily massages.

Tennis and Yoga in Mallorca – Two families come together to stay in villa in the beautiful hilltop village of Deia equipped with tennis court and swimming pool. Take daily yoga and tennis lessons, and combine with time to chill out by the pool and soak up the sunshine.

in:spa take away

In addition, if guests already have their holiday residence booked they can call upon in:spa to send in a team of therapists, chef and trainers to create the retreat at their chosen destination.

“We take care of all the organisation for you – from flights, to transfers and villa bookings. More and more people are looking to use their holiday as time to kick start a healthier lifestyle and can combine relaxing around the pool with some great work outs and delicious healthy eating. This way they can return home with lots of tips and advice about how they can integrate better habits into their everyday routines,” added Brown.

About in:spa

Since 2003, in:spa has been offering healthy holiday experiences that are totally unique, and host retreats at a selection of exclusive handpicked venues in some of the world’s most inspiring locations. An in:spaholiday transforms physical and mental wellbeing – the perfect combination of hiking, personal training, yoga, massage, a cleansing diet and nutritional advice in beautiful, comfortable, harmonious surroundings.

The expert team of in:spa massage therapists, nutritionists, chefs, yoga teachers and personal trainers ensure maximum benefits for every guest, such as weight-loss, improved fitness, greater flexibility, stress relief and a heightened sense of wellbeing.

A place on scheduled group retreat costs from £2195 per person for a week full board with all activities including daily physical activities, a one on one nutrition consultation, a one on one personal training session, daily yoga classes and two restorative massages. The next available group options depart on 14^thMarch to Marrakech or the 4^th April to Southern Spain.

For further information about The Healthy Holiday’s new in:spa bespoke service visit http://www.inspa-retreats.com/bespoke/ or call 0845 458 0723.

£2,000 donation to major UK tourist spot

Dales Holiday Cottages is continuing its support of the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust (YDMT) with a further donation of £2,000 towards its Woodland Restoration Scheme.

The Yorkshire Dales holiday cottage specialist has been a business partner since 2006 and, with this latest donation, has given a total of £10,400 – helping to restore approximately 6.4 acres of woodland with 5,000 new trees.

To cement the partnership, Geoff Cowley, managing director of The Hoseasons Group – parent company of Dales Holiday Cottages – joined YDMT director, David Sharrod, to plant native oak trees in the Strid Wood, Bolton Abbey – an area the charity is continuing to help restore.

Dales Holiday Cottages’ ongoing support has helped fund a range of regeneration projects over the years, from restoring species-rich wildflower hay meadows to helping protect wet grassland areas, an important habitat for wildfowl and wading birds.  This year will also see it support the Flowers of the Dales Festival – helping to draw further visitors to the area to enjoy and appreciate wild flowers in their natural habitat.

Geoff Cowley said:  “We are passionate supporters of our local area which is why we are giving our continued support to the vital work the YDMT carries out.  There is no doubt the Yorkshire Dales is an area of outstanding natural beauty that continues to attract tourists year after year.  We are committed to helping restore it so it can be enjoyed by future generations for years to come.”

David Sharrod added:  “Our aim is to conserve and restore the heritage of this amazing landscape and we can’t do this without the continued support of partners like Dales Holiday Cottages.  This year, its support of our Woodland Restoration Scheme is central in our aim to help to double the amount of broadleaved woodland in the Dales to 5,000 hectares by 2020, as set out in the Dales Woodland Strategy.  The Yorkshire Dales is among the least wooded areas in Europe, with the continued help of our business supporters we want to put this right.”

For further information on Dales Holiday Cottages visit www.dales-holiday-cottages.com or call 0844 847 1340.

Inverness Airport has been voted best Scottish Airport in the Top UK Airport category of the Wanderlust Travel Awards, scoring 77% overall and coming fifth in the UK.

The awards, which aim to identify the best in travel, invited readers and users of Wanderlust (online forum and magazine for adventurous and authentic travel) to vote both high and low experiences throughout the world. Categories included:

• ·         Top Country
• ·         Top Emerging Destination
• ·         Top City
• ·         Top Tour Operator
• ·         Top Guidebook Series
• ·         Top TV/Radio Programme
• ·         Top Airline
• ·         Top UK Airport
• ·         Top Worldwide Airport
• ·         Top Equipment Brand
• ·         Top Website

Graeme Bell, Inverness Airport Manager comments, “This is a fantastic achievement for Inverness Airport and is testament to the hard work and dedication of our staff who work so hard to ensure passengers have the best possible experience when they visit. We also have done exceptionally well to come ahead of Edinburgh Airport which ranked overall seventh and scored 76.89%.

“We are dedicated to our consistently high service provision which was also highlighted in January when we won a Which? poll that identified Inverness as best small Scottish Airport. We are consistent in our efforts towards bettering our services wherever we can and are proud to hold hospitality assured accreditation for our eighth year, as well as gaining premier status due to continuous improvement. To top it all off, we are also Loo of the year award winners in the national airport category for the 3^rd year running! I would like to extend my congratulations to all involved here at Inverness and encourage everyone to keep up the good work as one of the best travel destinations in the UK.”

For more information on the Wanderlust Travel Awards visit www.wanderlust.co.uk

Ex-TOWIE favourite Amy Childs and recently single Russell Brand today topped aLateRooms.com list of celebrities which the UK public believed would have the worst bad habits in relationships. Ditzy Amy came in top for the females, with a third of the votes (33%), perhaps with the thought of her leaving fake tan on the sheets, with Russell Brand topping the list of male celebrity offenders taking a huge 50% of the votes. The discount hotels specialist polled the nation to celebrate the launch of their new TV advert, which charts the blossoming relationship of a young couple.

The LateRooms.com poll also named bad girl model Kate Moss, with 29% of the votes, and even golden girl Cheryl Cole managed to notch up 16% from respondents speculating about her bad habits. Womaniser Russell was followed by outspoken Keith Lemon, often-in-trouble Jeremy Clarkson, and even Antony Worrall Thompson, recently in the news for shoplifting.

LateRooms.com research also reveals the true toll of bad habits on everyday relationships, with the UK opening up about what exactly turns them off most. British men are the biggest offenders for breaking wind in bed – with almost a third of women naming this their most disgusting foible, closely followed by the annoying ‘crime’ of leaving the toilet seat up. 50% of men sought their revenge by reporting women for taking too long to get ready as the female population’s worst bad habit.

As well as offences in bed and the toilet, understandably, almost a fifth of women have a gripe with their partners clipping their toenails on to the floor. Women are equally guilty of annoying their other halves, with excessive shopping (26%) joining ‘taking too long to get ready’ as the worst bad habit but surprisingly beating ‘nagging’, which only scored 2% of the votes. In the LateRooms.com advertising campaign, character Lucy is turned off by Ben wearing socks in bed on a romantic rendez-vous, but manages to avoid the other bad habits it seems the other women in Great Britain suffer!

“It was certainly interesting to find out what Britain finds most offending in relationships, and the bad little habits couples have to suffer in the name of love!” commented Lynda Matthews, Offline Marketing Manager at LateRooms.com. “Even celebrities such as Russell and Amy are not immune it seems, and we hope the people of Great Britain found some sort of comfort in sharing their gripes, turn-offs and annoyances!”

• Guests have rate The Cavendish London 92% on TripAdvisor
• The Cavendish London is one of the most eco-friendly hotels in London, receiving the Most Sustainable Business award from Visit London in 2010 and three gold stars from the Sustainable Restaurant Association
• Rosa Lewis was the famous proprietor of The Cavendish from 1902-1952. The celebrity cook of her time had clients including King Edward VII and Winston Churchill’s family.
• Today, The Cavendish London is a four-star, 230-room independent hotel that continues to offer the exceptionally high standards of Rosa Lewis
• Its British restaurant Petrichor holds an AA Rosette
• The Cavendish London was a winner of the Springboard Best Career Progression Award 2011
• In 2011 The Cavendish London Front of House team won the Front of House Team of the Year at the Hotel Cateys

The 2012 season is in full swing at Pleasure Beach Resort, Blackpool!

Thrill-seeking rides, high dives and first birthdays are just a few of the attractions in store for the rest of the year.

Wow Weekends have been welcoming early thrill-seekers and there are more special offers available to everyone right throughout the season viawww.pleasurebeachresort.com

There are even more attractions at Pleasure Beach this year.

While London is gearing up for the Olympics, the 42-acre park will be welcoming its own special troupe of Mexican Olympic high divers as part its new attractions.

La Quebrada will be bringing their unique show to the park in July at a purpose built arena in the shadow of the Big One.

Their performances have wowed audiences around the world with death-defying high dives from heights of up to 25 metres (81 feet), combining comedy, fire and Olympic dives. They will perform their first dive on July 16 through the season until September 2.

Closer to ground level a birthday celebration is being planned for SpongeBob SquarePants and his friends as they celebrateNickelodeon Land’s first birthday on May 4.

Opened by Baywatch star David Hasselhoff last year, the £10.3m investment has been a huge hit with all age groups. It has 12 amazing rides including SpongeBob’s Splash Bash and Dora’s World Voyage plus many more.

When the rest of the park closes at 5pm, Nickelodeon Land will stay open until 7pm and wristbands for the attraction will be just £10 from 3pm on the day with a cake cutting ceremony at 4.30pm. First birthday Nickelodeon Land wristbands are available online at www.pleasurebeachresort.com

Hot Ice will celebrate its 75th production in 2012 when Entice will be skating its way on to the ice.

With more than 30 skating stars from around the world, Entice will feature over 400 stunning costumes to mesmerising music, lasers and pyrotechnic effects.

Hot Ice scooped “Best Show” at the Big E award in Las Vegas, a glitzy ceremony that recognises all that’s great in the world of big productions.

A jaw-dropping illusion of the senses is promised with world-class performers taking to the ice for the show, which premieres on July 4, with matinee performances at 2.30pm, and evening shows at 7.30pm.

Also this year Pleasure Beach will see one of its most famous rides be treated to a transformation. The Revolution, the iconic looping rollercoaster, will go all industrial for a stunning new look.

Pleasure Beach managing director Amanda Thompson OBE said: “2012 is already going to be a memorable year with the Olympics and the Diamond Jubilee taking place. At Pleasure Beach we have our very own celebrations.

“We are really looking forward to welcoming the high divers to the park and I am sure they will be a huge success.

“Celebrating Nickelodeon Land’s first birthday will be fun and we are looking forward to the rest of 2012 being a huge success.”

People born on February 29^th may only get a birthday once every four years, but discount hotels specialist LateRooms.com has a special present for them this year in the shape of a generous discount. Anyone born on 29^th February who books aroom on their birthday will get 29% off their hotel booking through the site.

“Leapers” (those born on February 29^th) will be able to take their pick from over 50,000 properties on the LateRooms.com website including luxury 5 starhotels, cosy B&Bs and chic city apartments. The discount will apply to any booking made, with proof of birthday required to validate the booking.Customers will be able to make their booking online, then simply email a confirmation of their booking along with proof of their birth date to leapyear@laterooms.com to receive their 29% discount.

Whether it’s a lady hoping she will be lucky on her Leap Year proposal to her boyfriend, or a birthday treat for the once every four year celebration, LateRooms.com will have February 29^thbirthday boys and girls leaping for joy. The site is expecting customers to take full advantage of the deal and flock to the site to book some special rooms for spring.

Lynda Matthews, OfflineMarketing Manager at LateRooms.com commented: “We wanted to give people born on the special day of February 29^th a real treat for the 2012 leap year, as their birthday is missing from calendars most of the time! We are really excited to be offering them this great discount, and hope Leapers everywhere will takeadvantage of the 29% to look for some different types of accommodation and enjoy a relaxing hotel stay.”

Spain continues to hold on to the crown for the most popular Easter holiday destination for Brits, according to data from Carhiremarket.com on car hire bookings. For the period 31st March to 15th April, a huge 35% of UK holiday makershiring a car through carhiremarket.com have booked to jet off to Spain’s sun, sea, sand and some of Europe’s most beautiful scenic drives.

Other destinations listed in the top ten compiled by leading car hire comparison sitecarhiremarket.com include the European destinations of Italy, Cyprus and Portugal. However in contrast to Easter 2011, countries outside of Europe have seen a surprising decline in popularity. Last year the USA was the second favourite destination for Brits, whereas in 2012 they came in 9thposition, just slightly ahead of Australia which came in 10th position.

With many Brits seemingly looking to stay close to home this Easter, Andrew Shorrock, Product Manager at leading car rental price comparison site carhiremarket.com, comments:“With the recession biting, but holiday makers still wanting to beat the new year blues and book trips away, hiring a car close to home in Europe is a cost effective way to explore new destinations and popular scenic drives. A hire car in Barcelona could cost as little as £6 a day and until the end of February, there is up to 42% off car hire in several Spanish locations withcarhiremarket.com in conjunction with Alamo.”

Carhiremarket.com has put together its top three Spanish scenic routes in light of the country’s continued popularity for a spring getaway:

1.    Picos de Europa
Described as one of the greatest drives in Europe, the picturesque mountains of Picos de Europa are a must see if you are visiting northern Spain with a hire car. The national park boasts beautiful lakes and rivers amongst the snow-capped mountains as well as historic market towns and villages. Take several days to do this famous drive and you’ll have time to stop and admire some of the fantastic views in the region.

2.    Ruta de los Pueblos Blancos
Situated in southern Spain, this scenic drive is often described as one of the most beautiful in Spain. It’s famous for its iconic bright white houses and historic buildings and the peaceful road will lead you through many small unspoilt towns and villages. The route, boasting some fantastic places to stop for a bite to eat, starts at the town of Arcos de la Frontera and ends at Castellar de la Frontera.

3.    Santander to Oviedo
If traveling to the diverse landscape of northern Spain, the coastal drive between the attractive towns of Santander and Ovideo make for a stunning route. If stopping in both towns on your journey, the medieval cathedrals are worth a visit and the coastline will provide you with some perfect photographic opportunities with the gorgeous sea views and rugged terrain

For more information on car hire and for top holiday destinations visitwww.carhiremarket.com

Go red and help keep your child healthy with the power of tart ‘super-fruit’ cherry juice.
Cherrygood, the UK’s leading cherry juice drink, is now available in a smaller ready-to-go size. Cherry Burst is a triple pack of 200ml cartons of Cherrygood – just perfect for slipping into a child’s lunchbox.
Tart cherries are regularly in the news for their many health benefits. The juice is great for children as well as adults and has been shown to aid sleep, keep muscles healthy and boost immunity.
Cherry Burst is available exclusively in Morrisons stores and costs £1.35 but will be on promotion throughout March with a 30p saving. Each carton counts as one of your Five-A-Day.
John Heseltine, the founder of Cherrygood, says: ‘Mums have been telling us how much their children love drinking Cherrygood for breakfast and that they would love a smaller version to pop in their lunchboxes. We listened and created Cherry Burst.
‘All the goodness and flavour of wonderful real cherries are packed into each carton making it an easy way for children to get one of their Five-A-Day.
‘Cherry Burst is not just for children though. We’ve already discovered that lots of dads are tucking them into their briefcases to drink at work as an alternative to tea and coffee and mums are taking them to the gym to rehydrate after exercise.’
Cherry Burst is the latest addition to the Cherrygood family. There are now four drinks in the range – Cherry Burst, Cherrygood Premium Cherry, Cherrygood Original and Cherrygood Light. Cherrygood Original and Light both cost £1.50 and are available in all major supermarkets. Cherrygood Premium Cherry, the UK’s first chilled cherry juice, costs £2.29 and was launched last year. www.cherrygood.com
WHY TART CHERRY JUICE IS GREAT FOR CHILDREN
• It helps your children sleep. Tart cherries contain melatonin, the hormone that regulates sleep. Scientists at Northumbria University showed that drinking tart Montmorency cherry juice can boost levels of melatonin and increase sleep time by 25 minutes.
• Keeps muscles healthy. Research show that drinking tart cherry juice can speed muscle recovery after exercise – so its perfect for sporty children
• Each carton of Cherry Burst counts as one of your child’s Five-A-Day.
• Montmorency cherries are also a rich source of powerful antioxidants that fight inflammation and help boost immunity.
• Contains essential nutrients. Cherries are a good source of vitamin A and also contain fibre.

Unexpected Travel Insurance Claims revealed by Essential Travel

Don’t be caught short – diarrhea claim tops £23,000

A surprising number of travellers continue to risk jetting off to far away shores without insurance despite the costly potential consequences. Leading travel insurance, airport parking and hotels provider, Essential Travel, reveals details of weird and woeful claims from UK holidaymakers to highlight the avoidable financial damage our unpredictable bodies and an absence of cover can put us through.

1.     A bill of £23,000 medical expenses for a bad bout of Dehli Belly would have been more than a pain in the bum for one poor traveller had he not invested in insurance.

2.     The unlucky gent struck by lightening in South Africa fortunately won’t be struck twice as his insurance covered his medical costs of over £5,000.

3.     A Brit got more than he bargained for while gobbling down his steak. Luckily he won’t be choking on his medical bill of over £5,000 as his Essential Travel insurance meant that he didn’t bite off more than he could chew.

4.     They say local grappa tastes like rocket fuel but one traveller in Turkey took that a bit too literally when they accidentally drank gasoline, resulting in a hangover to the tune of over a £1,000.

5.     A real life slip of the tongue almost ended in disaster in Turkey when one lady swallowed her tongue after an almighty sneeze. The £1,000 bill covered by her insurance wasn’t to be sniffed at.

6.     A plucky young traveller in Mexico suffering from chicken pox managed to avoid the seven-year itch – probably the length of time it would have taken her to repay the £20,400 in medical fees had she been without cover.

7.     Getting a sun tan is one thing, but a medical bill for £2,550 to treat sunburn would certainly have left one traveller with scars if she’d forgotten to take out travel insurance.

8.     Having insurance took the sting out of the £4,800 medical bill one gent in the Dominican Republic suffered after receiving a nasty insect bite

9.     Another traveller in Indonesia saved himself from going ape at a medical bill of over £1,000 following a monkey bite

10.  The bill could have been worse than the bite for one individual who suffered  a nasty dog attack while in South Africa. Thankfully he’d invested in travel insurance, which paid his £6,000 medical costs.

Stuart Bensusan says:

“I think many people looking at some of our highest claim costs – and some of the reasons for them – will be extremely surprised.

“Some of the cases may raise a smile, but there’s a serious side too.  In addition to the £23,000 Delhi Belly case mentioned above we’ve also seen payouts of £89,359 on bleeding lesions, £69,699 spent on Cellulitis in Canada and £59,135 on a bank injury in the USA.  These were serious medical conditions not just requiring financial help but also the support and logistical assistance that our insurance provided for.

“When you put this in to the context of a single trip policy costing from as little as £6.94 it really does highlight the unnecessary risk that people travelling uninsured may be subjecting themselves to.”

If you go down to the woods today be sure of a big surprise. In the enchanting New Forest, B&B landladies are fighting back against budget hotels and the rules, regulations, hairnets and pinnies which some perceive as their traditional image.

A recent YouGov report on the bicycles market reveals the scale of concern regarding road safety amongst cyclists and UK consumers. One in three UK consumers believe that cyclists are the cause of many problems for drivers (33%). Perhaps unsurprisingly, only 1 in 5 cyclists are of the same mind.

Meanwhile, a considerable bugbear for cyclists is drivers’ purported disregard for designated cycle lanes – an issue that is not a major concern for the population as a whole. 52% of cyclists agree with the statement, ‘too many cars and lorries ignore the cycle lanes/park on the cycle lanes’, whereas only 26% of UK consumers agree with this view.

However, there are areas of common ground between cyclists and UK consumers – 81% of cyclists agree with the statement, ‘cyclists have a responsibility to respect cars and lorriesand vice versa’, while two thirds of UK consumers similarly acknowledge the responsibilities of cyclists and drivers alike.

In addition to this, ‘drink cycling’ is as much of a concern for cyclists as it is for UK consumers, with 59% of UK consumers and 60% of UK cyclists agreeing with the statement: ‘cycling under the influence of alcohol is as bad as drink driving’.

Total sample size was 2114 UK adults aged 16+. Fieldwork was undertaken 5^th - 7^th December 2011.

Blackpool Zoo is offering loved up ladies from Lancashire and beyond the chance to take advantage of the leap year and propose in style.

There will be four chances to pop the question throughout the 29th February and hopeful romantics can choose to either brave an audience of 250 animal lovers at the end of the zoo’s famous sea lion display or opt for the more private setting of the beautiful Lemur Wood.

To be in with a chance of being selected you should email Judith.rothwell@blackpoolzoo.org.uk and explain why Blackpool Zoo is the perfect location for a leap year proposal.

Jude Rothwell, PR and Marketing Co-ordinator at Blackpool Zoo, said: “We wanted to offer our visitors a unique way to pop the question to their loved one and as we are in a leap year we’ve extended the chance to ladies on the 29^th.

“We have already had one proposal celebration this year after local man Simon Etheridge took the opportunity and asked his girlfriend to marry him at the end of the sea lion display on Valentine’s Day.

“After getting the answer he was hoping for he is now looking forward to moving into a new home with his bride to be Sharlene Davies.

“We wish them all the luck in the world and we are looking forward to toasting more happy couples very soon!”

Turnberry, a Luxury Collection Resort, set on the rugged Ayrshire coastline inScotland, is the perfect place to spend Easter with a plethora of family-friendly activities to suit every age and some fun new additions for 2012 that children will love. Home to the iconic Ailsa Course, Turnberry offers golf enthusiasts the opportunity to play world class golf and perfect their game whilst their families enjoy the spa facilities, Little Turnberry Farm, Wee Explorers crèche and playroom and a host of family dining options.

With a dedicated Easter activity programme that includes Easter Egg Hunts, “Splash Time” in the hotel pool, pitch ‘n’ putt competitions and a range of outdoor activities including horse riding, fishing, and archery, children will be kept amused and stimulated allowing parents to slip away to experience the luxury facilities available at the resort.

New for this year, children and families can also enjoy meeting two young alpacas at the Little Turnberry Farm and will be able to bottle feed the farm’s newest arrival – a baby calf.  The Waterfowl Sanctuary is another new addition and provides families with the unique opportunity to see ducks and geese in their natural habitat. The resort will also be showcasing some beautiful Clydesdale horses performing work displays which will give visitors an insight into how they were once used for traditional farming before the modern day powerful tractor.

As well as all the new additions at the Little Turnberry Farm, the resort also boasts The Wee Explorers Club, a crèche and playroom that is stocked full of games and toys to feed imaginations. Parents can take advantage of two hours of complimentary childcare per day at the crèche, leaving their children to take part in dressing up, arts and crafts, games and story times while they relax and unwind in the luxurious surroundings of the resort.

Turnberry is pleased to announce some fantastic value-added offers and specials in time for the holidays. Anyone staying in a classic bedroom can book a second room for half price (for children up to the age of 16 years-old) and all meals and soft drinks are complimentary for children when dining with their parents.

Classic bedrooms start from £200 per night for midweek stays.

For additional information and to reserve, please call Turnberry Reservations on 01655 333 991 or emailturnberry.reservations@luxurycollection.com

Shoppers were given a fright today as they stepped into a lift at Southside Shopping Centre in Wandsworth, London. When the doors opened, they were only inches away from plummeting down a bottomless lift shaft. Or at least that is what it seemed…

The experiment was set-up to test the fear-factor of the British public in preparation for the launch of Alton Towers Resort’s scariest attraction yet – Nemesis Sub-Terra, opening on 24th March. Combining terrifying and immersive elements  the spine-chilling experience starts in a lift that takes you deep underground beneath Alton Towers Resort, where a system of hidden and darkened caves has been uncovered.

Unsuspecting shoppers were fooled by a 3D illusion on the floor of the lift. One shopper said “A deep, dark lift shaft is not what you expect to see on your average trip to the shops! It gave me a bit of a fright, but I quickly realised the joke was on me! I then had a laugh watching other people’s reactions a they walked past”

Katherine Duckworth, head of consumer marketing at Alton Towers Resort, said, “Nemesis Sub-Terra is by far the most terrifying of our attractions to date and we really wanted to test the limits of the British public to see if they could cope with what it has in store. When creating the illusion inside the lift we considered some our most common fears including heights, darkness and claustrophobia that are also a core part of the new attraction. The reactions of the public were fascinating and we can’t wait to see what happens when people come and experience the new attraction for the first time.”

Alton Towers Resort has created Britain’s most psychologically thrilling experience by combining the scariest elements of a theme park with the most common fears of the public.
Opening on 24 March, and unlike anything seen before in the UK, Nemesis Sub-Terra is based upon the back-story of the original Nemesis rollercoaster, which opened at the Alton Towers Resort in 1994. Even the bravest of thrill seekers in Britain will struggle to keep their cool as the fear of the unknown creeps up on them and they realise their worst nightmare underground!

Poll shows Brits seek wild-and-wandering rather than fly-and-flop

(Monday, 13^th February 2012) With Valentine’s Day just around the corner and leap-year proposals only a few weeks away, romance, marriage and honeymooning are on a lot of people’s minds.

However, it seems that the traditional fly-n-flop honeymoon is on the way out: a recent poll* of travellers revealed only 12% would opt for a beach break after their wedding, with 81% saying they’d use the excuse to take the adventurous trip of a lifetime, according to newly launched Unique Honeymoons magazine who also name their predictions for honeymoon hotspots for 2012.

The new publication, which is just out, is dedicated to those newlyweds who want more adventure from their honeymooning, providing much-needed inspiration and practical information.

Says editor, Sarah Baxter, “Most people assume couples just want to collapse on a pretty beach for two weeks. However, our poll showed this is far from the truth with most Brits looking for unique and adventurous ways to start married life.”

“We have had to wade through the oil slick of spa hotels and petal baths to uncover experiences that will really deliver on this new trend. So that’s a no to Caribbean all-inclusives and yes please to floating tents in Cambodia or Swedish treehotels.”

Despite the economic doom and gloom only 3% of people said they would go on a budget break and spend their money on the big day itself, and just 4% would opt for a mini-moon, too short on time to take a more indulgent break.

With this is mind Unique Honeymoons has named where it thinks will be thehoneymoon hotspots for 2012:

1. Tanzania – Combine the undeniably dreamy beaches of Zanzibar with the 2 million wildebeest charging across the Serengeti and a climb up Kilimanjaro

2.  Burma – The hottest honeymoon spot for 2012: this newly opening nation offers culture, temples, lake-side lodges and wedding blessings from Buddhist monks

3. Borneo – Exotic jungle, spicy food, orang-utans, glorious (and great value) boutique hotels, with perfect beaches too

4. Namibia – The best place to board a hot-air balloon, for dawn desert views and a champagne breakfast

5. Japan – Embrace the tradition of ‘hadaka no tsukiai’ (naked companionship) in a steamy hot spring

6. Ikaria, Greece – This isle sees a fraction of the visitors of nearby Santorini, but the seaside sunsets are just as good, and the tavernas half the price

7.  Western Australia – A new flying safari around the Kimberley (from April 2012) will take newlyweds to the region’s remotest Outback

8. Lake District – A wild swim in the remote waters of Langstrath Beck will elevate mood and libido

9. Argentina – Learn to tango in Buenos Aires, stay in wine lodges around Mendoza and camp out in the wilds of Patagonia

10. Kyrgyzstan – For a honeymoon with bragging rights, cosy up in a lakeside yurt and ride across the Central Asian plains

The magazine is packed full of ideas for every price range from the £100 honeymoon to trips that really blow the budget – such as hiring your own palace, castle or classic sports car.

There is an indispensable month-by-month calendar of the best places to go and when – for example, enjoy New Zealand’s outdoor playground in January; witness spring festivals and parades in Prague in April or track mountain gorillas in Uganda in July.

And finally the feature, ‘Where to Stay’, helps couples hunt down the very best retreats chosen either for their location – miles from anywhere for some real ‘us’ time, or for their amazing levels of decadence and indulgence. Also recommended are the more unusual, including caravans, lighthouses, tents, caves and even a cleverly converted 1950’s fire truck.

Unique Honeymoons is on sale now, priced at £7.99 and also has a companion websitewww.UniqueHoneymoonIdeas.com

-Celebrities and royalty go head to head in the nation’s affections-

Valentine’s Day has already got pulses racing across the UK, as LateRooms.com reveals the celebrities the nation dreams of waking up next to on the most romantic morning of the year. The discount hotels specialist found that Essex lad Mark Wright and royal bachelor Prince Harry both polled the same percentage of votes, both being chosen by one in five women, dividing the country’s desires. British men however, wish they could wake up next to a Kent-born curvy pin-up rather than upper class beauties this February 14th: with almost a third voting for Kelly Brook above both Pippa and Kate Middleton in their fantasy sleepovers.

The Top 4 Male celebrities Britain would like to wake up next to this Valentine’s Day:

Mark Wright – 19%

Prince Harry – 19%

Harry Judd – 13%

Harry Styles – 3%

Other – 46%

The Top 4 Female celebrities Britain would like to wake up next to this Valentine’s Day:

Kelly Brook – 28%

Kate Middleton – 19%

Pippa Middleton – 18%

Carol Vorderman – 6%

Other – 29%

Britain’s men certainly preferred a curvier bedmate on the whole in 2012, with votes also coming in for new mum Beyonce and Nigella Lawson, as well as some more unusual choices including funny-woman Jo Brand and the original Iron Lady, Margaret Thatcher.

Down to earth tastes rather than high society selections were not only reflected in a choice of bed companion, but also in choice of gift for Valentine’s Day. 37% of romantics are budgeting to spend between £30 and £100, planning a hotel stay with dinner as the perfect gift, while keeping costs sensible. The nation is however splashing out more on Valentine’s Day 2012, with only 26% of people this year keeping their belts tightened, compared to a massive 50% in 2011 who spent less than £30 on a simple card or flowers option.

“It was certainly interesting to find out who Britain would most like to wake up next to on Valentine’s day, especially to see such different types of people such as Mark Wright and Prince Harry go head to head,” commented Lynda Matthews, Offline Marketing Manager at LateRooms.com. “Even though people may not want to go “high society” in their gift selection this year, LateRooms.com have got a range of romantic and luxurious hotels at fantastic prices, which will keep both partner and bank balance happy.”