Category Archives: Holidays

Holidays

Tips On How To Save Cash On Your Summer Getaway And To Cut Costs On At The Airport 

A leading travel expert has shared her advice on how to save cash when booking your Summer getaway.

Former BA stewardess, Jane Hawkes, founder of the ladyjaney.co.uk blog, says booking in advance is the best advice for getting the best deal on airport drop-off and parking costs.

“Many UK airports now charge for passengers to be dropped off at the terminal, with prices ranging from £3 in Belfast to a whopping £10 for ten minutes at Luton,” Jane explained.

“The country’s busiest airport, Heathrow, charges £6 simply to drop off a loved one at the airport so it’s no wonder that many people baulk at the cost and look for alternatives.

“Prices for ‘kiss and fly’ drop offs at airports do vary in price so it’s worth taking that into consideration when you are thinking about which airport to fly from and whether it might be more convenient to park in a long-stay car park.”

“I would advise anyone looking to drive themselves to pre-book a parking package and if you can be fixed in the length of your stay, book a non-flexible deal as these are usually cheaper.

“But if you can manage it, you’ll often find that airports offer a free shuttle service which allows you to be dropped off in a car park and taken by bus straight to the terminal – but this might not be so convenient for those with mobility issues.”

Jane also advises would-be travellers to sign up for discount codes mailing lists.

“Sites like VoucherCodes and price comparison sites like holidayextras.co.uk are good ways to get a good deal particularly if you plan in advance and you could find a parking package which includes lounge reservations, hotels, transfers and even car hire.”

 

If Britons can manage to get to other destinations, flying from smaller airports could mean cheaper parking.

 

“Instead of Heathrow, think about London City where it is free to drop off – but there is no waiting. However it is in the Ultra Low Emission Zone – but outside the congestion charge.

 

“Airports which don’t charge include Cardiff, Guernsey, Inverness, Isle of Man, Jersey and Newquay – which is the piece de resistance with two car parks offering 30 minutes of free parking to make pick up and drop off as easy as possible and allow you to take up to ten items of liquids in your hand luggage.”

 

For more free travel advice visit www.ladyjaney.co.uk

 

Holidays

Successful Salop Leisure Holiday Home Showcase ends this weekend

Caravan holiday home parks across the Heart of England and Mid Wales inland and coastal areas have been welcoming customers and securing sales following a series of showcase weekends organised by one of the UK’s leading dealerships.

 

Multi-award-winning caravan and motorhome dealership Salop Leisure, based at Emstrey, Shrewsbury, has been running the Holiday Home Showcase weekends since May 9 and they are due to end on Sunday, with sunny weekend weather forecast.

 

The showcase is designed for first time buyers and existing owners looking to upgrade their caravan holiday home or lodge. It’s ideal for anybody considering holiday home ownership in the Heart of England and Mid Wales, whether at picturesque inland locations or at the stunning coastline.

 

Owners and managers from a number of holiday home parks across the two regions  are available to answer questions at Salop Leisure’s Holiday Home Village.

 

Salop Leisure works with more than 250 holiday home parks, including more than 50 with five star ratings and is confident of matching customers with a caravan holiday home or lodge in their ideal location.

 

David Jones, from Hidden Valley Holiday Home Park near Guilsfield, said the park had sold holiday homes as a result of attending the showcase.

 

“It has been an encouraging showcase for us, as a number of people have come out to view the park,” he said. “We have secured two sales with more in the pipeline, hopefully. There has definitely been an upturn in enquiries in the last couple of weeks.

 

“It’s a great showcase for what Mid Wales has to offer and we are fortunate to have Salop Leisure as the holiday home dealership for our area. Other dealerships don’t do what they do to market and support the parks.”

 

Hidden Valley has three new holiday homes and two lodges available on the park.

 

Karen and Russell Rees, who have run Gellidywyll Holiday Home Park, Llandinam with their family, since 1990, also said they had secured two sales recently and had welcomed potential customers to the park after attending the showcase.

 

“We have met a number of potential buyers at the Holiday Home Showcase weekends,” she said. “I always attend Salop Leisure’s shows and always get something back from it, even if it’s a few months later.

 

“We are very grateful to Salop Leisure for the opportunity to promote our park at their shows.”

 

Gellidywyll has seven holiday homes available on the park out of a total of 120 and also owns three holiday lets.

 

Laura Harris, Salop Leisure’s associate director of marketing and holiday homes sales, said: “The Holiday Home Showcase has been very successful, with many of the parks from the Heart of England and Mid Wales reporting sales and visits from customers they met here in Shrewsbury.

 

“We are fortunate to work with the highest quality holiday home parks across the Heart of England and Mid Wales. There are some truly exceptional parks just waiting to be discovered by people wishing to staycation and have the perfect place to escape to anytime they or their family wish.

 

“We can offer coastal, countryside, family-friendly and luxury lifestyle options and pride ourselves on being a trusted regional hub for holiday home discovery and expert advice.”

 

Salop Leisure has 60 of the latest holiday homes and lodges on display, with sales staff on hand to take buyers through the complete selection and buying process.

 

The showcase is a one-stop-shop for customers. “Our aim is to match customers with holiday homes on the park that best suits their them,” added Laura. “They tell us their requirements, we find the best matches and do all the hard work.”

 

For more information about the showcase weekend or holiday home ownership, visit Salop Leisure’s website: https://www.salopleisure.co.uk/ or call: Tel: 01743 282400.

Holidays, Property

Why Now Is The Time to Snap Up A Florida Holiday Home 

A sharp rise in the value of the pound is giving UK buyers a golden opportunity to get more for their money when purchasing property overseas – with Florida emerging as a prime hotspot.

At the start of the year, sterling sat at around $1.23 against the US dollar. Today, it’s hovering around $1.35 – a leap that adds serious buying power for British investors looking at securing a property in the sunshine state.

To put that into context:

  • In January, £350,000 would have secured around $430,500
  • Today, that same budget converts to approximately $472,500 – a boost of $42,000 without spending a penny more

That’s enough to afford a larger home, a more prestigious location, or to cover essential costs like legal fees, taxes, or even a furniture package.

Alistair Brown, CEO of international real estate firm ABI Group said: “This shift in the exchange rate has opened the door wider for UK buyers looking to invest overseas – and Florida, in particular, remains a firm favourite in the US.

“You’re getting more for your money, more value long-term, and access to one of the world’s most vibrant property markets. If you’ve been considering a holiday home, rental investment, or future relocation spot – now is the time to act.”

Florida continues to attract British buyers thanks to its year-round sunshine, family-friendly communities, thriving rental market, and direct flights from the UK. And with the current exchange rate, UK investors can now target areas and property types that might have been out of reach just months ago.

Brown gives his top three tips a UK buyer should know before committing to purchasing a property in the US.

  1. Understand the cost of ownership

“Beyond the purchase price, factor in costs such as HOA (Homeowners’ Association) fees, property taxes (which vary by state), insurance, and ongoing maintenance. Florida homes – especially those in gated communities or near golf resorts – often have monthly fees you’ll want to budget for.”

  1. Don’t skip seeking legal advice

“The US property system is different to the UK’s. Always work with a qualified Florida-based real estate agent and a property attorney to ensure everything is above board.

“Unlike the UK, properties are bought through escrow and titles are checked and insured – having a team that knows the local legal landscape is crucial.”

  1. 3. Think about rental income 

“Many UK buyers let their homes as short-term holiday rentals when they’re not using them. Be sure to check legal obligations, such as tenant rights, fair housing regulations, and maintenance responsibilities, before renting out a property.

“It can sound daunting but the return on investment is usually highly rewarding.”

Consumer Advice, Holidays

Weekend Holidays For £199 At Meadow Bay Villages

Meadow Bay is offering a two-night weekend stay throughout May at either Billing Aquadrome or Hayling Island Holiday Park for only £199, be it a Friday and Saturday or a Saturday and Sunday stay.

A four-night mid-week break is also running throughout May for only £149 at Billing Aquadrome and £129 at Hayling Island.

Having established its name in the holiday and residential parks industry last year, Meadow Bay Villages’ highly popular resorts are fast becoming a premium staycation of choice, and this May offer is to mark the comprehensive regeneration programmes undertaken at both resorts which now offer premium facilities and enhanced activities.

Both offers include either a three-bedroom or two-bedroom silver grade caravan subject to availability at time of booking. The accommodation comes with added extras including a smart TV and air frier, plus super-fast wi-fi as standard. With the introduction of Klarna payments at Meadow Bay Villages, you can now spread the cost of your stay into manageable instalments, so you don’t have to put your plans on pause.

Nikki Rathie, Holidays Director at Billing Aquadrome, said: “We are extremely excited about the summer ahead and are delighted to be offering a May taster deal to help us showcase the fantastic facilities we now have at Billing Aquadrome and Hayling Island, having undergone an extensive programme of upgrades over the past year.

“This weekend and mid-week promotion is a fantastic deal given most of our on-site activities are free of charge. It’s also worth noting that although check in is at 4pm on arrival day and check out is at 10am on departure day, holiday makers can take advantage of the facilities for longer with access to the full resort from 12noon on both arrival and departure days.”

Billing Aquadrome, located in the beautiful Nene Valley, in the heart of Northamptonshire, is set within 235 acres of stunning scenery with lakes, rivers, canal side location, and a marina.

Nestled just a mile from the golden sand of Hayling Island Beach in Hampshire, Hayling Island is one of the UK’s best island-based holiday parks offering guests an escape to their very own seaside sanctuary, offering action-packed adventure to laid-back leisure.

 

Business & Property News, Construction News, Holidays, News, Proptech News

Yorkshire property consortium develops energy-efficient holiday park in Cornwall.

A consortium led by proptech company CurveBlock and backed by a former Premier League star and a serial entrepreneur has agreed a deal to acquire a site to develop a holiday homes park in Cornwall.

Investor Paul Massey and former Leeds United and Liverpool FC footballer Dominic Matteo have acquired the Valleybrook Holidays site at Peakswater, near Looe, through its Matteo Curveblock partnership.

Massey recently exited Adler & Allan when it was acquired by Goldman Sachs Asset Management, 18 months after his own business, Aqua Consultants, had become part of the environmental risk reduction group. Massey is now the chief executive officer of Ohana Mua Holidays and will operate the Peakswater site once it is complete.

Ohana Mua is poised to revolutionise the UK staycation and retreats market by creating energy-positive, AI-optimised parks, all connected through seamless Web3 and blockchain technology. They will build an experienced executive team, acquire five parks, and launch a proof of concept at the first site.

Pictured: (left to right) Dominic and Jess Matteo and Gary Woodhead.

The consortium’s first site is a £9m redevelopment project to create 24 highly energy-efficient holiday lodges, which will see 10 properties already on the site be refurbished.

Massey said: “This is an important first deal for us as we look to grow our partnership and develop sites across the country. The appetite for sustainable developments means there is an opportunity to be a leader in this sector as well as creating great places where people want to visit and stay.”

Construction will be carried out by Northallerton-headquartered business, Rasico.

Curveblock’s managing director, Matthew Couch, said: “The site is quite unusual for a holiday site in the UK in that it already has extant planning permission and permission for 12 months’ occupancy rights. The site can be delivered in full now that Paul has backed the land acquisition, and we will be moving forward with the scheme. We are also looking at the bigger picture as we see this opening up opportunities for more of these types of ventures in the future.”

CurveBlock was set up by Gary Woodhead, Joey Jones and Matthew Couch in 2018 and aims to pioneer financial inclusion within the real estate investment sector.

It is working towards entry into the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) Digital Security Sandbox, which will allow firms to test innovative propositions in the market with real consumers. CurveBlock has been working with regulators to change existing rules and open the doors to enable consumers to invest in real estate.

Former Premier League footballer Dominic Matteo added: “I’m really excited about the potential for the Peakswater site and the opportunities in the pipeline to take Curveblock’s approach and for this team to deliver something special.”

To Learn More Visit: https://curveblock.io/

Holidays

How can Muggles stay at the real Hogwarts this Christmas?

This December, many Potterheads will get the chance to follow in their hero’s snowy footsteps. A leading holiday expert says it’s now possible to stay in some of the atmospheric and historic film locations that double as Hogwarts and the magical world..

Lily Smith, a travel expert from the specialist accommodation finder UniversityRooms.com, says: ‘Many filming locations for Hogwarts and the rest of Harry’s world are not just sets. Several Oxford University colleges have featured in the movies as the famous school of wizardry and witchcraft, while many locations around London will be equally familiar to Potter fans.

‘Many of the most Christmassy locations are set in, or inspired by, places in Oxford. The Great Staircase and Tudor Great Dining Hall at Christ Church college are instantly recognisable to Potter fans. Its Great Hall was perfectly replicated for the grand Hogwarts Hall, the scene of many Christmas and other memorable feasts. Its 16th-century staircase is also famous as the place where Harry and the other first-years are greeted by Professor McGonagall in the first movie, Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone.

‘The great news is that it is possible to not only stay at Christ Church college this December but also have breakfast in the Great Hall. Rooms are available in this historic building, parts of which date back to 1546, for just £120 a night – not a bad price to be right at the heart of a Harry Potter Christmas.

‘Christ Church is not the only real-life Hogwarts in Oxford. The seemingly misnamed New College, which actually dates back to 1379, is also very familiar to Potter fans. In particular, New College’s cloisters and quad feature in the movie The Goblet of Fire. Most famously, Draco Malfoy taunts Harry while sitting in the large oak tree in the cloisters of New College – until he’s turned into a ferret by Mad-Eye Moody.

‘The great news is that, after a short break, New College is once more offering accommodation through UniversityRooms.com this December. New College offers a variety of accommodation across several sites. Budget ensuite rooms in Bodicote House offer views of the ancient City Wall, which encloses the college garden. You can stay in these rooms from just £70 a night. Additionally, the college’s New Buildings – actually built in the 1800s! – are within its historic walls and these atmospheric rooms are available from just £90 a night. As part of every Muggle’s stay at New College, they will also receive complimentary access to the college grounds, saving the normal admission fee of £8 each.

‘More Christmassy still, nearby is the Bodleian’s Duke Humfrey’s Library. In The Philosopher’s Stone, the historic library forms the fabulous backdrop to Harry’s adventure when he seeks out a forbidden book late one night, while most of the other students are away for Christmas. Every Potter fan whose memory has not been obliviated by one of Professor Lockhart’s memory charms will remember Harry sneaking in underneath his invisibility cloak, itself a mysterious Christmas present.

‘One thing to remember is that, strictly speaking, all guests at both colleges should be over 18. It’s no use drinking Polyjuice Potion to look like someone older!

‘Oxford isn’t the only location you can potter in the footsteps of Harry. A number of London universities offer inexpensive rooms near venues such as Leadenhall Market. This famous market in the City of London features in The Philosopher’s Stone. Hagrid and Harry stride through it on their way to Diagon Alley. No, you don’t need an eye check: the entrance to the infamous wizard’s pub, the Leaky Cauldron, which is just outside the market in Bull’s Head Passage is, in real life, now an opticians!

‘This year, the Lord Mayor of London turns on the market’s Christmas lights on 14 November at 6pm, making it an even more magical place to visit. Everything from crafts to antiques will be on sale during the weekends leading up to Christmas. The great news is that a number of student accommodation centres are available this winter in London, including:

  • Elm Grove (University of Roehampton)
  • Goodenough College, Bloomsbury
  • Roomzzz London Stratford
  • The Victoria League Student House, Bayswater

‘This December, the Victoria League Student House in Leinster Square offers accommodation in a historic building from just £33 a night. It dates back to 1853 and features beautiful gardens. Like all UniversityRooms.com properties, you don’t have to be a student to rent a room there. However, it is specifically intended for young people aged 18 to 30 to stay safely in London.

‘It doesn’t take an educated guess to realise that more limited university term-time accommodation is likely to get booked up. For more information on staying in Oxford, see https://www.universityrooms.com/en-GB/city/oxford/home/

 

 

 

Potter fans can stay in Oxford’s New College this December. Its cloisters and quad feature in the movie The Goblet of Fire. (Image courtesy UniversityRooms/copyright New College.)

Holidays, News, Scotland

Braidhaugh Holiday Park introduces family friendly caravans to their Scottish riverside retreat

Braidhaugh holiday park in Crieff has introduced four new caravans to the park giving holiday makers the chance to be some of the first people to stay in the brand new units.

Previously the largest accommodation at the park slept 4 people but the new additions include two 2-bedroom caravans (sleeps 6) and two 3-bedroom (sleeps 8).

The Generous Living Area Offers Space for Larger Families

The new caravans are perfect for larger families and the furry family member with one 2-bedroom and one 3-bedroom allocated as pet-friendly units.

As you’d expect from Largo, the interiors are furnished to a high standard with comfortable beds and high quality furnishings

Largo Leisure’s Group Operations Director, Alison Watson said:

“Braidhaugh is a beautiful park with so much to offer. Inside the park gates is a quiet, tranquil haven on the edge of the River Earn but within a few minutes’ walk you are in the heart of the lovely town of Crieff with all the shops, pubs, and restaurants, you really do get the best of both worlds here. And it is important to us for the local businesses to see and feel the benefit of having our holiday park on its doorstep, and the increase in our occupancy will hopefully be good news to the town too.”

Comfortable for families, with Pet Friendly Options

“The accommodation at Braidhaugh is fantastic with luxury lodges with hot tubs, some being on the river’s edge, ensuite glamping pods and camping pods but they only slept up to four and we wanted to give larger families the opportunity to enjoy this great park which is why we are really excited to introduce our new fleet of caravans that can sleep up to six guests in the 2-bedroom units and up to eight guests in the 3-bedroom units.

“Also, Braidhaugh is a dog friendly park and we wanted to reflect this in our caravan offering with two of the four new vans being pet-friendly, so the whole family get to enjoy a holiday here and we for one can’t wait to welcome them.”

The large kitchen is perfect for feeding a bigger family

Braidhaugh Caravan Breaks –

Stay on Friday 2nd August for 3 nights in a 2-bedroom Caravan (sleeps 6) from £488.
Stay on Friday 9th August for 7 nights in a 2-bedroom Caravan (sleeps 6) from £546.
Stay on Monday 12th August for 4 nights in a 3-bedroom Caravan (sleeps 8) from £450.

To be one of the first to stay in the new for 2024 caravans at Braidhaugh Holiday Park, visit Largo Leisure Holidays

Holidays, Scotland

Official launch event of new £800k development at Sauchope Links Holiday Park

Largo Leisure Holidays were honoured to host The Provost, Councillor Jim Leishman MBE, at Sauchope Links holiday park this morning (18/7), to formally launch their new £800k development with a traditional ribbon cutting ceremony.

The new development at the coastal park near Crail, is an investment into tourism in the area and aims to attract not only more holiday guests, but also to encourage longer term investment from holiday homeowners with 8 new holiday home pitches available.

In addition to the 8 new holiday home pitches, the park has also invested in 5 new holiday accommodations, and a recent addition of the park’s first three-bedroom caravan to attract families.

This impressive investment in Scottish tourism is part of an overall investment programme by private equity firm, Limerston Capital, who acquired Largo Leisure in March 2022.

The Provost was given a tour of one of the newly purchased holiday homes and gave a short speech before cutting the ribbon, saying: “I am extremely impressed with the quality of the lodges on the new development. In fact, they aren’t lodges they feel more like homes with some amazing views. I wish Alison and team at Sauchope good luck with the new development.”

As well as The Provost, the park had invited representatives from the Crail Community Partnership and the local community newspaper Crail Matters as well as local businesses in the area to come along for the event.

Group Operations Director for Largo Leisure, Alison Watson said: “We are really proud of the new development at Sauchope Links and have already sold a number of the new holiday home pitches including the one we showed our guests around today. The new pitches are literally metres from the coastal path, giving the most stunning, uninterrupted views of the sea from large, decked areas which also make a great spot for dolphin watching. They really are something special.”

“The new pitches provide buyers with an opportunity to build their own dream holiday home from plan and that’s one of the reasons we are seeing so much interest in them. Owning a holiday home which provides views like these across the Firth of Forth is a pretty rare thing and we don’t expect them to be on sale for long.”

More details about the new development can be found at Largo Leisure and holiday booking availability for the new holiday lodges can be found at Largo Leisure Holidays.

Holidays, News, Scotland, Travel

Bargain Breaks! May Bank Holiday weekend getaways from £300 for the whole family

Rosneath Castle Park are offering guests the chance to experience the magic of Scotland this May Bank Holiday with amazing discounts of up to 54% off your stay.

The park is offering all grades of accommodation at one fixed price, meaning the usual price differences between the higher and lower grades have been scrapped and everyone pays the same. 2-bedroom (sleeps 6), 3-bedroom (sleeps 8), and pet-friendly caravans are all included in the offer. The sooner you book the better grade you secure.

The park also has a special offer of 25% off water sport equipment hire at their on-site water sports centre, so guests can add even more excitement to their Scottish adventure.

Stay at Rosneath Castle on Friday 3rd May for 3 nights in any grade and berth for £300.

To book one of these fantastic May Bank Holiday Bargains, visit www.rosneathcastle.co.uk

Nestled on the banks of an idyllic loch, Rosneath Castle Park is a truly stunning setting for caravan holidays in Scotland. Located near Helensburgh in Argyll on Scotland’s West Coast, our quiet holiday park is the perfect destination for discovering nearby Loch Lomond, the copper-coloured hills of Argyll and the Scottish Highlands. After a day conquering the waters, exploring our surroundings, or enjoying the local attractions, you’ll find a tasty meal and drinks served up in our bar and restaurant, and live entertainment taking place on many evenings. www.rosneathcastle.co.uk

Disability, Holidays, News, Property News, Travel

Welsh luxury holiday resort expands its accessibility offering with newly launched adapted Platinum lodges

Bluestone National Park Resort has launched four adapted lodges as part of its brand new Platinum range.

The luxury holiday resort, named third best in the UK for 2023 by Which? magazine for a second year running, sits in 500 acres of National Park in the scenic countryside of Pembrokeshire.

The Platinum lodges are the most luxurious offering yet, featuring sunrooms, picturesque surroundings, a private entrance, ‘cwtch’ rooms, and 20% more space.

The new lodges have been specially designed to assist those who need additional assistance, including being arranged over a single floor with two bedrooms, a wet-room, and an open-plan lounge, kitchen and dining area, as well as an outdoor patio.

They also have wider doorways, a shower seat and handrails, emergency pull cords and a designated parking space for Blue Badge holders.

The newly launched Platinum lodges boost the resort’s existing accessible offering, with six Caldey lodges having already been adapted for disabled guests.

Guests are able to enjoy a diverse array of activities within the resort, as well as the natural surrounding beauty of Pembrokeshire’s beaches, cliffs and harbours.

Blue Lagoon, a subtropical water park, has designated disabled changing rooms, four aqua chairs and a hoist which can be requested at reception.

While Nature Trails found across the resort have been carefully designed to ensure there are wide pathways, limited steps, and, where needed, disabled access.

The Serendome, a covered outdoor playground, features a state-of-the-art amphitheatre that is wheelchair accessible and also offers a multi-level, aerial adventure course that is suitable for wheelchair users.

The Bluestone team are also able to make arrangements for guests with additional needs – such as those with sensory issues – to have exclusive access to facilities such as Blue Lagoon, Serendome or its indoor play area, The Hive, outside of standard operating hours.

William McNamara, founder and chief executive at Bluestone, said: “Our Free Range Manifesto embodies our commitment to creating a place where children of all ages and abilities can explore nature in beautiful surroundings.

“We’re extremely dedicated to making our resort and holidays accessible to everyone; from tailoring the lighting in our indoor play area to suit those with sensory needs, to opening our facilities outside of standard operating hours for guests who would benefit from quieter sessions.

“We believe that everyone who visits Bluestone deserves an unforgettable experience, which is why we would encourage guests to contact the team in advance to discuss any specific requirements they may have so we can ensure these are meet during their stay.”

With over 100 activities to choose from on the resort, many of which can be adapted for those with additional needs such as bowling or axe throwing, the Bluestone team are able to advise on the most suitable activities ahead of your stay.

Bookings to the adapted Platinum lodges can be made via Bluestone’s website: https://www.bluestonewales.com/resort.