Thomas Cook Travel - Summer 2013

thomas Cook travel

Jet skiing

Snorkelling SurďŹ ng

SUMMER 2013 Splashing Paddling

ANTIGUAOS B A R B A DI A ST. LUC t our new Check oul routes on a tropic ge 45 pa

Long walks Horse rides Sandcastles

Sunbathing

Ice cream

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER 2013

People watching

Beach games Cool cocktails

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aug / sep / oct 2013

contents F E AT U R E S ed with lv o v in t Ge tion in c a e h all t ge 52) a p ( y e Turk

insider guide: the caribbean

45

Barbados, St. Lucia or Antigua – which one of Thomas Cook’s new tropical routes is right for you? (Of course you can always do all three!)

t h e d i a ry o f a ( r el u c ta n t ) t h r i l l -s e ek e r

52

Will our wimpy writer unleash her inner adventurer on an activity-based break in Turkey?

d i s c ov e r d j e r b a The residents of this tiny Tunisian island share their top tips on what to see and do in their sun-kissed home

b ay watch From Adrenaline Junkies to Spiritual Seekers, we track down the tribes you might spot on the network’s best beaches

inner beaut y To experience the real Cyprus, and refresh your mind, body and soul, follow the locals’ advice and head inland

cl a u s e n c o u n t e r s Get swept up in the magic on an unforgettable trip to meet Santa Claus in Lapland

Photography: Greg Funnell

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73

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(page 23) Jet skiing

Snorkelling Surfing

SUMMER 2013 Splashing Paddling

ANTIGUAOS BARBADIA ST. LUC our new Check outroutes on tropical 45 page

Long walks Horse rides Sandcastles

30 I N T E R V I E W

contents

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Prepare to say “bug appetit” as eating insects emerges as one of the year’s coolest dining trends

Think you know everything about the world’s best beers? You will once you’ve read our ultimate guide

12 NORTHERN EXPOSURE Discover the five best places in the world to see the Northern Lights

How to create your very own Greek odyssey, Kardashian-style

16 S T Y L E

23 T R E N D Go retro with your movie watching as the drive-in cinema turns 70

25 T E C H

We channel fashion’s favourite muses, the royal family, for our classy holiday wardrobe

What would happen if a tablet and SLR camera had a baby? The Samsung Galaxy NX has the answer

18 B E A U T Y

Would t you ea this? (page 35)

40 I N

FOCUS

A look at photographer Bernhard Edmaier’s stunning aerial snaps from his upcoming book EarthArt

97 T H E

CHECKLIST

We round up our favourite hotels, restaurants and bars around the network for the summer

26 A C T I O N

Enhance your assets with innovative products that are scientifically proven to work

We celebrate McLaren’s 50th anniversary and discover that an E.T.-style flying bike actually exists

20 E S S E N T I A L S Get ready for those late summer festivals with our stylish survival kit

28 C H E A P

THRILLS

How to make big savings on a small budget on a holiday to Malta

111 THOMAS COOK NEWS 114 WELLBEING IN THE AIR 119 OUR FLEET 120 ROUTE MAP 122 THE LAST WORD An insider’s look at Majorca

L if e’s a b e a c h

g the beach is a quintessential part of makin Whatever your age, there’s no denying that really big sand castles ng buildi about all was it tot, a as me, a holiday, well, a holiday. For my at Disney World. But by the time I got to on Florida’s east coast after fun-filled days , WKD Blues and wild nights sports water Ws: three the tick to d late teens, beaches neede different altogether. My latest twenties, I find myself craving something out. And now I’m almost at the end of my lots of long walks and ed involv Island uver Vanco a’s Canad Tofino on break on the wide, sweeping beaches of ne. everyo for there to show that there’s a beach out building fires at sunset. But it just goes y-based break in Turkey activit an for er loung sun her ditch to y writer With that in mind, we challenged our wimp of sand on Thomas strips ack laid-b spectrum, tracked down the most (page 52) and, at the opposite end of the our David Attenborougher, summ this to off jetting you’re ver where Cook’s new Caribbean routes (page 45). And spot on your next holiday, you identify the characters that you might style beach tribe feature on page 73 will help which one you are. Right out find you help to quiz a got even l. We’ve from the Party Animals to the Pampers Patro e by next issue. chang to bound need of a dose of Zen, but that’s now, I’m a Spiritual Seeker, in desperate Happy travels!

Anisha Patel

Editor

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Beach games Cool cocktails

22/07/2013 15:15

Editor Anisha Patel Art Director Julia Murray Picture Editor Julia Holmes Sub Editor Karen Wiley Production Manager Antonia Ferraro Production Controller Adam Jones Publisher Chris Davies chris.davies@ink-global.com +44 (0) 207 749 6285 Advertising Sales Executives German Marin George Hughes Joe Edmondson Sales recruitment joinus@ink-global.com Executive Creative Director Michael Keating Editorial Director Andrew Humphreys Publishing Director Simon Leslie Chief Executive Jeffrey O’Rourke Chief Operating Officer Hugh Godsal For Thomas Cook Kalai Mahalingam Louise Dixon Samantha Townshend Sandy Winn Louise Bolton Reprographics KFR Pre-Press Ltd Ink, 141-143 Shoreditch High Street, London E1 6JE Editorial +44 (0)20 7749 6265, thomascook.ed@ink-global.com Sales +44 (0)20 7613 8779 Editorial opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily those of Thomas Cook. Though we strive for accuracy, Ink and Thomas Cook cannot accept responsibility for information, such as prices and product availability, that may be subject to change. photo : rex

35 F O O D

38 D R I N K

GUIDE

Ice cream

TURKEYDJERBACYPRUSGREECEMALTAMAJORCA

NEWS

15 S TA R

Sunbathing

TV presenter Vernon Kay on playing American football and the key to a successful family holiday

THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

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from Thomas Cook Dear holidaymaker

A

very warm welcome on board this Thomas Cook Airlines flight. We’re delighted to have you with us and your crew is looking forward to taking very good care of you today. We know how much your holiday means to you and that your dreams begin to come alive as soon as you start researching, booking, shopping, packing, checking-in and boarding the plane. It’s at the core of our being at Thomas Cook that we make sure your experiences not just meet, but exceed, your expectations.

If you’re reading this on your way out, with your whole holiday ahead of you, you must be feeling pretty excited right now and that’s exactly as it should be! No matter what you’re looking forward to most – whether it’s time with your friends and family, exploring new places or enjoying new food – we want it to be the best it can be.

Some of the first people you’ll meet when you land will be from our fantastic local resort team.

Our warm and welcoming representatives are the most knowledgeable and experienced people you could hope to meet. They have valuable information and advice to make your stay so much more special, including the best places to eat, drink, dance, swim, shop and explore. They will lavish care on you and be there whenever you need them, so please make the most of your time together.

If you’re on your way home, I trust you’re taking some wonderful memories with you and are feeling relaxed, recharged and ready to take on ‘real life’ once more. We’d love to hear about your experiences of travelling with us so please do email us at customer.service@thomascook.com. Your feedback really does help us to continually improve upon our holidays and services. During the flight you’ll also be offered a Customer Service Questionnaire and I would encourage you to take a few minutes to share your open and honest views with us.

If you’re like me, you’ll already be thinking ahead to your next trip, as there’s no better way to beat the post-holiday blues than by planning the next. Whether that’s next month, next summer or even a year or more away, the cycle of excitement can start right now. You’ll find plenty of inspiration in this edition of Travel.

The march of modern technology means that the world is changing very fast and so too is the way that many want to research, plan and book flights and leisure travel. We understand this, so our aim is to offer you endless choice, total flexibility, great value and exceptional service however you choose to contact us. With more than 800 travel stores nationwide, call centres that are open when it’s convenient for you and a complete online travel service available 24/7, 365 days a year at thomascook.com, we would welcome the opportunity to inspire and delight you once more.

Thank you for trusting us with your important holiday plans. We’re very proud to play a part in making this time special for you and your travel companions. I hope your memories last a very long time. So, until next time, I wish you an enjoyable trip.

Kind regards,

Harriet Green Group Chief Executive Officer Thomas Cook Group plc

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CALL CENTER (0850) 800 (0850) reservations@mardanpalace.com.tr - www.mardanpalace.com.tr

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What's taking off in the world of travel

AUGUST / SEPTEMBER / OCTOBER

featuring: NORTHERN LIGHTS FESTIVAL ST YLE SAMSUNG GALAXY NX DRIVE-IN CINEMAS WORLD'S BEST BEERS EATING INSECTS VERNON KAY

Rock star

When Marilyn Monroe injured her ankle filming River of No Return in Banff, Canada, in 1953, she didn't turn her back on the cameras during her downtime. Instead, the movie star took refuge at the iconic Fairmont Banff Springs hotel (elegantresorts.co.uk), where LOOK magazine photographer John Vachon captured hundreds of candid shots of her around the resort, including this one of her riding a ski chairflift. The blonde bombshell caused quite a stir with the hotel's bell boys, who would daily draw lots to see who got to push her around in her wheelchair. The itself hotel has plenty of star appeal, having hosted countless celebrities, politicians and members of the royal family. And as it celebrates its 125th birthday this year, there's never been a better time to recreate a classic Monroe pose. Ankle injury, optional.

BE THERE‌ Turn to page 97 to read our review of the Fairmont Banff Springs

Wish re you we here?

Words: Anisha Patel. Photography: John Vachon for LOOK Magazine Photograph Collection, Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division

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ABISKO NATIONAL PARK, SWEDEN

Flat landscapes are ideal for viewing the whole sky, but failing that, you want to go up high. The 77sq km Abisko National Park is home to the Aurora Sky Station (auroraskystation.com), which is situated at its highest peak. Not only is it 250km north of the Arctic Circle, but it also benefits from prevailing winds that push clouds away, maximising clear skies.

THE BEST BIT You can book a gourmet, four-course Nordic dinner up here – which includes dishes like stewed moose – and eat it under the dazzling display (from 1,705 SEK/ £168 per person).

Almost anywhere in Canada is great for aurora displays, but Yellowknife in the Northwest Territories is the best. Not only is it directly under the auroral oval, but it’s mostly flat, providing unobstructed views of the sky. The area receives very little precipitation, making nearly every night a clear one.

THE BEST BIT You can view the lights while dog sledding with Beck’s Kennels (beckskennels. com), owned by Canadian dog-mushing champ Grant Beck.

YELLOWKNIFE, CANADA

HAMMERFEST, NORWAY

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the big five

Northern Exposure With the Northern Lights at their brightest this year, we ask Dr Elizabeth Cunningham, astronomer at London’s Royal Observatory Greenwich, to share her top spots around the world to see the fantastic light display

Take a cruise from Norway with Hurtigruten (cruisethomascook.com), and you'll go past Tromsø up to Hammerfest, the northernmost town in the world (it helps to get as far north above the Arctic Circle as you can). I once experienced an amazing two-hour display, which got so intense that it was like a green curtain rippling across the sky.

THE BEST BIT Norway benefits from the warm Gulf Stream current, so although it’s cold (about 8˚c), it’s not as cold as it gets in other places at this altitude – which can be -30˚c!

Top tips for taking snaps

URHO KEKKONEN NATIONAL PARK, FINLAND

You can add on a trip to see the Northern Lights with a Finnish Lapland tour (see our Lapland feature on page 89 for more), but the wild forests of this national park are really special. Set in the heart of the country’s snowy Artic Circle, the trees are sparse enough here to reveal clear skies.

THE BEST BIT Pay a visit to the Hotel Kakslauttanen (kakslauttanen.fi) for the evening. Located in the vicinity of the Urho Kekkonen, it boasts the world’s largest smoke sauna – the ideal place to warm up after.

HELLA, ICELAND

Cities aren’t the best places to see displays because the light pollution totally drowns out the colours. But if you must base yourself in a metropolis, Iceland’s a good place to go: you can take a two-hour drive from your Reykjavik hotel to visit the remote Hotel Rangá in Hella (hotelranga.is) for the viewing, which offers a 360-degree view of the sky.

THE BEST BIT The property has outdoor hot tubs and the experience of sitting in warm, bubbling waters while watching the lights is quite magical.

SEE IT… The Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2013 opens at Royal Observatory Greenwich on 19 September. Visit rmg.co.uk for more information

As well as adjusting your camera’s exposure settings, Elizabeth suggests using a tripod and bringing a remote shutter trigger (so you spend less time looking at the display through a tiny viewfinder and more enjoying the view). And be sure to pack lots of spare, fully-charged batteries. They don’t last as long in the cold.

Words: Elizabeth Cunningham

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Use apps, check maps and upload snaps with a day’s worth of data in Europe for £1.99 Ready to go on every ø phone. Just keep your data roaming switched on when you land.

Search ‘ø Travel’

Internet-enabled phones. 15 MB daily allowance. To choose standard alternative tariff, text NOTRAVEL to 23336.

Excludes selected countries. Terms apply, see o2.co.uk/terms for details.

No.93781 Telefonica O2 1pp.indd 1

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d e p a r t u r e s

Greeking up with the Kardashians Follow our five-point guide to create your very own Greek odyssey like reality TV stars Khloe, Kim and Kourtney

ge t on a boat After touching down in Athens, it wasn’t long before the 13-strong Kardashian-Jenner clan jumped aboard the nearest plush yacht they could find to show off their bikinis, braids and bling. Round up your troop for a sailing day trip around Mykonos, complete with a skipper, with Escale Yachting (€120/£100 per person, sailing-mykonos.escaleyachting. com). The trip includes stops at islands and coves, with snorkelling and a Greek lunch.

Get d for inspire your next toga party

s ta r g u i d e

r e n t a l ux u ry v i l l a When they weren’t sailing in the Aegean Sea, the reality TV stars found a lavish retreat back on dry land in three luxury (naturally) villas with heated infinity pools, Jacuzzis and stunning sea views. While the then-pregnant Kim and mum-of-two Kourtney preferred to relax by the pool, action-loving Khloe opted for a horse-back ride on Fokos Beach in the north of the island. The cost of the villas? A cool £25,000. Thankfully, you don’t need a Kardashian salary to enjoy the high life. Saint John Hotel Villas and Spa (thomascook.com) has three private villas overlooking the Blue Flag beach of Agios Ioannis for a fraction of the price – but with all the five-star frills.

And you can saddle up on the very same beach as Khloe with Horseland for €65 (£56) per person (horseland.gr).

on Monday nights at the island’s Meteroa Restaurant (Perivolos Beach, +30 228 6082 777), where mouth-watering mezze starters, gyros kebabs and seafood is accompanied by plenty of crockery bashing and Zorba-style dancing to a bouzouki player. Opa!

h av e a b i g fat g r e ek d i n n e r

g e t s o m e f i s h y b u s i n e ss

At their next stop on the island of Santorini, the family showed off their plate-smashing skills after enjoying a cliff-top dinner – with a dash of traditional Greek folk dancing for good measure. Recreate your own family affair

Here’s one tried-and-tested Kardashian experience that you can definitely afford.

Kim and Kourtney treated themselves to fish pedicures at Kissingfish spa (Fira, kissingfish.gr), where Garra rufa fish nibble

Words: Anisha Patel. Illustration: Pablo Lobato

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the dead skin off customers’ feet to exfoliate and help revitalise the skin and blood circulation.

s n ap it Finally, no Kardashian-style odyssey would be complete without bombarding social media sites with jealousy-inducing shots of amazing scenery and, of course, those all-important ‘selfies’. We say, find the best view of the bluer-than-blue sea, set your favourite filter and Tweet away.

BE THERE… Travel to Santorini and Mykonos with thomascook.com

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style

Keep Calm and STAY STYLISH

MERCERISED POLO SHIRTS, £65 EACH, JAEGER (JAEGER.CO.UK)

BELTED CHINOS, £28, NEXT (NEXT.CO.UK)

PRINCE OF WALES SKINNY SUIT JACKET, £120, RIVER ISLAND (RIVERISLAND.COM)

PRINCE HARRY LOOKING VERY ROYAL IN BLUE

TRILBY, £26, J BY JASPER CONRAN (DEBENHAMS.COM)

BELTED BEL BE BELT EL ELT EL LT TED TE ED D CHINOS, CH HI I INO NO N OS S, , £28, £2 28 28, 8, 8 , NEXT NEX NE N EXT E XT XT (NEXT.CO.UK) (N NE NEX EX EX XT T. .CO .C C CO O.UK UK)

STAINLESS STEEL BRACELET WATCH, £159, , ROTARY (ROTARYWATCHES.COM)

You on only have to turn to the royal family to see why Britan rules the style waves FASHION AND THE ROYALS HAVE LONG ENJOYED A bit From Kate Moss and Agyness Dean’s makeovers b it of an affair. aff Queen for Vogue and Love magazines respectively, to as the Quee fashion queen Vivienne Westwood, who regularly uses British fash Elizabethan corsets and Union Jacks in her designs, it’s easy to see why the royal family are the perfect muses. Princess Diana wowed w owed with her iconic 90s gowns, the Duchess of Cambridge is arguably the queen of classy high-street style and even Prince Harry was recently named Glamour magazine’s second bestman of the year. And with the upcoming Diana biopic dressed ma Naomi Watts hitting our screens on 20 September, starring Na we’ll w e’ll all be raiding our local charity shops to unleash some retro royal glam. In the meantime, why not take inspiration for your holiday war wardrobe from these sophisticated picks?

TUSTING CANVAS EXPLORER SMALL HOLDALL, £230, TUSTING (TUSTING.CO.UK)

as Wills ohf one these!

AXTON, £99, MENS AT DUNE (DUNE.CO.UK)

brits abroad Three holiday hotspots fit for a king (or queen)

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k e n ya

antigua

Wills not only spent part of his gap year here, but it’s also where he popped the question to Kate. But the royal connection goes back to 1952, when the then Princess Elizabeth found out that she would be queen while holidaying in Kenya.

The Duchess of Cornwall visited the tropical island this year before starting her Caribbean tour with Prince Charles. Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex also stopped off here as a part of their 2012 Diamond Jubilee tour.

Words: Shanie Lawrence

18/07/2013 13:06

d e p a r t u r e s

CROWN PENDANT, £90, EASTERN MYSTIC (EASTERNMYSTIC.COM)

QUINN SUNGLASSES, £65, GUESS (GUESS.COM)

ROYAL SLEEPSUIT, £11, M&C (MANDCO.COM)

ROYAL baby VASHTY DRESS, £74, NANCY DEE (NANCYDEE.CO.UK)

KATE: THE NEW QUEEN OF THE YUMMY MUMMIES

CATWALK PEARL STATEMENT NECKLACE, £15, ACCESSORIZE (ACCESSORIZE.COM)

KUNO BOWLER HAT, €285 (£244), MUEHLBAUER (MUEHLBAUER.AT)

YVETTE DRESS, £85, JARLO (JARLOLONDON.COM)

PEARL HEIRESS EARRINGS, £30, GLITZY SECRETS (GLITZYSECRETS.COM)

CHARLIE EMERALD SILK CLUTCH, £150, WILBUR & GUSSIE (WILBURANDGUSSIE.COM)

Kate''s fave nt! sce

ROYAL COLLECTION, £12 EACH, BUTTER LONDON (BUTTERLONDON.COM)

CUT-OUT PEEP TOE COURT SHOE, £138, CARLO PAZOLINI (CARLOPAZOLINI.COM)

WHITE GARDENIA GARD PETALS, , £70, , ILLUMINUM ILLUM (ILLUMINUMPERFUME.COM) (ILLUMINUMPERFUME.

klosters, switzerland

l a s v eg a s , u s a

The posh, Swiss ski resort is a firm favourite with the Royals – everyone from Princess Diana to the Duchess of Cambridge has been spotted on the slopes. Prince Charles has been skiing here for over 30 years.

With pool parties galore and glam nights out, it’s easy to see why party boy Prince Harry likes to let loose in Sin City.

BE THERE… Give your holiday the royal treatment by visiting thomascook.com

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Here comes the science bit Ever since Jennifer Aniston uttered that iconic line for L’Oréal’s ad campaigns in the 90s, we not only realised that science could be sexy, but that we actually wanted our beauty products to deliver results backed by research and clinical trials. Whether you’re after a product to roll back the years or enhance what you’ve already got, these new tried-and-tested solutions are all you need to create your very own beauty laboratory. Concentrate...

01

05

beauty

04 02

O U C H!!!

03

01. TALIKA LIPOCILS (£18)

02. NIP+FAB VIPER VENOM DUO (£20) 03. GLAMGLOW MUD MASK (£19.50)

04. DR LEWINN’S RENUNAIL DUO (£16)

The science bit: Based on a

The science bit: This range

The science bit: The

The science bit: The

natural formula discovered in 1948 – a blend of nettle, horse chestnut extract and witch hazel – this is the first product that’s been clinically proven to increase eyelash growth by up to 2.5mm in just 28 days.

of products is dubbed ‘Botox without needles’ for good reason: it uses SYN®-AKE technology, which mimics the effects of a protein found in actual snake venom (yes, really) to temporarily ‘freeze’ your face.

groundbreaking TEAOXI™ in this face mask helps the antioxidants from the active green tea leaf ingredient – such as Super-Squalene – get absorbed into your skin.

The result? An instant glow in just 10 minutes.

super-nourishing formula in these products uses two of nature’s most precious gems – diamond dust to support the nail matrix and pearl extract to strengthen the keratin – and promises stronger nails in four weeks.

05. TRANSFORMULAS MARINE MIRACLE CRÈME (£35) The science bit: Clinical

trials showed that wrinkles were less noticeable just 90 seconds after using this product. The key player here is Lysedine – a patented ingredient that helps to soften expression lines.

GET YOURS… All products are available to buy on board, see Emporium magazine for more information

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Words: Anisha Patel

22/07/2013 14:21

LONGER, STRONGER NAILS IN JUST 4 WEEKS AVAILABLE ON THIS FLIGHT

RENUNAIL STRENGTHENER rescue & repair RENUNAIL NOURISHING OIL hydrate & sooth

by

DRLEWINNS.CO.UK

No.91210 - Meda Pharmaceuticals 1pp.indd 1

11/04/2013 16:26

the great outdoors

essentials

01

Have a field day att th these se llate te summer festivals with our ultimate survival kit

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01. VERTIGO, NEAR TURIN, ITALY, 15-17 AUGUST

02. BOARDMASTERS, NEWQUAY, UK, 7-11 AUGUST

03. WAY OUT WEST, GOTHENBURG, SWEDEN, 8-10 AUGUST

Describing itself as Europe’s highest-altitude summer dance music festival, this event literally takes DJs to new heights in the heart of the Piedmont Mountains – which provided ski jumps for the 2006 Winter Olympics. For summer, swap the ski lift for this inflatable sofa (£49.99, Gelert, iwantoneofthose.com) and enjoy the show. (vertigofestival.com)

Now in its 30th year, Boardmasters makes the most of sun, surf and sound systems on the British coast. Set on Fistral Beach, the surf capital of the UK, all you have to do is grab this surfboard (6’6 Poseidon board, £285, Torq, tikisurf.co.uk) and let the good times – and waves – roll. Headlining this year are Basement Jaxx and The Vaccines. (boardmasters.co.uk)

It’s not just acts like Azealia Banks and Bat For Lashes that make Way Out West mind-blowing: the three-day festival, which is set in the city, also has a cultural edge, with art exhibitions and film screenings. It’s a non-camping gig, so forget the tent, but as it’s vegetarian, do pack a barbecue (picnic charcoal grill, £40, Bodum bodum.com) and plenty of Quorn sausages. (wayoutwest.se/en)

THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

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Words: Anisha Patel. Photography: Tim E White. Model: Julia Holmes

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d e p a r t u r e s

a e replic iz s l l A fu ual VW t of an a cper van ! m ca

02

04

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04. BESTIVAL, ISLE OF WIGHT, UK, 5-8 SEPTEMBER This tent (VW Camper van tent, £299.99, firebox.com) is big enough to fit you and the kids – well it is a 1:1 scale replica of an actual 1965 Volkswagen camper van. We reckon it’s the perfect contender for the UK’s best-known family-friendly festival. This year, Bestival welcomes Elton John and his band, Franz Ferdinand and Snoop Dogg to the stage. Groovy. (bestival.net)

05

05. TAURON NOWA MUZYKA, KATOWICE, POLAND, 22-25 AUGUST Yes, the name’s a bit of a mouthful, but who cares when you’ve got the coolest location for a festival ever.

Set in a disused coal mine – hence the glow-in-thedark wellies (£24.99, JuJu, jujushoes.co.uk) – expect fresh electronic, dance and nu-jazz acts (nowa muzyka means new music) such as DJ Krush, Jamie Lidell and Fever Ray. (festiwalnowamuzyka.pl/en)

Other products: Versible 2 boardshorts, £55, Reef (reef.com); Aztec Tri bikini top, £82 for a set, Maria Bonita by Phax at Simply Beach (simplybeach.com); V2S Maguro Stripe boardshorts, £49.99, Volcom (volcomeurope.com); Jive roller skates, £59.99, Rio Roller at Surfdome (surfdome.com); Uptone Ice sunglasses, £20, Breo (breo.com); Julia wears Iva bikini, £35, Animal at Simply Beach (simplybeach.com); Diana F+ camera, £89.99, Lomography at Surfdome (surfdome.com); Covina towel, £35, Quiksilver (quiksilver.co.uk); Tinder pack, £50, Burton (burton.com).

BE THERE… Travel to these festivals with thomascook.com and netflights.com

AUG.SEP.OCT

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d e p a r t u r e s

trend

reels on wheels

te your Crreyaow n ve summer lovin’ THE THEATRE

The drive-in cinema turns 70 this summer, so why not give your next movie date a retro twist at one of these theatres?

THE WHEELS

REFRESHMENTS

THE IDEAL MOVIE

DREAM DATE

USA

MO ON

Silver Moon in Lakeland, Florida, a one-hour 20-minute drive from Orlando (4100 New Tampa Highway, silvermoondrivein.com) shows the latest blockbusters on two screens.

ADMIT 1

$4 (£2.63) for adults $1 (66p) for kids under 10

SALTY POPCORN FOR ME, I'M SWEET ENOUGH

A 1950s Ford Thunderbird

Corn dogs, candy, pocorn and pretzels

Grease – what else??

Ryan G Gosling from the flick Drive

Barbados At the family-owned and operated Globe Drive-In (Adams Castle, Vauxhall, Christ Church, globedrivein.com), two movies are included per admission, with new releases every Wednesday.

ADMIT 1

S UNS E T

BDS$15 (£4.93) for adults BDS$8 (£2.63) for kids under 10 Half price on Mondays and Tuesdays

WHY DON'T YOU JUST SHUT UP AND DRIVE?

A Suzuki Jimny jeep

Fish barbecued i h ffry, b b d chicken and rotis

Pirates of the Caribbean

L Local l girl d done one good, Rihanna

India I WANT AN ALLSINGING AND DANCING NUMBER

The Sunset Drive-In Cinema (TV Tower, Drive-In Road, sunsetdriveincinema.com) in Ahmedabad is apparently the largest outdoor screen in Asia and can play to a 6,000-strong audience at a single time.

ADMIT 1

Rs. 40 (44p) per person

A rickshaw, naturally

Samosas and masala popcorn

Slumdog Millionaire

Bo Bollyw Bollywood ollywood d queen queen, Aishwarya Rai

South Africa The drive-in cinema at Menlyn Park, Pretoria (corner of Atterbury Road and Lois Avenue, menlynpark.co.za) is the first in the world to be constructed on the roof of a retail complex.

ADMIT 1

R65 (£4.32) per car Monday-Saturday R30 (£1.99) per car on Sundays Half price on Wednesdays

I'LL BE MAKING A SCRUM AT THE BAR

A 1957 Studebaker, available at the theatre

Biltong – the popular South African snack

Invictus

South Africa’s f i rugby captain, Jean de Villiers

BE THERE… Fly to these destinations with thomascook.com and netflights.com

movie etiquette

The dos and don’ts for drive-ins

Words: Anisha Patel, Photos: Getty, Rex

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DO

DON’T

DO

turn off your engine during bring your own food arrive as early as possible. It’s the film. Aside from wasting from outside unless the considered rude to turn up when petrol, the car’s fumes may disrupt drive-in cinema states that it’s allowed. the film has started, plus you’ll get a your neighbours’ viewing pleasure. They usually have on-site snack bars. better parking spot and viewing position.

DON’T

honk your horn during the film. Unless you’re in Barbados, where it adds to the lively atmosphere and is acceptable!

AUG.SEP.OCT

23

22/07/2013 14:24

Mitre and Thomas Cook have teamed up to create one of the most innovative, fun and unique soccer academies you’ll find on a package holiday; Mitre Street Skills.

As part of this fantastic partnership we are providing the high quality soccer equipment for all Thomas Cook FamilyWORLD* and Airtours Sunstar Resorts** Mitre Street Skills Soccer Academies.

Carefully constructed by the International Street Soccer Association, the Soccer Academies have been designed to let kids feel free to play, try new things and learn some of the most exciting soccer skills around.

Suitable for boys and girls of all ages and abilities, kids will learn new skills, tricks and flicks in a fun and interactive environment with the Thomas Cook Street Soccer Coaches. Sessions are available for just €20 per child for 3 x 60 minute sessions^ and are divided into age groups for consistent coaching. *Featured in Stella Palace, IBEROSTAR Vell Mari, Parque Cristobal and Blanc Palace Resort ** Featured in Hi! Bouganvilla Park, Hi! Binimar, Sun Tropical, Oasis Village, Aparthotel Paraiso de Albufeira, Marelen Hotel & Apts and Zorbas Beach ^ Sessions available between 1st July – 1st September . For more information or to book, please speak with your Thomas Cook Representative or Soccer Coach in resort.

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d e p a r t u r e s

tech

A Galaxy not so far away GET SMART

Introducing the Galaxy NX, Samsung’s ng s latest ‘smart’ camera, a DSLR with 3G-enabled Android capabilities pabilities and features that are quite out of this world

3D Pack the 3D glasses

Not one to lag behind in technological advances, the Galaxy NX is compatible with the Samsung NX's new 45mm 2D/3D lens.

Smartphone interactivity

The Android 4.2 Jelly Bean system gives you access to Google Play and its downloadable apps, meaning that you can edit your pictures on the go and make the most of the device's 3G/4G capabilities.

ore Much m t a s than ju a! camer

SIZE MATTERS...

121.2MM

It has a massive 20.3-megapixel sensor, 16GB storage and a super-fast 1/6,000-second shutter speed.

The size of its HD LCD touchscreen – that's just 13.5mm smaller than the width of an iPad Mini.

SHARING IS CAR CARING The social ne network

EXPERT TIP...

Chris Hall, editor, Pocket-lint.com says...

“Not only are you getting a great-spec camera, but you have access to information on the move. For example, GPS isn’t new on cameras, but mapping is. The Galaxy NX has an app that will show you an interesting photo spot in your area.”

Integrated w with 3G/4G and Wi-Fi, you can shoot and share photos with your friends and family via v the Cloud at the touch tou of a button.

GET YOURS… The Samsung Galaxy NX will be available to buy in the UK from selected online and high-street retailers this summer

Words: Stephanie Yip

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AUG.SEP.OCT

25

18/07/2013 14:30

d e p a r t u r e s

McLaren’s 50th lap

in numbers We serve up the numbers behind New York’s US Open

“Life is measured in achievement, not in years alone,” said a then 27-year-old Bruce McLaren in 1964. Fast-forward almost 50 years and the New Zealander’s motorsporting triumphs have covered more than just a few laps: the McLaren Group now employs over 2,000 people, is the second-oldest active racing team (after Ferrari) and is one of Formula One’s most successful teams, having won 182 races to date. To help celebrate the group’s 50th anniversary on 2 September, Prestel have published McLaren: 50 Years of Racing (£99, out 19 August), written by The Observer’s former racing correspondent Maurice Hamilton. Documenting half a century’s worth of the racing legend-turnedengineer’s contributions to motorsport, it includes never-before-seen photographs and exclusive interviews with McLaren team drivers such as Alain Prost and Jenson Button.

BE THERE… See the McLaren team race at the Italian Grand Prix from 6-8 September with thomascook.com

70‚000

Tennis balls are shipped to the tournament on average every year.

23.6 KM2

The size of Billie Jean King National Tennis Center at Flushing Meadows, making it the biggest tennis stadia in the world.

action

1973

The US Open becomes the first of the four Grand Slams to introduce equal prize money for men and women.

5 HOURS + 26MINS

The length of a match between Stefan Edberg and Michael Chang in 1992, believed to be the longest in the tournament’s history.

145‚000 $33.6

MILLION

is it a bird? is it a plane?

No, it’s a flying bike! It may have been the thing of your childhood dreams after watching E.T., but it’s now a realityy thanks to the Paravelo. Capable of running for up to three hours on a full tank of biofuel and reaching heights of 2,500 metres and speeds of 25mph, it uses an asymmetrical paraglider ‘wing’ to provide the lift, taking off within a few turns of the pedals. You’d have to ditch the car to afford the £10,000 price tag, but at least traffic jams will be a thing of the past. (parajet.com)

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THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

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The total prize money for the US Open, making it the world’s richest single sporting event.

BE THERE… Travel to New York to see the US Open (usopen.org) from 26 August9 September with tcsignature.com or crestaholidays.co.uk

sources: cnn.com, forbes, wilson, tennisindustry.org

Ben & Jerry’s ice cream bars are roughly consumed over the two-week tournament

Words: Anisha Patel

19/07/2013 12:55

JOURNEY TO THE CENTRE OF NATURE All visitors who explore La Gomera, one of the Canary Islands, could write their own novel. Just like Jules Verne did in “Journey ƚŽ ƚŚĞ ĞŶƚƌĞ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ĂƌƚŚ͟ ͕ ǁŚĞƌĞ ŚĞ ĚĞƐĐƌŝďĞƐ ǀĞŐĞƚĂƟŽŶ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ dĞƌƟĂƌLJ WĞƌŝŽĚ ƚŚĂƚ ĐŽƵůĚ ǁĞůů ďĞ ŝŶƐƉŝƌĞĚ ďLJ ů ĞĚƌŽ &ŽƌĞƐƚ͘ Three hundred and sixty-nine square kilometers of concentrated nature allow one to experience the plenitude and calm of ĞǀĞƌLJƚŚŝŶŐ >Ă 'ŽŵĞƌĂ ŚĂƐ ƚŽ ŽīĞƌ͘ dŚĞ ŚĞĂƌƚ ŽĨ ƚŚĞ ŝƐůĂŶĚ͕ 'ĂƌĂũŽŶĂLJ EĂƟŽŶĂů WĂƌŬ͕ ŵŽǀĞƐ Ăƚ Ă ĚŝīĞƌĞŶƚ ƉĂĐĞ͕ ĨĂƌ ĨƌŽŵ ƚŚĞ hustle and bustle of everyday life. ŽƵŶƚůĞƐƐ ƉĂƚŚƐ ǁŝƚŚ ǀĂƌLJŝŶŐ ůĞǀĞůƐ ŽĨ ĚŝĸĐƵůƚLJ ƌƵŶ ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ůĂŶĚƐĐĂƉĞƐ ĂůŵŽƐƚ ƵŶƚŽƵĐŚĞĚ ďLJ ĞǀŽůƵƟŽŶĂů ƚƌĂŶƐĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶƐ͕ ƐŝŶĐĞ ƚŚĞƌĞ ŚĂǀĞŶDzƚ ďĞĞŶ ĂŶLJ ǀŽůĐĂŶŽ ĞƌƵƉƟŽŶƐ ŝŶ ƚŚĞ ůĂƐƚ ƚǁŽ million years. It´s an island of deep ravines, a rugged coastline and unspeakable beauty.

THE QUIET LIFE Life in La Gomera is marked by the tranquility that comes from being surrounded by awe-inspiring nature and a leisurely pace that makes it possible to enjoy a sunset, a dish of slowĐŽŽŬĞĚ ĨŽŽĚ͕ Ă ĐŽŶǀĞƌƐĂƟŽŶ ǁŝƚŚ Ă ƐƚƌĂŶŐĞƌ Žƌ Ă ƐƚƌŽůů ƚŚƌŽƵŐŚ ƵŶƐƉŽŝůĞĚ͕ ĂƵƚŚĞŶƟĐ ǀŝůůĂŐĞƐ͘

WORLD HERITAGE SITE AND BIOSPHERE RESERVE A place as small as the island of La Gomera has been ƐŝŶŐůĞĚ ŽƵƚ ďLJ hE ^ K ŵƵůƟƉůĞ ƟŵĞƐ͕ ŵĂŬŝŶŐ ŝƚ Ă ƵŶŝƋƵĞ ĚĞƐƟŶĂƟŽŶ͘ 'ĂƌĂũŽŶĂLJ EĂƟŽŶĂů WĂƌŬ ǁĂƐ ƉƵƚ ŽŶ ƚŚĞ tŽƌůĚ ,ĞƌŝƚĂŐĞ >ŝƐƚ ŝŶ ϭϵϴϲ͖ ƚŚĞ 'ŽŵĞƌĂŶ tŚŝƐƚůĞ͕ ĂŶ ĂŶĐŝĞŶƚ ĨŽƌŵ ŽĨ ůŽŶŐͲĚŝƐƚĂŶĐĞ ĐŽŵŵƵŶŝĐĂƟŽŶ͕ ŚĂƐ ďĞĞŶ ĚĞĐůĂƌĞĚ /ŶŵĂƚĞƌŝĂů ƵůƚƵƌĂů ,ĞƌŝƚĂŐĞ ŽĨ ,ƵŵĂŶŝƚLJ͘ ŶĚ ĮŶĂůůLJ͕ ĚƵĞ ƚŽ ŝƚƐ ĞĐŽůŽŐŝĐĂů ƌŝĐŚŶĞƐƐ ĂŶĚ ǀĂƌŝĞƚLJ͕ ŝƚ ŝƐ ĂůƐŽ Ă tŽƌůĚ ŝŽƐƉŚĞƌĞ Reserve where the giant lizard, one of the most endangered species on the planet, lives together in harmony with its habitat.

lagomera.travel @TurismoLaGomera

www.lagomera.travel

No.96639 - Promotur Turismo De Canarias 1pp.indd 1

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Cheap thrills How to m make the most of Malta on a shoestring Still cheap as chips!

d e p a r t u r e s

t h r i f t y t r av el

journey to the hypogeum This UNESCO-protected underground burial site in Paola dates back to 4000BC 0BC and is a maze of chambers cut into the rock. But book early as there is usually a four-week wait and only 80 visitors are allowed per day (heritagemalta.org). ritagemalta.org). g

€20

blue lagoon

Made famous by the Brooke Shields movie of the samee name, the stunning crystal clear blue waters make this a must-do on any trip to Malta in summer. Thomas Cook’s Comino Cruise takes you to the lagoon, Camino Island and returns via some of the island’s most beautiful bays (speak k to your Thomas Cook rep for more).

€20

part y like a vip For a clubbing experience away from Paceville’s strip, try the open-air Gianpula near Rabat. Located in an old farmhouse and surrounding fields, the venue has seven bars and a swimming pool, and has hosted nights by Cream and Ministry of Sound (gianpula.com).

€15

popeye the sailor p lor man

This film set was built especially for the 1980 movie starring Robin Williams, but somehow mehow the local folk managed to convince the crew not to pull it down and it’s been a theme heme park ever since (€9.50/£8.14 entry, popeyemalta.com). m

€9.50

€7.25

life’s a beach Beach bunnies head to Gozo’s Ramla il-Hamra Bay to work on their tans. Take the ferry from Cirkewwa to Gozo (€4.65/£4 return), and Victoria (€2.60/£2.23 for a daily) to the red-sand bay. an nd n d then tth hen he en nb bus bu uss 42 u 42 ffrom frrom r m Vic V Vi iicttori to tor orriia (€ ori o €2 ftira These massive, open sandwiches can an be found all over the island and make a great snack on the go. Enjoy one loaded ed with tomato and tuna salad – thee locals’ favourite – with a killer view at Fontanella anella Tea Garden in the old town of Mdina for €3.99/£3.42 (fontanellateagarden.com). anellateagarden.com). m

€4

a pint pin of laughs The beer on everybody’s tab iss Cisk, and on select nights at the Hard Rock Cafe in Floriana a (hardrock.com) you can enjoy an ice-cold pint (€3.09/£2.65) ( (hardrock 5) with a free dose of comedy (in English).

.10

€3

three cities thr

Take the newly installed Upper Barrakka Lift (free with your €2.80/£2.40 ferry ferr ticket) from Valletta to the waterfront for a ferry ride over to the Three Cities. Explore the cobblestoned streets on foot and uncover the homes of some of the original Knights of St John. cob

€2.80

Free riding

€0

€0

walk the waterfront Take in the view and walk the waterfront in the capital Valletta. Starting from Fort St. Elmo across to The Malta Experience there are little pools that you can take a dip in along the way, so remember to pack your bathing suit. join the band

Each village has at least one band club which plays during the island’s summer festas, but you can catch them rehearsing at their village headquarters in their downtime. The Beland Band Club of Zejtun, in the east, is particularly renowned (belandband.com).

BE THERE… Travel to Malta with thomascook.com

supe r sav er

Mrs Moneypenny from Channel 4’s SuperScrimpers shares her top tips for being a frugal traveller

“Save on check-in luggage and pack light: women, leave your toiletries and make-up behind (because, let’s face it, that’s what weighs a ton) and stock up when you get to your destination instead. And if Emma Watson of Harry Potter fame can live with only eight pairs of shoes, then surely you only need two on holiday?”

Catch Mrs Moneypenny‘s Money Clinic Live on 10, 17 and 24 August in Edinburgh at 12.30pm (Assembly Rooms, George Street). Benny Higgins, CEO of Tesco Bank, will be co-hosting.

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Words: Stephanie Yip

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interview

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23/07/2013 10:12

d e p a r t u r e s

Vernon kay Out of office The TV host talks about working with his wife Tess Daly, the importance of sensible packing, playing American football and hearing the Family Fortunes buzzer wherever he goes

The key to a good family holiday is a kids’ club.

Every holiday we have is orientated around the children. If the kids are happy, that’s when mum and dad can enjoy the sun and a glass of wine, because they know their children are in good hands. Decent kids’ clubs have lots of activities and keep the youngsters busy throughout the day, so the parents can just chill out by the pool. Unfortunately for us, our daughters [Phoebe, 8, and Amber, 4] don’t always like kids’ clubs. They love swimming, so we tend to spend time by the pool or on the beach.

Travelling with kids isn’t tough if you pack your hand luggage properly. If you’re fortunate to have an iPad or tablet, the children can just sit with their headphones on and watch a movie, engross themselves in Disney, and travelling is really easy. We’ve got into a rhythm now when we fly as a family.

We have one bag for mum and dad and three bags for the kids.

We love to travel to France, the Caribbean and America. We have travelled to America several times and experienced things like Disney World. We also love

Words: Pierre de Villiers

TC_30_DepInterview_J.indd 31

Dubai, Mauritius and the Maldives. I'm the kind of person that can’t sit still for long when I’m on holiday. I find the local golf course, hire a bike or go to the gym.

I’d love to work with Tess again. We hosted Just the Two of Us in 2005 and 2006 and that was really good fun. Tess is very professional – she dots all the i’s and crosses the t’s, whereas I kinda go with the flow.

I like ad-libbing, getting into the rhythm of the show and letting it breathe and be organic. When I work with Tess, I have the confidence to have fun, because I know she knows everything.

My wife hates the fact that I play a contact sport [Vernon plays American football for the London Warriors]. Tess hasn’t told me not to do it, but she doesn’t come along to games to cheer me on. My eldest daughter does. Playing sport at the weekend is something guys need. They

need to mingle with the lads, get their testosterone levels flowing and do some male bonding.

I’ve torn a thigh muscle playing American football. My mentality is that if you’re running faster than the guy running at you, you’re not going to get injured. I don’t really get targeted by the opposition because I’m on TV. Everyone is very respectful. You get the odd bit of banter, which I enjoy, but it stops after five minutes.

People make the Family Fortunes buzzer sound when they see me. Previous host Les Dennis told me: “You’d better get used to people going ‘uh-oh’ when you are out and about.” And people still do it on a regular basis. At least it means they watch the show, so I tend to like it!

Catch Vernon hosting ITV’s All Star Family Fortunes on Saturday nights

I can’t sit still for long when I’m on holiday. I find a golf course, hire a bike or go to the gym AUG.SEP.OCT

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18/07/2013 15:01

Made

r ion fo utrit ral n Natu

in the

U.K

life althy g he a lon

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it, for it, word for our word take our just take Don’t Don’t just say... rs say... customers our custome what our see see what

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No.93975 Burns Pet 1pp.indd 1

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www.burnspet.co.uk

23/07/2013 10:03

p r o m o t i o n

Turkey’s Unspoiled Gem The Hilton Dalaman Sarigerme Resort & Spa has all the stunning views, fabulous dining and energetic entertainment for a perfect break

Built where the Mediterranean Sea meets the Aegean, the Hilton Dalaman Sarigerme Resort & Spa is the second hotel in Europe to be nominated a 'Hilton Worldwide Resort'. A 10-minute drive from Dalaman airport and a mere 10-minute walk from Sarigerme Village, the Hilton Dalaman is set in an ideal location that blends seamlessly and respectfully with nature.

At Hilton Dalaman Sarigerme, the dining options are designed with you in mind. Start the day with a hearty breakfast or nutritious light bite, savour innovative dishes prepared with only the freshest ingredients or simply relax with a cup of coffee in the hotel lounge. From business brunches to pre-dinner drinks and everything in between, the options

TC_Hilton_Dalaman.indd 19

are catered especially for you.

When it comes to downtime, you can relax on the pristine, private beach or choose from seven outdoor and three indoor pools. Admire the spectacular mountain and Mediterranean Sea views from the comfort of your guest room or upgrade to a deluxe room to enjoy direct access to the pool.

Revitalise your body and mind with a treatment at the sumptuous spa, which features a relaxing sauna, steam room and whirlpool. If you're feeling active, why not re-energise with a range of water sports or try a game of tennis, squash or beach volleyball?

You can also experience a culinary adventure at one of the hotel's 23

fantastic restaurants and bars. Sample a taste of the Far East in Tao, savour authentic Turkish food in A La Turca and choose from the finest Italian cuisine in Alize. For fresh seafood and Champagne, head to Glitter, or sip cocktails and take in stunning sea views from the rooftop bar Rouge.

Hilton Dalaman Sarigerme Resort & Spa is proud to be a family hotel and offers fun for all ages, like Kidz Paradise, a club that boasts plenty of activities that give children and teens the opportunity to meet people their own age – and parents a carefree night on the town.

Finding the perfect hotel isn’t about luck.

It’s simply about knowing the right place to look. Welcome to a real holiday!

15/07/2013 11:11

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02/04/2013 14:11

d e p a r t u r e s

Waiter, there’s a grasshopper on my fork…

food

They’re good for the environment and your health. So should we all be eating insects?

RIB

CH UC K

KET BRIS

our adventurous foodie friend can’t stop raving about it, but the latest report from the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization is also giving insect munching a big thumbs up. Not only are bugs full of nutrients – the level of omega-3 and -6 fatty acids in mealworms is comparable to fish, while grasshoppers are 60 per cent protein and just six per cent fat – but because they don’t emit as much methane or require as much feed as traditional livestock, they’re good for the environment too.

While entomophagy (that’s the technical word for eating insects as food) is nothing new – in

y

The 'ick' facto r : Would you eat an insect?

SHA

ROUND

PLATE

southeast Asia and Africa alone, an estimated two billion people already eat insects as a regular part of their diet – there’s no denying it’s becoming a trend on the mainstream dining scene. Former MasterChef winner Thomasina Miers added Chapulines Fundido – the Mexican delicacy of fried grasshoppers cooked with shallots, garlic and chipotle chillies to create a salsa – to the menu at her Wahaca Southbank restaurant in London (wahaca.co.uk) earlier this year, while Mark Cashoek’s Specktakel restaurant in Holland’s Haarlem (specktakel.nl) offers special all-insect menus. Copenhagen’s Noma (noma.dk) – named the world’s best restaurant

NK

SHORT

LO I N

S IR L O IN

FL A NK

three years in a row – is renowned for its ant course, which, according to chef and co-owner René Redzepi, tastes like seared lemon rind.

Whether you squirm at the thought or not, eating bugs is not as bonkers as it sounds, especially when you consider that 200 years ago, lobsters – which are related to tarantulas – were seen as food for the poor. Now they’re synonymous with fine dining.

“It’s just not in our psyche at the moment,” explains Miers. “The Chapulines Fundido is a great introduction to the beautiful earthy flavour of these insects... and a salsa is much more palatable for the squeamish diners out there.”

“I TRIED BATTERED SNAKE AND SCORPION IN DONGHUAMEN FOOD MARKET IN BEIJING… BOTH THINGS I WILL BE HAPPY TO NEVER EAT AGAIN.”

“I ATE FRIED LOCUSTS ONCE. TASTED NOT TOO DISSIMILAR TO PORK SCRATCHINGS – I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT!”

“IN CAMBODIA, I TRIED TARANTULA. IT WAS A TAD CRUNCHY AND THE TASTE WAS A BIT LIKE CHICKEN AND A LITTLE SALTY.”

Tim Frawley, Sydney

Ryan Wilson, Manchester

Ella Cloud, Guernsey

AUG.SEP.OCT

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d e p a r t u r e s

c.i.y

(cook it yourself)

Three recipe books turning up the heat this season

~ The ~

hot plate

Ozlem Warren, who hails from Turkey’s Antakya and teaches Turkish cookery classes as well as writing a food blog, ozlemsturkishtable. com, tells us where to try tasty street food in Izmir

“Lahmacun is probably the most popular, affordable snack in my sun-kissed homeland. These crispy Turkish pizzas are topped with ground lamb, onions and tomatoes, squeezed liberally with lemon, and then rolled up with sliced tomatoes, onion and parsley salad – piyaz – in the middle. They are sold at street stalls as well as kebab houses all over the country. Try one for 6 lira (£2) at Antepli Ramazan Usta (36-A Suvari Cad, ramazanusta.com). The ustas (chefs) prepare it fresh to order in front of you, and make a wonderful spicy version too.”

r 't n s a it w ! e m I swea

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who ate all the pies?

It’s a question that some hotels hopefully won’t be asking following the rise in ‘honesty kitchens’. They come stocked with all the quality goods that you’d find in your own kitchen including alcoholic drinks, snacks and ready-meals, available 24 hours a day, with the aim of delivering a more informal, homely dining experience. All you do is write down what you ate and drank with your room number, which gets added to your bill. Already pioneering this trend are Lake Como’s stunning Casa sull’Albero (casa-sullalbero.it), Lisbon’s Memmo Alfama (memmoalfama. com) and Estalagem da Ponta do Sol (pontadosol.com) in Madeira.

Pie eating, optional.

e at l i k e h e s to n And Gordon Ramsay, Mark Hix, and Yotam Ottolenghi. Edited

by GQ’s food and drink editor Paul Henderson, this book has recipes and tips from the UK’s top chefs. (GQ Eats, £20, published by Mitchell Beazley, out 2 September)

born in the usa Featuring 250 products hand-picked by award-winning food writer Colman Andrews, The Taste of America celebrates the nation’s multicultural and regional flavours, from the fieriest chilli sauce to the juiciest oysters. (£24.95, published by Phaidon, out in October)

spice world John Gregory-Smith has travelled from Asia to Central America to find zingy, flavour-packed street food dishes – like salmon bibimbap and prawn tortas with salsa – for Mighty Spice Express Cookbook. (£20, published by Duncan Baird Publishers, out 1 August).

Words: Anisha Patel. Illustration: Jemma Kyte. Photography: Corbis

18/07/2013 15:02

" has transformed my life" Esther lost 8st

Alizonne -WINNERS 2012-2013 Best Weight Loss Programme/product

with 21 weeks of treatment

Esther before treatment

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2 Edinburgh tel: 0844 800 7786

3 Glasgow tel: 01413 320303

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12 Brentwood tel: 0127 769 8917

13 Maidenhead tel: 01628 507 487

14 Central London tel: 0207 399 9939

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to ol s of th e tra de 38

Introducing seven brews that every savvy, beer-drinking globetrotter should know

The Ultimate Guide to the World’s Quirkiest Beers

drink

BEST ENJOYED...

BEST ENJOYED...

by the sea

somewhere spiritual

before a big party

2

THREE BOYS OY STER STOUT

3

BAIRD BEER TEMPLE G ARDEN YUZU ALE

EISENBAHN DUNKEL

Christchurch, New Zealand

Shizuoka, Japan

Blumenau, Brazil

ABV: 6.2%

ABV: 5.5%

ABV: 4.8%

PRICE: NZ$7 (£3.70)/500ML

PRICE: ¥600 (£3.86)/355ML

PRICE: BRL10 (£3.20)/355ML

Oyster and stout is a classic food and beer match, but using shellfish as an ingredient in the beer is less common. At Three Boys, Bluff oysters are shucked into the brew, making the dark chocolate depth of the stout both sweeter and richer. And don’t worry – there’s no added fishiness to the flavour at all.

Try it: Christchurch, +64 021 615 688, threeboysbrewery.co.nz

Each spring, Baird’s brewers take yuzu – an east Asian citrus fruit – grown at a local temple and add it to this light, easydrinking beer that’s bright with grapefruit and lime flavours.

Throughout the year they also brew with Japanese figs and mikan, a local orange. A truly spiritual experience.

Try it: 9-3 Tadehara-cho, Numazu, Shizuoka, +81 55 952 6673, bairdbeer.com

Blumenau in south Brazil has a large German population and holds one of the biggest Oktoberfest celebrations outside of Munich. Don your best sequined headdress and lederhosen (the perfect nod to both countries, surely?) to try this sultry dark lager, a skilful spin on a Bavarian classic.

Try it: Rua Bahia 5181, Salto Weissbach, +55 47 3488 7371, eisenbahn.com.br

Stuck without a bottle opener? Try these handy alternatives

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1

BEST ENJOYED...

A CD JJust make sure you havee a backup on your iPod.

A TTOOTHBRUSH Does more than give Doe ve yyou a shiny smile.

AN ENGAGEMENT RING We take no responsibility for your fiancée’s reaction!

Words: Mark Dredge. Illustrations: Anthony Calbert/Jackie Winter

18/07/2013 15:14

d e p a r t u r e s

4

BEST ENJOYED...

BEST ENJOYED...

BEST ENJOYED...

BEST ENJOYED...

by a roaring fire

by Don Draper wannabes

with a caldera sunset

with plenty of meat

NOLL AIG CHRISTMA S SPRUCE BEER

5

CIG AR CIT Y BREWING HUMIDOR SERIES IPA

6

SANTORINI BREWING COMPANY RED DONKEY

7

AECHT SCHLENKERL A RA UCHBIER MÄRZEN

Alloa, Scotland

Florida, USA

Santorini, Greece

Bamberg, Germany

ABV: 7.0%

ABV: 7.5%

ABV: 5.5%

ABV: 5.1%

PRICE: £10/1 LITRE SHARING BOTTLE

PRICE: $10 (£6.45)/750ML BOTTLE

PRICE: €3 (£2.53)/330ML

PRICE: €2 (£1.68)/500ML

Named after the Gaelic word for Christmas, Nollaig is brewed with actual Christmas trees. Yes, you read that right. But this is no festive gimmick: spruce tips are an ancient Scottish brewing ingredient and they give a flavour reminiscent of pine trees and seasonal spice any time of year.

Try it: Williams Bros.

Brewing Co, Alloa, FK10 1NU, +44 (0)1259 72551, williamsbrosbrew.com

Ybor City in Tampa was once the world’s leading cigar producer, rolling 500 million at its peak in 1929. Now Cigar City Brewing pays homage to the city’s local history with Humidor Series IPA, a beer aged on Spanish cedar, which is, as any Mad Men fan will tell you, the wood of cigar boxes.

Try it: 3924 West Spruce Street, Tampa, +1 813 348 6363, cigarcitybrewing.com

Made in a microbrewery on the stunning volcanic island of Santorini, Red Donkey stays true to its mantra of producing a ‘hip hoppy kick-ass ale’, starting off with a smooth honey sweetness that explodes with fragrant tropical fruit aroma. It’s a perfect pairing with a plate of souvlaki and the island’s famous sunset.

Try it: Mesa Gonia, +30 22860 30268, donkeybeer.gr

A meat lover? Beech wood cut from the Franconian Forest fuels the fires that dry the barley and give Rauchbier its unmistakable smoked-bacon scent. Enhance the smoky experience with a big plate of meat on the side.

Try it: Dominikanerstrasse 6, +49 951 56060, schlenkerla.de

YOO UR SHOE YOUR The Th he cleanest clean ones you have ha ave on you, obviously. ly.

YOUR LAPTOP Why haven‘t they got a Facebook app for this yet?

A SSPATULA PATUL Beca Because ause it‘s flipp flippin‘ pin‘ awe awesome!

Craft Beer World by Mark Dredge (£16.99, published by Dog ’n’ Bone) is available from amazon.co.uk

A MUG It even e comes in handy as a drinking cup.

AUG.SEP.OCT

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18/07/2013 15:14

The high life A look at aerial photographer Bernhard Edmaier’s stunning and colourful snaps of the Earth from above

in focus

CERROS DE VISVIRI, ANDES, CHILE “In the remote north of Chile, on the border with Bolivia and at a height of around 4,000 metres, the landscape is visibly shaped by volcanism. Alongside active volcanoes that are 5,000-6,000 metres in height, colourful mountains such as Cerros de Visviri are evidence of the subterranean unrest. Acid vapours have attacked and coloured the rock by converting the traces of iron present into yellow, reddish and brown iron oxide and iron hydroxide.”

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Words: Angelika Jung-Hüttl. Photography: Bernhard Edmaier

18/07/2013 15:48

d e p a r t u r e s SEE IT… EarthArt: Colours of the Earth, photography by Bernhard Edmaier and text

by Angelika Jung-Hüttl (£39.95, published

by Phaidon, phaidon.com), is out in October

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ISLANDS NEAR ELEUTHERA, BAHAMAS “The sea bed is very flat around these islands. Residents of the Bahamas can estimate the depth of the sea based on the colour of the water. Up to a depth of 10 metres, the sea is greenish to turquoise, while deeper water is a sparkling blue. Currents have piled up the sand on the sea bed to form underwater dunes.”

DID YOU KNOW...? 0 0 2 6 5 population:

42

The Chilean hamlet of Visviri is notable for being the country’s northernmost populated area, despite having only 265 inhabitants.

In the local Aymara language, Visviri means "ringing of the wind".

160KM

Eleuthera has more than 160km of picturesque pink sand beaches.

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d e p a r t u r e s

: Ic e l a nad s not it i c y a sd s soun

LANDEYJARSANDUR, ICELAND “The large plains of dark volcanic sand on Iceland’s sourthern coast are home to a number of unreal-looking vivid yellow and orange water landscapes. They occur wherever calcium carbonate-rich streams are able to spread over a large area just before they flow into the sea.”

n

30

Only 30 of the 700 Bahamian islands are inhabited.

Iceland has 30 active volcanic systems, 13 of which have erupted since the Vikings landed there in 874 AD.

w

e s

Iceland is Europe's westernmost country and home to the world's northernmost capital city, Reykjavik.

AUG.SEP.OCT

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22/07/2013 15:07

No.00000 Sentido House Ad.indd 1

16/01/2013 14:04

t h e c a r i b b e a n

ANTIGUA

ST. LUCIA AND

BARBADOS t h e

i n s i d e r

g u i d e

Thomas Cook has three new Caribbean winter routes, each with its own unique tropical vibe, a choice of relaxing beaches, rugged landscapes and plenty of rum

t

340 years until its independence in 1966, it’s a place in which you won’t have any trouble finding a polo match or a Pimm’s.

The island also lays claim to being the birthplace of rum, thanks to the Scottish, who brought along distillation know-how in the 17th century when they came to work on the plantations.

St. Lucia was traded back and forth between the French and the Brits 14 times before ending up in British hands. Today, a blend of French and African influences is unmistakable in its food, music and language: along with English, the official tongue, you’ll also hear Kwéyòl creole – a French-based language. The Pitons are merely the headliners of the island’s stupendous

craggy coast and lush rain-forested interior.

The rich, well-watered volcanic soil once supported extensive coffee, cocoa and fruit plantations, which are now being brought back to life and opened to visitors.

The French and British fought over Antigua, too, but England got the upper hand early in 1667 and took advantage of the island’s protected harbours, making it the headquarters of its fleet in the West Indies. Nelson’s Dockyard in English Harbour is – history buff alert! – the only working Georgian-era shipyard in the world, albeit bobbing with yachts now instead of square-riggers. Antigua is also blessed with 365 beaches, which, as locals will tell you, provides one for every day of the year.

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wo r d s by a n n va n d e r h o o f

h r e e i s l a n d s , three very distinct personalities, but they all have a long-standing reputation for holiday hospitality that wins over even the fussiest of sunseekers. Eric Clapton is an Antigua regular (he even built a clifftop home there); Rihanna chills in the warmth of Barbados, her birthplace; while Oprah Winfrey is among St. Lucia’s bold-face names. Oprah even called the island’s soaring volcanic twin peaks, The Pitons, “one of the five places in the world that everyone should see”.

Nearly 150km distant from the other eastern Caribbean islands, Barbados is, quite literally, a world apart, with a gentle landscape of hills and green sugar-cane fields. Under uninterrupted British rule for

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VISITORS ARRIVE AT STINGRAY CITY IN ANTIGUA FOR THE CHANCE TO OBSERVE, FEED AND SWIM WITH RAYS IN THEIR NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

Antigua where to stay

beaches Further off the beaten track on the Atlantic side, Half Moon Bay is another contender for the island’s best strip of sand – and its waves are great for bodysurfing. The calmer northeast end, sheltered by a reef, is ideal for snorkelling. Rendezvous Bay on the south coast is more secluded, accessible only by a four-wheel drive, boat or by hiking – which almost always guarantees you’ll have it to yourself.

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must see Nelson’s Dockyard National Park (Dockyard Drive, English Harbour, nationalparksantigua.com) lets you timetravel back to the days when the British Navy ruled the waves. The ships under the command of Admiral Lord Horatio Nelson had their bottoms scraped of barnacles here, their sails re-stitched, and their holds refilled with fresh food and water. Nowadays, the buildings have been beautifully restored and a museum added. When you’ve had your fill of history, spend a day exploring offshore spots with Adventure Antigua’s boat trips. Stops include Stingray City, where you can swim with a school of rays (stingraycityantigua. com) and Great Bird Island – which lives up to its name with soaring frigate birds, ospreys and red-billed tropicbirds – plus it offers

LOCAL’S TIP “For amazing Antiguamade jewellery, visit The Goldsmitty (goldsmitty.com) on Redcliffe Street in St. John’s. Hans Smit’s creations are really unique to the island: one of his designs is based on the buds of a local plant called bread and cheese.”

Gilly Gobinet FITCHES CREEK, ANTIGUA, AUTHOR OF THE COOL CARIBBEAN BOOK OF THE TOP 20 PLACES IN ANTIGUA

photo © alamy

Welcoming staff and a wealth of local activities, from Calypso dancing to coconut bowling, keep all ages happy at Jolly Beach Resort and Spa (thomascook.com), but its main draw is location, location, location. It fronts onto one of the island’s best stretches of coastline, Jolly Beach, a graceful curve of powdery white sand edged by placid water that sparkles in shades of blue gemstones.

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t h e c a r i b b e a n

Antigua is blessed with 365 beaches, which, as locals will tell you, provides one for every day of the year great snorkelling (adventureantigua.com).

Barbuda, Antigua’s underdeveloped sister island (1.5 hours by ferry, 15 minutes by plane) has endless pink-sand beaches, more wild donkeys than tourists, and the largest breeding ground of frigate birds in the Caribbean.

local dining Workers on their lunch break crowd into tiny, colourful Grace Before Meals (Dockyard Drive, English Harbour, + 1 268 460 1298), close to Nelson’s Dockyard, for proprietor Grace’s down-to-earth cooking, including a dynamite conch roti (£4) washed down with ginger beer. Around the corner at Caribbean Taste (just off Dockyard Drive – look for the sign, +1 268 562 3049), choose a table on the cool verandah to sample Antiguan specialities including the island’s

national dish, ling fish with fungi (stewed saltfish with polenta-like cooked cornmeal) or tender goat curry (about £6). At Nicole’s Table (Cedar Valley, St. John’s, +1 268 764 8366, nicolestable.com), you can learn to cook Caribbean dishes before you enjoy them. Nicole Arthurton offers small handson classes, such as ‘Cooking with Rum’ in her airy hilltop home (from £56 per person).

after dark Every Sunday night, the island’s biggest party is high up on Shirley Heights (Shirley Heights, shirleyheightslookout.com), where the British army once kept tabs on the surrounding waters. Arrive before sunset to take in the killer view and live steel drums.

Once the sun sinks, a reggae band takes over, the rum punch flows and the grills start smoking.

LEFT: COPPER AND LUMBER STORE HOTEL IN NELSON’S DOCKYARD NATIONAL PARK, ANTIGUA; ABOVE: OSPREYS ARE COMMONLY SIGHTED ON THE ISLAND

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MARIGOT BAY IS A SECLUDED COVE ON ST. LUCIA’S WEST COAST

St. Lucia where to stay Facing the Atlantic at the south end of the island, Coconut Bay Beach Resort and Spa (thomascook.com) manages to be both family-friendly and romantic, thanks to an adults-only pool with palm-tree islands and an adjoining swim-up bar, and an on-site water park with exhilarating slides. A big advantage for those with kids or little patience for long drives, Coconut Bay is close to the international airport, as well as to The Pitons and other natural attractions near Soufrière.

beaches St. Lucia’s finest stretch of golden sands, Reduit Beach, curves around resort-lined Rodney Bay and is a real watersports scene: you’ll find plenty of catamarans, sailboards and jet skis here. Much-visited Marigot Bay, a clifflined cove halfway down the west coast, is so picture-perfect that scenes from the classic Rex Harrison version of Doctor Dolittle were shot here. For a spot of secluded swimming, drinks and lunch, take the two-minute ferry from here to the palm tree-dotted finger of sand that stretches out to almost cut the bay in half.

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must see You need to be in moderately good shape for the half-day hike to the top of Gros Piton, but the sense of accomplishment and breathtaking bird’s-eye views make it well worth the sweat. Guides can be arranged at the Interpretation Centre in the town of Fond Gens Libre. A visit to the main market in Castries, the island’s capital, is a gentle stroll by comparison. One of the best markets in the Caribbean, it’s the place to buy St. Lucia-grown spices – think cinnamon, vanilla and cloves – to bring back home.

Be sure to stay for lunch: one passageway is lined with tiny stalls, where cooks turn out hearty Creole dishes.

local dining At newly opened Orlando’s (Fond Bernier, Soufrière, +1 758 572 6613, sharethelovechef. com), gregarious chef and owner Orlando Satchell works magic with fresh local

LOCAL’S TIP “I always take friends from abroad to the volcano (La Soufrière Sulphur Springs) – where steaming, sulphurscented water bubbles out of the earth – and then to the hot mud baths nearby. It’s a great photo op, plus the mud is said to be excellent for your skin.”

Orlando Satchell CHEF AND OWNER OF ORLANDO’S RESTAURANT, SOUFRIÈRE

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t h e c a r i b b e a n

ingredients, creating unique dishes such as cocoa mahi-mahi fish on a ground-provision cake with fruit salsa (£9.50). Just about every item on the menu at Hotel Chocolat’s Boucan (Rabot Estate, Soufrière, +1 758 457 1624, hotelchocolat.com) contains some form of chocolate or cocoa. Start with a cacao martini and move to a rare rib-eye steak with dark chocolate port wine sauce (£20).

The main market in Castries, St. Lucia’s capital, is lined with tiny stalls, where cooks turn out hearty Creole dishes

after dark Delirius (Rodney Bay Village, deliriusstlucia. com) is one of the island’s current ‘it’ spots, popular for its seriously fruity cocktails. On Fridays, the nearby village of Gros Islet holds a weekly ‘jump-up,’ where food and drink stalls pop up along the roadside to dispense cold Piton beer and charcoal-grilled fish and chicken, with plenty of music and dancing.

Say it Right (on all three islands)

Good night

The all-purpose after-

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: ST. LUCIA-GROWN SPICES, LIKE CINNAMON AND CLOVES, AT CASTRIES MARKET; HOTEL CHOCOLAT’S BOUCAN RESTAURANT IS RENOWNED FOR DISHES MADE USING COCOA

dark greeting, which is

used to say hello at the start of an evening as well as goodbye.

lime

Think party, not fruit:

a casual get-together

involving drinks, food and friends. Also used as

a verb: “Are you liming tonight?”

pepper sauce

Always refers to a

scorching blend made with Scotch bonnet

peppers, not peppercorns.

The word “hot” goes without saying here.

Popular brands include Baron’s in St. Lucia,

photo © ge t t y

Susie’s in Antigua, and Delish in Barbados.

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HARRISMITH BEACH IN ST. PHILIP PARISH, BARBADOS, IS IN A SHELTERED LAGOON THAT’S IDEAL FOR SWIMMING

Barbados is located nearly 150km away from the other eastern Caribbean islands, with a gentle landscape of hills and green sugar-cane fields

Barbados

50

A newly renovated spa, afternoon high tea, intimate alfresco dinners and an afterdark piano bar set the mood at the adultsonly retreat The Club, Barbados Resort & Spa (thomascook.com). Located on the fashionable west coast (also known as the Platinum Coast), keep your celebrity-spotting eyes peeled: The Club is a short stroll from the super-exclusive Sandy Lane, the pricy playground of Gwyneth Paltrow, Posh and Becks, and Simon Cowell.

the village of Bathsheba and the spectacular rolling surf of the ‘Soup Bowl’, which attracts expert boarders from around the world. For a more classic and swimmable east coast beach, Barbadians recommend Harrismith, where reefs create a shallow, protected lagoon.

beaches

must see

Cattlewash is an empty stretch of windswept sand on the east coast, perfect for long walks and beachcombing. Though too dangerous for swimming, you can dip in the shallow pools if the sea is mellow. At its south end, you’ll find

Mount Gay (Exmouth Gap, Brandons, St. Michael, mountgayrum.com) has been producing rum since 1703, and a tour of the distillery will turn you into an instant expert on rum production and how to taste it

properly. Harrison’s Cave (Welchman Hall, St. Thomas, harrisonscave.com) is part of tourist itineraries for good reason: these spectacular limestone caverns with underground waterfalls, streams and fabulous stalactites and stalagmites are unlike anything you’ll find elsewhere in the Caribbean. To get off the tourist path, go hiking with Hike Barbados, part of the Barbados National Trust (click on ‘Things to Do’ at barbados.org). As these guided walks are popular with locals, it’s a good way to meet Barbadians and get an insight into the history and geography of the island.

i l l u s t r at i o n : m a r t i n h a a k e , p h o to s © g e t t y, 4 c o r n e r s i m ag e s

where to stay

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t h e c a r i b b e a n

local dining Locals and visitors alike head to the small south-coast fishing village of Oistins for the ‘fish fry’ on weekend evenings, Fridays being the most popular. A dozen or so stalls offer a variety of fresh seafood, grilled as well as fried – try kingfish, tuna, lobster, conch and the national speciality, flying fish – for about £10 a pop. A tip: a long line of locals is a good sign of which stall to choose.

VISIT ONE OF THE ISLAND’S MANY RUM SHOPS TO SAMPLE THE LOCAL TIPPLE

after dark For a real taste of Bajan culture, drop into one of the island’s 1,000 or more rum shops – simple, unadorned bars where locals gather to socialise over a glass of rum or a Banks beer. To help you find your local, use the rum shop guide at barbados.org.

GO

MORE INFO

Thomas Cook flies to Barbados and St. Lucia year-round, and to Antigua between December and April. For more information, visit your local Thomas Cook store, call +44 (0)844 412 5966 or visit thomascook.com.

Pick up Thomas Cook’s ds pocket guides on the islands (priced £4.99 each) from m thomascookpublishing.com for more inspiration.

LOCAL’S TIP “For local fast food, try the chain of Chefette restaurants (chefette.com) that are all over the island, including the airport. The rotis are particularly excellent.”

Patrick Walton YACHTSMAN, WHO LIVED IN CHRIST CHURCH, BARBADOS FOR MANY YEARS

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t u r k e y wo r d s by r eb e c c a h o l m a n

( reluc

tant )

p h o to g r a p h y by G r eg f u n n el l

Our scaredy-cat writer abandons the sun lounger to join in on an activity-based holiday on Turkey’s southwest coast AUG.SEP.OCT

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18/07/2013 16:33

THE TRANQUIL WATERFRONT AT ADAKOY ISLAND, WHICH IS LOCATED IN A PROTECTED NATURAL PARK

m a k e n o s e c r e t o f t h e fa c t

that I’m a huge scaredy cat. Things on my ‘fear’ list include ice skating, swans, fast-moving escalators, fairground rides and rodents. If someone made me go on a waltzer with Roland Rat, I’d probably pass out from sheer terror.

So in a bid to be a little braver, I decided to ease myself into a life of thrills on a Neilson Beach Club Holiday on the glistening southwest coast of Turkey. With the tag line “relax as hard as you like” and offering a smorgasbord of activities and water sports that range from a very gentle dip in a 33m pool (lovely) and games of tennis (manageable) to mountain biking (the fear is rising) and waterskiing (terrifying!), it seemed like the perfect opportunity to test my boundaries and unleash my inner Lara Croft – without causing myself any significant injuries.

I paid a visit to the Neilson website to see what I was letting myself in for and my trepidation turned into blind panic – what had I done? I could go waterskiing, the site told me, excitedly. And windsurfing! And paddleboarding! I read this as: You could die!

You could die! You could die!

My fear dissipated slightly when I checked the weather at the resort (a sizzling 35°C), and saw that it was on Adakoy Island, a beautiful, leafy natural park only connected to the rest of the mainland by a tiny strip of land, meaning that it’s far more secluded than neighbouring Marmaris, which is 20 minutes away by water taxi.

I also noticed that yoga and Pilates classes were on offer, and that there was an on-site spa. If the worst came to the worst, I could always skulk off for a pedicure and a few warrior poses, right?

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I decided to start the week with a kayak safari. It would be a great way to see the beautiful coastline and how hard could it be?

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t u r k e y

m cal p p e e Ke d ke ng an ddli pa

My memory of activity holidays involved terrified guests being frog-marched over to sign up to everything going on the first day, whether they like it or not. Well, that’s how it’s always looked from my sun lounger.

But not so on a Neilson Holiday. The emphasis is very much on choosing exactly what you want to do, and I was gratified to see several guests signing up to absolutely nothing at all. “These are my people,” I thought.

After explaining my low fear threshold to a few instructors – I just kept barking: “I’m

really very scared” at them over and over again – I decided to ease into the week with a kayak safari. It would be a great way to see the beautiful coastline and really, how hard could a bit of kayaking be?

As it turned out, I wasn’t quite the natural I’d hoped I’d be. There’s definitely a certain knack to it and while the rest of the group effortlessly whizzed off into the distance, I paddled around in circles for a while before I eventually got the kayak to go in broadly the right direction.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: THE NEILSON ADAKOY BEACH CLUB OFFERS A WIDE RANGE OF ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING WAKEBOARDING, VOLLEYBALL AND KAYAKING

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WINDSURFING IS POPULAR AT ADAKOY, AND THE CALM CONDITIONS MAKE IT AN IDEAL LOCATION FOR BEGINNERS

EXPERT TUITION IS AVAILABLE FOR ALL ACTIVITIES ABOVE LEFT: A COLD BEER IS A WELL-DESERVED TREAT

A SAILING TRIP IS A GREAT WAY TO RELAX AND TAKE IN THE VIEWS

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This could have been the point where I gave up and retreated to my sun lounger with Jilly Cooper’s back catalogue. Instead, instructor Amy Walker very patiently went through my technique with me, explaining where I was going wrong and what I needed to do differently.

Eventually something clicked and I started paddling in the right direction. I was shocked by my own success.

I can’t remember the last time I actively learnt a new skill, and it felt pretty good.

Feeling mildly elated from my feat, I decided that paddleboarding would be my next accomplishment. After all, it was just the same as kayaking, except standing up, and I manage to competently stand up all the time.

I had an hour’s lesson booked in with instructor Euan Lindsay, who started off by explaining the paddle stroke we were going to try on the paddleboard. Fact fans, it’s called a ‘J stroke’, because that’s broadly the shape you make in the water and it allows you to stay in a straight line when you’re only paddling on one side of the board.

I was so thrilled with my newfound ability to make a kayak go in a straight line that I assumed this would be a doddle. Not so. Muscle memory only goes so far, and I was faced with the same problem as I had before – a stubborn inability to turn left – a nautical Zoolander, if you will.

Like Amy, Euan was incredibly patient, even when he had to tow me out when I got my paddleboard stuck in some ropes. But eventually I managed to direct myself in something resembling a straight line. At this point Euan suggested I try standing up – did I mention that I’d been kneeling down on the board up until now? I fell in, let’s say, eight times (a conservative guess) trying to master this before I finally calmed down enough to stand up properly. And once I did, I even started to enjoy myself.

Can you see a pattern emerging here?

By day three, I decided not to let the water rule me, but that I would rule the waves – or spend a day on one of the yachts with a skipper at least. I was accompanied by two other British guests who were both qualified dinghy sailing instructors and definitely knew more than I did about sailing – they could differentiate between port and starboard, for example.

We sailed to the picturesque Kumlubük, a beautiful, yacht-lined beach resort that’s home to Turkey’s wealthiest magnate, Ayhan Şahenk, for lunch before making a leisurely trip back to Adakoy at dusk. This was definitely my kind of activity. Plus, I learnt some new knots – which is bound to come in handy one day.

So far, so good, but I knew I was going to have to try something relatively difficult (by my standards at least), so I signed up for wakeboarding. It didn’t seem quite as frustrating as windsurfing and I’d heard it was easier than waterskiing. Plus it sounded quite cool.

On the morning of my class, I couldn’t shout my usual “I’m really very scared” at Charlie ‘Chas’ Stoyle, the ski

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re o f e b t r o s e re u q s e r u akoy t d c i A p o a t o k t c a vity i t We sailed a leisurely trip bk c a f o d n making sk. This was my i at du AUG.SEP.OCT

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hing t e m o s g doin m o r f uite t q o g y l I l a h u g t i c h The and a day f o d e i f i r I was ter myself lasted all enjoying

supervisor because my teeth were chattering from – you’ve guessed it – fear. However, as the rest of the trip had taught me, nothing bad was going to happen, I just had to get on and do it, and eventually I’d get a bit better.

For a first go, I tried the practice bar, which hangs off the side of the boat and gives you the opportunity to attempt to get upright before you move on to the ‘real’ rope. I hopped into the water with my wakeboard on and spent my usual five minutes floundering around in a mid-level panic before grabbing hold of the pole and adopting what felt like the brace position. As the boat moved forward, the trick was to avoid standing up too early, but to let the force pull me up naturally.

Predictably I face-planted into the water on my first go, but once I figured out that it really didn’t hurt, I was up for trying again. And again, until after a few attempts, I actually

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managed to stand up. I was so astounded, I promptly let go of the pole and fell over, but who cares? I’d actually managed to just about get myself upright – something I thought I’d never be capable of. The high I got from doing something I was absolutely terrified of and a) surviving and b) actually quite enjoying myself, lasted all day. I vaguely considered changing my Twitter biography to refer to myself as an ‘avid wakeboarder’ but decided that this was probably a bit of an exaggeration after one tentative go on a practice bar.

As you can imagine, all those adrenaline rushes require a fair bit of fuelling, and thankfully the food at Adakoy was absolutely fantastic, with freshly cooked dishes from different regions of Turkey – think lots of local fish, fresh salads, calamari and grilled meats. I ate twice as much as I normally would, but for once I felt like I was doing something to earn it!

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On my final day, I didn’t have a class to attend, a skill to learn or a fear to overcome. I’d been anticipating a day’s hardcore lounging with a book, but after a couple of hours I realised that I was a bit… well, bored. Which was a new sensation.

I decided that a much-needed Pilates class was in order, especially after spending the week using muscles I didn’t even know existed. And after that, I did something I’d never done before in my life. Out of my own choice, I took a kayak out and went exploring.

Far from being stressful and scary, it was relaxing,

peaceful and allowed me to see much more of the resort than I’d have managed on foot or swimming.

So, did I leave an adrenaline-obsessed activities fiend?

Well, you probably won’t find me BASE-jumping off a cliff any time soon, but I’ve certainly reassessed my view of holidays. I’ll never ditch the sun lounger completely, but the thrill of trying something different and learning a new skill is something I definitely want to revisit.

And who knows, maybe next year you’ll find me there waterskiing with one hand before windsurfing around the bay like a pro.

All those adrenaline rushes require fuelling, and thankfully the food at Adakoy was fantastic

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KNOW THIS

Thomas Cook flies to Dalaman year-round from select UK airports. For more information, visit your local Thomas Cook store, call +44 (0)844 412 5966 or visit thomascook.com. For hassle-free travel to Gatwick Aiport, visit gatwickexpress.co.uk

Holidays at Neilson’s four-star Adakoy Beach Club start from £659 per adult and £499 per child for seven nights including flights, Club Board (breakfast, lunch and four evening meals per week), activities and tuition. Prices based on May 2014 travel dates. To book, visit neilson.co.uk.

Stay for two weeks and you can try a twin centre holiday, which combines a week at the Beach Club learning how to sail with a week on a yacht to explore the historic coastline of the Lycian Way.

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wo r d s by g i n n y cu m m i n g

to be on the doorstep of so many exciting and varied holiday experiences, but it’s still amazing to realise that just over three hours after boarding a plane, you can be basking on an unspoilt beach in northern Africa.

Some of the most beautiful beaches in this part of the world can be found on the island of Djerba. Situated in the Gulf of Gabes, off the southeast coast of Tunisia, it’s just 25km long, 20km wide and incredibly flat, with the highest point reaching only 55m above sea level.

While it’s still more popular with the French and the Italians, British tourists have been coming here since the 1970s, drawn to its laid-back atmosphere, friendly locals, quiet sandy beaches and ancient landscapes (the island is steeped in history – Homer even refers to it in The Odyssey). Many visitors choose to spend their holiday by the pool or on the private golden beaches of luxurious five-star hotels, but there’s so much more to see and do. But don’t just take our word for it: we asked some of the locals exactly what visitors should experience on this paradise island.

FROM LEFT TO RIGHT, TOP ROW: A JETTY IN CORNICHE; BORJ GHAZI MUSTAPHA FORT; A FISHERMAN WADING TOWARDS THE SHORE; MEETING A CAMEL ON FLAMINGO ISLAND; SWIMMING AT SIDI JMOUR MIDDLE ROW: A TYPICAL DJERBAN DOORWAY; POTTERY-MAKING AT GUELLALA; HORSE RIDING IN FRONT OF THE ROYAL CARRIAGE CLUB; SWEET TREATS AT HÔTEL DAR ALI; A HORSEMAN ON THE BEACH ON FLAMINGO ISLAND; SEAFOOD AT RESTAURANT HAROUN BOTTOM ROW: AN IGUANA AT THE CROCODILE FARM, DJERBA EXPLORE PARK; AT SEA WITH ‘PIRATES’ ON THE ‘PIRATE SHIP’, WHICH DOCKS AT FLAMINGO ISLAND; INSIDE EL GHRIBA SYNAGOGUE; RADISSON BLU RESORT AND THALASSO

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Jacqui Tebourbi

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a Life’s n o beach h or s e b a c k

“Visitors can learn to ride here for a fraction of the cost in the UK”

photo © alamy

Age: 49 From: “I’m from Chobham, near Ascot, Surrey, and met my Tunisian husband, Moncef, when we were both working in Geneva. We moved to Djerba in 2004, and live in Ghizen with our 12-year-old son, James.”

Occupation: “I’m the director of the Royal Carriage Club (Route Touristique, Ghizen, +216 75 759 084, royalcarriageclub.com), the riding school we opened in 2007. UK visitors can learn to ride here for a fraction of the cost in the UK.” Don’t miss on Djerba: “We have a car boot sale here at the Royal Carriage Club on the first Saturday of every month (excluding August). It starts at about 1pm, and finishes when it finishes!

Deep in the market area in Houmt Souk you can watch craftspeople using ancient tools and methods to make carpets and other traditional items – but you have to know where to go. I’ve recently been appointed an official warden for the British Embassy representing Djerba, and we’re working on plans to make it easy to access these sorts of places for visitors. In the meantime, people can email me if they want help organising a cultural outing (info@royalcarriageclub.com).”

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Abdullah Ta l i c h Age: 66 From: “I was born and raised in Houmt Souk, Djerba’s main town.”

Occupation: “I’ve worked here at the daily fish auction (Office National des Peches, Houmt Souk, open daily from 9am-2pm) for 21 years.”

Don’t miss on Djerba: “Bid for some fresh sea bass at the auction and then take them to one of the restaurants just around the corner*. They’ll grill your fish whole, topped with lemon and parsley. You can experience local life and get a delicious – and really cheap – meal in the process.” *We bought a string of a dozen sea bass from the fish auction for 5 dinars (under £2) – at the airport, just one can of Coke costs 4 dinars! At Chez MouMou (look for the sign saying ‘Amener vos poisons je les grilles chez MouMou’ – Marché Centrale, Houmt Souk, +216 21 269 058, open daily from about 12 noon-4.30pm) they cooked our fish and served it with crusty bread, harissa (a fiery chilli sauce), traditional Tunisian salads and drinks. The total cost for three people? 13 dinars (£5). Bargain.

FRESH GRILLED FISH IS A LOCAL SPECIALITY

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“Villa Dar Cherif is a centre that hosts young artists and musicians to help them stage exhibitions and concerts”

Mohamed O u n a l ly

Carola Anane Age: 64 From: “I’m half-English, half-Argentine, and met my husband, Tahar, on my first trip to Tunisia over 42 years ago. I returned a few weeks later, we got married and I’ve lived here ever since!”

Occupation: “We own and run the Hôtel Dar Ali (BP 86 – Sidi Mahrez, +216 75 758 671, hoteldarali.com), a 15-room boutique hotel.”

Don’t miss on Djerba: “A wonderful place to visit is Villa Dar Cherif (+216 75 620 374, dar-cherif.com). The owner – an art lover – bought a big piece of land in Sidi Jmour after falling in love with the views. He built a centre dedicated to art and culture where he hosts young artists and musicians and helps them to stage exhibitions and concerts. Another unique thing to do is eat a traditional, homecooked meal in a real Djerban home. It’s not widely advertised, so if anyone wants to enjoy this special experience, they can contact me.”

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Age: 32 From: “Midoun (the second-biggest town in Djerba).”

Occupation: “I’m a guide at Djerba Explore Park (Route Touristique, Phare de Taguermess, Midoun, +216 75 745 277, djerbaexplore.com).”

Don’t miss on Djerba: “The Crocodile Farm here at Djerba Explore Park is a must-see – there are 600 baby crocs and 400 huge adult crocs. Djerba is very small, so in one day you can see most attractions, like the Borj Ghazi Mustapha Fort and El Ghriba (the old Jewish synagogue). I love the food at Le Poisson d’or (Musée de Guellala, Route du musée, Guellala, +216 22 732 728), a small restaurant whose name means ‘golden fish’.”

A BABY CROC AT THE CROCODILE FARM, DJERBA EXPLORE PARK

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photo © ge t t y

Ta o u f i k K h l i f i Age: 38 From: “Sidi Bouzid, in the centre of Tunisia. I moved to Djerba in 1994.”

Occupation: “I’m the head chef at Restaurant Haroun (Le Port de Houmt Souk, +216 75 650 488, restoharoun.com).”

Don’t miss on Djerba: “Haroun opened in 1971 and is considered to be the best restaurant on the island, but wherever you eat the one thing everyone should try is Djerban couscous. It’s a speciality of the island, made using fish, not meat, and with parsley and the green part of fennel.

A great souvenir is the red harissa that you find on every table in Djerba.

Ben Ammara and Karouia (located beside the Star Oil Petrol Station in Houmt Souk) both sell really good quality red harissa.”

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d j e r b a

Romdam Souissi Age: 57 From: “Houmt Souk.”

Occupation: “I’ve worked in this spice shop for 20 years.”

Don’t miss on Djerba: “All of the beaches in front of the major hotels are beautiful. You can get a great photo at sunset in the small village of Sidi Jmour, where there are panoramic views of the sea and a mosque in the foreground.”

S a l i m M a at o u g Age: 28 From: “My family is all on the mainland in Zarzis, but I moved to Djerba 10 years ago for work.”

Occupation: “I work for Wassersport (wassersporttunesien.de) where you can hire all sorts of equipment like catamarans, jet skis and windsurfing boards.”

Don’t miss on Djerba: “I’m lucky I work on Sidi Yati – it’s the best beach on the island. The water is so clear here, especially in summer: it’s the colour of turquoise. At night I love to go dancing at Salsa Disco Djerba (Vincci Resort Midoun, Zone Touristique, Midoun, +216 24 670 253, facebook.com/SalsaDiscoDjerba).”

THE BEACH AT SIDI YATI OFFERS RIDES ON CAMELS AND HORSES

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Nabil Age: 32 From: “Guellala, the village of potters.”

Occupation: “I’ve been working as a potter for 15 years.”

Don’t miss on Djerba: “In Guellala we’re famous for our bright ceramics like handcrafted platters and tagines – they make great souvenirs. For really good coffee, Café les Arcades (Rue Abbel Hamid el Kadi, Houmt Souk) is open 24 hours.

We go there to play cards and backgammon, drink Turkish coffee and smoke water pipes.”

THE TOWN OF GUELLALA IS FAMOUS FOR ITS POTTERY

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KNOW THIS

Thomas Cook flies to Djerba in summer from Manchester and Gatwick airports.

For more information, call +44 (0)844 412 5966 or visit thomascook.com. Visit cometotunisia.co.uk for more on the island.

Just a 20-minute drive from the airport, the five-star Radisson Blu Resort and Thalasso hotel (thomascook.com) is also ideally located on what locals refer to as Djerba’s best beach. The cavernous rooms have views of either the sea or the landscaped gardens, and the hotel’s decadent spa features a traditional Turkish bath.

Market vendors are not insulted by haggling – they expect it. Just remember: never accept the first price!

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Bay Watch

wo r d s by a n i s h a p at el

Which one of our beach characters will you spy on your next holiday?

a r t wo r k by dav i d m b u i s a n

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a wetsuit/water sports board/ goggles/sports equipment of some shape or form, the need for speed for these thrill seekers is not optional, it’s essential. Any beach on their radar must have really big – or ‘gnarly’ – waves. The Adrenaline Junkie often has sun-bleached, tousled hair and wears long board shorts and flip-flops yearround. Normally heard using the words “amped”, “dude” and “totally”.

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ADRENALINE JUNKIES (Thrillus seeker maximus)

Likes: Water sports of any kind, energy drinks and zinc sticks.

Least likely to ask: “Shall we take a nap this afternoon?”

Where you’ll spot them: Fuerteventura is a paradise for all kinds of surfing – think wind-, kite- and bodysurfing – especially around Corralejo beach. Other activities that crank up the volume include quad biking on the island’s famous sand dunes and diving.

Natural habitat: Just 800km from Corralejo beach, Oasis Village (thomascook.com) is the perfect jumping-off point for all the water sports action. The hotel also offers activities like tennis, volleyball and bike rentals for when the Adrenaline Junkie wants an off-beach thrill.

Watering hole: The chilledout Boardriders Grill and Bar (El Campanario Commercial Centre, Avenida Gran Canaria) for post-surf beers. The name says it all.

Grazing habits: Bananas, high-energy fruit smoothies and carbohydrate rich sandwiches and burritos keep this lot going.

Any beach on their radar must have really big – or ‘gnarly’ – waves 74

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These bronzed beauties can be spotted peeking at the competition through oversized sunglasses these guys invented

the mantra “see and be seen”: it’s all about being flashy. Often mistaken for models, these bronzed beauties are likely to be spotted in designer swimwear at beach clubs, stylishly positioned on a linen-draped cabana, peeking out at the competition through oversized sunglasses. While they are ardent sun worshippers, they are seldom seen swimming in the sea – well, they wouldn’t want to ruin their perfectly coiffed hair now, would they?

They own multiple platinum credit cards and are likely to be friends with Roman Abramovich.

Likes: Big yachts, Champagne and the paparazzi.

Least likely to ask: “Is there a Primark here?”

Where you’ll spot them: Bodrum on Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, which is being touted as the new French Riviera.

Fellow Bling Brigaders who have been spotted here include Beyoncé and Cristiano Ronaldo.

Natural habitat: The aptly named Vogue Hotel (thomascook.com). The lavish interiors, VIP Restaurant and Vitamin Bar would please even the fussiest Russian oligarch.

Watering hole: Big, flashy clubs, like Halikarnas (halikarnas.com.tr), which used to be the hip hangout for Yves Saint Laurent in the 1970s.

Grazing habits: Their diet consists mostly of Champagne, but they are often seen picking at edamame beans, sashimi and Michelin-star fare.

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BLING BRIGADE

(Mega glitterati poserus)

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themselves on a strip of sand close to the world’s best nightlife, it’s all about letting loose for this tribe. While most of their activities take place after dark, they aren’t a purely nocturnal breed – they also enjoy a good daytime beach rave and sunset boat party, earning them the title ‘24-hour party people’. Hangovers don’t phase the Party Animals – they can often go for 48 hours without sleep and still have the energy of a Duracell bunny.

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PARTY ANIMALS (Raver energetica)

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Likes: Glow sticks, The Hangover and superstar DJs. Least likely to ask: “Shall we have an early night then?”

Where you’ll spot them: Ibiza, in particular Playa d’en Bossa, which is home to Ushuaïa (ushuaiaibiza.com) and Sands (sandsibiza.com).

Natural habitat: The Sirenis Hotel Tres Carabelas (thomascook.com) not only has a prime location in Playa d’en Bossa, but also offers allinclusive dining and a spa to aid recovery from the morning after the night before.

Watering hole: Bars and clubs of all shapes and sizes.

They usually warm up with happy hour drinks before moving on to mega clubs.

Grazing habits: These late-night foragers track down fast-food joints on San Antonio’s strip, where they refuel before turning in for the night/morning.

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SPIRITUAL SEEKERS (Yogus meditatus guru)

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r arely seen

about getting back to nature and nourishing the mind, body and soul: think plenty of meditation, holistic spas and organic food.

They’re more likely to be seen relaxing on a yoga mat than a sun lounger and their holiday wardrobe often consists of Birkenstock sandals, beaded jewellery and hemp clothing. Unlike the Bling Brigade, they prefer to steer clear of crowds, opting for secluded coves over parasol-lined beaches.

Likes: Discussing aura colours, organic produce and the downward dog position.

Least likely to ask: “Fancy a bacon double cheese burger for lunch?”

Where you’ll spot them: The boho beaches of Goa in India, particularly in the far south or north, like Ashvem, where yoga-mad Jade Jagger owns a house and boutique.

Natural habitat: The Whispering Palms (thomascook.com) resort in Candolim screams (or should that be whispers?) spiritual and serene with meditation courses, four-hand massages and even a Tarot card reader.

Watering hole: Any juice bar on the beach that serves wheatgrass shots.

Grazing habits: Vegetarian and organic.

Bhakti Kutir (Palolem Beach, bhaktikutir.com) is a meditation centre, but its organic restaurant will satisfy even those on a raw food diet.

without multiple maps, a local phrase book and a trusty SLR camera, you’d be forgiven for thinking that the Culture Vultures are about to head off on an archeological dig. The beach isn’t the be all and end all for them, but they’re happy to base themselves by sea and sand to please the rest of the family, so long as some major historical site is nearby. Likely to seek advice on what to do directly from the locals rather than the hotel concierge. They also think that socks and sandals are a cool combination.

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CULTURE VULTURES (Historica sightseer fanatica)

Likes: Local markets, the History Channel and museums of all kinds.

Least likely to ask: “Who is Tutankhamun?”

Where you’ll spot them: Egypt’s Hurghada beach, which is one of the closest to the great temples, tombs and pyramids of Luxor.

Natural habitat: As well as organising trips to Luxor, the Hilton Hurghada Long Beach (thomascook.com) also takes guests on desert Jeep safaris.

The local Egyptian food at Marhaba Restaurant – which overlooks the Red Sea – is the ideal end to a cultural day.

Watering hole: Very likely to be seen drinking karkade, a sweet hibiscus tea said to have been drunk by the pharaohs, at The Oberoi Sahl Hasheesh (El Nasr Road).

Grazing habits: Forget fancy restaurants and international buffets, only local, traditional food will do.

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plans are a doddle compared to these dedicated parents. Without the help of an entourage of nannies, the Pampers Patrol tirelessly transport their clan to sunny shores where familyfriendly resorts with kids’ clubs become their sanctuary. They seldom leave the hotel without a wonder bag full of items such as juice packs, wet wipes, toys and nappies. A trip to the beach involves carrying as much baggage as they brought with them on the plane, alongside a menagerie of inflatable animals in the shape of armbands, lilos and rings.

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PAMPERS PATROL

(Super parentis dedicatica)

Likes: SPF 50 sunscreen, buckets and spades, and water parks.

Least likely to ask: “Where’s the nearest nightclub?”

Where you’ll spot them: Salou on the Costa Dorada, which is home to PortAventura (portaventura.co.uk), dubbed Spain’s answer to Disney World: think rip-roaring rides, an aquatic park and a Sesame Street world.

Natural habitat: The family-friendly Hotel PortAventura (thomascook.com) not only sits right at the gates of the theme park, but it also gives guests unlimited entry to it. It has buffets, pools and entertainment catering to both adults’ and kids’ tastes.

Watering holes: The nearest convenience shop selling milk.

Grazing habits: The hotel buffet is this tribe’s best friend, as it has enough options to please everyone in the family.

A trip to the beach involves carrying as much baggage as they brought with them on the plane 78

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Get out and about with your little jetsetter Save 15% on all Hippychick products when quoting HOLIDAY2013 (valid until 31/12/2013) w w w. h i p p y c h i c k . c o m + 4 4 ( 0 ) 1 2 7 8 4 3 4 4 4 0

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b e a c h e s

Which beach tribe are you?

Are you all about Michael Kors or Mickey Mouse? Do you get your kicks from spas or bars? Take our quiz to find out which beach type you are Your must-have beach accessory is…

q1

A

B

C

D

E

F

A Mary Poppinsstyle nappy bag

Meditation beads

A wetsuit

A pair of designer sunglasses

A map of the nearest historical attractions

A speaker set and iPod

q2

Who would be your ideal holiday companion?

A

B

C

D

E

F

TV’s Supernanny, aka Jo Frost

The Dalai Lama

Daredevil Felix Baumgartner

Paris Hilton

Michael Palin

Prince Harry

Which one of these books are you likely to read on the beach?

q3

A

B

C

D

E

F

A

B

C

D

E

F

An assortment of inflatable rings and armbands

A waterproof yoga mat

A surfboard

A yacht

A compass

A fish bowl cocktail

the results : MOSTLY A’s: You should join the... Pampers Patrol

/ MOSTLY B’s: You should join the... Spiritual Seekers / MOSTLY C’s: You should join the... Adrenaline Junkies / MOSTLY D’s: You should join the... Bling Brigade / MOSTLY E’s: You should join the... Culture Vultures / MOSTLY F’s: You should join the... Party Animals

p h o to s © r e x

When it comes to the sea, all you need is…

q4

BE THERE… To find your ideal beach this summer, visit thomascook.com

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THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

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No.92806 - Go Ape 1pp.indd 1

17/04/2013 14:34

Inner Beauty Forget the beaches, say the locals: it’s Cyprus’ interior where you’ll find a real escape for the mind, body and soul

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C y p r u s

G

“

o inland,”

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wo r d s by S u z a n n e k i n g

encourages the girl sitting next to us on the plane. An expat Cypriot returning home, she has firm views about what we should do with our time on the island and lazing around on the beach isn’t one of them. The coast might be the lure for most visitors (along with the reliable sunshine) but inland, says our neighbour, “is what makes Cyprus special”. Warming to her theme, she waxes lyrical about the clear mountain air, the beautiful Byzantine monasteries, the traditional villages and the food. It’s our first encounter with the famous Cypriot friendliness and pride, and it’s inspiring.

Seeking out some major escapism from city life – a refresh for the mind, body and soul, if you will – her advice couldn’t have come at a better time. Dutifully the next morning, we do as instructed and turn inland. The day may be sunny, the sky a cloudless blue and the sunbeds hard to resist, but as our fellow holidaymakers settle in for a day of poolside lazing, we head for the hills. Within minutes, the bustle of Paphos has disappeared and we’re cruising through a world of wide valley views. Scarlet poppies, pink cistus and yellow-blossomed prickly pears line the roadside. There are cherry trees hung with young fruit just starting to ripen and groves of olive, almond and carob trees, where floppy-eared goats graze in the shade.

We stop off for our first taste of village life at Omodos. In the afternoons, it’s a popular destination for coach parties, and the narrow lanes are lined with stalls selling local handicrafts – think lace and linen, carob syrup, olive oil soap and monastery-made honey. Outside a shop at the corner of the main square, a life-size mechanical donkey promises ‘Singing + Dancing + Braying’ for €1 (85p). It’s tempting, but we decide not to shatter the mid-morning peace and head, instead, into the Monastery of the Holy Cross, a cool, dark space made for reflection, hung with chandeliers and lanterns and gold-painted icons. Omodos is also the

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22/07/2013 14:34

Cyprus is a cultural crossroads, closer to the Middle East and North Africa than it is to Europe wine capital of Cyprus, and nearby is a huge, medieval wine press, a wooden contraption that was still being used in the 1960s.

Cypriot wines have a long and glorious tradition. They’re mentioned in the Song of Solomon and Richard the Lionheart is said to have declared: “I must go back to Cyprus, if only to taste its wine once again.”

Today the countryside north of Paphos and Limassol is full of vineyards, producing everything from summer-fresh rosés to sweet, rich Commandaria dessert wine, and there are colour-coded wine trails to guide visitors around the dozens of boutique wineries, most of them family-owned.

Leaving Omodos, we head up into the Troodos Mountains. And up, and up, the road winding its way higher, the slopes becoming more forested and the air refreshingly cooler. Butterflies flitter between the flowers, and we keep our eyes peeled for the elusive mouflon, the bighorned mountain goat so symbolic of the island that it appears on the tails of Cyprus

LOOK OUT FOR CYPRUS’ UNOFFICIAL MASCOT, THE MOUFLON, IN THE TROODOS MOUNTAINS

84

Airways’ planes. At Kalopanayiotis – where houses on stilts cling to the steep valley walls – we stop for lunch at Casale Panayiotis (Markou Drakou 80, +357 22 952 444, casalepanayiotis.com). The chef here puts her own creative twist on traditional Cypriot food, serving a dizzying succession of dishes from warm grilled halloumi bathed in fig syrup to mahlepi – a creamy, Lebanese-influenced dessert, fragrant with vanilla and rosewater.

The blend of Eastern and European is a defining feature of the island. Tucked away at the northeastern end of the Med, it’s a cultural crossroads, closer to the Middle East and North Africa than it is to Europe.

Over the centuries it’s been coveted and occupied by various nations, historically attracted by its strategic position, its copper

deposits (the name Cyprus comes from kupros, the Greek word for copper) and its plentiful timber. But it was the arrival of the Greeks that determined the country’s cultural identity, bringing the Greek language, religion, arts and tradition that still survive today.

Links with the Greek goddess Aphrodite are also very strong. She’s said to have been born here, arising from the waves off the southern coast, and in the Akamas peninsula, a ruggedly beautiful wilderness criss-crossed with hiking trails, we visit a shady freshwater pool where, according to legend, she used to bathe with Adonis. Swim in the pool, say the locals, and you’ll be forever young and forever in love. Sadly, it’s forbidden, so we’ll never know if it’s true or not.

THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

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C y p r u s

PREVIOUS SPREAD: CYPRUS’ STUNNING INTERIOR IS HOME TO MANY VINEYARDS; HERE: TRADITIONAL VILLAGES LIKE PALAICHORI CAN BE FOUND IN THE TROODOS MOUNTAINS

ENJOY FIVE-STAR PAMPERING AT THE ANASSA HOTEL

Luckily the island has other ways to keep you young – or at least looking younger. The spa scene is thriving, with many top hotels boasting high-end temples to health and beauty. At the Anassa (thomascook.com), a five-star hideaway beloved by the rich and famous, the Thalassa Spa offers a range of marine-based therapies and Organic Pharmacy natural treatments. Signing up for a massage, I’m led into the treatment room by my therapist, Marius. “They give me all the big, strong men to do,” he says, “because I am so strong.” The tension knots in my shoulders don’t stand a chance as he works away at them, using organic Cypriot olive oil scented with orange peel. Local ingredients also feature at Almyra hotel’s (thomascook. com) serene, light-flooded spa, famed for

ct Perfe post- e g massa ry territo its Scrub Bar Experience. After diagnosing your skin type, they show you how to prepare your own scrubs, using flowers and herbs freshly picked from the hotel garden. The super-plush Four Seasons Hotel in Limassol (elegantresorts.co.uk), meanwhile, is home to the island’s only Shiseido spa, specialising in treatments that incorporate Eastern influences and ingredients such as Chinese yuzu fruit and Japanese massage techniques.

Limassol itself is a revelation. We were expecting tourist tat and traps, but what we

found was a vibrant urban centre that had been regenerated in recent years. Beside the 12th-century castle is the Carob Mill quarter, its old warehouses now converted into cool restaurants, and next to the old market hall, we find a smart pedestrianised square, where traditional cafés sit cheek by jowl with trendy new bars. In the mornings, locals sit and put the world to rights over a cup of strong Cypriot coffee; in the evenings, the area is buzzing with cool young things congregating over cocktails.

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c y p r u s

We’re introduced to the area by the entertaining Roddy Damalis, one of the island’s top chefs, who runs half-day cookery courses at his restaurant, Ta Piatakia (7 Nikodimou Mylona, +357 25 745 017, roddydamalis.com, classes from £75 per person including food and wine). The morning starts with a stroll round the market, where we pick up fresh supplies and get an explanation for some of the more mysterious items on the stalls: pickled capers, pastelaki (a kind of nut brittle), the small golden fruits that turn out to be medlars. Then it’s back to the kitchen, where Roddy whisks up more dishes than we’d have thought possible in just a couple of hours, all delicious, from the strawberries topped with strips of smoked ham and carob syrup via the mushrooms sautéed in Commandaria to the cheat’s baklava. His halloumi with tomatoes, lemon and mint instantly becomes one of my go-to dishes for a quick and lovely summer supper.

Bodies suitably pampered and well fed, it’s time to nourish the soul. Heading for the hills again near Paphos, we find the Chrysorrogiatissa Monastery, dedicated to Our Lady of the Golden Pomegranate.

Beside the church, there’s a pretty plantfilled courtyard where house martins chatter and flutter around their nests under

CHRYSORROGIATISSA MONASTERY IN THE HILLS ABOVE PAPHOS

Those early monks who founded the monastery in the 12th century weren’t daft – they understood the spiritual value of a beautiful view the eaves. Sitting in the shade of the cloister is the abbot, Father Dionysius, who leads us around the corner to a lavender-edged terrace that looks far out over the valley below. Those early monks who founded the monastery in the 12th century weren’t daft – they understood the spiritual value of a beautiful view. Over a cup of dark, strong coffee, Father Dionysius tells us the in-house anecdote. Many years ago, he says, a couple of the monks died and went to heaven. But when they knocked on the pearly gates, the answering angel turned them away. “Go back to the place you came from,” he said, “for that is heaven right there.” The angels weren’t wrong.

TASTY HALLOUMI DISHES ARE A SPECIALITY OF THE ISLAND

86

GO

STAY

DID YOU KNOW... ?

For more information on Cyprus, go to visitcyprus.com.

Thomas Cook flies to Paphos and Limassol year-round from select UK airports. For more information, visit your local Thomas Cook store, call +44 (0)844 412 5966 or visit thomascook.com.

The adults-only Cyprotel Cypria Maris in Paphos (thomascook.com) is the perfect base for couples who want to explore the interior.

A drink in the lobby bar is a must: the floor-toceiling windows offer amazing sea views.

Despite being the third-largest island in the Mediterranean, Cyprus has the third-smallest population in the European Union; only Luxembourg and Malta have smaller populations.

THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

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No.96682 Capo Bay 1pp.indd 1

23/07/2013 12:34

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No.00000 House ad - TC Sport 1pp.indd 1

05/07/2013 11:52

l a p l a n d

IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL time of the year, so

why not make the run-up to

CHRISTMAS extra magical and meet the wo r d s by ch l o ë w i l s o n

real Santa at his

HOMETOWN INwarning: FINNISH LAPLAND?

p h o to g r a p h y by e r i c ch a m p el ov i e r

IT'S NOT JUST THE KIDS THAT WILL GET SWEPT UP IN THE

ENCHANTMENT

W

h i l e C h r i s t m a s may seem like it’s still a little way off, I don’t need to remind

you how quickly the festive season creeps up on you every year. Before you know it, you’ll be in the loft digging out those Christmas decorations and dancing around the kitchen to Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You. And while most parents will already be planning some sort of extravaganza to reward their children at the end of

AUG.SEP.OCT

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the year, it’s hard to imagine a bigger Christmas treat than a trip to meet Santa in Finnish Lapland. Yes, forget ‘Santa’s grotto’ in your local garden centre and go all out, bank a lifelong memory with your children and take them to the real snow-covered winter wonderland above the Arctic Circle.

I started to query the Santa Claus theory aged five, when my older brother and sister alerted me to the fact that delivering so many presents around the world in one night was a big mission for one man. I was happy to go along with the explanation that there was a whole lot of magic involved and if you didn’t believe, you didn’t get presents. My daughter Jessie is now five herself, and the wonder of it all is still very much alive for her. So rather than leaving a half-munched carrot and empty glass of sherry by the fireplace on Christmas Eve, I decided to take her on an adventure that she’d never forget. I kept our day trip to Lapland a secret until the morning of our departure, figuring that if I was going to wake her from her blissful slumbers at 4am, I needed a good excuse.

It’s an early check-in, but the staff at the desk were merrily skipping around handing out Santa hats and chocolates to the children.

The merriment continued on the flight where the infectious laughter and jovial nature of the cabin crew, Thomas Cook reps and pilots kept everyone in high spirits.

Even I was singing along to the Christmas carols and cheering for Santa as we soared above the clouds.

90

CHLOË AND JESSIE ENJOY A RIDE WITH SANTA’S REINDEER

All suited and booted ..

chloe (mum) says :

On arrival in Rovaniemi – the official hometown of Santa Claus in Finland – we were kitted out with thermal snowsuits and snow boots before being transferred to Poropirtti village, where we were based for most of the day. With the mercury plummeting to -10°C, we were happy to be wrapped up in our Michelin manstyle thermal snowsuits supplied on arrival.

Jessie (daughter) says : I felt a bit like a snowman all dressed up, but I was really cosy and it meant I could play in the snow all day. I didn’t get cold even when we were making snow angels. ..

chloe says :

The first activity on our agenda was a reindeer ride. Much to Jessie’s delight, Jingle George (our Thomas Cook rep) and Elina (his Finnish elf helper) explained that the reindeer were all

currently in training for their big flight pulling Santa’s sleigh. The reindeer’s flying practice apparently takes place at night, hence us being whisked off in daylight through the snow-covered forest on terra firma!

Jessie says : The reindeer ride was excellent, even though I was a little nervous at first and they did smell.

But they also made me laugh and they had bells.

I’m not sure who was more excited to meet Santa, my five-year-old daughter, or the five-year-old me

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l a p l a n d

Meeting the man in red ..

chloe says :

r “Is you beard real?”

JESSIE RECEIVES A GIFT FROM SANTA HIMSELF

EVERYONE GATHERS AROUND THE FIRE FOR STORYTELLING

A few snowball fights, snow angels and sled rides later, we were ready to meet the great man himself. Ushered onto the steps of his log cabin, we waited patiently to be invited in. Finally the moment had arrived. We were there, face-to-face with Santa. I’m not sure who was more excited at that point, my five-year-old daughter, or the five-year-old me. But I managed to contain my urge to jump on his lap and plead for sparkly things.

Instead, a totally star-struck Jessie perched politely on his knee and nodded sweetly when asked if she had been good this year. A swell of pride ran through me when, rather than reciting her list of stocking fillers, she simply asked him how old was he really and truly? His reply was: “Well, last time I tried counting my age I reached 450 Christmases and then got so bored I fell asleep.” Jessie was thrilled to receive a wrapped gift from him and, a few gazillion photos later, we were invited

HOT BERRY JUICE IS SERVED BY CANDLELIGHT

to Santa’s dining hall, an enchanting room with long tables, twinkly lights and reindeer skins on the walls, to eat lunch and drink piping-hot berry juice.

Despite it only being early afternoon, by the time we stepped outside, darkness had descended and Jingle George and Elina led us into another log cabin for the ‘Ceremony of Crossing the Arctic Circle’ – an age-old storytelling ritual. Inside, a roaring open fire was blazing in the middle of the room, surrounded by stools covered in reindeer fur.

A native Sami storyteller proceeded to mesmerise the children, who sat listening intently and giggling quietly, while he told a fascinating tale of how he needed to rub each of their noses with reindeer fur and mark them with a smudge of charcoal from the fire. This was done in order to pass information about each child back to Rudolph himself, who would in turn inform Santa about the presents they wanted and whether or not they had been good.

Jessie says : I was so happy that I met Santa Claus.

He let me sit on his lap and ask questions about his beard and how old he was.

He had a lovely voice and he gave me a husky dog toy. My friends all think I’m really lucky and they want to meet him too.

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l a p l a n d

A sled ride to remember ..

chloe says :

Before it was time to start thinking about making tracks, we were led down a trail to the edge of a thick forest with frostcovered pine trees. We could hear husky dogs howling long before we could see them. For me, this was the highlight of the day. Snuggled up on a sled pulled by a team of huskies, we raced off through the trees, squealing with delight as we slid under branches and skirted through snowdrifts. It was all too short an adventure, but well worth every second.

Jessie says : The husky dogs were 100 per cent amazing. It was really exciting being pulled by them through the forest and I screamed lots because I thought we were going to crash into a tree. But we didn’t!

THE MAGICAL SANTA CLAUS VILLAGE AT ROVANIEMI

Homeward bound ..

chloe says :

Before the flight home we were taken en route to Santa Claus Village, where we had the chance to post letters back home (or to Santa) with an official Lapland stamp, marvel at the stacks of letters in the sorting office sent from children around the world and stock up on authentic Lapland goodies and Christmas souvenirs. The Arctic Circle – denoted by a white line and lampposts – cuts right through Santa Claus Village, and Jingle George ensured

CHLOË AND JESSIE AFTER A HUSKY RIDE THROUGH THE FOREST

92

we crossed it in style with a jump and a wave. For those still in need of a bit more snow action, there’s time for a snowmobile safari, thrills on a toboggan run or a cheeky beer in an ice bar.

Tired and weary from an utterly magical day, Jessie barely stirred as I put her to bed once we had arrived home. Perhaps she thought it was all a dream, but the toy husky dog clutched tightly in her little hands proved otherwise. The magic of Christmas is well and truly alive for another year

at least, and I suspect in some small way it always will be, for though there will soon come a time when Jessie might question the big man, she will never forget the day we flew to Lapland to meet Santa.

Jessie says : It was a really special trip. The husky dogs were brilliant and I loved meeting Santa Claus.

When I miss him, I cuddle my toy husky. One day I hope I can go back to Lapland and take my younger brothers.

GO

STAY

KNOW THIS

Thomas Cook flies to Rovaniemi and Kittilä in Finnish Lapland on selected dates in December. For more information, visit your local Thomas Cook store, call +44 (0)844 412 5966 or visit thomascook.com

You can do a day trip, but if you decide to stay longer, the Sokos Hotel in Levi (thomascook.com) is the perfect winter wonderland retreat, with all the resort amenities right on its doorstep. After a busy day playing in the snow, why not relax in the soothing sauna?

Santa can receive up to 30,000 letters a day. By Christmas, he expects to get more than half a million from around 200 countries. The main correspondents come from the UK, Italy and Poland.

THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

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19/07/2013 09:37

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h s a l p S landing 01.

I f y o u w a n t t o h av e s o m e f u n o n your summer holiday – who doesn’t? – then you’ll love Thomas Cook and Airtours’ Aquamania hotels.

These carefully hand-picked hideaways have all the spine-tingling slides, chaotic chutes and fun flumes that will please both thrill and chill seekers alike – there are also plenty of water playgrounds for mini aquatic adventurers. And the best part? You won’t have to dip (pun intended) into your wallet, because they all include free use of the water park facilities throughout your stay. Check out our trump cards to find a wet and wild hotel near you. Just add water!

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key DOING IT FOR THE KIDS: rating from 1-5 based on children’s pools, slides and spray parks.

NEED FOR SPEED: rating from 1-5 based on number of high-speed slides.

LAZY DAYS: rating from 1-5 based on chill-out features, including lazy rivers and wave pools.

SPECIAL FEATURE: a unique or signature slide or attraction at the park or resort.

GET THERE… For more information about these and other Aquamania hotels, please visit thomascook.com

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Where Your Holiday Becomes An Adventure

SUMMER 2013

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Two Theme Parks. Four On-Site Hotels.

Non-Stop Nightlife. A Universe of Excitement.

Play, scream and laugh with the biggest characters in movies, TV and pop culture at two immersive theme parks – Universal Studios Florida® and Universal’s Islands of Adventure®. Prepare for battle on the new TRANSFORMERS: The Ride–3D, opening Summer 2013; swing high above the city streets with Spider-Man™; save the day with Shrek; step into the magic and excitement of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™; experience the heartwarming and hilarious Despicable Me Minion Mayhem 3-D ride; and enjoy the dining and nightlife of the Universal CityWalk® entertainment complex.

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Plus, stay in the heart of it all at one of four luxury on-site hotels. As an on-site hotel guest, you will enjoy exclusive benefits, including FREE Universal ExpressSM Unlimited ride access to SKIP THE REGULAR QUEUES* in both theme parks; and Early Park Admission† to The Wizarding World of Harry Potter™, one hour before the theme park opens.

Visit UniversalOrlando.co.uk HARRY POTTER, characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of and © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter Publishing Rights © JKR. (s13) *Not valid at Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™ and other select attractions. On-site hotel privileges good for hotel stay as indicated on the room key card and Universal Express Unlimited pass. Only valid for the number of guests staying in the room. Paid theme park admission required. Ride access available during normal theme park operating hours only. Not valid for separately ticketed special events. Additional restrictions may apply and benefits are subject to change without notice. †Requires paid theme park admission. Early Park Admission begins one hour prior to Universal’s Islands of Adventure regular opening hour for on-site hotel guests and is valid 7 days week for travel through 12/31/13, valid only at Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey™, Flight of the Hippogriff™, Dragon Challenge™ and Caro-Seuss-el™. Universal Express ride access is not valid during Early Park Admission. Additional restrictions may apply and the foregoing benefits are subject to change without notice. TRANSFORMERS and its logo and all related characters are trademarks of Hasbro and are used with permission. © 2013 Hasbro. All Rights Reserved. © 2013 DreamWorks L.L.C. and Paramount Pictures Corporation. All Rights Reserved. Shrek 4-D © 2013 DreamWorks Animation L.L.C. © MARVEL. Universal elements and all related indicia TM & © 2013 Universal Studios. © 2013 Universal Orlando. All rights reserved.

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t h e

The best places to sleep, eat and play around the network

SLEEP

01

Fairmont Banff Springs b a n f f n at i o n a l p a r k , c a n a d a

This iconic hotel is credited with kick-starting modern tourism to Banff 125 years ago when it first opened. And it's where Marilyn Monroe chose to recuperate after injuring her ankle filming River of No Return in the area in 1953.

Highlights: The grand, elegant décor is impressive throughout, but the mountain views from the Bow Valley Grill will stay in your memory forever. Book a table by the floorto-ceiling windows for Sunday brunch and enjoy the scenery while eating fresh-to-order eggs, roasted meats and desserts.

If you only have one night:

Take the daily Heritage Tour of the property, Tuesdays-Saturdays at 3pm. The hotel’s longest-standing employee Dave Moberg uncovers the property’s history and what its famous clientele got up to there.

Location, location, location:

Just a five-minute drive away, you'll find the town’s famous mineral-rich Hot Springs and Sulphur Mountain, which has the best views of the town.

BE THERE… Book a stay with elegantresorts.co.uk

Words: Anisha Patel. Photography: Four Corners

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Hotel Villalba vilaflor, tenerife Natural beauty and relaxation come as standard at this luxurious, rural spa retreat in the picturesque village of Vilaflor, perched high above Tenerife's south coast.

Highlights: Use of the spa's saunas and Jacuzzi is included in the room rate. Bedrooms have oodles of floor space and balconies overlooking the forest, while the huge en suite bathrooms are kitted out with chic, retro Victorian tiles.

If you only have one night: Take your glass of wine outside and enjoy one of the world's clearest night skies. You might even catch a shooting star or three.

Location, location, location: Set on the edge of Teide National Park, Hotel Villalba is the perfect base for beating the crowds to the cable car up Mount Teide.

02

Dubrovnik Palace Hotel d u b r o v n i k , c r o at i a Tucked away on the Lapad Peninsula between the Adriatic Sea and Petka woods, it's all about luxury and seclusion.

Highlights: Waking up in the morning to breathtaking views of the Elaphite islands before sinking into the rooftop Jacuzzi; snorkelling in the shallow, sparkly waters of the hotel‘s private beachfront; the specially organised excursions to neighbouring Montenegro and Bosnia.

If you only have one night: Have a sundowner cocktail at the Sunset Lounge, which sits right on the beachfront – it's renowned for its selection of Petkovic brandies.

Location, location, location: Dubrovnik's charming UNESCOprotected Old Town – which is home to a 1,940metre walkable city wall and a 700 year-old medieval pharmacy – is just a 15-minute taxi ride away.

BE THERE… Book a stay with thomascook.com

BE THERE… Book a stay with hotels4u.com

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Hotel raves from our readers via Facebook 98

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“WE'VE BEEN TO LYKIAWORLD ÖLÜ DENIZ, TURKEY FOR SIX YEARS RUNNING! IT HAS 19 DIFFERENT POOLS, ITS OWN WATER PARK, LOTS OF RESTAURANTS IN THE RESORT AND ITS OWN PRIVATE BEACH. EXCELLENT!”

"GRAN BAHIA PRINCIPE ESMERALDA IN THE DOMINICAN REPUBLIC HAD FIVE-STAR SERVICE FROM CHECK-IN TO CHECK-OUT THAT WE COULD NOT FAULT. A JEWEL IN THOMAS COOK'S PORTFOLIO!"

“CARDA BEACH HOTEL IN KOS IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PLACE TO RELAX. AMAZING POOLS, GORGEOUS FOOD AND BEST OF ALL, IT FELT LIKE WE WERE THE ONLY PEOPLE THERE.”

Rachel Weatherley, Kent

Chris Schofield, Leeds

Samantha Moakes, Nottingham

Got a hotel that you want to shout about? Check out facebook.com/thomascook for a chance to get your rave in the next issue of Travel

Words: Andrea Montgomery and Stephanie Yip. Photography: Jack Montgomery

19/07/2013 09:59

Discover the Magic

Get 20% off your first order when you enter code WTC3M (excluding sale items)

WWW.WIZARDJEANS.COM

INSIGHT GUIDES Inspiring your next adventure Insider’s view of the destination Detailed history and culture Inspirational and pre-planning content Full-colour photos and maps throughout

www.insightguides.com

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02

Koh Samui alicante, spain

Hutong london, uk

01

Diners are clamouring to get a reservation at Hutong, and with good reason. Not only is it situated halfway up London's tallest building, but it's also the much-anticipated offshoot of the Hong Kong hotspot of the same name, which specialises in Northern Chinese cuisine. Expect flavour-packed dishes like a ‘red lantern’ of softshell crabs with deep-fried chillies (pictured) and crispy lamb that's been not once, but thrice cooked. But the real star of the show is its Peking duck, which is marinated for 24 hours and roasted in Hutong’s special oven. At £58 for a whole duck (£30 for half), it's a tad pricier than your local takeaway, but it's far tastier, and the glamorous views of London's skyline makes it worth splashing out on for a special occassion. A more affordable dim sum menu (an eight-piece platter is £15) is also available.

If the ornately carved doors, flickering lanterns, bonsai trees and scent of jasmine flowers don’t instantly transport you to Thailand before you enter Koh Samui, the food certainly will. Bringing a taste of the Far East to the Costa Blanca, its menu of southeast Asian delights includes a delicately spiced green curry, a fiery yet fragrant Tom Kha Gai soup and our personal highlight, the beef rendang.

The Barcelo Asia Gardens Hotel and Thai Spa resort’s setting on the slopes of the Sierra Cortina mountain range is a world away from the twinkling lights of Benidorm that lie below. It’s dinner service only, so make sure you keep a night free.

BE THERE… Glorieta del Fuego s/n, Terra Mitica, +34 902 10 10 01. Fly to Alicante with thomascook.com

EAT

BE THERE… Joiner St, London Bridge, +44 (0)20 7478 0540, aquahutong.co.uk

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El Rincón De Juan Carlos los gigantes, tenerife

Set within the distinctly British resort of Los Gigantes, the eponymous Juan Carlos was runner-up in Spain's Chef of the Year competition last year. Along with his brother Jonathan, their wives and their mum, he produces quality dishes using the finest local ingredients that even the men from Michelin would have a hard time faulting. His degustacion (taster) menu changes seasonally and features delights such as neck of pork with French truffles (pictured), and mussels in coconut milk and coriander with miniature leeks. If the €60 (£51) per person price tag is out of your budget, try the restaurant's steamed parmesan ravioli in a lentil reduction with onion petals from the à la carte menu.

You'll wonder how the dish only made it as a runner-up in the competition.

BE THERE… 2 Pasaje de Jacaranda, +34 922 86 80 40, elrincondejuancarlos.es.

Fly to Tenerife with thomascook.com

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Words: Anisha Patel and Andrea Montgomery. Photography: Jack Montgomery and Peregaute

19/07/2013 10:00

Bobby Gin barcelona (reus), spain Jamón ibérico, sangria and siestas: things you expect on a Spanish break. The humble gin and tonic? Not so much. But the nation's going crazy for them, and Bobby Gin was one of the first to embrace the trend. The intimate bar has an extensive list of top-notch gins and tonic mixers to choose from, which are served over a generous helping of ice in giant wine glasses (€11/£9.40) To top it off, quirky garnishings like fresh basil, star anise or saffron can be added.

Gin-haters, don't fear: mixologist Alberto Pizarro also shakes up other mean cocktails.

The drink to order: A G&T made with Bobby's Spring, the bar's own gin, which is infused with strawberries and grapefruit. "It's like our son," Pizarro tells us.

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BE THERE… 47 Carrer de Francisco Giner, bobbygin. com. Fly to Reus with thomascook.com

Brewdog manchester, uk

or One fn y o u , o en e ,o f o r m eo u .. . y r fo

02

Nikki Beach palma, majorca

Nikki Beach's chic day clubs have been a favourite hangout of the jet-set since the Miami Beach institution spread its fabulous wings internationally, and now you can pose like an A-Lister at its latest outpost in Majorca. Grab a plump, white daybed by the pool (from €40/£34 a day) and enjoy one of the club's killer cocktails with the killer views of Calvià beach. With an action-packed summer of events – from Full Moon parties and Amazing Sundays to the World Champagne Tour – this is the place for all Paris Hilton and Kanye West wannabes.

The drink to order: The signature raspberry mojito – strong, fruity and totally refreshing – is perfect for cooling off by the pool.

If you're crazy about craft beers, think of this as your hoppy haven. The Scottish-born brewery serves a blackboard menu of brews that changes regularly, with everything from its fruity, golden IPA to a 41% ABV beer called Sink the Bismarck, which also happens to be the world's strongest beer! Enjoy a dose of vintage board games and pinball machines with your drinks, or try the new barbecue menu (pulled pork, slow cooked for 14 hours and smoky ribs, anyone?) that's available for summer.

The drink to order: Order a flight of beers, which includes four 1/3 pints for £5-£7, and you'll get to sample the best of the daily choice.

BE THERE… 35 Peter St. M2 5BG, brewdog.com

03

BE THERE… Avenida Notario Alemany 1, nikkibeach.com/mallorca/.

Fly to Majorca with thomascook.com

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Bon appétit Treat your tastebuds to a meal at one of these top restaurants 1. LIME SALFORD QUAYS, UK

Located opposite the acclaimed Lowry Theatre, Lime is an independent restaurant and bar with an emphasis on freshly prepared, high-quality food, world beers and delicious cocktails. Lime is the perfect spot to take a break from exploring the Quays' many attractions, or to have a coffee on its terrace overlooking the water and the dramatic architecture of Media City UK, which is only a short stroll away.

The Lowry Outlet Mall, Salford, +44 (0)161 869 0440, limeuk.com

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2. CHARACTER RESTAURANT & CAFÉ

3. TA J MAHAL

4. APHRODITE ,

MARMARIS, TURKEY

SIDE, TURKEY

FIRA, GREECE

The Taj Mahal is the only authentic Indian restaurant in town, but this does not mean that it rests on its laurels. Importing all of its spices directly from Asia, it has thrilled its guests with its array of freshly prepared dishes, including all of your favourite curries from back home, since it opened in 1997. Located on the main road between Marmaris and Içmeler, opposite the Point Centre shopping mall, the restaurant is open from 5pm to 1am.

Kemal Elgin Bulvarı Karacan Plaza, +90 252 417 4412 tajmahalmarmaris.com

Open all year round, Aphrodite has been run by Side locals since 1970. Set in the heart of the ancient city, with a fantastic view of the harbour, it’s a favourite with locals and tourists alike, and it’s not uncommon to see famous faces dining on its fabulous terrace. Serving delicious mezze, fresh seafood and the finest Turkish and international cuisine, the restaurant received a certificate of excellence from TripAdvisor for 2012.

170 Antique Harbour of Side, +90 242 753 1171, aphroditeside.com

Set on the rim of the caldera, with a view right across the volcano, this is the perfect spot to watch the island's famous sunset. The cuisine is inspired by Santorinian and Mediterranean traditions, and the menu celebrates fresh and locally sourced ingredients. Highlights include grilled calamari, Santorini fava beans and octopus, and a pork fillet in a vinsanto sauce, all enjoyed with one of the world-famous local wines. +30 228 602 1816, character.gr

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5. CHEF NIZAR

6. L A TASCA CASA PACO

7. YA MAS

8. L ARROCERÍA

LANZAROTE, SPAIN

TENERIFE, SPAIN

SANTORINI, GREECE

LANZAROTE, SPAIN

With 20 years of experience serving Lebanese cuisine to the locals of Arrecife, Chef Nizar offers an exotic menu bursting with flavour and charm. Its attractive dining room seats 50 people, with a pleasant atmosphere benefiting from a selection of ambient music and professional service, while an upstairs room with space for 30 is the ideal venue for private parties. The restaurant suits all budgets and parking can be found just 300m away.

19 Calle Luis Morote, Arrecife, +34 928 801 260

Enjoy Murcian and Andalucían specialities at this popular little restaurant in Los Cristianos, where a great variety of authentic tapas dishes are also available.

Family-run and featuring a cheerful wooden décor, it welcomes guests with warmth and professionalism, creating a homely atmosphere. The original paintings on the wall are available to buy, and when the owner Paco is inspired, he brings out his flamenco guitar – a real treat!

16 Calle Amalia Alayon, Los Cristianos, Tenerife, +34 658 788 023

Ya Mas – meaning 'to us' or 'cheers' in Greek – is a small beachfront bistro serving traditional Greek fare. It uses fresh and local produce from a nearby farm owned by Mr Manolis to create Santorini's favourite dishes, including fava bean dip, domatakeftedes (fritters made from cherry tomatoes) and roasted white aubergine.

Located at the quiet end of Kamari beach, the sound of the waves makes a fabulous accompaniment to your meal.

Kamari Beach Road, Kamari, boathouse@otenet.gr

This cosy restaurant and tapas bar specialises in Canarian and Mediterranean cuisine, using organic ingredients plus the finest meat and fish to craft sensational, flavour-packed paellas. To browse the wine list is to tour Spain, with all of the country's main grapegrowing regions well represented – and you'll want to try them all!

With a great family-friendly and easy-going atmosphere, this is a charming spot for a relaxing meal.

Calle Correillo (next to the Super Dino Plaza), Playa Blanca +34 928 594 465

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9.PARADOSIAKO

10.THE BUTCHERSHOP

11. K ANDOUNI

12. CASA DO CAMPO

ZAKYNTHOS, GREECE

GLASGOW, UK

OIA, GREECE

ALMANCIL, PORTUGAL

'Paradosiako' is the Greek word for 'traditional', so it is unsurprising that this restaurant, located in an area of incredible natural beauty, specialises in pure and traditional Zakynthian dishes made using recipes handed down from generation to generation. The essential ingredient in these recipes remains the finest virgin olive oil, produced from their own home-grown olive trees, along with other fresh herbs.

Alykes Riverside, +30 269 508 3412, paradosiako.com.gr

One of Scotland's most talked about steakhouses, The Butchershop Bar and Grill prides itself on serving the finest Scottish grass-fed beef, which is hung and dry-aged from 21 to 35 days. Located in the city's vibrant West End, opposite the Kelvingrove Art Gallery, The Butchershop is a stylish, modern haven for foodies, with an ethos focused on delivering outstanding service, exceptional food and a lively atmosphere.

1055 Sauchiehall St, +44 (0)141 339 2999, butchershopglasgow.com

Overhanging bougainvilleas and a charming, candlelit interior set the stage for a sumptuous dining experience in this handsome family-run restaurant. With fresh ingredients and traditional Greek dishes flowing from the kitchen, the menu is supplemented by an array of wines and a wellstocked bar. The vintage dĂŠcor and homey ambience make Kandouni a favourite among tourists and locals alike. Try the baked lamb in parchment.

Oia, Santorini, +30 228 607 1616, kandouni.com

This charming restaurant and art gallery, set in a tastefully converted farmhouse from 1884, serves up traditional Algarvian and international cuisine alongside an exceptional Portuguese wine list. Its walls are covered by the paintings of Carlos Fonseca Martins, a talented local artist, while, on balmy evenings, there's no finer place to enjoy a romantic candlelit dinner than on the terrace, under the boughs of a 100-year-old fig tree. +351 289 399 109, casadocampo-restaurante.com

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13. KANNAS FISH & PASTA

14. HO W ONG

15. EL PORTAL

KALAMATA, GREECE

GLASGOW, UK

ALICANTE, SPAIN

Befitting its glorious location beside the sea in Kalamata's marina, the city's oldest restaurant specialises in fresh, local seafood. Caught every day, the menu boasts delights such as oysters, squid, octopus, lobster and sea urchins, as well as homemade pastas, pizzas and desserts. Prepared under the eye of the Italian chef, popular dishes include spaghetti with lobster, linguine with scallops and beef fillet with porcini mushrooms and black truffle. +30 272 109 1596, kannas.gr

With extraordinary and vibrant flavours, accompanied by fast and efficient service in an elegant dining room, it’s easy to see why the Ho Wong in Glasgow is so widely praised by critics and customers alike. Amidst an array of delicious and varied dishes, it is seafood that takes pride of place on the menu, all of which is incredibly fresh and cooked to absolute perfection. Make sure you try the ‘chilli and salt seafood combination’.

82 York Street, Glasgow, +44 (0)141 221 3550, ho-wong.com

Informality reigns at El Portal, which is not only a restaurant, but also a traditional tavern and bar. Here, guests will find honest and creative cuisine, and a fine selection of tapas dishes, as well as a wide range of both Spanish and international wines.

Seasonal produce is carefully prepared and served in half rations – or as traditional covers – while the prices are extremely reasonable. The man in charge is chef Sergio Sierra, who has spent his career honing his

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craft in a number of prestigious restaurants, and nothing leaves the kitchen without meeting his strict standards.

The quality of the food is complemented by a stylish, modern design split across three rooms. From spacious dining areas to the bustle of a busy tapas bar with its high tables, there's a place to suit any occasion. Add to this the attentive service, and you have the perfect spot to start your night in Alicante.

2 Calle Bilbao, Alicante, +34 965 143 269, elportaltaberna.com, info@elportaltaberna.com

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Do not disturb Comfort and luxury go hand-in-hand at all of these welcoming hotels 1. CONSTANTINOU BROS ASIMINA SUITES HOTEL PAPHOS, CYPRUS

This adults-only, five-star hotel offers spacious and wellequipped accommodation, coupled with superb guest facilities, in an impressive beachside setting in Paphos.

With all the elegance you'd expect from a boutique hotel, Asimina Suites offers 119 luxuriously appointed suites, from junior and one-bedroom options to the opulent executive suites with their own private pools and Jacuzzis. Every room is generously sized and designed in a contemporary

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style with glorious sea views.

The absence of children makes this the perfect choice for couples who appreciate a luxurious and tranquil environment with impeccable standards of service and hospitality. Besides its own sandy beach and two outdoor pools, it boasts a fantastic range of leisure and spa facilities, as well as a sublime selection of relaxing bars and four restaurants, including a gourmet Ă la carte eatery and the Kymata right on the beach.

Poseidonos Avenue, Paphos, +357 2696 4333, asimina-cbh.com

2. ERSAN RESORT & SPA BODRUM, TURKEY

Splash down in the water park, relax with a variety of rejuvenating massage treatments and enjoy first-class cuisine prepared by the restaurant's master chefs at Ersan Resort and Spa. Located in one of Bodrum's stunning private bays on a blue flag beach and surrounded by spectacular nature, this 'green' resort promises an exciting holiday, while doing its utmost to protect the environment.

The hotel offers a variety of rooms and suites to suit any holidaymaker, as well as a range of restaurants serving up

delicious meals from around the world. However, it is the extensive spa centre that is the hotel's crowning glory. Featuring a large Turkish bath, an indoor pool and a steam room, alongside an array of carefully designed massage and beauty treatments, the spa will leave any guest feeling relaxed and refreshed.

Active guests are also in for a treat: the location is perfect for those wanting to try water sports, while the resort also provides facilities for beach volleyball, basketball and tennis.

PK. 357 Içmeler Mevkii, Bodrum, +30 252 316 8980, ersan.com.tr

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3. SUNSTAR WENGEN, SWITZERLAND

Centrally and conveniently located, right next to the Männlichen cable-car station, this impressive four-star hotel is the ideal spot for skiers in the heart of the Swiss Alps.

The hotel provides transfers to and from the local railway station, as well as numerous other helpful services that ensure your visit is a comfortable one. Free beverages are available from the minibar, while English TV channels and a free internet terminal are also installed in rooms. A cosy bar offers live

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music, and the restaurant provides a buffet and children's menus. There is a large indoor swimming pool, with a steam bath and sauna, as well as a children's playroom.

An attractive programme of entertainment includes a rustic Swiss evening with traditional food and music, while guests do not have to pay a single room supplement.

Right outside, the area is home to some of the Alp's best skiing, and guided walks and excursions make the most of the glorious summer months.

Dorfstrasse, Wengen, +41 33 856 52 00, sunstar.ch

4. THE SCHWEIZERHOF SAAS-FEE, SWITZERLAND

This gourmet and spa hotel is the ideal spot for holidays and conferences alike. From its elevated position in the centre of the village, it enjoys a beautiful view of the Saas-Fee mountains and their glaciers, while the bright and spacious rooms provide an inviting place to stay.

The Wave spa area offers 1,000m2 of pure pleasure. Here, guests will find an indoor pool, indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis, saunas, a steam bath, an infrared cabin and a gym – everything you need to leave your stresses behind. Book a

massage or beauty treatment, listen to the waterfall in the lobby, relax by the fireplace in the lounge and end the day in the hotel bar, complete with its starry ceiling.

An elegant dining room serves up a range of culinary delights, and a great wine selection is available in the Lieblingsrestaurant, rated 15 points by GaultMillau.

The hotel has a special offer for Thomas Cook passengers: book before 31 October 2013, to get a free upgrade to a southfacing room.

10 Haltenstrasse, Saas-Fee, +41 27 958 75 75, schweizerhof-saasfee.ch

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5. CL ARION INN L AKE BUENA VISTA ORLANDO, USA

Gather the kids and head to Florida because this 640-room hotel, just a 10-minute drive away from the Walt Disney World resort and one hour from Cocoa Beach, is the ideal destination for a family holiday. Appointed on 23 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, it boasts two swimming pools with sunbeds, a children's playground and a buffet restaurant where kids eat free. Its comfortable rooms come with modern amenities, including a fridge, microwave, coffee- and tea-

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maker, hairdryer and laptopsized wall safe. In addition, there's an on-site deli, a 24-hour games room in the lobby and the Comfort Zone Bar & Grill offers big screen TVs and nightly specials on food and drink.

Recognised as a Walt Disney World Good Neighbor Hotel – meaning it meets the resort's high standards of hospitality and service, and is AAA-approved – guests can enjoy free parking, Wi-Fi, local calls and shuttles to nearby theme parks.

8442 Palm Parkway, Lake Buena Vista, Florida, +1 800 999 7300, clarionlbv.com

6.CIDADE DE GOA

7. HOTEL CONTESSINA

VAINGUINIM BEACH, GOA, INDIA

TSILIVI, GREECE

The perfect beachfront hideaway awaits at Cidade. Nestled beside a tranquil beach with incredible views across the bay, this Portuguese-style, five-star resort is conveniently close to Goa’s capital, Panjim. With luxury accommodation, a choice of five restaurants, water sport activities, a 24-hour casino, and a spa and fitness centre, guests can enjoy a world of pampered indulgence.

Cidade is the ideal leisure destination for holidaymakers, fun seekers and families alike. +91 832 245 4545, cidadedegoa.com

Only 4km from Zante town and 80m from one of the island's most tranquil beaches, this charming hotel should suit any guest, whether they're planning to hit the town or are simply seeking a quiet holiday in the sun. The 90 rooms have all been recently renovated, and are bright, clean and spacious.

The hotel boasts a friendly atmosphere, excellent facilities, including a superb outdoor swimming pool and first-class service. +30 269 502 250 810, contessinahotel.com

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p r o m o t i o n

Protect your Spanish property Don’t let your dream home get swept away by Spanish inheritance tax Most owners are not aware that their beneficiaries and their estate may have to pay Inheritance Tax both in their country of domicile and in Spain. Spanish law dictates that the beneficiary of your estate must pay tax on the amount that they inherit. The level of tax payable is not a fixed rate and is determined by the relationship to the deceased, their residency status and their existing wealth in Spain. In addition, the estate of the deceased could be liable to pay Inheritance Tax in their country of domicile. For example, if the deceased was UK-domiciled and had worldwide assets in excess of £325,000, then the estate could also be liable for Inheritance Tax at 40% payable in the UK.

WHAT ARE THE OPTIONS TO MINIMISE THE LIABILITY? Unfortunately, it is common practice for lawyers and tax advisers who are not conversant with both jurisdictions to advise based on their own, often insufficient, knowledge. There have been cases in the past where property owners in Spain have been advised to prepare a Spanish will to avoid the tax. But as the tax is paid by the person inheriting the asset, the existence of a will does nothing to minimise this. There are also times when the existence of a separate will in Spain complicates matters and increases legal

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costs. It is key, then, that all British owners of Spanish property have a UK will dealing with their worldwide assets, thereby making another will elsewhere unnecessary.

Another misconception is that by simply taking out a mortgage on the property it will reduce the tax liability on death. It is true that the value of the asset will be reduced by the amount outstanding on the mortgage, however, the banks often insist that life policies are taken out which pay off the mortgage on death and the beneficiaries are back to inheriting the whole of the unencumbered property. Even if there is not a life policy then there is a substantial debt outstanding which will have to be paid before the property can be transferred.

Finally, the most dangerous option that is put forward is to transfer the property to your children or beneficiaries now. The Spanish tax is payable not only on the inheritance of a property but also the gifting of a property so the tax would be paid sooner rather than later. Also, once the property is in the names of your beneficiaries then you have to be able to trust that they will not dispose of or charge your asset and leave you homeless. Issues of insolvency, divorce and your beneficiary predeceasing you can also add complications to what appeared to be a simple transaction.

THE SOLUTION Invest your Spanish property into your own UK company, which Wincham can supply, of which you will be the director and shareholder and have total control. Contrary to popular belief, there would be no 7-10% property transfer tax payable on this transaction. This method enables you to utilise Spanish legislation to conveniently own and maintain your home within a corporate structure in the most tax efficient way. Plus, the UK is not classed as offshore and so, in line with EU treaties, UK companies cannot be charged the 3% tax that offshore companies typically have to pay in Spain.

Wincham provides a friendly and professional service for its clients with a unique ability to cover their affairs in both jurisdictions with a comprehensive approach. If you would like to know more about Wincham's solution and to receive your complimentary Spanish Inheritance Tax illustration, read the website www.winchamiht.com, scan the QR code or contact its advisors in the UK or Spain. +44 (0)1260 299 700 (UK), +34 965 830 991 (Spain) winchamiht.com

22/07/2013 15:31

TENERIFE The “must do” visit in the Canary Islands

LORO PARQUE, the most fun animal experience during your holidays.

Situated in Puerto de la Cruz, Loro Parque is one of the most fascinating and awarded wildlife sites and during its 40th anniversary last year it presented some surprising new additions to the delight of all its visitors. Amongst the highlights of this summer there is a pioneering exhibition of anteaters, coatis and capybaras, which is fascinating children and adults alike. In addition, a new and entertaining family of seven chimpanzees, three of them babies, is conquering the hearts of all visitors. You could be enjoying all this, and the very best climate in a 5-star facility.

Founded on 17th December, 1972, this wonderful Park was initially conceived as a paradise for parrots and has developed over the years into one of the biggest attractions of the Canary Islands, with over 44 million visitors so far.

Currently, it is home to a wide range of animal species such as gorillas, dolphins, sea lions, penguins, a fabulous aquarium and six amazing orcas, which delight everyone who dares to watch them. In addition, tropical palm trees and exotic vegetation complete the experience with stunning Thai architecture, depicting the charm and richness of this ancient culture.

Puerto de la Cruz, Tenerife, Spain www.loroparque.com www.facebook.com/loroparque

The perfect adventure to enjoy this winter with the family.

SIAM PARK,

awarded as the #1 theme park in Spain, #2 in Europe and #10 in the World by TripAdvisor.

Siam Park, Tenerife’s new water kingdom has established itself as the leader of aquatic theme parks in the whole world. This distinction was announced at the first edition of the Travellers’ Choice Attractions Awards, created by the Trip Advisor travel website, which rewards the best sights in the world, based on the views and recommendations of individual travellers. Set against a backdrop of spectacular Thai architecture this is a park like no other, and from the moment you enter you’ll know this will be no ordinary day.

Tropical scenes, impressive gardens and an exquisite Eastern architectural design, make this new tourist phenomenon a unique place in which all the family has exclusive space for fun, adventure, emotion and adrenalin. For those that prefer rest, tranquility and nature, Siam Park offers diverse possibilities with its white sand beach, exotic views, exclusive islands and relaxing meanders in the crystalline waters of a lazy river.

News Kinnaree and Sawasdee, a real injection of fun and adventure for the whole family.

Kinnaree 213 metres of excitement, diversity and intensity, is a mega slide that connects three experiences into one. Sawasdee is the new children’s zone offering inexhaustible fun.

Costa Adeje-Tenerife-Spain ZZZ VLDPSDUN QHW ă ZZZ IDFHERRN FRP VLDPSDUN

The #1 theme park in Spain, #2 in Europe and #10 in the world

Relax or extreme adrenaline? It´s your choice, you just have to decide.

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16/07/2013 09:27

thomas cook news Catch up with the latest news from around the globe

Dear readers THE THOMAS COOK CHILDREN’S CHARITY IS COMMITTED TO supporting charitable causes around the world, which is something I feel very passionate about. So I was delighted to be appointed Chair to the Board of Trustees in April 2013.

The charity is now in its fifth year of making dreams come true for sick and disadvantaged children across the world. It’s thanks to all your support that the charity has gone from strength to strength and has been able to channel funding and resources directly to individuals and organisations working with the most vulnerable in our society. The Thomas Cook Children’s Charity is dedicated to helping children and young people up to the age of 18, supporting a wide range of activities that make a real difference.

The year ahead is set to be another exciting one for the charity as some of the projects we’ve been working on, in partnership with Sport England and Together for Short Lives, will really come to life.

I look forward to keeping you updated on the charity’s progress on these and other projects in future editions of Travel magazine.

Thank you once again for your generous donations. Without them, it wouldn’t be possible for us to keep changing the lives of sick and disadvantaged children all over the world.

dogs for the disabled Meet the newest edition to the Thomas Cook Children’s Charity, Onyx. She’s a black Labrador and is our sponsor dog.

Onyx has finished her socialising year and is now completing her formal training, learning all the task-work that will eventually enable her to benefit a physically disabled child.

She’s being taught a multitude of skills including: Obedience, so that she‘s well-behaved in public places.

Retrieving items such as keys, mobile phones, post, pens, remote controls and gaming controllers.

Pushing to close doors and drawers, fold down wheelchair footplates, press access buttons and turn switches on and off.

Pulling, which she‘ll use to help open doors and drawers and also to remove items of clothing such as gloves, socks and shoes. Onyx will be taught not to ‘tug’ at the clothing as she would a drawer, and also to retrieve clothing for the child.

Barking on command in case of an emergency.

The charity will be sure to provide further updates regarding Onyx’s progress.

we love wizz ybugs The Thomas Cook Children’s Charity is delighted to be helping the Bath Institute of Medical Engineering (BIME) achieve its goal of improving the quality of life for young disabled children across the UK. BIME is at the forefront of research and development for assistive technologies for people with disabilities and healthcare problems, and the charity is helping by providing funding for Wizzybugs. The Wizzybug is an electrically powered vehicle for disabled children that helps them to experience mobility in their early years. Under adult supervision, it can be used indoors and outdoors, enabling children to have a fun experience with their ‘first wheels’. BIME has developed a loan scheme for the Wizzybug, which means they can be made available to a child more quickly and, as they‘re age-specific, once a child has outgrown the Wizzybug, it can be returned to the institute to be reconditioned and supplied to another child.

THANK YOU… Since 2009, the generous and valuable donations you have made have raised more than £4.3 million for the charity. If you know of a child or group of children that could benefit from funds, then please get in touch with Maxine Harper, Operations Manager at Drake Building, Coningsby Road, Bretton, Peterborough, PE3 8AB or visit our website (thomascookchildrenscharity.com) for more details.

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thomas cook news Catch up with the latest news from around the globe

The future’s GREEN THOMAS COOK IS WORKING HARD TO LIMIT THE IMPACT of its operations on the environment, reducing costs and reducing waste.

This year marks the fourth year of Thomas Cook’s in-flight waste recycling programme, which encourages cabin crew to collect paper, cardboard, plastic and aluminium for recycling.

In this time, we estimate that more than 200 tonnes of waste from flights has been collected. Recycling is carried out on all flights operating into the UK and you can help by handing in plastic bottles and aluminium cans to the crew when they pass through the cabin to gather waste from the drinks and meal services.

When you’re getting ready to land back in the UK, please hand over any unwanted newspapers and magazines to ensure that this waste also makes its way to our cabin crews’ green recycling bags.

a bird’s-eye view of lesbos As well as being a haven of beautiful beaches and exquisite scenery, Lesbos in Greece is also one of the most popular birdwatching locations in Europe. And Thomas Cook is the only UK tour operator to offer direct flights from the UK to Lesbos. Flights operate from the last two weeks in April to provide much-needed early season business for small local establishments and entrepreneurs, as well as the best opportunities for avid ‘twitchers’ and birdwatchers, with over 100 species having been sighted on the island.

Towards the end of April, the Olivaceous Warbler sets up territories along the river valleys and wetlands, while Lesser Grey and Masked Shrikes can be seen together around a single field. Searching for Little and Spotted Crakes at Metochi Lake is a lot easier as the water levels begin to reduce. Little Bitterns and Purple Herons will move through the area and often roost in tall trees or long grass areas. The headland of Agios Fokas is a natural arrival point for birds coming across the sea to the south, and the valley to the north provides a corridor for migrating birds to follow northwards towards Polichnitos and over the Gulf. Get your binoculars ready.

Call for child protection There are millions of children living or working on the streets worldwide. All these children are at risk of being abused and often travellers unwittingly and unknowingly increase their vulnerability.

By improving your awareness of the issues, you can help protect children worldwide. Certain ‘tourist attractions’ such as orphanage or slum tours exploit children’s vulnerabilities for profit, while giving to begging children or buying from them may be helping to keep them on the streets and at risk.

Taking children to your hotel is not a good idea as the charges for sex offenders are severe and you may be suspected of being one despite your best intentions. If you suspect a child is being exploited, please call Crimestoppers on +44 (0)800 555 111 or contact the police. Find out more about how to be a ChildSafe Traveller by visiting THINKChildSafe.org.

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La Gomera, where time stands still

www.lagomera.travel www.facebook.com/lagomera.travel @TurismoLaGomera

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thoma s cook wellbeing Tips for keeping healthy on your travels

Wellbeing in the air Thomas Cook aims to make your flight comfortable and relaxing. Simply follow these tips and exercises to ensure that you arrive at your destination feeling great

how to beat jet lag:

Special requirements

young children

Hopefully, we already know about your special requirements, such as wheelchair assistance or dietary requests. If not, and this is an outbound flight, please advise a member of the cabin crew so that they can make arrangements for your return journey.

The cabin crew will do their utmost to make everyone feel as comfortable and welcome as possible during the flight. If you are travelling with young children, just ask if you need any milk or infant meals to be heated. Baby-changing facilities are available on all our aircraft – again, just ask your crew for the location nearest to your seat.

Jet lag occurs when our biological clocks are disrupted by flying across time zones. This can affect sleep, appetite and bodily functions, but by making a few simple adjustments you can reduce the symptoms. symptom

Sleep and seatbelts If you’re planning to sleep during the flight, we recommend you fasten your seatbelt so the cabin crew don’t have to wake you should the Captain need to turn on the “fasten seatbelt” sign. We recommend that you keep your seatbelt fastened at all times while seated.

no Smoking In line with international policy, all our flights are non-smoking. It is an offence to smoke on board, and the use of electronic cigarettes is forbidden. Please refrain from smoking for the comfort and safety of passengers and crew.

appropriate at tire Customers with inappropriate attire (including anything with offensive slogans, text or images) will not be permitted to travel at check-in or at the point of boarding the aircraft unless a change of clothes is possible. Footwear must be worn on the aircraft.

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lost propert y We ask all customers to take a few moments at the end of the flight to ensure that they have all their personal possessions with them, carefully checking the seat pocket, floor area and overhead lockers before leaving the aircraft. In the unlikely event that you do believe you have left an item on board the aircraft, please note that any items found are handed over to the Lost Property office at the destination airport. For security reasons, items found are not returned to the UK.

INFLIGHT During the flight, avoid drinking too much alcohol and caffeine, drink plenty of water and try to eat light meals.

alcohol consumption Alcohol consumed on board an aircraft has a greater and faster effect than on the ground. Passengers are therefore not permitted to consume alcohol they have brought with them or from the onboard duty-free service. Only drinks purchased from our onboard bars can be consumed. Thomas Cook Airlines reserves the right to refuse to carry passengers who do not comply with this rule. No alcohol will be served to anyone under the age of 18 or to intoxicated passengers.

ON ARRIVAL When you arrive, go out in the daylight as soon as possible. Try to adapt to the local bedtime on your first night. Relax as much as possible for the first few days – a catnap between 3pm and 5pm will help give you an energy boost.

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p r o m o t i o n

“Your hair loss stops and at the same time you see new hair. Your hair becomes much heavier and thicker"

Say Goodbye to Hair Loss How a new pill can restore your hair and self-confidence Hair loss can be a nightmare for both men and women. It can make you look less attractive, and also lead to disadvantages within your career and limit you in your partner choice. It can lead to depression, loss of self-confidence and even identity change.

Scientists at Oxford promise to make this a thing of the past. Their pill, TRX2, has only been on the market since 2011, but is on the verge of becoming Europe’s best-selling hair loss treatment. TRX2 is based on organic compounds, works far better than existing treatments and has no side-effects whatsoever.

“Your hair loss stops and at the same time

oxford_biolabs_August.indd 19

you see new hair. Your hair will look much bigger; it becomes heavier and thicker,” says Oxford Biolabs CEO Dr Thomas Whitfield.

Hair loss treatments often promise a lot without delivering, but TRX2 is backed by cutting-edge science and has been thoroughly tested. According to a study, TRX2 works for 87% of men and women. The results can be impressive – the average hair count increases 35.1% after nine months and 49.2% after 18. Start TRX2 as early as possible in order to increase the chances of fully regaining your hair.

TRX2 is suitable for men and women of all ages. The crystalline white capsules come in a brown glass bottle, which is

sufficient for one month of treatment and costs approximately €49. The manufacturer offers a money-back guarantee if ordered via TRX2’s official website, and ships worldwide. www.trx2.com contact@trx2.com Oxford Biolabs Ltd, The Oxford Science Park, Oxford, UK

EXCLUSIVE PASSENGER DEAL ORDER VIA WWW.TRX2.COM AND USE THE COUPON CODE ‘TRAVEL’ TO RECEIVE AN EXCLUSIVE 5% DISCOUNT OFFER VALID UNTIL 6TH OCTOBER 2013

10/07/2013 16:48

Electronic equipment Technology moves at such a fast pace that you may be confused about what electronic equipment you can and can’t use on board. To help you, we have the following guidelines.

The use of radios is strictly prohibited.

Mobile telephones, with the exception of those with a “flight safe” mode, should be switched off at all times on board the aircraft.

Phones with a “flight safe” mode should have this activated before you switch your phone off for take off.

Personal CD, DVD, MP3 and MiniDisc players may be used, but only when the seatbelt sign is switched off.

Wireless devices such as PDAs, laptop computers, electronic games and E-readers may only be used onboard if the wireless function is disabled and again, may only be used while the seatbelt sign is off.

Simple as ABC To feel your best in the air, remember: alcohol Alcohol should be consumed only in moderation. For each glass of alcohol, drink two glasses of water. Try to drink at least a pint of water every three hours. baggy clothes Baggy clothes are best in the air. Try not to wear any tight-fitting clothing, loosen top buttons, belts and shoelaces and remove tight socks. We do, however, ask that your dress remains respectable throughout the flight.

Circulation Circulation of blood is helped if you try not to cross your legs or ankles for long periods of time. Elastic support socks or stockings may help, but they must be measured by your doctor or pharmacist. Our recommended exercises will also help blood circulation, but if you feel any discomfort when performing them, then please stop.

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Inflight exercises Humans aren’t designed to sit in one position for long, so to promote blood circulation we recommend the following exercises. Try them while seated and remember that even the smallest movements help with blood circulation. upper body 1 Take a large breath in through the nose. Slowly exhale through the mouth.

Repeat a maximum of four times.

2 Sitting upright, turn your head slowly to look over one shoulder. Now slowly turn to the other side. Repeat five times.

3 Slowly rotate your shoulders backwards.

Repeat this exercise five times.

4 Raise one arm above your head and stretch upwards. Repeat with the other arm.

5 Transfer your weight evenly between each buttock.

lower body 1 Loosen or remove your footwear. Arch the soles of both feet and curl your toes 10 times.

2 Straighten your legs, slightly lift your feet off the floor and pump both ankles forwards and backwards about 20 times.

3 Tense and relax your thigh muscles about 10 times.

4 March your feet on the spot 10 times, alternating between the heel and the ball of your foot.

5 Clench your buttock muscles together 10 times.

6 If queuing for the toilet, try rocking backwards and forwards, heel to toe and back.

7 Upon landing, gently stretch your body to get ready for movement.

8 If you are travelling on a long-haul flight, try to move around the cabin every couple of hours.

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thoma s cook wellbeing Tips for keeping healthy on your travels

Health & safety while abroad your holiday accommodation Never leave your key where someone can note your room number Do not leave your window open, especially if your room is on the ground floor or has a balcony Remember to lock your room door, even when you are inside the room Balcony Children should NEVER be left unsupervised on balconies Do not climb or stand on balcony furniture.

Keep all furniture away from the balcony wall/railings Never lean over, sit or climb on the balcony or railings Bathroom Take care in bathrooms as condensation and water spray can make surfaces slippery and bath or floor mats may not be provided Do not use mains electrical appliances near to water Cooking Never leave cookers unattended while they are in use Ensure all cooking appliances are switched off when leaving your apartment or when retiring at night Never leave shopping or other items on the cooker On arrival at your accommodation Familiarise yourself with all escape routes and locate the nearest fire exit to your room Do a practice walk of the nearest escape route from your room Study the fire instruction notice displayed in your room Identify the method of raising the alarm on discovering a fire Ensure that all smoking materials are safely extinguished, and do not smoke in bed If a fire occurs Evacuate the room/area immediately. Do not stop to collect personal belongings Close any doors behind you Raise the alarm Proceed to an assembly point outside and well clear of the building If you cannot leave your room, close all doors, put wet towels or clothes around the door seals and shout for help from the window or telephone reception Glass windows and doors Be aware that glass doors and windows may not necessarily be equipped with toughened glass.

Caution should be taken at all times Take extra care in bright sunlight as it may not be obvious whether the window/door is open or closed Lifts Children should not use any lift unaccompanied Not all lifts have internal doors. When using this type of lift, stand well back from the exposed wall as there is no protection from the lift shaft when the car is in motion In the event of a fire, use the staircase, not the lift

Poolside safety/out and about Every pool is different, but most hotels and apartments do not employ lifeguards, so please supervise any young members of your party Familiarise yourself with the layout of the pool to identify the deep and shallow areas before use Ensure that children use the toilet BEFORE entering the pool and take regular toilet breaks throughout the day. In the event of a faecal accident in or around the pool, please report it immediately, as this will assist the hotel management in ensuring the highest level of pool hygiene Shower before entering the pool Do not swim (or allow children to swim) if suffering from an upset stomach Do not change nappies at the poolside Young children and babies must wear appropriate swimwear such as rubber-lined swimming trunks.

Swimming in nappies and nude bathing are unacceptable Wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet and changing nappies Have fun, but avoid unruly behaviour. Observe pool rules and information signs at all times Pool surrounds can be very slippery – do not run around them Do not swim immediately after a meal, and never swim when you have been drinking alcohol When jumping or diving into the pool, check the water depth first and never dive from the deck side into water less than 1.5m deep Do not jump or dive from any raised features or from poolside furniture Do not use the pool after dark or when closed, even if it has underwater lights In the event of an emergency, know how to call for help

beach Spot the dangers Check out the beach when you arrive Take care when bathing and swimming Be aware of dangerous rip currents and strong tides Do not swim near or dive from rocks, piers, breakwaters and coral Take safety advice Swim where there are lifeguards on patrol and take their advice Look out for information – warning flags and signs – and adhere to them at all times Never swim where a sign says not to, for example zoned areas for high-speed vehicles such as jet boats or jet skis Don’t go alone Never swim alone – make sure there are other people around Children must be supervised by an adult at all times Never swim at night, after drinking alcohol or on a full stomach Learn how to help If you see someone in difficulty, tell somebody, preferably a lifeguard if there is one nearby Find out what to do in an emergency, such as calling the local coastguard or equivalent Sun safety Avoid sunbathing during the hottest time of day Apply high-factor sunscreen, and re-apply frequently Never expose babies to the sun and always take extra care with children Remember it is possible to burn in the shade, when it is cloudy and while swimming

At the first sign of burning get out of the sun immediately Always drink plenty of water

driving on holiday Check the vehicle is roadworthy and familiarise yourself with all controls before use, as they may differ from cars in the UK and Ireland Check that the car-hire insurance cover you take out provides adequate cover for the driver and all the passengers Always wear a seatbelt Familiarise yourself with local traffic laws Pay particular attention when at junctions and roundabouts Always carry emergency breakdown telephone numbers Always carry a spare set of spectacles (required by law in Spain) NEVER drink and drive Stick to well-travelled and well-lit roads We advise against the independent hiring of mopeds, motorbikes, quad bikes and jet skis Pedestrians Be vigilant at all times. Familiarise yourself with the direction of traffic Be aware that in some countries traffic is not required to stop at pedestrian crossings

Services of local vendors In many holiday resorts you may find that services, such as henna tattoos, are available from places like street vendors. Although not recommended by Thomas Cook, if you choose to have a tattoo done or use the services of a local vendor, we would advise you to do so with caution. In the case of tattoos, ensure you ask for a test application before any larger-scale tattoos are applied. If you have any preexisting skin conditions, check with the vendor before agreeing to any application.

gener al If you haven’t done so already, take a few minutes to complete the emergency contact details in the back of your passport Keep important documents in your hotel safe Be aware of who is around you. Pickpockets and opportunists will target anyone Don’t leave your common sense at the hotel. Don’t lose sight of your drink, don’t walk around by yourself, avoid dark places and don’t take unnecessary risks Look after yourself and your friends If hiring a car/scooter/quad bike, ask yourself whether you have adequate insurance Do not leave belongings unattended (in cars, restaurants, hotel lobby, etc.)

Don’t sign anything until you seek advice from experts. The chances of winning a luxury holiday anywhere in the world just by scratching a card in the middle of the street, for example, are very remote Find contact details for your local embassy, in case of emergency, at fco.gov.uk Be aware that the laws and customs of the country you’re visiting may be different from home. Read up on country-specific advice at fco.gov.uk/travel

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i m m i g r at i o n C u s t o m s

Flying in and out of the United States Before you leave the plane Please refer to the section on the right and below to

white form: arrival and departure record

check whether or not you need to complete the white

Complete this form if: » You are NOT a US citizen

form (if you are a UK or EU citizen and have filled

passengers must fill in the Immigration Visa and Customs forms, which will be handed out by the cabin crew during the flight. You are legally obliged

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are not required to complete this form). All other

ec im en

in an ESTA form online which was approved, you

to fill them in - please make sure they’re correctly completed or you may face delays at Immigration. If

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you do make any mistakes, please ask for a new form.

» Your final destination is the United States OR you are passing through the US to your final destination Please complete items 1-13 on the Arrival record and items 14-17 on the Departure record. Keep the Departure record until you leave the US.

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Immigration/ESTA forms. We’ve put together

AND

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a white Immigration form. A customs declaration form will need to be filled out in addition to any

» You hold a valid US Visa

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Depending on your circumstances, you may need

AND

some tips (below) to help you avoid the most common mistakes.

Exceptions

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You DO NOT need to complete an Immigration

A Canadian citizen

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A US citizen

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form if you are:

A UK or EU citizen holding a valid ESTA A new immigrant

filling in your forms DO:

blue form: customs declar ation form

Take your time Write in capital letters, using a pen

You must fill in the Customs Declaration form before you arrive in the US. One form per household is required.

Write in the space below the questions and fill in every line. When asked for your address, if you are a visitor to the US, then print the name of your hotel.

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If on a fly-drive holiday and unsure where you will

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following addresses: Sanford – Thomas Cook, 1650 Sand Lake Road,

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be staying on your first night, then give one of the

Suite 300, Orlando, FL32809

OR Las Vegas – Thomas Cook, 5030 Paradise Road,

Ask cabin crew if you have any queries

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Double-check your forms

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Sign and date the back of your Customs Declaration form

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Suite C214, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119

DO NOT: Cross anything out. If you make a mistake, ask for a new form and start again

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thomas cook fleet

Thomas Cook operates over 30 aircraft to Europe and the rest of the world from the UK airbus a321-200 airbus a330-200

Total passengers: 325 Wing-span: 60.3m Length: 58.38m Number in fleet: 4 Maximum take-off weight: 230,000kg Maximum cruising speed: 520mph Engines: 2 Rolls-Royce Trent 772B Series

Total passengers: 220 Wing-span: 34.1m Length: 43.69m Number in fleet: 4 Maximum take-off weight: 89,000kg Maximum cruising speed: 500mph Engines: 2 CFM 56-5B3

boeing 767-300

airbus a320-200

Total passengers: 326 Wing-span: 47.57m Length: 54.94m Number in fleet: 3 Maximum take-off weight: 184,612kg Maximum cruising speed: 530mph Engines: 2 General Electric CF6-80C2

Total passengers: 180 Wing-span: 34.1m Length: 37.57m Number in fleet: 5 Maximum take-off weight: 77,000kg Maximum cruising speed: 500mph Engines: 2 International Aero Engines V2500 Series or CFM International CFM 56-5B4

buy your own plane on board!

Thomas Cook model aircraft are available to buy on board for ÂŁ8.50 each. See Emporium magazine

boeing 757-200 boeing 757-300 757 300

Total passengers: 235 Wing-span: 38.05m Length: 47.32m Number in fleet: 13 Maximum take-off weight: 113,398kg Maximum cruising speed: 500mph Engines: 2 Rolls-Royce RB211-535E4

Total passengers: 280 Wing-span: 38.05m Length: 54.43m Number in fleet: 2 Maximum take-off weight: 117,934kg Maximum cruising speed: 500mph Engines: 2 Rolls-Royce RB211-535E4

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Thomas Cook ies to the following amazing destinations: uk departure airports 1 2 3 4 5 6

Glasgow Newcastle Belfast Manchester East Midlands Birmingham

7 8 9 10 11 12

Cardiff Bristol London Stansted London Gatwick Aberdeen Norwich

13 14 15 16

Doncaster Edinburgh Exeter Humberside

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BRIDGETOWN

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thomas cook routes Where will you fly to next?

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SALZBURG

swit zerland GENEVA f r a n ce

INNSBRUCK

GRENOBLE TURIN

b ulg ar ia italy

BURGAS

SOFIA

LLEIDA-ALGUAIRE

portugal

spain

NAPLES

REUS

IBIZA

turke y

CORFU

PALMA

KEFALONIA ZANTE

ALICANTE FARO

LIMNOS

THESSALONIKI

MAHON

ALMERIA

IZMIR

PREVEZA SKIATHOS

BODRUM DALAMAN

KALAMATA ENFIDHA

MALTA

HERAKLION

madeir a

tun is ia mediterr ane an se a

DJERBA

ANTALYA

SANTORINI RHODES PAPHOS

LARNACA

cyprus

FUNCHAL

egy pt

ARRECIFE

SHARM EL SHEIKH FUERTEVENTURA

TENERIFE

LAS PALMAS

HURGHADA LUXOR

c a na ry isl a n d s

in dia

GOA BANJUL

the g a m b ia

AUG.SEP.OCT

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19/07/2013 10:05

w o r d l a s t t h e

kelly boosey

ALCÚDIA IS ONE OF MAJORCA'S BEST BEACHES WITH 11KM OF FINE WHITE SANDS

Thomas Cook’s resort manager for Majorca South reveals what she loves most about the island

tr avel guru

A MEDIEVAL GATE IN ALCÚDIA'S CITY WALL

Majorca is split into three coastlines – north, south and east – and they’re all so different. I’m based in the south, where all the main attractions are. You can drive from the resort of Magaluf to ‘millionaire’s harbour’ in Portals in five minutes, and then another ten-minute drive will bring you to the capital, Palma, which is an amazing city – the backstreets are full of tapas bars and great shops. The north of the island is best known for its 11km stretch of golden-white sands in Alcúdia, which is quite family-friendly. You can walk out for miles into the sea and the water only comes up to your knees. The resorts on the east coast are a bit sleepier, and they all start with the word cala, which means small cove. If you drive to some of the lesser known calas, you can find the beaches pretty much to yourself. My favourite place to take friends is La Ponderosa (Sa Caseta des Capellans, +34 971 184 118), a beach bar between Platja de Muro and Can Picafort in the north. It’s one of the few places where you’re physically sat at a table on the beach, in the sand. You feel like you’re in the Caribbean. You can enjoy drinks, wine, tapas, fresh fish, dessert and coffee for about €35 per person. A great souvenir to bring back is the local pastry ensaïmada. It’s quite doughy with icing sugar on top and you can tear and share it. The Magaluf and Palma Nova areas are being regenerated to create Calvià Beach Resort with new hotels like Wave House (thomascook.com), which has a wave pool at the front where you can surf. The island’s big clubs and festivals, like Mallorca Rocks (mallorcarocks.com) and BCM Planet Dance (bcmplanetdance.com) keep bringing in top acts like Jake Bugg. The whole area has a trendy new vibe.

te the Recrea Leia s Princes ith k o lo w a ensaïmad - also a delicious snack!

SINGER-SONGWRITER JAKE BUGG OPENED THE MALLORCA ROCKS FESTIVAL IN JUNE THIS YEAR

THE IMPRESSIVE GOTHIC CATHEDRAL IN PALMA

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THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

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Interview: Anisha Patel. Photography: La Skimal

19/07/2013 10:06

No.96808 ACGB 1pp.indd 1

22/07/2013 15:11

Tenerife´s best kept secret Costa Adeje, Tenerife

Jardines de Nivaria is one of the most luxurious

Roca Nivaria Gran Hotel is the ideal

This small boutique hotel, in colonial

hotels in the South of Tenerife. Located on the

holiday hotel for families, couples and

style, indulges guests in an intense

beachfront in the exclusive area of Fañabe,

those who are looking for quality in a

experience of rest, harmony and

this five star hotel has mantained a

privileged and friendly environment.

peace.

distinguished atmosphere without losing the warm and close contact it has with its guests.

At any of the Adrian Hoteles you will enjoy a very attentive and personalised service, heated swimming pools, high quality gastronomy and first class facilities.

Find hotel details of Adrian Hoteles in the Thomas Cook brochure www.adrianhoteles.com

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22/07/2013 15:10