Xcape with us cease trading

Hotel only booking website "Xcapewithus.com" has ceased trading today.

The only consumer advice at the moment is to wait for an email with more details on what to do next. The only exception is bookings with arrival date 30th April and 1st May who can contact customersupport@xcapewithus.com with full contact details including all booking reference numbers from any documentation you have.

Holiday Lettings Promotional Code

Holiday Lettings Promotional Code for advertisers

Earn Money from your Holiday Home With Holiday Lettings and Hotel Jungle.

Recent data revealed that most holiday homes owned by Brits were only occupied 30 days of the year. In order to maximise revenue from your investment or simply earn a decent contribution to the property running costs we asked the holiday home rental blog which was the best solution for renting out a property as a holiday let (i.e short stays). Following this we are delighted to be able to offer readers a special offer at Holiday Lettings - 15 months for the price of 12.

Holiday Lettings have been around for over 7 years and now have over 30'000 holiday homes on their books. They advertise all over the web, with airlines, and in property magazines for holidaymakers. The real key to their success however is their expertise in search engine optimisation. They have a very high rate of customers re advertising with them and that is one of the main reasons holiday-home-rental recommends the service.

Holiday Home Advertising Made Easy

The online adverts include up to 20 photo slots, plenty of space for information about your holiday home and the local area, an availability calendar and even a guest book for comments. This full colour listing enables you to show off your property to its full advantage, and adverts can be online and visible on the web in under an hour. Once activated all enquiries received about the property are emailed directly to you, which means you keep control of all the bookings for your holiday home. They take no commission on bookings and even offer free SMS text alerts when enquiries are sent, so you can respond promptly to potential bookings. You are welcome to input some of your property details and photos, preview the home advert and get an idea of how the service works with no obligation to continue if it does not suit your needs.

Registration is free as holidaylettings.co.uk only charge the annual fee of £185 (+VAT) when the advert is ready to appear on the live site.

15 Months Promotion in Your First Year!

Quote the HotelJungle Promotional Code: 45220 to get 3 months free.
When you register, select the full annual fee option of £185 (+VAT) and your advert will be displayed for 15 months for the price of 12. You can add additional property adverts at the same time for the annual fee option of £109 (+VAT) per additional property, and all the properties registered at the same time will receive 15 months promotion for your first year with holiday lettings

With great search engine coverage, affordable advertising and an efficient service backed by our expert and friendly team, we are confident that Holiday Lettings is the ideal solution for online advertising.

Expedia voucher code

Good news, hoteljungle have been offered a discount code for use at Expedia for booking holidays departing in May.

The Expedia.co.uk voucher code is AFFEASTER50

What can I spend it on ?: Tailor Made package i.e a flight+hotel booking or flight+hotel+car
How much is it worth ?: £50
Booking Period: Must purchase before 12th May 2009
Travel Period: Valid for travel up to 31st May 2009
Minimum Purchase Amount: £600
Purchase must be made online and include an Expedia Special Rate hotel stay

How to use the Expedia voucher :

Proceed with your booking as normal at Expedia.co.uk.

On the first page of the checkout there is a text "I have a voucher", click the text and insert the voucher code : AFFEASTER50. Next click the button "apply and re-price". 

More info and terms and conditions at the Expedia website

Booking with Great Late Deals

Looking at Great Late Deals today to see how they shape up.

First price test I did was for the Caledonia Park in Costa Adeje, Tenerife - a three star hotel.

I chose a week in early December and they offered a room for £193 on self catering. I compared this with Cheap hotels in Tenerife / Sunshine who won my previous price challenge, and they offered the same hotel for £197 so clearly GreatLateDeals seem to be very keen on price.

The booking page was fine, I was offered "total financial protection" with no extra charge and was able to pay only the deposit now with the balance approx three months before travel.

For the second challenge I compared a flight & hotel package, trying to get a cheap holiday to Turkey I went to flex holidays and managed to get a late deal to Turkey for a total price for flights & hotel of £275 for two people bed and breakfast at the Swans 1 hotel. Again this turned out be through sunshine The same package at GreatLateDeals was £30 dearer at £304 total cost but to be fair they also offered a 3 star self catering apartment for a total cost together with the flights of £297. Transfers were optional in both cases and were around £30 for 2 people, return.

All in all I am happy to reccomend people look at Great Late Deals when they are in need of a cheap holiday. The website performs well and they offer some good prices on a wide range of holidays.

1 million free nights at Expedia

If you are in a holiday booking mood before the first of June, this campaign from Expedia is well worth a look. They have 1 million free nights available in a massive range of deals for anyone booking either hotel only or flight + hotel. Nothing is free free here though you have to pay for some nights to get the free night(s). Just had a look at a few for examples of hotel deals.

Mornington Hotel in Stockholm - Stay 3 nights, pay for 2.
Durley Dean Hotel in Bournemouth - Stay 3 nights, pay for 2.
Hotel Gala, Playa de las Americas - 25% off which means around £50 a night for this 4 star on B&B.

There are deals in pretty much every destination, doesn't matter if it's for a beach holiday or a city break, UK, Europe or longhaul.

Lasminute secret hotel in Amsterdam was Jolly Carlton

Just a quick update on the lastminute secret hotel booking for Amsterdam I made a couple of weeks ago - I got the hotel Jolly Carlton. Mixed reviews on trip advisor et al. I will let you all know how it goes when I post the review after I get back.

Top Ten Travel Lists

Expedia have come up with a whole load of top ten travel lists.

Quite a range including :

Top Ten Surfing Destinations

Top Ten Shopping Trips

Top Ten Hip Hotels

& many more lists for travel inspiration. Have a look at the Top Ten menu here

Top Four Trophy Hotels

When I was younger, I was pretty cool. This one time someone said to me

"wow you're so cool, can I touch you?"

Anyway Hotel Jungle is pleased to be able to offer you a way to be cool.
Simply stay at one or more of these trophy hotels :

1) Hotel Fox, Copenhagen - rooms designed by artists.
2) Woodlyn Park, New Zealand - Sleep like a hobit.
3) The Giraffe manor, Kenya - breakfast with a Giraffe !
4) San Alfonso del Mar resort, Chile features the worlds largest pool

We've selected these hotels for their unique features. If you have stayed in any of the above hotels or can reccommend another trophy hotel with unique characteristics please use the comments section to share.

Bargain hotels in Spain

Travelodge have released one of their big sales. For people able to book now for stays between 27th August and the 30th November there are some really good deals. Just be aware that you have to book online, you have to be fast because when they're gone, they're gone. And once booked the rooms are non transferable and non refundable.

In the UK they have thousands of rooms for sale for just £19 per night (per room)

In Spain there is three hotels where you can get a booking for €20 per night. Two hotels in Madrid and 1 in Barcelona which are both well connected with low cost airlines so you should be able to build a bargain city break with these deals. It also helps that the cheap hotels are available only for early bookings because you also need to book early to get cheap flights. Try skyscanner.net for time saving searching of multiple airlines.

Package holiday discount - includes Thomson and Thomas Cook

Looking for a bargain holiday ?

I've just noticed that Travelcare have got 5% off package holidays if you book online.

The offer is valid on package holiday bookings between 1st May & 31st October 2009, on a selection of tour operators including Airtours, Sunset, Thomas Cook, Cosmos, Thomson and First Choice.

That's the advantage of being an independent travel agent.

More details

Offer ends 30th April

Top selling hotel destinations in UK

Press release from Laterooms.com

Top UK destinations selling well for 2009 include…

• Chester
  
  
• London
  
  
• Leeds
  
  
• Manchester
  
  
• Edinburgh
  
  
• Glasgow
  
  
• Nottingham
  
  
• York
  
  

Expedia Customer Promise

Just looking at the Expedia website today and noticed their customer promises :

Have a look here

It's pretty nice. I think all travel websites should have something along those lines.

Thomson holidays discount code

I was looking for a discount code to use for booking a package holiday at Thomson when I suddenly remembered there was an alternative way to get the same holiday for less. Now, we already know it is almost always cheapest to book holiday online but how about booking online with Portland. . .

Not everyone realises that Portland is a direct sell arm for Thomson holidays so you get a lot of the same hotels an apartments and the same flights as when you book with Thomson. You also have the same coach transfer and rep. So you get all the advantages of booking with Thomson - (financial protection, good reputation, quality checked hotels, decent flights, etc etc), but at discounts typically 10% cheaper than the Thomson site.

Give them a try : Portlandholidays.co.uk

Lasminute.com secret holidays review

Lastminute.com have added secret holidays to the secret hotels we have reviewed a couple of times when booking the secret hotel in Madrid and secret hotel in Amsterdam.

In the case of secret holidays Lastminute do not give out the flight times or the hotel name until you have booked - and in some cases you won't find out the hotel until you arrive at the resort airport. This is similar to the "allocation on arrival" deals offered by tour operators such as Thomson.

Here is a couple of tips specific to the Lastminute.com secret holidays :

1) You can actually find out which tour operator you will be booked with ! Within the holiday description, towards the bottom there is some information about the holiday being ATOL bonded. They supply the ATOL number so simply click on that and you get to see in a pop up which tour operator is running the holiday. This should help you match up flight times if not likely hotels. In the holidays we looked at, a turkey holiday was operated by Fleetway Travel, a holiday to Spain by Sun 4 U, and an Egypt holiday by Peltours.

2) This varies case by case, but there are examples where the secret holiday really isn't so secret, first a sub resort is given then there is a full hotel description so it's just a case of matching that up with holidays from a normal (non secret) holiday search.



Whether this holiday type is for you just "depends". Don't book this type of holiday of you have mobility problems or if you have any specific requirements such as ground floor room, high floor room, etc. Lastminute.com are giving you the star rating and board basis so there shouldn't be too many problems there.

Villa Parade Promotional Code

If you are going to book a villa holiday then Villa Parade is a great choice. They include a four door, air con car rental with every booking and have some great properties. Due to previous bookings we have made, we've been sent some promotional codes to help make your booking even better value... There are already some big discounts for booking online but with these promotional codes you really can beat the Euro this summer !

Sorry to make you trawl through the list but there are lots of different codes for different destinations and in some cases specific villas. If you haven't still got the Villa Parade website up, click on "Take me there" to get to the right page to book.

Promotional code: AFCY1
Applies to: Bookings to Cyprus departing in May or June
Offer: £50/week discount
Valid from: 17th April 2009
Valid to: 30th April 2009
Take me there

Promotional code: AFIB1
Applies to: Bookings to Ibiza departing any Wednesday in May or June
Offer: £50 per week discount
Valid from: 17th April 2009
Valid to: 30th April 2009
Take me there

Promotional code: AFIBX
Applies to: Book property ID 176 Can Xicu departing in 2009 (Ibiza)
Offer: £75 per week discount
Valid from: 17th April 2009
Valid to: 30th April 2009
Take me there

Promotional code: AFPTCMP
Applies to: Book property ID 232 Casa Meia Praia departing in 2009 (Portugal)
Offer: £75 per week discount
Valid from: 17th April 2009
Valid to: 30th April 2009
Take me there

Promotional code: AFPTLT
Applies to: Book property ID 159 Casa Lote Tres departing between May and October 2009 (Albufeira, Portugal)
Offer: £75 per week discount
Valid from: 17th April 2009
Valid to: 30th April 2009
Take me there

Promotional code: AFPTSAL
Applies to: Book property ID 215 Apartments Herdade Dos Salgados departing in 2009 (Portugal)
Offer: £20 per week discount
Valid from: 17th April 2009
Valid to: 30th April 2009
Take me there

Promotional code: AFMEN1
Applies to: Bookings to Menorca departing in May or June 2009
Offer: £50 per week discount
Valid from: 17th April 2009
Valid to: 30th April 2009
Take me there

Promotional code: AFMENSTJ
Applies to: Book property ID 194 Villa Sant Joan departing in 2009 (Menorca)
Offer: £75 per week discount
Valid from: 17th April 2009
Valid to: 30th April 2009
Take me there

Promotional code: AFMENSPG
Applies to: Book property ID 630 Villa Son Parc Golf departing in 2009 (Menorca)
Offer: £75 per week discount
Valid from: 17th April 2009
Valid to: 30th April 2009
Take me there

Promotional code: AFMAJBAR
Applies to: Book property ID 498 Villa Barcares departing in 2009 (Mallorca)
Offer: £50 per week discount
Valid from: 17th April 2009
Valid to: 30th April 2009
Take me there

Promotional code: AFMAJCDF
Applies to: Book property ID 583 Casa Des Forti departing in 2009 (Mallorca)
Offer: £75 per week discount
Valid from: 17th April 2009
Valid to: 30th April 2009
Take me there

Freedom Direct Holidays

Freedom Direct Holidays has ceased trading today (16th April 2009).

The company operated the following brands / holiday websites :

Freedomdirect.co.uk
Freedom-direct.co.uk
Snowdeals.co.uk
Holidaysyoulike.co.uk

The tour operating business was ATOL bonded so customers should refer to the CAA ATOL website. Freedom Direct's ATOL number is 9740.
Customers can contact the ATOL claims department by telephone : 020 7453 6350
(between 9am - 5pm - Monday to Friday)

SIM4Travel promotional code

Sim4Travel.net can help you save money compared with mobile phone roaming costs.

You need to have an unlocked mobile phone for it to work, but if you have one it's as simple as swapping the existing SIM card with the Sim4Travel card.

The main benefit is that, in many (36) countries, you can then receive calls for free - without that costing an arm and a leg for those that call you. The card works in over 100 countries and you can call the UK from 25p a minute.

The cost of the SIM card ranges from free to £5.99 depending how much credit you buy.

I've found a promotional code - AFFEASTER09 - Which offers a package for £14.99 that gets you the SIM card delivered to your house along with £10 credit. Other deals on the site (no code needed) are £32.99 for the card + £30 credit and £50 for a free SIM4travel card and £50 credit.
The Sim4Travel promotional code expires 30th April.

Pierre & Vacances privelege code

Been sent a nice looking offer from Pierre & Vacances ( PV Holidays )

1) Pierre & Vacances Voucher Code: 8244

"This code gives you 100 Euros off our Pierre & Vacances Holiday Villages for all dates. Even August! This is a fantastic deal as these residences are our most popular for the UK and Irish market.

We have holiday villages all across France and a new one in Estepona, Malaga. Our holiday villages typically have a choice of self-catering villas and apartments, free children's clubs, an amazing choice of outdoor and indoor pools plus numerous activities and entertainment on site.

Just enter the code in the space titled 'your privilege code' on the first booking page"

Use at : Holiday Villages in France with PV-Holidays

Lastminute.com secret hotels review

Well despite my previous experience with the Lastminute top secret hotels, I have just booked another one. Here are the details. . .

This time I was booking for Amsterdam and up popped the top secret hotel at a cost of £66 per night. This time, rather than being a complete secret they had named firstly that it would be an NH hotel and secondly that it would be one of the following NH Schiller, NH Doelen, NH Caransa, Jolly Hotel Carlton so with information it was impossible to go wrong.

This time I looked on the NH hoteles website for a direct booking and got these prices.

NH Schiller, €125 per night
NH Doelen, €146 per night
NH Caransa, €110 per night
Jolly Hotel Carlton €94 per night (hotel now known as NH Carlton)

So a lot more expensive whichever hotel I end up with - it's like going back to the happy days of 1.6 € to the pound !

And having looked across far too many other hotel websites including Opodo, Expedia, hostelbookers, booking.com, laterooms, hotels.com and more..... I am confident that for the star rating I couldn't get better than the lastminute.com secret hotel.

If any readers have booked a secret hotel in Amsterdam anywhere else I would love it if you leave a comment with the details.

Jet2 package deals from Leeds and Manchester

All correct at time of publishing (19:00 UK time, 14th April 2009)

Costa Brava - 6 May LBA/BCN 7nts 2 star Els Llorers Apartments SC, Lloret de Mar - lead in price of £157


Ibiza - 5 June LBA/IBZ 7nts 3 star Ebano Apartments SC, Playa D'En Bossa - lead in price of £172


Portugal - 17 April LBA/FAO 7nts 3 star Balaia Sol Apartments SC, Albufeira - lead in price of £182


Majorca - 18 May MAN/PMI 7nts 3 star Club Cala Dor Park Apartments SC, Cala Dor - lead in price of £193


Costa Blanca - 24 April LBA/ALC 7nts 2 star Aquarium II Apartments SC, Benidorm - lead in of £207


Lanzorate - 31 May LBA/ACE 7nts 3 star Playa Pocillos Apartments SC, Puerto Del Carmen - lead in price of £233


Costa del Sol - 1 May MAN/AGP 7nts 3 star Hotel Griego Mar HB, Torremolinos - lead in price of £266


Crete - 16 June MAN/HER 7nts 3 star Pela Maria AI, Hersonissos - lead in price of £327


Egypt - 24 April LBA/SSH 7nts 3 star Al Diwan Hotel BB, Sharm El Sheikh - lead in price of £356


Turkey - 8 June MAN/DLM 7nts 4 star Sun Love Hotel AI, Marmaris - lead in price of £366

Dog Friendly Cornwall and Devon

Dogs love to go on holiday in the South West of England !









Roaming round the national parks, running on the beach, barking at the sea !

A happy dog means happy owners which means a great holiday.


Blue Chip Vacations have over 130 dog friendly self catering accomodations in Devon and Cornwall. . . .

74 pet friendly hotels in South Devon
33 in North Cornwall
14 in South Cornwall
10 in North Devon
Woof Woof !

Virgin Atlantic Flight Sale

Virgin Atlantic are having a crafty Easter sale starting today and on sale until 14th April.

Both economy and premium economy seats have been reduced across the Virgin Atlantic route network. Departure dates vary by flight destination but some routes are available at the special prices until the end of August. Here's some that caught the eye :

Return, per person and including tax :

• Delhi for £299 
• New York for £249
• Dubai £269

See all the offers here

Top Ten beach holidays booked last month

Top ten selling destinations at Thomson.co.uk for March. . . .

Majorca
Ibiza
Tenerife
Sharm El Sheikh
Menorca
Faro
Heraklion
Rhodes
Gran Canaria
Dalaman

Book a holiday to Cuba

Quick, book a holiday to Cuba !

Apparently it's becoming increasingly likely that the USA will relax travel and investment restrictions it has in place against Cuba. While this is of course good news for those families split up by the strict restrictions, it may spell the end of Cuba as an authentic destination.

How long before McDonalds et al spring up all over Havana and the iconic cars are replaced by USA's MPV castoffs ?


For flight only look at Virgin Atlantic and Air France.
For a holiday package Thomas Cook and Thomson have charter flights, so you can book a package with them or try and build your own holiday at e.g. flexholidays.co.uk

Nice hotel with parking at Glasgow

If you are going on holiday from Glasgow airport this year you might be looking for a hotel near the airport with parking. This is especially useful if you have an early flight and / or a long drive to GLA.

The Ramada Glasgow Airport which is three star rated by the Scottish tourist board is a comfortable and great value choice. Only 500 metres from the airport - just off the M8, they have a 24 hour courtesy bus going to the airport.

Prices for a room only start at £50 per room and and rooms can sleep 2 adults and 2 children. Everyone gets free breakfast so it's great value. Book online and in advance to get the best rates. Ramada guarantee that booking directly on their website you'll get the best rates available.

Photo : Ramada Jarvis, Glasgow airport (Abbotsinch).

Hotel address

Marchburn Drive, Glasgow Airport Business Park
Abbotsinch, Renfrewshire, PA3 2SJ