TravelStream™ news feed for member pv_blog on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/pv_blog en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:35:00 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1251995530/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1251995530/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1251995530/tpod.html Thu, 03 Sep 2009 12:35:00 -0400 PV-Holidays Blog

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Les Arcs, Rhône-Alpes, France

Guest blogger Liz Adams, from the smashing, influential ski blog, Ski Concierge.com shares her tips for skiing in Les Arcs. "Les Arc is is one of most affordable ski resorts in France, making it a haven for both avid skiers and families looking for great value winter breaks. Check out Liz's insiders' guide to the very best runs and après-ski...<img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/Lesarcs3.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img">Situated high in the Upper Tarentaise Valley, Les Arcs is a gem of a resort with plenty of accommodation choices and some brilliant skiing for beginners and advanced skiers. It was linked to La Plagne in 2003 via the Vanoise Express cable car and now includes over 260 miles of pistes and 175 lifts. This new area, Paradiski, now rivals the 3 Valleys and Espace Killy for skiing and leisure facilities.<img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/MAEVA1707-copie.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img">There are five main resort bases, but I'm a fan of 1800, the central hub, and 1950. This new area of Arc 1950 to be linked offers a great new option for visitors to Les Arcs, with a range of well located apartments with good access to the slopes.In Les Arcs itself there are a good amount of varied ski runs. In fact, I think it is probably one of the best resorts for mixed ability groups with a large amount of entry -level skiing plus some excellent harder runs and off-piste action. The ski area rises to 3,226m giving it great snow sureness and making it a banker for early and late season.Best ski routes in Les ArcsThere are two major ski areas, and the best choice is above 1800 over to Peisey-Vallandry. The central part of this bowl is great for improvers as it offers a range of blues and reds under the Plagnettes lift. The most testing pistes run down from the top of Aiguille Rouge, though watch out as the cable car can fall foul of the bad weather and be closed sometimes. The Aiguille Rouge Black run is my favourite in Les Arcs, and takes in 7km of twists, turns and fun! <img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/lesArc24.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img">As you head over towards Arc 1800 the runs seem to get harder. Take in the beautiful descents in 1600 of Cachette and Rouelles, a bumpy scenic black recently reclassified from its blatantly incorrect redness! Arc 1800 is the best area for beginners as there is a number of linked blues and plenty of beginners slopes at a high enough altitude to ensure good snow. The skiing around 1600, 1800 and Peisey-Vallandry is mainly tree-lined, offering good shelter in bad weather. <img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/lesArc36.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img">If you haven’t had enough of skiing during the day there is night skiing until 9pm in Arc 1950 and 2000 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. It’s definitely worth a try at least once, especially on a clear, moonlit night!Places to eat in Les ArcsThe best mountain restaurants to try in Les Arcs are L’Arpette near the snow park, which seems to be one of the more reasonably priced. Alternatively, give the pizza a go at Le Solan near the Vanoise Express (it also has free WIFI.)<img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/MAEVA1717-copie.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img">Ski hire in Les ArcsAs I discovered on a recent trip to Les Arcs with some beginners, the ski schools here are among the first to recommend and use shorter skis for beginners. The theory is that it’s easier to ski on blade type skis, and means you can start parallel turning straight away. You will need to return to your ski hire shop several times during the week to pick up longer skis as you progress, so ensure you choose a well-located ski hire shop.<img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/MAEVA1706-copie.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img">Paradiski lift passes for six days cost a whopping 243 Euros or 182.50 Euros for children. Alternatively, a Les Arcs lift pass costs 203 Euros or 152.50 Euros for children. It's not cheap but prices here are lower than many other resorts, and the fact that it is such a good, well-linked area makes it good value for money.Apres-ski in Les ArcsIn the evenings, there’s quite a bit of varied entertainment depending on where you are staying. 1800 is a great place to be if you want to explore the busy bars and clubs. For traditional cheesy alpine dancing try the Red Hot Saloon. For proper club action, I recommend Apocalypse or trendy Igloo. Arc 1950 is well supplied with restaurants offering a range of traditional and non-traditional options, including a Mexican restaurant, which is a rare sight in the Alps. Plus Chalet Luigi is a great bar with dancing downstairs if you’ve any energy left at the end of the day. A beer will cost you around £4, which is well under what you’d expect to pay in other more pricey resorts such as Espace Killy.Getting to Les ArcsAccess to the resort is easy as it's so well connected. Fly to Chambery (79miles), Geneva (97miles) or Lyon (125miles). Alternatively, the drive from Calais or Dunkerque to Les Arcs will take around 8-10 hours. Perhaps the easiest way to get to Les Arcs is by the direct Eurostar from St Pancras to Bourg St Maurice, just beneath Les Arcs. The transfer up to Les Arcs resorts from Bourg St Maurice train station take less than 45 minutes by taxi. All in all, it's a truly great resort with fantastic skiing and good facilities, with the bonus of being easily accessible by all transport methods. It’s a must visit for mile eaters and beginners!"Thanks Liz. Visit ski concierge for lots of up-to-date ski news and information.Affordable short ski breaks in Les ArcPierre &amp; Vacances has recently signed an agreement with Intrawest to acquire its lodging and commercial enterprises in Arc 1950. The Arc 1950 Village has eight luxury residences with spacious self-catering apartments in Arc 1950. These comfortable apartments can sleep up to 10 people, offering a perfect base for families or groups of friends looking for a bargain ski holiday this winter. Click here for more information and to book on www.pv-holidays.comOnsite facilities include outdoor heated pools, fitness rooms and free Internet access. Half-board catering options are also available.With it’s ski in- ski out access, it is no small wonder that Arc 1800 is always a big hit for ski-mad families. There is also plenty of apres-ski entertainment, with a wealth of bars, clubs and shopping just around the corner from residences. Pierre &amp; Vacances have 7 residences in Arc 1800. The Residences MGM Les Alpages de Chantel is one of the most popular residences on the resort due to its easy access and a swimming pool- a rarity in this resort, and a great addition after a day on the slopes. The Hotel Latitudes du Golf is in the heart of Arc 1800 and was recently renovated. Providing a plush base, the hotel comes with three on-site restaurants, a spa, jacuzzi, sauna and pool.Pierre &amp; Vacances is also currently running an early bird special offer, where money-savvy skiers can save up to 20% if they book their winter ski break in advance.For more information on this offer and other ski offers, please visit PV-holidays.com
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1251295188/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1251295188/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1251295188/tpod.html Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:01:00 -0400 PV-Holidays Blog

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Monte-Carlo, Monaco

<i>This week's customer blog comes from James, who shares with us his adventures in opulent Monaco.<i>"On a recent trip to the south of France, my girlfriend Jen and I explored Monte Carlo on a day trip from Cannes.<img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/View1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0">Travelling to the principality could not have been easier; we simply turned up at Cannes train station, approached one of the easy to use ticket machines and paid for our tickets, hopping on the next train headed east along the coastline. The journey was smooth and efficient, with some great views out to sea and over numerous idyllic seaside towns – perfect for eyeing up another day trip.Handy tip: if you are visiting Monte Carlo for the day by train, simply buy a single ticket. If you want a return you will have to specify the train you wish to return on, and this not only cuts down on the flexibility of your day, but also does not work out any cheaper.<img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/MonacoView.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0">As we pulled in to Monte Carlo, I was keen to head out of the station to feast my eyes upon the opulence of the area. I wanted to ogle the material fruits of the rich and famous that call Monaco, a world-renowned hub of exuberance, home. Sure enough, I was not disappointed. As Jen and I headed up from the harbour towards the Monte Carlo Casino, we began to drink in the picturesque views back down to the harbour and across to the far side of the bay, where the Monaco Palace, Cathedral and the world-famous Aquarium stand.<img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/MonacoCastle.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0">Heading a little further up from the harbour, I marvelled at the side-by-side stores of Gucci, Dolce &amp; Gabbana and Dior, plus many others. I imagined one day being invited in to these stores, rather than alarmingly dissuaded by the odd serious looking doorman with a frown that seemed to be tattooed to his forehead. Needless to say there were no price labels, and plenty of disgustingly good-looking staff inside. No doubt they enjoyed watching as I stumbled past the glass-fronted strip, keen for a cold drink and a blast of cool air from their sweet air-conditioned fortress, but happy in the knowledge I, unlike them, could enjoy a pork pie from time to time without my vanity entering the equation.One of the quintessential Monte Carlo experiences must be sitting out on the umbrella-adorned pavement of the Café de Paris, looking across to the Monte Carlo Casino, watching the world go by. So that is exactly what we did. A cold glass of beer in hand, sunglasses on, time to look the business. Oh yes indeed. Here I marvelled at the sights in front of me: a delicately contrived garden leading the way up from the Casino, complete with fountains spewing a cool fine mist from their fulcrums, the Monte Carlo Casino yards away, Hotel de Paris across the road, and cars. A plethora of the finest and most expensive cars I will ever see lay in front of me. I observed as a man pulled up to the Casino in a brilliant white Audi R8, hopped out, tossed the keys to the valet boy, and went merrily on his way: the epitome of wealth.<img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/JamesandCasino.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0">As I wandered around the lobby of Monte Carlo Casino, I pondered the meaning of life. I need not have pondered long, as the answer was apparent in this princely principality: money! I promptly paid my €10 entrance fee to the casino and eyed up the tables. Secretly trying to spot one where I would not be forced to gamble beyond my means (another €10) I found a Blackjack table and braced myself for riches…Moments later Jen and I found some shade in the aforementioned gardens and I stared longingly at the gunmetal Porsche Carrera GT yards away from me, the sunlight reflecting of its luxuriously polished metallic body stinging my eyes. So much for all those riches!<img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/Casino.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0">The Casino was superb though, opulent yet understated, and the buzz of being in a room where money is used merely as a toy by those who can, was great.Jen and I then jumped on the bus, not because we did not have a Ferrari we could use of course, but because we had just had that beer at the Café de Paris you understand, and headed across Monte Carlo. At just €1 per person per journey (or €3 for a tourist day ticket), the bus is a little bonus after the inflated prices elsewhere. With the steep climbs through the hilly principality as well, I thoroughly recommend it. Since the buses run on liquid gold it would be rude not to try it too.<img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/IMG_0057.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0">Wandering through the quaint streets of Monaco-Ville showed another side to the principality, something of a feeling of homeliness, an inviting side that escapes the obvious and somewhat intimidating wealth of the Monte Carlo Casino and the Café de Paris, for example. Jen and I arrived in front of the Monaco Cathedral, a grand structure and snapped a quick photo before ambling down to the Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium. The aquarium held an array of fish, sharks and jellyfish, not to mention a cute tank littered with hundreds of minute clownfish. If fish are not really your thing, then it is arguably worth paying the entrance fee to escape to the top floor, where the views are superb. I tried to make-out the Formula One circuit, recognising parts of the track as I took in the views back down across Monte Carlo, and imagined racing and taking the chequered flag in this most impressive setting of all for a motor race. I then picked out my future residence, car for the drive and yacht as my eyes feasted on the sights across Monte Carlo. One day, one day…<img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/View2.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0">A short while later Jen and I found ourselves alongside the harbour and arguably the most impressive sight of all was in front of us; the staggering number and vastness of the yachts. It really is something to marvel, all those ultimate must-haves for the super rich and famous lined-up like a fashion parade.Ready for a bite to eat, having played ‘I wonder how much that one is worth?’ for a good while, we found a creperie and ordered cold beers alongside, to wind down an excellent day. With room still for a decadent ice cream, we strolled along the harbour one last time, wallowing in the wealth that surrounded us, sure that this really was the ultimate playground for the rich and famous".<img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/Icecream-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0">Where to stayIf, like James, you wish to bask in the surroundings of the rich and famous, P&amp;V have two self catering properties in Monaco. The Adagio Monaco Monte Cristo is located in the residential Beausoleil, situated close to the yachting marina and golf course. The Adagio Monaco Palais Joséphine is located in the lively "Carré Belle Epoque" quarter in Beausoleil. The luxury residence is built in typical Monaco style and has spacious and comfortable apartments and a swimming pool on the roof in terrace. Beat the EuroAn A-List holiday in the South of France on a Z-List budget is feasible with the 'Beat the Euro' offer. PV-Holidays.com are returning travellers to the dizzy days of 2008 Euro exchange rates, saving them up to 45 per cent on the cost of summer family holidays to France or Spain. The offer is available on all P&amp;V properties on all dates, meaning that a holiday to the South of France is well within your grasp.To claim your discount, the discount code for Beat The Euro is: 8258. Enter it on the Beat The Euro page on the website. The offer is valid on all holidays until November 7th. <img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/PV_LandingPage-7.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0">Find more information on the Beat The Euro page and as always, find a wealth of information on P&amp;V's website PV-Holidays.com.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1251293715/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1251293715/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1251293715/tpod.html Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:59:25 -0400 PV-Holidays Blog

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Montpellier, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

Top 5 Sunniest Places in FranceSmall wonder that The Met Office has come under fire for its British Summer weather predictions for this year.&nbsp; The hotly anticipated long 'barbeque summer' has comprised a few shorts bursts of heat and sunshine in late June and early July, and since then it's been a washout. Latest missives from The Met Office forecast a bleaker outlook with rainfall predicted to be near or above average in August. <img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/PEO1317-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0">It's time to leave the bad British weather behind and head off for a last-minute summer holiday in France.&nbsp; To ensure you get the most rays for your hard-earned bucks, we've rounded up the top five sunniest places in France with the very best deals for our self-catering accommodation in each sun-splashed location...1. Marseille Located between the Mediterranean and the Alps, the climate in Marseille is characterised by long, hot summers, mild winters and lots of sunshine. Marseille and its neighbouring town, Toulon, tops the table when it comes to hours of sunshine and the city has, on average, 2801 hours of sunshine per year.&nbsp; Holidaymakers can explore the many historical and maritime museums and art galleries, and feast in the finest restaurants and bars the Old Port of Marseille has to offer. If you wish to explore the surrounding region, taking a hike along the Grand Canyon du Verdon, or riding the famous white horses in the Camargue are among the great adventures that await you.<img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/marseille_003p.jpg" alt="marseille" border="0">Where to stay: Pierre &amp; Vacances Adagio Marseille Prado Plage.Completely renovated and tastefully decorated, the new Pierre &amp; Vacances Adagio Marseille Prado Plage is located in the heart of the new business quarter of Le Prado, 100 metres from the beach, and within easy reach of the Avenue du Prado and the Corniche. It lies in a quiet residential area close to a large number of restaurants and the Palais des Congrès. Note: In addition to being a great choice for families, this site can also accommodate people with reduced mobility (minor disabilities, elderly people) travelling with an able-bodied escort. Hot offer: £588 for one week in a studio apartment for 2 people.2. CorsicaThe island of Corsica is located to the southeast of Marseilles and is less than two hours away when flying from the UK. Ajaccio, the island’s capital, has on average, 2726 hours of sunshine per year, while Bastia boasts 340 days of sunshine per year - which means you're gauranteed to catch the sun rays whilst exploring the ‘scented isle’. Famous for its abundance of beautiful wild flowers, miles of sandy beaches and warm sparkling waters, Corsica is a compelling choice for a last-minute getaway from the rainy British Isles.<img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/learn-french-in-corsica-3-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0">Where to stay: Pierre &amp; Vacances Residence Aria Marina ProprianoFeaturing 23 apartments harmoniously spread out around the swimming pool amidst relaxing greenery, Pierre Vacances Residence Aria Marina is situated just 1.5km away from Mancinu beach. Note: Car necessary. Hot offer: £540 for one week in a studio apartment sleeping 2/3 people.3. Nice You don't have to be rich or famous to holiday in France's glorious Côte d'Azur. Even better, the city of Nice boasts the longest hours of sunshine in the French Riviera region, enjoying approximately 2668 hours of sunshine per year. Stroll along the Promenade des Anglais and make your way to Place Masséna, the main square and prime spot for people watching and cultural events. In the Old Town, Place Rosetti is home to the Cathédrale Saint Réparate while the Cours Saleya is where you'll find the famous daily flower market and numerous restaurants serving the finest French cuisine. <img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/NICE1.jpg" alt="nice" border="0">Where to stay: P&amp;V Résidence Maeva Nice Les Palmiers.Located in a private garden in the heart of the quiet residential district of Fabron, Résidence&nbsp; Maeva Nice Les Palmiers&nbsp; is just 500 m from the shops, and 800 m from the beach. Hot offer: Prices start from £650 per week for an air-conditioned studio for 2 people. 4. Montpellier The capital of the Languedoc-Roussillon region, Montpellier enjoys 2618 hours of sunshine per year. The focal point of the city is the Place de la Comédie and sightseeing highlights include the oldest botanical garden in France, and Saint Pierre Cathedral. The town also hosts the Festival de Radio France et Montpellier, an annual summer festival of opera, classical music and jazz, making it a perfect choice for culture vultures.<img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/Montpelliersaintpierre.jpg" alt="montpellier saint pierre" border="0">Where to stay: Pierre &amp; Vacances Résidence Loisirs Les Rivages de Rochelongue in Cap d'Agde.Agde is one of France's oldest towns and has a lively, sports-orientated atmosphere while Cap d’Agde is one of Languedoc Roussillon's flagship resorts featuring cycle tracks, hiking trails and first class facilities for scuba diving. Résidence Loisirs Les Rivages de Rochelongue is located on the sea-front, 50 m from the resort’s most beautiful beach, and has a private swimming pool. Hot offer: Prices start from £229 for a week in a studio for up to 4 people.5. St Tropez From Brigitte Bardot to the Beckhams, anyone who is anyone has frequented the chic resort of St. Tropez. The town enjoys a spectacular setting on the French Riviera and holds a high ranking in the sunshine charts. Its five kilometre shoreline offers a choice of great beaches offering windsurfing, sailing and canoeing equipment for rent, and motorized water sports, such as power boats, jet bikes and water skiing. Away from the sand and the yacht-filled marinas, St Tropez features some historic cobbled streets, endless cafes and gift shops, which are the perfect locations for star spotting. <img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/st_tropez2.jpg" alt="st tropez" border="0">Where to stay: Les Restanques du Golfe de Saint Tropez. Overlooking the Mediterranean and the famous town of St Tropez, the Restanques du Golfe de St-Tropez holiday village is set in a 25-acre landscaped estate. Just 3km from a glorious white sandy beach, the village is not only an ideal base for the family thanks to its numerous on-site activities, but is also the perfect starting point from which to visit the French Riviera. Hot offer: Prices start from £750 per week for a studio for 4/5 people.Your Sunshine Guarantee with P&amp;V<img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/PEO1280-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0">We’re so sure that the sun will greet you with open arms in France that we’ve introduced our “Sunshine Guarantee” insurance. This means, if you have four days or more of rain on any one of our holidays, you are entitled to make a claim. Full details of our insurance package can be found on PV-Holidays.com, the website for P&amp;V.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1251295048/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1251295048/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1251295048/tpod.html Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:58:54 -0400 PV-Holidays Blog

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Biarritz, Aquitaine, France

<i>Few things are quite as thrilling as holidaying in a really chic resort for the price of a package to the Costas!If you think that swanky French resorts like Biarritz are out of your price range, think again! Struggling to find playtime money in this miserable recession, my friend Allison and I share a terrible affliction - champagne tastes with a vin du plonk budget. This summer we had a mission: to find a holiday destination with glam factor that we could do on a budget. We're not talking shoe-string - we decided we wanted to eat well and perhaps indulge in a few spa treats but not splash money on an expensive hotel that we two sun worshippers would spend little time in anyway. We wanted sun, gorgeous beaches, and a laid back vibe in an upmarket French resort free from loud and leery karaoke bars and English pubs. We wanted a great holiday for less, without feeling that we were scrimping or missing out. <img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/Biarritzpix070.jpg" alt="Biarritz: Natalie and Allison" border="0">Biarritz, the famous Basque seaside town on the Atlantic coast, came out as the top choice. But could we afford it? Self-catering seemed the obvious solution. We surfed the net and found the P&amp;V holidays' Beat the Euro deal - offering self-catering apartments in France, including Biarritz, at 2008 Euro exchange rates - promising a saving of up to 45 per cent!&nbsp;We picked a self-catering residence in the heart of the action that looked perfect for our needs - the P&amp;V Biarritz Haguna. We booked a week in a self-catering apartment at the residence for a bargain price, bought cheap flights with Ryanair, packed our best bikinis and headed to the sun...Our accommodationThe Biarritz Haguna scored full marks for all our requirements. It's situated just a five-minute walk from Grand Plage, ten minutes from the shops and restaurants of the town centre and backs onto a street filled with delightful French food stores.Although simply furnished, it was clean, well-appointed with a balcony overlooking the residence's private gardens, and was plenty big enough for two friends to share. <img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/Biarritzpix031.jpg" alt="allison on balcony at Biarritz Haguna apartment" border="0">Checking into the famous Hotel du Palais on Grand Plage would be great if you could afford it, but staying here we got a very comfortable base with great access to the best of Biarritz without a crippling hotel bill. Hurrah!Fabulous foodThe little street below the residence has a mouth-watering boulangerie, charcuterie, and fromagerie, plus a fabulous greengrocers, and a little supermarket that's great for basics and everything else - including a superb selection of good French wines at low prices you'd never find in a local shop at home!With shops selling fresh local produce this good, self-catering is a pleasure. On our first day, we explored them all and stocked the fridge with delicious patisserie, fresh baguettes, cheeses and salads for breakfast and lunch, and rose wine, olives and nibbles for aperitif time. The plan was that we'd eat these meals at the apartment or pack a picnic for the beach and enjoy dinners out in the evenings. The kitchenette in our apartment was well kitted out with crockery and cooking facilities. We worked out that even though we'd feasted well, we'd probably saved on average 20 Euro a day each by catering for ourselves instead of having breakfast and lunch in the cafes. Excellent!The Best of Biarritz by DayThe vibeBiarritz is an upmarket little gem that exudes boho chic without taking itself too seriously. This enduringly popular Belle Epoque seaside town attracts French celebs and scruffy young surf dudes in equal measure - and while you will see the locals parading in elegant beachwear, no-one wears diamonds to the beach a la St Tropez. The architecture is a glamorous mix of gabled Basque houses - Biarritz is just 15 minute's drive from the Spanish border - and art deco hotels and villas. The town itself is compact, and you can easily get everywhere on foot. The beachesIt's not just the locals who are well-groomed, the beaches are too! At the crack of dawn every day, the beaches are cleaned and combed as part of Biarritz's impressive efforts to fight pollution. If you're a surf god or goddess this is the town for you. Biarritz has been famous for surfing and its vibrant surf culture since the 1960s, and it now hosts the annual European surfing championships.<img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/Biarritzpix046.jpg" alt="Biarritz: La Grande Plage" border="0">All the beaches - La Grande Plage, Plage Miramar, Plage du Port Vieux, La Cote de Basques, Marbella, and La Milady - are gorgeous. Your choice depends on whether you want to swim, surf or body board as each beach regulates these activities according to the safety of the famously fierce tides that make surfing here so great. La Grande Plage, the main beach lined with restaurants and cafes, has separate areas for bathers and surfers; Le Port Vieux is a small shady beach ideal for families; La Cote de Basques is the hot spot for surfers, and Miramar was our sandy paradise of choice.Plage Miramar is accessed by foot, surfing is not allowed and body boarding is restricted, making it the perfect beach for people like us who just love to sunbathe and swim. A break from the sun...If you can tear yourself away from the beach, there are plenty of attractions to tempt into town...Museums &amp; GalleriesBiarritz has plenty of great museums for culture vultures and history lovers, including the History of Biarritz Museum (Rue Broquedis), Museum of Oriental Art (Rue Guy Petit). <img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/Biarritzpix032.jpg" alt="The Chocolate Museum shop" border="0">Our two favourites were the Le Bellevue (Place Bellevue), a stunning modern gallery where we saw an exhibition of sculptures by Jacques Lipchitz...and on a less high brow note - The Chocolate Museum!<img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/Biarritzpix033.jpg" alt="Biarritz: Chocolate Museum shop" border="0">That Biarritz is such an important town for chocolate comes as a surprise to most visitors, and a tour of the Musee du Chocolat (Ave Beaurivage) is a real treat. Here, you get to see exhibits of antique choc making equipment, a short film about the history of chocolate production and buy presents to take home in the gift shop that's stuffed with extraordinary chocolate treats.Window shoppingAs you'd expect of such a surftastic town, there are plenty of shops selling famous brand surf boards and the coolest beachwear to match. We were a lot more interested in designer wear of the less salty kind.&nbsp; Hermes, in particular. The brand famous for its signature silk scarves has a suitably sumptuous store here, as does Paris's favourite department store, Galeries La Fayette. It costs nothing to look, and it's reassuring to know that these designer emporiums are at least here!Find out more information about the P&amp;V group's Residence Haguna in Biarritz on PV-holidays.com. the website for P&amp;V.Next week read part two of Natalie's blog - the best of Biarritz at night!
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1251294444/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1251294444/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1251294444/tpod.html Wed, 26 Aug 2009 09:56:30 -0400 PV-Holidays Blog

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France, France

We have some fantastic news for all you Skiers!Pierre &amp; Vacances group (P&amp;V) have taken over two new properties in time for the upcoming ski season in Arc 1950, part of the Les Arc ski resort in Savoie and the Flaine Montsoleil resort located in the Haute Savoie region of France. <img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/FLL6451-copie.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0">This is great news for skiers wanting to take a snowy break in the winter season 2009/2010. We'll let you know as soon as you can book the accommodation in the newly-acquired area on pv-holidays.com - it should be soon! <img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/MAEVA8854-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0">We do of course, already have affordable ski accomodation in many of the leading ski resorts in France. Information on Les ArcsArc 1950 was built by Canadian company IntraWest, their first mountain resort in Europe. They are also the name behind popular North American mountain resorts such as Whistler-Blackcomb, Copper Mountain and Mammoth. Arc 1950 is an ideal location for a ski holiday in France. The resort is abundant in charm and convenience; a high resort, with reliable snow, within the Paradiski ski area. Arc 1950 also offers great services, with numerous shopping arcades, lively bars, restaurants and excellent child centres. <img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/MAFFL0925.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0">The acquisition agreement includes the Pierre &amp; Vacances group taking over the resort’s lodging management business, which consists of 655 apartments, two restaurants, a bar and two commercial spaces located in the resort village will also be owned by P&amp;V Holidays. Information on FlaineFlaine, the brainchild of architect Marcel Breuer, a master of the Bauhaus style, is a resort proud of its Modernist and artistic design which is a dramatic contrast to the natural landscape of the French Alps. As well as the architecture, several large public art works adorn the base of the resort, including a Picasso. Under the acquisition agreement between Pierre and Vacances Group and Intrawest, P&amp;V will now operate 138 apartments in the Flaine ski resort.<img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/MAEVA8875-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0">For skiers, this means both resorts will now be under the management of a respected and leading European ski accommodation provider. As part of the terms of the agreement, the Pierre and Vacances group will operate both resorts in accordance with 4-star tourist residence standards. All residences will feature modern facilities and appliances and provide comfortable accommodation whether you’re travelling with friends or looking for the perfect family ski haven.Best places to ski in 2009/2010In terms of convenience, residences couldn’t be better situated - most are nestled in ski-in ski-out locations! We hope you’re as pleased as we are and that you’ll be staying in our new, high quality ski accommodation.<img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/FLL6452-copie.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0">P&amp;V already have affordable ski accommodation in many of the leading ski resorts in France. Including Val D’Isere, Avoriaz and Chamonix. There are plenty of early bird ski savings to be had, please do take a look at our ski offers on
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1248950359/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1248950359/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1248950359/tpod.html Thu, 30 Jul 2009 06:43:25 -0400 PV-Holidays Blog

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Normandy, Basse-Normandie, France

<i>Thinking of taking the kids on a beach holiday to France this summer? You’re not alone. France, and particularly the northern coast, is still the top choice for many families looking to save money and enjoy a holiday without the hassle of long travel journeys.And when it comes to having a great holiday on a budget, packing up the car, crossing the Channel and checking into a self-catering apartment in Normandy, is a winning formula. Normandy is an enduringly popular destination for family holidays in France due to its wealth of attractions, gorgeous scenery and rich cultural history. <img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/BRM3012-copie.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img">If you're a first-time visitor, follow our guide to fun-filled family holidays in Normandy that will make your Euro go further...Getting aroundAs public transport is scarce in the more rural areas, we recommend either bringing your own car with you on the ferry, or renting one there. Normandy is home to some stunning landscapes, and it’s the best way to explore and experience the region. Nearest ferry ports for Normandy are Caen or Cherbourg.<img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/stce_73.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img">If you are planning to get around by bus, and are staying in Caen, Le Havre or Rouen, buy a carnet (pack) of five or ten bus tickets, which work out cheaper than buying them individually. Normandy’s bus service is targeted at students and local commuters, so be prepared for a reduced service at weekends.Eating inIf you've decided to plump for self-catering accommodation in France, this is the best country to do it in. Most towns and villages have glorious daily morning and larger-scale weekly markets, packed with fresh produce and local specialities. Make the markets your first stop, and stock up the fridge with local meats, cheeses and patisserie, hand-picked fruit and veg, and a bottle of wine or cider for Mum and Dad.<img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/french_market.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img">Markets also make a great source of entertainment for the kids as they can explore the different stalls, meet locals, try on clothes and taste food - all for free.Regional specialities include: cider, Calvados, cheese, home-made jams, 'sables d’Asnelles' (a type of shortbread), and specialist sweets such as apple sugars, which are a type of boiled sweet.The market held every Tuesday at L’Aigle, in Pays d’Auge, is among the very best, and makes for a fun family outing. Here, you can buy produce direct from local farmers and taste a wide range of goodies for free. Don’t expect prices to be much lower than shops, but do expect to enjoy the experience.Child-friendly attractions in NormandyFree attractions:If you want to save Euros and still have fun, make your way to...<i>Mont St Michael: a majestic rocky island off the coast of Normandy. The kids can walk along the ramparts and pretend they are defending the castle.<img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/mont_saint_michel_normandy.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img"><i>Rouen Cathedral: Dads can impress the kids with their knowledge of the cathedral by reading up on fun facts beforehand. Our favourites include: Rouen Cathedral was the world's tallest building from 1876 to 1880; the tomb of Richard the Lionheart contains his heart but his other body parts are in different churches across the country. <i>Aître St-Maclou: Located near the cathedral, this site was a mass grave for plague victims in the Middle Ages and features a frieze ghoulishly decorated with sculls and leg bones. It could be a highlight for gore-loving teens, but may be a little scary for younger kids. <img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/MODEA9237-copie.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img"><i>The boardwalk at Deauville: This fashionable and bustling seaside town also has plenty to appeal to kids. The Boardwalk is the place to people watch and enjoy icecream, the golden sand beaches are among the best in the region, and Deauville Watersports Centre offers kayaking, surfing, sailboarding, and catamaran sailing.Attractions for active kids:<i>Espace Nautile, Lisieux: This indoor swimming pool complex, complete with huge slide, is the perfect venue for waterbabies, and keeping kids entertained on rainy days.<img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/bll3813-copie.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img"><i>Canoeing on the Risle and the Eure: Older kids and teens will love a canoeing trip on either of these great rivers. You'll find numerous operators who offer great facilities for families. <i>Eur’ Aurtruche, Beaumesnil: For something quirky, visit Normandy’s biggest Ostrich farm. If visiting in May, it's a must-see as kids are welcome to run around, watch the babies hatch, and buy feathers and eggs. Affordable family attractionsBelow are our tips for places to visit, which won’t cost you the earth.<i>La Cite de la Mer, Cherbourg: Take a tour of the on-site submarine and aquarium at this tourist attraction located in the old Transatlantic Railway terminal. <img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/50929551NSzeIA_ph.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img"><i>L’Attelage des Grandes Marees, Gouville-Sur-Mer: Enjoy the horse carriage ride at low tides to visit the oyster and mussel parks.<i>Manoir de Dur-Ecu: English maze maker, Adrian Fisher, created this maze, out of maize! It makes for a great energy-burner for the kids.<i>Mini-trains: The two main mini-trains of the region are along the coast from Carteret to Portbail and through marshland from St-Lo to Periers.<img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/BRM2971-copie.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img"><i>Veloroutes in Manche: Rent bikes for the day and follow the network of circular cycle paths. Each is around 12 miles long and there are plenty of places to picnic along the way.The star attractionsFind time to visit at least of Normandy's greatest historic landmarks and attractions...<i>The WWII Landing Beaches: These include Sword, Juno, Gold, and Omaha Beach, which was featured in Spielberg's film Saving Private Ryan.<img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/american_war_graves_normandy.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img"><i>Cherbourg: A bustling town, packed with market squares, flowers, art and gardens, it's the place to get your French culture fix.<i>Monet's Gardens at Giverny: The house and gardens of the great artist Monet are stunningly beautiful and, therefore, attract thousands of visitors. To avoid the crowds, visit either very early or late in the day.<img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/MOTRO9243-copie.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img"><i>Bayeux: See the Bayeux Tapestry depicting the Battle of Hastings in all its glory.<img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/bayeux_2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img"><i>Rouen: A bustling town, filled with shops and restaurants and a perfect place for a family evening meal. Hot dealsP&amp;V has 15 properties in Normandy, all of which are included in its summer 'Beat the Euro' deal. The French self-catering specialist has set its prices based on the Euro-Sterling exchange rate of 2008 when holidays were at least 22 per cent cheaper. Holidays of two weeks or more will also be eligible for an additional 20 per cent long stay discount. You can also use the discount during any summer holiday dates. To grab your discount visit our Beat the Euro page.Last-minute bargainsP&amp;V has many last-minute deals on Normandy apartments. Our Pierre &amp; Vacances Branville Holiday Village.Situated near the famous ‘Normandy Landing’ beaches and the Fleurie coastline, this holiday village was designed with kids in mind. Top facilities included on the price include tennis courts, a children’s playground and an indoor ‘Aquaclub’ with heated swimming pools, whirlpools, jacuzzis and waterslides. Free children’s clubs are provided for kids of all ages, as well as an area designed especially for teenagers known as ‘Le Spot.’ The beach at Villers-sur-Mer is also just eight km away. August deal: £1,011 (previously £1,296) for one week in a two-bedroom cottage sleeping up to six people.The “&gt;Résidence Pierre &amp; Vacances at Omaha Beach is new property that provides a relaxing location from which to visit Normandy and Brittany, including the famous World War II D-day beaches, the town of Deauville and the Mont St Michel. On-site activities and leisure facilities include two heated swimming pools; a sauna; children's play area and access to one of France's Top 50 Golf Courses - the International Omaha Beach Golf Club.August deal: £771 (previously £986) for one week in a two-bedroom house sleeping up to six people.Find out more by visiting www.pv-holidays.com.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1248194639/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1248194639/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1248194639/tpod.html Wed, 22 Jul 2009 04:37:59 -0400 PV-Holidays Blog

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Costa Dorada, Catalonia, Spain and Canary Islands

<i>This month's customer blog comes from Athena Stavrakis who recently jetted to Barcelona with her boyfriend Steve and stopped off at Port Aventura on the way...<i>"When the topic of going away on holiday together came up between myself and The Boyfriend, I must admit I was a little apprehensive. Sure, spending a week away together soaking up the sun sounds perfect in theory but it was going to be our first holiday together. Expectations were high and the last thing either of us wanted was to leave our sunny paradise with stormy rainclouds looming over us. It all looked disastrous from the outset; he wanted to be close to the beach, I wanted to immerse myself in culture. On top of that, I needed to find somewhere that would have enough distractions to stop him from realising it takes me all morning to turn from beast to beauty. After scouring the internet for last minute deals, we settled on Spain, the Costa Dorada to be precise and a week of sun, sea and sangria.<img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/Espana2009146.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img">Leaving the grey clouds of London behind us, we arrived to blues skies and the sweltering heat at sometime after 9 a.m. Having dumped our bags, we immediately changed into our swimwear and made a short walk to the beach. We headed to the beaches of Salou, which are spectacular. With its golden sands and rocky shorelines, Salou is a popular spot for tourists and locals alike. We grabbed a quick bite to eat and hired some sunloungers, which are approximately £7 euros for a whole day’s hire. Over the weekend, we ventured to Cambrils, which is the next resort along from Salou and just €1.50 on the bus. Cambrils is a much quieter area than Salou and its sandy beaches are perfect for strolling along hand-in-hand with your paramour. They have a beautiful marina, a few shops perfect for window shopping and some excellent fish restaurants facing the marina if you’re feeling peckish.<img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/Espana2009021.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img">With the whole world trying to save some money, self catering accommodation was the only option we had for Spain so we visited the local supermarket and stocked up on supplies for the week. A top tip is to stock up on a lot of bottled water whilst you are out there. Although tap water is safe to drink in Spain, the mineral content differs from water in the UK so can give you a dodgy tummy if you’re used to drinking tap water over here. I had lots of fun attempting to be Nigella for the week but when we went out for dinner, we discovered a multitude of restaurants and bistros in Salou along the beachfront. There are some good value-for-money tapas restaurants off the main parade that we discovered on our final day. As it is a popular resort, there’s plenty on offer so you are sure to find something you’ll enjoy.Port AventuraOne of the main attractions for choosing the Costa Dorada however, was Portaventura and we spent 2 days exploring the park. We booked our tickets before we went on holiday, getting a 4 day pass for €55 for adults, a bargain considering a day pass is approximately €44 when bought on the day. You can buy these advance tickets directly from the Portaventura website. Upon arriving, head to the Visitors Office, which is just beyond the queuing desks and exchange your printout for your passes. 4 days sounds like a lot but it is virtually impossible exploring the park in a day, particularly if you are planning on coming here with young children in tow. Plus with the advance ticket, you also get a reduced entry fee into the Caribe Water Park. We didn’t take advantage of this offer but with an indoor and outdoor area with lots of activities on offer, it is worth checking out whilst you are here.<img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/Espana2009053-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img">As with most theme parks, the queues are a little long but we discovered if you head to the park first thing in the morning, or at about 3 p.m, queue times are considerably shorter. We loved Furius Baco, which takes off at 135kph and this is a definite highlight if you are an adrenaline junkie. The Dragon Khan was another highlight. Although initially perturbed to go on a ride with 8 loops, upon exiting the ride, we queued up to go on it again which resulted in rather queasy stomachs and a cringe worthy photograph.Food prices are a little steep but I’d invest in buying a ‘golden cup’ whilst you are there. For an initial payment of €12, you can take your cup to any food retailer in the park and have your glass refilled with a beverage of your choice throughout the day. There are also many shows in Portaventura. As the park is divided into different lands, make sure you note down the times of the shows you wish to see and get to that theatre 10 minutes before the show begins. <img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/Espana2009048.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img"><img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/Espana2009050.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img">BarcelonaAfter a few days of lazing on the beach and screaming on rollercoasters, we decided to feed on the cultural feast Barcelona had to offer us. Being the capital of Catalonia and the second largest city in Spain, Barcelona has plenty to offer in terms of sights. Our coach dropped us off at the old port and upon arriving, I resisted the temptation of spending all my money in the Maremagnum shopping mall and headed for The Aquarium. The Aquarium houses 450 different species and its 80 metre long underwater tunnel means that only a thick sheet of glass separates you from the stingrays and sharks that rapidly swim around you.<img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/Espana2009104-1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img">After staring at the fishes, we made our way to Las Ramblas. Las Ramblas is a 1.2km street in central Barcalona littered with restaurants, clothes shops and performers. If you choose to visit this street, you will find yourself constantly captivated by magicians, mime artists and dancers so prepare to spend a lot of time here slowly ambling along the sidewalk. If you live in or have visited London, it is reminiscent of Covent Garden but on a much grander scale. As in any major city, pickpocketing is a problem here so please be aware of any valuables you have on you.We meandered through the Gothic Quarter and after getting ourselves a little lost, we took a cab and headed to the Sagrada Familia. A lot of Barcelona’s buildings in the Gothic Quarter date back to medieval times and there are also notable examples of Modernist architecture. One of the finest examples of the Modernist/Art Noveau movement is the Sagrada Familia, designed by Antoni Gaudi. Although not yet completed, this magnificent Roman Catholic Church is awe-inspiring and well worth visiting if you venture to Barcelona.<img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/Espana2009147.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img">The Boyfriend started digging in his heels by this point. A major football fan, he wanted to visit the Nou Camp. Camp Nou is the largest stadium in Europe and home to arguably one of the most successful clubs in European football, FC Barcelona. Unfortunately U2 were playing a concert on that day so we were unable to get too close to the grounds but providing there isn’t a concert taking place, for a small fee you are able to take a tour of the grounds as well as the changing rooms, which is a must have visit for any sports fan. Seeing as we couldn’t get close to the grounds, The Boyfriend dragged me into a sports bar where we were able to look lots of football memorabilia.After a bite to eat, we soon had to get on our coach back home but not before a quick detour to see the Magic Fountain. Located on Montjuic, a hill in Barcelona, the Magic Fountain or the Font Magica to give it its Catalonian name, is a visual delight combining music, lights and water. Legend has it that if you drink the water from the fountain, you will return to Barcelona once again, having fallen in love with the city. Arms wrapped around The Boyfriend’s waist, droplets of water falling on my skin, I thought back to my adventure in Barcelona and smiled. Words and photos do not give this show justice but the sights and the sounds of the Magic Fountain was the perfect end to my day in Barcelona.<img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/Espana2009134.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img"><img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/Espana2009141.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img">The days flew by and The Boyfriend and I soon found ourselves back on a plane back to London. Although we had an early morning flight, we spent most of our time on the plane avidly exchanging our favourite memories of the holiday. The Costa Dorada is a beautiful place to visit with lots on offer for both couples and families. The sun-worshipping Boyfriend was thrilled with his tan and the beautiful sandy beaches, I was excited by all the memorabilia I had picked up in Barcelona, we both laughed at the big kids in us making an appearance in Portaventura! The local people are hospitable, the food was amazing and the surroundings, heavenly. Whether you fancy a week of relaxation, an activities based week or you fancy being a culture vulture, there is something to suit all in the Coast Dorada."Where to stayP&amp;V has a special offer for its Pierre &amp; Vacanaces Residence Cala Cristal, Miami Platja, Costa Dorada this summer.<img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/ExteriorPiscina-playa2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img">Pierre &amp; Vacanaces Residence Cala Cristal, Miami Platja is located 130km south of Barcelona and just 25km from the Port Aventura theme park, making this residence a perfect location for a fun-filled family break.<img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/Interiorsuperiorapartamento4.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img">The property benefits from direct access to the long sandy beach of Platja Cristal, a snack bar with a terrace and a swimming pool overlooking the sea. For more information, please visit www.pv-holidays.com.Getting thereBy plane: Port Aventura is just an hour from Barcelona airport and 15 minutes from Reus airport.By car: From Barcelona, one hour by the AP7 Freeway (La Jonquera-Valencia). Take the direct exit to the park (exit 35). Alternatively, you can take highway N-340 (Barcelona-Valencia), N-420 (Tarragona-Teruel) and N-240 (Tarragona-Lleida).By train: Port Aventura has its own stationBeat The EuroPV-Holidays.com are returning travellers to the dizzy days of 2008 Euro exchange rates, saving them up to 45 per cent on the cost of summer family holidays to France or Spain. The offer is available on all P&amp;V properties on all dates –including the school summer holidays, making it great for families!The DiscountThese latest deals can also be combined with any other P&amp;V offer currently available, including the 15 per cent early booking discount or the 20 per cent discount on stays over two weeks.The campaign will be running for the whole of this summer, basing its prices on the Euro to Sterling exchange rate of summer 2008 (£1 to €1.28), when holidays were around 22 per cent cheaper than earlier this month (£1 to €1.05)The CodeTo claim your discount, the discount code for Beat The Euro is: 8258. Enter it on the Beat The Euro page on the website. The offer is valid on all holidays until November 7th. <img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/PV_LandingPage-7.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket" class="yui-img">Find more information on the Beat The Euro page and as always, find a wealth of information on P&amp;V's website PV-Holidays.com.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1248192783/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1248192783/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1248192783/tpod.html Tue, 21 Jul 2009 12:43:55 -0400 PV-Holidays Blog

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France, France

Here at P&amp;V, we're are confident that a French holiday with P&amp;V will put a smile on your face.Bad weather on your hols however, can quickly turn smiles can turn into frowns...Whilst we're confident there will be plenty of sunshine on your French holiday with P&amp;V, the launch of our new travel insurance cover the Pierre Vacances Sunshine Guarantee, means our customers are winners, come rain or shine.<img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/PEO1221-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0">Our sunshine guarantee gives holidaymakers the opportunity to claim up to €150 should their holiday be interrupted by at least 4 days of rain in any 1 week. Aon France, the insurance company behind the offer will assess satellite photographs taken by the French national weather bureau to assess claims. <img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/PEO1317-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0">If eligible, guests would be informed by text message or email and their compensation cheque would be given to them a few days after returning home. A spokesperson from P&amp;V said “Aon France allows Pierre &amp; Vacances to propose its clients with automatic reimbursement for part of their stay...if weather conditions don't meet expectations." When using our money-back guarantee alongside our Beat The Euro offer, there’s simply no reason why you cannot book the perfect family getaway this year. Beat the Euro means we’re basing our prices on the Euro to Sterling exchange rate of summer 2008 (£1 to €1.28), when holidays were around 22 per cent cheaper than earlier this month (£1 to €1.05). of up to 45% off all of our properties in the summer break.<img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/PEO1280-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0">The offer is available on all P&amp;V properties on all dates, including the school summer holidays, up until November 2009. Discounts can also be combined with any other P&amp;V offer currently available, including the 15 per cent early booking discount or the 20 per cent discount on stays over two weeks.<img class="yui-img" src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/PEO1202-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0">For more information on our insurance and the sunshine guarantee which is only available when purchasing our sunshine pack, click here or visit the website for P&amp;V, pv-holidays.com.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1247501730/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1247501730/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1247501730/tpod.html Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:15:55 -0400 PV-Holidays Blog

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France, France

&lt;i&gt;&lt;b&gt;Our customer blog of the month belongs to Ben Goodwin whoy won a competition in March to spend a week skiing on Val D'Isere. Ben and his partner Luca travelled on the Snowtrain from Paris to &lt;a href="http://www.pv-holidays.com/hu_hotel_val_isere.php"&gt;Val d'Isere&lt;/a&gt;and stayed at &lt;a href="http://www.pv-holidays.com/alps/val-d-isere/aigle-neiges-hotel_to-rent_176-1_fp?"&gt;Hotel Latitudes Aigle de Neiges&lt;/a&gt;. They share their travel diary with us&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/i&gt; :&lt;b&gt;Val D’Isère – March 20th-28th&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt;Friday&lt;/b&gt;"Sunglasses… check. Factor fifty… check. Into the bag also went Top Trumps: High School Musical Edition and more thermals than you can shake a stick at and, before you can say un, deux, trios, our Virgin ‘Pendolino’ was snaking its way into Euston station. Our holiday had finally started and, as my partner Luca mastered the Underground map, I was dreaming of Val D’Isère.Ditching the Tube, we had a rather unglamorous walk to the newly refurbished, but certainly very glamorous, Saint Pancras station. Having never travelled Eurostar before, I revelled in having to go through Passport Control to get on a train. What felt like minutes later, we were being spat out the other side of the Chunnel and we both spent the next hour or so gawping at anything remotely ‘French’ through the windows, from a cash ‘n’ carry in Calais to a man in a passing station who seemed to have onion draped around his neck.Then came Paris, albeit in a flash. We had less than two hours in the Capital of Love, which, for us, turned out to be an argument on the Metro and a few cheeky snaps of the Eiffel Tower (with our hefty luggage in tow). Still, there was plenty of time for l'amour in Val D’Isère.&lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;current=DSC03371.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/DSC03371.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;We barely had time to grab a baguette before we were to depart on the Snow Train. Just its name alone evoked a bygone era, when train travel was seen more as merely getting people from A to B. Although, it was hardly the Orient Express once on-board, the accommodation was comfortable and we managed to get an entire couchette to ourselves. It was as if we were about to have a holiday within a holiday; a train, where you not only sleep on, but you can party too. Oh, yes!The Snow Train comes equipped with its own disco carriage and we utilised it to the max as well as the adjoining bar. With the bass pumping, drink in hand and lights flashing around us, we danced the night away with fellow skiers, heading to the various resorts in the French Alps. Goodness knows what any sane Frenchman would’ve thought if they happened to see our train whiz by on that night… &lt;b&gt;Saturday&lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;current=DSC03379.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/DSC03379.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Saturday began with a hangover, but I was too excited to mope around and instead, we got dressed and watched the train crawl around the mountains that were towering above us by now, occasionally letting passengers off. Our stop was the last… end of the line. Bourg-Saint-Maurice. We had a couple of hours in this pretty town before our bus to Val D’Isère. Naturally, we headed straight to a café for a bit of petit dejeuner.&lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;current=DSC03388.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/DSC03388.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Afterwards, there was a market on offer and, still with our heavy cases in tow, we checked-out the local produce. In doing so, we came across a stall with a goat sat in a wheelbarrow. A pleasant lady there informed us she (the goat, I mean) was called Brigette and they were raising money for a herd (which Brigette belonged too) up one of the mountains and would we like to buy some honey-flavoured sweets to help? I’d never really heard of anything so bizarre, so, of course, we bought two boxes. They also had a chinchilla in a wooden box, but I never asked why it was there. I slept all the way on the coach to Val D’Isère so couldn’t tell you about the wonder that is the Tignes dam, or indeed, the mountain road itself. We were soon in Val D’Isère. It was like we’d entered a Winter Wonderland, whereby someone had created the perfect alpine model village and somehow made it full-size. Dazzled by the beauty of the lodges we slowly made our way to our hotel. &lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;current=DSC03402.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/DSC03402.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;current=DSC03442.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/DSC03442.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Our hotel, Aigle Des Neiges, was equally stunning and we quickly checked-in to get settled into the room. Our room was lovely; all mod. cons with loads of products for us to play with in the bath and even slippers for lounging around in. I mustn’t forget our accommodation’s pièce de résistance, that it was only a stone’s throw (literally) from the slopes and we had an unspoilt view of all the snow-action from our room.&lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;current=DSC03455.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/DSC03455.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;current=DSC03456.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/DSC03456.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Skiing was very much off the menu on our first day however, and we spent the rest of Saturday pottering around the town, getting to know all its nooks and crannies, of which, there are many. Naturally, along the way, we stopped for several coffees, which later developed into slightly stronger concoctions and before I could see what was happening, I knew I’d wake up the next day with a sore head again. &lt;b&gt;Sunday&lt;/b&gt;Forget petit, our hotel was serving grand dejeuner. My eyes were bulging, as I literally couldn’t decide what to try first. They even had sausage and bacon! We both ate so much that it allowed us to skip lunch, thus saving a few pennies. Well, we are in a recession. After getting over the event that was breakfast we decided to dip our toes into the water (or should that be snow) and try out the slopes. Skiing would come later, but we started our ‘snowsperience’ on a good old fashioned sledge. We slapped on the sunscreen (the sun seems to be more powerful there than Costa Brava in July) and added a few extra layers and got down to business. &lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;current=DSC03488.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/DSC03488.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;I have to say, it was the most fun I’d had in ages. Of course, we were the only grown adults on sledges next to the toddlers, but we didn’t care. We were on holiday and this was good, clean fun. As the afternoon progressed, we gradually went higher and higher up our chosen slope, paving the way for faster runs and even more exciting crashes as we dodged other skiers, wildlife and the aforementioned children. I have no idea about snow quality and the like, but it was perfect for sliding along.After tiring ourselves out, I was blessed to be given a ‘lift’ home and my boyfriend towed me back to the hotel on my sledge. Four-start luxury, it most definitely was. A nice quiet meal was followed by a bottle of plonk infront of MTV.&lt;b&gt;Monday&lt;/b&gt;…and woke to Lady Gaga’s latest video. It was a new day and the sun was still shining. In fact, it was Luca’s birthday and after showering him with cards and presents I nipped out to the Post Office to send home some postcards (mainly to gloat to friends and family back home, but isn’t that what they’re for – I mean, who takes ‘wish you were here literally?’).Following another breakfast fit for a King… and Queen we made our way to the ski hire shop, both feeling a mixture of excitement and nerves. Neither of us were seasoned skiers. Well, to put it bluntly, I’d only done it before in Holland – perhaps the world’s flattest country. Still, we had confidence on our side and they say it’s like riding a bike, you never forget how to do it. Although, I couldn’t tell you the last time I rode something with pedals. Needless to say, skiing didn’t come back naturally and we spent Monday morning falling over, grunting in frustration and cursing the wooden planks beneath our feet. At least we looked the part! However, we persevered and after practice, patience, oh, and a bit of coaching, we managed to get our ‘snow legs’ back and we on our way to becoming the next Jean-Claude Killy. Well, that’s a bit of an over-exaggeration, as come five o’clock, we’d still not left the relative safety of the nursery slopes. But, still, it was a start and there was always tomorrow. &lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;current=DSC03520.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/DSC03520.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Besides, there was air boarding to be done. It seems, every night the local tourism board offers various activities and the first one we tried out was where we had to throw ourselves onto a small, inflated dinghy-esque object and manoeuvre our way down a slope (again, trying not to knock-out several children along the way). Air boarding was great fun… I guess it can best be described as upside-down sledging. &lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;current=DSC03500.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/DSC03500.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;For Luca’s birthday, I wanted to do something a bit special, so managed to find a quaint little restaurant away for the main drag that did fondue (most places do it in Val D., but this place had tonnes of character to boot) a traditional Savoyard dish. As with most of the places we ate at, you couldn’t fault the grub. Sure, it was pricey, but worth it to dip huge chunks of French crusty bread into a cheese sauce that takes your taste buds to seventh heaven. &lt;b&gt;Tuesday&lt;/b&gt;Another day was had on the slopes and we managed to go a bit higher, a bit faster and a bit longer. Plus, neither of us fell over, so a successful ski, I would say. &lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;current=DSC03566.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/DSC03566.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;current=DSC03567.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/DSC03567.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Before we went for some après ski, we tried another snow sport, this time snake gliss. The only way to describe it is like the name suggests, a snake, which is formed of little one person carriages that have bobsleigh-type groove underneath. The person in front ‘drives’ the contraption and everyone else merely follows on. Sounds awesome, and it was, for a bit at least. The novelty soon wore-off and you never get to go as fast as you would like. Still, next time I’m at a dinner party, at least I’ll be able to boast that I tried snake gliss. Although, they’ll probably be none the wiser of what it actually is. In the evening we went to the cinema, which obviously catered for the, what seemed, mainly English visitors to the resort. Many of the films they showed whilst we were there were in English but with French subtitles. Inside, it looked like the building hadn’t changed much since the silent era and, the heating had broken the night we went, so my view of the screen kept getting blurred by my heavy breath. Still, it was a night out and the film was good.&lt;b&gt;Wednesday&lt;/b&gt;We were both feeling a bit off-colour Wednesday morning, so we took it as an opportunity to have a bit of time off-piste. Come the afternoon and we ventured onto the main shopping street and stocked-up on some tasty treats from the Spar. In there, we saw an advert for a free dance class that evening entitled ‘biodynamique.’ Of course, we were both intrigued and several hours later we found ourselves outside a public hall on the edge of the village. &lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;current=DSC03580.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/DSC03580.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;We seemed to be waiting ages, but no-one came and then it started to snow heavily, so in the end, we just went inside and there we were greeted by a dozen or so middle-aged French women dressed in their finest velour. When they realised that neither of us spoke fluent French one of the ladies stepped forward and intervened with her excellent English. Clearly, foreigners weren’t expected but we were made to feel welcome and the lady explained the meaning of biodynampique. The technique was developed by her friend who wanted to create a base form of dance, similar to Esperanto in the language world, so that people could then go on and learn any kind of dance from the four corners of the globe. I certainly felt excited that we were to try something that few others had experienced. Then in a flash the dance teacher had arrived in the shape of former ballet dancer Rafael Baile. We were told to express our bodies across the hall in spirals, with hand jives and chanting like tradition Māori folk. A brief break came and we were treated to a glass of non-alcoholic cassis and a slither of quiche.&lt;b&gt;Thursday&lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;current=DSC03585.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/DSC03585.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;The culture continued to flow the following day as we decided to sign-up for a historical tour of Val D’Isère. It sounds quite dull, especially in a place as small as there, but, our guide took us right back to the village’s formation up to it becoming the popular ski resort it is today. We learnt about disease (the historical ones) religion (notably, were the stories of how the villagers scrimped and saved to get the church built) architecture, family life and the traditions of the region. &lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;current=DSC03616.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/DSC03616.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Back in the centre of the village, Nuit Rouge was kicking-in. The so-called ‘Red Night’ is called that because traditionally, during the thick of winter, flares of that colour are let-off from the rooftops with an accompanying light show. However, by March it was still too light come seven o’clock, so there was no red to be seen (surely they could’ve put it back an hour or so!). Regardless, we got a glass of vin chaud (mulled wine, to me and thee) there was a really good band playing in the main square and circus performers were running up and down the street. Also, an ice sculptor was hard at work, WOW-ing the crowds with his handy-work. Again, this event was another freebie thanks to the tourist board, who clearly go out-of-their-way to make sure your average tourist has an above-average experience. &lt;b&gt;Friday&lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;current=DSC03626.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/DSC03626.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Not prepared to brave the dizzy heights of the mountains surrounding the village on skis, we decided to scale Bellevarde on foot. Well, I say on foot; we got the cable car up! On top, the weather was less than desirable and thus, the views non-existent. Plus, me and attitude don’t mix well, so I was moaning to Luca after about five minutes that I’d had enough and we soon made our way back to the more pleasant height of Val D’Isère’s 1850 metres. Still, we took the Funnival back to the village, which is a train that cuts through the mountain and shoots out on stilts much lower down at the other side. Very exciting! &lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;current=DSC03647.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/DSC03647.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;After an omelette to give us a boost of energy we threw ourselves back into the après ski life (well, it was Friday, after all). I suppose Val D’Isère is famous for its nightlife and, although not cheap, there were offers to be found and all the bars put on some form of nightly entertainment. We spent our last night at a newly refurbished bar. I was a bit apprehensive at first (it was essentially an English bar, just with more snow outside and beers that weren’t quite full pints) but the atmosphere was electric and I soon got swept into dancing, singing and drinking games that were taking place all around us.&lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;current=DSC03672.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/DSC03672.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"&gt;&lt;/a&gt; &lt;b&gt;Saturday&lt;/b&gt;A week in luxury with stunning scenery and skiing-aplenty was coming to an end and thoughts about the following working week came to mind and I felt sad. Still, we didn’t leave until late afternoon, so we were able to maximise our time by the slopes. Also, the shops were all beginning their end-of-season sales, so I was able to grab a few bargains for friends and family (and a few more for myself!). The bus took us to Bourg-Saint-Maurice in under an hour and, after stocking up on grub from the nearby Lidl, we boarded for another night on the Snow Train, disco carriage ‘n’ all. &lt;b&gt;Sunday&lt;/b&gt;The Snow Train was a treat as before and the transfer on to the Eurostar at Gare du Nord was smooth. Before I knew it, we were back in Blighty, walking from Saint Pancras to Euston and then being transported back to Birmingham. &lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;current=DSC03758.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/DSC03758.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"&gt;&lt;/a&gt;Val D’Isère and all its beauty were now just a memory but, I knew, one day, I’d be going back..."Ben and his partner stayed at &lt;a href="http://www.pv-holidays.com/alps/val-d-isere/aigle-neiges-hotel_to-rent_176-1_fp?"&gt;Hotel Latitudes Aigle de Neiges&lt;/a&gt; but P&amp;V have many other hotels and apartments in &lt;a href="http://www.pv-holidays.com/hu_hotel_val_isere.php"&gt;Val d'Isere&lt;/a&gt;.P&amp;V have recently launched their prices for 2009 ski season. Save 20% on your accommodation for 2009/10 by booking early. Visit our &lt;a href="http://www.pv-holidays.com/book-early/ski-holiday-offers-france_os"&gt;special offer ski page&lt;/a&gt; on the website for more details.Our top current offers include: &lt;a href="http://www.pv-holidays.com/alps/avoriaz-1800/balcons-soleil-holiday-apartments_to-rent_389-1_fp"&gt;Avoriaz&lt;/a&gt; from €99, &lt;a href="http://www.pv-holidays.com/alps/meribel/ravines-holiday-apartments_to-rent_136-1_fp"&gt;Meribel&lt;/a&gt; from €133, &lt;a href="http://www.pv-holidays.com/alps/courchevel/chalets-forum-holiday-apartments_to-rent_252-1_fp"&gt;Courcheval&lt;/a&gt; from €210 and &lt;a href="http://www.pv-holidays.com/alps/plagne-1800/plagne-lauze-holiday-apartments_to-rent_100-1_fp"&gt;La Plagne&lt;/a&gt; from €71 per person, per week.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1247501645/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1247501645/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/pv_blog/1/1247501645/tpod.html Mon, 13 Jul 2009 12:15:05 -0400 PV-Holidays Blog

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France, France

&lt;b&gt;This weekend sees the start of the 96th Tour de France. The competition will be running from Saturday (July 4th ) until to Sunday July 26th 2009, with the grand start taking place in Monaco.&lt;/b&gt;&lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;amp;current=tour_de_france.gif" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/tour_de_france.gif" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;i&gt;Tour de France 2009 will visit a total of six countries: Monaco. France, Spain, Andorra, Switzerland and Italy. Tour de France will be made up of 21 stages and will cover a total distance of 3,500 kilometers.&lt;/i&gt;There are many UK fans out there who will be dying to follow in their tyre marks, and find &lt;a href="http://www.pv-holidays.com/"&gt;accommodation for Tour de France &lt;/a&gt; this year. To help; we’ve tracked down each of the towns that will appear en-route and have listed places to stay during Tour de France, making it easier for you to decide which leg of the race is worth a visit.&lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;amp;current=547px-Tour-de-France-2009.png" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/547px-Tour-de-France-2009.png" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.pv-holidays.com/"&gt;P&amp;amp;V&lt;/a&gt; have affordable accommodation all over France, with many of those situated alongside the Tour de France route. With a range of self-catering apartments, our residences make the perfect base to watch the race and be as close to the action as possible.&lt;b&gt;Tour de France route 2009&lt;/b&gt;&lt;b&gt;1. Saturday, July 4Monaco (MC)&lt;/b&gt;A grand start in one of the grandest cities. This spectacular start will put Monaco on the map in the next week or so. This is also the place the inaugural time-trial takes place. Watch out for steep hills and quick turns in the area, it will surely separate the weaker competitors straight off the bat.P&amp;amp;V have many properties on the &lt;a href="http://www.pv-holidays.com/travel/france/cote-azur/accommodation-rental-cote-azur_ge"&gt;French Rivera&lt;/a&gt;, but also have the &lt;a href="http://www.pv-holidays.com/cote-d-azur/monaco/monaco-monte-cristo-hotel_rental_418-2_fp?dated=2009-07-04&amp;amp;duree=7&amp;amp;code=MCL12"&gt;Adagio Aparthotel Monaco Monte Cristo&lt;/a&gt;, centrally located to experience the buzz of the competition just before the starting gun is pulled.&lt;b&gt;2. Sunday, July 5thMonaco (MC) → Brignoles&lt;/b&gt;What a beautiful start to the race! This first section takes place along the shore of some of the prettiest seaside towns in the Cote d’Azur. The route is not mountainous, but the rugged terrain could make an interesting stage. First one to spot a pile up as people are distracted by the view wins…P&amp;amp;V have a wide selection of accommodation along the &lt;a href="http://www.pv-holidays.com/travel/france/cote-azur/accommodation-rental-cote-azur_ge"&gt;Cote D’Azur&lt;/a&gt;. Stay at &lt;a href="http://www.pv-holidays.com/cote-d-azur/cap-esterel/hotel-esterel_rental_367-2_fp"&gt;Hotel Latitudes de L'Esterel&lt;/a&gt;, which is just 1km from the Bay of Agay, and local village. This section of the race is over a weekend, so why not pair your Tour de France fix with a weekend away in a French seaside town?&lt;b&gt;3.Monday, July 6thMarseille → La Grande-Motte&lt;/b&gt;Marseille is a perfect base for fans of the race who like a little culture with their sporting events. Competitors will arrive at the historical Old Port, just metres from the water and the boats to La Grande-Motte with a finish in the heart of “French Florida”. This stage will be in the salty sea air and the wind should play an essential role in the crossing of Camargue.The &lt;a href="http://www.pv-holidays.com/cote-d-azur/marseille/marseille-prado-plage-hotel_rental_278-2_fp"&gt;Adagio Prado Plage&lt;/a&gt; is an ideal place to stay to witness the end of this stage. Our club residence Camargue is set in an idyllic nature reserve and also makes a beautiful distraction once you’ve checked out those in the race.&lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;amp;current=ASO_003.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/ASO_003.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt;4. Tuesday, July 7thMontpellier → Montpellier&lt;/b&gt;This is one of the shortest parts of the race leaving plenty of time for you to explore the surrounding region.PV-Holidays have a residence in nearby Cap D’Agde which is a perfect base for an active stay. &lt;a href="http://www.pv-holidays.com/mediterranean/cap-d-agde/rivages-rochelongue-holiday-apartments_rental_292-2_fp"&gt;Résidence Loisirs Les Rivages de Rochelongue&lt;/a&gt; is surrounded by many cycle tracks and hiking trails leaving you to literally follow in the Jersey trackmarks once the tour has passed through town.&lt;b&gt;5. Wednesday, July 8thLe Cap d'Agde → Perpignan&lt;/b&gt;The stage is dedicated to Salvador Dali, who called the Perpignan railway station the “cosmogonic centre of the universe”. He also loved cycling and created the 1959 Tour’s postcard.&lt;b&gt;6 .Thursday July 9th.Girona (ES) → Barcelona (ES)&lt;/b&gt;After Monaco and Marseille, the 2009 Tour stops at a third “great beacon” of the Mediterranean. The capital of Catalonia will host a prestigious new stage that will take place in the southernmost destination in Tour history. The last inclines on the heights of Montjuic should be more favorable to sprinters than climbers.PV-Holidays have 4 properties in &lt;a href="http://www.pv-holidays.com/travel/spain/costa-dorada/accommodation-rental-costa-dorada_ge"&gt;Costa Dorada&lt;/a&gt;. Rent a car and explore the region from one of our residences as the tour defers into Spain.&lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;amp;current=ASO_004.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/ASO_004.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt;7. Friday, July 10th.Barcelona (ES) → Arcalis (AD)&lt;/b&gt;This is the start of one of the highest finishes in history. Starting with a Level 1 mountain pass it will end at 2,200m elevation. Difficulties would already have been spread throughout the rest of the route so far, so this Pyrenees stage shouldn’t be too much of a shock for cyclists, in fact, we recommend watching out for those bold and strong enough to break away from the park here and try to seize their chance at Arcalis.&lt;b&gt;8. Saturday, July 11th.Andorra-la-Vella (AD) → Saint-Girons&lt;/b&gt;In part two of the Pyrenees section, the three ascents will offer good climbers the chance to stand out. The Ariège passes which have featured heavily in recent routes may allow some experienced cyclists to ease forward. This stage will undoubtedly have some surprises in store.PV-Holidays have 11 properties in the &lt;a href="http://www.pv-holidays.com/travel/france/pyrenees/accommodation-rental-pyrenees_ge"&gt;Midi-Pyrenees&lt;/a&gt;. Watch the race and get active whilst exploring the local area. Don't forget your walking boots!&lt;b&gt;9. Sunday, July 12thSaint-Gaudens → Tarbes&lt;/b&gt;Crowds are sure to gather to watch the classic climbs of Aspin and Tourmalet passes. Keep an eye on cyclists who feel inspired to speed up the show just before the rest day in Limoges.&lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;amp;current=ASO_041.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/ASO_041.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt;10. Tuesday, July 14thLimoges → Issoudun&lt;/b&gt;Now back on track to the centre of France, the flat plains around the area will enable racers who can excel in these conditions to move forward from the back after falling behind in the mountain stages. Bastille Day is also on July 14th, and a national holiday for locals, so expect to get caught up in lots of celebrations.&lt;b&gt;11. Wednesday, July 15thVatan → Saint-Fargeau&lt;/b&gt;Racers are now halfway between Monaco and Paris, but the main stakes will still be up for grabs. Saint-Fargeau is likely to be a decisive stage, and it’ll be exciting to watch riders compete for the Green Jersey around here.&lt;b&gt;12. Thursday, July 16thTonnerre → Vittel&lt;/b&gt;This flat stage could prove to be a competition between the sprinters. If they are strong and determined enough people who have betted on safe bets could lose cash here as the underdogs ease forward.&lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;amp;current=ASO_046.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/ASO_046.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt;13. Friday, July 17thVittel → Colmar&lt;/b&gt;A medium mountain route but the road between Vittel and Colmar has all the makings of a tricky stage. Expect the crowd to watch with baited breath, but don’t forget to explore the surrounding area of Alsace, which is known as the “Little Venice" of France.&lt;b&gt;14. Saturday, July 18thColmar → Besançon&lt;/b&gt;For the Tour’s first visit, in 1931, the wine capital of Alsace had the privilege of seeing title-holder André Leducq win. After a nasty accident at home early in the season, Laurent Jalabert made a stunning comeback in this area, winning his second stage in the 2001 Tour after Verdun.Résidence Pierre &amp;amp; Vacances Le clos d' Eguisheim is located in the Alsace area and is located in one of the most beautiful villages in the area. It’s also in the heart of the Alsatian vineyards, making it a perfect hub for following the wine-tasting route of the region.&lt;b&gt;15. Sunday, July 19th.Pontarlier → Verbier (CH)&lt;/b&gt;Finally entering the Swiss Alps: witness the contest step up a notch between climbers as the front-runners’ ranks will be thinned. There is just one week to go before the finish in Paris.&lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;amp;current=tour_de_france-1.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/tour_de_france-1.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt;16. Tuesday, July 21stMartigny (CH) → Bourg-Saint-Maurice&lt;/b&gt;Forty-three years later, the Grand-Saint-Bernard Pass is back on the Tour de France’s route. The more-than 30 km climb rises to 2,469 m above sea level. Then the riders will climb the Petit-Saint-Bernard before plunging down to Bourg-Saint-Maurice.&lt;b&gt;17. Wednesday, July 22ndBourg-Saint-Maurice → Le Grand-Bornand&lt;/b&gt;This is the Tour’s densest mountain stage with five passes that count towards the best-climber classification. The challenges will rise with the terrain and the relatively short distance promises a decisive struggle between the front-runners. Fans flock to hotels be trackside for the most grueling stage of the competition so take advantage of our self-catering accomodation in the area which will save on money.&lt;a href="http://www.pv-holidays.com/alps/arc-1800/hotel-golf_to-rent_83-1_fp"&gt;Hôtel Latitudes du Golf&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="http://www.pv-holidays.com/alps/courchevel/golf-courchevel-1650-hotel_to-rent_437-1_fp?"&gt;Hotel Latitudes du Golf de Courcheval 1650&lt;/a&gt; are located in Courcheval; a popular resort for other fans who have booked accommodation to watch this leg of the Tour de France. A beautiful location, the village is surrounded by a dense forest with panoramic views over the Courchevel Valley.&lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;amp;current=Tour-de-France-Tips.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/Tour-de-France-Tips.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt;18 . Thursday, July 23rdAnnecy → Annecy&lt;/b&gt;In this gorgeous setting, the Tour’s last time-trial often marks the end of the struggle. But the 2009 Tour is not over yet because the loop around Lake Annecy is approximately just 40 km long. Watch this oddly shaped leg of the race and see how the competitors weave their way around the water. The &lt;a href="http://www.pv-holidays.com/alps/annecy/annecy-centre-hotel_rental_458-2_fp?dated=2009-07-23&amp;amp;duree=1&amp;amp;code=AYL12"&gt;Adagio Annecy centre&lt;/a&gt; is just 10 minutes away from the famous lake and centrally located.&lt;b&gt;19. Friday, July 24thBourgoin-Jallieu → Aubenas&lt;/b&gt;The 96th Tour de France is almost over, but many racers still have something to prove. It may be the toughest leg, but the route winds through the beautiful Ardeche Gorges, a welcome distraction for even the most tired riders.&lt;b&gt;20. Saturday, July 25thMontélimar → Mont-Ventoux&lt;/b&gt;Some of the Tour de France’s most legendary moments have happened in this area, but it has never been on the route just 24 hours from the final finish. Whatever the rider wearing the Yellow Jersey, he will have to face the Tour’s toughest climb yet.&lt;b&gt;21 . Sunday, July 26th.Montereau-Fault-Yonne → Paris&lt;/b&gt;The final stage. Winning on the Champs-Élysées is a distinguished achievement and is an incredible sight. The home stretch on the “world’s most beautiful avenue” is always exciting, whoever wins. Expect hotels and other accommodation around the city to be jam-packed but check out availability at one of the &lt;a href="http://www.pv-holidays.com/hu_accommodation-france.php?holiday=Paris+apartments_to_rent"&gt;11 Adagio Aparthotels in Paris&lt;/a&gt;&lt;a href="http://s439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/?action=view&amp;amp;current=tourpeloton.jpg" target="_blank"&gt;&lt;img src="http://i439.photobucket.com/albums/qq114/pvblog/tourpeloton.jpg" alt="Photobucket" border="0" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;b&gt;We hope this is all you need to help find &lt;a href="http://www.pv-holidays.com/"&gt;last minute accommodation for Tour de France&lt;/a&gt;. Keep updated on the competition. by checking out the Tour de France &lt;a href="http://www.letour.fr/indexus.html"&gt;official website&lt;/a&gt;.If you can’t afford to fly off for a few days this summer, why not book a last minute family holiday village in France, and fit the Tour de France around your break? Our &lt;a href="http://www.pv-holidays.com/beatstheeuro_ms"&gt;Beat the Euro deal&lt;/a&gt; fits the Tour de France route nicely. This summer, we’re basing our prices on the Euro to Sterling exchange rate of summer 2008 (£1 to €1.28), when holidays were around 22 per cent cheaper than earlier this month (£1 to €1.05). of up to 45% off all of our properties in the summer break.The offer is available on all P&amp;amp;V properties on all dates, including the school summer holidays, up until November 2009. Discounts can also be combined with any other P&amp;amp;V offer currently available, including the 15 per cent early booking discount or the 20 per cent discount on stays over two weeks.Find more information about P&amp;amp;V properties, on &lt;a href="http://www.pv-holidays.com/"&gt;PV-Holidays.com&lt;/a&gt;, the website for P&amp;amp;V.Thanks for reading,PV-Holidays.com&lt;/b&gt;
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