Sardinia is the second largest island in the Mediterranean. One of our favourite destinations here at Low Cost Deals, it is full of Italian traditions and culture, with a relaxed, but high-end feel.
Sardinia’s beaches are second to none - in fact, if there ever is a contest to find out some of the best looking beaches on the earth, Sardinia would win that contest hands down. The island also boasts spectacular cuisine, which isn’t surprising as it is situated right in the middle of the Mediterranean. Simple but rich and fresh foods full of flavour are culled right from the farm or sea.
There are a variety of destinations on the island to suit all holiday needs. The old fishing town of Alghero combines great beaches with a sophisticated urban feel. Its old town is great for both history and shopping.
Cagliari is busy and vibrant, with a huge 13 km beach and lots of fantastic restaurants serving up the town’s own specialities. Along the coast from Cagliari you will find a selection of upscale hotels, such as the newly opened Mark Warner resort - Perdepera Beach, which is situated a scenic drive away on the eastern coast of Sardinia, just south of the village of Cardedu.
Visit LowCostDeals.co.uk or call us NOW on 0845 833 4913, to book your trip and receive an exclusive 5% discount with Mark Warner resorts!
The Algarve is a hugely popular European destination, simply because of the beautiful beaches, high temperatures and the breath-taking landscape.
It also offers variety. In the Algarve you can experience many different types of holidays from Albufeira to Lagos, these two places are completely different. Albufeira for example is a vibrant touristy town with lots of shops and bars, and there are miles of sandy beaches which are popular with tourists. The town of Lagos is very different to Albufeira it is much quieter and also has a less touristy atmosphere. However it is here you can find some of the very best beaches in Portugal.
The Algarve is also known for having some of the best golf courses in the whole world so you can relax and enjoy a game of golf on a perfectly designed course that overlooks the ocean.
If golf doesn’t interest you though don’t worry as there is much more to the Algarve that meets the eye. Browsing the traditional shops for souvenirs and Portuguese ware, or trying the local specialities is a relaxing way to explore the local towns. For the adventure seekers, try mountain biking with the kids, windsurfing or canoeing as alternative ways to take in the Portuguese landscape.
The weather in the Algarve is fabulous almost all year round so whether you would prefer to visit the resort during the school summer holidays or even during the low season in October or November you are guaranteed to have an amazing time.
Visit LowCostDeals.co.uk or call us NOW on 0845 833 4913, to book your Algarve experience.
On our 2nd day in Shanghai we headed to the fabric market. There are many fabric markets around the city, but after consulting with some long serving expats, we chose the Dongmen Road Fabric market. The market itself, is indoors and over 3 floors, contains around 300 individual stores covering tailoring of suits to making you bespoke carpets and rugs. The fabric market is on the Puxi side of the river and is very accessible either by the metro, taxi or Ferry.
As with every aspect of commercial chinese life bartering is a fundamental part of the process. However, there is a balance here, as you can’t be too cheeky in the fabric markets, as you will compromise the quality of your product. We ended up paying 995 yuan (£95) for a suit and 2 tailored shirts. This was viewed by Chinese locals we met as the righ price to pay. We came away with two tailored coats for 325 yuan each (£30). They take your measurements, in great detail and then after (usually in our case) 1 week, the finished article is ready for collection. You can customise every element from the fabric and lining to the buttons and sleeve lenghts. In terms of choosing a good tailor, there are a couple of things to look out for. Make sure the shop has samples that you can touch rather than the books. You can also tell the quality of the tailor buy the size and decor of the stall. The more extravegant looking the stall, generally the higher quality the merchandise.
After the fabric m arket we heading to Fuxing Park. Fuxing park is a good way to see how the locals spend their weekend. There were a lot of men playing cards in large groups and families out with their children. It is well worth taking the time to walk round it. After the park we walked through the streets of the French concession. This was an area where the Chinese and French compromised, the French were allowed to settle in the 18 and 19th centuries, but in joint rulership with the Chinese. There were also areas of the city which were conceded to the British. Compared to the Pudong side of the river the French concession was very low rise (most buildings only 2 stories high) and there are many interesting local shops and cafes. This is also a good place to stay as a tourist, as it retains it’s distinct character.
We then headed back onto the Pudong side of the river. There are 3 ways to do this; 1. Ferry across the river, 2. taxi 3. Metro. the Ferry and Metro cost 2 yuan (£0.20) a taxi will cost you about 15-20 yuan (£1.50-£2). Travelling around the city is suprisingly easy and cheap. ‘All in one’ cards, similar to London’s Oyster card, are available.
We made a return visit to the Superbrand mall which has every major branded shop from ever corner of the globe. At the weekend it is quite a stressful experience walking around the mall and trying to find food, restaurants here usually have queues to get in on a Saturday night. However in the week it was very easy to get around and enjoy the air-conditioned surroundings.
After the mall headed to the Shanghai History Museum which is under The Pearl tower in the heart of the Pudong, Shanghai. This building is a famous landmark on the Shanghai skyline. To go up the Pearl tower cost 180 yuan (£18) and just entry to the Shanghai History Museum is 35 yuan (£3.50). The museum is highly enjoyable, informative and interactive. Every exhibit is clearly explained in good clear English.
Arriving in Shanghai’s Pudong airport early morning after a long but comfortable flight from London felt a bit surreal. The plane takes a strange turn to arrive on the run way, flying over what looks like a toy town, an endless city of sky scraper buildings.
We were impressed at the speed we got through the airport, bags collected quickly and efficient passport control. Heading to our destination in the Pudong district was a 45 minute drive, which gave us time to take in the surroundings of Shanghai. This city is home to around 20 million people, and the rate of sky scraper buildings is kind of overwhelming (as well as the pollution levels!).
The driving in China takes some time to get used to. Expect a lot of beeping, scooters, bikes and tuk-tuks cutting in and some crazy over-taking manoeuvres. It is worth booking transfers with a respected taxi company, as these drivers are often more aware of the western expectations and you will feel a bit safer in their hands. Also make sure you have the address of your destination in Chinese, as you will struggle to find English speaking drivers. Wendy Wu offers these services as part of their tour.
We finally arrive at the Fraser Suites in Pudong – a luxurious set of apartments designed for the jet-setting executives who relocate to the city. Pudong is the main business district of Shanghai so it is catered to the ex-pat lifestyle. The nearby Super brand mall has everything you could find on Oxford street, these are usually more expensive though. The mall is a good place to go if you want to find western food and to enjoy the air conditioning.
Being the end of August, the weather was still very hot and very uncomfortable. Air-conditioning is usually easy to find in the giant shopping malls. Expect high humidity and thunder storms, the sun is hard to see through the hazy grey clouds, I think we only saw it once in our 2 weeks.
With the 8 hour time difference, jetlag was a big challenge on the first leg of our journey. Do whatever you can to keep busy and avoid the urge to lie down. Went for a walk around Pudong to get our bearings, along the river and lively with many bars and restaurants. So first night of our adventure was therefore pretty mellow, with dinner in the Blue frog (a burger chain you can usually find in the big Chinese cities) and bed!
Visit LowCostDeals.co.uk or call us NOW on 0845 833 4913, to book your perfect Wendy Wu experience.
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Filed under club med club med ski ski
Manchester United today set off on there pre-season tour of the United States.
The Red Devils will be landing in Boston, where they will play the first game of the tour against the New England Revolution. The team will be visiting Seattle, Chicago, New York & finally ending in Washington on 30th July.
If you fancy following in the footsteps of Wayne Rooney, Rio Ferdinand et all then why not book your next USA holiday with Low Cost Deals.
You can check Rio Ferdinand looking all relaxed settling in on the plane…. Rio Ferdinand
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We offer some fantastic savings on holidays and tours to United States, with some of your favourite tour operators.
You can tailor make your dream United States holiday to ensure that you get a holiday you will never forget.
Low Cost Deals - the award winning online agent
Gooday.
We decided to try and set ourselves apart from the “herd” by offering “interesting” niche style holidays,where our clients are happy to talk to us in order that we can find them their most suitable travel experience.Our aim is to offer via the internet,the highest levels of service,advice and value,with the hope that clients will return to us.
“You are only as good as your last tour” is a motto we are guided by.
We hope by contacting us we can search a variety of quality tour operators and hopefully find you something better than you can yourself. This enthusiasm has won us several wards over the past three years at the National Travel Awards ceremony held in London.
As its good to talk I intend to create a daily journal of useful(maybe useless) snippets of travel related items ,which may be of interest .
All comments and additions are most welcome.
My first
5 of the Best… Places to Sleep Under the Stars
Thanks Brendan Clancy
offering has come from Catherin Baer at Cox & Kings an excellent established tour operator offering interesting and high quality tours. with a lowcost bonus 5%
Rating 4T (with a 5T section)
Date of Travel ;June 2011 Av. Temp 32F withy a pleasant breeze.
Airport :TABA : small airport easy to handle-transfer time to Club Med 40 minutes .
Club Med: Open less than 1 year,set in a secluded natural bay,calm waters ,breeze.
Architecture stunning ,arrival s reception cool spacious minimilist
Friendly attentive staff to assist with luggage,room allocation .
Accommodation: Club Rooms Deluxe: 40m2 air conditioned,tastefully furnished,quality bedding ,furniture fridge,balcony.walk in shower excess towels.room service twice per day.
Dining: large restaurant indoor/outdoor..offering a variety of local and International cusine to suit all tastes. Served at various stations,excellent choice and great variety.Usual all inclusive drinks /chilled wines.
Breakfast lunch dinner,could not fault one meal (freshly squeezed orange juice at breakfast).
Wednesday Outside “white night” all guets and tables dressed in white superb barbecue and outdoor party/disco.
Activities:a large selection of sporting activities :golf,soccer,sailing,scuba,snorkelling,tennis….Excellent tuition on a daily basis .
Twice daily beach classes for men and women ,gym style fitness.
Pool activities mini club all day long.
Beach.Plenty of beds with shade spread over approx 3 acres. bar service and pools in wlaking distance,late resturant for lunch .
Pools over six different pools.
Spa: Cinq Monde Spa a must ,set in its own grounds a haven of peace +tranquility .Comment: I have been to over 20 club meds including Mauritius Albion (flagship 5T) I felt thios was one of the best .Olivier the Chef De Village runs an excellent team of helpful staff. Highly recommended for all ages.
Activities at the Anastasia
“This was the first time that I or any of our staff had tried a Neilson Beach Club holiday. The flight takes about 3 hours, and the transfer down to the resort is approx one and a half hours.
Once at the resort, you are greeted by the staff (surfer dude types who are mostly between ages of 18 and 30), that escort your luggage to your room.
The resort has approx 91 rooms, and they do have interconnecting for families if required, with in-room TV’s, and air conditioning. Rooms also had a fridge, so if you wanted to go to the local supermarket called Smile (part of the Carrefour chain), you could buy drinks and other incidentals, which were very reasonably priced.
The sports facilities are quite extensive such as tennis, mountain biking, waterskiing, dinghy sailing, kayaking and windsurfing, to name a few. If you want to do the activities, then it is best to sign up the day after arrival, at the welcome meeting, as many activities were popular and you could end up missing out. Ben, at the ski villa on the beach, is a very patient instructor. I didn’t quite master the art of waterskiing, but my husband much to my dismay, managed to do it first time.
The hotel has a lovely ESPA Spa, offering anything from a manicure to hot stone massages, with a full price list on display around the hotel, in your room and in the spa. There is also a hammam steam room, sauna, whirlpool Jacuzzi and indoor pool which have sliding doors that open out to face onto the beach and sea. There was also a small gym here. There were plenty of sun loungers around the large pool area, and also on the grassed area above the beach. Beach towels can be hired for 10 Euros for the week in case you forget to pack them.
The nearest town is Neo Skioni, which is 45-minute walk away, or you can take the mountain bikes out for free between 9am and 6pm, but you must take the bikes out in pairs for safety and as a tip, I would recommend you take closed shoes otherwise you cannot take them out.
Meals included all your breakfasts and lunches (hot and cold buffet style), with tea, coffee and water complimentary, except on Mon, Tues and Thurs nights which they term the ‘non inclusive nights’. On these nights, evening meals were not included but you could pay 25 Euros per adult and 20 Euros per child, otherwise you could take the shuttle bus from the hotel for which there is a 5 Euro per person charge, and eat out in the village where they had a variety of restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets. Drinks at the hotel were quite expensive - a bottle of wine costing approx 20 Euros.
Entertainment was low key, but they did have ‘film night’ a couple of times a week in the open-air cinema, and karaoke and quizzes also.
The children’s clubs looked fabulous, and the children all seemed happy to be in there, which gives the parents a break. The clubs are from children aged 4 months to 17 years of age”.
There is something for everyone in France. This vast country is as rich in colour, texture and flavour as the sauces it loves to lavish on its exquisite cuisines.
Mr Norton and family recently went on a Page and Moy trip to this fantastic country and here’s what they had to say…
Just to let you know that we really enjoyed our holiday to Albi, Carcassonne & the Dordogne area.
Wonderful countryside/scenery, generally well-informed/ helpful guide, visit programme generally good but a couple of stops could have been shorter to allow us to return earlier to our hotel. The Carcassonne trip was a long day, somewhat disappointing due to so many other people being there at the same time, also it is now so ‘commercialised’. Nevertheless, it probably has to be included.
Special tribute to our coachdriver, excellent. We did find the outward rail trip a very long day although we enjoyed the scenery. We would not travel such a great distance again by rail. From our Gravesend hotel to our hotel in Albi it took us 12 hours (on sandwiches) ! We would fly next time.
You may like to pass on these comments to Page & Moy and please thank them for arranging for us to pick up our replacement Eurostar tickets at Ebbsfleet, all came OK in the end but we still wonder how our tickets came out of the envelope in postage.
Our thanks to you all. Regards.
Ray Norton.
We at Low Cost Deals are happy that the Norton family has a wonderful time in France, and hope we can help you to book and enjoy your France adventure.
Why not give us a call now on 0845 833 4913 or visit us at www.lowcostdeals.co.uk
Albi, Carcassonne & the Dordogne
7 nights from £769 with Page & Moy
Discover medieval France as you explore fortresses and riverside towns and sample wine at a local vineyard. Try delicious cuisine and visit more of the region’s hidden treasures.
http://bit.ly/lC7sFU
For more details, give us a call now on 0845 833 4913 or visit us at www.lowcostdeals.co.uk
