Vouchers, Offers and Business News

LD Lines' best value autumn fares

New autumn fares from LD Lines across its network of three ferry routes, provide short break excursion ideas to a choice of destinations including the Normandy region of Northern France and Gijón in Northern Spain.

LD Lines’ two ferry services to Normandy operate from Portsmouth to Le Havre and Newhaven to Dieppe.

Portsmouth – Le Havre autumn break fares start from £46 each way for a car and two passengers and Newhaven – Dieppe fares start from £39 each way for a car and two passengers. Foot passenger fares via Newhaven – Dieppe are also available for £15 each way.

The French region of Normandy is best known for its gastronomy, from Camembert to Calvados; its connections with William the Conqueror; the immense stretch of sandy coastline that forms the D-Day landing beaches and one of its most iconic sites, the abbey known as Mont Saint Michel.

Launched by LD Lines in September 2010, the first 'Motorways of the Sea' ferry service operates between Nantes-Saint Nazaire in North West France and Gijón in Northern Spain.

For tourist passengers, the service has an autumn offer of £67.50 each way for a car and two passengers including on board seats and £111.50 single for a car and two passengers and standard cabin.

Gijón is one of the most important ports on the Atlantic coast of Spain. Visiting the city of Gijón is a perfect way to begin exploring the rural countryside of Northern Spain. Originally a fishing village nearly 3,000 years ago, Gijón now combines the modern with the historical culture of the surrounding Asturias region.

More information on LD Lines’ ferry service website.

Joint venture brings Normandy and Brittany closer

French Pedals and Brittany Borders Bicycling have just announced a joint venture to cross market their offers and services.

John Hall, Owner of Brittany Borders Bicycling said: "Visitors to Europe often like to spend a month or more visiting Europe, especially Brittany and Normandy.

"The joint venture between Brittany Borders Bicycling and French Pedals creates a 'one stop shop' for cycling holidays in two different but adjacent French regions as well as allowing clients to enjoy the distinct and high quality cycling holidays which both companies offer."

Both Normandy and Brittany are renowned for their hospitality and welcoming attitude to visitors. This is the experience of both companies who attract clients from USA, Canada, South Africa , Australia and New Zealand as well as the UK and mainland Europe.

Océanides Réceptif: your hosts in the Gard

The Océanides travel company has launched a new venture. After decades of experience organising cultural trips in Europe, Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, the company has created a new agency specialising in Languedoc-Roussillon.

Called Océanides Réceptif it opened an office at Nîmes airport to welcome visitors to the Gard and is offering a wide range of made-to-measure and ready-made vacations.

Visitors coming on Océanides Réceptif holidays get a personal welcome at Nîmes airport. They are able to use the VIP lounge and benefit from priority boarding.

We are offering short breaks and longer holidays for individuals and groups and also organise one-day, all-inclusive excursions. Our aim is to give visitors an authentic taste of a region that is steeped in tradition and culinary know-how, and has a landscape that remains magnificently unspoilt.

We’ve drawn up a list of top-class hotels, charming B&Bs, and excellent restaurants. We’ll be providing transport and experienced local tour guides. We’ll suggest cultural events and fun activities for adults and children, and organise trips to local vineyards, tastings of local produce, and meetings with local artisans. We are committed to responsible, equitable tourism and quality is our watchword.

The Océanides Réceptif team knows the Gard and the people who live here, so can take holidaymakers off the beaten track. Our “Recollections of the past” holidays take visitors back through the centuries, allowing them to delve into the fascinating history and heritage of this region.

We’re aware that visitors have differing needs; someone with a second home in the Gard won’t have the same expectations as a person discovering the area for the first time. We plan, in winter, to organise excursions for people actually living here in the Gard.

There is a wealth of diversity in the Gard, which stretches from the coastlands of the Camargue to the spectacular Cévennes mountains. Nîmes is famous for its amphitheatre and the Roman aqueduct, the Pont du Gard, is on UNESCO's World Heritage List. The town of Uzès is renowned for its exquisite architecture. The “Gard Provencal” is home to lush vineyards, gorgeous gardens, and enchanting medieval villages.

Océanides Réceptif also organises holidays and excursions in other areas of Languedoc-Roussillon: the Hérault, the Aude, and the Pyrénées-Orientales. Whatever their exact destination, we’ll give visitors a true taste of the south of France.

Brittany Ferries offers wine cruises to France from £55

From 3rd - 17th May Brittany Ferries is raising a glass to French wine and winemaking. The French ferry company is holding a two-week celebration on board its Portsmouth – Caen cruiseferry sailings with a variety of on-board attractions including wine-themed events and activities, as well as fascinating insights into the winemaking process itself given by skilled French winemakers.

The best way to experience the celebrations is to book a wine-themed cruise, starting from just £55. Departing Portsmouth at 08.15, passengers will enjoy a morning wine-tasting workshop before settling down in the restaurant for a special 3-course meal, where each course will be paired with a appropriate wine.

During the afternoon there’s an opportunity to meet an experienced winegrower and to participate in a workshop dedicated to pairing wine and cheese. There will also be plenty of time to take advantage of some money-saving wine offers in the on-board boutiques. The day will end with a fun wine-tasting competition before arrival back in Portsmouth at 21.15.

The second way to take part in the fun is to book any daytime cruiseferry sailing throughout the Wine Fortnight. During the crossing, passengers will have the chance to meet a winegrower, learn all about the fascinating subject of wine and sign up for tastings and the special wine-tasting menu.

In addition , all passengers travelling on the Portsmouth – Caen route during the celebrations will have the chance to win one of two wine-themed weekends in Burgundy by taking part in Brittany Ferries’ Wine Fortnight Prize draw. The breaks, which take place during the famous Hospices de Beaune wine auction celebrations, include ferry travel to France, luxury hotel accommodation at Nuits St George as well as tasting sessions at prestigious wine producer, Bouchard Père et Fils.

Mike Bevens, Brittany Ferries Commercial Director comments, ”France is well known as the land of the vine, and being a French company, serving our passengers fine wines in our bars and restaurants, as well as selling it in our boutiques is something we take great pride in – it’s about giving our passengers a taste of France before they even arrive. These cruises are a great way to relax and have fun, with fine wine and excellent food, as well as to learn more about winemaking.”

For more information or to book visit www.brittanyferries.com/

UK - France - Spain link for summer travel from LD Lines

The threat of Spanish flights disruption potentially causing travel chaos for passengers over Easter and into the peak summer period, will mean the only guaranteed way of travelling hassle-free will be by ferry, with LD Lines’ through UK-France-Spain services providing excellent connections.

Tourist passengers heading for Spain can take advantage of LD Lines’ Portsmouth – Le Havre or Newhaven – Dieppe routes to Normandy, followed by an autoroute drive to North West Brittany, for onward travel via the new ferry link between Saint Nazaire (Nantes) and Gijón in Northern Spain.

French Pedals hold or decrease their prices for 2011

It’s not often these days that something goes down in price but French Pedals, the French cycling tour provider is holding prices for Normandy and actually decreasing the prices charged for their Ardennes tours.

Mindful of being fair and not wanting to make unreasonable profits at the expense of their customers, French Pedals passes on any savings they achieve from suppliers.

And there’s no skimping on quality just because the prices are keen. In the Ardennes, the accommodation is specially selected for its comfort and typically French atmosphere.

The people who run French Pedals have personally sampled all of the hotels and enjoyed their hospitality wanting customers to experience a truly French atmosphere.

The hotels are all situated at the end of each day’s cycle route so there’s no long, hard slog at the end of the day. Fitting with the desire to make cyclists feel part of the French way of life, evening meals are three courses of good regional food.

Prices include use of bicycles, transport of luggage between hotels, maps and directions. And there’s no need to worry about being caught hungry at lunchtime far from a local hostelry - a packed lunch is available from the hotel.

To find out more visit www.frenchpedals.co.uk.

Tots to Travel just keeps growing - raft of new child friendly properties in France

The award winning Tots to Travel has added a collection of stunning new properties to its portfolio of over 100 villas, farmhouses and gîtes in France.

The new additions build on the existing selection of genuinely child-friendly, self-catering properties in France, Italy and the UK, all of which are visited and vetted by the Tots team to ensure that parents get a real break.

The new additions provide something for everyone – from houses suitable for allergy sufferers, to beach and lakeside locations, close proximity to ski slopes, on-site restaurants and even maid service.

Activity and nature breaks in Provence and southern Alps

Here is a quick selection of activities and events that offer you the chance to explore Provence Alpes Cote d'Azur.

Camargue on Horseback
Camargue is one of Europe's most unusual geographical areas. Its flat marshlands, running alongside the Med, harbour an incredibly abundant plant and animal life, including wild bulls and horses and pink flamingos.

A prestige website for prestigious properties in France

Press release, Sextant Properties: Sextant Prestige, which has been set up by successful French property estate agency Sextant Properties, is aimed at potential purchasers looking to buy châteaux, manor houses and villas across the country.

The idea is to offer customers a bespoke service tailored to their precise needs and requirements.

Sextant Prestige will also guide prospective buyers through some of the legal implications of buying prestige properties in France.

Surf across the Channel with Brittany Ferries

Press release, Brittany Ferries: Brittany Ferries is now offering on-board Wi-Fi internet access throughout its fleet of cruise ferries linking the UK with France and Spain.

The company has long been known for high standards of on-board dining, facilities and entertainment, and now internet access, via satellite has been added to the wide range of on-board services.