Special offers at a historic Welsh hotel

To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Bodysgallen Hall & Spa in North Wales is offering guests a 30% reduction in room rates this November, January and February.

Built mainly in the 17th century as a country house, Bodysgallen was restored and opened as a luxury hotel in 1981. The Hall has a 13th-century tower with a narrow winding staircase, which was once used as a lookout for soldiers serving the English kings of Conwy.

The hotel has 15 bedrooms in the Main Hall, including four suites, and 16 cottages in 80 hectares (200 acres) of gardens and parkland. There are views over to Conwy Castle and Snowdonia. There are two restaurants and a spa. The hotel, near Llandudno on the North Wales coast, was given to the National Trust in 2008 and all profits now go to the Trust and the upkeep of the building. 

The National Trust charity has over 3.6 million members and 55,000 volunteers. Its mission is to protect and open to the public over 350 historic houses, gardens and ancient monuments. The charity also looks after some forests, woods, fens, beaches, farmland, downs, moorland, islands, archaeological remains, castles, nature reserves and villages.

Room rates at Bodysgallen Hall & Spa are normally from £149 for single occupancy in a classic Queen size double to £425 for a suite. These prices include continental breakfast, early morning tea and full use of the spa.

Edinburgh’s four-day New Year

The Hogmanay festivities in Scotland’s capital are known as the greatest celebration of New Year in the world.

Hogmanay is the Scottish word for the last day of the year, and the occasion is celebrated in Scotland on a far grander scale than in the rest of the British Isles. Edinburgh’s festivities run for four days (30 December–2 January) and begin with a Torchlight Procession at 6.30pm on 30 December. Thousands of torch carriers create a ‘river of fire’ from the city’s Royal Mile to a Son et Lumière and fireworks finale on Calton Hill.

On New Year’s Eve the three major ticketed events are Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party, the Concert in the Gardens and the Keilidh – an open air ceilidh with Scottish traditional music and dancing by the Old Town. At midnight the city lights up with a major fireworks display.

Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party along Princes Street and in sight of the castle annually attracts tens of thousands of residents and visitors from around the world. There will be four live music stages at this year’s Party.

Scottish rock band Biffy Clyro will headline the Concert in the Gardens in West Princes Street. They say: ‘Bringing in the bells in Scotland at the biggest party in the world is the icing on the cake of an amazing year for us.’ (Bringing in the bells is a Scottish expression for welcoming the midnight bells on the last night of the year.)

Full programme details will be available early in November. Ticket prices: Concert in the Gardens £35 + booking fee. Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party £15. The Keilidh: £30 + booking fee. Tickets to the Keilidh and Concert in the Gardens include access to the Edinburgh’s Hogmanay Street Party. Entrance to the Hogmanay Street Party is strictly by ticket only.

Festivals for chocaholics

By $udeep Bajpai, via Wikimedia Commons

The Chocolate Festival returns to London’s Southbank Centre for one weekend in December.

The festival is free to visit and will feature award-winning chocolatiers William Curley, Damian Allsop, Paul Wayne Gregory and Co-Couture. Chocolate companies Rococo, Valrhona and Hotel Chocolat will be at the festival, along with new companies Choki of Brockley and Simply Hand Made Chocolates.

Demonstrations and talks will offer visitors tutored tastings and recipe ideas for using chocolate in savoury dishes. There will also be a chocolate fashion display with chocolate dresses as well as chocolate icing works by artist Beth Cust. 

Stallholders will offer chocolate and hot chocolate drinks, chocolate cakes, crepes with chocolate, churros with chocolate, a chocolate fountain and chocolate-making kits for sale.

The Southbank Centre is the UK’s largest arts centre, occupying a 8.5-hectare (21-acre) site on the south bank of the Thames in London. The site was first developed for the 1951 Festival of Britain. It includes the Royal Festival Hall, Queen Elizabeth Hall, Purcell Room and Hayward Gallery as well as the Saison Poetry Library and the Arts Council Collection. 

Chocolate Festival, 10–12 December, 11am–6 pm (8 pm on Friday),and is free. The Southbank will also host an Easter Chocolate Festival on 8–10 April. Other Chocolate Festivals take place in Oxford and Brighton in April. 

Hertz Introduces Self Service Express Kiosks

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You can now pick up your Hertz rental car in the UK and other countries in Europe at the touch of a button, almost!

The new touch screen self service kiosks are being rolled at selected locations across nine European countries for pre-paid rental customers. Similar to the self service kiosks currently used by airlines for airport check-in. 

Hertz say,

"Similar to an airline check-in kiosk, the Self Service Express touch screen kiosk is a reservation-based system that collects the customer’s personal information and identifies the customer’s reservation. It then completes the rental car pick-up process, sending the customer on his or her way quickly. In addition, the solution allows Hertz customers to select and purchase upgrades, optional insurance and waiver products, fuel options and add-ons such as child seats and the Hertz NeverLost® in-car satellite navigation system."

The system will complement the Hertz Online Check-in program, which allows customers to begin the check-in process in the comfort of their home or office before they travel. 


The Hertz Pre-paid rates such as, the Affordable Europe program, allow you to pay at the time of booking and lock in your rental costs in U.S. Dollars. Great for leisure travelers who want to know the costs of their trip before the leave home, and avoid unexpected exchange rate changes of currency conversion fees charged by their credit card company. They are often cheaper too.

Book Early and Save up to 10% on CIE Tours

CIE tours are offering early bookers chance to save up to 10% on the cost of their 2011 land tour, when you pay in full by October 15th. 

Here is how the discounts work.

Save up to 10% if your departure date is 12 months or longer in advance
Save up to 7% if your departure date is 10 to 11 months in advance 

Save up to 5% if your departure date is 6 to 9 months in advance

CIE are celebrating 78 Years of providing great vacations like this Heart of England and Wales Tour. 

Land Only Prices for this tour start at only $1498.00 per person for 8 Days featuring:

• Stunning Welsh Scenery
• Cardiff Castle's Welsh Banquet
• Tower of London & Crown Jewels
• Jane Austen's City of Bath
• Caernarfon Castle
• Shakespeare's Birthplace
• Windsor Castle

This value for money tour includes

• Group transfers on arrival and departure from Heathrow Airport
• Sightseeing by luxury coach throughout
• Services of a professional tour director
• Superior first class hotels with private bath/shower for 7 nights
• 7 full breakfasts (B)
• 6 dinners (D) including
  - Welcome dinner in London
  - Welsh banquet at Cardiff Castle
  - 4 table d'hote dinners
• Welcome get-together drink
• Half-day sightseeing tour of London
• Walking tours of Bath, Caernarfon and Oxford
• Panoramic tours of Cardiff and Stratford-upon-Avon
• Visits and admissions to Tower of London, Roman Baths & Pump Room, Cardiff Castle, Portmeirion Village, National Slate Museum, Caernarfon Castle, Shakespeare's Birthplace and Windsor Castle
• Deluxe flight bag, ticket wallet, luggage tags & strap
• All local taxes, hotel service charges & porterage for one suitcase per person

To find out more about CIE and their excellent tours, visit our web site.

These offers are valid for new 2011 bookings only and not valid for group travel or with other CIE Tours promotions and discounts. This promotion may be revised at any time. Certain restrictions apply.

The Chesterfield Mayfair, located in the heart of Mayfair.

A mere five-minute walk to both Hyde Park and Green Park

The hotel has just been awarded 'Best in Class' in the Inspector's Choice Award. 

Mayfair's only red star accredited hotel in 2010/2011 .

Magical London

Between 26th November 2010 and 9th January 2011, The Chesterfield Mayfair will be offering its "Magical London" package, including:

• Two nights accommodation in a beautifully appointed bedroom or suite
• A warming glass of mulled wine or a mug of the ultimate hot chocolate on arrival
• Full English Breakfast daily
• A festive Afternoon Tea
• A festive turndown treat at bedtime
• Free movies for those who want to snuggle up with a great film
• A 3pm check-out on the day of departure

Guests staying on Christmas Eve receive a Christmas stocking full of delightful surprises and there’s even a Christmas Tree in the room for all those who book suites!

Prices start from £187.00 exclusive of VAT per room per night based on two adults sharing a Superior Double room. Minimum two night stay applies. Additional nights are at our Best Available Rate and include Full English Breakfast. Terms and conditions apply.

Mayfair Weekends

The Chesterfield's Mayfair Weekends, is the ideal offer for weekend stays in London. 

Guests staying two nights or more, between Thursday and Sunday night, will 

receive the following complimentary treats:

• Full English Breakfast each day
• Traditional afternoon tea for two on the day of your choice
• A complimentary bottle of fine Champagne in your room

Not only that, guests can also check-out as late as 6pm on Sundays!

Prices start from £165.00 per night, excluding VAT, based on two adults sharing a Classic Double room. 
This package is offered subject to availability, every Thursday to Monday until 31st December 2011.

Pinnacle's British Travel Experts can help you plan the compete package. 

Call or email us for more details of these offers or stays at other luxury hotels across Britain.

Pinnacle's Britain

Britain is full of contrasts; whichever direction you travel you will find a wide variety of landscapes and diverse cultures to explore. England , Scotland , Wales and Northern Ireland are all unique countries with their own customs, cultures and traditions.

All the regions of England are within easy reach of the exciting capital city, London , famed for first class culture, fascinating history and pageantry, its world-class restaurants and theatre. Scotland is everything you imagine – whisky, golf, romance of the clans and a wealth of castles and historic sites. Wales captivates visitors with its rich character and landscapes. Northern Ireland 's vibrant cities ring with shopping, nightlife and festivals, outdoor activities, fabulous food and unspoiled retreats where you can unwind, relax and recharge.

Pinnacle Travel Services is able to offer you the complete vacation planning service for your British Vacation. Nobody can know the heart of Britain like a native, and that's what makes our British Specialists your travel experts. Years of living, working, and traveling in Britain ensure that we are able to help you plan and get the most from your British Vacation, whether you’re looking for a weekend break to London or a tailor-made itinerary visiting the places that interest you. If you have been before we can take you off the beaten path, away from the tourist trail. If it’s your first time, we can find the best ways for you to visit the places you have only heard and dreamed about. Even if you want to see more of Europe , then Britain is both the ideal starting point and the place to return for a quiet cup of tea and a scone before your journey back "across the pond". Trust Pinnacle to be your eyes and ears for the best that Britain has to offer.

This blog will offer just a small selection of the many possibilities available from our British specialists.