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Friday, February 11, 2011

Los Angeles to London for less than $421 including taxes

Picture credit: wikimedia.org by Kglavin, crop by Wangi

Hot off the press....

We have found some amazing fares to London using direct British Airways flights. Travel Monday - Thursday until the end of April. 
Space is limited and we suspect it will sell out fast. 



From Los Angeles $421.00 Round trip including all taxes and fuel surcharges.


Thursday, February 3, 2011

Delight in Flowers

The Wildlife Trusts Lush Garden" (Show Garden) designed by Stephen Hall. Silver Flora award. Credit: Troika

2011 marks the 98th  anniversary of the start of the world famous RHS Chelsea Flower Show.  


Established in 1913, on the grounds of the Chelsea  Royal Hospital in London, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has become one of the most celebrated annual events in the world and  the  showcase for horticultural excellence, attracting visitors and exhibitors from across the globe.  


Since its beginning, the show has gone from strength to strength and grown from 244 exhibitors in 1913 to over 600 today, including gardens, nurseries, floristry, educational displays and trade stands. It now attracts 157,000 visitors every year.  


Throughout its history, the RHS Chelsea Flower Show has witnessed numerous changes, but has always provided a showcase for the gardening fashions and trends of the day. Show gardens have mirrored the changing enthusiasms of the garden designers, from the Japanese and topiary gardens of the early days, through the rock garden craze during the war years, the paved back yards and cottage gardens of the 1980s to the contemporary, sculptural gardens of the present day.  


Enjoy the world's most famous flower show, located at Royal Hospital, Chelsea, London, is a celebration of the highest quality horticulture and is a feast for your imagination, bursting with inspiration for you to take home.

Be the first to view the unveiling of new plants and learn from some of the world's best designers at the Chelsea Flower Show. This yearly event attracts worldwide attention and is the perfect addition to your London vacation. While in London dine at gourmet restaurants and shop in designer boutiques. The combination of London sights and the Chelsea Flower Show make for a wonderful vacation package.



Romance in the City of Bath

Royal Crescent, Copyright : - Bath Tourism Plus / Colin Hawkins


With royal romances very much a hot topic in the news at the moment, the City of Bath and the surrounding area is claiming to be the perfect place for those special couples in question to take a luxurious romantic break.

Bath offers all the ingredients for a very special romantic break including luxury hotels, a superb range of restaurants for candlelit dinners, a vibrant and cosmopolitan retail scene and a year-round calendar of events.

Here is just a taster of the things Bath has to offer for those who really want to spoil their own prince or princess…


Bed fit for a king
To ensure a wonderful night’s sleep, choose from one of the many hotels and guesthouses in Bath – with glorious four posters featuring in many of the rooms. Perhaps a suite at the Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel or a secluded private section of the Royal Crescent Hotel would suffice? The £15,000 Ammique bed in the Honeysuckle room at the Bath Priory Hotel will definitely fit the bill. This amazing bed has a special suspension system designed for the perfect sleeping position regardless of weight, shape and movement.
The Pump Room, Bath, Copyright : - Bath Tourism Plus 


Serenaded by strings
Afternoon tea in the stunning Pump Room with the Trio playing in the background is like stepping back in time to the romance of Bath’s Georgian heyday. The Pump Room, the social heart of Bath for 200 years, is the place to taste the waters which have played such an important role in the city’s history since Roman times.


Candle-lit dinner
With a wealth of top quality restaurants you will be spoilt for choice when looking for an intimate candlelit corner to dine in style. Try local favourite the Moon and Sixpence specialising in modern British and international cuisine, or for the ultimate indulgence, book a table at Lucknam Park Hotel just a few miles from Bath and enjoy fine dining at this Michelin starred restaurant.


Seeing the sights
As the only city in England to hold the title of UNESCO World Heritage Site, Bath boasts splendid Eighteenth Century architecture set against a backdrop of some of the most picturesque countryside in Britain. Simply strolling around the perfectly preserved streets provides the most romantic sightseeing for couples.


Float in the clouds
At Thermae Bath Spa visitors can lie back in the naturally warm and soothing waters in the rooftop pool and look up at the stars glistening above. Health and wellbeing have been Bath’s forte since Roman times and many hotels provide pampering and preening to order with some even offering couples’ treatments for total togetherness.


A lovebird’s excursion
A hot air balloon ride, gliding over the city and adjoining countryside with a glass of champagne would melt any girl’s heart. Or perhaps a very special outing aboard the luxurious Orient Express where splendour, impeccable service and the finest food are the order of the day. With a little forward planning, a box at the charming Theatre Royal or a concert in the Assembly Rooms during one of the music festivals would make an unforgettable evening.


Naughty but nice
Temptation is all around on the charming streets of Bath. Flower stalls with red roses, handmade chocolates and sinfully silky underwear are all available in specialist and designer stores throughout the city. Bath’s reputation as a fashionable city is due mainly to its vibrant retail scene with a high level of independent shops offering opportunities to find special souvenirs and indulge your princess with some retail therapy.


Diamonds are a Girls Best Friend
For diamonds and other trinkets, a visit to Mallory’s on Bridge Street is recommended. This fourth-generation family business buys diamonds directly from Antwerp and designs and manufactures rings but also carries a vast stock of watches, rings and luxury goods. Personal and unhurried service, typical of Bath shops, scores a hit with visitors looking for something very special.
View of Bath, Copyright : - Bath Tourism Plus 
Hand in hand
Stroll hand in hand through the picturesque parks and gardens within the city or head out into the charming countryside around Bath. The National Trust Skyline Walk is a six mile circuit of the city with magnificent views and benches for romantic moments. Or a stroll along the Kennet and Avon Canal is easy walking on the flat to the George Inn at Bathampton or beyond. There are numerous country pubs with welcoming roaring fires and cosy corners to reward romantic walkers with a wholesome pub lunch.


Tie the knot
Bath has returned to its roots as the most romantic city in the UK. In the Eighteenth Century it became a magnet for fashionable society where Bath played a pivotal role in the marriage market. Today it is once again attracting romantics from all over the country. Over fifty percent of the weddings that take place in Bath are for people who do not live in the city. Unique historic venues like the Assembly Rooms, the Pump Room or even the world-famous Roman Baths, are among some of the premises in Bath and North East Somerset that currently hold wedding licences.


Ever been to bath? Got any tips or suggestions? Where do you think the most romatic place in Britain is? We welcome your comments and suggestions below.