Latest news with #Inntravel
Times
11-05-2025
- Times
Late deals: 12 great trips to book now
A recent report suggests that more than three-quarters of UK travellers are looking to take more holidays this summer than last, while almost half of us are yet to book our main summer trip. If either of these rings true for you, how about walking in Cornwall, cruising the Rhine, taking the family to Corsica or touring Jordan? All those discounted trips are available this summer, while we've also found a winter-sun break to Mauritius for anyone more into forward planning. May is National Walking Month and to celebrate Inntravel is offering savings of up to £300 on all self-guided hiking holidays booked before May 26. That covers options across Europe, including the UK, where you might build your anticipation of The Salt Path — the forthcoming Gillian Anderson film about a journey along the South West Coast Path, out on May 30 — by trying the Cornwall's Forgotten Corner itinerary. Heading east from Looe, this gentle route combines glorious gardens, quaint villages and stylish hotels. Six nights' B&B now costs from £845pp, including luggage transfers ( No need to leave your four-legged friend at home with a holiday on the Isle of Wight, now reduced by up to 28 per cent. You'll stay at the Victorian Luccombe Manor Country House Hotel, high above Sandown Bay and within strolling distance of Shanklin Old Village, with its cosy pubs, tearooms and gift shops. Dogs cost an extra £15 per night, with easy walks available on the Sandown Coastal Walk and coastal gorge Shanklin Chine. Five nights' B&B costs from £335pp, including ferry crossing and one dinner ( The kids will have plenty of room to roam at the Wyndham Duchally Country Estate, set in 27 acres of parkland in the Perthshire countryside. It's offering 15 per cent off stays in its two-bedroom lodges between June 21 and September 7. Each one sleeps six and has a fully fitted kitchen, open-plan living area and private terrace for sunny barbecues. The resort also has a heated indoor pool, gym and Monteaths restaurant, where an included breakfast is served each morning. B&B lodges for six start from £232 per night ( For anyone booking this month, the boutique river cruise line Uniworld is discounting tens of its European voyages by as much as 40 per cent. Reduced by 30 per cent is the August 14 departure of Castles along the Rhine, a sailing from Basel to Amsterdam on the ornate, Versailles-style 'super ship' Antoinette. As well as admiring the impressive Rheinstein and Marksburg fortresses, you'll get to visit historic Cologne and pretty Strasbourg, tour village vineyards and cycle to viewpoints. Seven nights' all-inclusive now starts from £1,999pp, including flights and transfers ( Also limited to May is a Corsican Places deal in which one child aged 2-16 can fly free of charge with every paying adult. The offer is available on selected villa-based package holidays to the island taken before September 28, including during the school holidays. One standout option is the two-bedroom Casa di Pruno, a rural cottage with a private pool and terrific mountain views near the atmospheric, southern clifftop town of Bonifacio. Seven nights' self-catering for four in August costs from £3,786, including flights and car hire ( Save up to £181 (10 per cent) per person on this escorted group tour of Madeira with Saga, valid until May 18 for specific tours departing up to January 31 if you use the code 'TOP10' at checkout. Based on an August 28 departure, the trip includes seven nights at the five-star Melia Madeira Mare, with its large spa, indoor and outdoor pools and Atlantic Ocean views. The package includes a tour of Funchal by a local guide, entry to the botanical gardens, wine tasting, a full-day island tour and an excursion to Eira do Serrardo and Monte. Seven nights' half-board starts from £1,654pp, including flights, transfers in the UK and in Madeira, five excursions, one lunch, drinks at dinner and travel insurance ( To celebrate the launch of its new Explorer kids' club at Eagles Resort, Halkidiki, in Greece, Scott Dunn is offering 30 per cent off for guests who book by May 31 and travel before October 28. The club provides entertainment, play spaces and evening childcare for children aged between four months and 11 years, giving parents the chance to enjoy the hotel's blue flag-certified beach, water sports, spa and restaurants including a seafront Greek taverna and a shaded bistro. Seven nights' B&B starts from £8,450 for a family of four, including flights, private transfers and two Explorer kids' club places ( It's not too late to nab a seafront villa in the Med this summer. Oliver's Travels has just launched its Secret Sale, which runs until May 31, offering discounts across a range of villas for travel until August 31. Villa Timur in Kalkan in Turkey now has a 20 per cent reduction and comes with five modern bedrooms, an outdoor pool with sea views and a large garden with a hammock and alfresco dining area. Kalamar Beach Club is a short stroll away, while Kalkan's cobbled streets, bars and restaurants are a 20-minute walk. Seven nights' self-catering for ten starts from £4,184 ( This small-group tour covers Jordan's headline attractions in the space of a week. That encompasses two full days at the astonishing, rock-carved city of Petra; a guided tour of the superbly preserved Roman city of Jerash; an effortless float in the Dead Sea; time by the Red Sea; and an overnight camp stay in the lunar-like Wadi Rum desert. The June 14 departure costs from £1,195pp, or you could wait for 2026, when savings mean year-round departures cost from £1,085pp. Prices include eight nights' B&B, activities and transport ( Fly to Amman. Far from Koh Lanta's busier beaches, the large Pimalai Resort & Spa is this Thai island's most exclusive base. Set in rainforest above Kantiang Bay's honey-coloured beach, it has excellent restaurants, a cliffside infinity pool and airy villas affording spectacular sea views, while the range of (mostly free) sporting activities spans Muay Thai classes, pickleball and mountain biking. Book by May 31 to save up to £1,900pp for travel before June 30 or in September. Seven nights' B&B begins from £1,299pp, including flights and transfers ( Winter-sun stays at Coin De Mire Attitude on Mauritius's northern tip are part of British Airways and British Airways Holidays' Original Sale, which runs until May 20. Across the road from a white-sand shore, this garden-set resort has a pair of freeform, palm-surrounded pools — one offering aqua polo games, the other more relaxed — alongside two restaurants and a spa. Close by are Grand Baie's bars and the pretty red-roofed chapel in Cap Malheureux. In January, seven nights' B&B costs from £879pp, including flights ( The extras can add up on a holiday to the Maldives but Seaside Finolhu Baa Atoll Maldives is sweetening the deal for travel until September 30. Guests will receive 20 per cent off all bookings and a complimentary meal upgrade from B&B to half-board, with one child staying and eating for free. One of the Indian Ocean's liveliest resorts, it has a new teen club, an inflatable water adventure park, a VR golf studio, tennis court and arts centre as well as the usual white sand beach. Based on a June 16 departure, seven nights' half-board costs from £9,140 for a family of four, including flights and seaplane transfers (
The Sun
03-05-2025
- The Sun
I walked in the footsteps of WW2 hero soldiers on French beaches ahead of VE-Day memorial
THE wind swirls sand around my boots and gulls bounce overhead as I read the 47 Royal Marine Commando Memorial at the viewpoint in Port-en-Bessin, the site of a daring raid following D-Day. It's the end of my second day on a self-guided walking route along the D-Day beaches with Inntravel. 8 8 It takes in Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword beaches along with museums, memorials, bunkers from the Atlantic Wall (Hitler's coastal defences) and Mulberry harbour remnants left in the wake of history's largest amphibious invasion. I'd started in the west, crossing open fields that would have been flooded in 1944. It was eerie walking alone in the low morning light; hedgerows rustled with birds and the breeze, and I pictured Allied troops cautiously pushing inland, possibly where I'd stepped. The track met with country lanes, which gave way to the vast, wind-whipped stretch of Utah Beach. The ferocity of fighting on these beaches, then mined and studded with obstacles, was inconceivable under the day's sun, people sand yachting and horses harness-racing. I spent an hour engrossed in the nearby Utah Beach Landing Museum, which set the scene for Operation Neptune, the code name for the landings on June 6, 1944 that would kick off Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Europe and the beginning of the end of World War Two. The route took me from beach to clifftop and back again, through quiet villages to the sobering Normandy American Cemetery, where 9,000 US soldiers are buried. The next morning, I continued along Omaha Beach, where D-Day saw US troops pinned down under the well-defended cliffs, ensuring it would forever be remembered as ' Bloody Omaha ', later immortalised in Saving Private Ryan. The route took me from beach to clifftop and back again, through quiet villages to the sobering Normandy American Cemetery, where 9,000 US soldiers are buried. It's a thoughtful pairing, walking and history; one where the countryside meets the coast, every passerby exclaims 'Bonjour!' and evidence of what unfolded nearly 81 years ago is still visible. Thanks to the comprehensive notes provided, you can do as much or as little of the history as you like, stopping at every museum, or none. Brits to get Bank Holiday bonanza this year to celebrate VE Day with star-studded concert, flypast & 4 days of events Walking solo, I listen to episodes of We Have Ways Of Making You Talk that correspond with each beach. At Arromanches, the beach is littered with remains from Mulberry B, a frankly audacious engineering feat that saw two man-made harbours, partly constructed in England, towed across the Channel and assembled offshore following the landings. While the 360° Cinema and Arromanches Museum are worth visiting, seeing the remains of breakwaters and pontoons you can touch at low tide might be enough. Beaches of Gold I head back towards the port, meandering through fields of rippling young wheat to reach the battery of Longues-sur-Mer. It's the only place in Normandy where you can see original guns in situ, just as when captured on June 7, 1944 (along with a bunker featured in The Longest Day). 8 8 8 I slide behind one of four giant naval guns and imagine the deafening sound that would have reverberated in the concrete casemate. Striding past fields of radiant oilseed rape, a narrow path winds high on to cliffs before the port pops into view. I settle into a bistro for the region's famous fish soup, bisquey goodness with melted gruyère; a warming end to the day. The beaches of Gold, Juno and Sword lie ahead where the British, Canadians and other Allies landed on that historic morning. After scanning just some of the 22,442 names chiselled into the British Normandy Memorial, I walk down to the expanse of Gold Beach where British troops fought. The path snakes alongside the sandy coastline, past shuttered holiday homes, through dunes and on to the interesting Juno Beach Centre. Sipping my now-daily local cider, I reflect on the emotions that have ebbed and flowed on this walk. Boots full of sand, I pass more bunkers before reaching Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer and the western edge of Sword Beach. Sipping my now-daily local cider, I reflect on the emotions that have ebbed and flowed on this walk. Dining on moules frites, I let my chips soak in the savoury broth while reading up on tomorrow's target, Pegasus Bridge. On approach the next morning, I hear bagpipes and a kilt-clad visitor re-enacting the famous moment Piper Bill Millin strode across the bridge. Tracing the towpath, I reach Caen, then hop a train to Bayeux. Having toured the Battle of Normandy Museum, I take my final steps of the trip, some 60 miles later, at the Bayeux War Cemetery, where more than 4,000 British soldiers are buried; it's a fitting place to end my journey through their story. 8 8 GO: NORMANDY BEACHES WALKING Normandy's D-Day beaches with Inntravel, which runs until November, starts from £1,595 per person. It is rated easy-to-moderate with distances of around eight to ten miles per day. The trip includes seven nights' accommodation in three and four-star hotels, daily breakfast and two dinners, as well as local transfers and all walking routes, maps and notes.
The Irish Sun
03-05-2025
- The Irish Sun
I walked in the footsteps of WW2 hero soldiers on French beaches ahead of VE-Day memorial
THE wind swirls sand around my boots and gulls bounce overhead as I read the 47 Royal Marine Commando Memorial at the viewpoint in Port-en-Bessin, the site of a daring raid following D-Day. It's the end of my second day on a self-guided walking route along the D-Day beaches with Inntravel. 8 The route took me from beach to clifftop and back again, through quiet villages to the sobering Normandy American Cemetery, where 9,000 US soldiers are buried Credit: Alamy 8 The walk takes in Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno, above, and Sword beaches Credit: Getty 8 A bunker on the Atlantic Wall (Hitler's vast coastal defences) Credit: Getty It takes in Utah, Omaha, Gold, Juno and Sword beaches along with museums, memorials, bunkers from the Atlantic Wall (Hitler's coastal defences) and Mulberry harbour remnants left in the wake of history's largest amphibious invasion. I'd started in the west, crossing open fields that would have been flooded in 1944. It was eerie walking alone in the low morning light; hedgerows rustled with birds and the breeze, and I pictured Allied troops cautiously pushing inland, possibly where I'd stepped. The track met with country lanes, which gave way to the vast, wind-whipped stretch of Utah Beach. READ MORE TRAVEL REVIEWS The ferocity of fighting on these beaches, then mined and studded with obstacles, was inconceivable under the day's sun, people sand yachting and horses harness-racing. I spent an hour engrossed in the nearby Utah Beach Landing Museum, which set the scene for Operation Neptune, the code name for the landings on June 6, 1944 that would kick off Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Europe and the beginning of the end of World War Two. The route took me from beach to clifftop and back again, through quiet villages to the sobering Normandy American Cemetery, where 9,000 US soldiers are buried. The next morning, I continued along The route took me from beach to clifftop and back again, through quiet villages to the sobering Normandy American Cemetery, where 9,000 US soldiers are buried. Most read in News Travel It's a thoughtful pairing, walking and history; one where the countryside meets the coast, every passerby exclaims 'Bonjour!' and evidence of what unfolded nearly 81 years ago is still visible. Thanks to the comprehensive notes provided, you can do as much or as little of the history as you like, stopping at every museum, or none. Brits to get Bank Holiday bonanza this year to celebrate VE Day with star-studded concert, flypast & 4 days of events Walking solo, I listen to episodes of We Have Ways Of Making You Talk that correspond with each beach. At Arromanches, the beach is littered with remains from Mulberry B, a frankly audacious engineering feat that saw two man-made harbours, partly constructed in England, towed across While the 360° Cinema and Arromanches Museum are worth visiting, seeing the remains of breakwaters and pontoons you can touch at low tide might be enough. Beaches of Gold I head back towards the port, meandering through fields of rippling young wheat to reach the battery of Longues-sur-Mer. It's the only place in Normandy where you can see original guns in situ, just as when captured on June 7, 1944 (along with a bunker featured in The Longest Day). 8 Mulberry harbour still reveals remnants left in the wake of history's largest amphibious invasion Credit: Getty 8 Utah Beach Landing Museum is a must see Credit: Alamy 8 The Battle of Normandy Museum Credit: Alamy I slide behind one of four giant naval guns and imagine the deafening sound that would have reverberated in the concrete casemate. Striding past fields of radiant oilseed rape, a narrow path winds high on to cliffs before the port pops into view. I settle into a bistro for the region's famous fish soup, bisquey goodness with melted gruyère; a warming end to the day. The beaches of Gold, Juno and Sword lie ahead where the British, Canadians and other Allies landed on that historic morning. After scanning just some of the 22,442 names chiselled into the British Normandy Memorial, I walk down to the expanse of Gold Beach where British troops fought. The path snakes alongside the sandy coastline, past shuttered holiday homes , through dunes and on to the interesting Juno Beach Centre. Sipping my now-daily local cider, I reflect on the emotions that have ebbed and flowed on this walk. Boots full of sand, I pass more bunkers before reaching Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer and the western edge of Sword Beach. Sipping my now-daily local cider, I reflect on the emotions that have ebbed and flowed on this walk. Dining on moules frites, I let my chips soak in the savoury broth while reading up on tomorrow's target , Pegasus Bridge. On approach the next morning, I hear bagpipes and a kilt-clad visitor re-enacting the famous moment Piper Bill Millin strode across the bridge. Tracing the towpath, I reach Caen, then hop a train to Bayeux. Having toured the Battle of Normandy Museum, I take my final steps of the trip, some 60 miles later, at the Bayeux War Cemetery, where more than 4,000 British soldiers are buried; it's a fitting place to end my journey through their story. 8 US troops rally for D-Day June 6, 1944 Credit: AFP - Getty 8 Brave troops landing on a French beach Credit: AFP - Getty GO: NORMANDY BEACHES WALKING Normandy's D-Day beaches with Inntravel, which runs until November, starts from £1,595 per person. It is rated easy-to-moderate with distances of around eight to ten miles per day. The trip includes seven nights' accommodation in three and four-star hotels, daily breakfast and two dinners, as well as local transfers and all walking routes, maps and notes.
NZ Herald
21-04-2025
- NZ Herald
Why Porto in Portugal is the best spot to visit no matter how old you are
This time, my visit was far more planned, thanks to Inntravel, specialists in self-guided walking holidays across Europe. I'd opted for their four-night Porto and the Douro Valley Short Break, drawn by the freedom to explore independently while having all the logistical details expertly mapped out. To make the most of it, I tacked on extra initial days in Porto with friends. And I'm happy to report that this charming city remains as shiny a memory as it ever was – with the Douro Valley now adding to the highlights. Waiting for my pals to arrive in Porto, I set off in search of provisions for us and soon found myself on Rua das Flores – a pedestrianised street heaving with tourists, drawn by the trendy cafes, restaurants, souvenir shops and chic boutiques running its length. The October sun is T-shirt-worthy, and at the street's southern end people are sitting outside with drinks, listening – and, in many cases, singing along – to a busker several notches above the usual street performer. The energy is infectious, and I'm boggled at the sight of the surrounding magnificently tiled buildings. The owner of a small wine shop I find around the corner, on learning I've just arrived, enthusiastically offers a quick tutorial on the basics of port – the sweet libation for which the city is named. I spy a white port and am told it's more often than not served as an aperitif with tonic water. That and a bottle of vinho verde, a refreshing style of white wine from the nearby Minho region of Portugal, go in the bag for welcome drinks. A delicious initiation. We also introduce ourselves that evening to bacalhau, or salt cod, which holds a special place in Portuguese cuisine. Cafetaria da Bolsa is a humble wee local spot off the beaten track, offering all the different iterations of this staple ingredient – such as bacalhau à Braga with braised peppers, tomatoes and onions, and bacalhau à Gomes de Sá, shredded cod with potatoes, eggs and parsley – along with many other traditional Portuguese dishes. It's hard to avoid cod on a menu in Porto but one other must-try dish you'll see time and again is the famed 'franceshina' - meaning 'little French woman', an odd name considering you'll need the appetite of a rugby player to get through one. This indulgent sandwich is layered with cured meats, steak and sausage, then smothered in melted cheese and drenched in a rich beer-based sauce, and often served with an egg on top... and fries - indescribably good. Luckily, Porto is a city that rewards a lot of calorie-burning walking, with its steep cobbled streets, layers of history, grand tiled facades and glimpses of the Douro glinting between the buildings. The city's complex history is reflected in its extraordinary architecture, a mix of medieval, baroque and modern styles. In the binder I receive from Inntravel, they've conveniently mapped out several detailed themed city walking routes and, on each, the sights are endlessly intoxicating. From the Clerigos Tower, a baroque masterpiece that offers breathtaking views over the city, to the nearby Sao Bento railway station, whose grand interior is covered with over 20,000 azulejo tiles depicting scenes from Portuguese history – every turn here reveals magic. In the Bolhao neighbourhood, I take a gander at Mercado do Bolhao, where you can walk around with a glass of Portuguese wine and pick up delicacies such as queijo da Serra, a creamy sheep's milk cheese, or a quick bite, like grilled sardines or pasteis de bacalhau (cod fishcakes). I finish with a pastel de nata from a nearby Fabrica de Nata store, its warmed custard filling sprinkled lightly with cinnamon, encased in buttery, crispy pastry. While in Bolhao, too, don't miss the Chapel of Souls (Capela das Almas de Santa Catarina), with its exterior covered in exquisite blue-and-white tiles depicting the lives of saints. But it's the Ribeira (Riverside) district that maybe epitomises the city's character most, with its narrow cobbled streets and brightly painted houses tumbling down to the riverfront. Walking through this area feels like stepping back in time, as you pass centuries-old buildings adorned with traditional tiles. My Inntravel accommodation, Pestana Vintage Porto, is one such historic building right in the heart of it all, as close to the riverside action as is possible. Porto has six bridges crossing this river, the Douro, the most impressive of which is the Dom Luis I Bridge – an architectural marvel designed by a disciple of Gustave Eiffel (he of Eiffel Tower fame). On the other side is the district of Vila Nova de Gaia, where the famous port houses line the riverbank. My destination is Graham's, one of the most prestigious names in port and a bit further up the hillside than many of the others. But it is worth the walk, as you pass through charming alleyways, past colourful houses and laundry swaying in the breeze, and sweeping views over Porto's red rooftops. Graham's impressive lodge welcomes visitors with a deep dive into the world of port. From sweet and fruity ruby ports to rich, nutty tawnies and the intense fruit of a vintage port, here you'll learn all about the complexities of this delicious namesake of the city. Leaving Porto by train, I'm heading into the Douro Valley, where port starts its life among the terraced vineyards and sun-drenched vines. The journey to Pinhao unfolds like a moving postcard. The Douro River snakes alongside, with vine-laden slopes cascading down its banks, punctuated by whitewashed quintas (wine-growing estates). Casa Visconde de Chanceleiros is my Inntravel accommodation here, and I'm blown away as much by the panoramic terraces overlooking the vineyards as by the beautifully restored manor house with an old-world charm that instantly makes you feel at home. It's a tranquil escape, with lush gardens, an inviting swimming pool and every detail, from the warm welcome of the hosts to the carefully prepared home-cooked meals, speaking of quiet luxury and genuine hospitality. Rosie and Lily, the resident bulldogs, are an adorable bonus. A tasting at Quinta de la Rosa, a family run winery that produces not just port but some exceptional still wines too, is included in my package. Supping these with views across the river feels like the perfect way to soak up the spirit of the valley. By the time I board the train back to Porto, my journey feels like a perfect loop – from the city's grand port lodges to the terraced vineyards where it all begins. Unlike my first visit, this trip was no accident – yet, in the best way, it feels just as serendipitous.
