FAMILIES face many challenges when looking for a reasonably priced break during the school holidays, as we report on page 15. But couples looking to book somewhere special for Valentine’s Day next week can also fall foul of peak-time pricing by hoteliers and tour operators. I pick at random one of the many press releases I received this week: “Treat your loved one to an exclusive one-of-a-kind break at De Vere Oulton Hall, near Leeds, for just £4,950 per room per night . . .”
No, I did not add the zero by mistake. But hey, for almost five grand you get a helicopter tour over, um, Leeds, all the massages, champagne and chocolate-dipped strawberries you can get through in a day, and — if it all goes pear-shaped and she rejects your proposal — you can console yourself with “unlimited” rounds of golf.
Sadly this is all “subject to availability” so I apologise if by Saturday morning it is too late to snap it up. You could console yourself with a couple of days away with Ryanair. For £13 each return, for example, you can hop off to Düsseldorf for two nights, and once all the inevitable taxes are paid I reckon you still have the best part of £4,900 to play with.
LESS romantically, however, there is something you should always spend good money on, wherever you’re going. Often I am asked for my most useful travel tip, and after “if you see a lavatory, use it, as you never know when the next one’s coming along”, I have to insist that you take out travel insurance. Yes, you’ll survive if your wallet gets nicked and you’re not insured, but your health could be jeopardised if you’re in a serious accident overseas and you don’t have the medical cover to be flown home if necessary.
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However, you don’t need two insurance policies — though many of us flying with our old friends Ryanair and some other budget airlines may inadvertently have bought an extra one, as Tom Chesshyre reveals on page 32.
For good impartial advice on buying travel insurance, consult the Association of British Insurers (020-7600 3333, www.abi.org.uk), which has a fact sheet on the subject.
IT WAS a pleasure to meet so many Times readers last weekend at Destinations: the Holiday and Travel Show, at Earls Court in London. Nearly 40,000 of you poured through the doors to find out about holidays from Mongolia to Mozambique.
If you missed out, the show moves to Birmingham’s NEC on March 3-5, and free advance tickets are available to Times readers (you must pay a 95p booking fee) by calling 0870 1200332. Details: www.destinationsshow.com.
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The Mongolia competition winner will be named next week.