For any holiday maker hotels and flights are going to be one of the most expensive things on your list, if not the most expensive. It has never been more important to save money when booking a hotel or flight than now. The recession has meant that families have considerably less money to spend on travelling, so making savings wherever you can is essential. This guide, brought to you by moneysupermarket.com will give you a few hints and tips on how to get the cheapest hotels and flights…
How to get hotels for less
Use vouchers - whether you’re staying in the UK or are going abroad-always check if there are any vouchers available for either the specific hotel you’ll be staying at or the company you’re booking your hotel through. You may find that you’re able to get a discount or a night’s stay for free with their special offers, so always be sure to search online for vouchers or discount codes before you book.
Book early-Many people choose to wait until last minute to try and get a good deal on a hotel, however by booking a good few months in advance could bag yourself a great saving. If your hotel is popular you may find that it will be fully booked at the time you wish to travel. Avoid this by booking as far in advance as possible, and you may get a discount. This usually applies to any booking made 6 months before your stay.
Stay off peak- Hotels and resorts all over the world are bound to be busier and therefore more expensive during the school holidays. If you don’t have children, or they’re not of school age yet, always book your holiday during term time to save cash.
How to get flights for less
Read the small print- There are plenty of companies offering budget flights at the moment, but it’s important to make sure you’re actually getting a good deal on your flight. Budget airlines are notorious for adding fees and charges to the total bill, sometimes making it cheaper to fly with a non-budget airline. Make sure you compare flights and their total bills before you book as you could find a cheaper company to fly with.
Fly throughout the night- Flights can be cheaper if you fly at unsociable times, as many people, especially families, prefer to fly in the day time. Not only will night flights be less expensive, but they’re likely to be less busy as well.
Fly off peak- As with hotels, if you choose a flight which will be busier because the kids are off school or around Christmas time you’re likely to pay over the odds for it. Try not to book flights around Christmas, Easter or the summer holiday period as you’re likely to pay overinflated prices.
Take your own food on board- If your flight is relatively short eat before you board and just take a few snacks and some bottled water with you. Food and drinks on flights can be very costly and you could save a packet if you are flying with a large family. Remember, you won’t be able to take the food off the plane so it’s important to eat it before landing. Remember that you can’t bring food from home through airport security- all food must be purchased from the airport. Head down to the newsagents or the sandwich bar instead of ordering an in flight meal which can add unnecessary costs to your flights.
Written by Rachael Miller, moneysupermarket.com
This unique hotel is located in the heart of the old quarter of Lyon, France which has been classed World Heritage site by UNESCO. The apartments, symbolize all by themselves the magical spirit of a unique place in Europe. The hotel contains 4 floors accessible with 3 lifts.
A beautiful jewel, Cour des Loges is a stunning contrast of modern and old. Some rooms have impressive carved stone fireplaces; others open onto gardens; still others boast exposed original stone walls hung with modern art. While all are spacious, the duplex suites are particularly open and airy and have the feel.
Amenities: Heating , Bathroom, Satellite TV , Heating , Bathroom , Toilet , Bathroom Amenities , Air Conditioning , Telephone, Pay TV , Safety Deposit Box , Bath , Shower , Minibar.
The hotel’s refurbished spa features a fitness room, a hammam, thermal baths and a heated counter-current swimming pool.
Hotel Pure is a creation of romantic happiness for urban stress. It is situated in Frankfurt’s city centre, nearby the main train station. It is also 12 km away to the airport.
The hotel is absolutely urban paradise with lobby breakfast room, bar and lounge all join together in space known as the ‘’Living Room’’. The hotel lighting and music vary from dawn to dusk: dawn includes soft illumination and calm chill-out music with lovely touchable vocals, while at dusk the atmosphere is filled with a vibrant-orange –themed lighting scheme.
The Pure Patio features tremendous beanbags lounging areas, fountains, bamboo and stairs designed for seating and chatting rather than climbing.
The Pure hotel is equiped with fitness rooms, a sauna and steam bath. Each room has 20″ Flatscreen TVs, complimentary wireless internet connection , minibar, telephone with voicemail, media jukebox - video and music on demand, in-room safe.
It’s five-star luxury hotel and has been voted one of the 400 best hotels in the world by prestigious magazine “Forbes Traveller”. Hotel “Caruso” was reopened in summer 2005 after a complete renovation. It started in 1893 as a small pension. Then the hotel’s fans included Greta Garbo, Jackie Kennedy, Humphrey Bogart, Richard Wagner, D.H.Lawrence, Tennessee Williams and Virginia Woolf.
Hotel Caruso is situated on a cliff top 350 m above the sea, offers a breathtaking panorama over the Amalfi coast for its guests. It’s the ideal location for the perfect romantic break overlooking the Mediterranean.
The hotel has 54 rooms, decorated of the pastel colors and equipped with the latest amenities to relax. Most of them have terraces with views to the Mediterranean Sea. 
In 2007 was opened a hotel’s wellness and spa center offering massages and body treatments and gym. But the major pleasant is that you can swim in the heated infinity swimming pool, just is like being suspended between sea and sky… 
Hotel Caruso has cocktail, piano bar, restaurant and tennis courts. Also offers a boat excursions with which you can explore Amalfi Coast and next Positano. 
Room Prices: 620 Euros for a double and 3100 Euros for the Exclusive suite. 
1: Hotel de Sers - Paris Champs Elysées
Paris | France
With its elegant ambience and first class location, the exclusive Hotel de Sers is among the first choice of many celebrities. The deluxe boutique hotel is situated close to the famous Champs-Élysées and makes an ideal base for extensive shopping adventures.
2: Tivoli Marina Vilamoura
Vilamoura | Portugal
Surrounded by a beautiful beach, the Tivoli Marina Vilamoura at the famous port of Marina de Vilamoura sets the standard for luxury tourism in the Algarve. All 383 rooms offer gorgeous sea or marina views.
3: Furama Resort Danang
Danang | Vietnam
The unique Furama Resort Danang is Vietnam’s first five-star luxury beach resort and is located on the famous China Beach. In addition to a wide variety of recreational activities, the hotel offers fantastic food and spa facilities.
4: The Claridges New Delhi
New Delhi | India
The exclusive landmark hotel The Claridges New Delhi in the embassy district of the Indian capital and is the flagship of India’s leading hotel group – The Claridges Hotels & Resorts. Its 137 rooms are spacious and overlook landscaped gardens.
5: Royal Olympic Hotel
Athens | Greece
Located in the shadow of the Acropolis and in front of the magnificent Temple of Zeus, the elegant Royal Olympic Hotel offers breathtaking views of the splendid architecture of ancient Athens.
6: Marina Hotel and Resort
St. Julians | Malta
The Marina Hotel and Resort is located on picturesque St George’s Bay in Malta and offers magnificent views of the marina from all 200 rooms. The hotel also benefits from five pools, gym, jacuzzi and sauna.
7: Stamford Plaza Auckland
Auckland | New Zealand
The elegant five-star Hotel Stamford Plaza Auckland will impress guests with its exclusive rooms and lush facilities. Recently renovated throughout, it welcomes guests with pure luxury and outstanding service.
8: Hotel Diplomat
Stockholm | Sweden
Located right at the harbour of Stockholm and with direct access to the vibrant shopping district, the family-owned Hotel Diplomat perfectly combines traditional architecture with modern design.
9: Goodwood Park Hotel
Singapore | Singapore
The Goodwood Park Hotel is Singapore’s most prestigious address and a five-star property with a grand turn-of-the-century atmosphere. It is situated in the heart of the vibrant shopping district of this Asian metropolis.
10: The Kimberly Hotel
New York | USA
Situated right in the heart of Manhattan and only a stroll away from the world-famous boutiques on Madison and Fifth Avenue, the Kimberly Hotel boasts a 75-foot yacht for spectacular sightseeing with views of the New York skyline.
Set on the shores of the Mediterranean amid lush pine forest, the Adam & Eve Hotel is a luxurious modern landmark property located 40 kilometers from Antalya, Turkey. Adam and Eve Hotel is designed as a life style with the purity of life. The hotel has the world’s largest rooms - including 27 suits, the world’s largest pool (100 meters), the world’s largest bar, and the only hotel in the world to include a personal spa in every room. In 2007, Adam & Eve Hotel won the TV Best Design Hotel award. The hotel has been stylishly designed using mirrors, atmospheric lighting and white decor to create a serene ambiance, making the ceilings almost appear to reach to the sky. The Adam and Eve is a minimalist hotel set amidst 100.000 m of vast green forest, inviting you to turquoise Mediterranean, the most pampering and relaxing SPA treatments the finest cuisine from cultures a round the globe not to mention seaside golf. Truly unique Adam and Eve is the sexiest design hotel on the Mediterranean.
The guestrooms have been designed with soft epoxy floor coverings and walls completely dressed with mirrors so that the inside becomes outside with stunning views of the sea and forest reflected throughout the room. The rooms are well equipped with all of the modern amenities you will need for maximum comfort. Amenities include wireless Internet, air conditioning, plasma-screen televisions with pay movies, direct-dial phones and mini-bars with gourmet snacks, AC, mini bar, safe. Bathrooms are complete with steam and massage showers, Jacuzzi, separate tubs, bathrobes, slippers, hair dryers and designer toiletries.
The hotel offers various dining options with several restaurants serving mouth watering cuisine from around the globe and to suit all tastes, including a main buffet restaurant, and Italian, Ottoman, Tappenyaki, Kebab and Fish restaurants. Additionally there are also a selection of bars with different atmospheres and drink selections so you will never go thirsty. Sleekly elegant restaurant, coupled with a visual celebration of pleasure for the eye and mind. Whether you move on to one of the special interest bars, or when you dine at the restaurants, Adam and Eve Hotel is designed to let you show off your personal style.
The Adam & Eve Hotel features a 5,000 square meter Spa and Wellness Centre offering a range of therapies and beauty treatments. On site bars range from the world’s longest bar, the Bluetooth Bar, to the Sport’s Bar, the Martini Bar and the Cigar Bar. Guests can truly unwind in the spa and wellness centre which features a Turkish Hammam, two saunas and a solarium whilst children are catered for with their own pool and kids club making the Adam and Eve a perfect getaway for families. The hotel houses a total of seven swimming pools. Sports on offer include beach side mini- golf, tennis, climbing, go-carting, flight simulation, horseback riding, squash, football and surfing and more intrepid guests can try their hand at parasailing.
Adam & Eve Hotel combines design, nature and sensuality to create the newest concept hotel in the Mediterranean, opening in late 2006. Calling itself a “sexy design hotel” it is due to open late summer with a rate of around €250 per room. Children age 1 and under stay free in the room with parents and in existing bedding. Children age 2-12 receive a 50 pct reduction. Located in the center of the Mediterraneans new destination, this is a place where luxury and comfort surround you. A rich visual temptation the scene at Adam and Eve Hotel is one that the original parents of humanity could never have imagined.
Ithaa means “pearl” in the language of the Maldives, Dhivehi. And this pearl located within the Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa in Rangali Island. It is the first ever all-glass underwater restaurant in the world, secured five meters below sea level. The dining is a contemporary fusion of Maldivian cuisine with western and Asian influences.
This first aquarium-style undersea restaurant was designed by MJ Murphy Ltd in New Zealand and constructed in Singapore with materials from the United States, then shipped to the Maldives and was opened on April 15, 2005. The Ithaa Restaurant sits 15 feet below the waves of the Indian Ocean, surrounded by a coral reef and encased in clear acrylic walls and roof, similar to those used in aquarium attractions, offering diners 270-degrees of panoramic underwater views.
The award-winning Hilton Maldives Resort & Spa became Conrad Maldives Rangali Island on 18 December 2007. This is in line with Conrad’s positioning as the luxury brand within the Hilton Family, with services and facilities at this wonderful resort being even further enhanced. Meals range in cost from US$120.00 (lunch for hotel guests on Full Board meal plan) to US$250.00 (dinner for hotel guests on Bed & Breakfast meal plan).
As you’d expect on a holiday island that attracts over 1.5 million foreign visitors every year there are plenty of good quality hotels in Lanzarote for visitors to chose from.
But one particular establishment stands head and shoulders above the rest – quite literally. As the Gran Hotel in the island capital of Arrecife is the only high rise building on the whole of the island. Granting guests spectacular views across the capital and the bulk of Lanzarote.
If an island born artist and architect called Cesar Manrique had had his way the Arrecife Gran Hotel wouldn’t in fact exist at all. As back in the 1970´s Manrique successfully campaigned against the over development of his beloved island.
Effectively outlawing high rise construction. In a bid to save Lanzarote from the sort of concrete burial that had already seen swathes of the Spanish Costas submerged beneath a sea of hotels.
The Arrecife Gran slipped through the net though. As it was constructed by developers whilst Manrique was off the island. Only for construction to be bought to halt on his return.
For many years the edifice lay vacant – creating something of an eye sore in the heart of the island capital. Until local government realised that the costs of
demolition were prohibitive – and gave the go ahead for the creation of a luxury five star hotel on the site instead.
After a €26 million project the Arrecife Gran Hotel finally opened its doors to the public in 2004. And is now widely regarded as one of the best quality hotels on the island. With an enviable location slap bang next to the main beach – Playa del Reducto – in the centre of Arrecife.
The hotel spans seventeen storeys – encompassing a rooftop restaurant and sun deck. As well as a swimming pool, spa and shopping mall. Along with 52 double rooms and 104 suites.
New gardens have also been landscaped around the hotel to improve its overall aesthetic appeal and plans are afoot to develop the small Isolote de Femin just behind the Arrecife Gran. As island authorities press ahead with a project for a new lido – in accordance with a design originally drafted by Cesar Manrique many years ago. With bars, restaurants and shops - similar to his famous project in Tenerife at the Parque Marítimo de Santa Cruz.
The Arrecife Gran hotel is perfectly situated for anyone keen to explore Lanzarote´s cosmopolitan capital city and a nights stay starts from around the €120 per room mark.
The town of Pomorie is set 15 minutes away from the Burgas, one of biggest town in Bulgaria. Balneohotel Pomorie is a five star hotel, located on the sandy beach of the Black sea. It offers luxurious medical and spa center, which uses the unique for Europe medicinal quality of the mud and lye.
The hotel disposes with 150 rooms, 19 apartments, 2 VIP apartments and 4 rooms for disabled people, 3 restaurants – one for healthy food, 7 bars, library, mini golf and etc. The spa complex, set on 2500 sq. m. is well-equipped with the latest inventions in the medical industry and offers various kinds of therapies.
The SPA center amenities: Kneipp track*, Turkish bath*, Egyptian bath*, Finnish sauna* and The Fountain of Life* - the most exciting experience in Balneohotel Pomorie. Also in hotel you can hydrate and refresh your skin, improve your blood circulation, clean your body from the toxins, salt water rehabilitation, and healthy food nutrition, all of this can help you to relief from the stress.
Legend:
Kneipp track – a walk with alternating hot and cold feet baths
Turkish bath – a combination between aromatherapy and refreshing procedures
Egyptian bath – a combination between solarium, mud therapy and steam bath
Finnish sauna - the special Russian bath for relaxation
The Fountain of Life – a combination between underwater massage in a pearl bath, aroma and color therapy.
