Holidays!
Do you have any holiday experiences (good or bad) or any holiday tips you would like to share? Please send to rpoas@blueyonder.co.uk
Updated 25th April, 2011
TRAVEL INSURANCE
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Arrochar
Have just spent a most enjoyable long weekend in the Village Inn, Arrochar. The staff are superb and the food is excellent. I would recommend anyone to try itDMcL L&B
AIRPORT HOTEL AND CAR PARKING AT EDINBURGH AIRPORT
Having recently had a late night flight to Edinburgh Airport from Malta, I deceided to book an overnight stay at the airport before driving home to Aberdeen. The Quality Hotel seemed to offer quite a good rate of £80 per room for bed & full Scottish breakfast and included free car parking for up to 15 days. Their long term parking area is just across the road from the hotel and transport to and from the terminal is by the Secure Car Parks coach that stops right at the hotel. I must say that the room was excellent as was the breakfast. I will certainly use this facility on any future flights that involve an early/late departure/arrival and would have no hesitation recommending the hotel to other members.
The Hilton Hotel is probably a little closer to the terminal building but they were quoting £90 per room without breakfast.
Brian Kennedy, North East Branch
UK Traffic Information
Frixo is a road traffic reporting site. It provides users with live traffic information and gets updated every 3 minutes using various road sensors.www.frixo.com/Members may be interested in the following
Noting that the L&B Police Club is trading as 28 York Place, Edinburgh www.28yorkplace.com and advertises in the NARPO News, we decided to give it a try for a wee break in the capital recently.
The premises are in a georgian town house at the Lewis's end of Queen Street, so it's very handy for the Playhouse theatre or for shopping in Edinburgh. It has a bar and function rooms downstairs and serves coffee throughout the day. There are eight en-suite rooms upstairs all reasonably well equipped and the linen was very clean and freshly laundered. They offer twin, double and single configurations. The rooms were comfortable, warm and clean. Although they do not serve breakfast, there are tea-making facilities in the room and numerous options nearby for an early meal. The charge is £60 per night for a room. It seems to be pretty quiet during the week, but you would be well advised to book ahead for a weekend or Festival break. There are three car parking spaces to the rear, but these are understandably at a premium.
Bob Thomson - Fife Branch
HOLIDAY BARGAINS FOR RETIRED OFFICERS
Largs Travel is an independent travel company which is fully ABTA bonded and part of the Hays Independence Group and is run by retired police officer, David Anton.
The shop is in Largs, Ayrshire, but all Edinburgh and Borders business is conducted by another retired police officer, via home-working.
We offer competitive prices and since we are independent, can book holidays with ANY travel company and will also book flights only, family packages, tailor made holidays, weekend breaks, car hire, airport parking etc.
We have a member of staff with over 30 years experience in the travel industry and a long haul specialist who has travelled the world for specific advice.
As an offer to our former colleagues we will offer a professional service, where you can be guaranteed that your details will be safe and we will only place you in recommended accommodation. All tickets will be dispatched via secure delivery.
We will DISCOUNT ALL BOOKINGS on a pro rata basis depending on the package / flights etc and detail how much you have saved by booking through us.
All we require is your itinerary and we will quote you within 1 working day. An out of hours appointment service is available for shift workers.
Contact Details
Website : www.largstravel.com
Enquiries : info@largstravel.com
The Largs Travel Co
10 Main Street
Largs KA30 8AB
Tel : 01475 689333
Fax : 01475 689899
Re Parking at Glasgow Airport
Would certainly agree that parking at Parksafe should be tried, but shop around for the best deal. Their own website claims to be the cheapest option for parking on their site (now moved to Linwood). However, it pays to shop around - try APH at www.aph.com , I have a week's parking (8 days) at Parksafe in March 2010 for £17.99. Having used Parksafe for the past 6 years I wouldn't change.
Keith Dickie retd. D&G
Orlando
Having just returned from holiday in Orlando, Florida, I must reccomend the villa as advertised on our site at www.paradise-woods.com The villa is exactly as descibed, with a beautiful pool and conveniently situated for accessing all of the theme parks. The family had a memorable fortnight based there and returned with many memories. Alan Dickson L. & B. Secretary.
GIVE YOUR TASTE BUDS A TREAT
Peter Dora (An Ex Grampian Officer) has been very busy since he retired at the back end of 2007, and has reinvented himself as proprietor of ³Amici Ristorante² 118 High Street, Forres, 01309 676200, where with chef Nino Abbate and pastry chef Lorna Mcnee he presents a menu of mouth watering selections in conventional and Italian food, in a very relaxing environment. Speaking with Peter recently, he says that business is growing AND he will be delighted to see old colleagues who will enjoy a 10% discount. He will have a licence soon but in the meantime you can bring in your own wine.
I have already tasted the fare, and I can tell you it is top notch.
Ron Hughes
VISITING NAIRN?
A retired colleague from Grampian is offering accommodation in a new apartment in Nairn. The apartment will be ready in about two weeks when the web site will be updated with interior photos. It is to be equipped to a high standard and is ideally located for a golf holiday.
Details are available on www.nairngolfholidays.com
Any questions or views just call the number on the above website.
Parking At Glasgow Airport
With ref to contributor who had a bad parking experience at Glasgow airport, can I suggest you try www.parksafe.co.uk also at the airport . We paid £15.50 for 8 days and the service was excellent. In fact when we returned it was pouring rain and the bus driver did his best to drop everyone as close to their cars as possible
J McWilliams (Strathclyde)
Cruise Holidays
Emergency Service Holiday offer
HALF PRICE HOLIDAYS in the sunny Western Algarve. Open to all emergency service personnel and their families.
Come and enjoy the friendly atmosphere that the Tempomar, a quiet family holiday complex in the Western Algarve can offer.
Situated in the village of Burgau a short stroll to the safe beach, Tempomar consists of one and two bedroom apartments surrounding mature gardens and pool areas with all facilities exclusive to Tempomar clients.
Make the most of cheaper flights with our flexible arrival and departure day availability. If required Car hire or transfer pick up from the airport can be arranged.
Click on to our website to view more information and photographs.
Quote emergency service offer when making any enquiry to ensure 50% discount on accommodation rates shown on Burgauholidays website.
GOLFERS - we can obtain discounts on most Algarve courses.
Website www.burgauholidays.com/index.html
Email: burgauholidays@mail.telepac.pt
Fax: 00351 282 697281
Phone: 00351 282697290
The Cruck Cottage, Torthorwald
The Cruck Cottage, Shieldhill Road, Torthorwald, Dumfries, was originally constructed in the mid 18th century or thereabouts.
It is of the ‘cruck’ construction common at that time, i.e. the main supports consist of oak crucks or trunks, which support the roof. The roof consists of purlin beams and branch rafters, laid with heather turf, and thatched with rye straw. The original walls would be of clay or turf, but are now built with rubble and lime mortar.
It is the only building of its type remaining in the area.
The Cruck Cottage Heritage Association has recently completed a complete restoration of the cottage, and it has been fully furnished with genuine Victorian furniture and artefacts.
The cottage can be visited at any time of the year, and is well worth a visit.
For further information, please visit our website at www.cruckcottage.co.uk or telephone 01387750202.
Bill Lawson (Ex Dumfries and Galloway)
Chairman, Cruck Cottage Heritage Association.
INFORMATION FOR CARAVAN ENTHUSIASTS
Sea Bird Centre - North Berwick
Lanzarote
We wanted a week in the sun in the lead up to last Christmas and decided to
try Lanzarote.
Various people recommended the Lanzarote Princess at Playa Blanca so we
decided to give it a go. We booked with Thomsons
(www.Thomson.co.uk) and flew from
Newcastle which is a terrific, compact and trouble free airport. Our
holiday was excellent and the hotel was first class. Food, facilities
and location could not have been better as far as we were concerned.
The hotel is a nice walking distance from the centre of Playa Blanca which has
shops and restaurants to suit all tastes. The walk along the sea front
promenade is very pleasant both during the day and in the evening.
We will be returning next December so I cannot say better than that!
Andrew McMillan - Dumfries & Galloway Branch