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AUTUMN 2015 

California 

dreaming 

Buckle up for an alternative road trip 

from San Francisco to Los Angeles 

plus... 

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CONTENTS 

A U G U S T / S E P T E M B E R / O C T O B E R 2 0 1 5 

Features 

475 miles to LA 

Our alternative twist on the 

all-American classic: driving 

down California’s Highway One 

from Oakland to Los Angeles 

Art and soul 

We lift the lid on Turkey’s 

newest and most stylish 

holiday destination: the small 

town of Alacati, near Izmir 

Magic beans 

Cocoa farming is enjoying a 

revival on the Caribbean island 

of St Lucia. We show you how 

best to enjoy the sweet stuff 

Just add water 

In the summer months, it’s 

all about the restaurants that 

float your boat, as Amsterdam’s 

top chefs hit the canals 

Turn up the volume 

The music scene in the Canary 

Islands is more varied than you 

think. We meet the maestros 

creating a song and dance 

41 

50 

60 

70 

81 

50 

60 

Photos: Tim E White and 4CornersImages 

THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 005

AUTUMN 2015 

Buckle up for an alternative road trip 

from San Francisco to Los Angeles 

TURKEY GRAN CANARIA ST LUCIA AMSTERDAM VANCOUVER EGYPT TENERIFE 

TC_001_COVER_LA3_chosen.MG.FINAL.indd 1 15/07/2015 11:49 

California 

dreaming 

plus . 

Cover: 

iStock/Getty 

Senior Editor 

Claire Bennie 

Editor 

Imogen Rowland 

Art Director 

Jo Dovey 

Picture Editor 

Julia Holmes 

Sub Editor 

Matt Glasby 

Production Manager 

Karl Martins 

Group Advertising Director 

Chris Davies 

Publisher 

Martin Brackenbury 

martin.brackenbury@ink-global.com 

+44 (0)20 7625 0815 

Advertising 

Sales Executives 

Andy Gibson 

George Hughes 

Sales Recruitment 

joinus@ink-global.com 

70 

CEOs 

Michael Keating 

& Simon Leslie 

Group Editorial Director 

Andrew Humphreys 

Group Publishing Director 

Mark Duke 

10 

105 

81 

Departures 

What’s taking off in the world of travel, 

from The Sound of Music to 007 

Thomas Cook 

105 News 

115 Wellbeing in the air 

119 Our fleet 

120 Route map 

122 Children’s Charity 

Who helped make the issue? 

Helen Cathcart/St Lucia 

Travel and lifestyle photographer Helen 

specialises in shooting cookbooks, which is 

why it was so easy to convince her to snap 

our St Lucia chocolate odyssey. 

Mark Smith/Amsterdam 

A contributor to Monocle and Condé 

Nast Traveller among others, Mark can 

see Da Costagracht from his dining 

room, which inspired his story on p70. 

Claire Bennie/California 

Senior editor Claire jetted off to the Golden 

State for an epic road trip to Los Angeles. 

She’s done Highway One five times now; 

she’d do it another five if she could. 

For Thomas Cook 

Katie Elson 

Helen Simpson 

Natalie Spires 

Reprographics 

KFR Pre-Press Ltd. 

Ink, Blackburn House, 

Blackburn Road, 

London, NW6 1RZ 

Editorial +44 (0)20 7625 0843 

thomascook.ed@ink-global.com 

Sales +44 (0)20 7625 0815 

Editorial opinions expressed in the 

magazine are not necessarily those 

of Thomas Cook. Though we strive 

for accuracy, Ink and Thomas Cook 

cannot accept responsibility for 

information, such as prices and 

product availability, that may 

be subject to change. 

006 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL

welcome 

from Thomas Cook 

Hello and a very warm welcome on board your Thomas 

Cook flight today. Whether you’re flying out to begin 

a beautiful holiday with friends or family or just starting 

your journey home, I’d like to personally thank you for 

choosing to fly with us. 

For 174 years now, we’ve been inspiring travellers to 

see the world and making their holiday dreams come true. 

We’re constantly reviewing 

our products and making 

improvements to ensure that 

you have the best holiday 

possible. Holidays are an 

important part of all our lives 

and they should be a time 

where you can relax, indulge 

and experience fantastic new things with your loved ones. 

The world is a huge place, full of wonder and excitement, 

and we’re delighted to be able to take you on your journey 

of discovery. 

You may have noticed that we’ve been upgrading our fleet 

over the last few months. We’ve introduced six brand-new 

Airbus A321 aircraft for our short-haul flights and upgraded 

the cabins on our Airbus A330 long-haul fleet to make 

Thomas Cook has been 

making holiday dreams 

come true for 174 years 

your journey even more comfortable. You’ll also be able to 

experience our brand-new Premium service, which gives you 

even more leg room, seats which recline that little bit more, 

and adjustable foot and head rests to make your journey as 

comfortable as possible. 

Our fully trained cabin crew are on hand throughout your 

flight to help wherever they can and our experienced pilots are 

there to ensure you have a safe 

flight, keeping you informed 

during your journey. 

As you’ll see in this issue of 

our inflight magazine, we’re 

once again able to offer you 

a wide choice of amazing 

holidays to a huge range of 

worldwide destinations. You can read about the colourful marine 

life you can discover in Egypt’s Red Sea (p28) and some of our 

best child-friendly hotels (p21). You can also read our interview 

with celebrity chef James Martin (p32), the creator of our 

mouth-watering range of inflight meals. 

I’m passionate about travel and I know you are too. 

I thank you once again for choosing us and we look forward 

to welcoming you on board again soon. 

Peter Fankhauser 

Group Chief Executive Officer 

Thomas Cook Group plc 


www.nirvanahotel.com 

facebook.com/nirvanahtl 

twitter.com/nirvanalagoon 

+90 242 340 60 50

DEPARTURES 

What’s taking off in the world of travel 


WISH YOU WERE HERE? DEPARTURES 

Natural 

wonder 

California’s mighty Yosemite 

National Park celebrates its 

125th birthday this October 

Words: Mike Peake. Photo: Getty 

I 

t might not be the biggest 

US National Park, or even the 

most visited, but Yosemite, 

which celebrates its 125th 

anniversary this year, is arguably 

the nation’s favourite. And with 

good reason. It has everything that 

most Europeans (and just as many 

Americans) think of when they 

conjure up an image of a classic US 

national park: towering granite cliffs, 

ancient sequoia forests, rivers, bears 

and waterfalls. It is also home to the 

world-famous rock formation known 

as El Capitan, a Mecca for climbers 

and base jumpers, which made the 

news this January when Tommy 

Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson made 

the first ever free-climbing ascent 

of its sheer Dawn Wall. 

The official birthday of the nearly 

3,000 sq km park is on 1 October, 

when the National Park Service 

will be hosting special events 

throughout Yosemite – but visitors 

can enjoy anniversary-themed treats 

all year round. One of the best still 

to come is the Mariposa County Fair 

(4-7 September, mariposafair.com), 

an annual shindig in a former goldrush 

stronghold on the western 

edge of the park. 

Or you could just do as every 

other Yosemite visitor does and 

book a guide to show you the best 

horse trails, photography spots 

and rafting adventures – they’ll 

even take you out on a star-gazing 

experience. If it all sounds a bit too 

strenuous, all is not lost. Since June, 

Google’s impressive Street View (or 

“Rock View” perhaps) of El Capitan’s 

imposing 900m face has allowed 

armchair mountaineers to climb 

it for themselves. 

BE THERE... Go to Yosemite with 

thomascooktours.com 


DEPARTURES FOOD & DRINK 

Time for a brew? 

Craft Beer Market (here, near right 

and centre) has 100 beers on tap. 

Main Street Brewery (far right) 

and those steel burping tanks 

Hail to the ale 

It’s been a stellar couple of years for craft beer drinkers, and the 

latest hop-spot for them to seek out is Vancouver, British Columbia 

Words: Mike MacEacheran 

B 

rewmaster James Walton is enjoying 

a eureka moment. Having created 

more than 90 different craft brews 

– home-brewed, independent ales 

and lagers made in small batches – in the 

past 18 months, the owner of Storm Brewing 

(stormbrewing.org) in East Vancouver believes 

he has happened upon his craziest ale yet. His 

fresh-from-the-barrel tipples include unusual, 

yet downright tasty flavours such as Bloody Mary 

Pilsner (rich and tomato-ey), Burnt Marshmallow 

Ale (intensely sweet), Vitamin C IPA (fresh and 

citrusy), and Spruce Tip Pilsner (um, a bit like 

licking a Christmas tree). But it’s the Belgianstyle 

Pineapple Sour Ale that has got him in 

a right tizzy. “The yeast give the beer some 

serious funk,” he explains. 

Vancouver is all about the beer right now, 

and it’s can-do attitudes like Walton’s that have 

turned the city’s brewing scene on its head. 

Following years of market saturation from the 

likes of Labatt and Molson (two of the giant 

Canadian brewery companies), changes in 

liquor law legislation about five years ago now 

mean any wannabe brewer can set up shop in 

their garage or greenhouse, allowing smaller 

family outfits to challenge the status quo. Before, 

there was only mass-produced corporate lager: 

now there are tasting rooms, on-site food 

trucks, regular festivals and takeaway sales. 

All of which is a huge boon for craft beer lovers, 

with Vancouver boasting a near-unthinkable 

35 independent brewers and counting. 

Two such newcomers are Bomber Brewing 

(bomberbrewing.com), a buzzing brew tavern set 

up by a local ice hockey team, and Main Street 

Brewing (mainstreetbeer.ca), a kettle-soured beer 

and ale specialist. Its burping stainless steel tanks 

and cosy tasting room now fill out every inch of 

a heritage building in the historic Brewery Creek 

district near Downtown. “All these breweries 

are selling out of their beer every week,” says 

Main Street Brewing’s brewmaster Jack Bensley, 

cracking open another keg to taste. “Critical mass 

is nowhere near happening yet.” 

For the bearded, the flannelled and those with 

progressive hairstyles, it’s reason enough to rejoice. 

The rise in craft beer has led to a series of new 

drinking saloons and British Columbia beer-only 

taverns, including the hipster Alibi Room (50 beer 

taps; alibi.ca), and the cavernous Craft Beer Market 

(more than 100 taps; craftbeermarket.ca) – places 

where you’ll never see the red star of Heineken 

or the Budweiser crown. And that’s something 

for any beer lover to toast. 

BE THERE… For more information, 

visit vancouverbrewerytours.com. 

Visit Vancouver with thomascook.com 

Brewing up a storm 

Three life-changing 

BC beers to try 

Free Radical (6.5% ABV) 

Brassneck’s white IPA has a mango and citrus 

nose, plus a face-numbing hoppy punch. 

brassneck.ca 

Salty Scot, Sea-Salted Caramel 

Scotch Ale (7.5%) 

A rich, caramel-flavoured heavy ale from 

Parallel 49. Made with coarse sea salt. 

parallel49brewing.com 

Brainstorm Vanilla Whisky Stout (9%) 

A potent, peaty experiment from Vancouver’s 

longest-running independent brewhouse. 

stormbrewing.org 


Keeping it reel 

Worldly wise directors, from 

Jean-Pierre Jeunet (below) to 

Alfred Hitchcock (far right) 

Around the world in 

24 frames per second 

Explore the most cinematic cities through the eyes of the directors who know them best 

Words: Vari Innes. Ilustrations: Andy Tuohy 

Take a bite out of Paris 

like Jean-Pierre Jeunet 

“I can only film what I love,” says Jeunet. 

And judging by the burnished beauty of his 

Montmarte-set Amélie (2001), he adores his 

home district. Make like Audrey Tatou’s wide-eyed 

waitress and stroll the bustling streets around the 

Sacré Coeur, stopping at Café des Deux Moulins 

(15 rue Lepic), the film’s main location, to crack 

an “Amélie” crème brûlée. For a taste of Jeunet’s 

swooning visuals, take your sugar high to the 

Musée d’Orsay to enjoy resplendent Renoirs and 

vivid Van Goghs. Afterwards, savour the views 

from picture-perfect Pont des Artes, as Amélie 

does, and you’ll be smitten, too. 

Follow Federico Fellini’s 

footsteps around Rome 

Think Fellini, think flamboyance: La Dolce Vita 

(1960) translates as “the good life”, and there’s 

no better place to live it than Rome. To see prime 

locations such as St Peter’s Basilica like the film’s 

glamorous night owls, why not breeze past in 

a vintage Fiat 500 (£100pp, rome4all.com) after 

dark? Or take in an evening opera at the beautiful 

Baths of Caracella (archeorm.arti.beniculturali.it)? 

Recreating Anita Eckberg’s iconic dance in the Trevi 

Fountain is forbidden, no matter how rich you are, 

but you can throw in a coin and make a wish. Over 

£2,000 is collected every day for the city’s poor, so 

it’s a great way to splash your cash. 

Experience Danny Boyle’s 

lust for life in Edinburgh 

Trainspotting (1996) begins with petty thief 

Ewan McGregor racing down Princes Street, but 

we suggest taking your time (and actually paying 

for things). Don’t miss the Camera Obscura 

(camera-obscura.co.uk), a whir of optical illusions 

that approximate Boyle’s eye-popping aesthetics. 

In nearby Leith, historian Tim Bell gives fascinating 

bespoke tours of the main Trainspotting sites 

(£8pp, leithwalks.co.uk), from writer Irvine Welsh’s 

flat to the probable location of “The Worst Toilet 

In Scotland”. You’ll find a better class of bathroom 

here these days: thanks to the likes of The Kitchin 

(thekitchin.com), Leith is awash with Michelin stars. 


IN FOCUS DEPARTURES 

Want to see some more 

of these exclusive cineportraits? 

The A-Z Of Great 

Directors by Andy Tuohy 

and Matt Glasby (£14.99, 

Cassell) l is out now. 

Go mad in Madrid in the 

manner of Pedro Almodóvar 

The crown prince of Spanish camp funded his early 

shorts by selling second-hand goods at El Rastro 

flea market (9am – 3pm, Plaza de Cascorro). 

Hit the stalls on a Sunday to grab a bargain – or 

sponsor a future Oscar winner. After a jaunt across 

the Segovia Aqueduct, the background star of 

Almodóvar films such as I’m So Excited (2013), 

take your seat for the best flamenco in town at 

Villa-Rosa (ablaoflamencovillarosa.com), where 

High Heels’ (1991) hero revealed his feminine 

side. Stay out till sunrise in the legendary Chueca 

gay district to test The Flower Of My Secret’s 

(1995) maxim: “In Madrid it’s never late.” 

Check out Martin Scorsese’s 

NYC – without the body count 

You can’t see NYC exactly like Scorsese – it’d be 

illegal. Goodfellas’ (1990) gangster hangouts are 

mostly gone, but some things never change. Head 

to the indomitable Neir’s Tavern (established 1829, 

neirstavern.com), where De Niro’s made men 

made mischief, or Lombardi’s (established 1905, 

firstpizza.com) in Little Italy (Marty’s borough) for 

authentic Old Country cuisine. Soak up the city’s 

light-fingered past on a Gangs Of New York tour 

(£13, bigonion.com) of the Five Points district 

where Bill The Butcher (Daniel Day-Lewis) did battle 

in the 2002 film. It’s just a short hop to Wall Street 

where the wolves (read: crooks) reside now. 

See the brighter side of 

Alfred Hitchcock’s London 

“The sky was always grey… and I was grey,” 

said Hitch of the city that shaped him. But his UK 

thrillers emphasised glamour over grit, so don 

your most dapper suit to explore Westminster 

Cathedral (seen in Foreign Correspondent, 1940), 

the Royal Albert Hall (The Man Who Knew Too 

Much, 1956), and the British Museum (Blackmail, 

1929), where the baddie falls through the reading 

room’s glass ceiling – still, thankfully, intact. 

The tube station at Leytonstone (the master’s 

birthplace) boasts beautiful Hitchcock-inspired 

murals – proving that, no matter how he felt 

about London, it still loves him. 


everything rugby 

#EVERYTHING 

RUGBY 

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RUGBY WORLD CUP 2015 

ALL THE SHIRTS, ALL THE NEWS, ALL THE INSIGHT, #EVERYTHINGRUGBY 

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t: twitter.com/rugby_store

The road to victory? 

As the UK prepares to host the Rugby World Cup, we look back at the tournament’s 

most historic moments – and predict what might happen this time around 

Words: Pierre De Villiers 

SPORT DEPARTURES 

12 3 

4 5 

NELSON MANDELA HEALS A NATION 

In 1995, newly elected South African president Nelson 

Mandela wore a Springbok jersey to the final in Johannesburg. 

He was taking a huge gamble with this reconciliatory gesture 

in the wake of apartheid, but it paid off. The Springboks beat 

New Zealand, causing unprecedented scenes of unity across 

South Africa. Mandela passing the World Cup to François 

Pienaar is still one of rugby’s most iconic images. 

Repeat performance: Prince William is a big rugby fan – 

perhaps a potential knighthood will spur on the boys in white? 

NEW ZEALAND CHOKE ON A CROISSANT 

No one thought France had a chance of beating New 

Zealand in the 1999 semi-finals. But the underdogs bit so 

hard that the All Blacks stumbled out of a World Cup that 

was theirs for the taking. The same thing happened again 

in 2007. Suffice to say blue is not the Kiwis’ favourite colour. 

Repeat performance: An on-form Ireland have giant-killers 

written all over them, but for sheer unpredictability it has to 

be France again. Dismiss them at your peril. 

Odds on: our predictions for 2015’s World Cup 

JONNY PUTS THE BOOT 

INTO AUSTRALIA 

No World Cup has had 

a more dramatic climax 

than the 2003 Australian 

tournament. With the hosts 

and England deadlocked 

at 17-17 in extra time, 

the ball found its way into 

Jonny Wilkinson’s hands. 

The cucumber-cool fly-half 

slotted a drop goal with a 

few seconds left, winning 

the World Cup for England 

and leaving the Australians 

crying into their Foster’s. 

Repeat performance: 

Victory might well come 

down to a late drop goal. 

Wales’ Dan Biggar, South 

Africa’s Patrick Lambie and 

New Zealand’s Dan Carter 

are all more than capable 

of getting the job done. 

JONAH THE GIANT CRUSHES ENGLAND 

Given his 1.96m/120kg size, it’s a surprise the world didn’t 

see Jonah Lomu coming. Unstoppable in the opening games 

of the 1995 World Cup, the All Blacks winger faced his first 

real challenge in the semi-finals against England. Could 

anyone stop the Lomu express? No, the 20-year-old left 

bruised Englishmen scattered on his way to scoring four tries. 

Repeat performance: All Blacks ace Julian Savea has been 

likened to Lomu, nabbing 30 tries in 33 tests in a similarly 

bulldozer-esque fashion. A World Cup try-scoring record 

and greatness surely await him. 

THE PUMA 

PARTY-POOPERS 

The team that plays the 

hosts in the opening game 

is often a sacrificial lamb, 

there to put up some 

resistance before losing with 

good grace to the home 

team. In 2007 Argentina 

ripped up the script by 

beating France 17-12, 

and setting the tone for 

a tournament full of upsets. 

Repeat performance: The 

good news: Fiji are unlikely 

to beat England in their 

opening game. The bad? 

Home teams England and 

Wales are in the same group 

as Australia, and only two go 

through to the next round… 

Photos: Rex; Getty 

2/1 

During the tournament 

France are described as 

“flamboyant”, South Africa 

as “physical” and New 

Zealand as “mighty”. 

5/1 

The camera picks up 

David Beckham and his 

sons in the main stand at 

Twickenham all wearing 

England rugby jerseys. 

20/1 

A player loses his 

shorts during a maul, 

accompanied by 

a commentator saying: 

“Well, that’s a bit cheeky!” 

50/1 

A French fan manages to 

smuggle a cockerel into 

a stadium causing security 

staff to chase after it 

across the field. 

100/1 

After a series of injuries in 

the England camp, Jonny 

Wilkinson comes out of 

retirement and leads 

England to glory. 


The future is now 

Great Scot! Back To The Future Day is upon 

us. To celebrate, we’ve found a host of fun 

products and gadgets that look like they’ve 

been lifted straight from the film 

Words: Matt Glasby 

A 

fter years of tiresome internet 

hoaxes, Back To The Future Day is 

finally, actually here. In part two of 

Robert Zemeckis’s time-travelling 

trilogy, released in 1989, hero Marty McFly 

(Michael J Fox) arrives in the future on 21 

October 2015 to discover a not-so-brave new 

world of hoverboards and holofilms. Zemeckis 

maintains it was never meant to be an accurate 

depiction, claiming: “We knew we weren’t going 

to have flying cars by the year 2015, but god, 

we had to have those in our movie!” So, as the 

real 21 October 2015 rolls around, how close to 

the mark were they? 


ESSENTIALS DEPARTURES 

5 things Back To The 

Future got right (ish) 

1/ HEELYS SPLIT SHOES 

Walking? How 1985. These retro, space-age 

wheeled trainers are the only way to get around 

on two feet. £49.99, surfdome.com 

2/ POTATO POWERED CLOCK 

We doubt Doc expected this in 2015 (and it’s unlikely 

it could power the tower’s famous clock), but 

could this be our future? 

£2.99, menkind.com 

Hoverboards 

The holy grail for BTTF2 fans. Since 

1989, hoverboards have been 

incessantly promised, but Lexus 

has a working version on the way, 

powered by superconductors and 

magnets. Don’t get too excited, 

mind, it only works on metal. 

TV 

BTTF2’s 2015 has lucky viewers able 

to watch six – count ’em! – channels 

on their wall-mounted flatscreen 

TVs at the same time. Turns out, the 

sports broadcasters nailed this years 

ago, although it does make you feel 

like a security guard. 

3/ REPLICA DELOREAN TIME MACHINE 

This scale replica DeLorean has everything you’d 

want from a mini time machine – apart from a 

working flux capacitor. £26.99, thegiftoasis.com 

4/ NIXON RED GILET 

Marty McFly’s red vest is one of the most iconic 

movie outfits ever. Wear with a classic checked 

shirt and bowl hair cut. £110, nixon.com 

Flying cars 

The good news? Airborne 

automobiles such as Terrafugia’s TF- 

X, which can fly at 300kmph, are on 

the horizon. The bad? That horizon’s 

still a long way off. The AeroMobil 3.0 

prototype was launched in 2014 but 

don’t hold your breath to buy one. 

Computers 

Marty marvelled at 2015’s motioncontrolled 

video games. Had he 

visited 2006, the year the Wii was 

released, he’d have been rather less 

impressed. BTTF2 also features a 

natty video conferencing system, 

now better known as Skype. 

5/ MI-PAC GALAXY PRINT BACKPACK 

What did it look like when Marty and Doc travelled 

through the vortex of time? We imagine a lot like 

this dreamy galaxy print. £29, asos.com 

6/ THE NEWTON DIGITAL WATCH 

Marty’s watch struggled to tell the correct time when 

he travelled into the future. We reckon this clever 

one would have no problems. £110, nixon.com 

Holofilms 

3D cinema experienced a resurgence 

in the mid-Noughties, partly due to 

animated Tom Hanks-athon The 

Polar Express (2004). Unfortunately 

most 3D films aren’t much better 

than BTTF2’s Jaws 19, tagline: “This 

time it’s really really personal!” 

Photos: Rex; © Terrafugia 


Whose 

holiday is 

it anyway? 

You’ve toiled all year for the annual 

escape, but if the kids aren’t happy, 

there’s no way you’re going to have 

fun either. These five awesome 

family hotels will go down a treat 

Words: Mike Peake. Illustrations: Bill Greenhead 

Le Royal Holiday Resort 

Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt 

When asking the kids what they’re hoping 

for from a holiday, “culture” and “history” will 

likely rank somewhat lower than “a ruddy big 

waterpark” – which is why the canny ones want 

to head here. Le Royal’s very own aquapark has 

10 full-sized slides, a wave pool and a splash pool 

with a pirate ship, as well as an additional five 

swimming pools. To top it all off, there’s also 

a kids’ club for 3-11 year olds, leaving mum and 

dad ample time for a luxurious spa treatment 

and to ponder what tipple to choose during the 

evening’s visit to the hotel’s dazzling rooftop bar. 

Sani Beach Club And Spa 

Halkidiki, Greece 

Singled out by The Independent as one of its top 

six European kid-friendly hotels, these palatial 

lodgings overlooking Blue Flag-winning sands 

are part of a family-owned ecological reserve 

stretching across 1,000 acres. But unless your 

children are budding David Attenboroughs, this 

will mean literally nothing – it’s the entertainment 

that will bowl them over. There’s a toddlers’ crèche, 

a kids’ club and a teenagers’ club, and activities 

include everything from treasure hunts and shell 

collecting for little ones to a dedicated football 

academy for 5-14 year olds. 


Steigenberger Aqua Magic 

Hurghada, Egypt 

Two things will strike you about this gorgeous 

five-star hotel overlooking the Red Sea: one, 

how peaceful it is, and two, how happy the kids 

are. This might have something to do with the 

awesome Aqua Play Boat, perfect for tiny ones 

thanks to its array of spray nozzles, jets, valves 

and water guns. Or maybe it’s the Magic Tots kids’ 

club, where your littlest ones can go bananas with 

arts and crafts, dancing lessons, mini sports days 

and aerobic sessions. For 12-16 year olds there’s 

the Magic Teens club, with computer games, 

a billiards table, table tennis and bar (serving 

soft drinks, of course). All of which means there’s 

more time for you to enjoy a Reconnect couples’ 

massage at the resort’s decadent spa. 

Disney Grand Floridan Resort 

Orlando, USA 

Step back in time at this spectacular hotel, as 

luxurious as it is child-friendly. One of Disneyworld’s 

most magical (and conveniently only one stop 

away on the Monorail from the Magical Kingdom), 

you’ll feel a bit like you’ve stepped onto the set of 

Cinderella thanks to the opulent Victorian-style 

resort’s flickering gas lamps, wicker chairs and live 

orchestral music. Although we doubt Cinders would 

have hopped on a motorboat to cruise around 

the Seven Seas Lagoon, gone on a pirate ship 

adventure, or relaxed at a pool-side cabana to catch 

some rays. Other organised activities for youngsters 

include sailing and tennis lessons, games nights 

for teenagers and – our favourite – dive-in films 

(movies under the stars at the beach pool). 

Sunwing Resort Fanabe 

Costa Adeje, Tenerife 

People often take to TripAdvisor to stick the 

boot in, but not when they’re writing about this 

endearing spot on the southwest of the Canaries’ 

best-loved island. More than half of all reviewers 

give it a full five stars, scoring the resort especially 

highly for families – little wonder when it’s a mere 

stone’s throw from the beach and has large pools, 

free Wi-Fi, plus a spa and gym. For big kids there’s 

a dedicated teen lounge with a PlayStation, books 

and more, while for younger children a packed 

programme of entertainment at the kids’ club, 

Miniland, will ensure their days are as busy as 

yours are bone idle. 

BE THERE… Book these perfect family 

hotels and more at thomascook.com 


DEPARTURES BEAUTY 

Fall favourites 

To celebrate the launch of Thomas Cook’s flights to Boston – renowned for 

its beautiful autumnal scenery – here’s our pick of products that’ll see you 

through the change of seasons in style, all available to buy on board 

Photo: Pixeleyes Photography 

2 

1 

3 

5 

4 

1/ BRONZE BEAUTY 

The fastest way to go from 

just-rolled-out-of-bed to 

red-carpet-ready is with a 

dusting of bronzer, adding 

an instant autumnal glow. 

Benefit Hoola Bronzing 

Powder, £19.50 

2/ CRYSTAL CLEAR 

Just as you change your 

wardrobe seasonally, so you 

should with your skincare. 

Grab this Day & Night duo 

to be all set for autumn. 

L’Oréal Revitalift Laser 

Renew Duo, £20 

3/ ROSY GLOW 

Kim Kardashian reigns 

supreme when it comes 

to contouring. Get her 

super-sculpted look with 

this Studio 10 palette. 

Studio 10 Contour 

Palette, £30 

4/ AMBER HUE 

Just because the days are 

growing shorter it doesn’t 

mean your tan has to 

fade. Fake it with this 

magic elixir from Clarins. 

Clarins Radiance-Plus 

Golden Glow Booster, £15 

5/ GOLD STAR 

Olympéa’s gorgeous gold 

bottle is tempting enough 

on its own, and the fragrance 

inside is perfect for those 

warm autumn afternoons. 

Paco Rabanne 

Olympéa, £42 


Richard 

before 

treatment 

“Alevere has 

transformed 

my life” 

“I was nervous being a 30 something male in bad 

shape, and walking into the Alevere clinic. But once 

I was in , the staff and doctors walk you through 

everything and you feel at ease straight away. 

With good planning and listening to advice, the diet 

is not hard. I didn’t feel hungry and my energy levels 

were noticeably higher. The treatments can be fun 

if you chill out, listen to the music and chat away. 

I would thoroughly recommend the program 

to anybody”. 

Richard Hale 

Richard 

lost 

5st 10lbs 

with 12 weeks 

of treatment 

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Opening soon in Shrewsbury and Stockton on Tees

The hills are (still) alive... 

To celebrate 50 years since The Sound Of Music was released, we’ve picked five 

film locations that are guaranteed to get you yodelling like a lonely goatherd 

Words: Mike Peake. Illustration: Matt Herring 

H 

alf a century ago this year, movie audiences around the world were left under no illusion 

that the Alps was one of Europe’s most breathtaking backdrops thanks to The Sound Of 

Music. And just as the film still holds a special place in the hearts of millions so, too, do 

Salzburg and its surrounding valleys and hillsides where Julie Andrews and co memorably 

strutted their stuff. Here are our favourite spots on The Sound Of Music trail… 

1. Werfen 

If there’s one image that generations of fans have 

taken away from the film, it’s perky young Maria 

(Julie Andrews) plucking a guitar on a meadow. 

The shot was filmed near the town of Werfen, 

in the picturesque Salzach river valley. Part of the 

much-loved Do-Re-Mi sequence, it’s up there in 

terms of impact with the opening scene of Maria 

twirling happily on a hilltop, which was filmed 

nearby at a place called Mehlweg mountain. 

A rather more chilly vision of Werfen can be seen 

in the 1968 war movie Where Eagles Dare. 


CULTURE DEPARTURES 

Photo: Rex 

2. Mondsee 

This small lakeside town in the Vöcklabruck 

district is home to the magical Mondsee 

Abbey, where the wedding of Maria and 

Captain Georg von Trapp (Christopher 

Plummer) takes place in the movie. The 

town’s tourist association offers guided walks 

through a variety of The Sound Of Musicstyle 

backdrops, including an easy one that 

takes you through lush green meadows and 

will have you yearning for some lederhosen. 

mondsee.at 

3. The Convent 

When the Von Trapps weren’t 

running down mountains, they 

mostly hung around in Salzburg, as 

airy and beautiful today as it was 

in 1965. A must-see on The Sound 

Of Music trail is the Benedictine 

Convent (part of Nonnberg Abbey), 

where the nuns in the film sing 

Maria, as is the Mirabell Gardens, 

where Maria and the little ones 

perform the second part of Do-Re- 

Mi. To outsmart everyone, see if 

you can discover the identity of the 

“lost” chapel that features in the 

movie’s opening credits – all but 

one of the small churches in the 

sequence have been identified. 

official-soundofmusic-tour.com 

4. Felsenreitschule 

Though it was built way back 

in 1693 as a riding school, the 

Felsenreitschule has been used 

as a music venue for almost 100 

years now, and it was here that 

the Von Trapp family performed 

their famous disappearing act 

from the Nazis. Spectacularly 

cut into the city’s Mönschberg 

cliff, it features a varied musical 

programme which includes the 

likes of Mack The Knife and, on 

17 October, an International 

Gala which has been organised 

to commemorate the film’s 50th 

anniversary. salzburg.info 

5. Villa Trapp 

Many people forget that The Sound 

Of Music was based on a true story, 

and that there really was a Von Trapp 

family home in Salzburg from 1923 

to 1938. Today it’s a hotel, and 

guests can stay in the same rooms 

that family members once lived in. 

Built in 1863 and surrounded by 

parkland in the district of Aigen, it’s 

just a stone’s throw from Salzburg, 

and a night in one of its 22 rooms 

will set you back around £180 

mid-summer. Alternatively, enjoy the 

next best thing for £10 by signing up 

for one of the hotel’s daily tours. 

villa-trapp.com 

BE THERE: Climb every mountain 

in Salzburg, with thomascook.com 

Sound in numbers 

These are a few of our 

favourite facts about the film 

164 

The current combined age of Julie Andrews 

and Christopher Plummer, the film’s two 

main stars (she’s 79, he’s 85). 

$225,000 

The total sum, in dollars, that Julie Andrews is 

reported to have been paid for starring in both 

The Sound Of Music and Mary Poppins. 

$286 

MILLION 

The amount in dollars that The Sound Of Music 

took at the box office upon release. 

The surprisingly small number of days that 

Christopher Plummer says he spent in Austria 

during production, according to a recent 

interview in Vanity Fair. 

1,443 

The number of performances of 

The Sound Of Music stage musical during 

its original run on Broadway from 1959. 


DEPARTURES ECO 

The Red (yellow, 

pink and green) Sea 

An exciting scientific discovery is shedding 

new light on the mysteries of the deep 

Words: Imogen Rowland. Photo: Prof J Wiedenmann 

W 

hat’s multicoloured, 

glows in the dark and 

lives under the sea? 

While the answer may 

not be much of a punchline, the 

recent discovery of luminescent 

coral reefs in the Red Sea has sent 

scientists into a spin. 

Researchers from the University 

of Southampton, alongside a 

team of international experts, 

found a rainbow of fluorescent 

corals at depths of more than 

50m – unusual since those found 

at shallower depths usually contain 

only glowing green pigments. 

The team is now busy exploring 

the potential for the fluorescent 

pigments to be used in other 

capacities, including medical 

research and new drug screening. 

Not that colour is something the 

Red Sea is short of: there’s plenty to 

see at shallower depths accessible 

via snorkelling or scuba diving, 

including some creatures that 

seem more like science fiction than 

real life. See right for our pick of the 

Red Sea’s weirdest wonders. 

BE THERE… Explore under the sea 

in Egypt with thomascook.com 

The life aquatic 

The blue-spotted stingray 

Think polka dots are a passing trend? 

Not for this ray, although it does 

means he’s easily seen by predators 

such as hammerhead sharks. 

The dugong 

Weighing in at up to 500kg, these 

cute and curious vegetarians hoover 

up sea grass using their snouts 

and rough lips. 

The lionfish 

This chap may look like he’s in 

a permanent jazz-hands pose, but his 

fins are actually there to protect him 

and are armed with venom. 

The seahorse 

Seahorses may look funny, but 

they mate for life and, oddly, it’s 

the male that carries the fertilised 

eggs and “gives birth”. 


Finchley 

Road 

Oxford 

Circus 

THE BIG FIVE DEPARTURES 

Liverpool 

Street 

As five 

underground lines go 

24 hours on Fridays and 

Saturdays this September, 

here’s what you can get up 

to in the capital between 

dusk and dawn 

Words: Imogen Rowland 

Leicester 

Square 

Ogle an Oscar 

winner 

They may frequent 

five-star establishments 

across the city, but 

there’s one place 

you’re guaranteed to 

see Hollywood’s elite, 

and that’s on screen. 

There are plenty of 

multiplexes in Soho, 

but go indie at the 

Prince Charles Cinema 

(princecharlescinema. 

com) on Leicester Place, 

which holds regular 

all-night film marathons. 

Past epics have included 

the seven-part Fast And 

The Furious franchise 

and The Lord Of The 

Rings trilogy, and there’s 

an Arnie all-nighter on its 

way. If you miss it, don’t 

worry: he’ll be back. 

Get in the groove 

With five years under 

its belt, the Late Late 

Show at the uber-cool 

Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club 

(ronniescotts.co.uk) is 

not new, but being able 

to jump on the tube 

when things come to 

a close is. The ideal place 

to end a night crawling 

Soho’s finest bars, it 

draws a varied roster of 

jazz musicians including 

drummer Mark Fletcher 

and bassist Chris Dodd. 

The Friday and Saturday 

“night” shows cost £12 

and actually start at 1am, 

but if you’re not ready for 

bed come 3am nip a few 

doors down to Bar Italia 

(baritaliasoho.co.uk) for 

a nightcap – it’s open 

until 5am. 

Go star spotting 

No, we don’t mean 

hanging around outside 

Mayfair nightspot 

Mahiki hoping for a 

glimpse of the Made 

In Chelsea cast. Head 

to Hampstead Heath 

where, on clear Friday 

and Saturday nights from 

19 September until mid- 

April, the Hampstead 

Scientific Society 

(hampsteadscience. 

ac.uk) allows free 

access to its observatory 

telescopes from 8-10pm. 

After all, gazing at 

celestial bodies from 

London’s highest point 

will prove infinitely more 

interesting than gazing 

at celebrity bodies 

stumbling around 

after one too many. 

Have brunch 

at daybreak 

As vantage points go, 

they don’t come much 

better than Duck & 

Waffle (duckandwaffle. 

com). Situated on the 

40th floor of the Heron 

Tower near Liverpool 

Street, this vertigoinducing 

spot is London’s 

first restaurant to open 

24/7, so it’s ready for the 

onslaught of tube-riding 

early risers or all-nighters 

seeking a post-clubbing 

bite. Not too far away 

(and much less busy) is 

The Hope on Cowcross 

Street, Smithfields, 

a pub that opens at 

6am for breakfast and is 

a regular morning haunt 

for city workers en route 

to skyscrapers nearby. 

Go back 

to nature 

Bats are the nocturnal 

critters worth watching 

according to the London 

Bat Group (londonbats. 

org.uk). LBG regularly 

meets in green spaces 

across the capital such 

as Monken Hadley 

Common to observe 

these misunderstood 

mammals as they 

swoop across the skyline 

using echolocation, 

a biological sonar that 

enables them to gauge 

their surroundings 

through sound. London is 

home to several species, 

including the common 

pipistrelle and noctule, 

and bat walks are free 

to join. Don’t worry, 

Dracula’s not invited. 

Station: Leicester Square 

Station: Oxford Circus 

Station: Finchley Road 

Station: Liverpool Street 

Station: High Barnet 

PICCADILLY LINE 

VICTORIA LINE 

JUBILEE LINE 

CENTRAL LINE 

NORTHERN LINE 



THE INTERVIEW DEPARTURES 

James Martin 

The celebrity chef spills the beans on feeding Thomas Cook passengers, 

his desire to see India and why he’s not keen to present Top Gear 

Interview: Pierre de Villiers 

C 

reating inflight meals for 

Thomas Cook has been an 

amazing challenge. It’s something 

I look forward to every year. When 

I first got involved with Thomas Cook, food 

was in decline right across all airlines. We’ve 

managed to reverse that, which is brilliant. It 

takes a lot of work. It’s not just a case of, “Here’s 

the menu, see you later!” There’s a lot of testing 

and re-testing involved. We initially spend five 

days at my house going through new ideas with 

the chefs from the airline. There are many things 

to consider, from the packets to the weight and 

the fact that the food has to be reheated. When 

we get it right, it’s fantastic. I remember coming 

up with a banana and maple syrup muffin. I did 

four to start off with and eventually we did 

9.5 million that year. That was unbelievable. 

I’m an adventurous eater when travelling. 

I’ll try anything. I’ve had some peculiar things 

I wouldn’t want to eat again. The strangest 

thing was baby camel that had been cooked 

in a sandpit for 48 hours. That was gross. 

I love going to restaurants that are off the 

beaten track. One of the best experiences I’ve 

had recently was in Palma. Rather than along the 

seafront where everybody goes, I went round 

the little snickets and found a place called Forn 

( forndesantjoan.com). It had some of the best 

tapas I’ve ever tasted. I tend to hear about these 

hidden-away places from fellow chefs. 

The country I really look forward to visiting 

is India. I just find it a fascinating place. It’s 

a country within a country. There are 50-odd 

regions split up into individual zones, and each 

one is unique in its own right. Northern India is 

very different to southern India. 

The success I’ve had is down to a strong 

farming upbringing. You learn rules in life 

and, on a farm, one is that you have to work for 

everything. I think that has been fundamental in 

my career. My strongest childhood food memory 

is my mother’s roast chicken. We used to work 

on the farm, then come home for Sunday lunch 

before going back out to the fields to carry on. 

I would like to do a car show on TV. Not 

Top Gear, though. That’s too massive [laughs]. 

I’ve loved cars from a young age. Like most 

kids I had pictures on the wall of Ferraris and 

Lamborghinis, but never did I think I’d own one. 

It becomes addictive. The car I’ve always wanted 

is a 1936 Bentley. I recently did the Mille Miglia 

race in Italy and there was one that looked 

spectacular. That cemented it for me and I have 

actually just found one. You have to save up for it. 

It’s a lot of bloody omelettes, that’s for sure! 

My next cookbook, Sweet, is my best one yet. 

It’s a book about desserts and I’ve been waiting 

to do this one for nearly 10 years. It’s taken the 

longest time to develop and it’s very personal to 

me. It carries on from a book on desserts I did ten 

years ago which was a best-seller. 

At the end of the year I’m going to take stock. 

Another year disappears really very fast in this 

game and I want to figure out what I want to do 

rather than be told to run around everywhere. 

Next year will be 20 years of TV for me. At some 

point I’m going to be slowing down. Saturday 

Kitchen is something I try my very best at and 

it requires 150 per cent of my concentration as 

soon as I walk in. It’s not a simple show to do. 

You can never sit back and take things easy. 

READ IT: Sweet (£20, Quadrille) by 

James Martin is out on 8 October 

3 perfect courses 

James Martin picks his 

ultimate global menu 

Starter – Japan 

As a starter I would have 

this aubergine dish which is 

deep-fried with miso caramel. 

They put these beans and 

scallops on. It’s so simple, but 

one of the nicest tasting dishes 

I’ve had for a long time. 

Main Course – America 

I had carpaccio of tuna in New 

York at Eric Ripert’s three- 

Michelin-starred Le Bernardin 

(le-bernardin.com). It came 

with a lovely bit of olive oil, fresh 

chives and sourdough. Again, 

so simple, but so delicious. 

“You have to work for 

everything. That has been 

fundamental to my career” 

Dessert – UK 

I would probably have a 99 with 

a flake. I bloody love them! 

Whenever I go back home to 

Yorkshire I try to get them in 

Scarborough. You don’t need 

anything fancy. I love that, thank 

you very much. 



HOW TO DEPARTURES 

Licence to kill? 

Inspired by the hype surrounding the latest James Bond 

movie? Us too. We decided the timing was right to go on 

a secret spy training course – in glamorous Milton Keynes 

Words: Claire Bennie. Illustration: Ben Tallon 

Y 

ou! Blondie! Get your bum 

down and get moving. Go. 

Go. GO!” 

I’m the sole blonde in 

our group of six, so I can only assume 

that hulking ex-special forces type 

Jeff is screaming at me. I flatten my 

body to the floor and wiggle forward 

like a giant centipede that’s had its 

legs tied together. A centipede that 

also has its vision blurred by goggles 

and is trying to shoot a machine gun, 

while avoiding enemy gunfire. 

“Faster! You’re letting them win! 

Come on!” Jeff bellows. 

I hear a giant rip in my jeans. 

I can only hope the material has 

split where my knees are grinding 

against the muddy floor. I stop for 

a split second to check, and in that 

moment, Jeff delights in telling me, 

my entire squadron is wiped out. 

Sigh. It had all started out so well. 

Earlier in the year, MI5 launched a 

series of online tests to see if the 

average person could be their next 

hot recruit. I’ve always fancied myself 

as a spy – the glitz, the glamour, the 

martinis – and it’s about time there 

was a female 007. So I logged on 

and undertook the Investigative 

Challenge (MI5.gov.uk/careers). After 

15 minutes, I scored four out of eight, 

which the experts at MI5 deemed 

“almost there”. I was simultaneously 

on Facebook during the test, so really 

should have got six or seven... 

It was all the confidence I needed 

to pack in my job as a journalist and 

start my glittering new career in 

espionage. Well, nearly. I decided that I 

might need a little practical experience 

first – and it would probably look 

better if I could add “super sniper rifle 

marksman” alongside “competent 

with Excel” and “good at managing 

budgets” on my CV. So that’s why I 

came to play Spy Games in a damp 

field in Milton Keynes along with a 

bunch of wannabe agents under the 

instruction of some of her Majesty’s 

finest (former) soldiers. 


DEPARTURES HOW TO 

Admittedly, the machine gun 

exercise wasn’t going so well. But 

I can’t remember many scenes in 

James Bond movies where Sean 

Connery has to blow away a team 

of baddies on his knees, so I’m sure 

one-to-one combat is going to be 

more beneficial. 

Next up: axe throwing. Stand tall, 

stand still, move your throwing arm 

backwards… then hurl forwards with 

power, releasing the axe halfway 

through the arc. Easy. I’m hurling my 

star-shaped axe at an MDF, cut-out 

villain, and I’m pretty confident I’m 

going to cause him some pain. First 

throw: the axe spirals out of my 

hand, the handle skimming the MDF 

man’s ear (or at least where it would 

be if he had one). So close! I throw 

the next one. The flat side thuds 

pathetically into his chest – how is 

that even possible? Third time’s 

a charm: I launch the axe into the 

air and it soars… far into the sky, 

past the wooden target, and into 

the nearby shrubbery. But there’s 

always someone dodgy lurking in 

the bushes, isn’t there? I quickly 

check the Spy Games team haven’t 

hidden a second assailant (they 

haven’t). My disappointment is 

further compounded when one of 

my teammates lobs her axe with 

such velocity that the handle – the 

handle! – embeds itself firmly in our 

MDF target, just above his crotch. 

At this stage, I have to confess 

things aren’t going to plan. But I still 

have a few more activities lined up: 

crossbow shooting, pistol drawing, 

sniper rifle training and surveillance. 

However, the crossbow is more 

cumbersome than I had anticipated. I 

have to coax Phil, a squaddie just back 

from overseas deployment, to pull 

the string taut, but I’ve seen enough 

spy movies to know that charm is a 

key asset for any operative. 

I click my arrow into place, ready 

to aim and fire. It’s not a quick 

process, but I virtually get a bull’seye 

on the first go, and can’t help 

stifling a snigger as “axe handle girl” 

sends hers flying off into the hay 

bales behind the target. Buoyed by 

my crossbow triumph and learning 

how to hide teeny tiny cameras in 

virtually anything with Spy Games’ 

very own Q, I skip over to the final 

challenge: sniper rifle shooting. 

After some initial issues with my 

line of sight (I’m right-handed, but 

my left eye is more dominant, which 

makes me a special case, says gruff 

special forces instructor James), 

I’m ready to go. I load my silver ball 

pellets with ease (sadly, for safety 

reasons we can’t use live ammo – 

not a bad decision after seeing how 

some of the other recruits do), hoist 

the rifle on to my shoulder, carefully 

line up my target with the crosshairs 

and BANG! I shoot; I score! At least 

I think so. After a few more shots my 

metal target definitely has several 

pea-sized dents where my pellets hit. 

All in all I wasn’t too bad. Probably 

four out of eight. Of course, really 

it should have been six or seven, but 

I didn’t want to make the others too 

jealous. I’ve downloaded my MI5 

application and I’m just waiting for 

Spectre (out 6 November) to see 

what tips Daniel Craig can give me. 

BOOK IT: Go spy training with 

redletterdays.co.uk 

00 heaven 

James Bond on location 

Bahamas 

Visit Thunderball Grotto where, in 

the 1965 film of the same name, 

007 was trapped in an underwater 

cave before being rescued. 

Japan 

In 1967 Himeji Castle masqueraded 

as a top-secret ninja training centre 

for Sean Connery and co in 

You Only Live Twice. 

Greece 

For Your Eyes Only (1981) sees 

Roger Moore swapping the Aston 

Martin for a yellow Citroën 2CV for 

a chase around Corfu. 

Turkey 

The heart-stopping moment Daniel 

Craig plunges from a speeding train 

into the river in 2012’s Skyfall was 

filmed at Varda Bridge, Kiralan. 

Photos: Rex; Getty; Landmark 


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From the glamour of Las Vegas and majesty of the Grand Canyon, to New York’s 

iconic Statue of Liberty and the rhythm of the Deep South, take your pick from 

a million different adventures in America. 

Plan your perfect US holiday today and Tick the Box 

on your favourite US destinations and experiences.

CALIFORNIA 

It’s one of the world’s greatest drives – but not as you know it. We take an alternative trip down California’s 

famous Highway One, finishing in LA, Thomas Cook’s newest destination 

Words: Claire Bennie. Illustrations: Stephan Walter 


1 2 M I L E S 

Oakland to San Francisco 

Hugging the Pacific coast from north of San 

Francisco all the way down to San Diego, Highway 

One is an all-American classic. Cosmopolitan cities, 

cute little surf towns, rugged cliffs, rolling vineyards: 

it brings together the best of California in one 

500-or-so mile route. It’s a journey I know well – I 

used to live in San Francisco, and this will be my fifth 

trip down this road to Los Angeles. Which is why I 

felt like it was high time I mixed things up a little… 

I decide to start in Oakland. Ten years ago, this 

other city by the bay was a no-go zone; with its 

dubious crime record, there was no real reason 

for visitors to ever go there. But over the past 

10 years, it’s had a complete makeover. Cooler, 

cheaper and sunnier than San Francisco, it’s 

become the Brooklyn or Shoreditch of NorCal. 

After landing, my boyfriend and I pick up our 

sporty silver Mustang convertible (rhinocarhire. 

com). We acquaint ourselves, name her Sue (well, 

Sally would have been too obvious, wouldn’t it?) 

and head straight to the heart of the resurgence: 

Jack London Square. Home of Oakland’s maritime 

heritage, this shiny waterfront development boasts 

a gloriously clear vista of the higgledy-piggledy 

skyscrapers of San Francisco. The view is flanked 

by distinctive, angular white cranes, which inspired 

George Lucas’s Imperial Walkers from Star Wars. We 

dine at Haven (havenoakland.com), an excellent 

spot with bare brick walls, exposed pipes and a lush 

foliage canopy, owned by culinary genius Daniel 

Patterson. It’s now under the guard of executive 

chef Charlie Parker, who has recently revamped the 

menu to make it more affordable. We order the 

excellent fixed prix three-course option (just £30) 

with a typically Californian emphasis on seasonal 

produce and fresh flavours. Afterwards, we take 

a stroll through the square, past Jack London’s 

wooden hut (sadly not the ramshackle original 

where the adventure writer penned White Fang ) 

and on to Yoshi’s jazz and blues bar (yoshis.com). 

Macy Gray is playing later in the week, but we spend 

an enjoyable few hours listening to an accomplished 

local orchestra play Etta James hits. 

The following morning we set off in Sue for 

a drive north from the marina. We pass by Lake 

Merritt, a glittering, 150-acre lake where you 

can enjoy lunch and cocktails at Lake Chalet 

(thelakechalet.com), take a boat on the water or 

walk the 3.4-mile perimeter route. We wanted to 

stop but it’s a bit too early for cocktails – and we have 

a far more important date with a double chocolate 

fudge sundae in Piedmont (it’s never too early 

for sundaes). Pronounced in a characteristically 

brash way (“Peedmont”), this sunny suburb is the 

kind of place where cops are likely to give you a 

little wink as you walk past the pretty row of shops. 

One does, but we can’t stop to chat – it’s time for 

Fentons (fentonscreamery.com), a 1950s-style ice 

cream parlour that’s the home of rocky road (my 

favourite flavour) and where Carl and Russell go for 

towering cones after surviving their South American 

adventure in Pixar’s Up. 

From Oakland we take the lesser-known 

and less attractive Bay Bridge (how could 

anything compete with the Golden Gate?) to San 

Francisco. In less than 20 minutes, we’re in the 

heart of the action. After a quick shopping session 

in Union Square, margaritas and fish tacos in the 

Mission (try La Taqueria at 2889 Mission Street), 

philosophising with faded hippies in The Haight 

and, of course, a selfie at that famous red bridge, 

we’re ready to hit the open road. 


CALIFORNIA 

Gearing up 

Our writer Claire and trusty 

steed Sue (top left); and gourmet 

delights at Haven (top right) and 

Fentons (above) in Oakland, the 

first road trip stop 


CALIFORNIA 

1 4 5 M I L E S 

San Francisco to Carmel 

Shortly after we leave San Fran and its ever-present 

swirl of fog, we put Sue’s roof down. The sun warms 

our skin, the wind whips (read: tangles) our hair, we 

breathe in the salty air and turn the radio up. 

The great thing about going north to south on 

the same road (other then zilch romance-killing, 

map-reading arguments) is that because you’re 

driving on the “wrong” side, those views of the 

majestic coastline are wonderfully uninterrupted. 

Our first stop is Monterey. The biggest draw here 

is Fisherman’s Wharf II, a smaller version of San 

Fran’s Pier 39, where you can buy salt-water taffy, 

souvenirs and go whale and dolphin watching. 

Fisherman’s Wharf I, a real working fisherman’s 

wharf, is where we found the best seafood 

restaurants. After failing to blag our way into a glitzy 

party at the Monterey Peninsula Yacht Club, we went 

next door to Sandbar (sandbarandgrillmonterey. 

com) to eat clam chowder (more of an east coast 

dish, but dang the clams are good here), fresh catch 

of the day and mounds of soft crab salad. 

But we’re not staying: we’re moving south 

to neighbouring Carmel-by-the-Sea. This town 

where Clint Eastwood was once mayor is just three 

miles away, but the more interesting route is via 

17 Mile Drive (£6.50 for cars; free for cyclists), 

a scenic stretch of road with sweeping sea views 

and world-famous golf course Pebble Beach. 

We check into La Playa Carmel (laplayahotel. 

com), a century-old mansion by the beach that’s 

said to be haunted. We don’t find any ghosts, only 

a brilliant pool, Champagne breakfast buffet and 

nightly wine reception. 

Carmel is as known for its fairytale cottages, art 

galleries and antique shops as it is its outlandish 

laws: no street lights past 9pm; if you drive into a 

tree it’s considered a hit and run; no ice cream eaten 

on the street; no high heels taller than two inches. 

We didn’t hear about a law that every resident must 

own a dog, but we figure it was added at some point; 

this town is canine crazy. At Ventana wine cellar 

(ventanawines.com), one of the many hidden-away 

tasting rooms in the centre, we feed Welsh terrier 

Hank biscuits and chat to his owner, Fred, about the 

most dramatic part of our trip: Big Sur. 

2 6 2 M I L E S 

Carmel to Cayucos 

This is, without a doubt, the most magnificent 

stretch of coastal road in the US. Roughly 85 miles 

of sweeping vistas, it is not to be rushed – what 

would usually take just under three hours takes 

us more than seven. That’s no comment on my 

driving, although some of the hairpin bends are 

pretty hairy. 

The first stop (of 23) is Bixby Creek Bridge, 

a mind-boggling piece of engineering at 85m 

high. We also pull over at Julia Pfeiffer Burns 

Park, a beautiful area a few miles south of Big Sur 


Photos: Getty; Stock Food 

Road trippin’ 

After Monterey (left) and Carmel 

you hit Big Sur. Views of Bixby 

Creek Bridge (right) and McWay 

Walls make keeping your eyes on 

the road tricky. Take it easy! 

State Park. There are plenty of hikes but the most 

scenic is McWay Falls. A 30-minute (or 0.7 mile) 

route will take you to the top of a 25m waterfall 

that cascades on to the crashing waves below. 

Cayucos is our stop for the night, a quaint 

surfer town overlooked by international visitors, 

but a hit with local tourists, who come for its 

small-town Californian charm. We pick up board 

shorts and baseball caps in surfer boutiques, 

gorge ourselves on Cayucos Brown Butter 

Cookies (brownbuttercookies.com) – wonderful, 

sea-salted caramel treats that crumble in our 

mouths – and sip local wines in Cayucos Cellars 

(cayucoscellars.com). After steak and ribs at 

Schooner’s Wharf (schoonerswharf.com), we do 

our bit for California’s current drought crisis: save 

water; drink beer! The central coast is home to a 

number of creative little craft breweries, and we 

probably tried most of them. Firestone DBA (made 

in nearby Pasa Robles) is our call. Our English 

accents get us a few new friends (plus free beers) 

in the Old Cayucos Tavern (oldcayucostavern. 

com), which looks like it’s been lifted straight out 

of a spaghetti western – but without the horses 

tied up at the front. 

With roughly 85 miles of 

sweeping vistas, don’t rush 

driving through Big Sur 


4 1 8 M I L E S 

Californian charm 

With its surf vibes (above), world 

famous Brown Butter Cookies 

Company (left) and restaurants 

like Schooner’s (below), Cayucos 

won’t be a secret for long 

Surf town Cayucos is 

a hit with local tourists 

after small-town charm 

Cayucos to Ventura 

Next: Ventura and the Channel Islands, via 

Solvang (founded in 1911 by a group of Danes) 

and Santa Barbara. If the Scandi-sounding 

name wasn’t enough of a giveaway (Solvang 

means sunny field), in this funny little town 

there’s a statue of the Little Mermaid, a bust 

of Hans Christian Andersen and a replica of 

Copenhagen’s Round Tower, as well as windmills, 

year-round Christmas shops (are the Danes really 

that festive?) and, of course, plenty of frostingslathered 

Danish pastries. 

We zip through Santa Barbara, the glitzy 

city dubbed the American Riviera thanks to its 

Mediterranean-style red tiled roofs and white 

stucco buildings, A-list population and gorgeous 

marina. Here you can go hiking (dozens of 

routes zig-zag up the hill, including one that 

goes right past Oprah Winfrey’s house) or stroll 

around the shops and art galleries on State 

Street, which is what we chose to do before 

driving on to Ventura, the stopping-off point 

for the Channel Islands, which is fast becoming 

a destination in its own right. 

At Ventura Harbor Village (venturaharbor 

village.com), we sit at the bar at Brophy 

Bros (brophybros.com) for happy hour clams 

and margaritas before pootling around the 

marina in a canopied Duffy boat thanks to 

Ventura Boat Rentals (from £40 per hour, 

venturaboatrentals.com). 


CALIFORNIA 

The Channel Islands National Park, five 

pieces of land strung along the coast (the nearest, 

Anacapa, is 12 miles from Ventura), regularly 

top travel magazines’ do-before-you-die bucket 

lists (including this one’s). Wildly remote (no one 

lives there), these islands are a glimpse of what 

California used to be: rugged, beautiful; battered 

by the waves and baked by the sun. We take 

a boat from the harbour with Island Packers 

(around £40pp, islandpackers.com) to Anacapa, 

for a hike along the beach past rock pools and 

craggy cliffs. The islands are ideal for kayaking and 

diving, and you can camp overnight (although it’s 

just you and the wilderness, which sounds scarier 

than a haunted hotel to us, so you might prefer to 

go back to Ventura like we did). 

Photos: Getty; 

Gallery Stock 

Ace Ventura 

Paddling around Ventura harbour 

(above). This town just north of 

LA is jumping-off point for the 

marvellous Channel Islands (top) 

4 7 5 M I L E S 

Ventura to LA 

Following the coast for the very last time, we take 

Sue the short drive along Highway One past the 

Santa Monica mountains, the surfers bobbing in 

the water at Malibu and on to the City of Angels. 

Our base for the final leg of the trip is Santa 

Monica, about 15 miles west of Downtown LA. It’s 

a stretch of coastline that couldn’t be more classic, 

laid-back California if it tried: girls in string bikinis 

rollerblading along the palm-lined promenades, 

yoga lovers practising sun salutations, that 

sublime golden beach, movie producers 

and ageing bohemians rubbing shoulders at 

pavement cafes. 

We check into our hotel, Casa del Mar 

(hotelcasadelmar.com), an art-deco mansion 

with an aristocratic European feel (just right for 

us, then). After a dip in the fifth floor pool, with its 

glorious views of Santa Monica Pier and the hazy, 

undulating mountains to the right, we nip down to 

the bar for a lavender gin martini in time for sunset. 

The following morning, we decide to stick with 

our “on the road” theme, rent bikes and pedal 

along the beachfront path that stretches all the 

way to Torrance Beach (about 20 miles south). 

We glide past hippy hangout Venice Beach, the 

marina, sprint underneath thundering planes 

taking off at LAX and on to upmarket Manhattan 

Beach for lunch. 

Los Angeles is the home of sushi. Okay, Japan 

might be its original home, but LA is where the 

worldwide trend really kicked off when Nobu 

Matsuhisa opened his first restaurant here in 

1987 (he later launched Nobu in New York with 

Robert De Niro!). We’d heard good things about 


CALIFORNIA 

Coming into Los Angeles 

Clockwise from above: Santa 

Monica pier; Hollywood Walk 

of Fame; Camden-by-the-Sea 

(aka Venice Beach); the world 

famous Hollywood sign; 

shopping Mecca Rodeo Drive 

Sushi Gen (sushigenla.com), but when we realised 

it would take 90 minutes (in good traffic) to get 

Downtown, we settled on dimly lit Sugar Fish 

(sugarfishsushi.com) in Santa Monica. The menu is 

easy to decipher with a choice of three set menus 

(Trust me is £20; Trust me lite £13; Nozawa trust 

me £26) and fish as soft as butter. 

On our last day, we took Sue along the 

boulevards of Beverley Hills and up to Hollywood. 

At this point we realised how easy we’d had it 

following a single road all this time: sat nav, a 

boyfriend barking directions and horns tooting 

in every direction did not make for the most 

enjoyable journey, but at least parking in LA is a 

breeze. We tucked the car away in a never-ending 

multi-storey car park before snapping pics at the 

Chinese Theatre and the Walk of Fame and chatting 

to Thor, who was promoting some movie or other. 

Our final drive was to the Griffith Observatory 

(griffithobservatory.org), an elevated point east of 

the Hollywood Hills with a truly incredible view of 

the city and the Pacific. From up here I can’t help 

but marvel at the variety of the landscape over the 

past 475 miles: the cosmopolitan buzz of the Bay 

Area, the raw beauty of Big Sur, the laid-back charm 

of the Central Coast’s surf towns, the glitz of Los 

Angeles. California really does have everything. 

And I have a sneaky suspicion that I’ll be back to 

take it all in again on this same road for a sixth, 

maybe even seventh, time. 

BE THERE: Thomas Cook’s new route from 

Manchester to Los Angeles starts from 

May 2016. Book now at thomascook.com. 

See visitcalifornia.com to plan your holiday. 

Photo: Getty 


IZMIR 

Art and soul 

How has a tiny, formerly forgotten town on the Aegean coast – with no beach – become 

Turkey’s number-one summer escape? We head to Alacati to uncover its creative secrets 

Words: Louisa Johnson. Photos: Tim E White 

I 

t was a village when I first came 

here,” says Serap Yurdaer, wiping 

the clay from her hands and 

bending down to shoo one of 

her 30 cats out from her cool 

workshop into the blinding white sunshine. 

“When I moved in around 15 years ago, 

only the donkeys and chickens were my 

neighbours. It was just my workshop and 

two grocery stores!” 

Serap is telling me about Alacati, the 

little town on the Cesme peninsula (about 

50 minutes from Izmir) that she calls home 

– and so will I for the next few days. I’m here 

to find out why it has become one of Turkey’s 

most popular holiday destinations. Although 

the peninsula is undoubtedly gorgeous, 

with its sweeping beaches, sparkling blue 

waters and charming seaside resorts, Alacati 

is not like its neighbouring towns. Small, 

traditional and without a beach, for centuries 

it wasn’t on anyone’s radar. But as the other 

resorts became more built up and crowded, 

discerning holidaymakers decided they 

wanted something simpler and quieter. This 

is when Alacati began to come into its own. 

Its beauty lay in its invisibility: serene and 

remote, it’s a step back in time. 

When Serap realised she’d lost the 

passion she once had for her life in Izmir, 

she decided to take a risk: leaving a secure 

job, her family and friends, to come to this 

sleepy town and become a ceramicist. 

“Everyone thought I was crazy to make such 

a change, but I think if you do something 

special and you do it right, people will 

find you,” she says now. And they have. 

Serap exhibits and sells her tableware 

(alacaticeramics.com) all over the world, 

and her work is painted in shades of 

turquoise that evoke the Aegean sea. 

Serap is one of many city dwellers who 

gave up their busy lives to embrace the 

slower pace in Alacati. Together, over the 

past few years, they’ve cautiously and 

sympathetically created an arty and stylish 

enclave. Now there are eclectic galleries, 

stylish restaurants, pop-up fashion boutiques 

and mulberry-shaded cafes full of people 

laughing, chatting and relaxing. “Things have 

moved fast,” she says. “But I think all the 

changes have happened in a positive way.” 

Alacati’s rise to fame is, in part, she tells 

me, because the nearest stretch of water is 

5km away. The expansive, 1.7km-wide bay 

isn’t exactly Instagram-candy either. The 

sea is turquoise and glittering, sure, but it 

doesn’t have that smooth, plate-glass quality, 

and there’s no soft, sandy beach to stretch 

out your towel on. At least the conditions are 

perfect for windsurfing. The first boarders 

came here in the 1990s – long before the 

trendy Istanbul bloggers. It’s now considered 

one of the best windsurfing spots on earth, 

and the World Cup will be held here from 

26-31 August. 

“It’s special here,” says local Salih Rende 

of Active Surf (active-surf.com), who left the 

area to study at university as a younger man. 

“My family all live here and I’ve always felt like 

Alacati was a part of me. I knew there would 

be a point when I’d want to come home.” 

Salih used to sail in this bay when he was 

a child and, when he came back, he decided to 

open a windsurfing centre. “I started my own 


ALACATI 


company 12 years ago,” he explains. “Windsurfing 

is popular here because it’s so safe. This is partly 

because of the meltemi, which means “slow and 

steady wind” in Turkish. In Fuerteventura you just 

head straight out into the ocean. Here in Alacati, 

you’re surrounded by the safety of the bay.” 

Back in town, I walk out of Serap’s workshop 

towards 2012 Sokak, a narrow cobbled street 

that wiggles its way through the heart of Alacati. 

At Sunay Kiraathanesi I get a glimpse into the 

town’s not-so-distant history: this is one of the few 

traditional kahvehane (cafes) left, where crinkly 

eyed men with flat caps pulled low sit at chipped 

tables, holding small curved glasses of tea and 

staring at the tourists with a kind of aloof curiosity. 

“When I first came, you would never have seen 

a woman sitting here,” says Melek Toraman, 

a professional windsurfer who now lives in Alacati. 

“Even 10 years ago, the men would never have 

let me sit and drink tea with them. But now the 

attitudes have changed. I love to sit here and 

“Things have moved fast over the 

past few years, but in a positive way” 

Work up an appetite 

Melek Toraman shows 

how it’s done (top). 

Thirty dishes and 

counting at Asma 

Han’s sumptuous 

breakfast (above) 

have a chat with them. Whenever I go away to 

compete they say, ‘Where is our girl?’ 

“The real locals are happy with the recent 

changes,” she continues, when I ask her about 

the arty vibe and trendy restaurants. “As long 

as newcomers and visitors are careful about 

protecting the authenticity of Alacati, they are 

friendly and welcoming.” Melek is one of the first 

(of many) to insist on swapping numbers with 

me, concocting a plan to get together for drinks 

later. It’s typical of the warmth of the people who 

live here, keen to show off their beautiful town 

to newcomers. On the second day I exchange 

numbers with four new friends and have offers 

of boat rides along the coast and places to 

stay when (not if) I come back later in the 

summer. Every time I meet someone new 

– after affectionate hugs and kisses on the 

cheek – platters of neat little pastry parcels, 

silver trays with glasses of tea and dainty 

biscuits are presented with a proud flourish. 

The generosity is overwhelming. Even by 11am, 

my head is spinning and my jaw aches. I just don’t 

grin from ear to ear like this back home. 

Of course, the holiday glow has something to 

do with my good mood – and also my readiness 

to eat everything put in front of me. It’s not my 

fault, though: everywhere I go, I’m offered food 

until I can’t eat anymore. Breakfast in Turkey 


IZMIR 

Bowled over 

Serap Yurdaer (left) 

and her beautiful 

contemporary 

tableware (above) 


“Alacati is like Bodrum used 

to be. Let’s keep it that way” 

Fast friends 

Artist Chermine 

Vidori (top) and 

Viento’s Figen 

Erbas (top right) 

with her sister 

Ebru to her left 

is always an over-the-top affair, but at Asma Han 

(asmahanotel.com), it borders on the (wonderfully) 

ridiculous. Owner Candan Akalin brings plate after 

plate after plate: when I start to eat, I count 30 

on the table, excluding drinks. Harissa, boyoz (a 

local, pretzel- shaped pastry), eggs, tomato salads, 

different types of cheese, spicy tomato paste – 

everything is made from scratch, including the 

four types of jam (mulberry, lemon, apricot and 

mandarin), which look like little rows of gems in their 

clean white dishes. Candan tells me they were made 

by his mother, grandmother and mother-in-law. 

Feeling unbelievably full, I wince when Turkish/ 

Italian painter Chermine Vidori offers me more 

tea and almond biscuits a few hours later. But 

– thankfully – I’m able to distract her by asking 

questions about why she chose to settle in Alacati. 

“When I was a child I would holiday in nearby 

Ilica,” she says. “We would occasionally stop off 

in Alacati, but back then there was nothing there, 

just a small market. I chose to come back here 

partly because of the wonderful pace of life, and 

because I fell in love with a beautiful house.” 

The delightful 18th-century residences that 

cling to Alacati’s narrow, winding lanes are its 

greatest attraction, Chermine tells me. Second 

home owners in nearby Cesme and Ilica could 

afford to modify and modernise their properties, 

but thankfully Alacati’s villagers could not, and 

so these buildings have retained their charm. 

When Alacati first started to attract more 

tourists, the locals knew they’d have to preserve 

the traditions and heritage of their town. They 

began by passing laws to protect these gorgeous 

stone houses. If you want to buy one, you must 

accept that you cannot rebuild or change its 

honey-coloured appearance. Other safeguards 

include pedestrianising the oldest part of the 

town, and even forbidding plastic tables and 

chairs outside restaurants and cafes. “Everyone 

says Alacati is like Bodrum when it was smaller, 

more romantic and quieter,” says Chermine. 

“We want to keep it this way.” 

It was the local hoteliers who originally saw the 

potential to develop Alacati into a slow-tourism 

destination. There are now almost a hundred of 

these whitewashed, blue-shuttered butik otels 

(when the first few launched back in the early 

2000s, the owners didn’t differentiate between 

“boutique” and “small’ – which is what butik 

actually means). Viento (vientoalacati.com), 

opened two years ago and, with 27 rooms, 


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IZMIR 

is one of the largest and most stylish. Here, classic 

Aegean chic meets high city expectations, with 

crisp white linen, silk throws, oversized antique 

mirrors and Molton Brown cosmetics. The 

courtyard has fuchsia bougainvillea creeping up 

its walls, and is a wonderful spot to while away 

the afternoon; the breezy patio dining area is 

ideal for a long lunch; and the lanterns hanging 

from low-slung mulberry tree branches create 

a magical glow for late-night drinks. Unlike many 

other hotels here, it has a small pool, which you’ll 

need when temperatures reach 40°C. Owner 

Figen Erbas, a fantastic cook, dreamt up every 

minute detail. After a few days in her meticulous 

care, I almost feel like I should call her mum. 

Alacati’s summer season kicks off with the herb 

festival in March. Incredibly, in the Aegean region 

there are more than 1,000 different types of 

herbs. During the festival there’s a competition 

to collect as many as you can in just a few hours. 

This year the winning number was 132! Figen 

assures me that at Asma Yapragi – meaning 

“vine leaves” – restaurant (asmayapragi.com.tr) 

I would be able to try a good selection. “This one 

is like dill,” co-owner Kerem Mihci tells me as 

he escorts me into the kitchen where a table is 

laden with mezze dishes for guests to choose 

from: courgette flowers stuffed with cheese and 

There are more than 1,000 

different herbs in this region 

a type of dill; pumpkin with caramelised onions 

and yoghurt; braised artichokes served with lentils; 

freekah with herbs and peppers. After a third herb 

was described as “similar to dill”, but didn’t have 

an English translation, I decided just to enjoy the 

food and stop taking notes. Asma Yapragi has its 

own farm a few kilometres out of Alacati where 

the team grow almost everything they need. And 

what they can’t produce themselves, they pick up 

at the weekly market. 

What started out as a small collection of stalls 

around the mosque is now a vibrant Saturday 

market. Homemade jams; piles of coloursaturated 

fruit and veg; the many, many 

A taste of Turkey 

Kerem Mihci and his 

mum Ayse Nur Mihci 

(top) of Asma Yapragi. 

Turkish-Russian 

Babushka (right), one 

of town’s newest venues 


IZMIR 

unnamed herbs; cheese; shiny, button-like 

olives – everything is here. It’s a social occasion 

as much as a chance to shop, and after a few 

minutes I bump into Olga Irez, a food blogger 

who moved here with her Turkish husband 

Ozgur earlier this year. The pair have just opened 

Babushka (babushkaalacati.com), a restaurant 

serving Russian and Turkish cuisine. “I moved 

here to be nearer Ozgur’s family,” Olga tells 

us. “It was our dream to open a small family 

restaurant – Babushka means ‘Grandma’ in 

Russian – and serve simple, delicious food.” 

The market 

is a social 

occasion in 

Alacati 

She’s picking up spinach for her Georgian-style 

vegetarian kofte, and haggling at the chaotic fish 

auction for sardines to soak in vodka, which I get 

to taste during lunch at the restaurant. I sit in the 

shade, devouring cacik (cucumber dip), walnut 

pate and cheese platters while Ozgur pours me 

a ruby-coloured cabernet sauvignon. Traditionally 

Turkey hasn’t had a very good reputation when it 

comes to wine (which is a little unfair – Anatolia 

is where vineyards were first cultivated more 

than 1,000 years ago) but, as Ozgur tells me, it’s 

currently having a moment, especially the Aegean 

region. The rich biodynamic wine I’m drinking is 

from Urla winery (urlasarapcilik.com.tr), which has 

recently received recognition for resurrecting an 

extinct grape varietal (Urla karasi, which translates 

as “black from Urla”). Sitting back, sipping the wine 

under a fig-tree canopy, I’ve never felt so relaxed. 

After a few days here, it’s hard to contemplate 

heading back to London. For the first time in ages 

the knots at the top of my shoulders have gone 

and my skin is glowing. I feel like I’ve been eating 

non-stop, but I haven’t put on any weight. I’m sad 

to leave but there’s plenty to take back with me. 

Viento’s homemade jams and Serap’s Aegean 

sea-blue bowls aside, I vow to spend more time 

with my family. Eat more fresh food, cooked 

simply. Smile more. Enjoy the warmth of sunshine 

on my skin. Live life slowly... I’ll stop before I start 

quoting Baz Luhrmann lyrics, but you get the idea. 

And if you don’t, well, you know where to go. 

BE THERE… Plan an escape to gorgeous Alacati 

with explorealacati.com and gototurkey.co.uk. 

Fly to Izmir with thomascook.com 

Market value 

Alacati’s Saturday 

market has become 

a thriving commercial 

centre over the past 

few years 


Golden leaves 

and sunshine 

Explore our nature walks and coastlines this autumn 

October 

half term breaks 

from 

£249 * 

for the whole family 

Start planning your days away with Haven 

Fancy exploring the Great British seaside? We have 35 parks dotted around the UK coastline so there’s 

plenty of choice. Relax on the beach with an ice-cream for those yummy days, or splash around in our 

heated pools for those wet days. Our parks stretch across the Yorkshire cliffs with non-stop action. 

Others are tucked quietly in the Cornish dunes with everything a short stroll away. We have play areas, 

restaurants serving local produce, kids’ clubs and even Aerial Adventure courses for your 

mini thrill seekers, so there’s plenty of entertainment for the whole family. 

Get booking with your local Thomas Cook Agent 

Terms and conditions: £249* per family is based on a family of four sharing a two bedroom Standard self-catering caravan holiday home at selected parks arriving 23 October 2015 for three nights or 26 October 2015 for four 

nights. The price includes your holiday home, car parking for one car and FunWorks passes for access to the facilities and some activities. Offer cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer, discount or promotional 

voucher unless specifically stated and applies to new bookings only. All offers are subject to promotional availability and may be withdrawn or reduced at any time without notice. Full terms and conditions apply as stated in 

the current 2015 brochure. Haven Holidays is a trading name of Bourne Leisure, registered in England and Wales no 04011660. Registered office 1 Park Lane, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, HP2 4YL. 

72985

Magic Magic beans beans 

Ten years ago, cocoa production in St Lucia was at an all-time low. But thanks to a new farming initiative, a boost in tourism 

Ten years and ago, consistent cocoa production demand from in St the Lucia locals, was the at island’s all-time love low. affair But with thanks chocolate to is sweeter than ever 

a new farming initiative, a boost in tourism Words: and Imogen consistent Rowland. Photos: demand Helen Cathcart from the locals, 

the island’s love affair with chocolate is sweeter than ever 

T 

he sign hanging above Castries Central Words: Market Imogen reads: Rowland. “Have Photos: Helen Cathcart trees in favour of more reliable crops such as bananas. Happily, that trend 

a happy day!”, and its patrons seem to diligently obey as they 

has now been bucked – a farming initiative introduced by UK brand Hotel 

haggle over fresh breadfruit and plantain, calling out to their 

Chocolat is helping new plantations pop up, and the tourist board not only 

neighbours and friends. The cordial atmosphere is not unusual promotes a chocolate heritage trail (pointing out some of the island’s best 

– the whole island of St Lucia, all 43km by 22km of it, seems to move 

cocoa hotspots), but even dedicates a whole month to celebrating the stuff. 

in line with the joyfully upstroke strains of reggae and soca, and a faint, 

This year it’s held in August, with special events taking place across St Lucia. 

sweet scent carrying through the air. 

There’s also the island’s first chocolate factory on the way, meaning 

That wonderful fragrance is cocoa, which has been grown here since the more jobs will be created (and more chocoholics sated). After all, with 

1700s when European settlers arrived and, finding that the plants thrived in a botanical name like Theobroma, meaning “food for the gods”, it would 

the island’s volcanic soil and tropical climate, established huge plantations. seem blasphemous to allow such a precious crop-growing tradition 

However, it’s a traditional, labour-intensive process, and its complexities to die out. We went to meet some of the islanders championing 

meant that, more recently, cocoa growers here were often uprooting their everyone’s favourite guilty pleasure. 


ST LUCIA 

T 

he sign hanging above Castries Central Market reads: “Have 

a happy day!”, and its patrons seem to diligently obey as they 

haggle over fresh breadfruit and plantain, calling out to their 

neighbours and friends. The cordial atmosphere is not unusual 

– the whole island of St Lucia, all 43km by 22km of it, seems to move 

in line with the joyful upstroke strains of reggae and soca, and a faint, 

sweet scent carrying through the air. 

That wonderful fragrance is cocoa, which has been grown here since the 

1700s when European settlers arrived and, finding that the plants thrived in 

the island’s volcanic soil and tropical climate, established huge plantations. 

However, it’s a traditional, labour-intensive process, and the complexities 

meant that, more recently, cocoa growers were often uprooting their trees in 

favour of more reliable crops such as bananas. Happily, that trend has now 

been bucked – a farming initiative introduced by UK brand Hotel Chocolat 

is helping new plantations pop up, and the tourist board not only promotes 

a chocolate heritage trail (pointing out some of the island’s best cocoa 

hotspots), but even dedicates a whole month to celebrating the stuff. This 

year it’s held in August, with special events taking place across St Lucia. 

There’s also the island’s first chocolate factory on the way, meaning 

more jobs will be created (and more chocoholics sated). After all, with 

a botanical name like Theobroma, meaning “food for the gods”, it would 

seem blasphemous to allow such a precious crop-growing tradition 

to die out. We went to meet some of the islanders championing 

everyone’s favourite guilty pleasure. 


ST LUCIA 

The cocoa plantation worker 

“Want to try a jungle M&M?” asks Cuthbert 

Monroque, expertly splitting a freshly picked 

cocoa pod with a machete. He pulls the two 

halves apart and, still attached to the stem, 

the beans emerge, like giant white corn kernels 

packed tightly together. The tour group each pulls 

a cocoa seed from the cluster and pops it in their 

mouths, sucking at the flesh around the bean, 

which tastes like melon, with a final sharp tang 

of passionfruit. “Welcome to nature’s biggest 

sweet shop,” says Cuthbert, gesturing to the 

lush rainforest around him. 

The 140-acre Rabot Estate in Soufriere, on 

St Lucia’s western coast, has been run by Hotel 

Chocolat (hotelchocolat.com) since 2006, 

although the plantation itself was established in 

1745. There’s a boutique hotel and restaurant, 

Boucan, but the company’s initial impetus was to 

try and ensure that cocoa farming on the island, 

which was dwindling, became sustainable. To do 

so, they started the Engaged Ethics programme 

to work with farmers across St Lucia, propagating 

the plants and supplying young trees at subsidised 

prices, guaranteeing they would buy back the 

whole crop when it had matured. The result is now 

a cooperative of 167 farmers, each with between 

one and 30 acres of cocoa trees, who, together 

with the estate, ship more than 300 tonnes of 

cocoa beans to the UK annually. 

Cuthbert, who is 58 and comes from Saltibus 

on the island’s southwest coast, has been working 

here as a nursery supervisor and tour guide for five 

years. “There are many varieties of cocoa trees,” 

he says. “Some that are hardy but slow-growing 

and low-yielding, others that are faster-growing 

but more susceptible to disease. So we crossbreed 

them into our ‘Trinitario’ variety by grafting 

root stock of one species on to a seedling of 

another, and then nurturing them until they 

are strong. That way we have robust, fruitful 


trees which take between 18 months and three 

years to mature rather than five to six years.” 

You can discover this for yourself on the 

estate’s Tree to Bar experience, which invites 

visitors to tour the property, learn about cocoa 

farming, and even plant their own hybrid tree 

before getting down to the serious business of 

trying to make their own chocolate bar. Along the 

way, Cuthbert explains the history of chocolate, 

starting with the Mayans who drank it with chilli, 

through to the first ever chocolate bar crafted by 

the UK’s own Joseph Fry & Sons. 

When it’s time for you to make your own, you 

begin by grinding 50g roasted cocoa nibs with 

a hot pestle and mortar. After 20 minutes’ hard 

work, add 9g cocoa butter to make a grainy 

molten paste. Next, 22.5g of refined sugar is 

added gradually, and the mixture is poured into 

a mould for you to marvel at your handiwork. It’s 

then cooled and wrapped for you to take home 

as an edible souvenir. “We’re building a factory 

to produce chocolate on the island for the first 

time,” says Cuthbert. “Come back in 18 months 

and we can give you an update on your tree and 

you can maybe even buy a bar made here in 

St Lucia, with your tree’s beans! That’s the 

dream,” he grins. 

“Welcome to 

nature’s biggest 

sweet shop” 


ST LUCIA 

The cocoa tea seller 

At booth nine in Castries Central Market, Lorna 

Henry is busily stirring up a pot of her best-seller. 

It’s a fragrant tribute to the island’s plentiful larder: 

nutmeg, cloves, star anise, bay leaves, fennel 

flower, cinnamon and – most importantly of all 

– cocoa, this time ground and pressed into stick 

form. She is making cocoa tea, St Lucia’s vastly 

superior version of hot chocolate, and a stalwart 

of weekend breakfasts here, particularly when 

served with a bake (a kind of lightly fried bread 

roll) on a busy Saturday morning at the market. 

As she grates the cocoa stick into a pan with 

the other spices and herbs, 55-year-old Lorna 

explains its importance. “Cocoa tea is the flavour 

of St Lucia. We have had this booth for 20 years 

and it is always available.” Working alongside her 

daughter, Margarita, Lorna adds hot water to the 

mix, and brings it to the boil. Almost immediately 

the scent of warm cocoa fills the air, piquing the 

interest of passers-by. After 10 minutes on the 

stove, Lorna adds water and cornflour to thicken 

the tea, plus a can of evaporated milk, stirring 

continuously. Finally she strains the creamy liquid 

and pours it into a polystyrene cup, placing it on 

the counter with a tub of sugar to add to taste. She 

recommends two teaspoons, but says some locals 

prefer the rich bitterness of the cocoa straight up. 

When asked about her first memory of cocoa 

tea, she shrugs: “I don’t know. I was born, it 

was there.” Her customers, however, are more 

enthusiastic. “This is the best breakfast in the 

world,” says Gervy “Groovy” Charles, a 39-year-old 

taxi driver. “Too much rum punch at the street 

party last night? This will sort you out,” he grins, 

tucking into his saltfish bake that, together with his 

tea, has set him back all of £1.20. “When I lived 

in Canada, I asked everyone who visited to bring 

me cocoa sticks, and when I came back I made 

a beeline for the market. I wasn’t really back until 

I’d had some – cocoa tea is the taste of home.” 


“Our cocoa is 

the real deal 

– it has such 

a pure, raw 

flavour” 

ST LUCIA 

The first local pastry chef 

With a tropical climate and temperatures that 

rarely dip below 26°C, St Lucia isn’t known for its 

pastry chefs – but that didn’t dissuade Stephenson 

Charles, who works at the Sandals Regency La Toc 

(book through thomascook.com) near the island’s 

capital, Castries. Having toiled here for 20 years, 

starting out as an apprentice baker aged 19, he 

was finally promoted to his dream role – pastry 

chef – in May. He’s the first local cook to hold 

the position anywhere in St Lucia. 

“I wanted to cook since I was tiny,” says 

Stephenson proudly, who looks at least a decade 

younger than his 39 years, his slim frame belying 

his trade. “I was always at my mother’s heels in the 

kitchen, watching and learning, and I had a sweet 

tooth, so I always knew what I wanted to do.” 

Having worked his way through the ranks, he now 

heads a team of 10 who create all of the pastries, 

desserts and chocolates for the 220-acre resort. 

“We hold a chocolate buffet on Thursday nights 

and we make a huge range of things: dipped 

strawberries, hand-rolled rum truffles, creamfilled 

profiteroles, as well as chocolate fountains 

and even two live models smothered in molten 

chocolate,” he says. “That’s always popular.” 

While much of the chocolate is imported 

from Belgium because of the quantity needed, 

all cocoa used on site is from the island, and 

Stephenson hopes to use locally made chocolate 

once the new Hotel Chocolat factory opens. “Our 

cocoa is the real deal. It has such a pure, raw 

flavour. It’s my favourite ingredient to work with, 

improvising how to get that amazing flavour 

coming through. It’s the best in the world.” 


ST LUCIA 

“Cocoa butter 

is known all 

over the world as 

a rich moisturiser” 

The modern masseuse 

You can grow it, eat it and drink it, but St Lucians 

don’t stop there. Some even use cocoa as a skin 

treatment, as is the case at the Rainforest Spa at 

Sugar Beach Resort (sugarbeachresidences.com), 

which is tucked enviably at the foot of the iconic 

Piton mountains. “Cocoa butter is known the 

world round as a rich moisturiser, but we also have 

a nourishing chocolate body scrub which uses 

locally grown cocoa,” explains Bibiana Polius, 44, 

from Laborie in the south of the island. 

The cocoa is blended with organic brown sugar 

from Barbados into an exfoliating scrub to prime 

and polish the skin, applied using long massaging 

strokes. “It smells wonderful!” says Bibiana. “But 

that’s not all!” She explains that the cocoa is rich in 

antioxidants and theobromine (which has a similar 

effect to caffeine), increasing blood flow to the skin. 

The scrub is not only good enough to eat, it’s also 

genuinely enriching and stops your skin from drying 

out – helpful in a hot Caribbean climate. 

The treatment takes place in one of the spa’s 

seven treehouses, with natural light pouring in. 

Once thoroughly scrubbed, clients take a private 

open-air bamboo shower to rinse off the mixture 

before being generously slathered in a mintchocolate 

moisturising oil made by local company 

Natmed in Rodney Bay. It has just enough fragrance 

to carry through the day without smelling like 

you’ve overindulged on After Eights. Walking along 

the wooden walkways afterwards, among the 

tree canopies, it’s hard to tell if the scent of cocoa 

is coming from your skin, or from the rainforest 

around you. In St Lucia, the answer is both. 

BE THERE… For more information, visit 

saintluciauk.org. Book your holiday to 

St Lucia with thomascook.com. 


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HILTON | PROMOTION 

Turkey’s Unspoiled Gem 

The Hilton Dalaman Sarigerme Resort & Spa has all the stunning 

views, fabulous dining and energetic entertainment for a perfect break 

Built where the Mediterranean Sea meets 

the Aegean, the Hilton Dalaman Sarigerme 

Resort & Spa is the second hotel in Europe to 

be nominated a ‘Hilton Worldwide Resort’. A 

10-minute drive from Dalaman airport and a 

mere 10-minute walk from Sarigerme Village, 

the Hilton Dalaman is set in an ideal location 

that blends seamlessly and respectfully 

with nature. 

At Hilton Dalaman Sarigerme, the dining 

options are designed with you in mind. Start 

the day with a hearty breakfast or nutritious 

light bite, savour innovative dishes prepared 

with only the freshest ingredients or simply 

relax with a cup of coffee in the hotel lounge. 

From business brunches to pre-dinner drinks 

and everything in between, the options 

are catered especially for you. 

When it comes to downtime, you can 

relax on the pristine, private beach or choose 

from seven outdoor and three indoor pools. 

Admire the spectacular mountain and 

Mediterranean Sea views from the comfort of 

your guest room or upgrade to a deluxe room 

to enjoy direct access to the pool. 

Revitalise your body and mind with a 

treatment at the sumptuous spa, which 

features a relaxing sauna, steam room and 

whirlpool. If you’re feeling active, why not reenergise 

with a range of water sports or try a 

game of tennis, squash or beach volleyball? 

You can also experience a culinary 

adventure at one of the hotel’s 23 fantastic 

restaurants and bars. Sample a taste of the 

Far East in Tao, savour authentic Turkish food 

in A La Turca and choose from the finest 

Italian cuisine in Alize. For fresh seafood and 

Champagne, head to Glitter, or sip cocktails 

and take in stunning sea views from the 

rooftop bar Rouge. 

Hilton Dalaman Sarigerme Resort & Spa is 

proud to be a family hotel and offers fun for 

all ages, like Kidz Paradise, a club that boasts 

plenty of activities that give children and 

teens the opportunity to meet people their 

own age – and parents a carefree night on 

the town. 

Finding the perfect hotel 

isn’t about luck. It’s simply about 

knowing the right place to look. 

Welcome to a real holiday!

070 THOMAS COOK TRAVEL 

Photo: Getty

AMSTERDAM 

JUST ADD 

WATER 

In summer, everyone in Amsterdam hits the canals – including the city’s top chefs 

– so chart a course for these aquatic eateries guaranteed to float your boat 

Words: Mark Smith. Photos: Ben Quinton 

Here’s a sobering thought as you touch down at Amsterdam’s 

airport: like much of the city it serves, Schiphol is some 3.4m below 

sea level. In fact, if it weren’t for Amsterdam’s man-made network 

of dams and drainage systems, the whole place would be like 

Atlantis, but with better-designed furniture and more bikes. 

Fortunately, Amsterdam’s rich heritage as a commercial harbour stands 

it in surprisingly good culinary stead, despite a historic propensity for what 

Colleen Geske, the author of the blog and book Stuff Dutch People Like, 

refers to as “mashing, boiling and deep-frying the life out of something”. 

Those days are (almost) gone. There’s currently a thriving and diverse 

dining scene in Amsterdam, and the best way to experience it in the summer 

months is to go with the flow – quite literally, because the most exciting 

places to eat in Amsterdam are found either beside the canals, or on them. 

Frankly, it’s enough to make your mouth water. 


AMSTERDAM 

Wolf Atelier 

Nominative determinism (the theory that name is destiny) suffered a heavy 

blow on the Amsterdam dining scene in 2014 when the well regarded but 

woefully under-visited Restaurant Open closed its doors. Taking its place in 

a gorgeous glass oblong perched atop a disused 1920s pivoting railway 

bridge in the watery world of Westerdok is Wolf Atelier. 

The menu here, as devised by 31-year-old chef Michael Wolf, is a game 

of two halves. Fifty per cent of the dishes come from Wolf’s tried-and-tested 

repertoire; the remainder are more experimental affairs about which diner 

feedback is actively sought. 

This is the latest venture from IQ Creative, who were behind the city’s 

slick and bawdy Supperclub, so there’s a certain low-lit glamour to the 

place, especially when the sun goes down and the flickering candles create 

a pleasing, otherworldly atmosphere. The staff, apparently outfitted in 

collaboration with Levi’s, are friendly young things who add to the buzz, and 

the menu has a seafood bias that complements the nautical – and vaguely 

naughty – setting: think scallops in a beer, watercress and lime reduction. 

Arrive early and enjoy a goldfish bowl-sized G&T on the spectacular terrace. 

wolfatelier.nl 

Hungry like the Wolf 

Run by man of the moment Michael Wolf 

(right), this cool pop-up restaurant is open 

throughout the summer 

There’s a certain 

low-lit glamour 

to Wolf Atelier, 

especially when 

the sun starts 

to go down 


Industrial chic 

REM Eiland was originally created to broadcast 

pirate TV. Lunch dishes like this gourmet salmon 

sarnie (far right) are a steal at £6 

REM Eiland 

Dwarfing everything in its vicinity, including the floating-city cruise ships 

making their way to dock, REM Eiland is an enormous wrought-iron rig rising 

some 80m above the waters of the IJ lake in the unpronounceable industrial 

neighbourhood of Haparandadam. 

Originally devised as a loophole-exploiting broadcast facility for pirate 

television stations in the 1960s, this huge red-and-white structure was 

dismantled in 2006 then towed all the way from its original North Sea 

location to Amsterdam, where it reopened as an upmarket eatery with 

incredible panoramic views over the city, the water that made the city 

possible, and the industrial suburbs. There’s even somewhere to park your 

helicopter on the roof, although most diners just pick their way up the vertigoinducing 

external staircases, or take the elevator from street level instead. 

Despite the spectacular surroundings, the menu at REM Eiland is unfussy, 

substantial and reasonably priced, with a three-course menu of hearty 

European cuisine coming in at around the £20 mark. One thing’s for sure, 

with such dizzying views all around you, this is one restaurant where you 

won’t be taking pictures of what’s on your plate. 

remeiland.com 


AMSTERDAM 

Bluespoon 

On Board 

Get practising your best smug face. Although there are dozens of commercial 

dinner cruise operations offering a glass-topped spin around Amsterdam’s 

stunning 17th-century canal belt with a so-so meal for £50 per person, the 

same outlay will rent you a handsome, open-topped electric boat for an hour 

that can accommodate up to 12 people. You don’t even need a licence to 

helm one – just nominate the member of your party who’s handiest at the 

Xbox’s Blood Wake as designated skipper. 

The real joy of such an excursion is that you can order a gourmet picnic, 

delivered direct to your vessel at the water’s edge outside one of the city’s 

most dribble-worthy restaurants. Bluespoon is the foodie component of the 

Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht hotel, as designed by the “Lady Gaga of 

Dutch design”, Marcel Wanders. Ingeniously, the Bluespoon On Board service 

offers handily packaged platters for floating gluttons, comprising everything 

from Amsterdam meat staple bitterballen to fresh oysters from Zeeland. 

The succulent outsized chicken goujons could teach a certain colonel 

a thing or two. Just phone in your order with half an hour’s notice, set 

sail for 587 Prinsengracht, and pig out in bliss with the wind in your hair. 

sloepdelen.nl/en 

Boatylicious! 

The coolest way to explore the city is 

by chartering your own vessel for an 

Amsterdam-style booze (and food) cruise 


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Even the 

condiments 

are an event 

– goat 

s’ butter 

is served in an 

oyster shell 

AMSTERDAM 

Bridging the gap 

Under the stewardship of Bobby Rust (above) 

Bridges serves food that’s almost too good to 

eat, such as this elegant lobster dish (below) 

Bridges 

As many an Amsterdammer will proudly attest, the Netherlands’ capital 

city boasts more bridges than Venice. And with its latest culinary venture 

it has exerted a brazen claim for European culinary supremacy, too. The 

city’s foremost celebrity chef, Ron Blaauw (think a marginally jollier Gordon 

Ramsay), has recently installed his fresh-faced protégé Bobby Rust at the 

helm of Bridges, the storied “vins and fins” (that’s wine and fish) restaurant 

at Sofitel Legend The Grand. 

This city-centre hotel (traditionally the go-to place for royal weddings) is 

already an annual fixture on foodie calendars for its big-hitting Stars, Food & 

Art event, and Bridges’ location on the serene southerly stretch of the ancient 

Oudezijds Voorburgwal canal guarantees suitably stately views – if you can 

tear your eyes away from the picture-perfect pesce on your plate, that is. 

Even the condiments here are an event – pearl-shaped helpings of goats’ 

butter are fashioned into perfect spheres and served inside a giant oyster 

shell – and mains such as slow-cooked cod with bone marrow, hummus, 

coriander and harira are every bit as exquisite as the restaurant’s priceless 

mural by artist Karel Appel, but taste considerably nicer. 

bridgesrestaurant.nl 


AMSTERDAM 

Meal ticket 

Lazy Sunday brunch on a boat? Count us in. 

Gs Brunch trips chug along Amsterdam’s 

famous waterways for two hours 

Gs Brunch 

The floating wooden offshoot of a friendly little cocktail bar in the Jordaan 

district, Gs Brunch boat is a fine way to enjoy a beverage or two on the 

water without incurring the wrath of the city’s Water Police, who can spot 

a tipsy skipper from a mile off. As with the bricks-and-mortar mothership, 

Gs serves egg-centric brunch dishes alongside classic Bloody Marys, and is 

unabashed about its offering’s hangover-salving credentials. 

The menu, which is conveyed via the sleeves of vinyl records from the 

1960s and 1970s, features mid-morning classics such as eggs Benedict, 

as well as the more adventurous Ibiza salad, a health-conscious concoction 

of spinach, quinoa and adzuki beans that would have Gillian McKeith 

cartwheeling down the poop deck with excitement. 

The minute food preparation corner isn’t the most sophisticated set-up 

ever to hit the waves, but that’s all part of its charm. The ship collects its 

human cargo twice a day on Saturdays and Sundays from outside the Anne 

Frank Museum and sails for two hours. At under £30 per person for food, two 

drinks and coffee, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better value excursion. 

reallyniceplace.com 

BE THERE… Dine on Amsterdam’s canals! Book at thomascook.com 


GET CLOSE TO REMBRANDT 

Jodenbreestraat 4, Amsterdam, The Netherlands | Daily: 10 AM - 6 PM 

www.rembrandthuis.nl

CANARIES 

Turn up the 

Forget the cabaret bars, karaoke and clubs – there’s more to the Canaries’ music scene than you think. We look at the changing 

sounds of the islands that sing… Words: Andrea Montgomery. Photos: Tim E White 


Beach-house music 

Kaluna’s clientele are more 

into relaxing by the pool than 

clubbing all night long 

A 

s the glowing sunset fades, the neon 

lights cast shadows on the soft sand 

and white Balinese-style beds of the 

Bahía Beach club (bahiabeachtenerife. 

com) in Palm-Mar. Centre stage, a bikini-clad 

dancer shimmies to the beat of the bongos 

as they crescendo above the hypnotic dance 

soundtrack. Down by the shore, a fire-eater 

exhales a fireball to welcome the night. This is 

the Fiesta de San Juan, Midsummer’s Eve, when 

Tenerife’s locals take to the beaches to light 

bonfires, play music and bathe in the midnight 

waters. It’s a time of renewal, when one season 

ends and another begins – and the idea of change 

is something the island is only too familiar with. 

Riding on Ibiza’s coat tails as the dance capital 

of Europe, Tenerife’s club scene hit the big time 

in the 1990s, attracting top DJs and hordes of 

young clubbers to party at the infamous Veronicas 

and Starco. Two decades later, as tourism turns 

towards a more chic clientele, the music scene is 

getting a makeover. 

Beneath the thatched roof of a palapa 

(gazebo) at the exclusive Kaluna Beach Club 

(kalunabeachclub.com) in Costa Adeje, one of 

the island’s top DJs, Jacobo Padilla, who has been 

behind decks since 1994, has mixed feelings about 

the changes. “There isn’t really clubbing in the 

same sense on Tenerife now,” he says. “I never play 

techno any more. The scene is more chilled, and I 

think it’s better. But the people have changed, too. 

Now they don’t want to party-party, they’re still into 

the music and also into postureo [posing].” 


“The clubbers now come 

to chill out and enjoy 

music during the day” 

Sunset vibes 

Forget Cafe Mambo – when the 

sun goes down, there’s only one 

place to be: Bahía Beach club 

CANARIES 

His Kaluna colleague Billy Blanco agrees. “I’ve 

been a DJ here since I was 13 years old,” he says. 

“I was like a mascot at Bobby’s [one of Tenerife’s 

less salubrious clubs]. Back then, every day was 

like Notting Hill Carnival – it was one long party. 

But those clubbers have got older, got married 

and had kids. Now they just come here to chill 

out and enjoy the music by day instead.” 

Around Kaluna’s infinity pool, it’s an even mix 

of locals and holidaymakers biting into burgers, 

sipping cocktails and soaking up the sun while 

listening to the grooves of resident DJ Stuart 

Stone. It’s not so much sex, drugs and rock ’n’ roll 

as decks, lunch and kir royale. “We call it beachhouse 

music,” says Stuart. 

There’s little left of the old Veronicas crowd 

– the clubbers and the Club 18-30-ers have 

either moved on, or moved up. Now it’s all about 

ambient dining. Bobby’s has long since closed 

and been replaced by the exclusive Papagayao 

Beach Club (papagayobeachclub.com). This is 

the new face of Tenerife clubbing, where daytime 

gastronomy blends into nighttime dance mixes 

featuring top DJs such as John Digweed and the 

Martinez Brothers. 

One of the most established spots in the south 

is Monkey Beach Club (grupomonkey.com), which 

fronts the Troya beaches on the Costa Adeje 

coastline. Owner Javier Cabrera now closes his 

doors altogether on winter nights. In summer he 

favours live entertainment such as the Superstars 

Party Show, consigning beach parties to weekends 

only. A few steps away, at Restaurant Terrazza del 

Mare (laterrazzadelmare.com), manager Iru is 

planning to make the decks-and-dining concept 

even more experiential, introducing Cirque du 

Soleil-type performances along with top DJs from 

Europe and the US and a tapas menu, which will 

be available into the early hours. 

Similar changes are occurring just across 

the water in Gran Canaria. But in contrast to 

Tenerife’s burgeoning chill-out and cuisine scene, 

cosmopolitan capital Las Palmas de Gran Canaria 

offers a more upbeat soundtrack. “Here in Las 

Palmas, we are much more focused on live music,” 

Photos: Getty 


CANARIES 

“There isn’t 

clubbing in the 

same sense in 

Tenerife now” 

Hitting the decks 

Kaluna’s DJ Jacobo Padilla (left) 

might have mixed feelings 

about the recent changes, but 

he looks pretty happy to us 

agrees Victor Ordóñez. Victor is the founding 

member, lead singer and guitarist of The 

Good Company, one of the Canary Islands’ 

most successful indie bands. Their third album, 

Walden Year, was financed through crowdfunding 

and has recently been released to local 

acclaim, and they play the free LPA Beer & Music 

Festival (18-20 September) held in Parque 

Santa Catalina this autumn. 

But right now it’s Friday night, and as the long 

siesta ends and the early evening buzz begins, 

the bars throw open their doors and the music 

heats up. Crossing the Guiniguada bridge that 

marks the transition from Triana to Vegueta, 

we pop into the atmospheric Te lo dije Pérez 

(6 Calle Obispo Codina), a favourite haunt of 

local musicians, to sink a bottle of beer before 

heading into the heart of the Old Quarter. 

“Here, in Vegueta and Triana, this is the 

hipster side of the city,” Victor explains, as we 

stroll through the narrow, cobbled streets where, 

beneath the gothic gaze of the cathedral, seats 

at pavement tables are filling fast. “Las Canteras 

beach, where we are going tomorrow night, is the 

rock and indie side.” 

Behind the façades of colonial and neo-classical 

buildings, some dating back to when the city was 

first established around 500 years ago, small 

atmospheric bars hum with chatter from the city’s 

in-crowd. As the shadows engulf the streets, we 

head to the La Azotea de Benito bar on the roof of 

the Monopol commercial centre, where a cocoa 

Negroni is a damn good accompaniment to the 

laidback funk and sunset skies. 

Following the crowd, we head to The Paper 

Club (10 Calle Remedios), the city’s premier music 

venue, which is housed in a former printworks. 

Live jazz sessions are in full swing, and as the clock 

ticks towards the early hours, we enter a world of 

blue lights, industrial chic and city scenesters. 

At the other end of the city, Saturday night 

is time for the Ruta Playa Viva (lpamar.com), 


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CANARIES 

Island records 

Gran Canaria’s flourishing live 

music scene includes Karma 

(far left); The Good Company 

(top) with Victor Ordóñez far 

left; and The Paper Club (left) 

a weekly series of live music sessions held 

at key venues alongside Las Canteras beach. 

In the early evening, the promenade that runs 

from the Alfredo Kraus Auditorium throngs 

with beach lovers. 

But by 7.30pm, at the corner spot occupied 

by the NYC Taxi Bar (25 Calle Numancia), the 

band Karma are playing crowd-pleasing hits such 

as AC/DC’s Highway To Hell, Queen’s I Want To 

Break Free and Joan Jett’s I Love Rock ’n’ Roll. The 

set finishes right on cue for the crowds to turn 

and photograph the blood-red sun dipping below 

the horizon; then it’s time to move on to the next 

venue. The sun may be setting on another Canary 

island day but the night is only just beginning and 

the city’s music scene is alive and kicking. 

HEAR THIS: Catch DJ Jacobo Padilla at 

various clubs in Tenerife (facebook.com/ 

djjacobopadilla), and The Good Company 

(facebook.com/thegoodcompany) at venues 

across Las Palmas. Fly to Gran Canaria and 

Tenerife with thomascook.com 

Special thanks to Tenerife Tourism (webtenerife.co.uk) and Gran Canaria Tourism (grancanaria.com) 

Tune in to the Canaries 

TENERIFE 

Ambient afternoons 

At Kaluna Beach Club (Torviscas Bajo, +34 922 

713 889, kalunabeachclub.com), open every 

day from 11am – 10pm. Pool parties (1pm – 10pm) 

are held every Sat. 

Sunset sounds 

At Bahía Beach club (Palm-Mar, +34 822 

141 225, bahiabeachtenerife.com), open 

every day from 11:30am – 8pm (until 10pm 

Fri-Sun). 

LAS PALMAS LAS PALMAS LAS PALMAS 

Kick off with cocktails 

At La Azotea de Benito bar (CC Monopol, 

+34 928 367 450), open every day from 5pm 

– 1am (from 4pm Fri-Sun; until 2am Thu-Sat). 

TENERIFE 

Keep it live 

At Ruta Playa Viva, which hits various venues 

along Paseo de Las Canteras every Fri and Sat. 

See lpamar.com for details. 

TENERIFE 

Enjoy the show 

At Monkey Beach Club (Playa Troya, +34 922 

790 656, grupomonkey.com), open every day 

from 10:30am – 12mn (until 2am Fri and Sat). The 

Superstars Party Show is held every Mon and Wed. 

Grungy vibes 

At The Paper Club (10 Calle Remedios, Vegueta, 

+34 928 930 557, thepaperclubcanarias.com), 

open Thu-Sat from 11pm – 4am. 


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Golfers ’ paradise 

GLORIA HOTELS & RESORTS | PROMOTION 

Gloria Hotels & Resorts, one of Turkey’s biggest golf supporters, is a new partner of the Solheim Cup 

Beautiful weather and fabulous courses 

have made Belek, in Turkey, one of the 

world’s fastest-growing golf regions – a 

movement led by Gloria Hotels & Resorts. 

Its 45-hole complex at Gloria Golf Club is 

the largest in the country, and has become 

a popular venue for competitions such as 

the World Amateur Team Championships, 

International Team Championships and 

high-class events run by the Professional 

Golf Associations of Europe. 

But the hotel group’s interest in the 

sport extends far beyond the Turkish 

Riviera. Its owners consider the promotion 

of golf for all ages, both male and female, 

an important matter, and so support 

numerous golf events around the world. 

Most recently, it became a new partner 

of the 2015 Solheim Cup – golf’s largest 

ladies tournament – which is to be held 

on 18-20 September at St. Lean-Rot Golf 

Club, in Germany. 

"As the new official partner of the 

Solheim Cup, we look forward to 

supporting the dedicated female golfers. 

Our professional expertise in the area 

of golf is reflected also in our preferred 

partnership with the PGAs of Europe, who 

use our premises regularly," says Öznur 

Özdemir Özaltin, CEO of Gloria Hotels 

& Resorts. "The Solheim Cup as a major 

sporting event, being a counterpart of 

the Ryder Cup, proves clearly, that golf is 

equally favoured by both genders and that 

the best 12 female golfers from Europe 

and the USA can create excitement in the 

battle for the popular trophy." 

It’s all set to be an exciting event. After 

European victories in 2011 and 2013, the 

USA team will be going all out to prevent the 

three-peat and take the trophy back home. 

While the world’s top stars hit the 

fairways in Germany, you could be honing 

your own short game while staying at one 

of Gloria’s three five-star resorts in Belek, 

just 30km from Antalya Airport. Even if 

golf’s not your thing, there’s plenty else 

to keep you entertained in the sun. The 

Gloria Sports Arena offers the facilities to 

play more than 50 sports, while the resorts 

boast luxurious Oriental spa treatments, 

gourmet experiences and leisure activities 

for all the family. 

gloria.com.tr

PROMOTION | RESTAURANTS 

Restaurant Guide: Greece 

1. 1901 RESTAURANT 

SKIATHOS, GREECE 

This restaurant was opened 14 years ago and is housed in a renovated 

100-year-old stone building in the narrow streets of the old town, making 

this a delightful spot in which to finish your day. Chef Petros Pikoulas 

oversees a unique menu that offers Mediterranean cuisine, updated 

with creative Greek touches – think fish with crayfish sauce, lamb chops 

with pesto, and steak with stuffed artichokes and spinach salad, all at a 

reasonable price. You’ll also find friendly service and a great wine list, as well 

as fantastic jazz and easy-listening music. It’s open every day from 6.30pm. 

Grigoriu E, Skiathos 

+30 24270 21717, skiathos1901.gr, skiathos1901@yahoo.gr 

3. PARADOSIAKO RESTAURANT 

ZANTE, GREECE 

The Greek word paradosiako translates as ‘traditional’, so it’s no surprise 

that this restaurant, on the island of Zante, specialises in traditional Greek, 

or Zakynthian, dishes. Its recipes, such as moussaka and kokkinisto (meat 

cooked in tomato sauce), are all authentic and have been handed down 

from generation to generation. They also have one essential ingredient 

in common – the finest virgin olive oil, which is produced from the 

restaurant’s home-grown olive trees, and complemented with delicious 

fresh herbs. Stop by for a true taste of Greek tradition. 

Alykes Riverside, Zakynthos 

+30 2695 083412, paradosiako.com.gr, info@paradosiako.com.gr 

1 

3 

2 

4 

2. WONDER RESTAURANT 

RHODES, GREECE 

Housed in a beautiful neoclassical building in Rhodes Town, Wonder 

Restaurant has amassed rave reviews since it opened in 2001. For two 

years running it was awarded a certificate of excellence by TripAdvisor 

and gained praise from the Alpha Guide for its creative international 

cuisine, which combines Mediterranean dishes and Baltic ingredients 

with an Asian twist, and a great selection of wines. The tranquil setting, 

surrounded by colourful flowers, makes it the perfect place to enjoy its 

seasonal menu, such as the scallops kataifi and fillet of sole. 

16-18 El. Venizelou, Rhodes Town 

+30 2241 039805, restaurantwonder.gr 

4. RESTAURANT REX 

CORFU, GREECE 

Originally opened in 1932, this Corfu institution is now owned by the 

Katsaros family, who have continued the restaurant’s focus on a wide 

choice of traditional dishes, first-class service and cooking. Located on 

Kapodistriou Street, one of the more central and historic byways in town, 

it benefits from a beautiful setting, surrounded by many buildings dating 

back to the French occupation. Inside the walls are covered by paintings 

showing the beauty of Corfu, while the family atmosphere is the perfect 

environment to enjoy the fine food and wine. 

66 Kapodistriou Street, Corfu Town 

+30 26610 39649, rexrestaurant.gr, rex1932@otenet.gr

Restaurant Guide: Greece 

RESTAURANTS | PROMOTION 

5. PRIMA PLORA 

CRETE, GREECE 

Whether eating out or at home, the taste and quality of the meals we eat 

depends on the ingredients that we use. It is with this principle in mind 

that Prima Plora avoids mass-produced raw materials, or those cultivated 

using pesticides and fertilisers, but instead works only with small, local 

producers that share the restaurant’s philosophy. It stays away from 

GM foods, and only serves animals that have been raised outdoors. 

According to the restaurant’s owners, “We strive for what we love in a 

world that has forgotten the value of food in our lives.” 

8 Akrotiriou, Rethymnon, Crete 

+30 28310 56990, info.primaplora@gmail.com 

7. GIARDINO CITTÁ 

CORFU, GREECE 

Giardino Cittá has been operating in Corfu for 25 years, during which 

time it has become one of the few timeless restaurants on the island. 

Located in Corfu Town’s historic centre, just a few minutes away from 

Spianada and Liston squares, and the museums, its delicious dishes 

include the day’s fresh fish, lobsters, fruits de mer, T-bone steak, fresh 

pasta and ravioli, and exquisite homemade desserts. With a focus on high 

quality and service, Giardino Cittá is a great place to enjoy fine food, while 

relaxing to jazz music in a cosy environment. 

9 Guilford, Porta Remunda, Corfu Town 

+30 26610 30723, ilgiardino@cyta.gr 

5 

7 

6 

8 

6. RESTAURANT LIOTRIVI 

KOS, GREECE 

Whether you want to enjoy a quiet drink or great food from the 

Mediterranean and beyond, or simply check out a 250-year-old olive 

press, Liotrivi offers all of that, as well as an amazing seafront location, in 

which you can dine to the calming sounds of the sea. Start the day with 

coffees and snacks, swim in crystal waters or relax on comfortable sun 

beds, indulge yourself with cocktails and great music, before finishing 

the day in style with fresh grilled fish. Liotrivi is designed to serve every 

taste, from the average traveller to the most demanding palate. 

Kardamena, Kos 

+30 2242 091625, ykopanas@gmail.com 

8. BLUE NOTE RESTAURANT 

SANTORINI, GREECE 

In the southern part of Santorini, you’ll find the traditional village of 

Imerovigli. It sits on the highest point of the caldera, and so provides the 

finest views of the Mediterranean sea, as well as one of the most famous 

and beautiful sunsets in the world. And you can enjoy all this at the Blue 

Note restaurant, where this stunning panorama complements a modern 

take on traditional Greek dishes, including fresh fish and lobster. Even if 

you’re not dining, what could be better than drinking cocktails or coffee 

with a view of the volcano? 

Imerovigli, Santorini 

+30 22860 23771, bluenote.gr, info@bluenote.gr

PROMOTION | RESTAURANTS 

Restaurant Guide: Portugal & Turkey 

9. ELE E ELA RESTAURANT 

CARVOEIRO, PORTUGAL 

Chef Harald at Ele e Ela Restaurant is a big fan of adding his creative 

flair to the dishes. For proof of this just look to the house speciality, 

the lamb shank, which is cooked with oriental spices. Complementing 

the delicious food is a more-than-welcoming service and an extensive 

wine list. Located in Carvoeiro, in the western Algarve, the restaurant 

is open every day except Mondays and offers very good value for 

money. With an intimate bistro ambience, an inventive menu and high 

quality ingredients, Ele e Ela Restaurant should be top of your list for an 

evening out in Carvoeiro. Phone reservations are recommended. 

28 Rua do Barranco, Carvoeiro, +351 282 357 509 

11. TAJ MAHAL 

MARMARIS, TURKEY 

This authentic Indian restaurant has made its name as the best curry 

house in Marmaris. All its dishes are freshly prepared and are made 

using spices specially imported from Asia. It was first opened in 1997 

by a Bradford chef and serves up traditional curries, as well as all your 

British favourites. The restaurant, on the main street "Kemal Seyfettin 

Elgin Bulvari", has proved incredibly popular and has recently opened a 

new branch in Icmeler. Both open at 5pm. 

K.S Elgin Blv. No 54/17, Karacon Plaza, Marmaris, Turkey 

Marmaris +90 252 4174412, Icmeler +90 252 4554721 

tajmahalmarmaris.com, info@tajmahalmarmaris.com 

9 

11 

10 

12 

10. RESTINGA 

PORTIMÃO, PORTUGAL 

In the former fishing village of Alvor, and boasting a magnificent view 

over the nearby beach and Lagos bay, Restinga doubles as a restaurant 

and bar. It has been built according to Portugal’s new environmental rules 

and so comprises two areas – an outdoor terrace, designed for relaxing 

afternoons with a sea breeze and delicious meals and snacks, and an inner 

room decked out with natural woods and a simple decor. The beautiful yet 

simple setting puts the focus on the food and the exquisite flavours used. 

Restinga’s kitchen takes care to reflect the soul of the Algarve by serving a 

well-crafted selection of seafood, grilled meats and fish. 

Praia de Alvor, +351 282 459 434, restinga.pt, info@restinga.pt 

12. TUTTAPANNA 

VILAMOURA, PORTUGAL 

Since its opening in 2008, Tuttapanna has dedicated itself to serving 

top-quality, authentic flavours from Italy and around the world. And 

after its renovation and reopening, it has taken its foodie appeal to a 

new level. At Tuttapanna dishes are cooked right in front of you by the 

chef Anderson Sousa – try the delicious fresh sushi. To complement 

your meal the restaurant also offers a well-stocked wine cellar, with 

a bottle to suit every dish, as well as its famed Roman ice creams – 

there’s nothing better on a hot day in Portugal. 

2 Av. Tivoli, Vilamoura, +351 289 047 140, facebook.com/ 

tuttapanna.vilamoura, gelatarea.tuttapanna@gmail.com

Restaurant Guide: UK & Cyprus 

RESTAURANTS | PROMOTION 

13. NEIGHBOURHOOD 

MANCHESTER, UK 

Inspired by Manhattan’s iconic neighbourhoods, this New York-style 

eatery and bar is a shining light of Manchester’s unique and casual finedining 

scene. The menu promises exciting food prepared with the highest 

quality ingredients, and the interior is sleek and industrial chic. 

Located in the heart of Spinningfields, Neighbourhood is the city’s 

number-one celeb haunt, counting the Manchester United and Manchester 

City football teams among its frequent guests, while Olly Murs, Miley Cyrus 

and a huge list of other stars have recognised the venue as the perfect 

location to dine, drink and dance the night away. 

The kitchen presents a polished, New York-style twist on international 

dishes, in which flavours and ingredients are determined by the borough’s 

diverse gastronomic experiences and served with a distinct European 

flourish. The restaurant opens its doors daily, from noon, serving brunch, 

lunch and dinner. 

This venue is also the perfect setting for any event, large or small, with 

spaces to suit any brief, substantial canapés that reflect the Manhattaninspired 

à la carte menu, and drinks packages available. 

The Avenue North, Spinningfields, Manchester 

+44 161 832 6334 

neighbourhoodrestaurant.co.uk, @neighbourhood4 

13 

14 

15 

14. OLYMPUS RESTAURANT 

PROTARAS, CYPRUS 

The quality of service in this intimate family-run restaurant is second to 

none. Since 1992, Olympus Restaurant has welcomed people to the ‘Island 

of Love’ – and love its guests it does. While customer service is its priority, the 

restaurant combines this with a delicious menu, which features meat mezes, 

fish mezes and top-quality steaks, as well as a wide range of authentic local 

dishes and international cuisines. If you’ve little ones with you, the restaurant 

can keep them entertained with its indoor play area, while you relax with a 

glass of wine. It’s also just two minutes from the nearby beach. 

Hotel Road, Protaras, Cyprus, +357 23832262 

restaurant-olympus.com, food@restaurant-olympus.com 

15. CHLOE’S CHINESE RESTAURANT 

PAPHOS, CYPRUS 

Located in the heart of Kato Paphos, with stunning sea views, Chloe’s 

Chinese Restaurant is perfect for dinner, weddings, hen and bachelor 

celebrations, birthdays and corporate meetings. Chloe’s is wellestablished 

in the area, with more than 18 years of experience serving 

traditional Chinese cuisine, accompanied by an extensive wine and 

champagne list, and friendly staff. The three-level building includes 

private dining rooms and private dining floors, in addition to the main 

dining area. Chloe’s is open all year round for lunch and dinner. 

13 Posidonos Avenue, Paphos 

+357 26934 676, chloesrestaurants.com

Maritim Jolie Ville Golf & Resort 

Um Marikha Bay, Sharm El Sheikh, South Sinai, Egypt 

Tel: +2 069 360 3200 | Fax: +2 069 360 3225 | www.jolievillesharmresorts.com 

Maritim Jolie Ville Golf & Resort Sharm El Sheikh, with 418 well equipped spacious rooms and suites plus 6 seashore 

villas with private pools, is the ideal location for families, beach seekers, golf enthusiasts or those just looking to have a relaxing 

& pleasurable holiday. The resort features the only 18-hole PGA international championship golf course in the entire area. 

Offering impressive twelve restaurants & two bars, the resort has two pools, including one of the largest adventure swimming 

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a tennis academy, and an all-day animation team. 

 

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ONLY BRIDGING | PROMOTION 

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As such, when it comes to funding your 

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Only Bridging’s product range is extensive. 

It can offer loans to values of up to 80% 

on first charge loans in London, and up 

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charge range, it can go to 75% in London 

and up to 70% elsewhere – again, for 

residential bridging only. 

The rates for its first charges are as low as 

0.59% for deals under 40% loan to value, 

for standard bridges and light refurbishment. 

Providing credit is also clean, rates as low as 

0.69% are possible for up to 70% loan to 

value for standard residential bridging. 

It can also offer a heavy refurbishment 

bridge with rates as low as 0.75% for deals 

under 40% loan to value, for clients that are 

purchasing or refinancing properties that 

require a fair degree of work. 

Plus, the company can also ‘cross charge’ 

over a number of properties, where it uses 

the client’s portfolio to spread the charge 

and effectively offer 100% funding. 

Only Bridging does not take any upfront 

or commitment fees, and will work on 

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Selling Properties – Villas – Apartments 

Personalized Advice - Personalized Service

Checklist 

T H E 

The best places to sleep, eat and play around the network 

01 

Fairmont Mayakoba 

Riviera Maya, Mexico 

Sleep 

In a part of Mexico ruled by gargantuan resorts 

and frequented by Spring Break revellers, finding 

a quiet spot to get back to nature and recharge 

poses a challenge. That is, of course, unless you 

head to the Fairmont Mayakoba, an idyllic resort 

that, rather than building over the landscape’s 

natural sinkholes (known as cenotes), decided 

to incorporate them into its layout. The result? 

A collection of beautiful villas nestled in greenery 

between the coast and the canals, the latter playing 

host to a plethora of wildlife including frogs, turtles 

and, gulp, crocodiles. 

Highlights: The white sands and beachfront 

restaurant might be what brought you here, 

but take advantage of the resort’s free boat tour. 

A peaceful bob along foliage-laden channels 

will get you up close and personal with some 

of the 300 bird and wildlife species that the 

development has tempted back to the area. 

Location, location, location: While the wild 

party city of Cancun is close enough for a night 

out, it’s also far enough away to ensure total 

peace when you’re trying to unwind. And if 

you fancy venturing to some of the incredible 

Mayan ruins dotted around the peninsula, such 

as those at Tulum, you’re in the ideal spot. 

If you only have one night: Be brave and 

head to La Laguna restaurant to try the edible 

insect degustation menu, where you’ll be served 

local delicacies including chinicuiles (worms), 

escamoles (ant eggs) and chapulines (crickets). 

Alternatively, you can opt for the à la carte menu, 

which may not be quite as exotic, but is less like 

stumbling on to the set of I’m A Celebrity… 

Get Me Out of Here! 

BE THERE: Book at thomascook.com 


02 

Sleep 

Hotel Lone 

Rovinj, Croatia 

The pretty fishing port of Rovinj on the western coast of Istria 

(Croatia’s northernmost peninsula) speaks of quaint tradition 

and culture, and is fringed by forests and gorgeous rocky bays. 

But that’s not to say it’s not moving with the times. Case in point 

is Hotel Lone, a 10-minute stroll south of the old city centre, 

which looks more like a tribute to New York’s Guggenheim 

Museum than a seaside hideaway. Yet that’s what it is, albeit 

a beautifully designed, cutting-edge version. 

Highlights: With soft lighting, plush carpets and stylish mirrors, 

the hotel rooms are ultra-comfortable. Balconies overlooking the 

sea and surrounding woodland give a feeling of splendid isolation 

– but with all necessary mod cons if you can’t switch off. 

Location, location, location: Rovinj itself is a wonderful warren 

of streets to get lost in, but it’s also the perfect base for exploring 

the rest of the region, known as little Tuscany thanks to the wealth 

of olive oil and wine producers – not to mention its reputation as 

truffle capital of Croatia. Rent a car and head off the beaten track: 

nowhere in Istria is more than an hour’s drive away. 

If you only have one night: Hire a bike from the hotel and 

cycle around the coastline to find your own private rocky outcrop 

for the day. Then, when dusk falls, head back to take advantage 

of the hotel’s newly renovated spa, complete with submerged 

hydromassage rooms and aroma saunas. If you really want to 

celebrate, why not opt for a Jazz room, with its own private infinity 

pool on the balcony? Bliss. 

BE THERE: Book a stay with thomascook.com 

03 

Sleep 

San Francisco InterContinental 

San Francisco InterContinental 

San Francisco, USA 

An elegant, blue, 32-storey tower in SoMa (that’s south of Market Street 

to you and me), the InterContinental is one of San Fran’s most iconic 

structures. The 550 rooms are stylish with muted furnishings, contemporary 

art and magnificent floor-to-ceiling windows. It would be a shame not to bag 

one with a bay view, so ask nicely at check-in. 

Highlights: Weekend brunch! Our favourite meal of all time has been 

elevated to an art form at the InterContinental’s Michelin-starred Luce 

restaurant. Take the healthy route (egg-white omelette with goats’ cheese 

and spinach), the all-American route (pancakes, bacon, enough maple 

syrup to drown a small animal) or the Mexican route (huevos ranchos). 

If you really want to pig out, how about a taste of everything from the 

beautifully laid-out buffet (which, incredibly, will only cost you $30, and 

you can eat until they kick you out)? While you’re here, it would be churlish 

not to order a spectacularly boozy Bloody Mary. 

If you only have one night: Take the cable car from Market Street to the 

Top of the Mark, an opulent bar on the 19th floor of the InterContinental’s 

sister property, the InterContinental Mark Hopkins. Nineteen floors might 

not sound like much, but the hotel is perched high up in classy Nob Hill. Go 

along at sunset (no need to reserve) and on a clear evening you’ll get the 

best views in the city as North Beach, Chinatown, the Bay Bridge, Alcatraz 

and the triangular Transamerica building are all spread out before you. 

They’re wonderfully complemented by one of the bar’s 100-odd martinis. 

BE THERE: Book a stay with thomascook.com 


04 

Sleep 

Swissôtel The Bosphorus 

Istanbul, Turkey 

It can be hard to find a smidgen of tranquillity in such a chaotic city. But we 

managed it during a hot stone massage in this five-star hotel’s Purovel spa, 

a 4,000 sq m oasis that feels a million miles from the city’s traffic jams and 

carpet sellers. Not that there are any of those near the hotel, mind. High up on 

a hill and fringed by Dolmabache Palace’s 65 acres of lush gardens, the 

Swissôtel is in an enviable spot with impressive views of the Bosphorus. 

Highlights: You’ll struggle to tear yourself away from the window, so why try? 

Request a room in the west wing and you’ll wake up to misty vistas of minarets 

on the city’s Asian side and boats zipping along the Strait. Make sure you visit the 

newly reopened Gaja rooftop restaurant bar, a magical spot for drinks at nightfall. 

Location, location, location: In Besiktas, on the European side, the 

Swissôtel is close to many of the main sights. The historical quarter (Topkapi 

Palace, Grand Bazaar and the Blue Mosque) is about 15 minutes away, glossy 

Nisantasi’s designer boutiques are within walking distance (rare in this city), as is 

Besiktas market, a district far from the tourists’ gaze, which comes alive at 

night with its buzzing mezze and raki restaurants. 

If you only have one night: Book a table at Kiz Kulesi (or “Maiden’s Tower”, 

kizkulesi.com.tr). According to local legend, this lighthouse island is where 

a young woman was hidden by her protective father. Her lover, Leander, would 

swim out to her, but when her father found out, he turned off the light, and 

Leander drifted out to sea. Despite this unhappily ever after, it’s now the city’s 

most romantic restaurant. If you want to make sure your night ends better up 

than Leander’s, take a ferry from Eminonu. 

BOOK IT: swissotel.com/hotels/istanbul 

05 

Sleep 

INK Hotel 

Amsterdam, The Netherlands 

In a building that once housed the Dutch newspaper De Tijd, this 

modern hotel in the heart of Amsterdam draws inspiration from 

its past, from the giant typeset letter backdrop at reception to the 

hand-drawn maps of the city adorning the bedroom walls. 

Highlights: Head to the Press Room, the hotel’s cleverly named 

bar and restaurant, for a cocktail before hitting the town. Our 

choice is The Time: a fragrant blend of Loopuyt gin, St Germain 

elderflower liqueur, white grapes and cloudy apple juice. It’s 

guaranteed to be the start of a good story. 

Location, location, location: Situated on Nieuwezijds 

Voorburgwal in the city centre, INK is close to the central train 

station and several tourist hotspots, including the Multatuli 

Museum, dedicated to celebrated Dutch writer Eduard Douwes 

Dekker, and Kalverstraat, one of the city’s busiest shopping areas. 

It’s also near Singel, the canal where you’ll find the city’s famous 

floating flower market. 

If you only have one night: It has to be the Red Light District. 

Yes, the seedy spots are still there if you go looking for them, but 

this notoriously adult area has undergone serious gentrification 

over the past few years. Visit sophisticated wine bar Mata Hari 

(matahari-amsterdam.nl) or coffee house/hip hop HQ Quartier 

Putain (quartierputain.nl). 

BOOK IT: accorhotels.com 


06 

Sleep 

Cary Arms 

Babbacombe, England 

Gorgeous views, sweeping beaches, craggy cliffs, boats bobbing 

in the harbour – Babbacombe in Devon counts us and royalty 

as fans, when Queen Victoria visited in 1846, she called it “a 

beautiful spot... with red cliffs and rocks with wooded hills like 

Italy”. Not too much has changed since then, and if you want to 

experience Devon like a queen, book yourself into the Cary Arms, 

a charming eight-bedroom Victorian-style inn (nowadays with 

a few more mod cons than her majesty might have experienced). 

Highlight: The wonderful spa is in conjunction with leading 

Parisian spa and skincare brand Yon-Ka, which has more than 60 

years of beauty know-how. Treatments include hydrating facials, 

aromatic massages and full body exfoliation. 

If you only have one night: Don’t miss dinner here. Served on 

the terrace in fine weather and in a olde-worlde dining room next 

to a roaring fire if not, dishes include Cornish hake, Westcountry 

steak and Devonshire crab salad with new potatoes. 

BOOK IT: caryarms.co.uk 

Alancha 

Istanbul, Turkey 

“Alancha” means grassy space in Turkish, but you’re unlikely to find any in 

super-stylish Nisantasi. At least not in the surrounds of this restaurant – unless 

chef Kemal Demirasal serves up an entire course on a tuft of the stuff. You 

see, Alancha is the second outpost of one of Turkey’s most eclectic eateries 

(the original is in Alacati, the subject of our feature on p50), where chef and 

champion windsurfer Kemal serves a whimsical 20 odd-course molecular 

gastronomic feast. Dishes here are labelled so simply (mussels; sourdough; 

tripe) that you have no idea what you’re going to get. Even if you had the 

tiniest inkling, we suspect you’d still be blown away: the tripe, for example, is 

served on a radish emulsion with raspberry dust. Insane, but delicious. Upstairs 

is where the magic multi-course thing happens; downstairs is more informal, 

where customers can prop up the bar and order one of the “cooktails” (complex 

methods are used to create the drinks, too) before sitting down to the Alancha 

“Beets”, a simpler, four-course meal that will set you back just £40. 

BOOK IT: 9 Sehit Mehmet Sokak, alancha.com 

Ceviche Old St 

London, England 

East London's Old Street's Silicon Roundabout, so-called because of the 

many shiny new tech companies based nearby, is home to some of 

capital's hottest restaurants. One of the latest and greatest is Ceviche Old 

St, sibling to Soho’s favourite Peruvian eatery, and launched by chef of the 

moment Martin Morales to critical acclaim. Space is something of a commodity 

in these parts, but you’d never guess that from Ceviche’s luxuriously light and 

airy setting in the former site of the historic Alexandra Dining Rooms. It’s the 

perfect place to meet friends for a buzzy night of Pisco Sour cocktails and, of 

course, ceviche – raw fish “cooked” in a marinade of lime juice, chilli and onion 

(known as tiger’s milk). Meat lovers should order the huevo criollo, a delicious 

Peruvian take on a Scotch egg wrapped in quinoa and sangrecita sausage, while 

the lomo saltado is as succulent a steak as you’ll find anywhere in London. You’ll 

be planning a holiday to Lima by the time you leave. 

BOOK IT: 2 Baldwin Street, cevicheuk.com/oldst 

07 

08 

Eat 

Eat 


PROMOTION | AHU HOSPITAL 

The home of health tourism in Marmaris 

Head to Ahu Hospital in Marmaris, Turkey, for plastic surgery, dentistry, dialysis and more 

Each year thousands of foreign visitors travel 

to Marmaris – specifically to Ahu Hospital, the 

area’s leading hospital – to take advantage 

of its excellent medical and surgical services. 

Since it was established in 1993, Ahu Hospital 

has specialised in tourist health and racked up 

22 years of experience in providing the very 

best treatments. 

It’s been certified with ISO 9001:2000 

quality checks since 2001. Today, the hospital 

aims to grow its service areas, in order to 

ensure a more comfortable and peaceful 

environment in which to carry out treatments. 

QUALITY SERVICE, QUALITY TREATMENTS 

Ahu Hospital understands the fears and 

feelings of its patients, both foreign and local, 

and so it is continually looking for ways to 

improve its services to provide a safer and 

more comfortable atmosphere. Providing 

first-class service is a way to alleviate 

unnecessary stress and panic for patients, and 

to help them feel at home. 

Throughout its history, the hospital has 

continued to provide top-quality and 

high-tech health services by successfully 

assessing the needs and requirements of its 

guests. While its team is composed of welltrained, 

modern, dynamic, motivated and 

honest professionals. 

The public relations staff – directed by Julie 

Midgley – is a team of English speakers, in 

order to provide easy communication with 

foreign guests, and the staff welcomes both In 

and Out patients. All the required documents 

and correspondence, such as insurance 

documents and translations, are taken care 

of by the PR department. The same applies to 

the patient’s medical documents and reports 

that are prepared when a patient is discharged 

– this all means less stress and worry for you. 

Ahu Hospital services include: general 

surgery, cardiology, internal medicine, 

gynaecology and obstetrics, ears, nose 

and throat, psychiatry, anaesthesia and 

re-animation, urology, orthopaedic and 

traumatology, neurosurgery, psychology, 

dermatology, ophthalmology, paediatrics, 

dentistry and plastic surgery. 

One branch of expertise that’s popular 

among health tourism is plastic surgery. 

The department carries out plastic and 

reconstructive surgery, dentistry, dialysis, 

as well as soft medical procedures, such as 

hair transplants and botox. 

The Ahu Dialysis Centre, established in 

2003, treats local people living in Marmaris, 

but it can also be used by visiting tourists who 

require dialysis during their holiday. 

Easily accessible from the centre of 

Marmaris and its surrounding areas, the Ahu 

Hospital is positioned next to an azure sea 

and verdant countryside. It’s well-served by 

Dalaman Airport, which is roughly 75 minutes 

from Marmaris and has direct flights to and 

from the UK. So take a trip to Marmaris – it 

might just be the best thing for your health. 

+90 252 4177777, ahuhospital.com 

publicrelations@ahuhastanesi.com

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Thomas Cook 

NEWS 

Quality time 

QA manager Jo Sankir tells us how improving your 

holiday experience is the best part of her day 

I 

’ve worked for Thomas Cook in Turkey for 18 summer seasons, and have 

been based in Dalaman for 17 of them. I’ve made my life here in Fethiye, 

and think it’s one of the most beautiful places on earth. 

A typical day for a Quality Assurance Manager can vary so much! I can 

sometimes be in the office all day catching up on emails, but most of the time 

I’m out and about in our hotels. Our main focus is on hotels that have a high 

volume of Thomas Cook guests, as well as properties that aren’t performing 

as well as we’d like. Our most valuable sources of feedback are our internal 

customer satisfaction questionnaires plus social media – we rely a lot on holiday 

review sites such as TripAdvisor, HolidayCheck, Zoover and Booking.com. 

Our Quality Managers worldwide have monthly meetings with all the 

hotels to discuss their online reputations, assisting them and discussing 

ways in which they can be managed, as well as identifying specific issues 

from guests and online feedback. For example, if a hotel is consistently 

receiving negative comments about the quality of its food, we will look 

at ways in which we can improve this. We would also taste the food 

ourselves (a perk of the job!) and visit the hotel at mealtimes to gauge 

reactions and opinions. We improve quality by putting our own chefs to 

work at the hotels. We recently did this at the SunConnect Grand Ideal 

hotel in Marmaris, with great success. Our chef came up with new menu 

options and recommended ways in which the buffet display could be 

fresher, more modern and more appealing to guests. The chef worked 

really closely with the hotel’s own chefs, and the whole experience 

was very positive for everyone involved. 

Recently I’ve been working together with the Orka Sunlife Hotel in 

Olu Deniz. When it opened in 2013 it was receiving some low-scoring 

reviews on social media. The hotel was very keen to take on board our 

advice: we reviewed all the comments and worked out how to tackle the 

necessary improvements. The hard work and dedication of everyone 

at the hotel – from the General Manager to the guy who cleans the pool 

– has seen the reviews improve greatly, and now the hotel’s online 

reputation has become something they are extremely proud of. 

Quality Managers also work closely with hotels that may be undergoing 

major refurbishments. I recently had the pleasure of watching one of 

my hotels transform during the winter into one of our concept hotels, 

SunConnect Liberty Hisaronu. It received a full makeover with newly 

built rooms and is now a fantastic choice for families as we have our very 

own kids’ club and SunConnect Scout. There was a major rebuild of the 

accommodation blocks (with a very tight deadline in which to complete 

and be ready for opening) so a hard hat became part of my daily attire as 

I regularly visited the site! It was a very proud day when the project was 

completed on time. The hotel has since received amazing reviews online 

and is enjoying a very busy summer.” 

Christmas markets 

T 

his winter, head to one 

of Europe’s greatest 

Christmas markets. 

With so much choice in our 

handpicked collection, you’re 

sure to find your perfect short 

(and hopefully snowy!) break. 

Christmas markets are a truly 

enchanting experience – from 

the quaint gingerbread houses 

and steaming mugs of glühwein 

in Berlin, to the picture-postcard 

setting of Salzburg – you’ll soon 

be ready for the most magical 

season of them all. Here are the 

top three markets we think will get 

you into the Christmas mood. 

VIENNA 

Vienna has more than 20 official 

Christmas markets. Our favourite is 

the Wiener Christkindlmarkt where 

you’ll find over 200 stalls selling 

Christmas gifts and decorations. 

For something more traditional, 

visit the Old Viennese Christmas 

Market on Freyung, which dates 

back to 1772. Throughout 

November and December. 

MUNICH 

Filling the square in front of the 

New Town Hall and overflowing into 

two parallel streets all the way to 

the Karlsplatz, the stalls of Munich’s 

Christmas market are delightful. 

Pick up all kinds of decorations, 

traditional gifts and exquisite 

glassware from the Bavarian 

forest. From 27 November 

to 24 December. 

PRAGUE 

Prague’s Christmas markets make 

the city even more alluring this time 

of year. They can be found in the Old 

Town Square and Wenceslas Square, 

and both feature wooden huts 

offering traditional Czech products 

such as wooden toys, Bohemian 

crystal, jewellery, scented candles 

and tree ornaments. From 28 

November to 1 January 2016. 


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Thomas Cook 

NEWS 

Image: The Snowman and The Snowdog © Snowdog Enterprises 2015 

Spend Christmas in Lapland! 

D 

o you remember the wonderful feeling of watching The Snowman and The Snowdog? You know, the sweet story of the 

boy whose snowy creations come to life, and whisk him away to Lapland on Christmas Eve? Now you and your family can 

relive the magic and jet off to Lapland with Thomas Cook this Christmas. There might not be a flying snowman (sorry), but 

your Lapland adventure could include reindeer sleigh rides, making snow angels and meeting Santa Claus himself. New for 2015, 

you can fly from London Gatwick to Lapland on 23 December from just £796 per person for a family of three. Or you could try 

one of our fantastic day trips, with flights from an airport near you from as little as £373 per person for a family of three. 

BOOK IT: Make this Christmas one you’ll never forget. Book your Lapland escape at thomascook.com 

You can fly from 

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East Midlands 

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London Gatwick 

Manchester 

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Thomas Cook 

NEWS 

Get me to the beach on time! 

Y 

our wedding is one of the most important moments of your life, and when it comes to 

planning your big day, you want to make it really special. So, why not do something unique 

to reflect both of your personalities? More and more of us are getting married abroad – with 

gorgeous weather, an idyllic location and memories that will last a lifetime, it doesn’t get any better. 

Imagine exchanging vows on the pure white sands of a Caribbean beach. Or you could say 

“I do” while gazing out over the sparkling Mediterranean as the sun starts to disappear beneath 

the horizon. Maybe you’d like to make the ultimate commitment in front of royalty: how about having 

The King (Elvis Presley) preside over your nuptials in Las Vegas? However you picture your dream 

wedding, here at Thomas Cook we can make it happen. 

You’ll be able to choose from some of the world’s most romantic destinations, all handpicked 

by our team of wedding experts. And when you’ve decided where you’d like to have your magical day, 

we’ll help you find the perfect hotel and choose flights that work for you and your guests. 

When it’s time to get down to the finer details, you can choose from our fantastic range of wedding 

packages. They include all the important wedding essentials: decorations for the venue; flowers for 

the bride and groom; a gorgeous wedding cake; and, not quite as exciting but no less important: 

legal fees. Our dedicated experts will be there for you throughout all the planning and will be your 

day-to-day contact with your chosen venue. They’ll do everything they can to make sure every single 

element of your wedding goes as smoothly as possible and make it truly unforgettable. 

If you’re ready to start planning the wedding of your dreams, speak to our specialist team 

by calling 0844 871 0670, or pop into your nearest store. We’re waiting to help you create 

memories that will last a lifetime. 

Island 

paradise 

W 

e’re excited to share with you a new 

destination for summer 2016! The 

Greek island of Thassos is affectionately 

known as the Emerald Island thanks to its lush 

green forests and olive groves. It’s located in the 

northeast corner of the Aegean Sea, about 10km 

from the mainland, with stretches of fine goldensands 

and a rich history. A holiday to Thassos is 

perfect for those looking to explore an authentic, 

back-to-nature Greece. 

You'll find the capital, Limenas (or Thassos 

Town) on the northern tip of the island. Don’t let 

the term capital confuse you – although it’s the 

island’s largest town, it is still delightfully small and 

charming. Don’t miss out on a trip to the Roman 

amphitheatre or a chance to explore the quaint 

cobbled streets lined with tavernas and souvenir 

shops selling everything from pickled olives in 

honey to traditionally pressed olive oil. 

In the east of the island is Makryammos, where 

you’ll find the famous Golden Beach, a beautiful 

long bay that resembles the arching sandy beaches 

of the Caribbean more than the average Greek 

shoreline. And in the south of the island (you can 

drive from north to south in less than an hour) at 

Limenaria and Potos you’ll find the island’s best 

nightlife spots, with plenty of lively bars, nightclubs 

and restaurants along the buzzy promenade. 

Working out where to stay? We suggest the 

brand-new SENTIDO Thassos Imperial Resort, 

which is situated on beautiful Pachis beach, fringed 

by scented pine trees and boasting sensational 

views of the sea. Dine at the waterfront Almira 

restaurant on typical Greek delicacies – think 

mezze, moussaka, fresh salads, baklava (and 

maybe a cheeky ouzo to finish). Bliss! 


Thomas Cook 

Welcome to 

our Premium 

service! 

L 

ast year, alongside announcing our new flights 

from Manchester to New York and Miami, we 

launched our new Premium cabin service, which 

begins this summer on long-haul flights from Manchester. 

So, if you’re travelling long haul, you may well be sat in 

one of our new cabins – but don’t worry, our short-haul 

fleet has been upgraded, too. 

Flying from our Manchester base, five of our Airbus 

A330 fleet include our brand new Economy and Premium 

cabins, which offer great value and are comparable 

to scheduled airline services, changing perceptions of 

Thomas Cook Airlines. 

The brand new Premium cabin, with 49 seats in 

a 2-3-2 configuration, 35” seat pitch and 19.7” depth, 

is designed to offer maximum comfort. The seats have 

an adjustable headrest and footrest, personal in-arm 

tray tables and feature an 8.9” touchscreen on-demand 

entertainment system with a wider range of movies. 

Premium customers also benefit from 2x23kg (USA) 

or 1x30kg (non-USA) baggage, 10kg hand baggage, 

Premium check-in and bag drop, fast-track security for 

departures and Premium boarding. On board, Premium 

customers receive a welcome drink, a three-course 

Premium James Martin meal, free drinks throughout 

the flight, as well as an amenity kit, headphones, 

pillows and blankets to ensure a comfortable journey. 

Christoph Debus, CEO of Thomas Cook Airlines UK, 

says: “Our new Premium service ensures our customers 

experience a great range of services, whether they are 

celebrating a special event, want to fly in style or need 

to relax on a business trip.” 

Cruise control 

I 

f you’re looking for a cruise holiday to 

remember, then there’s never been a 

better time than right now. Why? Because 

two of the biggest and best cruise ships ever 

built have just launched – and they’re both 

bookable through Thomas Cook Cruise. 

Britannia 

The crown of P&O’s glittering fleet, Britannia 

set off on her maiden voyage on 14 March. 

This is a classic British ship built for discerning 

British tastes, and you can see this in every 

single aspect of the vessel, from the food 

and décor to the activities and nightlife. It 

creates the perfect balance of adventure 

and familiarity for those travelling to exotic 

destinations. Little wonder that it’s the 

fastest-selling cruise ship in history! 

P&O has recruited a number of famous 

faces to bring you the best gourmet 

experiences, including Thomas Cook’s very 

own chef, James Martin, who’ll be heading up 

the Cookery Club. You’ll need to keep active 

to work off all that wonderful food, but luckily 

there’s plenty to help you stay in shape on 

NEWS 

board – hit the high-tech gym, sports arena or 

the running deck. And to keep you entertained 

there are West End-style shows, comedy gigs 

and cabarets, plus kids’ clubs, dance and art 

classes, pools and a spa. It’s true what they say: 

Britannia really does rule the waves. 

Anthem Of The Seas 

The Royal Caribbean’s super-luxurious 

new offering, Anthem Of The Seas, carries 

4,905 guests to the Caribbean’s most beautiful 

islands. She’s an engineering marvel and one 

of the most technologically advanced ships in 

the world: think robotic bartenders, the North 

Star aerial observatory (a glass capsule offering 

360-degree views from 300ft above the deck), 

FlowRider surfing simulators and the largest 

indoor sports complex on the ocean, where 

you can go rollerskating or race your friends 

on the dodgems. 

There are more than 20 restaurants to 

choose from, so whatever you’re in the mood 

for – dainty, Parisian-style macarons, burgers 

from Johnny Rockets, or pizza from Sorrento’s 

– there’s something to feed your appetite. 


Thomas Cook 

Love local 

M 

ake the most of your holiday by taking 

the time to discover some of the unique 

experiences that make destinations special, 

creating long-lasting holiday memories as well as 

long-term positive futures for local people and their 

communities. 

“Local Label” excursions are authentic and 

fulfilling holiday experiences that give you the 

chance to see the real side of a destination, whether 

that means visiting local farmers and sampling their 

produce, meeting with local villagers and learning 

their rituals or taking in the views at unique beauty 

spots off the beaten track. These excursions also 

have the advantage of generating benefits for the 

destinations and communities they operate in. 

A great example of a Local Label excursion is 

our Holguin Green Path trip in Cuba. The excursion 

provides an opportunity for holidaymakers and 

residents to interact and share stories about their 

everyday lives, jobs, families and aspirations. It is a 

hugely engaging and satisfying experience for both 

parties and creates memories that will last a lifetime. 

Other activities on offer include tasting locally 

grown food and drink, watching traditional farming 

methods, playing dominos with the locals and 

getting involved with tree planting or walks in 

the forest. The variety of activities has given our 

customers the chance to have a positive impact 

on the local economy. This has led to increased 

donations at the local church, better food for the 

worshippers and more jobs, as a local craftsperson 

needs to employ more women as the demand for 

her souvenir products soars. 

Holguin Team Manager Allison Boyce says: “This 

is exactly what we wanted the excursion to be – an 

opportunity to bring the real Cuba to life for our 

customers while creating income for villages that 

haven’t previously benefited from tourism. It’s done 

in a way that both residents and holidaymakers find 

mutually respectful and engaging.” 

Showcasing 

sustainability 

in action 

W 

NEWS 

e consider sustainability to be one 

of the most important issues of our 

time. To bring it to life while providing 

an insight into the many environmental and 

socially responsible projects our airlines are 

involved in, we are proud to launch our new 

inflight sustainability film. This film showcases 

our efforts to reduce aviation emissions, reduce 

waste on board, provide support for disadvantaged 

children around the world, and ensure a more 

sustainable product offering. 

“Flying is our business and also our passion,” 

says Kim Hansen, Head of Sustainability at Thomas 

Cook Group Airlines. “As an airline group and part 

of a company offering travel around the world, we 

also carry a special responsibility towards society 

and the environment. We take this very seriously 

and see sustainability as an integral part of our 

corporate culture.” 

The film’s key highlights include 

Implementation of “green” flight procedures. 

Reducing inflight waste and operating 

a recycling programme. 

Reducing weight on board flights with 

cabin refurbishments, lightweight seating 

and trolleys. 

Supporting charitable causes including 

helping to rebuild a school library in Baan 

Yo Plang, Thailand. The library was made of 

wood, but being located in a rainforest area 

meant that the books had started to decompose. 

WATCH IT: See the film online at Thomas Cook 

Airlines’ YouTube page: youtube.com/user/ 

TCGroupAirlines 


TICKETS ON SALE NOW 

The BIG Weekend 

Friday 28 - Monday 31 August 2015 

Tickets & further info at bigweekend.manchesterpride.com 

- IN ASSOCIATION WITH - 

manchesterpride 

Raising money for LGBT and HIV charities 

and organisations in Greater Manchester 

Registered charity 1117848

Thomas Cook Tips for keeping healthy on your travels 

WELLBEING 

Wellbeing in the air 

Thomas Cook aims to make your flight comfortable and relaxing. Simply follow 

these tips and exercises to ensure that you arrive at your destination feeling great 

Special requirements 

Hopefully, we already know about your 

special requirements such as dietary requests 

or if you need a wheelchair. If not, and this 

is an outbound flight, please advise a member 

of the cabin crew so that they can make 

arrangements for your return journey. 

Sleep and seatbelts 

If you’re planning to sleep during the flight, 

we recommend you fasten your seatbelt so the 

cabin crew don’t have to wake you should the 

Captain need to turn on the “fasten seatbelt” 

sign. We recommend that you keep your 

seatbelt fastened at all times while seated. 

No smoking 

In line with international policy, all our flights are 

non-smoking. It is an offence to smoke onboard, 

and the use of electronic cigarettes is forbidden. 

Please refrain from smoking for the comfort and 

safety of passengers and crew. 

Appropriate attire 

Customers with inappropriate attire (including 

anything with offensive slogans, text or images) 

will not be permitted to travel at check-in or 

at the point of boarding the aircraft unless 

a change of clothes is possible. Footwear 

must be worn on the aircraft. 

Young children 

The cabin crew will do their utmost to make 

everyone feel as comfortable and welcome as 

possible during the flight. If you are travelling 

with young children, just ask if you need any milk 

or infant meals heating. Baby-changing facilities 

are available on all our aircraft – again, just ask 

your crew for the location nearest to your seat. 

Lost property 

We ask all customers to take a few moments at 

the end of the flight to ensure that they have all 

their personal possessions with them, carefully 

checking the seat pocket, floor area and overhead 

lockers before leaving the aircraft. In the unlikely 

event that you believe you have left an item 

onboard the aircraft, please note that any items 

found are handed over to the Lost Property office 

at the destination airport. For security reasons, 

items found are not returned to the UK. 

Alcohol consumption 

Alcohol consumed onboard an aircraft has 

a greater and faster effect than on the ground. 

Passengers are therefore not permitted to 

consume alcohol they have brought with 

them or from the onboard duty-free service. 

Only drinks purchased from our onboard 

bars can be consumed. Thomas Cook Airlines 

reserves the right to refuse to carry passengers 

who do not comply with this rule. No alcohol will 

be served to anyone under the age of 18 or to 

intoxicated passengers. 

How to beat 

jet lag 

Jet lag occurs when our biological 

clocks are disrupted by flying across 

time zones. This can affect sleep, 

appetite and bodily functions, but 

by making a few adjustments you 

can reduce the symptoms. 

Inflight 

Avoid drinking too much alcohol or 

caffeine, drink plenty of water and 

try to eat light meals. 

On arrival 

When you arrive, go out in the 

daylight as soon as possible. 

Try to adapt to the local bedtime 

on your first night. Relax as much 

as possible for the first few days – 

a catnap between 3pm and 5pm 

will help give you an energy boost. 


Thomas Cook Tips for keeping healthy on your travels 

Electronic devices 

Technology moves at such a fast pace that 

you may be confused about what electronic 

equipment you can and can’t use onboard. 

To help you, we have the following guidelines. 

Inflight exercises 

Humans aren’t designed to sit in one position for long, so to promote blood 

circulation we recommend the following exercises. Try them while seated and 

remember that even the smallest movements help with blood circulation. 

Personal Electronic Devices such as e-readers, 

iPads (and tablet-type devices), iPods and other 

similar portable items may be used on all Thomas 

Cook Airlines aircraft providing they are in “Flight” 

mode or equivalent. There may be occasions 

when the crew ask you to switch off any such 

device for operational reasons and we ask for your 

cooperation should this be necessary (normally this 

is only required when it is foggy; switching off these 

devices ensures sensitive equipment onboard is 

protected from any potential interference). 

Upper body 

Take a large breath in through the nose. Slowly 

1 exhale through the mouth. Repeat a maximum 

of four times. 

Sitting upright, turn your head slowly to look 

2 over one shoulder. Now slowly turn to the other 

side. Repeat five times. 

Slowly rotate your shoulders backwards. 

3 Repeat this exercise five times. 

Raise one arm above your head and stretch 

4 upwards. Repeat with the other arm. 

Transfer your weight evenly between 

5 each buttock. 

During the departure and arrival phases of the 

flight all such devices must be of a size that can be 

stowed securely in the seat back pocket or the bag 

under the seat in front. Larger items such as laptops 

may be used in flight but must be stowed securely 

either in a bag under the seat or in the overhead 

locker during departure and arrival. 

Note that unless specifically advised the use of 

any transmitting device (including mobile phones/ 

tablets not in “Flight” mode) is prohibited whenever 

the aircraft doors are closed. 

Approved PEDs include: 

Mobile phones/smartphones 

Laptop/notebook computers 

Tablet computers and e-readers 

Noise-cancelling headphones 

Digital audio/MP3 players 

Portable DVD/CD players 

Electric shavers 

Personal cameras and electronic games 

Assistive medical devices 

Lower body 

Loosen or remove your footwear. Arch the 

1 soles of both feet and curl your toes 10 times. 

Straighten your legs, slightly lift your feet off 

2 the floor and pump both ankles forwards and 

backwards about 20 times. 

Tense and relax your thigh muscles 

3 about 10 times. 

March your feet on the spot 10 times, alternating 

4 between the heel and the ball of your foot. 

Clench your buttock muscles together 

5 10 times. 

If queuing for the toilet, try rocking backwards 

6 and forwards from heel to toe, then back. 

Upon landing, gently stretch your body 

7 to get ready for movement. 

If you are travelling on a long-haul flight, try to 

8 move around the cabin every couple of hours. 

Consideration for other travelling customers 

Thomas Cook Airlines takes the comfort of 

its guests very seriously. We ask that you are 

considerate to fellow passengers and advise that 

“Knee Defenders”, or other similar devices that 

restrict the recline of the seat in front, are not 

allowed to be used on our aircraft. 


WELLBEING 

Health & safety while abroad 

Your holiday accommodation 

Never leave your key where someone can note 

your room number 

Do not leave your window open, especially if your 

room is on the ground floor or has a balcony 

Remember to lock your room door, even when you 

are inside the room 

Balcony 

Children should NEVER be left unsupervised on balconies 

Do not climb or stand on balcony furniture 

Keep all furniture away from the balcony wall/railings 

Never lean over, sit or climb on the balcony or railings 

Bathroom 

Take care in bathrooms as condensation and water spray 

can make surfaces slippery, and bath or floor mats may not 

be provided 

Do not use mains electrical appliances near to water 

Cooking 

Never leave cookers unattended while they are in use 

Ensure all cooking appliances are switched off 

when leaving your apartment or when retiring at night 

Never leave shopping or other items on the cooker 

On arrival at your accommodation 

Familiarise yourself with all escape routes and locate 

the nearest fire exit to your room 

Do a practice walk of the nearest escape route 

from your room 

Study the fire instruction notice displayed in your room 

Identify the method of raising the alarm on discovering a fire 

Ensure that all smoking materials are safely extinguished, and 

do not smoke in bed 

If a fire occurs 

Evacuate the room/area immediately. Do not stop 

to collect personal belongings 

Close any doors behind you 

Raise the alarm 

Proceed to an assembly point outside and well clear 

of the building 

If you cannot leave your room, close all doors, put 

wet towels or clothes around the door seals and shout 

for help from the window or telephone reception 

Glass windows and doors 

Be aware that glass doors and windows may not necessarily 

be equipped with toughened glass. Caution should be taken at 

all times 

Take extra care in bright sunlight as it may not be obvious 

whether the window/door is open or closed 

Lifts 

Children should not use any lift unaccompanied 

Not all lifts have internal doors. When using this type of lift, 

stand well back from the exposed wall as there is no protection 

from the lift shaft when the car is in motion 

In the event of a fire, use the staircase, not the lift 

Poolside safety/out and about 

Every pool is different, but most hotels and apartments do 

not employ lifeguards, so please supervise any young members 

of your party 

Familiarise yourself with the layout of the pool to identify the 

deep and shallow areas before use 

Ensure that children use the toilet BEFORE entering the pool 

and take regular toilet breaks throughout the day. In the event 

of a faecal accident in or around the pool, please report it 

immediately, as this will assist the hotel management in 

ensuring the highest level of pool hygiene 

Shower before entering the pool 

Do not swim (or allow children to swim) if suffering from an 

upset stomach 

Do not change nappies at the poolside 

Young children and babies must wear appropriate swimwear 

such as rubber-lined swimming trunks. Swimming in nappies 

and nude bathing are unacceptable 

Wash your hands thoroughly after using the toilet and 

changing nappies 

Have fun, but avoid unruly behaviour. Observe pool rules 

and information signs at all times 

Pool surrounds can be very slippery – do not run 

around them 

Do not swim immediately after a meal, and never swim 

when you have been drinking alcohol 

When jumping or diving into the pool, check the water 

depth first and never dive from the deck side into water 

less than 1.5m deep 

Do not jump or dive from any raised features or from 

poolside furniture 

Do not use the pool after dark or when closed, even if it 

has underwater lights 

In the event of an emergency, know how to call for help 

Beach 

Spot the dangers 

Check out the beach when you arrive 

Take care when bathing and swimming 

Be aware of dangerous rip currents and strong tides 

Do not swim near or dive from rocks, piers, 

breakwaters and coral 

Take safety advice 

Swim where there are lifeguards on patrol and take 

their advice 

Look out for information – warning flags and signs – 

and adhere to them at all times 

Never swim where a sign says not to, for example zoned 

areas for high-speed vehicles such as jet boats or jet skis 

Don’t go alone 

Never swim alone – make sure there are other 

people around 

Children must be supervised by an adult at all times 

Never swim at night, after drinking alcohol or on 

a full stomach 

Learn how to help 

If you see someone in difficulty, tell somebody, preferably 

a lifeguard if there is one nearby 

Find out what to do in an emergency, such as calling 

the local coastguard or equivalent 

Sun safety 

Avoid sunbathing during the hottest times of day 

Apply high-factor sunscreen, and re-apply frequently 

Never expose babies to the sun and always take extra 

care with children 

Remember it is possible to burn in the shade, 

when it is cloudy and while swimming 

At the first sign of burning get out of the sun immediately 

Always drink plenty of water 

Driving on holiday 

Check the vehicle is roadworthy and familiarise yourself 

with all controls before use, as they may differ from cars in 

the UK and Ireland 

Check that the car-hire insurance cover you take out provides 

adequate cover for the driver and all of the passengers 

Always wear a seatbelt 

Familiarise yourself with local traffic laws 

Pay particular attention when at junctions and roundabouts 

Always carry emergency breakdown telephone numbers 

Always carry a spare set of spectacles (required 

by law in Spain) 

NEVER drink and drive 

Stick to well-travelled and well-lit roads 

We advise against the independent hiring of mopeds, 

motorbikes, quad bikes and jet skis 

Pedestrians 

Be vigilant at all times. Familiarise yourself with the 

direction of traffic 

Be aware that in some countries traffic is not required 

to stop at pedestrian crossings 

Services of local vendors 

In many holiday resorts you may find that services 

such as henna tattoos are available from places like street 

vendors. Although not recommended by Thomas Cook, 

if you choose to have a tattoo done or use the services of 

a local vendor, we would advise you to do so with caution. 

In the case of tattoos, ensure you ask for a test application 

before any larger-scale tattoos are applied. If you have any 

pre-existing skin conditions, check with the vendor before 

agreeing to any application 

General 

If you haven’t already, take a few minutes to complete the 

emergency contact details in the back of your passport 

Keep important documents in your hotel safe 

Be aware of who is around you. Pickpockets and opportunists 

will target anyone 

Don’t leave your common sense at the hotel. Don’t lose sight 

of your drink, don’t walk around by yourself, avoid dark places 

and don’t take unnecessary risks 

Look after yourself and your friends 

If hiring a car/scooter/quad bike, ask yourself whether you 

have adequate insurance 

Do not leave belongings unattended (in cars, restaurants, 

hotel lobbies etc) 

Don’t sign anything until you seek advice from experts. The 

chances of winning a luxury holiday anywhere in the world just 

by scratching a card in the middle of the street, for example, are 

very remote 

Find contact details for your local embassy, in case of 

emergency, at fco.gov.uk 

Be aware that the laws and customs of the country you’re 

visiting may be different from home. Read up on countryspecific 

advice at fco.gov.uk/travel 


Thomas Cook Immigration and customs 

Flying in and out of the United States 

Before you leave the plane 

White form: arrival and departure record 

Please refer to the section on the right and below to check 

whether or not you need to complete the white form (if you 

are a UK or EU citizen and have filled in an ESTA form online 

that was approved, you are not required to complete this 

form). All other passengers must fill in the Immigration Visa 

and Customs forms, which will be handed out by the cabin 

crew during the flight. You are legally obliged to fill them in 

– please make sure they’re correctly completed or you may 

face delays at Immigration. If you do make any mistakes, 

please ask for a new form. 

Depending on your circumstances, you may need a white 

Immigration form. A Customs Declaration form will need 

to be filled out in addition to any Immigration/ESTA forms. 

We’ve put together some tips (below) to help you avoid the 

most common mistakes. 

specimen 

specimen 

Complete this form if: 

» You are NOT a US citizen 

AND 

» You hold a valid US Visa 

AND 

» Your final destination is the United States OR 

you are passing through the US to your final 

destination. Please complete items 1-13 on 

the Arrival record and items 14-17 on the 

Departure record. Keep the Departure record 

until you leave the US. 

Exceptions 

You DO NOT need to complete an 

Immigration form if you are: 

A US citizen 

A Canadian citizen 

A UK or EU citizen holding a valid ESTA 

A new immigrant 

specimen 

Filling in your forms 

Blue form: Customs Declaration form 

DO: 

Take your time 

Write in capital letters, using a pen 

Write in the space below the questions and fill in every line. 

When asked for your address, if you are a visitor to the US, 

then print the name of your hotel. If you are on a fly-drive 

holiday and unsure where you will be staying on your first 

night, then give one of the following addresses: 

Sanford – Thomas Cook, 1650 Sand Lake Road, 

Suite 300, Orlando FL32809 

OR 

Las Vegas – Thomas Cook, 5030 Paradise Road, 

Suite C214, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119 

Sign and date the back of your Customs Declaration form 

Double-check your forms 

Ask the cabin crew if you have any queries 

DO NOT: 

Cross anything out. If you make a mistake, 

ask for a new form and start again 

specimen 

specimen 

You must fill in the Customs Declaration 

form before you arrive in the US. One form 

per household is required. 


OUR FLEET 

Thomas Cook operates more than 35 aircraft to 

Europe and the rest of the world from the UK 

Airbus A320-200 


Total passengers: 180 

Wing-span: 34.1m 

Length: 37.57m 

Number in fleet: 5 

Maximum take-off weight: 77,000kg 

Maximum cruising speed: 500mph 

Engines: CFM International CFM 56-5B4 

Total passengers: 321/325 

Wingspan: 60.3m 





Engines: 2 Rolls-Royce Trent 772B Series 


Boeing 757-200 





Maximum take-off weight: 89,000/93,500kg 


Engines: 2 CFM 56-5B3 

Total passengers: 233/235 






Engines: 2 Rolls-Royce RB211-535E4 









Engines: 2 General Electric CF6-80C2 







Engines: 2 Rolls-Royce RB211-535E4 


Thomas Cook 

Thomas Cook flies from 

the following airports 

UK DEPARTURE AIRPORTS 

1 Glasgow 

2 Newcastle 

3 Belfast 

4 Manchester 

5 East Midlands 

6 Birmingham 

7 Bristol 

8 London Stansted 

9 London Gatwick 

10 

Cardiff 

1 1 Norwich 

12 Doncaster 

13 Exeter 

CANADA 

BOSTON 

NEW YORK 

USA 

LAS VEGAS 

LOS ANGELES 

ATLANTIC 

OCEAN 

ORLANDO 

KEY 

MIAMI 

SUMMER ONLY 

WINTER ONLY 

YEAR-ROUND 

MEXICO 

CANCUN 

VARADERO 

CUBA 

CAYO COCO 

HOLGUIN 

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC 

MONTEGO BAY 

PUNTA CANA 

JAMAICA 

ANTIGUA 

PACIFIC OCEAN 

ST LUCIA 

BRIDGETOWN 

BARBADOS 


WHERE WE FLY 

ENONTEKIO 

KITTILA 

ROVANIEMI 

FINLAND 

SEA 

1 

2 

NORTH 

SEA 

BALTIC 

3 

4 12 

5 

6 

10 

7 

12 11 

8 

9 

GERMANY 

13 

SWITZERLAND 

GENEVA 

FRANCE 

GRENOBLE 

TURIN 

SALZBURG 

INNSBRUCK 

PORTUGAL 

MADEIRA 

FARO 

SPAIN 

IBIZA 

ALMERIA 

LLEIDA-ALGUAIRE 

REUS 

MAHON 

PALMA 

GENOVA 

ENFIDHA 

MONASTIR 

DJERBA 

TUNISIA 

ITALY 

NAPLES 

SOFIA 

BURGAS 

CYPRUS 

TURKEY 

MYTILENE 

CORFU 

IZMIR 

KEFALONIA 

PREVEZA 

BODRUM 

ZANTE 

SKIATHOS 

DALAMAN 

KALAMATA 

SANTORINI 

ANTALYA 

MALTA 

HERAKLION 

RHODES 

LARNACA 

PAPHOS 

MEDITERRANEAN SEA 

TENERIFE 

CANARY 

ISLANDS 

ARRECIFE 

FUERTEVENTURA 

LAS PALMAS 

EGYPT 

HURGHADA 

SHARM EL SHEIKH 

INDIA 

CAPE VERDE 

BANJUL 

THE 

GAMBIA 

GOA 


Thomas Cook 

CHILDREN’S CHARITY 

Thank you from the Children’s Charity! 

T 

homas Cook Children’s Charity aims 

to improve children’s lives and the 

communities in which they live by helping 

to improve education, wellbeing and healthcare 

facilities. We provide funding to a number of 

children’s charities to help benefit children 

throughout the UK and overseas. 

Thank you 

Over the last 12 months we have raised over 

£340,000 on board return Thomas Cook Airlines 

flights to the UK. A huge thank you to each and 

every one of you for your support – it truly does 

make a difference. 

Making a difference 

SOS Children’s Villages has been working in Nepal 

since 1973. Its nine purpose-built villages and 

dedicated SOS mothers provide a loving home 

and care to vulnerable and orphaned children. 

Its long-term presence in Nepal meant 

it was able to respond quickly and effectively 

when earthquakes devastated the country earlier 

this year. It rapidly deployed teams who provided 

food, shelter, water and first aid to affected families. 

They also worked to reunite unaccompanied 

children with their parents, and continue to look 

after those for whom this has not been possible. 

A grant from Thomas Cook Children’s Charity 

following the earthquake appeal helped to run 

SOS Children’s Villages’ 22 child-friendly spaces 

in the aftermath of the earthquakes. These have 

given over 1,500 children a safe place to play and 

be children again. SOS Children’s Villages also 

offers counselling to the children, helping them 

to overcome the traumas they have experienced. 

Looking forward, the charity is committed to helping 

vulnerable children and families rebuild their lives 

across Nepal for years to come. 

Thomas Cook Children’s Charity has also 

supported the following causes over the last year: 

Save The Children, WheelPower, Alder Hey Children’s 

Hospital; Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital; 

Teenage Cancer Trust; Just A Drop; Happy Days 

Children’s Charity; Together For Short Lives; and 

Camfed, as well as many local community projects. 

Nominate a cause 

If you know of a local charity that aims to 

improve the lives of children and benefit the 

communities in which they live that Thomas 

Cook Children’s Charity could support, please get 

in touch via our website or email thomascook. 

childrenscharity@thomascook.com. 

thomascookchildrenscharity.com 

As you travel you will encounter children at risk: 

selling goods, begging, in orphanages, working, 

involved in sex slavery... 

Of course you want to help, but what is the best way? 

The ChildSafe Traveler 7 Tips provides you with 

information on how you can protect children 

as you go. 

Call for child protection 

T 

here are millions of children living or working on the streets worldwide. All 

these children are at risk of being abused, and often travelers unwittingly 

and unknowingly increase their vulnerability. Certain “tourist attractions” 

such as orphanage or slum tours exploit children’s vulnerabilities for profit. Giving 

money to begging children or buying from them may be helping to keep them on 

the streets and at risk. And taking children back to your hotel room for any reason 

is not a good idea. Worldwide, the charges for sex offenders are severe and you 

might be suspected of being one if you take a child back to your room. Here are 

the ChildSafe Traveler 7 Tips to follow: 

1. Support ChildSafe network members. 

2. Think! Before buying or giving to begging children. 

3. Think! How to protect children from exploitative behaviour. 

4. Think! Children are not tourist attractions. 

5. Think! Before taking a child back to your hotel room for any reason. 

6. Think! When faced with a situation of potential sexual exploitation of children. 

7. Think! Keep your eyes wide open. 

If you suspect a child has been trafficked or exploited, please call 

Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 or contact the police. Find out more 

about how to be a prudent ChildSafe Traveler and help raise awareness 

to protect children worldwide by visiting THINKChildSafe.org

Viaggi California - Viaggi in Thailand - Intimateasia.it

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