DISCOVER SOUTH WEST ENGLAND AT YOUR OWN PACE

NEW YORK, NY (11/2013) On Foot Holidays, the company that stands out for its self-guided walking tours all around Europe, offers an excellent option to discover Southwest England. Walk to hidden and delightful spots of the most English counties of the region: Wardour Castle, Saxon Shaftesbury, Cranborne Chase, Milton Abbas, The Cerne Giant, Evershot, Bridport and Lyme Regis.

South West England (Dorset - In the footsteps of Thomas Hardy). This seven-night journey is considered of medium difficulty to walk, with four and half to six and a half hours of walk per day. The tour starts in the beautiful cathedral city of Salisbury and ends in the fishing village of Lyme Regis, where you will be able to relax and have a platter of fresh seafood in the so called “Pearl of Dorset”. Created by locals of the region, the route ensures that countryside is varied with plenty of cultural interest on the way. Walk the romantic ruins of Old Wardour Castle, the Saxon hilltop town of Shaftesbury and picturesque Gold Hill. Explore the tiniest and most concealed streets of quintessentially English villages and enjoy our trails with gently rolling landscapes as backdrops, such as the old royal hunting estate of Cranborne Chase, prehistoric Hambledon Hill and the perfectly designed village, Milton Abbas. Characterized by its richness in geological history, the route will take you to the emblematic World Heritage Site: the Jurassic Coast, and guide you up the Golden Cap clifftop, with its far-reaching sea views.

The eating and drinking in this region will be local and plentiful. The tour passes through towns and villages where food enthusiasts will be able to taste real English ales and hearty and traditional foods.

Forget about the hustle of making schedules that include all the “must-see” places of a city, or reading infinite reviews to find the perfect hotel. On Foot Holidays will prepare you a complete itinerary for you to enjoy the region, and arrange your stay at fascinating and typical old inns. We will also handle luggage transfer so you don’t have any worries or items to carry around while walking.

The South West England tour is available all year round. Rates for seven nights per person sharing are from $1,213 and include accommodation, breakfast daily, detailed itinerary and supporting material, and luggage transfers. On Foot Holidays recommends an extra day to relax and explore the local countryside at Plush, the seaside at Lyme Regis or Salisbury.

For more information, and questions regarding customized variations of the trip contact On Foot Holidays at 01722 322 652 or visit www.onfootholidays.co.uk

MANTIS’ ELLENBOROUGH PARK HOTEL & SPA IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN JANUARY 2011

Cheltenham, ENGLAND- The Mantis Collection is preparing to open the historic Ellenborough Park, a majestic country house situated adjacent to the famous Cheltenham racecourse in the village of Southam, just outside Cheltenham, England. Scheduled to open in January 2011, Ellenborough Park is a Hotel & Spa and will offer the highest quality service and luxurious accommodations in the midst of the English countryside.

With the new renovations, the hotel will boast 62 fully restored and new bedrooms, with suites of up to 700 square foot and one grand suite with private dining room. All interiors will be designed in a traditional yet sophisticated English country house style by internationally acclaimed interior designer, Nina Campbell.

Guests will have two dining options: Classical fine dining and casual brasserie-style dining.

The hotel will also feature a full service spa, complete with hydrotherapy pool; sauna and steam room; six treatment rooms; outdoor heated pool, and fully-equipped gym.

In addition, the luxury hotel will serve as an ideal venue for conferences and weddings. The board room will hold 16 people. For weddings, a church-like auditorium will lead into a private courtyard garden with access to the banqueting suite. The estate can also accommodate marquee weddings.

Ellenborough House has a rich history. Built in the late 15th Century, the house was bought and renovated in 1831 by Edward Law, Earl of Ellenborough and former Viceroy of India. Upon his death in 1871, the house was let to a series of tenants until it was sold in 1947 and became a private school for girls. When the property was sold again in 1972, the school was transformed into a hotel.

Room rates will start from $350 a night. For more information, please visit the website at www.mantiscollection.com. As reservations for Ellenborough Park are not yet open, please email graham.vass@ellenboroughpark.com to book.

SUBLIME MOTHER'S DAY PACKAGE AT LONDON'S DRAYCOTT HOTEL

London, ENGLAND (03/2010) Children or spouses of Moms who need a break, listen up!. The small but charming Mantis-owned five-star Draycott Hotel, situated in one of London’s most elegant enclave between Chelsea and Knightsbridge, is offering a Mother’s Day package for those Americans who want to give Mom a special treat – a stay at one of London’s finest boutique hotels and a body treatment at the city’s most exclusive Day Spa.

The package is designed to spoil Mom. She can luxuriate in a room overlooking a beautiful, private garden square lined with flowering fruit trees. If she loves the outdoors, you can special order from the hotel a gourmet picnic for her to take in the garden. At four pm she can enjoy afternoon tea in the drawing room and at six pm a complimentary glass of bubbly before a sparkling fire. Then, to assure a solid night’s sleep, she’ll be served soothing hot chocolate just before bedtime.

The following day she can completely mellow out at Ushvani, the luxe day spa in the heart of Chelsea providing an oasis of tranquillity, a much-needed antidote to the stress of 21st century metropolitan life. Here, therapists take a holistic approach to authentic South East Asian treatments, and it’s here Mom will receive a complimentary Balinese Massage and a Bespoke Foot Treatment.

The powerful Balinese massage derives from the Spice Islands of Indonesia and effectively balances the body, restores vitality, releases tension, and boosts circulation – leaving Mom feeling uplifted and recharged. The Bespoke Foot treatment is an invigorating jojoba scrub containing peppermint oils used to thoroughly exfoliate the feet, before they are nourished with Ushvani’s Coconut and Kemiri Blend, a rich body butter fragranced with natural essential oils. Reflex zones are worked while the feet are massaged, putting a spring back in Mom’s step.

Now Mom’s ready to step out. She can take in the sights and sounds of the Chelsea/Knightsbridge area where the vibe is all about shopping, dining, theatre and museum-going.

Rates for the Draycott Mother’s Day package are US$662 + VAT for a double room per night. This includes an English Breakfast and the 120-minutes Ushvani Balinese Massage and Bespoke Foot Treatment.

The offer is valid from April 30 through May 9, 2010, and is subject to availability.

For reservations please email: reservations@draycotthotel.com or call 020 7730 646. For more information on the Draycott Hotel, visit www.draycotthotel.com