Carol Hurley, Wombourne
Hustyns
Hustyns for Holidays like Heaven on earth;
Unique and Unrivalled for West Country worth.
Swimming and Sunshine and clear Starry nights,
Tasting cream Teas and Top local delights.
Your cottage, Your room is Your home for Your stay;
Nowhere could be Nicer, book now, don’t delay,
Say yes Club La Costa, it’s not on E-bay!
Our long weekend with the family was ideal: we even had a day’s sunshine. It’s truly beautiful place in a lovely part of Cornwall. We must return for a longer holiday as we only touched on the many things on offer. We spent ages in the lovely indoor pool with my one year old grand-daughter lapping up the water experience. My daughter and son-in-law played tennis. We walked around the grounds and watched both the fish and the ducks being fed, much to Lola’s delight. We baby sat while the two newish parents had a great time at the barbecue; they stayed in the next night while we ate a superbly cooked meal at the brasserie. All in all a great relaxing break in a fantastic Club La Costa lodge.
Carol Hurley, Wombourne
Gordon Young
Duchally experience
08 October 2008
Last year we had a great week at Duchally. As always the accommodation was first class but I thought you might like to look at the places we visited.
We had a great week, which was mainly in three parts - Historical, Hill walking and of course Golf.
The little village of Dunning is a must see place with it's 12 Century St. Serfs church and amazing history. The 9th. Century Dupplin cross is housed there and you will get a full history of it from the very friendly Historic Scotland Guide. Huntingtower, another Historic Scotland property is also very interesting and you can dress the part if you don't look hysterical rather than historical.
From Duchally you can see several Munroes [hills over 3000ft.] and we decided to do Ben Chonzie, a relatively easy climb and well known as the home of the mountain hare. A visit to the Ben Lawers range, near Loch Tay is a must for those interested in wild plants and amazing views.
Of course looking across to Gleneagles from Duchally makes a round of golf there impossible to resist. It is a great experience even if eagles are impossible to find for us mere mortals.
Cheers,
Gordon Young
Gaynor Speakman Bolton
Vacation Club Platinum members
OK, where do I start? Write a holiday review, me!
Should I write it like a romantic novel? “He whisked me into the fine dining Jazz restaurant, where we sampled exquisite food and wine and then...” Or maybe a Who Done It? “The Otter, in the fish pond, with his paws!” Perhaps I could plump for the slapstick comedy version and name it, “2 Adults, 2 kids, four bikes and an extremely long Camel Trail ride”, perhaps not, I think I’ll just write.
Holiday checklist at the ready, football field and indoor heated pool for Harry aged 8, free WiFi and bike hire for James aged 13, peace, tranquility and Spa treatments for mum aged... as if I would tell you that, and finally, fine wines, local beer and Spa treatments for dad... should I really have told you that!
Taking all this into account, we chose Club La Costa’s Hustyns estate in Cornwall for our family holiday in July 2008, it ticked all the boxes on our holiday wish lists and more.
On arrival through a beautifully tended tree-lined driveway, we were greeted with a warm and friendly welcome and escorted to our luxurious three-bedroomed lodge. Our welcome meeting had been arranged for the following morning, a tour of the estate and local tourist information would be supplied by Geoff our host for the morning and breakfast would be included.
The boys had first choice of rooms and they chose the double-bedded ground floor room that had large patio doors leading out into the garden/decked terrace area, en-suite double shower with Jacuzzi bath. We, however, decided on the double-bedded top floor room with roof skylight windows, balcony and a separate dressing area that was nearly as big as our bedroom at home! We had a large en-suite with double Jacuzzi bath, power shower and next to it our very own sauna!! All topped off with complimentary toiletries of course.
Across from our dressing area was a twin-bedded room with lovely views over the Hustyns estate and from where the boys could take turns at what they liked to call “otter surveillance”. The room overlooked the Koi pond and waterfall, and signs around it noted that an otter had been stealing fish, the boys had decided that they would be the ones to catch the otter... they never did, but it kept them amused for hours (even after we had turned down several requests for night vision goggles)!
We like to cook meals together and everyone gets involved, this was made really easy with the open-plan fully equipped kitchen and large dining room. The dining room had a beautiful oak table surrounded by eight high-backed chairs; pure luxury and we dined like royalty, eating fresh local produce and vegetables available from Wadebridge village just four miles away.
In the evenings, after a full day of exploring Cornwall, we would take a pre dinner drink in the bar area, from where James would connect to free WiFi and speak to all his friends on MSN or something that sounded similarly contagious. It was during one of our pre dinner drinks get togethers, that we decided to take up the offer of free bike hire from the Hustyns leisure club and cycle the Camel Trail, 11 miles of disused railway beside the River Camel, linking the towns of Bodmin, Wadebridge and Padstow. Access to the Camel Trail was via the Hustyns Forest, and over a three mile mountainous area, not recommended for small children or the unfit, as we later discovered on our return up the mountainous area, where of course it was ‘easier’ for mum and dad to push our bikes rather than cycle. We did feel a huge sense of achievement after the ride when we plunged into the heated swimming pool back at Hustyns after taking just a 30 seconds walk (I’m sure we could not at this stage have made it any further) in our dressing gowns from our lodge into the leisure area. The pool area was exceptionally clean and bright, with sauna, steam room and Jacuzzi.
We explored the surrounding areas, visiting Newquay some 15 miles away, Charlestown, a picturesque harbour, and Mawgan Porth, where the boys had a fantastic time on body boards complete with wet suits, but in a safe environment where lifeguards patrolled the beach. Well it’s got to be better than mum in shorts getting wet just to the knees, nothing like the images on Bay Watch!
One of my highlights was our visit to Padstow, playing crazy golf overlooking the harbour and bumping into Rick Stein, literally!
We didn’t make the fine dining Jazz restaurant, much to our disappointment, but only because we had so many other things to do. The family BBQ night at the Brasserie was good value, and half price for children, we sampled local fish, lamb and beef and, of course, the Hustyns home grown vegetables...delicious.
Why don’t you check Hustyns against your own holiday wish list and pay Cornwall a visit? I’m sure that you will thoroughly enjoy it. If you do see the otter, or find a place that sells night vision goggles, let us know, we will definitely be needed them for our next visit.
Dr. Nurit Reichman
The trip to Mijas
On Saturday, Dan and eve decide to drive to Mijas with their friends Professor Schmidt and Consuelo.
The drive from their suites at the Los Amigos Beach Club along the coast to Mijas was a pleasant ride. Dan and Eve sang English folk songs while ‘Schmidti’ and Consuelo, in the back seat, opened their mouths only to kiss.
Mijas is situated along the steep slopes of the Sierra de Mijas mountain range, overlooking the coast. Once a small village, it has grown into a picturesque town with white, red-roofed houses and colourful flowerbeds, unique to the town.
The car ‘took’ the hills nicely and everyone praised Dan’s driving. They parked in the centre of town, along the Calle de los Campos, and toured the quaint alleyways, viewing the beautiful homes, particularly impressed by the porches enclosed by black, metal lattice.
In one alleyway, the professor pointed to the porches on both sides of the street, located, as they say, ‘a kiss away’.
“If we lived here we could stand on our porches and make out,” Professor Schmidt teased Consuelo. Kissing, that’s all the old guy has on his mind, his friends thought silently. After walking past some eating establishments, they decided it was time for lunch.
“I’m going to be original and order a hamburger,” Dan said.
“Me too” said Eve.
“I refuse to eat such food,” Professor Schmidt said, preferring healthy food.
“Let’s order paella” Consuelo said, “After all, when in Spain, eat Spanish food, right Schmidti?”
“Whatever you’d like my darling, but let’s order just one meal for us.”
“Of course, my dear, the portions are gigantic,” Consuelo said.
Dan and Eve finished their hamburgers quickly and waited until the plate of paella emptied out. Consuelo dug in, while Professor Schmidt had only a few spoonfuls.
“I try not to glutton,” he explained, “Digesting large meals requires large amounts of blood flowing to the stomach, while I need blood in my legs to sightsee.” The anatomic descriptions destroyed Eve’s appetite for dessert, only to be restored by a strawberry ice cream.
Everyone drank manzanilla sherry. Consuelo suggested they visit ‘The Crown Diamond of Mijas.’
“Probably a small whitewashed church at the top of the mountain,” Dan whispered to Eve.
“We must use a local taxi,” Consuelo exclaimed.
Professor Schmidt said, “But these roads are narrow and with their sharp turns taxi drivers must have a horrendous drive.”
Consuelo laughed, “Darling, look over there at the donkeys!” Everyone looked at the row of donkeys, with red harnesses, embroidered saddles, fringe and silver bells lined in perfect formation. Next to them there stood a group of local boys – ‘the taxi drivers’.
Professor Schmidt and Consuelo climbed onto two tolerant donkeys. Eve and Dan chose the ornate carriage, with a handsome grey mare. Consuelo yelled an address and the convoy moved.
Looking across their carriage, only a single picture caught Dan and Eve’s attention – Schmidt and his donkey. A tall gentleman, the professor was unable to keep his legs in the stirrups. Each time he stretched his long legs, it seemed the donkey had grown a third pair of legs!
Consuelo, on the other hand, had no trouble sitting comfortably in her saddle and it seemed to everyone that the Spanish she whispered in her donkey’s ear prodded him forward.
After ten minutes, the drivers stopped at a low building that looked nothing like a small church at the top of a mountain.
“Here we are, ‘The Crown Diamond of Mijas’ – the jewellery factory and retail centre,” declared Consuelo.
They entered and found themselves in an exquisite display room. Chandeliers lit the jewels flatteringly. Consuelo, like a spoiled little girl in a toy store, pulled Professor Schmidt to where the largest and most magnificent engagement rings were on display. Schmidt took everything in his stride, saying there was no use in rushing things. Their engagement would come following a mutual decision.
As they left, Consuelo calmed down, understanding it was better this way, to protect oneself from the ‘evil eye’.
On their return, they climbed into two carriages and returned to the centre of town. The men headed for the car, while Eve and Consuelo ‘darted’ for a cart laden with Indian dresses.
Eve tried on a red dress with small blue flowers. The price was so low she immediately grabbed a larger one with yellow flowers on a black background.
“For my mother,” she said, answering the question on Consuelo’s face, “Daddy will lovingly tease Mother with ‘Don’t you already have enough tents in your closet?’”
Suddenly, Professor Schmidt and Dan appeared and rushed the two women into the car. So quickly, in fact, that Eve neglected to get her change………………
Diane Larner, Haywards Heath
French family fun in Bordeaux
Club La Costa delivers again!
Arriving with our bumper family of three children and a baby, we could not fail to be impressed by one of Club La Costa’s latest and most elite acquisitions. As the children tumbled out of the car to explore the woods, we found our lodge - contemporary, clean, spacious and well designed – it embodied all those outstanding characteristics we have come to expect from a Club La Costa resort.
This year, we had chosen Les Cottages du Lac, tranquil lakeside lodges situated in Bordeaux, just 15km away from the fine sandy beaches of the Atlantic.
Just a stone’s throw away from the lake, the lodges are surrounded by a lush pine forest. For those who enjoy peace and privacy, the lodges are cleverly designed with a sheltered decking area, which is not overlooked. If you enjoy a more social holiday, the lodges are well positioned to allow for this too. While we settled in, the children quickly made friends with French children staying nearby and the separate car parking meant little ones could cycle and play safely.
Days were spent basking in the French sunshine and watching the children digging sand channels to the ocean. Evenings were spent enjoying dinner with our new-found French friends and watching the many ‘spectacles’ or shows the children created together. Quite often they consisted of lots of dancing and theatricals in an endearing mix of French and English, largely led by the three six-year old girls and largely sabotaged by the boys and toddlers.
For the water sports enthusiasts, the nearby sailing school offers tuition or hire for a variety of activities. While I learnt how to sail a catamaran, our 8 year-old son enjoyed sailing in the children’s Oppy Club. My husband mastered the art of juggling our two little girls and baby boy – not too difficult, as the sandy beach with its warm and shallow water is right next to the sailing school, thirty seconds from the lodge.
In the afternoons, we swapped roles and my husband got to blast around the lake with equally incautious sailing buddies. If the wind was perfect for speeding around the lake (but not for topping up the tan) I took the children off to the pool where I could read while they splashed around. A toddlers’ area for non-swimmers was perfect for our 4 year-old. Next to the pool is the kids’ club, restaurant and reception area where the odd bottle of wine and complimentary canapés had to be sampled.
Not to be missed while visiting this region is the La Dune du Pyla – the highest dune in Europe, reaching a height of 107 metres. The children scrambled up the ‘sand mountain’ in delight and then slid and rolled own to the beach while we took a moment to enjoy the view of the ocean bay and the large pine forest. On clear days, it is possible to see across to the Pyrenées mountain range.
One unforgettable day was that of the local féte in the nearby town – a fantastic opportunity to sample delicious local produce and to experience local French traditions.
There is no shortage of activities if you feel like a day out. I took the girls on a mountain pony trek and the boys spent a couple of hours harnessed to trees and sliding down zip wires at nearby Biscarosse.
We did not want to leave, but all good things have to end. The children chattered with newly improved French as we squashed them into the car (along with bikes, bags, buggy, beach toys and a mountain of snacks, CDs and DVDs). Asked what they thought of the holiday, our 4 year-old pronounced it was ‘fantastique!’
We left the glorious sunshine and returned to a grey, wet Britain; we have already asked Club La Costa to book us in for next year. This excellent resort in this little corner of Bordeaux is one of France’s great unsung secrets, so ‘ssshhh…,’ please don’t print this………….
Martin Kenric Davis
Being a larger than average family with eight children, our holidays had been fairly restricted to Camping and Caravanning in the UK, apart from a mass exodus to Disneyland, Florida - then we discovered timeshare 10 years ago.
Our first experience was Lanzarote where we were very impressed with the standard of accommodation and facilities on the resort. Our son had also selected a holiday off the Internet in the locality at the same time, and spent most of his time with us as his hotel standards were verging on the unacceptable. Friends were also staying in the area but on the seventh floor of a large hotel, which with small children to watch over made life difficult. Fortunately, our timeshares are invariably one or two storey.
Since then our holidays in Europe have been spent in the Canary Islands, Spain, the Balearics, France, Austria, Greece, Corfu, Cyprus, England, Wales and Scotland - providing not only ourselves but children, grandchildren and friends with a wealth of experiences and memories.
Over the years, we have never failed to be impressed by the high standards maintained at all our resorts, the friendliness and helpfulness of the staff and the facilities provided on site. If we have had a request for an activity, which is not readily available, everyone pulls the stops out to find a local provider.
As we invariably travel with small grandchildren it is essential to find resorts with a high level of security and safety, child amenities and activities. We have found that the quality of both the pool staff and the Mini-club personnel are second to none at all resorts, and we can relax knowing that they are in safe hands.
There is always a restaurant on site, which caters for all tastes and appetites - one wants for nothing.
There is always an army of domestics working (it would appear round the clock) both internally and externally in maintaining the cleanliness of all the resorts. The resorts are always maintained to a high standard, and if something goes wrong or breaks, there is the perennial ‘man with a spanner’ on hand to fix or replace it.
The comforting thought is that wherever in the world one elects to holiday, these high standards will always be maintained.
By using the system of Special Offers, Late Bookings, Getaways, Cession weeks, Guest Certificates and all the other combinations available, it has been possible to extend our timeshare well above what had been originally purchased, and to share this with our children and grandchildren.
This year alone (2008), we have between us achieved three weeks in the UK, three weeks in Tenerife and four weeks in Corfu.
The latter holiday epitomises all that is advantageous about timeshare - having booked three apartments for two of our sons and their families and us on a 75% discount. The resort was part of a large water park with free entry to guests, and our apartments (nothing more than two-storeys high) overlooked an enormous wave pool. The apartments were furnished with all that one required to self-cater, although the resort offered all-inclusive rates for food and drink at an unbelievably low cost. The animation team were on duty all day providing amusement and activities for young and old alike, and continued through the evening with the Mini-Disco for the children and family entertainment. A member of staff was on duty 24 hours a day, and went out of their way to answer any requests. The resort also provided a free bus service to the town and also to the beach.
In conclusion, the discovery of timeshare has certainly been the best thing that has happened to us on the holiday front and has proved to be a worthwhile investment for our children and grandchildren.
