April 4, 2002 The Spring and Summer seasons stimulate the impulse to get-away and Hoverspeed's new edition travel guide, "Discovery", is packed with ideas and advice for day trips, short breaks or longer duration holidays for cross channel travellers. Places to visit, where to eat, stay and shop are the ingredients of any cross channel leisure break, and "Discovery" contains detailed information on the popular coastal towns of Calais, Dieppe, Ostend, and inland the Pas-de-Calais and Normandy regions of Northern France. Speciality shopping in Belgium is also featured in destinations such as Antwerp, Gent, Bruges and Brussels. A "Great New Holiday Ideas" section gives advice on different themed holidays with special interest breaks including kite-surfing, rail-biking, thalassotherapy, or seeking out overnight accommodation in converted castles or mills. Kite-surfing starts from £100 for a two day course - booked through the Dunkirk Tourist Office on 00 333 285 88510 or via www.surfeurs-volants.com. One of Belgium's most unusual days out is a journey by rail-bike along the Molignee Valley, one of the prettiest areas in the Ardennes region. For hire from just 14 euros, rail-bikes allow you to travel along several kilometres of disused railway track between Warnant and Maredsous, under your own pedal power. For more information call 00 32 82 69 90 79 or www.molignee.be If it's stress relief you need then you can do it French style with Thalassotherapy (Seawater Spa treatment) weekend packages in Le Touquet. With a choice between the 2 star Ibis or 3 star Novotel hotels, prices start from £340 (560 euros) for two people, for two nights, including room, breakfast, lunch or dinner and three treatments per day. Contact Thalassa Le Touquet on 00 333 21 09 86 00 or www.thalassa.com The new 2002 "Discovery" also contains a special four page section of Readers' Offers. These include free child entry tickets to Boulogne's Nausicaa Sea Experience Centre, Parc Asterix in Picardie, and special discounts in selected Calais, Dieppe and Ostend hotels. Exclusive to Hoverspeed customers, is the chance to enjoy a free aperitif maison (house aperitif), whilst enjoying the culinary delights available in 12 of the finest restaurants in the Pas-de-Calais area. The Toques d'Opale is a Calais Club of 12 quality restaurants, guaranteeing authentic cuisine, prepared by top chefs, using locally grown products. All restaurants also offer a special Toques d'Opale menu for 22 euros. "Discovery" is available on board Hoverspeed's fleet of high speed craft and at UK and Continental terminals. It is complimentary for all passengers travelling via the Dover-Calais, Dover-Ostend and Newhaven-Dieppe routes. Hoverspeed Seacats operate up to 15 return sailings daily between Dover and Calais and two return sailings daily from Dover to Ostend. The Newhaven-Dieppe seasonal route is operated by a Superseacat to 30 September, with up to three return sailings daily and a crossing time of just two hours. For travel information on Hoverspeed services, fares and reservations, contact Hoverspeed on 08705 240241 or www.hoverspeed.com - 2% discount when booking online.Press Release Media contact: Nick Stevens, Public Relations Manager Telephone: (01304) 865170 |