SPECIAL SEARCHES – this is what people have been asking about ...

REQUEST:
I would love to combine sea/sun and an intensive glass fusing/slumping course. I'd like to spend two weeks learning as much as I can and getting lots of practice. Any time of year, any warm country. Mary S – Essex, England

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
This was a tricky one! Most of the courses and workshops we've found are weekends or 2/3 day short courses, all be it in countries such as Spain and Italy where you stand a good chance of getting the sunshine you're after. There are one or two longer courses and we'd urge you to consider some of those in the US too. The ones that would seem to get closest to your requirements are Kaiser-Lee, who offer week-long 'Fun in the sun' glass fusing workshops in Florida, and Seaview Art Glass in California who are offering a five-day advanced workshop in September.
[Please go to our glass courses section for more details and links.]

REQUEST:
We need a solo parent holiday break in London. I'm a single mum with no car and a limited budget but I'd love to find a way to take my son (aged 8) away to London for a few days, he's got a list of places he wants to go to including the Science Museum, Natural History Museum, London Eye and Madame Tussauds – any ideas for a trip that will not break the bank? supermum – Bristol, England

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
To get up to London we suggest getting yourself a National Express 'Family 1 plus 1' card (£8 p.a.) – with that 1 adult pays full fare and 1 child travels for free; and you'll also have the card for other trips throughout the year.
    For accommodation we suggest booking B&B in a YHA family room, they have a number of London hostels with affordable family rooms so pick one closest to the places you want to visit and aim to walk to the attractions to save on tube/bus fares. Get yourself a copy of the AtoZ and with a bit of pre-planning you'll discover that you don't have to travel everywhere by tube or bus – make the walk into part of the adventure, for example build in a walk across Hyde Park (great place for picnics, playgrounds and 'The Lookout' children's wildlife centre), along the Embankment (with all of its famous landmarks) or down Oxford or Regent Street (try this site for an excellent guide to the shops including the location of the famous Hamleys toy shop).
    As for the attractions, our tip is to book in advance and save on entry fees. The two museums are free (but charge for special exhibitions). London Eye and Madame Tussauds charge entry fees, but both offer 10% discounts for advance booking online. And finally check out Free London Listings for free or cheap events.
[Please go to our single parent holidays section for more details and links.]

REQUEST:
I would love to do Route66 on a Harley, I'm a single lady so would need group tour or someone with a bike licence and a sense of adventure. Madammim – London, England

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
Riding Route 66 is a truly special ride, a legendary journey on a legendary highway across the heartland of America, crossing three time zones and eight states – and it just has to be done on a Harley-Davidson!
    Several UK companies offer Route 66 guided group tours; Hemmingways, H-C Travel, MCi Tours and Greenways of England. In the US look at EagleRider, Renegade Tours Inc, Roadhouse 66, Quantrill Motorcycle Tours, and Ride and Fly Motorcycle Tours. And West Forever is an Australian company offering guided Route 66 tours and who offer to 'assist in finding you a room mate, to cut your costs if you are travelling alone'.
[Please go to our motorbike / motorcycling holidays section for more details and links.]

REQUEST:
Do you know of any passenger ships that sail directly from the UK to a Canadian port? My mother is not able to fly, due to suffering 3 heart attacks, but would love to come and visit us in Calgary. She has recovered very well and I would love to be able to find a way for her to come by sea. Everywhere so far just offers cruises, which involves flying! I need something shore to shore. Would be pleased to receive any advice or referrals. Many thanks. Dawn Peach – Calgary, Alberta, Canada

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
Cruise Direct offer a Crystal Cruise which departs from Dover and takes in Halifax, Nova Scotia, its final landfall is in New York but you could depart in Halifax by arrangement.
    Or why not suggest crossing as a passenger aboard a freighter? Maris Freighter & Specialty Cruises offer a Liverpool–Montreal crossing aboard a 16,000 ton German containership that takes up to 8 passengers; there would be none of the frills and entertainments she'd find on a cruise liner but the accommodation is comfortable and the price much lower!
    Failing that various cruise lines offer crossings between the UK (Southampton and Dover) and various US ports (New York, Boston, Fort Lauderdale etc.) which at least would get her on the right continent! Many of these stop in Nova Scotia too, Cruise Direct list a good selection.
[Please go to our ocean cruises section for more details and cruise links.]

REQUEST:
I'd like an all inclusive holiday in a location almost guaranteed to have warm, dry weather, anywhere in the world, to take an intensive (14/21 day) private pilots licence course (PPL)...can you suggest anywhere? Letchy – Channel Islands

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
Florida sounds like an ideal destination for this and we've three suggestions there: Ormond Beach Aviation which is owned and operated by a former British airline training captain and which seems to offer a very comprehensive deal on 21 day packages; Orlando Flight Training who also offer a 21 day all inclusive package; and Professional Flight Training who offer private pilot training with special rates on local accommodation (but courses are 4-6 weeks).
    In California Mazzei Flying Service offer 'Private Pilot Packages' with on site accommodation, but most are at least 5-6 weeks. Closer to home, Nearly Heaven, based in central France, offer approved JAR FCL PPL training in English, but you'll need to contract them direct for a suitable package.
[Please go to our light aircraft section for more details and links to the sites we've identified.]

REQUEST:
I would like to know if there are any Dutch Windmills that are available as accommodation? I'd like my daughters to experience real 'dutch'. Anthea – England, UK

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
We presume that you mean Dutch windmills in the Netherlands/Holland. One might think this would be easy, the place is full of windmills after all, but it has proved to be surprising difficult!
     Where they are in use, Dutch windmills tend to be converted to museums, often working museums, or occasionally to restaurants, rather than to holiday accommodation. We have found a few used as accommodation and these are now listed in our windmill section. Your best bets would probably be Molen Hunsingo B&B at Onderdendam or De Verrekijker, a self-catering windmill in Gelderland; or there is another B&B, Molen De Hoop in Zeeland. You'll also find we list quite a lot of windmill accommodation outside of the Netherlands!
[Please go to our windmill accommodation section for more details and links.]

REQUEST:
Please can you tell me if any of the companies or hotels you list offer whist drive holidays? (NOT bridge) My gran can't find any more companies that offer whist drive holidays in England, though SAGA used to. Can you help us?. Theresa – Shropshire, UK

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
Whist isn't anything like as easy to find as Bridge, but we persevered and have now updated the listings with a number of hotels offering whist breaks in the UK. Forestdale Hotels are a chain of 19 hotels in England offering Special Interest breaks that include whist (for example their Carrington House Hotel in Bournemouth has a number of short whist breaks), also in Bournemouth the Marsham Court Hotel caters for group bridge and whist holiday bookings. And the Burlington and Palm Court Hotels in Great Yarmouth also offer whist holidays
[Please go to our whist holidays section for more details and links.]

REQUEST:
A friend and I are looking for a quadbike trek over two days or more, with an over night stop some where, ideally in Scotland. Maybe with other activities as well, all searches pull small estates doing short 1-2hr treks, can you help please? Thanks. Jim – Scotland, UK

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
Many of the operators we list offer quad biking as one of several activities available during a weekend break or holiday, but the quad session is usually restricted to a few hours. We thought Scotland would be the ideal place to find such breaks, but so far haven't been able to locate anything. In fact we've only found one company within the UK which offers a true multi-day quad tour – TQRE Quadricycle Riding Experience, in North Wales offer quad biking holidays for anything from 2 to 6 days. On the other hand, if you were prepared to go abroad, multi-day quad bike holidays are available in Spain, Italy, South Africa, the USA and Canada.
[Please go to our karting / quad biking holidays section for more details and links.]

REQUEST:
We've just moved into a lovely old house, complete with a beautiful blue Aga. As I'm new to these types of cookers I'd love to learn how to use it properly, does anyone run cookery courses for Aga owners? Preferably in Northern England, thanks. Christina – Yorkshire, UK

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
We've researched this for you and there are a number of places offering specialist Aga cooking courses, take a look at: Ashes Barn in Cumbria, Bank Top Farm in Derbyshire, or further north there is Cast Iron Cooking based in Argyll & Bute, Scotland. Agas and other cast iron cookers do take a bit of getting used to, but once mastered they are great for cooking on – they look good and keep the kitchen cosy too, we hope you enjoy yours!
[Now please go to our cookery holidays and courses section for more details and links to the sites we've identified.]

REQUEST:
I would just love a holiday some where nice and warm with my family of four where they have dialysis on site, but I can't find anywhere or the prices. We would like too go to Spain or Greece, anywhere like that would be OK. I have been ill for three years and had to cancel my last holiday to start dialysis. Angela – Lancashire, UK

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
We recommend looking at what the British Kidney Patient Association has to offer, they have special special arrangements with hotels in Majorca and Crete and offer holiday advice to kidney patients and their families. They may even be able to offer some financial assistance.

REQUEST:
I'm trying to find a sumo wrestling experience (in mock sumo suits) as an activity to surprise a groom – ideally near Ilfracombe. Google tells me you may be able to point me in the right direction. Any leads much appreciated. Thanks. stevedavies – Cotswolds, UK

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
Google's right, we link to Freedom who offer mock sumo wrestling in hilarious sumo suits – just go and look at the crazy pictures on their website! Where else can you gain an instant 10 stones and shove your mates around to your hearts content? The only problem is that it's only offered in Reading I'm afraid. Down in Devon, Xtreme Inflatables, Bliss Bouncy Castles, and South West Sumo Hire may be able to help. And Jolly Jumpers, based in Somerset, not only offer sumo hire but also have other crazy inflatables like boxing with huge outsize inflatable gloves and human table football.
[Now please go to our stag weekends section for more details and links.]

REQUEST:
I am looking, for my 40th Birthday, to do a reindeer ride – I have heard that you can do this in Scotland. Can you help at all? I don't like flying so Scotland would be great! ZB – Devon, UK

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
Well we've found you the reindeer, there's a herd on Cairngorm, near Aviemore in Scotland – Britain's only herd – but I'm afraid you'll not be able take a ride. But we'd still encourage you to visit, having heard from a family who have just returned, so full of enthusiasm for the beasts. They are placid gentle animals and, under the supervision of trained guides, you'll be able to feed and stroke them. This BBC article describes one visitors feelings. Some of the reindeer do get out pulling sleighs, but that's usually at special Christmas events during November and December when they take on roles as Santa's helpers in locations all around the country.
[Visit the Cairngorm Reindeer Herd Web Site for more details.]

REQUEST:
I am looking for a chocolate weekend to take my sister on for her 50th birthday in England preferably either one or two nights where we can indulge. djel – Hertfordshire, UK

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
What a very tempting idea! We've expanded our chocolate holidays section now so you may find what you are after there. Hayley have some very tasty looking Chocoholics Weekends worth considering, while another contender is the Three Ways Hotel, home of the Pudding Club, where you can even stay in a chocolate themed bedroom. As it's a birthday treat you may also be interested to find that a Chocolate Gift Day can be bought as a gift voucher, offering a whole day just learning about and making chocolates!
[Please now go to the chocolate breaks section for more details and links.]

REQUEST:
Near Oakhampton in N. Devon, close to the end of the M5, there is an Occupational-Holiday center, we've heard of, that offers sports and crafts activities. I'm having trouble finding it. Can you bright people help us ? Thank you. sisters – N. Somerset, UK

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
We think we've found the place you're after – at least if it's not the same one it's certainly one that should be considered! The Manor House Hotel offers an impressive range of sports and craft activities and what's more many of these are offered free of charge to guests. There're located at Fowley Cross, near Okehampton and close to the Dartmoor National Park in Devon.
[Please go to pottery/ceramics in our arts and crafts section for more details and links.]

REQUEST:
Where can I find a simple golf weekend at a competitive price? There are 16 of us wishing to go to Bournemouth, stay at a particular hotel, play 3 rounds of golf, in September. I have had quotes but feel they are expensive, we go nearly every year but the guy who organises everything is no longer with us. Please help! jeffers – Herts, UK

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
We've a simple answer to this one, try Golfbreaks They can offer you a choice of 14 golf courses and at least 12 hotels so you can build a tailor made package to suit your needs. Take a look at their special offers too, at the time of writing they have packages starting at just £65 for a weekend (1 nights accommodation, 1 round of golf), £125 (2 nights, 2 rounds) and £145 (for 2 nights and 3 rounds) for example. And if you want to improve your game, one of the courses offers group golf tuition from just £7.50.
[Please go to our golfing breaks & golf holidays section for more details and links.]

REQUEST:
Are there intensive beginner's level residential ballet courses for one or two weeks? More or less anywhere in Western Europe – even London will do! RosH – London, UK

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
We've just revamped our dance section to make things easier to find and all the ballet dancing entries are now together on one page. Here you'll find a number of ballet links, mostly summer schools run by ballet companies. The Royal Academy of Dance looks a good bet and offers a range of summer schools (plus winter and Easter schools) across the UK and in various locations around the world – these are structured to include all abilities and ages.
[Please go to our ballet dancing holidays & courses section for more details and links.]

REQUEST:
I would like to go to an inexpensive Spa Weekend Break with my friend. Ideally an hour or 2 at the most from my home in Staines, Middlesex. Breakfast, lunch and dinner included as well as treatments. Hampshire sounds nice! Min – Staines, UK

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
Our recommendation is the Butlins Spa at Skegness – OK it's more than 2 hrs from Staines (the AA reckons 3 hrs), but is exceptionally good value at around £125 (including dinner, bed and breakfast) for a two night break! The spa offers state of the art facilities and the price includes 2 complimentary spa sessions and 1 free treatment. Treatments on offer include massage, stone therapy, Indian head massage, tanning sessions, manicures, pedicures and facials. The Spa includes a 25 metre pool, steam room, sauna, hydrotherapy pool and fitness suite.
     Also good value and closer to home Lastminute can fix you up with a stay at Champneys Springs, Leicestershire from around £190 for their weekend 'mini-break'; Henlow Grange, Bedfordshire at around £200, Forest Mere in Hampshire at around £220 and Champneys in Tring, Hertfordshire for around £260.
     If you want to cut costs remember that weekends tend to be more expensive, so if you can get away midweek you'll often benefit from keener prices.
[Please go to our spa and health farms section for more details and links.]

REQUEST:
I am looking for a painting holiday in Montana for a week whilst my husband is fishing preferably in the area between Missoula and Twin Bridges Hotbrush – Manchester, UK

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
We've two suggestions that seem to be able to cater for both the fishing and the painting, The Beartooth School of Art is based at a working guest ranch and offers activities such as horse riding, fly-fishing and hiking in addition to the Beartooth program of art classes. Accommodation can be taken at the 320 Ranch which offers all sorts of other amenities to make the holiday a complete package. Art in the Bitterroot offer a choice of painting workshops: 'Basic Composition' or 'Oils or Acrylics' as well as a sculpture workshop based around the anatomy of the horse – they can also can help with arranging fishing – these workshops don't appear to include accommodation although they do offer suitable local suggestions.
[Please go to our painting holidays section for more details and links.]

REQUEST:
Would you be able to help in finding a company that would run holidays in the Amazon region. Not necessarily to stay in first class accom but to really get a flavour of the region. Did a great trip to Borneo travelling from place to place by various means. A real adventure! golfer – London, UK

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
One company we'd recommend for this would be Footloose Adventure Travel, they tailor make trips to fit a clients exact requirements and specialise in areas like South America. We spoke to them and they said: "there are two ways of doing this – the upper Amazon can be reached from Peru or Ecuador, usually as a fly in for a few days to a jungle lodge. The lower Amazon can be visited by cruise boat starting from Belem and reaching Iquitos. There are many shore visits during the trip. It is not easily possible to do a tour (and we don't know of any company that does) because there is no transport infrastructure except logging roads etc. If you would like more information please contact us at Footloose and we'll be pleased to help"

REQUEST:
I need to organise a hen w/e for 20 ... I need an 'unusual' activity and some pampering. Can you help? Anywhere on the South Coast of UK? Anonymous – London, UK

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
We'd really recommend taking a look at Freedom because they can tailor make a hen weekend to your exact specifications and have a selection of really good unusual ideas. How about these to add to your pampering sessions: punting, ceramic painting, life drawing, indulge in chocolate, tobogganing, river cruisers, polo, a night at the dogs, wine tour, hovercraft driving, comedy club etc. etc? Unfortunately they don't have any locations on the south coast itself, but plenty in the south generally, so why not consider coming inland?
    However, if the coast is vital to you, it's also worth taking a look at Last Night of Freedom, Hen Haven and WOW Weekends who all offer south coast locations and can combine pampering and beauty sessions with a selection of activities.
[Now please go to our stag/hen section for more details and links]

REQUEST:
I am looking to go to Edinburgh in Scotland for a long weekend with my daughters aged 13/16. We need to find somewhere that is not going to break the bank account and have been unable to do so so far. Max to spend is approx £150-£200 for the three of us staying all together for 4 nights. Can you help? smiffy – Brighton, UK

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
This is a tough one because of your limited budget. Bearing in mind most B&B's start at around £30–£35 a night you'll not manage it by using hotels, B&Bs and guest houses – but have you thought about hostels? This might conjure up visions of rows of bunks in spartan conditions, but it needn't be like that these days. Many hostels offer private rooms and, while not to hotel standards, they are usually comfortably furnished. Hostels are frequently located very centrally too, something you are less likely to find with other cheap accommodation. It's also worth remembering that hostels don't just cater for 'youth' and are not just for 'backpackers', despite some of their names!
    We don't currently have a hostels section (although this query may spur us on to create one!) so as a start point try: City Centre Guesthouse and Hostel, Playfair House Hostel, Edinburgh Backpackers, Argyle-Backpackers, Budget Backpackers, Caledonian Backpackers, Westend Hostel, St Christopher's Edinburgh, and Highlander Backpacker Hostel.

REQUEST:
Where can I find a hotel in Benidorm that will reserve me and my husband a room that is suitable for a wheelchair dependent person who has to have kidney dialysis whilst on holiday? squeezyfrog – North Lincolnshire, UK

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
This is a tricky one and we haven't been able to find anything to fit your exact requirements, however we have found some sites you may find useful. In particular we recommend a look at globaldialysis.com which is a admirable attempt at listing dialysis friendly holidays and accommodation world wide; including some travel agent links (unfortunately we found that several of the links were out-of date and no longer worked). If you are determined to stick with Benidorm as your destination then your best best may be to find a wheelchair friendly hotel (try Lastminute.com for hotels with facilities for disabled people) and then look for independent dialysis centres – many of which are listed on globaldialysis.com.
     If you can be a bit more flexible with your destination then we were impressed with saludcare.com who run a number of holiday dialysis centres across Europe including Spain (Lanzarote, Ibiza and Fuerteventura).

REQUEST:
Where can I find a company that sells/organises package weekend trips to Rome (i.e. flights, hotel, theatre tickets) which include an opera evening as a present for my dad's 50th birthday? James Mortimer – Hertfordshire, UK

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
We suggest to try either JMB Travel or Holidays with Music, both now listed in our ballet and opera section.
[Now please go to the travel-quest 'ballet / opera' section for more details and links]

REQUEST:
I am single and would like to find a holiday where I can meet people in a similiar position for social fun and at the same time play golf regularly. I am mid forties with no ties. Can travel anytime and anywhere. briforgie – Scotland, UK

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
I think we have found you just the thing!Lastminute.com (go to Lessons & Sport) are offering "Golf Match – The singles society golfers club. Golf Match can help you find the perfect match. For new golfers, learners and experienced players. The concept is to bring single like-minded people together to play golf. This experience allows you to meet like-minded people in a fun, relaxed and social atmosphere..."
   Failing that we also recommend Golfbreaks for a huge range of golfing holidays. Although they don't offer specific 'singles' holidays you could try a golfing break which includes group tuition as a means of meeting other golfers as well as improving your own game. They offer a broad range of trips in the UK, Ireland, Europe and further afield; as well as other events, like their 'Summer Ball' weekend, 'St Andrews Golf Week' or 'The Scottish Golf Classics series', which are all excellent ways to meet like minded people.

REQUEST:
I am interested in your cycling and mountain bike holidays and adventures. I would like to know if it is possible to get a brochure on all your holidays offered. Gwyneth – Dyfed, Wales, UK

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
I am afraid we are an on-line directory and do not run cycling holidays ourselves, but there are heaps of companies offering both cycle touring and mountain biking holidays in our cycling section.

REQUEST:
Do you run any Somme & Ypres tours for school groups. I'm interested in prices incl. museums for a group of approx 40 pupils 2 or 3 days from Essex. Would this include guides? School presentation? Many thanks. DC – Essex, UK

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
Our recommendation would be to contact Battlefield Tours who have been organising tours to this area for school groups for a number of years.

REQUEST:
I am planning a team building weekend for 12 people, Sat/Sun, with a budget of only 150.00 per person. We have discussed as a group, that we would like to explore the possibilities of: adventure activity weekend, a cooking weekend, murder mystery weekend and perhaps a working farm weekend. The focus is on having fun and team building, hopefully within a two to three hour drive away from Swindon, Wiltshire. Jason – Wiltshire, UK

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
Our recommendations are to take a look in our team building/management courses section at what Karibuni have to offer; they have weekends on offer in your price range and, if you have a ready made group, can tailor a weekend for you. There are several other possibilities listed on that page too, from serious survival courses to places where you can just have a brilliant time trying out loads of different activities. For murder mystery try our murder mystery section and cooking weekends are covered in our cookery section. Also worth a look is the stag and hen section – don't be put off by the fact that yours is not a stag weekend, many of these companies will be happy to organise a group weekend for you anyway and are experienced in a diverse range of activities.

REQUEST:
My daughter and I have heard that you can go on Llama treking weekend breaks on the south downs. This is something we would love to do but I am unable to find out any information about this type of break can you help? Many thanks. Sharon – Tunbridge Wells, Kent, UK

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
These beautiful, doe-eyed beasts are ideal pack animals for trekking, although be aware that they only carry your bags, not your person! Llama trekking has been very popular in America for some time; not only in the South, where the animals originate, but also in the Unites States. However, until recently, there has not been much on offer in the UK – but things are changing and we have tracked down several companies that can offer day and weekend llama trekking – spread throughout the country. Wellington Lodge Llamas come highly recommended, they were one of the first places to set up and offer Llama trekking in North Yorkshire, a beautiful part of the country. But we've also found Llama trekking in Cumbria and Northants; and closest to you is UK Llamas in Dorset.

I must admit to having a soft spot for Llamas myself so I just had to reply (Ed.).
[Now please go to the travel-quest 'trekking with animals' pages for more details and links]

REQUEST:
I have a few days in Bangkok in November and wanted options for a Thai cookery course of one to three days and their prices, please. Kate B. – Netherlands

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
We suggest you look at the Educational Travel Center in Bangkok ($180 per person with a single occupancy supplement of $36 at the time of writing). Also try Thai House 2 who offer daily or weekly classes that might fit around your travel plans; these people are used by some of the bigger tour operators, but you would get more flexibility (and probably a better price!) by booking direct (the price is quoted at 1,500 Baht per person, per class, per day).
[Now please go to the travel-quest cookery pages for more details and links]

REQUEST:
I would like to go on a murder evening at a hotel (one night) and stay over. This is for my mothers 50th birthday. We would like a hotel in Surrey – Guildford/Dorking area? Hope you can help!? Chelsea Girl – Surrey, UK

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
Take a look at The Killing Game who are based in Surrey and run events in the area, or alternatively try The Murder Mystery Meals Company who also have events in Surrey – they offer attractive gift vouchers too, which might be useful as it a birthday gift. However both these are offering full weekends rather than just an evening so perhaps your best best would be to go with Jarvis Hotels who offer both one night and two night deals. They have a one night deal in an beautiful 19th century oak beamed, building in Guilford for just £67.50 per person at the time of writing.
[Now please go to the travel-quest murder mystery pages for more details and links]

REQUEST:
I'm fascinated by the crop circles you get over in England in the summer. Does anyone run tours to see them? Ava – New Jersey, USA

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
We've created some new sections to cover this; take a look at 'crop circles' and 'sacred sites'. There are companies operating from both North America and the UK and most tours also take in some of the many ancient sacred sites that are to be found in the same areas as the crop circles – sites like Stonehenge, Avebury stone circle and the white horses and other figures that are cut into the hillsides in this part of the country.
    We had a fairly intricate crop circle in a field not more than a mile from the travel-quest office a couple of years ago, but there haven't been many close to us lately.

REQUEST:
Does anyone offer activity weekends/stag parties abroad? I.E. Prague, Amsterdam, Munich or anywhere in Belgium? Alex Kovacevic – London, UK

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
Indeed they do! A number of companies in the directory offer stag weekends leaving from the UK to overseas destinations. Great Weekends offer Spain, Germany, Ireland and Estonia; Last Night of Freedom has Germany, Holland and various locations in Spain; Senoir Stag specialise in Spanish destinations. Finally Stag Weekends seem to have the widest choice, offering all the above as well as Portugal, Budapest, Tallinn and Tenerife. Have a good weekend!
[Now please go to the travel-quest stag pages for more details and links]

REQUEST:
I would like some information on renting houses in Germany for a holiday for 3 weeks during the summer months of June and July. Christine – Lancashire, England

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
We recommend looking at the companies listed in the new travel-quest Blue Directory self-catering cottage section. In particular take a look at what holidaysrental have to offer in Germany.

REQUEST:
Hi, my friend would like to attend some bakery courses in England. She is crazy about cakes making. Where can I get her some information? Please help. Olivia – Hong Kong

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
Many of the cake making and baking courses available are either long term, single day or evening courses rather than holiday courses. Her best bet might be The Village Bakery based in the beautiful English Lake District. If she fancies some cake decorating she might be interested in Squires Kitchen's International School of Cake Decorating and Sugarcraft, and for somewhere different she could try St Martins Bakery on the Isles of Scilly some 30 miles south of the Cornish coastline.
[Now please go to our cookery section for more details and links]

REQUEST:
I would like information about a cottage break in Bath for four people. Many thanks. mb – N. Ireland

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
Great place to choose! We should know because it's where our office is and we love it here! There has to be a reason Bath is one of the most visited UK cities after London. Cottage accommodation is not so easy to come by in the city itself, hotels and B&Bs are more the norm.
     We suggest you try Cottages4you – as well as places in Bath they have cottages nearby in Claverton, handy for the Museum of American History (well worth a visit) and for the Kennet and Avon canal. Further out they also have places in Rode, Bradford-on-Avon and Marshfield, all old and attractive villages (we particularly like Bradford-on-Avon ourselves, with its frequent, easy rail link to Bath and some great little pubs – try the 'Dandy Lion' in the high street for good food and beer).
[Please try the new travel-quest Blue Directory for self-catering cottages and villas throughout the UK and the World.]

REQUEST:
I am finding it really hard to find details of any ex-lighthouses that offer B&B or HB accommodation in Southern England. Please could you help with my enquiry? Shelley Morris – Dorset, UK

TRAVEL-QUEST REPLY:
We don't have a section for this (yet!) but we can recommend a book: Lighthouse Accommodation: Britain and Worldwide by Joy Adcock. The lighthouses listed in this book cover, hostels, self-catering apartments, guest houses and hotels. Contact and booking details are included.
Lighthouse Accommodation: Britain and... Check price in GB£

UPDATE: We are now listing Lighthouse acommodation, take a look.

Read more Special Search queries in our Special Search Archive >>