Cape Town set for landing
amazing range of shops to browse in the January sales. Three nights’ hire of six-berth May, from December 31 with Drifters Waterway Holidays, costs £845. It includes a damage waiver, cancellation protection, gas, full tank of diesel, car parking, tuition on arrival, buoyancy aids, bed linen and towels. Dogs are charged at £25. CONTACT: drifters.co.uk, 0844 984 0322. RINGING IN 2017: If you fancy seeing in the New Year by the sea, dive down to Devon with the family for a bracing break in Brixham.
Looking out over the bustling harbour, Fisherman’s Cottage, dating back to the 18th THOMAS Cook’s new winter sun route from Gatwick to Cape Town starts this month – and you can jet off from £669. Flights to the South A African city will operate threet timess a week until M March 2017.7. Fringed with century, retains many of its original features. Climb the 35 stone steps to its rooftop garden to watch the fireworks. For a great hangover cure, walk the coastal path, taking in pretty beaches and coves.
Five nights’ self-catering in the two-bedroom cottage, which sleeps four, costs from £802 (£200.50pp) arriving on December 30 through English Country Cottages, ref: HDDS. CONTACT: english-country-cottages.co.uk, 0345 268 0785. RINGING IN 2017: Bag a ringside seat to the capital’s celebrations and book a table at the London Marriott Hotel County Hall, in prime beaches and in the shadow ofTable Mountain, Cape Town is packed with stylish cafes and boutiques. Head east for the beautiful town of Stellenbosch, the perfect base to explore surrounding vineyards. Book at skyscanner.net. position near Westminster Bridge. The sumptuous gala dinner will be held in the party-loving Gillray’s Steakhouse and Bar (£360pp) or the more intimate Library Lounge (£260p).
On the five-course tasting menu, dishes include chicken and foie gras terrine, beef fillet or sea bass, followed by a hazelnut praline sponge or Gillray’s award-winning cheese board. Then listen to a live band while watching crowds swell along the South Bank. Get ready to raise a toast as Big Ben strikes midnight, signalling the start of the fireworks extravaganza.
And after the excitement, if you can’t face the hassle of getting home, an overnight stay in a double room starts at £300. CONTACT: londonmarriottcountyhall.co.uk, 020 7902 8000. always fancied visiting Cuba – what is Fidel Castro’s death going to mean for tourists? THERE has already been a big increase in the number of people looking into flights since his death. But the number of visitors was already on the up because of the thawing of relations with the US – there had been an 80 per cent increase in visitors this year. Prices haven’t gone through the roof yet. They might even go down because the number of flights to the Caribbean island has rocketed. There will be 110 scheduled flights every day from the US by the end of the year, which will have a knock– on effect. The one thing in short supply is quality accommodation, so do your research.