* Competition time * WIN an overnight stay in Manchester’s coolest Aparthotel!

‘Somewhere over the RAINBOW, skies are BLUE’  …… hmmm, I bet when Judy Garland sang this whilst playing Dorothy in ‘The Wizard of Oz’, a trendy city centre aparthotel in Manchester was furthest from her mind but for the owners who dared to dream the dream, their dreams really did come true and Blue Rainbow Aparthotel was born!

Blue Rainbow Aparthotel is situated in Manchester city centre where Deansgate meets Castlefield.  They are away from hustle and bustle yet less than a 5 minute walk from bars, restaurants and shops.  Their location also means that when you stay here you’re  less than a 10 minute, clear traffic drive to the MEN Arena, Old Trafford Football Stadium and the Etihad Stadium.  It’s in this area, where the creative minds of design studios and architects practices sit and so it’s a natural fit that the apartments themselves would have such style and design at the heart of what they do, whilst the staff treat their customers as family and it is good northern hospitality and service that matters!

Blue Rainbow Aparthotel have successfully grown to be one of Manchester’s most popular ‘serviced aparthotel’ concepts because it gives you as the customer just what you’re looking for; affordable standards of a 5 star luxury hotel yet with the space and convenience of an apartment, or a home-from-home and you’ll just want to keep coming back again and again!

Blue Rainbow offer a series of one and two bedroom apartments; perfect for one, two, three or four people to share comfortably, easily and with plenty of space so you’re not on top of one another because even friends need space from each other when you’re away on a business trip or for a weekend away.  Having one or two separate bedrooms in an aparthotel  means that you can share cost, share the apartment, the living room and the kitchen but have your own bedroom space – the perfect solution to great value!   But it’s not just about the space, it’s about living the lifestyle too in a stunning apartment designed to the highest spec with top of the range furnishings and stylish colour schemes.  The advantage of these apartments over other forms of accommodation, mean that you have your separate bedroom space, away from the kitchen and lounge area, meaning you can relax in comfort and not have to sit on your bed to watch your favourite programmes or on demand movies on your  42″ TV whilst away from home.

The Apartments in Manchester come in 3 categories.

1 and 2 bedroom Saver Apartments, located on the lower 1st and 2nd floors – perfect if you’re looking for short stay and don’t need the full luxury of a Premium or Executive apartments.  You still get 5 star service and quality with all that home-from-home comfort, spacious designer living and top of the range kitchens.  The only difference is that the Saver Apartments don’t have the extras such as the branded Bathrobes and Welcome Packs – but you still get the essentials like a selection of teas and coffee along with real milk so you can still relax and make the perfect hot drink!

The Executive Apartments are situated across six floors and overlook the beautiful indoor Japanese garden, they are all equally as spacious and available in both 1 and 2 bedroom apartments.

All Executive apartments come complete with a fantastic welcome bag which includes goodies like chocolates, biscuits, some cereals and juices plus you also get luxurious bath robes on request and a great selection of coffees and teas.  They are the ultimate in luxury and are finished off to the highest standard, with beautiful bedrooms, fantastic kitchens and a real homely feeling.

Premium Apartments are extra-special and on the top floor of the building with spectacular views across the city to give you that ultimate penthouse experience! Again available in one or two bedrooms and you’ll adore the luxurious Italian walls, modern plush furniture and fully fitted kitchens designed by Poggen Pohl. Each Premium apartment is unique in style and design and guarantee a fantastic experience that more than rivals the 5 star luxury hotels in Manchester.  You’ll also receive the generous welcome bag with cereals, orange juice, biscuits, finished off with exclusive Blue Rainbow Apartments chocolates.

And it doesn’t stop there – you’ll also enjoy use of luxurious fluffy branded bathrobes, as much tea and coffee as you can drink and the stunning bathrooms have fabulous toiletries from Elemis all complimentary, of course!

And so to win a complimentary night’s stay in Manchester to sample one of the apartments, courtesy of Blue Rainbow Aparthotel all you have to do is login to Facebook and firstly become a fan of Blue Rainbow Aparthotel and then go onto theEngland Hotel Experts Facebook page, like it and post your answer to the following question.

‘Somewhere over the Rainbow’ is Dorothy’s signature tune from  ‘The Wizard of Oz’ …. Can you name the actresswho plays the current Dorothy playing in the West End stage production at the London Palladium, her hometown by birth and the solo song that she sang in the final to win the part on the BBC reality TV show ‘Over The Rainbow’?

The competition will close at 6pm on Friday 18th November and the winner announced on Monday 21st November 2011!

** prize is subject to availability and must be taken before 31st May 2012. (exclusion dates may apply due to key sports or musical events in Manchester) **

Before entering to win the prize, you must read the Terms and Conditions governing this competition.  When you enter the competition, you will be deemed to have accepted and agreed to these Terms and Conditions

If you don’t win, don’t worry, you can still enjoy a stay at Blue Rainbow Aparthotel, Manchester and make a great saving of 10% when you stay 2 nights, 30% when you stay 3 nights and 40% when you stay 4 nights! AND don’t forget to check out Blue Rainbow Aparthotel in Edinburgh too, for your stay north of the border and similar great savings!!

Win a luxury break in Jersey, including flights and lots more!!

You cannot miss the opportunity to win this fantastic prize!! The wonderful people at the 5* Grand Jersey Hotel in Saint Helier are offering you a brilliant Jersey break. They will fly you from Gatwick Airport to Jersey where a luxury transfer to the hotel awaits you, enjoy 2 nights in one of the sea facing bedroom suites plus dinner in the Michelin Star restaurant on one of the nights and also a one hour facial or massage in their award winning spa! Too good to be true? Certainly not!

The 5* Grand Jersey Hotel & Spa is located right on the seafront overlooking the beautiful St Aubins Bay and just a short walk away you will find a variety of bars, restaurants and shops in the centre of Saint Helier. The hotel itself offers the ultimate in comfort and glamour though a combination of sophisticated restaurants, an exclusive, atmospheric Champagne Lounge and the luxurious, award winning Spa.

So we are offering you lovely people out there the opportunity to win a magnificent prize!

The details are as follows:

 **2 nights’ accommodation with breakfast in the 5* Grand Jersey Hotel & Spa, including 2 x economy return flights from London Gatwick to Saint Helier Jersey, luxury return airport transfers, a la carte dinner for 2 on 1 night of your stay in the Michelin Star restaurant Tassili including a glass of champagne each and a one hour facial or massage per person per stay**

So, what do we need to do to win I hear you say………

All you have to do is login to Facebook and firstly become a fan of the Grand Jersey Hotel & Spa and then go onto the England Hotel Experts Facebook page, like it and post your answer to the following question.

“If you won this prize which part of the island of Jersey would you most like to discover and why?”

The competition will close at 5pm on Friday 11th November and the winner announced on Monday 14th November!

Good Luck! And don’t forget to become a fan!

** prize is subject to availability and must be taken before 29th March 2012 excluding 23rd December – 2nd January & 10th – 18th February 2012. 2 x economy return flights only depart from Gatwick to Jersey.

Before entering to win the prize, you must read the Terms and Conditions governing this competition.  When you enter the competition, you will be deemed to have accepted and agreed to these Terms and Conditions

It’s Competition Time!!!! Be pampered in 4 Star Luxury courtesy of the amazing Middlethorpe Hall & Spa in York!

Do we have a competition for you today, this prize is something which dreams are made of. How often do you get to spend 2 nights in one of the most wonderful Country Hotels in a deluxe suite located in the C18th Courtyard, pamper yourself in their Spa with an exclusive Decléor ‘Orange Blossom Garden Ritual’ treatment, dine like a king or queen in their award winning restaurant and have morning tea served right to your Suite. Not often enough I hear you say! (I know that is what I am saying!).

The Middlethorpe Hall & Spa Hotel in York is part of the prestigious National Trust with all profits donated to the charity and stands in 20 acres of manicured gardens, just on the edge of York. Consistently rates as No. 1 on Trip Advisor, this hotel is a marvel to the eyes. As you set foot into the grand hall, you are immediately engulfed by a sense of calm and tranquility and you find yourself asking the receptionist if you can stay forever. 

Middlethorpe Hall is a William and Mary country house, built in 1699 of mellow red brick with limestone dressings, for Thomas Barlow, a master cutler from Sheffield. It was bought in the 1980s and reopened as a luxury hotel, Restaurant and Spa in 1984, rescued from decay, caringly and lovingly restored by Historic House Hotels. In September 2008, Middlethorpe Hall and the other two Historic House Hotels became the inalienable property of the National Trust by donation, with all profits benefiting the houses and the charity.

The restoration, conservation and conversion into a country house hotel has been carried out to exacting and historically accurate standards. It has been elegantly decorated in the manner of the 18th Century and furnished with antiques and fine paintings, so that its look and ambiance is that of a well-kept, well-furnished private manor house rather than a 29 bedroom Hotel (ten rooms and suites in the house, and nineteen in the adjacent 18th Century courtyard).

Renowned for its Luxurious Spa, as part of this prize, you can sample the delights it offers along with world class dining in the paneled dining rooms which overlook the manicured gardens. Dining really is a taste sensation and the restaurant has been awarded two Rosettes by the Automobile Association.

After you’ve relaxed and soaked up the heady delights of the Hotel and Gardens, why not venture out to York, just a stone’s throw away. York is the quintessential English City with cobbled streets running through the famous Shambles, architectural delights at every turn, history oozing from its very roots with the jaw dropping York Minster and the old City Walls which run around the city and of course, don’t forget the shopping, well, this will not disappoint from quaint independent boutiques to department stores.

All in all, a weekend to be cherished with memories to last a lifetime.

Here is a Summary of the Competition prize:

• Two nights accommodation in a deluxe suite located in the C18th Courtyard
• Early morning tea served in the suite, each morning
• Full Yorkshire breakfast each morning
• Three-course dinner in our ‘award-winning’ restaurant on one evening
• Two exclusive Decléor ‘Orange Blossom Garden Ritual’ treatments (85 minutes each)
• Use of the Middlethorpe Spa facilities;
• Overnight parking.

The above prize is valid until 30^th April 2012, subject to availability from Sunday to Thursday and excludes Bank Holidays and half term. It cannot be exchanged for a cash value.

So, let me enter I hear you cry, firstly you need to follow this link and LIKE the Middlethorpe Hall & Spa’s facebook page, once done return to the blog and like our England Hotel Experts facebook page and answer the following question:

The Middlethorpe Hall & Spa in York is a haven of luxury and relaxation, if you were to win, what would be the first thing you would do on arrival at the hotel to relax?

Entries stay open until 5pm on Friday 04th November and the winner will be announced on Monday 07th November, so, what are you waiting for, get finger to keyboard and start writing. Only the best one will win. Good Luck!

Before entering to win the prize, you must read the Terms and Conditions governing this competition.  When you enter the competition, you will be deemed to have accepted and agreed to these.