Self Catering Holidays Devon & Cornwall Blog

Neil Simpkin, the recently appointed Marketing Director for Blue Chip Vacations was a telephone guest on Victoria Derbyshire's lunchtime radio show on Friday. The programme included an article on the possibility of a revival in the British tourism industry in 2009.

Neil highlighted the view that Brits are determined to hold onto their holiday in 2009, which is reflected in bookings which are well abead of 2008 levels. The changing exchange rate between the £ and the Euro had also led to a 200% increase in the number of enquiries from overseas, in particular from Germany, Belgium and Ireland.

The perception of UK holidays being expensive compared to the European equivalent was also dispelled by Neil, who revealed that like for like holidays in Europe are double and in some cases triple that of a UK break when the likes of flights, car hire and airport parking are considered.

Search for a self catering holiday in Devon and Cornwall.

To cope with the continual growth in demand for our luxury holiday properties, the bookings department have extended their opening hours as follows:

Monday - Friday: 9.00am to 8.00pm

Saturday: 10.00am to 6.00pm

Sunday: 10.00am to 4.00pm

Congratulations to Mrs Richmond-Pullen of Worcestershire who has the Blue Chip Vacations competition to have their holiday paid for.

All bookings made before January 1st 2009, for holidays to take place in 2009, were entered into a prize draw to have their stay paid for. The winner was drawn at random from all bookings made.

The winning stay was for a week at 23 Ocean 1 in Newquay, during June. Ocean 1 is a newly completed collection of 2 and 3 bedroome apartments on the Pentire Headland in Newquay, overlooking Fistral Beach. More about these holiday properties.

Torquay has earned its title as ‘Queen of the English Riviera'. A cosmopolitan, vibrant seaside town, Torquay's palm-lined promenades, beautiful harbour and marina and wealth of quality restaurants, shops and boutiques make it an ideal destination for a family holiday. There's also plenty to see and do in Torquay...

Living Coasts
Living Coasts offers visitors the chance to take a journey around the coastlines of the world without leaving Devon! With a fascinating variety of coastal creatures from penguins and seals to colourful puffins and sea ducks, Living Coasts gives you a chance to get close to some of the world's most elusive creatures. Underwater viewing areas enable you to see seals and diving birds in their element.

Agatha Christie
It's not just famous landmarks you can visit in Torquay. One of the town's most famous residents, Agatha Christie is one of the most successful crime writers ever. Tours of locations that inspired this extraordinary woman are available throughout the year, including the Grand Hotel, Princess Gardens and the Pavillion. The tours are a wonderful way to transport yourself back to another era.

Torre Abbey
Torre Abbey is the oldest building in Torquay and has a history spanning over 800 years. Once the most important abbey of its kind in England, visitors can now explore the most ancient parts of the building and could even encounter the abbey's most famous ghost, ‘The Spanish Lady'. Surrounded by beautiful gardens, the abbey is a fascinating place to visit, particularly for history buffs.

Newquay is considered to be one of the top tourist destinations in the UK, and has developed a rich and vibrant diversity of attractions to entertain visitors both young and old. Although perhaps best known for its outstanding beaches, Newquay offers much more than just sand, sea and surf. Here is a top ten of Newquay's attractions to keep you amused and entertained during your stay in this glorious part of the British Isles.

Fistral Beach
Fistral Beach is Newquay's premier attraction and the surfing capital of the UK. Its sandy beach is ideal for a family day out and the water is warmed by the Gulf Stream. Some of the top UK surfing schools are located here, but even if you only want to enjoy the magical sunsets to be seen from the stunning North Cornish coast, Fistral Beach is an ideal location.

Lappa Valley Steam Railway
Originally opened in 1849 as a mineral line from Newquay to East Wheal Rose, the Lappa Valley Steam Railway became part of the Great Western Railway's Newquay to Chacewater branch line. Offering a delightful ride on a narrow-guage steam train through stunning Cornish countryside, the railway is a must-see attraction for anyone enchanted by the age of steam.

Blue Reef Aquarium
The Blue Reef Aquarium gives visitors the chance to get close to some of the ocean's most spectacular inhabitants. The heart of the aquarium is a huge tank with an underwater walkway, where visitors can watch the sub-aqua ballet of marine life all around them. A fascinating day out for everyone.

Paignton is one of the premier destinations on the English Riviera, and is famous for its sandy beaches, warm waters and traditional seaside Promenade. Paignton has been a popular resort since Victorian times. The grand pier, built in 1879, is set in the middle of one of Torbay's best beaches and is within easy walking distance of the town centre, transport and parking facilities.

Paignton is one of many beaches on the English Riviera that carries the prestigious ‘Blue Flag' award, meaning that the beach is clean and the water unpolluted and safe to swim in. The beach is fronted by a long promenade, and the shallow water makes it ideal for paddling and swimming. Pedaloes and boats are available to charter and there is plenty of room for just stretching out and lazing in the sun. Because of its sheltered position on the south coast of Devon, Paignton enjoys a clement climate for much of the year making it an ideal beach holiday location for families.

Paignton has been a resort for over 160 years, and as such has a wide variety of accommodation available, from luxury hotels, self-catering apartments and homely B&B's. Because of the tight-knit layout of the town, nearly all the hotels and other accommodation are close to the beach, with many having panoramic sea views across the stunning bay. Prices range from the reasonable to the extravagant, depending on the facilities and star rating of the hotel.

For more independent visitors, there is plenty of self-catering accommodation available and the close proximity of the thriving town centre means provisions are easily available. However, if you fancy leaving the cooking to someone else for the evening, Paignton also boasts a wide range of restaurants, many specialising in seafood dishes. Brixham is only a few miles down the coast, which means you can be sure that the fish is as fresh as it can possibly be. Devon has a superb reputation for fresh produce, and many restaurateurs take great pride in sourcing as many of their ingredients locally.

Brixham is situated in the heart of the English Riviera and is regarded as one of the brightest jewels of the Devon coast. The town is still a working fishing port, with the largest fishing fleet in the UK. The catch is landed on the harbour and sold to top restaurants across the country. Because of its reliance on the sea for much of the town's income, Brixham is justifiably proud of its fishing industry, and this is reflected in some of the town's restaurants.

Brixham is small and clusters around its all-important harbour, making the atmosphere friendly and cozy. Winding lanes and pretty streets are lined with independent shops and boutiques, offering visitors a rich shopping experience. If you're staying in self-catering accommodation, Brixham offers you the very best of Devon's wide variety of local produce; from Devon Ruby Red beef to locally grown vegetables and of course, very fresh fish!

Because of its popularity with visitors from all over the world, Brixham has a wide range of places to stay, from luxury hotels to homely bed and breakfast accommodation. There are holiday camps for those who prefer to stay under canvas or in a caravan, with easy access to all the amenities on offer and the wonderful surrounding countryside to explore. Holiday cottages are available all year round, enabling your family to stay in a comfortable environment at a time that suits you.

The maritime theme continues with the attractions available in and around Brixham. The Golden Hind Museum Ship has been based in Brixham since 1963 and gives visitors a chance to experience life aboard Sir Francis Drake's famous ship. The ship is a full sized, accurate replica of the original Golden Hind and gives you a fascinating insight into life aboard a ship in the 16th century. The ship runs events and special entertainment for young and old alike, including the chance to rub shoulders with pirates and brigands!

With over 700km of coastline and 300 beaches, Cornwall is one of the most popular holiday destinations in the UK. The county caters particularly well for those looking for self-catering accommodation, with hundreds of cottages, barn conversions and town houses available all year round.

St Ives from the airSt Ives is considered to be one of the premier destinations in Cornwall. Its breathtaking setting and legendary special ‘light' have made the ancient fishing port a magnet for artists and craftspeople for centuries. But art isn't the only attraction to St Ives. Its location makes it a perfect base for exploring the beauty of south Cornwall, the Atlantic coast and the sandy beaches that surround the town. Cottages and town houses in St Ives provide a warm, homely atmosphere for self-catering holidays, and the amenities are plentiful and of superb quality. There are also plenty of activities to keep both young and old occupied - from a round of golf to surfing, walking, riding and diving. Although St Ives is still home to a small fishing fleet, many of the boats have now been replaced with pleasure boats, which can be chartered for a spot of deep-sea fishing or a gentle cruise around the coast.

The labyrinth of lanes give visitors the perfect chance to explore galleries, boutiques and shops selling locally made crafts, and delicatessens can provide the self-caterer with some of the choicest selections of local produce. If you fancy a break from cooking on your self-catering break, St Ives also plays host to some superb restaurants, all serving the very best in Cornish cuisine.

Padstow is located further up the north Cornish coast and is another fishing port with a long and diverse history. The home of smugglers and fishermen, it still holds on to traditions that go back to pre-Christian times. The May Day celebrations are famous, and visitors are welcome (although you have to be born and bred in Padstow to take part in the dancing). The picturesque village tumbles down the rolling hills to the port, where the fleet can still be seen bringing in the catch in the early morning. Padstow has a rich selection of self-catering accommodation, from small fisherman's cottages perfect for a romantic weekend break for two, to larger conversions for family or group holidays. The north Cornish coastline is dramatic and rocky, but there are sandy beaches for families to enjoy just along the coast.

On Monday myself, Caron, Alan & Brian the Blue Chip Travel Turtle dusted off our passports and set off for Saunton in North Devon.

We took a fairly unconventional route to Saunton, which included driving up the M5 to the Bridgwater junction, realising the error of our ways and driving 20 minutes back down the M5 to the junction which we should have turn off in the first place, signposted Barnstable.

Despite this slight misjudgement we were kept "entertained" by the BBC Radio 2 music quiz where Alan really came into his own and started to show his age.

After the Human Navigation System error and a spell of flirting with the low petrol warning light, we safely made it to Saunton Sands, which has been the setting for several famous productions including Robbie Williams Angel's music video. The beach itself is surely one of the best in the area, with 3 miles of flat golden sand located in front of the Braunton Borrows, which are a huge area of sand dunes. The beach benefits from good surf, making it a haven for longboarders, kite surfers and sailors. Even in Mid-December the beach seems to retain its popularity with the keen surfers who were prepared to enter the icy waters in the hope of catching a good wave.

Caron and I headed down to Kingsand and Cawsand for the day where we were meeting up with Des for a guided tour. Our first stop was at Katy's Cottage where a warm and cosywelcome awaits and you immediately feel at home with its wood burning stove you can imagine many hours sat curled up on the sofa in front of it reading your favourite book.

The next property on our tour was Westcroft, which has so many rooms to explore you don't know where to look first, throughout the property is pictures which can be purchased from the gallery which is next door. At the very top of Westcroft is bedroom four which is accessed up a small staircase but what a room when you reach the top.

Shell Cottage was our third property, which can be booked alongside Westcroft for a large party as it is accessed through the courtyard which also leads to the gallery. With its warm and cosy interior Shell Cottage is perfect for a winter break.

Property four was My View. The only word to describe this My View is WOW! Sitting in a prominent position overlooking Kingsands you have the most amazing views out to sea. My View has everything you could wish for in a property and more with a pool table, sauna, swimming pool and Jacuzzi. The whole property is finished to a very high standard with lights even switching on along the bath panel as you open the doors, you can even relax in the bath while watching your favourite soaps on the TV!