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How many Joneses does it take to fill the Millennium Center's main hall? Wales is calling all Joneses to help break the Guinness world record for the largest same surname gathering and 1,600 is the number organizers of "Jones, Jones, Jones"
are hoping for, to break the current record of 583 held by the Norbergs
of Sweden. Several famous Joneses are expected on stage as well, as
part of a variety program of entertainment. |
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For
a winter vacation in Wales, options are plentiful: luxuriate in a spa,
take the family on an activity-packed break to one of our three
National Parks, or just relax by a log fire in a cozy Welsh cottage.
Towns and cities buzz with events and festivals,
while walkers can explore the hills of the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia
or the views along the Pembrokeshire Coast. One of my favorites is the
walk along the coastal path to the village of Porthgain in North
Pembrokeshire. Time it right to finish up with a leisurely pub lunch at
the 18th century Sloop Inn. Or pop into the Bell Inn
in Skenfrith, just named Michelin "Pub of the Year" for Britain and
Ireland. To help make your planning even easier we've added a new "Places to Stay" section to our website.
We're
a friendly lot in Wales, so come spend the holiday or post-holiday
season with us. A winter visit to Wales may be just what you need.
Claire Goold
Wales Marketing USA
Visit Wales
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| Winter
- when brisk mountain hikes or strolls by the seashore are great fun,
and when the capital city of Cardiff buzzes with activity - is a
spectacular time to visit Wales. It is also the perfect season to check
into one of our spa hotels for a holiday that includes a lot of
pampering. We know how to do that well. After all, Wales has been
offering year-round spa holidays for more than 200 years. |
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In
the 18th century, visiting a spa meant socializing, "taking the waters"
or drinking from springs believed to have healing properties, and as
readers of Jane Austen know, looking for a spouse. The spa tradition
continued, and many new, lavish spa hotels opened during the Victorian
era. Over time, the focus shifted away from matchmaking and mineral
water toward rest and rejuvenation. In the 21st century, the spa boom
continues, with luxurious spa hotels now pampering guests in every
corner of Wales.
The choices are abundant. You may opt for the St. David's Hotel, a contemporary hotel in Cardiff where evenings can be spent at the theater or in lively clubs. Another possibility is the St. Brides Hotel overlooking the sea and offering special marine treatments. Our newest five-star hotel, the Quay Hotel,
comes complete with such exotic extras as a traditional Turkish hamam
and a Thai massage suite. Romantic country house hotel spas also offer
luxurious dining and are perfect picks for your anniversary or
Valentine's Day. Day spa guests are always welcome as well, giving you
the option to rent a cottage nearby and drive over for a spa treatment
or a gourmet dinner.
Click to read on . . .> |
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| Are
you Welsh? You might be, even if you don't think so. About 1.7 million
Americans consider themselves 'Welsh American,' but the actual number
with some Welsh blood (folks like Hillary Clinton, Bo Derek and Abraham
Lincoln) is much higher. Thus it's no surprise that many families
tracing their roots are finding their way to Wales - and turning their
research into full, family-affair vacations. |
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Of
course you don't have to be a Jones, or the least bit Welsh, to make a
memorable family vacation or reunion in Wales - and winter is a great
time to go. It gets wet at times, but temperatures (at 40�F on average,
milder on the coasts) are a bit warmer than Santa Fe's. Plus, places
like Cardiff embrace the cold with outdoor events as if the sun shines
all year.
Also, self-catering trips are perfect for families looking to base themselves in one place,
like fully-stocked cottages or a castle hotel on the coast; most
discounted in winter. You can make trips by foot, car, bus or train by
day, then all cozy up to your fireplace by night.
Click to read on . . .> |
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All
four of my Welsh grandparents emigrated to the Los Angeles area in the
early 1900s. One grandfather, upon retiring, returned 45 years later.
He kept a diary and a snapshot book of his three-month visit home.
Forty years later my wife and I, and another couple did a genealogy
trip to England, Scotland and Wales. With four birth certificates and
using my grandfather's diary and snapshot book, in 12 hours I found all
four of my grandparents' families and many Welsh cousins and friends.
Since then we've taken all of our children, their spouses and several
friends to visit Wales. Truly, home is where the heart is...and that's
Wales.
Steve J. |
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I
like to get together groups of friends and relatives for trips
overseas, so last year I got 14 to agree to a trip to Wales. We had
done England, France, Scotland and Ireland previously. Well, believe
me, we discovered that Wales was, in our opinion, best of all! The
Welsh people were so welcoming and lovely and the scenery was so
spectacular! We all loved it and we hope to come back again! What a
wonderful surprise it was to find out about this treasure of the UK. I
cannot wait to come back and show Wales to my husband!
Carol M.
Do
you have a story to share about your visit to Wales? We'd love to hear
it. And if it shows up in a future issue of Croeso we'll send you a $25
gift certificate as a token of our appreciation.
Tell us your story. |
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- Cardiff's Winter Wonderland embraces the outdoors with skating rinks, food stands and lit-up rides (through January 7).
- Llanwrtyd Wells hosts the quirky Saturnalia Wobble/Ramble, a Roman day of fun with group hikes and mountain biking (January 13 & 14).
- Wales' three national parks are open all year. Set on the southwest coast, the Pembrokeshire National Park features a 186-mile path that passes castles, cliffs and beaches. Northeast of Cardiff, Brecon Beacons National Park and North Wales' Snowdonia National Park are mountainous parks with great hiking trails and steam-engine train rides.
- Wales is famous for singing and our National Opera singers are world reknowned. The Wales Millennium Centre is hosting a number of their performances that are well worth attending.
- For more, check our updated events page.
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Who
says gift-giving stops with the holidays? Some of Wales' best deals all
year fall in the first three months, with hotels, spas and golf courses
dropping their rates from 20 to 60%. Set in the Pembrokeshire hills, the Clydey Cottages
are fully modernized, 18th-century farm cottages, with 20% discounts
through March. Splash around the new indoor heated pool or read a novel
to the crackle of the fire in your two-floor cottage.
Located in a 17th-century castle in a valley near Brecon Beacons National Park (a couple of hours north of Cardiff), Llangoed Hall
drops the rates for its spacious double rooms (with poster beds and
comfortable armchairs) to �99 from January 2 through March 10.
If being pampered in a spa is your idea of a perfect day, try either of these two classy spots offering winter breaks. St Brides Hotel,
a contemporary seaside resort in Pembrokeshire, gives a free
three-course meal or a 25-minute spa treatment on your second night. Tre-Ysgawen Hall,
a lushly Victorian spa hotel in North Wales' Anglesey, throws in a
half-hour spa treatment and dinner any night you stay, plus it's 60%
off a third night if you stay over Sunday.
Did You Know: Bach Travel offers a daytrip from Cardiff to castles, mines and ironworks.
Travel Tip: US citizens don't need a visa to travel to Wales or anywhere in Britain. If you're not a US citizen, check the latest visa requirements for the UK before leaving on your trip.
photo � britainonview/Rod Edwards 2006 |
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| Focus on the fabulous natural beauty of Wales . . . capture family memories that will last a lifetime . . .
and do it all with our grand prize, a great digital camera! In
addition, two lucky contest entrants will win one of our first prizes,
a spa basket created specially for our readers by Pur, a Welsh company that specializes in natural and organic, chemical-free skin care products. |
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Just answer the following question and you'll automatically be entered for a chance to win:
When do you plan to visit Wales?
Click here to answer.
View the official rules for complete details.
There's no wrong answer, but you must be a Croeso! subscriber to enter. Subscribe now, and you will be automatically entered in the sweepstakes!
CONGRATULATIONS TO Keridwen C.
of Scottsdale AZ, the Grand prize winner in our "Bring the Gardens
Home" sweepstakes. Keridwen dedicated a tulip tree to a loved one in
our National Botanic Garden. We also congratulate Patti N., Joseph A., and Amy K., who each won two exquisite coffee table books on the gardens of Wales. |
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