VALLEY SOCIAL VALLEY TRAVEL gSJ^BjS \ r


and gentle sea breezes with the drizzly London I left earlier that morning. After a short drive from the airport, I was


A


reiaxing in the sun of Mexico's Riviera Maya at Thomson's latest five-star Sensatori Resort, nestled on beautiful Bahia Petempich Beach halfway between Cancun and Playa Del Carmen.


^3?=^UnpaGked.andrefr^hed,.J.eagejJy,tieaded^ ^^^he]igt^s'-ygjrt<sil6ui^^^^^ ■ stuck for choice'wftfi anWtensive nieriu of


' different mouth-watering flavours. "I recommend the mango," smiled the waiter. I nodded in agreement and


■ trusted the expert! Overlooking the Caribbean sea, the bar's roof terrace was a perfect start to most of our evenings before ’


i „ sampling the culinary delights of the five on- . site restaurants.


■;, . The Sensatori concept is part of the big • operators' answer to travellers who put together their own holidays online. The facilities are superb, but you only get in with a package bought from an operator.


t . It's certainly been carefully planned: the ■ - resort's 438 suites include air-conditioning,-


: i 32-inch plasma TVs, DVD players, hydro-jet , Jacuzzis, iPod docking stations and marble


' bathrooms with showers. ,


• There are 12 categories of room, including swim-up suites (allowing you to enter the pool


: / •' straight from your room), honeymoon ■ ■ . . , ; - balconies with views overlooking the sea, and ■ presidential suites.


r.. ; , Every age group is catered for, with lazing ; r L beds for couples, an adiilts-only pool with ; ; butler service^ a kids' area with day care, and ■ •


; even a teen hangout - a club with gaming - ; fc stations (Wii, Guitar Hero etc); internet cafe, ■ ' air hockey and a disco. ■ A kids’ programme for under-fives offers all


K. Kjj^activity areas: Still feeling jetlag, Jl took a .. •_.


- morning'stroll along the beach before' ' ‘


r ' day care and toy-lending, so visitors don't ;have to bring toys with them;The resort also’:; has a'kids'xiubroom with several different;;;';'


s clear waves lapped over my bare feet, I couldn't help comparing the luscious white sands, whispering paims


n© ©s O " : ■ an-hour. Si . . - .


MELANIE SMITH lives it up in Thomson's glorious new five-star Sensatori Resort.


breakfast in the hotel's Spoon restaurant, and the chance to sample some tortillas with Mexican cheese and epazote. Not quite your average cornflakes, perhaps,


but when in Rome... it was delicious, if a little odd for that time of the morning. A buffet, I which I sampled on other mornings, 'offered the usual cereals, exotic s, waffles, pastries, and omefeSesf^ttTps less adyentliroui Eager to


experience the


area, we headed to the : tghikinTHa zip line, jiist half-


IfofrfearbyPlaya del Carmen. ;;Our guide Riaz, half Mayan, half American,


was a fountain of knowledge with great stories about the area. Soon we were walking through the jungle.towards the natural waters of the Denotes (system of underground rivers). We grabbed snorkeis and masks to enter:


the water. Looking down, we could see gigantic rocks emerging from the depths - as well as the odd diver! Our adventure headed upwards to the jungle zip iines. Heights normally terrify me, but the beautiful scenery took over as I leapt off and sped down the line; I even went ba.ck for morel The trip was ■ j . , ■ finished off by some homemade food that we;;


; Key facts - Sensatori Resort, Riviera Maya, Mexico


'V Best for: A peaceful getaway for relaxation, or as a good base to seewhat • Mexico has to offer. Time to go: February to May. Don't miss: Gourmet inclusive


restaurants, excursions to Chichen Itza and snorkeiiing in Caribbean sea. > . ' ; Need to know: Adults-only section of


'y avoid disappointment.


hotel is perfect for couples, while resort also provides great family facilities. ■ Don't forget Book excursions early to


eagerly tucked into: bowls of stew and soup, with tortillas on the side. That evening, we visited the resort's adult-


[©SO


only restaurant, Le Chique, for a 14-course meal. It might sound a lot, but the gourmet dinner, accompanied by five specially-chosen wines, was served in spoonful portions - just enough to get the tastebuds going. From a creamy truffle croquette and silver


quail to a chocolate plate and fruity dessert, .every mouthful was an |experience.


jThe,hotej.catqr^fqiij


^all tastM.-We sampied.. Mtalian, Tapas, 'Caribbean and


Mexican, with the varied i


room-service.iTiepJralJiseful back-up when you're feelif5g*peckishT''7 Next day, we flew in a six-seater plane (not


so good on a full stomach, we found out later) over the jungle to, seethe Mayan ruins of :;


Chichen Itza. At around £245, it might sound extravagant; but it's worth the extra pennies.; WeTeached the-site at about 11 a.m., ahead


of the crowds. The stone pyramids are . fascinating,'and our guide explained the ; .


various buildings and the ancient Mayan ■ traditions. After buying a few souvenirs, we headed back towards the minibus to find ;; coach after coach arriving from the coastal ;: resorts following three-hour drives.; Our next stop, Playa del Carmen, was , ,


Travel facts


; Melanie Smith was a guest of Thomson - Holidays, which offers'seven nights' 24-hour Gourmet all-inclusive at the 5T Sensatori ; Resort in Mexico from £800 (two adults sharing), including return flights ex-Gatwick and transfers.


it ; ' Regional deps include Glasgow from £974 and Manchester from £884. Reservations: 0871235 3235 and


www.thomson.co.uk. For more information or to book, visit your local Thomson.or First Choice shop: www.thomson.co.uk or cal! • -


08712315595. - ; r “


Blllington and Langho Wl members Jean Littler, Charlotte Taylor, Maureen Lofthouse and Nora


Ashcroft. A110809/2e


originally a fishing port on the Riviera Maya. , Lined with restaurants and bars, it's popular ■ with families and couples alike, but it gets loud and busy within a five-minute walk from the quayside bars - which are definitely a place for people who prefer a big night out on the. dancefloor. ■ On our last day in the resort, we caught the


minibus and drove half-an-hour north to Cancun - famous for its numerous hotels and party scene - to enjoy the Jungle Tour. I climbed into a two-seater speedboat with


..one of myJrayel buddies..arLd,sj^,dacrossJhe_^^^^__ Caribbean, before taking the plunge with a " “T' snorkel to watch the beautiful fish on the Punta Nizuc Reef. Like a scene out of a James Bond film,


water sprayed into our faces as we twisted and turned through the mangroves. Although'-j^,.,.. slightly shocked after jumping straight inttfthe::.';:'; middle of a school of fish,.within second|livas5^^:, gliding along, watching tlie thousands • swimming below me.


-


. Backat the hotel, and feeling utterly, exhausted, I knew exactly how I was going to spend my last few hours in Mexico - relaxing! ■ Heading to the hotel's first-class spa, I


jumped at the chance of a herbal body scrub. I lay back, wrapping a heated cushion around


my neck. As 1 drifted off, I was gently woken - to be


■ pampered! I was covered head-to-toe in a herbal paste, before being instructed to


: shower, followed by a luxurious moisturising session. Forty minutes later, I was stress free and ready to hit the pool for the first time in our short stay at the Sensatori. . Using the Premier Section, we enjoyed a


poolside butler service - hourly sun-lotion top- up and drinks on tap. - After four days in this paradise, it was


difficult to tear ourselves away. The resort's location on the Riviera Maya is perfect, coupling an exotic beach setting with an opportunity to experience the real Mexico as well. If you want to experience the historical sights and natural beauty of the Yucatan .


; Peninsula, with the added bonus of pampering and iuxury, the Sensatori is definitely for you.


w lift


' Left picture: The Kukulcan Temple :: at Chicken Itza, Mexico.


- i ■" Main picture: Riviera Maya, Mexico ; '


v -Right picture: The swim-up pool and ! suites at the Sensatori Hotel, Bahia Petempich Beach, Mexico


Members of Edgeworth Wl. aii0809/2c


For information and n©ws onlinG 24 hours-o-doy, s©v©n doys-o-wsok visit our wGbsrf© www.clitheroeaidvertiser.cxi.uk


the Valley 17 16 the Valley Simon-


stone with Read Wl


members Marjorie Lawley, Linda


Sawley, Margaret


Taylor and Doris


A110809/2ag Moffatt BRBssseraeisiss


Knowle Green and Dutton Wl members Nell Roberts, Kate Akroyd, Margaret Bolton, Rita Farren, Edie Henshaw and Joan Powthwaite. Aii0809/2d


man or V A


VALLEY village Wl celebrated its golden anniversary.


Members of the Billington


and Langho institute were joined by more than 260 Wl members from 29 institutes across the county. Festivities for the branch's


50th anniversary took place at the Mytton Fold Hotel, Langho, where guests browsed round a variety of stalls and tried their luck on a fund-raising tombola where all the prizes were wrapped in gold paper. Founder members Mrs Ann


Foster and Mrs Nora Ashcroft, were joined at the event by


other dignitaries, including the Mayor of the Ribble Valley, Coun. Beverley Jones, Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans and LFWI Chairman Mrs Sally Roberts. During proceedings Mrs


Roberts presented a 50-year certificate to Billington and Langho Wl, as well as 50-year membership certificates to the institute's two founder members. President Mrs Lilian Hargreaves received a Wl president's brooch and an arrangement of gold roses from Wl members. The event's gold theme


continued with guest speaker


Mr Peter Taylor, of Langho. He described how he had become one of the main organisers of the Olympic gold medal winning British Cycling Team. Mr Taylor had taken along a pair of handlebars used by Chris Hoy, costing £15,000, a bicycle wheel worth £20,000 and an Olympic gold medal. He was thanked by Mrs Barbara Charlson for an interesting talk which had been warmly received by the audience. A "last night of the proms"


style sing-along ended the evening with accompaniment at the piano by Mr Richard Greaves.


Founder members Ann Foster and Nora


Ashcroft. A110809/2r


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