4 Sunday, January 27, 2013
GADGET
WE’VE been
of the shivering for
weeks in the
WEEK
Big Freeze but
this handy bit of
k i t has been great during
the snowy commute.
While it’s not exactly fash-
ion-fabulous, the ultra-cosy
MICROGRID MULTI is a very
nifty three-in-one idea.
Its grid fabric traps warm
air, making it perfect for
putting under the now obliga-
tory helmet on a ski slope.
Use it to cover the head,
neck and mouth or turn it into
a fleece hat or neck warmer.
Best of all, it’s just £22 from
outdoor specialists Rohan.
PURPLE TO ROCK
TOP OF MOUNTAIN
AIR guitars at the ready! Deep Powder may be the
usual mountain forecast but the ski slopes of Ischgl
will soon be echoing to the sound of Deep Purple.
The rockers, best known for Smoke On The Water,
headline the last concert of the Top Of The Mountain
festival at the Austrian resort on April 30. The lunch-
time gig at the Idalp arena is free with a local lift pass.
l THE ski industry has a bit of work to do if it’s
going to get us all out on the piste. A Tripadvisor
poll asked 13,000 people if they were going skiing –
66 per cent said not this year and they didn’t want to;
21 per cent said no but they’d like to; nine per cent
had one trip planned.
APP PLENTY of
intermediate
of the skiers get
WEEK stuck on the
skills plateau
but this How To Ski
app has sound advice on
how get off, clean up your
turns and push on to steeper
stuff with confidence.
While there’s no substitute
for skiing lessons, the tips
make good sense. And if you
get a mate to video you
coming down the piste, you
can compare your style with
the instructor.
This app is a sound invest-
ment for intermediate skiers.
Bitly.com/howtoski, £2.99.
IBIZA ISN’T
JUST FOR
CLUBBERS
MY last house party featured
balloons and musical chairs.
So going to Europe’s nightlife
capital felt like visiting another
planet. Would Ibiza cater for kids
and tired parents as well as wide-
eyed clubbers?
Though tiny, the island of Ibiza
has more than 80 beaches, so you
are always within striking distance
of the sea.
Our favourite beach was the mile-
long Playa de Ses Salines, a ten-
minute drive from Ibiza Town.
Its clear, calm and shallow waters
are perfect for young swimmers. It
has a sailing school, with pedalos
for hire, which helped distract our
teenage son from his new hobby of
spotting topless sunbathers.
Further north, Benirras beach and
Cala d’Hort are both lovely, with
excellent facilities, as is Cala Conta,
15 minutes’ drive from San Antonio.
So far, so chilled. But kids get
restless, even if mums and dads do
not, so we were soon off to the
Sirenis Aquagames water park in
Port des Torrent.
Harmony
Entry to the park is free for
guests at the Sirenis Seaview
Country Club and the Hotel Club
Aura next door. But those staying
elsewhere can buy a day pass that
also gets you lunch, snacks and
drinks, plus enough brownie points
with the kids to ensure harmony in
the family for several days.
There is a swimming area for kids
aged two to four, featuring animal
statues and water sprinklers, plus a
pirate-themed pool for kids of up to
ten with water jets, splash barrels
and slides.
And for daredevils, there are
towering water slides almost 40ft
high — revealingly named the
Aquaracer, the Kamikaze and the
Tornado. After a few races, we
ROYAL’S CUPCAKE TREAT
YOU can surf on some ships and ice
skate on others, but when it really
comes down to it, what do you want
from a cruise?
For most of us it is indulgence.
Which makes Royal Caribbean Cruise-
line’s latest refit all the more appealing.
Joining the ice rink, rock-climbing wall and £249 per person.
Vegas-style shows on Independence of the
Seas, is a cupcake cupboard, with freshly- Canaries and the Med. The ship will also call
baked treats on demand.
The £4.5million refurb also includes a new ish Mediterranean cruise. For details, see
nursery and giant outdoor cinema screen in royalcaribbean.co.uk or call 0844 493 2061.
found a shady spot to relax and let
the kids wear themselves out.
Away from the water, Ibiza’s
markets offer plenty of local colour.
The huge Punta Arabi is held on a
Wednesday outside Es Cana. As well
as the trinkets and tatty batik you
might expect, you can buy hand-
made jewellery, toys, children's
clothes and all sorts of arts and
crafts from its 500-plus stalls.
It opens at 10am. Get there early
to beat the crowds and the heat.
At the smaller Las Dalias market,
held on a Saturday at San Carlos,
our kids spent all of their holiday
pocket money in no time at all.
Your own money will go quickly,
too, if you are not careful. Local
supermarkets are not especially
cheap — and neither is eating out.
If you are eating on a budget, you
can stock up on basics at the big
Lidl in San Antonio, as we did.
Ibiza Town’s lively marina is great
for people-watching, while the
pretty fishing quarter of Sa Penya
is always buzzing.
Dalt Vila, the romantic old walled
town, has a more intimate feel. You
can find all sorts of restaurants and
time for summer. But the lure of
gourmet cupcakes is enough to get us
CRUISE on board. Add to that a new Italian
NEWS trattoria and it’s foodie heaven.
Independence will be based at
Southampton this year, arriving on May 2
and offers taster cruises to Le Havre from
Other itineraries will visit Norway, the
at Ibiza for the first time on its 14-night Span-
Sunday, January 27, 2013 5
WENDY MORRISON manages First in Palma. Close by is Santa Catalina, one
Choice and Thomson’s team of reps in of the best places to eat and drink.
Mallorca. She’s lived in Palma for 23 MUST TRY: An ensaimada – a type of
years and knows a thing or two about pastry with delicious fillings. In winter, try
what makes the city tick. She says . . . one with thick hot chocolate – or almond
START THE DAY: With coffee on the ice cream in summer.
terrace of the Bar Bosch in the Plaza MUST BUY: Avenida Jaime III is one of
Juan Carlos. Even if you’ve had break- our most fashionable streets. You’ll find
fast at your hotel, it’s worth coming here all the major designer shops here. Palma
for the atmosphere. It’s full of locals just market is every Saturday from 9am until
getting a quick espresso before work. 2pm along the main street, the Avenidas.
SEE THIS FIRST: Visitors always ask LOCALS DO: Take a stroll. At dusk,
about the cathedral. It’s the best place to you will see families and couples walking
start sightseeing but check the opening around the Paseo Maritimo seafront.
hours as it can close early at certain LOCALS DON’T: Have a mid-morning
times of the year. It’s next to the Palau de coffee. They normally have a small beer
L’Almudaina in the heart of the city. and “tapa”, leaving room for a big lunch!
BUT DON’T MISS THIS: Real Mallorca l Thomson has seven nights self-cater-
Football Stadium is another cathedral ing at the Protur Aparthotel in Bonaire,
altogether but I prefer the museums. Es Mallorca, from £209 per adult and from
Baluard is the modern art gallery and £186 per child. Depart Gatwick on
one of the most recognisable buildings March 1. See thomson.co.uk.
FUNKY TOWN . . . the
historic Dalt Vila district of
Ibiza. Below, the
Aquagames water park
offers thrills
bars there, but all were very welcom-
ing to children.
Near Santa Eulalia, the traditional
garden restaurant Cas Pages is hugely
popular with locals.
Get there before 8pm as they don’t
take bookings. By the time we left at
around 10pm, there were crowds at
the bar waiting to be served.
Massive
A meat-lover’s paradise, the rustic
food is priced reasonably and simple
enough for younger tastes. They don’t
accept cards, however, so take cash.
The Aura Ibiza combines dining
sophistication with Balearic beats. It
has a stunning garden and plays host
to top DJs later on. You must make
a reservation — and again, it is not
cheap. But if you arrive before
8.15pm, kids under 12 eat for free.
As we were leaving, members of
the British hip hop band Massive GO: IBIZA
Attack, who were playing there later
that night, sat down to eat. SEVEN nights’ all-inclusive at the 4H Sirenis
That was the closest we got to the Seaview Country Club in Port d’es Torrent, is from
island’s legendary club scene. £434 per adult and £225 per child, departing Gatwick
But Ibiza was every inch the family on May 15 (airtours.co.uk, 0844 871 6636). See ibiza.
chill-out zone we had hoped for. travel/en for a full range of day tours.
EMMA HEDGES
SEE CASTLE’S SECRETS
FANCY scaring the pants off the kids this have the chance to hunt for a shy ghost,
half-term? Then head to spooky Warwick explore a deadly bear’s lair and smell foul
Castle where four rooms are to be mediaeval sludge from February 16 – ideal
unlocked for the first time in centuries. for keeping boredom at bay during the half-
They’ve remained closed for generations term holidays.
but will now reveal secrets and stories from
A family of four (two adults, two children
400 years of the castle’s past. aged 4 to 11) can save more than £31 for
The four ancient rooms – Barbican Battle-
all-day entry before the end of March, plus
ments & Captain’s Room, a recently-
unearthed bear pit in Bear Tower, access to the Castle Dungeon and Merlin:
Watergate Room and The Guards’ Room in The Dragon Tower, all for £75.84.
Guy’s Tower – unlock defining chapters in Just book online at warwick-castle.com
the castle’s story to reveal tales of battle, up to seven days in advance of your visit,
murder, power and hauntings. Visitors will or call 0871 265 2000.