Smart Traveller

TimeOut London has teamed up with Optimum Releasing and Cuba50.org to celebrate the release of Stephen Soderburg’s new movie, “Che: Part One”, with a competition in which you could win a week’s trip to Cuba (flights and hotel accommodation included).

To enter the competition, simply visit the TimeOut London website and answer the question. Entries must be received by Sunday 18 January 2009.

In this part of our car hire holiday in the Lake Como area of Italy, we look at the route taking you from Varenna, on the east shore of the lake, to Domaso, on the west shore.

It will only take you about 35 minutes to drive to Domaso from Varenna in your hire car, but there are plenty of villages and towns that you can stop off at on the way, so you may want to allow a lot more time for your journey.

If you stop off in Bellano, for example, you can see the Romanesque-Gothic Church of San Nazario and San Celso, which was was constructed by Giovanni and Azzone Visconti. You can also visit the famous Orrido di Bellano (Bellano Gorge), which is a ten minute walk from the harbour.

You can also take a break from your hire car and visit the Abbey of Piona and the Montecchio North Fortress, both of which are near the town of Colico.

The Abbey of Piona was founded in 1138 by Cluniac monks, but was later taken over by the Cistercian order. You can explore the church, cloister and the Capitular Hall (where the monks confessed their sins).

The Montecchio North Fortress was constructed during the early twentieth century and used during World War I. You can still see its four cannons, together with other equipment used there.

In the next part of our series of articles about car hire holidays in the Lake Como area, we will be taking a look at the route from Domaso to Dongo.

E4 has launched a competition to celebrate the cinema release of the vampire film, Twilight, which is based on the teen supernatural romance novel by Stephenie Meyer.

The prize includes two return flights to New York and four nights’ accommodation at the Le Parker Meridien Hotel in central Manhattan. This 4-star hotel is located on West 57th Street, close to Central Park, Fifth Avenue and Broadway.

The prize also includes limousine transfers between the hotel and the airport, a shopping spree in Bloomingdales with $500 spending money each, a pampering session at the Elizabeth Arden Red Door Salon on Fifth Avenue, VIP entrance into the fashionable Cielo club and a helicopter flight over Manhattan.

To enter the competition, just answer the simple question on the E4 website. You must be aged over 18 to enter and your entry must be received by midnight on 27th December 2008.

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