If you’re looking for a relaxing weekend break, a few nights at a spa hotel can really recharge your batteries. Discover a world of relaxation and indulgence at Europe’s top luxury spa hotels, from award-winning afternoon teas to exotic treatments.

Here’s the low-down on the best spots for a massage that the continent has to offer…

1. Berkeley Hotel, London, UK

Contemporary elegance is the best way to describe the beautiful Berkeley in Knightsbridge. Escape the pressures (and pollution) of the big smoke with a relaxing rooftop swim beneath the stars or one of the infamous Pret-a-Portea afternoon teas. What could be more relaxing than haute-design treats, such as Chanel lime cakes and Christian Dior pink chocolate biscuits? The legendary hotel is also top of the list for treatments; soothe yourself with a delicious LaStone massage or traditional Balinese therapies.

2. Canbonastre Wine Resort Hotel, Masquefa, Spain

This divine wine resort in Spain is a masterpiece of indulgence - great Mediterranean food, fine wines, luxurious Lanvin accessories and the excellent Acuba Spa. Alongside the myriad treatments, there’s a pool, sauna and steam room to enjoy. There’s also a ‘wine therapy’ programme to ensure your total relaxation.

3. Capri Palace Hotel and Spa, Capri, Italy

Capri is the destination for glitz and glamour. A firm favourite with the stars, it’s easy to see why this island pulls in the crowds year after year. The hotel takes uber-chic to a new level, but the spa is still the real gem here. It’s the kind of place where you can book a vascular stimulation treatment and a simple mud wrap all in one day. The pool scene is fabulous, too - enjoy the views of celebs sunning themselves, and the cliffs and sparkling seas beyond.

4. Lucknam Park Hotel, Colerne, UK

Another exceptional spa in England, the Lucknam Park near Bath lies in the Wiltshire countryside. It’s a romantic hideaway of serenity and calm and the spa is a brand new multi-million pound extension to the manor house. Enjoy the hydrotherapy pools, long list of treatments and body-moulded heated beds - and if you get hungry, there’s a smart, contemporary brasserie on hand for a snack or two.

5. Alchymist Grand Hotel and Spa, Prague, Czech Republic

Further afield in the Czech Republic, this gorgeous neo-Baroque boutique hotel is located in the centre of Prague. The Alchymist has certainly never heard of minimalism; downstairs in the spa, the style switches to neo-Bali for the extensive health club facilities. Top of the list is the Jacuzzi lit by chandeliers.

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Known to sailors and yachtsmen for some of the most beautiful waters in the world, the British Virgin Islands are a wonderful place to relax and enjoy nature at its best. And Virgin Gorda has some of the best hotels in the British Virgin Islands.

The island isn’t big by any standard, but it does have several interesting sights. There’s a great 30-minute hike up Virgin Gorda Peak, where you’ll be rewarded with great views of the neighboring islands. Copper Mine Point, whose ruins are from the 19th century, will be of interest to history buffs. And the collection of big boulders known as the Baths is Virgin Gorda’s top attraction. The rocks form a series of pools and grottoes that are as inviting as they are photogenic.

Getting to Virgin Gorda hotels is all part of the fun. Many of them are only accessible by private launch or water taxi.

Luxury Virgin Gorda hotels.

Biras Creek Resort is the only member of the Relais & Chateau group in the BVIs. So you know the food is good. And the rate includes three meals a day. If you like to check in and never leave, you’ll love it here. The property is on a 140-peninsula, so there’s water everywhere. On one side, there’s a turquoise lagoon that’s wonderful for snorkeling, swimming, or sailing. On another, there’s a white-sand beach. The 31 suites have private patios, ocean-view verandahs, and garden showers. You can explore the peninsula with the resort’s complimentary bikes or take out one of the Boston Whalers. There’s also a fitness center and nice, al-fresco bar. Brias Creek is one of the most romantic Virgin Gorda hotels.

Water sports are the order of the day at the Bitter End Yacht Club. Kayaks, windsurfers, and sailboats are included in the daily room rate, so there’s no excuse for not getting out on the water. If you want to go a little deeper, fishing, SCUBA diving, and snorkeling trips are also available. On land, there are a variety of accommodations including beach-front villas and suites, There’s even a private house. With three restaurants, a pub, a bakery, and a couple of bars that are popular with visiting yachtsmen, there are plenty of diversions. To get here, take the private ferry from the Beef Island Airport. Once you’re here, you’re here, but there’s plenty of action at the marina.

Founded by Laurance Rockefeller in 1964, Rosewood Little Dix Bay has a spectacular location on a half-mile strand of beach. It was the first luxury resort on Virgin Gorda and it has a loyal following who won’t stay anywhere else. You can walk to Spanish Town for shopping or dining, or take the water taxi to nearby beaches. Most of the rooms, suites, and villas here have ocean views. Or you can stay in one of the charming tree-house cottages. With tennis clinics, sailing lessons, kayaks, and nightly movies, there’s plenty to do. And the Sugar Mill Restaurant is one of the best on Virgin Gorda.

Affordable Virgin Gorda hotels.

One of the best value hotels in Virgin Gorda, Leverick Bay Resort & Marina has rooms and suites available. With complete kitchens and wraparound terraces, the suites are the best deal because you won’t have to eat all your meals out. The on-site restaurant and grocery are especially convenient. And the adjoining marina has plenty of water sports options available. The beach here isn’t great, but there are some good beaches not far away.

Nail Bay Resort has access to three beautiful beaches and a wide range of accommodations. You can rent anything from a studio to a four-bedroom villa with a private pool. The pool-side bar is popular and there’s a restaurant. Nail Bay also provides good value for money.

Virgin Gorda vacation rentals.

The eight ocean-view villas that make up Mango Bay Resort are some of the best value vacation rentals in Virgin Gorda. Studio, 1 and 2-bedroom suites and villas are available, For true indulgence, get one with a private pool. There’s a good Italian restaurant a couple minutes walk away. And package deals including a rental car and some spa treatments are an even better deal.

If you’re traveling with several other couples, and all of you have deep pockets, Katitche Point is the perfect Virgin Gorda vacation rental. The entire 5-bedroom villa rents for $13,700 - $22,300 depending on your exact dates. But you do get a lot for your money, including a full staff, an infinity pool, and private ocean-view terraces for each bedroom. The views are unforgettable, and the staff specializing in pampering guests. Occasionally, individual accommodations are available, but it’s more fun with friends.

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Car insurance costs are based on several factors and the underwriting rules of different companies. One of those factors is sometimes gender. It turns out that young women may often get a lower rate than young men.

First, it’s important to understand that one of the driving forces behind auto insurance rates is the likelihood of having to pay a claim. This is “risk” and the more risk an insurer sees in an individual, the higher the rate will be. Some companies may not even insure certain individuals based on risk.

Now lots of things can affect risk, such as the type of car (think speedy MGB versus a Volvo), the age of the driver (teens are less experienced and are typically involved in more accidents), the amount of driving you do (commuting to work 20 miles every day creates a greater chance of involvement in a collision versus driving only to church on Sundays) and more. All of this is based on statistics.

As it turns out, statistics also show that young women tend to get into fewer and less costly accidents than young men. This may be because younger males are often more aggressive drivers. It’s also suggested that males break more traffic laws. Whether this is always true or not, auto insurance companies are taking notice and will often rate a younger female driver lower than a younger male.

So how do you make sure you’re getting the lowest car insurance cost? Of course, you should keep an impeccable driving record. And whether you’re a man or a woman, one of the easiest ways to save on auto insurance costs is to shop around. This is because each insurer has different underwriting and rates could vary quite a bit from company to company. It’s recommended that you get at least three different quotes for comparison. An insurance comparison Web site is one convenient way to get several comparison quotes in one location.

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Most people nowadays are aiming for options and alternatives to save their hard-earned money as much as possible. With all the needs and wants of our families we find it hard to make ends meet so we peruse all the possible ways so we can save money.

When it comes to car insurance policies, one way of saving is to get cheap insurance policies having extensive coverage options. To be able to get a cheaper policy rate you need to do some research and list down all the premiums you find.

Do a comparison of the rates that you find because this will allow you to find an optimum deal where you can get lower quotes to save even more money. Other important tips and tricks on getting affordable car insurance plans are found in this article so be sure to remember them when shopping for one.

One important specification for car insurance companies is the theft-proof ability of your car. To get lower premium rates from insurance providers then you get your car theft deterrents such as good auto alarm systems, remote lock systems and immobilizers. If you car poses less risk then the insurance provider will give your lower premium rate prices.

Purchasing a lock for your steering wheel as well as tracking equipment will help and parking the car off road will cut the cost as well.

An individuals age may also influence the premium cost. Higher insurance premiums are mostly given to younger car owners. If you belong in this age bracket, then search for an insurance company that offers services specifically to your age group so you can take advantage of more competitive prices.

If you are a young driver you can save money on car insurance plans by taking advanced lessons. Fast and large cars mean higher car insurance premiums so avoid a flashy sports car if you want to save money.

Cheap auto insurance deals are also available for women as more and more companies consider giving women drivers their own special insurance programs. They have found that female drivers claim less than men and most of them drive more carefully.

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The internet is the fastest way nowadays to get an insurance quote. Technology has given people the privilege to have instant and convenient information at the tip of their fingers. Several good deals on cheap auto insurance are available online. All you have to do is to look into the right places to get the best answers.

No more waiting for insurance quotes. Getting the information on the internet gets the job done in half the time. This speeds up transactions and is quite beneficial to anyone who is always on the go. On the other hand, some people still prefer to speak with an agent, the old fashioned way to get a more personal customized approach. The problem with this is you pay more.

The internet provides prompt efficient service conducive to people who prefer to stay in their houses to do their work. Due to various search engines available online one gets hundreds of search results of different kinds of quotes from several websites in an instant. However most people usually count on the top ten search results as viable and feasible information and rarely go on to check the rest of the results pages.

For people who are patient enough to search through every results page and persistent enough to check each website, one can truly find a gem. Don’t forget to get a comparison of the best insurance quotes and watch out for scams and illegal stuff.

There is quicker way than this though and it can save you hours. Use a comparison site that compares all the top insurers.

When looking for quotes online most websites will ask for specific information about your car and some other personal stuff. If you’re patient enough to go through all this then getting affordable, low-priced car insurance for you car will not take you long.

However some websites usually take time in handing out insurance quotes or tell you to call an agent. This is a ploy to charge you more and another reason to use a comparison site.

Studies show that insurance rates amount to $2300 for every car in America. Most surveys suggest that searching for car insurance rates on the internet will save you money.

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