Plus announces the arrival of St Christopher's Inns

It's big, it rocks, it's St Christopher's Inns.We are proud to announce the latest additions to the Plus group of hostel accommodation. You are now able to book your bed in top quality backpacker accommodation with the St Christopher's group through our Plus website.
This great value budget chain has hostels in all the major European cities including 6 locations in London, hostels in Bath, Brighton, Newquay and Edinburgh. They have also set up excellent youth hostels on the continent including Amsterdam, Berlin (as of November 1st 2006 the Circus @ Rosa Luxembourg Str will be known as St Christopher's Berlin) and soon to open in 2007 the first all purpose built backpacker hostel in Paris.
The high standards of service, cleanliness, security and fun that all St Christopher's Inns provide reflect the same pride that Plus has in all its accommodation.
St Christopher's also have the ultimate in backpacker fun with their awesome Belushi's Bars, pubs and cafes.
Book your St Christopher's bed through the Pluspass and you automatically receive membership of the Beds'n'bars discount card for food and drink.
Live your life with St Christopher's and PLUS.

Plus welcomes Hatter's Hostels

We are taking off our hat to Hatter's hostels in Manchester. They are the latest hostels to become available to book on our Plus website.
Hatter's provide high quality budget accommodation in two locations in Manchester, firstly with the Hatter's Hostel, and the recently converted hotel Hatter's Hilton Chambers.
Both hostels offer comfortable dorms with ensuites, fully equipped guest kitchens, modern interiors, internet access and a warm Northern Quarter welcome as standard.
Ideally located in the centre of Manchester you are minutes away from the life and soul of the city.
Plus recognised these great quailities of Hatter's reflecting the same high standard we believe in for all budget hostels.
You can either book individual nights or prepay your accommodation with Hatter's through the Pluspass.

PLUS PRAGUE

It had to happen, and we've done it in Prague. What better place to locate our first brand new Plus Hostel than in Prague.
Plus Prague will be the largest hostel for backpackers with the best facilities and typically high standards you have come to expect when it opens in March 2007.
With over 500 beds on offer, from private twins to dorms of 4, 6 and 8, all spacious and designed with attention to the little things. Such as personal reading lights, extra room in the bathrooms, ensuite bathrooms for all dorms, guest kitchens on all floors and that's not all.
Our hostel will also contain a travel desk, supermarket, restaurant, latenight bar and DJ. Meanwhile downstairs you can expend some energy in the gym, swimming pool and spa. For the ladies we even offer an exclusive Plusgirls space, specifically designed with the independent female traveller in mind.
You get all of these great facilities, the same dedication to security, cleanliness and fun as with all of our accommodation providers at backpacker prices.
We look forward to seeing you there soon.

Mr Rocky comes to Tuscany

The thunder from down under, Mr 'Rocky' Park, the owner of Travel World Corporation in Korea came to visit the Plus Office last month. It was a great chance to catch up and find out what has been going on at Travel World lately.

Rocky was proud to show off his new edition of the Travel World Europe Guide which includes some of the Plus destinations in Italy and some extensive city guides. Many Travel World customers have already enjoyed staying at Plus Camping Alba D'Oro and Camping Roma.

Rocky was very happy to try the local specialties including the Chianti wine and the bistecca. He was also very impressed by the scenery and natural locations of our Florence and Tuscany campsites.

As he was reaching the end of a 2 month journey around Europe his last stop was in Rome, another good opportunity to catch up with the guys at Plus Camping Roma to see their latest developments.

We hope Rocky had a good flight home and we look forward to maybe seeing him again next year.

Another late night....

Italy is famous for it's festivals and traditions dating back to the dark ages. Figline Valdarno in the heart of Chianti is no exception. Tuesday night, 5th September was the grand finale of 4 days of festivities including a medieval pageant, medieval dinner in the town square, displays and the all important Palio. Not quite the same spectacle as the more famous one in Siena but pretty demanding none the less.
Riders representing the small localities around the south of Florence test their coordination, timing and horsemanship to collect as many rings dangling from a target as possible on the end of a lance.
The evening was not without its thrills as one rider got his lance impaled in the target while a second one lost his into the crowd. The competition had 3 representatives- Porta Senese, for those villages closest to the Siena border, Porta San Francesco around Regello and Porta D'Iva.
The overall winners were Porta Senese, the Ed's home turf, so we were chuffed to bits. Points were awarded for costume, portrayal of medieval life, skills, crafts and of course the number of rings. With 3 rings to 2 it was a clear winner.
The evening was rounded off with a spectacular fireworks display that no doubt echoed across the Arno valley.
Still keen to try out next years Siena palio though.

Ferragosto Fun!

The one day on the Italian calendar where everyone goes nuts! And the guys and girls at Plus Camping Girasole pulled out all the stops.
15th August 2006 and the bar and cafe was transformed into the Girasole Nursery for the night. Babes with bottles and bonnets handed out punch and watermelons while Eugene kept the crowd on their feet for hours.
Not to be outdone the restaurant staff of Il Girasole donned animal outfits and painted faces, while the gang at Lo Strettoio became Clan McNorcenni in their best Braveheart kilts and big hair.
Everyone got into the spirit of things making it an awesome night out.