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travel
ITS a scenario every young family must face that first trip away with your toddler in tow. As a couple, hotel breaks are a treat. Aromantic couple of days, away from the hustle and bustle of work a chance to pamper yourself a bit. Throw a 16-month-old baby into the equation and its a whole different ball game. My wife Debbie and I decided to take the plunge with our daughter Grace recently as we headed for the Borders and The Tontine Hotel in Peebles. As much as we were excited about a change of scenery, there was a bit of apprehension as well. It was Graces first holiday and a load of questions swirled around our heads. Will she sleep in the hotel travel cot? How will she be eating in the hotel restaurant? What do we do at night after getting her to sleep? Those were the main concerns. Thankfully, Grace is really well behaved and her bubbly nature is a joy to behold. Shes barely been a problem since the day she was born. But you just never know how children will react in new surroundings. Also, you question how accommodating the hotel will be. And how will the other guests react to having a wee girl running about the place? Well, Im delighted to say we neednt have worried about the Tontine. On its website, it boasts of being one of the most child-friendly hotels in Scotland. Now, thats not to say it has acrche or a soft-play on site. Far from it. Its a classy, traditionally Scottish, old-fashioned hotel. But, as any parent will tell you, its not about that. Far more important than that is an understanding of the needs you have. From the moment we arrived

Daily Record Saturday, May 18, 2013

Flying from Glasgow, August 17, seven nights on the Costa Del Sol, at the three-star La Fonda Apartments. Self-catering from 385 per person. Flying from Glasgow, June 22, 14 nights in Majorca, at the three-star Europa Apts. S/C from 1399 for family of three.

Late deals

Flying from Glasgow, June 8, 14 nights in Benidorm, atthe three-star Mont Park. Half-board from 499 per person. For these and other deals, visit www.barrheadtravel.co.uk or call 0141 222 2223.

nnHOTEL Child-friendly and relaxing atmosphere

nnTOWN Everything a tourist could possible desire

JJCELEBRATION Caroline and Billy enjoy a romantic break

Borders break is just childs play

By Scott McDermott
s.mcdermott@dailyrecord.co.uk

at the Tontine, the staff couldnt have been more helpful. Anything we needed for Grace wasnt a problem for them. When we suggested having dinner in the laid-back bistro restaurant, as opposed to the more elegant Adam Room just in case the wee one got a bit over-zealous with her macaroni cheese they said no, we were welcome wherever we wanted to eat. Graces high-chair was already set up atthe dinner table and the waitresses quickly took to her, even giving her sometoys to play with while she waited for her food. Our room on the first floor was spacious, with a huge double bed, a cotfor Grace, flat-screen TV and big bathroom with shower. If youve never visited Peebles, you should have a day out there. Even the blizzard conditions couldntspoil it for us and there was plenty to fill our day. The Busy Bees soft-play was ideal for Graces age group and she was able to have fun while Debbie and I enjoyed a rare moment of solitude and some tea. The Tontine is right in the middle of the High Street in Peebles so everything is within walking distance, including theswimming baths, where we took Grace on our second day and she loved every minute of it. Overall, wed made the perfect choice for Graces first wee holiday.

Scott and family stayed courtesy

Factfile:

nnGETAWAY Peebles was the perfect destination for young family

of The Tontine Hotel, the fourth largest hotel in the Borders, and you can visit their website at www.tontinehotel.com

The historic resort of Taormina in Sicily has plenty of star quality and is the perfect place to unwind

THE most famous son of Sicily, Don Vito Corleone was described in The Godfather byhis consigliere, Tom Hagan, as a man who demands to hearbad news immediately.

By Billy Paterson
reporters@dailyrecord.co.uk somewhere that has attracted such a stellar cast, the anticipation is that the cost of a bevvy and a meal would be astronomical not so. In a restaurant called La Mirage, just off the narrow, winding shopping street the Corso Umberto, you can have a pizza for less than 10euros and a glass of potent winefor three. The view from the table on the balcony where we were basking inthe sun after leaving Siberian conditions in Scotland was priceless. The miracle is that while wandering through the shopping heaven with my dearest the place is crammed with boutiques, art galleries, jewellery shops, everything but a bookies and an off-licence I didnt spontaneously combust. In June, the main square in Taormina hosts a film festival, which in the past has been attended by Audrey Hepburn, Gregory Peck, Robert De Niro and Colin Firth. OK, enough of the name-dropping

The good news is there is no bad news to report from the island, which lies south-west of the boot of Italy. My wife Caroline and I celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary in the Villa Angela Hotel owned by Simple Minds frontman Jim Kerr which is located high above the Ionian Sea in the idyllic resort of Taormina. Don Vito Corleone, Jim Kerr if you think the name-dropping has gone far enough, you aint heard nothing yet. For instance, in the Piazza IX Aprilewe enjoyed a drink in the Wunderbar, where in 1968 during one of their more spectacular spats Richard Burton and Liz Taylor chucked plates at each other. Former patrons of the same venue include Greta Garbo and Ernest Hemingway. When you are describing