Offenders will be fined up to €10,000 (£8,260), and tobacco advertising will also be prohibited under the measures.

Some 42% of Greeks over the age of 15 smoke, well above the European average of 29%. The campaign will include an advertising blitz and the distribution of anti-smoking board games to children.

The prime minister, George Papandreou, said: “It will contribute to the work we’re doing today that’s aimed at changing attitudes, norms and behaviour to improve our quality of life and to make our country viable – not just its economy but in everyday life.”

The Greek health ministry said the measures were needed after partial smoking bans over the last eight years were generally ignored. From today, offices and businesses will ban smoking and close popular smoking rooms. Those caught violating the new law will be fined between €50 and €500 and have their names recorded in an offenders’ database. Businesses will be fined between €500 and €10,000.

Martin Dockrell, of the anti-smoking campaign group Ash, said: “I would expect Greece to experience some of the greatest health benefits in Europe [from the ban] because it has such high smoking rates. If [smokers] can cope with sitting on a street corner in rainy London and windy Dublin, beautiful and sunny Greece shouldn’t pose much of a challenge.”

Greek bar and restaurant owners, who have already been hit by a recession and a shaky tourism season, said a dip in business could cost them their livelihood.

“Obviously, customers will not stay as long if they need to go outside for a smoke,” said Nikos Louvros, who owns a bar in central Athens. “I can’t understand why smokers and non-smokers can’t have their own areas. You can filter the air, and everyone would gets what suits them.”

Louvros was so angered by a previous attempt to impose a ban last year that he formed his own pro-smoking political party that received 1,500 votes in the 2009 national election. He plans to run again in local elections in November. “Maybe we’ll win the race for mayor of Athens,” he said. “Then, we’ll see what happens.”

ABTA is urging holidaymakers planning trips to the USA within the next two years to apply online for their ESTA before charges of $14 per person come in on 8 September.
 
By applying early a family of four will save $56, approximately £40, it said.
 
All passengers travelling under the Visa Waiver Program must have a valid ESTA to gain entry to the USA.
 
The US Government has introduced the charge to fund promotion of the USA and with on average four million visitors arriving in the USA from the UK, British visitors will contribute up to $56 million a year.
 
ABTA Head of Public Affairs Luke Pollard said: “We fully support the US Government’s wish to encourage people to visit their country. However charging visitors $14 each to fund this drive seems a rather odd way of doing so.
 
“Customers should go online to obtain their ESTA before 8 September to avoid the charge.” An ESTA is valid for two years. To apply for an ESTA go online to https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov

Fugitives Drift –v good lodge/hotel rooms in cottages round the garden, large, well furnished and comfortable with good views. Food was excellent and the staff attentive. Rob Caskey, who did our battlefield tours was very good. A real raconteur, with some interesting ideas about the battles based on discussions with the Zulus.

Singa Lodge –a good lodge hotel, on the sea front at Port Elizabeth. Interesting decor, well presented room (open plan bathroom!). They produced us a good meal despite our late arrival because of flight delays. Swimming pool a bit “green” but then they are in the middle of an acute water shortage.

Amakhala, Safari Lodge –another v good lodge hotel. The food was excellent and the cottages well fitted and comfortable with views over a local waterhole. The game drives were very good (and our ranger was marvellous). We saw lots of animals, some very close up. I even have photos of a leopard (I am not admitting that it was in a pen) and a civet. At the slightest suggestion I shall bore everyone with our pictures!

Hog Hollow Lodge –undoubtedly the best hotel, situated on the edge of a gorge with marvellous views. The rooms were spacious and comfortable and the food exceptional. Plettenberg has quite a lot to do (although we did not go far), the beaches were divine and the area would be quite a good location for a family holiday and the Hotel was child-friendly (baby-sitting service etc).

Franschoek –a delightful, if rather “manicured” little town.   The Akademie Guesthouse was super, large room, very comfortable, excellent breakfasts and free minibar! We spent a day in the town (and the restaurants are every bit as good as they claim) and visited Stellenbosch, older part interesting, on our way to Cape Town

Cape Town -4 Rosmead is very comfortable and the breakfasts good. The duty managers were most helpful. Reasonable local restaurants (and one really good one, the Aubergine, a short taxi ride away). We did Robben Island (a “must see” but not exactly enjoyable), Table Mountain, the V&A Waterfront, Green Market Square and the derive down to Cape Point. The “red” tour on the open-topped bus is well worthwhile.

The driving wasn’t the problem that I thought it might be. I read plenty of comments about SA’s bad drivers –I have seen much worse here. The expressways were super (and the traffic on them pretty light by our standards). Secondary roads in KwaZulu-Natal were usually potholed and the dirt roads take a bit of getting used to. Further south there were no real problems although all the journey times (culled, I suspect, from the accommodation websites) were significant underestimates (and we are not particularly slow drivers).   I would recommend breaking both the Johannesburg-Fugitives Drift (5½ hours specified, 7½ hours actual, including a lunch stop) and the Plettenberg Bay-Franschoek (about 6½ actual, admittedly on much easier roads) trips. The satnav was a godsend once we had got to Fugitives Drift (with which it could not cope).

 Similarly, we did not find security particularly difficult. Yes, everywhere is surrounded by high fences, often electrified, but we did not feel threatened at any time, even when we walked back from the local restaurant in Cape Town (all of 100 yards!). 
Altogether a really memorable holiday. Thank you so much for arranging it.

This prestigious award reflects Galley Bay’s continued commitment to customer satisfaction, genuine attention to detail and impeccable service. In today’s market and with such strong competition such a celebrated award is a tribute to the entire staff and management team at Galley Bay for a job well done.

Having visited the hotel myself I am very happy to endorse the award

Koh Phi Phi, a 1-2 hours by boat from Phuket is perhaps the most famous of the smaller islands, and has some of the most picturesque beaches in Thailand, including the one used in the filming of the film ‘The Beach’. The heart of Phi Phi is Tonsai Bay, which is a busy area for daytrippers, but the Zeavola is set on one of the quieter beaches on the North East coastline.

Koh Yao Noi is one of the least developed islands yet is only 45 minutes from Phuket by speedboat.  It also home to one of Thailands finest hotels… Six Senses Hideaway Koh Yao Noi. The island boasts simply breathtaking views of limestone rock formations protruding from the water and sunrise is a spectacle.  Taking some time to cycle through the small local villages and vegetation is a unique experience of an undeveloped Thai island.

Koh Lanta represents Koh Samui 25 years ago… A truly unspoilt paradise where laid back local life fuses with stunning beaches and clear waters.  In a group of 52 islands, the scenery is white sandy beaches, coral reefs, mangrove forest and inland areas of hills and forest.   Our choice for your stay is the Layana Resort & Spa which has the most beautiful beach front location with a backdrop of green hills.  The journey to Koh Lanta is around 45 minutes by road from Krabi and then around 1 hour by speed boat.

Koh Chang is much less developed, but has always been a favourite with locals. Lush and mountainous, the island is home to white sandy beaches and tropical forests, the perfect place for those seeking space to explore as well as the tranquility of an off the beaten track Thai island.
Our hotel choice is the Aiyapura Resort & Spa, beautiful Thai style villas and suites on a 40 acre beachfront  surrounded by green tropical gardens.  Koh Chang is reached by flying one hour from Bangkok to Trat then taking a 25 minute ferry ride to the island.
 
Koh Samet is a little gem, until recently preserved almost exclusively for backpackers and Bangkok residents due to its easy access (just a 2 hour drive south of Bangkok followed by a 15 minute speedboat ride).   At the Paradee you could almost be in the Maldives.  Thatched roof villas, all tastefully decorated set on a superb beach

We had a lovely time thank you.  Journey out was great as flight not even half full so we had about 10 seats between us.
The Chedi, Phuket was a great mix for us – quite smart buildings (although a tiny bit tired in places and quite a lot of rubbish under the houses) but just lovely staff and very informal.  I have to say they were probably the friendliest staff we have ever come across.  They just loved the children and were always coming up and chatting with them. The hotel was only about 30% full which meant there was lots of room by the pool and an almost empty beach.  The pool was great for the children as it was hexagonal with shallower bits all round the edge and only a very deep bit in the middle.  The only downside was that the water turned the children’s skin green and all our costumes went yellow and we couldn’t wash it out.  I did mention it to the hotel and they kindly laundered a couple of costumes which slightly improved them but they were basically ruined.  Very strange as they said there were no chemicals in the water.  Rooms weren’t quite as fantastic and the Rayavadee and the Banyan Tree but still very nice with nice view down to the sea.  We only had 75 steps from pool back up the hill but I imagine it would be a bit of an effort if you were way up hill.  Perfect location for us, though.
A few little nice touches…  They quite often gave the children free ice cream when we came home from dinner, along with cold flannels all round.  Plus there was constant free bottled water everywhere in the rooms and by the pool.  Also, the breakfast was fabulous.  Tons of choice and all really nicely done.
The beach was just beautiful.  After a few days the weather changed to the typical low seasons winds which means no boats and diving off the west coast for a few months as the waves were quite big (quite fun for children, though).  I have to say that we quite enjoyed the winds as it kept the temperature down a bit.  Weather was mixed (typical again, but they said it was quite early to be getting the rain) but we only had a handful of daytime heavy rain showers which didn’t really bother us and the sun still came out every day. 
The restaurant set up was just as we wanted – a five minute walk along the road to Surin Beach and a handful of restaurants (almost empty and many had closed down due to lack of people).  Much cheaper, delicious Thai food & beer.  There was one peculiarly trendy bar called Catch (linked to the Twin Palms hotel) which was rather like being in the south of France but it was a really smart mix of bar/restaurant/sun beds.  It looked great, though.
Patong was an easy £10 taxi ride but we tended to stay close by as children preferred it and it was cheaper and easier to head to Surin Beach.
All in all, exactly what we were looking for, so thank you very much. 

Rachel

Natural products of the island such as nutmeg and cinnamon oils and other organic products are used in all treatments which include Swedish massage, aromatherapy, reflexology, Reiki and Indian head massage, as well as a range of facial, manicures and pedicures.   All guests receive a complimentary half hour shoulder,head and neck massage