Don't forget the stag do or hen do will not run itself, if you are in charge of the weekend break better start planning

You all know the saying from your training courses, 'If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.." and believe me when you have 15 plus guys or girls all put together for a weekend of celebration and drinking then if not organised things can end up spoiling the weekend.

The main thing is it is all about him or her, what would they like to do on their last weekend of freedom?

Or in the case of some groups it is a case of just picking the stag up taking his bag of clothes off him and turning him into the groups gimp for the weekend. (This generally happens to stags as a pay back for past actions on similar weekends.)

On the whole though, there should be plenty of emails bouncing around suggesting locations, activities and places to stay. After much debate then the shortlist can be sent to all those that are going to vote and give thoughts on each.

 Hopefully then this will arm the organiser to start planning, booking and getting the monies in and deposits paid.

After everything above has been sorted then, the group leader should produce an itineray for the weekend so everyone knows what is going on and when they are expected to meet etc.

The best plans can fail if, the group have not been consulted fully and individuals needs taken into account, for example one of the group does not like heights or another can not swim. The main thing for the planners to keep at the forefront of the planning is "TEAM" weekend focusing on fun for all and in particular the stag or hen.

Good luck with your planning!

SURFGSD run surfing sessions, days and weekends for stag do and hen do here in Swansea and Newquay, Cornwall contact us for more information on group rates and ideas on places to stay

Swansea's beaches are top class says the Good Beach Guide 2013

The Good Beach Guide 2013 grants top award for water quality for 90% of beaches in Swansea.

Gower beaches

People across the planet must be running out of superlatives for Swansea's beautiful beaches.

For hot on the heels of Rhossili Bay being named one of the world's best beaches comes news thatSwansea's beaches as a whole are among the UK's finest.

The Good Beach Guide 2013, produced by the Marine Conservation Society, gave 90% of Swansea's beaches their top award for water quality – second only to Lincolnshire and beating other coastal holiday hotspots like Pembrokeshire, Kent and Jersey.

It backs up a Swansea Council survey undertaken last year where 96.5% of people questioned said Swansea Bay's key strength is the quality of Gower's landscape.

Cllr Nick Bradley, Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: "This is yet more terrific news for Swansea Bay as a top place for people to visit. It will further raise the profile of our beaches within weeks of TripAdvisor naming Rhossili Bay as the tenth best beach in the world. We know that the TripAdvisor accolade meant interest in Rhossili soared in the week after their announcement and we hope the results of the Good Beach Guide will have a similar impact.

"We realise how lucky we are in Swansea to have such stunning scenery on our doorstep and that's why we often use images of our beauty spots to market the city as a visitor destination.

"The recent introduction of the All-Wales Coast Path and its important and stunning Gowersection is yet another great opportunity for raising awareness of our beautiful coastline."

Swansea Council's tourism service has just produced a new Beaches Guide promoting theSwansea Bay coastline in time for the start of the 2013 season. More than 100,000 copies have been produced that are now being distributed to organisations including tourist information centres across South Wales.

Swansea's Rhossili Bay: Is voted 10th best beach in the World

Copacabana and Waikiki are some of the world's most famous beaches - and now Swansea's Rhossili Bay, as well as being the best beach in Britain, can lay claim to being up there with the best in the world too.

Rhossili Bay, Gower

Not only has the Gower beauty spot been named the UK's best beach by top travel website TripAdvisor, it's also been named third best beach in Europe and tenth best in the world in the 2013 Travellers' Choice Beach Awards.

The awards are based entirely on the feedback of millions of travellers across the planet. Stunning beaches in countries like Italy, Greece and Turkey are among those Rhossili Bay has beaten in Europe. Whitehaven in Queensland, Australia, and Horseshoe Bay in Bermuda are some of the other beaches joining Rhossili in the world's top ten.

Cllr David Phillips, Swansea Council Leader, said: "We are delighted, but not surprised, that Rhossili Bay has been acknowledged by the world's leading consumer travel website. Images of Rhossili Bay, which is managed by the National Trust, are recognisable across the world and feature prominently in our destination marketing activity. We hope that many more visitors continue to enjoy its outstanding natural beauty."

TripAdvisor is the world's largest social travel network that's been used by more than 100 million travelers.

Emma Shaw, of TripAdvisor, said: "These awards recognise the best beaches in the UK and beyond, according to those that really matter – travellers who have visited these beaches and given them the highest levels of praise.

"Huge congratulations to Swansea's Rhossili Bay for beating many of the most exotic beaches across the globe."

The award is the latest in a long list of accolades for Rhossili Bay.  It's been hailed by The Independent newspaper as the "British supermodel of beaches" and won the Great British Beach Awards in 2010.

Frances Jenkins, Swansea Council's Strategic Manager for Culture, Tourism, Marketing and Events, said: "This is fantastic news for the destination and a very worthy accolade for Rhossili.  Gower is a very strong brand.  Rhossili and other Gower beaches have prominently in our marketing campaigns to make the most of the city's Premier League status by raising the profile of Swansea Bay as a visitor destination. Many of the campaigns have included photos of Rhossili Bay and other Swansea beauty spots on the London Underground, encouraging millions of commuters to make Swansea Bay their next stop."

To see it in the flesh, check out: 

TripAdvisor Travellers' Choice 2013Top 25 Beaches - United Kingdom
Top 25 Beaches - Europe
Top 25 Beaches - World

If you're thinknig about visiting Rhossili Bay beach, please contact Swansea Tourist Information Centre for further information.

Swansea Tourist Information Centre tel: 01792 468321
email: tourism@swansea.gov.uk

Plymouth Street (back of Grand Theatre)
Swansea
SA1 3QG

MOTHER'S DAY @ The Gower Hotel

10th March 2013

This Mother's Day, we plan on treating mum to a glass of Prosecco on arrival and then hope to delight her with a wonderful 4 Course dinner. A truly delicious selection is on offer to suit all tastes. Dinner will be finished in style with freshly brewed coffee and tea, accompanied by a lovely sweet treat of petit fours.

If you are looking for somewhere a little special where you can spoil your mum, join us on Sunday 10th March for a lovely day at The Gower Hotel.

Swansea Council has put up 1,000 promotional panels on London Underground trains

Swansea takes surf and sand to London

Where the grass meets the sea

Swansea Council has put up 1,000 promotional panels on London Underground trains in the lead-up to the Capital One Cup final against Bradford City in Wembley on Sunday (February 24).

The panels show an image of a football and a beach ball on the edge of an area of grass that borders a beach. The caption reads: 'Where the Grass Meets the Sea' and thehttp://visitswanseabay.com official destination website is included.

Seventy-five posters using the same image and caption have also gone up in London's tube stations.

Cllr Nick Bradley, Swansea Council's Cabinet Member for Regeneration, said: "Many thousands of the Jack Army faithful will be heading to London to watch the Swans in Wembley this weekend. Michael Laudrup and his amazing team are doing wonders in putting our city on the map and it's important we make the most of what they've achieved by encouraging more visits to Swansea Bay.

"Millions of people will see our promotional posters and panels on the London Underground, and we hope many commuters will be tempted enough to have a look at theofficial Swansea Bay destination website where there's reams of information about our stunning local area and all we have to offer. More visits to Swansea Bay means more spending in local hotels, restaurants, shops and other businesses."

A full-page Swansea Bay promotional advert has been placed in the Wembley cup final programme and panels are now up on Midland Metro trains between Wolverhampton and Birmingham until March 17. This will help promote Swansea Bay around the time the Swans visit West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League.

Overseas interest in Swansea Bay is also on the rise because of people like Michael Laudrup, Ki Sung-Yueng and Michu. Figures show Visit Swansea Bay's foreign legion of fans in countries like Denmark, South Korea and Spain has increased by 2,000 people in recent months.

Come and surf with us when you Visit Swansea Bay

Come and surf with us when you Visit Swansea Bay...

Not long to go and the summer term school holidays will be upon us, we have our busy Junior Surfing  Academy running at Caswell Bay every week of the summer term school holidays. Please see our surfing academy information page by clicking here: Summer surfing at Caswell Bay or you can simply book online here: Shop gsd junior surfing

1) FAQ on our Junior Surfing Academy at Caswell Beach
2) Pay online for Junior surfing academy
3) Print off a consent form and bring with you to the beach
4) Places to stay Swansea Bay
5) SurfGSD environmental policy

If you have any other queries after reading the information please email me and we will try and get back to you within 24 hours, do not forget that you can follow our surfing news/information updates by becoming our friend on facebook

N.B Our Mobile number for last minute bookings is 077 395 361 22

The St Valentines Menu for The Gower Hotel, Bishopston, Swansea

Why not try out The Gower Hotel for a short stay or a special meal such as Valentines Day. The menu is below book by email, phone or via the website.

St. Valentine’s Day Menu 

Only, £60 per couple, including 5 courses with a complimentary glass of Prosecco

Amuse bouche 

***

Oxwich Point crab soufflé, leek fondue, lobster bisque 

Carpaccio of rare, roast dry aged Welsh beef, wasabi cream, 

pickled shimenji mushrooms

Spinach, pea and egg yolk ravioli, crushed peas, almond “butter”

****

Trio of Welsh pork; roast fillet, confit belly and slow braised cheek, fondant potato, “taffy apples” and thyme jus Roasted kalamata olive crusted hake, spinach purée, pepperanata, oyster beignets

“Cauliflower cheese”; cauliflower purée, brie mousse, Perl las “bon bon”

****

Dark chocolate fondant, malted milk ice cream 

Strawberry and champagne “terrine” macerated strawberries, macaroon 

A selection of award winning Welsh cheese, homemade chutney, toasted walnut bread

***

Tea & Coffee

Valentine Night Room Special 

2 Adults ~  1 Night, Dinner, Bed and Breakfast

Bunkhouse Boutique Signature

£130.00 £145.00 £160.00

The Gower Hotel 

11 Church Lane, Bishopston, SA3 3JT 

T: 01792 234111

E: info@thegowerhotel.co.uk

W: www.thegowerhotel.co.uk