2 for 1 Hillmotts Luxury Retreat
Was £198 now £99
Treat your loved one to this luxury full day spa experience and you may even be lucky enough to go along with them and enjoy the pampering thanks to this great 2for1 offer! You will both enjoy 75 minutes of treatments from the extensive spa menu including reflexology, massage, facials and pedicures and manicures. Set in the heart of over 2000 acres of breath-taking countryside and a beautifully designed spa, you will soon be feeling truly relaxed and rejuvenated as you get pampered alongside your loved one.

Experience Includes: Full Access to the Luxury Spa, 75 minutes of treatments each, relax and unwind with your loved one
Where it’s Available: Beaconsfield

Model Portfolio and Photoshoot Special
Was £50 now £25
With this great photo shoot experience your loved one will be able to step in front of the camera and be the centre of attention. A professional make-up stylist will create two glamorous looks for them in between their sessions in front of the camera in the studio. The professional team will capture some beautiful images showing off your loved ones best features and make them feel a million dollars, and, at the end of the experience they will be able to select their favourite image to take home to show of to their friends and family.

Experience Includes: Professional portfolio photoshoot with stylist, two shoots in front of the camera, view the images and choose their favourite to take home.
Where it’s Available: Central London

Marriott Pamper Day For Two
Was £89 now £75
This Valentine’s Day gift idea will allow you and your loved one to experience the world famous luxury of a Marriott Hotel and Spa. You will have full access to the health suite facilities including sauna, steam rooms and hot tubs, as well as a 30 minute stress releasing treatment each – choose from a soothing manicure, a refreshing facial or a back-neck-&-shoulder massage. The combination of expert therapists, top quality products and luxury surroundings make this a great experience to enjoy with your loved one.

Experience Includes: Full day access to the spa and health club, 30 minute luxury treatment each, luxury spa locations
Where it’s Available: More than 10 locations

Boudoir Photography Experience
Price £75
This great Boudoir Photography experience can either be bought as a gift to go enjoy the experience, or as a way of capturing some saucy photos for the man in your life to surprise him with on Valentine’s Day. With an all-female staff and expert stylists and photographer, the team know all the poses that show off the best assets of any body shape or size. 45 minutes will be spent in front of the camera ensuring the photographer captures a selection of sexy poses with the favourite image being sent to your home as an 8″x6″ print.

Experience Includes: 45 minutes in front of the camera, all female stylist and photographer, 10 photos on online gallery and one 8″x6″ print to take home
Where it’s Available: North London

Create Your Own Perfume
Price £45
This Valentine’s gift idea is another that can either be bought as a gift certificate for your loved one to enjoy, or take the experience yourself and create your own fragrance to give your other half on the big day. Whichever you decide to do, the Master Perfumer will assist with pairing different fragrances to create a unique smell that cannot be found anywhere else. The finished fragrance will be presented in a 20ml atomiser of your choice and presentation box ready to take home or give to someone special.

Experience Includes: 45 minutes in front of the camera, all female stylist and photographer, 10 photos on online gallery and one 8″x6″ print to take home
Where it’s Available: North London

So there we are, our top 5 affordable ways to make your loved one feel extra special this Valentine’s Day without breaking the bank. Make sure to check back regularly to keep up to date with our latest special offers.

Simply like us on Facebook for your chance to win a good pampering at any of Marriott’s renowned hotel and spas!

Couples Photoshoot
Price: £37
Treat you and your most special loved one to a photoshoot in a professional studio with an expert team of photographers, make-up artists and stylists making sure you look your absolute best in front of the camera. As you both get a taste of the modelling life by striking poses together, the camera will be snapping away giving you plenty of options to choose from during the photo viewing session after.

Experience Includes: Photo shoot in Professional studio, expert photographer and stylists, take some beautiful images of you both together
Where it’s Available: Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Newcastle

Sunrise Champagne Balloon Flight For Two
Price: £249
This Valentine’s day why not take your partner for a romantic balloon flight as you watch the sunrise over the horizon together? You will be silently soaring over the countryside, shrouded in shadow until the magical moment when the sun starts to rise… a moment that will never be forgotten. After the peaceful hour long flight over the patchwork countryside backdrop, the balloon will be brought back to solid ground where you will be able to toast your flight with a glass of champagne.


Experience Includes: Sunrise balloon flight, toast your experience with a glass of champagne after, beautiful way to spend a morning with your loved one
Where it’s Available: More then 30 locations

Marriott Afternoon Tea For Two
Price: £56
Give a gift this Valentine’s day that will allow you and your partner sit back and relax while enjoying some tasty food served in the grand setting of a 5* hotel. Enjoy a range of expertly prepared teas, sandwiches, pastries and scones and savour the time you spend with your loved one – held in the pristine grounds of the hotel and buildings.


Experience Includes: Enjoy a slice of luxury with your loved one, exquisitely made tea, sandwiches, pastries and scones, prestigious 5* hotels
Where it’s Available: Bournemouth, Bristol, Manchester, London, Ware

Pamper The Pair
Price: £279
Indulge in a day of ultimate calm and relaxation at the famous Gina Conway Spa as you wash the stresses and strains of every day life away. You will both get to enjoy a full body exfoliation and a luxurious foot bath in a double treatment room, filled with candles and flowers allowing for the ultimate relaxing and romantic atmosphere. You will both leave the delightful settings of the spa with a with a renewed calm and have some great memories to share.

Experience Includes: Full access to the Gina Conway spa for you both, two simultaneous treatments each, relax and unwind in a romantic setting
Where it’s Available: Central London

Scuba Diving Lesson For Two Bristol
Price: £49
Enjoy exploring a whole new under water world with your loved one with this great introductory scuba lesson in Bristol. The professional PADI instructors will teach you both everything you need to know to start exploring the under water world starting with the basics such as using the equipment up to communicating under water. So whether you are looking to start a new hobby together or just to get some practice before a holiday, this introductory scuba lesson will make a great Valentine’s day gift.

Experience Includes: Explore the underwater world with your loved one, fantastic intro to the world of scuba diving, expert PADI qualified instructors
Where it’s Available: Central London

The Camera Obscura box was first used in the 5th and 4th century BC in experiments by Chinese Philosopher Mo Ti and Greek Polymath Aristotle, to prove theories such as light travels in straight lines. It wasn’t until a summer’s day in 1827 that Joseph Nicephore Niepc, a French Inventor, took the first photo after he invented the first photosensitive substance using bitumen and lavender oil. Niepce’s heliographs, or sun prints as they were called at the time, were the prototype for the modern photograph, as they were the first picture to be taken using light to ‘draw’ a permanent picture.


The process was improved by Louis Daguerre by getting the exposure time down from 8 hours to only 30 minutes and as a result, the world of modern photography was born! Throughout the next 50 years, various methods for creating the negative image were invented including the first by British Botanist and Mathematician Henry Fox Talbot, allowing for more than one print to be produced. This kick started the public’s fascination with photography as studios sprung up around the world and the first ever portrait of a human being was taken of Robert Cornelius in November 1839. The first known colour photo was taken in 1877 by Louis Ducos du Hauron of a landscape in southern France, printed by the subtractive method which is still the basis for all colour photography, even today!


Throughout the 20th century there were many types of camera using different methods to capture the image, most notably so, the 35mm still camera and the Polaroid. The 35mm camera invented in 1913 revolutionised photography as it allowed for multiple negatives to be taken from a single roll of film and meant cameras could be small enough to carry. The Polaroid camera was introduced in 1948 and allowed consumers to instantly print any images taken, and was created in reply to the daughter of inventor Edwin Land’s question “Why can’t I see them now?”. They have since been used around the world by everyone from fire investigators to film directors as a means of collecting images.

The camera we all know today, the digital camera, was first successfully built by Kodak in 1978 but weighed a massive 3.6kg and the resulting image was only a measly 0.01 megapixel! It took a further 13 years of development for Kodak to bring out their first viable digital camera, the DCS-100, but this $13,000 camera could still only capture 1.3 megapixel images – way less than most people can capture on their mobile phones today! Over the coming years, the development of digital cameras made them smaller, more powerful and cheaper allowing them to become common place in our everyday life. The ability to view the pictures on the built in screen and the automatic focus and settings allows even the most amateur photographer to capture brilliant images.


This is of course by no means the complete list of the fabulous inventions from of the 19th and 20th century, as the great minds of that era discovered some wonderful things in their quest to capture images in greater detail – here we have tried to highlight the major events that have made photography the everyday part of life it is today.

Discover Indoor Rock Climbing
Price: £39
Indoor rock climbing is a great activity to help you get fit as it uses almost every muscle in your body to tackle the vertical wall, and being inside it can be enjoyed regardless of the weather! This great introductory experience is perfect for anyone looking to get started in the sport as it will equip you with the necessary skills to start attempting the myriad of routes up the rock face. With expert coaching from the instructors throughout the experience, you will learn the basics of this exciting sport in no time – then it’s over to you!

Experience Includes: Expert instruction, learn to climb, all equipment provided
Where it’s Available: Gloucester, London, Kinlochleven, Swansea

Thames River Kayaking – Hampton Court Palace
Price: £59
Take to the water and enjoy the River Thames like never before, as you paddle along the world famous waters on board you own kayak (provided). The tours take place at either sunrise or sunset, so you will be able to marvel at the beauty of the surrounding buildings and landscapes, including Hampton Court Palace and its grounds – as you get a great work out for your upper body! The knowledgeable instructors provide insights to the surrounding areas, coaching advice and all equipment – making this great experience suitable for everyone from beginners to experienced paddlers.

Experience Includes: All equipment and coaching, Hampton Court Palace tour by kayak, sun rise or sun set journey.
Where it’s Available: London

Discover Windsurfing
Price: £60
Windsurfing is the most fun you can have in a wetsuit, or so they say! With this great introductory lesson you will be shown all the skills and techniques required to start harnessing the power of the wind and skim across the surface of the water. You will be 1:1 with the instructor ensuring you can absorb as much information as possible from the expert. As well as being great fun, windsurfing also builds up your core strength as you balance the board, hold on to the large sail and try and make the whole thing go in the direction you want it to!

Experience Includes: Expert 1:1 instruction, all equipment provided,
Where it’s Available: Brighton

Play Golf Like a Pro With Marriott
Price: £98
Learning to play golf is a great way to keep fit and active as it requires you to walk around the 18 holes, unless you get a buggy of course (which is not very New Year Resolution-esque! This great experience will allow you entry to any of the nine Marriott Golf clubs around the country, and a 45 minute lesson from the course’s PGA professional, before tackling an 18 hole championship course. A light lunch is included, and then it’s time to hit the driving range to practice the new skills and swings. So whether you are looking to dust of your old clubs and get a refresher lesson, or to start an exciting new hobby, learning to play golf at a Marriott hotel is a step in the right direction.

Experience Includes: Entry to the Marriott club, 45 minute lesson from a PGA Professional, play all 18 holes, Light lunch
Where it’s Available: Coventry, Chepstow, Derby, Kirknewton, Maidstone, Manchester, Norwich, Shipley and Southampton

Climb Ben Nevis
Price £139
This fantastic experience could be a great challenge to set yourself to make sure you keep on target of your goals, as an expert mountaineering instructor will guide you up one of the classic routes on the UK’s tallest mountain to the peak of Ben Nevis. You will encounter steep rock faces, narrow mountain trails and large ice fields on your giant ascent – requiring a decent level of fitness, so why not make it the ultimate target of your year to be able to take on this mountain sized challenge?! The spectacular views at the summit will make the year of hard work so very worth it!

Experience Includes: Expert mountain guide, all equipment provided, climb the UK’s highest peak!
Where it’s Available: Fort William

So there we have it, our top 5 experiences to help boost the waning New Year’s Resolutions lists – and get you actively enjoying the great outdoors. So whether you are looking to set yourself a new challenge or just want to try a new and exciting activity to get the heart racing, there is something on Experience Days for everyone.

Forster Racing – Taster Special
Was £99 now £79
Let them get behind the wheel of the awesome Rage Buggy and experience the thrill of rally driving with this great special offer. You will start in the Ford RST practising basic manoeuvres such as the Scandinavian flick, over steer and power slides before moving on to driving the Rage Buggy. This experience is perfect for any petrol head as they will get a real hands on experience behind the wheel and be taught by professional drivers. To top off the experience, an expert driver will take them for a high speed passenger ride in the fastest Rage Buggy available.

Experience Includes: Practice in a Ford RST, timed laps in the Rage Buggy, white knuckle passenger ride
Where it’s Available: Chichester

GBX4 Rally Taster
Was £100 now £89
If you know a man who loves anything with an engine, this great GBX4 rally day could be the perfect Christmas gift. They will get to take the Polaris PzR out on the track for some serious off road fun as they tackle the jumps, sharp hair pins and deep ruts! These off road vehicles are built to take a real pounding so out on the track they can really let loose and discover the full capabilities of these awesome machines. Expert Instructors will be on hand to make sure they got the most out of this exhilarating experience.

Experience Includes: Practice laps with an expert instructor, personal driving session on challenging off road track
Where it’s Available: Birmingham

2for1 Discover Indoor Skydiving
Was £98 now £49
Skydiving is an experience almost everyone dreams about trying but often the price becomes a barrier, but with our great 2for1 indoor skydiving offer you can make their dream come true without breaking the bank. Each participant will get two x 1 minute flights, which is the equivalent free-fall time as three normal skydives giving them plenty of time to hone their skills! The specially designed wind tunnel creates winds of up to 200mph and with expert instructors they will be floating effortlessly in mid-air in no time!

Experience Includes: Price is for two participants, two x 1 minute flights each, DVD of your flights
Where it’s Available: Manchester and Milton Keynes

Introductory Flying Lesson – Special
Was £198 now £99
If you know someone who dreams of becoming a pilot, this great introductory lesson will give them a taste of what is to come! As well as a great ‘hands on’ 20 minute lesson from an expert CAA instructor, they will gain a valuable insight into the life of a pilot as they take part in a pre flight planing and briefing session prior to their flight. They will also get a guided our around the aircraft hangers and receive a talk on the different careers for professional pilots. This great special offer will allow them to see what being a pilot is like and if it is something they want to pursue.

Experience Includes: 20 minute ‘hands on’ flying lesson, tour and discussion of other aircraft, talks on pilot career options
Where it’s Available: Blackpool, Marlow, Brackley, Wolverhampton, Beverley

Special – Honda F4 Powerboat Experience
Was £99 now £49
If maritime thrills are more your man’s thing, then they don’t get much faster than this! They will get to experience a boat built purely for racing in the world’s biggest powerboat championship. The boats are built for pure power and agility and the expert instructors, who are usually current or ex racers, will take them to the limit! If the sea conditions permit, they will even let them take the controls and experience driving the powerboat themselves. The beautiful coast line around the Solent will be a mere blur as they power through the waves.

Experience Includes: Two hours out on the water, 20 minutes personal driving tuition
Where it’s Available: Southampton

So there they are, our top 5 last minute Christmas gifts for him. Don’t forget, email vouchers can be bought right up until the first cracker is pulled just before you tuck into your turkey!

Indian Super Food Cookery Course
Price £129
Learn to cook some of the healthiest and tastiest dishes the curry world has to offer! From hangover curing dishes to cold & flu busting curries; you can learn the authentic cooking methods from renowned chef Gurpareet Bains. You’ll be learning some of the tips and tricks that really make a difference in the kitchen – changing your cooking qualities for the new year. You will also receive a signed copy of his cookery book, so you’d best hope the family like curry, because that’s what they’re getting for the foreseeable!

Experience Includes: Cooking The Healthiest Meal In The World, World Famous Chef, Signed Copy of His Book.
Where it’s Available: London

Bar Flairing Experience
Price £115
Impress your friends and fellow dinner-party’ers with some seriously cool moves. Don’t just be great at drinking cocktails and spirits, be great at making them too! From catching it behind your back to balancing on your fingers, there isn’t a guest in the land who wouldn’t put down their knife and fork in awe of some serious bar flairing skills – but with this great lesson you can perfect what goes into the shaker as well as how it is shaken!


Experience Includes: Learning How to Spin, Throw, Balance & Catch Bottles, Make Cocktails and All the Tricks!
Where it’s Available: London

Digital Photography Full Day Course
Price £129
See the world in a different light as you take your photography on to the next level (whatever level you’re at now) through the expert advice of a professional. There are photos, and then there is photography; and for those hankering toward the latter – a new angle, effect or style can make all the difference. So, for those wanting to get started, or for those wanting to improve at a faster rate – a day spent training with the professionals will work wonders for your portfolio.


Experience Includes: Expert Tuition from Professional, Theory & Practical Demos.
Where it’s Available: Birmingham, Bristol, Edinburgh, London, Leeds Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham

Couple’s Massage Workshop
Price £235
Treat your loved one to a massage, and get one in return! This sumptuous class will put some spice into your relaxation rituals, as you are shown the pressure points and massage manoeuvres by a professional – allowing you to hit the spot every time you fire up those magic massage mits! Soothe the stresses of your most loved one…and then await your turn as you will both be clued up and ready to get to work on those killer knots – equipped with the knowledge to really do the trick.


Experience Includes: Massage Technique Skills, Informative Demonstrations, ‘Hands-on’ Tuition.
Where it’s Available: London

Kitesurfing 1 Day Course
Price £119
For those with a hankering for the extreme, the bustling sport of Kitesurfing has been thriving for the last few years with hordes of people hitting the seas each weekend to practice & perfect those skills. With this great 1 day lesson, you can learn the theory behind the sport, kite handling and an awful lot more. Then, once you’ve mastered the basics – you’ll be ready to get out on the board; riding the waves at great speed and with great adrenaline!


Experience Includes: Practical & Theory Demonstrations, Expert Instructor, Equipment for the Day.
Where it’s Available: Cumbria, Dorset, Hampshire, Kent, Merseyside, Northumberland, Swansea

And there we have it, a Top 5 list from an endless array of choice to begin a new hobby and spark something new within your lucky gift recipients. Treat them to something special that won’t be shelved straight away – and remember, a hobby is for life and not just for Christmas!

Wildlife lovers in The UK were delighted this week to welcome two new furry friends onto Blighty shores – and into Edinburgh’s Zoo; as Tian Tian and Yang Guang became the first Giant Pandas to live here for over 17 years.

The 9 hour “FedEx Panda Express” journey from China was a 777 aircraft carrying two perspex containers with a couple of very special passengers, both of whom were both spoilt to a travel menu most people would be delighted with – including mineral water, bamboo sticks, specially made Panda cake and other organic vegetables!

Tian Tian (meaning Sweetie) and Yang Guang (meaning Sunshine) arrived in Scotland’s Capital City to some chilly conditions, with a drop in temperature from the 10 degrees they’d been used to at Chengdu Airport, dipping down to a brisk 3 degrees in their new home. BBC Correspondent Colin Blane claims this won’t be a problem however, as both of the giant creatures are “very fond of a roll around in the snow” also stating “the conditions should be to their liking”.

If expert opinions are to be believed, they will soon come to love their new surroundings. The relaxed character and nature of the Pandas are anything but aggressive, and where Tian Tian is a little shy and coy, Yang Guang is more confident and outgoing – yet neither have ever shown any inkling of of aggression or disdain.

“They spend their time eating and sleeping, they really are very easy going.”

As well as providing a fantastic tourist attraction (which has drawn criticism from some corners), there is great anticipation and hope that the pair will mate when Tian Tian comes into season in March. Both have already produced off spring, but not together…yet.

Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “I know we’re all keeping our fingers crossed and hoping for the arrival of a little Mac panda sometime before too long.”

Interestingly, and perhaps excitingly for those broody bear lovers; Chinese Charge d’Affaires Qin Gang added:

“The father of Yang Guang keeps the world record of fathering 107 Panda cubs, and the mother of Tian Tian, known as Panda Mum, has also given birth to many baby Pandas… I hope that this pair will carry the gene of their parents!”

Their new £250,000 home at the Zoo includes two separate enclosures – keeping the pair and apart allowing them to settle in before going on display in around two weeks. The eight year old Panda pair are expected to live here for at least ten years, drawing criticism in the form of “publicity stunt” and “money-making” jibes – however, any contribution to maintaining the species and encouraging them to breed is well received here!

If you’d like to see the Pandas or any other wildlife experiences, check Experience Days for a really wild day out to get up close and personal nature’s finest creatures!

So here they are, our current top 5 photoshoot experiences:

Couples Photoshoot
Price £37
Whether you are surprising a loved one or treating a couple you know, this great photo shoot is something they can enjoy together. A professional photographer will be guiding you through the photoshoot to ensure all the images of you looking your best are captured. In-between shoots, professional stylists will take you to a make-up room for some model-esque styling. After the shoot, you will be able to choose your favourite photo to take home as an A4 print – and have the option to purchase more photographs if you wished.

Experience Includes: Styling from Experts, Professional Photo-shoot, Complimentary A4 Print.
Where it’s Available: Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Newcastle

Fashion Makeover And Photoshoot
Price £33
With this half day photo shoot, the lucky recipient will be able to enjoy the look and feel of a day in the life of a model! The professional hair and make-up stylists will help you achieve your ideal look, and ensure you get the maximum exposure in the limelight! In front of the camera, the professional photographer will capture a selection of great shots – allowing you to choose your favourite and take home a complimentary A4 print. All the magnificent photos from the photoshoot are available to purchase after the experience if you so wish.

Experience Includes: Discussion with Photographer, Hair & Make-Up Styling, Complimentary A4 Photo Print.
Where it’s Available: Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Newcastle

Luxury Makeover And Photoshoot
Price £50
After a consultation with the stylists about what you hope to achieve, you will get a full make-up session & lesson, as the expert stylists will talk you through some colours and designs that suit your complexion. This style session will do wonders for your hair and will work toward matching your make-up and outfit. Once fully pampered and ready for the limelight, the professional photographer will capture your most beautiful shots – showing off your new glamorous look. During the experience you can use around three outfit changes – perfect if you just can’t decide what to wear!

Experience Includes: Professional Hair & Make-Up Stylist, Photo Shoot, Photo-Purchasing Session & Advice.
Where it’s available: London

Deluxe Makeover Photoshoot
Price £50
With 4 outfit changes during this great Makeover and Photoshoot experience, you will have plenty of options & opportunities to get submerge yourself in the pampered life of a glamorous model! Starting the day with an expectation discussion, your hopes for the session can be discussed and advised – utilising your wardrobe changes, the photographer and the stylists. Ensuring the professional aura and atmosphere is maintained throughout; your hair and make-up will be designed and applied by experts, making sure you look your best in front of the camera! Once the photoshoot is complete, sit back with a refreshment and decide if you’d like to purchase any of the photos.

Experience Includes: Welcome Consultation, Professional Hair and Make-Up Styling, Private Photo Viewing
Where it’s Available: Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Newcastle

Photoshoot Special
Price £20
Let your loved one feel like the superstar they really are with this great photoshoot special. Professional stylists will be on hand to make sure you look your absolute best in front of the camera and under the spotlight. During the experience you will have up to four costume changes, ensuring you get a wide variety of different looks and poses. After the shoot, you will be able to view all of your most glamorous shots in the private viewing area, and decide which (if any) you want to purchase – along with your complimentary 7×5″ photo.

Experience Includes: Welcome Consultation, Makeover from Professional Stylists, Four Costume Changes.
Where it’s Available: Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Newcastle

And there we have it, our current top 5 glamorous photoshoot experiences that are sure to give any want-to-be model their chance to feel pampered – showcasing their most beautiful sides under the limelight, with professional stylists and photographers! The perfect gift experience this Christmas.

We’re giving away a Marriott Pamper Day for Two to one lucky winner, chosen from all of those that like our facebook page between now and November 25th! So like our page now and reap the rewards of discount codes, free giveaways and company updates – including our great blog articles!