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Unique and Magical Santorini

noreply@blogger.com (ItalyTravelTours.biz) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 19:35:00 +0000

For the quintessential Greek isle, look no further than Santorini in the dreamy southern Cyclades. Locals believe the island is the site of the lost city of Atlantis and, whether that is true or not, it is certainly near to paradise with towns perching on the edge of the extinct volcano, white marble streets and glorious sunsets. Head for Oia on the north coast for the most sophisticated hotels and fashionable nightlife, and make sure you visit the capital of Fira, but be warned: the designer stores and bars can get very busy. The villages of Akrotiri, Firostefani, Imerovigli, Megalochori and Pyrgos are calm and beautiful, and have good connections with the larger towns.

AKROTIRI
(00 30 22860 81366; www.odysseus.culture.gr). Don't miss Akrotiri, probably the most important archaeological site in the Cyclades. The city was one of the Aegean Sea's most significant before earthquakes and a volcanic eruption destroyed it in the 17th century BC. The volcanic material preserved the buildings and their content, just like at Pompeii.

FIRA
Fira has even more designer outlets than Mykonos Town and there are a fair number of cool bar/restaurants and nightclubs here, too.

NEA KAMENI
Nea Kameni island, in the middle of the flooded caldera, is one of the most violent volcanoes on the planet; it is also, of course, one of the contested sites for the lost city of Atlantis. The eruption that destroyed most of Santorini 3,600 years ago produced tsunamis that reached as far as Turkey and probably wiped out maritime Minoan civilisation. The new craters that appeared in the following centuries are currently snoozing, although they are under constant surveillance by scientists at Fira's volcanology institute. Tour the volcano by boat, or go for a walk around the crater to see it up close.

OIA
Santorini's star - its most attractive village, Oia, is the ultimate Greek Island village - all white houses and domed churches tumbling over the lip of the caldera. The town must be one of the most magnificent hotel settings on Earth, with its converted peasant houses on the very edge of the crater and spectacular sunsets that draw coach parties from across the island.

Check out great deals and travel ideas at http://greecetraveltours.net/index.htm

Italy Travel fan page - Join now for great deals and info

noreply@blogger.com (ItalyTravelTours.biz) — Tue, 27 Apr 2010 19:11:00 +0000

Join our Italy Travel Facebook fan page for great deals and valuable travel tips and ideas.

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Italy presents candidacy as host country for 2016 European Football Championships

noreply@blogger.com (ItalyTravelTours.biz) — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 18:28:00 +0000

Italy is launching its candidacy to host the European Football Championships in 2016. The dossier was recently presented at Palazzo Chigi and on May 28th it will be submitted to the judgment of the UEFA. The event would have positive repercussions on our country system as far as regards employment and for infrastructures, the transportation system, tourism hospitality, the attraction of foreign investments, the growth of visibility and the international reputation of the country. Included in the dossier are a series of projects tied to the theme of social responsibility to promote the development of social themes through football. The key word of the tournament is, in fact, the culture of 'Respect'.

Ostention Turin and Holy Shroud

noreply@blogger.com (ItalyTravelTours.biz) — Sat, 17 Apr 2010 19:45:00 +0000

Turin is heading toward a record event with the Ostension of the Holy Shroud in 2010. The numbers make a certain impression: a million and a half visitors are expected; 30,000 coaches from all over Europe, without counting trains and charter flights. The President of Federalberghi Piemonte Bernardino Garetto made an advance announcement of the first figures: "On the weekends during the period of the Ostension we are at 75 percent room occupancy". In real numbers almost 10,000 hosts have already booked and on some dates full occupancy has been reached. Forecasts for the economic repercussions of the Ostenion indicate approximately 15 million Euros for the city.

Venice most expensive city in Europe for hotels

noreply@blogger.com (ItalyTravelTours.biz) — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 19:43:00 +0000

There has been a substantial increase in European hotel rates according to the Hotel Price Index of Trivago in April that, with an average of 115 Euros per double room per night, indicates a 12% increase with respect to March to which can be added a 3% increase with respect to the same month last year. The Czech Republic was the country that registered the most evident price list increase this month with a general +43% in rates; Italy follows with an increase of 19% placing itself amongst the most expensive European destinations, surpassing England, France and Spain. The most expensive city in Europe is Venice, which with 209 Euros per double room in April bypassed Geneva and registered an 18% increase with respect to the same period last year. It is followed by Rome, which had a 15% increase in its price list with respect to 2009, and Florence (+11%).

Tuscany - The Land of Infinite Possibilities

noreply@blogger.com (ItalyTravelTours.biz) — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 17:03:00 +0000

It has some of the most famous art cities in the world, its shoreline beaches and water always merit the Blue Banner of quality, its rolling hills are of extraordinary beauty, its food magnificent, its wines some of the greatest known and it can be reached easily from both north and south. To these by-themselves extraordinary features, Tuscany has also known – thanks to its renowned entrepreneurship and the innate inventiveness of its inhabitants - how to develop its hospitality sector to meet the needs of a truly wide range of travellers and visitors: hotels of all types, but also activities to fill the day with interesting things and help visitors relax and get away from the stress of every day life and work. Event organisers can take their pick of a wide selection of venues – from large congress centres to the more intimate meeting destinations with elegant halls and meeting rooms, in historical residences or temples of art and culture. And then there is the location to decide – the hills and mountains, ancient villages or the seaside… But it does not end here, there is also the free time activity schedule to establish – or team building sessions to organise. The almost 400 km of Tuscan coastline offer breathtaking views and all the activities connected to the sea, while the Apennines and spectacular marble quarries offer the chance to open minds to new ideas. There are innumerable sports which can be enjoyed: ample golf courses, boating outings or sailing, even gourmet food & wine itineraries. Whatever you do, it will be exhilarating. Then there are the great health and wellness centres at the thermal spas for pure relaxation, such as the Grotta Giusti Natural Spa Resort – a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World – with a well equipped gym near the Monsummano Terme thermal baths. There is also the elegant 5 star Fonteverde Natural Spa Resort established near a Medicean portico at San Casciano dei Bagni, an ancient village which gives onto the fabulous landscape of the hills of the Val d’Orcia, an area famous for its ages old springs that give forth mineral-rich thermal water for bathing as the ancient Romans did. At the noble thermal baths of the Hapsburg Lorena is the Pisa Medical Spa & Resort where you will find the perfect blending of modern and oriental medicine, a stone’s throw from the famed city of the leaning tower. Back inside the enchanting Tuscan countryside you will also find Borgo San Luigi, a relais nestled in a 7 hectare park just outside of Siena. Here the charms of the historical residence are enhanced with all the modern comforts of today. If it is the sea you seek, a perfect location could be the Hotel Marinetta in Marina di Bibbona, nestled in a pine grove that gives onto the islands of the Tuscan archipelago and it too equipped with a modern wellness centre.

Check out some travel ideas at http://italytraveltours.biz/

Top 10 Reasons to Cruise

noreply@blogger.com (ItalyTravelTours.biz) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 16:09:00 +0000

A Cruise Vacation Offers Great Value

Cruises offer great value for your vacation dollar because the fares include nearly everything you'll need for a fantastic trip: food, accommodations, daytime and evening entertainment and transportation between travel destinations. We regularly see fares on mainstream cruise lines for under $100 per person, per night, which is astonishingly cheaper than you'd spend on land for a hotel, dinner and a show. On some lines, kids even sail free or at discounted rates when sharing a cabin with two adults. Looking for luxury? Upscale lines are even more inclusive, with alcohol and soft drinks, gratuities, shore tours, onboard spending credits, and even flights often bundled into the base price.

See Multiple Destinations, Unpack Only Once

On a cruise, you unpack once and your floating hotel takes you from city to city or from island to island and there’s no need to mess with train or ferry schedules, or lug your suitcase along cobblestone streets. Every morning, you'll wake up in a new place. Can't decide between St. Lucia and Barbados, or Italy or Spain? Why choose? Pick an itinerary that visits all the cities on your wish list.

Cruise Ships are Family Friendly

From tots to teens, grandparents to grandkids, cruises are fun for all ages. If you're struggling to find a vacation that your 5-, 10- and 15-year-old will all love -- and that has adult activities, too -- ships now have extensive kids' facilities, split by age. Teens have their own cool hangouts, far away from the play areas for the little ones (and certainly a nice distance from parent-friendly pools and bars). How can you not love a trip that features video games and swimming pools, while offering time for families to be together at dinner or on shoreside excursions? And parents can even sneak in a romantic dinner alone, by taking advantage of late-night hours in the kids' club.

Cruise Ships Come in All Shapes and Sizes

The ideal cruise ship for one person may be a mega-ship outfitted with onboard rock-climbing walls and outdoor movie theaters, while another will prefer an intimate ship with an upscale ambience and someone else will want the seafaring experience of a masted tall sailing ship. Luckily, all those different types of cruise ships exist.

Ships Offer a Variety of Onboard Activities

Today's cruise ships are designed to keep everyone happy. Want to pamper yourself at the spa while your spouse hits the casino? Or lounge in the sun reading a book while your family plays basketball. You can go to an educational lecture, a wine tasting, a computer class or a dance workshop; paint pottery, play bridge, learn a language or do yoga; dine at a casual buffet, a fancy sit-down restaurant, a sushi bar, a diner or a steakhouse; and watch a movie, a comedy routine, a song-and-dance show or live music performance. And if all you want to do is nothing while the ship sails from port to port you can do that, too.

Cruise Vacations are Easy to Plan

Because cruise vacations package together transportation and accommodations, they're very easy to plan. Pick your ship, itinerary and cabin, and away you go -- no searching for hotels in your price range, no coordinating travel between cities. You can even get your travel agent to arrange your airfare for you -- or choose a departure port within driving distance to eliminate that extra planning step. Groups also find cruises a cinch to book. Cruise lines have plans in place for group travel, eliminating the hassle of coordinating your 20 family members and friends from around the country who want to vacation with you. Book enough cabins -- and you'll get extra perks, including a free fare!

Ships Are Floating Cities

If you're concerned about being stranded on a cruise ship in the middle of the ocean, relax. Cruise ships are like floating cities with everything you could possibly want onboard. Today's vessels are outfitted with Wi-Fi, cellular service and satellite TV so you can stay in touch with the real world during your vacation (if you really want to). Onboard shops sell the toiletries and sundries you forgot to pack, medical centers can provide medication or a doctor's services if needed, and laundry facilities let you wash your clothes mid-cruise so you don't need to over-pack (or just send the laundry out). Of course, there's also the fun stuff like gyms, multiple restaurants, libraries, movie screens, spas, swimming pools, theaters and discos. And in the rare emergency, there are always enough lifeboats for everyone onboard.

Plan an Exotic Vacation

Always wanted to visit Asia but are nervous about the language barrier? Curious about the Middle East, but nervous about country customs? A cruise is one of the best ways to see the most exotic and foreign destinations in this world in an easy way. Itineraries offer calls at major cities and picturesque villages, all of which will be regional highlights, so you don't have to do the research on the best places to visit in an unfamiliar destination. If you're uncomfortable with independent sightseeing in a new locale, simply take a ship's tour with English-speaking guides. Or team up with more experienced travelers you meet online or onboard to share a cab or private guide.

Cruising Is Romantic

Anyone who's watched "The Love Boat" knows that there's a romance to sea travel. The wind in your hair, the vistas of endless ocean, the stars twinkling above all set the mood for love may be clichés but they’re real experiences onboard! If you want to rekindle the spark with your sweetie, a cruise vacation provides plenty of together time -- sharing side-by-side lounge chairs by the pool, a table for two at dinner, dancing in the evening or sharing quality time onshore. Cruise lines also have special packages for honeymoons, vow renewals and weddings onboard and onshore.

Cruising is Social

If you love to meet people from around the country -- and the world -- cruising provides a wonderful opportunity to make new friends. Even before you embark, you can connect with cruisers on Cruise Critic' Roll Call forums and create groups to go on independent excursions. Onboard, you'll meet people at your dinner table, at the piano bar or by the pool. The person seated next to you might be from Paris, Texas, or Paris, France; London, Ontario, or London, England. Kids can find playmates their own age during youth activities, so they're not always with adults or their older or younger siblings.

Check out some cruise deals at http://www.bluedanubeholidays.com/bdh/river_cruises.htm

Top 10 places to feel young again

noreply@blogger.com (ItalyTravelTours.biz) — Wed, 07 Apr 2010 16:07:00 +0000

1. DUBAI, UAE

It's time for a new outfit, which means an expedition to Dubai. Fashion is serious business in this shopping-mall heaven, where small and flashy togs can be stuffed into designer handbags. To finish the look, eye-punishing displays of glittering gold line the streets of Dubai's gold souq. Over 25 tons of the stuff are on display in the city's jewelry-shop windows. Choose from earrings, rings, necklaces or bracelets - the more ostentatious the better.

2. ROUTE 66, USA

Search for freedom on the open highway with a road trip across the USA. It requires a Harley or a classic convertible, and plenty of 'issues' to resolve. Take your pick from a multitude of interstate routes, but to travel in the footsteps of film, literary and music legends it has to be well-worn and iconic Route 66, from Chicago to Santa Monica. Do take a movie camera to record your trip. Don't forget to fill up with gas.

3. MONTE CARLO, MONACO

Dust off your tux and brush up on the slick one-liners as you join the jet set, Bond-style, in Monte Carlo. The beautiful people out-glamour each other from their million-euro yachts moored along the harbor, as international businesspeople monitor their investments from this secure tax haven. Visitors to the casino glint with gold, like the sun on the Med. The Monte Carlo Rally in January and the Monaco Grand Prix in May offer adrenalin-fueled breaks from spending cash.

4. RISHIKESH, INDIA

If your crisis is one of faith, take your pick of places in which to have a spiritual epiphany: St Peter's in Rome, Lhasa in Tibet or Mecca in Saudi Arabia could help you find your calling. But we reckon the ideal spot is Rishikesh, on the banks of the sacred Ganges in the foothills of the Himalaya. It's lined with ashrams, and holy men mingle with tourists and the odd celeb. This was the Beatles' favorite center of Hindu philosophy and learning, and it's nicknamed the yoga capital of the world.

5. LAS VEGAS, USA

You've realized what your first wedding was missing: an Elvis impersonator, matching polyester pantsuits and a partner you'd only just met. So it's time to take a gamble of a different sort with a second/third/seventh wedding in Vegas. It offers more than 30 places to say 'I do', and over 100,000 couples take their vows here each year, including more than a handful of celebs. The Little White Wedding Chapel is open 24 hours, so when your eyes meet over a crowded poker table, there's no need to bother waiting before tying the knot.

6. PHUKET, KUALA LUMPUR, MANILA, MUMBAI

Fed up of peering in the mirror, jiggling your wobbly bits and wishing everything was a little further north? Considering a little nip and tuck or two, but worried about showing your post-op bruises in public? Cheap prices coupled with recuperation in the sun is making surgery in Phuket, Kuala Lumpur or Manila increasingly popular. India is the daddy of them all. Today state-of the-art facilities make a facelift or a hip replacement a short inconvenience before relaxing by the beach.

7. MACAU, CHINA

Cashing in the pension fund and remortgaging the house might just be enough to get you in the door of Crown Casino, Taipa Island, Macau. Boasting six stars and more than 200 gaming tables, the casino's not shy about the number of noughts involved. For those with pockets smaller than China, there are another 27 casinos to choose from. These include the grandly decked-out Emperor Palace Casino on the peninsula - featuring plenty of marble and as much gold on the brick floor as on the gamblers themselves - or the famous, lively Casino Lisboa.

8. SILVERSTONE, ENGLAND

It's not too late to fulfill that dream of being a racing driver, temporarily at least. Crowds have watched heroes like Senna, Prost and Stewart hurtle around the legendary Silverstone track, home of the British Grand Prix, since the 1950s, and you can recreate it with a power test drive. Imagine the cheers as you burn rubber in a Ferrari, slide into corners in an old single-seater or test a 4WD on something more taxing than the streets of Islington. Just don't try this on the school run.

9. PETRA, JORDAN

Petra, setting for much of 1989's Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, looks like it should only exist in films. A narrow canyon winds to its iconic entrance, carved from deep-rose colored sandstone. As you enter, you're greeted by the intricate facade of the famous Khazneh (Treasury), fictional home of the Holy Grail. The site contains plenty more to explore, including the Temple of the Winged Lions, still in the process of excavation. Today the only hazards are bumping shoulders with the other 3,000 visitors; poisoned arrows, rolling balls of rock and snake pits are usually avoidable.

10. SYDNEY & MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA

For centuries humans have pitted themselves against beasts to prove their worth, from rather one-sided trophy hunting to careering down side streets at the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain. Something a little more equal and up close is diving with sharks, and for that you should head to Australia. For those with no diving experience, tank dives in Melbourne's aquarium and Sydney's oceanarium give a chance to watch these predators glide past soundlessly, eyeing you up as a potential meal. Friends and family can watch your "bravery" via a glass viewing screen.

Easter in Italy

noreply@blogger.com (ItalyTravelTours.biz) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 19:49:00 +0000

Easter in Italy is traditionally a holiday spent with family, but the Monday after Easter is another story - it’s still a nationwide holiday, and this one is all about hanging out with friends, often gathering for picnics. Easter Monday is called “La Pasquetta,” or “Little Easter,” in Italian. Many cities will hold outdoor events on Pasquetta, including concerts and games. The games often involve eggs, like the famous egg races of Tredozio. One one unusual Pasquetta game takes place in the town of Panicale in Umbria, where the goal is to roll giant wheels of cheese around the city walls in the quickest time and using the least strokes.

As mentioned, Easter can be a really interesting time to visit Italy, especially to see all the ancient traditions (which, it should be noted, are carried out not for tourists but for Italians - which makes them even more interesting), but because the whole country has vacation time during Easter week it can be a difficult time to get around. If you plan to visit Italy during Easter, I recommend booking your hotel or hostel way in advance (and be prepared to pay a little more than you might the week before or after), and try to not be moving from city to city much during that week. Plan to set up camp in one spot and not be driving or crowding onto trains, and you’ll be much happier.

European Cultural Capital - Pécs, Hungary

noreply@blogger.com (ItalyTravelTours.biz) — Thu, 01 Apr 2010 17:11:00 +0000

This year’s choice of a European Capital of Culture has surprised many – though only on first hearing. The Hungarian Pécs is one of the most fascinating cities in Europe, well worthy of the 2010 honor.

When the three European Capitals of Culture were announced for 2010, no one considered Essen and Istanbul a strange choice, but when it came to Pécs, many had to brush up on their knowledge of Europe. This small city located on the slopes of Mecsek Mountains in the south-western part of Hungary holds many surprises.

It all started with the Celts, who occupied this area before the Roman invasion. However, Turkish influence has been very strong as well as Croatian, Balkan, and even German. While its population is very small, only 160,000, there are nine ethnic minorities living in this mesmerizing blend of architectural styles and heritage sites. The early Christian necropolis has become a major lure for tourists; it is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The numerous monuments and buildings which date back to the Ottoman period are among the most popular attractions. The mosque of Pasha Gazi Kaseem, the Pasha Memi baths, and the minaret of Yakovali Hassan are well worth a visit. In May, the city will host a festival Journey around the Turkish Crescent Moon to honor the Turkish influence and heritage.

This year, numerous festivals will honor the local on-going art and music tradition. Fishing on Orfu, a festival on the banks of local beautiful lake, and the Folk & Rock festival will kick-off the summer festive season in June. July will introduce a Rockmaraton in the charming setting of Malomvolgy Botanical Garden and August promises an art exhibition of Bauhaus, a major 20th century school of art.

All the culture and charm is topped up by local delicious cuisine, divine wine and warm-hearted folk who never hesitate to welcome another visitor. Pécs is full of surprises and the more one looks, the more one finds.

Check out some tour ideas at http://www.europetraveltours.net/Hungary_Independent_tour.htm

Brussels On A Budget

noreply@blogger.com (ItalyTravelTours.biz) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 16:27:00 +0000

As the host city for many European Union institutions and their well-heeled Eurocrats, Brussels may not sound like the best destination for travelers on the cheap. A plate of mussels, a local specialty, can set you back nearly 20 euros, $28 at the current exchange rate of $1.34. But with a little creativity, you can enjoy Brussels' pleasures on a budget — from free chocolate samples and cheap waffles to the spectacular Grand Place Square.
Getting there: Skip Europe's biggest transport scam: 55 euro airport-to-downtown cab ride lasting barely 30 minutes. Take the 20-minute train ride for 3 euros to the central station. From there, subways, buses and streetcars go everywhere.
Getting around: From downtown, you can get to most sights and an infinite number of cafes, restaurants and bars on foot. Public transport is cheap. A one or three-day pass costs 4.5 euros and 9.5 euros respectively.
You can also not pay, like many Bruxellois, but you risk a 50 euro fine
Parks, landmarks and markets: Brussels' top tourist attraction is free: The Grand Place, a spectacular square in the historic center of the city. It is known for the ornate architecture of its centuries-old buildings, including City Hall and former guild houses for skilled professions like brewers, bakers and butchers. The square is beautifully lit at night, and every other year its center is lined with a carpet of flowers mid-August for three days. The next flower carpet will be laid in 2010.
Beware the expensive, touristy shops around the Grand Place. For a more authentic, less expensive way to sample Belgian goods, there are daily and weekend markets. Rummage around the daily flea market in the Marolles neighborhood. Sundays, there is a big market around the Midi railway station and on Place Flagey.
With more than 2,900 acres of parks, Brussels is a very green city. Don't miss the park on the Place du Petit Sablon, with its numerous statues, or the Parc de Laeken, with the royal castle.
For a beautiful bird's eye view of the Belgian capital, go to the top of the Museum of Musical Instruments, at rue Montagne de la Cour 2. Admission is 5 euros.
For concerts and other entertainment, check the free magazine Agenda, available in subway stations and pubs, or see http://www.agenda.be/v2/fr.html.
Museums and churches: It can rain in Brussels. And rain! But more than three dozen museums and historic churches provide for ample indoor activities.
Use the Brussels Card that covers public transport and entrance to museums only if you plan to visit more than four or five museums, or are older than 25. Most museums cost only a few (euros) for visitors under 25, making the 20 to 30 euro card pricey.
One of Belgium's newest attractions, the Rene Magritte Museum, in the house at Rue Esseghem 135 where the famed surrealist painter worked for 24 years. Entry is 5 euros for visitors age 23 and under. Access to the Royal Museum of the Armed Forces and Military History is free year-round. Many other museums are free after 1 p.m. on the first Wednesday of the month.
Entrance to churches is free, but hours are more limited than in museums. Eglise Notre Dame de la Chapelle, the city's oldest, located on the Place de la Chapelle, was built in the 13th century.
Art in the 225-year-old Eglise St-Jacques sur Coudenberg, on the Place Royale, is also worth a visit.
Cheap eats: Brussels is rightly famous for French fries, waffles and mussels — frites, gauffres and moules in French. If on a budget, stick to the first two. Moules can cost 20 euros a plate.
Frites are sold at grease emporiums known as friteries. Check out Chez Martin on Place St. Josse, near the Madou subway stop, or Maison Antoine on Place Jourdan, near the EU headquarters, which is open into the wee hours.
Waffles are on sale everywhere for 1.5 euros and up. They come smothered with whipped cream, sugar, fruit or — what else? — chocolate sauce.
Bars: There are pubs and cafes all over town vending scores of different kinds of beers — blond or dark and always foamy. The St. Catherine and St. Gery neighborhoods have un-touristy bars, such as Zebra, Walvis, Greenwich and Monk.
The bars on the Grand-Place are touristy and pricey. But just around the corner, Delirium holds the Guinness World Record for the most types of beer in one bar (2,004), and the former brothel, Goupil le Fol, offers unique fruit wines. Beers and wines are usually 2-4 euros per glass, cocktails double that.
Day trips: Brussels is less than an hour by train from Bruges, Antwerp, Ghent and Liege.
Dos and don'ts
Do ask for free samples in the chocolate shops. When you've gone to each one, you won't need to buy any. Do go to chocolate factories for discounted prices. Neuhaus and Leonidas both have factories just outside of Brussels.
Don't rent a bike. The rental system was recently overhauled, but it still does not work well. You can actually be arrested for riding a bike out of one district into another.
Don't eat in the Grand Place. It is a spectacular place to see, but very expensive. Try cheaper places nearby.

Check out ideas at http://www.bluedanubeholidays.com/bdh/c-brussels_city_package_flemish_dream.htm

Beautiful, Relaxing and Unique European River Cruises

noreply@blogger.com (ItalyTravelTours.biz) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 14:37:00 +0000

River cruises—leisurely, elegant, and easy—are quickly gaining in popularity. Some cruise lines have seen bookings grow by 60 percent over the past five years. Europe is especially fashionable right now: A recent online study found that requests for European river cruises have increased more than 22 percent since August 2009.
Why all the interest? River cruises sail on major waterways like the Danube and the Rhine, docking at charming towns along the way. You'll be much closer to the heart of a city than you would be when cruising by sea—for example, river cruises along the Seine dock at Port de Grenelle in Paris, within walking distance of the Eiffel Tower. And with perks like gourmet food, wine pairings from local vineyards, a room with a view, and guided tours and excursions often included in the price, it's hard to resist the urge to pack up and leave tomorrow.
Europe's cruising season extends from March to September. Cruises in May, June, and July (the region's high season) are more expensive. Planning ahead is a must: The ships are much smaller and more intimate than their seafaring counterparts, and trip dates tend to book up fast.
Rhine
The mighty, 820-mile Rhine begins in Switzerland and streams northwest along the border between France and Germany and into the Netherlands, passing by Basel, Switzerland; Strasbourg, France; and Cologne, Germany.
Seine
The second-longest river in France (the Loire is the longest) flows through Paris before emptying into the English Channel.
Danube
The 1,771-mile Danube begins in southwestern Germany's Black Forest region and stretches across Austria, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, and Bulgaria before joining the Black Sea.
Rhône
The 505-mile Rhône rises in Switzerland and runs south into the Mediterranean Sea, drifting through Lyon and the wine-growing Côtes du Rhône region of southern France.
Volga
A classic Russian cruise includes the longest river in Europe, which runs for almost 2,300 miles. Most Volga itineraries involve journeys between St. Petersburg and Moscow and traverse other waterways in addition to the "Great Mother Volga" itself.

Check out some great European River Cruise Ideas at http://www.bluedanubeholidays.com/bdh/river_cruises.htm

Krakow, Poland - One of Europe's Hidden Treasures

noreply@blogger.com (ItalyTravelTours.biz) — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 13:57:00 +0000

On my first visit to Krakow 12 years ago, I was struck by the magnificent riot of its churches. Every religious order, so it seemed, had set up shop here, and few had found reason to leave. Towers and spires pierced the skyline. Benedictine, Franciscan and Dominican priests emerged from portals Romanesque, Gothic and baroque, to stroll down the narrow cobbled streets of the old town, greeting members of their congregation by name.

The gaps between the churches spiritual had been plugged by palaces temporal, scarcely less commanding when studied individually, yet collectively blending into the 1,000 year-old architectural potpourri that was, to its inhabitants, simply Krakow.
As Warsaw prepares to celebrate the bicentenary of the birth of her most famous son, Frédéric Chopin, this year, Poland's former capital and most beautiful city, some two-and-a-half hours away by train, looks on serenely, secure in her superiority.
I was relieved to find that little had changed. No international hotel chains have arrived to colonise the former homes of nuns or Polish nobles; restaurants, bar a few notable exceptions, still serve the kind of hearty food whose fatty insulation might have fuelled Napoleon's army on its march through Russia.
Satirical cabaret venues lurk in underground spaces, throwbacks to the days of resistance to foreign domination. Frumpy shops outnumber the occasional boutique stocked with fashionable European and Polish designers – the latter secreted in a mini-mall lest they disturb the aura of a bygone age.
Lacking the sophistication of Vienna or the mushroom-growth tourism of Prague, yet with elements of both cities, Krakow is one of central Europe's least-known treasures.
As a base of Nazi command in the Second World War, it was spared the wholesale destruction that befell Warsaw, and remains the cultural and intellectual heart of Poland. The Collegium Maius, where Copernicus studied astronomy, still stands, housing, among its treasures, Chopin's piano. The Pod Roza hotel, where Franz Liszt, Balzac and Tsar Alexander II reputedly lodged, continues to welcome guests.
One can wander dreamily through the traffic-free, medieval streets to see the house where Bishop Karol Wojtyla (the late Pope John Paul II) lived on Kanonicza Street; or view the swirling art nouveau decorations of Stanislaw Wyspianski, which survive to astonish still, within the Gothic confines of the Franciscan church.
Krakow's glory radiates from Market Square like rays from a misshapen sun. But the cobbles of Rynek Glowny, as it is otherwise known, were glazed with ice, transforming Europe's largest square into a skating rink. I skidded into the wooded warmth of Wedel for a cup of near-solid hot chocolate laced with rum, negotiating with difficulty the agglomeration of consonants on the menu.
Impossible fricatives exploded around me in steaming conversation. I read (in English) about the Renaissance magician, Master Tordowski, who lived beneath the statue of St Giovanni Capistrano and who, in a Faustian echo, hocked his soul to the devil.
Pre-dating a numbering system, the palaces fringing the square – now shops, restaurants and galleries – are still romantically identified by the elaborate carvings above their portals: the House beneath the Eagle, beneath the Rams, beneath the Evangelist. I looked out at people huddling around stalls selling pierogi (stuffed dumplings) and mead, buying fur hats, woolly socks and Baltic amber, as fat snowflakes fell around the turreted arcades of the Cloth Hall, to the sound of an interrupted bugle call issuing from the cardinal points of St Mary's Gothic spire. As late winter scenes go, it was perfect.
Yet there is a melancholy to Krakow's beauty, which seems to mourn her glory days. From the 13th century to the fall of Communism in 1989, successive invasions, partitions and occupations have weighed on the national consciousness. Tableaux of the 19th-century Jan Matejko, one of Poland's best-known artists and local resident, speak of heroic battles or the treachery of Poland's last king, Stanislaw Poniatowski, who forfeited Poland's independence.
Every statue and sepulchral effigy proclaims saints and martyrs. Patriotic fervour can be overwhelming. Within hours of arriving I learnt, in some detail, how Jan Sobiecki had defeated the Ottomans at the gates of Vienna, and of Jozef Pilsudski's triumph over the Red Army in the Miracle at the Vistula "saving all of Europe from Turks and Bolsheviks," added my guide
Both heroes now rest atop Wawel Hill, in the cathedral built by Wladislaw the Elbow-high to house the bones of St Stanislaw – an outspoken bishop murdered in church, like Thomas à Becket a century later, by an enraged king. Together with the neighbouring castle, until 1609 the residence of kings, the cathedral's stylistic medley of chapels and breathtaking monuments offers the most pleasurable crash-course in Poland's rich history.
In stark contrast to this resplendently Catholic Krakow is the modest Jewish district of Kazimierz, in a nook of the Vistula River. Once a thriving community, the wartime fate of Krakow's Jews is well-known, familiar to many through Steven Spielberg's 1993 film, Schindler's List. As the residents of Kazimierz were forced across the Vistula into the ghetto of Podgorze, and thence to the horrors of Auschwitz, an hour's journey thence through an innocent Breughel landscape, Kazimierz became a ghost town. Its small houses fell into ruin, its synagogues pillaged.
You don't hear much about this episode in Krakow today. Instead, strolling the narrow streets, I discovered a delightful quarter of colourful buildings centred on Serozka Street, filled with kitsch kosher restaurants of questionable authenticity, the original ritual baths transformed into the characterful Klezmer-Hois, cosy bars such as Alchemia recreating the original through-the-cupboard hiding places of less happy times.
Restored largely in response to interest ignited by Spielberg's film, Kazimierz has become a trendy haunt of the young, buzzing with nightlife. But of the 60,000 pre-war Jews, a mere 250, according to official records, remain. Only the silent synagogues bear witness to the past.
Krakow's countryside provided the perfect antidote to an excess of pathos and hot chocolate. Ojcow National Park lies some 15 miles from Krakow, an upland of Jurassic limestone caves and crags teetering in extraordinary formations above Pradnik Valley. Walks through the padded beech forests, exploring the ruins of 14th-century castle-eyries at the southern end of the so-called Eagles' Nests Trail of fortifications, banished any residual cobwebs.
"Be it for nothing other than the true beauty of Ojcow," rhapsodised Chopin on his visit here in 1829, "it was worth getting soaked". I would have to agree. Frozen to the bone in the still-falling snow, I retired to the beautifully restored wing of nearby Korzkiew Castle, for a night spent thawing in baronial splendour, before a roaring fire.

Check out some great travel ideas/packages to Poland at http://www.europetraveltours.net/poland_escorted_tour.htm

Tuscan Farm House

noreply@blogger.com (ItalyTravelTours.biz) — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 20:08:00 +0000

A holiday at a Farm house, in the Tuscan countryside, is a reassuring way to have a reconciliation with the world. It doesn’t exist, in any other place, a nature like this one. A walk up to that old village with its artworks, a horse ride, some moments of astonishment inside a little church, a lunch full of laughs and healthy food. You can do everything, or even do nothing. It’s the Farm House in Tuscany: wherever you are, you are at Home.

Check out some great trips at http://www.italytraveltours.biz/index.htm

Special Deal to Sicily for Easter

noreply@blogger.com (ItalyTravelTours.biz) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 16:44:00 +0000

The Crossroad of cultures and ancient peoples enfolded in myth and history. More Greek than Roman, more Norman than Italian, the island always surpasses visitors' expectations with an incredible array of historical remains. The land that attracted the Phoenicians and the Carthaginians is surrounded by sea once sailed by Ulysses' ship. It enticed the Arabs, the Normans, the Spaniards and Swabians all leaving their footprints on the island surviving in the genes and traditions of modern-day Sicilians

Sicily Easter Special:

One time only departure
3rd of April 2010 - $998 USD per person.

http://www.italytraveltours.biz/Sicily-tour-classic.htm

Additional 5% off for MEMBERS for this one departure only.

Spend Easter in Mythical Sicily during the Spring Blossom Season!!!

http://www.italytraveltours.biz/Sicily-tour-classic.htm

Italy Farm Holidays

noreply@blogger.com (ItalyTravelTours.biz) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 17:19:00 +0000

Farm visits in rural Italy with authentic Roman-style buildings surrounded by needle cypress trees amid rolling wheat fields or extensive wineries are highlights of any visits to Italy. They usually appeal to well traveled and more mature travelers that have already visited Italy’s major cities and unparalleled artistic sites.

The farm stays with accommodation featuring living, kitchen and bedrooms can also be used for family vacations since they usually feature swimming pools and other recreational facilities. They are in save and idyllic surroundings and are ideal bases to discover romantic country sides in a leisurely way by driving around hilltop stone villages, Etruscan ruins and beautiful vistas. Most popular regions for farm holidays in Italy are Tuscany and Umbria

Spring Concert Season Rome Doria Pamphili Palace

noreply@blogger.com (ItalyTravelTours.biz) — Fri, 19 Feb 2010 17:23:00 +0000

Concert Season at the Doria Pamphili Palace in Rome

The beautiful Doria Pamphilj Palace in Rome, dating back to the 15th century released its new spring concert schedule. In addition to being one of Rome’s largest palaces, the Doria Pamphili Palace is one of Rome's most important picture galleries privately owned.
The Pamphili family private art collection has over 600 paintings including masterpieces by Velazquez, Titian, Caravaggio. Many of the private apartments have the original furnishing dating back mostly to the 16ht-17th century.
It is already the palace’s 32nd concert season with chamber music performances taking place in the Throne Room fit for a royalty. The Throne Room is part of the private Doria Pamphilj Apartments of the Doria-Pamphilj-Landi, a princely Roman family. The chamber spring concert series starting on 10 April 201, feature works by Alessandro Scarlatti, Antonia Vivaldi and several other Italian composers.
It is also possible to arrange private, exclusive concerts on different dates, either in Palazzo Doria Pamphilj or in other historical buildings or churches.

Umbria: Art and Culture

noreply@blogger.com (ItalyTravelTours.biz) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:57:00 +0000

The beauty of Umbria is seductive and at times seems quite perfect. The secret lies in the splendid balance between man and nature, in the bond that Umbrians have always had with their land their rich past. In the Middle Ages in the Renaissance, it was a pulsating region at the heart of Italian historical, cultural, and religious events, and its cities flourished in an extraordinary manner, accumulating an enormous wealth of artistic jewels. So it is entirely natural that the cities of Umbria attract tourists and travelers who are thirsty for beauty.

Hotel Classifications

noreply@blogger.com (ItalyTravelTours.biz) — Tue, 16 Feb 2010 17:50:00 +0000

Hotel stars are a well-known tool for classifying the quality of accommodation world wide. However, the ranking is not unified and as a result, a visitor may receive much different experience from hotels that have the same number of stars. A five-star hotel in Uganda will most likely provide a different set of services than a five-star hotel in the U.S.

However, the problematic situation seems to be changing now. A new scheme has been recently founded under the patronage of HOTREC – Hotels, Restaurants & Café in Europe (a society of EU hotel and restaurant associations). On their meeting in Prague this December the hotel associations of Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Netherlands, Sweden and Switzerland established a “Hotelstars Union”.

More than 17,000 hotels that are situated in these seven countries could be thus soon categorised based upon the same criteria. The new classification system will be launched in Austria, Czech Republic, Germany and Sweden from 1 January 2010. Hungary will implement the categorization in 2010, and Switzerland and the Netherlands in 2011.

So far, the countries use different classification schemes but as soon as they start to use the new system, it will be much easier for a guest to pick a hotel based on the number of its stars. The common classification is based on 270 criteria, which are based on guest surveys. Among the judged criteria is e.g. the width of beds, Internet-PC in the room, safe in the room or ironing service.

The idea of common hotel classification is not new but only now it can be actually implemented at least in some European countries. Other members of HOTREC are invited to join the Hotelstars Union and it is expected that the membership will grow to 15 within two years.

Not everyone, however, agrees with the idea of the common classification. For example, the International Hotel & Restaurant Association (IH&RA) considers current national hotel classification and grading systems as sufficient. They point out that standards as well as customer expectations vary country to country. According to the IH&RA, one single 5-star-system cannot capture the entire diversity of hotels worldwide. They also add that the cost for creation of a global standard would be extremely high.

New Luxury Hotels

noreply@blogger.com (ItalyTravelTours.biz) — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:41:00 +0000

TO open a hotel in 2010 — when the industry is in its worst slump in decades — requires chutzpah.

Who’s got chutzpah? Donald Trump, for one. The Trump SoHo (www.trumpsohohotel.com), a 391-room hotel in Lower Manhattan, is expected to open this spring, towering over its low-rise neighbors with a lot of razzle-dazzle.

Oh, and Kelly Wearstler has chutzpah. The former Playboy centerfold is putting the finishing touches on the Viceroy Snowmass in Colorado and the Viceroy Anguilla in the Caribbean (www.viceroyhotelsandresorts.com). Both have the kind of glamour that have made Ms. Wearstler a top interior designer and Bravo TV star.

And Giorgio Armani has chutzpah, or whatever it’s called in Italian. This spring, he plans to unveil the first in a much-hyped chain of Armani Hotels (www.armanihotels.com). Where? In the Burj Dubai, the tallest building in the world. The hotel features lots of dark leather and wood and — given Dubai’s economic troubles — will stand either as a symbol of rebirth or of hubris.

It won’t be the only new hotel in the emirate. One & Only Resorts (www.oneandonlyresorts.com) is set to open a new resort on the tree-shaped Palm Jumeirah Island. So what if there’s already a One & Only (the Royal Mirage) overlooking Palm Jumeirah Island? Call it the Two & Only.

Another desert emirate sprouting new hotels is Dubai’s oil-rich sister, Abu Dhabi. The biggest surprise there may be the Yas (www.theyashotel.com). Designed by Asymptote, the hot architecture firm based in New York, the 499-room Yas Hotel is covered in a shell of diamond-shaped glass panels, like a high-tech veil. Even more surprising, it bridges Abu Dhabi’s new Formula One racetrack.

While new hotels in the Middle East are making bold architectural statements, European hotels seem to be slipping into older buildings unobtrusively. In Venice, Philippe Starck designed the modern, 26-room Palazzina Grassi (www.palazzinagrassi.it) to disappear behind a 15th-century facade. In Amsterdam, the 23-room Canal House Hotel (www.canalhouse.nl) is set to open in a group of charming old houses on the Keizergracht, with canal views and contemporary styling.

In London, the Dean Street Townhouse (www.deanstreettownhouse.com) — a 39-room hotel in what was once the Gargoyle Club — has four-poster beds, hand-painted wallpapers and other retro-chic touches. And in Portugal, the Palácio do Freixo (www.pousadas.com), in Porto, occupies a magnificently restored Baroque palace and former factory next door.

Closer to home, the hotel boom doesn’t seem to have slowed much in New York City. Vikram Chatwal, the hotelier behind the Dream Hotels in New York and Bangkok, is opening the Chatwal (www.vikramchatwalhotels.com) in the former Lambs Club on West 44th Street designed by the great Beaux-Arts architect Stanford White. An outpost of the Mondrian Hotel (www.mondrianhotel.com) is coming to SoHo, with design based on the 1946 Cocteau Surrealist film “Beauty and the Beast” and the “Top Chef” alum Sam Talbot manning the kitchen.

Also expected to open are the W Downtown (www.whotels.com), with views of the World Trade Center site, and Fashion 26 (www.wyndham.com), a Wyndham Hotel that takes its cue from the Fashion Institute of Technology, its 26th Street neighbor. The Kimpton chain, known for its affordable, boutique-ish hotels, will open the Eventi (www.eventihotel.com) in the Chelsea neighborhood. And Patrik Horstmann, the longtime manager of the Gansevoort Hotel, will open the Nolitan (www.nolitanhotel.com), a boutique hotel just north of Little Italy.

Not all the openings are in Manhattan. The 321-room Sheraton Brooklyn (www.sheraton.com/brooklyn), near the MetroTech Center, is expected to open in March, and will be one of the borough’s largest new hotels in decades. Elsewhere in the Americas: In Cartagena, Colombia, the Sofitel Santa Clara (www.hotelsantaclara.com) is opening in a former monastery that dates from 1621. And in Mexico, in another sign of Acapulco’s rebirth, Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts, the Singapore-based chain, plans to open the Banyan Tree Cabo Marqués (www.banyantree.com/en/cabomarques).

Asia, meanwhile, continues to add hotels at a furious pace. In Thailand, Ritz-Carlton Reserve opens Phulay Bay (www.phulaybay.com), a 54-villa resort in the southern town of Krabi that offers private butlers and meditation classes taught by monks. Not far away, W Hotels is planning to open the W Retreat Koh Samui (www.whotels.com/kohsamui).

Anantara, a resort chain based in Bangkok, is opening the Anantara Kihavah Villas in the Maldives (www.kihavah-maldives.anantara.com), a secluded 82-villa resort with private swimming pools, thatched roofs and an underwater restaurant.

Don’t confuse Anantara with Aman — the ne plus ultra chain that is set to open Amanfayun (www.amanfayun.com), a spectacular 42-room resort that evokes an ancient Chinese compound, about 20 minutes from Hangzhou, China. It’s just one of hundreds of hotels expected to open in China in 2010, including three hotels from Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts (www.shangri-la.com), in Beijing, Guilin and Shanghai.

Another growth market is India, where Starwood has more than a dozen hotels in the pipeline, including three Aloft hotels (www.alofthotels.com) and the Westin New Delhi Gurgaon (www.westin.com/gurgaon), scheduled to open in July.

The St. Regis is set to open its first hotel in Japan, in the heart of Osaka (www.stregis.com/osaka). In Tokyo, the Tokyu hotel group plans to open the Capital Hotel Tokyu (www.tokyuhotelsjapan.com) near the Imperial Palace. This is no capsule hotel — the smallest room will be more than 400 square feet.

Singapore is also bucking the global hotel downturn. The Wangz Hotel (www.wangzhotel.com) on Tiong Bahru Road occupies a futuristic cylindrical building (the shape is said to induce relaxation). Even more spectacular — or gaudy — is the Marina Bay Sands (www.marinabaysands.com), a giant resort composed of three 55-story towers, with a giant park on their shared roof. When it opens, the hotel-casino-resort is expected to feature a production of “The Lion King,” and restaurants by Mario Batali, Wolfgang Puck and Daniel Boulud. All three are known for their cuisine and for their chutzpa

Russian Ice Hotel

noreply@blogger.com (ItalyTravelTours.biz) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 19:33:00 +0000

Do not remain aloof from the fashionable trends to build snow hotels, Russia is also ready to open the country’s first ice hotel. The hotel is going to be open on Feb. 14, 2010 in Ustyansk area of the Arkhangelsk region, Russia. Presentation of the hotel will take place within Russia’s Ice Sculpture Festival, which will start ten days earlier.

The hotel will comprise nine residential rooms, all the furniture there will also be made of ice. In addition, a theater will be opened inside the hotel with 70 seats. There will be a conference hall, bar and even the palace of weddings. For Russian Ded Moroz, who arrives from the Great Ustyug, the separate apartments already booked. According to calculations of the creators, the construction will last until 30 March,

Moscow Hotels Most Expensive

noreply@blogger.com (ItalyTravelTours.biz) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 18:15:00 +0000

Hotels in Moscow have been revealed as the world’s most expensive for a fifth consecutive year. Average room rates in the Russian capital were £265 a night, down by £37 on 2008. However they were still more than £40 dearer than the second most expensive destination, Abu Dhabi.

According to the survey by the Hogg Robinson Group (HRG), an international corporate travel services company, average room rates (calculated in local currency) fell in most cities, as hoteliers sought to entice travellers during the financial downturn with cut-price deals.

However for British travellers the falling value of the pound during 2009 meant that the cost of hotels in many cities actually increased. Average room rates in Abu Dhabi were £32 more expensive, accommodation in Geneva in £6 dearer, and prices in Washington were £9 higher.

In New York, the third most expensive city on the list, rates fell by 23 per cent (from $414.52 to $318.98), but due to the weak pound, this represents a fall of less than £20 for British visitors.

Average room rates in London fell by five per cent to £151.45, placing the capital in 29th position on the list

Tuscany brings to light Vie degli Etruschi

noreply@blogger.com (ItalyTravelTours.biz) — Sun, 14 Feb 2010 17:30:00 +0000

The Tuscany Region's effort to re-launch interest in the Etruscans and develop the places and itineraries of ancient Etruria will have to continue even in the next legislature. The Regional Council has approved a proposal for the support of projects to reconstitute the federation of Etruscan cities and create the 'Vie degli Etruschi'. The project will include trekking itineraries, horseback riding routes, and cycling paths that are characterised by a coordinated graphic, a common logo and an illustrative set of brochures that will make it possible to visit the archaeological areas, monuments and museums with Etruscan collections as well as other cultural assets or territorial offers.

Valentine's Day St Valentine's land

noreply@blogger.com (ItalyTravelTours.biz) — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 22:00:00 +0000

Umbria, the land of St Valentine and St Francis of Assisi is the pretty green heart of Italy of rolling green hills, woods with secluded monasteries, meadows, vineyards and olive groves. It has it own micro climate spring arriving much earlier than at neighboring provinces like Lazio,the more southerly region of Rome.

The celebrations of St. Valentine Day on February 14th go back to pre-Roman times and started as pagan fertility festivities of the Umbri and Etruscan peoples celebrating spring, rebirth and mating time.

Although similar to Tuscany, which it borders, Umbria is slightly less well-known, quieter and with gentler landscape of medieval hamlets and Roman-style villas with serpentine roadways fenced by needle Cyprus trees.

While Umbria is totally land locked in the center of Italy, it has a lively beach-like lifestyle in the summer along Lake Trasimento, the largest lake in the region ideal for water activities.

Umbria is also the legendary land of a thousand saints, among them Saint Francis of Assisi and St Valentine, the third century bishop of Terni. (105 km from Rome)