Jetsettersblog

Popular Landing Spots For British Skiers & Snowboarders

Leading flight search engine, Skyscanner (www.Skyscanner.net), dips into its data to see where British winter sports enthusiasts are flying to this winter. Despite economic woes, European ski searches appear healthy with a small rise in flight search traffic for ski airports compared to last year. With a strong US dollar, it seems many Brits are avoiding transatlantic mountains and favouring the more local European peaks.

1. Geneva (Switzerland) – at number one by quite a long way it’s Geneva. Close to the French border (the airport even has a French sector), Geneva is an ideal landing zone for skiers and snowboarders, offering the choice of over 100 ski resorts within two hours’ drive. One of the closest is Lelex, a small resort served by 13 ski lifts, ideal for families and beginners, and at the other end of the scale – Morzine, part of Les Portes Du Soleil ski area, a huge interlinked domaine offering some 650 different pistes, served by over 200 ski lifts.

2. Nice (France) – located for good access to the ski resorts of the Southern French Alps and the Italian Alps, Nice offers access to 12 ski resorts within 3 hours’ drive. Isola 2000 is one of the best in range, rising to 2610m, offering about 50 pistes and around 120km of downhill skiing and snowboarding. Alba, about 2.5 hours from Nice is an ideal choice for beginners, a compact area which is also good for cross country skiing, boasting 52km of Nordic trails.

3. Salzburg (Austria) – located in the north of the country, Salzburg is surrounded by over 100 resorts to the south, east and west, all of which are less than 2 hours drive from the airport. Mayrhofen is one of the most famous in the area and one of the highest resorts in Austria; part of the Zillertal ski area, it offers access to 130 pistes. If you’re looking for a family ski area and need something with shorter drive times, try St Wolfgang – one of the closest ski areas to Salzburg, this small resort has 9 ski lifts as well as 30km of cross country trials.

4. Munich (Germany) – another good access point with almost 100 ski resorts within 2 hours of the airport. Choose from a great selection of Northern Austrian resorts, or for something a little different, why not visit a German ski resort? Though little known as a skiing destination, Germany has some great options; Sankt Englmar is a small ski area best suited to beginners and young families in the east of Germany – or try Grainau – one of the bigger resorts in Germany offering an impressive vertical drop of over 2000m and 44 pistes.

5. Grenoble (France) – there are over 50 ski resorts within 1.5 hours of the airport, including some of the biggest and best such as Alp d’Huez, Courchevel, La Grave, Meribel and Valmorel. For somewhere a little more secret, try Autrans - a quieter area with 16 lifts and about 18km of downhill slopes as well as 160km of cross country ski trails.

Best of the Rest:

Toulouse (France) – offers access to Pyrenean ski resorts in France, Spain and Andorra. Pas de la Casa is a firm favourite with the Brits, renowned for its excellent value and lively après ski action.

Innsbruck (Austria) – great for getting to resorts in the Tyrol region and the city of Innsbruck itself is home to Nordkette, a small ski area with slopes overlooking the city, which boasts one of the steepest runs in Europe.

Milan Bergamo (Italy) – good for Northern Italian resorts. Try Livigno, a duty free ski resort with an excellent terrain park and good off piste options, a quaint alpine town untouched by overdevelopment.

To find more cheap flights, fast – visit www.Skyscanner.net

Rail Europe, a distributor of European rail products in North America, announced the launch of Trenitalia’s new Milan to Rome high-speed rail link. The new line shaves an hour off the route, connecting Italy’s political and financial capitals in 3 hours and 30 minutes. The new route establishes Milan as Italy’s main point of connection with Europe’s high-speed larger rail network for the benefit of business and leisure travelers alike. Milan is currently served by Artesia trains from Paris, Cisalpino from Basel, Bern and Geneva, Riviera from Nice and Elipsos overnight trains from Barcelona.

Trenitalia’s ETR500 AV Red Arrow Train, which will service the new route and will be available for reservations on www.agent.raileurope.com in January, was designed by Italian automotive designer, Giorgetto Giugiaro. Giugiaro was recently named Automotive Designer of the Century for his achievements in designing for Audi, Alfa Romeo, Fiat, Maserati, Volkswagen and others. The Red Arrow reaches a maximum speed of 186 miles per hour, offering rail travelers in Italy an equivalent level of speed, service and convenience as other European countries.
Passengers can order from a menu of breakfast, lunch and dinner selections from the restaurant car, as well as snacks and beverages from the bar car. TrenItalia’s InterCity Plus and Eurostar Italia trains, offer speedy connections between Rome, Florence, Venice, Milan, Bologna and Naples and convenient access to many smaller Italian towns. Rail Europe offers a full range of TrenItalia tickets that can be tailored toward each traveler’s individual needs.

To book any of Rail Europe’s wide range of economical railpasses and point-to-point tickets on trains throughout Europe, call 888-382-7245 or visit Rail Europe’s website at the banner at the right.

Cadogan Holidays is delighted to announce the launch of its all-new summer 2009 portfolio. With a new company logo, new look, style, pricing guide and layout for the brochure, as well as a wealth of new content in terms of product offering, this launch signals exciting times for the luxury tour operator.

The Cadogan product team has been busy this year, visiting and carefully reviewing all of their hotels, cutting out mid-market product and adding hand-picked premium hotels, experiences and tours. The new Cadogan focus is on the best of the best; on offering properties with a “wow” factor in unique destinations.

The streamlining of the summer 2009 collection has meant that the Cadogan offering as a whole is now more exclusive than it has ever been - only 60% of the original product has remained and 85% of the featured properties are now five star. Furthermore, Cadogan has considerably developed its boutique hotel portfolio with the inclusion of a number of unique, stylish and off-the-beaten track accommodation options for the discerning traveller seeking a more intimate holiday experience.

Doug Mathieson, Head of Product at Cadogan, comments: “Fewer hotels means better contractual relationships with partners and in-resort support. This way, we are also looking after suppliers by providing more volume of business and in return, properties offer better value, more special offers and make sure that all Cadogan’s guests’ needs are looked after in-resort”.

Another significant change in the new brochure is Cadogan’s pricing guide. In order to be as transparent as possible, Cadogan has shied away from using indicative pricing and now quotes package rates including everything but flights. This new “unpackaged package” approach means that up to date flight prices will be available at the time of booking, providing more flexibility for clients.

“We don’t know of any other tour operators offering package prices without flights” says Doug, “I think this is the best way forward in the current climate, ensuring that the customer is given all possible options and that we are always in a position to offer them the best prices and even savings at the time of booking”.

Also new is a quick reference accommodation guide in the opening pages to help clients find the perfect destination for their needs, whether looking for the best hotel for their honeymoon, gourmet dining options, historic or caracter hotels, wellness & spa destinations, quiet retreats, or best properties for city or golfing breaks.

New properties for Cadogan featured in the Summer 09 brochure would be too many to list; however, Cadogan is delighted to announce its expansion into a number of exciting destinations:

• Italy is one of the largest expansion areas this summer with new featured properties in the Italian Lakes (Como, Maggiore and Orta), Liguria (Portofino), Tuscany, The Aeolian Islands (Vulcano) and a city programme including Rome, Florence and Venice.

• Equally amplified is the product in Turkey, which sees the addition of Kemer, Tekirova, Belek, Lara, Side and Antalia, all on the Turkish Riviera, as well as Dalaman and Ölü Deniz on the Aegean coastline.

• The Cadogan Croatia portfolio has also grown considerably for 2009, with the incorporation of the Dubrovnik Riviera (Cavtat) and Split and Hvar on the Dalmatia coast.

• New product in Portugal includes properties in the Estoril Coast, north of Lisbon.

• And new destinations in Greece include the Peloponnese on the mainland and the volcanic island of Santorini, in the Cyclades.

Each destination chapter of the brochure is introduced with expert tips and suggestions on what delicacies to try, what sites to explore or what day trips to take and are followed by a directory of “not to be missed” experiences, ranging from rafting, luxury cruises or jeep safaris, to guided mountain walks or escorted tours of ancient cities - all pre-bookable through the Cadogan Concierge. Before leading into the accommodation listings, Cadogan also details more comprehensive tours and inspiring itineraries for those with a desire to learn, explore, discover and experience more when they travel.

Reservations: 0845 615 6793
www.cadoganholidays.com

About Cadogan Holidays:

Established nearly 60 years ago and part of the prestigious Bland Group, established in 1810, Cadogan Holidays is one of the UK’s leading luxury tour operators offering tailor-made holidays across the Mediterranean, North Africa, the Middle East and the Canary Islands. Cadogan Holidays offers a diverse selection of inspirational experiences, activities, itineraries and tours that help holidaymakers really get under the skin of the destinations they visit. Whether looking for chilled out luxury, a romantic escape, or island hopping, Cadogan will assist travellers in finding the ideal holiday experience in the best four and five-star hotels, riads, pousadas and quintas in over 30 destinations.

Cadogan Holidays has an intimate knowledge of every destination they visit, and carefully handpick the finest hotels. With a focus on providing the best service, Cadogan offers experienced travel advisors, who look after all the details so that the customer can relax from start to finish. Above all Cadogan offers flexibility and choice for the luxury traveller with expert advice. With Cadogan, customers can travel from any departure airport, for any duration and all scheduled flights include lounge access at the departure airport. Private transfers are automatically included to make clients’ arrivals and departures as smooth as possible.

Opening hours for agents are from Monday – Friday, 9:00 – 20:00, and Saturday, 09:00 – 17:30.

A 7-night cruise from Venice to Istanbul and back aboard the luxury mega-liner Costa Serena is selling through ecruising.travel from just AUD$3199pp twin-share, including return air from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Cairns*, a hotel night pre-cruise in Venice and onboard gratuities.

Costa Serena will sail from Venice for Bari in Italy, Katakolon (Greece,) Izmir and Istanbul in Turkey, Dubrovnik (Croatia) and back to Venice on May 24 and 31, September 20 and 27 and October 11 next year.

The 112,000 tonne liner that’s one of the two largest in the Costa fleet, has countless big-ship facilities including four pools – two of them with retractable glass roofs – five Jacuzzis, a jogging track, a 2100 square metre Spa and Wellness Centre, nightly showroom entertainment, late-release movies and a casino.

There are five restaurants to choose from and a range of indoor and outdoor bars and lounges.

For full details of these cruises that are selling through ecruising.travel at prices vastly below previously advertised,

phone 1300 369 848

 or check out www.ecruising.travel

* air taxes and fuel surcharges at time of booking are additional.

Ski holidays on the upward climb despite pound’s downward slope.

Ski-mad Brits are refusing to sacrifice their winter holidays by turning their back on the recession and heading to the slopes.

Even the falling pound, which means a lack of extra spending money, isn’t putting ski-crazy Britons off scouring the net for the best bargains to bring down the cost of their winter break.

By booking lift passes and organising the kitty in the UK, powder monkeys are ensuring they stay on the piste but not out of pocket, says Wigadoo, the UK’s leading website for booking trips and events.

“We’ve seen an avalanche of groups booking last-second trips to the slopes to enjoy the best snow for decades,” says Andy Cockburn, CEO of www.Wigadoo.com.

“Some groups have even used the site to get all the money together for a ski trip, and then wait until the best deal comes up.”

“As anyone who’s ever been on a group ski holiday will know, it’s impossible to bag the cheapest deal because of the length of time it takes to get all the money together and book it.”

Looking for holiday companies which offer a discount on groups, such as half-price lift passes or one free place is just one of the bonuses of going with a large group of friends, says Cockburn.

And the beauty of Wigadoo is that you can get your friends to commit quickly and collect the money instantly, then use a virtual prepaid MasterCard to book everything securely at once.

It takes the hassle and pain out of planning and is perfect for complicated get-togethers like ski trips where you might need to book flights, accommodation and ski passes separately but for many people.

Clever ski bunnies have always found the cheapest deals by tailoring their own holidays to suit their needs, and with the Wigadoo MasterCard, they can avoid falling victim to the exchange rate by buying lift passes in advance from the UK.

“Normally as the organiser I would pay for the car rental, ski hire and lift passes out of my account and we would sort out the money when we were there,” says Olivia Gwynn. “However, I would always end up a bit out of pocket and this year that just wasn’t an option.”

Olivia suggested going on a ski trip while she was at work, inviting friends through the Wigadoo Facebook application. Two days later, she had collected all the money, booked a bargain deal and transferred the surplus cash into her own account to use as a kitty.

“Skiers are passionate about their hobby,” says Dan Fox, MD of SkiWeekends.com. “A poor exchange rate or even a recession is not enough to put powder monkeys off their annual pilgrimage to the slopes.”

“Using Wigadoo is just one of the things skiers and boarders can do to keep the costs of their trip down, along with seeking out the best exchange rate,” says Fox. “Because we buy currency in advance if you pre-book your passes with us it’s cheaper than buying them in resort and similar savings apply to ski hire.”

Wigadoo’s top 10 tips to save on a ski holiday

1. Book in groups – there are often great deals around, such as ‘10th person goes free’ or half price insurance for groups of over eight

2. Book ahead – buying lift passes on the internet from the UK is often cheaper than on the slopes

3. Be realistic – if you’re the kind of person who doesn’t get up till gone midday, buy half-day lift passes rather than a full week

4. Be flexible - Christmas, New Year, February half-term and two weeks in April are the most expensive times to ski so try and go in between these dates

5. Get organised – using Wigadoo to pay for everything up front, like a kitty for the chalet, car hire and petrol money means no-one is left out of pocket

6. Don’t settle – ski hire shops are often flexible and a little bit of bartering can go a long way

7. Buy in the UK – goggles, gloves and everything else ski-related practically doubles in price once you get on the slopes, so make sure you’re kitted out before you go

8. Look elsewhere – while the pound is weak against the euro, ski outside of the Eurozone in places like the Czech Republic

9. Be quick – last-second trips are often the cheapest, and many packages have been reduced by 50 per cent in the last few weeks

10. Get behind the wheel – with the recent drop in petrol prices, it may be cheaper to drive to the Alps rather than fly

Book a luxury villa - with private pool and concierge service - on Croatia’s Istrian Peninsula and enjoy complimentary car hire, courtesy of market leader, Holiday Options.

This extra special deal – seven or 14 nights’ free hire of an Opel Corsa - applies to holidays between April and October, providing the booking is made by 28 February.

These superb three or four-bedroom villas – built using traditional stone and wood with open fireplaces, rustic furniture and state-of-the-art appliances – are situated close to the villages of Visnjan and Lovrec and are around 15 km from Pula.

Each property is provided with a mobile phone linked to the guest relations team that can provide a wealth of services ranging from babysitting to the charter of a powerboat with skipper.

As an example of price, a seven-night holiday – based on six sharing a three-bedroom villa – costs £479 per person in early April, rising to £829 in peak season, inclusive of return flights from Gatwick, transfers, accommodation and hire of an Opel Corsa.

Car upgrades are available (with visitors paying any additional costs) and flights are also available from a wide choice of regional airports.

Reservations: 0844 477 0452, www.holidayoptions.co.uk

Is Affordable And Enriching With Trafalgar Tours In 2009

New Family Experiences & Spain Itinerary Among the 40 CostSaver Tours Offered Next Year

From Lisbon to London, Trafalgar Tours will explore Europe and Britain “The CostSaver Way” next year on 40 diverse tours carefully planned to ensure flexibility, choice, and outstanding value with rates as low as $126 per day. Drawing on Trafalgar’s 60-plus years of knowledge and expertise, CostSaver itineraries offer savvy travelers the opportunity to enjoy enriching, hassle-free touring vacations at savings of up to 40% when compared to traveling independently.

Targeting multi-generational family vacations - the fastest growing segment in travel - Trafalgar is debuting three new Family Experience CostSaver tours, destination-rich itineraries designed especially for them. Also new in 2009 is a ten-day Spanish Experience featuring seven of the country’s most intriguing cities.

“For couples, singles, or families, our CostSaver tours ensure tremendous flexibility and choice as well as incredible value. We know that even during these challenging economic times, our guests do not want to sacrifice the unique life experiences enjoyed through travel,” says Trafalgar Tours President Paul Wiseman. “We see this commitment to travel especially among our growing family market and have created new tours to appeal to their specific needs.”

Reinforcing the company’s commitment to savings and value, Trafalgar’s Price Guarantee offers added peace of mind when making future travel plans. Once a deposit is paid in full, the land portion of the tour is 100% guaranteed - regardless of fluctuating international currencies or possible increases in fuel costs, guests will not be charged any surcharges.

Trafalgar’s three new Family Experience CostSaver tours feature special pricing on itineraries designed to be exciting for children and stress-free for parents with special family accommodations (all rates are land-only, double-occupancy):

• European Adventures - From the White Cliffs of Dover to the Toy Museum in Prague, the Glockenspiel in Munich, and the Eiffel Tower in Paris, kids and parents both will love this 15-day journey visiting nine countries including England, Belgium, Holland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and France. Fares from $2,250 per person.

• Castles, Highlands & Heritage - The beauty of Great Britain is revealed on a 15-day tour through England, Wales, and Scotland, with fascinating sites including Stonehenge, Shakespeare’s home, a journey to Loch Ness, and a visit to St. Andrews. Rates begin at $2,050 per person.

• Gladiators, Gondolas & Mountains - The crown jewels of Italy, France, Monaco, and Switzerland are explored on this 13-day tour visiting Rome, Florence, the Tuscan Hills, Nice, Geneva, Zermatt, Italian Lakes, and Venice. Fares from $2,175 per person.

Celebrating the art, architecture, and delectable cuisine of Spain, a brand new Spanish Experience CostSaver program is priced from only $1,425 and visits Madrid, Toledo, Seville, Valencia, Peniscola, and Barcelona.

Trafalgar offers three different styles of CostSaver tours priced at savings of up to 40% less than traveling to Europe on an independent itinerary:

• City Breaks range from 8 to 11 days allowing guests the luxury of time to completely immerse themselves in some of the world’s greatest cities including Paris, London, Amsterdam, and Rome.

• European Discoveries include 14 destination-rich journeys exploring the heart of Europe, ranging from 10 to 34 days.

• Regional Experiences allow for more in-depth exploration of Europe’s fascinating history, pageantry, and culture on tours of 8 to 34 days.

Traveling “The CostSaver Way” combines all the benefits of fully escorted touring with the flexibility of independent travel. An affordable travel option for couples, singles and families alike, CostSaver tours provide great value with accommodations in carefully selected, quality hotels; the personal concierge services of a professional, knowledgeable Tour Director; daily sightseeing and optional excursions hosted by expert local guides; excellent culinary options; and, transportation by deluxe motor coach.

About Trafalgar Tours

Established in 1947, Trafalgar is one of the world’s leading travel companies, providing discerning travelers with expertly designed escorted travel experiences while ensuring unmatched standards of quality, value and reliability. Headquartered in London with offices in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and South Africa, the company offers over 300 worldwide itineraries, thousands of year-round departure dates, and unique travel styles designed to fit travelers’ needs and desires in Europe, the USA, Canada, Mexico, South and Central America, China, Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific.

For more information and reservations, see your travel agent or call (866) 544-4434 or visit www.trafalgartours.com

2009 Europe & Britain “The CostSaver Way” brochures may be ordered online at www.trafalgartours.com

Trafalgar launched its 2009 Religious Tours series with the release of a new brochure, Journeys of Faith and Spirituality, detailing five new itineraries visiting the most inspirational and holy sites in Israel, Italy, Greece, Turkey, France, Spain and Poland.

Each journey to these religiously significant destinations will be escorted by a professional tour director specially chosen for their knowledge and expertise in the religious, historic and cultural aspects of the areas being visited. The new itineraries include Missionary Journey of Paul, 11 days from $2,020, visiting Athens, Mykonos, Rhodes, Kusadasi, Thessaloniki and Meteora, departures May through September 2009; Land of the Bible, nine days from $1,975, visiting Tel Aviv, Caesarea, Haifa, Acre, Tiberias, Capernaum, Kibbutz Nof Ginosar, Kursi, Jordan Park, Nazareth, Jericho and Jerusalem, departures May through October 2009; Poland and Pope John Paul II, eight days from $1,225, visiting Krakow, Wadowice, Kalwaria Zebrzydowska, Auschwitz, Czestochowa and Warsaw, departures May through November 2009;

Catholic Portugal, Spain and France, 12 days from $2,225, visiting Lisbon, Santarem, Fatima, Santiago de Compostela, Burgos, Lourdes and Paris, departures June through October 2009; and A Journey through Christian Italy, 10 days from $1,995, visiting Rome, Assisi, Siena, Florence, Padua and Venice, departures June through October 2009. All prices listed are land-only, per person, based on double-room occupancy.

Sightseeing highlights include visits to the birthplace of Jesus and the Basilica of the Annunciation in Nazareth; the Church of the Nativity, Wailing Wall and Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem; Auschwitz in Poland; the Basilica and the Grotto in Lourdes; the Vatican; and the spectacular 14th century monasteries perched high atop towering rocks in Meteora, Greece.

On a Trafalgar expertly designed travel experience all the organizational hassles are taken care of, so each passenger can truly relax and delight in the journey with friendly fellow travelers. Guests enjoy accommodations in first-class, well-located hotels; the services of a Trafalgar professional tour director and driver throughout; and fascinating sightseeing with expert local guides.

The Trafalgar experience is steeped in the history, customs and culture of each exciting destination, ensuring no one misses out on any of the hidden treasures. It really is a case of “Dream. Pack. And leave…the rest to us.” Trafalgar Tours was established in 1947 and has 61 years of experience providing exceptional worldwide vacations to Europe, Britain, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South America and China.

Trafalgar at 800-854-0103. For more information, visit www.trafalgartours.com

Trafalgar Tours will explore Europe and Britain “The CostSaver Way” next year on 40 diverse tours planned to ensure flexibility, choice, and outstanding value with rates as low as $126 per day.

Drawing on Trafalgar’s 60-plus years of knowledge and expertise, CostSaver itineraries offer clients the opportunity to enjoy enriching, hassle-free touring vacations at savings of up to 40 percent when compared to traveling independently. Targeting multi-generational family vacations — the fastest growing segment in travel — Trafalgar is introducing three new Family Experience CostSaver tours.

Also new in 2009 is a 10-day Spanish Experience featuring seven of the country’s most intriguing cities. “For couples, singles, or families, our CostSaver tours ensure tremendous flexibility and choice as well as incredible value. We know that even during these challenging economic times, our guests do not want to sacrifice the unique life experiences enjoyed through travel,” said Trafalgar Tours President Paul Wiseman. “We see this commitment to travel especially among our growing family market and have created new tours to appeal to their specific needs.”

Reinforcing Trafalgar’s commitment to savings and value, the company’s Price Guarantee offers added peace of mind when making future travel plans. Once a deposit is paid in full, the land portion of the tour is 100 percent guaranteed — regardless of fluctuating international currencies or possible increases in fuel costs, guests will not be charged any surcharges. Trafalgar also pays the same commissions on its CostSaver programs as it does on its First Class Europe & Britain tours.

Trafalgar’s three new Family Experience CostSaver tours feature special pricing on itineraries designed to be exciting for children and stress-free for parents with special family accommodations (all rates are land-only, double-occupancy). European Adventures takes guests from the White Cliffs of Dover to the Toy Museum in Prague, the Glockenspiel in Munich, and the Eiffel Tower in Paris. This 15-day journey, priced from $2,250 per person, visits nine countries, including England, Belgium, Holland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and France.

Castles, Highlands & Heritage showcases the beauty of Great Britain on a 15-day tour through England, Wales, and Scotland, with stops at such sites as Stonehenge, Shakespeare’s home, a journey to Loch Ness, and a visit to St. Andrews. The tour is priced from $2,050 per person. Gladiators, Gondolas & Mountains explores the crown jewels of Italy, France, Monaco, and Switzerland on a 13-day tour visiting Rome, Florence, the Tuscan Hills, Nice, Geneva, Zermatt, Italian Lakes, and Venice. The program is priced from $2,175 per person.

Celebrating the art, architecture, and delectable cuisine of Spain, a new Spanish Experience CostSaver program is priced from $1,425 and visits Madrid, Toledo, Seville, Valencia, Peniscola, and Barcelona. CostSaver tours are priced at savings of up to 40 percent less than traveling to Europe on an independent itinerary: City Breaks range from 8 to 11 days, allowing guests the luxury of time to completely immerse themselves in some of the world’s greatest cities including Paris, London, Amsterdam, and Rome. European Discoveries include 14 destination-rich journeys exploring the heart of Europe, ranging from 10 to 34 days. Regional Experiences allow for more in-depth exploration of Europe’s fascinating history, pageantry, and culture on tours of 8 to 34 days.

Traveling “The CostSaver Way” combines all the benefits of fully escorted touring with the flexibility of independent travel. An affordable travel option for couples, singles and families alike, CostSaver tours provide great value with accommodations in carefully selected, quality hotels; the personal concierge services of a professional, knowledgeable tour director; daily sightseeing and optional excursions hosted by expert local guides; excellent culinary options; and, transportation by deluxe motor coach.

 For more information and reservations, call 800-854-0103 or visit www.trafalgartours.com

Hassle free vacation planning with all-inclusive river cruises

According to a new survey conducted by Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA) and Cruise Critic, “Cruising can be a great choice for multigenerational travel, with over 60% of the respondents on this survey saying they sometimes or always travel as an extended family (with grandparents and/or grandchildren).” Uniworld understands this, and has developed multigenerational family-friendly river cruises specifically to appeal to grandparents and parents who wish to share the gift of Europe with the special young people in their lives.

According to Guy Young, president of Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, “With such a huge demand for new opportunities for multigenerational travel, it was a natural evolution for us to offer river cruising programs geared towards families. Our family-friendly programs have been developed around summer vacations in July and August, so planning a vacation is always easy.”

The value of an all-inclusive Uniworld cruise is unbeatable. Uniworld’s offers special family pricing with young people between 8 and 18 traveling at 50% off the cruise price when traveling with an adult. Add in all meals with soft drinks, entertainment, lectures and demonstrations onboard, and exciting shore excursions, fully hosted by local guides, and you have the ideal, hassle-free, value-packed family vacation.

Uniworld’s multigenerational programs provide the opportunity for families to explore amazing countries, gain valuable insights, and intimately learn about different cultures up-close and personal as a family. “It is important to note that Uniworld’s itineraries are different from ocean cruises in that the goal of our programs is to give young travelers an understanding of European culture, art, music and history in an engaging way,” adds Young.

Family-friendly itineraries include:

A 9-day Castles Along the Rhine River Cruise sailing the Rhine River between Amsterdam and Basel. The fairytale castles, combined with the breathtaking landscape, old-world towns with quaint half-timbered buildings, exciting museums with self-playing musical instruments and legendary myths are certain to enchant the entire family. Special highlights include a mini-train ride to Siegfried’s Mechanical Museum, home to one of the largest collection of self-playing musical instruments in the world, and the Speyer Technical Museum with a walk-in Boeing 747, the largest propeller aircraft in the world, a U9 German Navy submarine, fire engines, locomotives, aircrafts and helicopters.

Cruise only prices are from $2,399 per person, based on double occupancy for July and August departures. Children between 8 and 18 years of age receive 50% off cruise-only rate when accompanied by an adult.

A 9-day Paris and Normandy River Cruise sailing along the Seine from Paris the” City of Lights,” past the luminous countryside of Northern France to the nostalgic beaches of Normandy and then back to Paris. This unique program offers the adventures family-friendly guided tours of Paris, Honfleur, Rouen and Giverny, and the real-life education of standing on the beaches of Normandy as a family sharing in the meaningful events that forever changed the world. Special highlights include: Joan de Arc Museum in Rouen, the Naturospace Museum in Honfleur, and a hike to the Stronghold of Richard the Lionheart, Chateau Gaillard.

Cruise only prices are from $2,599 per person, based on double occupancy. Children between 8 and 18 years of age receive 50% off cruise-only rate when accompanied by an adult.

About Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection
Los Angeles-based Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, the premier river cruise company, was recently named to Travel + Leisure’s World’s Best Top 10 Small Ship Cruise Lines, Condé Nast Traveler’s Gold List and their Readers’ Choice Awards for World’s Top 10 Small Ship Cruise Lines. Uniworld features intimate, elegant boutique, hotel-style cruise ships with an average capacity of 134 guests, an award-winning staff with a ratio of one staff member for every three guests, world-class cuisine, and expertly planned itineraries with custom-blended shore excursions. The company offers over 500 departures on more than 40 itineraries sailing on 12 rivers in over 20 countries throughout Europe, Russia, China, and Egypt.

For more information, contact your Preferred Travel Professional. Call Uniworld at 1-800-733-7820 or visit www.uniworld.com