Jetsettersblog

Travel à la carte has been a specialist operator to Greece for almost 30 years, through good times and bad. The key to our longevity? Accommodation of character on a select range of islands and the highest levels of staff service and expertise. We aim to ensure these qualities continue to bring us many more years of success.

The heart of our Greek programme is tiny Paxos, a haven of unchanging tranquillity that lures admirers back year after year. We are mainly in picturesque Loggos, the prettiest and quietest of the coastal villages, with apartments and houses offering enchanting sea views, proximity to beaches and tavernas, and quiet locations in the olive groves. In a new venture for 2009, we are also teaming up with special interest holiday provider Paxos Life Activities, who will be offering a range of courses including journalism, creative writing, painting, photography and theatre, as well as scuba diving and Greek cultural activities. Accommodation rental prices on Paxos start at £202 for a week at an apartment for two in early May.

Symi and Halki, in the eastern Aegean, are two other firm favourites of Travel a la carte’s clients. Cosmopolitan Symi is best known for the beauty of the town’s architecture and the excellence of its restaurants, while Halki town, a huddle of narrow streets almost free of traffic, provides the quietest possible getaway from the pressures of modern life. Both are reached by boat from Rhodes and rental prices start at £470 for a week at Roula studio on Halki in May.

Completing our Greek programme are the Sporades islands in the northern Aegean. Skiathos offers some of the best sandy beaches in the Mediterranean, while neighbours Skopelos and Alonissos, a short hydrofoil journey from Skiathos, are for those seeking a quieter, less tourist-oriented Greece. Rental prices here start at £414 for a studio for two just behind Koukounaries beach on Skiathos.

Prices given are for the accommodation and include maid service, linen, welcome pack and the services of our local representatives. Travel à la carte also offers a full meet & greet service, including all transfers, from £67 per person, and can offer expert advice on flights from a range of UK airports.

Travel à la carte is an ABTA-bonded company with membership number V2429

Two-for-One Offers on the High Seas of Luxury

Hong Kong - Start the New Year with a holiday that takes travellers for a complete tour of the sites and sounds of the Mediterranean while relaxing in luxury and enjoying the highest standards of service aboard MSC¡¦s newest and largest ship, MSC Fantasia, or alternatively, on one of the long-standing favourites of many guests, MSC Poesia. Now MSC makes the opportunity even sweeter by offering a New Year ¡§Two-for-One¡¨ promotion, enabling international adventurers to see the best of the Mediterranean on several breathtaking routes, all at two for the price of one.

After its maiden voyage this December, the MSC Fantasia¡¦s grandeur is on display during the Western Mediterranean 11-night journey, departing and returning to Genoa, Italy. The itinerary includes some of the most exciting and intriguing ports of call in Europe. Explore the magical cities of Barcelona and Gibraltar, the historic town of Funchal, Portugual, then enjoy the beauty of Tenerife and Arrecife in the Canary Islands. Continue on to the quintessentially Spanish city of Malaga before docking in Civitavecchia, Italy for some incredible Italian fare before returning back to Genoa.

Departing Friday, January 16, or Tuesday January 27, 2009, there is no better way to celebrate the beginning of the New Year than to enjoy a journey on the high seas with the one you love ¡V both guests for the price of just one traveller.

On another luxury cruise ship, in the company¡¦s true Italian style, the MSC Poesia is poised to provide those intrigued by the heritage and history of Greece and Egypt with a stunning way to explore these cultures for 12 days and 11 blissful nights. Departing on January 20 from Genoa, Italy, guests will discover Ajaccio, the capital city of Corsica and Napoleon Bonaparte¡¦s home town. Messina will surprise with its lively culture, while the picturesque Isle of Rhodes is stunning in its beauty. Next, visit the famed site of Egyptian archaeology in Alexandria, followed by art and culture from over the ages in La Valletta. The beachside town of La Goulette ¡V the port of Tunis ¡V is a breathtaking site, and the Italian cities of Naples and the final port of call, Genoa, are once-in-a-lifetime experiences not to be missed.

MSC Cruises¡¦ sophisticated on-board activities and facilities offer everything a guest could desire for a relaxing holiday, including mini golf course, fitness centre, spa and massage facilities, sauna rooms, jogging areas, swimming pools, Jacuzzi, video games centre, theatre, salon, internet cafes, restaurants, disco, casino, shopping arcade, children¡¦s club and Wi-Fi facilities. And, the newest addition ¡V MSC Fantasia ¡V adds panache and exclusivity to the experience with the Yacht Club, an ultra-deluxe private section of the ship with personalised service and one-of-a-kind offerings that represent all that luxury travel should be.

¡¥Two-for-One¡¦ New Year Luxury Cruise
MSC Fantasia (12 days/11 nights)
Ports of Call: Genoa„³ Barcelona „³ Gibraltar „³ Funchal „³ Tenerife „³ Arrecife „³ Malaga „³ Civitavecchia „³ Genoa
Embarkation: Genoa
ľ Departs: 16/01/2009 (Fri) and 27/01/2009 (Tue)
Price: HKD8,572 up*

MSC Poesia (12 days/11 nights)
Ports of Call: Genoa „³ Ajaccio „³ Messina „³ Rhodes „³ Alexandria „³ La Valletta „³ La Goulette „³ Naples „³ Genoa
Embarkation: Genoa
ľ Departs: 20/01/2009 (Tue)
Price: HKD8,183 up*

* The above prices exclude air-ticket, tips, port charges, fuel surcharges, government taxes and all applicable taxes.
* The above prices are applicable for 2 persons travel together only.

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.

New Five Star Hotel Openings

New hotels and additional flights are set to give the Greek island of Rhodes a bumper 2009.

Continuing to shed its party image and build a more luxury focused tourism; the island will have four new five star hotels opening next year.

The new hotels opening in 2009 included the eagerly awaited the Atrium Prestige Thalasso Spa Resort & Villas in Kalathos on the east coast, The Elysium Resort & Spa in Kallithea, La Marquise luxury resort complex close to Kallithea Springs and Port Royal villas & spa in Afandou.

Atrium Prestige Thalasso Spa Resort & Villas – due to open Spring 2009

The five-star Atrium Prestige is the second hotel to be opened as part of the Atrium Hotels group. It is located on Kalathos Beach in the picturesque town of Lindos providing guests with a stunning outlook over the Aegean Sea.

The hotel will comprise of 254 guests rooms varying between deluxe rooms, junior suites with private pools, family bungalows, Presidential beach villas and superior suites. There are six restaurants offering a wide choice of cuisine from Greek, gourmet, Mediterranean and a barbecue grill.

The Thalasso Spa Centre will offer a range of services including a gym, hammam and sauna, hot stone treatments, chocolate treatments as well as massages, manicures, pedicures and a hair salon.

The hotel’s leisure facilities include two outdoor and one indoor swimming pools, water slides, watersports, basketball, floodlit tennis courts and mini golf.

For more information, please see www.atriumprestige.gr

The Elysium Resort & Spa – due to open April 2009

According to Greek Mythology, Elysium was an ancient paradise exclusively designated to heroes who had been granted immortality by the gods. The Elysium on the Beach Hotel cannot guarantee its guests such longevity. However the hotel does aim to recreate Homer’s view of Elysium as ‘a land of perfect happiness’.

Situated 9km from Rhodes Town on the northeast coast of the island, the five-star Elysium features a contemporary architectural design and a beachfront spanning 400 metres.

Accommodation is spread across three buildings, with all but nine of the 332 guestrooms offering views of the ocean. Rooms range from standard doubles to two Presidential suites, each of which comprise two bedrooms, a living room, dining table and kitchenette.

The hotel’s leisure facilities include three outdoor swimming pools, a state-of-the -art spa with 12 treatment rooms, fitness centre and tennis court – watersports and an 18-hole golf course are also nearby.

For more information, please see www.elysium.gr

La Marquise Luxury Resort Complex – Due to open May 2009

The five-star La Marquise is located with walking distance of the restored Italian Monument – Kallithea Springs and is just 10km from Rhodes Town.

The hotel will comprise of 386 rooms ranging from guest rooms, family suites, junior suites, bungalows, villas and VIP maisonettes. There are three restaurants offering a variety of cuisine.

The hotel’s leisure facilities include an interlinking lagoon-style outdoor swimming pool, a rooftop swimming pool, a dedicated children’s pool and a heated indoor swimming pool, as well as tennis, squash, a variety of watersports and there is also a fitness suite with a personal trainer available.

The La Marquise spa is dedicated to looking after the wellbeing, relaxation and rejuvenation of its guests and has a range of treatments and therapies available. For guests looking for a little more privacy, a private spa suite is also available.

For more information visit www.lamarquise.gr

Port Royal Villas & Spa – Due to open 2009

The luxury five-star Port Royal Villas & Spa is located on the Blue Flag-awarded sand beach of Kolymbia in Afandou on the island’s east coast.

The 185 rooms include four suites with private pools and a presidential suite with private pool. The hotel also has three restaurants, three bars, two outdoor swimming pools and one indoor heated swimming pool.

For more information visit www.portroyal.gr

With the collapse of XL Airways earlier in 2008 Kiss Flights, which has been set up by Meridian Aviation UK, has taken over the routes to Rhodes from Manchester and London Gatwick. The weekly Wednesday flights operate from May 6 to October 21.

They leave at 0500, allowing maximum possible time on the island. For further details about the flight timetable visit www.kissflights.com and for reservations call 0871 737 4155.

Jet2.com is also adding to its existing Newcastle route to Rhodes with weekly flights from both Manchester and Leeds Bradford. Flights from Manchester will commence on Wednesday May 20 2009 and Leeds Bradford flights will start on Wednesday May 27. Fares will be from just £68.99 per person each way, including taxes. For further details about the flight timetables and reservations visit www.jet2.com 

These flights add to the existing scheduled flights from easyJet giving travellers more options to access the island.

For more information about Rhodes visit www.rodosisland.gr

 

2009 Skyros Brochure
Difficult times ahead? Take a Skyros holiday and escape it all! You’ll return refreshed and readier to face the challenges ahead.

But this is what almost any holiday can do. Skyros can do more, substantially more. It will remind you that there is more to life than the daily news about the credit crunch and all the problems associated with it. Come to Skyros and reconnect with a whole world waiting to be explored and enjoyed.

Skyros does anything but run away from reality. Indeed, it goes into the vicissitudes of life far deeper than most people can ever imagine. But our realities are not only those shaped by the footsie index. Despite its problems, life, thankfully, has more to it than that! Re-discover it in Skyros.

Skyros will give you the chance to reassess what really matters to you, what’s important and what’s not. When the looming recession has undermined many of the realities we have taken for granted, this is more essential than ever. Life now demands from us to re-define our needs and priorities. A thought might be given here to the simple and most valuable things that money can’t buy, to our dreams that the illusory wealth produced by the increase in house prices had marginalised, and to our sense of purpose as human beings rather than investors, consumers, clients or functionaries. This is what will enable us to ride the waves of change. This is also what will open the gates to a happier life.

Skyros is open to anyone facing change or transition and to all those willing to explore new beginnings in any area of life. People will be encouraged to look into specific areas such as improved relationships, career change or managing uncertainty and stress and will be assisted in their search for a more fulfilling life. Everyone will be supported in looking for fresh ideas and perspectives.

The aim is to transform all challenges presented by the current difficulties into opportunities for new growth, increased confidence and the hope that is generated by our dreams. This is not just about making dreams come true, but about being true to our dreams - and knowing what our true dreams are.

Skyros runs a wide range of holiday courses in Greece, Thailand and Cuba. Its community is friendly and bursting with life. In its ambience, people feel free to explore new activities, stretch themselves beyond what they had thought possible, make new friends and enjoy life to the full. Skyros’ offshoot in the Isle of Wight runs weekend courses. The facilitators in all places are known for their warmth and integrity as much as for their expertise. They are there to support, inspire and encourage participants to listen to their own inner voice and find their own truth.

For more details see www.skyros.com
Contract details:
office@skyros.com
Tel: 01983 86 55 66

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

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