Jetsettersblog

‘European Boating Holidays’ announce fixed Euro to Pound exchange rate for 2009 bookings With brochure prices currently in Euros, EBH will offer existing and new travellers a fixed rate of 1.30 to 1 for holidays booked to any destination by the end of January 2009.

European Boating Holidays is the 1st independent inland water cruise company in Europe operating two brands Locaboat with the classical P nichettes and Cardinal with its modern fleet of Europas Call 0845 450 5229 or visit Locaboat.com or cardinalboating.com

LONDON, UK - ‘European Boating Holidays’ announce fixed Euro to Pound exchange rate for 2009 bookings

This week, EBH will freeze the Euro to Pound exchange rate in order to pass significant savings onto customers for 2009 holidays. With brochure prices currently in Euros, EBH will offer existing and new travellers a fixed rate of 1.30 to 1 for holidays booked to any destination by the end of January 2009.

‘We are determined that our existing and new clients are able to continue enjoying boating holidays across Europe in the New Year despite the economic downturn. This fixed exchange rate, will save a family of four more than 225* for a week in April onboard a P nichette 1020FB in Ireland or France,’ says Matthieu Glasson, Sales and Marketing Manager at EBH.

EBH can be contacted on 0845 450 5229 or enquiries made online at
http://www.locaboat.com or http://www.cardinalboating.com.

Notes to Editors:
* Based on today’s rate of 1, 09 to 1

About EBH
With Locaboat and Cardinal EBH has 450 boats, traditional or modern, for 2 to 12 people, with no need for a boat licence, spread across 28 bases through France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Holland and Ireland. Whether you’re a couple, family or group of friends the differing models are designed to suit any sailor.

During your cruise, an abundance of activities are available, from discovering gastronomic delights, historical sites, biking along the tow paths, fishing for catch of the day or simply relaxing on deck with a glass of the regions finest wine.

Example Pricing based on fixed exchange rate: ( 1.30 to 1)

Prices for the 4th May bank holiday weekend onboard a Locaboat Penichette in France, Italy or Holland, start at 184 per person based on four sharing.

Prices for the 25th May Bank Holiday weekend onboard a Locaboat Penichette (P1400FB) in Ireland start at 1182 - so 148 per person based on 8 people sharing.

Prices for a week in April onboard a Cardinal Europa in Germany start at 1292, so 646 per couple based on two couples sharing.

Prices for a week in June onboard a Locaboat Penichette (P935R) in Ireland start at 759, so 253 per person based on 2/3 sharing.

Prices for a week in June onboard a Locaboat Penichette (P935R) start at 985, so 328 per person based on 3 sharing.

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.

20 MARCH TO 5 APRIL 2009

A ’must visit ’ next year for culture vultures is the 29th Budapest Spring Festival that will commemorate the 200th anniversary of renowned composer Joseph Haydn .

The Spring Festival is one of the top annual events in Budapest and showcases a diverse and creative line-up from classical concerts to contemporary dance. Highlights include a Haydn evening by the world famous Miklós Perényi and the Franz Liszt Chamber Orchestra, the play ’No Hamlet’ by the National Theatre of St Petersburg, the Bangarra Dance Theatre of Australia and the Trey McIntyre Project from America whose performances are danced to the beat of Beatles soundtracks and Beethoven concertos.

For further information visit www.festivalcity.hu

And remember the ’free’ hotel night Winter promotion still runs until the end of March 2009! Book your city to break to Budapest at www.budapestwinter.com

The Hotel Kristály in Tata, west of Budapest, re-opened earlier this month following its expansion and renovation.The oldest hotel in Hungary with a history stretching back almost 240 years - now offers 50 rooms in the 4-star category. The hotel was primarily a rest-house for travellers between Vienna and Budapest and was built between 1766 and 1769. The renovation was backed by EU-funding. In the next phase of the development, more rooms will be built, along with a wellness-section, underground garage and a business corner.

For more information visit www.hktata.hu

The popular Budapest Card is to give travellers to the city extra value in 2009 and as well as allowing free use of public transport and entry to museums, discounts will be expanded to include other suppliers (gift shops, restaurants, nightclubs, etc.). The price of the card will also be reduced in 2009: the 48-hour version will be available for HUF 6300 (instead of HUF 6500), and the 72-hour card will cost HUF 7500, representing a HUF 500 discount on 2008.
For more information visit www.budapestinfo.hu/en

NEW BOUTIQUE HOTEL OFFERS ROOMS FOR €60 PER NIGHT

The four-star Hotel Palazzo Zichy opens its doors in central Budapest in February 2009 and is offering a special promotion for guests visiting in February and March of just € 60 per double room per night for two people sharing. The hotel is located in a magnificent 19th century listed building called the Zichy Palace that use to be the resting place of the famous Hungarian Count Nador Zichy. The building has been restored to its former glory combining 19th century architecture with contemporary interior design and features 72 rooms and eight junior suites.

For more information visit www.hotel-palazzo-zichy.hu

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

Go Barging Launches New Brochure

Go Barging are pleased to announce the launch of their new brochure, featuring a fleet of seventeen luxury hotel barges cruising along the magical canals, rivers and lagoons of France, Scotland, England, Ireland, Italy, Holland and Belgium.

For 2009, there are two new additions to the luxury barge fleet - the 8 passenger Enchanté and the 12 passenger Napoléon, cruising in Provence, Camargue and on the ever popular Canal du Midi - both barges providing accommodation and service of a very high standard.

Go Barging’s fully-crewed luxury vessels accommodate between just four and twelve passengers and guests may choose to charter a whole boat with family and friends, or join a small group of like-minded passengers on an individual basis. The average crew ratio is one crew member for every two passengers and includes Captain, Chef, Deckhand/Tour Guide and one or two Housekeepers, thus ensuring an excellent level of service that compares favourably to that found aboard classic luxury yachts and within country house hotels.

Every six-night cruise includes all meals, open bar, regional wines, daily escorted excursions, local transfers and use of barge facilities such as bicycles to explore the towpaths, a sundeck to laze on, or a spa pool to relax in. All this, combined with a few hours’ sedate cruising each day through some of Europe’s finest scenery, creates an ambience extraordinaire.

There is also a wide range of themed cruises on offer for clients who like to combine a cruise with other activities such as golf, walking, cycling, theatre, opera, wine appreciation, or particular European special events and festivals. Even exclusive Honeymoon Charters are available on barges in Venice, Scotland and the Loire Valley, where just 2 people can charter the entire vessel and enjoy the full services of the crew and tailor-made itineraries.

Rates for six-night/seven-day cruises start from £1,550 per person, whilst whole boat charter rates are from £7,000. The price includes en suite accommodation, champagne welcome, three gourmet meals a day with fine wines; open bar, use of all facilities on board, shore excursions, admittance fees and local transfers.

As well as the new brochure, the Go Barging website www.gobarging.com also gives full details of all cruises, barges and itineraries. Visitors to the website can also subscribe to the online newsletter, The Lock-Keeper, for regular news of the barges and special events during the year.

The year 2009 will mark Go Barging’s 35th consecutive year of providing high quality barging holidays to a discerning clientele in search of a truly unique experience. Read the Jetsetters Magazine feature about gobarging in France.

Enjoy The Highlife Without Breaking The Bank

Eat at top notch restaurants, drink world-class wines, stay at a deluxe five star hotel and enjoy spa treatments at a wonder full day spa. Budapest offers luxury at a fraction of the cost of many other European cities…

As the credit crunch deepens there are still some luxuries in life that don’t cost the earth. For most people their holiday is the last thing they will forgo so why not make your money go further and treat yourself to a five star winter escape in the stunning capital of Hungary.

Step back in time and stay at the opulent all-suite deluxe five star St George Residence (www.stgeorgehotel.hu) situated in a grand building in the historic Buda Castle district, with its quaint cobbled streets and UNESCO World Heritage sites. The building was once three medieval houses dating back to the 14th century which have had various uses over the years including an inn, apartments, law courts and musuem, before being renovated by its present owners in 2006, opening in 2007.

The 26 suites at the St George Residence come equiped with bedroom, living room, bathroom and kitchen and empahsis has been placed on preserving the orginal mediveal atmopshere with elegance and the modern comforts of a five star hotel. Luxurious , antique furniture, valuable rugs and beautiful paintings plus Jacuzzi bathrooms (in 13 suites) are what make this place feel extra special.

By taking a walk in old streets and charming promenades of the Castle District, shopping in its small boutiques, spending time in cafes or restaurants, or enjoying the breathtaking view of Budapest from Tóth Árpád Promenade or from the Fishermen’s Bastion and the Palace Square – vistors will feel the touch of history and the atmosphere of the old Buda instead of the busy downtown area of Pest.

In the evenings dine out at some of Budapest’s finest restaurants for a fraction of the price that something similiar would cost back home. The cosy Apetito Restaurant (www.apetito.hu) in the Castle District offers a traditional Hungarian menu, plus a wide selection of fine wines that come recommended by the in-house sommelier. Or dine on the River Danube at the funky and contemporary Spoon Cafe & Lounge (www.spoon.hu) and enjoy Hungarian cuisine with a modern twist and fabulous cocktails, complete with the best views of the lit up Castle District.

As well as exploring the city’s amazing sites and musuems, travellers can enjoy ice skating in the City Park and chilling out at one of Budapest’s top day spas, the Mandala Day Spa (www.mandaladayspa.hu) with its fanastic range of beauty and massage treatments. Or visit one of the many thermal spas in the city and relax in the warm waters either inside, or brave the cold for a dip in one of the steaming hot outdoor spa pools.

Two people can enjoy a three night stay at the St George Residence from now until the end of March 2009 from only Euro 238. Return flights with Malév Airlines are from £110 per person, making this one of the best value luxury city breaks in Europe!

A two course evening meal for two people with a good bottle of wine at one of the top restaurants is around £40; a cup of coffee in one of the elegant cafes around £1 and a bottle of beer around £1.60.

For more information and to book log onto www.budapestwinter.com

To find out more about Hungary visit www.gotohungary.co.uk

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