Jetsettersblog

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.

Ritz Tours, long an Asia expert, is inaugurating a new line of tours to Europe, with six deluxe escorted programs departing the U.S. and Canada in 2009. “In the past decade, we have effectively grown our tour offerings beyond China to include Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand, Malaysia and India so the next natural step in our development was to venture into Europe,” said Evan Chan, managing director of Ritz Tours. “We’re confident that our strengths, including our affordability and our superior tour guides, will allow us to succeed in this new marketplace for us. Plus, we’re fortunate to enjoy a high level of repeat business to Asia, so we anticipate our loyal customer base will journey with us to discover the wonder of Europe.”

Ritz Tours’ portfolio of Europe programs for 2009 includes Europe Escorted Tours: Europe Discovery (12 days), London, Paris, Lucerne, Venice, Florence, Verona and Rome, priced from $3,080; Italy Experience (12 days), Rome, Venice, Siena, Florence, Pompeii, Assisi, San Marino, Capri, Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast, priced from $2,980; and Best of East Europe (12 days), Germany, Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary, Croatia and Slovenia (Frankfurt, Wurzburg, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Zagreb, Plitvice, Postojna, Liubljana, Salzburg and Munich), priced from $2,790; European River Cruises: Blue Danube Discovery (14 days), Budapest, Danube River cruise to Nuremberg, Prague and Karlovy Vary, priced from $3,499; Europe’s Heartland Cruise (14 days), Paris, cruise from Trier to Nuremberg (Moselle, Rhine and Danube Rivers), Prague and Luxembourg, priced from $3,499; and Russian Waterways (14 days), cruise from Moscow to St. Petersburg with visits to the Golden Ring Cities of Uglich and Yaroslavl, and cruises along the Volga-Baltic waterways and through Lake Onega and Lake Ladoga, priced from $3,799. Prices quoted above are per person double occupancy, and include fuel surcharges, government taxes and fees. Departures are available between March and November 2009 but vary slightly according to the specific itinerary.

Ritz Tours’ three Europe Escorted Tours feature international round-trip airfare on American Airlines from JFK in New York; intra-Europe transportation; deluxe hotel accommodations; daily buffet breakfast at the hotels; sightseeing programs; meals and entertainment per the itinerary; admission into many attractions (such as, but not limited to, the Tower of London, the Academy Gallery in Florence, the Colosseum in Rome, the Louvre in Paris and 16 Lakes National Park in Plitvice, Croatia); and the services of knowledgeable tour guides.

The collection of European River Cruises programs includes international roundtrip airfare from JFK in New York; pre- or post-cruise hotel accommodations with daily buffet breakfast; cruise accommodations with AMA Waterways in an outside stateroom; superb dining with all meals during the cruise (early-riser coffee, buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner); unlimited red or white wine or juice/soda with every dinner onboard the ship; bottled water in every cabin; cocktail reception, welcome dinner and captain’s gala dinner; daily sightseeing programs; special performances and classes onboard; free use of bicycles to explore on your own when docked; and the services of knowledgeable tour guides. Land- and cruise-only rates are available for the three tours in the European River Cruises portfolio.

Recognizing that unforeseen circumstances sometimes require consumers to either cancel or interrupt their vacations, Ritz Tours provides Travel Protection Insurance at no additional cost to travelers who confirm their reservations and make final payment at least 60 days prior to departure.

This benefit yields a savings of approximately $150 per person. For nearly 30 years, Ritz Tours has been introducing travelers to Asia’s 5,000 years of history and culture.

For more information, call 800-900-2446 or 626-289-7777 or visit www.ritztours.com

Auto Europe has announced details of a new partnership with Europe’s largest golf travel company, Golfbreaks.com. Auto Europe will now be a sole supplier of rented vehicles for www.Golfbreaks.com  offered via its call centre and website booking system. Auto Europe will be providing Golfbreaks.com with a system designed specifically to help its call centre process car hire requests simply and quickly. Golfbreaks.com was formed in 1998 to make booking golf breaks as simple and straight-forward as possible. It offers a range of golfing breaks and holidays across the world.

For more information, visit www.golfbreaks.com or www.auto-europe.com

 Over 40 Years Of Experience, 21 Countries, 46,000 Properties

With terms like ‘sub prime mortgages’ and ‘inflation’, summer holidays next year were beginning to look extravagant… Interhome says there is a way to still get your fix of sun without seeing your bank balance going into the red and steam escaping from your ears.

For summer ’09 Interhome continues to offer excellent value holidays with uncompromising standards. Interhome’s 10% Earlybird discount is available if bookings are made nine months prior to travel. With this in mind, there is still plenty of time to plan the ‘09 summer school holidays.

In addition, Interhome is offering reduced deposits when bookings are made before 7th January 2009. Instead of the normal 30% deposit, only 10% needs to be provided making budgeting nine months in advance more palatable. If the ‘credit crunch’ hits harder than you expected and you need to cancel 60 days prior to travel, Interhome offer a 100% money back guarantee. With self catering properties it is possible to tailor your travel needs and with Interhome you have the freedom to choose between driving to your destination, using Low Cost airlines or let the train take the strain to save costs.

To help with environmental issues and to reduce the amount of paper Interhome uses, paper summer brochures are no longer being produced. Interhome’s website offers an excellent flexible and fully integrated reservation system where you can create a personalised electronic FLIP holiday brochure, tailor made to the individuals needs, which can be delivered as a PDF –making it easier to choose destinations at the touch of a button. Interhome has always been a step ahead of the competition and has succeeded in developing an innovative IT solution of the highest technical standard.

Madeleine Winship, Director of Interhome, says, “Forget the cold and rain as the autumn leaves tumble to the ground. Take time to imagine the warm sun, by a calm sea or a picturesque lake, in the crisp clean air of the mountains or deep in the romantic countryside. Interhome has loyal customers who know what they want and has secured the best choice of properties for all budgets. This flexible programme offers a range of ‘accommodation only’ from modest to the most luxurious properties in majestic villas, city apartments, country houses, rustic farmhouses, luxurious palaces, cosy cottages, historic castles, comfortable apartments that range from an apartment that sleeps two people to a villa that sleeps 27”.

There is somewhere to suit all tastes and the properties offer excellent value for money.

For a laid back break in the sun, head to a small medieval city in the heart of France. Follow the Provencal wine and lavender routes, an area of small typical villages, made famous by writer Alphonse Dudet. The relaxing, recently built, 3* Holiday house in Vaison La Romaine, can accommodate up to 14 people and boasts a large terrace, private solar heated swimming pool, 5000m2 private grounds and a small equestrian centre nearby.

Where to stay?

Specialist rental agency Interhome (020 8780 6629; www.interhome.co.uk property ref FR8004.710.1 with prices starting from £2630 (was £2,922) for seven nights for 14 people (£188 per person). Deposit of 10%, £263. Travel not included.

Visit this link.

If Gaudi floats your boat then head to the wild impressive coast of the Costa Brava. This holiday house ‘Llla Blanca’ is filled with plush antiques in a tranquil setting above the town of Begur. The 900m2 gardens have grandiose views across the bay and the outdoor pool is the perfect place for that end of day sunset aperitif. Host summer parties in the beautiful landscaped gardens or relax next to your very own private swimming pool. The house is the perfect holiday home-from-home with Gaudi architecture on the doorstep.

Where to stay?

Specialist rental agency Interhome (020 8780 6629; www.interhome.co.uk  property ref ES9440.400.1 with prices starting from £2293 (was £2,548) for seven nights for 8 people (£286 per person). Deposit of 10%, £229. Travel not included.

Visit this link.

For the Heidi countryside experience head to Ovronnaz in Switzerland and indulge your passion for mountain pursuits with a stay in the charming ‘Les Falaises’ chalet. With space to accommodate up to eight people, enjoy the panoramic views as the sun sets over the impressive Alpine mountain range. This is the heart of the Swiss wine route and many character full mountain villages are easily accessible at a relaxing pace if you are looking for a calming destination.

Where to stay?

Specialist rental agency Interhome (020 8780 6629; www.interhome.co.uk property ref CH1912.419.1 ‘Les Falaises’ with prices starting from £1,040 (was £1,155) for seven nights for 8 people (£130 per person). Deposit of 10%, £104. Travel not included.

Visit this link.

Interhome, one of the largest holiday rental specialists in Europe features properties in Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, Turkey, UK and the USA.

The Jewels In Europe

There are so many to choose from that a Pan European web site has been created and relaunched with 2008 details www.christmas-markets.org

Over 100 individual destination pages with descriptions, timings and images to get you into the festive mood. In many instances there are also direct links to local web sites.

Also included are some of the major Attractions that have a host of events in the build up to Christmas….to get you in the Festive mood.

Developed by tourism industry experts, the site is easy to navigate, with a page for each European destination or attraction and is unbiased and not attached to any Tour Operator. www.christmas-markets.org

 Skyscanner.net, Europe’s most popular flight search engine, has just launched the Skyscanner Maps Tool API , the first in a new series of free tools that allows third party websites to integrate Skyscanner flight functionality into their own sites.

The Skyscanner Maps Tool API is a Flash travel map that webmasters can easily embed on their own sites to display Skyscanner flight route information and is free to download from www.Skyscanner.net.

Barry Smith, Skyscanner Director of Business Development said:

“The Maps Tool API has been developed in response to the huge demand we’re getting from businesses who want a way to integrate Skyscanner’s search functionality into their websites.

“Much of that demand is coming from businesses in the travel sector, such as resorts and hotels, tourism organisations and airports, but the Skyscanner Maps API is a powerful marketing tool for any business that depends upon people travelling to or from them. The fact is that if you don’t make it easy for people to find out how to do that, they’ll go somewhere else.”

The tool is fully configurable, allowing webmasters to display a fixed departure point, fixed destination point, fixed departure and destination, or an ‘anywhere to anywhere’ open search. Webmasters can also select their preferred language from a choice of 20, including Spanish, Japanese and Russian.

The new Maps Tool API is the first in the series of new online travel tools that can be integrated into third party sites.

To download the Skyscanner Maps Tool API visit: Skyscanner Maps Tool API.

About Skyscanner

Skyscanner is the most powerful and flexible flight search engine in Europe, which provides instant online price comparisons on over 300,000 flights and over 600 airlines. With Skyscanner, users can browse without having to enter specific dates, departures or even destinations. The site is available in 20 different languages including: Russian, Spanish, Japanese, Chinese, Polish and German. Skyscanner fans can join the Skyscanner Facebook Page to view Skyscanner’s photo albums and interact with other travellers.

General Tours World Traveler will include a “Be Our Guest” $100 benefit on all European river cruises aboard the ships of Peter Deilmann, which can be used for wine with dinner, drinks in the lounge, a shipboard spa treatment, or for extra sightseeing beyond the included daily shore excursions.

General’s small ship cruises offer all-inclusive vacations worldwide, with meals, sightseeing, and port charges all included in one low price. In addition, General Tours World Traveler has guaranteed the pricing for all of its 2009 European river cruises with Peter Deilmann, with no fuel surcharges and no currency adjustments.

The company’s 2009 European cruise collection includes the Seine, Rhône, Rhine, Elbe, Danube, and Oder Rivers. Programs range from eight-day cruises aboard the continent’s finest river ships to unique 13-day cruise and tours that combine a luxury Deilmann cruise with five-star hotel stays and in-depth sightseeing, either privately guided or in small groups of never more than 20 guests.

 Prices start at $1,869 per person. General Tours is an AARP Travel Partner and AARP Members enjoy $140 per person savings on all European river cruise vacations.

 For information and brochures, call 800-221-2216 or visit www.GeneralTours.com

Hurtigruten is introducing three April itineraries of eight, 12 and 14 days, incorporating both ocean and river cruising, sailing from the Mediterranean to the Baltic aboard the 318-passenger MS Fram. Depending on itinerary selected, fares range from $2,479 per person, double occupancy, to $10,849.

A 15 percent space available discount reduces the fares to $2,107 to $9,222. The trio of sailings, which when combined make a 34-day voyage, include an eight-day “Easter Cruise,” sailing from the Canary Islands’ Las Palmas to Lisbon, Portugal, on April 8, cruising Spain’s only navigable river, the Guadalquivir; a 14-day “Spring in Western Europe,” departing from Lisbon to Hamburg, Germany on April 15, with visits to seven countries as the ship sails the Gironde, Seine, Thames and Elbe rivers; and a 12-day “Baltic Sea” April 28 sailing, embarking in Hamburg and cruising the Elbe River to the Kiel Canal, and calling at a host of Northern European capitals — Stockholm, St. Petersburg and Finland.

Two days at sea combine with five ports of call on the eight-day “Easter Cruise,” including Las Palmas, where travelers can experience the island’s culture and architecture in the historical Vegeta section, which features the Santa Ana Cathedral, begun in the early 15th century and completed 350 years later.

In Funchal, the 500-year-old capital of the Portuguese island of Madeira, guests will find a seafront promenade lined with restaurants and cafes, as well as a Gothic cathedral. Cruising the river Guadalquivir, MS Fram sails into Seville, providing the chance to visit the Alcazar palace and garden complex that was first a Moorish stronghold and then of Christian kings; and the Cathedral of Seville, the largest in Spain. From Portugal’s Portimao, guests can embark on an optional excursion to Lagos, a fishing port once inhabited by Phoenicians, Greeks, Romans and Moors.

Discounted rates range from $2,107 to $4,963 per person, double occupancy; normal rates are $2,479 to $5,839.

The 14-day “Spring in Western Europe” voyage from Lisbon to Hamburg offers one of Europe’s most extensive sailings, taking in highlights of seven countries.

 Setting sail along Portugal’s River Tejo, the Fram makes its way to the country’s Leixoes at the mouth of the River Douro, and near the 12th-century port wine center of Oporto. Guests can take an optional excursion to Santiago de Compostela, the city said to be the final resting place of Saint James, from Spain’s La Coruna; and can choose to visit some of Bordeaux’s vineyards and chateaux as the ship makes its way up the Gironde River. Next are the Channel Islands ports of Sark, the smallest of the island group featuring breathtaking coastal views and a pastoral interior; and Guernsey, whose landscape blends cliffs, beaches and a bustling harbor town.

Other highlights include cruising the Seine River to Rouen, France, a cathedral city; sailing up England’s Thames through the heart of London; calling at Antwerp, the northernmost province Belgium’s Flanders’ region; and exploring Amsterdam, with its canals and Van Gogh Museum. Discounted fares are $3,799 to $9,222 while normal rates are $4,469 to $10,849.

Roundtrip from Hamburg, the 12-day “Baltic Sea” sailing explores Northern Europe, plying the 61-mile Kiel Canal connecting the North and Baltic Seas. The Fram calls at Ronne, the capital of the Danish island of Bornholm; Stockholm, known as the Venice of the North;

Finland’s capital, Helsinki; and Russia’s St. Petersburg, with its gilded czarist palaces and Hermitage, housing one of the largest collections of Western European art. Other destination highlights include the World Heritage Site of Tallinn, Estonia, and the 13th-century Toompea Castle; and Visby one of the best-preserved European medieval cities located on the Swedish Island of Gotland. Discounted rates are $3,679 to $8,669; regular rates are $4,329 to $10,199.

Onboard expedition teams educate and guide the guests with lectures, activities and daily programs. Optional excursions are extensive and can be pre-booked.

 Highlights on the Easter cruise include a tour of the romantic island of Las Palmas, a Jeep safari that takes in many of Funchal’s hidden secrets, and an extensive tour of Lisbon, Sintra and Cascais. The 14-day adventure offers walking tour of the first capital of Portugal — Guimarães; a exploration of the Medoc Vineyards and a wine tasting; and a visit to Feudal Sark, the smallest independent feudal state in Europe. Optional excursions on the “Baltic Sea” include an evening waterway cruise through Stockholm, a visit to St. Petersburg’s Catherine Palace followed by a Russian lunch and River Neva cruise, and an a gala event with champagne and caviar at Yusupov Palace.

The Fram accommodates 318 guests in suites and staterooms and features a restaurant, two bars, panoramic lounges library, and Internet café and conference rooms.

A new program aimed at the suites includes two optional excursions for free, beverages, a bottle of champagne on arrival and other amenities.

For more information or reservations, call 800-323-7436

or 212-319-1300; fax 212-319-1390;

for brochures, call 800-666-2374.

For more information, visit www.hurtigruten.us

Building on the success of its initial venture into Eastern Europe last year, CIE Tours International is offering a full program of escorted vacations in Eastern Europe as part of its 2009 repertoire. Destinations include Austria, Hungary, Poland, Czech Republic, Russia, Baltic Republics, Croatia and Slovenia.

A sample of the tours is featured in CIE Tours’ largest-ever vacation program — Ireland & Britain with Italy and Eastern Europe 2009, a 108-page brochure. CIE Tours also plans to produce an additional 44-page brochure concentrating solely on vacations in Italy and Eastern Europe for 2009.

Leading the list for Eastern Europe is Prague, Vienna and Budapest, an 11-day/9-night/12-meal vacation using first-class hotels. Departures are on selected Thursdays, March 19 through Oct. 29, with land-only prices starting at $2,250.

The package starts in Prague and ends in Budapest, with Vienna in the center, providing relaxing three-night stays in each city.

Activities aim to impart the ambiance and cultural highlights of each city, such as visits to landmark palaces and castles, a Strauss and Mozart concert in Vienna, an opera performance and a folklore show in Prague, a walk around Prague’s Old Town, and dinner at a typical csarda restaurant in Budapest.

The price includes first-class hotel accommodations with private bath for nine nights; nine buffet breakfasts and three dinners;

 entertainment and sightseeing including admissions to Royal Castle of Hradcany, St. Vitus Cathedral, Hofburg Palace, St. Stephen’s Cathedral, Kunsthistorische Museum, Fisherman’s Bastion and Matthias Church; sightseeing by luxury motorcoach with professional tour director; all local taxes, hotel service charges and porterage; deluxe flight bag, ticket wallet, luggage tags and strap.

 For more information, call 800-CIE-TOUR or visit www.cietours.com

The Eurail Group is bringing out several special edition extended rail passes, offering free travel days good for travel throughout Europe in the spring. With fewer crowds, lower airfares and more availability in hotels, spring is a pleasant time to travel to Europe. Eurail is launching a special off-peak promotion, offering free travel days on two of its classic products: the Eurail Select Pass and the Eurail Global Pass.

The Eurail Select Pass allows customers to choose three or more adjoining countries in which to travel, enabling a practically tailor-made rail pass. For those wishing to cover more ground, a Eurail Global Pass will give travelers access to 21 participating countries from January 2009. Travelers can plan the itinerary to meet their particular travel needs.

Customers buying a 15- or 21-day Eurail Global Pass will instead receive 21 days or one month, respectively. The Eurail Select Pass 3 Countries, valid for six or eight days within two months, now comes with an additional two travel days. These promotional passes went on sale worldwide (outside of Europe) on Oct. 1. To be eligible for the additional travel days, passes must be purchased before the end of November. Travel can start from March 1 and must be completed by May 31.

All Eurail Passes are available from Eurail’s network of authorized Sales Agents worldwide: ACP Rail International (www.eurail-acprail.com ; Eurail (www.Eurail.com)  Flight Centre (www.flightcentre.com) ; www.OctopusTravel.com  Rail Europe (North America: www.raileurope.com  rest of the world: www.raileurope.fr), and STA Travel (www.statravel.com)