Jetsettersblog

Austin-Lehman Adventures compiled its favorite pedal routes through Europe drawn from 38 years of experience of its European bike tours division, formerly Euro-Bike Tours, founded in 1974.

Euro-Bike Tours was sold to Austin-Lehman Adventures in 2008, and Ron Van Dijk, former owner of Euro-Bike Tours, is now ALA’s European cycling director. Van Dijk was in charge of selecting the Sensational Seven Cycling Routes of Europe.

“It was a fun challenge for me to go back through nearly four decades of cycling to pick my all-time favorite pedal routes of Europe,” said Van Dijk.

“I hope to inspire others to slow down, get on a bike and enjoy a Europe adventure on two wheels either on their own or with a small group tour such as those offered by ALA.”

Van Dijk’s “Sensational Seven” are as follows:

France — The Dordogne between Argentat and Beynac (110 miles). According to Van Dijk, it’s “a favorite for its authenticity, the peace, the great food, the old Romanesque churches, the castles and the history (such as the Hundred Years War between France and England). Make sure to divert from the valley every now and then to visit villages like St-Céré, Autoire, Loubressac, Rocamadour, as well as the lively town of Sarlat.”

Italy — South-Tyrol from Reschen Pass to Merano (50 miles).

From the top of the pass, Van Dijk said, “it’s all pretty much all downhill for about 50 miles on specially marked bike paths, and you’re always surrounded by some of the most majestic mountains of the Alps. Pass by villages, lakes, meadows, apple orchards and end your ride in the noble spa town of Merano.”

Spain — Rioja vineyards between Logroño and Haro (35 miles). Van Dijk suggests October when the leaves are turning, roads are peaceful and hospitality including tapas bars in Haro a blessing after tackling a few hills.

Germany — Mosel Valley from Trier to Koblenz (132 miles). This is a four-day stretch through steep vine-clad hills with stops at villages for sips of Rieslings. It’s is a gentle, downhill trip past Roman sites in Trier and castles and ruins around every bend of the Mosel.

Austria — Salzach Valley from Gerlos Pass/Krimml to Salzburg (115 miles). With the snowcapped Grossglockner, this is a highly scenic descent from Gerlos Pass to Salzburg.

Netherlands — Tulip, hyacinth and narcissus fields near Keukenhof (20 miles).

Denmark — Danish Riviera between Copenhagen and Helsingør (30 miles). Bike paths along Denmark’s “Gold Coast” reveal villas, fishing villages and museums such as the Karen Blixen Museum (author of “Out of Africa”), the Nivagaard art museum and the supreme Louisiana Museum of Modern Art in an incredible setting overlooking the Sound.

ALA’s cycling tour bookings were up 26 percent in 2011 over 2010. So far in 2012, they are up 10 percent. To accommodate the projected up trend, ALA added three new trips and additional departures representing a 15 percent increase in capacity from 2011 to 2012. The trips new for 2012 are France-Burgundy, Spain-Rioja and Denmark Family Adventure.

Austin-Lehman Adventures provides adventure vacations on five continents. The company specializes in adult and family multi-sport, hiking, biking vacations that emphasize history, culture and nature’s charms. Trips are limited to 12 guests (18 on family departures). For more information, call 800-575-1540.

Elephant Man, Queen Ifrica and I-Octane are due to perform at the Amsterdam Reggae Festival.

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS– The Amsterdam Reggae Festival will return with a typically star-studded line-up on Sunday February 26th.

Bringing some of the biggest acts in Jamaican music to the Heineken Music Hall, this year’s event is set to feature performances from Elephant Man, Anthony B, Queen Ifrica and Busy Signal.

Elephant Man has enjoyed crossover success with hits like Pon Di River and Willie Bounce, while Queen Ifrica is one of Jamaica’s most successful female artists.

I-Octane, the rising dancehall star known for popular tracks such as Lose A Friend and Burn Dem Bridge in his native country, is also due to appear in Amsterdam.

The talented singer will be fresh from the release of his debut album Crying To The Nation when he performs in the Dutch city, giving European fans a taste of his latest material.

Tickets for the show are available to buy online now, priced at EUR45 (GBP37.60) plus booking fee. Doors at the Heineken Music Hall will open at 15:00 local time and the music is due to begin at 16:00.

LateRooms.com recommends a wide range of Amsterdam accommodation options that could appeal to reggae fans, including the Inntel Hotels Amsterdam Zaandam.

Further information on the festival can be found at http://www.amsterdamreggae.nl/index.html

Viking River Cruises marks its 15th anniversary in 2012, and is planning its biggest year yet. Founded in 1997, Viking River Cruises was established with four Russian river cruise vessels and a company name to honor the Vikings that first traveled by longship to explore Russia’s waterways. Today, Viking owns and operates the world’s largest fleet of river vessels, and 2012 will see the launch of six new Viking Longships as well as the completion of its Russian fleet refurbishment.

Since entering the North American market in 2000, Viking River Cruises has expanded to operate in the six regions of Europe, Russia, Ukraine, China, Southeast Asia and Egypt. “Every year I am proud of our company’s milestones, but this is certainly a special anniversary in Viking’s history,” said Torstein Hagen, chairman and CEO of Viking River Cruises.

Designed by maritime architects Yran & Storbraaten, the six new Viking Longships will accommodate 190 passengers and feature energy-efficient hybrid engines, the largest real suites in Europe, and more full-size rooms and full-size verandas.

On March 21 in Amsterdam, Viking will christen four of the Longships — Viking Njord, Viking Odin, Viking Idun and Viking Freya.

The christening will mark the first time in history that four cruise ships will be christened at once.

After departing from Amsterdam, the Viking Longships will sail Viking’s most popular European itineraries including the 15-day “Grand European Tour,” eight-day “Romantic Danube,” eight-day “Danube Waltz” and 10-day “Tulips & Windmills.”

Two more Viking Longships — Viking Embla and Viking Aegir — will make their debut in July and August, respectively.

And given unprecedented demand, Viking is reviewing its newbuild program for 2013 and 2014.

Also new for 2012 is an enhanced Russian offering. With the launch of Viking Rurik (formerly Viking Peterhof), this year will mark the completion of bow-to-stern refurbishments of Viking’s owned and operated Russian fleet. To commemorate the transformations and to honor Viking’s heritage, the ships have been renamed Viking Rurik, Viking Helgi, Viking Ingvar and Viking Truvor.

In addition to multiple itinerary updates, new for 2012 is an eight-day program, “The Glories of the Hermitage,” which features exclusive access and private tours at the museum and the launch of a Russia-focused microsite.

Fashion Week Downtown, the winter edition of Amsterdam’s annual fashion festival, will take place in the Dutch capital at the end of this month.

AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS– Comprising a week and a half of fashioned-themed excitement and activities, the event is set to feature launches, parties, exhibitions, shows and more.

Shopaholics who visit the festival will be able to keep up to date with the latest trends in winter fashion by attending shows at the Westergasfabriek conference centre and other locations across the city.

Unlike many events of its kind, Fashion Week Downtown is open to the public via catwalk shows in clubs and bars, retail outlets, museums and even the streets of Amsterdam.

Pop-up stores, art and photography exhibitions and markets will be among the other highlights of the festival, which is set to run from Friday January 20th to Sunday January 29th.

LateRooms.com recommends a huge variety of Amsterdam hotels that may appeal to avid fashionistas keen to attend the festival.

Recommendations include the Inntel Hotels Amsterdam Zaandam, a stylish 160-room hotel that is only a 12-minute train journey from the city centre.

The Amsterdam RAI Congress Centre and Schiphol Airport can also be easily reached from Zaandam train station, which is located next to the hotel.

Further information on Fashion Week Downtown can be found by visiting http://www.amsterdamfashionweek.com/downtown/.

European Waterways will launch the Panache, a 12-passenger, luxury barge, in April. The Dutch vessel will sail through Holland in itineraries that include tulip cruises and optional excursions to the Floriade 2012 flower show, a horticultural expo in Venlo, Netherlands, which takes place only once every 10 years.

The Panache will feature an interior with mahogany and brass finishes. Accommodations and amenities will include six air-conditioned rooms, a saloon with panoramic views, an open bar, and a sun deck with a heated spa pool.

The vessel will embark on six-night Tulip cruises, exploring Holland’s countryside, roundtrip from Haarlem. During flower season, the itinerary will include a trip to the Aalsmeer flower auction and a walk through Keukenhof Gardens, with more than 7 million flowers. The Panache Holland cruises also include a trip to the city of Delft to see its porcelain pottery and to Gouda, the center of Dutch cheese. In June, the Panache will be repositioned to cruise the Alsace-Lorraine region of France.

Cruise fares start at $4,690 per person, double. European Waterways is offering 10 percent off of all cabin and whole-boat charter rates for April, based on double occupancy. To book a European Waterways cruise, call 877-879-8808.

For more information, visit Sell River Cruises.

Insight Vacations is offering a 10-day package for the flower event of the season, Floriade World Horticultural Expo 2012, including stays in Brussels and Paris and departing May 11.

The Floriade is referred to as the Theater of Nature, and takes place only once every 10 years. It showcases the world’s most exceptional flowers, plants and trees with more than 100 exhibitors from dozens of countries.

The package also includes a visit to the world-famous Keukenhof Gardens.

Situated in the heart of Holland’s tulip growing region, Keukenhof Gardens is a 70-acre showcase of more than 7 million flowers, an event that has been taking place each spring for more than 60 years.

The gardens are only open for only nine weeks each year and are one of the most popular destinations in the Netherlands.

Clients will travel to Belgium and stay two nights in Brussels, visiting the Grand Place, the Cathedral and the Royal Palace, then to the imperial city of Bruges, a World Heritage Site.

The trip continues through the Ardennes forest and French countryside to Paris, where clients will take a city tour that will show them the Champs Elysees, the Arc de Triomphe, Place de la Concorde, Notre Dame Cathedral and the Eiffel Tower . On the final full day in Paris, they will visit Louis XIV’s Palace of Versailles and tour the palace rooms and the gardens. The single departure for the trip is May 11 to 21. It’s priced $3,320 double occupancy, land only. Insight Vacations offers premium escorted tours and cruises to Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean, Mexico, Canada and the United States.

For more information, call 800-582-8380.

From The Floriade 2012 World Horticultural Expo To Yorkshire In The 1940′s And The Perugia Eurochocolate Festival

If you are a garden enthusiast, fascinated by the 1940’s or love experiencing popular UK events such as the Edinburgh Tattoo and York Mystery Plays or international events such as the 100 Year Anniversary of the Jungfrau Express, the Floriade World Horticultural Expo and the Gardens of Holland, the carnivals in Venice and Viareggio; confectionary celebrations; as well as the Mardis Gras of America’s Deep South then look no further. Escorted rail holiday specialist, Great Rail Journeys, has launched its new ‘Special Interest & Events 2012’ brochure featuring special event holidays including carnivals, flower shows, steam events and musical occasions.

The holidays, which all combine rail travel with these experiences, have various departure dates between February and October 2012 and prices start from £358 per person for a five day Yorkshire In the 1940’s tour. All of the 23 tours featured include a programme of excursions and the services of a professional tour manager throughout.

Floriade – A visit to the Floriade 2012 World Horticultural Expo. Held once every 10 years in Holland it is the biggest flower/produce show in the world and a go-to event for flower-lovers. By far the easiest and best way of reaching Holland is by train. Floriade & The Gardens of Holland www.greatrail.com/tours/floriade-gardens-of-holland.aspx#FFE2 – is a five day tour priced from £675 per person to include Standard Class rail travel, four nights hotel accommodation with breakfast each day and two dinners, guided walking tour of Amsterdam, Amsterdam Canal Cruise, full day excursions for Floriade 2012 in Venlo, excursion to Keukenhof, excursion to Flora Holland world flower auction and the Historical Gardens in Aalsmee,r and the services of a professional tour manager throughout. Available 10, 15, 22 April; 13 May; 10, 19 June; 1 July; 19 August; 2 and 16 September 2012.

Yorkshire In the 1940’s www.greatrail.com/tours/yorkshire-in-the-1940s.aspx#PIC2  – This tour captures the romance and nostalgia of Pickering and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway during its ‘1940’s weekend’ on October 11 and 12 when the town is transformed to the way it was then, complete with a military parade and historical scenarios and re-enactments. Priced from £358 per person to include four nights hotel accommodation with breakfast and dinner each day, guided walking tour of York, scenic rail journey on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway during the 1940’s weekend, journey on the Keighley and Worth Railway, visit to the Bronte Parsonage Museum and the services of a professional tour manager throughout. Available 11 and 12 October 2012.

Perugia Eurochocolate Festival www.greatrail.com/tours/perugia-and-the-delights-of-umbria.aspx#UMS2 – This 10 day tour is priced from £1,628 per person to include First and Standard Class rail travel from St Pancras International; nine nights hotel accommodation with breakfast each day; two lunches; five dinners; guided tour of Perugia, Gubbio and Orvieto; excursion to Assisi and Lake Trasimeno; boat excursion to Isola Maggiore; wine route tour in Torgiano with wine tasting; visit to the Perugia Eurochocolate Festival and the services of a professional tour manager throughout. Departing 18 October 2012.

Great Rail Journeys www.greatrail.com/ – 01904 521980

From colourful festivals to unique local celebrations, World Expeditions and their European division UTracks choose their favourite events around the world for 2012…

JANUARY: VIETNAM
TET NGUYEN DAN – VIETNAMESE NEW YEAR 23 January 2012
WHY: Festive atmosphere, street gambling and dragon dances: Tet Nguyen Dan (literally meaning “the first morning of the first day”) is the biggest and the most sacred festival in Vietnam and is celebrated nationwide. An occasion for family reunions, it marks the beginning of the lunar calendar and the arrival of spring, with the Vietnamese taking extreme care to start the new year out right: they buy new clothes, paint and clean their homes, pay off all debts and make amends to rid themselves of all bad feelings!
BOOK IT: Treat your family to the Vietnamese New Year celebrations with World Expeditions’ luxury 13-day Vietnam Family Explorer. Departs on 22 January, from £1,250 per adult (£790 per child).

FEBRUARY: LAOS
LAO ELEPHANT FESTIVAL 17-19 February 2012
WHY: Saddle up – who could pretend to have visited Laos, the ‘Land of a Million Elephants’, without meeting one of these superb animals? The Elephant Festival is organised to raise awareness of the need for action to protect the Asian elephant as part of Laos’ vital cultural and natural heritage. Expect to see colourful elephant processions, elephant bathing, mahout demonstrations, ancient Baci ceremonies, traditional Monk blessings, night markets and of course the prestigious ‘Elephant of the Year’ contest.

BOOK IT: Make sure you are in Laos on time for the Elephant Festival with World Expeditions’ Best of Laos and Cambodia (15 days) that departs on 16 February. From £1,550 per person.

MARCH: INDIA

HOLI – FESTIVAL OF COLOURS 8 March 2012

WHY: Let the spirit of revelry overtake you… Although it is the least religious of Hindu holidays, Holi (“the Festival of Colours”) is probably one of the most exhilarating ones in existence. Celebrated all over India since ancient times, it welcomes the arrival of spring, commemorates various events in Hindu mythology and is a time of disregarding social norms and indulging in general merrymaking: participants hold a public bonfire, spray friends and family with coloured powders and water and go absolutely crazy!

BOOK IT: World Expeditions’ compact Delhi to Kathmandu trip (7 days) will make sure you are in Jaipur, the capital of the desert lands of Rajasthan, for Holi. Departs on 7 March, from £590 per person.

APRIL: HOLLAND
QUEEN’S DAY 30 April 2012

WHY: Europe’s biggest street party! Every year on 30 April the Dutch celebrate their Queen’s Day. It is by far the most widely celebrated holiday in the country (Amsterdam alone welcomes two million party-going visitors) and the entire nation dresses in orange, the royal colour. Grab a bargain at one of the many garage or car boot sales (street trading laws are relaxed for 24 hours), there are street performers on every corner and cafés see their outside terraces in full swing, with live music pulling in the customers.
BOOK IT: Celebrate Queen’s Day in Holland with UTracks’ compact 4-day Tulip Tour. Departs on 28 April, from £430 per person.

MAY: UK
GLOUCESTERSHIRE CHEESE ROLLING 28 May 2012

WHY: For hundreds of years the Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling has been taking place on this steep hillside. Although traditionally by and for the residents of the local village of Brockworth, the event now sees people from all over the world taking part. A guest roller starts the race by releasing a 7-8lb round of cheese down a treacherous slope and competitors then hurl themselves down the slope after it. The first person to arrive at the foot of the hill (usually after numerous tumbles) is the winner and gets the cheese!
BOOK IT: Book UTracks’ self-guided A Week in the Cotswolds (8 days, NEW FOR 2012) which departs daily and plan it around the Gloucestershire Cheese Rolling. From £556 per person.

JUNE: PERU
INTI RAYMI – FESTIVAL OF THE SUN 24 June 2012

WHY: Daytime expositions, street fairs, dancing in the streets and live music from the best of Peruvian musical groups: Inti Raymi (“the Festival of the Sun”) is a weeklong celebration marking the beginning of a new year. Originally celebrated by the Incas, today it is the second largest festival in South America, after the carnival of Rio de Janeiro, with hundreds of actors chosen to represent historical figures. The greatest honour? Being selected to portray the Sapa Inca, the Emperor of the Inca Empire, or his wife Mama Occla.

BOOK IT: Book World Expeditions’ Peru – Raft, bike and hike (14 days) that departs on 24 June and get to Peru on time for the Inti Raymi celebrations. From £1,590 per person.

JULY: MONGOLIA
NAADAM – THE THREE GAMES OF MEN 11-13 July 2012

WHY: Inscribed on UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, Naadam is a true test of manhood in such traditional games as horse racing, archery and wrestling. The most widely watched festival among Mongols, it enjoys special popularity comparable to that of football in Europe, baseball in the US or sumo wrestling in Japan. It is believed to have existed for centuries, although today it formally commemorates the 1921 revolution, when Mongolia declared itself a free country.

BOOK IT: World Expeditions’ special Trans Siberian Adventure Naadam Festival (23 days) departure on 2 July costs £3,690 per person.

AUGUST: FRANCE
CORSO DE LA LAVANDE – LAVENDER FESTIVAL 3-7 August 2012
WHY: Corso de la Lavande (“the lavender festival”) is a significant colourful local affair – and a wonderful excuse to visit Digne-les-Bains, the self-styled “capitale de la lavande” and one of the most visually striking regions of Provence! Here, the local lavender harvest is celebrated during the first week of August in a half-a-century old festival. The town comes alive as parades with elaborate floats and presentations of folklore culminate in a grand ball, all devoted to this abundant crop.

BOOK IT: Celebrate Corso de la Lavande with UTracks’ self-guided Best of Provence (8 days). Departs daily from April to October, from £790 per person.

SEPTEMBER: ETHIOPIA
MESKEL – FINDING OF THE TRUE CROSS 27 September 2012

WHY: Meskel is Ethiopia’s most colourful Christian festival – but even for non-believers, it offers a dazzling excuse to celebrate with bonfires and parties! Thousands of locals and visitors get together to watch priests, nuns and parishioners sing, clap, beat drums and dance as they put on a unique show for the crowd. Meskel commemorates the recovery, 17 centuries ago, of the cross on which Jesus was crucified and the Ethiopian Church still claims to have its own piece, hidden from public view at the remote monastery of Gishan Mariam.

BOOK IT: Make sure you are in Ethiopia to celebrate Meskel with World Expeditions’ special departure of the Ethiopia Explorer (16 days) on 21 September. From £2,220 per person.

OCTOBER: BHUTAN
JAMBAY LHAKHANG FESTIVAL 29 October – 2 November 2012

WHY: A hugely popular religious festival, Jambay Lhakhang takes place every autumn at one of the oldest and most sacred Buddhist temples in Bhutan. Jambay Lhakhang is known for its two special events: ‘Mewang’ (the “fire blessing ceremony”), where locals run underneath a huge flaming gate made out of dry grasses with ambers and piles of burning grasses falling on their head; and ‘Tercham’ (the “dance of treasure”), where dancers with their face covered by a mask perform a dance completely naked.

BOOK IT: World Expeditions’ dedicated departure for Land of the Thunder Dragon – Jambay Lakhang Festival (13 days) is on 25 October 2012. From £1,890 per person.

NOVEMBER: ARGENTINA
FIESTA DE LA TRADICIÓN – TRADITION DAY 10 November 2012

WHY: This is the best opportunity you will have to see the ‘gaucho’ culture and get a feel for country life in Argentina. There are competitions, dances, horse and bronco riding, folk music and asados (“barbecues”), as well as exhibitions of local craftwork including silverware, spurs, stirrups and saddles. The finale involves hundreds of gauchos in their traditional dress – typical bombachas (“baggy jodhpurs”), wide-leather belts, boots and leather hats – parading through the centre of town.

BOOK IT: Book World Expeditions’ 11-day Patagonia Adventure which culminates just in time for Fiesta de la Tradición. Departs on 27 October, from £1,890 per person.

DECEMBER: CHILE
NEW YEAR’S FESTIVAL 29-31 December 2012

WHY: Attracting one million tourists from around the world, this three-day festival culminates with a huge (30,000 explosions!) firework display. Live bands play until the early hours of the morning on Plaza Sotomayor, while local traditions include: eating lentil dishes with 12 grapes to symbolise each month of the year; writing down everything that was bad about the old year and then symbolically burning the paper; going out walking with luggage so that you travel during the year; and wearing ‘lucky’ items, such as yellow underwear.

BOOK IT: Celebrate New Year’s Eve in Chile with World Expeditions: Book Chile End to End (18 days) that departs on 31 December 2012, from £3,290 per person.

For more information and bookings please visit www.worldexpeditions.co.uk and www.utracks.com  The all-inclusive policy of World Expeditions and UTracks ensures there are no local payments. Prices do not include international flights, however these can be arranged on request.

Condé Nast Traveler just announced their prestigious 2012 Gold List winners for the world’s finest hotels, resorts, and cruise lines, and Uniworld Boutique River Cruises is thrilled that it was once again included in the “World’s Top 12 Cruise Lines” category. This year, as a way to mark 25 years of Condé Nast Traveler, the magazine celebrated the “superstars” of the Gold List in their Platinum Circle honor, which includes Uniworld, which has made the Gold List every year for the past five years’ running.

Earlier this year, Uniworld was also rated as the world’s Number One “Best River Cruise Line” in Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious 2011 Readers’ Choice Awards.

“I am deeply honored that Uniworld has again been recognized in Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious Gold List,” states Guy Young, president of Uniworld.

“The significance of being included as a Platinum Circle member reaffirms Uniworld’s commitment to consistently delivering the best river cruise experience possible to our guests. I am also very proud to be included in a list of well-respected cruise lines such as Crystal, Silversea, Seabourn, and Regent,” furthers Young.

The eighteenth annual Gold List contenders are tested afresh every year in Condé Nast Traveler’s Readers’ Choice Survey, described by Condé Nast as “the collective result of some eight million votes cast by as savvy a group of travelers as you’ll find on the planet.”

About Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, the world’s only authentic boutique cruise line, is recognized among the “World’s Best River Cruises” by Travel + Leisure. Uniworld was voted the“#1 River Cruise Line in the World” in Condé Nast Traveler ’s Readers’ Choice Awards, was named to Condé Nast Traveler’s prestigious Gold List, and won “Best River Ships” in their Readers’ Poll, which ranked River Beatrice and River Duchess the #1 and #2 river ships, along with five other highly ranked ships in the top 20. Uniworld’s cabins and dining are also ranked among the top three in the world by Zagat Survey; Uniworld is the only river cruise line named in the Zagat Survey amongst the best of the best in the cruise industry.

Uniworld features luxurious boutique ships with an average capacity of 130 guests, included shore excursions, world-class gourmet cuisine, and award-winning hospitality.

Uniworld offers over 500 departures sailing on over 13 rivers in more than 20 countries throughout Europe, Russia, Egypt, China, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

For more details, please visit www.uniworld.com or connect with Uniworld Boutique River Cruises at www.facebook.com/uniworldrivercruises or www.twitter.com/UniworldCruises

DoubleTree by Hilton made its official debut in the Netherlands with the opening of the DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station. The 553-room hotel opened in June immediately adjacent to Centraal Station in the historic city center, and near key attractions including Leidseplein, Rijksmuseum, the Van Gogh Museum and the Anne Frank Museum.

Previously known as the Mint Hotel Amsterdam, the hotel is one of eight Mint Hotels in the Netherlands and the U.K. that will join the Hilton Worldwide portfolio of hotels under the DoubleTree by Hilton and Hilton Garden Inn brand names in the coming months. A fast-track transition program will see the remaining seven Mint Hotel properties rebranded and fully integrated into the Hilton Worldwide systems by early 2012.

Hotel accommodations feature large, floor-to-ceiling windows, as do all of the property’s bars and restaurants, providing impressive views of the city. The hotel’s outdoor areas feature waterfront terraces, a sky terrace, suite balconies, courtyards and private roof terraces.

Diners at the DoubleTree by Hilton Amsterdam Centraal Station have several options. City CafÈ is a restaurant where guests eat either indoors or al fresco on a waterfront terrace. The East Dock Lounge combines impressive space with a coffee culture intimacy. The Lobby Bar offers cocktails, beers and wines, as well as light lunches and sharing platters. Skylounge, a rooftop gathering place, offers a dramatic vantage point 11 stories above the city with views for guests to enjoy cocktails with friends, small meetings with colleague or intimate private dining in an unrivalled setting.

“The dynamic European growth of DoubleTree by Hilton, with more than 25 hotels opened since 2008 and 25 additional hotels under development across the region, indicates remarkable promise for the brand as we enter 2012,” said Simon Vincent, area president Europe, Hilton Worldwide.