Jetsettersblog

Popular Landing Spots For British Skiers & Snowboarders

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

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

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

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

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

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

Best of the Rest:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Snowfall Boosts Demand

Prices From £13* Per Day

With heavy snowfall already reported in the Alps, car hire comparator Carrentals.co.uk is advising customers to book ski car hire early to secure the best prices and essential accessories such as snow chains and child seats.

Many resorts in Switzerland, Austria and Italy are enjoying prime conditions, opening early to make the most of the snowfall, with skiers being attracted to snow levels of up to 130cm and more in places.

Gareth Robinson, managing director of Carrentals.co.uk, says: “With the ski resorts enjoying a fantastic start to the season, we’ve seen demand for car hire in these areas jump significantly over the last couple of weeks. There is still availability but prices for rental can vary significantly between suppliers, so our advice is to compare the best deals in advance and book early to secure specific requirements such as snow chains and baby seats.”

Carrentals.co.uk compares car hire deals from leading rental companies in over 9,000 locations, including ski destinations such as Lyon, Turin and Chambery, with prices starting from just £13* per day at Aspen; £18* per day in Lyon; and £21* per day at Banff and Geneva.

Gareth added: “If this level of snow fall continues we are likely to see a rush in bookings over the next couple of weeks. Leaving car hire to the last minute, or, worse, leaving it until you arrive in resort, is likely to mean you pay a premium to secure the car you need, so book early and shop around for the best prices.”

Carrentals.co.uk compares car hire prices from up to 50 companies including Holiday Autos, Alamo, Budget and Thrifty. To compare the best ski deals visit www.carrentals.co.uk

*Prices are based on seven-day rental from 31 January and are subject to change.

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

Regent Holidays ( 0845 277 3317 www.regent-holidays.co.uk  is delighted to unveil its new 2009 brochure for The Baltics and Poland, meeting all holiday dreams and aspirations with its definitive collection of value-for-money city breaks, tours and itineraries tailored to suit your needs.

As a fully bonded tour operator with over 37 years of experience, Regent’s specialist team of well-travelled experts will bring your holiday dreams to life, providing the most personal of services.

A fantastic new addition to the 2009 brochure is Regent’s 7 day tour from £595 pp From Gdansk to Wroclaw, which includes plenty of time to explore the cobbled streets, historic harbour and medieval Old Town of Gdansk before cruising down the Elblag Canal, an astounding feat of hydro-engineering from the 19th century, as featured in Michael Palin’s book New Europe. Take the train to Torun, one of Poland’s most picturesque cities, whose Old Town is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

 The tour also takes you to Wroclaw with its breathtaking cathedral, endless canals and bridges, its Old Market Square and magnificent burgher houses.

For those returning to the Baltic States or wishing to travel outside the main cities, Regent has introduced Vilnius & Druskininkai, a 7 day tour that gives you the chance to familiarise yourself with Lithuania’s capital city, Vilnius (European city of Culture 2009), before travelling to Druskininkai, a spa town close to the Belarusian boarder surrounded by natural springs, peat bogs and pine forests and home to Grutas Park, where toppled statues of Lenin and Stalin are gathered together in a form of Soviet theme park. From £460 per person, this tour offers the kind of value for money with which Regent has become synonymous.

The popular 9 day Cycling on Saaremaa Tour, explores this tranquil island by bicycle and spends each night in one of the island’s many cosy farmhouses. Alternatively, check into the luxurious Padaste Manor, a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World with elegant bedrooms, exceptional restaurant choices, a renowned spa and stunning scenery on tap on the Tallinn & the Islands 6 day tour from £780 pp.

Back for 2009 are old favourites including Regent’s best-selling Classical Baltic Group Tours (from £775 per person for 8 days) and its Capital Cities Tours (from £635 per person for 10 days), which continue to be excellent value and offer an ideal introduction the delights of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania.

For those wishing to explore Poland for the first time, take your pick of Regent’s collection of tours, which include the 10 day Highlights of Poland tour from £795 per person, the Warsaw & Krakow 7 day tour from £495 per person and the 8 day Classical Poland Group Tour from £850 per person.

For 2009, Regent is delighted to offer three fly-drives, which remain an extremely popular holiday choice for those wanting flexibility as well as value for money. The fly-drive options are a 10 day Baltic Fly-drive from £880 per person, a Lithuanian Fly-drive from £715 per person for 10 days and an 11 day Coastal Baltic Fly-drive. From £890 per person, this unusual fly-drive itinerary starts in Vilnius from where you drive to Lithuania’s coastline, heading north via pretty fishing villages, the Curonian Spit, via ferry to the islands of Saaremaa and Muhu, before reaching Tallinn, your final destination.

Regent has added a selection of the region’s new hotels, including the 4* Mabre Residence Hotel, a former 17th century monastery on the edge of Vilnius’ Old Town and Hotel Shakespeare, a boutique hotel in the heart of Vilnius’ Old Town – many of its 31 rooms, all named after famous writers, overlook St Anne’s Church or Gedmino Castle while the hotel’s Sonnet restaraurant and its cosy lounge bar are a must.
The variety of the 2009 brochure perfectly reflects Regent’s deep-rooted understanding of The Baltics and Poland and its commitment to providing clients with endless possibilities for adventure in this increasingly popular part of Europe.

Country Walkers’ new program, Walking à la Carte, is designed for consumers who are being extra careful about where they spend their vacation budget because of the lagging economy.

Through the new program travelers can tailor their adventures with cultural sites, kayaking, wine tasting or private museum visits in destinations such as Italy and Hawaii. Country Walkers launched the innovative program in spring 2008 in response to recommendations from past and prospective guests. The program includes 12 unique itineraries in 2009. Each of the following adventures — including a brand new tour in India for 2009 — offers several Walking à la Carte options.

India: Magical Rajasthan à la Carte — While India’s cities have made headlines recently, the country’s Golden Triangle of the north offers a tranquil and vibrant escape. Bird-watch in Keoladeo National Park, stroll through small villages and countryside, and take in a safari in Ranthambore National Park. Walking à la Carte options include a walk in and around Ranthambore Fort, a visit to local tribal villages, the Johari Bazaar in Jaipur, and cultural immersion in Samode.

The package is priced from $5,998 per person.

Holland: Windmills & Waterways à la Carte — Step lively amid the windmills, waterways, and beautiful spring tulips of Holland. This seven-day escape includes Walking à la Carte options throughout Haarlem, including a visit to the Frans Hals Museum, a guided tour of the Amelisweerd Estate along the Rhine River, and a stop at the Centraal Museum, located in an Augustine monastery.

The package is priced from $4,198 per person.

California: Sonoma & Point Reyes à la Carte — From vineyards to the sea, this six-day amble reveals the beauty of northern California through winery tours, kayaking, cultural tours and springtime whale and elephant seal spotting along the coast. Walking à la Carte options include sea kayaking on Tomales Bay and guided horseback riding at Point Reyes National Seashore.

This package is priced from $2,498 per person.

Maine: Coastal & Island Exploring à la Carte — Experience the beauty of the shore and the enduring fascination of maritime life on this five-day coastal adventure. Walking à la Carte options include an exploration of Camden — a.k.a., the “Jewel of the Maine Coast” — a visit to the Farnsworth Art Museum and Wyeth Center, and a personalized visit to a local artist’s studio.

This package is priced from $2,298 per person.

For more information, see www.countrywalkers.com

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.

Rapidly expanding ferry company LD Lines plans to introduce a major new travel option for cross channel ferry passengers in 2009, as for the first time it will be linking the Port of Dover, the world’s busiest passenger port, with the Port of Dieppe.

Channel ferry services across the Dover Straits have historically operated between Dover and the short sea French channel ferry ports of Dunkerque, Calais and Boulogne, but in 2009 LD Lines Dover – Dieppe service will open significant, new direct tourist and commercial trading links between the South East of England and the Normandy region of Northern France.

LD Lines new route is scheduled to commence from early February 2009, providing one round trip daily from Monday to Friday. Crossing time will 4 hours 15 minutes, with a sailing schedule of :

Depart Dover – 1800 ; Arrive Dieppe – 2315 (local time)
Depart Dieppe – 1230 (local time); Arrive Dover – 1545 (local time)

The service will be operated by the M/V “Seven Sisters” which has capacity for 52 freight vehicles, 300 cars and up to 600 passengers.

LD Lines Managing Director, Christophe Santoni, said, “The Dover Strait is the biggest ferry market in the world and we have identified for some time that this new route would be a commercial advantage for LD Lines to provide a network on the Western Channel and Dover Strait. We will also be opening a new Dover – Boulogne service from 1 July 2009”.

“Freight and tourist customers will be saving 250 km drive time by using this service compared to driving to Western France from the short sea channel ports. Haulage companies will be able to reduce fuel consumption and their drivers can have an important rest break, not only on board ship during the crossing, but also utilise a dedicated freight vehicle parking facility in the Dieppe port area”.

For tourist passengers LD Lines has announced a special introductory offer fare from £30 one way for a car and four passengers.

More information and to book : www.ldlines.com  or call : 0844 576 8836

Is Affordable And Enriching With Trafalgar Tours In 2009

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

About Trafalgar Tours

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

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

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

Inghams Short Breaks 2009 brochure is your perfect getaway companion for the credit crunch. Sometimes, three days away really can be better than seven. In the current economic climate, short breaks are a great holiday option for anyone flinching at the thought of forking out for a whole week away from home. Inghams, with 18 years of experience in this market has put together a new short breaks brochure that combines adventure with affordability.

Three new European destinations are featured. Innsbruck, the capital of Austria’s Tyrol region, gained plenty of plaudits from visitors when its Tivoli Neu stadium hosted football matches during Euro 2008 and has plenty to offer both architecture buffs and winter sports enthusiasts.

 The Belgian university city of Ghent isn’t quite what it seems – at first glance it’s a perfectly preserved medieval treasure, but scratch beneath the surface and there’s all the contemporary subculture you’d expect from a town with a student population of 30,000 and residents including the ultra-hip Soulwax music collective. Lastly, Marseille, France’s second city, is a true melting pot of cultures and offers a tempting combination of sun, sea, gastronomy and history.

Inghams’ Short Breaks 2009 brochure also offers new twists on old favourites. The romance of Paris, 2008’s most popular short break destination, is more affordable now that staying in self-catering luxury apartments is an option; an improved choice of accommodation in Tallinn and St Petersburg features amongst the 62 new hotels listed; and on a seasonal note, there’s a choice of Europe’s finest Christmas markets, with trips to Berlin, Brussels, Prague and Vienna.

In a global financial slowdown, the smartest holidaymakers head where credit is at its crunchiest, and Reykjavik, with its mix of high octane activities, stunning scenery and cool nightlife, is sure to be a firm favourite again in 2009 as Iceland is one of the few countries whose currency has fallen against the pound in recent times. With lower airfares likely as fuel prices fall, there’s never been a better time to head for the land of mountains and geysers.

Prices start from: 2* Hotel Bordeaux, Paris, at £159 pp for two nights B&B including Eurostar from St Pancreas. Ashford or Ebbsfleet. (Travel until 31 March 09)

Accommodation only prices start from:

£27 per person, per night at the Special Category Celal Sultan Hotel sharing a twin or double room on B&B