The hike includes Lake Bled with its castle and three nights beside Lake Bohinj encircled by the Julian Alps. Following the course of the Soca river leads to historic Kobarid, today the culinary capital of Slovenia with many fine restaurants. Crossing into Italy on foot brings clients to Friuli with an opportunity to visit the two UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Cividale and Aquileia, and sample the wines of the Collio region.

The package runs twice in the year from June 3 to 11 and Oct. 2 to 10. The walking groups are small (maximum 16 people) and the support vehicle enables clients to walk as much or as little as they please each day. The price for the Slovenia and Friuli Tour is 2,625 euros per person and is fully inclusive. For more information, call 011-61-(0)3-5755-2307.

The Opera and Ballet Ljubljana returned a couple of weeks ago, with the sounds of a fanfare, to the main house after the concluded construction work that gave the building a new image – the restoration project of the opera house was undertaken especially due to acoustic and spatial problems. Art ensembles, who worked in this period in difficult conditions, scattered around eight locations in the capital, obtained modern rehearsal rooms and the most technically advanced stage; moreover, at the entry, visitors will notice the beautifully restored hall and modern reception hall with several access points. However, the initial charm of the Ljubljana opera house was preserved – namely, despite the hesitation with joining the modern with the new Renaissance style, the new opera house respects the tradition and offers something new.
The main Slovenian music theatre, SNG Opera and Ballet Ljubljana, has been operating since 1892 in the building that was, as a provincial theatre in the new Renaissance style, constructed according to the plans of Czech architects Jan V. Hrasky and Anton Hruby, but has been closed to the public during the last six years. The theatre building, constructed in 1892, has a varied history. At the turn of the 20th century, it housed first the German Theatre (Nemško gledališče) and then the Provincial Theatre (Deželno gledališče). 1918 saw the establishment of the theatre`s opera and ballet ensembles and orchestra, which, after the Second World War, began to tour outside the country, receiving international acclaim.
During the opening, the national opera and ballet house also presented a new corporate image, opened a new web portal for visitors and issued a monograph about the SNG Opera and Ballet Ljubljana entitled Coalescence of Centuries. This was also the title of the opening ceremony that was broadcast by the Slovenian National Television station; moreover, it is also the slogan of all events and activities within the framework of the opening, move and 120th anniversary of activities, that will leave a mark in the coming year under the honorary patronage of the President of the Republic of Slovenia, Dr. Danilo Türk.

Administrator : Slovenska turistična organizacija | info@slovenia.info

The merger is a result of a joint decision by the management boards of individual companies, the management of the Tourist industry and the management board of Sava, d.d. with the purpose of increasing the efficiency and success of the Tourism industry.

The joint company will include the destinations Sava Hoteli Bled, Terme 3000 – Moravske Toplice, Terme Ptuj, Zdravilišče Radenci, Terme Banovci and Terme Lendava, which will be managed by executive directors in the regions. In this way, Sava Turizem d.d. will continue with the policy of partnership cooperation with the local environments in which the company is present.

The merger will contribute to better results in the area of marketing, personnel, financial and service capacities of all companies and will strengthen the competitive position of the merged company on the market. The centralisation of individual supportive functions and business processes will help the destinations with regard to their focus on the their basic activity and better quality of services as well as increased satisfaction of guests.

In the future, the destinations will become even more specialised with their offer by emphasizing health activities, congress tourism and golf, which will enable the successful development of each area without internal competition. In the marketing area, the merger will represent a further strengthening of the Sava Hotels & Resorts brand name, while retaining the recognisable destination brand names.

1. Best ski resort for friends – Söll, Austria
Söll is a good choice for a group of mixed ability skiers and non-skiers, as it has lively après, ski, a pretty village atmosphere, access to 250kms of ski runs, good ski school and gentle nursery slopes, and masses to do for non-skiers, such as curling, ice-skating, swimming, paragliding or indoor tennis. When the lifts stop, the entertainment ranges from authentic Tirolean, to modern and Eurotrash, with masses of bars, clubs and restaurants.

A week’s ski holiday with accommodation at the Schindlhaus Apartments in the centre of Soll can be booked over Christmas 2011 from as little as £335 from Gatwick and £255 from Manchester based on 4 sharing on a self-catering basis, departing on 24thDecember 2011. Visit www.directski.com

2. Best family ski resort – Mayrhofen, Austria
The traditional Tirolean town of Mayrhofen is a good choice for a family ski holiday, with its friendly family-run hotels, streets lined with brightly lit shops and restaurants, English speaking ski schools and good crèche facilities, while the town is surrounded by mile upon mile of excellent skiing. The ski schools, crèche and the ski lifts, ski school are also all close to the centre, simplifying pre-ski drop off and pick up for younger kids.

A week’s stay costs from £563 for a family of four at the Alpin-Hotel Schrofenblick, a family run traditional hotel in the centre of Mayrhofen, departing from Gatwick or £603 from Manchester, including return flights, accommodation and transfers on 14th Jan 2012 (€788 from Dublin, £623 from Belfast). www.directski.com

3. Best après ski – Arinsal, Andorra
The prize for best value après ski has to go Andorra for its duty free pricing, inexpensive, great value resorts. The happy hours, discos, lively cafes and restaurants also give the Andorran resort of Arinsal its reputation as one of the liveliest resorts in the mountains. The skiing’s pretty good too!

A week’s skiing with b&b accommodation at the Hotel Ayma can be booked from just £342 from Gatwick, £382 from Manchester and €417 from Dublin including return flights and transfers, departing on 8th January 2012, based on 4 sharing.www.directski.com

4. Best skiing for ski divas – Val d’Isere, France
Val d’Isere is one of the world’s top ski resorts and draws skiers from around the world. Home to the men’s downhill in the 1992 Olympics it offers extensive, world-class skiing, amazing powder and great opportunities for off-piste adventures. If you want to be seen in all the right places, it has to be on the piste in Val d’Isere.

A week’s skiing in Val d’Isere over New Years costs from £416 per person, based on 2 sharing a self-catering apartment in the Residence Le Villeret from 31st December 2011 with return Gatwick flights (Manchester £436, Belfast £476, Dublin €605) and transfers.www.directski.com

5. Best new kid on the block – Kranjska Gora, Slovenia
For a week’s skiing away from the ski glitterati pick somewhere like Slovenia, where the food and nightlife is rustic, the skiing is close to nature and there’s no need to invest in the latest ski gear when you’re bound to come across some one piece classics from the early 1990’s.

7 nights half board accommodation at the 4* Hotel Lek in the Slovene resort of Kranjska Gora costs from £283, based on 2 sharing, travelling on 7th January 2012. www.directski.com

6. Best beginners resort – Pas de la Casa, Andorra
Learn to ski away from the bright lights of a glitzy resort. Pick somewhere fun and lively like Pas de la Casa in Andorra for cheaper equipment, duty free shopping and great value learn to ski packages, with good, English speaking ski schools and great après ski too.

A week’s skiing with self-catering accommodation at the Aparthotel Olimpiades in Pas de la Casa can be booked with Directski.com from £387 per person with return Gatwick flights (Manchester £427, Dublin €468) and transfers, departing on 8th January 2012, based on 4 sharing.

A learn to ski pack costs from £225 / €260, including 5 half days tuition, ski and boot hire and lift pass. www.directski.com

7. Best for ski & spa – Bad Gastein, Austria
The Austrian spa town of Bad Gastein is world renowned for the soothing properties and the alleged healing powers of its natural thermal waters. Its snow record is pretty good too, which makes it a perfect ski and spa combination for those looking to relax after pounding the slopes.

With its steam bath, outdoor heated pool, whirlpool, sauna and massage facilitiesDirectski.com has a week at the 4* Sporthotel Alpina, arriving on 14th January 2011, for £412 per person from Gatwick, £452 from Manchester (Belfast £472, Dublin €555) including return flights, half board accommodation and transfers, based on 4 sharing.www.directski.com

8. Best high altitude skiing – Tignes, France
When the snow’s melting elsewhere Tignes is a cert for the white stuff and is one of Europe’s premier destinations for glacier skiing with the Grand Motte glacier dominating the surrounding area giving it one of the longest ski seasons in Europe. The resort is served by the large well linked L’Espace Killy ski area and offers access to over 300km (190 miles) of pistes.

A week’s self catering ski holiday at the 3* Le Hameau du Borsat apartments, based on 4 sharing, costs from £329 per person, departing on 14th January 2012, including return flights from Gatwick or £349 from Manchester and transfers, (Belfast £369, Dublin €430). www.directski.com

9. Best budget skiing
The best way to trim the cost of a ski holiday is to ski in mid-January when Christmas and New Year are over, but before half term, take some friends, find a good value apartment in the French Alps and self-cater for a week. France’s La Plagne together with Les Arcs is one of the largest ski areas in the world with extensive access to high altitude skiing on uncrowded pistes.

Departing on 17th December 2011 Directski.com has a week’s self-catering ski holiday in France’s La Plagne for £259 per person from Gatwick (£239 from Manchester) including self-catering accommodation at the 3* Belambra Residence Cassiopee apartments, return fights and transfers, based on 4 sharing. The prices tumble further for larger group sizes. Visit www.directski.com

10. Best non-ski activities – Zell am See, Austria
For non-skiers and those wanting to take a break from the slopes Zell am See – with its pretty lake – has masses to offer, including tobogganing, bowling, a sports centre with indoor pool, ice-skating, snow shoeing, sleigh rides and cinema. Its good rail links with other resorts and Austria’s cities makes it a pleasant base for touring too.

7 nights half board accommodation at the 3* Hotel Seehof costs from £496, based on 4 sharing, with return Gatwick flights and transfers, (£506 from Manchester, £566 from Belfast, €643 from Dublin), departing on 7th January 2011. www.directski.com

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

Biking Plus
For those passengers who would like to be a little more adventurous, a number of thebarges now offer a Biking Plus option. Whilst others are relaxing on deck, or maybe enjoying a stroll, guests can take a bike and follow an interesting, but not too challenging carefully researched route.

They will be given clearly marked maps for each round trip route and a backpack with everything they might need so that, for an hour or two, they can explore the surrounding countryside and villages along the lanes and byways. Then they can just rejoin the barge where they left her – or maybe a little further along the canal. They won’t miss any of the organised excursions or much of the cruising, but will have seen a little more of the people and places around them – and done themselves some good at the same time!

Tandem Biking
Most people haven’t had the chance to ride a tandem bike, but European Waterways now have them on board some of their hotel barges. A romantic and amusing way on a bicycle made for two and not as hard as many people might think.

Biking Charters
Lastly, for more committed cyclists, European Waterways offer biking charters with half day guided itineraries, upgraded bikes and lunch picnics – but still with their usual five star hotel barge service.

Prices for a 6 night Barging and Biking cruise aboard a European Waterways hotel barge start from £2,090pp in a twin/double cabin, including all meals, wines, an open bar, excursions and local transfers. Full boat charters also available.

Contact European Waterways: 01753 598555 Website: www.gobarging.com

Working with local Tourist Boards in Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Switzerland ,Slovenia, UK and many more www.christmas-markets.org not only gives the dates, descriptions and images, but also explains what else the individual locations have to offer in terms of attractions that visitors shouldn’t miss during their visit to ensure they have a real ‘feel’ for the destination. And of course return home laden with gifts for friends and family.

Christmas markets are always a great way of getting gift ideas and soaking up the magical atmosphere that excites children and adults alike. The sounds and smells together with often unfamiliar and interesting gifts created by local artisans, ensure visitors have an enviable break before the biggest celebrations of the year.
The individual pages for each destination, often give useful (or useless but interesting) information about local customs, local traditional dishes, how to say “Merry Christmas” in the local language, and of course, what to buy that is a unique reminder of that special place.

Some good examples of pages? Go to www.christmas-markets.org and select location
Belfast
Bath
Birmingham
Cologne – Germany
Dusseldorf – Germany – text description from the web site attached
Graz – Austria – text description from the web site attached
Montreux – Switzerland
Wiesbaden – Germany

New for 2012, Grand Capitals of Eastern Europe is a 10-day trip to Berlin, Warsaw, Krakow and Budapest featuring distinguished hotels like the Regent Berlin, deemed one of the best places to stay in the world by Condé Nast Traveler, and the Sofitel Chain Bridge overlooking the Danube in the heart of Budapest. Activities include a visit to the Schindler Factory Museum in Krakow, dinner with a Polish family in the charming town of Lowicz and a countryside excursion to Szentendre, an ancient Hungarian town and now-thriving artists’ colony in the Danube Bend. A pre-trip extension to Prague and Dresden features five-star city-center hotels, complete sightseeing and all on-tour transportation including first class rail from Dresden to Berlin to join the Grand Capitals tour.

Also new in 2012, Journey through Austria, Slovenia and Croatia, features landmark hotels and resorts such as the Grand Hotel Toplice, overlooking Lake Bled, and Zagreb’s Regent Esplanade, originally built for passengers of the Orient-Express train. The itinerary includes Munich, Salzburg and Vienna, as well as destinations rarely featured on traditional large-group escorted tours, such as the Salzburg Lake District; Graz, Ljubljana, often called “Little Prague,” and the sixteen cascading lakes of Plitvice National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Through Dec 30, General Tours is offering savings of $500 per person on bookings paid in full at the time of booking for either of the new trips to Eastern Europe.

Now in its 65th year, General Tours World Traveler offers Small Group, Privately Guided and Small Ship journeys to Asia, Europe, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. Specifically designed for never more than 16 guests, the company’s programs promise immersive cultural encounters and authentic travel experiences not possible in a larger group. For more information, call 800-221-2216 or visit www.generaltours.com

A typical day might involve breakfast, a late morning cooking class including the consumption of your prepared dish and then the afternoon spent on a guided tour of the city, at leisure or visiting a local temple of monument.

As the name suggests, the destinations visited by Cook East cover South East and Central Asia, but also include South America and we are always looking to add new destinations.

For up-to-date information on any of our itineraries or destinations please check our website, or get in contact. With prices starting from £735 including international flights we’re sure we have something for everyone.

Website: http://www.cook-east.com

Email: info@cook-east.com

Phone: 01276 682968