Top Ski Airports For Winter

January 1, 2009 on 8:59 am | In Airlines, Albania, Andorra, Austria, Cabinweb, Croatia, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Europe, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, London, Luxwmbourg, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Paris, Poland, Romania, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Skiing Snowboarding, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Wales, Yugoslavia | Comments Off


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.


Neilson's Luxury Super Service Chalet
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


MSC Fantasia celebrates deals

December 30, 2008 on 7:00 pm | In Cruise Boats, Greece, Italy, London, Malta, Portugal, Rome, Scotland, Spain, United Kingdom, Wales | Comments Off

Two-for-One Offers on the High Seas of Luxury

Hong Kong - Start the New Year with a holiday that takes travellers for a complete tour of the sites and sounds of the Mediterranean while relaxing in luxury and enjoying the highest standards of service aboard MSC¡¦s newest and largest ship, MSC Fantasia, or alternatively, on one of the long-standing favourites of many guests, MSC Poesia. Now MSC makes the opportunity even sweeter by offering a New Year ¡§Two-for-One¡¨ promotion, enabling international adventurers to see the best of the Mediterranean on several breathtaking routes, all at two for the price of one.

After its maiden voyage this December, the MSC Fantasia¡¦s grandeur is on display during the Western Mediterranean 11-night journey, departing and returning to Genoa, Italy. The itinerary includes some of the most exciting and intriguing ports of call in Europe. Explore the magical cities of Barcelona and Gibraltar, the historic town of Funchal, Portugual, then enjoy the beauty of Tenerife and Arrecife in the Canary Islands. Continue on to the quintessentially Spanish city of Malaga before docking in Civitavecchia, Italy for some incredible Italian fare before returning back to Genoa.

Departing Friday, January 16, or Tuesday January 27, 2009, there is no better way to celebrate the beginning of the New Year than to enjoy a journey on the high seas with the one you love ¡V both guests for the price of just one traveller.

Get Your Steamer Trunks HereOn another luxury cruise ship, in the company¡¦s true Italian style, the MSC Poesia is poised to provide those intrigued by the heritage and history of Greece and Egypt with a stunning way to explore these cultures for 12 days and 11 blissful nights. Departing on January 20 from Genoa, Italy, guests will discover Ajaccio, the capital city of Corsica and Napoleon Bonaparte¡¦s home town. Messina will surprise with its lively culture, while the picturesque Isle of Rhodes is stunning in its beauty. Next, visit the famed site of Egyptian archaeology in Alexandria, followed by art and culture from over the ages in La Valletta. The beachside town of La Goulette ¡V the port of Tunis ¡V is a breathtaking site, and the Italian cities of Naples and the final port of call, Genoa, are once-in-a-lifetime experiences not to be missed.


Millions of holidays
MSC Cruises¡¦ sophisticated on-board activities and facilities offer everything a guest could desire for a relaxing holiday, including mini golf course, fitness centre, spa and massage facilities, sauna rooms, jogging areas, swimming pools, Jacuzzi, video games centre, theatre, salon, internet cafes, restaurants, disco, casino, shopping arcade, children¡¦s club and Wi-Fi facilities. And, the newest addition ¡V MSC Fantasia ¡V adds panache and exclusivity to the experience with the Yacht Club, an ultra-deluxe private section of the ship with personalised service and one-of-a-kind offerings that represent all that luxury travel should be.

¡¥Two-for-One¡¦ New Year Luxury Cruise
MSC Fantasia (12 days/11 nights)
Ports of Call: Genoa„³ Barcelona „³ Gibraltar „³ Funchal „³ Tenerife „³ Arrecife „³ Malaga „³ Civitavecchia „³ Genoa
Embarkation: Genoa
ľ Departs: 16/01/2009 (Fri) and 27/01/2009 (Tue)
Price: HKD8,572 up*

MSC Poesia (12 days/11 nights)
Ports of Call: Genoa „³ Ajaccio „³ Messina „³ Rhodes „³ Alexandria „³ La Valletta „³ La Goulette „³ Naples „³ Genoa
Embarkation: Genoa
ľ Departs: 20/01/2009 (Tue)
Price: HKD8,183 up*

* The above prices exclude air-ticket, tips, port charges, fuel surcharges, government taxes and all applicable taxes.
* The above prices are applicable for 2 persons travel together only.

Rail Europe New Trenitalia Rome-Milan Link

December 29, 2008 on 8:39 am | In Albania, Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Crete, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech, Denmark, Estonia, Europe, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lichtenstein, Lithuania, London, Luxwmbourg, Malta, Moldova, Monaco, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Paris, Poland, Portugal, Rail Tours, Romania, Rome, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom, Wales, Yugoslavia | Comments Off


London to Paris fares and schedules
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.

Big Ship Med Cruising With Big Price Saving

December 26, 2008 on 8:13 am | In Albania, Australia, Crete, Croatia, Cruise Boats, Cyprus, Europe, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Montenegro, New South Wales, Northern, Pacific Islands, Portugal, Queensland, Rome, South Australia, Spain, Sydney, Tasmania, Victoria, Western | Comments Off

A 7-night cruise from Venice to Istanbul and back aboard the luxury mega-liner Costa Serena is selling through ecruising.travel from just AUD$3199pp twin-share, including return air from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Cairns*, a hotel night pre-cruise in Venice and onboard gratuities.

Costa Serena will sail from Venice for Bari in Italy, Katakolon (Greece,) Izmir and Istanbul in Turkey, Dubrovnik (Croatia) and back to Venice on May 24 and 31, September 20 and 27 and October 11 next year.

The 112,000 tonne liner that’s one of the two largest in the Costa fleet, has countless big-ship facilities including four pools – two of them with retractable glass roofs – five Jacuzzis, a jogging track, a 2100 square metre Spa and Wellness Centre, nightly showroom entertainment, late-release movies and a casino.

There are five restaurants to choose from and a range of indoor and outdoor bars and lounges.

For full details of these cruises that are selling through ecruising.travel at prices vastly below previously advertised,

phone 1300 369 848

 or check out www.ecruising.travel

* air taxes and fuel surcharges at time of booking are additional.

Powder Monkeys Not Piste Off By The Credit Crunch

December 24, 2008 on 8:36 am | In Andorra, Austria, Cabinweb, Croatia, Czech, Denmark, Europe, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, London, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Paris, Poland, Romania, Rome, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Skiing Snowboarding, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Wales | Comments Off



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.”


Neilson's Luxury Super Service Chalet
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.”


Crystal Ski - Click Here!
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

Mallorca Farmhouses - For Solo Travellers

December 23, 2008 on 9:42 am | In Beachbooker, Dine Drink, London, Portugal, Scotland, Spain, United Kingdom, Wales | Comments Off


Thomson Holidays - Click Here!
Guilt-Free Gastronomic Getaway

For a cookery course with a difference, self-catering accommodation specialists, Mallorca Farmhouses has introduced a series of Guilt-Free Gastronomic Getaways to Mallorca next spring and autumn.

With the solo traveller in mind, it is aimed at those wishing to know the secrets of cooking impressive dishes for little effort. Under the instruction of master chef Bruno Canillac, who is also responsible for organising Mallorca Farmhouses’ private chef service, the four Gastronomic Getaways will include instruction in cooking local and international dishes. Lasting three days, they will take place on 25 April, 29 April, 26 September and 30 September 2009.

Guests take part in the two, three-hour-long cooking workshops and also get to sample their creations at a group dinner. For a guilt-free conscience, activities such as walking, horse-riding, golf and cycling can be mixed in between courses for a small supplement.

The programme also includes an escorted trip to the local food market in Pollenca with tips on how to buy the freshest of fish, meat and vegetables and a visit to Can Vidalet Bodega with a wine tasting and tour of wines available exclusively to Mallorca Farmhouses. There will also be an organised lunch to a traditional Mallorcan restaurant to sample the local cuisine.

BeachBooker Beach VillasThe courses are based at the luxurious La Rafal del Roser Vell, a magnificent new farmhouse enjoying a countryside ambience just outside of the old town of Pollenca. There are four bedrooms -each with an en-suite bathroom, air-conditioning and heating, offering ample comfort, space and privacy. The farmhouse offers a private infinity pool, table tennis and is just a short drive to the beautiful sandy coves of Cala San Vicente and the long stretch of beach at Puerto Pollenca.


SHOP.COM - Shopping made easy
The Guilt-Free Gastronomic Getaway is priced at £715 per person in April or £745 per person in September (based on single-occupancy) and includes three nights’ accommodation on a full-board basis, cooking workshops and escorted food and wine tours.

Should guests wish to extend their stay, and be joined by family for friends, they can choose from a selection of properties that are available for flexidate bookings of three nights or longer. These include the popular Burgues and Sa Casita in the north of the island or Es Serral and Finca Es Fasser, which can be found in the south.

For further information and reservations please contact Mallorca Farmhouses on 0845 800 8080 or visit www.mallorca.co.uk

Less Than Half-Price Deals In Cape Verde

December 22, 2008 on 10:19 am | In Africa, Beachbooker, London, Portugal, Spain | Comments Off

BeachBooker Beach VillasLess than half-price deals in Cape Verde – saving up to £545 per person – is the post-Christmas deal from specialist operator, Holiday Options.

The above reduction applies to seven-night holidays, departing Birmingham on 2, 9 and 16 January, with the revised twin share price of £499 per person including return flights, transfers and all-inclusive accommodation at the four-star Hotel Crioula on the island of Sal.

The same holiday, but leaving Gatwick on 5 and 12 January, now costs £599 per person (a reduction of £416), or £599 per person (saving £445) for Manchester departures on 6 or 13 January.

Deals also apply throughout February. 0844 477 0452, www.holidayoptions.co.uk

Mallorca Cookery And Foodie Fun At Hotel L’Avenida

December 19, 2008 on 10:37 am | In Beachbooker, Dine Drink, Hotels, London, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom | Comments Off


New for 2009, Hotel L’Avenida, Mallorca’s chic eight-bedroom boutique hotel in the heart of Soller on the island’s North West coast, is introducing a ‘Flavours of Mallorca’ cookery and foodie weekend throughout February, March and October 2009.

The cookery weekends, based at the converted, century old Modernist style private mansion in the heart of the town, will be run by local chef Benet Vicens, who is the owner of the popular restaurant Bens d’Avall, in the neighbouring town of Deia. During the three-day course, Benet will introduce guests to a wide range of Mallorcan produce, showing them how to use ingredients such as locally caught seafood and lamb from the surrounding Tramuntana Mountains, in a variety of contemporary and innovative dishes.

Over the last few years Bens d’Avall has acquired a reputation for its modern take on traditional Mallorcan dishes and Benet has won much praise across the island for his commitment to protecting local produce, such as the three types of local Mallorcan tomatoes that he helped to cultivate in conjunction with the Botanic Gardens of Soller, in order to save them from extinction and maintain their distinct flavour for the island’s cuisine.

From 12th February 2009, the cookery courses will operate every weekend in February, March and October, with guests arriving on a Thursday and beginning their stay with an informal evening of tapas and local wine tasting at L’Avenida.

After breakfast on the Friday, guests will visit the Macia Batle Bodega at Santa Maria, located in the heart of Mallorca’s traditional wine growing region, for a wine tasting tour before returning to L’Avenida for a light lunch.

On Friday afternoon, Benet will show participants how to make a delicious range of dishes such as a ‘Carpaccio of Soller prawns served with basil and Soller lemon ice cream’, a local fish dish served with fine herb vinaigrette, ‘Lamb with a roasted pepper ‘Tumbet’ and camomile salsa’, plus a choice of desserts. These will then be served to the cookery course participants at a gala dinner in the hotel that evening.

On Saturday morning Benet will accompany guests on a visit to the bustling fruit and vegetable market in Soller in order to select local ingredients for a further practical demonstration of dishes, which will be prepared and served as lunch at Benet’s own country house, with its spectacular views over the surrounding olive groves and countryside. The afternoon is then at leisure to explore the local area, relax by the pool in the courtyard garden at the hotel, or have a pampering aromatherapy massage in the hotel’s spa treatment room.

On the Sunday morning, guests will enjoy a final breakfast at L’Avenida before being presented with a hamper of local Mallorcan produce and an information pack including all the recipes that they have learnt over the weekend.

Click Here for Your BEACH GEARThe ‘Flavours of Mallorca’ cookery weekend costs €1485 per person (approx £1,240 per person) and includes three night’s accommodation based on two people sharing a double room, continental breakfast, all tuition, food and wine relating to the demonstrations (excluding mini bar consumption), gala dinner on Friday night, return airport transfers, transfers to the bodega and the bodega tour. For the cookery weekends to take place, a minimum of six and maximum of 16 people are required. Spa treatments cost from €40 per person.
For further details or to book ‘Flavours of Mallorca’ cookery weekend, call Hotel L’Avenida on 0034 971 634 075 or visit the website www.avenida-hotel.com

New Luxury Hotel Barge Cruising Brochure

December 19, 2008 on 8:15 am | In Adventure Travel, Austria, Cruise Boats, Czech, Denmark, France, Hungary, Italy, London, Montenegro, Netherlands, Portugal, Rome, Russia, Scotland, Serbia, Slovakia, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Wales | Comments Off

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.


SHOP.COM - Shopping made easy

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.

Touring Europe & Britain The Costsaver Way

December 18, 2008 on 8:40 am | In Austria, Belgium, Croatia, Czech, Denmark, Europe, France, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, London, Montenegro, Netherlands, Norway, Paris, Rome, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland, United Kingdom, Wales | Comments Off

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

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