Jetsettersblog

Europcar - Prius - final.docWorkers and residents in and around London can now escape the city whilst saving fuel, congestion charge costs and their conscience with the availability of the Toyota Prius from Europcar. The UK?s leading vehicle rental organisation is now offering the Prius, the world?s first and most successful hybrid power vehicle, from all of its London locations.

Driving pleasure, comfort and space haven?t been sacrificed to provide an eco-car. Instead the Prius combines style and superb handling with state of the art technology needed in these environmentally conscious times.

The fleet of vehicles are exempt from the London Congestion Charge and can be driven certain distances using electric power only at the press of a button. This means zero emissions, less noise and better fuel economy ? perfect for city and country driving alike.

?The availability of the Prius provides customers with an opportunity to put the hybrid to the test following news that Toyota aims to sell at least 1 million hybrid vehicles annually in the early part of the next decade.? said Catriona Lougher, Marketing Director for Europcar.

?Renting a car with Europcar is already a green choice as all our vehicles are on average just 3 months old and fitted with the latest technology to cut emissions. The average CO2 emission of our fleet is 157 g/km compared to the UK car parc of 164.9 g/km*. However, by making the Prius available we are bringing our customers a new way to drive greener that will also help them cut costs in terms of fuel and congestion charges. It?s all part of our commitment to exploit new manufacturer developments to bring customers the latest models to hit the road and a great rental experience.?

*Source SMMT 2007 report.

Reservations Phone: 1-800-626-0126Website: www.amawaterways.com

Pierre Graff, chairman and CEO of A?roports de Paris, and Jean-Cyril Spinetta, chairman and CEO of Air France-KLM, inaugurated the new terminal 2G at Paris-Charles de Gaulle on Sept. 9, in the presence of Christine Lagarde, Minister for the Economy, Industry and Employment of France. The decision to build Terminal 2G corresponded to two fundamental desires ― AirFrance and its regional subsidiaries, Brit Air, City Jet and R?gional, wanted to consolidate their traffic in a single location, and A?roports de Paris wanted to increase its handling capacity to support the growth in traffic within the Schengen area.

The new terminal has more gate parking stands, improved connections for passengers and a new lane for aircraft to minimized taxiing time and save on fuel. It also has gate-parked aircraft, easier international connections, rapid baggage check-in system and simplified access, all designed to reduce operating costs. The new terminal is designed to handle the needs of disabled and reduced-mobility passengers, and has new services for business travelers.

Once terminal 2G enters into service, flights will be operated to the following 20 destinations: France: Clermont-Ferrand (Brit Air & R?gional), Limoges (Airlinair for Brit Air), Mulhouse-Basle (R?gional), Pau (R?gional), Rennes (Airlinair for Brit Air), Strasbourg (Brit Air);? Germany: Bremen (R?gional), Hanover (R?gional), Leipzig (R?gional), Munster (R?gional), Nuremberg (R?gional); Spain: Bilbao (Brit Air), Vigo (R?gional); Italy: Florence (City Jet), Genova (Brit Air), Pisa (Brit Air), Trieste (Brit Air), Verona (R?gional); Slovenia: Ljubljana (R?gional); and Sweden:

?Gothenburg (City Jet, R?gional). There is a 750-space parking lot adjacent to the terminal, 18 self-service check-in kiosks, 10 self-service transfer kiosks, 12 baggage drop-off points including one specially designed for reduced-mobility passengers, 8 customer information points including one specially designed for reduced-mobility passengers, 20 boarding gates and 12 disembarkation gates. The new terminal can handle about 70 flights per day.

For more information, visit www.aeroportsdeparis.fr

The Eurail Group is bringing out several special edition extended rail passes, offering free travel days good for travel throughout Europe in the spring. With fewer crowds, lower airfares and more availability in hotels, spring is a good time to travel to Europe.

Tourist attractions, such as museums and monuments, are less crowded and the weather is also pleasant. Eurail is launching a special off-peak promotion, offering free travel days on two of its products: the Eurail Select Pass and the Eurail Global Pass.

The Eurail Select Pass allows customers to choose three or more adjoining countries in which to travel, enabling a tailor-made rail pass. For those wishing to cover more ground, a Eurail Global Pass gives travelers access to 21 participating countries from January.

Customers buying a 15- or 21-day Eurail Global Pass will instead receive 21 days or one month, respectively. The Eurail Select Pass 3 Countries, valid for six or eight days within two months, now comes with an additional two travel days.

These passes go on sale worldwide (outside of Europe) from Oct. 1.

To be eligible for the additional travel days, passes must be purchased before the end of November. Travel can start as from March 1 and must be completed by May 31.

All Eurail Passes are available from Eurail?s network of authorized Sales Agents worldwide: ACP Rail International (www.eurail-acprail.com);

Eurail (www.Eurail.com); Flight Centre (www.flightcentre.com);

www.OctopusTravel.com;

Rail Europe (North America: www.raileurope.com,

rest of the world: www.raileurope.fr),

and STA Travel (www.statravel.com)

Euroscape Pty. Ltds Managing Director, Ms. Iva Dalco, is delighted to announce the launch of the 2009 Europe and Russia Cruises program, now being distributed through our recently enhanced ET2 Web Site (www.euroscape-travel.com) and our just released, 2009 Cruises: Europe and Russia Brochure, offering an array of all inclusive Cruise Packages in some of the most enthralling River and Sea Cruise destinations.

Euroscape’s 2009 Cruise program offers great packages ranging from couples, family groups to high-end luxe sojourns, including options galore for travelling through culturally and historically significant locations, such as Russia, Ukraine and Turkey, the Baltic States, Czech Republic, Hungary, Belgium and the Netherlands as well as beautiful Adriatic and Mediterranean countries including Italy and Croatia, the Greek Isles, Spain, Malta, France and Tunis.

Euroscape’s Product Manager, Russian born and educated, Mr. Boris Greiss said, River and Sea cruising is a great leisurely way to explore and appreciate the regional attributes of different countries. Mr. Greiss went on to say, Russia’s extensive and famous waterways are probably the most popular of our River Cruises. Passenger feedback recognises the unique history, culture, cuisine and shopping experiences that are gained from River Cruising, along with exceptional value for money from an all inclusive Cruise, meals (and beverages), activities, port taxes, welcome reception and gala events. Many of the Cruises include Sightseeing Tours, Professional Cruise Director and themed dinners, making for a most memorial and enjoyable occasion.

Featured packages for the 2009 Cruises program include festive getaways, sailing the Mediterranean with Pullmantur Cruises. One such itinerary is the eight-day/seven-night sea voyage between Athens and Venice on board the Empress, starting from AUD$1907 per person, twin share. Cruising to Dubrovnik, Santorini, Rhodes and Mykonos is perfect for those looking for a relaxing and compact short holidays.

Another great seven-night Pullmantur Cruise is the Helsinki to St. Petersburg journey on board the Zenith, which includes stops at great ports in Scandinavian countries and the Baltic?s, such as Copenhagen, Gdynia and Tallinn and is priced from AU$2119 per person, twin share.

For those seeking a more upmarket adventure through some of Europe’s more prestigious locations, Euroscape is offering amazing luxury yachting adventures upon the renowned Sea Cloud II. With a bottle of Champagne on arrival to set the scene, these getaways offer a refined tour through cultural gems such as Stockholm, Visby, Helsinki and St. Petersburg. Early Bird deals are available for those booking now and pay before 30th November 2008.

EUROSCAPE? WEB SITE? 2009 CRUISES PROGRAM

Euroscape’s ET2 Web Site is the place where all of Euroscape’s travel products are contained for Quotations and Bookings and depending on the Travel Product type (Hotels, Apartments & Villas, Tours and Cruises, etc.) and the sourcing country, Euroscape offers online Availability? Booking facilities for many products and nominated date ranges. Many of the Russian Cruises have ?online availability?, enabling intending passengers, through their Travel Agents, to secure the required travel dates.

EUROSCAPE’S 2009 CRUISES BROCHURE

Euroscape’s Brochures generally represent a small percentage of what Euroscape has within their Travel Products database. In the case of Cruises, Euroscape does have the majority of the Cruise products in the brochure. There are of course more Cruise products in the ET2 Web Site, many of which are currently available online. Euroscape is constantly updating its ET2 Web Site with both new Cruise products (and numerous other travel products) during the Cruises program season, as well as making changes to prices, particularly for Cruise specials and last minute opportunities from Suppliers, so it worthwhile checking Euroscape’s ET2 Web Site.

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is making Europe even more tantalizing in 2009 with the debut of their Epicurean Adventurer Program in which guests can indulge their passion for fine wines and gourmet foods.

Guests aboard a Uniworld cruise featuring the Epicurean Adventurer Program will enjoy a host of culinary delights including private wine tastings, special wine and food pairings, cooking demonstrations and unique onshore excursions.

With our new Epicurean Adventurer Program, we?re giving our guests the ultimate in entertainment and education,? said Guy Young, president of Uniworld. ?Now they can explore regional foods and wines in an entirely new way.?

Uniworld?s intimate boutique, hotel-style ships offer the perfect setting for an in-depth discovery of the preparation and pairing of premier foods and wines. On each Epicurean Adventurer cruise, guests enjoy a special dinner prepared with the region?s freshest ingredients and learn how to select the perfect wine to complement the meal.

Guests will also have the opportunity to participate in cooking demonstrations led by master chefs who reveal trade secrets and techniques to help ?students? create their own gourmet dishes. Guided shore excursions will take guests into castles and vintners? homes for private wine tastings, or to local open-air food markets to sample regional treats. Overall, the new Epicurean Adventurer Program is designed to give Uniworld?s guests, as they journey through Europe, even more memories to savor.

Uniworld?s Epicurean Adventurer Program will be available on the following 2009 cruises:

Danube Discovery. Travel from Vienna to Nuremberg in nine days with fares starting from $2,099 per person

Rhine Discovery. Travel from Nuremberg to Basel in nine days with fares starting from $2,099 per person.

Grand European Discovery. Travel from Basel to Vienna in 16 days with fares starting from $4,049 per person.

Legendary Rhine & Moselle. Travel from Amsterdam to Basel in 14 days with fares starting from $3,599 per person

Paris & the European River Romance. Travel from Paris to Nuremberg in 11 days with fares starting from $1,999 per person.

Paris & the Heart of Europe. Travel from Paris to Vienna in 18 days with fares starting from $4,059 per person

Paris & the Grand European Waterways. Travel from Paris to Bucharest in 32 days with fares starting from $7,259 per person

Burgundy & Provence. Travel from Arles to Chalon in nine days with fares starting from $2,059 per person.

Grand European Explorer: Travel from Basel to Bucharest in 30 days with fares starting from $8,199 per person.

About Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection

Los Angeles-based Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection, the premier river cruise company, was recently named to Travel+Leisure?s World?s Best Top 10 Small Cruise Lines, Cond? Nast Traveler?s 2008 Gold List and their Reader?s Choice Awards for World?s Top 10 Small Cruise Lines.

Uniworld features intimate boutique, hotel-style cruise ships with an average capacity of 134 guests, and a ratio of one staff member for every three guests, world-class cuisine, and expertly planned itineraries with custom-blended shore excursions. The company offers over 500 departures on more than 35 itineraries sailing on 12 rivers in over 20 countries throughout Europe, Russia, China and Egypt.

With so many chalets on the market, choosing the right holiday can seem like a challenge. To help your readers to book their dream chalet holiday, we?ve put together the definitive list of the questions to ask when booking a ski holiday to make sure they get the holiday they really want.

TOP TEN BOOKING TIPS
From classy and comfortable to cheap and cheerful, there are hundreds of chalets out there and finding the one that suits you can seem daunting. Lucy Crisp lays out the top 10 questions to ask to ensure you book a chalet holiday that?s right for you.

1) How well do you know the product?

A thorough knowledge of services is key and this is where smaller operators and owner-managed chalets excel as they know the exact details of their individual chalets inside out, rather relying on the same vague brochure information on countless chalets which you have.

2) Have you seen the chalet?

Ask whether the sales agent actually seen the chalet you are interested in booking, or whether there is anyone else on the team you can talk to who has. This can be invaluable so you can clear up any worries about sleeping arrangements, en-suites, the seating area and realistic distances to the lifts, restaurants, bars and other vital amenities.

3) Tell me about the resort.

Ask as many questions as you can to check it meets your needs. Good questions include: is it snowsure for the time of year; is it the right level of skiing for my group; how much is the lift pass; does the resort have the apr?s ski/nightlife/restaurant scene I?m looking for and is the resort beautiful or purpose built?

4) What?s it like on the slopes?

When it comes to the skiing, ask about the transport to and from the pistes. There may be a mini bus service, but is it regular and reliable? If you like long leisurely lunches, check you won?t be stuck with canteen style sandwiches and soup. Smaller operators usually specialise in a few resorts so they know their resorts well as they?ll have been to the resort, skied the area and know the ski instructors, restaurants and nightlife like a local.

5) Are the pictures real?

Sometimes, brochures and website use generic or stock pictures to represent a typical chalet or meal. If you?ve been sold on beautiful interiors or sumptuous looking food, check it?s actually what you?ll get as top quality operators like The Alpine Club (www.thealpineclub.co.uk) only include images that are of their actual interiors and cuisine. Check also that the plans are accurate regarding the size of rooms and the number of en-suites.

6) Who are your staff?

Although gap year students and people in their early twenties are often enthusiastic, energetic and keen to learn, inexperienced teams can lead to problems. This is because they usually have a steep learning curve which is often at your expense as they learn how to manage their roles and responsibilities. In addition, inexpert staff often find themselves foundering when it comes to problems, complaints and crisis which can be even more dramatic in the accident-prone context of the mountains.

7) Is the chef qualified?

While we?ve become a nation of Jamie Oliver?s who can whip up a dinner party for six, it takes a qualified chef produce gourmet cuisine at restaurant standard six nights a week. The ability and flexibility to change the menu based on guest?s requests is a skilled job and in the same way that you take your car to a mechanic when it breaks down, it pays to choose a chalet company like Purple Ski (www.purpleski.com) who employs professional chefs.

What?s included?

Although booking a chalet holiday usually means that six days meals and linen are included, there is a lot of variation between operators regarding what else is included from flights and transfers to lift passes and equipment hire. Most of the time, it should be clear what you?ve paid for from the brochure, but it?s always worth double checking so you don?t get any nasty surprises.

9) What?s my back up?

It can be extremely frustrating to go on holiday and be disappointed because the standards aren?t high enough, the chef is late or the chalet is dirty. A good chalet company or tour operator will have a system in place to sort this out, but this is where owner-managed chalets where the owners are resort-based really come into their own. This is because owners-managed operators like the Alpine Club are passionate about ensuring their guests have a holiday that meets or exceeds their expectations. They make it a priority to be in the resort everyday instead of relying on a corporate head office in the UK staffed with sales agents separate from the operation in the Alps who have to manage from afar. This means it is usually very easy to get any issues resolved quickly and satisfactorily.

10) Can I have your name?

Taking a note of the sales person?s name can be useful for a variety of reasons. Firstly, it can save time if you have to phone back with another query. Secondly, it means that you have a record of what you?ve been told and by whom. In larger companies, the person who sells the holiday is not necessarily responsible for delivering the service, so can promise things that may not end up being delivered. Having the name of the operator gives you a back up, but also finding out to whom you?re talking to can be very reassuring. Knowing that you?ve booked through an experienced sales person or the owner can provide reassurance that you will receive the holiday you?ve been promised.

Leading ski website offers more ways of finding accommodation for independent travellers.

In response to this, the leading ski website chaletsdirect.com has grouped together a variety of services to form a new interactive area for people looking for ski and snowboard breaks. Called simply Chalets Direct Interactive, the new section provides holidaymakers with more tools to find their ski accommodation, in addition to traditional searching and browsing. Visitors can also use the interactive area to find and research holidays.

Chalets Direct Interactive includes message boards, resort reviews, a ski blog and The Solutions Room, where users can post up their holiday requirements and wait for offers to come back to them. The site also provides a Promotions area where visitors can view promotions and special offers for specific dates or resorts. The aim is to give independent skiers and snowboarders a better choice when looking for their winter holiday and to provide more ways of getting results.

Some key features of the interactive area include the Solutions Room, a unique bulletin board where people looking for holiday accommodation can say what they\’re looking for. Chalets Direct members can then reply to them to either match their requirements or propose alternatives. Launched in 1999, the Solutions Room has proved a useful tool for both holidaymakers and advertisers. A post made in the morning will usually have attracted several replies within a few hours, by the evening there will often be more than 20 proposals for the enquirer to choose from. Further development of the Solutions Room is currently taking place and enhanced features will be introduced later this autumn.

The Resort News and Reviews area means visitors can see what others are saying about resorts. This section is also an area to get news ?as it happens? ? with current bulletins about weather and snow conditions or upcoming events.

The Ski Blog, launched this summer, is a general discussion area focusing on ski industry events and news, with useful advice and hints for booking holidays in the mountains. The What Makes a great?Beginners Week post for example, gives helpful hints for first time skiers and snowboarders.

Chalets Direct Interactive also has a jobs board and Q & A area for people wanting to do a ski season or a long term let.

The interactive features can be found by clicking on the home page of www.chaletsdirect.com

Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines will introduce a smoke-free indoor environment on all five of its vessels beginning early in 2009. Smoking will be banned in all indoor areas, and permitted only on cabin balconies and specially designated areas of deck space.

This new ruling will come into effect initially on three vessels. Boudicca, Black Prince and Braemar will become smoke-free from their first sailings in 2009 (Jan. 1, Jan. 5 and Jan. 8, respectively). Black Watch and Balmoral will follow suit after completion of their 2009 World Cruises (April 13 and May 29, respectively).

At present, indoor smoking on Olsen vessels is restricted to designated areas of certain lounges on each of the five ships.

?A recent very extensive survey among our current and past passengers has proved to us without a doubt that this course of action is what most people want and, frankly, expect.

Even those passengers who are committed smokers understand the situation and accept that smoking onboard will be restricted to balconies and specified deck areas,? said Mike Rodwell, managing director of Fred. Olsen Cruise Lines.

?While we may have a few negative comments initially, I am confident that many new customers who are non-smokers will be encouraged to cruise with us in the future.? Braemar will be based in Miami for the winter 2008-09 season and Boudicca will be based in Barbados.

For more information, call Olsen?s GSA, Borton Overseas, at 800-843-0602, ext. 6, or visit www.fredolsencruises.com