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.

Trafalgar Tours will explore Europe and Britain “The CostSaver Way” next year on 40 diverse tours 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 clients the opportunity to enjoy enriching, hassle-free touring vacations at savings of up to 40 percent when compared to traveling independently. Targeting multi-generational family vacations — the fastest growing segment in travel — Trafalgar is introducing three new Family Experience CostSaver tours.

Also new in 2009 is a 10-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,” said 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 Trafalgar’s commitment to savings and value, the company’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 percent guaranteed — regardless of fluctuating international currencies or possible increases in fuel costs, guests will not be charged any surcharges. Trafalgar also pays the same commissions on its CostSaver programs as it does on its First Class Europe & Britain tours.

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 takes guests from the White Cliffs of Dover to the Toy Museum in Prague, the Glockenspiel in Munich, and the Eiffel Tower in Paris. This 15-day journey, priced from $2,250 per person, visits nine countries, including England, Belgium, Holland, Germany, the Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, and France.

Castles, Highlands & Heritage showcases the beauty of Great Britain on a 15-day tour through England, Wales, and Scotland, with stops at such sites as Stonehenge, Shakespeare’s home, a journey to Loch Ness, and a visit to St. Andrews. The tour is priced from $2,050 per person. Gladiators, Gondolas & Mountains explores the crown jewels of Italy, France, Monaco, and Switzerland on a 13-day tour visiting Rome, Florence, the Tuscan Hills, Nice, Geneva, Zermatt, Italian Lakes, and Venice. The program is priced from $2,175 per person.

Celebrating the art, architecture, and delectable cuisine of Spain, a new Spanish Experience CostSaver program is priced from $1,425 and visits Madrid, Toledo, Seville, Valencia, Peniscola, and Barcelona. CostSaver tours are priced at savings of up to 40 percent 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.

 For more information and reservations, call 800-854-0103 or visit www.trafalgartours.com

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is reintroducing its Pay-In-Full Savings program that gives savings of $600 to $2,000 per couple on 2009 itineraries throughout Europe.

The deal is good for those who pay in full by Jan. 31. “In the current challenging economic environment we want to give our customers every incentive to travel. With the reintroduction of the pay-in-full savings, coupled with the all-inclusiveness of a Uniworld river cruise, consumers now have a very compelling reason to travel to Europe and the other destinations we offer,” said Guy Young, president of Uniworld.

For more information, call 800-868-7905 or visit www.uniworld.com

Auto Europe has announced details of a new partnership with Europe’s largest golf travel company, Golfbreaks.com. Auto Europe will now be a sole supplier of rented vehicles for www.Golfbreaks.com  offered via its call centre and website booking system. Auto Europe will be providing Golfbreaks.com with a system designed specifically to help its call centre process car hire requests simply and quickly. Golfbreaks.com was formed in 1998 to make booking golf breaks as simple and straight-forward as possible. It offers a range of golfing breaks and holidays across the world.

For more information, visit www.golfbreaks.com or www.auto-europe.com

Uniworld Boutique River Cruise Collection is waiving the single supplement on a variety of 2009 Europe river cruises, which means solo travelers can cruise at no additional charge by booking on or before Jan. 31. Plus, by booking on or before Jan. 31, solo travelers can save up to an additional $1,000 with the Pay-In-Full Savings and early-booking discounts. “Uniworld knows there is a market for people who wish to travel on their own, so we decided to waive single supplement charges on many of our 2009 river cruises. In addition, these travelers can take advantage of our Pay-In-Full and/or early-booking discount programs, providing even more added savings and unbeatable value on our all-inclusive cruises,” said Janice Tully, senior vice president at Uniworld.

 Uniworld cruises include river-view staterooms; all meals with open seating; complimentary wine, beer, and soft drinks during dinner; specialty coffees, teas, and bottled water; shore excursions hosted by local guides; onboard entertainment; and all transfers on arrival and departure days.

For more information, call 800-868-7905 or visit www.uniworld.com

Fairmont Grand Hotel Kyiv to Open in 2010

London, 18th November 2008 - Fairmont Hotels & Resorts has announced it will manage a luxury hotel in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine - the company’s first in Eastern Europe. Fairmont Grand Hotel Kyiv adds to a growing collection in Europe, joining Fairmont Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten, Hamburg; Fairmont St. Andrews, Scotland; Fairmont Monte Carlo and London’s Savoy, reopening next year following an extensive restoration.

Opening in late 2010 the classically designed Fairmont Grand Hotel Kyiv will feature 257 rooms, including 35 suites offering an elegant and relaxing atmosphere as well as Royal and Presidential suites. In addition, guests can enjoy Fairmont Gold, the brand’s exclusive lifestyle offering featuring warm and personalised service with amenities such as a private reception desk and a comfortable guest lounge.

Along with a selection of dining outlets, guests can relax in a specialty Champagne bar, as well as a cigar bar featuring entertainment. For special events, the hotel offers 1210 square metres of meeting and function space, including a 480 square metres ballroom. Recreational facilities include a Willow Stream Spa, offering six treatment rooms, including two deluxe rooms, a relaxation room, separate women’s and men’s areas featuring sauna, steam and swiss, and a full beauty salon.

The elegant hotel will be located on the Dnipro River in the heart of the historic Podil district of Kyiv, alongside the city’s numerous landmarks, with easy access to the international airport and central business district. Guests will enjoy unrivalled views of the river as well as the city’s bridges and the golden domes of numerous churches and cathedrals. Kyiv is renowned for its arts and culture, including architectural landmarks such as the city’s Golden Gate, Kyiv Pecherska Lavra (an ensemble of churches and cave monastery first built in 1051), and St. Sophia Cathedral, all easily accessible from the Fairmont Grand Hotel Kyiv.

Andrey Manzheley, Managing Director of Yaroslaviv Val, the property owner and country’s leading real estate developer stated, “The Fairmont brand has a demonstrated record in managing some of the world’s most iconic properties and reflects a genuine connection with the communities in which their hotels are located. Fairmont’s century-long tradition will be a wonderful showcase for our city and culture.”

Thomas W. Storey, President, Fairmont Hotels & Resorts said, “The Fairmont Grand Hotel Kyiv will be an exciting addition to our portfolio, reinforcing our commitment to managing world-class properties which build upon our brand’s global strength and provide unique experiences for our guests to enjoy.”

Fairmont Grand Hotel Kyiv joins a number of new developments recently announced across the globe, including Fairmont Hyderabad, India; Fairmont Marrakech, Morocco; Fairmont Haitang Bay, Sanya, China; and Fairmont Zimbali, South Africa.

In France For 2009

Featuring Private Tours of World-Class Vineyards With Wine Expert Brendan Moore

Go Barging, Europe’s largest luxury barge cruising company, announced the addition of exclusive chartered wine tasting cruises on all its barges in France as part of the itinerary for the 2009 season. Renowned wine expert Brendan Moore will take guests on an exciting and enlightening exploration of the country’s premiere wine producing regions, including Burgundy and the South of France. Tours feature meetings with traditional wine making families, visits to private cellars, and barrel tastings. Prices for chartering a wine cruise start at £2,350 per person, based on an 8-person charter, and vary depending on the size of the vessel.

Go Barging offers a total of 12 cruise itineraries in France. These sophisticated cruises feature a relaxing pace, luxury accommodations, and gourmet dining, perfect for wine enthusiasts looking to savour everything France has to offer. Among eligible vessels are the elegant 12 - passenger barges, La Belle Époque, Anjodi and L’Impressioniste which tour the striking countryside of Burgundy and Southern France, home to some of the most celebrated vineyards in the world.

A Taste of Luxury
Seven-day tours through Burgundy onboard L’Impressioniste, for example, offer guests an opportunity to sample wines from vineyards such as Domaine Jafflin, Clos Vougeot and Maison Champy. Typical wines tasted include those from Vosne Romanée, Gevrey Chambertin, Nuits St. Georges, and Côtes de Nuits. Go Barging’s La Belle Epoque takes guests on a tour of vineyards such as Domaine Laroche, Clos Vougeot, and Romanée Conti. Wines include Chablis Premier Cru, Chablis Grand Cru, and Puligny Montrachet. The Anjodi cruises the Languedoc region, visiting vineyards such as Domaine de Guery and Mas de Chevaliere. Wine tastings include Corbieres and Pomerol. Log on to www.gobarging.com for other vessels and their itineraries.

Expert wine guide Brendan Moore leads each tour, drawing upon years of expertise to enhance the experience for every guest. Moore has lived in France for almost 25 years. Originally crossing over from England to help run a hotel barge, he found his passion in wine and has been converting hundreds of international wine novices and connoisseurs to the pleasures of French wines.

In between the wine tours, Go Barging guests will also visit historic sites and stroll through picturesque towns, even enjoy an evening swim in the Mediterranean, depending on the cruise. Dining onboard the vessels provides guests with world-class cuisine in a tranquil, worry free environment. Barges are elegantly appointed and air-conditioned, with spacious suites and private bath. They also feature lounge areas above and below deck for relaxing, conversation and taking in the magnificent scenery of the French countryside.

“Wine tours are part of all our cruises throughout France, but these special chartered cruises allow our guests to benefit from the expertise, knowledge and insight of Brendan Moore, whose reputation is among the best in France,” said Derek Banks, Managing Director of Go Barging. “Go Barging cruises are distinguished by our passion and dedication to the comfort of our guests. With the help of Brendan and our valued relationships with these vineyards, our wine cruises are sure to provide unique experiences and lasting memories.”

About Go Barging

Go Barging is a subsidiary of European Waterways, the largest luxury barging vacation company in Europe, offering vacations in seven countries and carrying approximately 2000 passengers a year. Founded over 35 years ago, the company designs, builds, owns and operates a private fleet of luxury barges with exclusive cruises in France, Scotland, England, Ireland, Holland, Belgium and Italy.

Pioneers in barging, they were the first company to put a barge on the Upper Nivernais in Burgundy, and the “real” Loire Valley. They are also the only company with barges in Scotland and in the Venetian lagoon, as well as the first company to offer an Avignon-to-Amsterdam 6-week trans-Europe cruise, a thousand mile journey along Western Europe’s inland waterways.

For more information, pricing and cruise schedules, contact European Waterways at 01784 482439 or on the web at www.gobarging.com

The Jewels In Europe

There are so many to choose from that a Pan European web site has been created and relaunched with 2008 details www.christmas-markets.org

Over 100 individual destination pages with descriptions, timings and images to get you into the festive mood. In many instances there are also direct links to local web sites.

Also included are some of the major Attractions that have a host of events in the build up to Christmas….to get you in the Festive mood.

Developed by tourism industry experts, the site is easy to navigate, with a page for each European destination or attraction and is unbiased and not attached to any Tour Operator. www.christmas-markets.org

 Regent Holidays has a fabulous selection of New Year city breaks which are sure to be a perfect way to welcome in 2009. Enjoy Belle Epoque style in Bucharest, the charm and grace of Dubrovnik or out and out luxury in Kyiv. With all of these city breaks at seriously resonable prices they will be hard to resist.

A 3 night New Year city break in Bucharest from £669 per person including flights

See in the New Year in Belle Époque style in Bucharest, Romania’s capital city. With its wide, tree-lined boulevards and fondness for the high life, it’s easy to see why this bustling metropolis was known as “Little Paris” in the early 1900s.

Stay in splendour at the historic Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest, a 5* hotel built in 1914 in the heart of the city with its own indoor pool, a La Prairie beauty spa and a selection of sophisticated bars and restaurants - perhaps you could try your New Year luck at the hotel’s casino?

The bustle of Bucharest is right on your doorstep - take in a concert at the nearby Romanian Athenaeum, stroll through the Cismigiu Park, just around the corner from your hotel or visit the nearby Vitan Mall for some retail therapy.

Price: from £669 per person for 3 nights at the 5* Athenee Palace Hilton Bucharest, including breakfast, return flights with British Airways from London Heathrow and all airport taxes and security charges.

New Year in Dubrovnik from £433 per person for 3 nights including flights

 Often referred to as the ‘Pearl of the Adriatic’, Dubrovnik is at its best over New Year, away from the crowds and heat of the summer. Overlooking the picturesque Dalmatian coast, Croatia’s capital city is an eclectic mix of ancient traditions and modern café culture.

Staying at the 3* Hotel Argosy on the Babin Kuk Peninsula, explore the historic buildings of Dubrovnik, which boasts many stunning Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque churches, monasteries, palaces and fountains. The city comes alive at New Year, when live music floods the city, especially the Old Town and the main square of the Babin Kuk Peninsula.

Price: from £433 per person for 3 nights in a Double Room at the 3* Hotel Argosy based on two sharing, including breakfast and a New Year’s Eve buffet dinner, return flights with British Airways from London Heathrow and all airport taxes and security charges.

3 Night of New Year Luxury in Kyiv from £599 per person including flights

Check into Kyiv’s newly-opened Radisson SAS Hotel for 3 nights of pampering and see in the New Year in style. Located in the heart of the city, the hotel is the ideal spot from which to explore Kyiv’s highlights. Cultural musts include the catacombs of the impressive Caves monastery, the gold-domed Mykhaylivsky Orthodox Church and the Rodina Mat for a great view of the Dnipro River. Stroll through the cobbled slopes of Andriyivsky Uzviz where market stalls sell all sorts of paintings and traditional souvenirs. Settle in at any of the city’s excellent restaurants, lively bars and pavement cafes, the perfect place to see in the New Year over one of the delicious local beers.

After a day’s sightseeing, your hotel has everything you could need for some pampering and relaxation as well as a choice of great restaurants and bars.

Price: from £599 per person for 3 nights at the Radisson SAS Hotel based on two sharing a standard room, including breakfast, return flights with Ukraine International from London Gatwick, all airport taxes and security surcharges and return airport transfers.