Latest Travel Articles

Monday, July 05, 2010

We invite you to experience the traditional magic of Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean in the months of November through April. This is the perfect time of year to vsit. The climate is surprisingly often mild and the cities are less crowded than in the summer months, and prices are 30 to 40% lower than traveling during peak season.

Shop in the glittering Christmas Markets and Bazaars. Explore and soak up the atmosphere of Old World Charm. Our tours are priced much lower than during the summer season and the airlines are advertising some of the lowest airfares of the year. Now is the time to make your reservations.

Italy is still the leader of destinations and Spain is not far behind, but don’t discount Egypt. Egypt is an awesome destination for the winter season. Temperatures are more bearable than the hot, hot summer season. For Christmas Markets, Vienna Prague and Budapest are still most popular. Wherever you choose, you will not be disappointed in our winter seasons magical tour destinations.

Tour operators that offer winter tours are Globus, Trafalgar and Insight.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

Families planning a vacation often want to have a unique experience, as well as an educational one. With the tomb of King Tut's limited engagement in Times Square coming to a close, those planning a family vacation should act quickly to book a trip that offers both.

The King Tut exhibit, currently showing in the Discovery Times Square Exposition, is the first appearance of the boy king in New York in 30 years. However, the exhibit is only on loan from Egypt until January 2, 2011, so those who want to get a glimpse of the legendary pharaoh should do so quickly.

The highlight of the exhibit is undoubtedly Tut's iconic golden canopic coffinette, but its not the only artifact on display. Fifty artifacts from Tut's own tomb are present, along with 80 from other royal tombs. These range from a golden headdress to the crown Tut was wearing when he was discovered.

Not only is the exhibition a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see these treasures, but it's also a chance for an educational experience. Kids will love learning about the ancient Egyptians, and parents might be interested in the latest DNA research on Tut's body.

New York is the last stop on an eight-city, six-year tour, with tour organizers saying that the artifacts will return to Egypt forever at its conclusion. Travelers should take advantage of this limited run and book their North American family vacation today.

Friday, June 11, 2010

Travelers are realizing that river cruises offer comfort, convenience and variety. The ship is both a hotel and a means of transportation. You don't have to get up early like you do when on a traditional tour or cruise to see the sites. Your ship will be in a new and exciting place every day. Ranging from picturesque villages, breathtaking riverbanks with castles, colorful fields with windmills or vibrant capitals, every day will be a unique experience on your European waterways cruise.

Over the years, we have found that consumers desire more choices when traveling. Cruise lines responded with open dining, tour operators with more leisurely trips, but until recently, the river cruise industry did not offer the choices that seem to attract new clientele. Now the newer river cruise ships with modern decor, larger cabin options and added amenities have helped the river cruise industry experience considerable growth in a short amount of time. In the age of technology, we also find more clients asking for WiFi, which is not available on many of the older ships. You now travel in more style and comfort than with the older riverboats. Staterooms are spacious and most include floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors with French balconies. You can enjoy fine linen on your hotel-style beds, flat screen satellite TV and radio, safes, hairdryers and many other amenities that make you feel at home. On many ships you even have the convenience of elevators.

From the time you arrive to your first destination you are escorted, guided and waited on by English speaking staff. Once you unpack you are ready to enjoy your wonderful adventure. From medieval castles, to Monet's Giverny gardens or perhaps Egypt's Mysterious Nile, you will not only be awed by the sights but you will also have qualified tour directors and specialist to guide you during your excursions. Many ships also offer theme departures that provide you with a unique opportunity to experience a destination focusing on its music, food and wine, to enrich your subject knowledge by including expert presentations, special concerts and top chefs.

All meals on board are carefully chosen to give you the variety of the region you are visiting along with many of your favorites. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included daily. The meal presentation is outstanding as is the service. You can also enjoy the complimentary wine with dinner along with coffee or tea. After dinner you will be pleasantly surprised by the on board entertainment provided by both local entertainers and the crew.

It is small ship cruising at its best. It provides you with the opportunity to experience history, art and culture unhurried and at a relaxed pace. Rather than having to take a bus to see the sites, in most cases you walk right off of the river cruise and you are already in the center of it all.

River Cruise Sites : Avalon Waterways | Uniworld River Cruises | River Cruises 
 

Wednesday, June 02, 2010

Trafalgar Tours - 8 different travel styles

Trafalgar offers 8 different styles of touring, as well as river cruises in Europe. All travel is carefully designed to appeal to all types of travelers. There is only one choice to make to ensure a hassle-free, dream vacation…Trafalgar.

City Breaks:  These are designed with the independent traveler in mind who prefers to explore Europe’s great cities at their own pace. Packages include transfers and breakfast daily.

Free & Easy:  Experience the art of perfectly balanced touring with longer stay in each destination. The slower pace means less packing and unpacking and more leisure time to enjoy the cities on your own.

Europe Discoveries:  Travel throughout the length and breadth of Europe’s varied destinations on multi-country vacations.

Regional Tours:  Enjoy the traditions, customs and scnery on these tours which concentrate on one country or a specific region of Europe.

Train Tours:  Rediscover the magic of train travel through the heart of Europe’s wondeerland on a choice of 5 exciting journeys featuring modern, high-speed trains in combination with state of the art motorcoaches.

Eastern Mediterranean:  Explore the cultural and historic treasures of Greece, Egypt, Israel and Turkey with included sightseeing and cruises. Embark on a tour of discovery in this fascinating region.

Cost Saver:  Perfectly balanced vacations combining all the benefits of fully escorted touring with the flexibility of traveling independently.

Breakaway: Tours designed for 21 to 38 year olds.

River Cruising:  An intimate, stylish and sophisticated experience, gliding down Europe’s waterways on a luxury river cruise is a peaceful and relazing way to see Europe’s great cities.

For a complete selection of Trafalgar Tours visit : http://www.escortedtrafalgartours.com

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Paris, France is a gorgeous city that is absolutely irresistible for those who love to travel and see the world. One of the main attractions in Paris by far is, the Louvre Museum.

The museum was built by Philippe-Auguste in the late 12th century, and began as a fortress on the edge of the city to protect Paris from Anglo-Norman invaders. It is home to 35,000 works of art drawn from eight departments, displayed in over 60,000 square meters of exhibition space. That's about 25 centuries of creative achievement and approximately 8 centuries worth of architectural history. It is home to the portrait of Mona Lisa by Leonardo Da Vinci as well as Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and near Eastern antiquities. There are rooms that opened in 1824 that are solely devoted to "modern" sculpture, which gradually became the Department of Medieval, Renaissance, and Modern Sculpture in the museum.

The hours of operation for the museum are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. every day except Tuesday and Holidays.  The museum is open until 10 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday evenings.

Admission to the Louvre is free on the first Sunday of every month. However, we suggest you avoid it, as the lines can run around the building. The museum does not have enough staff to keep the entire museum open every day. Barring unforeseen circumstances (works, transport strikes, etc.), a yearly calendar lists which rooms are open and closed for each day of the week. The admission for the museum varies, according to the time and part of the museum you would like to visit.

You could spend days looking at the marvelous works of art, but unless you have been to Paris before, I recommend the ninety minute tour that is offered several times per day that takes you through all the major works of art.

To see a complete collection of France Tours visit http://www.escortedfrancetours.com