Travel
Briefs
Finding Hidden France With
The Logis de Charme Guide 2006
The
all-new Logis de Charme Guide 2006 contains over 300
addresses of hotels and restaurants throughout France for
those seeking to discover the off-the-beaten-bath country.
As a complement
to its National Guide, Logis de France, the French
rural tourism chain of small hostelleries, is the fourth edition
of its Logis de Charme Guide. The very helpful guide lists
303 hotel-restaurants
that all provide the guarantee of quality associated with
the Logis de France label.
Whether
it is family mansions, country retreats, manor houses or charming
inns located throughout France, each is reflective of the
land, food and culture of their region. These small establishments
will delight tourists with their special charm and introduce
travelers to the hidden delights of France.
The Logis de Charme guide
is organized by region and in alphabetical order by town name
or village in which they are located and each hotel is sited
the provincial maps included in the guide. There are photos
of each hotel along with prices, tourist information and instructions
on how to get there. Each listed hotel also has symbols providing
readers details of the facilities and services available.
The guide costs € 13 (about
US$20); and is available online at www.logis-de-france.fr.
Logis de France also
publishes the 2006 General Guide to its 3000 hotels/restaurants
located in France. It is free and comes with a map. The guide
can be obtained at
www.logis-de-france.fr
or at Maison de France tourism bureaus located in your country.
The Logis de France Quality Label
ensures that more than 3000 hotel-restaurants are united around
a concept of providing high quality service, authenticity
and the discovery of local specialties. This philosophy gave
birth to the Logis de France quality label.
For more than 50 years, the organization recognized by the
French government has strived to remain a high-quality independent
hotel association representing the best of France to its visitors.
Logis de France hotel-restaurants can be found all over France
- in villages, towns and cities. Almost every single Logis
de France hotel also boasts a restaurant. Most average 18
rooms and the hotels are often family-owned and therefore
ensure a warm, personalized welcome.
Art
Guides for The Traveler In Europe
Like to do your own thing when traveling?
Tired of taking crowded and sometimes boring art tours? Then
Jane’s Smart ArtGuides available on CD or for iPods and MP3s
may be for you. The new audio guides offer in-depth information
as if you had your own private guide. The narrative is educational
and delivered with a sense of humor for a multidimensional
view of what you are looking at.
The first set of guides cover St. Peter’s Basilica and Sta.
Maria del Popolo in Rome; and Our Lady Cathedral in Antwerp.
About to be released is the latest art guide to the Fra Angelico
frescoes at San Marco in Florence—an audio guide adaptation
from the Great Fresco Cycles of the Renaissance series of
books.
Each guide includes a booklet with
tips on how to tailor your interests and schedule, plus a
track list and the site’s floor plan. The audio guides also
include a history segment you can listen to before your visit
to provide context for the onsite tour.
The only equipment required is a
portable audio player (CD, iPod or MP3) and earphones. And
two can share a player using an audio splitter available at
electronics stores. The guides are priced at $19.95 (two-disc
title) or $24.95 (three-disc title). More information at www.janessmartart.com.
Best
of Barbados Is Back With Substantial Summer and Fall Savings
Barbados announces
the introduction of the 2006 Best of Barbados with savings
that amount to at least $800 per couple. The new package provides
travelers with considerable savings and substantial added
value, and is designed to make Barbados even more affordable
and create opportunities for visitors to participate in a
number of activities during the summer and fall. Several hotels
are also offering both free accommodations and free meals
to children twelve years old and under.
Highlights of this
seven night minimum program available June 15 to December
2 include a $200 per person airfare credit; free full American
breakfast daily; first night free; and a $25.00 meal voucher
per couple for the authentic Oistins or Moontown fish fry
attractions. The actual savings translate to a minimum of
$800 per couple. There are over thirty participating hotels,
and seventeen attractions in Barbados will offer a 25% savings
for the Best of Barbados 2006 package.
Additionally, all
visitors traveling to Barbados during the month of September
will receive a special September bonus of an additional $100
air credit, bringing the total air credit to $300 per person.
The special savings
package includes an air credit of $200 per person - value
$400 per couple. The first night free at participating hotels
- minimum value of $80 per couple with complimentary full
breakfast daily. Minimum 7 night stay required. Black out
dates July 15 to August 12. The Best of Barbados is based
on a maximum of 2 persons per room and is subject to change
without notice. The offering is for US citizens only.
For
further information on "The Best of Barbados" program,
travelers may call the Barbados Tourism Authority at 1 (800)
221-9831, or visit Barbados online at www.visitbarbados.org . For reservations,
consumers should contact their favorite travel agent.
USACityLink.com
Celebrates the Fourth of July Every Day
With the Fourth of
July a few days away and since Americans observe the day in
a variety of ways, USACityLink's America's Birthday website,
http://usacitylink.com/usa/
, is a wonderful source for information concerning the holiday
and researching how cities and communities across America
are planning to celebrate Independence Day 2006. The site
provides its visitors with a plethora of information relating
to one of the most important days on the U.S. calendar. From
providing copies of the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration
of Independence, to advice on how to properly use fireworks,
the website aims to answer many of the questions that people
will have regarding the holiday's history and its various
traditions. With links to the White House, the U.S. Capitol
and Library of Congress websites, individuals can learn not
only what is happening around the country on the Fourth of
July, but take virtual tours of the American institutions
which house the government officials and historical artifacts
that help make the United States a model of democracy.
The site also has
information and links to US states and cities for travelers.
Summer
Barefoot Music Cruises by Hornblower Cruises!
The exciting NEW
Barefoot Music Cruise begins July 2nd and cruise on Sundays
all summer long. Hornblower takes a great local band set up
on the sundeck of their flagship yacht the Lord Hornblower
and mixes in refreshing drink & food specials all combined
in a fun two-hour afternoon cruise. Enjoy the music, dance
or relax. Bring your sunscreen because you'll want to be outside
to enjoy the incredible views of San Diego as you sail past
the Star of India, the Midway Aircraft Carrier, cruise under
the Coronado Bridge and you'll see live Sea Lions near Point
Loma. Hornblower Cruises continues a tradition of successfully
combining unique experiences together to offer amazing events.
The Barefoot Music
Cruise boards at 2:30 p.m. every Sunday afternoon on Hornblower
from July 2nd- Sept. 3rd, 2006 and cruises 3:00-5:00 p.m.
Tickets, ($25.00 per adult and $12.50 for children up to 12
years old) can be purchased at the ticket booth located at
1066 North Harbor Drive, downtown San Diego, online at www.hornblower.com/barefoot or by calling 619-686-8715. Hornblower Cruises
& Events offers popular Daily Harbor Cruises, Nightly
Sunset Dinner Cruises, Weekend Champagne Brunch Cruises and
seasonal Whale Watching Adventures as well as the NEW Harbor
Cruise and Sea Lion Adventure. For more information call 619-686-8700
or visit the web site at www.hornblower.com .
New
Luxury Camp Set to Debut In California's Scenic Sequoia National
Monument
Outdoor enthusiasts
who enjoy the getting-close-to-nature aspects of a camping
experience without sacrificing creature comforts such as steaming
hot showers, gourmet cuisine, plush linens and feather-top
beds are the target demographic for a brand-new backcountry
tent hotel located in Sequoia National Monument, California.
The Sequoia High Sierra Camp will officially open on July
3 and remain in operation until mid-September for the 2006
season. The luxury wilderness retreat is privately owned,
and will be operated by Delaware North Companies Parks &
Resorts, the hospitality management company providing visitor
services in nearby Sequoia National Park, under contract with
the National Park Service.
Located in a secluded
forest area within Sequoia National Monument, Sequoia High
Sierra Camp consists of 36 luxury canvas bungalows with upscale
guest amenities to include Tuscan-inspired architectural design
with classic teak wood furnishings, plush-top king sized beds,
down feather pillows, triple-sheeted linens, deluxe private
comfort stations and hot shower facilities. Three daily California-cuisine
style meals, with an emphasis on healthful, fresh and seasonal
ingredients, are included in the overnight rates.
Each cabin, measuring
approximately 330 square feet, is nestled amidst lush Red
Fir and Lodgepole Pines and features a private sitting area
replete with Adirondack chairs from which to enjoy the expansive
views. For recreation, guests can take along a picnic lunch
to enjoy on a multitude of scenic day hikes including a 3-mile
jaunt to the top of popular Mitchell Peak, known for panoramic
views of Kings River Canyon and the Monarch Divide. Excellent
fly fishing also abounds in numerous nearby creeks and mountain
lakes.
One
especially unique aspect of the Camp, includes the option
of drive-in access for the less adventurous outdoor enthusiast.
Guests can choose between driving their own car to a trailhead,
then hiking a short 1 1/2 mile distance to reach the Camp;
or hiking the full 11 miles along a well-marked backcountry
trail (which takes an average of 7-8 hours).
Cost for an overnight
stay at the Sequoia High Sierra Camp is $225 per person, including
accommodations and three daily meals. Periodically, special
value rates will be offered on selected dates. For more information
on rates and availability, call the Reservations hotline at
866-654-2877 or visit the website at http://www.sequoiahighsierracamp.com
/.
Delaware
North Companies Parks & Resorts, a subsidiary of Delaware
North Companies, is a leading hospitality provider with significant
experience in hotel, retail, food service, recreation and
transportation operations. The company's portfolio includes
some of the unique properties in North America, including
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex; Yosemite, Grand Canyon,
Sequoia and Yellowstone national parks; Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite;
Harrison Hot Springs Resort & Spa near Vancouver, British
Columbia; Old Town San Diego State Historic Park; Asilomar
State Beach and Conference Grounds; Niagara Falls State Park;
Jones Beach State Park; the U.S. Mint in Philadelphia and
Denver; The Lodge & Conference Center at Geneva State
Park, Ohio; St. Mary's Lodge in Glacier National Park, Montana,
and The Balsams Grand Resort Hotel in New Hampshire.
Luxury
Villa Rental Specialist Announces Special Seasonal Values
in Italy
A villa vacation,
offering privacy plus flexibility, can be an affordable option
while traveling in Italy this summer and fall. For new bookings
for travel from July 1 through Dec. 15, 2005, Wimco Villas
is offering special seasonal rates for two dozen private villas
in Tuscany and Umbria ranging in size from three to 10 bedrooms.
Here is a sampling
of the special values available through Wimco Villas in Italy
this summer:
-- Five bedroom Villa
Felo in Todi is just $3,554 (15% off) from July 1 to Aug.
25;
-- Five bedroom Villa
Montoro overlooking Chianti country is just $7,160 (20% off)
the first two weeks of July;
-- Villa Clara, an
18th century, 10-bedroom manor near Lucca, is only $7,680
weekly (20% off) in September;
-- Five-bedroom farmhouse
Villa Alisso on an estate near Versilia is only $3,495 (25%
off) a week beginning Oct. 1.
Wimco Villas can
arrange housekeeping, private chef and other local services
in addition to handling air and rental car reservations.
View Wimco’s villa
rental portfolio at www.wimco.com
or call toll-free 1-800-932-3222 (US) or 44-0870-850-1144
(UK).
************************
Air
News & Offers
Icelandair
Puts Europe on Sale Now!!
Now that summer is
here, Icelandair is putting Europe "on sale" with
special low airfares through June 30, 2006. In addition, travelers
visiting any Icelandair destination in Europe may spend up
to 7 days in Iceland on either their departure or return at
no additional airfare. It's like getting two countries for
the price of one! Departures from Boston, New York/JFK and
Baltimore/Washington, DC. Rates start at $648 for flights
to Reykjavik; higher for other destinations. For more information
call 800-223-5500 or visit http://www.icelandairholidays.com.
Airfares
valid for new purchase only, are determined by departure date
and are round trip per person. No Adv purchase; must be ticketed
within 48 hours; Saturday night minimum stay; valid for outbound
travel 4JUL06-31AUG06; Last ticket date 30JUN06; Maximum 3-month
stay; Tickets are non-refundable; Change fee of $150.00pp
within validity of fare; Requires membership in the Icelandair
Customer Club; Sign-up is free and possible at the airport;
Other restrictions apply. Seats are limited. Prices quoted
are exclusive of applicable taxes and official charges of
approx $90-$150, including September 11th security fee.
Qantas
Extends Seasonal Services Between Sydney And Vancouver
Qantas
will extend its seasonal services between Sydney and Vancouver
to December and January to cater for the North American ski
season. The new northern hemisphere winter services will depart
Sydney on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.
Air
Berlin Wins Best Low -Cost
Airline Award Worldwide in 2006
Air Berlin, the third
biggest low-cost carrier in Europe, announced it had won both
the best Low-Cost Airline 2006 worldwide award from UK-based
airline consultants Skytrax, as well as the best European
Low-Cost Airline for the second year running. CEO Joachim
Hunold said: "Low-cost travel will only become more popular,
and that means more competition. We always wanted to stand
out from the rest with our high levels of customer service,
and that is starting to feed back to us from surveys such
as Skytrax. We are really delighted to have gone one better
than last year and scooped the Worldwide award as well."
The 2006 World Airline
Awards (R) are based on the annual World Airline Survey conducted
by Skytrax - carried out between September 2005 and May 2006.
The Survey measures over 35 different aspects of passenger
satisfaction for an airline's product and service standards
to evaluate the 'typical' travel experience, and is regarded
as the primary benchmarking tool for Passenger Satisfaction
levels of airlines throughout the world.
Air
Berlin is Germany's second largest airline and the third largest
low- fare carrier in Europe. The airline was founded in 1978
and has been enjoying steady growth ever since. The airline
has set new standards with its Euro Shuttle, which links European
cities. The fleet
currently consists of 56 aircraft, and with an average age
of less than six years it is one of the most modern in Europe.
In 2005 the airline achieved a turnover of 1.22 billion euros
and carried 13.5 million passengers.
US
Airline Industry: Not for Sale
Directly in line
with the Dubai ports deal, the Bush Administration bypassed
Congress and arbitrarily set a rule that changes long-standing
aviation law to allow foreign control of U.S. airlines and
their operations. United Airlines Flight Attendants, represented
by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA-CWA), has
launched a massive grassroots campaign to protect U.S. aviation.
United Master Executive Council (MEC) President Greg Davidowitch
made the following statement about the critical call to action
to save U.S. aviation: "Allowing foreign investors to
slice up our airline industry is not good for workers, the
traveling public or the communities we serve. The Bush plan
to carve up our airlines and serve them to foreign interests
on a silver platter is one that deserves serious Congressional
scrutiny. Congress should be concerned not only about the
impact on our safety and security but the viability of our
jobs and the communities we support. Think about it: if the
Bush Administration has its way US airlines could soon be
run from board rooms in Saudi Arabia and Shanghai. Airline
operations throughout the U.S. could be controlled by executives
in Tehran, Tripoli and Timbuktu. That would be a far worse
public policy outcome than allowing our allies in Dubai to
administer U.S. port operations . . . As a matter of public
policy, Congress should reject any plan that includes the
sale of vital American interests. This arbitrary change in
aviation law will likely trigger the long- awaited industry
consolidation which could shake out in favor of foreign airlines
to the detriment of the American traveling public. Turning
over the industry so vital to our nation's commerce will ripple
tsunami waves through our corporations, small businesses and
communities. We cannot allow foreign capital to determine
which American cities will be provided air service and which
will be abandoned when they have no intrinsic interest in
our well being. Aviation law with limits to foreign ownership
was debated by Congress and put into place long ago for good
reason. There's no way to know the extent of harm in changing
these rules because Congress has been usurped by the Bush
Administration as it cut off discussion, debate or even Congressional
study of the issue."
More than 46,000
Flight Attendants, including the 17,000 Flight Attendants
at United, join together to form AFA-CWA, the world's largest
Flight Attendant union. AFA-CWA is part of the 700,000 member
strong Communications Workers of America, AFL-CIO. Website:
http://www.unitedafa.org /.
New
Nonstop Scheduled Service Between New York and Lagos, Nigeria
in July
North American Airlines,
a wholly owned subsidiary of World Air Holdings, Inc., will
launch scheduled service between Lagos, Nigeria and New York's
John F. Kennedy International Airport on July 17, 2006. North
American, which is the only U.S. airline operating nonstop
scheduled service between Africa and the United States, will
offer three weekly round-trip flights with its Boeing 767-300ER
aircraft. "Lagos will be the third African city served
by North American, in addition to Accra, Ghana and Banjul,
The Gambia," said Rob Binns, chief marketing officer.
"Our Lagos customers will appreciate our new Business
Class service with all-leather seating, 55-inch seat pitch,
135-degree recline and in-flight entertainment, including
nine audio and six video channels to choose from."
The North American
flights will offer 30 Business Class seats and 176 coach seats,
departing JFK on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Sundays, and departing
Lagos on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. Reservations can
be made through travel agents or by contacting North American
Airlines at 1-800-FLY-NAA2, or online at www.flynaa.com. Tickets
also may be purchased at North American's Lagos city ticket
office, The Silverbird Galleria, 133 Ahmadu Bello Way, Victoria
Island, or at the Murtala Muhammed Airport ticket office.
For information, visit www.flynaa.com
.
North American, Increases Baltimore/Washington DC Service To Africa
New weekly scheduled
service Sunday linking Baltimore/Washington International
Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI) to Banjul, The Gambia and
Accra, Ghana has been launched. The new flights operate non-stop
between BWI and Banjul, with continuing service to Accra.
North American is the only U.S. airline serving Africa with
scheduled service, also operating non-stop between New York's
John F. Kennedy International Airport and Accra.
North American also
added a second weekly round-trip flight between JFK and Accra
on Saturday. With the launch of BWI service and the additional
flight at JFK, North American now has a total of three weekly,
direct flights between the United States and West Africa.
"There is significant demand in the Baltimore/Washington
area for direct flights to Africa, and North American's Boeing
767-300ER service greatly reduces flying time between BWI
and the cities of Banjul and Accra in West Africa," said
Jeff MacKinney, president of World Air Holdings, Inc. "Customers
also will appreciate our new Business Class service with all-leather
seating, 55-inch seat pitch, 135-degree recline and extensive
in-flight entertainment."
The BWI flight schedule
is:
-- BWI to Banjul/Accra
- Depart BWI -
11:55 p.m. Sunday
- Arrive Banjul -
12:15 p.m. Monday
- Depart Banjul -
1:15 p.m. Monday
- Arrive Accra -
4:30 p.m. Monday
--
Accra/Banjul to BWI
- Depart Accra -
11:30 a.m. Sunday
- Arrive Banjul -
2:45 p.m. Sunday
- Depart Banjul -
4:15 p.m. Sunday
- Arrive BWI -
8:45 p.m. Sunday
Reservations can
be made through travel agents or by contacting North American
Airlines at 1-800-FLY-NAA2, or online at www.flynaa.com.
North
American has a 15-year record of financially successful operations
offering both scheduled and charter service. North American
also operates scheduled flights serving Georgetown, Guyana
and Accra, Ghana from JFK, and Banjul, The Gambia and Accra
from Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall
Airport. North American is a U.S.-certificated air carrier
offering air transportation services throughout the world
for the U.S. military and commercial customers. Founded in
1989, North American operates a fleet of nine passenger aircraft
in charter and scheduled service.
New
Baggage Policies For British Airways Begin July 5
The new policies
will bring changes to hand, checked and excess baggage allowances
and will be phased in from early July 2006 across the airline’s
global network.
Hand baggage allowances are changing from July ,52006
All passengers will
be able to carry one standard-sized bag and one briefcase,
laptop computer bags or equivalent on all flights. The maximum size of the bag, 56cm x 45cm x
25cm (22in x 18in x 10in) has been set in line with the UK
Department for Transport recommendations.
Passengers must be able to lift their bag unaided into
the aircraft overhead locker. Briefcases, laptop computer bags or equivalent
must fit under the seat in front.
Free checked baggage allowances
A single allowance
system based on the number of bags that can be checked in
will be introduced from October 11, 2006.
-- FIRST, Club World,
Club Europe and World Traveller Plus
Passengers will be
able to check two bags into the aircraft hold free of charge.
-- World Traveller*,
Euro Traveller and UK domestic passengers will be able to
check one bag into the aircraft hold free of charge.
-- Infants will be
allowed to check one bag, plus a collapsible baby buggy, into
the aircraft hold free of charge in all classes on all routes.
--
For any connecting journey, the most generous allowance
will apply.
--
Passengers will be able to carry one piece of sporting
equipment free of charge in addition to their checked baggage
allowance.
--
A maximum bag weight of 23kg (50lbs) will apply to
all bags.
*World
Traveller passengers travelling to or from the US, Canada,
Caribbean, Nigeria, Brazil and Mexico will continue to be
allowed two checked bags in line with the local government
regulations.
-- Excess baggage
charges will be standardized across the network from October
11, 2006. All baggage
in excess of free checked baggage allowances will be charged
at a fixed fee depending on the length of the journey.
From July 12, 2006, passengers who prepay online for
their excess baggage will receive a 20% discount on airport
charges.
Passengers transferring
flights, a single charge based on the longest flight will
apply.
Maximum weight and size
BA will not accept
any item of baggage that weighs more than 23kg (50lbs) or
oversized items exceeding 2.4m x 0.75m x 0.75m (94in x 29in
x 29in).
Advance
notification is required 24 hours before departure for exceptional
items that weigh between 23kg - 45kg
(50 - 90lbs) and which cannot be repacked e.g. musical
instruments, electrical wheelchairs, some sporting items,
TV news cameras, commercial spares.
New Pet Regulation: BA will no longer be able to carry pets as baggage.
From October 11, 2006, pets will only be carried as cargo.
American
Eagle to Begin Service Between New York LaGuardia/Jacksonville,
Fla.
American Eagle, the
regional affiliate of American Airlines, a founding member
of the global oneworld(SM) Alliance, will add nonstop service
between New York LaGuardia Airport and Jacksonville International
Airport, beginning September 6, 2006. American Eagle will
operate one daily round-trip flight between the two cities,
using 37-seat Embraer 135 regional jet aircraft.
The schedule for
the new service is as follows (all times local):
Jacksonville to New
York LaGuardia (JAX-LGA)
Flight Departs Arrives Days
4908 1:15 p.m. 3:40 p.m. Daily
New York LaGuardia
to Jacksonville (LGA-JAX)
Flight
Departs Arrives Days
4907 10:15 a.m. 12:50 p.m. Daily
American and American
Eagle currently serve 53 cities from the three New York airports.
AA and Eagle offer service to Dallas/Fort Worth, Chicago O'Hare,
and Miami from Jacksonville. Web site: http://www.aa.com /
Air
Canada Jazz Launches Daily Service Between Salt Lake City
And Toronto
Air Canada has introduced
service from Salt Lake City to Toronto, Canada. Air Canada
Jazz operates the daily, non-stop service with next-generation
CRJ-705 jet aircraft, featuring 10 Executive Class and 65
Economy Class seats. "The introduction of daily non-stop
service to Salt Lake City via our main hub in Toronto is great
news for travellers seeking value, convenience and comfort,"
said Ben Smith, Air Canada's vice president responsible for
network planning at Air Canada and Jazz. "Our flights
provide industry-leading space, personal seat back entertainment
and are scheduled to offer convenient connections throughout
Air Canada's extensive network including Montreal, Quebec
City, Ottawa, Atlantic Canada and major European gateway cities."
AC8651 departs Toronto
at 18:20, arriving in Salt Lake City at 20:50. AC8652 departs
Salt Lake City at 09:00, arriving in Toronto at 14:45.
The CRJ-705 aircraft
features all-leather seating and is configured in two classes
of service with 10 window or aisle seats in Executive Class
offering 37 inches of legroom, and 65 window or aisle seats
in Economy Class offering an industry leading 34 inches of
legroom. All seats will be equipped with Air Canada's new
in-seat personal entertainment system. The Bombardier CRJ-705
aircraft has a cruising speed of 860 km/h and a range of more
than 3,200 km with a total payload of 7,800 kg including a
maximum cargo capacity of 2130 kg. Air Canada Jazz operates
a fleet of 15 CRJ-705s.
Air Canada and Air
Canada Jazz operate more non-stop flights within Canada and
to the United States than any other airline.
American
Airlines Introduces AAdvance Bag Check Program
American Airlines,
a founding member of the global oneworld(R) alliance, is pleased
to announce the AAdvance Bag Check(SM) program, a convenient
service that allows passengers to enjoy the ease of checking
in and dropping off their luggage for American Airlines flights
at remote locations.
The service is currently
available onboard ships at various cruise lines, including
Royal Caribbean, Celebrity and Norwegian, as well as at hotels
and various convention centers throughout the United States.
Travelers can check in and drop off their luggage for their
American, American Eagle and AmericanConnections(R) airline
domestic flight up to 24 hours in advance at the AAdvance
Bag Check station. Baggage is then transported directly to
the departure airport and passengers do not have to deal with
their luggage until they land at their final destination.
In addition to checking
in their luggage, passengers also receive their boarding passes,
allowing them to go directly to security screening when they
arrive at the airport.
The development of
the AAdvance Bag Check program started in the Spring 2005,
when American tested this service with various cruise lines.
In addition to the cruise line service, the program is currently
available in more than 34 locations, including:
* 19 Disney resorts and hotels in Orlando, Fla.
* McCormick Place Convention Center in Chicago,
Ill.
* Moscone Center in San Francisco
* Hilton Grand Vacation Club in Honolulu
* Hyatt Regency in Dallas
The cost for cruise-goers
to use AAdvance Bag Check service varies from $10-$20, depending
on the cruise line. For passengers checking in at a hotel
or convention center, the cost for the service is $10 per
person.
For a full list of
locations and details on the AAdvance Bag Check program, log
on to http://www.aa.com/aadvancebagcheck.
US
Airways Offers New Service to Milan, Lisbon and Stockholm
US Airways
customers have more options for their next European
excursion thanks to new service from Philadelphia to Milan,
Italy, Stockholm, Sweden, and Lisbon, Portugal. With this
new service US Airways will offer 19 daily flights to 16 cities
in ten countries throughout Europe.
The new European
service is scheduled as follows:
Market Equipment Flight# Departs Arrives Frequency
Philadelphia-Milan
Boeing 767 164 4:10 p.m. 6:35 a.m. Daily
Milan-Philadelphia
Boeing 767 165 9:45 a.m. 1:20 p.m. Daily
Philadelphia-Stockholm Boeing 767 326 5:55 p.m. 8:20 a.m.
Daily
Stockholm-Philadelphia
Boeing 767 327 10:20 a.m. 1:35 p.m. Daily
Philadelphia-Lisbon
Boeing 757 48 8:10 p.m. 8:15 a.m. *1,3,5,6
Lisbon-Philadelphia
Boeing 757 49 10:15 a.m. 1:15 p.m. *2,4,6,7
*
1 - Monday; 2 - Tuesday; 3 - Wednesday; 4 - Thursday;
5 - Friday;
6 - Saturday; 7 - Sunday
Web site: http://www.usairways.com
/
US Airways Increases Service Between Phoenix and Boston
US Airways will increase its service between its hub at Phoenix Sky Harbor International
Airport and Boston's Logan International Airport. Beginning
September 6, one additional flight will be added each way,
increasing the total of daily flights to four. The amplified
service will be operated by US Airways using an Airbus A319
with capacity of 120 passengers (12 first class and 108 main
cabin).
The additional flights deoart Boston at 12:45 pm and Phoenix at 9:20 pm.
China
Southern Expands China/European Pact
China Southern Airlines
has reached an expanded pact with KLM Royal Dutch Airlines,
as well as Sichuan Airlines , to significantly expand its
mutually-beneficial cooperation.
The new cooperation
will offer passengers flying with all three airlines noteworthy
benefits in the form of new routes and additional frequencies
in China and Europe … connecting flights between Amsterdam
and Chengdu, Beijing and Shanghai. Effectively immediately,
KLM will offer passengers codeshare connections with Sichuan
Airlines from its new Chengdu destination to the cities of
Beijing, Chongqing, Kunming and Xian.
This new agreement
between Sichuan Airlines and KLM comes on the heels of code-share
service with China Southern Airlines on two new nonstop flights
between Amsterdam and Chengdu, the codeshare connection between
Beijing and Chengdu.
Starting June 24,
2006, KLM and China Southern expanded codeshare cooperation
with new destinations and additional flight frequencies to
existing destinations in China and Europe. European passengers
will be able to choose from five new codeshare destinations
in China served by China Southern from Beijing and Chengdu
under a KL flight number. The new cities are Jinan, Nanning,
Urumqi, Xining and Yanji.
Additionally, KLM
will operate codeshare service to six destinations served
by China Southern from Chengdu, already served by China Southern
from Beijing and Shanghai on the basis of the same codeshare
principle.
China Southern Set To Expand Sino/American Trans-Pacific Service
China
Southern Airlines has expanded one of its keystone International
airline routes - Los Angeles and Guangzhou, China - daily
Boeing 777 service this month. China Southern Airlines currently
operates the only non-stop Boeing 777 service between Guangzhou
and LAX. This trans-pacific
service, operated by China Southern Airlines for the past
eight years, is operated under code share service with Atlanta-based
Delta Air Lines (www.delta.com), offering connecting flights
between seven major USA destinations and Guangzhou including
New York City (JFK), Atlanta, Salt Lake city, Honolulu,
Boston and Cincinnati.
For additional information
and reservations in Los Angeles, please phone your travel
agent or China Southern at 1-888-338-8988. Website: www.cs-air.com/en
The
largest airline in The People’s Republic of China for the
past 27 years, China Southern Airlines connects more than
80 cities around the globe. Major business and vacation destinations
served in China include: Beijing, Chengdu, Guangzhou, Guilin,
Hong Kong, Kunming, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Wuhan and as well
as International service, including: Amsterdam, Bangkok, Fukuoka,
Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Islamabad, Kuala Lumpur, Jakarta,
Los Angeles, Manila, Melbourne, Moscow, Osaka, Paris, Penang,
Phnom Penh, Seoul, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo.
JetBlue
Airways Increases Gates At New York/JFK
JetBlue has increased
its capacity at NY/JFK with the opening of seven new gates
this month. Combined with its exiting 14 gates at the airport,
the new space will allow the airline to operate up to 185
daily flights at its home base from its current 125 daily
flights. The airline
said the additional capacity will help it grow into its new
home at Terminal 5 once its construction is complete in 2009.
The new terminal will offer 26 gates capable of supporting
250 daily flights.
JetBlue Begins NewYork/JFK Service To Washington DC August 17
JetBlue Airways will
begin up to six daily nonstop flights between New York/John
F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Washington, D.C./Dulles
International Airport starting August 17, 2006. Introductory
fares will be $39(a) each way -- which is 40% lower than the
lowest current Shuttle fare in the market today. This introductory
fare must be purchased by June 30, 2006, and all travel must
be completed between August 17 and September 30. Regular fares
will range from $50(a) to $145(a), which are between 20-80%
lower than pre-JetBlue fares in this market. "Every day,
one thousand fewer people fly each way between New York and
Washington, D.C. today compared to summer, 2001," said
David Neeleman, JetBlue's founder and CEO. "We think
there's a good reason why: Fares are too high, which makes
taking the train or driving a viable alternative. We want
to make flying affordable again between our nation's capital
and New York City -- just as we have done with our new service
between New York and Boston, and between Boston and Washington/Dulles.
Our regular fares will be up to 80% less than current air
fares, with our lowest fares starting at $50(a) each way.
Not only will you pay less, but you'll get the award-winning
JetBlue Experience, featuring our friendly service, signature
36 channels of DIRECTV(r) programming, more than 100 channels
of XM Satellite Radio(r), and all the snacks you can eat on
the quick flight."
With the start of
this new service, JetBlue customers in Washington/Dulles will
now have access to 30 JetBlue destinations through convenient
connecting service in New York/JFK. In addition to this new
nonstop service to New York, JetBlue currently offers nonstop
flights from Washington/Dulles to Boston/Logan; Fort Lauderdale,
FL; Oakland, CA; Long Beach, CA; and San Diego, CA.
Service will be operated
with JetBlue's EMBRAER 190 fleet, featuring 100 comfy leather
seats and industry-leading legroom. Members of JetBlue's customer
loyalty program, TrueBlue, will receive 2 points per flight,
with double points awarded for purchasing online at www.jetblue.com.
Customers can earn free travel even faster by using the JetBlue
Card from American Express.
Great
Wall Airlines To Commence Operations
Great Wall Airlines,
a joint venture airline established by China Great Wall Industry
Corporation, Singapore Airlines Cargo Pte Ltd and Dahlia Investments
Pte Ltd (a wholly owned subsidiary of Temasek Holdings Pte
Ltd) will today commence six times weekly freighter services
from Shanghai to Amsterdam.
Based at Shanghai’s
Pudong Airport, Great Wall Airlines will initially operate
with a fleet of two Boeing 747-400 freighters. Following the start of freighter services between
Shanghai and Amsterdam today, the Airline will launch freighter
services to India, South Korea and Singapore in the coming
weeks.
Great Wall Airlines
is 51 per cent owned by China Great Wall Industry Corporation,
while Singapore Airlines Cargo owns 25 per cent. The remaining
24 per cent is owned by Dahlia Investments. The Airline has a registered capital of RMB 1 billion.
Adria
Airways Introduces Three New Scheduled Routes From Ljubljana.
The new scheduled
routes are:
--
Rome: the service will operate four times a week on Mondays,
Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. The flights will be operated
by 48/50 seat Canadair Regional Jet LR 200 aircraft. Adria
Airways and Air One signed a code sharing agreement, thus
offering good connections from Ljubljana via Rome to Palermo,
Catania and Lamezia Terme and enabling excellent connections
from Rome via Ljubljana throughout South Eastern Europe
-- Barcelona: the
service will operate two times a week on Thursdays and Sundays.
The flights will
be operated by 162 seat Airbus A 320
--Tirana: Adria will
serve the new route six times a week, on weekdays and Sundays,
with a 48/50-seat Canadair Regional Jet. Flights will depart
from Tirana early in the morning on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays
and Sundays, and late in the afternoon on Wednesdays and Fridays.
Adria offers passengers
good connections via Ljubljana to Frankfurt, Munich, Brussels,
Paris, London, Moscow, Zurich and Vienna.
From Tirana to Ljubljana
and to all of these destinations, Adria is offering a special
promotional fare of $256 (return flight, fees not included),
valid until the end of August. 2006.
Last year the Slovene
national airline Adria Airways increased the number of flights
by seven percent and carried 944,288 passengers on its 20,122
flights.
*************************
Rail
News & Offers
Cumbres
& Toltec Scenic Railroad—A Precious Artifact Of American
West
The Cumbres &
Toltec Railroad’s operating season for 2006 kicked off over
Memorial Day weekend with snow still on the ground at the
highest point along the line, 10,015-foot Cumbres Pass. The
schedule continues through mid-October when brilliant fall
colors beckon hundreds of visitors and also signal the approaching
winter when the railroad hibernates.
The 64-mile rail
line, originally built in 1880, snakes its way between Chama,
New Mexico (its western end) and Antonito, Colorado (its eastern
end) - crossing the border eleven times on its journey. Passengers
can depart from either Chama or Antonito, with lunch stop
included at the half way point.
C&TS, which charges
up steep grades carrying visitors over high trestles and through
tunnels in a vast and spectacular landscape, provides an open
invitation for families, adventure seekers, RV folks, history
and geology buffs, volunteers seeking opportunities to help
preserve the railroad, and of course, rail fans.
Whether you prefer
to step back in time to the days of steam railroading or the
American West, watch elk, deer and other wildlife in the mountains
or wilderness preserve, spend the night camping or star gazing,
hike Cumbres Pass, try some stream fishing, or bring your
bike and ride up or down the mountain - magically - there
is something for everyone at this National Civil Engineering
Landmark, so named by the American Society of Civil Engineers.
Especially for children,
the Cinder Express! is a three-hour train trip providing a
fun and educational experience including Cinder Bear, the
official Mascot of the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad,
storytelling, special surprise guests, snacks and a memento
for each child. The Cinder Express will run Thursdays from
July 6 through August 10, departing from Chama.
For schedules, fares,
departure times and locations from Colorado or New Mexico
including the Cinder Express call: 888-Cumbres (888/286-2737)
or visit the website www.cumbrestoltec.com.
BritRail
Pass Allows A British Friend 50% Savings On Train Travel
Travel around the
UK using a 1st class BritRail Pass this year, and a British
friend can ride along for half price, with a special BritRail
Guest Pass promotion from Rail Europe. The offer applies to passes purchased between now and December 31,
2006, and travel may take place up to 6 months from date of
purchase.
The BritRail Guest
Pass promotion applies to the BritRail Consecutive Pass, BritRail
FlexiPass, BritRail England Consecutive Pass or FlexiPass,
and BritRail London Plus Pass, in 1st class only. The UK guest, who must be a resident of England,
Scotland, Wales or Northern Ireland and accompany the North
American passholder, receives a 50% discount on any of these
passes. One UK guest per full-priced BritRail Pass.
BritRail Passes provide
unlimited travel on trains throughout the UK, including the
airport express trains (e.g. Heathrow Express), on a given
number of days. Prices
start at $ 327 for a BritRail Consecutive Pass for four consecutive
rail travel days in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern
Ireland, $409 for a BritRail Flexipass for four rail travel
days within a two-month period, $262 for a BritRail England
Pass for four rail travel days in England, and $106 for a
BritRail London Plus Pass for two rail travel days within
an eight-day period in southeast England, including Oxford,
Cambridge, Canterbury, and Salisbury.
To
book a BritRail Guest Pass or any other railpass or ticket,
log on to Rail Europe’s web site for agents http://agent.raileurope.com
or call Rail Europe at 1-888-382-7245. Agent commission is
5% for electronic bookings of BritRail Passes.
Findings
of New Survey Show Americans Like Rail Travel In Europe
According to a recent
survey of more than 2,500 leisure American travelers more
than 70% prefer to tour Europe by train. The survey was commissioned
by Rail Europe and conducted by the Menlo Consulting Group. At home Americans still have a love affair
with the automobile, and long-distance travel by air is an
unavoidable necessity. But when they visit Europe, only 16%
of American travelers prefer to travel by car, and only 13%
prefer air travel.
Most American tourists
in Europe visit more than one country on their trip, so getting
from place to place becomes an important consideration. Rather
than spend their vacations in congested airports or behind
the wheel, Americans prefer to travel by train. Menlo Consulting
Group reports that Americans consider trains to be the most
enjoyable, least expensive, safest, and most convenient way
to travel in Europe.
With sleek new high-speed
trains crisscrossing the continent, train travel in Europe
is no longer just for backpackers. “The stereotype that traveling Europe by rail
is for students and backpackers is outdated,” observes Sarita
Skidmore, Menlo Consulting Group President.
“Our research shows that more than half of American
train travelers in Europe are age 50 or older and come from
upper income areas.”
American rail enthusiasts
want to make every vacation day count by planning their train
travel in Europe well in advance. Two-thirds of American rail
fans would purchase tickets before leaving home, and an equal
number would consider booking a luxury train trip. “We are
delighted that this research confirms our belief that Americans
prefer rail for traveling throughout Europe,” said Fabrice
Morel, President and CEO of the Rail Europe Group.
“For more than 75 years Rail Europe has been providing
North Americans with the necessary planning and booking tools
for affordable European rail travel. We are unwavering in our commitment to provide customers with the
service and products they want and need before they go to
Europe to make their travels as enjoyable as possible.”
These findings are
from Menlo Consulting Group’s travel industry-leading study,
TravelStyles® USA 2006. Based on a survey of more than 2,500 international leisure travelers,
TravelStyles® addresses the attitudes, interests, and behaviors
of international travelers.
New
Berlin Rail Station Opens
Timed to coincide with the world cup events
in Germany, the $890 million Berlin Hauptbahnhof (Berlin Hbf)
opened May 26 after. Built over the last ten years at a cost
of 700 million Euros ($890 million US) and opened on May 26,
Berlin Hbf is a key element of the German Railroads’ (DB)
efforts to improve rail service into and out of Berlin on
both long-distance and regional lines, eliminating inefficiencies
resulting from the damage of World War II and the Cold War
division of the German capital.
Europe's newest and
largest rail station, it is located in the geographical center
of the city, at the crossing of both east-west and north-south
rail lines. It is
the only station in Berlin that links all long-distance rail
lines with regional and S-Bahn local services.
Travel from the new station Berlin Hbf is expected
to serve 300,000 people a day with 1,500 departures of local,
regional and long-distance trains.
Europe’s newest and
largest rail station, Berlin Hauptbahnhof and the German Railpass
from Rail Europe make getting around Germany – to World Cup
matches as well as for sightseeing – faster and easier than
ever.
The new 3.4 km (2
mi)-long Tiergarten rail tunnel reduces travel times as much
as 40 minutes on major southbound routes, such as Berlin-Leipzig-Munich,
Berlin-Dresden-Prague and Berlin-Erfurt.
since most rail service
has shifted to the new central station, there has been a reorganization
of service in and out of the city’s other stations. The Zoo
station is now used solely for shorter, regional traffic,
while Berlin Ost will be used for some intercity trains, but
at a greatly reduced level.
Most trains operating to Berlin Ost will also stop
at the new central station. Berlin Lichtenburg station will continue to
be used for night train services into Eastern Europe.
New high-speed line
Also speeding travelers
within Germany is the country’s fifth high-speed (186 mph)
rail line, consisting of 55 miles of new track (Nuremburg
to Ingolstadt), and 51 miles of upgraded track (Ingolstadt
to Munich), built at a cost of 3.6 billion Euros ($4.5 billion
US). The line was opened especially for World Cup
service and will be in full operation this coming December,
cutting travel time between Nuremburg to Munich from 1 hour
27 minutes to 1 hour.
German Railpass – discounts for two together or youth
A German Railpass
from Rail Europe, starts at $200 US/$240 CAD (2nd class) and
$263 US/$316 Website:
www.raileurope.com
CAD (1st) for 4 days
of unlimited rail travel within a one-month timeframe, must
be purchased in North America before you leave. Up to six more rail travel days may be purchased
(before departing for Germany).
A German Twinpass
is the best value for two people traveling together; cost
is just $300 US/$360 CAD
(2nd cl) or $400 US/$480 CAD (1st) – for both people.
Passengers under
26 qualify for a Youth version of the German Railpass for
$163 US/$196 CAD (in 2nd class only) for 4 days of travel.
Rail Europe also
sells German Rail ‘n Drive Passes, combining rail travel and
car rental, starting at $205 US/$255 CAD for two days of rail
travel (2nd cl) and two days of economy Hertz car rental (on
consecutive or non-consecutive days) within a 1-month period. Four car categories are available and extra
days of rail or car may be added.
Going between just
two cities? Rail Europe also sells a wide range of point-to-point rail fares
and routes throughout Germany or between Germany and other
European countries, as well as railpasses (such as Eurail
France-Germany, Eurail Germany-Austria Pass and many others).
For more information
or to book German or other European rail products, contact
a travel agent or log on to www.raileurope.com or call 1-888-382-7245 (in the U.S.) or 1-800-361-7245
in Canada.
New
3-Day France Railpass Introduced By Rail Europe
For those visiting
only two or three destinations in France, Rail Europe has
just introduced a new three-day France Railpass, priced at
$238 US/$286 CAD (1st class) or $202 US/$243 CAD (2nd), which
can save money even over discounted “book early” point-to-point
train tickets. Previously, the shortest duration of a France
Railpass was four days (priced at $ 274 US/$329 CAD 1st class
or $233US/$280 CAD 2nd ).
France Rail passes must be purchased in North America
before leaving for Europe.
To illustrate the
cost savings, point-to-point train tickets for a three-leg
itinerary from Paris to Lyon then Cannes and returning to
Paris cost $538 US/$651 CAD (1st class) or $376US/$455CAD
(2nd class) for full fare (exchangeable/refundable) tickets
or $318 US/$385 CAD (2nd ) for non-returnable/exchangeable
“book early” fares.
In addition, the
rail pass lets you take unlimited train trips on each rail
travel day, which may be used anytime within a one-month period
(i.e. rail travel days need not be consecutive). Up to seven more days may be added to the 3-day
France Railpass. Valuable
bonuses of the pass include passholder fares on Eurostar,
Thalys and other international trains, discounts on Seine
River cruises, at various attractions and more (see bonuses
at http://www.raileurope.com/us/rail/passes/france_index.htm
).
In a new, related
development, seat reservations made in North America on TGVs
and other French trains are now fully exchangeable locally
in France at no additional cost, a great benefit for travelers
whose plans change en route. “We’re committed to giving travelers
the best deal possible on the trains,” says Fabrice Morel,
President and CEO of the Rail Europe Group.
“While very low prices are available on our Web site
for tickets on many routes in France, railpasses are almost
always a better bargain for those seeing more than two cities. The shorter 3-day France Railpass gives travelers
a new money-saving option for getting around on more limited
itineraries.”
A subsidiary of SNCF
(French National Railroads), Rail Europe is the leading North
American distributor of European railpasses and tickets, serving
more than 1 million North American travelers annually.
For more information
about the 3-day France Railpass, contact a travel agent or
log on to Rail Europe’s newly redesigned Web site,
www.raileurope.com or call an experienced reservation agent at
1-888-382-7245 (in US) or 1-800-361-7245 (in Canada).
Make
Reservations On The Run With Amtrak Mobile
Amtrak has launched
the Amtrak Mobile, a revolutionary new service - and a first
in the transportation industry - which enables passengers
to use any web-accessing mobile device, such as a cell phone
or PDA, to instantly connect with the train reservation and
information systems of Amtrak.com.
Making a reservation or getting information on any
Amtrak train is now as easy to do on a PDA or cell phone,
as it is from a desktop PC, all without accessing a different
URL or registering for the service.
Customers simply need to log onto Amtrak.com for access.
With Amtrak Mobile,
passengers may view up-to-date train status information and
obtain wireless access to key functions available on Amtrak.com
using the system's mouse-less navigation feature. This interface for mobile devices is available
to BlackBerry(r), Treo(tm), and Pocket PC users as well as
through most web-enabled cell phones. In
addition, Amtrak Mobile provides users with access to wireless
functions not offered by competitors.
Currently no airline wireless service offers all of
the functions that Amtrak Mobile delivers:
reservations, cancellations, travel status, schedules,
and the best yet, no need to access a separate URL.
Making the service
even more convenient, customers do not need to register for
Amtrak Mobile, and there are no special downloads needed to
use the service. It
may be accessed simply by logging onto Amtrak.com from a PDA
or cell phone. The site will recognize that the customer is
using a handheld device and automatically connect to the functions
available through Amtrak Mobile. From there, a customer may check the status
of any train in the Amtrak system, make or cancel a reservation,
or sign into their personal profile. "Getting on-line
with Amtrak used to mean being tied to a PC or Mac and for
people on the move, it was not an option," said Barbara
Richardson, Amtrak's vice president of Marketing and Sales. "What is revolutionary about Amtrak Mobile
is that you can be in a cab or subway, go on-line and check
schedules, see if a train is on time, or change a reservation
- all without any special downloads or registering."
For schedules, fares
and information, passengers may call 800-USA-RAIL or visit
www.Amtrak.com.
*************************
Travel
Tours & Offers
Gutsy
Women Travel Offering Florence & Tuscany Tours In 2006
When
a woman FINALLY has the time to get away and travel for herself,
she wants to do it all. Gutsy Women Travel heeds that call
and has created a comprehensive 8- day Magnificent Florence
& Tuscany tour which includes a wide variety of travel
experiences for participants. The tour has three departures
remaining in 2006: July 8, September 9, and October 7. Additionally,
anyone who makes a booking on this or any other Gutsy Women
Travel escorted tour by July 31st will receive a $100 savings
off the tour price (refer to promotional code OPRAPR100) when
booking. This savings applies to new bookings only. According
to April M. Merenda, President and Co-Founder of Gutsy Women
Travel, "This tour was specifically designed to include
all of the things that women want to do when they finally
have the chance to visit Tuscany: sightseeing in Florence,
cooking demonstrations, art and architecture tours, shopping,
wine tasting, eating great food, and of course, a pampering
spa treatment! It's all about indulging yourself and taking
in as much as possible because that's how we women like to
travel!"
The
8-day Magnificent Florence & Tuscany Tour features the
following highlights:
•
Carriage ride through old Florence
•
Walking tour of Florence to see its great art treasures and
architecture
•
Lectures on Florentine art, gold and leather and on Tuscan
wines and cuisine
•
Half-day walking tour of Florence to include the Pitti Palace
and the Uffizi Gallery
•
Visit to Santa Maria, Italy's oldest pharmacy
•
Make your own pizza at Finisterrae, a trendy Mediterranean
restaurant in Florence
•
Vineyard tour and wine tasting with Tuscan cheeses and biscotti
•
Cooking demonstrations of a typical Tuscan dinner
•
Full-day Montecatini excursion, including a spa treatment
(facial) and live Italian opera performance in the open air
•
Roundtrip Flights NYC-Florence. Other departure cities available.
Click on date of departure for selection and prices
•
6 nights at the Anglo American, Florence
•
6 breakfasts, 2 lunches, 3 dinners
•
All activities as noted above in the "Highlights"
This
tour is priced from $2,899 per person based on double occupancy
including land and air from New York City. Singles are welcome
and every effort is made to accommodate requests for roommates.
For
further information, please email info@gutsywomentravel.com
. For reservations, call (866) IMGUTSY. Website: http://www.gutsywomentravel.com
Breakaway
Adventures Offers 'Tour de France for Wimps' Cycling Tour
A
new tour from Breakaway Adventures, a company that specializes
in relaxed overseas getaways, lets cyclists pedal the same
streets of the Tour de France peloton, minus the breakneck speed, crashes
and sore muscles.
On
the nine-day, eight-night Tour de France for Wimps tour, available
now through September 23 from $1759 to $1855/person, guests
can tour the Alsace region of France, where the race will
take place beginning July 1, at a more relaxed pace. While
cyclists on the tour may not total the Tour de France racers'
115 miles a day, they will have traveled an admirable 86 miles
over the course of the tour. Sites along the tour of the region, known for
its vineyards and wineries, include Colmar, the Venice of
Alsace; Turckheim, whose medieval cobbled streets are still
patrolled by a night watchman; and Andlau, whose Romanesque
church sits in a sea of vines. Several of the tour's hotels
offer Michelin-starred restaurants, and the chef at Rouffach
was even a former cook at the French presidential palace.
A fully-supported independent tour, guests
travel at their own pace without a guide, but with a local
staff member always on call to assist with bike issues, deliver
wine and move luggage from place to place. Travelers meet
at the beginning of the tour for a debriefing and question
and answer session where they receive a detailed itinerary
with maps and visual pointers to guide them.
Breakaway
Adventures is a tour company that offers relaxed overseas
getaways where guests can walk, cycle, trek or barge through
the back roads of 30 countries, including Italy, France, Greece
and Great Britain. Specializing in self-guided and fully-supported
independent tours, the company provides the highest level
of service to its customers, managing all the details so they
can focus on the adventure at hand. For more information about
the company, detailed itineraries or to book a tour, visit
www.breakaway-adventures.com
or call 1-800-567-6286.
Country
Walkers Offers Western Sicily Waking Tour in 2006
2006 is the first
season for Country Walkers’ Italy: Western Sicily Special
Departure October 7 to 13. This exciting itinerary immerses
you even deeper into the Sicilian culture and landscape than
our popular Sicily & the Aeolian Island itinerary. This
tour combines easy to moderate walking, spectacular coastal
scenery, well-preserved archaeological wonders and all the
charms of a less traveled region. Veteran CW guides Christopher
Wellington and Costantino Di Losa look forward to sharing
their regional expertise with you!
Tour Highlights include:
Well-preserved Greek
and Roman archaeological sites
Coastal resort of
Cefalu
Medieval hill town
of Erice
Exploration of the
wild Egadi Islands, on foot, kayak or bicycle
Coastal walking routes,
including Zingaro Nature Reserve
Charming accommodations
in idyllic settings and delectable regional cuisine
The seven days/six
nights tour costs $3,498 per person, $475 single supplement;
and includes all meals except two lunches and one dinner.
Walk rating: easy
to moderate terrain, 3-8 miles per day.
For additional information
please call 800-464-9255, email us at info@countrywalkers.com or visit www.countrywalkers.com
TourCrafters’
Money-Saving Fall Specials From New York to Italy
Looking ahead to
fall, TourCrafters has crafted some money-saving packages
on Eurofly from New York to Rome and the Umbrian countryside.
-- The five-night/six-day
Rome City Break (Package A), which departs on Saturdays, includes
round-trip transatlantic air, accommodations at the centrally-located
3-star Hotel Brasile, daily breakfast and hotel service charges
and taxes. The price
varies from $1,055 in September and October 6 to $755 on October
28 and November 4.
-- The six-night/seven-day
Rome and Countryside (Package B), which also departs on Saturdays,
ranges in price from $1,190 in September to $786 on October
28 and November 4 and 11.
It includes two nights at the Hotel Brasile and four
nights at the Relais Villa Valentini—a four-star villa hotel
with swimming pool and extensive park in a tiny village near
Todi—as well as three days car rental, daily breakfast and
hotel service and taxes.
-- There are also
packages to Tuscany: Package C, with Sunday departures, combines
a stay at the elegant Villa Morgagni in Rome with the Arco
Naturale, a four-star country house hotel near the wine town
of Montepulciano (prices from $875), and Package D, with Friday
departures, combines a stay at the Villa Morgagni with the
four-star Tenuta La Bandita in western Tuscany (prices from
$1,055)..
All prices are per
person, double occupancy, are subject to availability and
do not include airport taxes or fuel surcharges. Reservations must be paid for within 72 hours.
For more information, visit www.tourcrafters.com. For reservations, see your travel agent or
call 800-482-5995.
TourCrafters Introduces’ Ciao Roma’ Sightseeing Tour
TourCrafters, the
dependable tour operator that specializes in Italy, has a
new product: Ciao
Roma, a full day, hop-on-hop-off sightseeing tour of the major
monuments of Rome. The
double decker, open-top buses make 13 stops and passengers
can hop off as many times as they like, then hop on one of
the buses that circulate hourly from 9:00 AM to 8:00 PM. The
13 stops include the Colosseum, Via Veneto, Piazza Barberini,
Piazza di Spagna, Villa Borghese, Campidoglio, Vatican Museums,
St. Peter’s Basilica, Piazza Navona, Ara Pacis, Piazza del
Popolo, Trevi Fountain, et al. In the first two weeks of operation, 5,000 clients enjoyed the tour.
The comprehensive
commentary is tape-recorded in 12 languages and passengers
are provided with individual ear phones. They are also given
a 168-page Rome and Vatican guidebook (one book for each couple)
that is full of pictures, descriptions of various sites, a
map and information on restaurants—with approximate prices—and
shopping.
The Ciao Roma tour
runs daily, except Monday, and passengers can board at the
Appian Line office, Piazza dell’Esquilino, or at the Ciao
Roma office at the Stazione Termini. The full-day ticket costs
$23 and can be bought in advance from TourCrafters, 28085
North Ashley Circle, Libertyville, IL 60048, 800-621-2259.
Website: www.tourcrafters.com
.
Single-Parent
Families Seeking TLC That Austin-Lehman Adventures Offers
The fact that over
25 percent of US children live in single-parent households
makes Austin-Lehman Adventures (ALA) sensitive to single parents
traveling with children.
“We’ve
identified single parent travel as a growing market for us.
In fact, for 2007 we plan to have several destinations and
dates specifically designed for and labeled as “single parent
adventures,” says Paul Lehman, ALA’s Co-Founder and Managing
Partner. In 2003 single parents accounted for approximately
2% of ALA’s overall guest mix. This year (2006) it has increased
to nearly 5%.”
Following is a sampling
of ALA’s recommended trips for single-parent families.
-- Yellowstone National
Park Family Adventure http://www.austinlehman.com/ALmain.php?Option=Detail&TripID=53
Activities:
Hike, Raft, Fishing, Wildlife Viewing, Horseback
Trip Length: six
days/five nights; Dates: July 2-7, July 9-14, July 16-21, July 23-28, July 30-August
4, August 6-11, August 13-18, August 20-25. Price: $1,798
Children age 7 to
12: From $1,438. Host City: Bozeman, Montana
-- Alaska – Kenai
Peninsula Family Adventure
http://www.austinlehman.com/ALmain.php?Option=Detail&TripID=42
Activities: Hike,
Bike, Kayak, Nature Cruise
Trip Length: 6 Days/5
Nights
Upcoming Dates: July
9-14, July30-August 4, August 13-18, August 20-25
Price:
$2,698; Children age 7 to 12: From $2,158
Host City: Anchorage,
Alaska
-- Costa Rica Family
Adventure
http://www.austinlehman.com/ALmain.php?Option=Detail&TripID=82
Activities: Hike,
Horseback, Raft, Wildlife Viewing, Boat, Kayak
Trip Length: seven
days/six nights
Upcoming Dates: July
15-21, August 5-11, August 19-25, December 25-31
Trip Price: From
$2,198 per person, double occupancy
Children 5-12 receive
a 25% discount when sharing a room.
Host City: San José,
Costa Rica
ALA specializes in
multi-sport tours throughout the Americas and has been doing
so since 1984. National Parks, the U.S. and Canadian Rockies,
Alaska, Costa Rica and the Galápagos Islands are all very
popular family destinations. Last season the increase in family
business represented an unprecedented 74% of all of its bookings.
For information on
ALA’s 35 unique luxury, multisport, family and active adventure
travel vacations please ask for a free, 44-page, four-color
catalog by calling toll-free 1.800.575.1540, or e-mail info@austinlehman.com or log onto www.austinlehman.com.
*****************
Travel
Alerts
Warnings and advice
covering both travel and health issues in countries can be
found at the Department of State homesite at http://travel.state.gov/travel/travel_1744.html
-- Travel Warnings
are issued when the State Department recommends that Americans
avoid a certain country. The countries currently listed can
be found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_1764.html
.
-- The State Department
issues Public Announcements to disseminate information quickly
about terrorist threats and other relatively short-term conditions
that pose significant risks or disruptions to Americans. The
current Public Announcements are listed at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1766.html.
-- Information on
countries can be found in the Consular section of the DOS
website at
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1765.html.
Information on Avian
Flu can be found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/tips/health/health_1181.html.
-- Information on
the 2006 hurricane season in the Atlantic, Caribbean, and
the Gulf of Mexico can be found at http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/hurricane_season/hurricane_season_2915.html
**********************
Hotel
News & Offers
The
Steigenberger Strandhotel Zingst On The Baltic Coast Now Open
The Steigenberger
Strandhotel Zingst welcomed its first guests this month. The
First-Class Hotel occupies a wonderful location directly on
the beach promenade in the heart of the Baltic seaside health
resort of Zingst and boasts a large Wellness Pavilion covering
1400 square meters. The Steigenberger Strandhotel Zingst is
the Frankfurt-based hotel group’s second hotel on the Fischland-Darß-Zingst
peninsula and offers the perfect surroundings for holidays
and incentive travel.
A highlight of the
Steigenberger Strandhotel Zingst is the Wellness Pavilion,
located in the hotel gardens. Covering an area of 1400 square
meters, it has an indoor pool and whirlpool, a sauna area,
a solarium and various fitness, beauty and massage facilities.
From June to October there is also an inviting outdoor pool
where guests can swim or simply relax. Conference delegates
can make use of two conference rooms in the Steigenberger
Aparthotel Zingst opposite as well as a further conference
facility for up to 70 people in the neighbouring Spa building.
A wide variety of
leisure opportunities such as cycling tours, sailing or canoeing
trips, beach walks and boat excursions, horse riding and swimming
make this a perfect holiday destination. Website: http://www.company.steigenberger.de
The Steigenberger
Hotel Group currently operates 79 hotels under the brand names
Steigenberger Hotels and Resorts and InterCityHotels in Germany,
Austria, Switzerland, Italy, the Netherlands and Egypt.
Four
Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle Now Open
Four Seasons Hotels
and Resorts today opened the doors (or rather tent flaps)
to its first all-inclusive Tented Camp. As the company’s third
property in Thailand, the Camp is located in the jungle near
the northern city of Chiang Rai, offering uncompromising attention
to detail and an unforgettable guest experience.
Accessible only by
riverboat, Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle is nestled
in the heart of the Golden Triangle where the borders of Thailand,
Laos and Myanmar (Burma) converge. Situated within the jungle
canopy above the Ruak River, the exclusive property accommodates
a total of only 30 guests at one time.
Accommodations include
15 luxurious air-conditioned tents, individually decorated
and featuring a king-size Four Seasons signature bed, floors
made from recycled teak, exotic furniture, an outdoor shower,
a sundeck with massage beds and a hand hammered oversized
copper bathtub. Each well-appointed tent has zippered doors
and windows, and offers its own unique view of some of the
most spectacular natural vistas in Southeast Asia.
Designed for active
adult travelers, the Camp presents a wide variety of on-site
and off-site activities including a hands-on elephant experience
with the on-property coordinator and local mahouts, experts
in the 2000-year-old Thai tradition of elephant care. All
of the elephants on the property are rescued from the streets
of Thailand as part of an ongoing program to provide domesticated
elephants with a humane and natural setting.
Other activities
include cruising the Mekong River, jungle treks, bird watching,
fishing, riverbank picnics, nature walks, mountain biking,
temple tours and cooking classes. Guests can also relax in
the Camp’s free-form pool after a long day of activities or
enjoy a traditional Thai massage and exotic spa treatment
amid the bamboo forests of the San Valley that bisects the
Camp.
The Camp offers two-
or three-night all-inclusive packages comprised of accommodations,
all meals and beverages (including wines and spirits), a spa
treatment, mahout training, a Mekong River excursion and private
airport transfers from Chiang Rai Airport. A visit to the
Camp can be seamlessly combined with stays at Four Seasons
Resort Chiang Mai and/or Four Seasons Hotel Bangkok. Depending
on the weather and season, other activities offered include
jungle trekking, riverbank picnics, nature walks, bird-watching,
fishing, cooking classes and day trips to Laos and Burma.
Until September 30,
2006, special introductory five-night packages, ranging from
US$3,900 to US$5,657 (double occupancy), offer guests the
opportunity to combine a stay at the Camp with one of the
two other Four Seasons properties in Thailand. Website: http://fourseasons.com/goldentriangle/
Bermuda
Hotels Offer Travelers New Hurricane Guarantee
Visitors planning
trips to the famed pink sand beaches of Bermuda over the coming
months can now do so with greater peace of mind due to the
first-ever Hurricane Guarantee program offered by 16 of the
island’s top resorts. While the occurrence of hurricanes hitting
the island has historically been rare, Bermuda’s Hurricane
Guarantee takes the worry out of booking and provides guests
with complete confidence that they will be able to enjoy a
Bermudaful' vacation through the following
program, created by the Bermuda Hotel Association:
In the event that
a hurricane-force storm is predicted by the Bermuda Weather
Service to approach within 200 miles of Bermuda and within
five days, the guest will be permitted to cancel their reservations
without penalty. Deposits
can be refunded or applied to any future booking if the guest
is unable to recover the same under travel insurance (a copy
of the guest’s travel insurance may be requested by participating
hotel management). Group
booking cancellations will be handled on an individual basis
in accordance with the group contract.
In
the event that the island is directly affected by a hurricane
(as determined by the Bermuda Weather Service) during the
guest’s stay in Bermuda, the participating hotel will not
charge for rooms, food and beverage or other essential services
for any period of time that the participating hotel’s normal
services are not available.
In
the event that a participating hotel is not able to continue
its operations due to damage incurred by a hurricane (as determined
by the Bermuda Weather Service), the participating hotel will
invite the guest to return for a complimentary stay within
one year from the reopening of the participating hotel.
The replacement stay
must be taken within one year from the reopening of the participating
hotel and will be in an equivalent room category to the one
originally booked, and will be subject to certain blackout
dates and availability. This
offer is subject to change and may be withdrawn at any time
without notice. Other expenses including, but not limited to,
airfare, F&B, incidental room charges are not included
or covered by this guarantee.
Participant properties
in Bermuda’s Hurricane Guarantee include: Cambridge Beaches,
Coral Beach & Tennis Club, Elbow Beach Bermuda, Fairmont
Hamilton Princess, Fairmont Southampton, Fourways Inn, Granaway
Guest House & Cottage, Grape Bay Hotel, Grotto Bay Beach
Resort, Harmony Club, Horizons & Cottages, The St. George’s
Club, Rosedon, Surf Side Beach Club, Waterloo House, and Wyndham
Bermuda.
Bermuda, just under
two hours from East Coast gateway cities, stretches for 23
miles along turquoise waters, surrounded by a 200-square-mile
coral reef plateau. Bermuda's diverse activities offer an
array of vacation options, including more wreck dives than
anywhere else in the world, championship golf, horseback riding,
world-renowned deep sea fishing and smooth pink beaches to
rest on by day's end. Bermuda’s accommodations range from
luxury resorts to intimate guest cottages and family-run inns,
all incorporating the sophistication and hospitality unique
to the Bermuda experience. For more information, visit www.bermudatourism.com or call 800-BERMUDA (800-237-6832).
From
Yours And Mine To Ours: Beaches Resorts Introduces Familymoons™
Beaches Resorts,
known for offering the very best in family getaways, has created
FamilyMoons™. According
to wedding industry consultant, Rebecca Grinnals of Engaging
Concepts in Orlando, FL, of the more than two million marriages
annually in the U.S., almost 50 percent are re-marriages and
65 percent of re-marriages involve couples with children.
FamilyMoons™ incorporates
the entire family into the wedding ceremony and celebration.
An extension of the popular WeddingMoons™ concept,
which combines the wedding and honeymoon into one idyllic
location, FamilyMoons™ are designed to join not just two people
– but two families into one.
The Beaches FamilyMoons™
package is complimentary to groups who book ten rooms or more
and includes the following amenities:
-- Picturesque ceremony
location: From intimate wedding gazebos, traditional wedding chapels to tropical
gardens or on the beach at sunset, with four Beaches Resorts
located in Jamaica and the Turks & Caicos, there are many
settings to choose from.
-- Personalized gifts:
Each FamilyMoons™ couple staying five nights or longer
receives two “Just Married” t-shirts and one 5x7 professional
wedding photo. When booking six nights or more in a room category
above luxury, they also may choose a complimentary starter
set of Waterford crystal or fine china.
-- A professional
wedding consultant: All Beaches Resorts are staffed with wedding
consultants who can help make that special day absolutely
magical. The wedding consultants also handle details
including organizing wedding documentation, arranging a marriage
official and preparing certified copies of the marriage license
and legal fees.
-- Personalized services
of a Beaches FamilyMoons™ concierge:
Groups will be assigned their own personal concierge
to assist in making special arrangements such as dining reservations
and off property tours that will make the experience even
more memorable.
Unity Sand Ceremony:
Symbolic of the joining of two families, this unity ceremony
is different than the traditional candle ceremony, as all
family members participate by pouring sand direct from the
island beaches into a nesting vase, commemorating the creation
of a new family.
-- Group discounts:
Groups of ten or more people will receive discounts on select
off- property tours.
-- Internationally
celebrated event designer and wedding planner Preston Bailey
has created a selection of exceptional wedding packages available
exclusively to Beaches Resorts guests. Preston Bailey Signature
WeddingMoons™ allow those seeking the perfect destination
wedding more customized selections for their special day.
Each of the four packages – The Floral Elegance Collection
($1,700), The Water Lily Collection ($2,600), The Seascape
Collection ($3,600) and The Crystal Collection ($5,000) –
includes beautifully designed wedding settings and décor such
as fresh contemporary floral screens or a tree filled with
orchids, crystals and candlelight.
Rates at Beaches
start at $275 per person, per night for adults and $90 per
child 15 and younger, per night through December 21, 2006.
Kids under two stay free.
For more information
on Beaches FamilyMoons™ programs and seasonal promotions,
call your favorite travel agent or 1-800-BEACHES or visit
www.beaches.com.
Hilton
Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort Offering Personalized Service
For Groups
Scheduled to open
in late summer, the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort offers
10,000 sq. ft. of dedicated indoor meeting space including
a 3,200-sq.-ft. Del Sol (Spanish for “sun”) ballroom which
can be comfortably configured to accommodate 220 in
a classroom or 300 for a seated social occasion.
Its 1,040-sq.-ft. Jua (Swahili for “sun”) room provides
additional private event capabilities along with six breakout
meeting rooms ranging from 568 to 931 sq. ft. in size.
The Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort’s signature
pool side, sixth-floor, 22,700-sq.-ft. Sunrise Terrace, overlooking
the Atlantic Ocean, is an ideal outdoor venue for special
events and social galas.
To entice meeting
and incentive planners to consider the resort for their next
event, Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort is presenting its
2007 Complete Incentive Package that includes all details
from beginning to end to accommodate groups up to 80 guests.
The package is available for a three-night minimum
stay and prices start at $775 per person, per night, based
on single occupancy, and $575 per person, per night, based
on double occupancy for group business confirmed for 2007
dates. The package
includes a one bedroom ocean-view suite; a 50-minute spa treatment
per person per stay; full American Plan. Also included are
all meeting room rental, audio/visual/technology services,
business center fees and daytime coffee service for meeting
rooms; all wireless services for meeting rooms; and all ocean/beach
sports activities, beach concierge services and fitness club
fees; plus airport transfers and all applicable room and occupancy
taxes, food and beverage taxes, service gratuities, bellman
service charges, housekeeping service charges
Hilton Fort Lauderdale
Beach Resort has created a variety of theme parties for incentive
groups ranging in size from 50 to 300 people. These events emphasize the natural beauty of
the destination – its water, beach and tropical landscape.
Travelers attending
in conjunction to a meeting or incentive program will enjoy
a variety of unique offerings such as guest accommodations
with spacious, private ocean view balconies and resort features
that includes a 7,000-sq.-ft. European Spa and Fitness Club
with natural ocean and Florida everglades’ flora and fauna
products indigenous to the region. They can also take part in custom yacht charters
for day cruising and deep sea fishing, beach cabana services
with an ocean side beach concierge, dedicated kid’s concierge,
tailored youth activities program that will engage children
ages six to 15+ years of age, and full-service kitchens which
can be stocked prior to arrival for a nominal fee.
Scheduled to open
late-summer 2006, the spectacular Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach
Resort is a 25-story, all-suite flagship property ideally
located in the heart of Fort Lauderdale’s exclusive beachfront
district between the palm-shaded boulevards of Sunrise and
Las Olas. It will feature 373-elegantly appointed studios,
one, two and three-bedroom suites; a 22,700-sq.-ft. Sunrise
Terrace with a pool and private cabanas overlooking the ocean;
four dining options; a European spa; 10,000 sq. ft. of meeting
space; and children’s programs.
Hilton Fort Lauderdale Beach Resort will pride itself
on its personal services offered to guests, including dedicated
beach concierges, kids’ concierges, premium transfer service
and remote check-in, personalized shopping, wireless waiters
and paperless valet systems.
Hilton Fort Lauderdale
Beach Resort is located at 505 North Fort Lauderdale Beach
Boulevard between Sunrise and Las Olas Boulevards. For information and reservations, call 1-800-HILTONS
(1-800-445-8667) or visit www.fortlauderdalebeachresort.hilton.com
Sandals
and Beaches Resorts offer Blue Chip Hurricane Guarantee
Guests of Sandals
Resorts and Beaches Resorts need not worry about their vacation
dollars blowing in the wind this fall, thanks to the Sandals
and Beaches Resorts’ Blue Chip Hurricane Guarantee. The Sandals and Beaches Resorts’ Blue Chip
Hurricane Guarantee allows guests a free replacement vacation
in the event that their stay is interrupted by a hurricane,
as defined by the National Hurricane Center.
The free replacement
stay is for the same duration and room category as the originally
booked trip and is valid for one year after the original vacation.
Sandals Resorts continues
to make couples' Caribbean vacations memorable by offering
amenities and programs of superior value and service.
With new amenities including Butler Service for top
category suites, Red Lane Spas - combining European traditions
with a Caribbean flair - and Preston Bailey Signature WeddingMoons™,
the Sandals brand remains the most trusted in making Caribbean
dreams come true. For more information on Sandals Resorts,
call your local travel agent or 1-800-SANDALS (1-800-726-3257),
or visit www.sandals.com
.
The
Levante Parliament Opens In Vienna
Berlin-based Design
Hotels marked the grand opening of The Levante Parliament
hotel in Vienna. The 70-room property, which retains its 1908
façade, features contemporary art and design inspired by the
Viennese Modernist movement. Art works include photographs
by Curt Themessl as well as glass art by Ioan Nemtoi, for
whom the NEMTOI Restaurant-Bar was named. Also onsite are
a fitness center and garden. Website: www.designhotels.com/levante
Mexico
Boutique Hotels Offers Affordable Escapes
Breathtaking escapes
to Mexico's most desirable locales - complete with world-class
amenities and authentic Mexican charm - are now available
for travelers on a budget thanks to Mexico Boutique Hotels. The collection of 45 hotels throughout Mexico
offers a lineup of affordable getaways at several of its most
popular properties. With
several offerings starting at less than $150 per night, guests
have a unique opportunity to indulge in the charm and luxury
of Mexico's most incredible retreats.
A sampling of Mexico
Boutique Hotel's most pocket-friendly offerings subject to
availability includes:
-- Posada de Las
Minas. Situated in
a scenic landscape, Posada de las Minas is found in the sleepy
little Mexican village of Mineral de Pozos. The active traveler
can enjoy hiking, mountain biking or horseback riding to the
scenic mines surrounding Pozos.
Select from the following rooms and affordable nightly
rates: Habitación Vaqueros $75, Habitación Muñecas $75, Habitación
Cactus $95, Habitación 5 Senores $95, Habitación Luna de Miel
$95.
-- Xaloc.
If you long to escape large resort destinations, to
walk a never-ending beach and truly experience life on a small
Caribbean island, then Xaloc at Holbox is the place for you.
Don't expect all-night discos or heavy-traffic downtown areas. Xaloc is about the subtle, quiet, simple pleasures
of life. Enjoy a Pool
view room at $86 (April 24 - July 13, Aug 28-
Dec 16) and $102 (July 14 - Aug 27). Garden view rooms
are available for $105 (April 24 - July 13, Aug 28- Dec 16)
and $120 (Jul 14 - Aug 27). Select an Ocean view room at $137
(April 24 -July 13,
Aug. 28- Dec. 16) or $152
(July 14 - Aug 27).
-- Azúcar- Situated
along the Costa Esmeralda, Azúcar is an intimate minimalist
retreat with spacious bungalows and the Xochicalli Spa that
guarantee a serene, relaxing atmosphere.
On weekdays, king suites are available for $120 per
night.
-- La Casona- A stately
and artistic Mexico City home evoking the urban splendor of
the early 20th century. Warm-looking wooden floors and exquisite
furniture convey cozy refinement. Deluxe rooms are available for $135 per night
on weekends.
-- La Quinta Luna-
Situated in Cholula, America's oldest city, La Quinta Luna
is a beautiful 17th century mansion deemed a historic monument
by the National Institute of History and Anthropology. Enjoy standard rooms for only $150 per night.
-- Condesa
DF- Located in a residential area of Mexico City, Condesa
DF mixes trendy with traditional.
This remodeled mansion features a Turkish steam room
(hammam) and thermal bath. Enjoy weekend balcony rooms for $145 per night.
-- Básico- Steps
from Playa del Carmen, Basico is glamorous and style-savvy.
Rooms feature white concrete walls and exposed plumbing, while
the top floor hosts the Azotea Bar and pool. Patio View rooms
start at $148 per night.
-- Deseo- This modern
hotel, just South of Cancun, is famous for cocktails, beautiful
guests and non-stop entertainment. Rooms boast fun details
such as a beach and fiesta kit, hammocks and a music channel. Lounge Rooms start at $148 per night.
For a look at Mexico
Boutique Hotels' accommodations that won't break the bank,
visit www.mexicoboutiquehotels.com
. Supporting personal assistance is also available by telephone
at 1-800-728-9098 (US and Canada toll-free); 01-800-508-7923
(Mexico toll-free); or + (52) (322) 221-2277 (from other countries).
Mexico
Boutique Hotels is a collection of 45 upscale member properties
categorized by their intimacy, high level of service and outstanding
attributes. A group of small, independent hotels within Mexico
that offer a unique vacation experience for guests, Mexico
Boutique Hotels are typically less than 50 rooms and often
serve as destinations unto themselves.
Old
Edwards Inn And Spa Announces Golf Clinic Package
The Old Edwards Inn
and Spa is pleased to announce a Golf Clinic Package available
Sunday through Thursday now through October 2006 through its
partnership with the esteemed Highlands Cove golf program
The Golf Clinic package
is offered for groups up to six and includes:
Four nights’ deluxe
accommodation at the Inn or The Lodge
Three golf clinics
at Highlands Cove (Putting, Chipping, and Full Swing),
Three lunches in
Madison’s Restaurant and Wine Garden or Spa Café,
Three-course dinner
in Madison's each night
$300 gift certificate
for The Spa at Old Edwards Inn
Transportation to
and from Highlands Cove
A special golf amenity
Package price is
$1809 including tax and gratuity (a three-night itinerary
is also available).
The Old Edwards Inn
and Spa is located at 445 Main Street, Highlands, NC 28741,
828-526-8008 or 1-866-526-8008.
Desroches
Island Resort Mingles Island Chic With Island Beauty
A small island some
five miles long and less than a mile wide but with 11 miles
of virgin, palm-fringed beaches Desroches is part of the Amirantes
Archipelago, one of several that make up the legendary Seychelles.
Tucked away on this pristine paradise, the Desroches Island
Resort is one of Naïade Resorts' collection of exquisite properties
in the Seychelles, Maldives and Mauritius, three of the most
glorious destinations in the Indian Ocean just off the coast
of Africa.
Courtesy of Naide Resorts
Vacations in paradise
start at $487 to $807, single, for a junior suite that's 20
percent off the standard published rates. Stays at the Desroches Island Resort include
accommodation in an air-conditioned junior suites, breakfast,
lunch, dinner plus free use of non-motorized water sport facilities.
Desroches Island
Resort is a collection of colonial-style villas that house
twenty elegant suites that come with as much comfort as they
do excellent service. The lush landscape fills the air with
the fragrance of exotic blooms as guests walk from their mosquito-netted
king-sized beds across polished wood floors to their ample
verandas. Coffered ceilings with fans and air conditioning
keep the bungalows cool in the afternoon heat, a welcome respite
after a day of biking or snorkeling under the island sun.
Bathrooms are large and airy with double sinks and outdoor
tubs and showers, where guests can bathe in their own private
jungle.
At the Restaurant
Le Veloutier the chef creates mouth-watering Creole and French
dishes with fresh local produce and the catch of the day,
served under a thatched roof with a view of the pool area
and the ocean beyond. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are also
prepared at the beach restaurant, where patrons can enjoy
buffets or an intimate candlelit dinner for two all while
wiggling their toes in the fine white sand.
Small as it is, there's
much to do on Desroches though of course, the luxury of doing
nothing at all can be just as appealing. Chaise lounges are
placed around the pool area and on the sand. Looking for a
bit more excitement? The turquoise lagoon awaits snorkelers
and windsurfers, coconut groves are ready for a morning bicycle
ride, and the island village welcomes visitors. The onsite
floodlit tennis court competes with deep-sea fishing and superlative
diving at the island's magnificent sites the best in the Seychelles.
For more information
and a tantalizing peek at the Desroches Island Resort, visit
http://www.naiade.com/Site-1024/home.html.
Make your reservations by calling Mahen Jeebun at the Central
Reservation Department on Mauritius at (00 230) 698-22-22,
or via e-mail at reservation.CRO@naiade.com.
*Minimum
stay of six nights during peak season, three nights for the
rest of the year. Children under two years of age stay free
of charge when sharing a room with two full-paying adults.
20 percent discounted rates good through October 31, 2006
*******************
Cities
& Culture
Berlin
Martin-Gropius-Bau
Egypt’s Sunken Treasures
To September 4, 2006
Marine archaeologist
Franck Goddio has spent 10 years doing underwater excavations
of lost Egyptian cities dating from the 7th century BC to
the 8th century AD off the coast of the modern city of Alexandria
and in the Bay of Aboukir. Around 500 objects found in these
spectacular underwater excavations will be on display to the
general public in the world premiere of this exhibition. The
artifacts span from the days of the last pharaohs to Alexander
the Great and the period of Greek rule to the Roman conquest
that ended after the spread of Christianity with the age of
Islam. Website:
http://www.aegyptens-versunkene-schaetze.org/Ausstellung.aspx
Boston
Boston
Symphony Orchestra at Tanglewood
To September 4, 2006
The Tanglewood Music
Center (TMC) – the Boston Symphony Orchestra’s (BSO) summer
music academy – once again brings young musicians to the Berkshires
for a summer of performing with and learning from many of
the most accomplished artists in the world.
Highlights of the
Tanglewood Music Center’s 66th season include BSO Music Director
James Levine leading TMC Orchestra (TMCO) and Vocal Fellows
and an internationally renowned cast of singers in Strauss’
opera Elektra, as well as the TMC Vocal Fellows
performing in a Bernstein
on Broadway tribute concert with Keith Lockhart and the
Boston Pops. Tanglewood on Parade includes the TMC Orchestra
– as well as the Boston Symphony and Boston Pops orchestras
– in a rousing program that concludes with Tchaikovsky’s 1812
Overture and fireworks.
James Levine also
will work closely with TMC vocalists, conductors, and instrumentalists
in preparing a triple bill of 20th-century opera for performance
on July 27 and 28 as the opening concert in this season’s
Festival of Contemporary Music. Mr. Levine conducts the American
stage premiere of Elliott Carter's sparkling What Next? (1999),
and TMC Conducting Fellows lead performances of Stravinsky's
one-act comic opera Mavra and Hindemith's palindromic operatic
sketch Hin und zurück ("There and back"), both dating
from the 1920s. All three of these fully staged productions
will be sung in English.
The TMCO will open
its season on July 3 with Boston Symphony Orchestra conductor
emeritus Bernard Haitink leading a performance of Shostakovich’s
Symphony No. 10, in a program that will also include Mozart’s
Symphony No. 35, Haffner and Strauss’ Death and Transfiguration.
Stefan Asbury leads
the TMC Orchestra on August 6 in a concert that includes the
works of Dvořák, Fauré, Babbitt, Sibelius, and Ravel.
The performance also features soprano Dawn Upshaw.
Finally, Herbert Blomstedt and TMC Conducting Fellows
will lead the Tanglewood Music Center Orchestra on August
14 in Beethoven’s Symphony No. 4, Lidholm’s Kontakion, and
Hindemith’s Mathis der Maler.
Tickets are currently
on sale through the BSO’s website, www.bso.org , and through SymphonyCharge at 617-266-1200
or 888-266-1200. Tickets
are priced at $18, $28, $39, $59, $500, $1,000, and $2,500. Prices for the remainder of the season are
$8.50-$98. All ticket
prices include a $1 Tanglewood grounds-maintenance fee.
Tanglewood is located
in Lenox, Massachusetts, three hours drive from New York City
and two hours from Boston.
Dubrovnik
57th
Annual Dubrovnik Summer Festival
July 10 to August
25, 2006
Croatia’s premier
cultural event: an international festival of music, theater
and dance in a city a legacy of centuries of civilization.
The unique ambient of the closed and open-air stages
of the Renaissance and Baroque city of Dubrovnik are home,
during the festival to about 80 plays, ballets, operas and
musical performances, promotions of literary works, exhibitions,
recitals of poetry and much more. The Dubrovnik Summer festival
was founded in 1950 and has since 1956 been a member of the
European Festival Association. Website: www.dubrovnik-festival.hr
Hong Kong
Hong Kong Shopping Festival
To August 31, 2006
Hundreds of retailers
across the city have conspired to eliminate any excuse visitors
might have for not emptying their wallets on the wares for
sale. Special offers and prizes abound, and many restaurants
have hopped aboard to ensure a consumer’s appetite for food,
not just shoes, is indulged as well. Later, shopping finished,
head to Hong Kong’s waterfront at Tsim Sha Tsui for the Aqua
Fantasia, a multimedia light show displayed on a curtain of
water. From 7:30 to 9:30 pm. Website: http://www.discoverhongkong.com/hksf/eng/index.html
London
The
Royal Opera House BP Summer Big Screens Offer Live Screenings
The Royal Opera House
BP Summer Big Screens 2006 bring free live screenings of ballet
and opera to venues throughout London including Covent Garden
Piazza, Trafalgar Square, Canary Wharf and Victoria Park Tower
Hamlets. On June 28 Le Nozze di Figaro) will be screened.
Madrid
Thyssen
Bornemissza Museum
From Cranach to Monet: Masterpieces from the Pérez Simón Collection
Through September
10 2006
Works from one of
the most significant private collections in Latin America
will get its first public showing when the opens” on June
20. Designed to give
visitors a synthesis of the most important movements in art
history from the 14th to the 19th centuries, the exhibition
will showcase 57 paintings by some of the great names in art.
Also known as the JAPS Collection, after its creator, Juan
Antonio Pérez Simón, its key qualities are its emphasis on
works portraying feminine beauty, nature, scenes from daily
life that juxtapose earthly pleasures with the ephemeral nature
found in the still lifes and a fascination with light and
color as shown in the transition from Academic painting to
modern art. Works by Jan and Pieter Brueghel, Canaletto, Corot,
Cézanne, Gauguin, Goya, Pissarro, Renoir, Rubens, Tiepolo,
Van Dyck and Van Gogh will be on display.
In 2004 the Thyssen-Bornemisza
Museum, one of Madrid’s cultural jewels, doubled in size to
accommodate the nine-year loan of more than 700 masterpieces
from the Carmen Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection. The $45.7 million
expansion by BOPBAA Studio incorporated two late 19th century
buildings adjoining the Villahermosa Palace linking them to
the museum with a new glass pavilion facing a garden terrace.
The additional 90,000 square feet now houses a temporary
exhibition room, a library and expanded facilities for visitors.
When the Spanish
government paid $350 million in 1993 for the 775 works of
The Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection – considered the world’s
most important private art collection – it solidified Madrid’s
reputation as a leading cultural capital. Spanning the history
of painting from the beginning of the 13th century to the
late 20th century, the famed collection of Baron Hans Heinrich
Thyssen-Bornemisza and his father, Baron Heinrich has outstanding
Old Masters (works by Duccio, Dürer, Caravaggio, Van Eyck,
Holbein and Hals) as well as paintings by Gauguin, Van Gogh,
Klee, Mondrian and Rauschenberg. The collection comprises Dutch and Italian
Primitives, German Expressionism, Russian Constructivism,
Geometric Abstraction, Pop Art and American 19th century painting
– rarely seen in other European museums.
Similar in content
to the Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection, the Carmen Thyssen Bornemisza
Collection has significant holdings of 17th century Dutch
paintings and of 18th century artists such as Canaletto and
Fragonard, little represented in other Spanish museums. Perhaps
the most important part of the collection is made up of 19th
century paintings from John Constable and Caspar David Friedrich
to the Impressionists including works by artists like Corot
and Daubigny. Richest and most impressive are the Impressionist
and Post-Impressionist holdings featuring works by Degas,
Gauguin, Manet, Monet, Picasso, Pissarro, Renoir, Sisley and
Van Gogh and the early 20th century avant-garde movements
as seen in works by the Fauves (Braque, Derain, Matisse) and
the German Expressionists.
Work by Cezanne
The Thyssen-Bornemisza
Museum is located at Paseo del Prado, 8 and is open Tuesdays
through Sundays from 10 AM to 7 PM and during July and August
the temporary exhibitions will remain open until 11 PM Tuesdays
to Saturdays. (Closed
Mondays.) Admission to the temporary exhibition is about
$5.14 and about $3.85 for students and seniors. Combined tickets
for the temporary and context exhibitions and permanent collection
range from $9 to $14.50 ($6.40 to $10.30 for students and
seniors)
Website: www.museothyssen.org
Milan
Castello
Sforzesco
Archaeology and Ethnography from South America
To January 29, 2007
Milan’s collection
of non-European art has been growing since the 16th century,
when explorers first began to bring back objects from their
exploits abroad. Currently, the Castello Sforzesco is exhibiting
some 200 objects—including vases, textiles, masks, terracotta
statues, metal objects and more—from Mayan, Aztec and other
ancient South American cultures.
Castello Sforzesco,
Piazza Castello, 3. Open: Tues-Sun, 9am-1pm, 2pm-5.30pm. Website:
http://www.milanocastello.it/intro.html
New York
American
Museum of Natural History
Lizards & Snakes: Alive!
July 1 to January
7, 2007
Lizards & Snakes
introduces visitors to the remarkable adaptations of legged
and legless lizards, including snakes—a group known as squamates.
Grounded in the evolutionary history of the group, this exhibition
showcases live animals and their remarkable adaptations, including
projectile tongues, deadly venom, amazing camouflage, and
sometimes surprising modes of locomotion. With more than 60
animals representing 27 species from the Amazon, the Caribbean
and Galápagos Islands, and countries such as Cuba, Egypt,
Fiji, Guatemala, Kenya, Madagascar, Mexico, New Guinea, New
Zealand, Sudan, and the United States, the specimens range
from a four-inch Tropical Girdled Lizard to a fifteen-foot
Burmese Python and are shown in re-created habitats, complete
with ponds, tree limbs, rock ledges, and live plants. Numerous
interactive stations throughout the exhibition will invite
visitors to activate recorded squamate sounds, zoom in on
live geckos, test their knowledge about squamates, explore
the inner workings of a rattlesnake on the hunt, and view
videos of lizards and snakes in action. An activity center
for children located at the end of the exhibition features
more than a dozen hands-on exhibits and activities—from matching
lizards to their habitats to assembling squamate skeletons—and
includes touchable skin casts, puzzles, question-and-answer
sliders, games, and more.
Darwin
To August 20
The most in-depth
exhibition ever mounted on Charles Darwin, the highly original
thinker, botanist, geologist, and naturalist, and his theory
of evolution.
The American Museum
of Natural History is located at Central Park West and between
West 77 and 79 Streets. Website: www.amnh.org
Frick
Museum
Jean-Étienne Liotard (1702-1789): Swiss Master
June 13 to September
17, 2006
This is the first
North American exhibition on Liotard, one of the 18th century’s
most celebrated court painters whose subjects have included
the ill-fated queen of France Marie-Antoinette, features more
than 50 paintings, drawings, miniatures and engravings from
the Musées d’art et d’histoire in Geneva
The Frick is located
at 1 East 70 Street. Website: www.frick.org
Museum
of Modern Art
Dada
To September 11,
2006
Discover one of the
20th century’s most influential avant-garde art movements.
The first major exhibition in the United States of its kind
features the work of nearly 50 artists including Marcel Duchamp,
Max Ernst, Man Ray, Kurt Schwitters and Sophie Taeuber MoMA
is located at 11 W. 53rd St. Website: www.moma.org
Neue
Galerie New York
Selections from the Permanent Collection
To September 18,
2006
Works from widely-acclaimed
Austrian artists Gustav Klimt, Egon Schiele, Oskar Kokoschka
and major German movements ranging from Brücke to Bauhaus
will be on display.
Neue Galerie is located
at 1048 Fifth Avenue & East 86 Street. Website: www.neuegalerie.org
The
New York Botanical Garden
Dale Chihuly Glass Creations
June 25 to October
29, 2006
See whimsical glass
creations in a gorgeous garden. Thousands of stunning, hand-blown
glass sculptures will be on display throughout the galleries
of the Enid A. Haupt Conservatory
NY Botanical Garden
is located at200th St. and Kazimiroff Blvd. in the Bronx.
Transportation to the Garden is available via MetroNorth rail
line from Grand Central Station. Website www.nybg.org
Solomon
R. Guggenheim Museum
Zaha Hadid
Through August 23
Fans of architecture
should consider visiting the new exhibition on Zaha Hadid.
The comprehensive show features paintings, drawings, urban
plans and proposals for international design competitions
and scale models that capture the Pritzker Architecture Prize
Laureate’s wide-range of work.
No Limits, Just Edges: Jackson Pollack Paintings on Paper
To September 29,
2006
Guggenheim is located
at1071 Fifth Ave. at 89th St., 212-423-3500.
Website: www.guggenheim.org
Whitney
Museum of American Art
Full House: The Whitney’s Collection at 75
June 29, 2006-September
3, 2006
On the occasion of
the Whitney’s 75th anniversary, selected works from the museum's
extensive collection of art in the United States fill Marcel
Breuer's landmark building. Continuing the Whitney's founding
mission to support new artists and emerging art forms, the
exhibition proposes an active conversation between the present
and the past though dynamic dialogues connecting works of
art across all media, spanning the 20th century to now.
Three of the Museum’s
main floors are organized around a core group of works, each
focusing on a paradigmatic moment, or "flashpoint,"
in American art. The fourth floor is anchored by Minimalist
works of the mid 1960s to early 1970s and explores ideas related
to industrial production, materiality, and conceptual practices.
The third floor takes Pop art as its focal point, with works
from the 1960s installed within the context of a range of
historical and contemporary developments, including those
that address urbanism, consumerism, appropriation and politics.
The second floor is centered on art of the late 1940s and
early 1950s when Abstract Expressionism was at its apex. Works
investigating the transcendent and spiritual qualities in
art circumnavigate this core.
The fifth floor galleries
are dedicated to a large-scale presentation of works by Edward
Hopper, whose legacy is intimately connected to the Whitney.
The Whitney’s Hopper works are supplemented by key loans,
including such major paintings as the Art Institute of Chicago's
Nighthawks and the Museum of Modern Art's New York Movie.
Calder’s Circus, one of the museum’s most beloved works, is
displayed in the Lobby Gallery, in a brand new installation.
Full House also serves
as a lab for experimentation, a way of seeing art through
art to suggest new perspectives and meanings on the last seventy-five
years of collecting at the Whitney while flashing forward
to the next important chapter in its history.
The Whitney is located
at 945 Madison Ave., 212-570-3676. Website: www.whitney.org
Lincoln
Center of the Performing Arts
Lincoln Festival
July 10 to 30, 2006
The annual Lincoln
Center Festival returns July 10 to July 30 with performances
spanning the worlds of dance, theater, music and opera from
around the world with
highlights such as Julie Taymor’s Grendel, Benjamin Bagby’s
Beowulf and Ong Keng Sen’s Geisha
In August, the annual
Mozart Music Festival takes place.
Lincoln Center is
located between 62nd and 65th Sts. On Broadway. Website: www.lincolncenter.org
Paris
Musée
de l’Orangerie
Monet’s Water Lilies
Ongoing
Monet’s water lilies
artworks languished for decades in a gloomy netherworld in
the Orangerie after a botched museum renovation in the 1960s.
However, a major revamp of the museum, which reopened on May
17th after eight years, has changed all that.
The eight works,
painted between 1914 and 1926, were donated by the artist
and hung at the Orangerie in 1927, a year after his death.
Impressive in size—each is two meters high; and one is 17
meters long—the paintings help illustrate Monet's influence
on nudging art towards abstraction. Some even capture the
mysterious sunset light at Giverny, an effect that could woo
even jaded anti-Impressionists. The museum also houses the
Jean Walter and Paul Guillaume collection of Impressionist
and post-Impressionist works by Cézanne, Renoir, Soutine,
Picasso, Modigliani and others.
Musée de l’Orangerie,
Jardin des Tuileries. Tel: +33 (0)1 44 77 80 07. Métro: Concorde.
Open: Weds-Mon, 12.30pm-7pm (until 9pm on Fridays). Website:
http://www.musee-orangerie.fr./
Jeu
de Paume
Lee Friedlander
September 9 to December
31, 2006
Like Walker Evans
and Robert Frank, Lee Friedlander captured the workaday side
of American cities and daily life — the storefronts, the billboards,
television, and automobiles: general urban reality. His early
work as a photographer in the 1950s is notable for its Pop
influences, a spontaneous sense of fun and a taste for formal
innovation. These traits would remain with him throughout
his career; but, as he entered the 1970s, Friedlander's style
and subjects gained in breadth. His photographs are full of
observation and exude a mix of charm and lyricism.
Attentive to the
subtle variations of forms and light, Friedlander produced
richly descriptive urban images that reveal the uncontrollable
energy of life just as they illustrate the transformative
power of photography. In the early 1990s, Friedlander photographed
the landscapes of the American West, where he was born. This
exhibition covers the full range of subjects explored over
his fifty-year career by this great photographer of the 20th
century: in all, 477 B/W photographs, 6 color photographs
and a set of Friedlander's portfolios and books.
Joel Meyerowitz: Out of the Ordinary, 1970-1980
October 10 to December
24, 2006
This is the first
European exhibition of the color photography of Joel Meyerowitz.
Produced by the Jeu de Paume and organized in close collaboration
with the artist, the show offers a selection of photos taken
between 1970 and 1980, a period of what the photographer saw
as radical and decisive change.
The 120 vintage or
modern prints in the ensemble presented here survey that vital
decade that saw him questioning the medium, engaged in aesthetic
exploration and developing a new style of photography.
Jeu de Paume, 1,
place de la Concorde. Open daily except Mondays. Website:
http://www.jeudepaume.org
San Francisco
California
Shakespeare Theatre
Assortment of Shakespeare’s
Plays
To October 8, 2006
For more than 30 years
the California Shakespeare Theatre has presented one of the
Bay Area’s most beloved summer events: evenings of Shakespeare
(and other notable playwrights) at its outdoor amphitheatre
in the East Bay hills. This year’s program includes the Bay
Area premiere of “Restoration Comedy”, a sexy romp by Amy
Freed, a local playwright (July 5-30); “The Merchant of Venice”
(August 9-September 3); and a musical version of “As You Like
It”(September 13 to October 8).
California Shakespeare Theatre,
Bruns Memorial Amphitheatre, 100 Gateway Blvd., Orinda. Tel:
+1 (510) 548-9666. Website: http://www.calshakes.org/v4/home.html
Legion
of Honor
Monet In Normandy
To September 17,
2006
Claude Monet spent
much of his life in Normandy in northern France and his art
reflects his special relationship with this countryside and
its topographical features, with its towns and villages, and
the seasonal rhythms of the region. Monet gained artistic
inspiration from these subjects and returned to them throughout
his career. Of particular interest is his interpretation of
the sparkling, surging bodies of water found in Normandy,
from the
bustling commercial
harbor at Le Havre, to scenery along the Seine, or beside
quiet river banks, such as the Epte, to the crashing waves
at Etretat. Manmade monuments, such as Rouen cathedral, also
figure in Monet’s repertoire and will be represented in this
selection of approximately 50 paintings.
Legion of Honour,
Lincoln Park, 34th Ave and Clement St. Tel: +1 (415) 863-3330.
Open: Tues-Sun, 9.30am-5pm. Admission: $10. Website:
Singapore
Singapore Food Festival
Throughout July
This month-long annual
festival promises to be a gastronomical treat. Held at different
venues, the festival allows visitors to sample Singapore’s
cuisine, which draws on so many traditions—Chinese, Malay
and Indian among them. The spotlight this year is on the popular
national dish called chilli crab, a delightful offering of
fresh crab cooked in a light, spicy sauce. So it seems appropriate
that the opening of this year’s 13th annual food festival
should be marked by the Chilli Crab Fiesta. Expect a range
of other crab dishes as well—grilled, baked, deep-fried, sautéed,
stir fried, with rice, noodles or bread. Website:
http://www.singaporefoodfestival.com.sg/
Sydney, NSW
Biennale of Sydney 2006
Until August 27,
2006
For the 15th time
since 1973, this sprawling festival of contemporary art and
performance takes over Sydney for the winter season at different
venues. Festival director Charles Merewether has assembled
a staggering array of paintings, photographs, sculptures,
installations and projected works from 85 artists in 44 countries,
and many are being exhibited for the first time. Sixteen venues
across Sydney are hosting the works, including Art Gallery
of New South Wales, Museum of Contemporary Art and Pier 2/3
at Walsh Bay.
Tel: +61 (0)2 9368
1411. Website: http://www.biennaleofsydney.com.au
Tokyo
Mori
Art Museum
Africa Remix: Contemporary Art of a Continent
Until August 31st
2006
With 140 works by
84 artists from 25 countries, this exhibition shows an Africa
of many faces shown in sculptures, paintings, drawings, videos,
photos and music. Among the depictions of voodoo and local
gods look for a drawing of a frog—a river god—by Cyprien Tokoudagba,
an artist from Benin.
Mori Art Museum,
Roppongi Hills Mori Tower 53F, Roppongi 6-10-1, Minato-Ku.
Tel: + 81 (0)3 5777-8600. Open: daily, 10am-8pm (until 5pm
on Tues). Subway: Roppongi station, Hibiya or Oedo lines.
Website: http://www.mori.art.museum/english/index.html
Zurich
Bellevue
Museum
Fabergé in Zurich – Treasures of Imperial Russia
Part One through
July 30
Part Two August 2
to September 10, 2006
The magnificent Fabergé-collection
of “The Link of Times Foundation” will also be on display
in Switzerland. After visits in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Berlin
and Brussels, the show displays some of the most famous of
Fabergé jewelry made for the Russian Emperors, among them
nine Imperial and six non-Imperial Easter Eggs.
Museum Bellerive,
Höschgasse 3, 8008 Zurich. Tram 2 or 4 to the Höschgasse stop.
Tel: +41 (0) 43 446 4469. Open: Tues-Sun 10am-5pm (Thurs until
8pm). Admission: SFr17 (concessions SFr14). Website: http://www.faberge-in-zurich.ch/home_en.html
