Looking for a way to spend some time in Ireland? Well, now's your chance! To celebrate everything St. Patrick's Day has to offer Sceptre Tours is offering YOU a chance to win a trip to Ireland, called Sceptre's Luxurious Ireland Vacation Getaway!
Just look below to see what this trip to Ireland has to offer you:
Irish Vacation Package Includes
■Roundtrip Airfare to Ireland on Aer Lingus
■2 nights Adare Manor (5*), Limerick
■2 nights Ashford Castle (5*), Mayo
■2 nights Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt (5*), Wicklow
■Luxury Mercedes (200E series) rental for the week with unlimited mileage
■Elegant full Irish Breakfast Daily
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN THIS SWEEPSTAKES. A purchase will not improve your chances of winning. Sceptre's Luxurious Ireland Vacation Giveaway is open to legal residents of the 50 United States or the District of Columbia age 21 or older. Giveaway begins at 12:01 AM Eastern Time (ET) on 2/15/10 and ends at 11:59 PM (ET) on 6/15/10.
The Sceptre Tours Blog - Travel Tips, Deals and Info for Ireland, Scotland, Great Britain & Italy
16 March 2010
14 March 2010
The Emerald Isle
Travel Ireland and enjoy an incredible vacation through Ireland’s bustling cities and lush green countryside. Your trip begins in Dublin, Ireland’s capital. First, see the famous sights of Dublin and take an excursion to the fascinating passage graves in the Boyne Valley. An orientation tour of Dublin includes a visit to Oscar Wilde’s Trinity College, famous for the 1,200-year-old Book of Kells. Then visit Strokestown House for a guided tour of the restored 1740s mansion. Learn about the Great Famine of the 1840s at the Famine Museum. Experience beautiful Donegal on the Atlantic Coast and visit Kylemore Abbey, a massive yet graceful castle acquired by Benedictine nuns as a precious heirloom for Ireland. At Rathbaun Farm, hear all about sheep shearing and dog whistling. For another unique experience, take a short ferry ride to the Gaelic-speaking Aran Islands to hear from your Local Guide about island community life.
At the Cliffs of Moher, rising 668 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, savor breathtaking views of the Clare Coast. In Limerick, enjoy a city tour and visit King John’s Castle. Then travel to Killarney and enjoy sparkling seascapes, mountains dotted with brightly colored farmhouses, winding lanes, and breathtaking views of the Lakes of Killarney on the scenic Ring of Kerry drive.
Travel Ireland and travel to Blarney, known for its castle and magical Kissing Stone, and Waterford, where you visit the Waterford Crystal Factory. Visit Powerscourt, Ireland’s most famous house and gardens, before returning to Dublin, where your Ireland vacation ends.Due to the adventurous style of the Aran Islands excursion, we recommend you bring suitable outdoor wear and comfortable shoes.
Travel Ireland and see that a holiday in Ireland allows one to experience a culture deeply steeped in history. This history is reflected in the warm hospitality, underrated delicious traditional dishes, brilliant music, and beautiful landscape. Whether enjoying a morning breakfast at a B&B, downing a pint or two in a pub, experiencing the local artists, or hiking along a seaside cliff, it is hard not to feel a part of the dramatic culture and rich history that is Ireland.
Understanding the history of Ireland allows for a deeper appreciation of the ancient monuments found there today, as well as reasons for the heartache of contemporary disputes. The story of Ireland is an ancient tale, older than the pyramids of Egypt, and full of more turmoil, upheaval, and romance than any daytime drama.
At the Cliffs of Moher, rising 668 feet above the Atlantic Ocean, savor breathtaking views of the Clare Coast. In Limerick, enjoy a city tour and visit King John’s Castle. Then travel to Killarney and enjoy sparkling seascapes, mountains dotted with brightly colored farmhouses, winding lanes, and breathtaking views of the Lakes of Killarney on the scenic Ring of Kerry drive.
Travel Ireland and travel to Blarney, known for its castle and magical Kissing Stone, and Waterford, where you visit the Waterford Crystal Factory. Visit Powerscourt, Ireland’s most famous house and gardens, before returning to Dublin, where your Ireland vacation ends.Due to the adventurous style of the Aran Islands excursion, we recommend you bring suitable outdoor wear and comfortable shoes.
Travel Ireland and see that a holiday in Ireland allows one to experience a culture deeply steeped in history. This history is reflected in the warm hospitality, underrated delicious traditional dishes, brilliant music, and beautiful landscape. Whether enjoying a morning breakfast at a B&B, downing a pint or two in a pub, experiencing the local artists, or hiking along a seaside cliff, it is hard not to feel a part of the dramatic culture and rich history that is Ireland.
Understanding the history of Ireland allows for a deeper appreciation of the ancient monuments found there today, as well as reasons for the heartache of contemporary disputes. The story of Ireland is an ancient tale, older than the pyramids of Egypt, and full of more turmoil, upheaval, and romance than any daytime drama.
Scenic Ireland
Travel Ireland and leave no stone unturned or unkissed on this ultimate vacation through Ireland. Start your trip in the “Fair City” of Dublin, Ireland’s capital, with an orientation drive including Trinity College and the Book of Kells. On the way to Kilkenny to visit its castle, enjoy an entertaining baking demonstration at Ballyknocken House, a typical Irish family-run farm guesthouse.
Via Blarney, travel to Cork. Board a private boat to Garinish Island, whose warm waters attract colonies of seals. Enjoy the Ring of Kerry before arriving in Killarney. Via the Dingle Peninsula and Limerick, head for the Cliffs of Moher, rising 668 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. Drive into Connemara with its stunningly beautiful and remote region of mountains, rivers, and lakes, and visit the small fishing town of Clifden. Visit Kylemore Abbey, a massive castle acquired by the Benedictine nuns, then experience the rugged Atlantic Coast of Donegal before learning about Northern Irish life from your tour in Derry.
Travel Ireland and visit the Giant’s Causeway, then travel south via Belfast and the Boyne Valley to end our most comprehensive Irish vacation back in Dublin. This trip to Ireland will leave you with vacation memories to last a lifetime.
Travel Ireland and see it is a country with a rich turbulent past. By exploring the past of Ireland one can better understand and appreciate the culture of this epic land and what makes the Ireland of today. To write a succinct depiction of Irish history spanning thousands of years is quite a challenge. This task is even more daunting considering Irelands intricate past.
This is our attempt at a fast track lesson in Irish History. Here we will take you on a journey from the peaceful times of the earliest primitive inhabitants of the Emerald Isle, through the arrival of the Celts, to the bloody and ruthless Viking and British invasions and ensuing tumultuous occupations to the divided Island of today. Although the problematic history of Ireland is full of severe hardship and conquest the one thing no one has ever been able to throughout history is to harness is the tenacious Irish spirit.
Via Blarney, travel to Cork. Board a private boat to Garinish Island, whose warm waters attract colonies of seals. Enjoy the Ring of Kerry before arriving in Killarney. Via the Dingle Peninsula and Limerick, head for the Cliffs of Moher, rising 668 feet above the Atlantic Ocean. Drive into Connemara with its stunningly beautiful and remote region of mountains, rivers, and lakes, and visit the small fishing town of Clifden. Visit Kylemore Abbey, a massive castle acquired by the Benedictine nuns, then experience the rugged Atlantic Coast of Donegal before learning about Northern Irish life from your tour in Derry.
Travel Ireland and visit the Giant’s Causeway, then travel south via Belfast and the Boyne Valley to end our most comprehensive Irish vacation back in Dublin. This trip to Ireland will leave you with vacation memories to last a lifetime.
Travel Ireland and see it is a country with a rich turbulent past. By exploring the past of Ireland one can better understand and appreciate the culture of this epic land and what makes the Ireland of today. To write a succinct depiction of Irish history spanning thousands of years is quite a challenge. This task is even more daunting considering Irelands intricate past.
This is our attempt at a fast track lesson in Irish History. Here we will take you on a journey from the peaceful times of the earliest primitive inhabitants of the Emerald Isle, through the arrival of the Celts, to the bloody and ruthless Viking and British invasions and ensuing tumultuous occupations to the divided Island of today. Although the problematic history of Ireland is full of severe hardship and conquest the one thing no one has ever been able to throughout history is to harness is the tenacious Irish spirit.
Scotland's Rural Getaways
Travel Scotland and discover that it's the perfect pairing: Scotland's fair cities and fantastic countryside. Choose a city - hip, historic Edinburgh; warm, welcoming Inverness or super-stylish Glasgow. With your home base in a Scottish city you'll experience it all: Scotland's traditional music scene, its mix of ancient and modern architecture, and the modern cultural Renaissance that has brought us fine dining, museums and theatrical productions. When you stay in Scottish cities you're in the perfect position to tour.
After you've walked Edinburgh's Royal Mile take a drive out to the birthplace of golf at St. Andrews. Or visit the birthplace of Scotland's poet, Robert Burns: set out from Glasgow following the River Clyde and visit castles along the way. There's history and mystery - from Stirling you can visit William Wallace Monument, and from Inverness - the country's Highland capital - you can look for the legendary Loch Ness Monster, marveling at the dramatic scenery as you go.
Travel Scotland and while touring the Scottish countryside offers a taste of Scotland's warmth and hospitality. Country villages are full of delights: beautiful hand knit sweaters and exotic local dishes. The landscape is wild and romantic - and you're never too far from home base. You can enhance your trip with a visit to London and get the best of both worlds.
Inverness is the prosperous hub of the Highlands, with an enviable location on the banks of the River Ness at the head of the Great Glen, making it an ideal base for exploring.
The thriving city of Inverness is crowned by a pink crenellated castle, and lavishly decorated with flowers. There are plenty of shops, places to eat and drink, peaceful areas close to the centre for relaxing, and a good variety of places to stay. Chill out by the river at lovely Ness Islands; shop for something tartan to take home; and by night, go out on the town. The city itself is small, compact and easy to get around.
Travel Scotland and find there are also many attractions around the city: re-live one of Scotland's most famous battles at Culloden battlefield; marvel at the spectacle of a Highland Games - Inverness hosts one of the world's biggest; and even see a school of dolphins frolic in the nearby Moray Firth.
After you've walked Edinburgh's Royal Mile take a drive out to the birthplace of golf at St. Andrews. Or visit the birthplace of Scotland's poet, Robert Burns: set out from Glasgow following the River Clyde and visit castles along the way. There's history and mystery - from Stirling you can visit William Wallace Monument, and from Inverness - the country's Highland capital - you can look for the legendary Loch Ness Monster, marveling at the dramatic scenery as you go.
Travel Scotland and while touring the Scottish countryside offers a taste of Scotland's warmth and hospitality. Country villages are full of delights: beautiful hand knit sweaters and exotic local dishes. The landscape is wild and romantic - and you're never too far from home base. You can enhance your trip with a visit to London and get the best of both worlds.
Inverness is the prosperous hub of the Highlands, with an enviable location on the banks of the River Ness at the head of the Great Glen, making it an ideal base for exploring.
The thriving city of Inverness is crowned by a pink crenellated castle, and lavishly decorated with flowers. There are plenty of shops, places to eat and drink, peaceful areas close to the centre for relaxing, and a good variety of places to stay. Chill out by the river at lovely Ness Islands; shop for something tartan to take home; and by night, go out on the town. The city itself is small, compact and easy to get around.
Travel Scotland and find there are also many attractions around the city: re-live one of Scotland's most famous battles at Culloden battlefield; marvel at the spectacle of a Highland Games - Inverness hosts one of the world's biggest; and even see a school of dolphins frolic in the nearby Moray Firth.
Scotland Tartan Package
The Scotland Tartan Bed and Breakfast Package is perfect for independent travelers who wish the flexibility of creating their own itinerary around Scotland. Enjoy your first night pre-booked at the Jury's Inn in Glasgow or Edinburgh and then choose the next 5 nights from over 400 Discover Bed & Breakfasts sprinkled throughout Scotland, or upgrade to Premier B&Bs (private bath) with automatic car for only $79 for the week. Enjoy home cooked Scottish breakfasts, personalized Scottish hospitality and experiences which last a lifetime.
Travel Scotland and if you are interested in staying in Edinburgh for your first night travelers will fly into Glasgow airport, pick up their car rental and drive approximately 45 minutes to Edinburgh. Both cities offer travelers an incredible first night at two of Scotland's liveliest cities. Recommended visits along your journey are Loch Ness (Inverness), town of St. Andrews, Edinburgh Castle and many more areas waiting to be discovered.
Glasgow's East End traditionally begins at the city's ancient heart, the long and rising thoroughfares of High Street and Castle Street, which are bookended by two of the city's oldest buildings, the medieval Cathedral and the Tron Steeple at Glasgow Cross.
It is a large, densely packed residential area which, although a little off the tourist trail, has a number of spectacular gems worth seeking out.
Travel Scotland and discoverThree hundred yards down either London Road or Gallowgate from Glasgow Cross is The Barras, the city’s largest and most popular weekend market. The fast-talking traders, lively atmosphere and entertaining vignettes of Glasgow life make it an off-beat diversion from shopping-mall banality.
Travel Scotland and see that between London Road and the River Clyde are the wide and tree-lined spaces of Glasgow Green. Reputedly the oldest public park in Britain, the Green has been common land since at least 1178, when it was first mentioned in records and is ideal for Sunday morning strolls or bike-rides. The Green's natural focal point is The People's Palace, a wonderfully haphazard evocation of the city's social history. As a museum, it's refreshingly unpretentious and visitors are almost always outnumbered by local families. Grafted onto the rear of the Palace is the Winter Gardens, a large Victorian glasshouse complete with café, water garden, twittering birds and assorted tropical plants and shrubs. Newly relocated to outside the museum is the wonderfully restored Doulton Fountain, a hugely ornate terracotta monument to the reach of the Victorian British Empire.
Travel Scotland and if you are interested in staying in Edinburgh for your first night travelers will fly into Glasgow airport, pick up their car rental and drive approximately 45 minutes to Edinburgh. Both cities offer travelers an incredible first night at two of Scotland's liveliest cities. Recommended visits along your journey are Loch Ness (Inverness), town of St. Andrews, Edinburgh Castle and many more areas waiting to be discovered.
Glasgow's East End traditionally begins at the city's ancient heart, the long and rising thoroughfares of High Street and Castle Street, which are bookended by two of the city's oldest buildings, the medieval Cathedral and the Tron Steeple at Glasgow Cross.
It is a large, densely packed residential area which, although a little off the tourist trail, has a number of spectacular gems worth seeking out.
Travel Scotland and discoverThree hundred yards down either London Road or Gallowgate from Glasgow Cross is The Barras, the city’s largest and most popular weekend market. The fast-talking traders, lively atmosphere and entertaining vignettes of Glasgow life make it an off-beat diversion from shopping-mall banality.
Travel Scotland and see that between London Road and the River Clyde are the wide and tree-lined spaces of Glasgow Green. Reputedly the oldest public park in Britain, the Green has been common land since at least 1178, when it was first mentioned in records and is ideal for Sunday morning strolls or bike-rides. The Green's natural focal point is The People's Palace, a wonderfully haphazard evocation of the city's social history. As a museum, it's refreshingly unpretentious and visitors are almost always outnumbered by local families. Grafted onto the rear of the Palace is the Winter Gardens, a large Victorian glasshouse complete with café, water garden, twittering birds and assorted tropical plants and shrubs. Newly relocated to outside the museum is the wonderfully restored Doulton Fountain, a hugely ornate terracotta monument to the reach of the Victorian British Empire.
Luxuries of Scotland
Travel Scotland and it’s easy to see why Scotland is a destination to fall in love with. Imagine a wild and wonderful landscape plus ancient cities alive with culture, nightlife, and fun. From the enchanting mystery of the Highlands in North Scotland, the perfect vacation is easy to achieve when you stay at deluxe hotels. Imagine yourself at the beautiful Cameron House in Glasgow, the world-renowned Gleneagles Hotel, and the splendid Atholl Palace, in the heart of the Highlands. Stay at the Old Course Hotel in St. Andrews overlooking the most famous golf course in the world, where golf was first played. It truly doesn’t get any better than this!
Glasgow's vibrant and bustling city centre lies to the north of the River Clyde. At its geographical heart is George Square, a 19th-century municipal showpiece crowned by the enormous City Chambers.
Travel Scotland and see Glasgow's commercial core spreads west of George Square, and is mostly built on a large grid system of roads lined by grand Victorian office blocks and towering modern skyscrapers. The city centre offers some of the best shopping experiences outside of London, arranged along the interlinked and largely pedestrianised thoroughfares of Argyle Street, Buchanan Street and Sauchiehall Street. Here you’ll find vast contemporary malls like the Buchanan Galleries rubbing shoulders with Princes Square, one of the most stylish and imaginative shopping centres in the country, hollowed out of the innards of a 19th-century sandstone building.
After all that retail therapy, you can relax amongst the myriad bars, restaurants and cafes, take in a film or a show, or be uplifted by the cultural offerings at the controversial Gallery of Modern Art, the showpiece Royal Concert Hall, or the Theatre Royal, home to Scottish Opera and showcase for some of the world’s greatest touring companies.
Travel Scotland and while you're here, be sure to check out The Merchant City, the area to the south and east of George Square. that was once filled with 18th-century warehouses and homes that bustled with cotton, tobacco and sugar traders. In the last two decades, it has been sandblasted and regenerated with expensive designer shops, style bars and bijou cafés that give the area a pervasive air of sophistication and chic.
Glasgow's vibrant and bustling city centre lies to the north of the River Clyde. At its geographical heart is George Square, a 19th-century municipal showpiece crowned by the enormous City Chambers.
Travel Scotland and see Glasgow's commercial core spreads west of George Square, and is mostly built on a large grid system of roads lined by grand Victorian office blocks and towering modern skyscrapers. The city centre offers some of the best shopping experiences outside of London, arranged along the interlinked and largely pedestrianised thoroughfares of Argyle Street, Buchanan Street and Sauchiehall Street. Here you’ll find vast contemporary malls like the Buchanan Galleries rubbing shoulders with Princes Square, one of the most stylish and imaginative shopping centres in the country, hollowed out of the innards of a 19th-century sandstone building.
After all that retail therapy, you can relax amongst the myriad bars, restaurants and cafes, take in a film or a show, or be uplifted by the cultural offerings at the controversial Gallery of Modern Art, the showpiece Royal Concert Hall, or the Theatre Royal, home to Scottish Opera and showcase for some of the world’s greatest touring companies.
Travel Scotland and while you're here, be sure to check out The Merchant City, the area to the south and east of George Square. that was once filled with 18th-century warehouses and homes that bustled with cotton, tobacco and sugar traders. In the last two decades, it has been sandblasted and regenerated with expensive designer shops, style bars and bijou cafés that give the area a pervasive air of sophistication and chic.
Scotland Hotel Package
Travel Scotland and experience Scotland at its finest with the Scotland Hotel Package. Begin your trip in Edinburgh, the second largest city in Scotland. With streets steeped in history and a thriving cultural scene, Edinburgh offers the perfect balance between all things traditional and contemporary. Explore Edinburgh at your leisure, you’ll see views that make for perfect picture postcards, mysterious winding streets, elegant terraces and an abundance of shops, bars and restaurants. Enjoy your 2 nights in this wonderful city at the Apex City Hotel, an impressive 4 star establishment with all the ammenities you desire.
From Edinburgh, you will travel to Inverness, a warm friendly city with an excellent base for tourism. After your fun filled days in this busy city, you can rest your head at the Drumossie Hotel. Set in a listed art deco building, this Highland hotel is located 10 minutes from the centre of Inverness. Positioned in 9 acres of manicured private grounds, the New Drumossie Hotel is the ideal venue for a relaxing weekend break.
Travel Scotland and the final 2 nights of your trip will be spent in Glasgow, one of the liveliest and most cosmopolitan destinations in Europe. The city has been reborn as a center of style and vitality set against a backdrop of outstanding Victorian architecture. Glasgow boasts world famous art collections, the best shopping in the United Kingdom outside London, and the most vibrant and exciting nightlife in Scotland. A must see is the splendor of Scotland's best known architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, whose style adorns many unique attractions throughout Scotland's largest and greatest city.
Your 2 nights in Glasgow will be spent at the Malmaison Hotel. Located in the very heart of Glasgow’s bustling city center, this hotel provides superb food and wine all just a short stroll away from the city’s shopping area and clubs.
There's a great deal to be discovered by exploring beyond the compact centre of Edinburgh, in particular along the Firth of Forth coastline to the north and the rise of the Pentland Hills to the south.
Travel Scotland and just over a mile northeast of the city centre is Leith, the historic port of Edinburgh. Once a decaying dockland on the capital's doorstep, Leith has been transformed to become one of the city's most exciting and vibrant districts.. Nearby you can find a flavour of the city's maritime and fishing heritage at the atmospheric harbour of Newhaven, while the long beach at Portobello is still a popular spot on a sunny day. To the northwest of the city are the more placid charms of the old Roman village of Cramond.
From Edinburgh, you will travel to Inverness, a warm friendly city with an excellent base for tourism. After your fun filled days in this busy city, you can rest your head at the Drumossie Hotel. Set in a listed art deco building, this Highland hotel is located 10 minutes from the centre of Inverness. Positioned in 9 acres of manicured private grounds, the New Drumossie Hotel is the ideal venue for a relaxing weekend break.
Travel Scotland and the final 2 nights of your trip will be spent in Glasgow, one of the liveliest and most cosmopolitan destinations in Europe. The city has been reborn as a center of style and vitality set against a backdrop of outstanding Victorian architecture. Glasgow boasts world famous art collections, the best shopping in the United Kingdom outside London, and the most vibrant and exciting nightlife in Scotland. A must see is the splendor of Scotland's best known architect Charles Rennie Mackintosh, whose style adorns many unique attractions throughout Scotland's largest and greatest city.
Your 2 nights in Glasgow will be spent at the Malmaison Hotel. Located in the very heart of Glasgow’s bustling city center, this hotel provides superb food and wine all just a short stroll away from the city’s shopping area and clubs.
There's a great deal to be discovered by exploring beyond the compact centre of Edinburgh, in particular along the Firth of Forth coastline to the north and the rise of the Pentland Hills to the south.
Travel Scotland and just over a mile northeast of the city centre is Leith, the historic port of Edinburgh. Once a decaying dockland on the capital's doorstep, Leith has been transformed to become one of the city's most exciting and vibrant districts.. Nearby you can find a flavour of the city's maritime and fishing heritage at the atmospheric harbour of Newhaven, while the long beach at Portobello is still a popular spot on a sunny day. To the northwest of the city are the more placid charms of the old Roman village of Cramond.
Britain Bed & Breakfast
Travel Scotland and enjoy Bed, Breakfast, and the perfect cup of tea. No one does B&B better than the British – warm welcome, cozy bed, hearty English or Scottish breakfast to send you on your way. Our Open Voucher System makes it easy to move from town to countryside at your own pace, and with a flexible B&B package you can ride the London Eye, roam the Yorkshire moors, and cover Scotland from Loch Lomond to the Firth and Forth. Step into history at the Traitors Gate in London, see where literary genius William Shakespeare was born at Stratford-upon-Avon, experience the quintessential Scottish Castle, Eilean Donan near the Isle of Skye. From the streets of swinging London to the cobbled lanes of the Cotswolds to the heather-edged footpaths of the Scottish highlands, your dream of Britain is a long and winding road – with a nice cup of tea at the end.
Travel Scotland and see Crowned by its castle, Inverness city centre is full of historical interest.
Looming above the Gothic Town House in the High Street, and dominating the horizon, Inverness Castle perches picturesquely above the river. The original castle formed the core of the ancient town, which had rapidly developed as a port trading with Europe in the sixth century. The Jacobites blew up the castle to prevent it falling into government hands.
In summer, you can play the role of a new recruit in the 18th-century Hanoverian army at the Castle Garrison Encounter. Around 7pm during the summer, a lone piper clad in full Highland garb performs on the castle esplanade. The statue of a woman staring south from the terrace is a memorial to Flora MacDonald, the clanswoman who helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape to Skye in the wake of Culloden.
Below the castle, the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery on Castle Wynd gives a good general overview of the development of the Highlands. Medieval Church Street is home to the town's oldest-surviving buildings. On the corner with Bridge Street stands the Steeple, whose spire had to be straightened after an earth tremor in 1816.
Travel Scotland and further down Church Street is Abertarff House, reputedly the oldest complete building in Inverness and distinguished by its stepped gables and circular stair tower. It was erected in 1593 and is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland. Any Jacobites who survived the massacre of Culloden were brought to the Old High Church and incarcerated prior to their execution in the cemetery. If you take the guided tour, you'll be shown bullet holes left on gravestones by the firing squads.
Travel Scotland and see Crowned by its castle, Inverness city centre is full of historical interest.
Looming above the Gothic Town House in the High Street, and dominating the horizon, Inverness Castle perches picturesquely above the river. The original castle formed the core of the ancient town, which had rapidly developed as a port trading with Europe in the sixth century. The Jacobites blew up the castle to prevent it falling into government hands.
In summer, you can play the role of a new recruit in the 18th-century Hanoverian army at the Castle Garrison Encounter. Around 7pm during the summer, a lone piper clad in full Highland garb performs on the castle esplanade. The statue of a woman staring south from the terrace is a memorial to Flora MacDonald, the clanswoman who helped Bonnie Prince Charlie escape to Skye in the wake of Culloden.
Below the castle, the Inverness Museum and Art Gallery on Castle Wynd gives a good general overview of the development of the Highlands. Medieval Church Street is home to the town's oldest-surviving buildings. On the corner with Bridge Street stands the Steeple, whose spire had to be straightened after an earth tremor in 1816.
Travel Scotland and further down Church Street is Abertarff House, reputedly the oldest complete building in Inverness and distinguished by its stepped gables and circular stair tower. It was erected in 1593 and is now owned by the National Trust for Scotland. Any Jacobites who survived the massacre of Culloden were brought to the Old High Church and incarcerated prior to their execution in the cemetery. If you take the guided tour, you'll be shown bullet holes left on gravestones by the firing squads.
Your Fine Bonnie Scotland
Travel Scotland and find breathtaking Highland scenery awaits you on this vacation to beautiful Scotland. Your trip begins in Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city. From Glasgow, follow the “Bonnie Banks” of Loch Lomond and take the ferry for your overnight stay on the romantic Isle of Skye. Further into the remote Highlands, keep a look out for the mysterious Loch Ness monster as you make your way to Inverness.
See a sheepdog display and visit a whisky distillery. Enjoy pretty Braemar, home to the Royal Highland Games for over 900 years, then travel to St. Andrews, where you have the opportunity to hit a few golf balls. At Scone Palace, hear about the crowning of Scottish kings before enjoying two nights in Scotland’s capital of Edinburgh. Visit mighty Edinburgh Castle and the Queen’s Holyrood Palace, then tour this city at your own pace. A return to Glasgow via the New Lanark World Heritage Site completes your Scottish vacation experience.
Travel Scotland and witness Inverness was granted its city status in 2000. It is the prosperous hub of the Highlands, with an enviable location on the banks of the River Ness at the head of the Great Glen, making it an ideal base for exploring.
The thriving city of Inverness is crowned by a pink crenellated castle, and lavishly decorated with flowers. There are plenty of shops, places to eat and drink, peaceful areas close to the centre for relaxing, and a good variety of places to stay. Chill out by the river at lovely Ness Islands; shop for something tartan to take home; and by night, go out on the town. The city itself is small, compact and easy to get around.
Travel Scotland and find that there are also many attractions around the city: re-live one of Scotland's most famous battles at Culloden battlefield; marvel at the spectacle of a Highland Games - Inverness hosts one of the world's biggest; and even see a school of dolphins frolic in the nearby Moray Firth.
See a sheepdog display and visit a whisky distillery. Enjoy pretty Braemar, home to the Royal Highland Games for over 900 years, then travel to St. Andrews, where you have the opportunity to hit a few golf balls. At Scone Palace, hear about the crowning of Scottish kings before enjoying two nights in Scotland’s capital of Edinburgh. Visit mighty Edinburgh Castle and the Queen’s Holyrood Palace, then tour this city at your own pace. A return to Glasgow via the New Lanark World Heritage Site completes your Scottish vacation experience.
Travel Scotland and witness Inverness was granted its city status in 2000. It is the prosperous hub of the Highlands, with an enviable location on the banks of the River Ness at the head of the Great Glen, making it an ideal base for exploring.
The thriving city of Inverness is crowned by a pink crenellated castle, and lavishly decorated with flowers. There are plenty of shops, places to eat and drink, peaceful areas close to the centre for relaxing, and a good variety of places to stay. Chill out by the river at lovely Ness Islands; shop for something tartan to take home; and by night, go out on the town. The city itself is small, compact and easy to get around.
Travel Scotland and find that there are also many attractions around the city: re-live one of Scotland's most famous battles at Culloden battlefield; marvel at the spectacle of a Highland Games - Inverness hosts one of the world's biggest; and even see a school of dolphins frolic in the nearby Moray Firth.
Scottish Sampler
Our most popular Britain vacation offersyou the absolute best of this great land.Delve into the cultures of England,Wales, and Scotland on this 10-day vacation.See all the famous landmarks in London beforetaking a special walk through the ornamentalgardens of Hampton Court Palace. Thenventure on to Stonehenge and Bath, and visitShakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon, and picturesque Llangollen in NorthWales. On to Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital, tovisit its famous castle, the Queen’s HolyroodPalace, and Sir Walter Scott’s AbbotsfordHouse. A walking tour of the medieval city ofYork and visits to unique Belvoir Castle andthe market town of Stamford complete this magnificent vacation.
Travel Scotland and enter Central Edinburgh has two distinct parts, divided by Princes Street, which runs roughly east-west under the shadow of Castle Rock.
Travel Scotland and see The Old Town, although only about a mile long and 300 yards wide, represents the total extent of the twin burghs of Edinburgh and Canongate for the first 650 years of their existence, and its general appearance and character remain indubitably medieval with its tortuous alleys and tightly packed closes. Containing as it does the majority of the city's most famous tourist sights - including the Castle and the Royal Mile - it makes by far the best starting point for your explorations.
Travel Scotland and find to the north of Princes Street, the New Town, itself well over 200 years old, stands in total contrast to the Old: the layout is symmetrical, the streets are broad and straight, and most of the buildings are Neoclassical in design. Originally intended to be residential, today the New Town is the bustling hub of the city's professional, commercial and business life, dominated by shops, banks and offices.
Travel Scotland and enter Central Edinburgh has two distinct parts, divided by Princes Street, which runs roughly east-west under the shadow of Castle Rock.
Travel Scotland and see The Old Town, although only about a mile long and 300 yards wide, represents the total extent of the twin burghs of Edinburgh and Canongate for the first 650 years of their existence, and its general appearance and character remain indubitably medieval with its tortuous alleys and tightly packed closes. Containing as it does the majority of the city's most famous tourist sights - including the Castle and the Royal Mile - it makes by far the best starting point for your explorations.
Travel Scotland and find to the north of Princes Street, the New Town, itself well over 200 years old, stands in total contrast to the Old: the layout is symmetrical, the streets are broad and straight, and most of the buildings are Neoclassical in design. Originally intended to be residential, today the New Town is the bustling hub of the city's professional, commercial and business life, dominated by shops, banks and offices.
Scottish Essentials
This comprehensive vacation gives you an insight into all five countries of the British Isles. Start your trip in England with visits to prehistoric Stonehenge, Salisbury with its famous cathedral, and the extraordinary excavations of the Roman Baths in Bath. Then travel to Cardiff, the capital of Wales, and through South Wales to board the ferry for the crossing to Ireland. Watch the craftsmen at work at the Waterford Crystal factory, admire the stallions at the Irish National Stud, and relax in Dublin, Ireland’s capital, before heading north past the Mountains of Mourne to vibrant Belfast.
Travel Scotland and take another ferry crossing takes you to Scotland and its capital city, Edinburgh, where a guided city tour includes a visit to Edinburgh Castle. The final highlights of this vacation include the Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe’s magnificent Floors Castle, a walking tour through York, and last but not least, Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon. You’ll arrive home with lots of stories and photos to share from your vacation to the British Isles.
Travel Scotland and go to Edinburgh, the inspiring capital of Scotland, is a historic, cosmopolitan and cultured city.
The setting is wonderfully striking; the city is perched on a series of extinct volcanoes and rocky crags which rise from the generally flat landscape of the Lothians, with the sheltered shoreline of the Firth of Forth to the north.
Travel Scotland and find Edinburgh Castle dominates the city-centre skyline and from its ramparts you can look down on medieval lanes and elegant, sweeping terraces that hold over a thousand years of history, mystery and tradition. Yet you will also see a modern, dynamic capital where international festivals attract the world's leading performers, galleries display cutting-edge art, and bars, restaurants and clubs create a lively, cosmopolitan atmosphere with a distinctly Scottish twist. 'Edinburgh,' said writer Robert Louis Stevenson, 'is what Paris ought to be'.
Travel Scotland and take another ferry crossing takes you to Scotland and its capital city, Edinburgh, where a guided city tour includes a visit to Edinburgh Castle. The final highlights of this vacation include the Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe’s magnificent Floors Castle, a walking tour through York, and last but not least, Shakespeare’s birthplace in Stratford-upon-Avon. You’ll arrive home with lots of stories and photos to share from your vacation to the British Isles.
Travel Scotland and go to Edinburgh, the inspiring capital of Scotland, is a historic, cosmopolitan and cultured city.
The setting is wonderfully striking; the city is perched on a series of extinct volcanoes and rocky crags which rise from the generally flat landscape of the Lothians, with the sheltered shoreline of the Firth of Forth to the north.
Travel Scotland and find Edinburgh Castle dominates the city-centre skyline and from its ramparts you can look down on medieval lanes and elegant, sweeping terraces that hold over a thousand years of history, mystery and tradition. Yet you will also see a modern, dynamic capital where international festivals attract the world's leading performers, galleries display cutting-edge art, and bars, restaurants and clubs create a lively, cosmopolitan atmosphere with a distinctly Scottish twist. 'Edinburgh,' said writer Robert Louis Stevenson, 'is what Paris ought to be'.
Your Celtic Highlights
This vacation brings you the best of Scotland, England’s Lake District, North Wales, and Ireland. Your trip begins in Scotland in the lively city of Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city, and continues via the “Bonnie Banks” of Loch Lomond to Fort William and the Highland capital of Inverness. On your way to Edinburgh, drive through Braemar, home of the Royal Highland Games for over 900 years. In Edinburgh, Scotland’s capital, tour famous Edinburgh Castle and the Queen’s Holyrood Palace. In the lowland hills, visit the famous blacksmith’s shop at Gretna Green before crossing the border into England. Delight in the beauty of the peaceful Lake District on your way to historic Chester, where you see the Roman remains on your walking tour.
Travel Scotland Explore the north Welsh towns of Betws-y-Coed and Caernarvon, then take a ferry across the Irish Sea to the “Fair City” of Dublin, Ireland’s capital. In Dublin, visit Trinity College, famous for the 1,200-year-old Book of Kells. Blarney, the Ring of Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher, and the Giant’s Causeway are all included on this tour. Your Irish vacation experience is completed with a visit to Belfast with a “Living History” tour in the company of a Local Guide. Next, travel back to Glasgow to complete this popular vacation.
Travel Scotland and Glasgow's West End is a vibrant and cosmopolitan district situated a few miles from the city centre, and easily reached by bus or underground.
The hub of life in this part of the city is Byres Road, running between Great Western Road and Dumbarton Road, past Hillhead underground station. Shops, restaurants, cafés, some enticing pubs and hordes of roving young people, including thousands of students, give the area a sense of style and vitality. Glowing red sandstone tenements and graceful terraces provide a suitably upmarket backdrop to this cosmopolitan district.
Dominating the West End skyline, the 19th-century, gothic-turreted tower of Glasgow University overlooks the slopes, trees and statues of the ever-popular Kelvingrove Park. Aside from its credentials as a seat of learning, the 'uni' is also home to the Hunterian Art Gallery, best known for its wonderful works by American painter, James Whistler and the Mackintosh House, a remarkable re-creation of the interior of the home of Margaret and Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Travel Scotland and find across the River Kelvin from the university stands Scotland's most popular visitor attraction, the recently restored Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, off Argyle Street. Reopening in 2006 after a £28 million, three-year restoration programme, Kelvingrove's ecletic mix of art and artifact has proved to be a 'must-see' winner with natives and visitors alike. Nearby, the excellent Museum of Transport with its enormous collection of trains, cars, trams, and models ships is also well-worth a visit for kids, big and small.
Travel Scotland Explore the north Welsh towns of Betws-y-Coed and Caernarvon, then take a ferry across the Irish Sea to the “Fair City” of Dublin, Ireland’s capital. In Dublin, visit Trinity College, famous for the 1,200-year-old Book of Kells. Blarney, the Ring of Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher, and the Giant’s Causeway are all included on this tour. Your Irish vacation experience is completed with a visit to Belfast with a “Living History” tour in the company of a Local Guide. Next, travel back to Glasgow to complete this popular vacation.
Travel Scotland and Glasgow's West End is a vibrant and cosmopolitan district situated a few miles from the city centre, and easily reached by bus or underground.
The hub of life in this part of the city is Byres Road, running between Great Western Road and Dumbarton Road, past Hillhead underground station. Shops, restaurants, cafés, some enticing pubs and hordes of roving young people, including thousands of students, give the area a sense of style and vitality. Glowing red sandstone tenements and graceful terraces provide a suitably upmarket backdrop to this cosmopolitan district.
Dominating the West End skyline, the 19th-century, gothic-turreted tower of Glasgow University overlooks the slopes, trees and statues of the ever-popular Kelvingrove Park. Aside from its credentials as a seat of learning, the 'uni' is also home to the Hunterian Art Gallery, best known for its wonderful works by American painter, James Whistler and the Mackintosh House, a remarkable re-creation of the interior of the home of Margaret and Charles Rennie Mackintosh.
Travel Scotland and find across the River Kelvin from the university stands Scotland's most popular visitor attraction, the recently restored Kelvingrove Museum and Art Gallery, off Argyle Street. Reopening in 2006 after a £28 million, three-year restoration programme, Kelvingrove's ecletic mix of art and artifact has proved to be a 'must-see' winner with natives and visitors alike. Nearby, the excellent Museum of Transport with its enormous collection of trains, cars, trams, and models ships is also well-worth a visit for kids, big and small.
The Scottish Highlands
Your trip begins in Glasgow, Scotland’s largest city. Lowland sights include Gretna Green and Carlisle, including Carlisle Castle, which has guarded England’s frontier with Scotland since the 11th century. It is here that Mary, Queen of Scots, was imprisoned in 1558. Next, travel to Scotland’s capital, Edinburgh, and visit fascinating Edinburgh Castle. In the Scottish Highlands, enjoy visits to pretty Braemar, home to the Royal Highland Games for over 900 years, a whisky distillery, and the Highland capital of Inverness. Visit Culloden Moor and Cawdor Castle, setting for Shakespeare’s Macbeth, on a half-day excursion. Then tour the unique Orkney Islands in the company of a Local Guide. The stunning scenery of northern Scotland leads you to the isles of Skye and Mull for two-night stays on each. Back in Glasgow, there is time for a city sightseeing tour and last-minute shopping before completing this exceptional vacation experience in Scotland.
When you travel Scotland, know a little more about it firsthand! Overflowing with style and culture, Scotland's biggest city is a revelation to its growing number of visitors. Its blend of internationally-acclaimed museums and galleries, stunning architecture, vibrant nightlife, fabulous shopping and superlative wining and dining prove irresistible.
Vibrant and energetic, Glasgow enjoys a year-round buzz that visitors just love, with an arts scene that regularly produces cutting-edge productions and attracts high-profile exhibitions that led to the city being crowned as a European City of Culture in 1990.
Glasgow was also the UK's City of Architecture and Design in 1999 and its architecture is certainly an attraction in itself, particularly its impressive Victorian structures and of course, the unique masterpieces of one of the city's most celebrated sons, architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Travel Scotland today and witness hsitory at its finest!
When you travel Scotland, know a little more about it firsthand! Overflowing with style and culture, Scotland's biggest city is a revelation to its growing number of visitors. Its blend of internationally-acclaimed museums and galleries, stunning architecture, vibrant nightlife, fabulous shopping and superlative wining and dining prove irresistible.
Vibrant and energetic, Glasgow enjoys a year-round buzz that visitors just love, with an arts scene that regularly produces cutting-edge productions and attracts high-profile exhibitions that led to the city being crowned as a European City of Culture in 1990.
Glasgow was also the UK's City of Architecture and Design in 1999 and its architecture is certainly an attraction in itself, particularly its impressive Victorian structures and of course, the unique masterpieces of one of the city's most celebrated sons, architect and designer Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Travel Scotland today and witness hsitory at its finest!
06 March 2010
Winter Delights of Italy
Enjoy a leisurely exploration of southern Italy and all of its delights. Start with two nights in Rome, and visits with a Local Guide to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum. Enjoy a guided walking tour of the excavations in Pompeii, the Roman city both destroyed and preserved by an eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 AD. Stay three nights in the bayside resort of Sorrento, and visit the Isle of Capri, the Amalfi Coast, and Positano. On the way back to Rome, visit the Abbey of Montecassino.
Do you love thermal spas? Then you will love the vacation packages to Italy! Italy's richness in thermal and mineral waters, combined with the mildness of the climate and the beauty of the scenery, have made it a favourite venue for "health care tourism". Since the last century hotels with extensive facilities have grown up around spas, which have established international reputations. Abano, Salsomaggiore, Chianciano, Montecatini, Fiuggi and Ischia are just a few names among the many which are known throughout the world and which attract millions of visitors every year.
Thermal waters in Italy
In this field Italy has taken up and developed a practice which has been widespread through-out the peninsula since the time of the Romans, when thermal waters and baths were already a typical feature of town life. Interest in the Italian spas is not exclusively for health care reasons. Their proximity to great centers of art makes the spa resorts excellent bases for cultural excursions. In addition the splendid parks surrounding the most famous spas, and the infrastructure which has been created for leisure activities, make them ideal holiday resorts in their own right. Italian thermal spas are not only those which exploit hot water resources (as the literal meaning of the word "thermal" might suggest) since mineral water springs are now also generally included in this category.
The major thermal spa regions
The determining factor in the presence of hot water or mineral springs is the geology of Italy, a relatively young country, which is rich in volcanic phenomena and permeated, in every sense of the word, by a dense network of groundwater channels. In north-eastern Italy many spas have developed on the slopes of the Euganei Hills in Veneto, volcanic highlands where numerous hot water springs gush out. The main form of treatment is mud therapy, recommended for rheumatic illnesses and problems of the respiratory organs and the female genital organs. Abano Terme alone has almost two million visitors a year, half of whom come from abroad.
Do you love thermal spas? Then you will love the vacation packages to Italy! Italy's richness in thermal and mineral waters, combined with the mildness of the climate and the beauty of the scenery, have made it a favourite venue for "health care tourism". Since the last century hotels with extensive facilities have grown up around spas, which have established international reputations. Abano, Salsomaggiore, Chianciano, Montecatini, Fiuggi and Ischia are just a few names among the many which are known throughout the world and which attract millions of visitors every year.
Thermal waters in Italy
In this field Italy has taken up and developed a practice which has been widespread through-out the peninsula since the time of the Romans, when thermal waters and baths were already a typical feature of town life. Interest in the Italian spas is not exclusively for health care reasons. Their proximity to great centers of art makes the spa resorts excellent bases for cultural excursions. In addition the splendid parks surrounding the most famous spas, and the infrastructure which has been created for leisure activities, make them ideal holiday resorts in their own right. Italian thermal spas are not only those which exploit hot water resources (as the literal meaning of the word "thermal" might suggest) since mineral water springs are now also generally included in this category.
The major thermal spa regions
The determining factor in the presence of hot water or mineral springs is the geology of Italy, a relatively young country, which is rich in volcanic phenomena and permeated, in every sense of the word, by a dense network of groundwater channels. In north-eastern Italy many spas have developed on the slopes of the Euganei Hills in Veneto, volcanic highlands where numerous hot water springs gush out. The main form of treatment is mud therapy, recommended for rheumatic illnesses and problems of the respiratory organs and the female genital organs. Abano Terme alone has almost two million visitors a year, half of whom come from abroad.
Venice and Northern Pearls of Italy
This unique itinerary will take you through Italy’s beautiful Veneto region, home to some of Europe’s greatest cultural, artistic, and architectural treasures. Your vacation starts at the Villa Pace Park Hotel Bolognese, an oasis of tranquility and refinement, only 20 minutes from Venice. In the evening you’ll enjoy a welcome dinner featuring the sumptuous cuisine and wine of the region. Then enjoy a comprehensive walking tour of Venice including stops at Piazza San Marco, The Doge’s Palace, and the magical Bridge of Sighs. Other highlights include a glass blowing exhibition and time to explore on your own, a must in this magical city of picturesque canals, balconied palazzi, and winding lanes.
Over the next four days you’ll experience the rest of Veneto’s elegant cities and charming countryside including fair Verona where you’ll visit the ancient Roman Arena and Juliet’s Balcony – the setting of Shakespeare’s immortal tragedy; the charming village of Sirmione which sits on the shore of majestic lake Garda; the stately Renaissance city of Padua; and the lush Valdobbiadene Valley where you’ll tastel ocal vintages and culinary specialties while enjoying breathtaking views of the Italian countryside. Your final day is at leisure and best occupied by some retail therapy at nearby Treviso’s many designer shops and stylish boutiques!
How good can a vacation package to Italy actually be? Love art? Then you will love Italy! Italy has a long recorded history that the biggest problem facing the traveler is to choose among the nation's endless cultural attractions. All main centres, most of the provincial cities and many quite small towns have museums. Of all the countries in the worls, there is none more magical than Italy, a traveler's dream destination. Ancien monuments and archeological sites are perfectly preserved; the museums are bursting with the genious of Italy's finest sons: Raffaello, Michelangelo, Tiziano, Canova; contemporary architects are still inspired by ancient buildings and squares (piazze). Italian cities are veritable living museums
According to UNESCO, the United Nations' cultural branch, two thirds of the world's historical artistic heritage are in Italy. Tuscany, which is only one region of Italy, by itself possesses more artistic treasures than the whole of Spain, which is the second country in the world for cultural heritage. Practically all major styles of Western architecture can be found in Italy.
Over the next four days you’ll experience the rest of Veneto’s elegant cities and charming countryside including fair Verona where you’ll visit the ancient Roman Arena and Juliet’s Balcony – the setting of Shakespeare’s immortal tragedy; the charming village of Sirmione which sits on the shore of majestic lake Garda; the stately Renaissance city of Padua; and the lush Valdobbiadene Valley where you’ll tastel ocal vintages and culinary specialties while enjoying breathtaking views of the Italian countryside. Your final day is at leisure and best occupied by some retail therapy at nearby Treviso’s many designer shops and stylish boutiques!
How good can a vacation package to Italy actually be? Love art? Then you will love Italy! Italy has a long recorded history that the biggest problem facing the traveler is to choose among the nation's endless cultural attractions. All main centres, most of the provincial cities and many quite small towns have museums. Of all the countries in the worls, there is none more magical than Italy, a traveler's dream destination. Ancien monuments and archeological sites are perfectly preserved; the museums are bursting with the genious of Italy's finest sons: Raffaello, Michelangelo, Tiziano, Canova; contemporary architects are still inspired by ancient buildings and squares (piazze). Italian cities are veritable living museums
According to UNESCO, the United Nations' cultural branch, two thirds of the world's historical artistic heritage are in Italy. Tuscany, which is only one region of Italy, by itself possesses more artistic treasures than the whole of Spain, which is the second country in the world for cultural heritage. Practically all major styles of Western architecture can be found in Italy.
A Winter Taste of Italy
Explore the magnificent art and architecture of Italy. Your winter vacation visits the highlight cities of Italy, covering all the notable features: St. Peter's Square and Basilica, the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum and the Forum in Rome, Michelangelo's David in Florence, and St. Mark's Basilica and Doges' Palace in Venice. Local Guides in these cities will answer all your questions. Also included is a special welcome dinner in a typical Roman restaurant, and an entire free day in Venice offers an optional excursion to the charming island of Burano. Scenic rides will show you the lush plains of the Po area, the wooded Apennine mountain range, and Tuscany's Chianti wine country. In Venice, a private boat ride is included.
So want more reasons to take a vacation package to Italy? How about the wine? "Italy is not only the largest producer of wines, but above all a producer of great wines.”
Its climate, soil and very old traditions of viticulture make Italy a natural wine growing nation. The wines are as personal as a name, as different as the colors of the rainbow and as much a part of Italian life as almost 3,000 years of tradition can make them. The Etruscans of North-Central Italy, who created one of the peninsula's earliest civilizations, left evidence of how to make wine. The Greeks who soon after established themselves in the South gave Italy the name Enotria (the land of wine).For centuries wine growing has been the cultivation which used most of the labor of the Italian farmers; this is still true today; a large part of the population is engaged in the vine and wine industry.
Other Italian drinks include aperitifs, blended principally over a base of the world-famous Piedmont Vermouth; dessert wines, such as Moscato, Marsala and Malvasia from Sicily and sparkling wines from Piedmont, Veneto, Tuscany and the Islands. Italy also has excellent beers and a great variety of effervescent mineral waters.
So want more reasons to take a vacation package to Italy? How about the wine? "Italy is not only the largest producer of wines, but above all a producer of great wines.”
Its climate, soil and very old traditions of viticulture make Italy a natural wine growing nation. The wines are as personal as a name, as different as the colors of the rainbow and as much a part of Italian life as almost 3,000 years of tradition can make them. The Etruscans of North-Central Italy, who created one of the peninsula's earliest civilizations, left evidence of how to make wine. The Greeks who soon after established themselves in the South gave Italy the name Enotria (the land of wine).For centuries wine growing has been the cultivation which used most of the labor of the Italian farmers; this is still true today; a large part of the population is engaged in the vine and wine industry.
Other Italian drinks include aperitifs, blended principally over a base of the world-famous Piedmont Vermouth; dessert wines, such as Moscato, Marsala and Malvasia from Sicily and sparkling wines from Piedmont, Veneto, Tuscany and the Islands. Italy also has excellent beers and a great variety of effervescent mineral waters.
See the Best of Italy
Start in Rome for this unforgettable 12-day vacation. Visit the excavations of Pompeii with a Local Guide, drive to the charming resort of Sorrento, and sail to the Isle of Capri where your two-night stay includes guided sightseeing with a visit to Villa San Michele in Anacapri. Next drive through lively Naples and continue through the Apennine Mountains to St. Francis’ Assisi.
Along the Adriatic coast drive to Ravenna, to visit the Basilica of St. Apollinaris in Classe. In Venice visit St. Mark’s Basilica and lavish Doges’ Palace with a Local Guide, and watch Venetian glassblowers at work. Continue to Pisa, to take pictures of the Leaning Tower, and to Tuscany. Your walking tour through Florence includes visits to the cathedral and the Academy of Fine Arts to admire Michelangelo’s David. Via Siena back to Rome where highlight visits are St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.
Why take a vacation package to Italy? Well one reason is the beautiful beaches they have to offer! The Mediterranean hosts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Italy's beach resorts attract more and more tourists year after year, for it is said the Italian beaches are like treasures to discover and behold. The beach resorts were home to many tourists during the summer season, today many now claim this their year round home.
The wonders of sea air provide some of the healthiest fresh air, known for their regenerative properties; the sea air is a relief and a healthy escape from city life.Italy is a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia. Its 7,600 km of coastline have some of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean, the Ligurian Sea, the Sardinian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea, in the west the Sicilian Sea, and the Ionian Sea in the south and the Adriatic Sea in the east.
After exploring the cities, touring the lakes and walking in the mountains, the beaches are the perfect place to relax, unwind and reflect. Most of the year the beaches are sunny, and with 7,600 miles of shoreline bordering Italy and its islands, you can easily find waters where the temperatures are ideal for swimming. Miles upon miles of golden, sun drenched sand, in some places up to 1 km deep. The sea welcomes the sun seeker in comfort and style. An array of colours, which one can quickly identify by the rows of neatly laid out sun umbrellas and deck chairs, which seem to almost dot the entire seashore. Get your vacation package to Italy today!
Along the Adriatic coast drive to Ravenna, to visit the Basilica of St. Apollinaris in Classe. In Venice visit St. Mark’s Basilica and lavish Doges’ Palace with a Local Guide, and watch Venetian glassblowers at work. Continue to Pisa, to take pictures of the Leaning Tower, and to Tuscany. Your walking tour through Florence includes visits to the cathedral and the Academy of Fine Arts to admire Michelangelo’s David. Via Siena back to Rome where highlight visits are St. Peter’s Square and Basilica, the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum and the Roman Forum.
Why take a vacation package to Italy? Well one reason is the beautiful beaches they have to offer! The Mediterranean hosts some of the most beautiful beaches in the world. Italy's beach resorts attract more and more tourists year after year, for it is said the Italian beaches are like treasures to discover and behold. The beach resorts were home to many tourists during the summer season, today many now claim this their year round home.
The wonders of sea air provide some of the healthiest fresh air, known for their regenerative properties; the sea air is a relief and a healthy escape from city life.Italy is a peninsula extending into the central Mediterranean Sea, northeast of Tunisia. Its 7,600 km of coastline have some of the most beautiful beaches in the Mediterranean, the Ligurian Sea, the Sardinian Sea and the Tyrrhenian Sea, in the west the Sicilian Sea, and the Ionian Sea in the south and the Adriatic Sea in the east.
After exploring the cities, touring the lakes and walking in the mountains, the beaches are the perfect place to relax, unwind and reflect. Most of the year the beaches are sunny, and with 7,600 miles of shoreline bordering Italy and its islands, you can easily find waters where the temperatures are ideal for swimming. Miles upon miles of golden, sun drenched sand, in some places up to 1 km deep. The sea welcomes the sun seeker in comfort and style. An array of colours, which one can quickly identify by the rows of neatly laid out sun umbrellas and deck chairs, which seem to almost dot the entire seashore. Get your vacation package to Italy today!
Best of Italy & Sicily
This traditional grand vacation of 16 days is perfect for those who wish to see all of Italy, including Sicily. In the cities of Rome, Florence and Venice, highlight visits are included to St. Peter’s, the Sistine Chapel, the Colosseum, Michelangelo’s David, St. Mark’s Basilica, and the Doges’ Palace with the Bridge of Sighs. Admire the Leaning Tower of Pisa and St. Francis’ Basilica in Assisi. After visiting Pompeii, board the overnight ferry to Sicily for four nights where visits to Palermo’s Palatine Chapel and the Norman Cathedral in Monreale, the spectacular Valley of Temples and the 4th-century Roman Villa of Casale await you.
A ferry brings you across the Strait of Messina to Calabria. Two nights in Sorrento include a visit to the Isle of Capri with a visit to Villa San Michele in Anacapri. On the way back to Rome, stop at the medieval Abbey of Montecassino.
Why is a vacation pacakge to italy and sicily worth it? It's more than an island! Discover Sicily and discover the world. The world's first multicultural society, the island is Italy's (and Europe's) most historically cosmopolitan region, having been ruled by Asians, Africans and Europeans. Sicily is black and white and a million shades of gray. There's no other place on Earth like it.
By using a vacation package to Italy and Sicily you will see it is a unique place full of art, archeology, history, folklore and breathtaking scenery. And, of course, great food. It's almost a nation unto itself. The enchanting land where Archimedes taught and Saint Paul preached was a Greek colony, a Roman province, an Arab emirate and a Norman kingdom.
The Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Swabians, Angevins, Aragonese and Jews made this unique island their own, leaving behind an eclectic history that you can still touch today. And Sicily will touch you. Sicily is Europe, Africa and Asia on one island. Greek tyrants, Arab emirs, Norman knights, Byzantine bishops and Holy Roman Emperors made it the place it is. Experience their eternal legacy in Phoenician settlements, Punic cities, Greek temples, Roman amphitheatres, Norman-Arab castles and Aragonese churches.
A ferry brings you across the Strait of Messina to Calabria. Two nights in Sorrento include a visit to the Isle of Capri with a visit to Villa San Michele in Anacapri. On the way back to Rome, stop at the medieval Abbey of Montecassino.
Why is a vacation pacakge to italy and sicily worth it? It's more than an island! Discover Sicily and discover the world. The world's first multicultural society, the island is Italy's (and Europe's) most historically cosmopolitan region, having been ruled by Asians, Africans and Europeans. Sicily is black and white and a million shades of gray. There's no other place on Earth like it.
By using a vacation package to Italy and Sicily you will see it is a unique place full of art, archeology, history, folklore and breathtaking scenery. And, of course, great food. It's almost a nation unto itself. The enchanting land where Archimedes taught and Saint Paul preached was a Greek colony, a Roman province, an Arab emirate and a Norman kingdom.
The Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Swabians, Angevins, Aragonese and Jews made this unique island their own, leaving behind an eclectic history that you can still touch today. And Sicily will touch you. Sicily is Europe, Africa and Asia on one island. Greek tyrants, Arab emirs, Norman knights, Byzantine bishops and Holy Roman Emperors made it the place it is. Experience their eternal legacy in Phoenician settlements, Punic cities, Greek temples, Roman amphitheatres, Norman-Arab castles and Aragonese churches.
Earn Free Travel with Sceptre Tours
Sceptre Tours continues its unbeatable deals to European destinations by offering FREE travel on selected 2010 escorted group tours to Italy, Ireland, and Britain, as well as European River cruises.
The following 2010 Sceptre Group Tours are eligible for the Early 2010 Grouppromotion:
•Introduction to Ireland – 8 days from $1119
•Emerald Isle – 12 days from $1999
•Scenic Ireland – 14 days from $2299
•Bonnie Scotland – 9 days from $1449
•Britain Sampler – 10 days from $1339
•Essential Britain & Ireland – 11 days from $1869
•Celtic Highlights – 14 days from $2499
•Scotland Highlands and Isles – 15 days from $2689
•A Taste of Italy – 8 days from $1849
•Italy’s Great Cities – 9 days from $1709
•Italian Treasures – 11 days from $2199
•The Best of Italy – 12 days from $2799
•Italian Mosaic – 14 days from $2599
•Best of Italy & Sicily – 16 days from $3279
•European River Cruises – Book a 2010 Group of 10 and ONE travels FREE. Similarly, book a group of 10, 20, 30, or more on any Sceptre 2010 European River Cruise and receive the corresponding 1, 2, or 3 FREE places on the land/cruise. Group must be booked and under deposit by September 1, 2009 to qualify.
Rates listed are land only, subject to availability. Group air must be included to qualify. Roundtrip airfare is available from over 100 gateways. Free passengers apply to land portion. Applies to new bookings only. Group full paying passenger minimums of 10, 20, 30, and 40 must travel to qualify. Must be booked and under deposit no later than September 1, 2009.
For more information, 2010 departure dates and pricing, contact our Group Department at (800)-813-5297 or click here http://www.sceptretours.com/2010-groups to visit the website. Travelers may also have one of our group expert’s custom-design a vacation experience tailored to the group's special requirements.
ABOUT SCEPTRE TOURS
Based in Lynbrook, New York and founded in 1981, Sceptre Tours is a family-owned and operated company with a philosophy of providing travelers an incredible experience to Ireland, Britain, Italy, as well as River Cruising, at the best value and with the best customer service. Sceptre specializes in offering completely customizable vacations which are bookable online in real time and offers escorted tours to Ireland, Britain, and Italy as well as river cruises, plus golf tours, walking tours, activities and group programs.
The following 2010 Sceptre Group Tours are eligible for the Early 2010 Grouppromotion:
•Introduction to Ireland – 8 days from $1119
•Emerald Isle – 12 days from $1999
•Scenic Ireland – 14 days from $2299
•Bonnie Scotland – 9 days from $1449
•Britain Sampler – 10 days from $1339
•Essential Britain & Ireland – 11 days from $1869
•Celtic Highlights – 14 days from $2499
•Scotland Highlands and Isles – 15 days from $2689
•A Taste of Italy – 8 days from $1849
•Italy’s Great Cities – 9 days from $1709
•Italian Treasures – 11 days from $2199
•The Best of Italy – 12 days from $2799
•Italian Mosaic – 14 days from $2599
•Best of Italy & Sicily – 16 days from $3279
•European River Cruises – Book a 2010 Group of 10 and ONE travels FREE. Similarly, book a group of 10, 20, 30, or more on any Sceptre 2010 European River Cruise and receive the corresponding 1, 2, or 3 FREE places on the land/cruise. Group must be booked and under deposit by September 1, 2009 to qualify.
Rates listed are land only, subject to availability. Group air must be included to qualify. Roundtrip airfare is available from over 100 gateways. Free passengers apply to land portion. Applies to new bookings only. Group full paying passenger minimums of 10, 20, 30, and 40 must travel to qualify. Must be booked and under deposit no later than September 1, 2009.
For more information, 2010 departure dates and pricing, contact our Group Department at (800)-813-5297 or click here http://www.sceptretours.com/2010-groups to visit the website. Travelers may also have one of our group expert’s custom-design a vacation experience tailored to the group's special requirements.
ABOUT SCEPTRE TOURS
Based in Lynbrook, New York and founded in 1981, Sceptre Tours is a family-owned and operated company with a philosophy of providing travelers an incredible experience to Ireland, Britain, Italy, as well as River Cruising, at the best value and with the best customer service. Sceptre specializes in offering completely customizable vacations which are bookable online in real time and offers escorted tours to Ireland, Britain, and Italy as well as river cruises, plus golf tours, walking tours, activities and group programs.
2010 Travel Plans with Sceptre Tours
With just one month left in the first quarter of 2010, Sceptre Tours, the largest tour operator to Ireland in terms of passengers moved (Sceptre also sells the UK, Italy, and river cruising), is seeing the travel landscape to Europe already beginning to change.
According to Chris Accomando, Sceptre's President, here's what travel agents can expect to see in the coming months:
•A 15 to 20% increase in air prices due to the reduced capacity by the airlines.
•With the value of the Euro against the dollar coming down (it now sits at 1.38), additional demand to Europe will no doubt be driven since this is a major factor impacting the cost of meals or excursions while clients are on vacation. With the dollar gaining strength and the cost of product in Europe coming down, this gives vacationers greater savings.
•With a modest increase in travel demand so far this year, discounting is still happening, but the discounts are not as deep as last year. There are still some great buying opportunities out there, but the hotels and airlines are not going to give it away as they did in 2009.
•The average spend per client is on the rise this year. Travelers are including more excursions or upgrading to a slightly better hotel or car. Sceptre's sales of Business Class air has increased 1000% over 2009 which is a very pleasant surprise.
•Finally, Ireland has seen quite a dramatic increase as a location for a destination wedding. Even with the Euro-dollar exchange, many castles and manor house hotels are offering tremendous rates on weddings from as few as 10 to as many as 200 people. As a result, Sceptre has expanded its Groups Department to handle the increased requests for group travel to Ireland for friends and family who want to participate in the wedding celebration.
ABOUT SCEPTRE TOURS
Based in Lynbrook, New York and founded in 1981, Sceptre Tours is a family-owned and operated company with a philosophy of providing travelers an incredible experience to Ireland, Britain, Italy, as well as River Cruising, at the best value and with the best customer service. Sceptre specializes in offering completely customizable vacations which are bookable online in real time and offers escorted tours to Ireland, Britain, and Italy as well as river cruises, plus golf tours, walking tours, activities and group programs.
To visit the Sceptre Tours website, please visit www.sceptretours.com or call 800-221-0924.
According to Chris Accomando, Sceptre's President, here's what travel agents can expect to see in the coming months:
•A 15 to 20% increase in air prices due to the reduced capacity by the airlines.
•With the value of the Euro against the dollar coming down (it now sits at 1.38), additional demand to Europe will no doubt be driven since this is a major factor impacting the cost of meals or excursions while clients are on vacation. With the dollar gaining strength and the cost of product in Europe coming down, this gives vacationers greater savings.
•With a modest increase in travel demand so far this year, discounting is still happening, but the discounts are not as deep as last year. There are still some great buying opportunities out there, but the hotels and airlines are not going to give it away as they did in 2009.
•The average spend per client is on the rise this year. Travelers are including more excursions or upgrading to a slightly better hotel or car. Sceptre's sales of Business Class air has increased 1000% over 2009 which is a very pleasant surprise.
•Finally, Ireland has seen quite a dramatic increase as a location for a destination wedding. Even with the Euro-dollar exchange, many castles and manor house hotels are offering tremendous rates on weddings from as few as 10 to as many as 200 people. As a result, Sceptre has expanded its Groups Department to handle the increased requests for group travel to Ireland for friends and family who want to participate in the wedding celebration.
ABOUT SCEPTRE TOURS
Based in Lynbrook, New York and founded in 1981, Sceptre Tours is a family-owned and operated company with a philosophy of providing travelers an incredible experience to Ireland, Britain, Italy, as well as River Cruising, at the best value and with the best customer service. Sceptre specializes in offering completely customizable vacations which are bookable online in real time and offers escorted tours to Ireland, Britain, and Italy as well as river cruises, plus golf tours, walking tours, activities and group programs.
To visit the Sceptre Tours website, please visit www.sceptretours.com or call 800-221-0924.
Spend St. Patrick's Day in Ireland
Dear Radio Show Producer:
St. Patrick's Day is just three weeks away and if you are contemplating what you'll feature on your show that day, we can offer a solution: an Ireland expert from Sceptre Tours!
Wouldn't it be so timely to have someone on who can talk about Ireland as well as the experiences that people can have there. Sample topics include:
•Great deals on travel to Ireland
•Different ways of touring the country
•How the food of Ireland has evolved
•How St. Patrick's Day is celebrated in Ireland
•The small towns and villages as well as the big cities
Additionally, on St. Patrick's Day, Sceptre Tours will be announcing its Luxurious Ireland Vacation Giveaway which is a truly five-star trip and you can invite your listeners to enter to win as an exclusive in your market!
For more information or to schedule a Sceptre Tours' representative for your show, call Jane or Michele at the numbers below.
ABOUT SCEPTRE TOURS
Based in Lynbrook, New York and founded in 1981, Sceptre Tours is a family-owned and operated company with a philosophy of providing travelers an incredible experience to Ireland, Britain, Italy, as well as River Cruising, at the best value and with the best customer service. Sceptre specializes in offering completely customizable vacations which are bookable online in real time and offers escorted tours to Ireland, Britain, and Italy as well as river cruises, plus golf tours, walking tours, activities and group programs.
To visit the Sceptre Tours website, please visit www.sceptretours.com or call 800-221-0924.
St. Patrick's Day is just three weeks away and if you are contemplating what you'll feature on your show that day, we can offer a solution: an Ireland expert from Sceptre Tours!
Wouldn't it be so timely to have someone on who can talk about Ireland as well as the experiences that people can have there. Sample topics include:
•Great deals on travel to Ireland
•Different ways of touring the country
•How the food of Ireland has evolved
•How St. Patrick's Day is celebrated in Ireland
•The small towns and villages as well as the big cities
Additionally, on St. Patrick's Day, Sceptre Tours will be announcing its Luxurious Ireland Vacation Giveaway which is a truly five-star trip and you can invite your listeners to enter to win as an exclusive in your market!
For more information or to schedule a Sceptre Tours' representative for your show, call Jane or Michele at the numbers below.
ABOUT SCEPTRE TOURS
Based in Lynbrook, New York and founded in 1981, Sceptre Tours is a family-owned and operated company with a philosophy of providing travelers an incredible experience to Ireland, Britain, Italy, as well as River Cruising, at the best value and with the best customer service. Sceptre specializes in offering completely customizable vacations which are bookable online in real time and offers escorted tours to Ireland, Britain, and Italy as well as river cruises, plus golf tours, walking tours, activities and group programs.
To visit the Sceptre Tours website, please visit www.sceptretours.com or call 800-221-0924.
Springtime in Tuscany
Forget springtime in Paris. Tuscany is the place to be, when the countryside is ablaze with the verdant colors of the season and the azaleas and camelias are in full bloom. Sceptre Tours' 6-Night Explore Tuscany Vacation offers an idyllic escape to Europe's most celebrated region, priced from just $799 per person, based on 4 people sharing a two-bedroom apartment at Fattoria degli Usignoli, which was originally built by the monks of Vallombrosa in the14th century. Round-trip air and rental car for the week are also included.
From La Fattoria which sits high in the hills of Tuscany and is surrounded by a fairy-tale country landscape of olive groves, vineyards and cypress trees, all the top sights and activities of the region are easily accessible. Shoppers especially, will delight in the proximity to The Mall--one of Italy's top designer outlets, offering unbelievable discounts on all of the top brands including Gucci, Armani, Fendi and more, just 10 minutes away.
This corner of Italian paradise is also only 25 minutes from magnificent Florence and close to the cities of Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa, Lucca, and Arezzo to name just a few. When not out exploring the vineyards or visiting the vast array of nearby cultural, artistic, and historical sights, visitors can simply sit back, relax, and take in the country charm, delicious food, and stunning scenery of Tuscany.
The Explore Tuscany Package includes:
•Round-trip economy class airfare to Florence
•6 nights in a two-bedroom apartment at Fattoria degli Usignoli
•Full Size Manual Rental CarThis package is priced from $799 per person, based on four people sharing; for travel from JFK, Newark, Boston and Chicago; on select departure dates between now and May 15, 2010. Departure dates between April 1 and April 11, and other select dates are slightly higher due to Easter and other holidays. Other departure cities are available at higher rates. All rates are per person, based on quad occupancy and subject to availability. The price is exclusive of taxes ranging up to $145 per person.
A Gold Package add-on is also available for $99, including: a full size automatic car and guided tour and wine tasting at Villa Casagrande.
For additional information on this package, click here or call 800-221-0924.
ABOUT SCEPTRE TOURS
Based in Lynbrook, New York and founded in 1981, Sceptre Tours is a family-owned and operated company with a philosophy of providing travelers an incredible experience to Ireland, Britain, Italy, as well as River Cruising, at the best value and with the best customer service. Sceptre specializes in offering completely customizable vacations which are bookable online in real time and offers escorted tours to Ireland, Britain, and Italy as well as river cruises, plus golf tours, walking tours, activities and group programs.
To visit the Sceptre Tours website, please visit www.sceptretours.com or call 800-221-0924.
From La Fattoria which sits high in the hills of Tuscany and is surrounded by a fairy-tale country landscape of olive groves, vineyards and cypress trees, all the top sights and activities of the region are easily accessible. Shoppers especially, will delight in the proximity to The Mall--one of Italy's top designer outlets, offering unbelievable discounts on all of the top brands including Gucci, Armani, Fendi and more, just 10 minutes away.
This corner of Italian paradise is also only 25 minutes from magnificent Florence and close to the cities of Siena, San Gimignano, Pisa, Lucca, and Arezzo to name just a few. When not out exploring the vineyards or visiting the vast array of nearby cultural, artistic, and historical sights, visitors can simply sit back, relax, and take in the country charm, delicious food, and stunning scenery of Tuscany.
The Explore Tuscany Package includes:
•Round-trip economy class airfare to Florence
•6 nights in a two-bedroom apartment at Fattoria degli Usignoli
•Full Size Manual Rental CarThis package is priced from $799 per person, based on four people sharing; for travel from JFK, Newark, Boston and Chicago; on select departure dates between now and May 15, 2010. Departure dates between April 1 and April 11, and other select dates are slightly higher due to Easter and other holidays. Other departure cities are available at higher rates. All rates are per person, based on quad occupancy and subject to availability. The price is exclusive of taxes ranging up to $145 per person.
A Gold Package add-on is also available for $99, including: a full size automatic car and guided tour and wine tasting at Villa Casagrande.
For additional information on this package, click here or call 800-221-0924.
ABOUT SCEPTRE TOURS
Based in Lynbrook, New York and founded in 1981, Sceptre Tours is a family-owned and operated company with a philosophy of providing travelers an incredible experience to Ireland, Britain, Italy, as well as River Cruising, at the best value and with the best customer service. Sceptre specializes in offering completely customizable vacations which are bookable online in real time and offers escorted tours to Ireland, Britain, and Italy as well as river cruises, plus golf tours, walking tours, activities and group programs.
To visit the Sceptre Tours website, please visit www.sceptretours.com or call 800-221-0924.
Girlfriend Getaway with Sceptre Tours
If the recent romantic comedy "When in Rome" has ladies thinking about trying their own luck at the fountain of love, Sceptre Tours offers two Girlfriend Getaway packages that combine a trip to the Eternal City, with the addition of either Florence or the Amalfi Coast. There's no guarantee of finding true love, but a great vacation with friends, filled with wonderful food, great sights, and fabulous shopping IS assured. Land-only prices start from $1035 per person for a 5 night Girlfriend Getaway Rome & Florence package, and from $1049 per person for a 5 night Girlfriend Getaway Rome & The Amalfi Coast package, including hotel, airport transfers, high-speed train transportation, daily breakfast, sightseeing and a cooking class.
Girlfriend Getaway to Rome & Florence, priced from $1,049 per person (Land-only)
Travel to Italy with friends and discover the intricacies of Rome and Florence on this 5 night trip. Explore the best of Rome, including of course Trevi Fountain, before heading to Florence, the capital of Tuscany and home of the Renaissance to enjoy its fabulous sights, shopping, and take a cooking class.
Package Includes:
•3 nights at Hotel Pace Helvezia, Rome
•2 nights at Hotel Adriatico, Florence
•Private arrival transfer from Rome Airport to Rome Hotel
•Private departure transfer from Florence Hotel to Florence Airport
•Transportation from Rome to Florence via second-class high-speed train with reserved seats
•Daily breakfast
•3-hour morning sightseeing tour in Rome: St. Peter’s Basilica, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain (pick up from hotel included)
•Cooking class in Florence ending with dinner based on what's prepared during the course (drinks included)
This package is also available with round-trip economy air from JFK New York to Rome, and Florence to JFK New York, starting from $1999 per person. Other departure cities are available at higher rates.
Package price is based on Sun - Thurs travel on select travel dates. Fri - Sat travel is available at slightly higher rates. Prices are per person based on two people traveling including 4 nights hotel in Rome and 2 nights in Florence. All transfers to and from the airport are included. Packages are subject to availability and may not be available on every date or on all flights and may be restricted to certain hotel room categories.
For reservations and a sample itinerary for the Girlfriend Getaway to Rome & Florence, click here.
Girlfriend Getaway to Rome & The Amalfi Coast, priced from $1,035 per person (Land-only)
Travel with friends to Rome for 3 nights of sightseeing and creating memories that will last a lifetime. Next travel to the Amalfi Coast, beginning in the beautiful town of Sorrento, nestled by the Mediterranean Sea, for a 2 night stay to explore its sights, restaurants, and shops as well as participate in a cooking class.
Package Includes:
•3 nights at Hotel Pace Helvezia, Rome
•2 nights at Hotel Gardenia, Sorrento
•Private arrival transfer from Rome Airport to Rome Hotel
•Private departure transfer from Sorrento Hotel to Naples Airport
•Transportation from Rome to Naples via second-class high-speed train with reserved seats
•Daily breakfast
•3-hour morning sightseeing tour in Rome: St. Peter’s Basilica, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain (pick up from hotel included)
•Cooking class in Sorrento ending with dinner based on what's prepared during the course (drinks included)
This package is also available with round-trip economy air from JFK New York to Rome, and Naples to JFK New York, starting from $1899 per person. Other departure cities are available at higher rates.
Package price is based on Sun - Thurs travel on select travel dates. Fri - Sat travel is available at slightly higher rates. Prices are per person based on two people traveling including 4 nights hotel in Rome and 2 nights in Sorrento. All transfers to and from the airport are included. Packages are subject to availability and may not be available on every date or on all flights and may be restricted to certain hotel room categories.
For reservations and a sample itinerary for the Girlfriend Getaway to Rome & Sorrento, click here. These packages are available year-round based upon availability.
ABOUT SCEPTRE TOURS
Based in Lynbrook, New York and founded in 1981, Sceptre Tours is a family-owned and operated company with a philosophy of providing travelers an incredible experience to Ireland, Britain, Italy, as well as River Cruising, at the best value and with the best customer service. Sceptre specializes in offering completely customizable vacations which are bookable online in real time and offers escorted tours to Ireland, Britain, and Italy as well as river cruises, plus golf tours, walking tours, activities and group programs.
To visit the Sceptre Tours website, please visit www.sceptretours.com or call 800-221-0924.
Girlfriend Getaway to Rome & Florence, priced from $1,049 per person (Land-only)
Travel to Italy with friends and discover the intricacies of Rome and Florence on this 5 night trip. Explore the best of Rome, including of course Trevi Fountain, before heading to Florence, the capital of Tuscany and home of the Renaissance to enjoy its fabulous sights, shopping, and take a cooking class.
Package Includes:
•3 nights at Hotel Pace Helvezia, Rome
•2 nights at Hotel Adriatico, Florence
•Private arrival transfer from Rome Airport to Rome Hotel
•Private departure transfer from Florence Hotel to Florence Airport
•Transportation from Rome to Florence via second-class high-speed train with reserved seats
•Daily breakfast
•3-hour morning sightseeing tour in Rome: St. Peter’s Basilica, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain (pick up from hotel included)
•Cooking class in Florence ending with dinner based on what's prepared during the course (drinks included)
This package is also available with round-trip economy air from JFK New York to Rome, and Florence to JFK New York, starting from $1999 per person. Other departure cities are available at higher rates.
Package price is based on Sun - Thurs travel on select travel dates. Fri - Sat travel is available at slightly higher rates. Prices are per person based on two people traveling including 4 nights hotel in Rome and 2 nights in Florence. All transfers to and from the airport are included. Packages are subject to availability and may not be available on every date or on all flights and may be restricted to certain hotel room categories.
For reservations and a sample itinerary for the Girlfriend Getaway to Rome & Florence, click here.
Girlfriend Getaway to Rome & The Amalfi Coast, priced from $1,035 per person (Land-only)
Travel with friends to Rome for 3 nights of sightseeing and creating memories that will last a lifetime. Next travel to the Amalfi Coast, beginning in the beautiful town of Sorrento, nestled by the Mediterranean Sea, for a 2 night stay to explore its sights, restaurants, and shops as well as participate in a cooking class.
Package Includes:
•3 nights at Hotel Pace Helvezia, Rome
•2 nights at Hotel Gardenia, Sorrento
•Private arrival transfer from Rome Airport to Rome Hotel
•Private departure transfer from Sorrento Hotel to Naples Airport
•Transportation from Rome to Naples via second-class high-speed train with reserved seats
•Daily breakfast
•3-hour morning sightseeing tour in Rome: St. Peter’s Basilica, Piazza Navona, Pantheon, Trevi Fountain (pick up from hotel included)
•Cooking class in Sorrento ending with dinner based on what's prepared during the course (drinks included)
This package is also available with round-trip economy air from JFK New York to Rome, and Naples to JFK New York, starting from $1899 per person. Other departure cities are available at higher rates.
Package price is based on Sun - Thurs travel on select travel dates. Fri - Sat travel is available at slightly higher rates. Prices are per person based on two people traveling including 4 nights hotel in Rome and 2 nights in Sorrento. All transfers to and from the airport are included. Packages are subject to availability and may not be available on every date or on all flights and may be restricted to certain hotel room categories.
For reservations and a sample itinerary for the Girlfriend Getaway to Rome & Sorrento, click here. These packages are available year-round based upon availability.
ABOUT SCEPTRE TOURS
Based in Lynbrook, New York and founded in 1981, Sceptre Tours is a family-owned and operated company with a philosophy of providing travelers an incredible experience to Ireland, Britain, Italy, as well as River Cruising, at the best value and with the best customer service. Sceptre specializes in offering completely customizable vacations which are bookable online in real time and offers escorted tours to Ireland, Britain, and Italy as well as river cruises, plus golf tours, walking tours, activities and group programs.
To visit the Sceptre Tours website, please visit www.sceptretours.com or call 800-221-0924.
Sceptre Tour's Website
Sceptre Tours’ website has a new look and enhanced design exclusively for travel agents at: www.sceptretours.com. The new Travel Agent's Resource Center provides added features and tools for agents to quickly and easily see all of Sceptre’s products and special deals, download flyers and brochures, access real-time booking information, subscribe to Sceptre's newsletter, and contact the District Sales Manager that’s dedicated to their region.
The added website features are part of the nearly $1 million that Sceptre Tours is investing to educate and support travel agents in the sales and marketing of Sceptre’s products to their clients. Sceptre Tours specializes in independent and escorted travel to Ireland, Britain, Italy, and European River Cruises and is THE largest tour operator to Ireland in terms of passengers moved.
Sceptre understands the importance of travel agents to the success and growth of the company and offers the following Key Benefits to the agents in their network:
•100% Travel Agent Commitment.
•MAKE IT YOUR OWN - with over 500 hotels we can customize any vacation your client desires
•Co-Op Marketing Budget for up to 75 % of Cost.
•Dedicated Travel Agent 800# for virtually no waiting time.
•FIT on-line live inventory booking engine.
•Client referral program “BOOK 3 GET PAID FOR 4” -When was the last time a tour operator referred a booking to you?
•Product & Destination Experts - Sceptre's sales staff is available for product and destination training.
ABOUT SCEPTRE TOURS
Based in Lynbrook, New York and founded in 1981, Sceptre Tours is a family-owned and operated company with a philosophy of providing travelers an incredible experience to Ireland, Britain, Italy, as well as River Cruising, at the best value and with the best customer service. Sceptre specializes in offering completely customizable vacations which are bookable online in real time and offers escorted tours to Ireland, Britain, and Italy as well as river cruises, plus golf tours, walking tours, activities and group programs.
To visit the Sceptre Tours website, please visit www.sceptretours.com or call 800-221-0924.
The added website features are part of the nearly $1 million that Sceptre Tours is investing to educate and support travel agents in the sales and marketing of Sceptre’s products to their clients. Sceptre Tours specializes in independent and escorted travel to Ireland, Britain, Italy, and European River Cruises and is THE largest tour operator to Ireland in terms of passengers moved.
Sceptre understands the importance of travel agents to the success and growth of the company and offers the following Key Benefits to the agents in their network:
•100% Travel Agent Commitment.
•MAKE IT YOUR OWN - with over 500 hotels we can customize any vacation your client desires
•Co-Op Marketing Budget for up to 75 % of Cost.
•Dedicated Travel Agent 800# for virtually no waiting time.
•FIT on-line live inventory booking engine.
•Client referral program “BOOK 3 GET PAID FOR 4” -When was the last time a tour operator referred a booking to you?
•Product & Destination Experts - Sceptre's sales staff is available for product and destination training.
ABOUT SCEPTRE TOURS
Based in Lynbrook, New York and founded in 1981, Sceptre Tours is a family-owned and operated company with a philosophy of providing travelers an incredible experience to Ireland, Britain, Italy, as well as River Cruising, at the best value and with the best customer service. Sceptre specializes in offering completely customizable vacations which are bookable online in real time and offers escorted tours to Ireland, Britain, and Italy as well as river cruises, plus golf tours, walking tours, activities and group programs.
To visit the Sceptre Tours website, please visit www.sceptretours.com or call 800-221-0924.
Affordable Luxury with Sceptre Tours
Sceptre Tours' Affordable Luxury package provides travelers with the ability to enjoy a 6-night stay at the five-star Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt (located just south of Dublin) priced from just $799 per person including airfare and rental car! And now travelers who book this package by March 17, 2010 will be entered into a drawing where one traveler and his or her companions will be upgraded to the Presidential Suite for the entire week!
Considered one of the most prestigious suites in all of Ireland, the Presidential Suite at The Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt is perched at the top of the hotel with breathtaking views overlooking Sugar Loaf Mountain and features:
•Master bedroom and a separate guest room
•Ritz-Carlton signature linens and featherbeds
•Walk-in wardrobe
•Spacious Dining room
•Living room and with open fireplace
•Separate study room
•Private rooftop terrace with stunning views and private Jacuzzi tub
•Private sauna and steam bath
•Recessed TV in the bathroom
•High-speed wireless Internet access
•Electronic finger tip panels for controlling lighting, curtains and air-conditioning
•Interactive TVs in the bedroom and in the living room
•Espresso machine
Yet for every guest who takes advantage of this package, they couldn't enjoy a better home base to explore Ireland than the Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt which is also home to the restaurant Gordon Ramsay at Powerscourt.
The Affordable Luxury package includes:
•6 nights in an interconnecting Suite with living room and Deluxe room at The Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt;
•Round-trip economy class airfare to Dublin;
•Weekly Manual Shift Car Rental
This package is priced from $799 per person for travel February 25 to April 30 from New York, Boston (+ $20), and Chicago (+ $49). Travel in May from $899 and peak season from $1,299 (when airfare alone is over $900). Other departure dates are available through March 2011 at slightly higher rates. All rates are per person, based on four people traveling together, but the package is available for 2 to 5 travelers. Taxes ranging up to $150 per person are additional. This package is available from a variety of gateway cities across the U.S.
AVAILABLE UPGRADES
Travelers who truly want to make this the ultimate in affordable luxury, can opt to upgrade to the Business Class Special and fly Business Class on Aer Lingus for an additional $499 each way.
Also, a Gold Upgrade includes automatic rental car with GPS Navigation from $59 per person, while a Platinum Upgrade includes the automatic car rental with GPS and dinner at Gordon Ramsay Powerscourt from $199 per person.
For additional information on this package, click here or call 800-221-0924.
ABOUT SCEPTRE TOURS
Based in Lynbrook, New York and founded in 1981, Sceptre Tours is a family-owned and operated company with a philosophy of providing travelers an incredible experience to Ireland, Britain, Italy, as well as River Cruising, at the best value and with the best customer service. Sceptre specializes in offering completely customizable vacations which are bookable online in real time and offers escorted tours to Ireland, Britain, and Italy as well as river cruises, plus golf tours, walking tours, activities and group programs. To visit the Sceptre Tours website, please visit www.sceptretours.com or call 800-221-0924.
Considered one of the most prestigious suites in all of Ireland, the Presidential Suite at The Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt is perched at the top of the hotel with breathtaking views overlooking Sugar Loaf Mountain and features:
•Master bedroom and a separate guest room
•Ritz-Carlton signature linens and featherbeds
•Walk-in wardrobe
•Spacious Dining room
•Living room and with open fireplace
•Separate study room
•Private rooftop terrace with stunning views and private Jacuzzi tub
•Private sauna and steam bath
•Recessed TV in the bathroom
•High-speed wireless Internet access
•Electronic finger tip panels for controlling lighting, curtains and air-conditioning
•Interactive TVs in the bedroom and in the living room
•Espresso machine
Yet for every guest who takes advantage of this package, they couldn't enjoy a better home base to explore Ireland than the Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt which is also home to the restaurant Gordon Ramsay at Powerscourt.
The Affordable Luxury package includes:
•6 nights in an interconnecting Suite with living room and Deluxe room at The Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt;
•Round-trip economy class airfare to Dublin;
•Weekly Manual Shift Car Rental
This package is priced from $799 per person for travel February 25 to April 30 from New York, Boston (+ $20), and Chicago (+ $49). Travel in May from $899 and peak season from $1,299 (when airfare alone is over $900). Other departure dates are available through March 2011 at slightly higher rates. All rates are per person, based on four people traveling together, but the package is available for 2 to 5 travelers. Taxes ranging up to $150 per person are additional. This package is available from a variety of gateway cities across the U.S.
AVAILABLE UPGRADES
Travelers who truly want to make this the ultimate in affordable luxury, can opt to upgrade to the Business Class Special and fly Business Class on Aer Lingus for an additional $499 each way.
Also, a Gold Upgrade includes automatic rental car with GPS Navigation from $59 per person, while a Platinum Upgrade includes the automatic car rental with GPS and dinner at Gordon Ramsay Powerscourt from $199 per person.
For additional information on this package, click here or call 800-221-0924.
ABOUT SCEPTRE TOURS
Based in Lynbrook, New York and founded in 1981, Sceptre Tours is a family-owned and operated company with a philosophy of providing travelers an incredible experience to Ireland, Britain, Italy, as well as River Cruising, at the best value and with the best customer service. Sceptre specializes in offering completely customizable vacations which are bookable online in real time and offers escorted tours to Ireland, Britain, and Italy as well as river cruises, plus golf tours, walking tours, activities and group programs. To visit the Sceptre Tours website, please visit www.sceptretours.com or call 800-221-0924.
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