Latest Travel Blog Entries

Friday, September 03, 2010

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

The Globus family of brands has expertly designed and unveiled more than 30 “low season” vacations, including two NEW itineraries with Globus and Monograms, offering Americans a plethora of opportunities to travel abroad at unbeatable prices this fall, winter and next spring.

In addition to its already robust selection of holiday tours and cruises and winter vacation packages across Europe, Globus is introducing a NEW, nine-day Christmas in Paris & New Year’s Eve in London itinerary, priced from $1,599. And, capitalizing on America’s interest in Ireland, Monograms is providing travelers a NEW four-day Dublin Getaway, priced from $517.

“Winter is a great time for Americans to make European travel dreams come true,” said Steve Born, vice president of marketing for the Globus family of brands. “They can take a vacation at a reduced price, while avoiding the crowds that converge during the summer travel months.”

From holiday cruises on the Main and Danube rivers to tours across Europe ranging from seven to 29 days as well as 10 independent vacation packages, the Globus family of brands’ “European Winter Vacations” offer unparalleled savings to fit any travel style.

“Not only are we giving travelers a large selection of tours, cruises and independent vacations from which to choose a phenomenal European vacation,” said Born. “We are offering them savings of up to 40 percent on air and 15 percent on land, compared to peak season pricing.”

Even more chances to save are available for those who plan ahead and book early: Travelers can save $200 per couple on Globus family of brands’ 2010/11 European Winter vacations when booking air-inclusive with Alitalia by July 27, 2010.* Sample fares start as low as $415/person.

Friday, June 04, 2010

The province of Siena, Tuscany is the home to a small little medieval hill town that is completely walled in known as San Gimignano. It is located in the north-central parts of Italy. San Gimignano has become popular because of its medieval architecture scattered throughout including the towers which people can see kilometers away.

San Gimignano is popular for its white wine, Vernaccia di San Gimignano which has been grown in the area for many years. This is a town that not only has a sweet taste, but also a lot of history behind it.

Back in the 3rd century BC, San Gimignano was founded by the Etruscans. There are records dating back to the 10th century when it got the town name from the bishop, Saint Geminianus, who was the defender against the Attila’s Huns.

Throughout the Middle Ages and Renaissance eras, San Gimignano became the stopping point for many Catholic pilgrims traveling to the Vatican and Rome because the town is placed on the medieval Via Francigena. The city developed further as the years continued by trading agricultural products with the fertile neighbor hills.

Until 1348 the city flourished greatly, but the plague had a massive affect on not only San Gimignano, but many other European towns which in turn led the town to submit to Florence. Not it has become a touristic and artistic hot spot for many people throughout the world and is once again becoming recognized for all the beauty many millions have missed.

Travel deep to the heart of the town where you can experience four town squares which are filled with entertainment, excitement and delicious appetizing delights. The four squares are...

Piazza della Cisterna
Piazza Duomo
Piazza Pecori
Piazza delle Erbe

Make sure that you take the time to visit all the wonders of San Gimignano, especially the four squares if you plan on traveling here. This is one place that truly holds a lot of Italian history and culture, so why not experience it?

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Here are some movies that offer wonderful Italian settings so you can get an idea of all the amazing things you will see on a trip to Italy.

• Roman Holiday (1953) | Rome
• Much Ado About Nothing (1993) Villa Vignamaggio near Greve
• Only You (1004) | Rome, Tuscany, Venice & Positano
• The English Patient (1996) | Siena, Pienza & Montepulciano
• Life Is Beautiful (1998) Arezzo
• Tea with Mussolini (1999) | Florence, San Gimignano
• Talented Mr. Ripley (1999) | Venice, Anzio, Palermo, Naples, Ischia & Positano
• The Italian Job (2003) | Italian Alps, Turin
• The Lizzie McGuire Movie (2003) | Rome, Lazio
• Under the Tuscan Sun (2003) | Florence, Arezzo, Montepulciano, Cortona, Campania and Positano
• Ocean's Twelve (2004) | Rome, Lake Como & Sicily
• Visions of Italy (2005) | PBS Program takes you all over Italy.
• When in Rome (2010) (also shot in the U.S.)
• Letters to Juliet (2010) | Verona, Tuscany

Did we miss any of your favorites?

Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Traveling to Venice, Italy can be a truly amazing trip to go on. There are many different things that you can do while traveling through Venice. Whether you are looking to get involved with some outdoor sports, experience the nature, history or culture, or venture into the arts and entertainment, there is always something to see and do in Venice.

One of the very first things that everyone should do when traveling to Venice is take the time to get lost in Venice. I know this sounds weird because you are specifically getting lost, but you should. There is much to see in Venice, and walking around with no set direction or destination can allow you to see so much more. You can see things that many tourists may have never experienced before and avoid all the crowds of tourists that seem to hit up all the hot spots right away.

A must see, is St. Mark's Basilica. This is one of Italy's most elegant churches throughout with the large domes and marble pillars outside and then floor to ceiling mosaics in the interior. There are three museums located inside the Basilica. These each have their own admission fees. Plan on experiencing all three before you leave Venice. Each museum is different and has its own amazing beauties.

Just about everyone who travels to Venice is bound to go to St. Mark's Square at some point. One of the best times of day to really see and experience St. Mark's Square is early morning or evening. This will help you avoid all the tourists and see all the amazing architectures that St. Mark's has to offer. With Venice not being much of a "night out on the town" kind of place, there are not many people out at night, which is why it's the perfect time to go experience the Square.

Venice is full of many places to see and experience. You won't find yourself getting bored at any point with the vast amount of things to do. If you are planning on traveling to Venice then make sure you experience everything you can, whether it is a tour of the Doge's Palace, taking an elevator to the top of the Campanile, wandering through the streets of Burano Island, hiking through Torcello Island, or window shopping at the Rialto Market, there is always something to do.