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MAGELLAN'S MINUTES
VIP Escapes' Monthly Newsletter |
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Every Months, VIP Escapes publishes its newsletter to inform and update its valued customers of upcoming tours, current tourism news and tips that may be helpful in the planning of a future vacation. Your comments are always welcomed and we encourage you to tell us how we are doing. You may email us by clicking here
In this month's newsletter:
Christmas Markets of Europe: A special Family Getaway
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Italy scored top marks: Conde Nast Reader's Awards gives Italy the thumbs up.
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VIP goes Green: VE adopts policies to favor vendors that are environment friendly.
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Morocco: A forgotten destination!
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Magellan Circle: A new series of benefits for our frequent travelers.
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This month is NATIONAL BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH: VIP will donate 2% of your trip cost* to the Cancer Foundation of your choice. Ask our Travel Consultant about this program.
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 Christmas Markets of Europe: A special Family Getaway
One of the most picturesque times of the year to be in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland is during the pre-Christmas season. Many regions are snow covered and lit brightly for the holidays.
In Austria, advent wreaths are an important tradition. They are decorated with ribbons and four candles to signify the four weeks leading to Christmas Eve. Ancient legends also come alive when winter goblins, spirits and demons spread mischief. Masked actors play out the conflicts of good and evil, and dark and light. In Innsbruck, the old town bustles with busy Christmas markets and the "sound of music" fills the air in Salzburg and Vienna.
In Switzerland many Christmas markets also fill the streets with handmade treasures and activities for children. December 6 is St. Nicolas day, when children in all three countries set out their shoes in hope that the jolly old guy will fill them with nuts, chocolates, tangerines and homemade cookies. Swiss children also look forward to receiving a graetimaa - a man-shaped bread decorated with raisins and spun sugar.
In Germany, the sweet aroma of lebkuchen (gingerbread) and Stollen breads wafts through holiday markets. Nurnburg, famous for packaging its delightful gingerbread in countless ways, has one of Germany's best Christmas bazaars. Christmas markets reign throughout the country, in towns small and large. Hand-carved wooden ornaments and nativity scenes, festive wreaths, and aromatic candles line the booths, when you stroll by cradling a cup of hot, spiced wine.
In the alpine areas of all three countries, winter festivals are spectacular. Running from November through February, they offer horse and carriage racing, hot air ballooning, ice-skating and more. Germany's "Viva winter Fun - Party at the Zugspitze" was one of this year's most sensational.
Don't miss VIP's Christmas Markets of Europe Tour, December 8-17, 2006 - Escorted Tour - 8 travelers Max. - starting at $2,999/pers. - Take $250 OFF when booking by October 15, 2006 |Click here for More Information
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Italy scored top marks: Conde Nast Reader's Awards gives Italy the thumbs up.
Italy scored top marks for its food, restaurants and variety of attractions and came first as favourite country, climbing from 4th place in 2005.
Rome achieved first place in the category "Favourite Overseas city", climbing from 3rd place last year, but also Florence and Venice featured in the first 10 places (Venice 6th and Florence 8th).
The Hotel Spendido in Portofino came first in the category "Best Overseas Hotel – Europe, Asia Minor and Russia Federation. In the same category a further 10 Italian hotels came within the first twenty with Grand Hotel Villa Feltrinelli on Lake Garda in 3rd place, San Domenico Palace Hotel in Taormina in 4th place, Hotel de Russie in Rome in 5th place and the Hotel Cipriani in Venice in 7th place.
Sicily came in fourth place in the category "Favourite Islands", beaten only by more exotic competition, but ahead of any other Mediterranean island. Terme di Saturnia in Tuscany took 4th place in the category "Favourite Destination Spa".
Credits: CondéNet UK Ltd - Read this Month's issue
VIP takes you to Italy throughout the year. By creating your very own customized package, our Travel Consultants provide you with a unique approach to Travel, utilizing high end establishments and reliable travel partners.
Independent OR Escorted tours starting at $1,899/pers are available at www.vipescapes.com
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VIP goes Green: VE adopts policies to favor vendors that are environment friendly.
In recent Months, VIP Escapes and Standout Destinations have been looking at ways to promote environmently responsible travel. From Hotels to Airlines, VIP is reviewing the "Green" policy of its partners and steps taken to minimize the impact of tourism on the environment. For instance, in Tahiti, VIP only works with establishments that recycle or have an on-site water treatment systems. In Europe, VIP favors Virgin Atlantic which has adopted steps to reduce air polution from its planes by 25% before 2008.
Closer to home, VIP provides information to its customers via PDF and email (printed documents remain available upon request). VIP does not print brochures in advance & offer a comprehensive list of tours on its website. Finally, VIP does not order hotel or tour operator brochures in mass. Thousands of tons of similar brochures and flyers are discarded every year by the thousands of agencies that operate in the U.S.
Here are a basic steps each one of us can take when traveling:
Purchase local products and handicrafts - Remember to make sure that you are not buying products made from endangered species
Look, don't touch - The cumulative effect of many travellers taking away natural 'souvenirs' can soon destroy a delicately balanced ecosystem. Enjoy the different environments that you visit and leave them just as you found them for others to appreciate in the same way
Be environmentally aware - Dispose of your waste responsibly and don't smoke in inappropriate places
Stay on track - try not to disturb the local environments and animal habitats by going off track, this can be harmful to the area and dangerous for you.
For more information on the major players in the tourism industry that have adopted policies to protect the environment,click here
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Morocco: A forgotten destination!
The popular, but wholly incomplete, picture of Morocco is of a hot sand pit which starts at the overcrowded beaches of Agadir and extends to the dunes of The Sahara Desert. A truer and more honest picture would include a description of the Northern half of Morocco which is made up of vast expanses of fertile agricultural lands, forests, productive vineyards and lush, green grazing meadows. Other surprises include outstanding snow - skiing near Marrakech; superb Golf courses and a summer climate that is similar to most Mediterranean resorts.
Morocco brims over with contrast, colour and mystery and all you can do is simply catch your breath in wonder. It has a timeless quality that no longer exists in the modern world, a sense that the past with all its glory and savagery still lives on, threading in and out of the present, informing with its every word and gesture. On arrival you are plunged into a culture, a religion and a lifestyle utterly unlike anything that you have ever experienced before; a mystery tour of a land of endless surprises, enchantment and enduring fascination.
The first reaction of most visitors to the flood of new impressions is to draw a long, deep breath and sigh; the odours of mint and blossom mingling with the acrid smell of the tanners' yard, the unearthly wail of the Muezzin and muleteers "balek! balek!", the subtle intricacies of an art that had reached its apogee and a daily rhythm that seems barely to have changed since the coming of islam.
Morocco is an exciting country. It is all there for you to experience, but we will help you create an itinerary that involves as little inconvenience as possible and steer you away from the places that may be of little or no interest to you.
VIP has recently designed two packages that include the wonderful country of Morocco. Escorted tours start at $5,699/pers. (your party + a private guide) and independant tours start at $2,199/pers. Visit www.vipescapes.com OR request your very own tour to be designed and customized by clicking here.
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Magellan Circle: A new series of benefits for our frequent travelers.
VIP and Standout Destinations will soon unveil their Appreciation Program. Magellan Circle Members will receive benefits as a token of our appreciation for their repeat patronnage.
Membership will be earned after the first trip booked through VIP Escapes or Standout Destinations (some conditions apply).
Silver Membership can also be purchased for a one time fee of $89.99/pers.
In 2007, VIP will add 10 new partners to the program, ranging from Car Rental Companies to Restaurants and Online Merchants.
For more information on this program, you may visit www.vipescapes.com
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