Lausanne Cathedral
Photo courtesy ST/swiss-image.ch

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

TIPS & HINTS

 

Egyptian partner

Steigenberger Hotels and Resorts, a leading European hotel company based in Frankfurt, has partnered with the Egyptian tourism group Travco Group International Holding S.A.E., owned by Hamed El Chiaty and family. Steigenberger Hotels AG owns both hotels and resorts and the InterCityHotel chain. The new partner will continue to pursue and further develop the long-term targets of the company. In addition to hotels and Nile cruise ships, Travco's business activities also include tourism services.

 

new Liège-Guillemins station

The new Liège-Guillemins railroad station was designed by the famous Spanish architect Santiago Calatrava. This station links Liège to other great European cities such as Paris, London, Amsterdam and Cologne. Just under an hour from Brussels, Liege is known as the “Fiery city” and is home to many great museums, including the new Curtius Musuem.

For more information on LIEGE and Calatrava new Station visit: www.visitbelgium.com.

 

CYCLE GERMANY’S ROMANTIC ROADS

Cycle through Germany’s most enchanting areas from Wuerzburg to Fuessen using a customized itinerary. Beginning with a five day/four night package from May 15 through Oct. 15, Nordique Tours will tailor the trip based on the cyclist’s expertise and the mileage wanted to cover each day.

The package includes daily breakfast, a city sightseeing voucher for a walk or visit to a castle along the route and luggage transportation from each hotel to the next one on the itinerary. Bicycle rentals are available at $26 per day, using all terrain bikes with seven gear transmission, lights and carrier. Helmets are required in Germany and must be brought on the trip since rentals are not available.

Cyclists will experience three areas in Germany—Franconia, Swabia and Upper Bavaria. The route is gentle, undulating countryside that runs along the Tauber and Wörnitz rivers before it crosses the Danube and heads south.The basic package is priced at $557 per person, double occupancy, or $892 for a single. Additional days can be added to the itinerary for $139 per day, double occupancy, or $225 for single.

For more information about this package, contact Nordique Tours at 1-800-995-7997 or visit the website at www.nordiquetours.com.

 

DINING IN THE ALPS

In a bucolic setting high in the Alps, the restaurant La Breguette occupies a building dating to 1706. Famous local Chef Philippe Gignard offers signature dishes and guests can also book charming rooms for overnight stays. www.breguettaz.ch.

 

CUNARD CRUISES

Queen Mary 2 will sail her maiden tour of the British Isles with an 8-day "Around-the-British-Isles" itinerary that will include first-time calls to Liverpool, Glasgow and Cork. Fares for this Cunard voyage start at $1,795.

Guests who want to skip air travel and luxuriate in an all-at-sea travel experience by sailing roundtrip to Europe from New York, can do so with Cunard’s Grand Voyages of 20-24 days. These are available for certain European and Mediterranean voyages, including the Around-the-British-Isles voyage, by adding a legendary transatlantic crossing to the beginning and end of the voyage, affording an extended journey. Fares start from $4,085.

The 20-day Grand-Around-the-British-Isles voyage departs for an eastbound trans-Atlantic crossing from New York on October 9 and arrives in Southampton on October 15 for a same-day departure for the 8-day roundtrip Around-the-British-Isles itinerary. Details on the day by day itinerary are at: http://book.cunard.com/

 

Did you know?

Every night the watchman of Lausanne Cathedral sounds the hours: an uninterrupted ritual for 600 years.

"The watchman has just sounded ten!"

Four times a night, between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m., Renato Haeusler, one of the last historic watchmen in Europe, patrols the vertical balcony of the cathedral's northern tower, called "Le Beffroi" -- a tradition dating back six centuries.

In those days, there were watchmen throughout Europe. Their mission: warn the population about fires. In 1880 the city of Lausanne, like many others, was protected from major catastrophes thanks to progress. The function of the watchman was maintained, however, somebody has to wind up the clock so that the bell continues to ring!

There are now only seven watchmen in Europe. Renato Harusler would like the ritual to endure, "so that the watchman remains the vector of a tradition for the following generation and the receiver of the previous one." www.lausanne-tourisme.ch

 

Golden Pass train now easier

The "Golden Pass Line," a rail line connecting Montreux and Lucerne, entails two train changes. By 2010 the journey can be made without changing trains, thanks to the railway company MOB.

The Golden Pass Line is considered one of Switzerland's most beautiful panoramic train journeys. Starting from Montreux, the train passes through Gstaad, Zweisimmen, Spiez, Interlaken and the Brunig mountain pass. Final destination is Lucerne.

Because of the current gauges, travelers have to change trains twice: once in Zweisimmen and once in Interlaken-Ost. For many years, there have been countless projects to create a direct connection. One of these was putting down a third rail.

MOB has finally found the solution: an innovate concept of bogies enabling trains to run on metric-gauge rails and on normal-gauge rails without having to make a change. Existing engines and panoramic carriages will be equipped with new rolling stock, so they can still be used without any problem. The carriages will automatically adjust to the difference in height of the platforms. www.mob.ch

 

 

First- and Business-Class Lounge Added

First and Business-Class passengers on Emirates can relax before flights in the new Zurich airport lounge. The facilities include a business center with eight work stations, flat-screen TV and designer bathrooms with showers. Get more information at www.emirates.com/.

 

 

ICE SKATING IN LUCARNO

A carpet of ice is now available in the Piazza Grande, Locarno, Switzerland's "city lounge" for adults and youngsters who want to skate against a beautiful Christmas backdrop with a magical atmosphere.

Next to the rink, the domes of the Igloo bars are warm and cozy, and are the ideal place for an aperitif and meetings with friends. At night, along with the music, the spectacular structures of Locarno On Ice are immersed in a magical dance of multi-colored lights reflecting on the ice, transparent igloo domes and a mirror ball suspended over the rink. There's also music during the day, including live performances from both solo artists and guest bands.

The Locarno On Ice program also features attractions specifically for kids, as well as a traditional New Year's Eve Party.

Also, between December 11 and the 28th, alongside the ice rink, a Christmas market, complete with typical Northern European traditional vendor stalls, with craftsmen and their wares from all across Switzerland and beyond, are displayed.

For more information go to
www.locarnoonice.ch

 

IN 2009 BELGIUM IS THE PLACE TO BE :

On June 2, 2009, the long awaited Magritte Museum opened its doors. Located in the center of Brussels, the museum brings together more than 150 works by the world famous surrealist painter. A new museum dedicated to Herge, the father of Tintin, will also open in 2009, located outside Brussels in Louvain-la-Neuve, in time to continue celebrating the Year of the Comic Strip in Brussels and French Speaking Belgium. Tintin, the Smurfs, Spirou, Lucky Luke, Gaston Lagaffe, Boule & Bill will be honored all year long with many exhibitions and other events. Also in 2009, Liege's Grand Curtius Museum (including the famous Arms Museum) will reopen; Liege is easy to access thanks to the new train station designed by Santiago Calatrava (1 hour from Brussels).

 

 

NEW EUROPE TRAVEL PASS CARD

A new $10 Europe Travel Pass, offering discounts for same-day travel services such as sightseeing, excursions, renting bikes, boat rides and more in 24 countries is now being sold. Order the new pass at www.europetravelpass.com.

 

ROME ROLLS OUT BIKES

Yes, bikes, are now becoming the rage in Rome.

You can stroll across the piazza or you can take your fancy sports car out on the road, but in Roman the latest kick is to bike. The 2 1/2 million citizens of Rome can now hop aboard a bike--there are 250 of them for rent. All you have to do is go to a travel office, register, pay a fee and go peddling away.

Actually, if you use the bike under an hour--it's free. And it costs only about 1 euro for the next half hour, with higher fees the longer you have the bike out. Rome residents must pay a 30 euro deposit. There are nearly 20 bike stands around the city that are open between 7 a.m. and 11 p.m. every day.

The bikes limit traffic in the city, appeal to those who don't want to spend a lot of money, and are a healthy way for people to get about.

 

 

LOST LUGGAGE HELP
How do you keep from losing your luggage?

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics reports that mishandled airline baggage is up 32.3% during the last several months. Reportedly, one in every 125 travelers has a piece of luggage missing.

There’s not much that you can do in this regard when you are leaving your luggage to airplane, airport, bus, boat or train personnel.

But there is a better way to make sure that if your luggage is lost—and the tag comes off the outside of the luggage—that you mitigate the problem.

Most people do not put another name/address tag on the inside of their luggage, but that’s an easy way to help you get your luggage back. Write your name/address/telephone on a large piece of paper and put it on top of your belongings.

BIKING AROUND THE PROBLEM
In the Netherlands, there are more bicycles than people: 20 million bikes, 16.5 million people.

At the Amsterdam Central Train Station, five levels of bikes are stored on a daily basis, so it behooves bicycle owners to know where their bikes are when they return to retrieve them.

Best bet is to memorize where you put your bike (level, area, row) and mark it somehow with a piece of bright ribbon or other distinguishing mark. If you don’t remember, it could take you hours to find it again.