Van Gogh Loses to Global Warming, Cruise Lovers Rejoice

(Actually, it was Hendrick Avercamp who immortalized Dutch ice-skaters in his paintings, but Van Gogh makes for a better title. )

According to the NY Times, there is an old ice-skating race in Netherlands, a veritable ice-ultra-marathon 125-mile long. Unfortunately, as you probably heard in Al Gore's Oscar-winning Inconvenient Truth, Polar Bears (to be found at higher latitudes than Holland) have an increasingly hard time finding ice for their Coca-Cola glasses, so there is no wonder this race has been indefinitely postponed until everyone drives hybrids (not exactly, but that would be rather cool.)

As with almost all negative news, there is a positive twist - River Cruisers are probably going to be able to enjoy their favorite travel ways all year round. And speaking of river cruises, how about this Tulips and Windmills 9-night river cruise starting at $277 per night (as a plus, it includes deeply discounted flights from North America.)

Looking for more river cruises? Go here for a list of best of Europe's river cruises (including air.)

Mykonos, Greece

As if you needed another reason to visit this Aegean island...but here it is just in case: celebrity-spotting. The NY Times tells us which destinations are great for such endeavours. For some reason, islands and private islands are high on the celebrity priority list.

NY Times article here.

While if you go to Mustique, a private island in the Caribbean, you might need to save up, Mykonos is more affordable. For example, you will pay little over $1,000 for a 7-night trip, including flights from NYC, 3 nights in Athens, and 3 nights on Mykonos.

Athens - Mykonos from $1,045 (including flights from/to Athens.)

Spain, gladiators, Romans

There is no doubt in my mind that Gladiator (the movie) helped rekindle America's infatuation with the glory of Roman Empire. Amid a flurry of books, Discovery channel shows, made-for-TV-movies, travel guides saw an opportunity as well.

While the obvious place to look for Roman artifacts/history/monuments is Italy, Frommer's wisely advises readers about a variety of places outside Italy, to include Turkey, Germany, Israel, and France. It makes perfect sense.

What doesn't make sense in my opinion is why they left out Spain, where one literally steps on Roman stones, aqueducts, roads almost everywhere. According to Wikipedia, we find out not only that Trajan, one of the most successful Roman Emperors, came from Hispania, but also that Spain was effectively under Roman rule for 7 centuries.

For example, check this Roman Route itinerary from EuropeanDestinations: Madrid - Seville - Merida - Trujillo - Ciudad Rodrigo - Zamora - Astorga - Burgos - Madrid.

Brussels is cheap

And now you have a good reason to go. So: if it's Tuesday... actually if it's March 2-4, 2007, it must be the Brussels Art Festival, or BRXL Bravo. (Special thanks to my source: a special Frommer's article on world events and festivals.)

It is probably too late too book a weekend stay in Brussels (at a decent price,) but if you happen to be there the weekend of 2-4 March, you might want to take advantage of the special 3-day pass that costs a mere 10 €, which will give you access to all 200 events taking place in Brussels. Here's more info about what to do in Belgium, if you are interested: Belgium Tourism Office.

Actually, I just checked, and I must swallow my words. It turns out that a 3-night stay, with flights leaving JFK at 7:20 pm, would only cost $564 per person, provided that you bring a (boy)(girl)friend/spouse. The source? European Destinations.

Check out this screen shot:

Portugal's Costa del Sol: Cascais

France has its famed Cote d'Azur. Spain has its Costa del Sol.

What makes Portugal's Costa del Sol slightly different is Cascais, once an exclusive high-end resort where the Spanish King went in exile from Franco's dictatorship. No longer exclusive nor outrageously expensive, according to the NY Times. A mere 20 minute drive from Lisbon, Cascais has apparently become a popular weekend destination for Lisboetas. And there is more to it. NY Times would not be NY Times without putting an art spin to this article - which seems to be the theme lately (see Geneva's Collection Privee.) Yes, there are some world-class art and art galleries.

So, if you want to go without paying an arm and a leg for King Juan Carlos' residence, try this fly-and-drive package: Costa do Sol - Cascais. You will pay $545 for round-trip flights (from the aforementioned NY City - air taxes not included,) hotel for 5 nights, and car rental for 6 days.

One more reason to visit Geneva

This is exactly the type of article I expect to find in the Travel section of the NY Times: an invitation to visit Geneva's Private Collection, where one can find:

an eccentric collection of vintage industrial-design furnishings and midcentury modern gems.

Does this make you get up, go to your computer, and book a transatlantic flight and a few nights in Geneva? Unless you are an enthusiast, probably not.

But here's something you can do: book a trip Paris - Geneva for 6 nights including international flights, 3 nights in each city, and inter-city high-speed train for only $865 from NYC.

Bon voyage!

Do you believe in hotel rankings?

Apparently, the NY Times does not, as it publishes a rather glamorous piece on Hotel de Rome, ranked on TripAdvisor.com #137 out of 400+ hotels in Berlin.

Quoth the writer:

For years, if you were a movie star or a head of state visiting Berlin, there was only one place to stay: the Hotel Adlon. That has changed with the October opening of the lavish Hotel de Rome housed in the former central bank of the old East Berlin.

To its credit, the hotel was open in October of 2006, so the score it received from 4 reviewers does not reflect reality (yet).

So don't forget to post your own opinions of the hotel after you visit Berlin.

Unconventional City Guides

I got to discover a rather unconventional city guide (Le Cool) due to a post in Gridskipper (which is a rather cool idea of urban travel blog done right).

According to the Le Cool website,

le cool magazine is a free, weekly magazine presenting a selection of concerts, djs, exhibitions, odd movies and other cultural events and happenings.

It's worth subscribing if you plan on traveling to any of the cities: Barcelona, Madrid, Lisbon, Amsterdam, London, Istanbul, Milan, and Rome. You will not regret it.

Shop 'til you drop in exotic Europe

Charis Atlas Heelan of Frommer's posted this past Thursday a list of tips for shopping in exotic locations (Shanghai, Bangkok, Seoul, Hong Kong, but also Athens, and Istanbul.)

We find out that shopping in Euros is not necessarily scary if you know where to look in Athens, and that Turkey is, in addition to socks, a major clothing brand producer.

So if you are to heed Ms. Heelan's advice, go on a shopping spree in Athens and Istanbul. And here's the package to help you do it: Athens and Istanbul by Air - 6 nights from $745 - if you travel by the end of March.

Go to Prague!

So I was maybe a bit too rough on the editors at Fodor's Travel Wire for posting a too-expensive-for-my-taste deal. However, they redeemed themselves by recommending Aria in Prague, a new, musical-themed hotel (also ranked #13 in TripAdvisor.)

Good job! (Although I might have to ask why do you advertise a Valentine's Day package on Valentine's day?)

Regardless, let's say this promotion (€690 for 2 nights, breakfast, and a dinner) is still valid next Valentine's day. Google tells me

690 Euros = 896.79300 U.S. dollars

I would say: if you are going to fly to Prague, you have to spend at least 3 nights. But why not - if you are still in a romantic mood next year - go to Paris first, stay 3 nights, then continue on (by air) to Prague, stay 3 more nights. Here's to Paris and Prague by air for 6 nights from $589!

Romantic Venice

Another year, another Valentine's day, another month or so of marketing messages full of diamonds, flowers, chocolate, luxury. The idea is of course to impress your loved one by showering them with the most expensive gifts you can find, or they won't love you back (or so I understood.)

On a seemingly unrelated, yet-emailed-on-Feb-14 note, Fodor's Travel Wire "found" a good deal: a 3-night package at some upper class hotel in Venice for €1,450. While this might appeal to some, I am a big fan of good value for your money. (on a secondary note, the hotel is ranked 64 out of 358 on TripAdvisor; ouch.)

Luckily, our friends at EuropeanDestinations have somehow listened to some complaints regarding overnight train travel in Europe, and put together the ultimate romantic package: Paris and Venice by air. For $859 (plus taxes), you can fly into Paris, spend 3 nights, fly to Venice, stay 3 more nights, and then fly back to the US.

Call me a cheap-o, but that's how you impress your loved one: by saving them $1,000 on a trip to Europe.

However, if you have never traveled by train (in Europe,) you should at least try. The same city combination (plus one night on a train from Paris to Venice) is available for $819.

St Patrick's Day 2007

If you are thinking about traveling to Ireland for St Patrick's day this year, you might be cutting it close (target date: March 17), yet there is still some time left for planning a somewhat inexpensive trip.

And there is plenty of help when it comes to finding that Irish vacation you always wanted. For starters, Frommer's dutifully posted an article on how to find somewhat discounted air deals to Ireland, as well as some vacation packages from the big providers as well as from the somewhat Irish-oriented packagers such as CIE Tours, Sceptre Tours, Dooley Vacations, and Go-Today.

All in all, nothing but good advice from Frommer's. However, they somehow have left out the new kid on the block in terms of Europe packages: EuropeanDestinations.

On this green note, I am pleased to see the following self-drive packages that would satisfy your inner-most Irish desires (from farm houses to castles):

Live Like a Lord: 7 nights from $1,219 (incl. air + car rental)
A self drive through Ireland in Style. Spend your nights in medieval castles, ranging from the 11th century to the 18th century. Visit Dublin, Galway, Connemara, Clare and Limerick.

King and Kinsmen: 7 nights from $839 (incl. air + car rental)
Sample all facets of life in Ireland, with stays at a Farmhouse, a Bed & Breakfast, a castle and a hotel. Visit Dublin, Galway, Connemara, Limerick, Kerry and Kilkea.

Celtic Treasures: 7 nights from $2,149 (incl. air + car rental)
Now this is the luxury package Frommer's was looking for: stay in some of Europe's finest hotels, ranging from a stylish city center 5 star hotel to Ireland's oldest inhabited Castle. Visit Dublin, Galway, Cong, Connemara, County Clare, Kerry, and Kenmare or West Cork Region and the Midlands.

Georgian Farmhouse Tour of Ireland: 7 nights from $739 (incl. air + car rental)
How better to experience Ireland than by staying in stylish Georgian or other period/historic farmhouses, where history and the warm Irish welcome can be combined. Visit Dublin, Wicklow, Kilkenny, Cork and West Cork or Kerry, Ring of Kerry, Limerick or Tipperary and Kildare or Meath.

Go Green - Irish Travel Inspiration

Whatever draws you to Ireland (grass, cottages, castles, beer or magic) here are some beautiful pictures from The Guardian Unlimited (a UK publication) to get you motivated to book that one Irish trip you always wanted.


Cheers!