Europe: A Welcomed Winter Retreat for Americans

Instead of suffering from the hot temperatures and long lines at various attractions during the busy summer travel season, imagine wandering through Venice's wintry fog and stopping at a warm café to eat rich, Italian foods beside a roaring fire; gazing at the snow covered peaks of the Bavarian Alps or cruising the Main-Danube listening to the holiday music playing in Eastern Europe’s famous Christmas Markets. For those already planning, or perhaps fantasizing about, their winter getaways and considering Europe as an option, Globus today introduced 37 new vacations. Ranging from four to 15 days, itineraries include everything from Christmastime vacations through Europe’s most popular cities to in-depth discoveries of each destination against the backdrops of their beautiful winter landscapes.

To celebrate the launch of its European Winter vacations, Globus is offering a discount for those who book early. Travelers can receive $150 off per person on the air-inclusive price of all 2005/2006 Globus or Monograms Europe Winter vacations booked between June 15 and August 31, 2005, for travel taking place between November 15, 2005 and March 31, 2006.

“Winter is the perfect time to travel to Europe,” said Scott Nisbet, vice president of sales and marketing for the Globus family of brands. “Travel packages cost as much as 40 percent less during the off-season, the summer crowds are gone and there is a plethora of experiences to encounter. Globus and Monograms offer a range of vacations for every type of traveler during this time, each designed to help them truly discover Europe’s winter wonderland.”

Globus provides guests six travel experience options when traveling to Europe this winter that cater to Americans’ different travel styles and needs:

• Christmas Vacations: Perfect for those who want to get away this winter and experience the holiday season in Europe.
• Monograms: Allows independent travelers to enjoy their vacation, on their own, with the services of an expert Local Host
• Panoramas: Provides a comprehensive view of an entire region in a single vacation
• Regional Discoveries: Created for travelers interested in focusing their trip on one country or region
• LeisureStyle® Vacations: Provides more time to savor local culture, discover and learn things that interest each traveler without sparing much-needed relaxation time
• River Cruises: Allows travelers the chance to experience Europe by water, relaxing as charming landscapes pass by and porting in romantic villages, discovering culture along the way

Winter Vacation Highlights

Christmas Vacations (7 trips), highlights include:

• Christmastime in England takes travelers on an eight-day journey through London, Oxford and Stratford-upon-Avon, decorated in English holiday splendor.
• The 10-day Christmastime in Berlin & Eastern Europe begins in Berlin, decked out for the traditional German Adventszeit (Advent season). Travelers will also enjoy browsing through several Christmas markets, including Dresden, Prague, Budapest and Vienna.

Monograms (8 trips), highlights include:

• Three-night vacations in either London, Paris, or Rome allow travelers a short winter European reprieve, with the help of a Local Host who provides insider tips for experiencing each city’s off-the-beaten-path destinations.
• Nine nights in Rome, Florence & Venice take travelers on a thorough look at three of Italy’s most famous cities, with behind-the-scenes information and assistance from Local Hosts.

European Panoramas (6 trips), highlights include:

• European Sampler includes 10 days through Europe’s greatest cities during the holidays including London, Amsterdam, Heidelberg, Lucerne and Paris.
• The 12-day Best of Italy & France vacation features a thorough overview of historic sites in these countries’ most popular cities, including Rome, Assisi, Venice, Ferrara, Florence, Pisa, Nice, Marseilles and Paris.

Regional Discoveries (13 trips), highlights include:

• Introduction to Ireland includes an eight-day exploration of Dublin, Ennis, Killarney and Waterford, as well as tours of important sights and beautiful scenery between each city.
• The 11-day Imperial Splendors travels to Prague’s Hradcany Castle, Budapest’s Coronation Church and Vienna’s St. Stephen’s Cathedral, with stops in Salzburg and Munich.

LeisureStyle® Vacations (1 trip), includes:

• Italy at Leisure is an 11-day vacation, featuring three-night stays in Rome and Florence, a two-night stay in Venice and one in Milan. Travelers will enjoy the Italian winter at a leisurely pace, with more time to explore each magnificent city.

Avalon Waterways & Globus River Cruises (2 trips), includes:

• For those that enjoy the leisurely pace of river cruising, the 10-day Christmastime Cruise takes travelers on a holiday cruise down the Main-Danube Canal and the Danube River in Austria and Germany.
• Tulip Time Cruise offers travelers a nine-day cruise experience through Holland and Belgium at the end of winter, during the first signs of spring, and features tours of 18th-century windmills in Kinderdijk and of the famous bulb flowers at Keukenhof Gardens.

About Globus
Globus is the world’s leader in escorted travel with more than 75 years’ experience opening the door to the world. Globus offers a world of choices with vacations to six continents, visiting more than 60 countries, with eight travel styles to choose from. For four years in a row, Globus has been selected by Recommend Magazine as the best Tour Operator to Europe, and a top finalist for North America, Asia, Latin America and Africa. The privately held company has offices worldwide with its U.S. headquarters in Littleton, Colo.

Globus vacations include: deluxe, superior first class or first class hotels; daily breakfasts, many dinners; professional Tour Directors or Local Hosts; sightseeing; transportation; hotel taxes; service charges and baggage handling. Consumers can book reservations or request a Globus European Winter Vacations brochure by seeing a preferred travel agent, calling toll free 866.313.2855 or visiting www.globusjourneys.com.

SOURCE Globus