Rome, Italy

Travel dates: Select dates through March

By Sarah Roos
Travelzoo Staff

Spend six nights in The Eternal City for $649 — a savings of $500 off the cost of packaging this vacation separately. Offered on select departure dates through March, this Rome vacation from go-today.com includes:

• Roundtrip airfare to Rome from New York City
• Six nights’ accommodations at a 3.5-star hotel
• Breakfast daily
• Hotel taxes and service charges
• Airline fuel surcharges

Hotel upgrades are also available, starting at $100 more per person.

Book by Feb. 5: Click here for details and to book with go-today.com. Or call 800-227-3235 to reserve over the phone. Note: Prices listed on go-today’s Web site will initially appear as $749 per person. Enter promo code TZ012710 at checkout to get an immediate $100 off per person. Airport taxes of $170 apply. 

go-today.com

Eurail pass is a wonderful plan for everybody who travels to Europe. One can have a gala round in Europe, with the Eurail pass in the pocket. It gives flexibility, convenience and economy, at the same time. Your pass can extend up to nearly 2 months, if you wish. There is several kind of Eurail pass available, according to the need of the travelers. They include, Eurail travel day pass, Eurail flexi-pass, Eurail saver pass, Eurail youth pass, Eurail single country pass, Eurail regional pass, Eurail select pass and Eurail global pass.

Ahead of starting your trip to Europe, make a good knowledge on the Eurail pass and book it too. Many people prefer to pick up the pass when reaching Europe, to avoid missing it anywhere during the travel. But it takes time, which you can spend trotting around the area.

European railway network is a compile of 20 different countries, where they have regular connecting trains, everyday. With the wide options on the Eurail pass, you can easily pick out the right form for you and you need not pay additional money for the unused tickets for train. Some tickets will go unused, especially when you travel around the area, which is unfamiliar to you. Single country Eurail pass starts at $57, a nominal rate in Europe.

Eurail select pass is an ideal pass owing to its flexible nature. With a select pass, you can visit three or four or five European countries. The travel days may vary from 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 10 over complete 2 months. When it booked for 5 countries, then you get the stretched days for 15. Both consecutive and non-consecutive days can be used for traveling with Eurail select pass. The youth rail pass can also be included with Eurail select pass.

In a standard Eurail select pass, usually first class traveling is allotted for all. If you include the saver pass with select pass, 2 to 5 in a group can travel together in the first class compartment. Select pass for youth includes second class option for the chaps less than 26 years.

Apart from the basic amenities, additional vantages go along with Eurail select pass. You can have discounts on train travel, ferry and even in some bus fares, when you are employing the associated companies. (Know which are associated). Further, you can avail hotel discounts. These offers are not always the same, so you need to check for details, prior to booking.

Paris

Travel dates: Select dates through March: +$100 in April, May

By Sarah Roos
Travelzoo Staff

Spend six nights in Paris for $699 — about the price of airfare alone. Offered on select departure dates through March, this special from go-today.com saves up to $500 off the cost of putting it together yourself.

The Paris package includes:

• Roundtrip airfare to Paris from New York City
• Six nights’ accommodations at the Comfort Lamarck
• Breakfast daily
• Hotel taxes and service charges
• Airline fuel surcharges

Located in Paris’ colorful 18th district, the budget-class Comfort Lamarck is a short walk to the famous Sacre Couer Church and the Moulin Rouge. The Metro is located across the street, offering easy access to the rest of the city. Many hotel upgrades are available, starting at $70 more per person.

The $699 price is good for March departures. Travel in April or May for just $100 more per person.

Book by Jan. 31: Click here for details and to book with go-today.com.  Or call 800-227-3235 to reserve over the phone. Note: Airport taxes of $170 apply. 

go-today.com

Provided by: Aer Lingus
Expiration: 01-31-10
Travel Dates: Through March 24, 2010.


For discounted airfares to Spain, check out what Aer Lingus has to offer. Book a weekday flight for use by March 24, 2010, and travel from New York or Boston to Madrid, Barcelona or Malaga from $237 each way.
For information and reservations, visit the Aer Lingus Web site, and click on "special offers."

Sample Fares

Departure
Destination
Fares

Boston
Madrid
$247 OW

Boston
Barcelona
$253 OW

New York
Madrid
$237 OW

New York
Barcelona
$243 OW

New York
Malaga
$243 OW

Travel Dates: Through March 24, 2010.

Advance Purchase Requirements: May apply.

Expiration: 01-31-10

Minimum/Maximum Stay: May apply.

Blackout Dates: May apply.

Additional Fees: Fares listed do not include applicable government taxes and airport fees. Baggage charges and other additional fees may apply.

Further Restrictions: Tickets must be purchased at the time reservations are made. Seats are limited and may not be available on all flights. Tickets are nonrefundable. Fares, taxes, fees, rules and offers are subject to change without notice. Further restrictions may apply.

Train Deals
European Country Passes
Get Our Best Travel Deals and Tips
Post Your Rail Pass Questions
If you’re planning to travel by train through many countries in Europe in one long trip, a Eurail Global Pass is the way to go. Several types of Eurail Global Passes are available for unlimited rail travel in 22 countries: Austria, Belgium, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Not sure which pass is best for you? Read on.
Eurail Global Pass
The Eurail Global Pass (formerly known as the Eurailpass) is the standard pass, available for unlimited first-class travel for consecutive periods ranging from 15 days to three months. Keep in mind that if you choose, say, the 15-day option, you must travel for 15 consecutive days; if you skip a day because you want to linger a little longer in Paris, you’ll lose that day of travel.
Eurail Global Pass Flexi
If you’re planning to spend a few days in each city before moving on, the Eurail Global Pass Flexi may be a better option. This pass offers first-class travel for any 10 days or any 15 days within a two-month period. With this type of pass, you’ll want to choose your travel days wisely; if you’re taking a brief hop between two nearby cities, it may be more cost-effective to simply buy a point-to-point ticket for that day and save the travel days on your pass for longer, more expensive trips.
Saver Passes
Traveling with at least one buddy? Try a Saver pass, which grants a 15 percent discount to two or more people traveling together. To take advantage of this pass, you and your companion(s) must travel the same itinerary together at all times.
Passes for Youths and Children
Travelers between the ages of 12 and 26 (on the first day of use) can save 35 percent by purchasing the Eurail Global Pass Youth, which essentially provides the same benefits as the regular Eurail Global Pass, except that you travel in second class rather than first class. Passes for children age 4 - 11 cost half of the adult fare, and children under 4 travel free.

Eurail Select Passes
While Eurail Global Passes are ideal for extensive multi-nation transportation, travelers who are visiting only three to five countries may be better off purchasing a Eurail Select Pass. With this flexible "designer" pass, you may choose to travel within three, four or five bordering European countries for a duration of 5, 6, 8 or 10 days within a two-month period. If selecting five countries, you also have the option of 15 travel days. The 24 different countries available allow for hundreds of different combinations. As with the Global Passes, the Select Pass also comes in Youth and Saver varieties.
Other Tips
If you’re visiting only one or two countries, or if your itinerary is limited to a specific region (such as the British Isles), you may wish to consider a European Country Rail Pass.
Rail passes can be purchased in the U.S. from travel agents or directly from Rail Europe. In most cases, they cannot be purchased after you arrive in Europe. Be sure to compare all of your options carefully before you buy, and weigh the price of the passes against the cost of individual point-to-point tickets. You can see individual fares and purchase all of the rail passes mentioned above at RailEurope.com.
For help purchasing your pass, see Buying a European Rail Pass.

Get a FREE Eurail Select pass from Rail Europe with the purchase of a Eurostar Premier ticket

By Seamus Maguire

1. The Six-Nations Rugby Series. Ireland are defending Grand Slam Rugby Champions for only the second time since 1949 and play three of their five matches at home in Croke Park. Visitors this year will be Italy, (6th February) Wales (13th March) and Scotland (20th March). Any game is good, but the Welsh one is particularly attractive this year as a repeat of the game that clinched the title for Ireland in 2009. This will also be the final series of rugby matches to be played in Croke Park as the IRFU move into their new Aviva Stadium in Lansdowne Road which only has a capacity of 50,000 compared to 82,000 in Croker. Soak up the wonderful atmosphere that only Dublin can offer on a rugby weekend!

2. Rod Stewart Concert. Rod Stewart appears at the top concert venue in Dublin, The 02, formerly known as The Point on May 11th. One of the world’s great entertainers, Stewart provides a dazzling nights entertainment despite getting on in the years. Probably already sold out but there is always a chance of a second night being added at the last moment.

3. The All-Ireland Club Hurling and Football Finals. These are held on the 17th March each year. This is when the unsung heroes of club football get a chance to shine on the big time stage of Croke Park as they battle it out for the honour of being crowned club champions of Ireland in their respective codes.

4. St. Patrick’s Day Festival. The annual party in honour of our patron saint takes place from the 12th until the 17th March with a huge variety of entertainment to please young and old culminating in the St Patrick’s Day Parade through the streets of Dublin on March 17th. A now traditional end to the festival is the massive fireworks display that takes place down by the River Liffey on the night of March 17th.

5. The Dublin Handel Festival. This is an annual event that takes place every April to bring to life the connections between Handel and the City of Dublin for Dubliners, Irish people and international visitors, through a week long programme that celebrates the cultural riches of the 18th century in a modern and contemporary context. This year it is on from the 10th to the 13th April at the National Concert Hall.

6. The Phoenix Park Motor Races. Following the highly successful running of the 2009 Phoenix Park Motor Races, a chance to feel like you are at the Silverstone Grand Prix arrives on the 14th and 15th August. The circuit to be used for the 2010 races will be the Oldtown Circuit, with a change to Mountjoy Corner.

7. The All-Ireland County Football and Hurling Finals. The two really glamour days of the year for the GAA occur on the 5th and 17th September as Croke Parks holds two of the great days of the year in Dublin. Kilkenny are defending 2009 hurling champions and Kerry is their football equivalent. What bets the two are not there again in 2010?

8. Adidas Dublin City Marathon. Now firmly established as one of the great marathon races of the world, the Dublin City Marathon, sponsored by Adidas, takes on the 25th October 2010, which is the October Bank Holiday Monday. The race provides a wonderful atmosphere whilst raising huge money for worth charities.

9. Dublin Horse Show. The Failte Ireland Dublin Horse Show is a wonderful week of showjumping for both professional and amateur participants, which attracts thousands of spectators and hundreds of competitors to the RDS in Ballsbridge. The 2010 event runs from the 4th August to the 8th of August

10. The Flora Women’s Mini Marathon. This annual event which will be held on the 7th June 2010 is the biggest all women’s event of its kind in the world. It has grown steadily in numbers since it began in 1983 with its popularity increasing significantly over the last few years. Over those years some 600,000 women have entered the event and raised millions for charity in the process

Further Information

Seamus invites you to take a virtual tour of Ireland through Look Around Ireland - the Ireland Travel Guide. Check out our Map of Ireland

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Seamus_Maguire

Ireland

Travel dates: June 16 - August 22; Off season from $599

Top: Cliffs of Moher
Middle: Adare Manor
Bottom: Villa Living Room

By Allison Wylie
Travelzoo Staff

Explore western Ireland’s lush landscapes and famed attractions in peak summer season for $799 per person including airfare (based on four travelers). Sceptre Tours has reduced pricing on a six-night luxury package that saves $1300 off regular summer rates.

The package is available for Sunday-Thursday departures, June 16 - Aug. 22. It includes:

• Roundtrip airfare to Shannon from New York City; +$20 from Boston; +$70 from Chicago
• A three-bedroom private villa for six nights on the grounds of the 5-star Adare Manor near Limerick
• Full-size manual car rental with unlimited mileage to visit nearby Galway, Killarney, Cliffs of Moher, Blarney Castle and more (upgrade to an automatic car with GPS navigation for $59 per person)
• Admission to the Belleek Pottery Visitor Centre in County Fermanagh
• Discounted traditional afternoon tea for $39 per person
• Pricing for two people and for groups also available; Upgrade to business class airfare for an additional $499 per person each way on Aer Lingus (regularly $3,000)

Located about 40 minutes from the Shannon airport, Adare Manor is a historic Irish castle. It was rated among Europe’s top three resorts in Conde Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2009.

Book by Jan. 15: Click here for more information and to book this offer online through Sceptre Tours. To speak with an Ireland expert and book by phone, call 800-221-0924 and mention Travelzoo. There is an additional convenience charge of $25 to book by phone.

Note: Winter and spring travel starts at $599 per person. Final pricing will include approximately $125-$175 per person in airline taxes, depending on the airline and connections.

Sceptre Tours
phone: 800-221-0924
Click here for more information

Barcelona, Spain

Travel dates: Through March

By Michael Hicks
Travelzoo Staff

Fares to Barcelona, Spain, have hit astounding lows this week. Departures from many U.S. cities have been reduced up to $300 off regular prices this time of year.

Travel select dates through March for as little as $518 roundtrip, including taxes. But don’t wait to book — these fares are unadvertised and likely to sell out quickly.  

Sample prices to Barcelona (roundtrip with taxes):

• Houston … $518
• New York City … $521
• Tampa … $521
• Seattle … $535
• New Orleans … $538
• Denver … $545
• San Diego … $569
• Philadelphia … $573
• Phoenix … $593

There are more than 20 cities for less than $600 roundtrip, including Minneapolis, Cincinnati, Boston, Detroit, Washington, D.C., St. Louis, Kansas City and more.
Click here and use Fly.com to scour hundreds of travel providers in one search. Note: Prices can vary slightly from day to day, so be flexible when searching for the best fares. 

Follow us on Twitter: Stay current on all the latest airfare deals from your city with Fly.com’s new Twitter feeds.

Escorted Tours: Baltic States & Russia

Five Stars of Scandinavia, Inc. is an Incoming Agent for Tourism to Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden as well as Greenland, Spitsbergen, the Faroe Islands, the Baltic States, and Russia.

Friendly, dependable and knowledgeable, combined with our international experience and expertise, makes us your reliable partner in travels.

• Pearls of the Baltic 2010
• Pearls of the Baltic & Moscow 2010
• Jewels of the Baltic 2010
• The Baltic Capitals 2010
• Classical Baltics 2010
• Classical Baltics Plus from Riga 2010
• Classical Baltics Plus from Vilnius 2010
• Baltic Vision 2010
• Russian Glories, Baltic Treasures

Feature Cruise/Tour

St. Petersburg Cruise on board the Kristina Regina 2010

4 days / 3 nights, Finland - Russia - Finland | ONBOARD M/S KRISTINA REGINA
St. Petersburg is only a short boat trip away from Helsinki, the capital of Finland. In St. Petersburg you will have two days to discover the hidden treasures of this Russian classical city. Sightseeing tour and several other guided tours will be arranged in St. Petersburg. And you may visit St. Petersburg visa-free if you participate in the ship organized excursions! Easy and convenient.

Buy one airfare and your companion flies for FREE or save up to $400 per couple.^† Click here for terms and conditions. Restrictions apply, based on availability. Ask your agent for details today!
The world-renowned Oberammergau Passion Play began in 1634 when residents from the town sought reprieve from the Bubonic Plague. The inhabitants of the village vowed that if God were to spare them from the Plague, they would perform a play every ten years depicting the life and death of Jesus. Not a single person fell victim to the Plague after the villagers’ promise. That first performance sparked a heartfelt tradition that lives on today…
People from all over the world gather to witness this famous event
The Passion Play performances will begin again in 2010 from May to October, when thousands of Oberammergau’s residents will once again display this powerful story.
Collette has 8 fantastic programs to Europe that feature this amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience:

• Discover Switzerland & the Passion Play
  10 days featuring Engelberg, Innsbruck, Oberammergau
• Italy with the Passion Play
  12 days featuring Rome, Assisi, Florence, Venice, Oberammergau
• Imperial Cities & the Passion Play
  10 days featuring Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Oberammergau
• Alpine Countries & the Passion Play
  13 days featuring Vienna, Salzburg, Oberammergau, Black Forest, Zermatt, Lucerne
• France & Bavaria
  11 days featuring Paris, Strasbourg, Wurzburg, Oberammergau
• Discover Croatia
  12 days featuring Dubrovnik, Split, Plitvice, Bled, Oberammergau
• Alpine Explorer with Glacier Express & the Passion Play
  11 days featuring Stresa, Zermatt, St. Moritz, Innsbruck, Oberammergau
• Bavaria
  8 days featuring Innsbruck, Munich, Nuremberg, Oberammergau

Performed just once every 10 years … don’t wait another decade for this incredible experience.

Terms & Conditions:
^† The $400 off per couple/$200 off per person promotion is valid on new air inclusive bookings only made between October 1, 2009 � December 31, 2009 for the following Oberammergau tours: Discover Croatia � June, July & August 2010 departures; Imperial Cities, Alpine Countries, Alpine Explorer, Discover Switzerland, France & Bavaria � May, June, July & August 2010 departures; Italy � May, July & August 2010 departures. The $200 off per couple/$100 off person is valid on new air inclusive bookings only made between October 1, 2009 � December 31, 2009 for Bavaria with Passion Play for any 2010 departure. Offers are not combinable with any other offer and are not valid on group or existing bookings.
The Oberammergau Free Air is valid for new bookings with deposit made from October 10, 2009 - December 31, 2009 for travel as follows: Exploring the Alpine Countries, Alpine Explorer with Glacier Express, Discover Switzerland, Italy with Oberammergau, Imperial Cities with Obrammergau: 5/1/2010 - 5/23/2010. Offer is valid from the following gateways based on availability when one air ticket is purchased at full cost: ATL, BWI, BOS, ORD, DEN, DFW, NYC, LAX, PHL, PHX, SEA, WAS, EWR. All rates include airline fuel surcharges, airline taxes & fees are additional: September 11th Security Fee up to $10.00; Passenger Facility Charge (PFCs) of up to $18 per passenger; Federal Domestic Flight Segment Fee of up to $3.50 USD applies per passenger, per segment; US or International Departure and Arrival Fees up to $160 which vary by itinerary. Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage. Please contact your airline or refer to its website for detailed information regarding your airline’s checked baggage policies. Offer is not applicable for groups or combinable with any other offer and may be withdrawn at any time, subject to availability restrictions. For travel agent bookings, air is non-comissionable. Not available for booking online, please call for additional details.