Beyond the Beach: Spring Break in Europe
If you’ve already done the beach scene for Spring Break and are looking for a different kind of spring vacation, look toward Europe. Depending on the length of your break and your interests, you might explore one of the continent’s cities in depth; or, take a tour of several cities or countries.
Some of Europe’s most popular destinations are Paris, London and Rome: all are among this year’s top 10 international vacation destinations, according to a recent Travel Trends Survey conducted by Travel Leaders. Cruises of the European ports along the Mediterranean Sea are in the top 10 as well. While these are all fantastic Spring Break destinations, there are many others – some a little off the beaten path – to consider.
Salzburg, Austria, has a gorgeous Alpine setting; a well-preserved city center full of Baroque architecture; and students from three universities to provide a lively atmosphere. There’s a lot to see, including the birthplace of Mozart, the massive Hohensalzburg Castle, the Salzburg Cathedral and Nonnberg Abbey, where Maria von Trapp of “The Sound of Music” fame was once a teacher. The Salzach River flows through the city, and the riverfront provides a lovely setting for cafes and bars where visitors enjoy coffee, pastries and beer.
Built on the River Lee near Ireland’s southern coast, Cork is the country’s second-largest city. The very walkable city center includes lots of shopping, dining, and entertainment along Patrick, Grand Parade and Oliver Plunkett streets. There are numerous museums to explore, along with art galleries, breweries and historic sites like Elizabeth Fort. A short trip out of town will take you to Blarney Castle, where you can kiss the famous stone said to grant the gift of eloquence.
Seville is the cultural center of southern Spain, known for its beautiful buildings and monuments, such as the Cathedral of Seville and the Alcazar Palace. The city has a wonderful array of museums, gardens and parks. In the evenings, enjoy a variety of tapas – small plates of delicious, traditional Spanish food – with a refreshing glass of sangria. Then, go out to watch the dancing at a flamenco club or street festival. Among the many local crafts are handmade tapas plates – take some home so you can impress your family and friends by recreating some of the dishes you enjoyed in Seville.
With so many potential European destinations to choose from, ask your travel professional to help you plan a Spring Break itinerary. After deciding where to go, you can decide how – much of Europe can be seen by bus, rail or plane, either on a tour or on your own. Your travel professional can fill you in on all the possibilities and best strategies for stretching your dollars.
Give a Day of Volunteering, Get a Day of Disney Fun
Doing good may be its own reward, but Disney has come up with a way to make the reward even sweeter. To inspire a million people to volunteer, Disney is offering free, one-day admission to a Disney theme park in exchange for a day of service to a participating organization.
To qualify for Disney’s “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day” program, pre-register at www.disneyparks.com where you’ll also find a list of participating organizations in your area. There are qualifying volunteer opportunities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and Canada, and many of these opportunities are designed for families.
Note that you must be 18 or older to sign up. You may register up to eight members of your household, and children must be at least 6 years old to participate. Disney will provide one ticket per person, regardless of how many times you volunteer. The program began January 1, 2010, and will continue until December 15 or until all of the one million tickets have been distributed, whichever comes first.
After you complete your day of service, the organization for which you volunteer will send your information to Disney. In turn, Disney will send you an e-mail with a voucher that you can redeem and use any time before December 15 at any Disneyland Resort or Walt Disney World Resort.
After you line up your volunteer opportunity, ask your travel professional to help you arrange travel and lodging for your Disney visit. Then, get ready to do good and have fun!
Great Places to View Big Game
If you enjoy watching the powerful, graceful moves of big game in the confines of your local zoo, imagine how thrilling it is to see them in the wild, following their instincts and interacting with other animals in their native habitats.
To view a pride of lions, a herd of elephants or a crash of rhinoceros, vacationers from all over the world visit the national parks of Africa. You can also see cheetahs, hippos, elands, giraffes, hyenas, zebras, antelopes and gazelles – to name a few – plus, a seemingly endless variety of exotic birds.
Kruger National Park in South Africa is home to the greatest number of mammal species of any park in Africa. It’s also one of continent’s largest game parks, with a varied landscape that includes savannahs, forests, rivers and mountains. Kruger has all of the “Big Five,” so named because they are the five most difficult animals to hunt – lions, leopards, elephants, rhinoceros and cape buffalo. With a bit of luck, you could see all five in a single day.
In Swaziland, Mkhaya Game Reserve is a refuge for endangered species. With the exception of lions, the rest of the Big Five are residents here, too, but it is a particularly good place to view the elusive rhinos. First established to save Nguni cattle, the reserve is now known for its white rhinos and very rare black rhinos. Through one of the reserve’s walking safaris, it is even possible to come within a very short distance of many of its animals while on foot.
Chobe National Park in Botswana has an amazing population of elephants – approximately 50,000 Kalahari elephants live there and are often seen in their favored drinking spot: on the banks of the Chobe River, which separates Botswana and Namibia. By taking a boat ride along this river, you may also get up close to view hippos and crocodiles. Chobe is also home to cape buffalo, warthogs, kudus, impalas, wildebeests and unusual birds like the colorful bee-eater. The park is also just over an hour away by car from one of the natural wonders of the world: the spectacular Victoria Falls that straddles the borders of Zambia and Zimbabwe.
If you are flexible about when you can travel to Africa, keep in mind that various animals are usually easier to spot at certain times of year. Big game is often easier to spot during the dry season (May through September), when the greenery isn’t so lush. If you want to see birds, migrating herds and newborn animals, the wet season (November through March) may be the best time. But regardless of the time of year you select, you’re bound to see many of Africa’s wondrous creatures.
As for accommodations, there are many options inside and outside the parks, from comfortable camp sites and lodges to luxury resorts. Keep in mind that the availability of accommodations can be limited. In addition, some game parks and reserves strictly limit the number of visitors who can enter each day. So, it’s important to plan your trip carefully and to choose reputable lodging and tour operators. Your travel professional can help – call soon to start planning your African adventure.
Luxury on the Rails
Did you ever wish to live in the days when train travel was elegant and romantic, with richly decorated train cars, attentive service and gourmet meals on board? Actually, those days have not disappeared. There are a number of luxury rail journeys on different continents that will definitely appeal to the romantic in you.
The Rocky Mountaineer runs four rail routes through the spectacular scenery of British Columbia and Alberta, Canada. Each two-day journey takes place entirely during daylight so passengers can see the glacier-fed lakes, majestic mountains and tumbling rivers that line the 100-year old routes. On the train, guests can enjoy at-your-seat meal service or meals in an elegant dining car. At the end of each day, guests stay overnight in charming, historic towns.
The Venice Simplon-Orient Express luxury train cross-crosses Europe from March to November, visiting London, Paris, Rome, Venice, Vienna, Prague, Budapest, Bucharest and Istanbul. Most of its beautiful, Art-Deco style rail carriages date from the 1920s and 1930s. During the day, passengers are attended by cabin stewards in their private lounges, which convert to comfortable sleeping quarters at night. Guests mix and mingle in the lively bar car and the dining cars, where gourmet cuisine is served.
Rovos Rail runs train safaris through the heart of Africa. On journeys that range in length from one day to two weeks, passengers enjoy the changing scenery provided by game reserves, desert landscapes, lush cane fields and much more. The air-conditioned train features restored wood paneling and Edwardian-era details, and some of the two-passenger suites offer spacious double beds.
The Palace on Wheels travels through northwestern India, round trip from New Delhi to Jaipur, Sawai, Madhopur, Chittorgarh, Udaipur, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bharatpur and Agra. On each day of the seven-day journey, passengers can disembark to explore monuments, palaces, national parks and more, with the journey capped by a visit to the Taj Mahal. The train’s two lavish dining cars serve Continental, Chinese, Indian and Rajasthani cuisines.
To plan your luxury vacation on the rails, talk with your travel professional.