Indeed, it's that unforgettable culinary and wine experience that entices more than a 40 percent repeat visitor number from North America, a teasing combination of memorable flavors and aroma that can't be duplicated in even the most favorite Italian restaurant back home. Which is why Ricardo Strano, North American director of the Italian Government Tourist Board. is committed to marketing Italy in 2011 with the accent on wining and dining, combined with food and wine touring that introduces special cuisines and signature vineyards of familiar and lesser-known regions. "While Rome, Florence, Venice, Tuscany, and Amalfi are the familiar icons of Italy, the second- and fifth-time visitors look to expand their horizons with new sights and experiences." Reminding travelers that, "Near every great museum is a great restaurant."

In fact, he points out, Italy invented the "Slow Food" movement that focuses on locally grown, sustainably farmed products, giving visitors the opportunity to learn that, "discovering regional cuisines is a delightful and delicious way to understand that-as in fashion and lifestyle-high-quality and simplicity are the hallmarks of the special flavors of Italy."

Thankfully, for those travelers looking for that unforgettable culinary and wine adventure, there are abundant options for food and wine touring in Italy, including deluxe tours spiced with great restaurants, cooking classes for a half-day or a week, hiking and biking tours with routes to outdoor markets, specialty bakeries, olive mills, vineyards and wine cellars. Many experts, for example, consider the region of Emilia-Romagna to be a legendary gourmet center with such tasty towns as Bologna, Parma and Modena. Ristoranti, osterie and pizzerie are the dine-around menu when exploring Venice and vicinity, while Piedmont's wine-making traditions produce the world-renowned Barolo and Barbaresco wines.

Globus family of brands-Globus tours, Cosmos tours and Monograms vacations -offers a host of trips to Italy, some with an accent on dining, including Umbria's Treasures where clients will be able to sample this region's famous cuisine with its simple, yet flavorful ingredients, fresh fruits and vegetables, and high-quality olive oil, and nibble on Perugia's world-renowned chocolate delights. Or, for an emphasis on cooking classes, book with Chicago-based The International Kitchen, specialists in cooking classes and culinary vacations in 12 of Italy's 20 regions, including three different programs based in Bologna.

In 2006, all eyes were on Torino (Turin) as host city during the Winter Olympic Games, and again in 2011, this capital of the northern Piedmont region will be front and center when Italy celebrates the 150th anniversary of Italian Reunification. Celebrations and special events will take place nationwide, but Torino is the place the reunification movement was born. Today Torino is a dynamic center for industry (home to Fiat for one) and art-world-class is its Egyptian Museum & Galleria Sabauda, housing the fabulous collections of the House of Savoy. Take time out from touring for a cup of bicerin, Torino's signature blend of coffee and chocolate.

Talk to a tour specialist at Atlas Cruises & Tours about italy tours and expierence Flavors of Italy first hand.

"...discovering regional cuisines is a delightful and delicious way to understand that-as in fashion and lifestyle-high-quality and simplicity are the hallmarks of the special flavors of Italy."  Ricardo Strano, North American director of the Italian Government Tourist Board

By: Carla Hunt

The Globus family of brands has expertly designed and unveiled more than 30 “low season” vacations, including two NEW itineraries with Globus and Monograms, offering Americans a plethora of opportunities to travel abroad at unbeatable prices this fall, winter and next spring.

In addition to its already robust selection of holiday tours and cruises and winter vacation packages across Europe, Globus is introducing a NEW, nine-day Christmas in Paris & New Year’s Eve in London itinerary, priced from $1,599. And, capitalizing on America’s interest in Ireland, Monograms is providing travelers a NEW four-day Dublin Getaway, priced from $517.

“Winter is a great time for Americans to make European travel dreams come true,” said Steve Born, vice president of marketing for the Globus family of brands. “They can take a vacation at a reduced price, while avoiding the crowds that converge during the summer travel months.”

From holiday cruises on the Main and Danube rivers to tours across Europe ranging from seven to 29 days as well as 10 independent vacation packages, the Globus family of brands’ “European Winter Vacations” offer unparalleled savings to fit any travel style.

“Not only are we giving travelers a large selection of tours, cruises and independent vacations from which to choose a phenomenal European vacation,” said Born. “We are offering them savings of up to 40 percent on air and 15 percent on land, compared to peak season pricing.”

Even more chances to save are available for those who plan ahead and book early: Travelers can save $200 per couple on Globus family of brands’ 2010/11 European Winter vacations when booking air-inclusive with Alitalia by July 27, 2010.* Sample fares start as low as $415/person.

Where ever you plan to travel in Europe, the Globus family of brands can take you there. Choose from Globus tours, Monograms independent travel packages or Avalon river cruises through Europe.

Europe Vacations

Italy Vacations
Step back in time and explore a country rich with historical treasures. From magnificent churches and marble monuments to medieval piazzas with awe-inspiring fountains, you’ll feel an ambiance reminiscent of times past while in Italy.
Italy Vacations

England, Scotland & Ireland Vacations
For a travel experience befitting royalty, there’s truly nothing better than a vacation to Britain & Ireland. Whether you’re off checking out a a 2,000-year-old castle or riding through the city streets on a double-decker bus, you’ll be left with a lifetime of incredible memories.
England, Scotland & Ireland Vacations

France Vacations
Ascend to the second floor of the Eiffel Tower and enjoy spectacular views of Paris or visit the famous Promenade des Anglais in Nice. France is filled with the world’s most eclectic collection of artwork, mouthwatering bakers’ delights, and abundantly colorful flower and fruit markets.
France Vacations

Germany, Austria & Switzerland Vacations
Enjoy the essence of Central Europe as you experience Germany, Austria & Switzerland. Enjoy beautiful architecture, interesting museums, a tasty beer garden and, of course, the opera and classical music concerts.
Germany, Austria & Switzerland Vacations

According to the National Park Service, trips to National Parks are on the rise.  “National Parks are idyllic vacation ‘hot spots’ perfect for relaxation and introspection, wild life exploration or adventure, depending on the traveler,” said Scott Nisbet, president and CEO for the Globus family of brands.

A wide range of experiences can be had at National Parks including everything from snorkeling, rafting and hiking to learning about the environment, geology and wild life.  They also provide a perfect retreat for those hoping to reconnect with themselves or nature. 

“Our National Park-focused tours offer an inclusive-style of travel with incomparable exploration and enrichment opportunities,” said Nisbet.  “With a wide range of National Park destinations, hotels and price points, coupled with unparalleled service and storytelling, we create experiences for travelers they couldn’t produce on their own.”

Together, Globus, Cosmos and Monograms offer travelers more than 35 National Park-focused tours and packaged vacations from which to choose an ideal getaway. The most popular National Park-focused escapes for 2010 are:

• National Parks & Canyon Country   (Cosmos), Denver to Las Vegas
• Canyon Country Adventure   (Globus), Scottsdale to Las Vegas
• Heart of the Canadian Rockies   (Cosmos), Calgary to Vancouver
• Parks & Canyons Spectacular   (Globus), Rapid City to Las Vegas
• Spectacular Alaska!   (Globus), Anchorage to Fairbanks
• Canyon Escape   (Monograms On the Road vacation), Zion National Park to the Grand Canyon

Specialty sites:  National Parks | Alaska | Canada

• Be mindful of who is around when you are discussing your trip - there is no need to let too many people know or draw attention to the fact your house might be empty for a period.
• The best deterrent is to have someone housesit. If that is not possible, ask a trusted neighbor or friend to take in the newspaper, mail, and any other deliveries and keep an eye on the house. Give them your trip plans and an emergency phone number so they can reach you in case of an emergency. You can also arrange with the post office and newspaper to suspend delivery for the time you are away.
• Lock doors, windows and secure sliding doors (a metal rod or a broomstick in the sliding door track is an inexpensive lock), as well as the garage, the basement, and the attic. Some people even disconnect the power to motorized garage door openers.
• Move any valuables from plain sight.
• Check on your appliances, unplug anything that doesn't need to be on while you're away. Lower air conditioning/heating units to energy-saving levels.
• Set timers to turn on lights if you do not have someone staying at the house.

Discover the historic community of Bar Harbor with its beauty, charm and unique character. Nestled between the mountains of Acadia National Park and the Atlantic Ocean on Mount Desert Island, Bar Harbor has attracted visitors, naturalists and scientists for decades

The town is small and easy to walk the main road full of local shops and restaurants. Well worth a tour, is a trip up to Cadillac Mountain. You will see spectacular coastal, mountain and forest scenery. You can hike, canoe or just talk a walk in the park. For those that have been to Bar Harbor before, consider whale watching.

Services offered include services of 24/7 agent for any last minutes changes, pre-trip travel advice such as what vaccines are required, embassy contacts, weather and currency information.  They also offer assistance for last minute changes, such as cancelled or delayed flights, making hotel reservations or ground transportation reservations. Benefits include coverage in the event of cruise line, airline or tour operator default (financial default non applicable to all suppliers) Coverage for sickness, injury or death of immediate family member. Terrorist incident that results in loss of life or major damage to property, by any person

With a good policy, you receive 24 hours assistance replacing lost or stolen documents such as visas, passports or tickets. Cash advance for travel or medical emergencies. They can also help you locate English speaking medical specialists, facilities and assistance with medical evacuations anywhere in the world.

They will provide you with baggage and personal effects loss coverage, baggage delay coverage and luggage tracing services. They have a bilingual staff for telephone interpretation for medical or legal emergencies.

If you purchase your travel insurance within 15 days of making your initial deposit your coverage will include pre-existing conditions which applies to the first $25,000 of trip cost.

Whether a child gets the flu, or a close family member has a medical emergency, travel protection has a plan that will protect you before or during your vacation. The right kind of insurance is essential. It will provide you with peace of mind, medical evacuation in case of an emergency, baggage coverage, flight delay and flight cancellation coverage.

In addition to these services some insurance policies also provide a concierge service which is available to assist you with restaurant reservations, event tickets, tee time reservations and floral services.

This is only a brief description of some of the benefits and travel services provided. All policies and coverage may vary, and may not be available in all states. There are also expanded coverage plans that offer business related covered reasons for trip cancellation and interruption, and other that let you cancel for any reason.

At times it is best to purchase the insurance with the tour operator or cruise line as part of your package, where on other occasions you can save money and get better coverage medical and evacuation coverage. An experience agent can explain your options to that you can purchase the best policy for your individual needs.

Good travel insurance isn't always expensive. We have negotiated excellent policies exclusive to Atlas, where rather than paying by age, which can add up for seniors, everyone is charged a flat amount base on the cost of the trip.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site is a site that holds a list of outstanding cultural or natural universal value such as, the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. It could be a monument, building, mountain, forest, lake, desert, complex or city.

So how is a site selected?

Only countries that have signed the World Heritage Convention, pledging to protect their natural & cultural heritage can submit nominations for properties on their territory to be considered for inclusion in UNESCO’s World Heritage list.

A nominated property is independently evaluated by several Advisory Boards. Once a site has been nominated & evaluated, the intergovernmental World Heritage Committee makes the final decision. One per year, the Committee meets to decide which sites will be inscribed on the World Heritage list.

The program aims to catalogue & preserve sites of outstanding importance, either cultural or natural, to the common heritage of humankind.

There are currently 878 World Heritage Sites in 145 countries. These include 679 cultural, 174 natural and 25 mixed properties.

You may have visited a place in the U.S. already, not realizing it was a UNESCO site such as the Statue of Liberty, Grand Canyon, Yosemite Yellowstone or Olympic National Park.

Click here for a full list of site.

I have seen 20 sites in 9 countries, so only 858 to go, but I have to say that certain countries do not interest me AT ALL, so my goal would be to see at least half of the UNESCO sites while traveling the world.

How many UNESCO sites have you visited?

Should you bring a laptop while traveling?

This is a personal question that really depends on many things. What you’ll be doing, where you are going and how long will you be traveling?

I would like to share some guidelines that may help with your decision.

Reasons you should bring a laptop:

You can email your family and friends. Having your laptop, you can email your loved ones back home. This is something you could do at most internet cafes, which is a much nicer atmosphere than your hotel room. Most cafes around the world do offer free Wifi when you order something. Not all cafes have free Wifi; some do have a small charge. Newer cruise ships also offer Wifi, but make sure and purchase a package, as usage rates can be high.

You can download all your photos. You can download your digital photo right to your laptop. This will keep your camera’s memory stick free everyday. This will allow you to capture that favorite photo. If your memory stick is full, you would lose that favorite photo moment.

Keeping a journal of the cities you visited. Sometimes we see so much on our vacation that we tend to forget something. Keeping a journal along the way will allow you to never forget. It also allows you to post your travel blogs in writing.

Calling home for free (or very cheap) with Skype. For mere cents per minute you can make calls to landlines and cell phones from all over the world with Skype. It allows you to call from any web-enabled laptop. It’s a great way to keep in touch over the phone.

You can get lots of local information. Many laptops today have maps, directions, schedules and must-see sites for key cities. Maybe you would like get tickets to a play or need to get those directions to a restaurant. You can get all the information you need right from your laptop. Usually it’s much better than carrying around big guidebooks.

You can work. Even though we are on vacation, sometimes we still have our work on our minds. Maybe you have an on-line business and need to be kept informed. Having your laptop with you allows you to still work.  

Reasons you should keep your laptop home:

It could get lost, stolen or damaged. Where you are traveling really depends on the risks, which could range from mild to extreme. Getting your laptop insured by home or travel insurance is really not likely. Most insurance companies won’t cover you unless you pay a very high premium.

It’s extra weight to carry. If weight is an issue then you may want to keep it home. Depending on where you are traveling, you would need to bring your power adapter and any plug in devices to operate your laptop.

Surfing the internet. As we all know, the internet can be addicting. You could spend hours surfing the web, when we should be enjoying the experience of the city that you paid to see.

Checking in at the airport.  Our new airport regulations require us to open our carry bags to get through security. When you are traveling with your laptop, you will have to remove your laptop from the carry case for security inspection, so allow extra time for check-in.

You need to base your decision on where you are going. The more remote destinations you are traveling to, the less likely you will find a Wifi connection. Some remote islands will probably only have a dial up connection, which would probably be very slow.

The biggest consideration is whether you feel you actually need a laptop. Some people absolutely need to stay connected. If you decide to bring it, I would recommend a soft case to protect it. I would use a water-resistant case. Remember to never stow your computer in your luggage.

Contributed by: A Sternberg
angie@atlastravelweb.com

Before You Go:

Research:  Do your homework and find out what each area is known for and decide what items you'll look for. Find out what similar items sell for. If you are considering pictures or other items to decorate your home with your travel finds, take measurements, then pop your tape measure into your travel bag. Bring a fabric swatch if needed as well. If you plan on having garments custom-made in the Orient for example, pack a favorite item to copy. Also research customs, GST and VAT tax refunds, shipping large items, and other important rules. Thailand and China, for example, are known for antiques, but you'll need appropriate paperwork to bring them home. In Europe when you make a purchase you must fill out the tax refund form supplied by the ship. You pay the full price, but when you leave Europe there is usually an area in all major airports called 'VAT Refund' after you have cleared security. You take the tax forms to be stamped and drop them in a box. In one to two billing cycles you should see the tax refunded back onto your credit card. If you are traveling on an escorted tour, your tour manager can give you tips on the best places to shop. On a cruise, they normally hold presentations and replay them on the ship channel in the cabin, with shopping tips on each port as well.

Shopping Strategies:

Local markets offer a rich travel experience, and a treasure trove of shopping options. Here are some bargaining tips to make that a more rewarding experience:

Get the Lay of the Land - Be Strategic:  Stroll around, take in the colors and the smells of the market while checking around prices on similar items. Watch how merchants interact with their customers. In Italian markets you'll encounter a hard sell; merchants in Arab markets often bargain after you've shared a cup of tea.

The Art of the Deal: Start by offering half the quoted price. Your merchant will tout the value of his handicrafts and bring the price back to almost the original. Split the difference. By the 3rd round your price will likely be about 75% of the original. Instead of haggling again, count out your cash until you reach slightly less than his price. You should have a deal. If the merchant is aggressive, step away. Likewise there is no need to be rude to the merchants, as they are only try to make a living.

Consider Shipping Your Items Back Home: The most difficult part is waiting a few weeks for your items to arrive if you are overseas, but with airlines charging for additional baggage weight, shipping can save you money. Just make sure to insure the package if it is breakable.

In the end, the important thing is that you enjoy the experience and keep in mind, more important than the exact cost will be priceless travel memories derived from your new-found treasures.

We'd love to hear about some of your shopping strategies?

Contributed by: S Brage

We invite you to enjoy these slides of Barcelona:

Common question asked by clients

Answer:

You would be surprised how many things can be packed and not exceed 50 lbs. There are some wonderful no wrinkle, light weight fabrics for traveling and you don't need a pair of shoes for each outfit. When staying in the same hotel for more than 1 night, you can take advantage of the laundry facilities they have to offer.

Make a list before packing and make sure to mix and match outfits. Always pack tightly. Scarf or jewelry can change the look or a blouse. Packing loosely will waste space and cause clothes to wrinkle from moving around. Use all the space you have available to you, such as putting socks & under garments inside of shoes.

You can get a great packing list from Frommers.

Keep in mind that the airlines are changing their restrictions and charges often these days. Make sure and go to their web site or call a couple of weeks before travel to get the latest information.

There are exceptions, especially with adventure trips or luxury travel, where preliminary documents are sent, as well as personal registration forms to be filled out.

You will of course always receive written confirmations from us for your records.

In most cases, booking your own airfare is fine, but I want to remind you to keep a few things in mind.

When you book airfare with the cruise or tour operator, transfers are included to & from the airport. When calculating how much money you are saving, make sure & factor in the additional cost for transfers.

Tours can cancel due to lack of participation. If you book your own air, we suggest booking a tour that is "guaranteed" to operate. Many suppliers have added hundreds of guaranteed departures on their popular tours.

If you experience a problem with your flight being cancelled due to weather or other circumstances, when you book your airfare along with your travel packages, you will have assistance in booking the next available flight to meet up with your trip. If you book your flights online, how difficult will it be to get someone on the phone to assist you in rebooking another flight?

Insurance is another consideration. If you book your own air, normally the cruise or tour operators insurance will not cover the value of your flights. Make sure to speak to an agent about outside insurance coverage so that your entire purchase is protected.

Book early & save. Many suppliers offer air promotions for bookings made well in advance.

On many occasions we do advise our clients to buy airfare separately, but make sure to take the time to discuss your options with an agent to ensure you are receiving the best value.

I told her they would be delivered by UPS to her home address on Monday.

This is 8 days prior to her departure.

She was satisfied with this and we ended the call.

She called back about 10 minutes later and asked where the documents were being mailed to. I told her they were on their way to her address in Chicago. She said, “But I’m in Rhode Island”.

I asked why she did not advise me of this and she said, “We always spend our summers in Rhode Island”

Okay, so now I need a crystal ball with all of the other hats I wear! I was supposed to know this??

I told her I would see what I could do and called the supplier to ask if another set of documents could be generated and mailed out.

This reservation was made with a Luxury Tour supplier and they agreed to send the documents directly to her Rhode Island address.

If this were a supplier other than a Luxury Tour operator, a duplicate set of documents would have a fee to generate and the overnight mail would have to be paid for by the client.

Please think of your travel agent as one of your circle of family and friends. Keep us in mind to notify us of any changes in your life. Give us your airline schedule if you make your own airline reservations; give us all contact numbers and dates when you’ll be at another location. Don’t think you’re bothering us with trivia. Our job is to give you the best customer service we can, but to do this we need your help.