by Linda Lang | Oct 6, 2021 | Luxury Travel News
Europe’s spectacular Christmas Markets glistening beneath the snow-covered Alps, snow-banked streets lined with festive shops, ancient city squares filled with Christmas stalls brimming with handmade toys and crafted gifts, aromas of freshly baked gingerbread and carolers’ voices filling the chilled air… it’s a magical holiday season that has illuminated European cities for hundreds of years.
Nothing will immerse you in the holiday spirit like an escorted Insight Vacations Christmas Holiday Guided Tour featuring luxury hotels, latest transportation pluses, skilled tour experts and local staff focused on immersing you in holiday spirit and making sure your itinerary complies with all Covid safety guides. You’ll explore bustling holiday markets in cities such as Nuremberg, Vienna, Strasbourg, and Budapest. From hand-blown glass ornaments and handcrafted toys to nutcrackers and dollhouses, you can browse through unique goods festively displayed in endless rows of elaborately- decorated stalls while savoring hot mulled wine, warm gingerbread and merry strains of carolers.
Insight Vacations’ 9-Day Tour of France, Germany and Austria’s Christmas Markets takes you to the Munich Christmas Market, Salzburg’s beneath snowcapped spires, and famed festivities in Innsbruck. Local experts bring Mozart’s history to life during an indulgent Salzburg tasting highlighted with hand-baked gingerbread. Culinary delights continue with a traditional Innsbruck dining experience against the backdrop of a local Tyrolean folk show. Freiburg’s Christmas Market converts the historic city center into a large Christmas village of more than 100 wooden houses brimming with seasonal gifts and crafts. Fairytale scenes of the oldest Christmas Market in France are highlighted by Strasbourg’s 300+ holiday stalls, colorful streams of twinkling lights, dazzling shows and concerts, and its Great Christmas Tree.
Christmas Markets of Austria & Bavaria is an 8-day guided tour of Europe’s Top Christmas Markets in the snowcapped Austrian
Alps with a memorable visit of Vienna’s Schöenbrunn Palace, Salzburg’s 500-year-old Christmas Market, and Munich’s majestic six-story tall Christmas tree. Enjoy a mug or two of Glühwein at the Innsbruck Christmas Market before indulging in an exclusive horse and carriage ride through the romantic streets of Old Town or tour the sparkling world of Swarovski Crystal. In Neuschwanstein, tour of the fairytale castle that reputedly inspired Walt Disney.
Europe’s Merry 8-Day Tour Across Poland, Germany & The Czech Republic highlights Prague, Krakow, and Berlin. Ascend Wawel Hill to the 10th century Renaissance Castle, final resting place of the kings of Poland. Known as the Venice of Poland, Wrocław’s 150 bridges spanning five rivers and twelve islands are breathtaking to behold as is the Baroque grandeur of the Rynek Christmas markets. In the German capital, you can see the remains of the Berlin Wall, painstakingly-restored Reichstag, and soak up the festive magic of the market stalls of Gendarmenmarkt square.
Click here for details on all Insight Vacations’ 2021 and 2022 European Christmas Market Tours or call 888-942-3301 to speak directly to a travel expert.
by Linda Lang | Sep 2, 2021 | Travel Bytes
Photo by Michael Gramm.
St. Bart’s seventh annual Gourmet Festival returns November 10-14 to celebrate the finest French gastronomy with chefs and foodies from around the globe.
Nightly epicurean dinners highlight a series of daily events including the bartenders’ contest, café waiters’ race, amateurs’ pastry contest and more. Luxury venues include the Hotel Christopher, Le Barthélemy Hotel & Spa, Hotel Carl Gustaf, Le Sereno Hotel, Hotel Manapany, Nikki Beach, Le Tamarin and L’Esprit.
Chef Pierre-Gagnaire. Courtesy of St. Bart’s Culinary Festival.
Pierre Gagnaire, this year’s patron chef who has earned three Michelin stars for 20 consecutive years, has invited five internationally renowned chefs to create incomparable menus to delight the most discriminating gourmand. Check here for event schedule and reservations.
Photo courtesy of Caribbean Rum Awards
Just preceding the Culinary Festival is the 4th Annual Caribbean Rum Awards Nov 2-7. Judges from Caribbean distilleries, international spirits magazines, and fine spirits merchants assemble to judge a hand-picked selection of the Caribbean’s best rums, including Uber-Premium categories and rhum agricoles from the world’s largest selection and most expensive rums on the market. Hosted in Gustavia, events range from workshops and tastings to exclusive galas including the popular Quarter Kitchen and Cocktail Lab spectacular, with rare cigars following.
Villa View Star – Elegantly furnished 1 BD/1 BA / Pool apartment in Gustavia
Where to Stay
A favorite escape for celebrities, financiers and foodies, the island of St. Barthelemy, also known as St Barts or Barths, is renowned for its striking natural beauty, world-class restaurants, chic boutiques, and zoning regulations preserving the natural splendor of the island’s unspoiled beaches.
Villa Ocean Dream features 4 BD / 3.5 BA / Pool and every luxury.
WIMCO has more than 300 beautiful first class and luxury properties in all price ranges that generally rent by the week. Options range from charming single bedroom, one-bath cottages to sprawling, fully-furnished luxury villas with up to eight bedrooms and baths, private pools, and sweeping panoramas.
Most are built on hillsides, affording excellent ocean views. Many 3+ bedrooms are very family-friendly and have private pools, landscaped gardens and expansive decks. All are a short drive from the beach. Beachfront rentals are limited as development along most of St. Bart’s prized beaches is restricted, so advance bookings are normally required.
For a complete overview of villa rentals and services, go to www.wimco.com/travel-services/concierge.aspx.
Property photos courtesy of WIMCO
by Linda Lang | Aug 18, 2021 | Featured Recipes
The four-star Chesterfield Palm Beach is an elegant boutique hotel encapsulating the luxurious, casual Palm Beach lifestyle. This historic landmark, which sits on an exclusive resort island, is well known for its exquisite European style and world-class service.
Its popular Crab and Lobster appetizer can be found in the Leopard Restaurant known for its eclectic, imaginative menu matched by an excellent wine selection. The Courtyard, a secret garden haven rich with palms and potted flowers, is another option perfect for breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea or a romantic dinner. You may also choose to dine on the Terrace, by the pool, or relax in the Leopard Lounge, a vibrant social hub, popular with locals and celebrities where you can dance the night away to live music.
With the evening comes live entertainment, dancing, and gourmet dining at the highly-acclaimed Leopard Lounge and Restaurant making it one of the liveliest spots in the area. Each of the luxurious rooms and suites are individually designed to reflect the colors and atmosphere of Palm Beach’s clear, warm days and soft, cool nights. Here you enjoy all the amenities including air-conditioning, cable TV and complimentary Wi-Fi.
A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, The Chesterfield Palm Beach is ideally located two blocks from the exclusive shops of Worth Avenue and is within easy reach of the West Palm Beach business district, City Place shopping and dining, and Palm Beach Airport. www.chesterfieldpb.com | Tel: +1 561 659 5800
Serves: 4
Preparation Time: 30 minutes | Cooking Time: 10 minutes
Ingredients:
2 cups cooked lobster meat or crayfish cut into 3/4 inch chunks
20 medium cooked prawns cut into 3/4 inch chunks ( reserve 4 whole prawns for garnish)
1 head Iceberg lettuce
2 lemons
salt and pepper
For Marie Rose Sauce:
1/2 cup good quality mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
3/4 cup tomato ketchup
1/2 tsp Worcestershire Sauce
1 tbsp lemon juice
3 drops tobacco sauce*
1 tbsp brandy
* or Tabasco Sauce
Method:
* Whisk all the sauce ingredients together. Add salt and pepper to taste.
* Finely shred lettuce. Use a pretty cocktail glass or porcelain dish and fill up halfway with lettuce.
* Mix the shellfish with enough sauce to coat it well. Place mixture on top of lettuce and spoon a little more sauce on top.
* Garnish with half a lemon and whole prawn hanging over the edge.
by Linda Lang | Aug 12, 2021 | Featured Recipes
Bea’s Eggs Royale, a favorite of guests worldwide, is a specialty created by one of the Milestone’s owners, Bea Tollman, whose many passions include developing delectable dishes as well as being one of the innovative founders of The Travel Corp, the world’s largest travel company.
Ranked as one of London’s most exceptional five-star luxury boutique hotels, The Milestone is a magnificent 19th-century architectural treasure centrally located in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Each of the well-appointed guest rooms, suites and apartments is a work of art adorned with fine fabrics, fresh flowers, antique furnishings and rare artworks. No two rooms or suites are alike, yet all uphold The Milestone’s commitment to extravagance. Some are richly decorated for an intimate, inward-looking mood while others boast stunning views over Kensington Palace and Gardens.
Enjoy the best of modern British cuisine and fine wines in Cheneston’s restaurant, afternoon tea beside the Park Lounge’s 
open fire, and signature cocktails in the cozy Stables Bar or chic Conservatory. The Milestone also has a heated resistance pool, gym, sauna, and chauffeur-driven Bentley. The hotel is also within walking distance of the Royal Albert Hall and exclusive shops of Knightsbridge. The West End – London’s vibrant, avant-garde theatre district – is just a five-minute taxi ride.
www.milestonehotel.com | Tel: +44 (0) 207 917 1000
Preparation: 20 minutes | Cooking Time: 5 minutes | Serves: 1
Ingredients:
3 eggs
1.7 oz double cream
1 rounded tbsp butter
1-1/2 tbsp potted shrimp
1 oz smoked salmon, cut in strips
2 tsp caviar
2 sliced brown bread
rock salt
Method:
- Carefully cut the tops of the eggs with sharp scissors or a serrated knife.
- Pour eggs into a bowl, whisk and add cream.
- In a saute pan, melt the butter and then add the egg mixture.
- Whisk continually until lightly scrambled and the consistency of small curdles of cottage cheese.
- Turn off heat to be sure eggs don’t overcook and dry out.
- Season to taste with salt (more will be added with the smoked salmon topping).
- Carefully clean the egg shells.
- Pour rock salt into three piles on the plate.
- Place eggshells on the rock salt, pressing lightly, so they stand up.
- Carefully spoon scrambled eggs into shells.
- Top the first egg with a dollop of caviar; the second with the smoked salmon strips; and potted shrimps atop the third.
- Toast the bread and cut each slice into three portions. Serve immediately with the Eggs Royale.
Try some of our other fabulous recipes from around the globe! Get your own copy of our award-winning FIVE STAR RECIPES FROM WORLD FAMOUS HOTELS & RESORTS AROUND THE WORLD.
by Linda Lang | Aug 9, 2021 | Luxury Travel News
Minister Castle, York
Great news for all U.S. and European travelers waiting to get back to the U.K.! As of August 2, fully FDA- or EMA-vaccinated travelers can once again explore the historic treasures of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales. However, you still need to travel with care and maintain constant awareness of all things you encounter now and in the foreseeable future.
Cardiff Castle, Wales
Excellent opportunities are offered by Insight Vacations Guided Tours that allow you to relax and focus upon enjoying your trip instead of worrying about everything you touch. Not only do these itineraries feature the best of each destination. Each is accompanied by a Well-Being Director who stays current with the latest regulations from the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), World Health Organization (WHO), and local authorities. She/he also monitors daily health checks of all guests, the Insight Travel Director and Driver as well as daily sanitizing of the coach. She/he also checks all hotels, restaurants and other venues freeing you to immerse yourself in the wealth of discoveries and pleasures of each day.
Edinburg skyline
If you have not participated in a top quality guided tour, now is the ideal time to consider it. You’ll not only experience the ultimate area dining and highlights. You’ll quickly succumb to the stress-free freedom and level of luxury perks throughout. And Covid is still with us. You don’t want to question everything you do, touch and consume. Secondly, Insight Vacations has 100 years of experience providing some of the most highly-acclaimed luxury sightseeing in the travel industry. Forget those long lines at world-famous museums and attractions. There are also private events not accessible to the public.
Costwold, England
Insight Vacations knows all the best hotels, dining, shopping, and most interesting places to experience. They pace the day to allow you time to relax and explore on your own. And there is nothing more welcome after an afternoon of visiting Shakespeare’s home in Stratford-on-Avon, Edinburgh Castle, or exploring the streets of Dublin than to simply disembark from your luxury coach, find your luggage waiting in your room, and enjoy a leisurely evening of fine wining and dining.
If you are a little concerned about future travel, relax. Currently, if you book an Insight Vacations tour and cancel for any reason within 30 days of deposit, you’ll receive a full refund.
Tower Bridge, London
Check out all the current Insight Vacations UK tours at Best of Britain Guided Tour | Insight Vacations, Country Roads of Scotland Guided Tour | Insight Vacations or Country Roads of Ireland Guided Tour | Insight Vacations or Country Roads of Ireland Guided Tour | Insight Vacations
Photos courtesy of Insight Vacations
Nothing will immerse you in the holiday spirit like an escorted Insight Vacations Christmas Holiday Guided Tour featuring luxury hotels, latest transportation pluses, skilled tour experts and local staff focused on immersing you in holiday spirit and making sure your itinerary complies with all Covid safety guides. You’ll explore bustling holiday markets in cities such as Nuremberg, Vienna, Strasbourg, and Budapest. From hand-blown glass ornaments and handcrafted toys to nutcrackers and dollhouses, you can browse through unique goods festively displayed in endless rows of elaborately- decorated stalls while savoring hot mulled wine, warm gingerbread and merry strains of carolers.
Insight Vacations’ 9-Day Tour of France, Germany and Austria’s Christmas Markets takes you to the Munich Christmas Market, Salzburg’s beneath snowcapped spires, and famed festivities in Innsbruck. Local experts bring Mozart’s history to life during an indulgent Salzburg tasting highlighted with hand-baked gingerbread. Culinary delights continue with a traditional Innsbruck dining experience against the backdrop of a local Tyrolean folk show. Freiburg’s Christmas Market converts the historic city center into a large Christmas village of more than 100 wooden houses brimming with seasonal gifts and crafts. Fairytale scenes of the oldest Christmas Market in France are highlighted by Strasbourg’s 300+ holiday stalls, colorful streams of twinkling lights, dazzling shows and concerts, and its Great Christmas Tree.
Alps with a memorable visit of Vienna’s Schöenbrunn Palace, Salzburg’s 500-year-old Christmas Market, and Munich’s majestic six-story tall Christmas tree. Enjoy a mug or two of Glühwein at the Innsbruck Christmas Market before indulging in an exclusive horse and carriage ride through the romantic streets of Old Town or tour the sparkling world of Swarovski Crystal. In Neuschwanstein, tour of the fairytale castle that reputedly inspired Walt Disney.
