Canadian Impressions DailyCandy Cocktail Reception

Last night, Lance Stamps, VP of marketing for ClassicTravel.com, Dayva Segal, Director of Social Networking and New Media Marketing, and Michael Byrne, a content writer for ClassicTravel.com attended an exclusive cocktail hour at the Canadian Impressions DailyCandy art exhibit. This cocktail hour was only for associates of Virtuoso and their affiliates. We enjoyed delicious hors d'oeuvres, great wine and even had our pictures drawn! The event featured art by Sujean Rim, the artist for DailyCandy, a popular website and e-mail newsletter. Each art piece depicted something about Canada! One piece showed tourists on a Polar Bear watching excursion, while another one featured skiiers, and another, wine tastings. 

The event was part of a Virtuoso promotion of some amazing Canada Travel Packages, available at exclusive Virtuoso rates and with all the usual Virtuoso VIP treatment and amenities. Here are our top picks out of the 12 packages:

1) Montreal and Quebec City Package from Monograms

Experience these two unique cities with guided sightseeing tours. Included is 6 nights accomodation, all land transportation including trains, tours and an onsite concierge on call. Montreal has been referred to as a mini-New York, as well as a little slice of Europe and Quebec City still holds colonial old world charm everywhere you go.

2) Culturious Manitoba from Tauck Culturious

This is a one of a kind Polar Bear Arctic Adventure! See Arctic nature up close and personal, including its' most famous resident, the polar bear. This package includes 6 nights accommodation, all meals, snacks and non-alchoholic beverages and a private cocktail reception and the Manitoba Museum. Also included is a guided naturalist hike on Hecla Island, a part of the Hecla Provincial Park. The park is home to many wildlife species and unique plant life, and is a paradise for nature lovers. In addition, professional guides will be on staff for the entire stay.

3) Clayoquot Wilderness Resort Adventure from Entree Destinations

This extravagant package puts you both in the center of nature and in the lap of luxury. It all starts with your private town-car transfer from the airport, to a two night stay at the Shangri La Hotel in Vancouver City, British Columbia, where you will enjoy an Executive King Suite with a balcony. You will be chaufferred in an SUV for an Ultimate Vancouver City and Nature Tour. Enjoy a gourmet picnic in the Coastal Virgin Rainforest and Scenic seaplane flights between Vancouver and Tofino, your next destination for 4 nights. You will stay at the Clayoquot Wilderness Resort in a deluxe sleeping tent, and all gourmet meals, snacks and beverages will be included. Also included are all guided and unguided activities including hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, marine activities and wildlife viewing. Relax with two one hour massage treatments after your two half days of ocean fishing. Finish off your luxurious voyage with one night at the Fairmont Vancouver Airport Hotel in a Fairmont Room. In addition Clayoquot Wilderness Resort guests will receive a complimentary additional 1 hour massage or a 1 hour cooking class with the hotel's chef. If you wish to travel early or late in the season (which is mid May to late August) you will receive your fourth night at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort free!

For more information on these and other special Canadian Tourism packages from Virtuoso, contact your Virtuoso Travel Agent at info@classictravel.com or 212-843-2900.

King George Palace General Manager Says "free upgrade no matter what!"

Haris N. Neofytidis, General Manager of The King George Palace in Athens, Greece told us that anyone booking with ClassicTravel.com at The King George Palace in the month of May will receive a free room upgrade no matter what! He came to visit us at our office to give us the inside scoop on the Hotel and Athens!
The Virtuoso Property features the latest in amenities such as Bulgari toiletries. All rooms either face the scenic courtyard or offer astounding views of the historical surroundings, such as the acropolis and Syntagma Square. However, the suite everyone is vying for is The Royal Penthouse Suite. It has a private rooftop pool, a limousine available for use, and a whirpool and steam bath. This suite also comes with butler service. 

In addition, The King George Palace hosts one of the most hip lounges in Athens, Space Bar. This is where all the young and sophisticated Athenians meet for cocktails.
Haris also gave us some insider dining information! One of his favorite seafood restaurants in Athens is Plous Podilatou. This restaurant has a frequently changing menu with dishes inspired by tradition mediterranean flavors. Another favorite in the seafood category is 7 Seas, located right in downtown Athens. His last recommendation for travelers is the Greek Restaurant, Kentrikon, which serves completely home made Greek food, just like Ya Ya makes!

(The King George Palace at night)

Guests booking at The King George Palace with ClassicTravel.com will receive a free room upgrade through the month of May. Guests booking at The King George Palace at the Virtuoso Rate with Classic Travel.com will also recieve a buffet breakfast daily, lunch for 2 at the Tudor Hall Restaurant once during your stay, early check-in and late check-out (subject to availability). For more information about The King George Palace or any of ClassicTravel.com's other Virtuoso properties, please contact Virtuoso Travel Agent Jerry Hirshon at 212-404-6777 or Jerry@ClassicTravel.com.

Lou Young of CBS2 (NY) interviews ClassicTravel.com Virtuso Agent Charlie Scmitt

Travel agents get a unique view of the world through travelers' trends. The hottest locations, hotels and activities change from year to year, and give industry insiders a look at cultural and social tendancies. Luxury travel agents also have a unique responsibility to their clients, which is to provide the upmost service, best information possible and also be a sort of safety guide. This is why Lou Young of CBS2 News interviewed ClassicTravel.com Virtuoso Agent Charlie Schmitt about the dangers of, and alternatives to travelling to Mexico during the current swine flu pandemic.

"This is an open season" says Charlie, indicating that May is a low time for typically winter time getaways such as the Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico, so there will most likely be last minute openings at many hotels and on flights for travellers wishing to change their plans. He also advises travellers that most travel insurance does not cover epidemics or pandemics, but there is "cancel for any reason" insurance, which is what travellers should purchase if they're concerned about having to change their plans. Some airlines are refunding passengers flights to Mexico in the form of vouchers, and some airlines such as Air Canada have stopped all their flights to Mexico. Charlie reiterates that this is one reason why it's important to use a travel agent. The agent knows the ins and outs and will ensure that you are able to transfer your ticket or get a refund, as opposed to booking with a service where you don't exactly know who is on ther other end. But if you are stuck in that situation, Charlie says, just don't go. It's better to be safe and healthy.

For more information on being safe and healthy while traveling during the swine flu pandemic, please contact Charlie Schmitt at 212-404-6727 or by e-mail at charlie@classictravel.com.

The Farm at Cape Kidnappers: Luxury Golf & Spa Retreat

While in New Zealand, Richard and Lance will be stopping off at The Farm at Cape Kidnappers for a few nights. The name of this resort, which makes one think of an epic Robert Louis Stevenson story, comes from its location. Captain James Cook, discovered the cape and named it Cape Kidnappers due to a kidnapping attempt on a crew members by a local! But the days of danger are over for this beautiful landscape, and now the 6,000 acre resort serves as a working farm and a relaxing retreat for any traveler.

The Lodge, which encompasses the common areas of The Farm at Cape Kidnappers, consists of rusticly decorated sitting areas. Have a glass of wine in the Wine Cellar featuring some of the region's best wines, or have a fulfilling work out in the gym. Catch up on e-mail (but not too much!) in the business center, or curl up with a good book in the library. Walk outiside to the Infinity Pool which seems to blend in to the ocean, and have a drink at the cabana for some shaded relaxation. Or, go for a treatment in the Spa which offers relaxing therapies in the Spa Treatment Room, or outdoors.

Dining at The Farm at Cape Kidnappers is also a huge treat. Breakfast, Lunch, Cocktails and Dinner are served in a variety of dining spaces. The Loggia is the main dining room, offering seaside views from the floor to ceiling windows. The smaller Dining Room is charmingly decorated with rustic wood furniture, and The Snug offers a cozy setting. The resort can also pack you a romantic picnic for two, and you can take in the amazing vistas as you eat. All meals feature local produce and meats. A cold breakfast buffet is served daily, with hot options available on order. Lunch at the lodge ranges from simple sandwiches to full three course meals. Guests can also have a light lunch before teeing off at The Clubhouse. There is a complimentary cocktail hour daily at 6:30, with hot and cold hors d'oeuvres. Dinner features the finest local meats, produce and seafood. Jackets are required for dinner and cocktails, and private dining and room service is available upon request.

Each suite has a private balcony with 180 degree views of the surrounding landscape. The suites are all decorated in the same contemporary, clean and rustic style of the rest of the lodge. The Owner's Cottage is ideal for families or groups of friends. Featuring walk-in closets, a private jacuzzi, it can be rented as a two or four bedroom cottage.

The lodge tauts a golf course considered one of the best in the world, designed by Tom Doak. The par 71 course offers incredible views of the surrounding acres of farmland and ocean, just like all the other parts of this resort! Guests should also take a tour of the farm during their stay, as it is a working sheep and cattle farm. Tours are given by four wheel drive vehicles or ATVs! The property also offers beautiful walking paths, with tours ranging from short strolls to long hikes, and guests can also use mountain bikes. From September to May, the Gannet Colony (a type of bird related to the Booby), is an attraction. The colony of 20,000 birds is the largest and most accesible in the world. Guests can also go trout fishing in one of the many rivers on the property. For guests who are curious about nature, The Farm at Cape Kidnappers offers the Kiwi Discovery Tour, where Kiwi expert Dr. John McLennan will help guests get upclose and personal to these rare birds.

A concierge at The Farm at Cape Kidnappers can also coordinate a number of luxurious off-property experiences. Scenic Helicopter flights, heritage tours of the local historical sites of the indiginous Maori people, hot air balloon tours, paragliding, food and wine tours, horse riding tours, kayaking and white water rafting are just some of the activities available in the surrouding area!

Check back for Richard and Lance's feedback on the hotels they stayed at during their trip!

For more information about booking at The Farm at Cape Kidnappers or other ClassicTravel.com properties, please contact Jerry Hirshon at 212-404-6777 or by e-mail at Jerry@classictravel.com.

Social Networking at ClassicTravel.com

We've already reiterated to our readers how we are the travel agency of the future. One important aspect of that is social networking websites. They are not just for fun, or to stare at until your eyes fall out of your head, they are valuable business tools! That is why you should follow www.ClassicTravel.com on Twitter and Facebook so you can see what we are up to all the time! 

For example, Lance Stamps and Richard Beck are twittering away while at the 2009 Virtuoso Symposium in Australia. In addition, when we add new hotels, or add exclusive new rates or deals to www.ClassicTravel.com you can be the first to know!

Susan Boyle: An Inspiration for ClassicTravel.com

Susan Boyle, the overnight singing sensation from Britain's Got Talent has inspired our office since her debut on the show a few days ago. We have been watching the YouTube video non-stop and sharing it with our friends and family! She took her dream to the next level and made it happen. That is what ClassicTravel.com would like to offer our clients, the ability to take an idea and dream, and make it into reality. Ken Lewis, our safari specialist, says that a 

safari is not just a vacation, but a life changing experience and a window into a different world. One of his clients even brought his family on safari, including children ages 9 and 11. 

Most of us have always dreamed of having larger than life adventures, and with the help of ClassicTravel.com, you can plan your own. Luxury safaris take place in luxury camps, that are usually small and offer tents or lodges as accommodation. But these venues are more like hotel suites than what those terms make you think of! 

Royal Malewane is one such lodge. Situated in a private reserve of about 30,000 acres (as most of these locations are), you can relax in comfort while experiencing the wildlife of the African Bush. The lodge offers all the amenities of any conventional hotel, including spa treatments, Ken informed us that wildlife viewing takes place in the early morning and late afternoon, when animals are out and about. All tours are guided and mostly take place on open 4x4 rough terrain vehicles. He assured us that these tours are not dangerous, and are led by trained and seasoned professionals. 

Most safari packages are all inclusive. Your travel agent will customize your trip with a third party company, or on-site, which will be your concierge and guide while you are at your destination. Like Susan Boyle, you can take the bull by the horns and live a once in a lifetime experience!

For more information about booking Safaris with ClassicTravel.com, please contact Ken Lewis at 212-404-6731 or by e-mail at ken@classictravel.com.

{Hotel Profile} Otahuna Lodge, Christchurch, New Zealand

The last stop on ClassicTravel.com's President, Richard Beck, and VP of Marketing Lance Stamps' trip to New Zealand will be Otahuna Lodge. This secluded and historical resort was

 named the best hotel in Australia and New Zealand in 2008 by the luxury travel publication, The Gallivanter's Guide. The lodge was originally built for Sir Heaton Roades, a pioneer, and his family. Otahuna Lodge is a testament to Sir Roades' appreciation for the finer things in life, with its Queen Anne Architecture and use of local timber. The lodge is protected as part of The New Zealand Historic Places Trust. 

The estate offers five suites and two master suites. All suites are decorated in the style of an English country estate, and still have original architectural features, such as ornate fireplaces and stained glass windows. The suites offer the most luxurious comfort with custom bed linens and toiletries by Penhaligon's of London. 

The gardens are much as they were 110 years ago when they were first designed. The lawn and gardens are in the style of a Victorian country estate, and offer activities such as tennis, petanque, croquet,  and swimming. Otahuna Lodge also offers horseback riding, cycling, massages and guided garden tours. There is also a fully equipped gym, and maps of local trails for those who prefer to get out and jog or walk. The site has one of the largest fields of daffodils in New Zealand, and every September many enthusiasts come to the grounds to view the expanse of flowers. 

Otahuna Lodge's cuisine features seasonal produce grown on the grounds, with a dinner menu that changes daily. Guests dine at a communal table in the luxurious dining room, but there are private tables in the library, wine cellar and drawing room for more intimate occasions. 

For more information on Otahuna Lodge or any of ClassicTravel.com's other properties, please contact Jerry Hirshon at 212-404-6777, or by e-mail at jerry@classictravel.com.

{Hotel Profile} Kauri Cliffs Resort, Matauri Bay, New Zealand

Next up on Richard and Lance's New Zealand stay will be the Kauri Cliffs Resort in Matauri Bay, New Zealand. The main lodge offers 180 degree views of the surrounding scenery , including the Pacific Ocean, Cape Brett and The Cavalli Islands. Relax and enjoy the vistas from the lodge's living room. Hold an event in the meeting room, or relax with friends in the card room. You can even keep up with your e-mail in the small computer room on site. Guests can eat gourmet meals in the main dining room or on verandas while viewing the scenic landscape.

The accommodations are very private, consisting of 22 suites in 11 guest cottages. Each suite has a private porch, sitting area with fireplace and roomy closets. There are also two "security" rooms, for high profile guests who require security personnel to travel with them. These rooms are also often used for children, nanny's or drivers. There is also one two suite house known as The Owner's Cottage with a private swimming pool, hot tub and easy access to all the lodge's amenitites. The cottage has cooking facilities, and guests staying in this super luxury suite can call in the hotel's chef to cook for them. 

Kauri Cliffs Resort offers a plethora of exciting activities for everyone. Scuba Diving, Game Fishing, Snorkling, and Sea Kayaking are among the water sports offered. The grounds of the resort host two tennis courts, a swimming pool, spa and three secluded swimming beaches. Kauri Cliffs also offers tours to local tourist destinations such as Ninety Mile Bay and the historic Waitangi Treaty House. For those courageous guests looking for an exotic experience the resort also hosts guided wild boar hunting. Lastly, the resort boasts a par 72 championchip golf course with fifteen of the eighteen holes facing the Pacific Ocean.   

Kauri Cliffs also has a web of hiking and walking trails that lead to local private beaches or natural landmarks. One trail leads to the Kauri Tree, which is estimated to be 700-900 years old, and is one of the largest trees of its kind on private property. If you don't feel like walking, Kauri Cliffs also has a helicopter available for charter to view the sights from above!

For more information on Kauri Cliffs Resort or any of ClassicTravel.com's other properties, please contact Jerry Hirshon at 212-404-6777 or by e-mail at Jerry@classictravel.com.

{Hotel Profile} Blanket Bay, New Zealand

After the Virtuoso Symposium 2009 Australia, Richard Beck, President and CEO of ClassicTravel.com and Lance Stamps, Vice President of Marketing for ClassicTravel.com will travel to New Zealand to preview 3 amazing hotels.

Blanket Bay, an astonishingly beautiful property forty miles south of Queenstown, just outside of Glenorchy, a tiny village surrounded by two national parks, is the first. This was the area chosen by director Peter Jackson to be the backdrop for the famed movie trilogy, The Lord Of The Rings. It is also the starting point for 3 major walking trails, and is considered the walking track capital of New Zealand. This American owned property is modeled after an alpine Rocky Mountain lodge , which fits right in with the dramatic mountain views of the Southern Alps (New Zealand's southern island's mountain chain)

Blanket Bay is situated on beautiful Lake Wakatipu, features great amenities to help you get away from your strenuous lifestyle. Get cozy and read a book by the enormous fireplace, or gaze at the astonishing scenery through the huge windows in the common room, also known as The Great Room. Relax after a day of roughing it outdoors in The Game Room with a round of pool, and help yourself to beer or other drinks from the complimentary self serve bar. Detox in the steam room and spa pool.

Blanket Bay boasts cuisine by former New Zealand Chef Of The Year Jason Dell. The resorts food features local New Zealand ingredients, often with French and Pacific Rim influence in the dishes. The resort serves the finest local wines, and has a wine room and wine cave, where guests can experience a wine tasting.

Blanket Bay also provides guests with an array of complimentary activities including horseback riding, mountain biking and scenic hiking. More adventurous guests can also take an unforgettable helicopter flight, go heli-fishing and heli-skiing.

Blanket Bay is the perfect resort for a cozy romantic getaway or a unique destination wedding. For those of you who are looking to do something different in the summer, why not change things up and fly down under for a ski trip?

When you book at Blanket Bay at the Virtuoso rate with ClassicTravel.com you will recieve an upgrade upon arrival (subject to availability), full English or A La Carte Breakfast daily, and a luncheon for two, once during your stay. For more information about this or other Virtuoso properties, please contact Jerry Hirshon at 212-404-6777 or by e-mail at Jerry@classictravel.com.

Luxury Agents Finalize Itinerary for Virtuoso Symposium 2009 Australia

Lance Stamps, Vice President of Marketing for ClassicTravel.com, and Richard Beck, President and CEO of ClassicTravel.com can't wait to fly on the New Airbus 380 on their stop in Dubai while traveling to Australia for the 2009 Virtuoso Symposium. While in Dubai, Joan Gibbs, Director of Industry Sales for the Jumeirah Hotel Group will be rolling out the red carpet at three exclusive Jumeirah properties in Dubai.

The first stop is the Burj (Burj Al Arab), the only seven star hotel in the world. This all suite hotel provides the top services and amenities that anyone could imagine. As a guest at the hotel, you will be met at the airport by uniformed staff and will take a Rolls Royce Limo to the hotel, where you will be escorted directly to your suite. Any request is met with a smile, and every service is available 24 hours a day. 

When you book at the Burj Al Arab at the Virtuoso Rate with ClassicTravel.com, you will recieve an upgrage upon arrival (subject to availability), a welcome cocktail, a complimentary bottle of wine, exclusive Hermes amenities, One head, back and shoulder rub per adult per stay, Buffet Breakfast for two, Arabic Sweets, and unlimited access to the Wild Wadi Water Park.

Next up is the Dar Al Masyaf. This hotel is the epitome of Arabian elegance and luxury. Translated, Dar Al Masyaf means summer houses, and these suites and rooms are designed in the tradition of Arabian summer residences. When looking for simplistic relaxation, this is the place to go in Dubai.

Last, but certainly not least is the Jumeirah Bab Al Shams Desert Resort and Spa. This traditionally decorated resort is for those seeking a slightly more exotic desert experience. It is located about 45 minutes outside of Dubai, and offers one of a kind activities, spa treatments and restaurants.