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Greetings Fellow Travelers!
As you make your travel plans for 2006, we wanted to let you know about some
new developments that are taking place, two of which are already happening, and
one that is in the pipeline. Just when you think the Swiss Pass couldn’t get any
better, it does. Read about how below. Then see why going on a Holland Untour in 2006 will bring you closer to Rembrandt than ever before. Finally, get an update on our exciting new product, The RIGHT Vacation Rental, which will offer vacation
rentals in gorgeous places like Santorini, Croatia, and the Amalfi Coast. Don’t
forget to also check out our featured apartments in some of our hottest selling
Untour programs.
Happy Travels,
Kim Paschen
Editor, Eurozine
PS: We have exciting news. We going to be on TV! Get the scoop below!
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Untours Eurozine
January 2006
How to reach us
Phone: 888-868-6871
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Trains, buses, and boats make travel in Switzerland a breeze! photo by Frank Hench
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A Swiss deal you can’t miss! written by Kate Duncan, Swiss and Dutch Untours Staff
One of the best things about the Swiss Untour is the Swiss Pass, good for unlimited travel on Swiss Federal railways, buses
and boats. Up until this year, the Swiss Pass was known primarily for easy, no
hassle riding on the Swiss transportation network, an adventure in itself. It's
a great way to see the jaw-dropping Alpine scenery without hiking 12 miles up
a mountain, and the trains, buses, and boats are always spotless and right on
time. Plus, the connections are excellent and the nearest train or bus station
is no more than a ten-minute walk from most Untour apartments (click here for sample).
Just when you think the offerings couldn’t get any better, we have a new reason
to love the Swiss Pass. Starting in 2006, every Swiss Pass will double as a Swiss
Museum Pass, good for access to over 400 of Switzerland's world-class museums.
When in the Oberland, use your pass for a train ride to the Bern art museum (the nation's oldest),
then flash it at the entrance to admire the works of Paul Klee, Pablo Picasso,
Ferdinand Hodler and more from their collection spanning eight centuries. In
Ticino, let the bus drop you at the entrance to Bellinzona's three medieval castles
and their fortifications, all on the UNESCO World Heritage list. In the Heartland, take the Golden Pass line to the Obwalden Historical Museum in Sarnen to learn
about the history of the Swiss region you call home. Or, if natural history is
more to your liking, hop the tram to the Gletschergarten in Luzern, an impressive
natural monument and museum focusing on the once-tropical Luzern and the last
ice age.
Although we recommend at least some outdoor activities, it is possible to spend
your whole Swiss Untour just riding the rails and visiting museums-now all included
with the Untour package! For a complete list of museums covered by the Swiss Pass,
visit http://www.museumspass.ch.
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The spirit of Rembrandt is everywhere in Leiden, the
hometown of the Holland Untour. photo by Kate Duncan
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Remembering Rembrandt written by Kate Duncan, Swiss and Dutch Untours Staff
If you're a Rembrandt fan, this is the year to visit Holland! 2006 marks the
400th birthday of Rembrandt van Rijn, the greatest painter of the Netherlands
in the Golden Age. His lively hometown of Leiden, where he lived for 26 years
and the hometown for Dutch Untourists, is celebrating all year with events and
exhibitions, focusing especially his youth. Thirty reproductions of his work
drape over buildings throughout the town center, which you can admire on your
way to pick up your morning coffee and pastry. Or, you can follow the "Rembrandt
trail," a walking tour through parts of Leiden's old town, which were important
in Rembrandt's youth. In De Lakenhal museum, just a five-minute walk from Untour
apartments (click here to see a sample), an exhibit of paintings and documents giving insight into Rembrandt's early
life are on display until December 31, 2006.
Rembrandt's later years are being honored more specifically further afield.
The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam has brought out its entire Rembrandt collection,
one of the largest in the world, which includes “The Night Watch” and “The Jewish
Bride”. From June 26 - September 18, the Mauritshuis (royal portrait museum) in
The Hague will do the same, showing a progression from Simeon's Song of Praise
(1631) to Self-Portrait (1669, the year of Rembrandt's death), on display for
the first time since their recent restoration.
In addition to the exhibitions, Leiden will be brimming with festivals, music,
lectures, "Paint your own Rembrandt" contests, and (in the off-season) ice sculptures.
The Rembrandt Reception Hall is the town's starting point and information center
for activities and Rembrandt's life in Leiden. Check out www.rembrandt400-leiden.nl and www.rembrandt400.nl to start planning!
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Where in the world is The RIGHT Vacation Rental?
Many of you have been asking us when Idyll’s new site, The RIGHT Vacation Rental,
with vacation rentals all over Europe, will be ready. We estimated January as
our projected launch date and here it is, January already!
It is taking us a bit longer to make sure the website works just the way we want
it. We want it to be super user-friendly and informative. We know you are chomping
at the bit to see all the great new properties we’ve found. We are chomping at
the bit to show you! We ask for just a little more patience as our web programmers
finish their job of making this website worthy of Idyll’s tradition of great customer
service. Our goal for launching the site is late-February and we hope you'll
think it is worth the wait. Meanwhile, here’s one of our favorite spots, just
to whet your appetite...
TERRACE VIEW on the Amalfi Coast:
The recently renovated apartment, Terrace View (pictured above) is just a few
kilometers from Amalfi in Conca dei Marini, a quiet village perched on the edge
of the coast. Surrounded by lush, green vegetation and lemon groves, the terrace
of this vacation rental is the perfect spot to dine in the fresh air and enjoy
the splendid view of the sea below…. Above the living room is a lofted bedroom
with a double bed. Modern, spotless and comfortable, this apartment is perfect
for those wanting to be close to Amalfi, but who also want a quiet haven to return
to at the end of the day.
To find out when you can book this rental and many other great properties, go to www.therightvacationrental.com. If you give us your email, you will be notified the very first minute we are
open for business. Thanks for your patience.
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We have exciting news! We are going to be featured in 2 episodes of a brand new
series called Boomers! Redefining Life after 50! which airs on PBS stations all around the country. The series, already underway
in many TV markets, consists of 13 half-hour lifestyle magazine shows that examine
topics such as wellness, retirement planning, relationships, and of course...travel!
The Swiss Heartland Untour will be broadcast during week # 5 of the series in
a show entitled, "Pack Your Bags". You can watch a 3-minute preview by clicking
on this link:
In addition, Hal Taussig, President and Founder of Untours, will be featured
in the last episode, # 13 "Living the Dream" in which his work with the Idyll
Development Foundation and his unique life will be showcased.
To check to see if the Boomers! series will be on in your area, you can visit
this link: http://www.boomerstv.com/general_carriage.php. Note that not all PBS stations will be showing this series. You can also visit
the companion website www.boomerstv.com for tips on managing your money and staying healthy as well as additional information
about other episodes. Enjoy!
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Hot properties in hot destinations
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A bright, modern Greek apartment in the heart of Nafplio's old town, it's the
perfect combination! Find out more about the Dimitri 1 apartment.
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This Tuscan farmhouse oozes charm with its terra cotta floors, open fireplace,
and amazing views of the surrounding countryside. Read more about Le Chiuse 3.
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A beautiful Provençal stone house set in a meadow provides the ideal setting
for exploring southern France. Read more about the Hermann 3 cottage.
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Idyll, Ltd.
415 E. Jasper Street
Media, PA 19063
www.untours.com
P. 888-868-6871
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