TORONTO, Aug. 24, 2015 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Insight Vacations (www.insightvacations.com), the leader in premium and luxury escorted journeys, has launched three new itineraries to its ever popular Christmas Markets program this season. With a total of five handpicked Christmas Markets itineraries there is nothing quite like these traditional holiday markets in Europe that date back to the Late Middle Ages. Now including festive spectaculars in Poland, Austria and Italy, clients can ring in the yuletide amidst the twinkling lights of a European winter wonderland with a mug of vin brulé in hand. As part of the 2015-16 Autumn, Winter & Spring Europe program, clients can take advantage of prices being up to 27 per cent less than during the summertime. Plus, travellers can save up to $748 per couple by taking advantage of the "Early Payment Discount" of 7.5%* per person if they pay in full before August 31, 2015.
Christmas Markets of Germany, Austria & Italy
This 8-day festive journey offers a wealth of delights and historic sights with the gothic Marienplatz in the heart of Munich, medieval Innsbruck and its Golden Roof, the cosmopolitan city of Bolzano nestled in the shadow of the Dolomites, Verona and Venice with their tales of love. Starting in the medieval city of Munich, guests take in the German festive spirit at the Christkindlmarkt - the city's oldest Christmas Market dating back to the 14th century. Here, organ music and carols ring out from the ancient churches. Germany's largest Manger Market is located nearby, in Neuhauser Strasse where travellers can shop handcrafted pieces to complete their mangers. Guests travelling on the first four departures (November 28, 30; December 5, 7) will discover a Christmas Post Office from the village of "Christkindl" in Austria. Up until December 8, all Christmas mail posted here will be franked with the word "Christkindl" and sent anywhere in the world in time to arrive for Christmas. After a busy day at the market, guests stay at The Hilton Munich City hotel, a Signature Hotel, conveniently located in the entertainment district of Haidhausen and is within walking distance of the central shopping district at Marienplatz and in easy reach of Munich's tourist attractions. The hotel offers contemporary comfort and modern technology. From Munich, travellers head through the Bavarian Alps to Innsbruck in Austria. Guests immerse themselves in the festive atmosphere of the old town and Christmas Markets, set in front of the Golden Roof and graced by beautifully preserved medieval façades. As a Signature Experience, they then snuggle up under warm fur blankets and enjoy stunning snow-covered Tyrol during a horse-drawn carriage ride in the afternoon. At Bolzano in Italy, the city's arcaded streets and squares bloom with brightly lit garlands, while the festive brass oompah and the aroma of roasting chestnuts fills the air. Beneath the Gothic spire in the Piazza Walther, guests join the locals at Italy's largest Christmas Market. Here the Tour Director will introduce festive goers to one of the market stallholders for a taste of traditional vin brulé (hot mulled wine) and a piece of the delicious local Zelten Christmas cake. On the Venetian island of Giudecca, guests visit a traditional Arts Centre and witness the age-old skills of glassblowers, mask makers and gondola builders as a Signature Experience.
Christmas Markets of Poland, Prague & Germany
Exploring the Christmas Markets of Kraków, Wroclaw, Kutna Hora, Prague, Dresden and Berlin, this 9-day itinerary will get even Scrooge into the festive spirit. Beginning in one of the oldest cities in Poland, Kraków, guests get their first taste of Polish old-world charm with a walk around the magnificent Cloth Hall in the Market Square. Wrapped in romantic gabled townhouses and Gothic spires, the festive Christmas Market stalls are a Disneyesque dream, offering all sorts of delicacies and delights - from Highland woollen slippers to amber jewellery from the Baltic and delicious Mazurek (traditional Christmas cake). From here, guests travel to the city of Wroclaw, the "Venice of Poland", made up of five rivers, 12 islands and over 150 bridges. Rated one of the finest in Europe, Wroclaw's Christmas Market offers a delightful, fairytale charm. Travellers enjoy an orientation tour of the market, located in the historic main square Rynek, surrounded by Baroque splendour and adorned with thousands of twinkling lights. They then spend time exploring the vast array of stalls bursting with local crafts and tasty treats, where they can indulge in the traditional oscypek cheese with cranberries, a delicacy from the Tatra mountains. Afterwards, they rest at a Signature Hotel, the Sofitel Wroclaw Old Town, a five star luxury hotel located only minutes away from the medieval centre of Wroclaw and one of the oldest botanical gardens in Europe. At Prague, travellers visit the city's colourful Christmas Market that contrasts with the Gothic skyline. Beneath a giant Christmas tree, draped in a blaze of lights, locals browse the decorative wooden stalls. There, guests will experience a Signature Experience by meeting a local stallholder and savour a glass of Svarák (mulled wine) along with the local Trdelnik pastry while shopping for authentic Christmas decorations, gifts, and toys to bring back home.
Christmas Markets of Austria & Bavaria
Insight Vacations guests will see Europe transform into a magical wonderland of snow, twinkling lights and warm aromas during the wintertime. Known for their celebration of the Christmas season, Austria and Bavaria come alive during this time of year. Guests will begin their journey on the nine-day journey with an introduction to the Habsburg Monarchy, taking a private tour of Maria Theresa's Schönbrunn Palace with a local expert - a Signature Experience. Travellers will also see Vienna's architectural accomplishments in the Ringstrasse. In Salzburg, guests visit Mozart's family home on the Getreidegasse, and see the fairytale castle of Neuschwanstein perched on a spectacular Alpine mountainside. Insight guests will enjoy a Signature Dining experience in Innsbruck, dining in a medieval banquet in a 700-year-old building with local specialties and wine. Not to be missed are the festive Christmas Markets, which evoke an Old World feeling of celebration and cheer. From the Wiener Christkindlmarkt in front of the Schönbrunn Palace to Munich's traditional Christmas Market, the charming vendor stalls, spiced pastries and warming Glühwein will have everyone in the Christmas spirit throughout their journey.
For more information, please visit www.insightvacations.com, contact an Insight Specialist at 1-800-387-8490 or contact your local sales manager.
About TreadRight
Created as a joint initiative between The Travel Corporation's family of brands, the TreadRight Foundation is a not-for-profit working to ensure the environment and communities we visit remain vibrant for generations to come. To date, TreadRight has supported more than 35 sustainable tourism projects worldwide. The Foundation's guiding principle is to encourage sustainable tourism development through conservation, leadership and support for communities. Foundation priorities are set by the Steering Committee, which includes sustainability leaders like Céline Cousteau and Costas Christ.
TreadRight's past project partners include WWF, Conservation International and The National Trust in the UK. Current initiatives include sponsoring the National Geographic Society's inaugural "World Legacy Awards," and inspiring wildlife advocates like Terri Irwin.
To learn more about our past and current work at TreadRight, please visit us at treadright.org.
About Insight Vacations
For more than 35 years, Insight Vacations (www.insightvacations.com) has been designing the world's finest escorted travel itineraries. Insight offers 113 journeys to more countries across Europe than any other operator and provides the same legendary service across North America, India, Bhutan, Morocco, Egypt and Israel.
Insight guests enjoy The Art of Touring in Style with business-class legroom aboard customized luxury coaches, intimate groups of just 40 travellers and the services of an experienced Tour Director who acts as 'travelling concierge.' Each expertly planned itinerary includes a range of Signature Events for a unique and authentic look into the history and culture of each destination. Throughout their trip, guests will stay in handpicked hotels that are centrally or scenically located and have the perfect balance of guided and independent exploration.
For more information, visit us at http://www.insightvacations.com, on social media at http://www.facebook.com/InsightVacations, http://twitter.com/InsightVacation, and join the conversation using the hashtag #InsightMoments.
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TERMS: *For new bookings only. Applies only to tours featuring the 'Early Payment Discount' in the price panel on premium tours - see the new 2015/16 Europe, Autumn, Winter and Spring brochure. The $748 per couple savings is off land only and is based on the 7.5% 'Early Payment Discount' for the 16 March 2016 departure of 17 Days-Highlights of Europe Premium tour. Full payment is required by 31 August 2015. Combinable with other brochure discounts unless otherwise stated. The 'Early Payment Discount' does not apply to Egypt Gold, Greece, Turkey, Israel, Jordan tours, cruises, rail, mini and City Break tours. The 'Early Payment Discount' is based on availability and may be withdrawn at any time.
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The Travel Corporation | 33 Kern Rd., Toronto, ON, M3B 1S9
(416) 322-8468 ext. 7294 | winston.ma@travcorp.ca
Marie Anne MacRae
Global VP, Strategic Partnerships
The Travel Corporation | 33 Kern Rd., Toronto, ON, M3B 1S9
(416) 915-7016 | marieanne.macrae@travcorp.ca
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