The Chelsea Flower Show Celebrates 100 Years

22 Wednesday May 2013

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Spring marks the end of winter and the arrival of birds, bees and blossoms, particularly in London, England where the Great Spring Show, otherwise known as the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show is now in full bloom. Every May, the world-renowned event draws crowds of over 157,000 visitors from around the world to witness the vibrant gardening extravaganza, and with 2013 marking the show’s milestone 100th Anniversary, this year is sure to be one of its most spectacular yet!flower show chelsea

Hosted by the Royal Horticultural Society, the coveted five-day spectacle is the most popular flower show in the United Kingdom, perhaps in the world. Several members of the British Royal Family attend a preview of the show as part of the royal patronage of the Royal Horticultural Society. Held on the grounds of the Chelsea Hospital since 1913, the show covers a vast 11 acres of ground and takes 25 days to assemble. Since its beginning, the number of exhibitors has increased from 244 to currently over 550, with each year featuring exciting exhibits with inventive gardens, new plants, and innovative products from Britain, as well as contributions from foreign countries. Highlights of the show include the avant-garde show gardens designed by leading names, as well as the smaller, charming Artisan and Urban Gardens. The prestigious event has become an important display of emerging gardening trends, combining the launch of new plants with the revival of favourite classic varieties. It’s been said that the Chelsea Flower Show is the garden design equivalent of Paris Fashion Week!

To celebrate 100 spectacular years, many of the show gardens are promoting a greener, brighter future by highlighting sustainable living, ways to preserve Britain’s horticultural heritage and the protection of some of the world’s most vulnerable people. In addition, to honour the show’s centenary, this year the Great Pavilion will hold an historical theme with a display of 100 years in pictures, a captivating journey through the evolution of Chelsea style over the decades.

Those who are attending the 2014 Chelsea Flower Show can continue on to experience the beauty of Britain & Europe in the spring by joining one of Insight Vacations’ tours commencing in London.

By Cindy Howes

Insight Tour Director Spotlight: Simon Clynick

07 Tuesday May 2013

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simon clynickHello, my name is Simon Clynick and I escort Insight Vacations tours to Iberia.

I have been a Tour Director for over 20 years. I remember when I was only eight years old, going to Spain on holiday with my family and one particular Tour Director or ‘Courier’ as they were called, named Joe impressed me so much that I told my mother, “I wanted to do that!” Many drives across the continent with my parents when I was young also taught me a lot about the different regions, especially as my father wouldn’t let us sleep because we had to pay attention to the sights!

I enjoy the variety of my job very much. Every day is different and interesting, so it keeps me on my toes! I like to cover many topics on my tours. I think it’s important for guests to have first-hand accounts of the local culture, to experience how people live and work in the countries they are visiting. I think Insight tours allow guests to experience the real country away from the tourist-packed areas and to get a real feel of how the locals live, work and play. Teaching guests about the history of the area, including significant historical dates is equally important. I think what most surprises people when they visit Iberia is how different the region is from the rest of southern Europe; Spaniards love to stay up much later, while the Portuguese are very reserved. Travellers are generally pleasantly surprised.

I always recommend for guests to try the local cuisine. Apart from the typical paella, they should also try salmorejo which is a delicious cold soup from Andalucia, like gazpacho, but thicker. It looks a bit like baby food but tastes great! Guests should try to judge with their taste buds instead of their eyes. That way they won’t miss out on the unique food culture of these fascinating countries. One of Spain’s best-kept secrets is the wine region of Ribera del Duero in the north of the country. Here, they produce fabulous red wines that lend themselves ideally to the hearty winter meals of that region. Spain really is a place where, despite hard times, it’s still possible to have good food and wine at a reasonable price.

Spain is full of festivals, especially where I live in the Valencia area, which loves any excuse for a party! One festival that takes place near Valencia and is becoming more and more well known is the Tomatina. As you may have heard, on the last Wednesday of August at around midday in the small town of Buñol, a large truck of overripe tomatoes pulls into the main square and releases its load onto a group of around 8,000 visitors, who then begin pelting each another with these soggy tomatoes!! Eventually, a bell is rung and the battle comes to a peaceful end and everybody goes down to the river or to the fire brigade to get hosed down before settling down to an enjoyable summer lunch!! Only in Spain!

My top tips for guests travelling to Iberia are to go with the flow, relax and enjoy. It also helps to try and learn a few expressions in Spanish. One useful word to get people’s attention is ‘oiga’, meaning ‘listen up’, but in a polite way. Otherwise they could be waiting forever in some places to get served! If they fancy some reading materials for their flight, I suggest reading ‘Ghosts of Spain’ by Giles Tremlett. It’s an excellent and concise explanation of why Spain is different.

I look forward to welcoming you on board an Insight Vacations tour very soon!
Discover more of Iberia on the following tours: Amazing Spain & Portugal, Highlights of Spain, Highlights of Portugal and Treasures of Spain, Portugal & Morocco.

Discover the Vatican’s Bramante Staircase

23 Tuesday Apr 2013

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The Vatican City State houses some of the world’s greatest museums, which hold the extensive collections of priceless art and centuries-old treasures built up by the Roman Catholic Church. Amongst these collections are some of the world’s most renowned classical sculptures and most important masterpieces of Renaissance art, yet few are aware of the revolutionary architecture that also exists within these walls.

Bramante Staircase Inside Pio-Clementine Museum, one of the Vatican Museums, lies a marvel of Renaissance architecture, commissioned by Pope Julius II in 1505 to connect the Belvedere Palace of Innocent VIII to the city of Rome. Inside a large square tower, a dramatic spiraling structure, built of carved stone, was created by famous architect, Donato Bramante. Consisting of two intertwining staircases that form a DNA-like double helix, this innovative structure represented a design that had yet to be discovered. This lead to its enormous popularity and an ongoing fascination from the public, since the day of its inception. Its unique design also became very influential, used as a model for the more recent replica ‘Bramante Staircase’ created in 1932 by Giuseppe Momo, built to serve as an entry for the Vatican Museums and now used as the exit.

Centuries ago, the flat, ramp-like ‘staircases’ of Bramante’s structure were designed to walk up one and walk down the other, so that mules and horses could continuously go up and down with ease while carrying large items into the papal palaces. Besides its impressive stonework and design, the tower offers spectacular views across Rome and the Vatican property. Today, few ever set foot on the staircase as it remains behind rod iron gates, closed off to the general public. Only those who have been granted special access, such as Insight Vacations, have permission to enter.

Currently, all Insight tours travelling to Rome include both VIP entrance into the Vatican Museums, which allow visitors to skip the line-ups and avoid the crowds, and exclusive access to the original 16th century Scala Del Bramante (Bramante Staircase).

Written by Cindy Howes

Ringing in the New: The Bells of Notre Dame

07 Thursday Mar 2013

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The bells, The bells!  Quasimodo, the hunchbacked bell ringer of Victor Hugo’s famous novel Notre Dame de Paris, would delight in the news that recently nine great new bells were delivered to the Cathedral of Paris, Notre Dame.

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The Bells were commissioned as part of 850 years anniversary celebrations to commemorate  the laying of the first stone in the construction of one of Europe’s greatest Gothic cathedrals.

La Notre Dame de Paris (Our Lady of Paris, in english), stands on the Ile de la Cite, the island on the Seine that is the historical heart of Paris, France.

Externally magnificent, Notre Dame has two great Bell Towers, three of the finest medieval Portals, huge flying buttresses supporting the soaring walls  and vast rose stained glass windows. Internally the Cathedral houses in its treasury the Crown of Thorns and a nail from the Holy Cross; sacred relics purchased by the Church in the 13th Century  from the fading Byzantine Empire. The sound of the 8000 pipes of the great organ has long greeted worshipers and pilgrims from all over the world.

Notre Dame has been a significant location in the History of France. In 1804 Napoleon was crowned Emperor by Pope Pius VII, in 1909 Joan of Arc was beatified and canonized 10 years later. In 1944 the bells rang at the Te Deum mass to celebrate the liberation of Paris.

The Cathedral was ransacked during the French revolution and the original bells, apart from the great Emmanuel,  were destroyed. The replacements were poor replicas and since the early 19 century Parisiens have suffered with discordant clangs, until now.

Forged in Normandy, the nine new bronze bells weigh a total of 23 tons. Named after saints, the largest Mary, weighing 6.5 tons will join Emanuel in the South Tower whist the remaining 8 will hang in the North. They will be tuned to chime in tone with Emanuel so that Paris once again will echo with the sound of bells that would surely delight Quasimodo and Esmerelda.

The bells are currently on display in the Nave of Notre Dame and will be moved to the Cathedral Towers in time for Easter.

After the party, what to expect from Great Britain in 2013

04 Friday Jan 2013

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Without a doubt one of the countries that had a feature packed 2012 was Great Britain. It was a year full of celebrations including a Royal Wedding, Royal Jubilee and the London Olympics that will rank as one of the best ever.  As the year drew to a close there was a new Bond blockbuster and a New Year’s firework display that rocked the River Thames.London 2013

So after an outstanding 2012 what does 2013 have in store for Great Britain? The afterglow from the Olympics still shines brightly and at the end of July the first section of the Olympic park will be open to visitors. Recent victories for the UK’s Andy Murray in 2012 set-up what could be an exciting Wimbledon in June and in there will be a new way to see London from the EU’s tallest building The Shard which opens for observations in February.

Travel on from the capital and you’ll find a land that is rich in history and beauty. Explore in the footsteps of Romans in the spa town of Bath or witness the ancient structures at Stonehenge. A journey through the magnificent Lake District will amaze and there is almost nothing like the charm of the Cotswolds.

The Lake District

Stunning views from the Lake District.

Head up to Scotland and you’ll find that 2013 has been declared the year of natural Scotland. Enjoy the tranquil vistas of the highlands and lochs or for a louder alternative a journey to Edinburgh in August and will bring an opportunity to watch the famous Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

Edinburgh Castle

The Iconic Edinburgh Castle

After the perfect showcase of 2012 there’s clearly plenty more excitement to come in 2013, it’s no surprise that Great Britain is making the hot list for many travellers.

Suggested Tours

Best of Britain

Romantic Britain and Ireland

Britain and Ireland Discovery

Elegance of Great Britain

London City Break

3 Must See Destinations to Add to Your Bucket List

19 Monday Nov 2012

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So, where do you go when you have seen all of the big metropolises in Europe or if you want to avoid the tourists associated with the likes of London, Paris and Rome? Below is Insight’s list of 3 understated destinations that may not be the tourist hubs of the aforementioned three but are our must-sees to add to your bucket list.

1) Bergen, Norway

Bergen

Bergen may not be the first city that comes to mind when you think of Norway, but chances are if you have seen a picture of Norway, you have seen Bergen.  Its colourful Hanseatic buildings are a famous landmark of Scandinavia, and seafood lovers with marvel over the largest fish market in Scandinavia at the Hanseatic port.  A big city with small town charm, Bergen has earned spots on the UNESCO World Heritage list for its more than 900 years of history. National Geographic named the fjord of Norway the ‘World’s Most Unspoiled Tourist Destination’ and Bergen is the perfect gateway to marveling at these must-see natural wonders.

Tours Visiting Bergen: Spectacular Scandinavia and its Fjords

2) The Ukraine

Swallow's Nest

Swallow’s Nest

The Ukraine makes a fascinating discovery for travellers exploring the wonders and culture of Eastern Europe. Kiev is the capital and one of Europe’s oldest cities. A city with this much history has a glorious mix of the old and the new, and features sites like the Monastery of the Caves, considered among the most beautiful Christian shrines in the world. Travelling south will take you to the autonomous region of the Crimea and to the coast of the Black Sea watched over by the iconic Swallow’s Nest castle. The Ukraine remains one of Europe’s last travel frontiers and is ideal for those with a sense of adventure.

Tours Visiting Kiev:  Ukraine & the Crimea

3) Copenhagen, Denmark

Copenhagen

Visiting this Denmark capital is like stepping into a fairytale with a modern twist.  Famous for its love of bicycles, the environment and its high quality of life, Copenhagen is emerging as one of the most popular and forward thinking capitals in the world. Combine this with the Medieval and Renaissance inspired architecture and the Little Mermaid statue in the city where the story was created by Hans Christian Andersen, and you can’t help but feel like Copenhagen holds something truly magical.

Tours Visiting Copenhagen: Spectacular Scandinavia and its Fjords, Grand Tour of Scandinavia

 

Uncovering Europe’s Battlefields

04 Thursday Oct 2012

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A Commitment to Preserve Historic Battlefields

A journey through Europe will often take you through many ancient and modern battlefields that have shaped the cultures, borders and histories of the continent. Many of these important sites are frequently overlooked as tourism sites and house secrets that remain uncovered.

In cooperation with TreadRight, Insight Vacations is an on-going supporter of the Centre for Battlefield Archaeology (CBA), supporting their research of Europe’s battlefields and highlighting their significance to future visitors.

The Hidden History of Cambuskenneth AbbeyCambuskenneth Abbey

In 2012 Insight Vacations is supporting the CBA in their investigation of the Cambuskenneth Abbey, located close to the city of Stirling in Scotland. The Abbey is deeply linked to Scotland’s history as the site of parliaments, a royal burial and as infirmary during the 1314 Battle of Bannockburn. Of particular interest is a recorded attack on a Scots noble’s baggage train kept at abbey during the battle. It’s this attack that the project hopes to find evidence for during our dig.

The 1314 Battle of Bannockburn was a significant event in the history of medieval Scotland and was a decisive victory for Scotland during the Scottish wars of independence. Led by Robert the Bruce the Scottish forces defeated the English army of Edward II in two days which bolstered Bruce’s standing as king.

We’ll keep you updated with our discoveries but for more about this exciting project you can view our video below.

What’s New for 2013 by John Boulding, President/CEO, Insight Vacations

06 Thursday Sep 2012

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We are in the process of launching our new Premium and Gold brochures to Europe & the Eastern Mediterranean for 2013 – exciting times as these regions are hugely popular destinations for our guests.

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At Insight we are genuinely passionate about creating great vacations. I know it seems easy to say, but we really do work tirelessly to ensure our guests enjoy the best of each destination in comfort and style. Our contracting teams and quality control staff monitor product delivery all the time but our guests input, through on-tour questionnaires, tour director reports and our travel forum is immensely important. I also catch up with guests and get direct feedback as often as I can and value everyone’s thoughts. This year I’ve travelled twice to India, met customers in London, on our Channel Islands tours, on our Swiss tours, French tours, on a USA tour, and I’ll be joining the 2012 Travel Forum tour in St Malo and Paris this September.

Here is a quick heads-up of what’s brand new, what’s changed and where we are going with product and destinations in 2013.

Firstly, we again visit 42 independent states in geographical Europe – more than any other operator. The only countries we don’t tour through are Andorra, San Marino, Kosovo and Moldova! So with Insight, you can travel from Iceland over 4300km (as the crow flies) to the Ukraine & Crimea; or from Russia’s Golden Ring (which combines perfectly with Easy Pace Russia) to our new 9 day itinerary of Portugal showcasing the best of this delightful country. There’s a new 3 day extension tour of the Battlefields of WWI, linked to 5 other ‘Discovery’ and ‘French’ tours; and we’ve completely re-designed our Gold luxury itineraries in Ireland, Scotland and Spain to bring you even better coverage of the destinations – they are absolutely superb.  The Eastern Mediterranean remains a major part of our portfolio too, with no less than 9 itineraries that include Egypt; then there are multiple itineraries to Turkey, Greece, Jordan and Israel too. We’ve introduced another Premium vacation in Greece, combining classical touring with island-hopping to Santorini and Mykonos; this complements our Gold island-hopping by providing an alternate price-point. Our Grandeur tour is now one day longer with an extra night in Pamplona while our Heritage itinerary is one day shorter as it now flies from Athens to Italy instead of travelling by ferry.

We’ve also got an online-only tour section too. Check out our new Photography Tours, our Italian Wine tours, an art and culture tour from Paris to Barcelona covering the best and most culturally rich areas of France and Spain, plus our very own Travel Forum tour to Poland and Bohemia in 2014, and other itineraries that we’ll feature from time to time.

But at the heart of everything lies the fact that we have always seen it as incumbent upon us to spend your money wisely. Accordingly, each year we make various adjustments to improve guest experiences, including various routing or sightseeing changes to itineraries. We also always take a fresh look at our hotels to ensure we are providing the best and the most appropriate for each tour. 2013 is no exception and we are pleased to have made some major hotel upgrades across the programme.

I would specifically highlight improvements in tours of Britain – with four star upgrades in the Scottish Highlands, the Lake District, the South Coast and elsewhere. This has been a tough nut to crack but it is fair to say that these new hotels are impressive and will ensure our guests experience in the UK is the best ever, a world apart from other operators.

We’ve also made major hotel changes elsewhere – so much so that 67% of all Insight hotels are now Superior First Class or Deluxe (95% First Class to Deluxe), and 100% are central or scenic (the only exceptions being a couple of final night gateways specifically positioned for airport departures)!

But Insight’s superior quality and customer advantage doesn’t stop with hotels. We’ve also added some additional new experiential activities and special highlight evenings with dinner, wine and entertainment. To name just a few: there are wine tastings and vineyard visits to meet growers and wine experts; we include cookery demonstrations in Provence, in Guernsey and in Austria; and we have unique access with a new VIP entrance to the Vatican Museums and Sistine Chapel with a special visit to the incredible Bramante Stairs (included on every Insight tour visiting Rome)

We also include more fabulous night-time excursions and evening entertainment…
A fiery Flamenco show with dinner and unlimited drinks is now included on every tour that visits Seville; there’s a new highlight dinner and operetta with the tenors in Rome; an elegant evening concert with dinner, waltzing, Mozart and Strauss in Vienna; a candlelit dinner and gondola serenade in Venice; a celebration dinner on the summit of Mt Stanserhorn in Switzerland; and dinners in renowned restaurants on the Left and Right banks of Paris.

Our Gold luxury tours are also growing strongly and product quality in 2013 is no exception. We have once again selected excellent luxury properties, many of them members of Leading Hotels of the World and Relais & Chateaux. They all feature outstanding service and guests will enjoy great dining and epicurean delights.
You’ll be pleased to know that nothing has changed with our established fundamentals of premium sightseeing experiences, smaller group size of a maximum 40 guests, reconfigured touring coaches with ‘business class’ legroom, desirable locations, Dine-Around evenings, Welcome Receptions with dinner, farewell Celebration Dinners, Club Bon Voyage drinks receptions and more…

If you are joining a UK or European multi-country tour in London, then you are almost certain to want an extra day to relax or explore after your long haul flight. Insight’s new ‘Bonus Day’ is the perfect solution – your Tour Director will be available the day before your tour departs the capital, to assist with check-in and sightseeing and, with lower-priced hotel accommodation for that night, it will be the best start to a perfect tour!
(N.B. North American travellers have London pre-packaged as part of their tour).

Lastly, we have a fantastic new Early Payment Discount for most UK & European tours. In the past it was time-limited by departure date, so many guests missed out. No longer! Everyone can make massive savings of 10% simply by paying in full before 27th December; 7.5% by paying before 28th Feb; and 5% by 30th April. The key message is that the earlier you book, the sooner your place is confirmed and the more you can save!

2013 Europe is due online this week in Australia and New Zealand, during early September in the USA and Canada and shortly thereafter in other countries.

To all Insight guests – past, present and future – I wish you every happiness and safe travels and we look forward to you joining us during the coming year.

Warmest regards,

John Boulding
President/CEO

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John Boulding

PS. First time travellers may find our new ‘Fact File’ section useful. It is located at the back of the 2013 Europe brochure and contains various articles such as ‘Insight, Independent or Cruise?’ and ‘How to Read This Brochure’, as well as our hotel listings, ‘Frequently Asked Questions’, tour terminology, and much more. We will replicate online in due course.

PPS. Please also consider travelling to Europe during the Autumn, Winter and Spring months of November through March. You’ll have a fabulous time. The weather can be surprisingly mild, prices are excellent and it is usually a little less crowded. There are also lots of seasonal attractions, such as Christmas Markets, Pageants and January Sales – it is a fascinating time to travel.

Aside

A Jordan Adventure

21 Tuesday Aug 2012

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Jordan in Jordan

Sharon Jordan, Manager, Insight Vacations, Ireland travelled to Jordan with Insight Vacations in 2012 and shares her experience with the Insight blog.

It was always a dream of mine to visit Jordan. Mainly because as a young child (owing to my name) my dad had always told me I was a Princess in Jordan and that the River Jordan was my swimming pool! I believed this until I was about 11 when geography and history thought me better but, it was then that this belief sank away and my interest changed and I became hooked on the idea of visiting the UNESCO World Heritage site of Petra. So, when the opportunity to run an Insight Vacations trip for some of Ireland’s top travel editors it was Jordan that was top of my list as a destination who could host us. And oh boy, the country didn’t disappoint.

Day 1

We arrived late in the evening on the first day of our tour and checked in to the 5* Marriot Amman Hotel. A plush hotel which offered an impressive reception and excellent sports bar. After check in we went down for the welcome reception and it was here that we met our amazing tour director Elias and here that the tone of the trip was set. From the get go it was clear we were in for an amazing time.

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8 Tips for the Perfect Vacation

27 Friday Jul 2012

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Robin Yap, head of The Travel Corporation Asia shares his top tips for making the most of your vacation.


1. Travel with like-minded buddies who share a same perspective on truly wanting a good 1 Travel with like-minded buddies who share the same view on truly wanting a great time. There is no right or wrong kind of travellers: some are more careful with what they spend while others are more generous. So, having the right company is important.

2. Choose a destination which suits your budget so that you need not restrain yourself from having a great meal, buying a gadget that you have been eyeing or visiting a monument that you have read so much about.

3. There is no perfect tour but a positive mind will allow you to enjoy your holiday even if things do not turn out the way you wanted. Remember you are going on a holiday, not on a fault-finding mission. You want to bring back beautiful photos and great memories, not learn to write a complaint letter.

4. The cost of your holiday is not the price you pay when you book. It includes all expenses incurred on the trip that are not included in the tour price. Thus, ensure you take time to understand the tour content. Don’t expect to pay for a low-capacity car and want it to perform like a sports car!

5. One of the greatest experiences I had travelling on international coach tours is making friends from all over the world. I learned how older Australian travellers age gracefully, how the American education system works, how Asians respect their elders while on tour, and I have also received invites to the homes of those I met on the tour.

6. For destinations close by, finding a resort to unwind as a independent traveller is a good option. For farther destinations with different languages and driving styles, you must have a lot of time and patience if you decide to travel independently.

7. A good and experienced tour leader is not someone put on a tour just to accompany the group.

8. Bringing your three year-old on a long-haul programme-packed group tour can be energy draining because it is not easy for little ones to keep up with the pace, schedule and time difference. It is better to bring them when they are older and more ready.

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