Posted by: janet in Italy - La Dolce Vita on
Mar 26, 2010
Grand Tourist has so many wonderful hotels, bed & breakfasts, family-run inns and amazing villas & apartments in Tuscany - still available for this summer. Contact us now for inspirational travel ideas and awesome itineraries.
For a really Italian experience why not enjoy Le Marche - a magical and very Italian part of Italy.
We would love to hear from you.................
Posted by: janet in Italy - La Dolce Vita on
Mar 9, 2010
We are heading to London tomorrow morning to exhibit at 'La Dolce Vita Show' at The Business Design Centre in Islington. Grand Tourist will be on Stand T17. It would be great to welcome friends both old and new to this celebration of Italian culture, food, wine and history.
Posted by: janet in Driving, Coming soon on
Jan 29, 2010
Why not join the Grand Tourist team in Monaco this May for the Monaco Historic Grand Prix. This is a bi-annual event that features the most exciting racing cars of the 50s, 60s and 70s. Step back in time to the days of Stirling Moss and Graham Hill as you watch this exhilerating race around the Grand Prix circuit of Monaco. Hosted by the affable and extremely knowledgable Iain Tyrrell of Cheshire Classic Cars (www.cheshireclassicars.co.uk) our trip will be both informative and fun. We're hoping to meet some of the competitors too! Check the Experiences page of our web site www.grand-tourist.com for full details and prices.
It would be great to welcome friends and new faces to Monaco.
It's 2010 and Happy New Year to all our Grand Tourists who travelled with us in 2006,2007,2008 and 2009. We are so excited to be offering a whole range of exciting travel experiences in the coming year.
Old favourites like 'Learn Italian in Style' are back in May and October. Then in September we've got our inaugural 'Damascus & Syria' programme - which promises to be a fascinating visit to Roman temples, rock-hewn villages, early Christian sites and the fertile banks of the River Euphrates. Whilst in the cities Damascus and Aleppo provide the most incredible insights into medieval life in beautifully preserved Arabic souks and historic quarters.
Feel free to call us to discuss your travel plans: 01829-751038
Posted by: janet in Coming soon on
Dec 10, 2009
I'm really delighted to say that our brand new Grand Tourist Damascus & Syria programme is now on the web site. I'll be leading our group in September of 2010 on this incredible 11 day trip from the cities of Damascus and Aleppo to the Syrian desert of the east. We'll visit the Euphrates and the Roman temples of Palmyra. And I for one will definitely be going on a camel!!
Depending on demand we may pop in an additional departure date in June.
e-mail me janet@grand-tourist.com for further details.
Posted by: janet in Coming soon on
Dec 7, 2009
Grand Tourist's Syria
I am just putting the finishing touches to a brand new itinerary on Syria - it includes visits to Damascus, Aleppo, Palmyra (in the desert) and the amazing Crusaders Castles. It'll be on the web site by next week.
It has been a busy year at Grand Tourist with a successful 'Learn Italian in Luxury' programme based in Le Marche, Italy - where we were guests at the wonderful Santo Stefano country house, owned by the wonderful Sheila and John.
We were also honoured to lead the WCFM group to Istanbul in September (providing the Master's Outing) for the members.
I've just come back from two weeks in India - so I am raring to go with exciting and interesting new offerings from Grand Tourist in 2010.
For me the highlights of India were walking in the foothills of the Himalayas, visiting the Ganges at Varanasi and seeing the Taj Mahal at dawn. Nothing can prepare you for the beauty and elegance of the Taj - the sparkling white stone, the symmetry of the design are truly awe-inspiring.
For sheer joy and compassion my vote goes to the Sikh pilgrims at the Golden Temple, Amritsar - the Sikh community were so welcoming - I was honoured to visit their shrine and to experience their incredible hospitality. Every visitor to the temple is provided with a meal and accommodation (free of charge) - should they require it.
India is a spectacular country - life is lived on the streets in glorious technicolour every minute of every day!
M
The 'Learn Italian in Luxury' trip was hugely enjoyable- a fantastic group of people - great characters and great company. A big thank you to everyone for making such a marvellous week.
In fact it has been an amazing year for Grand Tourist - it has been our pleasure to look after just over 100 passengers and to ensure that their holiday experiences have been exceptional. In fact looking back over the year I guess some of the highlights would have to be:
The wonderful WCFM group in Istanbul for a long weekend (that's the Worshipful Company of Furniture Makers to you and me).
The bevy of beauties from Bournemouth (and nearby) travelling riotiously through Europe by train - first class of course - and finally ending up in Rome for a 60th birthday party and to throw coins in the trevi fountain. 'Three Coins in a Fountain' for a very special lady.
The serious shoppers from Newcastle who enjoyed the silk factories and studios of Lake Como and the amazing factory shops of Le Marche including bargains from Prada, Tods and Armani - all thanks to Grand Tourist.
Janet, Holly, Emma and Sarah thank you for your company and look forward to welcoming everyone again soon on a Grand Tourist holiday experience.
After a fleeting visit to Barcelona to see Leonard Cohen in concert I'm off to Le Marche, Italy on 3rd October. My destination is the gorgeous Santo Stefano - a magnificent country house nestling in the rolling hills about 25 kms from Ancona.
Here in a luxurious and elegant setting Grand Tourist is running a one week 'Learn Italian in Style' course with daily lessons, a sympathetic local Italian teacher and incredible food & wine. It promises to be a week of relaxation, learning and gastronomic joy!! We've got one place left on this incredible trip if any last minute linguists would care to join us! Contact janet@grand-tourist.com for more details. Looking forward to Santo Stefano with Grand Tourist !!
We had a great couple of days in Istanbul with the WCFM - what a great group of charming and delightful individuals - thank you so much to our friends in Istanbul who helped enormously to make it all happen.
Next year I'm keen to offer a driving tour of the whole of Turkey featuring Cheshire Classic Cars (our sister company) and offering participants the chance of driving their own classic car on a circuit of this amazing country.
The modern Turkish economy is huge - a population of 70 million people. There is also a truly impressive mix of old and new - from the brand new Harvey Nichols (located in a truly spectacular state-of-the-art shopping centre) to the 1600 year old Santa Sofia Church.
Add the location of Istanbul on the shores of the Bosphorus - and you've got a short break destination to die for! So if you fancy a trip to Turkey and Istanbul contact holly@grand-tourist.com or janet@grand-tourist.com and we'll tailor a trip just for you!!
