My Blog

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

Read More...

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.

 

Read More...

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 !!

A wonderful country house in Italy is available 8th August for one week - can accommodate 14 adults and a couple of kids. Secluded gardens, wonderful private pool, gorgeous interiors, scrumptious cotton sheets, immaculate in every way. For more info e-mail me janet@grand-tourist.com or ring for more details 01829 751038. The house is divine and wonderfully located in Le Marche (nearest airport Ancona) or why not drive!!

As the Adriatic Sea laps gently against the beach in Italy's seaside resort of Senigallia (twinned with the Roman city of Chester) the town gears up for its annual 'Festival of the Sea'. Award winning local chefs will create wonderful local fish dishes for an international audience of professional chefs.

Historic Senigallia

 Uliassi Ristorante & one of Mauro Uliassi's wonderful fish dishes.

 

Senigallia beach

 

 

 

To be able to participate in this amazing event for professional chefs is quite an experience. During the week chefs will be instructed by Moreno Cedroni and Mauro Uliassi (both living and working in Senigallia) and visiting superstar chef Leif Mannerstrom from Sweden.

For further details on this and other culinary and gastronomic events in Senigallia contact www.grand-tourist.com

 

 

Read More...

Grand Tourist is delighted to present the opportunity to travel to Basilicata, Southern Italy. We now have a truly amazing property to offer in this part of the world.

The Sassi di Matera is a medieval village that has been preserved as part of Italy's rural heritage - it is what the Italians call an ‘Albergo Diffuso' in other words a village that incorporates a small hotel within its walls - where rooms are scattered around the town (a bit like Port Merion in Wales).

The Village of Matera, Basilicata, Italy.

The village itself is located about 20 kms due south of Altamura. It was this area that Carlo Levi (the writer) was exiled to in the years leading up to the Second World War. He wrote about his experiences in the novel ‘Christ Stopped at Eboli'.

The village of Matera is medieval and the atmosphere and heritage of this rocky hill-top town have been maintained and enhanced with the development of the ‘Sassi'. Visitors are offered accommodation in rock-hewn historic buildings where modern luxury combines with traditional architectural features - arches, alcoves and stone floors. There are only 18 rooms decorated in a typical style but using linen sheets and locally woven blankets.

One of the cave rooms at Sassi di Matera 

The area is ideal for walking (with or without a guide) and varies from simple walks to hiking and trekking. There is also a library, restaurant and bar - with wine cellar.

Grand Tourist can provide a full programme of activities for you including hire car (any make - whatever takes your fancy - maybe an Alfa Romeo Spider), accommodation, guided tours of Matera, local wine-tasting and even a cookery class!

We'd be delighted to put together a tailor-made trip to Basilicata for you. Even a two centre holiday featuring 5-days in Basilicata and then perhaps five days on the Mediterranean Coast at the family-run Palazzo Belmonte (just south of Paestum). The temples of Paestum are amazingly preserved Greek Temples south of the Amalfi coast.

We'd need to know your dates of travel and any particular requirements that you have.
Just for your information ‘Sassi di Matera' is only open from mid-May to end of October.

For more information on Grand Tourist visit www.grand-tourist.com Alternatively call us directly for an informal chat: 01829-751038 or 07836-329274. Lastly you can e-mail me janet@grand-tourist.com

Very best wishes,

Janet Simmonds
Director / Grand Tourist Ltd

 

The countryside around Matera - ideal for picnics or painting! 

Read More...

 

La Dolce Vita Show celebrates all things Italian, food & wine, travel, property, history and culture. Why not head down to Olympia this weekend and indulge in the sights and sounds of 'La Dolce Vita' albeit in West Kensington!

 Come and visit Grand Tourist at Stand T 219 (travel section) and we'll help you plan your next extraordinary trip to Italia.

Why not join us on a terrace in Italy to 'Learn Italian in Luxury'  this one week course runs from 03-10 October 2009. Everything is included (apart from flights) and it is fantastic - £1395 pp. NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT!!!!!

See you soon, Ciao amici..........................Janet x

 

 

Read More...

Only ten days to go now until La Dolce Vita Show at London's Olympia. We'd love to see you there to chat about all things Italian and to help you plan an original and interesting trip to perhaps Ischia, Le Marche, Toscana or maybe Basilicata! We're running a competition and there's a great boutique b & b that we've just started working with right in the centre of Florence.

 

Ciao amici ci vediamo la settimana prossima! 

As I sit here in the cold and damp of a British winter I think of Italy's blue skies and warm terracotta shades. I think of a terrace in Italy where a small group of us are learning and improving our Italian.

I want to be back there now enjoying the views, the cadence of the language, the  aromas of coffee and brioches.

 

Venice Competition - Luxury Travel Fair

Winning answer - The island in the lagoon was San Michele.

The first three names with correct answers out of the hat win a case of Venetian wine. The winners of the Venetian wine competition that Grand Tourist held recently are:

Mr Jack Willis of Upminster

Mr Josh Herlihy of London

Mr Christopher Gosney of London 

 

Congratulations to you all - your wine will be delivered to you shortly!

www.grand-tourist.com 

 

 

Read More...