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Set amongst magnificent Alpine scenery with the crystal clear blue waters of the Tegernsee, a sparkling lake in the foreground, the picturesque town of Rottach Egern is one of the poshest and most sought after resort destinations in Germany. Located in the heart of Bavaria with magical forests, lush meadows, towering jagged peaks and winding mountain roads, this small resort town casts its magic spell on all visitors encouraging them to come closer and closer to be absorbed in the mountain splendor and beauty.

Only 60 kilometers from Munich and with a railway station and bus terminal, Rottach Egern has been a favorite vacation, spa and weekend getaway destination for centuries. Once a small traditional fishing and farming village, the town grew and blossomed to become a favored hunting and recreational destination. Its popularity was sealed with a visit by the Tsar followed by the Bavarian nobility early in the 19^th century and today continues to attract a wide spectrum of visitors.

Aside from the natural beauty of Rottach Egern and its surrounds, it is a town steeped in tradition and culture. With quaint cozy guest houses, early 19^th century lodges, majestic chateaux and luxurious five star hotels, a variety of accommodation styles are available to suit all needs and budgets. Gracious accommodation with panoramic views over the Lake and distant mountains includes single and double rooms, apartments and suites and ensures all visitors are in for a peaceful and rejuvenating experience.

This is a region in Germany that is most famous for its outdoor summertime beer festivals complete with brass band, traditional Bavarian delicacies, dancing, music and happy chatter. With traditional forest festivals, the Festival for Horses, Mountain Film Festival, splendid firework displays over the lake and a cable car up the towering Wahlberg Mountain, entertainment opportunities are endless. In winter, visitors gather around warm crackling fireplaces and exchange stories of days spent on nearby snow filled ski-slopes with cross-country skiing and one of the longest toboggan runs in Germany.

Fabulous shopping along The Promenade with haute couture, gifts and jewelry, folk costumes, arts and craft shops combines high-style with traditional values. Bavarian delicacies include homemade apple strudel while restaurants, pubs and lounges ensure that guests can sample many local dishes and beers and enjoy true traditional Bavaria hospitality.

Other action-packed leisure opportunities await adventurous visitors.  From hot air ballooning, paragliding and hang-gliding to exhilarating mountain bike and sledge trails, Nordic and health walking and fauna and flora trails, there is plenty of activity to keep the whole family busy. The lake sports such as swimming, boating and windsurfing as well as a water sports school offering tuition are a huge attraction while tennis, squash, bowls and many exciting golf courses provide alternative leisure pursuits.

Many visitors still come to Rottach-Egern hotels, as they have done for centuries, in search of restorative spas that offer amazing peace and tranquility with acres of landscaped gardens and private beaches on the shores of Tegernsee to complete the experience. Included are indoor and outdoor heated swimming pools, a Turkish hamman and Finnish sauna, Japanese and herbal-aroma steam baths to mention just a few of the delights awaiting guests. Pampering massages and luxurious treatments are aimed at restoring body, mind and soul and offer a truly holistic experience.

Fabulous meeting and conference spaces are perfect to host both corporate and private functions and events. Combined with excellent International and local cuisine-styles and dishes, all delegates and friends are in for a real treat.

For a fabulous getaway destination nestled against spectacular Alpine scenery and offering a unique blend of traditional hospitality with 21^st century luxury, Rottach-Egern is a destination not to be missed and is assured of having visitors retuning time and time again.

Commonly known as “The Entertainment Capital of the World” the thriving and dynamic city of Las Vegas is internationally known as the gambling, shopping, dining and entertainment Mecca and the playground of the rich and famous. Visitors are not only attracted to the jingling sounds of money and the excitement generated by mega-casinos but also by spectacular extravaganzas, head-liner shows, exotic dancers, famous musicians and other world-famous showmen. Nicknamed “Sin City”, Las Vegas truly is the city that never sleeps.

Located in the midst of the southern part of the Nevada desert landscape, this relatively new city literally sprung to life from nowhere. At the end of the 19^th century it was but a small stopover town on the pioneer trail to the west but with the advent of the railroad and subsequent building of the Hoover Dam, the little town grew to a big city. Legalized gambling in 1931 in the state of Nevada saw the development of the first casinos and in 1941 with the opening of the El Rancho Vegas Resort, Las Vegas became the hunting ground of the rat pack that included super stars such as Frank Sinatra.  Today, Las Vegas Hotels boasts some of the biggest mega-casino in the world. Many of these are located on either side of the 4 mile long Las Vegas Boulevard just south of downtown Las Vegas while others are situated a block or two away. Jointly, these hotels make up what is known as the Las Vegas Strip.

Much of the city’s entertainment is provided by the major hotels. Some family-friendly activities include the Lion Exhibit at the MGM Grand, the twisting and twirling rollercoaster’s of the Manhattan Express at New York New York and the Shark Reef at Mandalay Bay. Other fabulous attractions include the Adventuredome at Circus Circus, Las Vegas Mini Grand Prix and the heart-pumping rides atop the Stratosphere Tower.

Shopping is a major attraction in Las Vegas with the Fashion Show Mall located right on the Strip. Other fabulous shopping arcades include the Forum Shops and Apian Way at Caesars Palace. Restaurants abound with a variety that includes casual family outlets and sophisticated dining in beautifully decorated, award-wining dining rooms. Here celebrated chefs compete to produce fresh innovative cuisine that will appeal to the most sophisticated diner.

Las Vegas is also a popular city in which to host conferences, meetings, weddings and private parties. The Las Vegas Conference Center can host 1,000s of visitors while many of the big hotels include large banquet halls, ballrooms as well as space for small intimate affairs and wedding chapels to complete the picture.

Downtown Las Vegas is the business hub of the city with plenty of fine restaurants and casinos popular amongst the locals. It is best known for the lavish nightly Fremont Street Experience with glittering lights that light up the Vegas skies and stunning visual and sound effects, Included is free street entertainment, more casinos, shops and an intimate party atmosphere in this pedestrianized city block.

But Vegas is not all just about casinos and entertainment but also offers plenty of recreational activities. Lake Mead, the United States largest man-made lake formed by the Hoover Dam is perfect for boating canoeing and kayaking. The nearby Red Rock Canyon with its vivid red and white sandstone cliffs offers scenic car trips, hiking, walking and birding trails. In the winter months skiing at Mt. Charleston is a popular pastime.

Las Vegas is such an exciting city and worthy of at least one visit in a lifetime although many visitors return time and time again. With a plethora of lavish mega five star hotels as well as plenty of mid-range and budget accommodation, there is something for everyone and the whole family is promised the vacation of a lifetime.

Built 2 miles off the coast of Northern Italy on more than 100 islands in the Venetian Lagoon, the picturesque montage that makes up the city of Venice stands alone in its seamless sophistication and immortal beauty that has stood the test of time. Overflowing with charm, and beauty, the city showcases its vibrant history through its architectural heritage, classic and contemporary art museums, antique shops and delectable restaurants.

Venice is well-known as the city of love and romance drawing hordes of tourists to bask in one of the world’s most romantic destinations. Tracing its history back millennia, the city served as a major maritime power during the Middle Ages and Renaissance and as an important center for the silk, grain and spice trade. From the 13^th century, the arts also played an important part in the history of the city establishing it at the forefront of both operatic and symphonic music as well as fine art and sculpture. As the capital city of Veneto, it is still today at the center of both tourism and industry for the region.

It is best to arrive in Venice via the Marco Polo Airport where one can appreciated the aerial view of the Lagoon and Dolomites and then take an airport boat ride into the city. Otherwise, the city is linked to the mainland by the Ponte della Libertá so visitors can arrive by train, bus, car or taxi. Summers are crowded with visitors but winters offer cheaper hotel and air fare prices, shorter queues and include the fabulous ten-day February Carnival. Boasting hundreds of bed and breakfasts, budget hotels and grand historic luxury hotels, there is plenty of accommodation for families, romantic weekend guests, vacationers and business guests.

This city is best known for its famous historic medieval churches and museums with the landmark St. Mark’s Square with the Basilica di San Marco and Palazzo’s fountains at the center of it all. With side street cafes, museums, the 9^th century Bell Tower and 15^th century Clock Tower with bronze figures that dominates the city’s skyline, this is where it all starts. Other museums including Academia showcase centuries of Italian art and Roman antiquities while Dodges Palace with Casanova’s jail and ancient roof structure are also not to be missed. Ponte Rialto Bridge, vaporetta rides down the enchanting canals past Renaissance masterpieces of architecture, grand mansions and vibrant market places or a romantic sunset gondolier ride are what this city is made of.

It is impossible to enjoy all the joys of Venice in just a few days and visitors are encouraged to spend as much time as possible wandering through the maze of backstreets, alleyways, canals and bridges that make up the backbone of the city. Discover the centers of ancient glass blowing, historic buildings and hidden restaurants off the beaten path and join the locals where they hang out. Explore the ancient Jewish Getto, take a ferry day trip to the islands of Murano, Burano or Torcello, visit the Lace Museum and Glass Museum and enjoy the picturesque streets and houses, old churches while basking in the relative peace and quiet of small islands. Beautiful sandy Italian beaches at the Lido or the stunning scenery of Lake Garda offer other day-trip opportunities away from the hectic city center.

The city of Venice bears testimony to the resilience of the indomitable Venetian spirit. Built on closely packed wooden piles still intact after centuries of submersion, the inhabitants continue to prop-up the slowly sinking city and bails out the water after low-level flooding during the Acqua alta (high tide). This ensures that generations to come will also enjoy the timeless joys of Venice complete with artistic wonders, architectural delights, fabulous shopping and restaurants and a night life second to none.

As Spain’s second city and the Catalonian capital, Barcelona is a vibrant and cosmopolitan urban centre nestled upon the Mediterranean Sea of the Iberian Peninsula. The city is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Europe as its boasts incredible beaches as well as awe inspiring architecture, spectacular shopping, amazing cuisine and the atmosphere and ambience of Mediterranean life but with a Catalonian twist.

All eyes were on Barcelona in 1992 when they held the Olympic Games and ever since tourists from around the world have been flocking to the city to explore the delights that it has to offer. One of Barcelona’s key highlights is the famous ‘Las Ramblas’, as the widest Boulevard in the city it is entirely pedestrianised and is lined with unique market stores, flower sellers, street entertainers as well as a wide selection of shops, cafes and restaurants. Take the time to absorb the ‘Las Ramblas’ lively atmosphere before strolling down the bustling cobbled streets to the ‘Gothic Quarter’. Arguably the most popular part of the city, the ‘Gothic Quarter’ is authentic Barcelona with its traditional coffee shops and restaurants serving decadent Tapas, to the enchanting Gothic Cathedral and old Roman walls that dominate the district. Just down from the ‘Gothic Quarter’ is where you will find a magnificently modern and luxurious seafront and marina. Marvel at the wondrous pleasure yachts that are docked there, enjoy a refreshing drink on the terrace or spend the day sunbathing on one of Barcelona’s 6 shimmering beaches.

Barcelona has a wealth of world class museums with perhaps the most enticing being dedicated to the work of Pablo Picasso. The Picasso Museum is tucked away in the ‘Gothic Quarter’ in a beautifully preserved medieval palace. It showcases the best of his work and lets you into the mind of the master himself. Another favoured son of Barcelona is the architect Antoni Gaudi, his wondrous work is scattered across the city with his masterpiece being the uncompleted cathedral ‘La Sagrada Familia’.  This spectacular structure dominates the city’s skyline and is expected to be completed in 2050 when it will become one of the most extraordinary buildings on the planet. Other key highlights in Barcelona include; The Montjuic Castle which boasts panoramic views across the city, the Nou Camp Stadium home to F.C. Barcelona and the enchanting Park Guell.

Barcelona is incredibly unique and one of the most enchanting and captivating cities in the world, making it a must on any travellers European itinerary!