Travel Agent - October 15, 2007 - (Page 24)

DESTINATIONS Tour Info Sagrada Familia, one of Barcelona’s most popular attractions A two-night stay at the Westin Palace Hotel is $475 per person when booked through Avanti Destinations. The price includes a city tour, daily breakfast and hotel taxes and service charges. An extra night can be added for $219 per person. Prices for Avanti’s La Rioja wine package start at $769 per person. Agents can contact Cecilia Dove with questions about any Europe package at 503-2951100, ext. 4462, or via e-mail at cdove@avantidestinations. com. Avanti pays a 10 percent commission, plus an additional commission based on consortium participation and volume. Travel Bound’s Barcelona packages are available with discounted roundtrip air. Travel Bound recommends activities such as a flamenco show with dinner ($79 per person) and a full-day city tour ($135 per person). Various car rentals, priced per day, and private transfers, priced depending on vehicle selected, also are available. All commissions, which start at 10 percent, are based on an agent or agency’s earning level. CONTINUED FROM PAGE 23 at Hotel Casa Fuster is like bunking at the home of a (very rich) local. “Other hotels are fantastic, but you could be anywhere—Rome or Hong Kong,” the insider says. “At Casa Fuster, all the rooms are different and each has its own charm. You really feel like you are in Barcelona.” Given its Mediterranean climate, Barcelona is a perfect vacation choice for any time of year and our countryside suggestion is just as versatile. Andorra, about three to four hours outside of the city, is a favorite warm-weather (and tax-free) shopping destination for locals and, with its location in the Pyrenees, is also a 24 | TravelAgent October 15, 2007 perfect destination for winter sports. Secure a rental car or private chauffeur and enjoy the scenery on the drive to Andorra for a stay at Hotel Grau Roig (www.hotelgrauroig. com). Here, you certainly won’t have to worry about an abundance of tourists, as the hotel only had one American visitor last year! That’s likely to change soon, as the property recently signed on as a preferred property with JDB Fine Hotels & Resorts (www.jdbhotels.com). The ski-in/skiout property houses fans of winter and summer sports and wine enthusiasts, who take advantage of the hotel’s extensive “theatre of wine.” (The space can host a dinner of up to 10 people for about 40 euros, or roughly $57, per person.) The best rooms to book are suites 212 and 312, which offer panoramic views of the surrounding mountains and are equipped with such amenities as Bulgari toiletries, satellite flat-screen TVs, and a mini-pool or hydro-massage bath. Room rates during peak ski season (December through March) average 230 euros ($325) per night, based on double occupancy. During that time, it’s advisable to book two to three months in advance. The hotel cannot be found in any global distribution system; for reservations, it’s best to call JDB at 800-346-5358, which will pay a 12 percent commission. For special requests, contact Dunia Sans, owning manager of the hotel, at info@hotelgrauroig.com. I CONNECTING YOU For more information on Spain, visit www.travelagentcentral.com/spain http://www.hotelgrauroig.com http://www.hotelgrauroig.com http://www.jdbhotels.com http://www.travelagentcentral.com/spain

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Travel Agent - October 15, 2007 Online Now Contents From the Editor From the Publisher Contributors Europe Central & South America Special Supplement: Ski University Pacific/Asia Las Vegas Caribbean Romantic Getaway and Honeymoon Packages Jamaica’s New Minister of Tourism Talks About the Country’s Future Special Package Deals Cruises Hotels Ski Multi-Generational Travel Tours Cover Story: Luxe Life of the Stewart Clan Business Operations - Agent Profile Technology Transportation The Industry - Agenda Caribbean News PATA Travel Mart ITME Report Latest Cruise and Hotel News Travel Week In the Spotlight Editorial Index Advertising Index Classified Marketplace Trendwatch

Travel Agent - October 15, 2007

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