Recommend January 2013 - (Page 127)

and a bevy of other delights. Complementing the celebrations are the Ghent Jazz Festival, the International Street Theatre Festival and the coveted dance festival 10 Days Off. HOTEL PICK: The 150-room Ghent Marriott Hotel is located on the famous Korenlei on the banks of the River Lys, close to famous historic sites and shopping. Its unique architecture—a historical Flemish facade and a spacious atrium lobby with a superb glass dome—is a sight in and of itself. EVENT PICK: Historium Brugge in Bruges (opened fall 2012) History buffs will adore this attraction as they step back in time to see what life was like in Bruges around the 15th century via seven thematic rooms and using all ﬁve senses (chocolate tasting…a little beer). HOTEL PICK: The four-star, 44-room Martin’s Relais is made up of four great merchant’s houses set in the romantic center of Bruges, on the banks of the Spiegelrei canal. A charmer. the Hanau amphitheater, set against the backdrop of Philippsruhe Palace and the palace park. Hanau, incidentally, is the starting point of the German Fairytale Route, which runs for almost 400 miles, ending in Bremen. Kassel: Over in Kassel, the Brothers Grimm fairytales come to life on a ﬂoating stage on the lake in Schonfeld Park, with more than 100 events. Kids will love it all, but especially the readings in the shade of gardens and hedges. Doesn’t get more magical than this. HOTEL PICK: The three-star, 48-room Grand City Hotel Hessenland Kassel Zentrum is located right around the corner from the Brothers Grimm Museum and the natural history museum. Meanwhile in Hanau, you can recommend the 135-room Best Western Premier Hotel Villa Stokkum, located near the Brothers Grimm Memorial. great britain EVENT PICK: Year of Natural Scotland 2013 This is the year for your clients to head to Scotland if it’s the great outdoors they want to embrace. The Year of Natural Scotland 2013 will put on full display—this year more than ever—the country’s stunning natural and historic landscapes, art inspired by nature, surprising wildlife and delicious food and drink. Visitors will be able to explore urban nature, historic landscapes, discover unique produce and, of course, Scotland’s mesmerizing mountains, hills, forests, glens, islands and coastline. All of this will be complemented by a full program of delightful festivities such as book, ﬁlm, music and sports events. TOUR PICK: CIE Tours International’s 14-day Scottish Isles & Glens, with departures April through October, is an ideal way for your clients to discover the destination’s cultural highlights and natural beauty. Ghost tours, pub dinners,whisky tastings, visits to 5,000-year-old villages and isles—it’s a great way for your clients to take in Scotland’s myriad facets. QUIRKY PICK: And if your clients happen to be in the Isle of Wight in England for a couple of days, make sure they are there on Aug. 18 for The Garlic Festival. They’ll be able to sample garlic ice cream, jelly beans, fudge and beer during the Isle of Wight Garlic Festival in Newchurch. france EVENT PICK: Marseille—European Capital of Culture (year-round) This is a year of festivities taking place in the 2013 European Capital of Culture (or one of them, at least), Marseille. Visitors will be entertained with circuses, new galleries, exhibitions, street entertainment, ﬁreworks, open-air concerts, and street food, among a bevy of other fun to-do’s. In all, there will be 400 cultural events, bringing together the top artists in Europe and the Mediterranean. One major exhibit happening in honor of this event is “Painters and the Mediterranean,” which will showcase the ways in which the avant-garde artists of the time, such as Van Gogh, Bonnard, Cezanne, Matisse, Picasso and De Stael, illustrated southern France between 1880 and 1960. Additionally, the entire seafront will undergo a cultural transformation, while the port will welcome more cruise ships. HOTEL PICK: The 194-room InterContinental Marseille, housed in the former Hotel Dieu and a historical monument dating back to the 18th century, offers breathtaking views of the Vieux Port and the world-famous Basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde. Best part? It’s right beside the oldest and most historical neighborhood in Marseille known as the Panier. iceland germany EVENT PICK: Brothers Grimm Festivals (May 1-July 1 in Hanau; July 18-Aug. 18 in Kassel) Ok, excuse us if we’re caught up in the whole Grimm phenomenon, but where else but in Germany would your clients be able to delve deep into the Brothers Grimm? Hanau: In Hessen (the state in which Hanau is located), actually, this festival happens to be the second largest open-air festival, and features performances of fairytales by the Brothers Grimm at EVENT PICK: Reykjavik Art Festival (May 17-June 2) For visitors to Iceland who truly want to immerse themselves in the local art culture, recommend the Reykjavik Art Festival, Iceland’s premier cultural festival. It brings together the best in local and international theater, dance, music and visual arts. Visitors will be privy to a variety of curated exhibitions, concerts, dance, theater and opera performances. Along with its focus on Icelandic culture past and present, the festival hosts an array of international artists and performers. ➤ january 2013 127

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend January 2013

Editor's Note
Hotel Desk: The Westlake Village Inn
Tour Talk: Brendan Vacations' Boutique Journeys
Four Cheers for River Crusing
A-ROSA Silva
Delta Air Lines' 2013 Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America Travel Guide
China Remains a Time-Tested Destination
What's Hot in Vegas for 2013
Back to the Gulf
Authentic Morocco in An (Argan) Nutshell
Festive Europe

Recommend January 2013