A Grand Hotel Budapest - Hollywood-inspired Hungarian short break
Featuring a stellar cast that includes Ralph Fiennes, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton and Jude Law, Wes Anderson’s epic film, The Grand Hotel Budapest, hits UK cinemas on 7 March. Chronicling the comic adventures of the legendary concierge at a famous European hotel between the wars, it’s sure to make Hungary’s majestic capital city one of 2014’s must-visit locations for movie fans.
Emulate life on the silver screen with a new short break from specialist tour operator, Voyages Jules Verne, spending four nights at either the five-star Hotel Corinthia – the largest and most elegant hotel of the Austro-Hungarian Empire that opened in 1896 (as the Grand Hotel Royal) for the Hungarian Millennium Exhibition – or the four-star Hotel Astoria, a charmingly atmospheric building brimming with Empire-style décor and crystal chandeliers that has itself featured in many films.
A Grand Hotel Budapest costs from £675 pp (two sharing) including BA flights (Heathrow), transfers, four nights’ B&B at the Hotel Astoria, excursions, and the services of local guides and representatives. The same itinerary featuring the Hotel Corinthia costs from £795 pp. Departs April to September (excluding July).
Also new to Voyages Jules Verne’s selection of worldwide tours are:
In Europe:
Aspects of the Azores: Explore the enchanting mid-Atlantic archipelago of the Azores on this seven-night trip that visits the islands of Sâo Miguel, Terceira, Faial & Pico, offering spectacular natural vistas and an unforgettable, unspoiled ambience that will appeal to lovers of the great outdoors.
Departing May to July and in September & October, the price is from £1,395 pp (two sharing) including flights (Gatwick), transfers, seven nights’ B&B in four-star hotels, excursions and the services of local guides and representatives.
The Tatras & Beyond: Still relatively undiscovered as a holiday destination by UK travellers, Slovakia offers history, heritage and spectacular scenery akin to any of its better-known European neighbours. As well as two nights in the capital, Bratislava, enjoy three nights in the Tatra Mountains before heading across the border to Poland, spending the last three nights in Krakow.
Departing June, August, September and October, the price is from £995 pp (two sharing) including flights (Heathrow), transfers, B&B, two lunches, excursions and the services of local guides and representatives.
Secret Danube: Travel from the Black Sea Delta to Bucharest, Belgrade and Budapest on this eight-night river cruise aboard a comfortable CroisiEurope vessel (either the MS Vivaldi or the MS L’Europe, depending on departure date). As well as superb on-deck sightseeing opportunities, the itinerary includes city visits to Bucharest, Veliko Tarnovo (Bulgaria’s medieval capital), Rousse, Belgrade, Novi Sad and Osijek.
Departing July, August & October, the price is from £1,795 pp (two sharing) including flights (Heathrow), full board and drinks on the cruise vessel, excursions and the services of a cruise director and local guides.
The Glacier Express: This sublime six-night journey blends four-star stays at Lake Como, St.Moritz and Zermatt with the chance to experience the full first-class service on the iconic Glacier Express train as it passes through jaw-dropping Alpine scenery, resplendent in its summer hues. Rail travel enthusiasts will also adore a trip on the Bernina Express as well as using the included mountain railways card to venture further afield.
Departing June, August & September, the price is from £1,395 pp (two sharing) including flights (Heathrow), transfers, B&B, first-class rail journeys in Switzerland, excursions and the services of local guides and representatives.
Lofoten & The Northern Lights: Booking now for 2015 departures, this seven-night Norway adventure combines a five-night Hurtigruten voyage within the Arctic Circle and a two-night stay on the remote and beautiful Lofoten islands. Choose from an array of optional excursions (additional cost), ranging from dog sledding and a polar history walk to a visit to the border station between Norway and Russia, and a midnight concert at Tromsø’s Arctic Cathedral.
Departing 24 February and 10 & 17 March 2015, the price is from £1,695 pp (two sharing), including flights (Gatwick), transfers, Hurtigruten voyage in ‘run-of-the-ship’ inside cabin accommodation with full board, B&B in Svolaer, sightseeing and the services of local representatives.
Worldwide
The Residence, Tunis: Set on the beach between Tunis and Carthage, the luxurious five-star The Residence hotel is an elegant and contemporary base from which to take in the fascinating ancient sites of Carthage and Dougga as well as northern Tunisia and the capital itself, including the renowned Bardo Museum, escorted visits to which are also included with this holiday.
Departing May to July and September to December, the price is from £945 pp (two sharing) including flights (Heathrow), transfers, seven nights’ B&B, three lunches, three dinners (two of which are taken at The Residence), excursions and the services of guides and local representatives.
India Five-Star Offer: Tour the Golden Triangle in style on this eight-night Indian odyssey, staying at superb five-star hotels throughout: the Sheraton New Delhi (in the city’s historic heart), the ITC Mughal (close to Agra’s iconic Taj Mahal) and the regal ITC Rajputana in Jaipur. This trip-of-a-lifetime also includes escorted sightseeing as well as optional extra excursions to take you truly under the skin of the region.
Departing April & May and from August to December, the price is from £1,095 pp (two sharing) including flights (Heathrow), transfers, seven nights’ B&B (one night flying), two dinners, excursions, and the services of guides and local representatives.
From Petra to the Taj Mahal: Tick off two of the ‘New7Wonders of the World’ on this 18-night escorted tour that starts at the Dead Sea and ends in Delhi, visiting Aqaba, Petra, Amman, Agra, Jaipur and Nimaj en route. Voyages Jules Verne clients will also enjoy two special events during the trip: in Jordan, experience dinner at a private Rock Camp on the outskirts of Petra; whilst, in India, stay at the historic Nimaj Palace heritage hotel – arriving by bullock cart before receiving a traditional welcome and private rooftop dinner with fireworks.
Departing March & April and from September to December, the price is from £1,995 pp (two sharing) including flights (Heathrow), Jordanian visa (British passport holders), transfers, 17 nights' B&B (one night flying), four dinners, excursions, and the services of guides and local representatives.
Booking with the best
Voyages Jules Verne was placed among the top ten UK holiday companies in a recent survey of Which? Travel magazine readers (July 2013). Achieving an overall customer service score of 85%, VJV performed consistently against a set of criteria that included ease of booking, value for money and overall holiday quality.
For more information, visit vjv.com.