Sardatur Holidays unveils 2011 Italia Collection
Sardatur Holidays, the specialist tour operator to Sardinia and the rest of Italy, has released its much-anticipated Italia Collection brochure for summer 2011.
The beautifully-designed brochure features a wide range of fantastic hotels across mainland Italy and the islands, including 30 properties that have been added for the first time. Also making its first appearance in the programme is the spectacularly scenic region of Calabria, way down in the 'toe' of the Italian peninsular and offering a culture and cuisine that's all its own. The company has also introduced new flights into the northern Sardinian region of Olbia, using specially chartered aircraft operated by British Airways. And of course, every holiday in the Italia Collection comes with quality, service and value for money guaranteed, thanks to Sardatur's 24 years of successful tour operation to the Beautiful Country.
The Italia Collection brochure offers every imaginable kind of Italian escape, from family beach holidays and private villas to city breaks and country retreats. All of Italy's most desirable regions are covered, with options encompassing everything from the Italian lakes and Neapolitan Riviera to the romance of Tuscany, the laid-back charms of Sicily and just about everywhere in between. This wide range of options combined with Sardatur's fully flexible approach makes the programme ideally suited for those wishing to tailor-make a two- or multi-centre holiday, depending on their individual preferences. What's more, with a tempting array of special-interest packages taking in such highlights as the Verona Opera and Ravello Music Festival (plus other trips focused on food or photography), the Italia Collection essentially has the entire country covered.
Especially noteworthy for 2011 is the addition of holiday options to Calabria, which has been introduced to the Italia Collection for the first time. Occupying the extreme south-west corner of the country, Calabria is a region defined by its high mountain vistas bordered by an emerald sea. It remains a very rural area, rich in tradition and steeped in history - making it a fascinating place for a holiday. As well as its forested highlands and 800km of beaches, the region offers other highlights including the seaside city of Reggio Calabria along with historic castles, Byzantine churches and of course the distinctive Calabrese gastronomy. The brochure offers a choice of six hotels in the region, most of which are in the vicinity of the charming cliff-top town of Tropea. Prices start from £599 per person for a week's all-inclusive at Hotel Rocca Nettuno Garden, a popular resort just outside the port town of Pizzo and featuring four restaurants, plus a kids' club and wellness centre. The price is based on two people sharing and includes return flights from the UK, in-resort transfers and accommodation on all-inclusive basis. A week's family package (two adults and two children) costs from £1,929, also on all-inclusive basis.
In addition to the six new hotels in Calabria, the 2011 brochure also contains a wide choice of other properties that are making their debut this year in the Italian Collection. These include the incredible Castello di Vicarello, a medieval Tuscan castle that's been lovingly restored and turned into an extremely luxurious boutique hotel. A three-night stay here costs from £689 per person, B&B. Down in the heel of Italy, the stylish and contemporary Borgo Egnazia Golf & Spa resort is a newly-built, five-star retreat set among olive groves and Puglia's undulating hills. Seven nights here costs from £828 per person, B&B. New hotels have also been added in the key city destinations of Rome, Naples and the Sicilian capital of Palermo. Also in Sicily is the Verdura Golf & Spa Resort, the latest addition to the Rocco Forte hotel empire and one that's set to become Sicily's most prestigious and luxurious resort. A seven-night stay is priced from £1,308 per person, B&B. All prices are based on two sharing and include flights and self-drive car rental.
Another new development is the introduction of flights to Olbia in northern Sardinia. Olbia is the gateway to the Costa Smeralda, providing easier-than-ever access to the resorts and beaches of this exquisitely beautiful region. The flights are exclusive to Sardatur and use specially chartered aircraft operated from London Heathrow by British Airways. The two-class aircraft features both economy and business-class seats, providing a range of service options depending on passengers' own preferences and budgets. Flights will operate throughout the summer, departing Heathrow every Saturday afternoon until 24 September. Sardatur already operates a similar charter operation in partnership with British Airways, offering flights to Cagliari in southern Sardinia from Manchester, Edinburgh and London Heathrow. Scheduled services to other Italian gateways are offered with BA and Alitalia from a variety of UK airports.
As well as providing a fantastic array of flights and hotels for customers wishing to tailor-make their ideal holiday itinerary, the Italian Collection features a range of special packages focusing on such attractions as gastronomy, golf, photography or special events. The high-profile events include a selection of cultural happenings such as the Verona Opera (June - September), Ravello Music Festival (May - October) and Tuscany's Puccini Festival (July - August). Sports fans may prefer the holiday packages incorporating the Italian Grand Prix (Monza, September), the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup (Sardinia, September) or the heart-stopping excitement of the Palio horse-race, which takes place twice a year (in July and August) in central Siena's Piazza del Campo. A two-night trip to Siena to experience the thrill of the Palio in August costs from £1,413 per person, including flights, car hire, B&B accommodation and two tickets to the race (based on two sharing).
Commenting on the new brochure, Gianni Bonuglia MD for Sardatur Holidays said, "We are delighted that our expanded product now offers customers a wider choice of quality, hand-picked Italian holidays than ever before. Whether clients choose to piece together their own itinerary with the help of our knowledgeable sales consultants or prefer to simply book one of our inspiring, themed packages, they are certain to appreciate the benefits of travelling with the undisputed experts in Italy and Sardinia."
For more information on Sardatur Holidays or to request a brochure, visit: sardatur-holidays.co.uk