Singapore, 3 June 2014: Insight Vacations has launched its 2014/15 Autumn Winter & Spring Europe holidays, including Britain, the Eastern Mediterranean and Christmas Markets. The programme includes 34 choices of vacation, and following the successful turn of its current summer European programme, it now features a host of signature inclusions ranging from premium hotels, quality dining and intimate local experiences.

For this winter, increasingly popular for guests from Asia are the Christmas Market itineraries that visit historic markets which have been celebrating its annual festivities since the turn of the 10th century in cities such as Zurich, Berlin, Leipzig, Dresden, Rothenberg, Nuremburg and Munich. They can sample hot spiced Gluhwein, nibble on freshly baked Stollen bread or munch on sweet Lebkuchen cookies.

With departures commencing in November 2014 and running until April 2015, the new programme takes guests to some of the best destinations for the Christmas season.

Featured itineraries include:

• The 9-Day Alpine Christmas Markets travelling from Munich to Zurich. Includes a visit to Europe's largest Christmas market in Zurich featuring a Swarovski Christmas tree, a horse and carriage ride through the Black Forest, and a Tyrolean highlight dinner. This itinerary can be combined with the German Christmas Markets itinerary for the ultimate winter adventure. Prices start from USD$2,099 for the land tour per person.

• The 7-Day Magical Switzerland itinerary travels from Zurich to Geneva. It includes a journey onboard the world famous Glacier Express, a stay at the Hotel Laudinella St Moritz which offers magnificent mountain views, and a visit to the home of the former Count of Savoy, the majestic Chillon Castle.  Prices start from USD$2,335 for the land tour per person.

• The 10 Day Journey from Rome itinerary takes in the best of Europe, covering Florence, Venice, Lucerne and Paris before a final stop in London. Enjoy a cocktail or two on the rooftop bar of your hotel in Venice and overlook the city lights at night, and take in the lively atmosphere of the Latin Quarter when you dine in a local bistro. Prices start from USD$2825 for the land tour per person.

Insight's 'Signature Inclusions' will be present on all the itineraries and guests will still enjoy the following:

• 'Signature Experiences' - Guests can be sure they'll return with stories of interacting with locals and developing deeper insights of a destination. This could include sharing recipes from a paella making demonstration, or knowing how Austrian strudel differs from the Hungarian version after visiting a renowned Strudel House in Budapest.

• 'Signature Dining' – Guests will forgo the usual tourist picks for tucked-away restaurants where they may be the only patrons. Imagine partaking in a celebration dinner within a prized Swiss restaurant in Geneva, or enjoying gastronomic delights at Gundel in Budapest which has been frequented by Queen Elizabeth and 'Brangelina'. Guests also have the option to dine in small groups during 'Dine-Around' evenings, where they are given a choice of local restaurants with delicious a-la-carte options.

• 'Signature Hotels' - Guests will enjoy stays in distinctive hotels in the best locations throughout Europe. These include the luxurious Hilton Molino Stucky in Venice, offering uninterrupted views of the lagoon, the traditional Art Nouveau Palace Hotel in Prague, and the superbly located Melia Castilla Madrid in Spain.

Also this holiday season, enjoy a specialty trip for photography lovers! Join Jino Lee, a multiple international photography award winner and instructor at the Canon Imaging Academy in Singapore, for a 9 Day 'Enchanting Europe' holiday throughout Munich, Innsbruck, Lucerne, Strasbourg and Paris. From casual lomographers to seasoned veterans, the simplest of point-and-clicks to the most sophisticated DSLRs, Jino will be able to offer holiday-makers handy pointers on various aspects of photography. He will guide them on composition and viewpoint, as well as technical considerations like depth of field and movement. This exclusive departure takes place from 28 Nov until 6 December, and guests will have the opportunity to hone their photography skills at some of the most beautiful sights in the world such as the Neuschwanstein Castle, Lake Lucerne and the Eiffel Tower just to name a few.

Guests can also expect to enjoy savings of up to USD$299 per person with our Early Payment Discount of 7.5% when they book and pay in full by 29 August 2014. For more information, visit www.insightvacations.com or call +65 6299 3382/+65 6922 5978.

ENDS

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About Insight Vacations

Insight Vacations is proud to provide the most authentic and unique premium escorted tours and cruises to Europe, the Eastern Mediterranean, India, United States and Canada. Expert Tour Directors passionately help you tailor each trip to your interests, arrange exclusive access into the history and daily lives of the locals, and escort you to the most extraordinary destinations and monuments. With the perfect balance of guided experiences and independent exploration, Insight ensures you will experience every country like never before.

Enjoy the Art of Touring in Style with extended business-class legroom on Insight's luxury coaches and relax and unwind in the finest properties. Insight offers nearly 60 spectacular Signature hotels, including beautiful châteaux and manor houses set in breathtaking locations. Our Signature Experiences vividly capture the imagination of travelers, whether olive oil tasting in Provence or observing sheepdog training in the Scottish highlands. With hundreds of dollars of included meals, sightseeing experiences, and unexpected flourishes, you will be astounded by the value of an Insight Vacation.

About The TreadRight Foundation

Insight Vacations is a part of a joint initiative with The TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation established by The Travel Corporation to encourage sustainable tourism within our own family of brands and in the places we visit. To date, TreadRight has donated more than US $2 million to sustainable tourism projects around the world. To find out more about our work with TreadRight visit: www.TreadRight.org.

Media Contact

Choy Teh

PR Specialist

INSIGHT VACATIONS

P: +65 6922 5974

E: choy.teh@travcorp.com.sg