Italy is consistently in the top five luxury travel destinations for American Express Vacation clients. Italy is full of history, beginning with the ancient Roman Empire, to the rise of the Vatican, to the Italian renaissance. Traveling to Italy requires certain tips to make your luxury travel vacation.

Hotel Tips

Though traveling to Italy is quite safe. However, it’s advisable and useful to gather some basic Italy travel tips. There are hundreds of small luxury hotels of the world and the cities of Italy have plenty to choose from. Some Italian hotels, and nearly all hotels in Rome, have at least one staff member who speaks English. Search out this person to ask for additional tips, such as great dining spots, local sights, public transportation and shopping areas. Staying in touch with family and friends can be expensive in Italy, especially if you call from your hotel. Keep in mind that American cell phones will not work without special international services or devices. And since hotels tend to overcharge for long-distance and international calls, it is best to make such calls from public phones, using international calling cards. Staying in a luxury hotel is quite fun, but if you have already been there and done that, it’s never too late to consider booking one of the many available luxury world cruises throughout the world.

Shopping Tips

One big draw for Italian tourists on a luxury travel trip is the shopping tour. Consider booking one of these guided tours, instead of charging off on your own. These shopping tours offer travelers a more comfortable way to “shop ’til you drop.” Most of these tours include transportation to several different shopping districts and stores. Your guide will speak both English and Italian, in order to mediate your shopping experience. Yes, your major credit cards, such as American Express, Visa and Master Card, will work. But keep in mind that most American credit cards will charge a hefty currency fee, and use the most unattractive exchange rates. The best way to be safe and save money would be to use a combination of Euro Travelers Checks, Euros in cash and a credit card. Pick Pocketing can be an unfortunate reality of modern travel, so spreading the type of money you carry is the best choice.

Most stores and shops in Italy have operating hours that can be considered different, at least in comparison to what is expected in the United States. Normally, most Italian shops are open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Stores are usually closed between 1 and 3:30 p.m., to allow employees a chance to have a family lunch. Stores usually reopen around 3:30 or 4 p.m., and finally close around 7:30 to 8 p.m. In large cities and tourist areas, there is a tendency to stay open from 9.30 a.m. to 7.30 p.m., with possible variations from town to town. Keep in mind that shopping etiquette in Italy is much different than in the United States. When shopping for clothing, take note that many stores will not allow shoppers to try on shirts and blouses. Also, there is a size discrepancy, so make sure that an attendant measures your body before you purchase. It is also customary to tip attendants if they are personally assisting you with fittings and selection. Whether shopping or relaxing in a small luxury hotel, a customary tip can go a long way!

Your accommodations are often considered one of the most important parts of your http://www.amtvacations.com/american-express-vacations.html, so use these tips to make the most of your upscale hotel stay. When you use these American Express Tour tips to experience the best of small luxury hotels and high class shopping, you can enjoy yourself with no strings attached!

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The Luxury Travel Vietnam Company has just launched a new luxury tour “Vietnam’s Heritage and Cultural Tour 11 days” with one night bonus and 10% Discount.

Luxury Travel, Vietnam’s first luxury tour company, continues to create niche tourism products for high end travelers, the company has just launched a new luxury tour “Vietnam’s Heritage and Cultural Tour 11 days” with 10% discount and one night free of charge at luxury Sofitel Metropole Hanoi.

The Luxury Travel Company is Vietnam’s first luxury tour company and full travel service agency. Luxury Travel is experienced in providing special services and unique tourism products to luxury global travelers.

Start in colonial and charming Hanoi, Vietnam’s tangible and intangible heritage. Explore the fascinating Old Quarter and its hundreds of specialty shops selling silk clothing, lacquerware, embroidered linens, furniture, bamboo, cooking utensils, ceremonial objects and more. Walk around Hoan Kiem Lake, ride a cyclo to dinner, and watch a performance of at the Thang Long Water Puppet Theater.

Full day city tour Hanoi. Enjoy people watching at stylish cafes. Shop for impressive modern art in the city’s many galleries. Also visit Hanoi’s main cultural attractions, including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum, his House on Stilts, the One Pillar Pagoda, the Fine Arts Museum and the Temple of Literature. Dine in French colonial villas converted into upscale gourmet restaurants.

Next, guests take a day trip to Halong City and board on a junk in Halong Bay, famous Halong Bay Natural World Heritage where thousands of limestone rock sculptures jut dramatically from the sea and numerous grottoes have created an ephemeral, fantastic landscape.

Next, fly to Hue, the former Imperial capital that is a quiet city renowned for the magnificent architecture of its citadel, palaces, royal tombs, pagodas and temples, built under the Nguyen dynasty on the banks of the Perfume River.  Enjoy a Royal banquet dinner in this former Imperial Capital to enrich your experience in Hue, one of five World Cultural Heritages of Vietnam.

Drive to Danang and stay several days at the beachfront Furama Resort. Nearby, see ancient sculpture in the Cham Museum or My Son World Cultural Heritage, and tour Buddhist cave temples in the Marble Mountains. Visit atmospheric Hoi An a UNESCO-designated World Heritage Site and riverfront port town crammed with historic homes, tiny museums, cafes, and bustling silk and fish markets.

Fly from Danang to HCMC (formerly Saigon), the country’s commercial center and home to a growing number of upscale restaurants and shops. Visit Chinatown, the Thien Hau Pagoda, the Reunification Palace , the Opera House and Hotel de Ville. If desired, also visit the powerful War Remnants Museum. Explore colorful outdoor markets and Dong Khoi Street (guests can come to talk and chat with Luxury Travel Representative as Luxury Travel, Saigon Branch Office is located in this street), the city’s most upscale shopping boulevard with boutiques selling clothes and accessories by new Vietnamese designers, hill tribe crafts, high quality linens and housewares.

Take a day trip to the Cu Chi Tunnels and watch an unusual, eclectic religious ceremony at the main temple of Cao Dai, a unique fusion of world religions alternatively, spend the day cruising the narrow canals of the Mekong Delta on charming sampan.

“Visit the most highlights of Vietnam, explore four of five World Heritage Listed Sites of Vietnam, savor best typical cuisines of three regions. This trip is designed to discover the very best of Vietnam in term of culture, sightseeing, discovery, comfort and style, this special 11 day tour combining local charm and luxuries from North to South Vietnam which is so unique, special for a life time experience” says Tonny Pham, Product Manager of Luxury Travel Company.

Tour prices start from USD $3.243 net per-person double rates, this includes accommodation costs at deluxe rooms at luxury properties, nearly all meals, regional flights, private transfers, private pick up and drop off service. The tour can be booked at last minute, and can be customized to suit individual interests and schedules. 

Guests are also free to request helicopter tour, restaurant reservations, meetings with artists, cooking instructors and designers, shopping recommendations, spa reservations, tours with special-interest lecturers, and exclusive access to local activities and cultural events.

Order this unique tour package and travel to Vietnam before 31 Sep 2009 with the company secret code lux4lux, guests get 10% discount and 1 night FREE OF CHARGE at Sofitel Metropole Hanoi. Check it out at www.luxurytravelvietnam.com

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Luxury Travel Vietnam Launches Summer Promotions and 2009 Brochure

Luxury Travel, specialists in tailor made holidays for individuals, has launched its Summer 2009 brochure with a wide range of added value offers on tailored holidays, short breaks and weekend escapes around Vietnam and Cambodia.

Luxury Travel, specialists in tailor made holidays for individuals, has launched its Summer 2009 brochure with a wide range of added value offers on tailored holidays, short breaks and weekend escapes around Vietnam and Cambodia.

Commenting on the launch, Mr. Lux, Director, LUXury Travel, said: “This year’s program is designed to build on 2008’s. Last year was a challenging one but we saw good growth and many affluent Vietnamese tourists book luxury service with us.”

“More innovation and flexibility to our product, I am also very pleased to see how competitive our prices are.”

The destinations featured by Luxury Travel lend themselves to short breaks and the operator has a wealth of experience in this area.

The Summer 2009 program highlights a number of short break options including: a four night break in Evason Hideaway Nha Trang, or a three night break in Hoian and many bonus nights, stay 3 nights, get 1 night Free.

Luxury Travel Co., Ltd. (Vietnam) is a 100% fully registered and privately-owned Vietnamese company. It was founded by luxury travel specialists since the 1990s when Vietnam had just opened its doors to worldwide tourism.

The company’s depth of experience and large infrastructure enable it to create unique itineraries with the operational confidence to fulfill client expectations. Among Luxury Travel’s clients are ambassadors, French ministers, Deputy Prime Minister of Canada…and others.

Luxury Travel is headquartered in Hanoi and has offices around Vietnam and management offices in Laos and Cambodia. Luxury Travel has won numerous travel awards for excellence.

Guests can pick up Summer 2009 Brochure at Luxury Travel’s Head office in Hanoi and Branch Office in Saigon. Check it out at www.luxurytravelvietnam.com .

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PressPassTV takes you into the lap of luxury, as we take you on a tour of LuxeJets. Find out what it’s like to fly the friendly skies as a star for a day. For more behind the scenes stories check us out at www[dot]presspasstv[dot]com.

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