ROME EVENTS IN SUMMER

Here are the festivals and events that happen each June in Rome. Note that June 2, Republic Day, is a national holiday, so many businesses, including museums and restaurants, will be closed. For news on temporary exhibits, concerts, or other occasional events.

June 2  – Republic Day (Festa della Repubblica). This big national holiday is akin to Independence Days in other countries. It commemorates Italy becoming a Republic in 1946 following the end of World War II. A huge parade is held on the Via dei Fori Imperiali.

Early- to mid-June – Corpus Domini. Exactly 60 days after Easter, Catholics celebrate Corpus Domini, which honors the Holy Eucharist. In Rome, this feast day is typically celebrated with mass at the cathedral of San Giovanni in Laterano followed by a procession to Santa Maria Maggiore.

June 23-24 – Feast of Saint John (San Giovanni). This feast is celebrated in the vast piazza that it in front of the church of San Giovanni in Laterano, and traditionally includes meals of snails (lumache) and suckling pig. Concerts and fireworks also take place.

June 29 – Saints Peter and Paul Day. Two of Catholicism's most important saints are celebrated on this religious holiday with special masses at Saint Peter's Basilica and San Paolo Fuori Le Mura.

Blaze a Trail with Unique Summer Experiences at an Authentic Arizona Hacienda
The Hermosa Inn, One of Conde Nast Traveler's Top Small Resorts in the World, Offers Big Value This Summer
 

With secluded patios, sparkling pools, luxurious accommodations and artful American cuisine, The Hermosa Inn, a jewel of a desert hideaway in Paradise Valley, Arizona, celebrates summer with sizzling packages to enhance your Valley of the Sun getaway. Whether staying for one-night, celebrating the Fourth of July, or enjoying a romantic escape for two, these packages pamper and indulge guests, while providing great value at one of Arizona’s authentic haciendas. Pair an overnight experience with seasonal ingredients and special events at LON’s and Last Drop Bar. All packages are based on availability, May 23 to September 7, 2011.
 

Perfect for a quick weekend jaunt or a Scottsdale staycation, enjoy the best of the inn with A Night at Lon’s package. The getaway starts at $259 and includes luxurious overnight accommodations; farm to table cuisine at LON’s with a $100 dining credit; enhanced turndown service and breakfast for two.

A true escape to serenity, the Blue Door Spa Suite is located in an authentic adobe casita, one of the original structures at The Hermosa Inn. Retreat with the Getaway to Paradise package, which includes one 60-minute spa treatment at the Blue Door Spa; $100 dining credit to LON’s; breakfast for two; overnight accommodations and enhanced turndown service. Rates start at $359.

Looking for more rest and relaxation? Situated on six acres of lush desert landscaping, The Hermosa Hideaway package includes a two-night stay for two in a newly remodeled casita, deluxe casita or grande casita; $100 dining credit to LON’s award-winning restaurant and breakfast for two each morning. Additional welcome touches include champagne & strawberries and an enhanced turndown service. With private patios in each of the casitas, soak up the sun and the vistas of Paradise Valley or enjoy the shade from one of the pool-side cabanas. Rates start at $239 per night, based on a two-night stay.

Join in the 4th of July celebrations and a weekend of culinary excitement for two at LON’s and Last Drop Bar. The two-night 4th of July package begins with a check-in on July 2, followed by Sunday Brunch and a BBQ Celebration on July 3 at LON’s, featuring a fun patio BBQ with local beer specials and music entertainment.  The package also includes drinks and appetizers in Last Drop Bar, breakfast on Monday, July 4, before heading out to watch fireworks light the Sonoran skyline at various local events, located 15 to 20 minutes from the inn.  Available for arrival on Saturday, July 2, rates begin at $239 per night based on a two-night stay.

Guests of the inn have access to a sparkling swimming pool and two jacuzzi spas while relaxing at one of the private cabanas. With stunning mountain views and a full-service menu from LON’s, guests lounging at the pool can also take advantage of complimentary summer amenities beginning June 6 to September 5. These include chilled towel service; ice cold water with locally grown citrus peels and fruit such as frozen grapes and refreshing watermelon grown from the Chef’s Garden.
 
Visit LON’s during the summer for special events, such as the Santan and Sonoran Beer Dinners; and seasonal menus like the Summer Tasting Menu and the Sunday Smoke and Suds; to weekly offers in the Last Drop Bar. For more information visit www.lons.com.

The Hermosa Inn is just minutes from Scottsdale, yet surrounded by an exclusive neighborhood in Paradise Valley. Hand-crafted by cowboy artist Lon Megargee as his private residence, the inn’s adobe architecture has kept its “old Arizona” character and charm. 

All 34 casitas at The Hermosa Inn are surrounded by colorful landscaping and beautiful desert vistas. The $2 million remodel retains the legendary personality and intimate atmosphere of the original hacienda, enhancing the accommodations with fabulous new amenities for the more upscale experience that today’s discerning guests prefer. The culinary centerpiece of the inn is LON’s, the celebrated Four Diamond restaurant renowned for “artful American” cuisine. Enjoy crafted cocktails and specialty bar bites in the rough hewn bar adorned with Lon Megargee’s painting from which Last Drop Bar is named, or on the expanded patio with views of Camelback Mountain.

The Hermosa Inn is located at 5532 North Palo Cristi, Paradise Valley, Arizona 85253. Call toll-free 1-800-241-1210, visit www.hermosainn.com  

GOURMET FARE AND THE ART OF LIVING AT
THE DAZZLING BADRUTT’S PALACE HOTEL, ST. MORITZ

Prince William and Kate Middleton to visit Ottawa on Canada Day

Last year's Canada Day crowds before the fireworks at 10pm were huge. With William and Kate in town this July 1, who knows what to expect? PHOTO CREDIT: Ontario Tourism

With the magnificent Royal Wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton — now the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge — is just the beginning of their life together.

On June 30, the royal couple will embark on their first official foreign visit as husband and wife. They’ll start their trip to Canada in Ottawa, just in time for the huge Canada Day celebrations on July 1.

While the official itinerary is a closely guarded secret, we at Ottawa Tourism thought we’d suggest some activities.

• Take an open-cockpit biplane or helicopter ride at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum: William is a pilot, after all. There’s no better way to get the lay of the land — and paparazzi wouldn’t be a concern!
• Indulge in Canadian comfort food at Sweetgrass Aboriginal Bistro, Domus Café, Courtyard Restaurant, Le Café at the National Arts Centre, ZenKitchen, Beckta Dining + Wine to just name a few.  All these restaurants — and more — are members of Savour Ottawa, an initiative to promote locally grown and raised foods. They’ll introduce the royal couple to the tastes of Ottawa!
  

  Could this be William and Kate this summer in Ottawa?

• Go for a canoe or kayak paddle or leisurely boat cruise on the Rideau Canal: The Rideau Canal is Ontario’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site, after all, built by Lt. Colonel John By of the Royal Engineers between 1826 and 1832.
• Admire the Group of Seven and more at the National Gallery of Canada: Definitely take in some Canadian content but also check out the  blockbuster Caravaggio and His Followers in Rome exhibit (June 17-Sept. 11, 2011).
• Visit Rideau Hall, the home and workplace of each Governor General of Canada: Since the Governor General is the Queen’s representative in Canada, it’s a no-brainer. Stroll the beautifully manicured grounds, admire the art collection and official function rooms, watch a cricket game and imagine, in winter, skating on the historic ice rink!
• Shop in the ByWard Market neighbourhood: Pick up a frock from funky designers on Dalhousie Street — Victoire, Workshop, and vintage shop Young Jane’s are all good bets — and take a break with a BeaverTail, a hot pastry treat that was born in Ottawa, from the kiosk at William and George Streets while listening to buskers.
• Groove to the beats of the TD Ottawa Jazz Festival (June 23-July 3, 2011): Admission is free on Canada Day and the setting in Confederation Park downtown is intimate.

Visit:www.ottawatourism.ca

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&O Hostel in Munich ranked in the Top 3 in Europe

Hostel-chain makes great family getaways affordable

A&O HOTEL and HOSTEL always makes families a top priority. “We are very proud to be a family-friendly establishment, therefore we are especially honored about receiving this recognition for our Munich Hackerbrücke property”, stated Oliver Winter, A&O’s General Manager.

The online booking portal HostelBookers searched for the best hostels for young families in all of Europe, and A&O HOTEL and HOSTEL München Hackerbrücke took third place. The jury especially liked the large family rooms as well as “play corner” near the reception desk. “There are always crayons and coloring books at the front desk for our young guests, so that they don’t get bored and parents can enjoy a longer breakfast” Oliver Winter further describes.

“City trips are the new trend. Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Vienna or Prague – European Metropolises are popular and A&O makes this type of family vacation affordable” added Winter. All A&O HOTEL and HOSTEL properties are centrally located, offer affordable prices and lots of extras, like the All-you-can-eat dinner buffet, which costs 8.50 Euro for adults, 5 Euro for children under 17 and the youngest guests under 5 eat for free.

Get more information at www.aohostels.com or call toll-free 1-800-888-0200.

About A&O Hotels and Hostels

A&O HOTELS and HOSTELS was founded in 2000 and currently operates 18 locations in Berlin, Dortmund, Dresden, Dusseldorf, Hamburg, Cologne, Leipzig, Munich, Nuremberg,  Prague and Vienna. In 2010 the company registered a total of 1.6 million accommodations and total revenue of 37.4 million Euro. Roughly 4,400 school groups make use of the Group’s hostels annually for their class trips. Approximately 70 percent of the hotel guests book their accommodation online. The hostel’s target groups are: groups/class trips (60%), leisure/city tourism (30%) and business tourism (10%). The company has 340 employees, which currently includes 42 trainees. All hotels (blue line) are of the two-star category and DEHOGA-certified, two hostels (orange line) are already four-star category and QMJ certified, while the other hostels are still under evaluation for certification.