By Hilary Nangle, Globe Correspondent

Great Fosters, a four-star country-house hotel in Egham, near Heathrow, has opened two new dining venues. The hotel, set on 50 acres of gardens dates from the mid-16th century and reputedly served as a hunting lodge for King Henry VIII. Never one to rest on its well established laurels, in early April, Great Fosters opened The Estate Grill and The Tudor Room. Both are under the overall direction of Executive Chef Simon Bolsover.

The Tudor Room, under the direction of Michelin-starred Chef Shane Hughes, offers our- and eight-course tasting menus. Hughes is is an avid forager, and his finds from Great Fosters’ gardens will provide true farm-to-fork dining.

The less formal Estate Grill serves a simpler menu, but it, too, draws from the bounty of the hotel's fields and gardens. Livestock, including Gloucester Old Spot pigs, Longhorn cattle, and Badger Face sheep, are raised on the property and the hotel has an apiary and greenhouses.

The hotel also serves daily tea in the Cocktail Bar, Main Hall, and Anne Boleyn room, as well as on the terrace overlooking the gardens in summer.

Plan on allowing enough time to tour the gardens when visiting the estate.

By Kari Bodnarchuk, Globe Correspondent

SATA Airlines added weekly flights from Boston to the Azores and to mainland Portugal this week. Fly to São Miguel, the Azores’ largest island, on a new flight that leaves Boston Thursdays at 10:15 p.m. and arrives in Ponta Delgada, the island’s main city, at 7 a.m. the next day. A new return flight leaves Ponta Delgada Thursdays at 3 p.m., arriving in Boston at 4:45 p.m. the same day. SATA has also launched direct nonstop flights between Boston and Lisbon. Depart Boston on Sundays at 8:50 p.m. and arrive in Lisbon at 8 a.m. on Monday. A new nonstop return flight departs Lisbon Mondays at 2:30 p.m., arriving in Boston at 4:45 p.m.  800-762-9995, www.sata.pt/en

Spanish Aracena doesn't have the "eat" reputation of Italy, but its Tuscan gold sunlight and Mediterranean larder are no less. A British couple Sam and Jeannie Chesterton discovered this in a tiny village on the edge of Sierra de Aracena National Park. They turned their arful hands to creating an organic homestead and guest house, Finca Buen Vino, where they've farmed, fed guests and taught them to cook for 20 years. Whether raising their own branded Iberian pigs, gathering chestnuts and mushrooms in the hills or spreading a picnic in an open field, everything they do is touched with rustic beauty.

Now their friend Tom Clinch, a Conde Nast travel and food photographer, is teaching 3- and 5-day photography workshops there in the fall and spring (schedule and prices). Put it all together, and you'll forget about Mr. (or Ms.) Wrong.

Meeting the single Brazilian business exec? Remains to be seen.

Scary footage of an ice climber losing his grip upon ascent and falling to safety emerged over the weekend and has gone viral. Remarkably, the climber is fine.

According to USA Today, ice climber Mark Roberts was hit by a chunk of falling ice at Snowdown in Wales on Feb. 24, and tumbled for more than 100 feet down the rocky slope without sustaining any major injuries. Thirty minutes after the incident, the climber was airlifted to a hospital.

Roberts, 47, shared the remarkable video clip with the British Mountaineering Council in order to preach safety in mountaineering.

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

The Gathering 2013 is a year-long celebration of Ireland and Irish ancestry, with gatherings, festivals, special sporting events, music and concerts across the country. Friendly Planet Travel, a group-tour operator, has announced a nine-day “Fitzgerald Clan Gathering in Ireland” tour, and yes, that would means the Fitzgerald clan that includes Massachusetts’ own John F. Kennedy Jr., our 35th president. The tour package, starting at $3,099, offers the chance to trace the family roots and heritage of one of the country’s oldest and most powerful families.

The package includes round-trip flights from, fittingly, JFK airport in New York, or Newark, and also Boston, which includes all fuel surcharges, taxes and fees, ground transportation and transfers. It also includes accommodations in first-class hotels; 15 meals, including Irish breakfast daily, one lunch, five hotel dinner and two special dinners. The tour also includes an Irish house party with dinner and entertainment in Kildaire; a medieval banquet in Adare; afternoon tea at Castlemartyr Castle; three genealogy workshops; Fitzgerald history and information package; comprehensive touring, including entrance fees; and an English-speaking driver-guide.

Complete details can be found at  www.friendlyplanet.com/fitzgerald-clan-ireland.htm. Wearing of green is optional, but not a bad idea, whether you’re Irish or just want to be.

Put yourself behind the wheel of an Aston Martin and tour some of the iconic locations featured in “The Spy Who Loved Me,” “From Russia with Love,” and “Skyfall.” On the Luxury Ashton Martin 007 package, you’ll drive an Aston Martin DB9; stay two nights at Isle of five-star Isle of Eriska Hotel, a castellated mansion on a private island; learn how to make the ultimate martini; and even take a speedboat trip to Duarte Castle, the family seat of the alleged real-life inspiration for 007.

The itinerary suggests picking up the car in either Edinburgh or Glasgow and visiting Glencoe, setting for the final scenes in "Skyfall," before arriving at the Isle of Eriska. While at Eriska, cruise to Duart Castle, the MacLean clan seat restored in the early 20th century by Sir Fitzroy Donald MacLean. The exploits of Fitzroy Hew MacLean are said to have inspired Ian Fleming’s creation of James Bond and 007.

On your final day, return to Edinburgh or Glasgow visiting the moor made famous in “From Russia with Love," the loch by Crina where the boat chase through the Bosporus was re-enacted, the Rest and Bet Thankful Pass depicted in “Skyfall," and the naval base shown in “The Spy Who Loved Me.”

The Luxury Aston Martin Weekend package, offered by custom tour operator McKinlay Kidd (866-922-8538), is available from April through October. Rates begin at approximately $1,650 per person, based on double occupancy

By Kari Bodnarchuk, Globe Correspondent

Stay at the new Radisson Blu Nantes, a boutique hotel in western France, and you can dine in a room that once served as a grand courtroom and see a wine cellar that used to be the trial judge’s chambers. The 1851 building functioned as the Nantes Court of Law until 2000. Now, the former Palais de Justice has 142 guest rooms, a restaurant, and a spa and Turkish bath. Other amenities include Le Préambule bar, which serves wine and cocktails, and complimentary high-speed Internet. Travel less than a mile to reach the train station and about 6 miles to access the airport. Rates from $190 per room per night. 800-333-3333, www.radissonblu.com/hotel-nantes

By Megan Lisagor, Globe Correspondent

So much of travel is about living a cliché, about experiencing a specific idea of a place. A trip’s success can hinge on how close it comes to meeting or exceeding those expectations. In this regard, Paris is almost always a sure thing; it’s “an idea of happiness we hope to get to, and the small miracle is that, when we get here, the images we get are not entirely wrong,” writer Adam Gopnik explains in the anthology “Americans in Paris.”

Living here for two years, I seem to have applied this attitude to all of France, perhaps explaining my fixation with seeing Champagne by bicycle. I had a picture in my mind of coasting through the countryside, which led me to a tour organizer offering a package that included tastings with small and large producers. The rate, however, was prohibitive (nearly $400 per person)—even for a special sister’s weekend without the kids—and there weren’t any cheaper choices.

I reluctantly refocused my energies on our accommodations, deciding to stay outside of town at the Hôtel les Avisés (59, rue de Cramant; 326577006; www.selosse-lesavises.com), which cost almost the same as the tour for a double room and opened last year. It’s about a 15-minute taxi ride from the train station in touristy Épernay; we weren’t sad to leave the city, which boasts several big-name houses (Moët & Chandon, for one) but strangely not much else. The stores seem to have cornered the French market on creepy mannequins.

In contrast, the hotel is situated in Avize, a small village in the Côte des Blancs, without a single tourist trap, or shop for that matter. It’d look right at home in an Elle Decor spread, with furnishings that feel both comfy and chic in shades of white and grey. The pièce de résistance is the restaurant, where we had breakfast and dinner. The latter was a sophisticated steal at $70 for the prix fixe, which covered a bottle of bubbly and a procession of dishes starting with foie gras.

The food and surroundings would’ve been enough to leave me satisfied despite my earlier visions. But then Anselme Selosse—who runs the estate with his wife, Corrinne, and makes an exclusive Champagne on the premises—showed us to the shiny bikes. Selosse directed us across the street, where we rode on paths through the vineyards past buckets brimming with grapes harvested during the vendange. Back at the hotel, he showed us barrels frothing over.

It was educational and experiential just as I’d envisioned, unlike the Disneyfied version we encountered on our big-name tour that afternoon. And yet, I hardly read a write-up about the place in all my research. Perhaps it’s the herd mentality that directs travelers to the same so-so spots (in this case, Épernay and Hôtel Jean Moët). Granted, les Avisés is relatively new. Whatever the reason for the low profile, it improved on the image in my mind, as real gems do.

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

No one likes sitting straight up in an airplane seat for nine hours. But Turkish Airlines makes it bearable with great food and an amazing selection of movies, games and other diversions on the little screen in the seat in front of you designed to keep those people busy who just can't sleep on a plane unless they're lying down. And that would be me.

I was on a Turkish Airlines flight out of JFK to Istanbul recently, a bit more than nine hours outgoing, around 10 coming back, and I have to say, the seats in economy class were a little on the tight side. Granted, I'm a shade more than six-feet tall and fidgety even when not confined to a small space for nine hours, but these seats had me squirming to find a comfortable enough place to catch some z's. While it didn't work for me, all around me where sleeping passengers in vertical, or near-vertical positions, so it can be done. Helping could be the snooze kit they pass out, with eye shades, ear plugs and socks.

What sets Turkish Airlines apart is the food, exquisite throughout, no matter the class level. Granted, first-class food is likely more remarkable (they have chefs on board), but the economy-class fare was the best I've ever had, from choices of roasted chicken or fish, with roasted vegetables, and all other manner of Turkish food, including kebab, eggplant cooked a variety of ways, cheeses (including the most delicious Turkish white cheese), tomato, olives, you name it. And that's just dinner. When the sun popped up later in the flight as we neared Turkey, out came breakfast, with delicious omelet and side dishes, all filling and perfectly prepared. All along the way you could have any alcoholic beverage you wanted; for my money (well, no money, booze is free) I found Turkish wine surprisingly good.

It's no surprise then that last year, Turkish Airlines beat out 18 other carriers from around the world as the best provider of in-flight food in a poll done by flight-comparison site, Skyscanner. Also last year,Skytrax World Airline Awards gave the carrier second place in economy-class catering, premium economy-class catering and business-class catering. Turkish Airlines is growing as well; it has four U.S. gateways (N.Y., L.A., Chicago and Washington) and adds Houston in April.

Another huge plus: A whopping assortment of movies and TV shows to watch on the little touch screen before you, which also has games, live BBC programs, documentaries, science shows, Wi-Fi access (supposedly for a fee, but I got it free for some reason, no complaint here) and nose-camera view which is fun to watch on takeoff and landing. Back and forth I saw four full-length movies, from the mainstream ("Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," a wonderful film) to the little-known ("Another Earth," an engrossing drama and Sundance winner) to the exquisitely ethnic ("Istanbul," made in 2011 starring Dutch actress Johanna ter Steege as a jilted wife who stumbles her way to Turkey).

If you have to be in a cramped seat for nine hours, well fed and entertained is not a bad way to spend it.

By Hilary Nangle, Globe Correspondent

In Great Britain, afternoon tea is a tradition, a relaxing way to recharge the body's batteries while savoring a three-tiered silver tray usually laden with three-bite sandwiches; scones ready to lavished with clotted cream and jam; and exquisite pastries and chocolate bonbons.

While gadding about on a BritRail pass, I used afternoon tea as a way to immerse in the United Kingdom's rich heritage and indulge in five-star experiences, without coughing up $500 or more for a hotel room. Almost anyone willing to ante up 15 quid (about $30) can do the same. Even better for the budget bound, afternoon tea can substitute for a late lunch or an early dinner. I experienced each of these properties simply by sipping afternoon tea. You can, too.

The Arch, London: On the exterior, these seven Georgian townhouses facing Great Cumberland Place appear quite ordinary and stiff upper lip British. But inside this five-star boutique hotel, just a couple of blocks from Hyde Park and Oxbridge Street and across from Madonna's London pad, designers let loose with contemporary vigor, vibrant colors and patterns, and original works by emerging British artists.

After a boutique binge in Marylebone or along Oxford Street (where you might get lucky and see Princess Kate), celebrate your finds over afternoon tea in the casual yet chic Library, where you can thumb through art books, or in the tony Le Salon de Champagne, with its champagne ceiling mural, modern armchairs, and secluded leather banquettes. Be sure to wander the public rooms to check out all the art - and see who might be lounging about.

Bodysgallen Hall, Llandudno, Wales: The stone pine tree in front of Bodysgallen Hall, one of three historic hotels owned by The National Trust, is approximately 600 years old. The hotel's oldest section was built in the late 13th century as a guard tower for Conwy castle. Over the centuries, it's expanded to a 220-acre estate with wooded parklands and an exquisite, private, 20-acre formal garden, dating from 1678.

Book afternoon tea and be rewarded with a double treat: Experiencing Bodysgallen both inside and out. Sit in the entrance hall or upstairs drawing room, both with elaborate fireplaces, magnificent oak paneling, and stone mullioned windows. Request a copy of the historical brochure from the front desk, and browse through the history while sipping and nibbling. Afterwards, mosey through the other public rooms. Having tea entitles you to explore the gardens and parklands, usually reserved for overnight guests. Highlights include a rare 17th-century herb-filled boxed hedge parterre, rockery with a water cascade, walled rose garden, several follies, and 17th-century Terrace Walk with views to Conwy Castle and Snowdonia.

Plas Maenan Country House, Maenan, Wales: After a day poking around the Conwy Valley countryside, finish up with tea at James and Caroline Burt's masterfully restored Edwardian manor house overlooking Snowdonia National Park and the Conwy River. Tea is served in the elegant living room, near doubletake-producing life-size faux sheep lounging by the fireside. I shared tea with Paul Wakely of Cambrian Tour Guides, who introduced me to slathering clotted cream and jam not only on the scones, but also on the homemade shortbread, "brilliant!" as the Brits say. If the service seems a bit royal, that might be because James is retired from service to the Queen.

Plas Maenan has an interesting history, but perhaps most intriguing is that it is home to one of the largest colonies of endangered lesser horseshoe bats in the British Isles. If you stick around until dusk, you might see as many as 500 emerge from an old tunnel complex under the hotel's terrace. About that tunnel complex: Reputedly, it was used to store treasures from the National Gallery during World War II.

Chester Grosvenor, Chester, England: Top-hatted doormen welcome guests to this five-star hotel, owned by the Duke of Westminster's family and located within the walls of Chester, a city with a history dating back to its origins as a Roman fort in the first century. The hotel's black-and-white timbered facade fits in well with Chester's numerous Tudor buildings, some original, others Victorian-era restorations. Inside, the décor is contemporary, but accented with a half-ton, 28,000-crystal Georgian chandelier and original artwork selected from the Duke's collection.

Afternoon tea at the Arkle Bar And Lounge or upstairs in the gallery is a treat. While the Traditional Afternoon Tea is a decadent offering of scones, finger sandwiches, and sweets, the Gentleman's Afternoon Tea is a far heartier affair, with crusty sandwiches, addictive chips (fries), Cheshire cheese, and more substantial sweets, and it's not limited to men. A friend and I ordered one of each tea to share, which resulted in a decadent and quite filling meal. Afterwards, even if you're full, pop into Rococo Chocolates, the only non-London shop for one of England's finest chocolatiers.

Great Fosters, Egham, England: The royal connections for the mid 16th-century main house (converted to Elizabethan design in the early 20th century) are deep - witness the original royal crest of Queen Elizabeth I inscribed above the main porch and dated 1598 Great Fosters served as a hunting lodge by King Henry VIII, so there's some irony in taking tea in the Anne Boleyn Room, where the magnificent 16th-century ceiling include Boleyn's personal crests.

While the interior is reason enough to visit, the gardens are the real calling card. A moat, likely of 6th-century Saxon origin, now forms a border for the gardens, including yew hedges and a knot garden created in the 1920s in the Arts and Crafts style. Cross the wisteria-dressed Japanese bridge over the moat, and arrive in the circular sunken rose garden, a masterpiece that when in full bloom is an especially sensual treat. Keep wandering to find hedges with secret rooms.

Want to linger at any of these properties? Specials, off-season rates, and online deals often bring room prices down to within splurging range: I've found rates of less than $250/night double, with breakfast.)

By Hilary Nangle, Globe Correspondent

One of the fastest, easiest, and least stressful ways to get around Europe is by train. On three recent trips over the pond, I used BritRail as well as SwissRail passes and individual tickets, both purchased through Rail Europe. Rarely were trains late, most were extremely clean, and all had some level of food service, making the journey easy.

That's what I love about traveling by train: ease. No need to adjust to driving a reverse standard on the opposite side of the road. No hassles about parking. No reason to stop for bathroom or fuel breaks. No need to break the bank with a rental car and petrol. Sure, I sacrificed some independence?the opportunity to detour off a planned route to explore a promising lure?but I was able to experience some of Europe's most scenic train rides, such as Scotland's West Highland Line, from Glasgow to Oban, and Switzerland's Glacier Express, from St. Mortiz to Zermatt.

Train travel makes it easy to meet locals and fellow wanderers, to strike up a conversation with a seatmate and pickup some insider recommendations on sights to see and places to eat, as well as routes to take.

Then there's serendipity. While waiting for a train in Abergavenny, Wales, I wandered into the station's Whistle Stop Café for a cup of tea to pass the time. When the owner realized I was American, he broke out singing Oooooklahoma? a real treat, what a voice! And the main station in Zurich, Switzerland, is a foodie paradise, with dozens of vendors selling fresh and prepared foods, breads, sandwiches, and ethnic favorites; a budget find in this pricey city.

Trains aren't the right choice for everybody, but they're worth considering as an efficient, green, and fun way for exploring Europe.

Here are a few tips for rail travel in Europe:

Class status: I've traveled in both first and second class, and while first offers a few perks and more comfort, in most cases, the routes and views are the same. Look also for trains that travel the same routes, but without the scenic train status. Tip: If taking one of the long-haul Virgin trains operating between England and Scotland on a busy weekend, opt for the 15-pound First Class upgrade fee, when available, to enjoy more space and free Wifi.

Scenic and specialty routes: Some Swiss trains that travel along especially scenic routes have observatory cars and will allow upgrade for a fee. I did so, and had the entire car to myself. Tip: If the budget is tight, look for regular trains that travel the same routes as the designated observatory-car ones. Of course, that won't work on Switzerland's Chocolate Train, a delicious day trip connecting Montreaux, Gruyeres, and Broc.

Reservations: Make seat reservations during holidays and on popular trains, or risk standing for the journey; fees may apply. Reservations may be made up to two months in advance.

Deals: Check the Rail Europe, for example, currently there's a 2 for 1 Swiss Fall Pass special valid on four-day and four-day flexi passes.

Bonuses: Some multi-day train passes include free or discounted travel on boats, busses, and private trains and/or admission to museums, theme parks, tours, and even accommodations.

Luggage: Many stations, especially those in smaller towns, do not have elevators or ramps, so little or lightweight luggage is definitely an advantage. It's also easier to store small pieces at your seat, either underneath or in the rack above. If you're storing luggage in the racks near the doors, it's wise to keep an eye on it.

Train splits: Train cars may be added or dropped en route. Always confirm your destination with the conductor.

Lodging: If you're trying to avoid taxi fees, look for accommodations within walking distance of the train station or on public transit routes. If walking, be sure to know the topography. The first time I visited Edinburgh, the easy walk to the hotel proved to be uphill all the way.

Overnight trains: Save on a hotel room and maximize touring time by taking an overnight train between destinations.

Air & train: When researching options for getting to a European destination, if cost is an issue, consider other arrival airports paired with a train to your final destination. For example, if you can snag a great deal to London, consider taking the Eurostar to Paris.

As fireworks lit up the nighttime, London sky Friday during the Opening Ceremonies of the Olympic Games, perhaps only a handful of the millions watching around the globe managed to catch a glimpse of a very odd object hovering over the stadium.

As the above video clearly shows, there was an unidentified flying object in the midst of the pageantry, but there's no word yet as to whether it was a blimp in the distance, or in fact, alien life forms trying to get a peek at Hope Solo. Sure, perhaps it's just an unmanned, aerial camera, but dismissing it as such sort of ruins the fun, doesn't it?

It's a natural curiosity many of us have when checking into a hotel. Open the top drawer of your room, and naturally you'll find one of the best-selling books of all time.

The Bible? Uh, no.

"Fifty Shades of Grey?" Well, yes.

According to NBCNews.com, a British hotel has replaced the Bible with the steamy, summer hit by E.L. James in its 40 guest rooms.

Jonathan Denby, owner of the Damson Dene, told NBC he had purchased the hotel from a Methodist group about a decade ago and had been wondering how to replace the Gideons Bibles in each of the room.

"I was thinking originally of putting in a book by Ayn Rand - 'Atas Shrugged' was my first thought," Denby told NBC News.

"(But) because everybody is reading 'Fifty Shades of Grey,' we thought it would be a hospitable thing to do, to have this available for our guests, especially if some of them were a little bit shy about buying it because of its reputation."

Of course, the move hasn't come without controversy. The Rev. Michael Woodcock , the parish priest at a local church recently told the Wesmorland Gazette, "It is a great shame that Bibles have been removed from rooms and very inappropriate to have been replaced by an explicit erotic novel."

By Hilary Nangle, Globe Correspondent

Ever dreamed of escaping to a private island, one easily accessible yet far removed from the demands of everyday life? An island where you can simply relax and savor the scenery or perhaps hike or paddle, swim or play a round of golf and have the trails, water, pool, or course practically to yourself? I found one in the Scottish Highlands, just two hours northwest of Glasgow or 20 minutes from Oban.

The Isle of Eriska is a 300-acre private island at the mouth of Loch Creran in Benderloch, West Argyll. It's tethered to the mainland by a tidal causeway and a bridge that rumbles your arrival when crossed. The access road ebbs and flows through a woodland colored by giant rhododendrons, before arriving at the Big House, a magical 19th-century Scottish Baronial mansion that's now a five-star, Relais & Chateaux-member, family-run hotel.

While some exclusive hotels are undeniably stuffy, the Isle of Eriska is warm and welcoming, with a genteel ease that matches the soft patina of age. It's the kind of retreat where well known British actresses can escape, and other guests will pretend not to recognize them; the kind of place where a slew of Wellington boots is available at the door for guests to borrow while walking the island's trails. While staying here admittedly is a splurge (from $536 per room in summer, including breakfast and afternoon tea; check for specials), it's possible to experience the island without booking a room. Many of the hotel's amenities are open to the public, allowing anyone a peek at this magical property, with its expansive views over Loch Linnhe and the Morvern Mountains.

The Big House is everything you'd expect, grand in stature, expansive, and country-house elegant. Wood-burning fireplaces warm the public rooms: cozy nooks and grand salons, a piano room, paneled hall, book-packed library lounge, and glass-in conservatory, and a fine dining restaurant. A former stable has been converted to a spa, with an indoor swimming pool, and a restaurant serving lunch. Another outbuilding houses an indoor putting green, full-size tennis court, three badminton courts, and facilities for other sports. Outside are gardens and woodlands, with nature trails dipsy-doodling around and across the island. Sightings of deer, seals, and even otter aren't uncommon. And everywhere are jaw-dropping views of mountains and sea.

Non-guests may have lunch in the casual Veranda Restaurant, with its dream views; enjoy a spa treatment; or play a round on the recently refurbished nine-hole golf course, on which nearly every hole has a water view. Of note: A special golf academy, Sept. 7-9, will include indoor and outdoor group lessons with a PGA professional, lunches, and mini competitions.

Also open to the public for dinner is the hotel's main dining room, named Hotel Restaurant of the Year in the 2011 Scottish Restaurant Awards. Chef Simon McKenzie's menu emphasizes locally sourced foods and changes daily. A four-course gourmet meal with tea or coffee is $73, and that includes the farmhouse cheese trolley, with about 40 cheeses sourced from Britain and beyond. Afterward dinner, retire to the lounge for the nightly entertainment: A family of badgers arrives at the conservatory door for their 10 p.m. milk and bread.

While you can easily drive to the Isle of Eriska, I recommend the West Highland Line train to Oban, a spectacularly scenic route that edges the River Clyde and Loch Lomand, passes through glens and villages and by castle ruins. It eases you into the Scottish Highlands and sets the stage for arrival at the Isle of Eriska. Passage is included on BritRail passes, but due to the train's popularity, it's wise to reserve a seat.

By Hilary Nangle, Globe Correspondent

Rail Europe is offering an ohh-la-love special that provides a 20 percent discount off select France Rail passes, including the France Rail Pass Premium, through June 14, 2012. Travelers who take advantage of the offer receive five days of first-class rail travel for the price of three, a savings of $85 per person. This offer is only valid on the Adult and Saver France Rail Pass and the Adult and Saver France Rail Pass Premium; it is not valid on the Youth, Child and Senior France Rail Passes.

In case you missed National Tartan Day, which was April 6, and Scotland Week, which runs through April 14, you can save some coin on traveling by rail through Scotland, with a deal, Freedom Scotland Travelpass. You can save 20 percent with an extra free travel day for those buying a pass through May 10. The extra-day promotion extends passes by an additional day of rail travel valid in standard class for either four days (within eight days) or eight days (within 15 days). With the offer, guests can get creative with their destination stops while en route to popular spots like Edinburgh, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Stirling. To book, call 866-938-7245 or visit www.britrail.com/passes/britrail-freedom-of-scotland

National Tartan Day was created by Congress in 2005 to honor the contributions of Americas of Scottish descent who played a key role in the development of the United States, which includes Patrick Henry of “Give me liberty or give me death” fame; Andrew Carnegie, steel magnate; Thomas Alva Edison, inventor; and a variety of U.S. presidents, including Ulysses S. Grant, Lyndon Baines Johnson and Woodrow Wilson.

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

In tune with the season finale of "The Bachelor," Rail Europe is offering two themed packages: The Bachelor Romance Package and the Peaks of the World Package, which allows travelers to ride the rails and experience the romance of Switzerland like the guy on TV did. In the finale, bachelor Ben Flajnik went by train from Interlaken to Zermatt and stayed at the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel and Spa.

With the romance package, travelers ride the same rails and stay at the same place. It includes a four-night stay at the Victoria-Jungfrau or the Grand Hotel Zermatterhof, plus a first- or second-class rail component. Travel is valid through July 12 and is only bookable online at www.raileurope.com/promotions/the-bachelor.html. Prices start at $2,793 for first-class rail component and $2,696 for second-class rail component.

Romantically inclined travelers can also take advantage of Rail Europe’s Peaks of the World Package, which includes a four-night stay at a three- or four-star hotel, a free upgrade at the hotel, plus a first-class rail component. Those traveling from April 14 through June 15 get a free hotel upgrade from three to four star. Prices start at $1,017 for 1st class rail component and $920 for 2nd class rail component. Check it out at www.raileurope.com/rail-tickets-passes/peaks-of-the-world/index.html

By Hilary Nangle, Globe Correspondent

Diamonds are a queen's best friend. In June, Great Britain's Queen Elizabeth II is celebrating her Diamond Jubilee, marking 60 years on the thrown. Instead of braving the street crowds, savor royal views and exclusive experiences on the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park London's four-day Diamond Jubilee package, June 2-6, 2012.

Included in the package are a welcome dinner; a trip aboard the HMS Belfast to view the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant, a fleet of 1,200 vessels led by the royal family; visit to Penshurst Place, the former hunting lodge of Henry VIII, to enjoy the Elizabethan gardens, followed by lunch at the treasure-filled home of Randolph and Catherine Churchill; exclusive view of the royal procession from the balcony of 12 Carlton House; and farewell dinner.

Avoiding hoi polloi comes at a price: Rates for the Diamond Jubilee Tour package begin at $10,138 single, $17,594 double, inclusive of full English breakfast. Tax and service are additional.

By Patricia Harris and David Lyon, Globe Correspondents

In case our coverage of the pintxos scene in Spain's San Sebastian in Sunday's Travel section piqued your appetite for visiting the best eating city of its size in Europe (our not-so unbiased opinion), we just learned that San Sebastian will be holding its first San Sebastian Restaurant Week on April 10-22. More than 20 city restaurants are offering a set menu costing 25 euros (about $33), and reservations can be made online after April 1 at the San Sebastian Tourism Booking Center (www.sansebastianreservas.com). That same web site will also start offering a series of six Gastro Breaks after Easter. The mini-vacations include two nights' accommodation, a gastronomic activity, a guided tour, and San Sebastian welcome pack. They will cover six different gastronomic themes: txakoli (the tangy Basque white wine), pintxos, traditional Basque gastronomy, New Basque cooking, secrets of culinary techniques, and cider houses. Prices vary. Book them all for a gastronomic feast.

--Patricia Harris & David Lyon

Photo by Patricia Harris for the Boston Globe

Guinness had a little fun with its St. Patrick's Day promotion this year, creating a humorous, two-and-a-half minute clip that has already seen 1.19 million views since debuting on YouTube just two weeks ago. In the ad, farmer Gareth Longrass and his sheepdog herb a group of people around a field in Irleland, where a number of distractions are in place prior to the intended destination. The pub, of course.

Watch it below.

By Hilary Nangle, Globe Correspondent

If you're one of the millions of Americans completely smitten by the PBS Emmy award-winning series "Downton Abbey," and you're pining to immerse yourself in the show's Edwardian setting, you can for a price. NoteWorthy Events, a bespoke custom tour operator, is offering a one-day immersion in Highclere Castle, a.k.a. "Downton Abbey."

Guests on the one-day private tour will be met upon arrival by the current owners, the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, and enjoy tea and coffee in the Countess' private morning room. After a guided tour through the state rooms with either the Earl or the Countess, settle in to the State Dining Room for a private lunch featuring wines from the Earl's cellar.

After dining, explore the estate in one of the Earl's private 4-by-4 off-road vehicles. Among the highlights are the grave of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, who funded and assisted in investigations that led to the 1922 discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb, and the ruins of an Iron Age fort. Or take a guided tour of Highclere's Egyptology exhibition.

Finish the day with High Tea with the Countess, and upon departure, received complimentary copies of Lady Fiona Carnavron's books, including "Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey."

The tour cost, approximately $12,090, covers up to four people; advance registration is required.

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

If you find yourself near a Sofitel, a world-wide chain of luxury hotels, around Valentine's Day, you can snag a deal with the Sofitel Magnifique Romance package, which runs until the end of February and includes a discount room rate, chocolate of flowers upon arrival, a bottle of champagne, in-room breakfast and late check out.

Among the properties featuring the package:
Sofitel, Washington, D.C., on Lafayette Square in the heart of the city, with rates starting at $270; Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile, in an area known for art galleries, museum and high-end shopping, rates starting at $253; Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, set alongside the windy city's famous Magnificent Mile and hard by Lake Michigan, rates starting at $245; Sofitel Paris Le Fauborg, a five-star property in arguably the world's most romantic city, near the Champs-Elysees, the Louvre and boutiques of the Saint-Honore district, rates starting at $470; Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam, set between two iconic canals, a historic property dating from the 15th century and recently renovated, rates starting at $431; and Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese, in the center of Rome, a five-star property close to the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and designer shops, rates starting at $364 a night.

To book and for more information, visit www.sofitel-magnifiqueromance.com, or follow Sofitel on Facebook.

Is Shakespeare a universal language? England's famed Globe Theatre is celebrating the bard's birth by staging all 37 Shakespearean dramas presented by 37 international companies in 37 languages. The six-week program, Globe to Globe, begins April 23, 2012, and will also include Shakespeare's poem "Venus and Adonis,'' which will be performed in IsiZulu, IsiXhosa, SeSotha, Setswana, Afrikaans, and South African English.

Among the companies taking part are the National Theatre of China, performing "Richard III''; Afghanistan's Roy-e-Sabs staging "The Comedy of Errors''; and a specially formed theater company from South Sudan presenting "Cymbeline.'' The national theaters of Serbia, Albania, and Macedonia will stage a "Balkan Trilogy–Henry VI''. Other highlights include London's Deafinitely Theatre signing "Love's Labor Lost''; the Chicago Shakespeare Theater performing a hip-hop version of "Othello''; Belarus Free Theatre performing "King Lear,'' and Rawiri Paraten's New Zealand company's Maori-accented version of "Troilus and Cressida.''

In a nod to the the London 2012 Olympics, the Globe is offering athletic-themed ticket pricing, with special rates for those engaging in a biathlon, triathlon, pentathlon, heptathlon, decathlon, and marathon viewings, and even an Olympian ticket for anyone seeing all 37 productions. Tickets are available online and range from approximately $8-56.

By Megan Lisagor, Globe Correspondent

It didn’t take long living in Paris before I upgraded my daily routine. Mostly that meant showering in the morning rather than the afternoon, but it was a start. The countless hair salons and lingerie shops act as a constant advertisement for la belle vie. So do the moms in Chanel boots and fur vests at the playground — in contrast to my Converse and fleece. Even the pharmacies make support hose seem sexy in their window displays. Beauty ranks with an ability to discuss Derrida as a worthy, if not necessary, endeavor.

I needed to brush up on my philosophy and Gap Body wasn’t doing me any favors, but my conversion had its limits. I don’t have hours to devote to my personal appearance, thanks to a toddler who enjoys going to the bathroom with me. In the States, I’d found a fast pedicure in a dark color like gray was the easiest way to feel current and refreshed. France doesn’t value the shortcut, however; the only accepted quickie might be the cinq à sept.

Bucking this tradition, Prisca Courtin-Clarins and some friends opened Nail Factory, an American-style bar à ongles. Perhaps because she’s one of the adored heiresses of the skin-care company, the concept has been embraced. It’s hard to get an appointment at any of the three locations, where a beauté des mains lasts 30 minutes (or less in my experience) and costs 25 euros (about $35, a steal compared to spas). This is good news for travelers who want an affordable mani, or a window into the French fashionista’s soul.

Despite the amount of time Prisca and her fellow swans spend in Manhattan, differences exist at Nail Factory. Locals still favor the French manicure, a look that peaks at prom in the United States. In my opinion, it’s better to play the Parisian part by choosing revolution red. Incidentally, both of my visits resulted in small cuts, for which the technicians offered no apologies, just the stinging application of antiseptic. In France, of course, one must suffer for her pleasure.

Photo by Megan Lisagor

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

In France’s Provence region, November is known for truffle season, olive harvesting, kayaking on the Sorgue River and walking through the countryside taking in scents of lavender, sage and rosemary. It’s also a time to save at Hotel Crillon le Brave, when each of the hotel’s buildings, dating to the 16th and 17th centuries, is a flat rate of 150 Euros, roughly $200 depending on exchange rate when you book. Hotel officials said the rate saves up to 80 percent of the norm.

The hotel’s property consists of seven restored stone houses, linked by bridges, cobblestone walkways and courtyards. There are 23 rooms, seven suites and a two-bedroom house. The area is known for the Carpentras outdoor market, many local vineyards and shopping at Provence’s antique capital, Sur La Sorgue. Crillon le Brave is open Wednesday through Sunday in November, and room categories depend on availability upon booking. A two-night minimum is required. For information, call 011 33 4 90 65 61 61, email reservations@crillonlebrave.com
or visit http://www.crillonlebrave.com/home.htm.