Book between February 16 – April 7, 2010* and enjoy this special 20% discount in Leisure Select class (which is just fancy wording for “first class”) on any Eurostar route. Tickets start at just $146**. This offer is subject to availability so don’t wait too long to book. Springtime in Paris is right around the corner.

·    Valid for travel from March 16 – August 31, 2010.   Leisure Select Class only.
·    ** Per person, one way. Tickets are non refundable.  Book your Eurostar trip Now!

This event is fun for the whole family with music and skiing, there’s something for everyone. So make plans in your schedule to come and watch these Santas battling it out. You’ll get to see them competing in chimney climbing, gingerbread decorating and of course, delivering gifts!

Depending on where you are, the easiest route to go to get to Samnaun is from Zurich. Take a train from Zurich to Landquart. From there hop on another train to Scuol. In Scuol, you can take the bus to Martina, and then continue on to Samnaun. In all, this route will take approximately 4 hours.  The Swiss Travel System is one of the best in the world. Known for its punctuality and frequency, traveling in Switzerland by train is a quite simple and enjoyable.

You can use your Swiss Pass to travel on this entire route. The pass will cover the train and bus portion of this schedule. And don’t forget, if you’re traveling with children between the ages of 6-16, they travel free with a parent, simply request the Swiss Family Card when you are choosing your Swiss Pass.

Attending this championship is a wonderful way to begin the holiday season, which is rapidly approaching! Pretty soon reminders of the season will be all over shopping malls and department stores.

The Santa Claus World Championship begins on, what we in the States call, Black Friday. This is of course, that infamous day after Thanksgiving when stores throw amazing sales on the season’s hottest products, which they typically have extremely limited quantities of, attracting large crowds of anxious shoppers.

This year, wouldn’t you prefer to be watching Santas from around the world battling it out to be the best, over battling traffic on the roads and in stores for the best deals? Tough call, but we think you’d have more fun in Switzerland!

For more information about the Santa Claus World Championship, click here. If you’d like more information about Samnaun, please click here.

You can find everything from serene afternoons by a babbling brook to the excitement of a gondola ride up to the top of a towering mountain in this beautiful country. It is one destination that truly does offer something for everybody!

With the Swiss Transportation System being what it is (in a word, AMAZING!), it makes it so easy to travel between cities in Switzerland. The Swiss travel system is known for its punctuality and frequency, which is most helpful if you’re running a little late for your train connection, there is usually another one just a few minutes down the track!

Plus, the weather is perfect in Switzerland right now, not too hot, not too cold, just right! Of course, if you’re an avid skier, you may want to wait a little while longer to visit to take advantage of the freshly fallen snow.

If you weren’t able to get away over the summer, or perhaps were just waiting for the crowds to clear out, now is your chance to make your move! Take a trip to one of the most gorgeous countries in the world. Switzerland is ready to welcome you with open arms — Swiss hospitality, another well-known trait!

If you’re interested in natural beauty, this is definitely a sight you’ll want to see (and don’t forget the camera!). Schaffhausen can be reached from Zurich fairly easily. Visitors can take the train to Schaffhausen direct from Zurich. From there, you can opt to walk along the river to Neuhausen (approximately 45mins.) or you can take the #1 or #6 bus from Schaffhausen to Neuhausen.

From Neuhausen the Rhine Falls are just a five minute walk away, there are signs posted along the route to help direct you to the falls. In all, it will take roughly 2 hours to reach the Rhine Falls from Zurich. Click here to learn more about the Rhine Falls.

This is a great day trip to do on your own or with the family, however, if you’re traveling with little ones, you may want to skip the walk along the river and simply hop on the bus to Neuhausen. Of course, that is totally up to you, the walk could be a great family bonding activity too!

Summer is rapidly approaching (depending on where you are, the weather may not indicate that!) and many folks are planning their summer getaways. This year, to beat the heat why not plan a fabulous Swiss adventure?

Switzerland is one European country that truly offers something for everyone. And the really great part — the Swiss have an amazing rail network to take you where you want to go. Get a Swiss Pass for unlimited access to the Swiss Travel System.

Swiss trains are highly acclaimed for their punctuality and frequency. There are specialty trains that can take you to mountain tops, scenic trains such as the Glacier Express and GoldenPass that offer wonderful panoramic views of the country and even a Chocolate Train, which provides a day long excursion that includes a visit to the Cailler-Nestle factory as well as the Gruyeres cheese factory.

While Switzerland is a cool destination to visit, don’t be fooled, you can find some hot-spots too! Travel by train to Locarno and you can walk down streets filled with palm trees while watching the mountains in the distance.

Our friends at the Swiss Tourist Office would like to add the following:

We invite you to discover 72 “pearls” with unforgettable and extraordinary experiences in Switzerland. Each region offers unique suggestions for young and old, for tall and small. Let us surprise you with our hidden treasures.

Beauty lurks around every corner in this spectacular country, and you can see even more of this lush landscape when you hop on the train and explore.

The Albula/Bernina railway line is considered to be one of the world’s most spectacular routes.

The Rhaetian Railways in the Albula/Bernina landscape has been entered onto the UNESCO World Heritage list. You can experience this rich, beautiful landscape on board the Glacier Express or the Bernina Express. Many rail enthusiasts claim that the route between Chur and St. Moritz is the most picturesque mountain route in the world, come see for yourself!

A Swiss Pass provides you with unlimited travel on the Swiss Travel System including trains, buses and boats. You can travel nearly the entire country using this pass. Plus, it grants you access to more than 400 Swiss museums. What more could you ask for? Well, maybe some of that scrumptious Swiss chocolate you always hear about…just hop on-board the Chocolate Train and you’re all set for a sweet ride!

Discover Switzerland, learn what this serene country has to offer. Then, start making some plans, get an idea of what you want to see and what Swiss Scenic Trains you can work into your schedule.

A trip to Switzerland is one of those trips that will never be outdone. Your memories will last much longer than the souvenir sweets you come home with, and will even outlast your new found talent of yodeling!

For even more information on Switzerland, we invite you to visit Switzerland Tourism’s website.

All the reading and research you could do on this magnificent country cannot fully prepare you for what you’ll feel when you arrive in Switzerland. To truly be able to appreciate this country, you must take a trip there.

Once you begin to experience all Switzerland has to offer, you will soon discover, it offers a great deal! The Swiss Travel System is one of the greatest travel systems in the world. Combining train, postal buses and boats, you can travel in comfort, flawlessly throughout Switzerland. Plus, Swiss trains are known for their punctuality and services are frequent enough that if you were to miss your train, no worries, another will be leaving shortly. The best product to aid you in traveling on the Swiss Travel System is, of course, a Swiss Pass! This issue of Explorer will take you to Locarno and Lugano, two very scenic destinations to visit. What should you do once you get there? Well, you can check out our top ten list for some ideas!

Below you will find our top ten ideas to help you explore Lugano and Locarno. We hope these ideas will help you in creating lifelong memories of your trip to Switzerland!

10. Stroll down the long, tree-shaded promenade alongside Lake Lugano for an afternoon of relaxation. You will be graced with views of dominating peaks such as Mount Bre to the east and Mount San Salvatore to the south. A good idea would be to get some bread and authentic Swiss cheese, perhaps a nice bottle of wine and have a nice little picnic along the promenade.

9. For the museum enthusiasts, there are several interesting museums to visit in Lugano. The Cantonal Museum of Natural History houses collections of zoological, botanical and geological displays to educate and enlighten the visitor with. Another great museum to wander the halls of is the Cantonal Art Museum. This museum holds the works of many 19th and 20th century artists, Klee, Degas and Renoir just to name a few.

8. A fun day excursion is a trip by funicular up to the top of Mount San Salvatore. The ride up is a two-step process. Once you make it up the very steep second stage, you arrive at the top of the nearly 3,000ft peak. This is a great opportunity to walk around and explore. Visit the chapel which has an excellent viewing platform, be ready to take lots of pictures! Before returning back down, treat yourself to a nice meal in the restaurant at the Italian Villa.

7. Hop on a lake steamer and head to Gandria, one of the most picturesque villages in Lugano. Enjoy the scenery all around you, have a nice lunch and then you can walk along the promenade back to Lugano. Another option would be to visit Swiss Miniature in Melide. This is a fantastic outdoor museum with miniatures of many of the most scenic places in Switzerland.

6. Once you’ve gone up the funicular to Mount San Salvatore you can experience the journey up to the top of Mount Bre. To get to the aerial cable way you need to take a bus from Lugano to Cassarate. When you reach the top, you will be able to get a glimpse of the entire city of Lugano below. There are some terrific restaurants that have terraces offering spectacular views. On the descent, you can stop in the village of Bre, a well-preserved village in Ticino. In an effort to further enrich the atmosphere and ambiance of this village, works of art were added. Be sure to view the frescoes by Joseph Biro and Luigi Taddei. You can also see sculptures by Pasquale Gilardi and the Museum of Wilhelm Schmid.

5. If your trip to Switzerland happens to be in August, get to Locarno to be part of the International Film Festival. First founded in 1946, the aspect that makes this festival so notable is the open-air screening space. This allows for nearly 8,000 spectators to view various films. Exciting and fun, just grab some popcorn and you’re all set!

4. Take a walk around the town and pay a visit to the Castello Visconteo
. This medieval palace was once home to the ruling Visconti Family. Today, visitors can look around and explore. It’s always fun to throw a little history into one’s itinerary, let the palace fill up some space in your journal!

3. Speaking of history, be sure to pay a trip to San Vittore. This church proudly holds the title of being the town’s oldest church. It dates back to the 9th century. Stroll through the courtyard and just imagine how life was way back in the 9th century. You sort of get a nostalgic feeling just standing in the church. It seems amazing to see a structure that has lived through so much time.

2. Take a seat nearby the lake and watch those notable Swiss lake steamers sail along the lake. Take some bread and you can feed the ducks too! As you sit there, starring at your surroundings you’ll realize, yes, those are palm trees beside you and snow-capped mountains in the not-so-far distance. A warm, meditterranean climate without losing the prestigious snow-capped Alps, it truly doesn’t get more peaceful and serene than this!

1. Finishing off our top ten list for this issue is a ride on the Centovalli Railway (hundred valley). This is a most-scenic ride, you will not regret hopping aboard! You can take this train from Locarno to Domodossola (Italy) and return from there, or, continue on and end up in Brig. The total journey is roughly 2 hours. In that 2 hours you will watch diverse landscape pass by. You’ll see everything from canyons and gorges to crashing waterfalls, mixed in with vineyards, chestnut forests and fairytale looking villages. This is an amazing way to spend a day, a ride that you will definitely want to repeat on each visit to Switzerland. And the best part is, this route is covered with your Swiss Pass!

Switzerland is one of those destinations that is beyond words. The scenery, the people, food, transportation, it all will exceed any expectations you may have. Once you have traveled to Switzerland you truly understand the meaning of natural beauty, as this country is overflowing with it!

The best way to see Switzerland is using the Swiss Travel System and traveling with a Swiss Pass. You get to see much more of the dramatic landscape then you would if you were flying or driving. Plus, some things in Switzerland are appreciated more when you experience them using a train, postal bus, lake steamer, funicular or cable-car.

Come to Switzerland and see what we’re talking about. You’ll find yourself trying to come up with the perfect word to describe your surroundings, but, will discover that words simply cannot convey the feeling and emotion that fill you when you arrive.

Many visit Interlaken as a stepping stone into Switzerland, however, there is a quaint town atmosphere to be explored within Interlaken. Once you’ve seen it all, you can hop on a train and journey to many reachable destinations. With a Swiss Pass, alpine adventure is just a train ride away! Aside from a Swiss Rail Pass, look into our new Swiss scenic package, Peaks of the World. A great package for first-timers to Switzerland as well as returning travelers!

If you have never ventured to Switzerland then you may not know much about the Swiss rail system. Watches could be set by Swiss trains, they are the most punctual trains in all of Europe. Aside from their perfect timing, Swiss trains run quite frequently so if you should miss a train, usually there is another leaving shortly!

Travel in Switzerland by train is a great way to see everything. Not only are there trains that can take you from city center to city center between each of your destinations, but there are trains that will actually take you to the tops of mountains! For other mountain peaks, there are gondolas, cable cars and postal buses that take you where you want to go. It can be said, hands down, the Swiss transport system is top-notch and you will not be disappointed!

Interlaken has two rail stations, Interlaken Ost and Interlaken West. These stations are found at opposite ends of the town, you can walk between each (approximately a 30 minute walk depending on your pace and how often you stop to shop or snap some pictures!) or you can take a bus or cab to get from Ost to West and vice versa. On a nice day it is a very nice walk, relaxing and scenic!

As you wander through Interlaken, some places that you may want to pay a visit to are the Höhematte, Japanese Garden and the Kursaal.

The Höheweg is Interlaken’s promenade. Along this boulevard you will come across many little shops, boutiques and luxury hotels. The centerpiece of the Höheweg is the Höehematte. This is the place where the vista opens out over the green meadow towards the mountains, offering an exquisite, unique view of the Jungfrau.

The first Japanese garden in Switzerland is situated on the Höheweg next to the Hotel Interlaken. This garden is a symbol of friendship between the sister cities of Interlaken and Otsu in Japan. Designed in 1995 by a landscape gardener from Otsu, the garden was developed and constructed according to the rituals and practices of the Japanese horticultural society.
The garden offers a great backdrop for photos and you should definitely make it a point to visit.

The Kursaal is considered to be the cultural focal point in Interlaken. It has undergone some renovations several times since it was built in 1859. You can view its spectacular garden and the much admired flower clock. If you’re looking for evening entertainment, look no further! Music concerts and theatrical presentations are performed in the wonderful art nouveau halls. You can try your luck at a game of Boule or give the slot machines a pull. And there are also discos and restaurants offering musical entertainment which can be found all around the resort.

Visitors will find many cafés and restaurants around Interlaken offering a variety of traditional food. However, if you’re truly feeling like you need an all-American meal, you will find a Hooters restaurant and bar and other fast-food joints along the Höheweg! We highly recommend sticking with the traditional dining though!

Once you’ve seen all of the city, you can treat yourself to a scenic excursion. Interlaken is located on the Golden Pass route, you can take a trip on the Golden Pass to Montreux or in the other direction to Lucerne.

Let your adventurous side take over and take a trip to the Jungfraujoch, the highest railway station in all of Europe at over 11,000 feet. Impressive views await you, have your camera ready! You can also visit the Schilthorn/Piz Gloria, filming location for the James Bond film, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Here you can wine and dine in the world’s first revolving restaurant at an altitude of nearly 10,000 feet. On a clear day, amazing views embrace approximately 200 snow-capped peaks, ranging from the Bernese Alps to Mont Blanc in France and Germany’s Black Forest.

You can put together your very own itinerary for your trip to Interlaken using a Swiss pass and various excursions, or you can simply reserve the Peaks of the World package and have everything ready and waiting for your arrival!

Interlaken is a terrific destination to include in your travel plans. A great composer once wrote, “If you haven’t seen the Interlaken countryside, you haven’t seen Switzerland”. Don’t miss out on this remarkable city, you’ll regret it if you do!

With the launch of the TGV East line in early June, you can reach Basel in about 3 1/2 hours. Take advantage of the rail systems available to you in Europe and visit Basel. A warm, welcoming city with character and charm. A Swiss Rail pass will provide you with access to the Swiss rail network, or you can get yourself a Eurail Select Pass with France, Switzerland and Germany and travel all over!

For this issue of Explorer, we’ll be focusing on everything that makes Basel so spectacular!

Upon arrival in Basel, it is best to begin your visit in the Old Town. Basel has one of Europe’s best preserved and most beautiful Old Towns. Authentic medieval buildings along with elegant Baroque Patrician buildings fill the area. A great place to take a stroll and take it all in.

After you’ve had a visit to the Old Town, make your way to the Cathedral. The Roman-Gothic Cathedral dates back to the 11th century. It is situated on

Müsterhügel (Cathedral Hill). Behind the cathedral, high above the Rhine, you will find the Pfalz platform. From this point, you have an amazing view of the city.

Be sure to have a look around the City Hall of Basel as well. Built from 1508-1514. Here you will find precious furnishings and decor. The walls within the courtyard contain beautiful paintings. City Hall is located in the heart of the city. Nearby you will find a daily food, flower and vegetable market in Market Square.

A number of internationally-renowned architects have designed many contemporary buildings for Basel. These contemporary designs show that though Basel is an traditional city, they have an appreciation for a modern twist!

The city of Basel has over 35 museums within its borders. There truly is something for everyone! The most well-known museums are: Fondation Beyeler. This museum was designed by Renzo Piano. It contains a collection of 200 odd works of classic modernism that reflect 20th century art. A must see!

The Kunstmuseum contains the oldest public art collection in the world. This Museum of Fine Arts displays works by Holbein to Picasso along with special world-class exhibitions.

We don’t want to leave out the Basel Paper Museum! This superbly restored, medieval Gallician Mill house showcases the history of paper, writing and printing. You can not only watch the craftsmen at work, but are invited to make your own paper and print on it. A lot of fun especially for families!

Some other things to keep you busy while vacationing in Basel are going to the zoo or taking a trip on the Old-Timer Tram.

Basel has the largest zoo in all of Switzerland. Witness the feeding of sea lions, the Etoscha house, the underwater world of vivarium and you can’t look away from the playful fights between the baby apes!

The Old-Timer Tram is a great deal of fun! Embark on the nostalgic old-timer tram and enjoy a wonderful journey across 2,000 years of history throughout Basel. A relaxing way to spend an afternoon while sightseeing and learning about your surroundings!

Basel is a fantastic destination to venture to. There is much to do and see. Once you’ve absorbed all Basel has to offer, with the Swiss Travel System being top-notch, you can easily hop on a train with a Swiss Rail Pass and go exploring the rest of the country! Trains in Switzerland are known for their frequency and punctuality.

Be sure to take a look at all Swiss products offered by Rail Europe. There are many products such as FastBaggage that can help turn your trip from good to beyond great!

For those of you who may be looking for further information on Basel, we invite you to visit the Basel Tourism website: www.basel.com.

We have many options available from museum passes to escorted city tours. And let’s not forget, to complete a meal you need just the right wine…if you’re not exactly an oenophile, you may want to consider a wine tour on your next trip to Paris. In this issue of Explorer, we’ve chosen a few of our favorite “sides” to share with you.

Some of the most popular travel destinations include cities in England, France and Switzerland. With this in mind, we have chosen products for each of these countries!

When people visit England, London is typically at the top of the “cities to visit” list. It’s understandable seeing as London has so much to offer visitors. There literally is something for everyone in this great city. Once you arrive, we suggest acquainting yourself with your surroundings and what better way to do that than with the Total London Experience?

This full-day guided tour will take you to all of London’s major sites. You’ll get to watch the prestigious changing of the guard ceremony at Buckingham Palace and snap some great photos of Sir Christopher Wren’s St. Paul’s Cathedral, site of royal weddings and home of the whispering gallery. You’ll be taken to Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament and Big Ben. Drive past Downing street, where the British Prime Minister takes residence.

This tour includes a quaint pub lunch in Covent Garden, a cruise on the River Thames and concludes with a flight on the London Eye. A terrific tour that includes an experienced guide on a luxury air-conditioned coach. All entry fees are taken care of in the price of the tour you simply meet at one of the hotels or bus station near VIctoria Station for pickup and your journey begins! Don’t forget your camera!

Once you’ve seen London, you may want to venture outside of the city. One of our favorite tours is the Bath, Stonehenge and Salisbury tour. Some of the most sought after places are included on this tour.

Visit Bath for a panoramic tour. This city was chosen as the first city in England to be designated a World Heritage site. Thanks to the hot spring water that flows, Bath got its name out there. You’ll have the chance to visit the Roman Bath’s on your tour as well as some free time to explore Bath Abbey.

Salisbury has one of the nicest medieval Cathedrals in all of Britain. The spire that rises from the cathedral is the tallest in England, at an impressive 404ft. It truly is an impressive display of architecture and design. After seeing the cathedral you can visit the Chapter House to see the Magna Carta. You’ll certainly get your fill of architectural design on this tour! The Chapter House is one of twelve remaining Octagonal Chapter Houses.

Stonehenge has mystified millions of people for centuries. 40-ton rocks that had been dragged through a desolate plain to Salisbury Hill to this day puzzle scholars and visitors. The history behind these stones is unclear. Whether Stonehenge was a religious temple, astronomical clock or a burial ground has never been proven. As you visit the site, let your imagination be your guide to the mystery and legend that surrounds Stonehenge.

Aside from these two tours, we have several other “sides” for England, be sure to check them all out!

Moving on to France, we have several add-ons for Paris. We’ll start with the Paris Dinner Cruise. Some people choose one really nice evening out in each destination they travel to, if you’re that kind of traveler, we strongly recommend this cruise!

You step on board the boat at the foot of the Eiffel Tower and begin your 2 1/2 hour cruise down the Seine River. Cruising down the left bank, seeing all the sights while enjoying a full-course dinner served at your seat. The atmosphere is great, live music surrounds you during the entire cruise. The cruise turns around the Statue of Liberty and brings you back to the Eiffel Tower. Usually the tour ends at the top of the hour so the Eiffel tower is illuminated in light, a truly magical ending to a perfect evening.

If you were planning on taking a sightseeing tour of Paris, as well as treating yourself to a nice meal in a fancy French restaurant, then this is the perfect “side” for you, it combines the best of both worlds! You get a panoramic tour of the sights and a fantastic meal.

If you’re a museum hopper, you may want to consider saving yourself time and money with the Paris Museum Pass. You simply cannot visit Paris without going to the Louvre or Notre Dame. The Museum pass is available in several day validities to fit your schedule. It provides you access to 70 museums and monuments in Paris. With this pass, you do not need to pay admission fees at the participating museums and you will not need to wait in line to enter.

There are more Paris add-on products available from Rail Europe, you’re sure to find something of interest for your trip.

Last stop for this issue is Switzerland. As you know, Switzerland is home to some of the most impressive mountain peaks in the world. You can get tickets to go up to the top of some of these peaks. The Jungfraujoch excursion will take you, by train, to the highest railway station in Europe. You will stand at an elevation of over 11,000 feet, take a look down below and capture the amazing scenery set before you.

There are a few different Mountain Peak excursions available, choose the one that interests you and fits your itinerary!

Luggage can sometimes be a bit of an issue when traveling. When your travels take you to Switzerland, may we suggest you look into Fast Baggage? The best way to travel light and worry-free. Fast Baggage makes it possible for your luggage to be transferred from a number of train stations in Switzerland to your destination. This is a great idea especially when making trips up to the tops of various mountains! No need to worry about lugging a heavy suitcase along with you. Simply grab your camera and send everything else on the train!

This has been a look into some of the add-on products Rail Europe can offer you on your next trip. These sides, like any good side dish, can help make your trip truly unforgettable!