Choose from the S, M or XL breaks for the first Christmas of the Palazzo BelVedere, the new hotel, spa & city retreat in Montecatini Terme.

A spa hotel with Tuscan spirit and a warm welcome

The festivities will be an opportunity to experience the different souls of this hotel which, since its opening in early summer 2022, has proved to be a popular blend of the glorious past of the famous spa town, the authentic Tuscan spirit and a contemporary warm welcome.  

A 16-night luxury package with a butler and a personal shopper

The BVXmas Retreat Lux&Exclusive Christmas break package from 23 December to 8 January consists of 16 nights in a Junior Suite with half board and starts from €5,490 per person. The offer includes 12 days at the Terme Tettuccio spa, an Art Nouveau masterpiece just a stone's throw from the hotel, a butler, the 12-day Vitaliter rebalancing programme, a personal shopper and private minivan, plus Christmas lunch and the New Year's Eve gala.

Packages for nine, seven and five nights 

There are also shorter Christmas breaks. From the BVXmas XXL for 9 nights with the Vitaliter programme included and starting from €4,990 for two people to the BVXmas XL for 7 nights, again including the Vitaliter programme and starting from €3,190 for two people. Then there is the L version of the Lux&Exclusive, with 5 nights starting from €3,890 for two people. 

Shorter breaks over Christmas and New Year

Those looking for shorter breaks will like the BVXmas M with 3 nights starting from €1,065 for two people, the BVXmas S with 2 nights starting from €1,000 for two people and including the New Year's Cheers! and brunch on 1 January. The shortest is the XS covering New Year's Eve and is from €950 for two people.

Festive tables and a New Year’s Eve gala

The festive atmosphere will be enlivened by a series of mouth-watering proposals such as the Christmas Eve cocktail with a Tuscan version of fish & chips, the Christmas Eve Seafood & Champagne dinner, the sumptuous Christmas lunch, and the New Year's Eve Cheers! Grand Gala.

For information: https://www.palazzobelvedere.com/it/natale-a-montecatini-terme-toscana

The new Cascina Galarej Hotel opened on 1 November on a 120-hectare estate in Serralunga d'Alba, in the heart of the Barolo wine region.

Ten guestrooms and a spa with grape treatments

With F&B outlets, a congress centre and 360-degree views of vineyards, guests can enjoy  relaxing and well-being stays. The hotel, which was a farmhouse dating back to 1867, has ten rooms with design furnishings, a gym with a view of the hills, a spa with an indoor and outdoor heated swimming pool, a Finnish sauna, Turkish bath and treatments with Barbera and Nebbiolo grapes. Breakfast, light lunch, and aperitifs with typical Langhe products are prepared by the chefs.

Regal wine cellars and great wines 

The hotel has been upgraded with large windows and natural materials such as wood and stone, as well as design furnishings. The spa in the former barn has exposed brickwork, and the property  recalls the historic buildings of King Vittorio Emanuele II’s era. Guests can visit the king’s historic cellars, walk in the woods and enjoy the great wines of the Langhe and the traditional menus in the Alciati family's restaurants.

Snowshoeing becomes gourmet in La Thuile in Italy's Aosta Valley, with the thrill of high- altitude fine dining. 

Mountain cuisine on snowshoes

When snowshoeing becomes gourmet, then those glorious days spent in the snow take on a whole new meaning. In La Thuile, the wild side of Mont Blanc, with its silences and snowy landscapes, you can enjoy some of Italy’s most extraordinary views, combining the soothing experience of snowshoeing with the flavours of mountain cuisine.

Itineraries to discover and taste local products

There is a choice of itineraries of varying difficulty and length (from 1 to 4 hours) that wind their way from La Thuile and the small hamlets of Pétosan, Les Granges, La Joux, Buic and Villaret. 

In the company of expert mountain guide Alberto Miele, an adopted Valle d'Aosta native, the delights of Mont Blanc are revealed in the evening hours. Followed by a tasting of traditional Valdostan PDO products in local restaurants. 

Gastronomic programmes for non-skiers

Those who do not enjoy sporting activities can choose to explore the specialties of Valle d'Aosta gastronomy, in particular D.O.P. products such as Fontina, Fromadzo, Lard d'Arnad and Jambon de Bosses, with the Morning D.O.P. Mountain Flavours programme at the Restaurant Les Granges, in La Thuile.

Discovering the secrets of fontina cheese and other local products

From December 2022 to April 2023 visitors can discover the Grotta delle Fontine in the Buic area, where more than 6,000 wheels of fontina cheese are stored for maturing. At the site an expert will explain the processing and maturing secrets of this extraordinary PDO cheese. This will be followed by an aperitif and a guided tasting of Valdostan products that have been awarded the Protected Designation of Origin status, at the Restaurant Les Granges, which is part of the Saveurs du Val d'Aoste circuit. For information: www.lathuile.it

From all of us at ItaliAbsolutely warmest Season’s Greetings and a Happy New Year to all our readers and partners worldwide.   

We had a party!

Last night at the Christmas Party at the Ellington Club here in Rome, hosted by the Travel Open Day Group, we extended these same seasonal wishes to the many travel agents, tour operators, airlines and shipping lines, international tourist boards, hoteliers, travel industry players, partners and friends who joined us.

The mood was one of undeniable optimism

It was an occasion to take stock of the last twelve months, as the travel industry in Italy and around world begins the slow, and often very rickety, ascent towards what we are all now accepting as the new normal. The mood at the Ellington Club was one of undeniable optimism for 2023, tempered with the realisation that every step, every decision, every investment and every intention has to be carefully weighed if it is to bring lasting solidity. 

Wishing you all a prosperous 2023!

Because that is what we wish you all for 2023, a solid footing on which you can build and grow, without forgetting your role in keeping Italy at the very forefront of global tourism.  We at ItaliAbsolutely will continue to play our part, providing the inbound market with a steady flow of B2B stories covering all aspects of the travel industry in Italy, to make sure you are kept right in the picture! One last thing, we always love to hear from you, so do drop us a line anytime.

The B&B Hotel Roma Italia Viminale is the eighth B&B Hotels property in the Eternal City.   

In the old heart of Rome

With 23 rooms, ranging from single to quadruple, in classic and superior category, the Roma Italia Viminale Hotel is located on Via Venezia, a small side street off Via Nazionale, close to the Opera House and the immortal charm of the Monti district, the old Suburra of ancient Rome.

Close to many of the city’s most famous monuments

Public transport connections are also excellent thanks to its proximity to the Termini railway station and the Metro underground station. The Trevi fountain, Piazza della Repubblica, the Colosseum, the Roman Forum and Piazza Venezia are among the most celebrated sights in the surroundings, and all are within walking distance.

“The B&B Hotel Roma Italia Viminale…is excellent value for money”

"The inauguration of our 8th hotel in the capital is an important goal, especially considering that just before it we opened our second property in Fiumicino - said Valerio Duchini, president and managing director of B&B Hotels Italia. The B&B Hotel Roma Italia Viminale is the perfect solution for anyone looking to stay in the city centre. It is in an ideal position for visiting the main tourist attractions and we welcome both leisure and business guests."

The Relais Castello di Casiglio in Erba is a fascinating property located in a strategic position not far from Lake Como.  

Many attractions around the lake and a nearby golf course

A few kilometers away from the Relais there are famous destinations like Cernobbio, Tremezzo with Villa Carlotta, Bellagio with Villa Melzi, Lenno with Villa Balbianello and Varenna with Villa Monastero. The area also offers plenty of attractions for sports lovers, with the Villa d’Este Golf Club just four kilometres from the castle. 

Relais Castello di Casiglio by Concreta

Ideal for weddings and business events

The Relais Castello di Casiglio is an ideal location for meetings, conferences, teambuilding activities, weddings, events and romantic or themed dinners served in the new Lècru Restaurant. This is located in the oldest part of the castle and also open to non-residents. The renovation of the 29 rooms of this ancient manor has helped to enhance its charm and its history and involved 29 of the total 46 rooms and suites.  

Relais Castello di Casiglio by Concreta

The timeless charm of an ancient castle

With its 700 years of history, the Castello di Casiglio is rich in fascinating details with exposed stone walls, ceilings with ancient beams, terracotta floors and elegant furnishings. Fabrics also play an important role in creating the charming atmosphere of the guestrooms and public areas. 

The Numa group's expansion in Italy continues, as it adds 58 new boutique apartments in Florence and Rome. 

All the properties are centrally located

In the Tuscan capital, after the Vita and the Rodo comes Numa Fiore, located in the tourist district of San Giovanni, a few minutes' walk from Piazza della Signoria. In Rome deals have been made for another boutique apartment complex in the Termini station area. This is due to open in summer 2023, following the opening of the Numa Vici in Rome’s central Piazza Venezia last March.

Numa Vici Hotel

“We are looking for new apartments in Rome, Milan and Florence”

"With the opening of two more new properties in Italy we are pursuing our expansion strategy. Italy is home to the largest number of Unesco heritage sites in the world and is a tourist magnet in Europe,” says Gabriel Coen, Numa Italia's director of real estate expansion. “It is one of our most important markets and our model, with our elegant boutique apartments, is perfectly suited to the domestic market. We are therefore looking for further properties in strategic locations in Rome, Milan and Florence from next year.”

Villa Cordevigo Wine Relais is an oasis dedicated to the pleasures of the senses in Cavaion Veronese on Lake Garda, where beauty is the true protagonist. 

A 16th-century Venetian villa with farm-to-fork fine dining

Located in the Bardolino area, on the hills of the Veneto side of Lake Garda, the renovated 16th century Venetian villa is the ideal choice for a true immersion in the quiet of the countryside and beautiful natural surroundings.  Guests will delight in the Osleta Restaurant's cuisine, helmed by chef Marco Marras. One of his guiding principles is to use as many local raw materials as possible. In fact the vegetables and aromatic herbs used in Chef Marras' dishes come from the restaurant's garden and from small local producers.

Relax and be pampered in 5-star luxury

As autumn gives way to winter, why not indulge in some well-deserved relaxation by pampering yourself at the Essentia Spa in the 5-star Villa Cordevigo Relais & Chateaux. The Spa has whirlpools, an infrared Finnish sauna, a Turkish bath and emotional showers. Wine therapy treatments use Vinoable® grape extracts for treatments and guests can discover the delights of holistic wellbeing.

Dreaming of a long weekend? Treat yourself to four days of off-piste skiing and relaxation in an Alpine village on Monte Rosa.

Skiing on Europe’s second-highest mountain 

The 4-day package of off-piste skiing and adventures from OverAlp, a tour operator specialised in outdoor activities in the mountains, takes you to Alagna Valsesia, a gem in the Piedmont Alps and to Monte Rosa. This is the great massif that straddles Italy and Switzerland, and is Europe’s second highest mountain. The Alagna 4 days off-piste all-inclusive offer combines local flavours and cultures with the adrenalin rush of four days of white adventures. La Malfatta, La Balma and the Zube Pass Canyon are all well-known names for fans of the wild, energetic and adrenalin-pumping mountains that only off-piste skiing can offer.

Heli-skiing, freeriding, ice climbing and free downhill skiing

The Valsesia is known as a freerider's paradise, amid granite canyons covered for much of the year by snow that is always abundant at over 2,000 metres. From heli-skiing, to freeriding, to ice climbing, but also ski mountaineering or free downhill, ski in complete safety, along the kilometres of slopes that swoop down from Punta Indren to the ski lifts of the picturesque villages of the Valsesia.

On the mountains in the company of certified Alpine guides

The Alagna 4 days off-piste all-inclusive will introduce you to this paradise with the flexibility and experience of UIAGM-certified Alpine guides. Before setting off for each experience the participants' avalanche safety equipment (shovel, probe, ARTVA and ABS if applicable) will always be checked, while the collective safety equipment (rope, carabiners and harness) will be provided free of charge by OverAlp. For the rest, the only limit to your imagination is the fitness of your muscles!

Stay in the Locanda Margherita di Rassa B&B

At the end of the day, having taken off your skis and boots, you will be welcomed at the beautiful Locanda Margherita di Rassa, a B&B with typical Valsesian architecture in local stone and wood. The rooms are tastefully and simply furnished and have original larch wood floors with wood-panelling in some rooms and frescoes in others.   

Four days with ski passes for groups of from 4 to 7 people 

Groups are for from 4 to 7 people for each Alpine guide with 5 nights and 4 days + afterski.  The best time of year is from the middle of December to the middle of April. Prices: 4 people €1,000 per person, 5 people, €960 per person, 6 people €920 per person and 7 people €870 per person. Included are 4 days with a certified Alpine guide, safety equipment, taxes and guide costs, 5 nights in half board at the Locanda Margherita B&B with dinner in local restaurants at special prices, and 4 days of Monterosa Ski Skipass 

An average occupancy of +80% between July and October was posted by the Belstay Venezia Mestre. 

A 4-star with two restaurants

The Belstay Venezia Mestre is a 4-star hotel with 188 completely refurbished contemporary design rooms. It has a spacious lobby, a bar, two restaurants and a conference centre with a maximum capacity of 180 people. Guests can also make use of the gym and the shuttle service to Mestre station.

“Venice is a crossroads in north-eastern Italy”

The occupancy levels were announced at the hotel's official launch ceremony, held recently with DJ sets, live music, and the culinary specialities of chef Andrea Ribaldone.

"The redevelopment, which we have completed is perfectly placed in the Venice area. In terms of leisure traffic and companies Venice is a crossroads in north-eastern Italy,” said Roberto Di Tullio, managing director of Belstay Hotels. 

 

Concentrating on business travel and MICE

“The hotel has always been a benchmark for high-profile business and political events, and we relaunched it after making significant investments and with a new management approach. We are now focused on making ourselves known to the MICE and business travel segments in the Venice area.”