Apartment/Chalet Rentals
Interhome, a Swiss company, says it is Europe's leader in weekly villa, chalet and apartment rentals and boasts 20,000 listings in 13 countries.
A recent news release from the company recommended booking early for the 1995/96 ski season and offered a few examples of available rentals guaranteed in dollars: a studio for two persons in Grindelwald in early December for $696/week; a two-bedroom apartment for six persons in Verbier in February for $1,317/week; a one-bedroom luxury condo for three persons in Innsbruck in December for $1,292 per week. The literature also says a "simple but adequate" studio in Château d'Oex can be rented for as little as $250 per week.
In addition, Interhome is currently offering a 5-10% discount on all bookings made before the end of June and a 20% discount throughout 1995 (except during the period July 8 to August 12) on condos in Lucerne.
Also of interest is the company's standby program which offers discounts of up to 50% on bookings made less than one week prior to arrival.
Interhome 124 Little Falls Road, Fairfield NJ 07004, phone 201-882-6864 or 800-882-6864 (bookings only), fax 201-808-1742.
1/2 Off Hotels
For those who aren't bothered by the mind-numbing similarity of large, business style hotels, membership in Entertainment Europe offers real value. For $48 one receives a membership card good for 50% off at some 700 hotels in Europe. Gemütlichkeit recently reviewed EEs 1995 directory of participating hotels and found 10 in Austria, 15 in Germany and 19 in Switzerland. In addition there are 18 participating hotels in Budapest and two in Prague.
For the most part these are big chain hotels of the Sheraton, Radisson, Marriott genre and located in major cities.
Their value, however, is undeniable. In Lausanne, for example, members can select the 116-room Hotel de la Paix or the 54-room Victoria. Double rooms at the Victoria range from 190 Sfr. to 265 Sfr. The EE 50% discount makes them 95 to 133 Sfr. At today's exchange rate of 1.2 Sfr. to the dollar, that's four-star accommodations for from $79 to $110 double. Having just returned from a trip that included five nights in Lausanne, we can assure you such prices are a tremendous bargain. Doubles at de la Paix go for from 215 to 310 Sfr. or, at the EE discount, 113 to 155 Sfr. ($94-$129).
For cost-conscious travelers who plan to spend much time in major European cities this summer, the $48 would be well spent.
Here's how the program works:
• You must identify yourself as an Entertainment member when making a reservation.
• The discount applies only to a hotel's published rack rate, not to any group, convention, corporate or other discount. According to the EE directory, if a hotel advertises a special promotional rate to the general public that is lower than the Entertainment discount, 10% will be deducted from that rate to ensure EE members get the best price.
• Participating hotels are not likely to accept reservations for the 50% discount once their projected occupancy rate reaches 80%
For more information call 800-445-4137 or send check for $48.00 to Entertainment Travel Editions, 40 Oakview Dr, Trumbull, CT, 06611. VISA and MasterCard Accepted.
May 1995
