Divine Getaways

Whether it’s an elegant hotel in the city or decadent sundrenched resort, enjoying your next vacation has a lot to do with where you stay—after all, it is where each day begins and ends. While the standard for excellence remains high, there is a new group of luxury properties raising the bar even further with their cutting-edge designs, lavish accoutrements, and unparalleled amenities. These luxe properties have something for everyone and are out to exceed all expectations with their impeccable service and sophistication. Here are some suggestions for your next stay…

Montelucia Resort & Spa – Scottsdale, Arizona


Nestled at the foot of picturesque Camelback Mountain and just minutes from world-class shopping, golf, nightlife and art galleries, Montelucia brings the essence of Europe to the heart of Scottsdale. Enjoy Andalusian-inspired architecture featuring arching entryways, splashing fountains, cobblestone open-air plazas and floral walkways. Dine at award-winning Prado restaurant and enjoy authentic Italian dishes or sit poolside at ROQ, an outdoor Southwestern bistro featuring homemade sangria. The 31,000-square-foot Moroccan-inspired Joya Spa, and luxurious accommodations with private patios and breathtaking views make Montelucia the ideal destination for your next getaway.

Gran Meliá Resort & Luxury Villas – Daios Cove, Crete, Greece


Boasting its own private white-sand beach and seamlessly integrating architecture and design with the surrounding landscape, the brand-new Gran Meliá Resort & Luxury Villas Daios Cove Crete evokes the charms of traditional villages throughout the Greek Isles. Overlooking the northeastern coast of Crete, the resort delivers a bold new standard for hospitality and magnificent accommodations—the largest on the island. 300 rooms and suites all boast king-sized beds, views of Daios Cove, and most feature private, heated pools. Discerning guests can indulge in a one-, two-, or three-bedroom villa, or spa villa. The resort has mastered the art of fun, relaxation and fine dining with an array of activities, water sports, spa experiences and restaurants. Tennis facilities, a complete scuba center, infinity pool and adults-only pool round out the resort’s diverse offerings.

The Crane – St. Philip, Barbados


Situated on the powder-soft pink sand of Barbados’ southeast coast, The Crane was built in 1887 as the Caribbean’s first resort hotel. Today, the fully-restored luxury enclave combines old-world charm, seclusion and natural beauty. A collection of 18 historic apartments and 209 modern residences present regal touches with high ceilings, hardwood floors and antique furnishings. Accommodations feature en-suite kitchens and full-sized infinity pools at the ground floor, some with private gardens. For upgraded opulence, penthouse villas offer sophisticated bedrooms, refreshing plunge pools, and roof decks with panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean. The Crane maintains its long-held reputation for exceptional dining with mouth-watering cuisine in its four restaurants. Within the 55,000-square-foot Crane Village, guests will find a spa, a fitness center and retail stores without ever leaving the serenity of the resort.

Hotel Du Louvre – Paris, France


Built under the rule of Napoleon III, the Hotel du Louvre is an emblem of timeless Parisian grandeur. Today the iconic establishment combines historic elements, upscale appointments and world-class amenities to deliver incomparable luxury to its 177 guest rooms and suites. Warm rich tones and decadent marbles add lavishness and the hotel’s top floor boasts rooms dressed in contemporary décor with romantic views of the Louvre Museum, Opéra Garnier and Comedie Francaise. Convenient en-suite amenities include complimentary Internet access, soundproofing, satellite television and gourmet mini-bars. At the hotel’s contemporary Brasserie du Louvre, celebrated chef Guy Martin has created a savvy menu of innovative French delights. Idyllically situated in the heart of Paris, facing the world-famous Louvre Museum, the Hotel du Louvre places guests close to many of the city’s other renowned highlights, including the Palais Royal and Opéra Garnier.

Gramercy Park Hotel – New York City, New York

A modern bohemia reinvented for the 21st century, The Gramercy Park Hotel is a refreshed boutique enclave that fuses style with great pieces of furniture, striking artwork and the extraordinary use of color. Privileged guests can experience the hotel’s rare collection of museum-quality work that features epic masterpieces from Andy Warhol, Keith Haring and Julian Schnabel. 185 guest rooms and luxury suites incorporate the hotel’s individualistic spirit and are generously scaled and beautifully appointed with the latest modern conveniences and views of Gramercy Park. World-class amenities include a 24-hour fitness center and the exclusive Gramercy Terrace, perched 18 stories above Manhattan, featuring an impressive retractable roof. The hotel’s gourmand outposts are equally stunning. Gramercy Park Hotel’s new roman-style Maialino serves lovingly prepared traditional trattoria cuisine elegant environs.

For more information on these luxury stays and other great vacation ideas, contact your local Boscov’s Travel Specialist, email travelrequest@boscovs.com or call 800-755-8020. 

Crazy Cheap European Vacations

A little while back, I posted about “10 Overseas Vacations Under $1,000” and just wanted to give an update to this. I was really excited about the insanely cheap prices of these trips, but the deal just got even sweeter. Now for all 2011 Cosmos Vacations bookings made by May 3rd, Boscov’s Travel is giving an extra $50 off per person, or $100 off per couple. Ridiculous! Amazing! Stupendous! Call it what you want, but I call it a steal! Call your significant other, pack your bags and stop in to your local Boscov’s Travel to book now. Here’s the recap:

British Panorama – 9 days, starting at $929 ($879 after discount)

Greek Odyssey – 8 days, starting at $939 ($889 after discount)

Jewels of Spain & Portugal – 9 days, starting at $959 ($909 after discount)

Jewels of France – 8 days, starting at $929 ($879 after discount)

Prague, Vienna & Budapest – 9 days, starting at $899 ($849 after discount)

Irish Explorer – 9 days, starting at $999 ($949 after discount)

Jewels of Morocco – 10 days, starting at $789 ($739 after discount)

Grand Tour of Turkey – 13 days, starting at $999 ($949 after discount)

Jewels of Slovenia & Croatia – 8 days, starting at $999 ($949 after discount)

Jewels of Poland – 8 days, starting at $999 ($949 after discount)


Air is not included. Book a 2011 Cosmos vacation through Boscov’s Travel to receive the $50 per person discount. Booking must be made, under deposit and discount applied by May 3, 2011 for travel commencing by December 31, 2011. Combinable with the Journeys Club $50 Cosmos coupon. Applies to new 2011 bookings only. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.

10 Overseas Vacations Under $1,000

Occasionally I will see a deal come through that is just way too good not to pass along. The following deal officially falls into that classification. As a young woman with a long bucket list, most of it involving traveling, it is always exciting to see trips abroad that are within my range financially. Yes, we are experiencing recession, yes, the market is unstable, and yes, you are only young once, so some things you have to push ahead with pursuing regardless of the economic climate.

So, when I heard about a Cosmos offer for 10 vacations under $1,000, I knew I had to share the deals with you, our lovely readers! Below is an outline of the vacations, their prices, and some info about the trips. All trips allow for a considerable amount of free time, and offer optional excursions for an extra cost. Please note that prices are land only, valid as of the time they were published, and subject to change.

Prague, Vienna & Budapest – 9 days from $899

The main feature of this trip is to see the rediscovered jewels of Imperial Europe, but the tour also is a great way to check out all of the exciting things to do in Eastern Europe.  The package includes visits to Nuremberg, Vienna, Salzburg, Bohemia, Moravia, and the Danube River. Get ready for the buzz of the city as you take the Autobahn to Nuremberg,  tour both sides of Budapest (the Buda side is old world and the Pest side is new world), and enjoy culinary delights created from scratch with unique spices and herbs.  From Alpine scenery to city lights, this tour is a great balance of city and country.

Greek Odyssey – 8 days from $939

Greece has always been a country that preserves instead of destroys its history. Enjoy landscapes full of unique ruins, gorgeous flora and fauna, and buzzing metropolitan cities. This tour includes trips to Epidaurus, Meteora, Kalambaka, Peloponnese, Mount Parnassus, the Arcadian Mountains, the Corinth Canal, Athens, Delphi, Olympia, Mycenae, and the Rion-Antirion Bridge. From roaming around the stomping grounds of famous philosophers to eating lamb gyros with french fries piled high on them to having a race with your travel companions at the home of the Original Olympic Games, this trip will be full of adventure, intrigue, and breathtaking scenery.

Irish Explorer – 9 days from $999

Whether you are Irish or not this tour will make you want to grab a draft Guinness, swap tall tales with the locals, and then roll down one of the hundreds of green hills at your disposal! This is a superb trip for photographers, as it will take you to some of the most stunning destinations with saturated colors, vivid skies, and visual textures like no other place on Earth. Stops include Downpatrick, Giant’s Causeway, Derry, Donegal town, Knock, Galway, Cliffs of Moher, Adare, Killarney, Blarney, Tramore, handweaving mill at Avoca, Glendalough,  Boyne Valley, Mountains of Mourne, Northern Ireland’s Antrim coast, Donegal Bay, The Burren, Dingle Peninsula, Ring of Kerry and Lakes of Killarney, and Wicklow Mountains.  A truly one-stop-shop for Ireland tours, and for under $1,000, a real steal.

Jewels of Morocco – 10 days from $789

A great destination for travelers who have seen the standard destinations, Morocco affords visitors with exceptional culture, intriguing history and architecture, and a sense that you traveled back in time.  In a place where storytelling is truly a means of record keeping as well as entertainment, Morocco will give you an abundance of stories you will be telling your children and your childrens children for years to come.  Tour stops include visits to Fez, Ifrane, Erfoud, Rissani, Ouarzazate, Aït Benhaddou Kasbah, Rabat, Meknes, Marrakesh, Casablanca, the Atlas Mountains, Ziz Gorges and Oasis, Road of 1000 Kasbahs, Dades Valley, and Todra Gorge. Everywhere you travel in Moroco is scenic, and the landscape changes from volcanic mountains, to verdant cedar forests, to deserts, to craggy mountains.  This is truly an eye-candy tour, from the narrow streets of colorful cities to the natural beauties of the world.

Jewels of Poland – 8 days from $999

A romantic, friendly, and fascinating town, Poland is a great place to go for culture, religion, and history buffs. From busy cities to quiet country landscapes, this tour is a great mix of town and country. The tour includes visits to Warsaw, Gdansk, Torun, Poznan, Jasna Góra, Krakow, and Auschwitz.  If you like free time, this is a great tour to take. With unique optional excursions, and a slew of things to discover on your own, Poland will undoubtedly charm you with its quaint yet bustling existence.

Jewels of Spain & Portugal – 9 days from $949

This is a great tour for the adventurous at heart, revelers, and anyone who appreciates a place that breathes its essence into every fiber of your being. From visiting a number of UNESCO World Heritage Sites to traveling through landscapes of windmills and castles, you will be bustling with excitement on every day of your tour. This tour includes visits to Avila, Salamanca, Coimbra, Fatima, Obidos, Seville, Sierra da Estrela, Andalusia, Libson, Madrid, and La Mancha. Spain boasts colorful cities, quaint countrysides, and a range of scenery that will knock your socks off.

Jewels of Slovania & Croatia – 8 days from $999

From the Adriatic Sea along the Croatian coast line to the flourishing forests of Slovenia, this is a lovely trip for decompressing and remembering all of the beauty in the world. Whether touring Europe’s most extensive caves or meandering through Plitvice, one of Europe’s most famous National Parks, this trip acts as a communion with nature. And for all of you urban landscapers,  you will be visiting the cities of this area too. The tour includes visits to Postojna Caves, Plitvice National Park, Neretva Gorges, Dalmatian Coast, Zadar, Split, Dubrovnik, Mostar, Sarajevo, Zagreb, and Ljubljana. A steal of a deal for a life changing experience like this.

British Panorama – 9 days from $869

Enjoy the plush history and culture that England, Scotland, and Wales have to offer. Take advantage of plenty of free time to explore each place, and enjoy scheduled visits to major attractions along the way! Stop on this tour include visits to Hadrian’s Wall, Jedburgh, Melrose, Edinburgh Castle, tickets for Edinburgh Military Tattoo (Aug 6, Aug 13, Aug 20 departures), Gretna Green, Grasmere, Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon, Broadway, Bath, Salisbury; orientation drive in Cardiff; walking tours in Cambridge, York, & Chester. This is a great tour for literary folk and history buffs alike, or for the person who just wants to see a lot of classic attractions in Europe in a short amount of time.

Jewels of France – 9 days from $919

Travel to the “City of Light” where you will fall in love with the gourmet cuisine, wonderful wines, and incredible architecture. Tour includes visits to Giverny, Rouen, Honfleur, Deauville, Normandy Landing Beaches and American Cemetery, Bayeux and its tapestry, Mont St. Michel, St. Malo, Rennes, Tours, Orléans, Chartres, and Chateaux Country. From seeing classic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe to touring the famous water garden that inspired Monet, this tour will show you the romantic, unique, classic, and picturesque beauty of France.

Grand Tour of Turkey – 13 days from $999

Turkey is a beautiful place to go to witness a “unique crossroads between Europe and Asia.”  Full of friendly locals, incredible food, gorgeous views, and one-of-a-kind shopping at bazaars and markets, Turkey will give you a cultural experience like none other. This tour includes visits to Gallipoli, Canakkale, Troy, Izmir, Kusadasi, Pamukkale, Agzikarahan Caravanserai, Konya, Rock Chapels in Göreme, Ankara, King Midas’ Tomb in Gordion, Bursa, and Pamukkale’s Cotton Castle. From striking architecture to lush forests, Turkey is beautiful at all times of the day, and boasts some of the most dramatic twilight moments you will ever experience. If you are looking for something exotic and non-typical, book this trip now.

Our Travel Specialists would be happy to help book any of the above trips, or any other adventures you may have planned. Click here to get connected with a Specialist.