Often copied never bettered! La Dolce Vita Venice Rally 2014 Sunday 21st Saturday 27th th September We ve read the questionnaires that many of you - our Members were kind enough to send back, and in listening to what YOU have told us you would like have put together what we think is our most innovative and exciting rally to date So here it is, the Prestige Road Rally Club 2014 s drive to Venice- yet again, breaking new ground, with a completely original rally, taking in as many of the things that people said were important to them Here at a glance are the main features: A four night, five day journey to Venice, taking in new four star deluxe and five star stops in Luxembourg & Liechtenstein, a unique motor themed hotel in Stuttgart, and an old favourite in wine country at the Italian lakes Two nights in a five star hotel in Venice Variety of dining styles to get the best of the local cuisine and not formal hotel dining each evening Optional guided visits to the Porsche Museum, Mercedes Museum & Mille Miglia Museum Scenic driving no motorways or tolls (unless you want this kind of driving) Each driving day is just 4-4½hrs so nothing gruelling Amazing unique themed hotel in Stuttgart In Venice, the last night dinner will be a masked ball Uno Ballo Masquera with genuine Venetian masks which will be yours to keep and the usual fun Prestige Presentations - and music for dancing Your return journey can be on the Venice-Simplon-Orient Express as transporters will be on hand to bring your own car back to the UK Or: your car if time is pressing you can fly back and the transporter will bring Or: you can drive back and we re suggesting a route with just one overnight stop at Mulhouse and the opportunity of a guided showround of the National Museum of France whilst there. So this rally has something for everyone!
So here is a summary day by day of La Dolce Vita Venice Rally 2014 Sunday 21st Saturday 27th th September Day 1 - Sunday The start of a rally is always an exciting affair, this one in a beautiful French Chateau; cars arriving; drivers and their passengers keen to see the marques arriving; some classics from yesteryear and some supercars too; then getting to know each other over a glass of champagne. There are flags and fanfares, a decent lunch, and then we re off on La Dolce Vita, another Drive of a Lifetime with the Prestige Road Rally Club This rally begins with a gentle drive along A roads through Northern France & Belgium - the prelude to our first night in the Grand Duchy of Luxemburg, in a fairy tale setting just outside a small medieval picturesque village where we will be staying in an 18 th Century chateau/castle, now a National Monument of Luxemburg. The rooms all bear the mark of authentic splendour as the chateau s cultural heritage has been skillfully retained during extensive restoration and we re hoping that it will be warm enough for drinks in the elegant interior courtyard and beautiful gardens, with fine cuisine to follow. Day 2 - Monday If the first day and night were conceived as a welcome to suit everyone s tastes then the second stop in Stuttgart is definitely for the keen motor enthusiasts eyes and hearts as we stay at one of the wackiest hotels ever to have featured in almost 40 years of Prestige events. The award winning designers show an amazing ability to turn the lines of impressive vintage cars into works of art. Each room has its own theme all related to the grand automobiles of yesteryear. It is unique, totally wonderful and we love it! When you see it you ll love it too. We ll dine out tonight, and it ll be fun!
We have pictures of every room and you can choose yours first come first served! Day 3 - Tuesday Tuesday morning has been set aside for optional guided visits to both the Porsche and Mercedes Museums, both very close to our hotel. We say optional because avoiding the toll road, just 3:45 mins away through Lichtenstein and into Switzerland is the magnificent five star spa resort of Bad Ragaz, and for the ladies who have been patient enough to do the museum visits, now here s an opportunity to get into the treatment room or perhaps the heated pool! After your journey, walking in the grounds and around the lake sipping a glass of whatever you fancy in the autumn sunshine may be an even better way to relax! There are no less than six restaurants at The Grand Resort at which we shall be staying, one with a Michelin Star, a Japanese, a grand buffet, light Mediterranean for healthy types, Swiss chalet with traditional rich Swiss cuisine, and the golf club with a terrace where you can watch the sun go down, for a lighter option so again something for all tastes and appetites. Menus will be provided in advance as this will be a dine around this evening, meaning that rather than all eat together again, you can choose when and where you d like to while away your evening in this magnificent mountain resort.
Day 4 - Wednesday You could take a leisurely 5 hour drive to Brescia the next day enjoying the mountains and winding country roads - or just three and a half, to get to our next charming five star hotel in the vineyards of Franciacorta, just a few minutes' drive from Lake Iseo, an enchanting place off the beaten track. With the opportunity to explore some of the Italian Lakes, or enjoy another dip in the pool and spa, this can be a leisurely afternoon. The Albereta is another five star property, with very comfy beds and a great bar and tranquil grounds. Later this afternoon we ll be enjoying a private guided show round at the famous Mille Miglia Museum, and with some more rich dining to come once in Venice, this evening we ll be sitting down to a delicious café style dinner at the museum a better alternative we think to simply blasting straight on to Venice! Day 5 -Thursday No need for an early start, so take advantage of the spa once again if you d like or explore a little more of the Italian lakes, as avoiding the tolls once again, it s just a 3hr 20min drive to Venice. Our five star hotel, The Excelsior, has its own private beach for your enjoyment, is fabulously furnished with a great ambience and will have hosted many film stars in the September Venice Film Festival. The cocktail bar is truly excellent and the weather should be kind enough for us to enjoy our finishing line party on the outside terrace by the beach. You ll be pleased to know that we ve found the only hotel in Venice with a private car park, which we thought was pretty essential given the company! Day 6 Friday
There is a regular private boat across to St Marks Square and there will be guides for you if you are a stranger to Venice and would like to get the most out of your visit. They have a choice of special itineraries, including "Venice as a Movie Dream", visiting the piazzas and campos made famous by such movies as The Talented Mr Ripley, The Italian Job, several of the James Bond films, The Tourist and the iconic Don't Look Now. On the first night you may enjoy an evening Bacaro Tour which lets you navigate the picturesque corners of the city with stops along the way for some memorable tastings at some of Venice's renowned culinary establishments. Our last night gala dinner will be a magnificent Masquerade Ball overlooking the Lagoon, with presentations and music for dancing. Day 7 - Saturday By now we shall have lost track of the days, and will be wondering if the party will ever end, but the final party is just about to begin! As the transporter takes your car, you will be collected to board the Venice Simplon Orient Express. On boarding your carriage you will be instantly transported into another romantic world of times past. The quality of the restoration of these magnificent coaches really does have to be seen to be appreciated. Individual compartments are not overly large, but exquisitely decorated with unique marquetry and sumptuous fabrics, and are perfectly good for our overnight journey. The comfortable deep settee seats convert later to two beds and feature a wash hand basin. We ll board at Venice Santa Lucia station in time for the 10.57 departure, and after you have settled in, it will soon be time to enjoy your first glass of the day and a three-course lunch in one of the restaurant cars at your reserved table. You ll spend the afternoon relaxing in the comfort of your cabin gazing at the beautiful passing scenery. Verona and Innsbruck pass by as a delightful afternoon tea is served in your cabin. When you are ready, a leisurely four-course dinner will be served, prepared on board by skilled French chefs. After dinner part of the fun is to while away an hour or two in the bar car where popular melodies played at the grand piano are often met by hearty accompaniment from the dinner suited guests! After dinner you ll retire to your cabin which your steward has transformed into a cosy bedroom.
Day 8 - Sunday On Day Two, breakfast is served in your cabin by your steward at a time to suit you. The train pulls into Paris Gare de l Est just before 8.30 and rests for 40 minutes, so take this opportunity to stretch your legs along the platform. A delicious brunch is served in the restaurant cars as you travel on towards the French coast for the Channel crossing, after which you ll join the British Pullman for the journey to London. A traditional afternoon tea accompanied by a glass of Champagne is served before arriving in London at 5.30pm. Phew - what a truly amazing week! Alternative days 7 and 8 If you decide to drive home from Venice you can make Calais in 12 to 13 hours via a stop in Mulhouse, which just happens to be where the amazing National Automobile Museum of France is located, and our suggested route takes you via some beautiful Cities and gorgeous lakes; Verona, Bergamo, Lake Como, Lake Lugano, Lake Lucerne and Basel so if time is not pressing you could break your journey sooner and take a little longer to get home. We are very happy to help with route planning Day 8 is frankly a pretty boring drive, but does give you the opportunity to open up the engine on the long flat straight carriageways. Our route takes you from Mulhouse up past Strasbourg, across to Metz then through Reims (another possible overnight) through Arras and directly into Calais
Your team package for one car and two people includes: Return Channel tunnel crossings Six nights accommodation in luxury hotels, (based on double occupancy in twin/double rooms) Breakfast and dinner each day Pre dinner drinks each evening, Wines/beer/soft drinks with dinner Rally start with lunch Champagne & canapé party at the Finish Line Last night Black Tie gala dinner Event literature, carefully planned routes, and merchandise RAC European roadside assistance and recovery Accompanying tour director and staff in back up vehicles to assist and to ensure smooth running The Costs to Prestige Road Rally Club Members Only: For the 6 night rally ending on Friday 26 th September with two nights in Venice, the price is 6,250 per team To add the trip on The Orient Express from Venice to London, the additional cost is 1500 per person including all meals aboard (NB: This trip is 1900 per person when booked direct with Orient Express) The cost for the car to be brought back to UK in a fully insured covered transporter is 1,770 per vehicle In summary: For the complete 7 night trip for 2 people including two days on the Orient Express and the transporter for one car the cost will total 11,020 per team This package does not include: Travel Insurance Lunches (apart from onboard the Orient Express) Tips/gratuities Champagne during & drinks after dinner To reserve your places or to book, contact Clive or Sue: Prestige Promotions, 107 High Street, Berkhamsted, Herts. HP4 2DG Tel: 01442 879000 Fax: 01442 870999 sales@prestige-promotions.co.uk www.prestige-promotions.co.uk