Plan your early Spring Escape with Rocco Forte Hotels

February 2012 – After what seemed like a very long dark and cold winter, the days are getting brighter and longer, offering a hint of Spring to come. Book an early Springtime City Escape with Rocco Forte Hotels and enjoy 25 percent off two nights or more at selected hotels, while taking advantage of some of the concierges’ hottest tips for enjoying the best each city has to offer, inside and out:

In St Petersburg, stay at the 100 year old Hotel Astoria and discover the true spirit of Russia this Spring. Join in with the locals to celebrate one of the country’s most spectacular holidays. Butter Week (Maslenitsa) is an ancient pagan celebration which originally hailed the return of Spring. Nowadays, it marks seven days of indulgence prior to Lent with masked parades, fair ground rides, folk music performances and plenty of food stalls serving everything from vodka, blinis and caviar and an abundance of pancakes.

In Rome, discover mysterious Papal documents, usually kept behind lock and key when the Vatican reveals its secret archives for the first time in its history at the ‘Lux in arcana’ exhibition at the Capitoline Museums. Guests at Hotel de Russie will be able to marvel over 100 original documents dating from the 8th to the 20th century. Combine a visit to the exhibition with the hotel’s Angels and Demons Tour, taking in baroque Rome, the Inquisition Period and the secret societies of that time, perfect for exploring the city’s fascinating history.

In Prague, Spring marks the city’s annual Ball Season. Balls have long been part of life in the Czech Republic, dating back the time of Austrian reign, when the city’s high society regularly gathered in many of the city’s beautiful dance halls. Guests at the Augustine Hotel can dance the dark nights away at one of the many balls held across Prague and from the traditional waltz to the jazz hits of 1930s, every musical taste is catered for. Highlights include the Opera Ball in the impressive neo-Rococo halls of the Prague State Opera.

Part and parcel of everyday life in Brussels, much in the same way as gastronomy, is the tram. Both come together this Spring when celebrations for ‘Brusselicious, Gourmet Year’ kick off in the city. Guests at Hotel Amigo are invited to board a sleek, white futuristic gourmet tram which , seating up to 34  will take foodies on a two-hour round trip, taking in some of Brussels’ best sights while savouring a menu of Belgian classic dishes, updated by a legion of the city’s Michelin-starred chefs.

Rocco Forte Hotels’ Early Springtime City Escapes offer 25 percent off the Best Available Rate when booking two nights or more and is available until 31 March 2012 across all its 13 hotels. Breakfast is included. To book or for more information, call 00800 7666 6667 or visit www.roccofortehotels.com

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Notes to Editors
Rocco Forte Hotels

Rocco Forte Hotels is a family of 13 individual hotels and resorts. Each property has a unique style, reflecting its nationality and location, but all share Rocco Forte Hotels’ trademark attention to detail, high quality and immaculate service.
 
Established by Sir Rocco Forte in 1996, Rocco Forte Hotels comprises: Hotel de Russie, Rome; Hotel Savoy, Florence; The Balmoral, Edinburgh; The Lowry Hotel, Manchester; Hotel Astoria, St Petersburg; Hotel Amigo, Brussels; Brown’s Hotel, London; Villa Kennedy, Frankfurt; Hotel de Rome, Berlin; The Charles Hotel, Munich; Augustine Hotel, Prague; Verdura Golf & Spa Resort, Sicily; Rocco Forte Hotel Abu Dhabi. Future openings: Jeddah 2013; Marrakech 2014; Cairo 2014; Luxor 2014.

www.roccofortehotels.com

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