You can stay with Collett's for as long or asshort as you like, arriving and departing ondays that suit you and perhaps making yourtime with us part of a wider holidayitinerary. Our villages in the Dolomites, Picos deEuropa and Pyrenees have beencarefully-selected as outstandingspringboards primarily for walkers, but alsofor wildflower lovers and alpine enthusiasts.They are picturesque and unspoilt. Theyenjoy glorious mountain backdrops. Whilstthey represent a tranquil step back in time,they have an enlightened yet reassuringlyconservative approach to tourism, servingthe holidaymaker well withoutcompromising their unquestionable charm.Attractive accommodation is interspersedwith rustic and characterful mountaindwellings and timbered farm buildings. Lifeis unhurried. In the village cafés, locals playcards or dominos, whilst walkers or cyclistsdrop in for a drink on their way through.High summer sees vibrant village festivalsand other folkloric occasions. Local costumesare worn and traditional music is played. AtCollett's, we have friendships with manylocal people. This will have positiverepercussions for you and you will soon feelat home here. alpine chalets, hotels & self cateringarrive and depart on the dates of your choicefull board, halfboard, B&B or self catering travel notesdolomites & south tyrolSelf-drivers can enter the Dolomitesamidst scenic splendour via the BlackForest, Bavaria and the impressiveBrenner Pass (60 miles of dramaticmountain motorway with tunnels, stiltedsections and bridges). Fly-drivers canchoose Venice (2¾hrs), Verona (3¼hrs),Milan (4½hrs) or Munich (4hrs). Collett'soperates a transfer service to and fromVenice every day throughout the season.There are rail-drive options too.picos de europa & pyrenees In the Picos de Europa and Pyrenees,having a car is more or less essential,although in Summer 2012 we areoffering transfers from Pau and Lourdeson a Saturday only. Some guests self-drive, meandering through France fromher various northern ports, although amost pleasurable way to do the journeyis the 24 hour, cruise-style service withBrittany Ferries to Bilbao or Santander.Collett's can offer it's guests a 10%discount with Brittany Ferries. For a cheaper option, consider takingthe ferry to Santander as a footpassenger and then hiring a car within afew yards of the port. Whilst someguests use the TGV most guests fly-drive. For the Pyrenees, they useairports, such as Lourdes (2hrs), Pau(2hrs), Zaragoza (2hrs), Toulouse (4hrs),Bilbao (3½hrs) and Barcelona (4½hrs).The TGV also offers good rail-driveoptions. For the Picos de Europa, theycome via Santander (1½hrs), Asturias-Oviedo (2½hrs) Bilbao (2½hrs) andoccasionally Madrid (5hrs).guest handbook & map Before your holiday, we send you awalking map and a handbook withdirections to your accommodation,packing suggestions and usefulinformation to help you hit the groundrunning on your arrival. *At the time ofprinting we are still sourcing anappropriate map for the Picos, which weare able to send free of charge. So nopromises at this stage.Our Villages & Accommodation - In a NutshellItalian Dolomites, Picos de Europa & PyreneesWe have accommodation to suit everyone. Itis summarised opposite. Our hosted chaletsin the Italian Dolomites are muchsought-after. Here you can enjoy the comfortof attractive en suite bedrooms, stunningviews and the self indulgence of warm andunassuming hospitality, whilst also relaxingin the informal and friendly atmosphere of a'home from home.'Dinner is one of the focal points of the dayand you can enjoy a delicious three coursesupper (with wine included) at the sametable as other guests. Fuelled by commoninterests, exhilarating days out in themountains and the odd glass of wine (!), theatmosphere is easy and sociable. You canread more about our chalets on Page 29.Eating good food at shared tables with otherCollett's guests is also a feature of ourcharming hotel accommodation in the Picosde Europa and the Pyrenees. Both thePosada El Corcal in the Picos and the HotelSabocos in the Pyrenees are three star gemsin glorious settings, run by families youcannot fail to be endeared to. Indeed, theever-present smile of Abelardo, owner of theHotel Sabocos in Panticosa, will alone be alasting memory for guests staying in thePyrenees. In the Dolomites, we also feature twoenchanting mountain hotels, where the foodis exquisite and the service outstanding.Here guests eat at their own independenttables in the normal way. In all ourdestinations, we have superb self cateringoptions, standard and superior.Hotel Sabocos - Panticosa, Pyrenees13

Italian Dolomites& South TyrolSummer26 May to 30 September 2012