Local Travel Pro Suggests Prague Trip, Unique Destination for Bar / Bat Mitzvah & Heritage Trips

 EASTON, MASS.  (Issued October 2013) --  For veteran travel consultant Ellen Paderson and husband Leon, visiting Prague had been on their bucket list for years. But it was only this past summer that they finally visited Czechoslovakia.   

“I’m glad we finally got to Prague – We love the city,” says Paderson who founded Smiles and Miles Travel (www.smilesandmilestravel.com) 22 years ago near Boston (Mass.). “We enjoyed our visit on several levels: The history is rich, the scenery is incredible. Restaurants and hotels are more reasonable than other European destinations because they doesn’t use euros. The food is great, the people are friendly and helpful. It’s an easy walking city, and the river offers incredible views and cruises.”

Paderson’s visit convinced her to expand an offshoot of her travel business, Bar Mitzvah Vacations   (www.barmitzvahvacations.com). So now, in addition to arranging tours for all travelers interested in Prague, she has made connections and is organizing destination bar or bar mitzvahs in Prague as “a meaningful alternative to an elaborate home event that’s over in a day.”

The destination bar or bar mitzvah in Prague (http://bit.ly/bmvprague) can be held at the beautiful and historic Jerusalem Synagogue (photo), complemented by visits to myriad historic sites and activities tailored to the interests of the family. Paderson says such visits would include The Jewish Quarter and ghetto area that dates back to the 13th century, and a guided walk through this district where  six synagogues  form the Jewish Museum Quarter. The 13th century Old-New Synagogue   is the oldest synagogue in Central Europe and is still used by the local Jewish community. The Spanish Synagogue, Jewish Town Hall and the Old Jewish Cemetery, unique in all of Europe, are also located here.

“This beautiful synagogue is the perfect setting for destination bar/bat Mitzvah celebrations,” Paderson says. “You’re surrounded by reminders of our past where the sacred ceremonies take on a deeper meaning that will inspire your child and the whole family for a lifetime. My staff and colleagues in Prague will ensure that your family group experiences the best that the city has to offer. There’s so much to do both in the city center and in the surrounding countryside. Tours are available by foot, bus, bike, Segway or boat.”

Paderson recommends that anyone planning to visit may want to brush up on history and geography to more fully appreciate the important role the city played through the centuries.  Prague, capital and largest city of the Czech Republic, is home to 1.3 million people. The city has been a political, cultural, and economic center of central Europe for 1,100 years. It was the capital of the Czech state and of the Holy Roman Empire. It was an important city for the Austro-Hungarian Empire, played major roles in the Protestant Reformation, the Thirty Years' War, and in the 20th century history, during both World Wars and the post-war Communist era.

Since the fall of the Iron Curtain, Prague has become one of the world's most popular tourist destinations, the sixth-most-visited European city. Prague suffered less damage during World War II than many other major cities, so most of its historic architecture is in pristine condition.

Among the other architectural points of interest recommended by Paderson are Prague Castle, Charles Bridge, Old Town Square, and the State Opera House.

About an hour from Prague, Paderson recommends a tour of the Terezin Concentration Camp where guides describe chilling stories about the day-to-day lives of prisoners there. The Terezin Memorial is the only institution of its kind in the Czech Republic, an educational and eye-opening look at 1940’s era Nazi tyranny.

For several years, Ellen Paderson has been arranging destination and cruise bar and bat mitzvahs for clients interested in celebrating on Caribbean islands, in Mexico, Europe and Israel.

Paderson and Smiles and Miles Travel have been recognized as a ‘Best of the Best’ travel agency by Travel Impressions. She is a member of The Affluent Traveler Collection, hand-picked independent travel advisors, and has earned numerous awards, certifications and designations. She was featured in the Travel section of USA Today and several other publications and online sites. For the past two years, Smiles and Miles attained Elite agency status with NEST, the prestigious Network of Entrepreneurs Selling Travel, a distinction bestowed on the top 15 travel agencies in the U.S.

“Anyone planning a trip to Prague (or anywhere else) should talk to an experienced  travel consultant from the outset before finalizing their plans,” says Paderson. “Once we know our clients and understand their needs, as a veteran professional we work with them to develop tours and timetables that meet their needs, interests and budgets. This can translate into dramatic savings in time, money and headaches. I worry about the details -- and my clients can focus on having fun.”    

Paderson also arranges destination and cruise weddings, honeymoons and bar/bat mitzvahs. Contact Ellen Paderson:  508-238-4088 / Fax: 508-238-9817; Email:  ellenp1@comcast.net / Website:  www.smilesandmilestravel.com.

                                                                         - By Stanley Hurwitz   508-269-0570  /  stanhurwitz@gmail.com