5 New & Exciting European Escorted Tours

Snowy day
Spring is just around the corner, at least that’s what the ground hogs are saying. Looking out my window, mind you, I’m a tad skeptical. Believe it or not, this is a full colour photo!

In any event, as spring nears, lots of travellers are beginning to plan European tours, including river cruises, escorted coach tours, etc. That’s why we’ve been revamping our Tour Finder to help you find exactly what you’re looking for this spring. Here are some of the recently added tours:

France Tours

France has more to offer than most other European countries. Visitors come from all over the world to climb the Eiffel Tower, see the Arc de Triomphe and walk along the Champs d’Elysees. They come to discover the rich cultural history of Notre Dame, Sacre Coeur and Le Louvre, home to the Mona Lisa. Learn more about tours of France

Spain Tours

Spain ToursA passionate culture with exceptional landscapes, culinary delights and sophisticated architecture, Spain tours ignite the passion and adventure from within. Learn more about tours of Spain

Ireland Tours

The North of Ireland is part of the United Kingdom, while the North of Ireland, also known as the Republic of Ireland, is a sovereign state in Europe. A tour of Ireland, which is also known as the Emerald Isle because of its lush scenery, offers something for everyone. Learn more about tours of Ireland

greece toursGreece Tours

Typically, Greece tours range from seven to 10 days or more and are often available with cruise and/or land options. Touring this ocean-side gem is the perfect way to enjoy a healthy combination of beach holiday, cruise vacation, and historical land excursions. Learn more about tours of Greece

Tours of Turkey

The length and variation of Turkey tours is quite vast, starting with a short 4-day tour and extending all the way up to a 22-day land and cruise adventure, which takes you from Turkey to Greece. Learn more about tours of Turkey

And there are so many more coming soon, so stay tuned! If you’ve experienced any of these destinations and/or escorted tours, please share with us by leaving a comment below. Happy travels & have a great weekend!

 

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Sneak Peek into Trafalgar’s 2013 Europe & Britain Guided Vacations Brochure

Ciao restaurantTravel partners and select media professionals gathered last night for a private sneak peek into Trafalger’s 2013 First Class Europe & Britain brochure. The event took place at Yorkville’s Ciao restaurant, where attendees buzzed about the new itineraries over an authentic Italian-style family meal.

Wolf Paunic, vice president of sales at Trafalgar, said that with the evolution of guided vacations, “We wanted to bring you to a venue that would really represent our intimate Be My Guest experiences.”

Ciao’s chef even made a quick appearance to share his own personal experience with a Trafalgar guided vacation five years ago.

Each itinerary includes exclusive Trafalgar sightseeing at a wide variety of famous European landmarks, as well as a tasty selection of culinary delights allowing guests to enjoy the flavours of every region.

Jeff Liesa Wolf

Jeff Element, president, Travel Corporation, Canada; Liesa Bissett, product development manager, Trafalgar; Wolf Paunic, vice president, sales, Trafalgar.

“We have a couple of new programs and itineraries,” said Liesa Bissett, product development manager with Trafalgar, “but instead of creating a whole lot of new products, we’ve gone back and addressed every single itinerary that we’ve had and made them even better.” Bissett also noted that the brochures for summer 2013 include Europe & Britain, Cost Saver, At Leisure and Family Experiences.

Highlighted in the 2013 brochure were three new itineraries, which were passionately presented by Bissett.

English Country Gardens: For horticulture enthusiasts, this nine-day tour begins and ends in London, stopping along the country’s most spectacular and celebrated gardens.

WWI & WWII Battlefields: This exciting new itinerary is geared toward history buffs. The 12-day tour takes you to the wars’ most significant monuments, memorials and museums throughout England, France and the Netherlands.

Flavours of Italy: This 10-day tour has been enhanced from the previous brochure and is now featured as a specialty itinerary. Foodies will begin in Rome and end in Venice, exploring Italy’s best gastronomic cities including Tuscany, Greve, Parma and Bologna.

“People who have been on Trafalgar trips are coming back and saying that they have had truly memorable experiences.” Bissett reiterated, “It’s about making sure that our guests get those intimate experiences.”

Trafalgar also unveiled its largest early payment discount ever, offering travellers the chance to save up to 10% off the cost of their trip by booking any 2013 First Class itinerary before December 27, 2012. Guests can now save up to $1,480 per couple and can combine the deal with other Trafalgar discounts to save even more.

To learn more about Trafalgar’s 104 expertly planned guided vacations, visit their Brochures section.

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18 Things I Want to Do & See Before I Die

Life is what happens to you while you are busy making other plans. ~John Lennon

I asked our travel agents where are some of the most exotic places around the world? What are some of the most exciting excursions? What are some of the must-see and must-dos in the world. While some of their answers were more exotic than others, they were all worthy of making this list: 18 Things I Want to Do & See While I Still Can.

Here are some of the highlights!

Holguin Cuba Beach
#18: A beach in Cuba. Sounds simple, right? It is! Cuba has some of the most spectacular beaches in the entire world, with white powdery sand and crystal clear waters.

 

#17: Galapagos Islands. Our very own Debbie Maguire recently visited the Galapagos Islands and was lucky enough to swim with sea lions!

swimming with sea lions

#16: NYC Deli. Ya, that sounds about right to me! You haven’t had a real sandwich until you’ve been to a New York City Jewish deli. I recommend Carnegie Deli on 7th Ave at 55th St.

#15: Le Lido in Paris, France. You don’t hear as much about this one, I think simply because there are so many sights to see in France. But the cabaret show at Le Lido is not to be missed.

#14: Speaking of Paris shows, Moulin Rouge is another must-see when visiting France. This show features world-renowned showgirls and Cancan dancers!

Gorilla in Rwanda#13: Gorillas in the Mist. Remember the Sigourney Weaver movie about naturalist  Dian Fossey? Imagine walking the same Rwandan jungle with the mountain gorillas, quietly gazing upon these gorgeous creatures. Top of my list for sure!

#12: Inca Trail Hike: This is one of the most famous hikes in the world. The 4-day walk takes you through 45 kms of mountain scenery, subtropical jungle, Inca paving stones, tunnels and ruins. This journey is not for the faint of heart.

#11: Jamaican Jerk Chicken. Another one of life’s simple pleasures, Jamaican jerk chicken paired with beach-side reggae music and tropical bevvies — try me!

#10: Farm Stays. Seriously? Why not! There are “luxury” farm stays from New Zealand to New York, where you can get your hands dirty and lounge at the pool. Check out some of these ultimate farm stays to see what I mean.

#9: The city below me from a hot-air balloon. Now that sounds like fun! If you’re not afraid of heights, a hot-air balloon ride is an experience of a lifetime – one that too many of us miss out on, I think.

Niagara Falls#8: Niagara Falls. I forget about this one at times because it’s practically in my backyard. But for those who aren’t lucky enough to live here, Niagara Falls is a site that absolutely must be seen.

#7: Ski the Swiss Alps. This was my contribution to the list. One of my greatest regrets in life is that I didn’t ski the Alps while I was in Switzerland. At least I have a solid excuse to return!

#6: Take a river cruise. It’s true what they say, river cruising is without a doubt the best way to travel through many of the world’s most fascinating places. Cruise Europe, Russia, Egypt, China … so many spectacular sights to see on a river cruise.

#5: Take any cruise! Yes, a river cruise does sound tempting with its more intimate setting, but cruising is cruising, and if you’ve never been on a cruise ship, you are definitely missing out. If you like the water, a cruise really can give you the best bang for your travel buck.

#4: The Great Barrier Reef in Australia. This is one of the best vacation destinations in the world. Better still, it is arguably the most well-known and well-loved places to go scuba diving and snorkeling … on the entire planet!

Great Barrier Reef Australia

#3: The Luxor. No, not the hotel in Vegas. The Luxor in Egypt. Travellers have been visiting this destination for hundreds of years to gaze upon its magnificence. For anyone interested in ancient history, monuments and culture, the Luxor is a must-see.

#2: Iceland – the land of fire and ice. Did you know that Iceland is one of the most volcanic regions in the world? In addition to whale-watching, hiking and fishing excursions, one of the most famous attractions is the Gullfoss double-tiered waterfall and the spouting hot springs of Geysir.

Turkey#1: Cesme Peninsula, Turkey. Here are some of the world’s most picturesque villages with crumbling Greek facades and seemingly endless miles of sparsely populated beaches. Vacationers can relax in the thermal spas, stay at one of the many bayside resorts, or book a romantic boutique hideaway.

Now it’s your turn! Tell us about your favourite vacation destinations of all time…

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