Recommend January 2012 - (Page 106)

HOT EUROPEAN TOURS for 2012 Insight Vacations’ new 10-day Highlights of Poland itinerary includes a visit to Krakow. which many tour operators will be putting a big emphasis on for 2012— gastronomy and wine tours, as well as a focus on art and culture tours. There’s also renewed interest in France with a big increase in 2011 that will undoubtedly translate well in 2012, particularly when pre- or post-land tours are combined with river cruises, which Globus—in concert with brand partner Avalon Waterways—has been having great success with. “France overall, we’ve just seen a really nice lift, for us particularly because of all the different product we have,” explains Jennifer Halboth, director of marketing for Globus. “Our France river cruises are doing well; our France tours are doing well; Monograms is doing well. So I think a combination of all of that has made France a really solid destination.” The company’s 8-day French Sampler, for example—priced from $2,159—offers a great overview of the country in a week’s time. It starts off with a welcome dinner at a local restaurant in Paris, followed by guided sightseeing that includes a visit to Notre Dame Cathedral and a ride up to the second ﬂoor of the Eiffel Tower. In Burgundy’s Beaune, there’s a wine tasting and upon arrival in Dijon, there’s a special dinner at a local restaurant. Next, it’s off to Provence and a visit to Avignon and Pont du Gard, followed by a stay in Nimes and in Aix-en-Provence, one of France’s most elegant cities. In Grasse, travelers visit a perfume factory before wrapping up the tour in Nice on the French Riviera. An optional excursion to Monte Carlo is also available. She also adds that for ﬁrst-timers to Europe, there’s been a big increase in travelers to Ireland. “Another destination that we’re really seeing pop in terms of tour sales is Ireland. For instance, our Introduction to Ireland tour—Globus’ great entry level Ireland—great price point, great trip and it’s up over 100 percent.” 106 january 2012 The 7-day program, priced from $1,079, begins in Dublin with an overnight and guided sightseeing that includes O’Connell Street, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and Trinity College. Then it heads west, with stops in Kildare at the Irish National Stud, in St. Patrick’s Cashel, and in Tipperary, made famous in the wartime marching song. Next, it’s on to Limerick for an orientation drive, followed by a 2-night stop in Ennis where passengers enjoy stunning views from the Cliffs of Moher and some Irish hospitality at Rathbaun Farm, where they’ll see a farmer shear a sheep and use a sheep dog to move his ﬂock. Next, they’ll ferry across the Shannon estuary and travel around the famed Ring of Kerry before spending the night in Killarney and stop in Blarney, famous for its magical Kissing Stone. In Waterford, there’s a visit to the House of Waterford Crystal; visiting Ireland’s oldest handweaving mill at Avoca; crossing through the Wicklow Mountains; and taking a guided tour of St. Kevin’s 6th century center of Irish Christianity in Glendalough and then it’s a return to Dublin. ■ Archived related articles (available on recommend.com): Heritage Tours to Europe (July 2011) contact information Brendan Vacations: (800) 421-8446; brendanvacations.com Globus family of brands: (866) 755-8581; globusjourneys.com Insight Vacations: (888) 680-1241; insightvacations.com recommend.com http://www.recommend.com http://www.brendanvacations.com http://www.globusjourneys.com http://www.insightvacations.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend January 2012

Editor's Note
Hotel Desk: Hard Rock Hotels and Resorts
Tour Talk: Lindblad Expeditions
Holland America's Veendam
Delta Air Lines' 2012 Caribbean, Mexico and Latin America Travel Guide
The Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes
Las Vegas' 2012 Offerings
Hot European Tours for 2012
Hokkaido, Japan
Egypt's Antiquity Attractions are Eternal

Recommend January 2012