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Tour Newsletter Dated March 4, 2014

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Dear Vacations To Go Customer,

I receive hundreds of questions related to escorted travel every week from my readers. Today, I'd like to share a few recent inquiries and answers. Click the links I've provided below to see applicable itineraries, departures and rates.

Q: We would love to spend some time traveling through the western U.S., especially taking in some of the natural attractions. What are the must-see sights?

A: For many, a trip out west wouldn't be complete without a visit to the Grand Canyon and other spectacular parks in the region, like Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches and Monument Valley. Over the years, wind and water have sculpted stunning rock formations; their layered hues of reds, oranges and pinks shift with the rising and setting of the sun. Your itinerary also may include a stop at Lake Powell, where you can opt for a boat ride on the glittering water against a backdrop of tall sandstone cliffs.

Another great option is to venture a little farther north to Yellowstone National Park -- America's first national park -- and Grand Teton National Park. Wildlife viewing is spectacular, and Jackson Hole is a colorful cowboy town nearby with great restaurants.


Q: We usually plan our own trips, but we'd like to go to Europe this summer and it would take a lot of time to pull something together ourselves, so we're considering a tour. But we're concerned about all of our time being scheduled all day. What do you recommend?

A: Most escorted tours have some free time built into their itineraries, but how much time you get will vary by tour. You could have a couple of hours a day, or up to a full day.

I'd suggest that you look at the "Easy Pace" escorted itineraries from Insight Vacations, which spend a minimum of three nights in every destination. This often allows for one full day at leisure in fantastic cities like Rome, Venice and Florence (Easy Pace Italy) or Paris and Monte Carlo (Easy Pace France). To see all of Insight's Easy Pace trips, click here.

Another option is an "At Leisure" vacation from Trafalgar. These itineraries have a relaxed pace, more free time, no starts before 9 a.m. and stays of at least two to three nights in some cities. Choose a vacation that explores a single country, like Best of Scotland or Great Italian Cities, or something that offers a more panoramic look at the continent, such as Bohemian Highlights or Contrasts of Europe. To see all of Trafalgar's At Leisure itineraries, click here.

But for the most flexibility, consider an independent vacation package from a company like Monograms, Gate 1 or General Tours. These include hotel accommodations in one or more cities and transportation between cities, hotels and airports. The tour operators also offer special airfares, and our travel counselors can assist you with air add-ons.

A few extras such as half-day sightseeing tours, public transportation passes and museum passes might come with the package as well. These are ideal for people who want to explore a destination without groups or guides but still take advantage of tour operators' low negotiated rates on air, hotels and ground transportation. You'll enjoy the convenience of a prepackaged vacation, but you'll have plenty of free time and can decide how each day is spent.

We offer independent vacations in destinations around the world. Click here to see a complete list.


Q: Our daughter is graduating from high school, and we'd like to take her and our 13-year-old son on a trip to Italy. Are there any tours that cater to families?

A: Yes, several tour companies offer family-friendly itineraries in Italy with departures this summer. Here are the options: Gladiators, Gondolas & Gold (Trafalgar), Bella Italia and Viva Italia (Adventures by Disney), Italia Bella: Rome to Venice and The Sweet Life: Rome & Sorrento (Tauck), Italy Family Discovery (Collette), Amalfi Family Adventure (G Adventures), Italy Family-Around the Bay of Naples (Intrepid) and Family Italy (Abercrombie & Kent).

To see a complete list of our family-friendly trips around the world, including any discounts, click here.


Q: I've been receiving your emails for a while now (I subscribed after a friend forwarded a copy to me). Why should I book with you?

A: Now in our 31st year, Vacations To Go is one of the world's largest travel agencies and among the top sellers of escorted vacations. I'm pleased to say that we've built a stellar reputation for our fantastic discounts and outstanding customer service. More than 4 million travelers have booked their vacations with us.

We have access to the best rates and discounts from all the world's major tour operators. We'll make sure you get the lowest price for your vacation so that you don't have to spend your own time shopping around for a great deal.

We also pride ourselves on our person-to-person service. Your Vacations To Go travel counselor is your advocate and will work with the tour operator on your behalf, communicating any needs and concerns you may have. Our travel counselors undergo continuous training, including seminars conducted by tour operators, classroom instruction, exams and familiarization trips that teach them more about each product.

Plus, every travel counselor is backed up by a team of customer service managers. If you ever have any questions about your booking, we're happy to assist you, and we're open seven days a week.


Q: It seems that on most tours, you travel by motor coach. Is this comfortable? What are the motor coaches like?

A: Tour guests often travel by motor coach, and most tour operators ensure that their passengers will have a comfortable, pleasant ride. Their modern, air-conditioned, smoke-free coaches have upholstered seats that recline. There are large windows for panoramic views and a sound system that broadcasts the tour director's commentary. In some cases, you may have free Wi-Fi on your coach.

Some tour operators, like Insight Vacations, for example, limit their group sizes and install fewer seats than the maximum capacity of the coach, creating extra legroom.

The coaches usually have restrooms, though sometimes these are designated for emergency use only. Your tour director will schedule frequent rest stops. Experienced drivers are familiar with the highways and city streets they navigate, and they'll also load and unload your luggage for you.

Note that a few adventure tour operators that offer immersive cultural experiences, like G Adventures and Intrepid Travel, often use local, public transportation on their trips.


Q: I travel solo and like the idea of an escorted tour, for security and ease of planning, but am disappointed to see that many of the special offers and promotions are for two people. Are there ever any deals for single travelers?

A: Tour company discounts and free or reduced airfare promotions usually are based on double occupancy, but they do occasionally waive the single supplement or offer single share programs -- matching solo travelers with a roommate of the same gender -- as a way to significantly reduce the cost for singles.

To see a list of trips with current promotions for solo travelers, as well as each company's policies on shared accommodations and single supplements, click here.


Here are this week's Top 20 Tours. All prices are per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability.

1) Costa Rica Eco Adventure, 8 days with Trafalgar. Begins in San Jose and ends in Liberia with visits to Tortuguero National Park, Arenal Volcano and Monteverde Cloud Forest. Save up to 5%. Starting at $1,495. Departures from May 16, 2014 through March 27, 2015.

2) Hong Kong: Gateway to China, 4 days with SITA Tours. Begins and ends in Hong Kong with visits to Victoria Peak, Aberdeen Fishing Village and Macau. Starting at $990. Daily departures from March 30 through December 21, 2014.

3) Irish Adventure, 8 days with CIE Tours. Begins and ends in Dublin with visits to the Ring of Kerry, the Cliffs of Moher and the Giant's Causeway. Save $150 per couple. Starting at $1,028. Departures from April 2 through December 1, 2014.

4) Southern Culture, 8 days with American Queen Steamboat Company. Begins in Memphis and ends in New Orleans with stops in Vicksburg, Natchez and Baton Rouge. Companion cruises for free, plus receive free shore excursions. Starting at $2,549. Departs March 22, 2014.

5) 12 Day Hidden Treasures of Thailand, 12 days with Pacific Delight Tours. Begins and ends in Bangkok with visits to Khao Sam Roi Yot National Park, Chiang Mai and Koh Samui. Starting at $2,699. Departures from March 21, 2014 through March 20, 2015.

6) 9 Day Eat, Pray, Love, 9 days with Perillo Tours. Begins in Rome and ends in Florence with stops in Assisi, Pisa and Siena. Save $300 per couple. Starting at $2,790. Departures from June 28 through November 8, 2014.

7) The Classic Autumn Norwegian Discovery, 11 days with Hurtigruten. Begins in Bergen and ends in Trondheim with stops in Alesund, Tromso and Honningsvåg. Save up to 20%. Starting at $2,976. Departures from September 1 through October 31, 2014.

8) Paris & Normandy, 8 days with AmaWaterways. Begins and ends in Paris with visits to Giverny, Omaha Beach and Chateau Malmaison. Save $1,000 per couple. Starting at $3,099. Departures from July 24 through November 6, 2014.

9) Northern Capitals, 13 days with Globus. Begins in Copenhagen and ends in St. Petersburg with stops in Oslo, Stockholm and Helsinki. Receive $200 per couple in air credit. Starting at $3,249. Departures from May 10 through September 13, 2014.

10) Classic Rail Circle, 9 days with Rocky Mountaineer. Begins and ends in Vancouver with visits to Whistler, Jasper National Park and Pyramid Falls. Receive one free hotel night in Vancouver when you book upgraded train services. Starting at $3,285. Departures from May 16 through September 12, 2014.

11) Icons of Britain, 16 days with CIE Tours. Begins in Glasgow and ends in London with visits to the Lake District, Liverpool and Stonehenge. Save $200 per couple. Starting at $3,348. Departures from April 11 through October 17, 2014.

12) The Best of Ireland & Scotland, 16 days with Brendan. Begins in Dublin and ends in Edinburgh with visits to Blarney Castle, the Giant's Causeway and Loch Ness. Save up to 7.5%. Starting at $3,450. Departures from April 18 through October 17, 2014.

13) Highlights of Austria, Slovenia & Croatia, 15 days with Trafalgar. Begins in Vienna and ends in Zagreb with stops in Ljubljana, Hvar and Dubrovnik. Save up to 7.5%. Starting at $3,750. Departures from May 1 through September 25, 2014.

14) Columbia & Snake Rivers, 8 days with American Queen Steamboat Company. Travels between Clarkston and Portland with visits to Nez Perce National Historic Park, Sacajawea State Park and Astoria. Companion cruises for free, plus receive free shore excursions. Starting at $3,795. Departures from April 6 through June 1, 2014.

15) A Week In... Spain, 8 days with Tauck. Begins in Barcelona and ends in Madrid with stops in Granada, Seville and Cordoba. Starting at $3,990. Departures from April 6 through October 12, 2014.

16) Indochina Delights, 16 days with Wendy Wu Tours. Begins in Ho Chi Minh City and ends in Siem Reap with visits to Hanoi, Halong Bay and Luang Prabang. Save $600 per couple off air-inclusive trips, or save $300 per couple off the land price. Starting at $4,125. Departures from March 22 through October 25, 2014.

17) Romantic Danube, 8 days with Viking River Cruises. Travels between Budapest and Nuremberg with stops in Vienna, Passau and Regensburg. Starting at $4,349. Companion cruises for free plus save $600 per couple off airfare. Departures from April 20 through October 31, 2014.

18) 15 Day Jewels of Europe River Cruise, 15 days with Scenic Cruises. Begins in Budapest and ends in Amsterdam with stops in Vienna, Nuremberg and Cologne. Save up to $3,000 per couple. Starting at $6,145. Departs July 23, 2014.

19) Splendors of Northern Italy, Venice, Florence & Rome, 13 days with Uniworld. Begins in Venice and ends in Rome with stops in Bologna, Verona and Florence. Save $3,000 to $4,000 per couple off the air-inclusive price. Starting at $6,149. Departures from April 6 through November 2, 2014.

20) South America Revealed, 16 days with Trafalgar. Begins in Rio de Janeiro and ends in Lima with visits to Iguassu Falls, Buenos Aires and Machu Picchu. Save up to 5%. Starting at $6,262. Departures from May 30, 2014 through April 17, 2015.

Customers in the US and Canada can call us toll-free at 800-680-2858. For a list of our other toll-free numbers worldwide, click here.

For savings of up to 82% on ocean cruises, click here.
For river cruises up to 50% off, click here.
For discounts of up to 50% at hotels and all-inclusive resorts, click here.
For the lowest rates on Africa safaris from budget to luxury in quality, click here.

Please email me your comments, suggestions and questions at alanfox@tourvacationstogo.com and I will respond the same day.

To send one sample copy of this newsletter to a friend, click here.

Sincerely,

Alan Fox
Chairman & CEO
Vacations To Go



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