New Tour Offers Include Value-Adds, Agent Bonuses, Adventure
by Robin Amster /Travel Impressions Offers Value-Adds, Agent Bonus on Aruba Trips
Aruba vacation packages from Travel Impressions feature incentives for families and value-added savings for honeymooners. Through the One Happy Family package, families receive free room and breakfast for up to three children, 12 years and younger; a family gift and a Very Important Kid Passport for children. Rates start at $299 per person for three nights. The One Happy Honeymoon package gives couples a free night voucher for a five-night minimum return anniversary stay, preferred check-in based on availability and bottle of champagne on arrival. Rates start at $429 per person for three nights. Travel agents earn a $25 American Express Gift Cheque on all Aruba bookings of five or more nights.
Pleasant Holidays Expands Europe Product, Offers Air Credits
Twenty-eight new hotels in five of Europe’s most popular destinations are now available from Pleasant Holidays. The three- to five-star hotels include seven in Barcelona, six in Berlin and five each in Amsterdam, Istanbul and Prague. To introduce the expansion, the tour operator launched a Europe Hot Deals campaign featuring a $200 air credit per booking to these cities. The offer is valid on air-inclusive bookings of four nights or more made by Aug. 11 for travel through Dec. 31. In addition to commission, travel agents earn points for personal travel in TRIP, Pleasant’s rewards program.
South Africa, Egypt, Dubai Itineraries From Foreign Independent Tours
Foreign Independent Tours’ 8-day South Africa Gourmet Cuisine, Wine and Safari starts in Cape Town and includes a Bo Kaap Walking and Cape Malay Food tours and a 6-day car rental. Prices start at $1,399 per person. An 11-day Leisurely Deluxe Cruise Tour of Egypt features a 7-night Nile Cruise with all meals and shore excursions. It’s priced from $1,119 per person. City tours of Dubai and Sharijah are included in a 4-day Highlights of Dubai package, starting at $369 per person. Travel agents earn 13% commission on all programs.
Adventure Tours for Game of Thrones Fans
BikeHike Adventures is giving fans of HBO’s Game of Thrones series a chance to visit the show’s filming locations in Croatia and Morocco. A 7-day multisport Paddles and Pedals adventure features Croatia, “Westeros” in Game of Thrones. The trip visits Dubrovnik which stands in for the show’s King’s Landing, the capital of the Seven Kingdoms. It is priced from $2,499 per person. The 10-day Biking the High Atlas to the Sahara tour travels to Morocco, where Ouarzazate is “Essos” in Game of Thrones. Rates for the trip start at $2,899 per person.
Single Supplement Waived for July Cuba Departure
International Expeditions is waiving the single supplement—a savings of $750—on its July 25 Cuba people-to-people trip. In addition it will offer all clients a free excursion to the famed Buena Vista Social Club. The 10-day itinerary features visits to Cuba’s must-see destinations including Havana, Cienfuegos, Trinidad, the Bay of Pigs and Vinales. Rates start at $4,198 per person. International Expeditions this spring received a two-year license renewal from the government to provide people-to-people travel to Europe through June 2015.
Virgin Vacation’s Italy Is a Best Seller
An Enchanting Italy tour for first-time clients is among Virgin Vacation’s top selling group tours. The escorted program is available as an 8-day, 10-day or 12-day trip. Prices start at $1,479 land only and $2,459 air-inclusive, for November departures from New York. The tour begins in Venice and spends two nights each in Venice, Florence and Rome. Highlights include a wine tasting with local specialties at a Tuscan country farm and an evening walking tour of Rome.
