Welcome to our October newsletter. Enjoy the Autumn and the brilliant colours. For Canadians - a Happy Thanksgiving! (And don’t let the sack cloth and ashes gang grind you down - we have so much to be thankful for!)
Lots of ‘stuff and things’ to talk about - including our 2009 season (and a very special early signing savings) - as well as some incredibly low (for Canadians anyway) Sterling and Euro rates, a tip or two and some great photos. Happy Reading and Happy Planning.
OK folks - our 23rd season - 2009 - is ready to go!
So without further ado:
(Pricing shown at end of section on new tours - along with an early signing special)
Tuscany - Live it - Savour it - Enjoy it. (April 15 - 26)
Montaione - one of our Tuscan stops
What more can be said about Tuscany that hasn’t already been said? Warm, sunny days, gentle rolling hills covered with Cyprus trees and vineyards, olive orchards, and perhaps most important, a laid back lifestyle that we all dream about. And of course those wonderful cities and the magnificent art treasures of Florence.
Enjoy them with us next Spring when the weather is at its best and before the mobs start to descend. This is a journey that has been a long time in the planning and we’ve come up with a relaxed journey that will give you the opportunity to enjoy the best of Tuscany in some of the finest hotels and resorts we’ve ever come across.
Part of the Uffizi Gallery in Florence
This is a trip designed for soaking up what Tuscany has to offer. No dashing madly from place to place trying to see every single thing on offer. Instead, wander narrow little streets, enjoy the markets, drool over the food and feel the pulse of this magical corner of the world. Do what you’re supposed to do when your with us, relax and enjoy.
Arrive in Rome (and we can book you in for earlier nights if you wish) and depart from Florence. Three nights in Pienza, two in Montaione, three in Lucca and three in Florence. All great locations and exceptional hotels. Tour departs morning of April 15 from Rome Hilton Airport Hotel at 9 a.m.
Highlights - San Gimignano - Pisa - Chianti area - Cinque Terre - Cortona - Special morning cooking class - Florence including Domo - Uffizi Gallery and plenty of free time.
For itinerary and details of our hotels go to our Escorted Tours page or simply click ‘Tuscany’.
Northern France - (May 1- May 13)
France is a state of mind. A certain élan, a style that is unique whether while strolling on the Champs Elysees, or sitting at a café in a tiny French town deep in Normandy. Come and enjoy that special laid back life style.
 Where else but Moulin Rouge?
This journey is a return to some of our favorite places with some diversions tossed in that we’ve been looking at for some time. Stroll the historic streets of Rouen where you are surrounded by the half-timbered buildings and the history of Joan of Arc while gazing in shop windows that beckon you in. And in Bayeux, we stay at the famous Lion d’Or in the heart of town so close to the landing beaches and the Bayeux Tapestry.
Cider House in Normandy
The Celtic corner of South Brittany will entice you with the incredible standing stones of Carnac but so too will our sea front hotel overlooking the Gulf of Morbihan to say nothing of our Chateau in the Loire and our city centre hotel in Paris. There is something so ‘French’ about our dinner cruise on the Seine complete with Edith Piaf type music while we cruise under those bridge. There is something so ‘French’ about our dinner cruise on the Seine complete with Edith Piaf type music while we cruise under those bridge.
Arrive & depart Charles de Gaulle airport Paris. Two nights in Rouen, three in Bayeux, two near Vannes in South Brittany with a water front resort, two in a chateau in the Loire, three in Paris. Tour departs May 1 at 9:30 a.m. from Holiday Inn Airport Hote, CDG.
Highlights - Rouen - Honfleur - Bayeux and Normandy beaches and Bayeux Tapestry - Carnac standing stones - Castles and vineyards of the Loire - Paris (what more needs be said?) and an evening dinner cruise on the Seine. C’est magnifique!
For itinerary go to our Escorted Tours page or simply click ‘France’.
Scotland (The Homecoming) - (August 14 - 27)
See “The last unspoiled countryside in Europe” in a very special year This is ‘The Homecoming’ year, a special year set aside to celebrate the Scots throughout Scotland and in the rest of the world with many events and ceilidhs taking place in towns and villages throughout the country.
 The striking ruins of Dunnottar Castle on Scotland's East Coast
This is also the 60th anniversary of the Edinburgh Military Tattoo with special Homecoming events and bands from around the world. We’re planning on exploring the Highland Games, the parties and the many special events that are planned and that tie in with our itinerary.
This year we’ll be exploring the fishing villages of the East Coast from our Scottish Baronial hotel as well as taking in the stunning ruins of Dunnottar Castle. We then cross the country through the Central Highlands into Inverness and the Kingsmills Hotel (a delightful new/old hotel for us) right out to Eilean a Cheo - the misty isle of Skye.
For those who’ve been away a while isn’t it time to come home to Scotland and for those who have never been, come see what you’ve been missing.
The Edinburgh Military Tattoo
Arrive & depart Glasgow airport. Two nights in central Scotland, two nights on the east coast, three nights in the Inverness areas, two nights Portree, Isle of Skye and three nights Edinburgh. Tour departs morning of August 14 from Holiday Inn Airport Hotel, Glasgow airport at 9:30 a.m.
Highlights - Lots of special activities connected with the Homecoming - The Edinburgh Tattoo - Dundee - Dunnottar Castle - the new Culloden Visitor Centre - and stunning scenery.
For itinerary go to Escorted Tours page or click on ‘Scotland’.
Southern England - (August 30 - September 10)
We’ll be a bit like Geoffrey Chaucer’s group of Pilgrims on their way to Canterbury as we journey along the byways of Southern England on this special journey. Not only will we discover Chaucer, but also Thomas a Beckett, William the Conqueror, and Horatio Nelson to name but a few.
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A symbol of London: Churchill & Big Ben
This is a delightful journey through some of the most historic and scenic corners of the south of England. We begin in London with three nights to visit some of those great sites as well as taking in a theatre performance and maybe find time to drop in to Harrods.
A stop in Canterbury for a couple of nights to take in the special history that surrounds this former ecclesiastical centre before heading over to a marvellous Country House Hotel in Battle where William the Conqueror invaded in 1066 changing the face of England.
And then a bit of a ‘party piece’ - three nights on the Isle of Wight that tiny 23 x 12 mile island that has almost become the English ‘Riviera’. From our four star hotel we explore the island and discover the lovely little thatched towns, the castles, the piers and the beaches. A lovely end of summer visit.
 
Two faces of The Isle of Wight
Arrive & depart from London Heathrow. Three nights London, two nights Canterbury, two nights Battle, three nights Isle of Wight. tour departs morning of August 30 at 9:30 a.m. from Hilton Heathrow Airport Hotel.
Highlights - London (complete with a theatre production), Canterbury Cathedral and the site where Beckett was martyred, Battle and this historic site of The Battle of Hastings, Nelson’s ship The Victory in Portsmouth and the relaxing Isle of Wight.
For itinerary go to Escorted Tour page or click on ‘England’.
Our hotels on all tours are gems and when in the cities are located directly in the heart within walking distance of shops and sites. Many are historic (one dates back more than 500 years, another was owned by the Arctic explorer Ernest Shackleton). Check out the websites.
We are taking advance bookings. A $500 (refundable until the end of October) deposit per person on any tour will hold your place. We do expect Tuscany and France to fill quickly. Give us a call or have your agent give us a call at 1 800 773 7093, or email us to book or for any questions you may have.
Special Savings ***Book before November 30 and receive a complimentary early night before the tour begins at our airport hotel. (Approximate value $250-$350). AND - if you can tell us what's significant about November 30 you can deduct a further $100 per person from the tour cost.***
Prices:
Tuscany:
Canadian: $4,995 per person based on sharing. Single supplement $995.
U.S.: $4,675 per person based on sharing. Single supplement $940
Northern France:
Canadian: $5,095 per person based on sharing. Single supplement $1,395.
U.S.: $4,800 per person based on sharing. Single supplement $1,295
Scotland:
Canadian: $5,195 per person based on sharing. Single supplement $1,195.
U.S.: $4,815 per person based on sharing. Single supplement $1,100
England:
Canadian: $5,195 per person based on sharing. Single supplement $1,295
U.S.: $4,815 per person based on sharing. Single supplement
$1,195
Please note that these prices are based on currency markets the end of September. Adjustments may be necessary. We have been able to keep our per day costs to the same level as the last couple of years.
Please read our details and ‘the boring bits’ page before booking. Itineraries may change because of weather or events beyond our control.
And now for other bits and pieces:
Filling a void
Two of Canada’s low cost international carriers have leaped into the void left with the collapse of Zoom.
Globespan, a large carrier based in the UK has announced their 2009 season and it includes many extra flights from their Canadian gateways of Hamilton, Calgary and Vancouver to their UK destinations.
Quebec’s Air Transat, who also happens to be the fifth largest tour operator in the world, is adding 139,000 seats to their UK and European destinations for next year.
While many of the doom and gloomers are predicting the demise of more carriers in the dicey travel market, there are others who see that some day this will pass and they want to be in a dominant position. And we just read that investors would be well advised to consider Air Canada and Westjet as future climbers. Another interesting note about the airline industry and the future comes from Boeing who is predicting oil to stabilize around $60-$80 a barrel instead of the $100 plus at present.
In keeping with Boeing’s prediction as well as a fairly steady drop in oil much of the chatter about airline mergers has been silenced. Most carriers are feeling a bit less heat now than a few weeks back.
You’re never too old to learn...
OK, last bit on Zoom’s demise and our dilemma. After the airline collapse and the Great Loo Caper we finally managed to get everything sorted including our return, extra hotels and all the ‘stuff’ that goes with it. But - Andy’s heart medications were going to run out. We had brought a bit extra but not enough for the time we would be stuck waiting.
A quick visit to a medical clinic, a chat with a doctor, new prescriptions for a week (just in case) and NO COST!
Being over 60 and having a temporary UK address (even a hotel would have done) and the NHS system of the UK had us all sorted out. Total time from when we walked into the clinic to having pills in pocket? Less than half an hour. Interesting that we complain about our system, the British complain about theirs - and in both cases we have had excellent service when needed.
A big note on this one - if you are on medications, carry a copy of the prescription with you. There are many alternative names for medications in different countries so if the doctor has the prescription name you are well on your way to being easily looked after.
How low can you go?
The Pound and Euro are down - way down and if you’re planning on coming with us this year, you might want to consider buying some currency ahead of time. For Canadians, Sterling is as low as it’s been since we’ve been in the tour business, which is 23 years and the Euro is also well down. A hint - We always use Custom Currency Exchange with branches in most cities. They guarantee a better rate than you’ll get at Banks which we have found to be true.
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