Cruise with Tempo’s Early Booking Bonus

Tempo Holidays are offering an early booking bonus on their ‘Portraits of the Douro’ cruise, which travels through the River of Gold. Listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, the River of Gold does not recognise country boundaries and flows majestically through both Portugal and Spain. Cruising along the River Douro is the perfect way to visit this beautiful, natural part of the world, where steep terraced hillside vineyards, traditional villages and quintas – with their fragrant wines – appear along its banks throughout the cruise.

Book and pay in full before 31 August 2016 and receive a 10% discount per person. Offer is valid on cruise only and for 2 people traveling together in same cabin.

See more at http://www.tempoholidays.com/Specials-Promotions.aspx

APT Celebrates Christmas in July with Festive Offers for all

Travel agents can ensure their clients experience an unforgettable Christmas in Europe thanks to APT’s latest festive travel offers.

The luxury travel operator is celebrating Christmas in July by offering groups of family and friends the chance to save up to $13,490* when they sail on one of its festive European river cruises.

For a limited time only, book a full price cabin and receive the second cabin half price on Magnificent Europe river cruise departing on the 18 November, 2 December or 16 December 2016.
With the saving, a group of four friends who book two cabins between them to travel together will pay from just $7,271 per person, twin share.

APT is also extending its savings to solo travellers, waiving the solo supplement on the same three seasonal sailings, so that single guests pay from just $9,695 per person.

Both offers apply to APT’s 17-day Magnificent Europe White Christmas and New Year’s Eve which departs on the 16 December 2016.

WENDY WU TOURS RELEASE 2017 EARLY BIRD SPECIALS

Wendy Wu Tours has released a dedicated Early Bird Specials brochure for 2017 featuring significant savings on a wide range of popular tours to China, Vietnam, India, Japan, Cambodia, Laos, Tibet and Nepal – all backed by an Early Bird lowest price promise.

Available for sale from July 15, the Early Bird specials feature over 330 departures across 44 popular tours with savings of up to $1400 per person. This year sees more tours and departures on offer than ever before.

Wendy Wu Tours newly appointed general manager, Andrew Mulholland said, “Wendy Wu Tours prides itself on offering quality product with a great value price tag. Following on from the success of our Early Bird campaign last year, we have left no stone unturned in providing a great range of tours, and excellent savings for travel in 2017.”

Brochures are being distributed by Tifs. For further details contact Wendy Wu Tours on 1300 815 269, visitwendywutours.com.au/early-bird or contact your BDE.

14^th July 2016: Christmas in Lapland with Bentours only 10 rooms left!

Bentours famous ‘Christmas in Lapland’ package has exceeded expectation of interest and only has 10rooms left!  Experience a unique Christmas under the Northern Lights with an unforgettable visit to Santa’s home town in Finnish Lapland. This festive journey into the Arctic Circle is perfect for the young and the young at heart. Tour departs on 23 Dec 2016.

Enjoy such activities such as reindeer sleigh rides, visit to the snow fun site, exploring Santa Claus village, a visit to the Arktikum Science Centre and Museum, trip to Santa’s hideaway and much more. It is hard not to see why this package has exceeded last year’s bookings and is extremely popular with Australian and New Zealand travellers.

The last rooms available are at Santa´s Hotel which is 4.5 star rating with prices from A$3160 // NZ$3,290 per person, twin share with savings of A$270 // NZ$280 per couple. Full payment required at time of booking / confirmation.

Amazing weekly deals from The Travel Corporation

Amazing American Air deal

Book any 2017 Trafalgar USA holiday and fly American Airlines from $699 per person to Los Angeles return from Sydney when booked by 18 July 2016. Offer can be combined with Trafalgar’s 10% Earlybird Discounts such as a saving of $472 per person on Trafalgar’s 14-day Western Discoverer Guided Holiday. Take in Grand Canyon National Park and Yosemite National Park as well as discover the metropolises of San Francisco, San Diego and so much more. You’ll also enjoy Insider Moments such as exploring the Grand Canyon with an expert geologist. Package including flights priced from only $4,952 per person, twin share and available for travel 4 May – 18 May 2017. For more information or a further selection of Trafalgar’s simply the best USA & Canada trips and American Airlines deals visit www.trafalgar.com or contact your local sales manager.

Immersive India

Save up to $260 per person on Contiki’s brand new 12-day Eternal India itinerary when booked and paid in full by 20 October 2016. Enjoy a locally guided sightseeing tour of Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur and Mumbai, visit the Agra Fort, Taj Mahal and Dhonk Centre and experience a special stay at Ranthambhore National Park. ME Time optional activities also include a cooking demonstration and local family supper in Jaipur, a Bollywood tour and dawn tour of Mumbai and a yoga class on the beach. The trip features an English speaking Trip Manager complemented by local guides, travel by private. air conditioned coach, accommodation in comfortable hotels and more. Priced from $2,500 per person and available for travel from October 2016 – April 2017. *Conditions apply, for more information visit www.contiki.com or phone 1300 266 845.

MORE UNIQUE TOURS FROM TRAVEL DIRECTORS

Independent boutique tour operator Travel Directors has introduced five new offerings in its newly released 2017/18 tour brochure.

The most unique addition to the repertoire is ‘Epic Rail Odyssey’ – a 34-day rail journey from Moscow to Singapore which passes through Russia, Kazakhstan, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Thailand and Malaysia, with multiple night stays in each country along the way.

Another major addition to the company’s 70-plus destinations is a 30-day itinerary to the northern part of South America – ‘South America: The Top End’ – beginning in French Guiana then heading west through Suriname, Guyana, Venezuela and Colombia.

Other new itineraries are ‘Mozambique, Zanzibar & the Great Migration’ which visits culturally diverse Mozambique before spending eight days viewing scenery and wildlife in Tanzania and finally concluding
in Zanzibar; ‘Gateway to the Balkans’ – a 29-day itinerary to Bulgaria, Serbia, Slovenia and Croatia; and ‘Indian Essence’ – a 21-day tour of the sub-continent which spends time in the northern golden triangle and Kerala in the south.

The new brochure is available from Travel Directors’ Perth office by emailing info@traveldirectors.com.au or calling 1300-856-661.

Hidden Italy introduces gentle walking tours of the great gardens of Piedmont and Tuscany

New among the enticing Hidden Italy walking tours are two guided options expressly designed for those with a passion for great gardens. Both are two-week journeys weaving gentle walks into off-the-beaten-track explorations of standout regions: choose from the Gardens of Tuscany or the brand new Gardens of Piedmont tour, departing for the first time in May 2017 to walk in the footsteps of the Savoy royal family.

Both tours will be small groups of 7-15 guided by art historian, landscape gardener, author (Blue Guides to Italy) and Florence University lecturer Paul Blanchard. The itineraries intersperse sightseeing with short walks along well-marked country trails ranging from 4-14 kilometres, a maximum of four hours walking a day, which can be shortened or skipped if desired.

Gardens of Tuscany departs Florence 5 May 2017 and Gardens of Piedmont departs Turin on 20 May 2017. Both are fully guided and priced at $7700 per person, twin share inclusive of 12 nights’ accommodation, all breakfasts and most lunches and dinners, all transfers, taxes and service charges and paid admissions.

For more details, visit www.hiddenitaly.com.au

UNIQUE FRENCH EXPERIENCE BURGUNDY INDULGENCE

According to FTC’s Product Manager Sophie, “Burgundy is such a unique region in France. I have always loved its gastronomy, wines and beautiful villages full of amazing ancient monuments. I have had the opportunity to spend time in the many wine domains, and loved it so much that I have decided to develop new exclusive FTC packages for 2017 to give your clients the best and most memorable Burgundy experience. They will have the opportunity to discover the culture of this region with local people and taste amazing food and wines while staying at the 400-year old domain.”

For full details and bookings contact French Travel Connection on 1300 858 304, emailinfo@frenchtravel.com.au or visit www.frenchtravel.com.au.

And in true French style, here is a Happy Bastille Day from the French Travel Connection Team.

More Aussies keen on Arctic ice

A 20 per cent increase in enquiries for Arctic holidays has paved the way for a new offer from Active Travel worth up to A$3000 per couple.

In the first half of this year, Active Travel saw a 20 per cent increase in travel enquires for the Arctic compared to last year, with the opportunities of spotting polar bears being a huge drawcard for Australians making the journey to the icy region. 

Guests on Active Travel’s 10-day or 12-day Arctic cruises in 2017 to the island of Spitsbergen will receive a choice of two special offers worth A$1500 per person– either return flights from Oslo to Longyearbyen and one night’s pre-voyage accommodation, or a A$1500 international flight credit – if booked before July 31, 2016.

For more information and to book, visit  www.activetravel.com.au or call 1300 783 188

Holy Cow, Contiki’s heading to India

Forty years since it last operated trips in the region, Contiki is returning to India with its new Eternal India itinerary. The 12-day trip will take travellers to seven destinations including UNESCO World Heritage sites, grand cities and chilled beaches, immersing guests in the magic and mystery of India.

The Eternal India itinerary travels to Delhi, Agra, Ranthambore, Jaipur, Udaipur and Mumbai before ending at the beach paradise of Goa. The In-Depth Explorer style of itinerary is packed with experiences such as the Taj Mahal and a special stay in Ranthambore National Park while allowing plenty of time to explore and discover.

Some of the ME Time optional activities include a cooking demonstration and local family supper in Jaipur, a Bollywood tour and dawn tour of Mumbai and a yoga class on the beach. The trip also includes all the staples that travellers know and love about Contiki – an English speaking Trip Manager complemented by local guides, the group atmosphere created by 18 to 35 year old adventurers, travel by private air-conditioned coach and comfortable hotels.

The Magic of Cruising in Myanmar

The Irrawaddy River is the lifeblood of Myanmar. Experiencing its many activities from sunrise to sunset is an essential part of any trip to the country. Asia travel specialists Insider Journeys are making an Irrawaddy cruise even more attractive with a limited time offer of up to $3,540* off selected cabins on their November charters booked before 31 July 2016.

Insider Journeys are offering the chance to see Myanmar like never before, balancing days of cruising in luxury on the stunning Irrawaddy Explorer with unique insights in pre and post backstreet walking tours in Mandalay and Yangon.

Travellers have the opportunity to visit curious unknown pockets of these cities, such as the captivating market where the locals trade their wares on the railway track, dispersing whenever a train approaches, and seeing local life and the lesser known sites which give insights into aspects of culture and history visitors don’t normally learn about.

Visit www.insiderjourneys.com.au or call 1300 362 777 for bookings.

WHALES ARRIVE IN THE WHITSUNDAYS AND SAY HELLO TO JETSKIERS

The whales have arrived in the Whitsunday islands on their annual migration journey north, with incredible footage from Friday 8 July, showing a playful young male humpback whale breaching near a Whitsunday Jetski Tour group.

The close encounter occurred during a Jetski tour sailing between Airlie Beach and Daydream Island in the Whitsundays, giving both guests and guides an amazing once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Tour guide Ian Wilson has been working on the water in the Whitsundays for six years, and has never experienced such a close encounter despite having worked in many locations around the world with whale populations.

“I’ve never experienced anything like this encounter before; it was magical and will go down as one of the highlights of my life on the water!”

To view the remarkable footage go to the Visit Whitsundays Facebook page at www.facebook.com/WhitsundaysQLD/

And to find out more about Whitsunday Jetski Tours, visit the website at www.jetskitour.com.au.

To find out more about the Whitsundays and to book your next tropical escape, visit Tourism Whitsundays website herewww.tourismwhitsundays.com.au

&BEYOND COMBINES CLASSICAL MASAI MARA SAFARI WITH CAPE TOWN’S WINELANDS

Luxury experiential travel company &Beyond is celebrating the launch of Kenya Airways latest destination with a brand new tour that combines classical safari in Kenya’s Masai Mara with the scenicmagnificence of the Zambezi River at Victoria Falls and the cosmopolitan delights of Cape Town in South Africa.

With three weekly flights linking Nairobi and Cape Town via Livingstone from the beginning of July, &Beyond’s Masai Mara, Victoria Falls and Cape Town Safari explores the highlights of all three destinations in a nine-night tour.

The Masai Mara, Victoria Falls and Cape Town Safari is available from 01 August 2016 and costs from USD $9 547 per person. For more contact your preferred travel provider or log on to www.andBeyond.com.

Free Rail Travel Days in Europe

Until 30 September, Rail Europe GSAs will be passing on free travel days on the Eurail Select and Global Passes, entitling agents to provide these value added travel benefits to their clients booking rail travel in Europe over the next three months.

Agents are advised that purchases of any Eurail Select Passes will be granted one extra travel day, while purchases of the 15, 22 or one month Eurail Global Pass will grant travellers two, three and five extra travel days respectively.

Passes must be activated within 11 months from the date of issue. Agents also are reminded that Rail Europe tickets are distributed by Rail Plus, Rail Tickets, CIT Holidays and Infinity Rail in Australia, and Rail Plus and Go Holidays in New Zealand. Terms and conditions apply.

See www.raileurope.fr/wheretobuy for more details.