Tour Newsletter

Below is a copy of our current tour newsletter. To subscribe to our newsletter, absolutely free of charge, please click here. Tour Newsletter Dated May 20, 2013 Send to a Friend Dear Vacations To Go Customer, Today, we'll look at some of the tempting tours that include special events or seasonal attractions such as the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in Scotland, the famous balloon festival of Albuquerque, the turning of the leaves in New England and the Christmas markets in Germany and Austria. Availability is limited for these popular vacations, so I recommend booking soon to avoid disappointment. Just click the applicable link for more information, including dates, prices and all available discounts. Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo -- This presentation of more than 2,000 international military and civilian performers takes place in the Canadian city of Halifax. It's a fast-paced show of bagpipers, highland dancers and military traditions, plus acrobatic acts, contemporary dance performances, videos and modern music. The event takes place June 30-July 7. Calgary Stampede -- One of the largest rodeos in North America, the Stampede marks its 101st anniversary this year. Watch bull riding, barrel racing and chuck wagon racing, and see the livestock shows, craft exhibits and concerts during this Wild West event, which takes place July 5-14. Edinburgh Military Tattoo -- The sounds of bagpipes and drums fill the air at this perennially sold-out event, scheduled for August 2-24. Each performance displays the talents of Scottish regimental bands and other performers from around the world. Many tour operators have secured tickets to the Tattoo, which takes place in front of Edinburgh Castle. Northern Lights -- Seek out the elusive aurora borealis in the northern reaches of Alaska, Canada or Scandinavia. During long winter nights, swaths of green, blue and red lights sweep across the sky; they are most visible from September through March. Oktoberfest -- Join the revelry of the world's largest public festival in Munich. During September 21-October 6, visitors gather under large tents in the Bavarian city to sample a wide range of beers and traditional fare. Many of our Oktoberfest departures are offered by Contiki, which caters to travelers ages 18 to 35. On the company's camping itineraries, guests stay in two-person tents and share facilities in Contiki's tent village in the heart of Oktoberfest territory; departures that use hostel or hotel accommodations also are available. The International Route 66 Mother Road Festival -- This itinerary follows legendary Route 66 from Chicago to Los Angeles and overnights in Springfield, IL, during the festival, which will be held September 27-29. Hundreds of classic cars and vintage motorcycles fill the streets, and musical performances take place on outdoor stages. Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta -- Favorite events at this New Mexico extravaganza include the early-morning mass ascension, when all participating hot-air balloons go aloft, and the nighttime "balloon glow," when pilots fire their burners at the same time. It began in 1972 with 13 hot-air balloons taking off from a shopping mall parking lot. Now, several hundred balloons and their pilots gather at a 78-acre launch field. Several tour operators have lined up departures for this year's event, October 5-13. Fall Foliage in New England -- Hues of orange, purple, gold and crimson blanket the Northeast landscape in autumn. These tours take in the brilliant colors and crisp weather of scenic locales like the White Mountains of New Hampshire, the Maine coast and pretty towns such as Stowe, VT, and Stockbridge, MA. Some river cruise operators also offer fall foliage sailings elsewhere in the U.S., like along the Mississippi River or Hudson River; click here to see these departures. The Polar Bears of Canada -- The area near Churchill in Manitoba is home to a large population of polar bears that congregate on the shores of Hudson Bay, waiting for it to freeze over so that they can begin their winter hunting. On these trips in October and November, participants ride heated tundra buggies equipped with viewing platforms for close looks at the creatures. European Christmas Markets -- Called Christkindlmarkt, the Christmas market is a longstanding tradition in towns across Germany and Austria. The Salzburg market dates to the 1400s, while the large market in Nuremberg, which now has about 180 stalls, can be traced to 1628. Vendors sell holiday crafts, toys, ornaments, nutcrackers and creches, and shoppers snack on grilled sausages, gingerbread and hot mulled wine called glühwein as they browse the stalls. Departures also can be reserved for 2014 Christmas market departures. Christmas Spirit -- A few trips celebrate the holiday season in Paris or Amsterdam, in U.S. locales like San Antonio and Branson, or even in the Galapagos Islands or Antarctica. New Year's Eve -- Ring in the new year in an exciting destination like Edinburgh, Vegas or Miami, or while on a romantic European river cruise. Some departures celebrate both Christmas and New Year's in the same itinerary. The Rose Parade -- These tours in Southern California include reserved spots in the grandstand at the 125th Rose Parade on January 1, 2014. Carnival in Rio -- Some Brazil-bound itineraries immerse guests in the revelry of Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, considered to be one of the largest pre-Lent festivals in the world. It takes place February 28-March 4 next year. Tulip Time -- Springtime river cruises through the Netherlands and Belgium reveal colorful floral displays and lush, green countryside dotted with windmills. A highlight of these itineraries is a visit to Keukenhof Gardens, an 80-acre park planted with more than 7 million bulbs. Tulip trips depart in March, April and early May, when the flowers are at their peak. The Great Migration -- Each year, nearly 2 million animals move through Tanzania and Kenya, driven by seasonal rain and drought in what is known as the Great Migration. Wildebeest, zebras and gazelles make up the largest populations of the migrating herds. Their path follows a general pattern, and safaris timed to coincide with this stunning ritual offer an experience unlike any other. Here are this week's Top 20 Tours. All prices are per person, based on double occupancy, and subject to availability. 1) The Best of Italy, 11 days with Globus. Begins and ends in Rome with stops in Florence, Venice and Capri. Starting at $2,979. Departures from June 5 through October 27, 2013. 2) Heart of Wales and England, 8 days with CIE Tours. Begins and ends in London with visits to Stonehenge, Brecon Beacons National Park and Stratford-upon-Avon. Save $200 per couple. Starting at $1,648. Departures from June 15 through October 26, 2013. Book now! 3) Vietnam, Cambodia & the Riches of the Mekong, 8 days with AmaWaterways. Begins in Siem Reap and ends in Ho Chi Minh City with visits to Tonle Sap Lake, Wat Kampong Tralach Pleu and Phnom Penh. Save $1,000 per couple off the cruise portion and receive a free cabin upgrade. Starting at $1,649. Departures from July 29 through October 28, 2013. Book now! 4) 17 Day Bangkok, Cambodia & Vietnam, 17 days with Gate 1 Travel. Begins in Bangkok and ends in Hanoi with visits to Angkor Wat, Ho Chi Minh City and Ha Long Bay. Save $100 per couple. Starting at $1,699. Departures from September 14, 2013 through April 19, 2014. Book now! 5) Enchanting Emerald Isle Winter, 9 days with Brendan. Begins and ends in Dublin with visits to the Cliffs of Moher, the Ring of Kerry and Blarney Castle. Save up to 7.5% when you pay in full. Starting at $1,795. Departs December 21, 2013. Book now! 6) Baseball Legends, 6 days with American Queen Steamboat Company. Begins in Cincinnati and ends in Pittsburgh with stops in Maysville, Point Pleasant and Wheeling. Save $750 per couple, plus receive free onboard credits and more. Starting at $1,820. Departs July 27, 2013. Book now! 7) Learning Journeys: Costa Rica Family Discovery, 9 days with Perillo Tours. Begins and ends in San Jose with visits to Tortuguero National Park, Arenal Volcano and the Los Angeles Private Cloud Forest. Save $200 per couple. Starting at $1,890. Departures from October 13, 2013 through August 17, 2014. Book now! 8) Western Balkans Adventure, 12 days with G Adventures. Begins in Zagreb and ends in Dubrovnik with stops in Split, Mostar and Kotor. Save 15%. Starting at $1,949. Departs June 21, July 19 and September 20, 2013. Book now! 9) Swiss Delight Winter, 8 days with Trafalgar. Begins and ends in Zurich with stops in St. Moritz, Bellinzona and Lucerne. Save up to 7.5% when you pay in full. Starting at $1,950. Departures from October 11, 2013 through March 28, 2014. Book now! 10) Taste of Wales & Ireland Tour, 12 days with CIE Tours. Begins and ends in Dublin with visits to Snowdonia National Park, the Dingle Peninsula and the Cliffs of Moher. Save $200 per couple. Staring at $1,996. Departures from June 28 through October 25, 2013. Book now! 11) Highlights of France & Barcelona Winter, 10 days with Trafalgar. Begins in Paris and ends in Barcelona with stops in Lyon, Nice and Monte Carlo. Save up to 7.5% when you pay in full. Starting at $2,185. Departures from October 31, 2013 through April 10, 2014. Book now! 12) Glories of China, 14 days with Wendy Wu Tours. Begins in Shanghai and ends in Beijing with visits to Guilin, the Terra Cotta Warriors of Xian and the Great Wall of China. Starting at $2,290. Departures from June 8, 2013 through June 28, 2014. 13) Rhine Getaway 2014, 8 days with Viking River Cruises. Travels between Amsterdam and Basel with stops in Cologne, Heidelberg and Strasbourg. Companion cruises for free plus save $1,000 per couple off roundtrip airfare from select gateways when you pay in full. Starting at $2,349. Departures from March 21 through December 30, 2014. Book now! 14) The Classic Winter Voyage Roundtrip, 12 days with Hurtigruten. Begins and ends in Bergen with stops in Trondheim, Tromso and Kirkenes. Save up 25%. Starting at $2,537. Departures from November 1 through December 31, 2013. Book now! 15) New Zealand Experience, 9 days with Pacific Delight Tours. Begins in Auckland and ends in Christchurch with visits to Rotorua, Queenstown and Mount Cook National Park. Starting at $2,549. Daily departures from June 11, 2013 through March 18, 2014. 16) Discover Australia, 11 days with Trafalgar. Begins in Sydney and ends in Cairns with visits to Bondi Beach, Uluru (Ayers Rock) and the Great Barrier Reef. Receive a free Be My Guest dining experience at an exclusive venue. Starting at $3,150. Departures from June 28, 2013 through March 7, 2014. Book now! 17) Journey to the Galapagos, 7 days with General Tours. Begins in Quito and ends in Guayaquil with visits to Espanola Island, San Cristobal Island and the Charles Darwin Research Center. Save $1,000 per couple. Starting at $3,499. Departures from June 10 through August 19, 2013. Book now! 18) Great Steamboat Era, 13 days with American Queen Steamboat Company. Begins in New Orleans and ends in St. Louis with stops in Vicksburg, Memphis and New Madrid. Save $750 per couple, plus receive free onboard credits and more. Starting at $4,295. Departs June 23, 2013. Book now! 19) Splendors of Italy, 13 days with Uniworld. Begins in Venice and ends in Rome with stops in Bologna, Verona and Florence. Companion flies for free from certain gateways when you pay in full. Starting at $5,799. Departs July 28 & August 4, 18 and 25, 2013. Book now! 20) Tanzania: A Grand Family Safari 2014, 11 days with Tauck. Begins and ends in Arusha with visits to Tarangire National Park, Ngorongoro Crater and Serengeti National Park. Travelers age 11 and under save $500 per person. Starting at $6,440. Departures from June 15 through December 21, 2014. Book now! To see our listing of escorted tours, train tours or air and hotel packages to worldwide destinations, click here. For safaris in Africa, click here. Once you've found a tour that interests you, call us toll free at 800-680-2858 (US and Canada) and a travel counselor will attend to your needs. Customers from the UK, please call toll free 0-800-098-8546. All other international customers, please email or call us at +1-713-974-2121. For hotels and resorts in the Caribbean, Mexico, Hawaii, Bermuda, the Bahamas and Europe, click here. For river cruises worldwide, click here. For savings of up to 75% on ocean-going cruises, click here. Please email me your comments, suggestions and questions at alanfox@tourvacationstogo.com and I will respond the same day. To send a copy of this newsletter to a friend or friends, click here. Sincerely, Alan Fox Chairman & CEO Vacations To Go