Insight Vacations Launches New Exotics Collection

Insight Vacations has just released its new Exotics Collection, featuring a range of premium escorted journeys, a majestic new destination, and a variety of authentic Signature Hotels, Dining and Experiences. For the first time, the brochure includes an augmented feature that enables you to enjoy India’s flavor using your smartphone to get a preliminary taste of what this incredible region has to offer.

The Exotics Collection offers luxury tours to India, Bhutan, Nepal, Greece, Jordan, Israel, Turkey, Egypt and Morocco.

“We are thrilled with the success of our India program since launching in 2012, and we are delighted we can continue to introduce new product to this extraordinary region,” says Marc Kazlauskas, President of Insight Vacations. “Each itinerary featured in the Exotics Collection has been chosen to showcase these culturally and historically rich destinations, and when combined with Insight’s Signature inclusions, we guarantee our guests a truly unforgettable experience.”

The Exotic Collection’s Signature Experiences include game safaris in search of the Royal Bengal Tiger, Bhutanese cooking classes, and a guided tour of Bhutan’s only commercial cheese factory. Guests stay at hand-selected Signature Hotels with highlights such as the Taj Lake Palace Hotel, Bangalore’s opulent Leela Palace, and the Divani Caravel hotel in Athens. Guests enjoy delectable Signature Dining experiences at every magnificent turn, including a cooking demonstration with a renowned chef in Olympia and a highlight luncheon at India’s Laxmi Vilas Palace.

“When traveling to these wonderful countries with Insight, you can be assured that your safety, comfort and security are our absolute priority – our ground teams are the very best in the business,” says John Boulding, President and CEO of Insight Vacations. “They will take care of you every step of the way.”

Two new itineraries have been added in India, including a sojourn from Delhi to Udaipur on the Colors of Rajasthan and a venture through Mystical South India where guests visit some of India’s oldest temples from Kochi to Chennai. Bhutan – Dragon Kingdom highlights the newest destination to feature its own itinerary, due to the rising increase in Bhutan’s popularity. Additional new 2014 features include four-day stopovers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, extensive hotel upgrades, additional transfers and flight inclusions on some itineraries and extensive Wi-Fi availability on coaches and in hotels.

Insight Vacations is a part of a joint initiative with The TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation established by The Travel Corporation to encourage sustainable tourism within our own family of brands and in the places we visit. To date, TreadRight has donated more than US $2 million to sustainable tourism projects around the world. To find out more about our work with TreadRight visit: www.TreadRight.org.

For more information, visit www.insightvacations.com. For reservations, contact your travel agent or call Insight Vacations at 888-680-1241.

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Virgin Vacations Offering $1,000 Savings on Fall Danube Cruises; 9 Days from $1359

Cruise prices range from $1,359 (regularly priced at $2,359) for a Category C cabin Thanksgiving cruise departing from Nuremberg to Budapest November 23; to $2,049 (regularly priced at $3,049) for a Category A balcony cabin on the October 19 Budapest to Nuremberg departure.

Included in the price are 7 nights cruising aboard the 64-cabin “Sound of Music,” transfers, all meals with unlimited wine and beer at dinner while on the cruise, evening entertainment, and port taxes. Rounding out the inclusions are shore excursions in Bratislava, Vienna, Nuremberg and Melk Abbey, plus a walking tour of Regensburg. Air fare is additional.

Optional Tours, Stays in Budapest and/or Prague, air fares

Travelers can add optional activities, beginning at $59 for a full-day tour of Schoenbrunn Castle, once the summer residence of the Hapsburg emperors.

Also available are add-on nights in Prague and Budapest pre- or post-cruise. Discounted prices begin at $1,679 for the November 14 cruise in a category C cabin and two additional hotel nights in Budapest; to $2,499 for 2 days hotel stay in Budapest with 3 nights Prague, for a Category A cabin on the October 23 departure. The Budapest and Budapest-Prague add-ons include transfers plus a city tour in each destination.

Virgin Vacations has low air fares to Budapest, returning from Munich (or vice versa), available from cities nationwide. Sample air-inclusive packages for the Fall Danube cruises–with the $1,000 discount–begin at $2,129 for the November 23 cruise departing New York.

For more information on Virgin Vacations’ Europe River Cruises visit VirginVacations.com, or phone 1-877-740-4302. To take advantage of the $1,000 discount, use Code: VNB14DRC13.

Space is based on availability, and some cabin categories may not be available for every departure. Fuel charges and taxes are included on air-inclusive packages. Optional tours and excursions, and gratuities are additional. Virgin Vacations travelers can enroll in Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club or in Virgin America’s Elevate frequent flyer programs, and earn points for the cruise portion of the trip.

Virgin Vacations offers a wide selection of escorted tours, river and sea cruises, and independent packages worldwide, available with or without air fare on Virgin Atlantic, Virgin Australia and Virgin America, as well as other international airline partners. As a member of the U.S. Tour Operators Association, Virgin Vacations protects travelers’ payments up to $1 Million through the USTOA Travelers Assistance Program.

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Wendy Wu Tours Sells Fully Inclusive 16-day ‘Wonders of China’ Tour Priced from $3,690 with Air

Wendy Wu Tours is offering packages to China fully inclusive of air fare, that feature the iconic places © 2011 Karen Rubin/news-photos-features.com

Wendy Wu Toursis offering an opportunity to become immersed in the history and traditions of China with fully-inclusive 16-day “Wonders of China” tours. Wendy Wu Tour packages combine many of China’s top sites with special touches: at the Great Wall – access at entry points away from the crowds and vendors; a cruise on the panoramic Huangpu River, which links the historic Bund and futuristic Pudong areas of Shanghai; and entry into the Great Mosque in Xi’an’s lively Muslim Quarter, to name a few.

The fully-inclusive prices for each tour cover all costs, including round-trip air from NY or LAX, all meals, excursions, stellar accommodations, a full-time Wendy Wu Tours Manager escort – even the visa fee, processing and taxes. Pricing for “Wonders of China,” which has 32 departures between May 22 and Nov. 9, 2011, ranges from $3,690 to $4,390 per person, double.

Highlights include both the sites that all visitors to China must see – Shanghai’s breathtaking Yu Gardens and Old Town; Tiananmen Square and the Great Wall in Beijing; the Great Pandas at the Chongqing Zoo; and Xian’s Terracotta Warriors and Ancient City Wall – as well as some that are not included in the mass market tours: an exploration of the unique 1920’s style shikumen buildings in Shanghai’s restored Xintiandi area; and Beijing’s Summer Palace are examples.

Meals and excursions play an important role on the tour — whether it is authentic Shanghai cuisine; Peking Duck, artfully carved at tableside; a traditional Shui Jiao dumpling meal followed by a performance of Tang Dynasty Dancing; the Islamic food markets in the Muslim Quarter; or a fascinating Chinese Acrobatic show in Beijing.

Group Tours have a maximum of 28 persons, comfortably ensconced in 49-passenger coaches for most tours. Single supplements are available as well as sharing opportunities. A new 68-page full-color brochure has been produced highlighting the many offerings, and a new North American website has been unveiled to serve the consumers and travel agents: www.wendywuschina.com. Wendy Wu Tours also offers Private Tours — fully-inclusive but offering more flexibility and excellent for small groups, reunions, family groups, alumni groups or just friends looking to have a nice private vacation together in a mystical land.

The prices include all costs aside from gratuity. All international flights (from NYC and LAX), fuel surcharges, taxes, accommodations in centrally-located superior-three- and four-star hotels, three meals a day, intra-China transportation, daily tours and entrance fees, evening entertainment, English speaking guides, a Wendy Wu Tours Manager escort – even the $190 visa fee and processing.

Reservations, brochures and information can be obtained from travel agents and Wendy Wu Tours, telephone (877) 993-6399; web site: www.wendywuschina.com.

See also:

HANGZHOU: CHINA’S CITY OF ROMANCE
Marco Polo’s ‘City of Heaven’ As Alluring as Ever
and slideshow

HANGZHOU: ANCIENT & MODERN COME TOGETHER IN CHINA’S RESORT CITY
and slideshow

ZHEJIANG PROVINCE PRESENTS MICROCOSM OF CHINA, OLD & NEW
Region Was Cutting Edge, Even in Marco Polo’s Time