travel bulletin north america supplement 2015

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March 2015

All About

Your one-stop guideto all the latest news and developments

in North America

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All Abou t

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AN INDICATION of when a region is performing well iswhen airlines put their faith in it and launch new routes orincrease their flight frequency,

So, if that’s the case, 2015 looks bright for North America.Virgin Atlantic is switching its focus from other global routes tothe US, launching a new service to Detroit and increasingservices to New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Miami.French airline La Compagnie has taken the brave step oflaunching a thrice weekly all business-class service to New York,with a view to increasing it to a daily service by the end of theyear. Delta Air Lines has also introduced new routes toPhiladelphia, Jet2 has increased the number of shopping citybreaks to New York, Thomas Cook is launching its first directservice to Reno for the ski season and Air Transat is improvingaccess to Nova Scotia for the summer with a new service.Operators are also feeling the love for North America, with

new tours, packages and flydrives, while hotel chains arechannelling new concepts for 2015/16. There are a number ofbig anniversaries coming down the line too, with the NationalPark Service of America celebrating its 100-year anniversarythis year and Canada is gearing up to mark its 150th birthday in2017. Canada is also looking forward to a big summer as thecountry prepares to host the FIFA Women’s World Cup.

In this year’s All About North America supplement, we catchup with the specialists to find out what their plans are for thenext 12 months. In Hotel Hotline, we include a snapshot on justsome of the hotels opening across the pond this year. UniversalStudios Hollywood and Orlando have two big anniversariescoming up this year, and our Theme Parks and Attractionsfeature goes into more detail about the theme park’s plans tomark these big occasions. Everybody loves a road trip movie, andin our Road Trips feature, we turn to this genre of films forinspiration for our North American road trips.In our final feature, we speak to the specialists to find out

what are the top five must-experience wildlife and natureholidays across the pond. Don’t forget to read our For Agentssection to find out what operators are doing for you, and ourHolidays for Less Than section rounds off this year’ssupplement. Hope you enjoy this supplement and I look forwardto hearing your feedback.

Angela CroninSupplements editor

Lower Ground Floor, University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London SW1W 0EX

Tel: 020-7834 6661Publisher: Jeanette Ratcliffe

Written and researched by: Angela CroninEmail: [email protected]

Design/Layout: Lee TelotPrinted by: Buxton Press

Cover Picture: Shutterstock ISSN: 0956-2419

Hotel hotline - 6

What’s new - 4

Theme parks and attractions - 9

Wildlife and nature - 15

For agents - 17

Road trips - 13

Holidays for less than - 18

Published by

CONTENTS


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The new wave

North AmericA is the mostpopular long-haul destinationwith Britons, hands down.

its diversity of holiday experiencesfor all different budgets make it awinner all year round, and airlines andoperators are pulling out all the stopsto satisfy the demand for holidays tothe region.

An indication of how popular NorthAmerica is with Britons is VirginAtlantic’s decision to focus on itstransatlantic services, and in fact,launch a new service to Detroit.

Known as the comeback city due tothe years of political and economicupheaval it has endured, the city has alot to offer visitors and is pulling out allthe stops to cater for them. Detroit isthe beating heart and soul of motown,but also has one of America’s mostexciting food scenes in corktown, so isguaranteed to attract Britons lookingto discover more of the US.

here is a brief round-up of some ofthe biggest news from North Americain 2015/16.

New routes Virgin Atlantic is investing in a range oftransatlantic services including a newdaily service from heathrow to Detroit.

the new route changes include: anew daily service from heathrow toDetroit; an additional daily servicefrom heathrow to New York, JFK; anextra daily service from heathrow toLos Angeles; an additional daily serviceduring the summer season fromheathrow to Atlanta; an additionalsummer seasonal service fromheathrow to San Francisco flying fivetimes a week; and an additional dailyservice during the winter season fromheathrow to miami.

there will also be a transfer ofoperations with joint venture partnerDelta Air Lines that will see Virgin

Atlantic fly a daily service betweenmanchester and Atlanta and Delta flyone of Virgin Atlantic’s existingheathrow to Newark services.

in addition, Delta Air Lines willlaunch a daily service betweenmanchester and New York JFK thissummer.virgin-atlantic.com

A larger bite of the Big AppleJet2.com and Jet2holidays haslaunched its biggest-ever selection ofNew York city breaks for winter 2015.

Some 19 trips are available from fiveUK airports, with additional flightsbeing made available from Glasgow,Leeds and Newcastle due todemand. the packages also includeoctober half-term so families canescape to the Big Apple too.

the first four-night city breakdeparts on 11 october from GlasgowAirport with the latest departure frommanchester Airport on 11 Decemberfor three nights. Jet2.com flight-onlyoptions start at £399 per personincluding taxes with a £60 depositsecuring package breaks.tradesite.jet2holidays.com

New Philadelphia serviceDelta Air Lines is to operate a new dailyflight from heathrow to Philadelphiafrom 27 April.

the new service, in partnership withVirgin Atlantic, will depart fromheathrow on a 164-seat Boeing 757-200. American Airlines has alsoannounced that it will add a seconddaily round-trip flight on its routebetween Philadelphia and heathrowfrom 29 march.

Delta Air Lines will become the fifthairline to fly directly to Philadelphiafrom London joining British Airways,iberia, US Airways and AmericanAirlines.

The single factorSingle travel specialist Solos holidayshas three new tours for 2015.

these include the eight-night miami,the everglades and Key West tour,which departs on 6 may and leads in at£2,949 per person.

Also new for 2015 is the three-nightNew York city Break, which leaves on 2July, and costs from £1,899 per person.the new seven-night orlando tourdeparts on 9 may and 31 october andcosts from £1,799 per person.

meanwhile, the operator hasreduced the cost of its nine-nightAwesome Alaska tour by £200 to£4,799 per person. the tour departson 23 August. solosholidays.co.uk

The atlantic pathAir transat, the airline arm of touroperator canadian Affair is launching adirect flight from Gatwick to St John’sinternational Airport in Newfoundland.

the new service will start on 18June, departing London on tuesdayand thursday and returning onmonday and Wednesday.

the flight will then continue on toNova Scotia’s halifax Stanfieldinternational Airport. the new flightwill continue throughout the summeruntil 3 September.

meanwhile, canadian airlineWestJet is starting a daily direct flightfrom Glasgow into halifax from 29may until 23 october.

the region of Atlantic canadacomprises the coastal regions of NewBrunswick, Newfoundland andLabrador, Nova Scotia and Princeedward island, and is just five hoursfrom the UK.atlanticcanadaholiday.co.uk

Park itescorted tours specialist collette has

WHAT’S NEW

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Airlines and operators are putting their faith in the Americandream in 2015 with extra routes and new tours

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launched a tour to celebrate the 100thanniversary of the National ParksService of the USA in 2016.

the operator has introduced a15-day Denver and America’s NationalParks tour, which features nationalparks, including Bryce canyon, Grandcanyon, Zion, Grand teton,Yellowstone and rocky mountain.

the tour also visits Denver, SaltLake city and mount rushmore,whose four figures carved in stonerepresent the first 150 years ofAmerican history.

A particular highlight of the tour isthe overnight stay in a lodge in theheart of Yellowstone National Parkwhere guests will get to see the oldFaithful Geyser, a fountain of steamthat shoots more than 60 ft in the air.

Prices for the tour start at £3,399per person with a saving of £100 perperson on bookings made by 30 April.the price is based on two adultssharing and includes internationalreturn flights, transfers and 19 meals. gocollette.com

Due SouthSaga holidays has launched a 12-night taste of the Deep South tour for2015 that gives clients the chance todiscover the musical heritage of theUS’s southern states.

the tour begins in Atlanta beforeheading to chattanooga for a trip onthe incline railway up Lookoutmountain – the world’s steepestpassenger railway.

From here, the tour heads toLynchburg for a tour of the Jack

Daniels Distillery before heading onto Nashville – known as the countrymusic capital of the world – for atwo-night stay. While in Nashville,visitors get the chance to take in thecountry music hall of Fame and elvisPresley’s birthplace in tupelo on theway to memphis for a two-night stay.

memphis is home to elvis’s homeGraceland where guests can take partin an audio tour.

A two-night stay in Vicksburgfollows for a tour of the city’sNational military Park whichcommemorates the defence of thecity during the American civil War.

the excursion heads to Neworleans with stops at Natchez andBaton rouge to see the antebellumplantation houses before checking inat the Sheraton New orleans for fournights with tours of Jackson Squaremuseums and an evening on atraditional paddle steamer on themississippi river for a jazz cruise.

the final stop on the tour ismontgomery, the town where martinLuther King pioneered the civil rightsmovement.

Saga recommends music loversconsider booking the tour on 12 or 22April when New orleans will becelebrating its annual Jazz heritageFestival between April 24 and may 3.

Prices lead in at £2,199 per personand include 12 nights’accommodation, 13 meals: 12breakfasts and one dinner, returnflights, transfers and a Saga tourmanager.travel.saga.co.uk/destinations

First UK flights to Renothomas cook Airlines is launching theUK’s first direct service between Londonand reno in Nevada in December. thenew service, which will start in time forthe ski season, will depart from Gatwickon Wednesdays and Saturdays, and willhelp to open up a host of ski holidayoptions for UK travellers. the flightprogramme begins on 19 December andruns until 9 April 2016, with pricesstarting at £399 return. thomascookairlines.com

The business approachLa compagnie, the boutique Frenchall-business-class airline, is to launch athrice-weekly service from LutonAirport to New York, Newarkinternational Airport.

the first flight will depart fromLondon on 24 April with special launchfares for the first 500 people to bookstarting at £1,007 return for twopeople travelling together, including alltaxes. La compagnie plans to increasethe frequency to daily flights by the endof this year.lacompagnie.com

Newcastle serviceUnited Airlines is launching a direct flightto New York from Newcastle on 23 may.the service will operate five times aweek with prices leading in at £549 perperson including taxes.

the new service will run from may 23to September 7 initially, but if they aresuccessful then United will look toextend the service to a year round one.�

Thomas Cook Airlines’ new service to Reno in Nevadawill launch just in time for the start of the ski season


WHAT’S NEW

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6 All about North America

Las VegasCeasars Entertainment has added toits impressive portfolio of Vegasproperties with the opening of theLINQ Hotel and Casino.

The resort has a mighty 2,256rooms, including 204 suites and 29cabana suites that directly access areimagined pool deck area. The newrooms have floor-to-ceiling windows,boasting views of the iconic Las VegasStrip or the High Roller – the world’stallest observation wheel.

One of the key features of the hotelis a new interactive system accessedfrom the television or from a smartphone, which gives guests access tohotel amenities and customised LINQHotel playlists on Spotify.

In the downtown district of Vegas,the first hotel venue by DowntownProject has opened. Bucking thelarge-scale hotel trend that Vegas issynonymous with, Oasis at Gold Spikeis a boutique property with 38 roomsand six suites. The venue also featuresa reception area lounge, co-workingspace and library housing a collectionof titles that celebrate theentrepreneurial spirit of downtown LasVegas.

Meanwhile, Delano has taken itsSouth Beach brand to Vegas with theopening of the Delano Las Vegas atMandalay Bay Resort and Casino. Eachof the property’s 1,100 suites have

been redesigned in keeping with theSouth Beach Delano style.

Finally, the SLS Las Vegas Hotel andCasino has opened bringing Hilton'snew Curio brand to the Strip.

With 1,600 rooms, SLS Las Vegashouses a collection of sbe’s acclaimedrestaurant and nightlife brands such asthe Bazaar by José Andrés, Katsuya,Cleo, 800 Degrees, Umami Burger, TheSayers Club and The Griddle Café.caesars.com/linqoasisatgoldspike.comdelanolasvegas.comslshotels.com/lasvegas

NevadaThe antics of legendary crooner FrankSinatra and the Rat Pack are, for manypeople, what Las Vegas is all about sofans of Old Blue Eyes will get a kick outof the fact that Nevada’s first casino,formerly owned by Sinatra, isreopening in December.Cal Neva Resort at Lake Tahoe is

currently undergoing a multimilliondollar refurbishment to revive theproperty, which in its 1960s heyday,was a popular haunt of Dean Martin,Sammy Davis Jr, Marilyn Monroe andJoe DiMaggio.

The investment will modernise theresort to a luxurious 21st-centurystandard while maintaining its classicedge. The hotel will include 219 guestrooms and cottages, a spa, meeting

space and restaurants.Meanwhile, iconic US brand Hard

Rock opened a hotel and casino onLake Tahoe at the start of this year.Some $60 million has been invested inthe property which boasts 539 rooms,a 25,000 sq ft casino, four restaurantsand a live music venue.calnevaresort.comhardrockcasinolaketahoe.com

Denver A new 165-room boutique hotel inDenver is poised to open its doorsnext month.

The clue is in the name of what willbe at the heart and soul of this newhotel. Next to the Denver Art Museum,the Art Hotel will be showcasing alobby with modern art and guest roomswith vibrant art and wall coverings.

Hand-selected art will populate thewalls of the rooms of the Art Hotel,which will also boast floor-to-ceilingsviews to capture the Denver skylineand the Rocky Mountains.thearthotel.com

St Petersburg/Clearwater, Florida The Florida beach resort of StPetersburg/Clearwater Florida is setfor a busy 18 months as more than1,000 new hotel rooms come online.

One of the biggest projects to openin Clearwater Beach includes the230-room beachfrontOpal Sands Resort,

HOTEL HOTLINE

The new Thompson Miami BeachHotel combines Art Deco glamour

with a 21st-century twist

Room to growNew York City is set to welcome 61 new hotels this year,while on the west coast, some much-loved favourites are

benefitting from new investment�

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sister property of the luxuriousSandpearl, is on pace to open in spring2016. Down the road, the WyndhamGrand Resort, which will have 450 roomsin two towers, will be Clearwater Beach’sbiggest property, will open in early 2017.

Work has also started on a 77-roomgulf-front luxury resort in Treasure Island,and in downtown St Petersburg, plans areafoot for a new 174-room Hyatt.visitstpeteclearwater.com

ChicagoHotel chain Loews has chosen theWindy City as the location for its latesthotel.

Located in the heart of downtownChicago just two blocks away from theMagnificent Mile, the city’s biggestshopping district, and only one blockaway from the Chicago River, the newLoews Chicago has 400 guest roomswith a ‘home away from home’ vibe.

The property has a rooftop lounge, aspacious lobby with calming waterfalls,comfy seating, a big video screen and a75-foot pool.

Prices lead in at £113 per room pernight based on two people. loewshotels.com/chicago-downtown

MiamiEverybody loves a bit of Miami’s SouthBeach, but if you have clients who wantall the luxury and glamour of beingclose to South Beach without actuallybeing right in the thick of the action,then Thompson Miami Beach isguaranteed to tick all their boxes.

Described as a jewel of the designmecca where Art Deco meets mid-century and Miami Modern, thisbeachfront hotel features 380 guestrooms, including 30 suites.

The hotel has two restaurants, twoheated swimming pools, an open-airrooftop spa, a fitness centre, 24-hourin-room dining and lush, tropicalgardens. The hotel’s social spacesinclude Crown Bar, an adjacentlate-night venue and, an historic,Spanish-inspired beach househideaway, the 1930s House.thompsonhotels.com

QuebecThere are three hotels opening inMontreal this year, starting with the

five- star boutique Mount StephenHotel towards the end of this year.

Sixty Hotels Montréal, which will belocated near Old Montréal, will opennext year featuring 120 stylishguestrooms and suites, expansiveevent spaces, a signature restaurantand lounge, and 70 branded luxuryresidences. It will be the first indoorand outdoor rooftop bar and pool withskyline views in the city. Boxotelwillalso open next year in the LatinQuarter, although dates have yet to beconfirmedquebecregion.com/en

Palm Springs2015 looks set to be a big one on thenew hotel front for Palm Springs.

The Palm Springs Hotel is scheduledto open on 29 August. Conceived byfour Hollywood families who hadsearched for the perfect, intimateretreat, but couldn’t find it, theydecided to build their own – like you do.

This boutique property boastsdesert-modernist architecture withbold interior flair and 21st centuryadditions such as Apple TV. Dolce Hotels and Resorts is building

a 200-room “urban lifestyle hotel” inPalm Springs in August. Set on 10 acresof land, the hotel will include tworestaurants, lounge, recording studio,screening room, outdoor pools, spa,fitness centre and function facilities.

Meanwhile, the brainchild ofFacebook employee number six – EzraCallahan – the 32-room trendyboutique hotel Arrivewill be opening inthe desirable Uptown Design District.

The property will feature live

poolside music throughout the yearand Callahan says it is designed toappeal to “travellers influenced bystyle, design, culture and who seetravel as a social experience”.

Meanwhile, Kimpton is set to openthe new four-star hotel Hotel Palomaron the former site of Palm Springs’Desert Fashion Plaza.

Hotel Palomar will feature 190 roomsand a lively rooftop bar and pool. Thehotel will also offer a chef-driven‘destination’ restaurant, meeting spaceand views of the San Jacinto Mountains.

Finally, the 56-room Triada Hotelwillopen in Palm Springs as part ofMarriot’s Autograph Collection,transforming the old Spanish Inn onNorth Indian Canyon Drive in theMovie Colony neighbourhood into aluxury hotel with two swimming pools,a spa and restaurant. visitpalmsprings.com �

Las Vegas’s new LINQHotel has 2,256 rooms

THE CITy that never sleeps ispreparing for a whole raft of hotelopenings this year.

While there are too many to list inthis small box, it’s safe to say that2015 looks set to be a dynamic yearas regards hotel activity, with 61properties scheduled to open.

The hotels will vary in size anddesign, with the range as wide as the54-room Estate at Ravel in Queens tothe 600-room Riu Plaza New yorkTimes Square.nycgo.com

New York, New York

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HOTEL HOTLINE

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Legoland California ResortWhen Legoland California Resortopened in 1999, it was the first themepark by the globally popular kidsbuilding system outside of Europe.

A considerably tamer theme parkthat many of its rivals in the US,Legoland California, part of the MerlinEntertainments group, caters foryoung families and has grownextensively since its humblebeginnings in the ‘90s.

Today, the theme park has more than60 rides, shows and attractionsincluding three rollercoasters.

These include: Orange Rush, a familytube slide where up to four people canride together down a 312-foot-longcurving track on an 11-foot indiameter half pipe; Twin Chasers, twoside-by-side enclosed red tube slidesthat stretch nearly 130 feet and pourinto a wading area below; Splash Out:an open body slide that invites gueststo slide 240 feet and “splash out” intothe water below; and Build-A-RaftRiver where kids customise their ownraft made of soft Lego bricks beforefloating down a lazy river.

In the water park, there is also aDuplo Splash Safari for youngerchildren and Kid Creek lazy river and aJoker Soaker with water cannons.

A relatively recent addition to theresort is the 250-room, three-storeyhotel, which opened in April 2013.

Like its UK counterpart, the hotel iscompletely geared towards cateringfor families with pirate, adventure and

kingdom themed rooms to choosefrom, Lego models and interactivefeatures, and themed indoor playareas.What’s new for 2015? The themepark is set to open a new land thissummer themed to the Lego Friendsline of toys, which focuses on the livesand personalities of five girls: Mia,Olivia, Andrea, Stephanie and Emma.Visitors will be invited to sing alongwith Andrea at her tour bus, strollthrough Lego horse stables and go fora horseback ride on the carousel inMia’s family ranch.The ultimate ride/attraction: welldepending on the age of your children,there are two ultimate rides to go on.Lego chiefs describe theCoastersaurus, in Dino Island, as the“pink knuckle” coaster as children

won’t get white knuckles from ridingit, but will get excited enough for themto turn pink!

For the real thrill seekers in yourfamily, Pirate Reef is guaranteed to getyour stomachs flipping as the cart youtravel in plummets down 25ft betweenthe 30-foot long pirate ships ofCaptain Red Brick and CaptainBlue Brick. Any added extras: the shows atLegoland are always pretty impressivebut this year, the resort is reallypushing the boundaries with a new 4Danimated film based on the popularcharacters of The Lego Movie, Emmetand Wyldstyle. The 4D elements ofthe new movie will include wind,water, smoke and special lightingeffects.california.legoland.com


The ride thingIt’s a year of

anniversaries and newworld-record-beatingrides from the themeparks and attractions

across the pond

THEME PARKS & ATTRACTIONS

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Splash out on Legoland’s Pirate Reef log ride

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Universal Studios HollywoodA visit to Los Angeles isn’t completewithout a day or two spent immersingyour inner child on the movie-themedrides at Universal Studios Hollywoodfollowed by a Studio Tour.

Who can not resist taking part in the3D Despicable Me Minion Mayhemadventure or joining in the immersiveSuper Silly Fun Land, or going all sci-fion the Transformers: The Ride-3D.

And of course, there’s the much-loved King Kong 360 3-D experienceon the behind-the-scenes Studio Tour,Revenge of the MummySM — The Rideand Jurassic Park —The Ride.What’s new? Universal StudiosHollywood is celebrating its 50thanniversary this year, and yep, you’veguessed it, the theme park has bigplans to celebrate this momentousmilestone.

In the second movie in the Back tothe Future trilogy, the day that Marty,Doc and Jennifer travalled to in thefuture is 21 October 2015. To markthis occasion and the 50th anniversaryof the studios the theme park islaunching a night-time studio tour thissummer, which will include theCourthouse Square and the car, whichis located in the NBCUniversalexperience.

The new Nighttime Studio Tours willaim to provide visitors with an insider’slook at moonlight movie-making magicas part of the theme park’s 50thmilestone anniversary.

Twenty-one locations along thefamed Studio Tour route will beengineered with practical lighting, tocreate an array of onset lighting effectsused in night-time production shoots.

Expert Studio Tour guides willenlighten guests with Hollywoodsecrets, including how filmmakerscreate the effect of darkness during thebright light of day.

Visits under the night-time lights willinclude a New York Street and thefilming location for such moviesas Transformers and “The Sting,”Courthouse Square, made famous inBack to the Future and To Kill AMockingbird, the cobblestone streets ofLittle Europe where such favourites asThe Pink Panther and Pirates of theCaribbean, were filmed, and Six Points

Texas, home to Hollywood’s greatestWestern films.

Universal Studios Hollywood’s 50thyear will also see the launch of the 3D-HD thrill ride, Fast &Furious—Supercharged as the grandfinale to the famed Studio Tour.The ultimate ride/attraction: the new3D Fast & Furious – Supercharged hasgot to be the ultimate ride to try thisyear. Inspired by Universal Pictures’most successful film franchise of all timeand featuring original cast membersfrom the series, the imagineers behindthe ride promise to catapult guests intothe high-stakes underground world offast cars, where they’ll join the cast in anescapade to save one of their own froman international crime cartel.

The adventure will culminate withaction sequences that will send thrillseekers spiralling through the streets ofLos Angeles—at perceived speeds inexcess of 120 miles per hour. Anything else? Springfield, thehometown of the US’s most famousfamily, The Simpsons, is getting a bit of amakeover this year. Visitors to theSimpsons Ride will find themselves trulyimmersed in the Springfield world when

they find themselves visiting the show’ssignature eateries such as KrustyBurger, Cletus’ Chicken Shack, Luigi’sPizza and Phineas Q. Butterfat’s IceCream Parlor, along with Homer’sfavorite hangouts, Lard Lad Donuts,Moe’s Tavern and Duff Breweryuniversalstudioshollywood.com

Walt Disney World ResortWhat’s new? The Florida resort has anumber of new projects on the go thisyear, including the renovation of theiconic Disney Polynesian Resort and thetransformation of Downtown Disneyinto Disney Springs with the addition ofnew dining venues.Anything else? Disney’s new animatedfeature Big Hero 6 is brought to life atWalt Disney World Resort as visitorswill be able to step inside the lab fromthe San Fransokyo Institute ofTechnology, and after the tour, meetHiro Hamada and his buddy Baymax inHiro’s garage workshop.

Meanwhile, a new Frozen attractionwill open at Epcot next year, which willsee sisters Princess Anna and QueenElsa from the Oscar-winning movie takeguests on a new journey to Arendelle.



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And in 2017, Walt Disney Imagineeringwill team up with filmmaker JamesCameron and LightstormEntertainment to bring to life themythical world of Pandora, inspired byCameron’s Avatar movie, at Disney’sAnimal Kingdom theme park.disneyworld.disney.go.com

Six Flags Theme ParksWhen it comes to traditional themeparks, Six Flags is a bit of a marketleader, with 18 theme parks across US,Canada and Mexico, the first of whichopened in 1961 in Texas.

The theme park operator pridesitself on being an industry leader whenit comes to world-class coasters,themed rides and thrilling water parksand unique attractions including up-close animal encounters and majorevents such as Fright Fest onHalloween and Holiday in the Park, awinter wonderland experience.

Six Flags has also teamed up with DCComics and Warner Bros to createrides inspired by cartoon charactersand super heroes, from Bugs Bunnyand his Looney Tunes friends to DCComics Super Heroes such as Batman,

Robin, The Green Lantern, WonderWoman and The Flash. This also allowsthe theme parks to have a full characterprogramme, including character meetand greets, meals, photograph andautograph opportunities and retailoptions.What’s new? Well, there’s quite a lot ofnew rides and events to mention, thebiggest of which is what is claimed tobe a world-record-breaking hybridcoaster, Twisted Colossus at Six FlagsMagic Mountain in Valencia, California.

Described as the next generation ofthe wooden roller coaster, the rideimagineers have harnessed the powerof new ride technology and combined itwith a wooden structure to propel thrillseekers along 5,000ft of track and twolift hills in four minutes. TwistedColossus will also feature a Top Gunelement, the western hemisphere’s firstHigh Five element, and a Zero G Roll.

Over at the Six Flags New England,the Wicked Cyclone will be welcomingadrenaline junkies this summer.Combining the extreme characteristicsof steel and wood, it will be the firsthybrid roller coaster to hit the eastcoast. Wicked Cyclone’s steel track

provides riders with a smoother alongits 3,320 feet of track. The ride stands10 stories in the sky and reachesspeeds of up to 55 mph, providingriders with fantastic views of NewEngland.

The ultimate ride/attraction: well, for2015, it has to be Twisted Colossus atSix Flags Magic Mountain.Anything else? Oh yes, there’s plentygoing on at the other Six Flags parksincluding the debut of the new 3Dinteractive dark ride attraction JusticeLeague: Battle for Metropolis whereguests will become part of the JusticeLeague Reserve Team in six-passengervehicles to battle alongside Superman,Batman, Wonder Woman and GreenLantern to defeat Lex Luthor, the Jokerand his henchmen.

Batman: the Ride is also opening atSix Flags Fiesta Texas. Described as a4D wing coaster, the ride features animposing, floating and twisting trackframe in which ride vehicles begin theirjourney by traveling up a 120ftelevator-type lift before going into twobeyond-vertical free falls, in addition tosix head-over-heels spins.sixflags.com

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Children get into character as the HogwartsExpress arrives at the Wizarding World of Harry

Potter at Universal Studios in Florida


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Disneyland Resort in AnaheimCalifornia is gearing up to celebrateits 60th anniversary this year,beginning with thee new night-timespectacles on 22 May.

The new displays include the Paintthe Night parade, which will bring tolife Disney stories and characterswith more than 1.5 million LED lights.Expect to see characters fromMonsters, Inc, Cars, The LittleMermaid, Beauty and the Beast, ToyStory, Frozen and Mickey, of course.

The Disneyland Forever Fireworksspectacular will be bigger and bolder,while Hollywood actor Neil PatrickHarris will appear as host, along withMickey Mouse, in a new presentationof the night-time World of Colorspectacular in Disney CaliforniaAdventure.

Meanwhile, the Frozen Fun showopened at the beginning of the year,bringing the characters from the hitDisney film to life, giving visitors thechance to meet Anna and Elsa in anew location, sing along with the“Frozen” soundtrack, play in thesnow, meet Olaf the snowman and“chill out” at a nighttime, family danceparty.

Legoland Floridawill be welcomingovernight visitors for the first timewhen the theme park’s LegolandHotel opens on May 15.

The first east-coast Legoland Hotelwill have 152 themed rooms withseparate sleeping areas for children,king-size beds in the adult sleepingareas, full breakfasts for guests, earlyadmission to the park, and a Lego toysurprise in each room.

The five-story Legoland Hotel willalso have interactive play areas; apool and a restaurant and will be thefifth hotel from the group in theworld.

Legoland Florida has more than 50rides, shows and attractions, a waterpark and the Lego World of Chima.

legoland.com/florida

Universal Studios Orlando is gearingup to celebrate its 25th anniversary

this year, although exact details ofhow it intends to mark themomentous occasion are being keptunder wraps. Rumours include theopening of a new exhibition space tocommemorate the theme parks 25years as well as a new entrance to theET Adventure ride.

The Kennedy Space CentreVisitorComplex is launching a 3D IMAXSpace film that will take visitors on aJourney to Space.

The movie will showcases NASA’splans for the future, including landingastronauts on Mars and capturingasteroids.

Chris Ferguson, commander of thefinal shuttle mission, Serena Aunon, anew astronaut chosen for futureflights and film and TV legend SirPatrick Stewart will give a sweepingoverview of NASA’s past spaceaccomplishments, current activitiesand future plans.

Using spectacular space footageshot in crystal clear IMAXcinematography, this inspirationalnew film puts into historical contextthe magnificent contributions madeby the Space Shuttle Programme andits astronauts, such as deploying andrepairing the Hubble Space Telescopeand assembling the InternationalSpace Station (ISS).

The film concludes with a realisticscenario of how astronauts willactually get to Mars, live there, andthen return home after a two-and-a-half-year mission by using the Orion

crew capsule, Olympus, an inflatabletransportation habitat and thepowerful Space Launch Systemrocket that will launch Orion and itscrew.kennedyspacecenter.com

Attraction World has launched somenew theme-park packages for 2015.The tickets specialist has introduceda two-park unlimited rides ticket forFun Spot Florida, which has two largeamusement parks in Orlando andKissimmee.Their main amusement park is just offInternational Drive on Fun Spot Wayand the other park is located inKissimmee on Highway 192 next toOld Town. Rides include carousels,bumper cars, go karts, the WhiteLightning Wooden Roller Coaster andthe Rip Curl and Enterprise ride.The offer is buy a seven-dayunlimited two-park ticket and get75% off the usual price. Tickets cost£49 per adult and per child if bookedby 14 April.Meanwhile, Attraction World isoffering 14 days for the price of sevenat Walt Disney World Resort withprices from £325 per adult and £308per child. This offer must be bookedby 30 June.Finally, there’s a three parks for theprice of two offer, which includesSeaWorld, Busch Gardens andAquatica with prices from £102 peradult and £98 per child if booked by31 December.attractionworld.com

News in brief


�A Frozen attraction is due toopen in Epcot next year



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ROAD TRIPS

The call of the roadGet to grips with North America on a once-in-a-lifetime road trip

ONE Of the best ways to getunder the skin of NorthAmerica is, without question,

on a road trip, and where better tostart looking for some inspiration thanthe iconic genre that is road movies.Here we look at three legendarymovies that have defined this genreand catch up with some of theoperators to find out what tours andpackages they offer so that your clientscan follow in the footsteps of the moviestars and experience some of NorthAmerica’s most legendarylandscapes from behind a steeringwheel.

Easy RiderMade in 1969, Easy Rider really set thestandard for US road movies in the waythat the cinematography showed off thetrue beauty of the US and its wide varietyof landscapes.Dubbed as a counter-culture film that

was a “touchstone for a generation”, PeterFonda and Dennis Hopper played theroles of Wyatt and Billy two Harley-ridinghippies who decide to travel from LA toNew Orleans in search of the realAmerica. On the journey, they encountera number of different characters that arereflective of the social tensions of the USin the 1960s, including the rise of the

hippie movement and drug use.Follow in their footsteps: Easy Ridertakes the iconic Route 66 which begins inLA and travels through Arizona, NewMexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas andMissouri and on to Illinois and Chicago.Trafalgar Tours has a nine-day

Colourful Trails of the Southwest thatjourneys through some of the landscapethat formed the backdrop for Easy Rider,including Arizona, Utah, Colorado andNew Mexico. The tour begins inScottsdale where the guests are joined bya local specialist, who accompanies themto the Grand Canyon National Park toexplore the wide-open expanse of

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ROAD TRIPS

Monument Valley. Then it’s on to Mesa Verde National Park fortwo nights before heading to Arches National Park to watchthe sun rise upon the ancient, multi-coloured stone. The UNESCO World Heritage Site of Taos Pueblo is next on

the agenda. The site has been continuously inhabited for morethan 1,000 years by members of the Native American Pueblopeople. A two-night stay in Santa Fe rounds off this tour . Thetown is a popular haunt of artists.How much?Prices start at £2,815 per person and includeeight nights’ bed and breakfast, transfers and sightseeing.trafalgar.com

Thelma and LouiseEasy Ridermay have been the trailblazer for road movies backin the 1960s, but Geena Davis and Susan Sarandon reallybreathed new life into this genre as Thelma and Louise. Davisplayed the role of oppressed housewife Thelma who decidedto join her friend Louise (Sarandon) on a short fishing trip. Theirmini break takes a tragic turn when Louise shoots a man whotries to attack Geena, and they decide to flee to Mexico toescape being arrested.The journey they embark on really shows off some of the

US’s most stunning scenery, with the two travelling fromArkansas through Oklahoma, Colorado, Utah, Arizona andCalifornia. The film's most iconic scene was filmed at DeadHorse Point State Park, near Moab in Utah when the twowomen drive off the edge of the canyon. Follow in their footsteps: Insight Vacations has a 15-dayGreat Western American Adventure that crosses the states ofCalifornia, Arizona, Utah and Nevada. Highlights on the wayinclude a guided tour of LA, the chance to marvel at the GrandCanyon, travelling across the Mojave Desert to reachScottsdale, a chance to explore Yosemite and Bryce CanyonNational Parks and scenic drives along Oak Creek Canyon,Desert View Drive and through the Painted Desert and NavajoIndian Reservation.How much? Prices start at £4,475 per person and include 14nights’ B&B, transfers and sightseeing.insightvacations.com/uk

On the RoadThe book that defined a generation was turned into a film in2012 starring Twilight's Kirsten Stewart. First published in1957, On the Road is a novel by US writer Jack Kerouac, whichcharts the travels of Kerouac and his friends across Americaagainst a backdrop of jazz, poetry and drug use. The main character is young writer Sal Paradise, who has hislife shaken by the arrival of free-spirited Dean Moriarty and hisgirl, Marylou. They embark on a number of journeys across theUS, the most iconic of which is the one from New York to SanFrancisco via Chicago and Denver. Follow in their footsteps: Trafalgar Tours’ 27 day Trans-American Grand Adventure is a cross-country journey fromLos Angeles to New York, stopping off at Las Vegas, the GrandCanyon, Zion National Park, Salt Lake City, Jackson, Chicago,Cleveland, Niagara Falls, Pittsburgh, Washington, Philadelphiaand finally New YorkHow much?Prices start at £5,750 per person and include landand air, 26 nights’ B&B, transfers and sightseeing.trafalgar.com

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S05 TB North America Supp 2015 - Road Trips_Layout 1 09/03/2015 14:15

15

1. Polar bear spottingSeeing polar bears in their naturalenvironment is top of many people’sbucket lists, but a tour that includes theopportunity to see beluga whales, andmaybe even the northern lights too, isguaranteed to whet the appetite of yourwildlife-loving clients.Abercrombie and Kent’s eight-day

Birds, Bears and Beluga Whalesadventure travels far from the maddingcrowds and deep into the polar bearcountry of Manitoba in the Arctic regionof Canada.After an overnight stay in Winnipeg,

the real adventure begins with a flight outto Seal River Heritage Lodge on the SealRiver Estuary, which will be the base forsix nights.Four days of marine tours, beluga

swims and trips on Tundra Trackersfollow, with at least two expeditions by12-person zodiacs boat to view belugawhales, seals, seabirds, and polar bears. Your clients can expect to see literally

hundreds of beluga whales, who are verycurious and sociable and will be keen toinvestigate the presence of the boats.As well as the marine excursions to

spot whales, guides take guests out oncustom-made Tundra Trackers todiscover the shoreline and search outwildlife at the same time.Trekking and walking tours are also a

big part of the experience as this giveswildlife lovers the chance to see the otherwildlife that populate this Arctic region,

including nesting bird life (there are morethan 100 species), foxes, caribou, andobviously more polar bears.Evenings back at the lodge involve

hearty dinners and talks from expertguides about travelling in Bear Countryand the Wildlife of the Arctic .How much?Prices lead in at £6,839 perperson based on two sharing and includeinternational flights, internal flights andtransfers. A&K’s polar bear adventures arealways popular and book up quickly, soadvise your clients to make sure that theyget their reservations in with you early.To book: abercrombiekent.co.uk/canada/polarbears.cfm

2. Adventures in AlaskaEscorted tours specialist Cox and Kingshas rolled out a new nine-day Highlightsof Alaska self-drive itinerary of Alaskathat features some of the state’s mostimpressive roads.Offering a fantastic overview of

Alaska’s unspoiled wilderness andmountainous grandeur, the nine-day tourbegins in Anchorage and journeys up toFairbanks, via Denali National Park,before looping back round to Anchoragevia the picture-postcard fishing port ofValdez and the protected waterways ofPrince William Sound, home to 10,000glaciers. The suggested itinerary features some

of Alaska’s most iconic road journeysincluding the George Parks Highway,which extends through 358 miles of

Alaska's most rugged terrain and crossesover 40 bridges, and the RichardsonHighway, the state’s first major road,which was built in 1898 by the US Armyto provide an "all-American" route to theKlondike gold fields. Highlights of this itinerary include a

full-day tour into Denali National Parkoffering an abundance of wildlife such asmoose, wolves, caribou and bears and ascenic journey through Prince WilliamSound on the Alaska Marine Ferry withthe chance to spot a vast variety ofmarine life including whales, porpoise, seaotters, sea lions and seals.How much?Prices for the nine-dayHighlights of Alaska self-drive itinerarycosts from £1,495 and includesaccommodation on a mixed board basisand car hire. International flights are notincluded.To book: coxandkings.co.uk

3. The park runNext year, the National Park Service ofAmerica is celebrating its 100-yearanniversary, and the association is keen toencourage visitors to explore, learn andbe inspired by the country’s 401 parks.While experiencing all of these parks in

one visit is an insurmountable task foreven the most determined of travellers,Trafalgar Tours has a 14-day Scenic ParksExplorer that takes seven of the country’smost-loved outdoor spaces. Starting inLas Vegas which will be a base for the firsttwo nights, guests will have the chance to


Wild things

WILDLIFE & NATURE

From exploring the great national parks of

America to heli-exploring, these holidays are

what memories are made of

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Trafalgar Tours’ 14-day Scenic ParksExplorer takes in the magnificent

Grand Canyon National Park

S06 TB North America Supp 2015 - Wildlife & Nature_Layout 1 09/03/2015 11:47

travel out to the graceful canyons andtowering cliffs of Zion National Parkbefore checking out Bryce CanyonNational Park, home to the world’slargest concentration of hoodoos-talllimestone spires that rise from the desertfloor. Then it’s off to Salt Lake City for a visit

to Grand Teton National Park to crossover its impressive mountain rangebefore arriving at Yellowstone NationalPark. Yellowstone was established in1872 as the US’s first national park, andwas created to protect the large numberof geysers here, the most famous ofwhich is Old Faithful. Visitors can watchas the waters rise up over 100ft from OldFaithful.The adventure continues through

Montana and South Dakota’s Black Hillsto arrive in Colorado. After a stop inDenver, it’s on to Arches National Parkwhere years of wind and rain have erodedthe sandstone into more than 2,000natural arches.Mesa Verde National Park is next on

the itinerary. This park boasts the largestcliff dwelling in the world, with more than600 still in tact. The cliffs provided ahome to Ancestral Pueblo people for 700years, from AD 600 to 1300. In theevening, guests will have the chance toenjoy a Navajo cookout regional dinner. The following day will include a trip to

Monument Valley before arriving atperhaps the most famous of all, the GrandCanyon National Park for the once-in-a-lifetime photo opportunities.Visitors will have the chance to meet

the Navajo people who have populatedthis land for many years, and they will alsobe joined by a local expert who willenlighten them about the 1.7 billion yearsof geology revealed in the canyon.How much?Prices start at £3, 482 perperson and include land and air transport13 nights’ accommodation on a bed andbreakfast basis, VIP door to door airporttransfers, sightseeing and the services ofa professional travel director throughout.

4. From redwoods to sequoiasAdventure specialist Mountain Kingdomsis looking to increase its activity with thetrade (see page 17) to help raise theprofile of its variety of tours.One in particular visits a region of the

US that is home to sequoias and redwood

trees, some of world’s tallest trees.California is America’s most

bio-diverse state, and MountainKingdoms has put together 15-dayGentle Walking California adventure toexperience this region’s diverse offering,giving hikers the chance to see a widerange of wildlife from sea lions to blackbears, as well as travel across landscapesas diverse as coastal geologic faults toglacier carved peaks, and world-classgrapevines.The tour starts off in San Francisco

before heading south through Montereyto Big Sur and on to the Sequoia NationalPark to get up close to the giantredwoods. Then it’s on to Santa Monicato take in the town’s beautiful sandybeaches and lively café-lined boulevardsbefore heading back out on the trail tohike through the Joshua Tree NationalPark. A hike to Big Bear Lake is next onthe agenda before heading to DeathValley to watch the sun set fromZabriskie Point.A walk to Badwater Basin, the lowest

point in Continental US, follows beforemoving on to Yosemite National Park,which is celebrating its 125thanniversary, for a trek to the incredibleHalf Dome, which rises 5,000ft abovethe Yosemite valley. A climb to its peak isworth the effort as the views arerewarding. The adventure then heads alubricating turn to the Napa Valleywineries before concluding on the wildcoast at Point Reyes Peninsula.How much?Prices lead in at £4,225 perperson and include flights,accommodation, 12 breakfasts and 13lunches and the services of an

experienced leader. Departure dates are20 June and 29 August.To book: mountainkingdoms.com

5. New heightsTauck prides itself on the authenticexperiences it can offer its clients, andwith that in mind, the specialist haslaunched a new tour to the CanadianRockies and the Bugaboos that is a littledifferent to others.Guaranteed to be popular with

adventurers who have a head forheights, this new seven-day tour offerstravellers the chance to take part in anheli-exploring experience in an alpinewonderland that is inaccessible to mostvisitors. The experience was firstconceived by heli-skier Arthur Tauckwith Austrian alpinist Hans Gmoser in1978.Described as a “once-in-a-lifetime

opportunity to soar with the eagles inplaces that entranced past generationsof Tauck travellers,“ travellers hop frompeak to peak by helicopter in the highcountry of the Bugaboos mountainrange as well as embarking on guidedhikes in the Purcell mountains.How much?Prices lead in at £3,630 perperson and include: two nights inlake-view rooms at the FairmontChateau Lake Louise; three nights at theBugaboo Lodge; exploration byhelicopter; overnight stay at BanffSprings Lodge’ guided sightseeing inBanff National Park; airport transfersand 16 meals (six breakfasts, fourlunches, six dinners). International flightsare not included.To book: tauck.co.uk/ �

Abercrombie and Kent’s eight-day Birds, Bears and BelugaWhales offers the perfect opportunity to glimpse polar bears intheir natural habitat in the arctic region of Canada

All about North America16

WILDLIFE & NATURE

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S06 TB North America Supp 2015 - Wildlife & Nature_Layout 1 09/03/2015 11:47

For agents

Agents have until 3 April to enter into acompetition to win a place on the BrandUSA MegaFam 2015.

To be in with a chance of securing aplace on the fam trip, agents in the UKand Ireland have to register any AmericanAirlines, British Airways and US Airwaysflights they sell to the US from 1 January2015 and complete the bespokeMegaFam Airlines badge on the USADiscovery Programme. The more flightsagents log and the more USA DiscoveryProgramme badges they earn before theclosing date, the more chance they’ll haveof securing a place on the Brand USAMegaFam.

Meanwhile, the Santa MonicaSpecialist badge has just become thelatest destination to launch on the USADiscovery Programme, Brand USA’saward-winning travel agent training site.Agents can now log on to the programmeto learn all about ‘California’s MostCelebrated Beach City’, from SantaMonica’s affordable to high-endaccommodation, its dining options,nightlife, shopping and other must doexperiences. USAdiscoveryprogram.co.uk

Adventure tours specialist MountainKingdoms is looking to build up its profileof its selection of treks and tours with thetrade.

As part of its drive to raise awareness,the operator is offering 11% commissionon land-only bookings which are cappedat £180 per person worldwide exceptholidays in Europe which are capped at£100 per person.

This offer will apply to all bookingsfrom agents irrespective of whether theyare on our database or not, and if they arepast customers, the past client discount

still applies, along with any early birddiscounts the bookings may qualify for. Ifan agent puts through 10 or morebookings in one year, then MountainKingdoms will send the agent a case ofwine.For more information, [email protected]

Tours specialist Insight Vacations isoffering agents the chance to win £75 ofLove2Shop vouchers if they book clientson the operator’s eight-day SouthernElegance tour by 14 April.insightvacations.com

The team at Dragoman, the overlandadventure specialist, have been usingtheir imagination when it comes to stafftraining. Last September, they invitedagents to a campout at a Suffolk farmnear Dragoman HQ, with an evening fullof quizzes, food and drink around acampfireThe evening was a great success and thespecialist is planning to repeat the eventlater this spring again in Suffolk but also ata destination to be confirmed in the northof England.Lisa Smith from STA in Chelmsfordattended the event, and said: “It wasawesome seeing the trucks and all their

equipment, I didn't realise how muchspace there would be and how much theycan fit. The tents were really good andcosy. It was a great taste of the outdoorsand what Dragoman trips have to offer.”dragoman.com

Need to know

Major events and anniversaries are vitalfor you to know about as they can help todrive sales.

From 6 June to 5 July this year, Canadais hosting the FIFA Women’s World Cup.The tournament will be taking place inMoncton, Montreal, Ottawa, Winnipeg,Edmonton and Vancouver.

Meanwhile, Canada is looking forward to2017 when it will celebrate its 150thbirthday. Ottawa will be the main place ofcelebration with the unveiling of a newmonument to former Governor GeneralLord Stanley, who founded Canada. Thefederal government has announced an$80 million investment into therefurbishment of the Canada Science andTechnology Museum in Ottawa, with thereopening scheduled in 2017 as part ofCanada’s 150th birthday celebrations.fifa.com/womensworldcup;

canada150.com

17All about North America

From mega fams to major anniversaries, there’s alot happening Stateside over the next few years

AGENT NEWS

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Get the lowdown

Agents enjoy Dragoman’s hands-onapproach to training

S07 TB North America Supp 2015 - Question Time_Layout 1 09/03/2015 11:54

18

The price really is rightFrom three-night city ‘shop ‘til you drop’ breaksin New York to 20-day Alaskan adventures,there’s an experience to suit all types of clients


£1,000

Funway Holidays has two breaks thatcome in under the £1,000 mark. Thefirst one is a seven-night Orlandofamily holiday in the Disney area.How much? Prices lead in at £469 perperson and include self-cateringaccommodation in a three-bedroomvilla and flights with United Airlines.Prices are based on six people sharingwith flights departing the UK on 26November.

The second break is a three-nightNew York city break.How much? Prices lead in at £829 perperson and include three nights at thethree-star Wellington Hotel withreturn Virgin Atlantic flights. The priceis based on two people sharing withflights departing the UK on 7December.To book: funway4agents.co.uk

Canadian Affair’s 14-day MaritimeMagic Treasures flydrive starts off inHalifax for a two-night stay to explorethe historic city before heading alongthe lighthouse route around thesoutheast coast of Nova Scotiatowards Peggy's Cove before checkingin for the night at Western Shore,which boasts views across to MahoneBay and Oak Island.

The flydrive continues on to Digbyfor a visit to the renowned FisheriesMuseum of the Atlantic before heahingon to the Bay of Fundy and on toCharlottetown on Prince EdwardIsland.

On day nine, it’s time to return to

Nova Scotia to explore the coastalscenery, including a drive along CabotTrail and across to Cape BretonHighlands.

A drive further along Cabot Trailtakes visitors to Bras d'Or Lake andBaddeck before continuing on to WestBay.How much? Prices start at £849including accommodation, car hire anda city tour. Flights are included.To book: canadianaffair.com/holidays

£2,000

Adventure tours specialist InfiniteAdventures has a 20-day trip thattakes travellers on a journey to exploreAlaska’s wilderness and animals.

The journey includes travellingthrough Alaska on a converted yellowschool bus. The operator is looking tobuild on its relationship with the tradeand is offering commission rate ofbetween 10% and 15%.How much? Prices lead in at £1,910per person and include allaccommodation/camping, meals andmany of the outdoor activities such asDenali National Park entrance andshuttle buses, wildlife viewing andhiking, a canoe trip on Maclaren River,the remote camp with glacierview in Wrangell St EliasNational Park, whale watching inSeward along with sea kayaking inKatchemak Bay while staying inInfinite’s remote luxury camp.

Departure dates are: 14 June, 5 July,26 July and 16 August.To book: infiniteadv.com

Imaginative Traveller has an 11-dayDeep South and Delta Blues tour thatfollows in the footsteps of Reginald DHunter's TV series, Songs of the South.The circular trip from Atlanta heads to:Nashville to visit the Jack Daniel'sWhiskey Distillery, Wildhouse Saloonand Country Music Hall of Fame;Memphis for a tour of Elvis Presley’sformer home Graceland, a visit to theNational Civil Rights Musuem, Tupelothe birthplace of Elvis, and Clarksdalefor a tour of a traditional cottonplantation.

The tour also visits Natchez, theheart of the slave trade, for a chance tolisten to gospel music in a local church.Three days in New Orleans follows togive visitors the opportunity toimmerse themselves in Creole andCajun culture, watch a jazzperformance at Preservation Hall, takea Louisiana swamp tour and visit theCivil Rights Institute and Museum inBirmingham.How much? Prices lead in at £1,579per person, and include 10 nights’

HOLIDAYS FOR LESS

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S08 TB North America Supp 2015 - Holidays For Less_Layout 1 09/03/2015 14:17

accommodation and transport via aminibus with wifi. The group size will beno bigger than 13 people. There are 17departures this year with the first oneon 21 March.To book: imaginative-traveller.com

£3,000

Trafalgar Tours’ The Californian all-over experience includes two nights inSan Diego and Los Angeles, trips toSanta Barbara, Carmel and Montereyand Yosemite National Park. The triprounds off with a Be My Guest lunch inSonoma at a family-owned winery andtwo nights in San Francisco.How much? Prices start at £2,795 perperson and include flights, transportduring the trip and accommodation.To book: trafalgar.com

Insight Vacations has an eight-daySouthern Elegance tour that includesvisits to the antebellum plantations inCharleston, a tour of the BiltmoreEstate for an insight into the daily lives

of the elite Vanderbilt family, a horse-drawn carriage ride throughCharleston, a tour of the MagnoliaPlantation, a visit to St Simons andJekyll Islands and indulging in acelebration dinner of authenticsouthern fare in Savannah during aprivate tour of the Owens-ThomasHouse. Visitors also get theopportunity to create Charlestonsweetgrass baskets.How much? Prices start at £2,870 perperson and include flights, transportduring the trip and accommodation.To book: insightvacations.com

Cox and Kings has a 14-day AtlanticCanada Explorer self-drive privatejourney that takes in Canada's scenicAtlantic provinces of Nova Scotia, NewBrunswick and Prince Edward Island.Highlights of the adventure include awhale-watching cruise in search ofhumpback whales, visits to KejimkujikNational Park, renowned for itswilderness of lakes and rivers, anovernight stay in Shediac, known locally

as the lobster capital of the world, and adrive along the Cabot Trail to visit CapeBreton Highlands National Park, abeautiful park with 20 walking trails.How much? Prices start at £2,495,including accommodation on a mixedboard basis and car hire. Flights are notincluded.To book: coxandkings.co.uk

£5,000

Insight Vacations has a 15-dayTrans-Canada Odyssey tour that takesin the country’s dramatic landscape. Theadventure includes a guided walkingtour of Whistler, travel in an Ice Exploreron to the icy slopes of AthabascaGalcier, the chance to admire thenatural wonders of Banff National Park,marvel at Niagara Falls at the base onboard a cruise and enjoy spectacularscenery on a three-night train journey. How much? Prices start at £4,870 perperson and include land, air and railarrangements.To book: insightvacations.com

All about North America 19

Insight Vacations’ 15-day Trans-Canada Odysseytakes in the sights of Banff National Park

HOLIDAYS FOR LESS

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WIN £500 TOWARDS A CANADA HOLIDAY

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12 day Lakes & Bays of Ontario Algonquin Provincial Park, Niagara Falls, Ontario’s forests & lakes, Georgian Bay, Muskoka, Rosseau.

Return flights with Air Canada

12 day Lakes & Bays of Ontario Self Drive with 11 nights accommodation, 11 days fully inclusive car hire & selected sightseeing

Valid for travel: 23 May - 16 Jun 15

FROM £2,259PPFROM £1,599PP

9 day Western Explorer Vancouver, Kamloops, Jasper, Lake Louise, Banff, Calgary

Return flights with Air Canada

9 day Western Explorer with 8 nights hotel accommodation, 2 day Rocky Mountaineer RedLeaf Service, Various meals and sightseeing tours

Valid for travel: 18 - 30 Apr 15


travel bulletin north america supplement 2015

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