Trafalgar Launches 2013 Europe & Britain First Class Brochure

Big news for tours of Europe: Trafalgar has released its 2013 Europe & Britain First Class brochure with 104 itineraries, three of which are Inspired Vacations that cater to specific traveler interests. Trafalgar has also expanded its local Insider Experiences for 2013, including more than 40 exclusive Be My Guest dining experiences in family homes, farms, wineries and other special venues that offer improved insight into the local culture.

Even better: Trafalgar has enhanced their Early Payment Discount offer to support  travel agents in securing additional 2013 bookings this fall. On top of prices that have already been reduced by up to 13 percent, clients can save up to $1500 per couple on 2013 First Class itineraries paid in full by December 27. Additionally, past guests save up to $2,000 per couple with the 10 percent Early Payment Discount, plus 5 percent Past Guest Travel Club discount.

The three new and enhanced Inspired Vacation itineraries include: WWI & WWII Battlefields, English Country Gardens and Flavors of Italy.

WWI & WWII Battlefields

A new itinerary for history buffs, the 12-day WWI & WWII Battlefields takes travelers to the wars’ most significant monuments, memorials and museums through England, France and the Netherlands. Starting in London and ending in Amsterdam, the trip stops in Caen, Amiens, Paris, Lilles and includes daytrips to Somme, Ypres, Portsmouth and more. Travelers will get the opportunity to pay their respects to the soldiers when visiting Vimy Ridge and also the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery and Memorial, containing the remains of over 2,000 Canadian soldiers who lost their lives in World War II. On an excursion to Ypres, guests will also stop in Passchendaele to visit the museum and see a replica trench, then visit Essex Farm Cemetery where John McCrae wrote his immortal poem "In Flanders Fields." Other highlights of the trip include a visit to the historic D-Day Normandy landing beaches, a wine tasting at a champagne house in Lille, a special Be My Guest dinner of Dutch cuisine with a local family just outside of Amsterdam and a tour of Paris and London with a Local Guide.

English Country Gardens

Horticulture fans will want to check out the new nine-day English Country Gardens. Beginning and ending in London, guests stop at the country’s most spectacular and celebrated gardens along the way, including the Wisely Gardens, Kew Gardens, Biddenden Vineyards and the Hever Castle Rose Garden. After visiting Kew Gardens, the world’s most famous botanical garden, guests board one of England’s most recognized steam trains, the historical Bluebell Railway, to travel to the Sheffield Park and Gardens. Customers are also treated to a Unique Insight into the White Cliffs of Dover, the conservation of which Trafalgar is heavily involved in with The National Trust. After a presentation of the significance of the cliffs and their preservation, travelers enjoy a Be My Guest Cream Tea at the family-owned Mount Ephraim Country House. Next up is Biddenden Vineyards, set on 22 picturesque acres in Kent, where guests will enjoy a vineyard walk and wine tasting. Before wrapping up in London, the group heads to Hever Castle for a Small Group Sightseeing experience, where they will chat to the gardeners about each uniquely themed garden. The trip ends with a highlight of visiting the Castle’s celebrated Rose Garden, which contains over 4,000 roses within its walls.

Flavors of Italy
Enhanced from the previous brochure and now featured as a specialty itinerary, the 10-day Flavors of Italy tour is geared for foodies. Starting in Rome and ending in Venice, the trip takes guests to some of Italy’s best gastronomic cities including Tuscany, Greve, Parma and Bologna. The food adventure begins with a gelato treat in Rome then moves on to Greve, where customers will visit a wine and olive oil outlet, tasting Chianti wines and extra virgin olive oils before enjoying a special Be My Guest dinner in a family-owned vineyard overlooking the rolling Chianti hills. In Florence, passengers can try Trafalgar’s unique Tuscan Lifestyle Experience, where they will spend the day shopping for ingredients at a fruit and vegetable market, interacting with the locals. Lunch is then prepared by guests using the purchased produce, as they learn about Italian cuisine by a professional chef. The tour wraps up in Bologna, known for its cured meats like prosciutto and salami, then departs in Venice where guests join a secret walking tour with a Local Guide to see where the locals shops for the best cuisine.

For more information, visit www.trafalgar.com or www.trafalgaragent.com.