t ravel
connection
Not your father’s
tour company
By T. Foster Jones
WHEN I FIRST TRAVELED to Europe, a and elect for a region-based program.
young man with a spring in my step and a pack Whichever tour, pace or area they choose,
on my back, I eschewed the idea of going with Severini says, Trafalgar travelers won’t miss out.
a tour group. Tours were for old people. You “Every tour compiles all the ‘must-do,
spent all day being herded on and off a bus. must-see’ elements into one enriching expe-
You had no independence. I wanted to be free rience,” he says. “You will enjoy ideally located
to go wherever and whenever I chose. hotels. You will sample Europe’s culinary
After roaming around for several months, delights, exquisite sites and authentic atmo-
however, I realized that, for all my vaunted sphere. Best of all, you pay one price for a
independence, I was spending an extraordi- great vacation that includes everything, giv-
nary amount of time and energy just gathering ing you true value for your money.”
information: finding places to stay, figuring out Somewhat paradoxically, by traveling with
what to see and how to get around. More a group, your personal travel time is freed up.
important, as I found out afterward, I missed No stress about where to sleep. No worry about
out on the relevance of many of my experi- missing the significant sights. No time wasted
ences. There was so much historical and cul- on mundane tasks.
tural significance to what I was passing “We treat time as precious, so we deliver
through, but I had no one to point it out and the most out of each and every day so you can
help me understand it. see all that Europe has to offer,” says Severini.
In the years since my first trip, the To top it off, the tour director assigned to
escorted-travel industry has undergone quite each trip ensures that not only will you not
a change. Tour companies have recognized miss seeing anything, you won’t miss out on
that there is a happy medium between the what it means.
go-it-alone and the led-by-the-nose experi- “The tour director is key,” says Severini.
ences. Smaller groups, greater scheduling “He or she is not only a concierge, but a his-
flexibility, varied pacing and wider choices of torian to establish relevancy to all the sights.
itineraries mean that a traveler can pick the Your tour director provides insights that
tour that fits his or her needs. make what you’re seeing come alive.”
Perhaps no other company better repre-
sents this than Trafalgar Tours. In the busi-
ness of showcasing Europe for more than half The Costco Connection
a century, Trafalgar has mastered the balance Costco members receive either one compli-
of escorted travel and free time. mentary pre-night at the first hotel desig-
“With Trafalgar, you can choose not just nated in the itinerary, plus a pre-night
the where and when of your journey, but the one-way private transfer, or instant 10 per-
how, with Trafalgar’s distinct touring styles,” cent savings off the land portion of any
says John Severini, president of Trafalgar Tours. Trafalgar Tour on costco.com. Members will
The company offers five different travel also receive 5 percent off airfare booked
paces designed around the style, number of through Trafalgar Tours. Book online at
experiences and level of independence costco.com or call Costco Travel toll-free at
desired, and more than 100 itineraries, from 1-877-849-2730.
eight days to 30-plus days. A visitor to Europe
might want to see several countries in one fell Travel alert: Effective January 2007, pass-
swoop, and so opt for a faster-paced tour. port requirements for American citizens will
Others might prefer to stay in one area for change dramatically. For complete informa-
their stay and delve further into the culture, tion, visit www.travel.state.gov.
TRAFALGAR TOURS
ESCORTED VACATIONS
Costco Travel has partnered with Trafalgar
Tours to bring you the very best in Europe
escorted motor coach tours. With more
than 100 different European itineraries,
Trafalgar offers a variety of tours in the following regions:
• Britain & Ireland
• France, Spain, Portugal & Morocco
• Italy & Combinations
• Central & Eastern Europe
• Scandinavia & Russia
• Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Greece & Greek Isles
COSTCO MEMBERS RECEIVE AN
ADDED VALUE OF EITHER:
One complimentary pre-night at the first
hotel designated in the itinerary, plus a
pre-night one-way private transfer
OR
Instant 10% savings off the land portion of
any Trafalgar Tour featured on costco.com
or as designated by a black dove in
Trafalgar’s Europe and Britain book.
EXECUTIVE MEMBERS RECEIVE
AN ADDITIONAL BENEFIT.
Please call for details.
Book online at costco.com or call
toll free at 1-877 849-2730.
*Price quoted will be per person based on double occupancy and
will include hotel taxes. Price will be valid for travel as specified.
Prices and inclusions are subject to change without notice.
Travel purchases are not included in the Executive Membership
2% Reward program. Seasonal surcharges, availability, blackout
dates and restrictions may apply. All prices will be in U.S. dollars. Costco Travel disclaims liability for any inaccuracies or typographical errors.
Costco Travel is a registered seller of travel and travel agency in
the following states: Washington (WST 602042600), Ohio
8789302), Florida (Fla. Seller of Travel Reg. No. ST32555) and
California (CST 2054248-50). Registration as a seller of travel
does not constitute approval by the state of California.
