TOP 10 -- Small Tour Operators to Europe
Robert Loveland - Tours To Go!
If we are familiar at all with tour operators to Europe or follow this
newsgroup closely, then we know about Globus, the largest American tour
operator to Europe. We may have heard also of other biggies such as
Trafalgar, Insight, Cosmos, American Express, TWA Getaway Vacations, etc.
But I have a list of great tour operators to Europe that I bet few have heard
about. They are all quite different from the companies named above, and they
are each unique in their own way. Although generalizations can be dangerous,
each of the top 10 have some or all of the following characteristics:
-- Personalized service of an owner-operator who often personally leads the
tours
-- Smaller size groups than the large companies
-- Emphasis on direct marketing and word of mouth / repeat business of a
devoted following rather than mass marketing through the travel agency
network
-- Informative tour brochures and itineraries, but not the fancy, slick
brochures
-- Regional tours in countries of specialty rather than European “grand
tours”
-- Inclusion of their tours in the Tours To Go! proprietary data base of
1000’s of tours offered by 100’s of companies (naturally the tours of all
the big companies listed above are included too); many of these companies
participate in the Tours To Go! rebate program.
Well, here they are in no particular order:
1. Nash Travel Tours, Inc, Danielson, CT, 800-227-2577
Nash is a leading small company provider of tours to Switzerland and the
Alps; tours are usually personally led by Barry Nash and have received very
positive response from participants.
2. Swanton Travel, Phillipsburg, NJ, 800-637-5713
The creative, interesting itineraries of Swanton Travel prove that Wales is
a worthy destination in its own regard, and not as an afterthought on travels
to the British Isles.
3. Patty's Places, Seattle, WA, 206-546-6717
Patty Price is the owner and escort of a series of tours each year since
1984; this year it is Switzerland, Italy, Turkey (one tour will feature
crafts/textiles), and Spain/Morocco; groups of 15-24.
4. OPA Tours Greece, Tujunga, CA, 800-672-7155
Small company operated by an American tour coordinator and Greek tour
manager; in depth tours of Greece; max groups of 20.
5. The English Experience, North Wales, PA, 800-892-9317
Clients homestay with family in England or Ireland and tour from home base;
also tours based from French chateau, "pension" in Spain, or lakeside hotel
in Scotland; usually 15 minimum tour participants.
6. Global Adventures, Inc., Encinitas, CA, 800-347-9468
Economical tours led by affable company owner; tours usually stay in one
location for serveral days; final Europe tour for 1996 is Eastern Europe;
15-32 in group; I have travelled with this company and had great trip.
7. Con Ginny- Al Tours, Los Altos, CA, 800-842-4955
Ginny and Al Dutra have been organizing and escorting tours to off-the-beaten
path Azores Islands and Madeira, as well as Portugal since 1982.
8. TLC Tours, Santa Barbara, CA 800-487-4852
Agent for Back Roads Touring Co. of England which specializes in small group
(max 11) travel to Britain w\ minibus/van; accommodations in country inns &
farmhouses.
9. Backroads International, New Orleans, LA, 800-227-7889
Specializes in regional tours to Spain with 3 offerings -- Basque region,
Asturias, and Galicia/Santiago (all 3 in North or Nothwest Spain); group size
10-21; highly praised.
10. Lord Addison Travel Ltd., Peterborough, NH, 800-326-0170
Upscale tours of England, Scotland, and Wales for Anglophiles; features
themes such as antiques, history, literature, gardens, rail, theater, stately
homes, children, etc.
Well there you have it. Now for a few questions. Have any of the readers
been on tours offered by any of these companies? If so, do you agree that
these companies are worthy? Disagree? How about any other candidates that
you have traveled with? There are some other really good companies, but I
decided to leave it at 10. Lets start a little dialog.
Maybe I will do another list of additional small tour companies later. Also
I am thinking of doing a list of medium sized companies that specialize in
individual European countries of regions. Perhaps separate lists of economy
and deluxe tour operators. Also, adventure and special interest companies
such as walking, biking, pilgrimmage, art and music, train travel, or
whatever. Any interest? I will probably do something like this for other
regions of the world, too.
Please post or e-mail comments regarding tour operators. Also e-mail any
questions re: Tours To Go! Thanks
Cordially,
Bob Loveland
Tours To Go! ... "the international tours matchmaker"
Robert Loveland - Tours To Go!
Date: Sat, 25 May 1996 18:33:09
From: RLov...@gnn.com (Robert Loveland - Tours To Go!)
To: JSu...@prodigy.com
Subject: Re: TOP 10 -- Small Tour Operators to Europe
>Date: Sat, 25 May 1996 00:55:39, -0500
>From: JSu...@prodigy.com (MR JOHN T SUCHY)
>To: RLOV...@GNN.COM
>Subject: Re: TOP 10 -- Small Tour Operators to Europe
>
>Thanks for the information. I, like others, am interested in
>"touring" primarily as a means of taking care of details so that I
>can spend my time without stress and also without undue expenditures.
> That's probably pretty typical of "seniors" who want to travel. One
>organization I have had experience with, not a small one, Grand
>Circle, seems to have those ideals in mind. Would be interested in
>know how you and others react to this organization. Thanks
>John Suchy
John,
I agree with you wholeheartedly. Grand Circle Travel would definitely be on
my TOP 10 list of larger tour operators. They have tours and cruises all over
the world. They are a top notch organization. As an example of their
quality, I recently read where Grand Circle unhesitatingly gave a substantial
refund because of their "price guarantee" policy to a couple who found a
lower price than what they paid, even though the price paid had been verified
as a bargain. I have just been in touch with Grand Circle to get a full
roster of their land tours for my data base (my business does not deal with
ocean cruises).
For those who are interested, Grand Circle's toll free number is
800-995-5689. You hinted, but did not specifically metion that Grand Circle
is for seniors (I believe age 50 and up). I am not quite there yet, but hope
to some day give Grand Circle a try.
Thanks for your response.
cabr...@peabody.jhu.edu
Vernon E. Wilson
Hey, please don't forget us...Bella Italia Tours...we have all the
qualities you like... we specialize in Italy ...we accept only a
maximum of 27 people (next year 25)...both my partner (Vern Wilson) and
I go on the tours...he is a retired art professor and I am an Italian
native (language teacher) and we both give a tremendous amount of
instruction to our tourists (art talks, art history, stories about
artists, language, history of Italy, culture, food, wine, local
recipes, legends, etc.)...we go to the main cities but also to
carefully researched backroads and villages...we go to family hotels -3
or 4 stars... we pay lot of attention to individual needs, everybody
has tons of fun...next year we are going to do a tour with only 16
people to the Lake Country and the Alps...also others similar...
we truly think we are also unique and special...
Gianfranco Russu http://www.itlgroup.com