earlyBirds

EARLY BIRD DEALS HATCH EXCEPTIONAL SALES how the early bird deals would be received in the African market as early birds had primarily been offered for the European markets. “We were amazed at the positive response we received, which is unprecedented,” he said. “We have had a 400 per cent increase in forward bookings for 2013 over any other year, which we attribute to a renewed confidence and a desire to make use of the high Australian dollar. We ran a campaign offering the early bird deals to create some interest only, but in fact it has been highly successful, so we are thankful to all our agents for pushing these deals to their clients.”

‘We have had a 400 per cent increase in forward bookings for 2013 over any other year, which we attribute to a renewed confidence and a desire to make use of the high Australian dollar’

Adelie penguin and chicks (Image courtesy of Abercrombie & Kent which is offering Antarctica early birds)

Early birds sales are going through the roof, with firsttime African deals adding to the attraction.

30

travelBulletin November 2012

By Jenny Burns

S

ALES of early bird deals are exceeding market expectations with major players reporting many Australians taking advantage of the discount deals on offer. Europe and North America remain popular destinations with early bird purchasers while the introduction of African early bird deals this year has given the market a major boost. African Travel Specialists managing director Richard Ruskin wasn’t sure

Adventure Destinations managing director Karryn Papenfus said Africa early birds had seen good booking numbers and a great response for the first year they had been offered. Early bird bookings for Canada and Alaska were tracking at similar numbers or slightly lower to last year probably due to specials now available to a number of destinations. “Turkey and the Middle East are improving but there is still a bit of uncertainty regarding the security in this area and we expect that travellers are sitting and watching the situation to see how it develops before booking for 2013,” she said. DriveAway Holidays national industry sales manager Nathan Baber is reporting strong sales of Peugeot leasing early bird deals. “We are on track to finalise close on 2700 Peugeot leases for collections this year, with Australia being the largest market for Peugeot leasing in Europe worldwide,” he said. DriveAway is also reporting strong demand for independent travel in Europe, Britain and the States. “Clients are very detailed in their travel plans, they’ve done the research and know exactly what they want,” Baber said. “UK/Europe took a hit over the Olympics, and it’s great to see selfdrive destinations like Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Spain, Portugal,

Ireland and Britain bouncing back.” Greece and Mediterranean Travel Centre managing director Halina Kubica said with the release of early bird deals the company has not only seen a significant increase in travellers enquiring about travelling to Greece and the Mediterranean, but also a rise in bookings for 2013. According to Globus family of brands, marketing manager Australasia, Christian Schweitzer, early bird airfares have been performing exceptionally well this year. “We’ve been able to price our early bird airfares below those of our major competitors and have seen an instant response from the market. Cosmos Europe sales are currently up 48 per cent on this time last year and Globus Europe sales are up 85 per cent, after going on sale in mid-September. “North America is performing strongly too, after going on sale with a choice of early bird offers in April. Globus North America sales are up 46 per cent and Cosmos North America is up 22 per cent. Our itineraries involving the Rocky Mountaineer rail journey are doing extremely well – double the sales of this time last year. “Our river cruise operator Avalon Waterways is on track for another record year, having had two rounds of early bird offers since its release in April. Avalon’s Asia itineraries are doing especially well after an early bird saving of $150 per person was offered on Yangtze and Mekong cruises, with sales up by 11 per cent. “We expect sales to remain strong for the rest of the year when our current early bird specials expire, but we’ll be looking at further opportunities to stimulate sales in the new year.” Insight Vacations’ managing director Joost Timmer said the company was currently witnessing solid growth in bookings since the launch of its early bird offers to Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean, with particular interest in the UK and the Iberian Peninsula. “We do believe this surge will persist as travellers are seeing savings like never before with the reduced airfares, combined with Insight’s unique product offering to Europe including brand new tours to Ireland, Spain and Greece, our early payment discounts and the continued strength of the Aussie dollar. “Many Insight tours sell out months in advance so agents should be sure to have their clients organised early to not only ensure they have a place on the tour they want, when they want but so that they can also enjoy the great savings.”

Available in 33 distinct flavours

Book with Emirates and your clients will experience one-stop flights to 33 European destinations and our flexible arrival and departure policy. With so many options it’s easy to create the perfect European experience.

emiratesagents.com/au Award-winning inflight service

Gourmet food and wine

1,400 entertainment channels on-demand

500 international awards and over 120 destinations worldwide including 33 cities in Europe. For more information contact your Emirates’ Sale Representative or the Emirates’ Contact Centre on 1300 880 599.

travelBulletin November 2011

23

earlyBirds

Save $300 with Albatross Tours summer programs offer Alhambra Palace, Spain

ALBATROSS Tours is offering $300 per person off the tour price of any of its summer tour programs which are booked and a deposit paid by December 22. The company is offering six summer European tours covering the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Germany, Austria, Spain and Portugal. The tours include the 15-day “Black Forest, Bavaria and the Tyrol” which spends four nights in the heart of the Black Forest and three nights in the Bavarian Alps amongst King Ludwig’s ‘fairytale’ castles. A further five nights are spent in the Austrian Tyrol visiting Salzburg, Innsbruck and Hitler’s infamous Eagles Nest. The new 19-day “Magnifico Spain and Portugal” visits Granada, Madrid, Seville, Porto, Toledo, Cordoba, Ronda, Merida, Évora, Avila and Salamanca. The 18-day “Italian Grande” spends four nights in the Italian Lakes District, two nights in an Italian castle, five nights touring Tuscany visiting

Florence, the Cinque Terre, Lucca, Pisa, Siena, and San Gimignano, two nights in the Umbrian Hills, and as a finale, three nights on the Amalfi Coast visiting Capri, Amalfi and Positano, and a last night in Rome. The 18-day “Great British Heritage Tour” includes stays in Bath, Yorkshire, Stratford-upon-Avon, the Lakes District and Scotland. There are visits to castles, country mansions and landscaped gardens plus excursions such as a ‘Braveheart’ tour, which explores the villages of the Cotswolds and a finale dinner and overnight stay in Leeds Castle. The 17-day “Provence and Tuscany to Umbria Tour” includes three nights on the Cote d’Azur with visits from chic St Tropez to Nice and Monaco, four nights in Tuscany and three nights in Umbria. The 17-day “Francaise Tour” offers three-night stays in Normandy, the Loire Valley, Bordeaux and Burgundy plus two more nights in Dordogne.

Emirates early bird sales jump 50% EMIRATES is reporting strong demand for its early bird deals. According to Emirates regional manager Victoria and Tasmania, Dean Cleaver, sales are up 50 per cent on last year. The strength of the Australian dollar, Australians’ support of Emirates and an increase in early bird deals were amongst the main reasons. “Thanks to the strength of the dollar Australians are still travelling in great numbers,” Cleaver said. “Many also now realise this is the best time to buy air tickets – prices will never be lower. “Furthermore this year we are offering early bird specials on many more destinations. Those destinations include Europe, the Americas and Africa and also take in new routes introduced in 2012. These routes include Rio,

Buenos Aires, Dublin, Lusaka, Harare, Dallas, Seattle, Barcelona, Lisbon and Washington. “We have also increased capacity out of Australia including the introduction of Adelaide services, demand for which is exceeding expectations,” Cleaver said. Emirates offers four weekly flights from Adelaide which will increase to a daily service from February 1, 2013. A Boeing 777-300ER in a three class configuration is being used on the route. The A380 aircraft came into service in Melbourne last month while the airline’s current double-daily service to Perth will grow to 19 weekly flights from December 1, becoming a triple daily operation from March 1 next year. Emirates has already increased Perth capacity by replacing a 777-200 with a 777300.

Emirates’ A380

The decision to offer early bird deals through the airline’s low cost carrier – flydubai – which flies out of Dubai is said to have also played a role in early bird sales’ increases. Cleaver said UK is still the most popular

destination with those buying early bird deals. Rome and Paris are also in great demand, while sales to Dublin were also strong. Many travellers were also choosing a stopover in Dubai.

2013 EARLYBIRD SALE NOW ON!

Self-drive holidays, without breaking the budget... get ✓ Discounted car rental ✓ Reduced rates & free bonus offers on motorhome hire ✓ FREE days and 50% off delivery/return fees with Peugeot Leasing Book now for travel in 2013! Conditions apply. Offers available on selected vehicles with selected suppliers. Lic No.2TA66087

Call 1300 723 972 or visit www.driveaway.com.au or see your local Travel Agent 32

travelBulletin November 2012

earlyBirds

Turkey tour savings with GMTC GREECE and Mediterranean Travel Centre is offering early bird deals on a few popular Turkey tours in superior, cave (in Cappadocia, Turkey) and budget accommodation. Tours include the eight-day “Magic of Turkey” tour which, if booked by December 31, sees a $150 discount per couple or triple. The tour costs from $1086 per person (twin share). Also valid until December 31 is a $350 discount for the second person on the 14-day “Glories of Turkey” tour. Early bird deals valid until February 28 include a $150 discount per couple or triple on the 10-day “Classical Turkey” with prices starting from $986 per person (twin share). A $200 discount per room is on offer on the 11-day “Charming Turkey” tour, a guaranteed small group staying in boutique hotels. The tour costs from $1649 per person (twin share). A $200 discount is also offered on the 14-day “Jewels of Turkey” tour which is priced from $1448 per person (twin share). Deals on Greece accommodation in Mykonos and Santorini include a 15 per cent discount of accommodation at the Royal Myconian Resort if paid in full by April 30 as well as a free room upgrade (some seasons do not apply). Also on offer is a 15 per cent discount off Myconian K Hotel and Spa if paid in full by January 31, 2013 and a free room upgrade at Canaves Oia Hotel and Canaves Oia Suites if paid in full by March 31, a saving of up to 30 per cent. There’s also a 50 per cent off the second passenger on a “Cruise the Greek Islands” trip if booked by December 31.

Falkland Islands

Save $3000 with A&K Antarctic cruise offer

Ephesus, Turkey

ABERCROMBIE & Kent is offering several early bird deals on its Antarctic cruises valid for bookings by February 28, 2013. Passengers can save up to $US2500 per person on the December 11, 2013 “Classic Antarctica” cruise and $US3000 per person on the December 21, 2013 and January 5, 2014 departures of the 16-night “Antarctica, Falklands and South Georgia Island” cruises. Both cruises are on the MV Le Boreal, start and finish in Santiago and include zodiac excursions with expert lecturer/ guides, A&K cocktail reception – captain’s welcome cocktails, on-board lectures and activities, all meals and open bar on the cruise, one night’s deluxe accommodation in Santiago, expeditionary backpack and parka and on-board gratuities. Early bird deals are available only on category one, two and three cabins and don’t apply to single or solo bookings.

travelBulletin November 2012

33

earlyBirds

Insight Vacations’ airfare deals valid until end of year Santorini, Greece

INSIGHT Vacations’ early bird airfare deals with Etihad Airways and Virgin are on sale until December 31. As a result of the deal passengers can receive return economy flights with Etihad Airways or Virgin Australia to Dublin, Milan, Paris and London from $1559, $1579, $1639 and $1749 respectively, departing from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane (all fares inclusive of taxes). There are also return economy flights available with Virgin Australia and Etihad Airways to Istanbul from $1549 and Athens from $1589, departing from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane. The deals are valid on all holiday options

in Insight Vacations’ new 2013 Europe and Britain programs. There are also premium economy and business class airfares available. In addition, travellers who book an Insight Vacations Premium or Luxury escorted journey can save 10 per cent per person on many itineraries when booked and paid before December 27. The early payment discount is also combinable with the respective past passenger discount of five per cent, offering customers savings of up to 15 per cent. These include the Frequent Traveller Discount, the Young Traveller Savings and the Second Trip Discount.

Free Asia stopover offer with Avalon Waterways AVALON Waterways deals offer savings of up to $3236 per couple with passengers receiving a free four-day Monograms stopover in Asia when combining a Star Alliance round-world airfare with Avalon’s 15-day “Magnificent Europe” river cruise and a four-day Monograms short break in New York. Round the world fares are available from $4162 from Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane, or from $4834 from Adelaide or Perth. The river cruise costs from $5981 per person (twin share). New York short breaks cost from $999 per person (twin share). The deal must be booked by December 15.

Also on offer are $300 savings per couple on any Avalon Waterways 2013 European cruise of 11 days or more valid for bookings until December 15. Savings of $1000 per couple are being offered on the inaugural cruises of Avalon’s newest Suite ships, Avalon Expression and Avalon Artistry II. The new ships will enter service in April and May next year, offering eight-day itineraries from $3193 per person (twin share) and 15-day itineraries from $7131 per person (twin share), including the discount for bookings until December 15.

Free upgrades, bonus inclusions with DriveAway special deals DRIVEAWAY Holidays’ early bird car rental deals offer either free upgrades or bonus inclusions in countries including Britain, Europe, Ireland, Northern Ireland, USA and Canada. Car hire early bird deals on offer until January 31 include Dublin from $28 per day, London $29, Auckland $32, Barcelona $39, Los Angeles $42, Frankfurt and Sydney $44, Honolulu $45, Paris $49, Rome $49, Vancouver $61 and New York $74. Dates for travel depend on the destination. Rates are based on a seven-day rental and include unlimited kilometres, Collision Damage coverage, theft protection, Third Party Liability insurance, local taxes, vehicle licensing fee, premium location surcharge and 24 hour roadside assistance. In the UK there are free upgrades available while in the US there is nil excess and free one ways between California, Nevada and Arizona with selected suppliers. DriveAway is also offering a range of motor home early bird deals covering the UK, France, Germany, Dublin, Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands.

34

travelBulletin November 2012

Also on offer are early bird deals for motor homes in the United States, Canada and Alaska valid for booking until December 31. A discount of 15 per cent off daily flex rates are on offer on all Cruise America and Canada Motorhomes plus monthly departure specials. These specials include for April 2012 no one way fees, 50 per cent off unlimited mileage (C30 motorhomes only) or free vehicle provisioning kit. May and June offers include half price one way fees, 50 per cent off unlimited mileage (C30 only) or free vehicle provisioning kit. Special offers are also available in July, August, September and October.

ADVANCE PURCHASE SPECIAL DESTINATION: EUROPE

Discover Europe in 2013 at your own pace in a brand new Renault

ST INCLU MO

IVE OFFE DR

E SELFSIV

’s ld’s World Wo o:1 No:1 R

★★★★★

FULLY INCLUSIVE OFFER

RENAULT

2013

FULL VEHICLE INSURANCE WITH NO EXCESS IN 42 COUNTRIES ncludes: punctured tyres, lost or stolen keys to your vehicle and fuel inversion.

EURODRIVE avel with peace of mind

For more information, please contact

t1300 55 11 60

www.renaulteurodrive.com.au DRIVE THE CHANGE

earlyBirds

Globus brands offer discounts for early bookings Stockholm, Sweden

THE Globus Family of Brands is offering a range of early bird deals. Deals on Globus 2012 European holidays include Cathay Pacific airfares to Rome from $1475 per person, to Paris from $1510 and to London

from $1645 (departures from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide). Airfares are subject to seasonal variations and bookings must be made by December 27, 2012 Passengers who book a Globus 2013

tour and pay in full 12 or more months ahead of departure can save 10 per cent of the land portion of the tour. Other Globus discounts available include five per cent off for Journeys Club repeat passengers and $150 per couple off

the cost of a second tour booked at the same time. North American deals include 10 per cent off the land-only portion of tours booked and paid for 12 months or more ahead of the tour. There’s also five per cent off for Journeys Club repeat passengers and $150 per couple off the cost of a second tour. Early bird airfare deals with Cathay Pacific for Cosmos 2013 European holidays are the same as those available with Globus. Other early bird airfares are available with Emirates and Singapore Airlines. Passengers who book a second Cosmos 2013 tour are entitled to a discount of $100 per couple. Passengers who pay in full four months before departure can save 2.5 per cent. Journeys Club repeat travellers save a further five per cent. Cosmos is offering a saving of $150 per person on its most popular North American tour, the 19-day “Canadian and Alaskan Masterpiece”. It’s available from $3593 per person (twin share) if booked by December 31, 2012.

Save up to $1200 with ATS African specials AFRICAN Travel Specialists is offering a number of early bird deals to Africa. The deals represent savings of up to $1200 per couple and must be booked and paid for by December 12. Deals on offer, which includes airfares ex Australia, include the 12-day “Luxury South Africa” which takes in Cape Town, Kruger National Park and a trip on Rovos Rail and stays in four and five-star accommodation. It now costs from $6990 plus ticket taxes of around $700. The 14-day “Kenya Wildlife Safari” which also includes a stay in Zanzibar and stays in four-star accommodation now costs from $5995 plus ticket taxes of around $865. As an added bonus, clients and agents both receive a $100 Visa Debit Card. The 12-day “Botswana Safari” which includes visits to Victoria Falls, Okavango Delta and the Kalahari Desert staying in five-star accommodation now costs from $7795 plus ticket taxes of around $735. The 12-day “South Africa” tour which takes in Cape Town, Kruger and Victoria Falls and stays at four-star accommodation now costs from $4395 plus ticket taxes of around $715.

36

travelBulletin November 2012

Take 10% off Topdeck sailing adventure TOPDECK is taking 10 per cent off its 26-day “Summer Fun and Sailing” adventure through 14 countries when booked and paid in full by December 28. The trip travels through France, Switzerland, Italy, Vatican City, Greece, Albania, Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Netherlands and Belgium and costs from $3324 per person – a saving of $276. Highlights include three days of flotilla sailing in the Ionian Sea, a gourmet picnic beside the Eiffel Tower, the French Riviera,

the Swiss Alps, the Leaning Tower of Pisa, a vaporetto (water bus) ride in Venice, a bicycle tour of Amsterdam, Postojna Caves in Slovenia and a castle stay in the Rhine Valley. The trip starts and ends in London and includes accommodation with daily breakfast, 10 lunches and 16 dinners, English Channel ferry crossings, a local guide in Florence, Dubrovnik and Tirana, trip leader and driver and on-site chefs in the Swiss Alps, Rome and Venice. “Summer Fun and Sailing” features in Topdeck’s new Europe 2013 brochure.

earlyBirds

Africa, Canada, Alaska early bird deals from Adventure Destinations Great Europe Earlybirds! Fly to London from

$1599*

Fly to London with Etihad Airways or Virgin Australia from $1599 pp (inclusive of tax) when booked in conjunction with an Insight Vacations holiday, minimum tour price $899 = Total Cost $2498 pp twin share

Fly to Rome from

$1549^

Fly to Rome with Cathay Pacific Airways from $1549 pp (inclusive of tax) when booked in conjunction with an Insight Vacations holiday, minimum tour price $2965 = Total Cost $4514 pp twin share

Fly to Paris from

Fly to Paris with Singapore Airlines from $1699 pp (inclusive of tax) when booked in conjunction with an Insight Vacations holiday, minimum tour price $975 = Total Cost $2674 pp twin share

per person (incl. taxes)

per person (incl. taxes)

$1699 per person (incl. taxes)

Moraine Lake, Alberta, Canada

ADVENTURE Destinations is offering a number of early bird deals including a number of African options. “After many years of requesting early bird offers from airlines and ground operators in Africa, it seems they have finally listened and launched some excellent airfare and land specials for early purchase of travel to Africa in 2013,” explained managing director Karryn Papenfus. “Agents can now offer their clients great savings to Africa as well as the traditional early bird savings to Europe and Canada. We’ve never seen such great deals available to our customers.  “Who wouldn’t want to go to Africa for 19 days for $5035 per person twin share including airfares, prepaid taxes, 17 nights’ accommodation, 18 days’ touring, transfers and 19 meals?” Other African early bird deals on offer include the 12-day “Botswana and Zimbabwe Wildlife Safari” which takes

For all savings, discounts and special offers, visit www.insightvacations.com

in Victoria Falls and Okavango Delta and with the early bird deal costs from $5680 ex Perth and $5760 ex Sydney. The 23-day “Four African Countries Safari” costs from $6060 ex Perth and Sydney while the 15-day “African Train Safari” from Johannesburg to Cape Town costs from $5960 ex Perth and Sydney. All deals, which are on offer until mid December, include airfares from Australia. Deals are also available from all Australian cities Adventure Destinations is also offering a number of Canada and Alaska early bird deals valid for sale until December 31. The deals, which include airfares ex Australia, include the 19-day “Canada’s West” which now costs from $6549, a 30-day “Hawaii and Alaska Cruise plus Las Vegas” from $5649 and the 19-day “Canada Motorhome” from $3391. All prices are ex Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane.

Thalys discounted Rail Plus fares RAIL Plus is offering a number of early bird deals. These include discounted fares on Thalys between Paris and Brussels, Antwerp, Dorsale, Cologne and Pays Bas. Second class fares are on sale from $38. Fares are on sale until December 20 for

travel between January 3 and March 2. Also on offer is a 20 per cent discount on all Eurail Global and Select Passes. The deal is valid until December 27 for travel which must be completed by March 31 2013.

TG sale fares until January 31 THAI Airways’ early bird deals to Europe are on sale until January 31 for travel from March 1 to September 29, 2013. Deals are on offer from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth to Bangkok

~

with connections to 13 major cities in Europe and the UK including Brussels, Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London, Madrid, Milan, Moscow, Munich, Oslo, Paris, Rome, Stockholm and Zurich.

travelBulletin November 2012

37

*Fare valid for departures 01/02/13-31/05/13 & 01/09/13-31/10/13 from Sydney. Surcharges apply for other cities & departures dates, valid for bookings paid prior to 31/12/12. Tour based on Gems of Britain (valid for departures 01/04/13-27/05/13 & 02/09/1307/10/13). ^Fare valid for departures 01/04/13-31/05/13 & 01/09/13-31/10/13 from Melbourne & Perth. Surcharges apply for other cities & departures, valid for bookings paid prior to 31/12/12. Tour based on Best of Italy (valid for departures 04/04/13-30/05/13). ~Fare valid for departures 01/03/13-31/05/13 & 01/09/13-31/10/13 from Melbourne & Perth. Surcharges apply for other cities & departures, for bookings paid prior to 30/11/12. Tour based on Paris City Break (valid for departures 06-27/03/13). Air prices are inclusive of government taxes, airline fees and fuel surcharges for direct flights only and are subject to change, availability or withdrawal without notice. For full terms and conditions for each airline refer to the Offers tab on www.insightvacations.com. 12479IVEK