Featuring
Insider trips showcasing Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal and
Ireland
Toronto
– May 18, 2015 – Trafalgar (www.trafalgar.com) has released its Top Five
Summer European destinations for Canadians this year and they include: Holland,
Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal and Ireland. In the Canadian market, these are the
fastest-growing destinations in Europe and for Trafalgar, the top places
Canadians need to visit in the coming months.
The
Best of Holland, Belgium and Luxembourg itinerary is Trafalgar’s second
best selling trip in the popular At Leisure program and the Highlights of
Spain and Portugal trip is up 63 per cent. According to Tourism Ireland,
visitor numbers from Canada to Ireland increased to 30 per cent in 2014 and they
are expecting further growth in 2015 especially with a major increase in direct
air access. Bookings to Ireland are in the positives as Trafalgar offers
19-guided vacations including seven new itineraries.
“With
Canada’s long winter finally over, we hope our Top Five Summer Europeans
destinations list will help Canadians plan their summer trips,” says
Doug Patterson, president of Trafalgar Canada. “From
Amsterdam’s notable attractions, Belgium’s beautiful towns, Luxembourg’s
contrasts, Portugal’s amazing coastline and Ireland’s scenic countryside, there
is something for every traveller to discover.”
Best of Holland, Belgium and
LuxembourgThis 11-day At Leisure trip takes guests to three
of Europe’s smallest nations, starting in The Netherlands, then on to Luxembourg
and ending in Belgium. Arriving in Amsterdam, guests will begin their journey
with a sightseeing cruise aboard a canal boat and they’ll admire Rembrandt’s
masterpiece ‘The Night Watch’ at the prestigious Rijksmuseum. Travellers will
enjoy a day excursion through The Hague to the historic town of Delft and to
Rotterdam before departing to Luxembourg. After taking in the breath-taking
gorge of the Rivers Alzette and Petrusse, the Cathedral and the Grand Ducal
Palace, guests will have the rest of the afternoon to spend at their leisure.
Onto picturesque Bruges, where travellers will enjoy a Be My
Guest dining experience at an 18th century farmstead and
enjoy a sightseeing cruise along the beautiful canals.
Highlights of Spain and PortugalBeginning
and ending in Madrid, the 14-day Highlights of Spain and Portugal
starts with an orientation drive around the magical city of Madrid then it’s off
to Valencia where guests will see the Towers of Serrano and Cuarte and take in
the striking architecture of the impressive Opera House. In the evening, perhaps
travellers will sample Paella, a specialty of this region. In Seville, guests
will enjoy a Be My Guest dining experience at a traditional
homestead where they will gain an insight into the family history of olive oil
production. Crossing the border into southern Portugal, guests can spend the day
relaxing on the beach or strolling along the harbor of Vilamoura. Heading north
over the Serra de Arrabida Mountains to Lisbon, guests have free time to explore
the city’s attractions from the lively Rossio Square to Alfama district. On the
way to Salamanca, travellers will visit the Shrine of Fatima before crossing the
border back into Spain. Before the journey ends in Madrid, guests will visit
Toledo and see the Church of Santo Tome, home of El Greco’s most famous
paintings – The Burial of Count Orgaz.
Iconic Ireland and Ashford CastleThis
leisurely Country Explorer 11-day trip begins and ends in the Emerald Isle. The
spectacular Powerscourt Garden, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, stately Georgian
Squares and Trinity College along with exploring the city at one’s own pace is
planned during the 2-night stay. Guests will then leave the city behind as they
travel to County Kilkenny and relish a Be My Guest lunch at
Belmore House, the home of Joe and Maeve O’Connell. After visiting Blarney
Castle, Killarney and the Cliffs of Moher and on the way back to Dublin, guests
will board “The Isle of Innisfree,” for an exclusive cruise on shimmering Lough
Corrib, which will take them to the edge of newly refurbished and
stately Ashford Castle where they will enjoy an elegantly royal dining
experience and spend the night in this Authentic
Accommodation.
For
more information, please contact your local travel agent or visit www.trafalgar.com and follow us on Twitter
at @TrafalgarCanada and Facebook.
About Trafalgar:Trafalgar is the
world’s leading guided vacation company offering exceptional quality and value
itineraries to a range of exciting destinations. With some 68 years of
experience and unrivaled local expertise, Trafalgar provides an authentic
insider’s view to create truly unique travel experiences in Europe, Britain and
Eastern Mediterranean, South Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, China,
Mexico, Central and South America, USA and Canada. www.trafalgar.com
About
TreadRight:Created as a joint initiative between The Travel
Corporation’s family of brands, the TreadRight Foundation is a not-for-profit
working to ensure the environment and communities we visit remain vibrant for
generations to come. To date, TreadRight has supported more than 35 sustainable
tourism projects worldwide. The Foundation’s guiding principle is to encourage
sustainable tourism development through conservation, leadership and support for
communities. Foundation priorities are set by the Steering Committee, which
includes sustainability leaders like Céline Cousteau and Costas
Christ.
TreadRight’s
past project partners include WWF, Conservation International and The National
Trust in the UK. Current initiatives include sponsoring the National Geographic
Society’s inaugural “World Legacy Awards,” WildAid and inspiring wildlife
advocates like Terri Irwin.
To
learn more about our past and current work at TreadRight, please visit us at treadright.org.