Travel Agent - October 1, 2007 - (Page 46)

DESTINATIONS A Deluxe Room at Le Méridien Budapest CONTINUED FROM PAGE 45 Cruise and Tour Options Clients can get a view of both Buda and Pest by taking a river cruise with Avalon Waterways (www.avalonwaterways.com). In all, the company in 2008 has five cruises operating on the Danube, with stops in Budapest. The 20-day “Jewels of Central Europe” travels from Budapest to Paris; guests can also opt to sail for 18 days from Paris to Budapest. Stops along the way include Nuremberg, Passau-Linz and Vienna. Departure dates begin in June and run through October. Prices for the 18-day tour begin at $4,049 and $4,689 for the 20-day tour. Avalon pays between 10 and 17 percent commissions depending on each agent’s sales volume. Contact Patrick Clark, Avalon’s managing director, at 877-797-8791. Cruising and most tours aren’t options in the colder months; so instead, guests may decide to take a custom tour, such as one offered by Gate 1 Travel (www.gate1travel.com). The company offers two independent trips to Budapest, which include flights and accommodations. Clients can opt to spend six days priced from $629 over Thanksgiving, departing the U.S. on November 19. Custom six-day trips also are available November through March 2008, with prices starting at $649. 46 | TravelAgent October 1, 2007 On a customized tour, recommend clients visit during a festival, when the city is replete with markets showcasing homemade goods like handmade lace, clothing with a medieval flair, pottery and other original items. If you think it might be hard to sell a client on a winter vacation that doesn’t involve skiing, try mentioning these two points about Budapest: First, traveling to the region is cheaper during the winter (see Getting There). Hungary’s currency is the forint, which, in late August, roughly equaled 192 forints for every American dollar. This rate fluctuates a lot and its instability is one of the reasons why Hungary hasn’t yet converted to the euro. Also, despite the annoyance of having to lug a winter coat, witnessing a snowfall in Budapest is quite charming. Of course, it is impossible to guarantee snow, so it’s helpful to point out all there is to do in the city, even during the off season, which includes late fall and early spring—also great times to visit. Recommend a tour of the Spanish Masters Collection at the Fine Arts Museum (www. szepmuveszeti.hu), hosted by a museum curator, and a private backstage tour of the Hungarian Opera House (www.opera.hu). Central to the tour are Budapest and Prague, and clients have the option of adding on Vienna or St. Petersburg, Russia. The trip, which can vary between eight and 13 days, depending on the addition of an extension, spends three nights in Budapest. At press time, 2008 pricing was still being finalized, but departure dates for next year are June 16, July 21, August 18 and September 15. Getting There Typically, airfare during the summer months will run about $1,000 for a roundtrip coach flight, while the same flights cost only about $400 during the off season (November-March). Clients can either pocket the savings or put it towards a business- or first-class upgrade. Various carriers fly to Budapest, but Hungary’s own carrier, Malév (www.malev.com), flies direct from New York. Such flights tend to fill up quickly and though it requires a connection, flying Malév’s Oneworld alliance partner American Airlines (www.aa.com) gives clients a chance to check out their new lie-flat seat in business class, which will be rolled out across the airline’s fleet by the end of this year. I CONNECTING YOU For more information on Budapest, visit www.travelagentcentral.com/hungary http://www.avalonwaterways.com http://www.malev.com http://www.aa.com http://www.gate1travel.com http://www.exeterinternational.com http://www.exeterinternational.com http://www.szepmuveszeti.hu http://www.szepmuveszeti.hu http://www.opera.hu http://www.travelagentcentral.com/hungary

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Online Now From the Editor From the Publisher Contributors Caribbena: Porta Caribe, Puerto Rico, an Unspoiled Retreat Carribbean Deals Mexico: Insider Tips: Hotels, Dining and Shopping in Cancun Mexico Deals Las Vegas: Tell Clients About Day Trips Into the Great Outdoors Europe: Budapest: Off-Season Promotions Pacific/Asia: Korea Expands its Offerings Seoul Primer: All the Info You Need For a Smooth Trip Pacific/Asia Deals Hawaii: Captivating Kauai: Enhanced Resorts, Natural Beauty Cruises: Building Revenue with Themed Cruises Cruise Deals Hotels: London: The Lanesborough’s New Guest Rooms Tours: Gutsy Women Travel’s New Morocco Itinerary Tour Deals Spas: Escape to Tranquility: Three Spa Havens Spa Deals Cover Story: Donna Flora Agent Profile Podcasts Offer a New Way to Give Your Clients Added Value Car Rental Navigation 101: Shift Profits into High Gear with These Tips Agenda: Fam Trips, Deals & Incentives, Calendar Cruise: Commission Cutting, Hurricanes Pitch Colombia, Impress Your Clients Malaysia’s Minister of Tourism New Alaska Products for Families In the Spotlight Editorial Index Advertising Index Classified Marketplace Trendwatch

Travel Agent - October 1, 2007

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