Recommend September 2013 - (Page 54)

known as the Old Man of Storr and Kilt Rock. Here, there’s also a walk along scenic Stafﬁn Beach, and an evening spent making scones and dancing with local musicians. They’ll also ﬂy out to the Isle of Lewis and take a few steps back in time as they walk through a village of traditional thatch and stone “black houses.” They’ll also visit the world-famous Callanish Standing Stones, which were erected around 3,000 B.C. and which inspired the ring of stones featured in “Brave.” “The Isle of Skye,” notes Austin, “is a pretty remote place out in the Western Isles and there you are immediately introduced to a very different culture…it’s like stepping back to the 19th century in some regard, not only because of the architecture of the houses, but the fact that many people there still make a living farming the land, raising sheep, and pursuing traditional craftsman activities. We also do some hiking, with its stunning scenery. Additionally, we charter a ﬂight to the Isle of Lewis, another one of the Western Isles. This island is so far removed from the hustle and bustle of the 21 century…people have much more traditional customs there.” Rates for the Scotland: A Brave Adventure itinerary, which runs from May to September 2014, range from $5,799 to $6,909 per adult and $5,509 to $6,569 per child, depending on departure date. Note that the Aug. 31, 2014 and Sept. 14, 2014 dates are adults-only departures. ● Q&A with kim goldstein, manager/travel consultant, specializing in disney destinations, journeys Inc. PVR: How does Adventures by Disney’s tour offerings differentiate it from other tour operators offering family vacations? KG: Adventures by Disney (ABD) offers a product that appeals to many different ages and interests by creating hassle-free itineraries for families. The guided family tours have the perfect balance of scheduled time vs. free time. The two adventure guides allow for the children (or the young at heart) to do alternative activities, while the adults are getting a more in-depth overview of the sites. The children are still receiving information regarding the sites, but in a more condensed version. There is one guide from the U.S. and one from the local country. It’s like having your own personal concierge!! PVR: Who is the target clientele for the Scotland trip? KG: The target clientele for the Scotland itinerary is a family with a pre-teen girl who wants to follow in the steps of Merida from “Brave”; although, I believe this tour will interest those of all ages! PVR: Why do you book ABD? KG: Many of my clients are seeking high-end guided family tours that will accommodate many different interests and ages. They want a tour that is efﬁcient, safe, informative and fun for everyone. ABD offers hassle-free guided tours with active family experiences. Many families with children don’t want to walk around and just look at the sites, they want to become part of the culture by partaking in local activities. ABD includes activities such as riding bikes at Versailles, baking pizzas in Naples and white-water rafting in Costa Rica. C M Y CM MY CY Sightseeing in Edinburgh. PALOMA VILLAVERDE DE RICO CMY Archived related articles (available on recommend.com/magazine/ issue-archive): Ancestry Travel: Family Roots & Routes (September 2012) contact information Adventures by Disney: (800) 543-0865; adventuresbydisney.com or disneytravelagents.com 54 september 2013 50-55 EU Scotland.indd 54 K PVR: What do you say to a client who might be worried about the price? KG: I advise my clients of what makes an ABD tour unique compared to the other high-end tour products, by describing my observations of our family’s experience of the Viva Italia tour. While we were on our ABD to Italy, almost everything was included in the price of the tour. It was very clear in advance of what was not included, so it made the budgeting process much easier. I think the Disney differences really justify any difference in costs that you may ﬁnd in similar tour packages. The two guides, instead of one, make a huge impact on the trip. They have a lot to coordinate when doing a tour, not to mention if someone gets hurt and can’t continue at the pace of the group. One guide was constantly disappearing into a dark alley only to end up two steps ahead of the group to pay for a restroom, take a surprise photo, or have coins ready for us to throw in Trevi Fountain! Having two guides makes the tour so much more efﬁcient and meaningful! To read the entire Q&A, visit recommend.com and search “Q&A with Kim Goldstein.” recommend.com 8/22/13 8:51 AM http://www.recommend.com/magazine/ http://www.adventuresbydisney.com http://www.recommend.com http://www.disneytravelagents.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend September 2013

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Aston Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Learning Journeys
Norwegian Breakaway
Family-Friendly Cruise Options
Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort
Top Family Resorts
Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo
Panama Travel Planner
Adventures by Disney's Scotland: A Brave Adventure
Club Med Punta Cana
Top Family Resorts
Hawks Cay Resort, Florida Keys
New Fantasyland at Magic Kingdom
Globus Bridges Generation Gap With Exciting China Tours
Far-Flung, Family-Friendly Destinations

Recommend September 2013