Recommend November 2017 - 10

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NorthAmerica

Top-Selling Destinations
Michelle Marie Arean

Whittier, Alaska, is the gateway to Prince William Sound.

A trio of reliably top-selling destinations, say
travel advisors, will continue to be top of mind
in 2018.

Alaska
"Alaska has been hot for many years, but 2018
should be a very strong year. Primary reasons
we see for this is that it is a more expensive
itinerary, and with the economy doing well,
more people can afford it who may have
put it off before," says Gary Smith, owner of
TravelPerks, a Dream Vacations agency, "and
some clients are choosing to focus their travels
on U.S. destinations instead of trips overseas,
which is increasing the demand."
According to Smith, there are many reasons
clients travel to Alaska, but he says the main
ones are a desire to see an unspoiled wilderness
and wildlife; a desire to see all 50 states; and
cruising on an itinerary they haven't done."
But "an underlying reason for many people is
also that it is a U.S.-based destination, which
is a factor for many in today's world."
The numbers prove that interest: According
to the Alaska Travel Industry Association
Visitors Statistics Program, Alaska saw about
1,857,000 out-of-state visitors between MaySeptember 2016 (as of press time, the 2017
visitor numbers were still being compiled).
That's a 4 percent increase from the same time
period in 2015.
Amy Madson, independent travel specialist
at Cruises, Inc., part of World Travel
Holdings, adds that, "Alaska is gaining in
10 november 2017

popularity because travelers find it a safe
destination that doesn't require international
air travel. The lure of beautiful scenery and
wildlife viewing opportunities is a major
draw to those considering a trip to Alaska."
"As a cruise specialist, the primary
destination in Alaska is an Inside Passage
cruise from Seattle. While these cruises only
begin to touch on the splendor of Alaska, as
they visit only the most southern panhandle,
the standard 7-night itineraries are always
the most popular," says Smith. Adding that
the "second most popular destination is a trip
to Denali as part of a land and sea journey.
We always recommend that people spend
two nights at the entrance to Denali so that
there is time to do the Tundra Wilderness
version of the tour into the park. With many
cruise lines, the Tundra Wilderness tour is an
upgrade to their standard itinerary, so this is
a helpful note to your readers. I also think
that for the first time, having a brand-new
amazing ship like the Norwegian Bliss in
Seattle for the Alaska season will bring
greater exposure and hence greater demand
this coming summer."
Though cruising is still the biggest draw
for those heading to Alaska, Madson notes
that the inlands are gaining interest among
her clients. "Getting inland to places like
Denali and Fairbanks is even more popular
now than before. While Alaska is a bucket
list item, it is also a 'one time visit' for
many as well. Because of this, travelers are

willing to spend more time exploring the
great land of Alaska," she says. "Add a guided
land extension of four days or more and
you can travel inland to spectacular Denali
or head over to the Yukon in Canada to
experience the gold rush history. Booking a
packaged cruise/tour gets you the convenience
of having your transportation and
accommodations pre-arranged, and frequently
includes admission to tours and attractions
that enhance your experience," says Madson.
New for 2018 is John Hall's Alaska Winter
Wonders tours, an 8-day itinerary from March
13-20. It includes a 3-night stay in Fairbanks,
dog mushing at Trail Breaker Kennels, a
walking tour of the Inupiaq community of
Evansville, a private charter flight to Bettles,
a small town north of the Arctic Circle, and
a Northern Lights photo workshop. Visitors
will also explore Talkeetna, take curling
classes, and go craft beer tasting, plus there's
an option for a spa day or a snowmobile tour
of the glaciers and backcountry valleys of the
Chugach Mountains. Rates start at $4,459 pp
dbl; this tour is limited to 28 guests.

Florida
"Vacationers flock to Florida primarily for the
theme parks and beaches," says travel advisor
Madson. "Florida is home to beautiful beaches
on both coasts and it's only about a 2-hour
drive coast to coast, so you can watch the
sunrise on the east in Cocoa Beach and the
sunset in the west on St. Pete's Beach."
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