Hemingway left in 1960, after the revolution. Ernesto, as he was known there, stepped out of his front door never to return.

Finca Vigía remains a major cultural attraction, along with Hemingway’s favorite bar, the Floridita. I read recently that a team of American and Cuban experts are working to preserve the country estate, which houses thousands of the great writer’s books, papers and artifacts. Politics have been put aside for a common goal.

Floating Market in Thailand

Our travelers tells us that one of the things they like most on their escorted tour is unique modes of transportation. I’m not talking replacing an aircraft to get to Europe. Rather, finding new and fun ways to incorporate the culture of the destination into the way travelers experience it.

Popular “rides” include:

• A rickshaw through Beijing’s ancient neighborhoods
• A horse and buggy carriage in old-fashioned Mackinac Island, Michigan
• An elephant in Thailand
• A camel in Egypt
• A glass-bottom boat through Australia’s Great Barrier Reef
• A traditional Irish jaunting car in Killarney
• A cable car in San Francisco
• A dugout canoe in the rainforest of Panama
• A horse at a typical Argentine estancia
• A sampan to visit a floating fishing village in Vietnam

The most popular ride of all? The complimentary roundtrip home to airport sedan service our clients receive with the purchase of an air-inclusive tour. A free ride is a great way to start and end your Collette tour.

What are some unique ways you’ve experienced getting from Point A to Point B while on vacation?

Being busy professionals, Amanda and I knew that we wanted to go to Australia and New Zealand for our next vacation, but we didn’t have time to plan out all of the details.  While searching online, we noticed that there were several great tour packages available that would meet our needs and the best were provided by Collette tours.  When we read the itineraries and descriptions for the South Pacific Wonders tour, we knew we had our tour of choice.

This was a huge relief for me, because I had more important things to worry about.  The real reason for my trip was that I planned to ask Amanda to marry me.  You can imagine the anxiety that comes along with carrying an engagement ring 9,000 miles across the globe. While I had my energy focused on solidifying our future together, we left the rest up to Collette.

Good news: she said yes! Now we had a fortnight of touring relaxation in front of us in Cairns, Sydney, and the South Island of New Zealand.  When Joani (our fantastic tour guide) found out about our recent engagement, she went out of her way to show us great hospitality.  Champagne, hotel upgrades, you name it – Joani went above and beyond the call of duty to make sure we had a great time.

And how couldn’t you have a great time when you are snorkeling and scuba diving in the Great Barrier Reef, visiting the Sydney Opera House, taking a Helicopter ride to the top of a glacier, Fjord cruises and soaking in the sights of Middle Earth.

Our time in Australia and New Zealand was truly one for the ages.  We will always remember the beauty of the South Pacific and the hospitality we witnessed throughout our tour.

About the author: Jeff Sauer is a partner in a Minnesota Online Marketing company and has been traveling internationally since his senior year in college.  He has been blogging about his experiences on his personal travel blog for nearly a decade.  Jeff and Amanda are planning their marriage for 2012 at a winery in Sonoma Valley, CA.  They are deciding whether to honeymoon in Bora Bora or Mauritius.  While not traveling, Jeff serves on the board of directors for two non-profits, is an avid Minnesota Twins fan and loves gourmet cooking with Amanda.  Amanda enjoys cooking and studying international tax code.

Inside the pages of the Exotics brochure are 28 tours to some of the world’s most sought out destinations including Namibia, Israel, Thailand, China, Peru, Panama, Costa Rica and the South Pacific.

New tours featured in the Exotics brochure include Collette’s Israel: A Journey to the Holy Land; Flavors of Thailand; The Wonders of South America; Avenue of the Volcanoes; and Three Kingdoms of Indochina, a 19-day Explorations tour which travels with no more than 28 passengers.

The brochure is available in print and  an e-brochure can soon be found online at http://www.collettevacations.com/ebrochure.cfm.

With competitive pricing and companion air offers on select Australia and New Zealand tours, Collette’s Exotics brochure is definitely worth taking a look at!

Masada

Israel: A Journey to the Holy Land is a 10 day guided tour that visits historic sites and cities such as the Mt. of Beatitudes, Masada, the Dead Sea, Jaffa, Caesaria, Nazareth, Cana, Qumran, Bethlehem, Tel Aviv, Tiberias, and Haifa. Also, Collette clients will visit Acre, the ancient crusader city and UNESCO World Heritage site; Jerusalem’s Old City; and the ruins of Jericho, the oldest city in the world. For those wishing to customize their itinerary, they may do so with the purchase of an optional Jordan post tour extension where they will cross the border and spend 4 days in Jordan visiting the stone-carved city of Petra, the immense, beautiful desert of Wadi Rum, Madaba, known as the “City of Mosaics”, and Amman, known as the “White City” before returning to Israel and departing from Tel Aviv.

In speaking with Manuel Paulo, Collette’s vice president of worldwide contracting, he told me, “Israel and Jordan are amazing destinations with incredible ancient sites and warm, welcoming people. It’s easy to fall back on traditional destinations, but then you’d be missing out on a first-rate travel experience that will leave a lasting impression. Everyone should visit Israel and Jordan during their lifetime;  two countries that I consider ‘must see destinations’ that should be on everyone’s travel list.”

Because many of Collette’s district sales managers  and staff traveled to Israel in 2010 for the company’s annual sales meeting, Collette President and CEO Dan Sullivan, Jr. has said,  “We ‘know because we go’ is really applicable here”.

There are many highlights on this tour - here are my top 5:

1. “float” in the tranquil, healing waters of the Dead Sea;
2. ascend the ancient walls of Masada, a UNESCO World Heritage site, by cable car;
3. take a tour and lunch at a local community restaurant in a Kibbutz;
4. follow the Via Dolorosa and walk the path of the Stations of the Cross;
5. visit the area of Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.

Dead Sea

With a 2 night stay in Tiberias and 4 nights in the holy city of Jerusalem, “travelers on this tour will enjoy the more relaxed pace,” said Paulo.

Wat Arun's Temple of the Dawn

If you’r reading this blog post perhaps you have always wanted to travel to Southeast Asia and the beautiful country of Thailand. Or maybe you have already visited and are looking to return.

Collette Vacations’ new tour Flavors of Thailand is but one of the 15 new tours the company has unveiled for 2012.

“We wanted to introduce a new escorted tour to Thailand for travelers seeking a fresh take on traditional tours to the region. By combining world-famous attractions and the not-so-familiar, Flavors of Thailand is designed to help passengers develop a multi-dimensional perspective on the country as well as discover another way of life,” explains Krystle Ang, Collette’s Product Manager for Asia. “Exotic destinations like Thailand deliver the mystique of travel and the promise of the unknown.”

Some experiences on this tour that deliver the unfamiliar include:

• a pre-dawn visit to a local market where you can participate in the offering of alms to hundreds of saffron-robed ;
• a visit to the Akha and Lisu hill tribes where you’ll share a simple lunch;
• travel through the jungle to Maesa Elephant Camp;
• stroll along the historic Bridge over the River Kwai;
• embark on a Mekong river cruise and visit the Hall of Opium at the Golden Triangle;
• enjoy unique culinary experiences including a welcome dinner at a restored teak house, a picnic by the Mekong, lunch at a community development restaurant, and a farewell dinner at a riverside art gallery.

In addition to unique experiences, this tour includes traditional must-see sights like the Grand Palace and a stop at Wat Phra Kaew, home of the Emerald Buddha; shopping at Chiang Mai’s famous night market; and a trip to the iconic Damnoen Saduak floating market. Also, you will visit The Golden Buddha, one of the world’s largest solid gold statues and Wat Po, temple of The Reclining Buddha – all truly rich experiences ideal for first-time visitors.

This Collette tour is 14 days, 24 meals, with an incredible starting at price of $1349 per person, double, land only.  Some dates are guaranteed departure dates. Each tour includes the services of a professional tour manager throughout the journey in addition to expert local guides and an industry-leading cancellation waiver that allows passengers to cancel any time prior to the day of departure and receive a full cash refund. Collette Vacations is also the only major US travel tour operator that offers the benefit of complimentary roundtrip home to airport sedan service on all air-inclusive tours, enabling travelers to begin their vacation at home, all included in the published air-inclusive tour price (gratuities included).

If you book this tour by December 31, 2011 through your travel agent, receive $200 off per couple on the land only price for travel between 5/1/12 and 4/30/13. Offer can expire earlier due to space or inventory availability. Space is on a first come, first served basis. Offer is not valid on group bookings or combinable with any other offer. Other restrictions may apply.

The Worldwide Travel brochure or “big book” highlights more than 100 escorted tours through Australia, Asia, Europe, South and Central America, Antarctica, the U.S. and Canada, including holiday tours; its Explorations small group tours; and new Collette Family Vacations in one, easy-to-use reference brochure.

You don’t have to wait for your copy. You can peruse it right now by clicking the link below. Let me know your favorite tour.

View eBrochure!

Some are posed, some are more natural, some are of people we’ve met, some include complete strangers who happen to be in our lens view. Some photos are striking, some are funny, some are post-card perfect and some are just plain eery in the way they can take us back to a place or moment in time.

We’re in search of travel photos (digital format most preferred, please) that you are the most proud of, the most inspired by…the photo that puts a smile on your face whenever you view it. Photographs must have been taken while traveling on a Collette Vacations tour in 2010 or 2011.

There’s still time…all entries must be received by noon on December 31, 2011. Winners will be notified by February 12, 2012. You can read all about Collette’s photo contest here. 

THE GRAND PRIZE? How about 6 Nights in Rome for 2 including airfare from your gateway city! 

 Ready, set, CLICK!

This is last year's grand prize winning photo of Venice.

Iguazu Falls

Collette is introducing a new concept called modular touring and is launching it with their new Wonders of South America cornerstone itinerary which is on sale now with departures starting in May 2012.

Personally, I think the idea is a good one.

Cornerstone Itinerary

Rio de Janeiro

Essentially, travelers can purchase this 11-day South America highlights tour that will feature Rio, Iguazu Falls, Mendoza and Buenos Aires. Rio de Janeiro is host to soccer’s World Cup in 2014 as well as the 2016 Summer Olympics and Collette passengers can spend three nights in this exciting and happening city.

Spice it up with a bit of Chile

For those who want to delve deeper into the continent, the new 11-day tour may be extended to 16-days with the addition of Chile featuring Bariloche, a Lake Crossing of the Andes, Chilean Wine Country and the sights of Santiago, Chile’s capital city.

Add an Amazon experience or the Lost City of the Incas…or both!

Then there are the pre and post extensions that can be added to either the 11-day or 16-day  itinerary. Choices include the Brazilian Amazon pre-extension where you can spend three nights at the Jungle Lodge and one overnight in Rio; or add on the 7-night Machu Picchu and Peru post-extension to either base tour for a complete South American journey. 

South America – Your Way!

Machu Picchu

You see where I’m going? Not literally…though I have been to Chile and Argentina with Collette and, if time had allowed, I would have opted for some of these add-ons. After all, you’ve traveled a pretty long distance so why not take advantage of seeing more of what the continent has to offer, especially Machu Picchu? I recall on this journey meeting a couple who had been in South America close to a month – they were leaving Santiago, Chile, the next morning to fly to Easter Island. I think having the ability to customize your vacation…to take an escorted tour and add components that make it more personal - (all without having to do too much work) – is the best of both worlds.

Easy for travel agents to custom tailor a group trip

We have already been seeing interest in South America grow. With the introduction of this modular concept of a shorter base tour with many options, Collette has made it easy for travel agents to custom tailor an unforgettable and comprehensive South American vacation for their clients based on budget and desired length of vacation stay.  

“We created this new, flexible tour to be customizable with optional modules that will uncover the many marvels of South America – its beauty, culture, history, cuisine, entertainment, and geography,” says Allison Flint, Collette product manager. “It’s a South American vacation your way – as long or as short as you want and we will definitely have clients interested in the 28-day adventure. These are the same clients who have already traveled on our Complete South Pacific tour.”

Top attractions and off the beaten path experiences

On the cornerstone itinerary, Collette has included the most sought-after attractions like a visit to Iguazu Falls and  Rio’s Christ the Redeemer statue with culinary experiences like learning how to craft the famous caipriniha cocktail and indulging in a Brazilian-style barbeque at a renowned ‘Churrascaria’ restaurant. In addition to the experience of viewing Iguazu Falls’ “Devil’s Throat” from a platform perch, other tour highlights include a tango lesson in Buenos Aires; a train ride to the top of Rio’s Corcovado Mountain to see the statue of Christ the Redeemer, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World; and a tour of Mendoza, the lovely Argentinean city within the shadows of the Andes Mountains and the ideal base for exploring the Caminos del Vino wine route. Experience the flavor and history of Argentina’s most famous wine, Malbec, during a gourmet wine pairing lunch and visits to bodegas in Mendoza.

The starting at price for the 11-day Wonders of South America tour is $2599 per person, double, land only. For more information and details of the pre- and post-extension options and alternate Chile itinerary, I suggest you call 800-340-5158.

An escorted tour that is flexible enough to fit any budget or length of stay issues. I think this will be a home run with travel agents and travelers and South America is the ideal destination to kick-off this modular tour concept.

Panama Canal Cruise

It’s not even Labor Day but my kids are already back in school.

Another summer comes and goes all to quickly and I realize that many of the things I had on our family travel list just didn’t happen. Which is why I am already thinking ahead to next summer and a family vacation experience that sounds like a whole lot of fun!

Sure you could rent the same beach house you have been going to since the kids were in diapers, drive long distances to visit relatives or even opt for a staycation. Or, maybe you should consider Collette’s new 8-day Panama Family Adventure where you and the kids can travel through the rainforest, opt for a cruise to Monkey Island and ride on an aerial tram.

Collette Vacations is the only major tour operator offering a family tour to Panama which is hard to believe because a transit through the Panama Canal seems to me like it would appeal to children and teens as much as adults. With departures set to begin in June 2012, this tour spends three nights in a deluxe river view room at Gamboa Rainforest Resort, situated in Soberanía National Park; two nights at the five-star Intercontinental Playa Bonita beach resort, where families can kayak together; and two nights in bustling Panama City, a vibrant melting pot of cultures.

Playa Bonita Resort

For families looking for a tropical rainforest experience like neighboring Costa Rica, this tour offers the added once-in-a-lifetime adventure of a partial transit Panama Canal cruise on the Pacific Queen where you will learn about this famed engineering marvel from on-board guides. In addition, ride the historic Panama Canal Railway and relax in elegant wooden rail cars, an experience reminiscent of yesteryear, as your family travels from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

Miraflores Lock

This inclusive itinerary is ideal for a family vacation because of its exceptional hotel and food experiences as well as cultural opportunities such as travel by dugout canoe to visit an Emberá indigenous village.   

“With English spoken throughout Panama and the US dollar the accepted currency, our clients will find this is an affordably priced destination ideal for families looking for something more exotic feeling,” said Allison Flint, Collette Vacations’ product manager.  “Just three hours from Miami, the tropical rainforest environment makes you feel like a world away.”

Like all Collette Family Vacations, Panama Family Adventure has been designed to keep the whole family engaged. Highlights include the opportunity to get hands-on with marine life at Punta Culebra Nature Center; spot crocodiles and monkeys during a lunch overlooking the Gamboa marina; savor the taste of pineapple fresh from the field during a tour of a pineapple plantation; learn how to cook sea bass and plantain cakes from a culinary demonstration hosted by a chef; and enjoy a private salsa dance lesson.

For more information and pricing, visit www.collettevacations.com and click on the family tours tab.