This guest post comes from Cassie Stetkiewicz our Product Specialist for the UK, Ireland and France.

That’s right. I just returned from a British Landscapes tour and I was surprised too. It is not something I thought that would have been a highlight, but it was a wonderful discovery.

The homemade soups were creative, the pastries were imaginative and decadent, and the pubs were bursting with the aromas of grandma’s kitchen.

Along the way I enjoyed:

• The most fabulous world-renowned fish and chips in London.
• The best gingerbread imaginable in Grasmere.
• A fabulous afternoon cream tea in Edinburgh.
• And the best burger I have ever had in Stratford-upon-Avon.

I even ventured to try something completely new – Scotland’s national dish, the surprisingly tasty haggis.

Throughout the trip our Tour Manager was quick to point out all of the local specialties.

This journey became a culinary adventure that rivaled any other destination.

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.

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.

Uncover Italy’s hidden gems via small-group tour
Romantic Italy is steeped in  history and blessed by beauty. Travelers can create their own Italian Renaissance experience by taking a small-group tour that offers immersion in the heart of the local culture. Read more…

Cinque Terre

As Wimbledon gets underway, I’m thinking of my last trip to London and wondering if I’ll realize my plan to visit next year during the Summer Olympics.

For those tennis tourists there now or those of you who have planned a trip this summer, here is my top 5 list of attractions or things to do/see in London:

1. A London Theatre performance.  

2. A visit to Buckingham Palace, the Tower of London, Big Ben and St. Paul’s Cathedral (very touristy but you didn’t come all this way to miss these iconic sights). Oh, nearly forgot…a quick stop at Harrod’s.

3. Bangers and mash at a traditional London pub.

4.  A ride on the London Eye (this engineering marvel can carry 800 passengers per revolution!).

5.  A walking tour through Covent Garden.

Medieval architecture, tranquil lakes and Croatian charm will delight you on Collette’s Discover Croatia tour featuring the Dalmatian Coast and Slovenia. Explore Zagreb’s Old City and Plitvice National Park, where 16 lakes are connected by cascades and waterfalls.  Traveling down the Dalmatian Coast en route to Dubrovnik, walk in the footsteps of Marco Polo on the island of Korcula.

“I just cannot stop dreaming about Croatia. I gave a presentation on this destination in which I  tried to paint a picture of this gorgeous destination – I went home and told my wife to find a dog sitter for 11 days – because the first chance we get, WE ARE GOING… and we have been to Croatia 11 times already!” – David Lutz, Collette Product Manager

Who doesn’t want to see the white cliffs, ancient palaces, and red tiled roofs you find along the coast of the Adriatic Sea in Southern Europe? Taste the wine, eat the seafood, walk the cobblestoned streets, talk with the people, soak up the history of this European country.

Here are 5 things not to miss in Croatia:

1. The Plitvice Lakes – Croatia’s beautiful national park and an integral part of UNESCO World Heritage. Enjoy the scenery of these 16 lakes surrounded by forests and thick vegetation.
2. The seaside city of Opatija, Croatia’s “Riviera.”
3. Travel down the Dalmatian Coast and enjoy the breathtaking views of the blue waters of the Adriatic Sea.
4. Visit the island of Korcula, the birthplace and childhood home of Marco Polo. Walk in his footsteps as you explore the streets that lead to the Venetian-influenced Cathedral Square.
5. Explore  “Old Dubrovnik,” a UNESCO World Heritage site. Visit the Franciscan Monastery, Rector’s Palace, and take in the ancient City Walls.

It’s an exciting day for me!

Collette Vacations just announced the launch of Collette Family Vacations, complete with new logo, brochure and micro-site.

Collette Family Vacations are kid friendly travel options for parents and grandparents. On the roster of Family Vacations are nine new, specially-crafted itineraries that bring travelers of all ages together to experience destinations ranging from U.S. National Parks and Canada to the Galapagos and Kenya.

As the mother of three children, and someone who works in travel, it is always disheartening to me to see friends take their children year after year to Disney (no offense to Disney – we’ve taken the kids there a few times as well and have enjoyed it). But there is so much more to see and do and seven continents to do them!

It’s important to my husband and me to expose our kids to new sights and cultures – or at least as much as our budget allows. Living in a fairly small town in the smallest state, why not broaden their perspective a bit (and enhance their overall education)?

Plus, check out some of these family-friendly vacation inclusions and tell me what kid wouldn’t give up Space Mountain to try this:

• a zip-line canopy tour in Costa Rica.
• a wildlife encounter in the Galapagos.
• a ride on the London Eye.

I like to believe that families grow closer with shared experiences like rafting the Athabasca River in the Canadian Rockies, learning to make an authentic pizza in Italy or watching Old Faithful erupt in Yellowstone.

Here are a few more things about Collette Family Vacations that I think parents and grandparents will like:

• They offer the ease and convenience of an escorted tour but are geared toward parents and grandparents traveling with children.
• Child Rates up to 50% Off adult rates for children (14 and under).
• Child rates that apply even with only one accompanying adult.
• Family-friendly hotels and activities; and itineraries designed to keep all generations engaged.

In a written announcement, Collette President and CEO Dan Sullivan, Jr. said of the new brand, “Launching Collette Family Vacations is really a natural extension of what we’re all about – Collette is in its third generation of Sullivan family ownership. I remember my dad (Dan Sullivan, Sr.) taking my siblings and I, along with our cousins, to the New York World’s Fair. This was the first of many family adventures that would serve to form lasting family bonds that are still strong today.”

What family trips do you remember from when you were a child?

For me, our family vacations always involved long car rides and too many visits to  forts and historic battlefields (my dad is a war buff). My brother and I just hoped for a motel with a pool.

Monastery and Royal Palace, Mafra

We traveled north today to the town of Mafra, one of the oldest in Portugal, known for its off-white pottery accented with pale blue designs and, yes, an architectural masterpiece which rivals that of Versailles.

Laura, our step on guide for the day recounted the history of the Portuguese monarchy and she was with us throughout our tour of the enormous Mosteiro Palácio Nacional de Mafra (Monastery and Royal Palace). In a nutshell, the story goes that in 1711 King João V vowed that should his Hapsburg queen, Mariana, bear him an heir, then he would build a monastery dedicated to St. Anthony. A girl, who would later become queen of Spain, was born the same year with João’s eventual heir, José I, born three years after that.

A highlight of the tour is the magnificent baroque bibliotheque (library) shaped like a cross. The two-tiered, barrel-vaulted room houses some 36,000 books from mainly the 16^th – 18^th centuries. Bats make their home in the library and serve to attack moths and worms thereby protecting the ancient books from corrosion. They are not sure how the bats got there but as they are doing a fine job protecting the books, they are left alone to do their job.   

 A few additional things that struck me about the Royal Palace:

•  The construction of the Palace was built on the gold and riches brought from Brazil.
• Upwards of 50,000 workers labored in the construction which includes 880 halls and rooms and 154 stairways.
• In the monastery infirmary, there were no mattresses on the beds. It’s a wonder how anyone convalesced.
• The gilded throne room, called the audience room, contains life-size painted renditions of the seven virtues and an imposing figure of Hercules.
• The basilica was patterned after St. Peter’s in the Vatican.
  

  Imposing Basilica, Mafra

• And while I can’t for the life of me figure out why there are no fireplaces in any area of the complex (save for the kitchens I would imagine), there was some glimmer of innovation including an early version of a pinball machine in the games room.

 Mafra and its impressive palace were a great way to kick off our first full tour day.  Our next stop was Sintra, an UNESCO World Heritage site and favorite summer residence of Portuguese kings for six centuries.

It was here that Lisa and I ducked into a hole-in-the-wall shop after lunch and indulged in a quintessential Portuguese drink, ginginha (zheen-zheen-yah).

Portugal's Ginja Drink

Sold for about a buck a shot, its liquor made from the sour cherry-like ginja berry. The best part was our shot glass was made of chocolate. Very sweet!

Lisa & Melissa at the Boca de Inferno, Cascais, Portugal

We arrived early morning and once situated at Hotel Estoril Eden (and the view of the ocean from our room was heavenly), we opted to fight the jet lag with a walk along the promenade to Cascais. Sunny and warm – we worried that we had packed too many cold weather clothes. 

View of promenade from our hotel., Estoril

There were many people taking advantage of the beautiful day, families, young lovers, retirees, and lots of unleashed dogs (the Portuguese love their dogs as does my room mate Lisa and I’ve got the photos to prove it). The walk from the hotel to Cascais was a mere 20 minutes and it felt good to stretch the legs after our transatlantic flight.

Cascais is a resort town and though fairly quiet now (it is November after all), you can sense the crush of masses that must descend on its shops, cafés, and sandy bays and beaches during the summer months. I admired the lace and linens and other handicrafts at roadside stalls just off what appeared to be the main square. Our walk took us as far as the harbor with its fishing boats and yachts, not realizing that a bit further up the road was the most visited attraction in the area, the forbiddingly named Boca de Inferno (mouth of Hell), a natural grotto tucked in the rugged coastline.

Bounty from the Sea - Yum!

Fortunately on a return trip to Cascais, we took advantage of stormy weather to photograph the sea show of waves crashing the cliffs and to enjoy the day’s fresh catch at a lovely restaurant overlooking the Atlantic.

More and more, travelers today want a vacation where food and wine is the main attraction. Knowing this, Explorations have included plenty of wine tastings, culinary classes and opportunities to savor local cuisine in each of its small group tours.

To really get to know a destination, there’s arguably no better way to do it than by diving right into its cuisine. Winery visits and samplings, especially, can impart a whole text book’s worth of history – how the grape came to the region, how things like climate and irrigation affect the wines taste, and how wine production can impact a region’s entire economy.

And while I love all the background commentary, there is nothing quite like simply sipping a chardonnay or full-bodied red surrounded by beautiful scenery. Here are my personal favorite places to enjoy a sip or two of vino:

1. Napa Valley, California
2. Mendoza, Argentina
3. Tuscany, Italy
4. Colchagua  Valley, Chile
5. Champs-Elysées, Paris

I’d love to hear your favorite places to sniff, swirl and taste. Comments are always welcome!