Planning Itineraries Flashcards
PRIDE
Pace Routing Interests Detail Energy
The three major regions in Africa popular for independent travel are Egypt, South Africa, and the two countries of ___________ and __________ for safari itineraries.
Kenya
Tanzania
When you are planning a self-drive itinerary, a good rule of thumb is to restrict the amount of driving to no more than how many miles?
150 miles per day
Morocco is often included in itineraries through Iberia. True or False
True
After you qualify the client and conduct destination research, your next step when planning itineraries is to
Book arrival and return air or surface transportation.
An advantage of an open-jaw surface routing (as opposed to a circle trip) is to enable the traveler to visit places located far apart within a short time. True or False
True
PRIDE stands for five important guidelines when planning itineraries: pace, routing, interest, details, and energy. True or False
True
A Canadian tour that includes towns such as Yarmouth, Halifax, and Charlottetown is said to be part of which itinerary?
Canadian Maritime
A hub-and-spoke surface routing is effective when planning itineraries in areas where major cities and points of interest are spread out. True or False
False
The cities of Nanjing and Chongqing are often included on a “Golden Route” itinerary of China. True or False
False
Starting in Berlin, which city would not be included in a ten-day self-drive itinerary visiting the capitals and major sights of Eastern Europe?
Moscow, Budapest, Prague, Warsaw
Moscow
FITs
Foreign (or Fully) Independent tour: a custom made trip.
Potential Specialty Travel Markets - Market Segments
Families Grandparents Honeymooners LGBT travelers Mature travelers Singles Students and youths
Potential Specialty Travel Markets - Membership Groups
Museums/Nonprofit Associations
Natural history organizations
Historic preservation groups
Affinity Groups
Churches and synagogues Senior citizen centers Women’s auxiliaries Kiwanis & Rotary clubs Special Interest Societies
Garden clubs
Theater troupes
Art leagues
Dance classes
Potential Specialty Travel Markets - Hobby or Professional Groups
Art and architecture admirers Teachers and lawyers Antique collectors Food/wine connoisseurs Language learners Photographers Fashion mavens Music lovers
Potential Specialty Travel Markets - Trends
Ecotourism
Socially responsible travel
Volunteer vacations
Cultural tourism
Potential Specialty Travel Markets - Special Events
Christmas
Sporting events
Cultural festivals
Conventions
Potential Specialty Travel Markets - Active Travel
Soft Adventure
Bird-watching, whale watching and animal spotting Bicycling Horseback riding Light hiking and camping Walking Van supported safaris
Hard Adventure
Trekking and mountain climbing Rugged safaris Mountain biking Whitewater rafting, kayaking Hang gliding Scuba diving Bungee jumping Rock climbing
Sports
Fishing
Golfing
Skiing
Tennis
transportation, accommodations, and activities
Tour elements
Air Travel
Air travel is recommended for long-distance travel.
Point-to-point travel can be costly.
Recommend discounted fares that allow stopover privileges.
Suggest an open-jaw routing in order to maximize the surface portion of the itinerary without doubling back.
Rail Travel
Rail travel is recommended for short-distance travel or as a leisurely way to see the countryside.
Rail travel can offer a chance to meet the “locals.”
Because trains usually arrive and depart from city centers, travelers can avoid the hassles of getting from the airport to downtown areas, which can be time-consuming and costly.
Rail travel is sometimes less costly than air and often quicker on certain intercity trips. For example, Eurostar travels between Paris and London in almost the same amount of time it would take to fly, when you consider travel time to and from the airport, check-in time, baggage claim, and so on.
Certain high-speed rail services (for example, the TGV in France and the Shinkansen bullet train in Japan) rival air travel on some short-distance routes.
Recommend a unique and nostalgic trip on a restored luxury train (for example, the Venice-Simplon Orient Express in Europe or the Blue Train in South Africa). These rail trips can vary in length.
Suggest a rail pass for long-distance trips and for multiple stopovers. Examples include the regional pass, such as Scanrail in Scandinavia, or the single-country pass, such as the Swiss Pass in Switzerland. There are several passes to choose from, including the Global Pass to explore up to 28 countries, the Select Pass for two-, three-, or four-bordering countries of your choice, and one-country passes.
Car Rental
Recommend a car rental for independent travelers who don’t want to depend on schedules but want to go at their own pace.
Due to traffic congestion and parking problems, don’t recommend a self-drive car for travelers staying in major cities.
Travelers should avoid driving more than 150 miles per day (less when traveling over rough terrain or in mountainous regions).
The price of gasoline in foreign countries is often higher than in the United States.
It is a good idea to request features - such as automatic transmissions and air conditioning - that may be less common outside the United States.
Travel by Ship
Travel by ship is recommended for coastal sightseeing segments of an itinerary.
Suggest smaller vessels such as riverboats and barges for inland cruise segments on rivers, lakes, and canals.
Many European rail pass programs include free or discounted travel on selected river steamers and ferry services.
Cruise ships may be the most practical means of transportation in certain areas of the world, such as the South Pacific and Southeast Asia.
Motorcoach
In some major cities, recommend half-day or full-day city sightseeing tour upon arrival to get an overview of the key sites and attractions. Travelers can return to points of interest at their leisure.
Suggest pre-arranged full-day excursions to the surrounding countryside rather than renting a car while staying in the city.
Transfers (or Meet and Greet Service)
Suggest pre-arranged transfers for those clients concerned with language or cultural barriers in certain foreign countries.
Recommend transfers to avoid the hassles of public transportation and the expense of a self-drive car.
Sightseeing Tour Versus Excursion
City sightseeing tours are narrated sightseeing events that take place wholly within the city limits (standard length of time: one-half day or full day).
Excursions are narrated sightseeing events that take place outside of the city limits, with a return to the originating point (excursions can be one-half day or up to several days in length).
Key Questions for Itinerary Planning
Is the destination interesting enough, and does it satisfy the special interests and needs of the client?
Are there enough support services in the area (i.e., accommodations, restaurants, shopping, etc.)? Do the quality and prices of these services meet the client’s requirements?
Has there been a demand for this destination? What reactions or feedback have you received from clients or colleagues who have visited the destination?
Are there any nearby attractions or points of interest that could be combined with a trip to this area?
Does the destination have the necessary infrastructure (i.e., roads, other surface/water transportation systems) to meet the client’s needs?
Useful research aids and resources: Your Clients
Keep track of where past clients have been, conduct follow-up, and keep notes on their comments about such things as accommodations, sightseeing, local ambiance, shopping, and restaurants.
Useful research aids and resources: Travel Guidebooks
Bookstores and libraries carry a huge variety of guidebooks, including such series as Fodor, Frommer, Birnbaum, the Blue Guides, Eyewitness, Fielding, Lonely Planet, and Michelin.
Useful research aids and resources: Computers and the Internet
The Internet is the number one source for travel-related and geographic information. There are thousands of websites containing information on specialty travel, as well as encyclopedic information about every country in the world with accompanying maps and pictures. There are also some excellent online videos that include presentations of hotels, resorts, and destinations.
Useful research aids and resources: National or Regional Tourist Boards
Government-sponsored tourist offices provide in-depth information on a particular country or region. You can find out about the history, geography, and culture of a destination, as well as travel facts such as public transportation, lodging, shopping, cultural and special events, museums, and other attractions. Keep in mind that tourist boards also provide colorful brochures, videos, slide shows, posters, and other promotional items for sales presentations.
Useful research aids and resources: Periodicals
Visit your local library or search online to find travel articles from publications, such as National Geographic, Travel Holiday, Condé Nast Traveler, and Travel and Leisure.
Useful research aids and resources: Specialty Journals
Journals covering special interests, from sailing to art, occasionally publish statistics related to specialized travel and destinations. For example, Museum News, the trade publication of the American Association of Museums, has published an entire issue dedicated to cultural tourism.
Useful research aids and resources: Travel Industry Organizations
The Travel and Tourism Research Association (local and national chapters), Adventure Travel Trade Association, The International Ecotourism Society, The Travel Institute, World Food Travel Association, National Tour Association, ASTA, ARTA, and CLIA can provide up-to-date information that will help you in planning an itinerary.
Useful research aids and resources: Travel Industry Journals
Designed specifically for the travel specialist, publications such as Recommend, Travel Weekly, Travel Agent, TravelAge and Vacation Agent feature specific destinations and specialty travel, plus regular industry coverage.
Useful research aids and resources: Tour Brochures
Tour brochures that you have in your office will list the destinations and points of interest tour operators are including in their hosted and escorted tour packages.
First Step: Transportation
Before you map out the traveler’s day-to-day itinerary, you must first confirm the air and ground transportation segments in order to be sure they are available.
PRIDE: Pace
Pacing is how quickly or slowly the itinerary moves. Make sure to provide a comfortable pace to the trip; don’t overburden each day. A good rule of thumb for self-drive is not to exceed 150 miles per day. Pacing is how quickly or slowly the itinerary moves. Make sure to provide a comfortable pace to the trip; don’t overburden each day. A good rule of thumb for self-drive is not to exceed 150 miles per day. Pacing is how quickly or slowly the itinerary moves. Make sure to provide a comfortable pace to the trip; don’t overburden each day. A good rule of thumb for self-drive is not to exceed 150 miles per day. Pacing is how quickly or slowly the itinerary moves. Make sure to provide a comfortable pace to the trip; don’t overburden each day. A good rule of thumb for self-drive is not to exceed 150 miles per day.
PRIDE: Routing
Plan both an interesting and efficient routing. The route should be scenic, but also practical. Beware of backtracking or driving around in circles.
PRIDE: Interests
Match your client’s interests with the destinations visited, and suggest sightseeing, attractions, and planned activities matching those interests.
PRIDE: Details
Pay attention to detail. When sketching out the day-to-day plan, think of yourself on the trip. Make sure that planned attractions or activities are available when your client is scheduled to be there.
PRIDE: Energy
Match the energy level of your client with the pace and level of activities during the itinerary. This does not necessarily depend on age.
Types of Routings
- Hub and Spoke: allows the client to stay in one “home base” for a period of time, while taking day trips and excursions.
- Circle Trip: the beginning and ending point of the itinerary is the same. Circle trips include overnight stops in different locations.
- Open-Jaw: the arrival and final departure cities are different.
Hub and Spoke Routing Advantages
Allows client to concentrate on one area and works well in areas rich in sightseeing, attractions, and other close together activities.
Hub and Spoke Routing Disadvantages
The traveler gets to see less of the country because only short distances are covered each day.
The itinerary is less flexible, depending on the location.
Itinerary may be repetitive because the same routing to and from the destination is usually covered. One way to counteract this is to create a triangular routing.
Circle Trip Advantages
One advantage of a circle route is that more of the country can be seen this way. Also, because the client is traveling in a continuous and circuitous route, little time is lost due to double-backing.
Circle Trip Disadvantages
A disadvantage is the potential danger of traveling at a hectic and hurried pace. If planning a circle trip, allow enough time at each destination to include sightseeing and some relaxation.
Open Jaw Advantages
The biggest advantage of an open-jaw trip is that there is no doubling back; more distance can be covered because the traveler is not returning to the point of origin. It also allows the traveler to visit destinations located far apart, which might not be possible in a circle trip.
Open Jaw Disadvantages
Can be more hectic and hurried than hub and spoke. Can be more expensive than a circle trip due to airfare for open jaw travel.
Itinerary Components
Your information: Logon, agency name, your name, contact information.
Itinerary details including timelines & activites.
All pertinent booking details including supplier names, confirmation numbers, dates, times, rates, product specifics like class of service, room types, seat numbers, etc.
Information client should know such as passport and visa information.
Pre-Departure Wows
Send the client a movie, destination video, novel, or tour guidebook related to their travel destination. This will help get them even more excited about the itinerary you created.
Mail a package with their printed travel documents that include a destination map, pocket foreign language dictionary, luggage tags with agency logo, and flash drive containing electronic documents, destination information, tipping guides, emergency numbers, restaurant suggestions and more.
Send a gift card to a restaurant or coffee shop located in their upcoming destination. Include a map of the city with the different locations highlighted.
During Travel Wows
Arrange for breakfast in bed or other surprise dining experiences.
Have gifts waiting in the room – chocolates, local food treats or regional wine.
Secure tickets for a local attraction that your clients might not be anticipating but will match their interests and areas of enjoyment.
Partner with the concierge to secure hard-to-get dinner reservations or show tickets.
Hire a professional photographer to capture special moments during one of your clients activities.
Post Travel Wows
Save your clients from having to cook upon returning home. Have a thank you note with a restaurant gift card waiting for them.
Contact your clients over the phone to discuss their travel experience and future travel bucket list items.
Locate one of your clients travel photos on social media to print, frame and mail to their home with a note.
Send greeting cards for birthdays, anniversaries and other celebratory events.
Routes Between Hamburg and Munich
Hamburg-Hanover-Kassel-Wurzburg-Nuremberg-Munich
Hamburg-Berlin-Leipzig-Nuremberg-Munich
Hamburg-Bremen-Stuttgart-Munich
Which major road system pattern: England
Hub and Spoke
Which major road system pattern: Hungary
Hub and Spoke
Which major road system pattern: Poland
Grid
Which major road system pattern: Spain
Hub and Spoke
Which major road system pattern: Italy
Linear (north/south with crossovers)
Which major road system pattern: Germany
Grid
Great Itineraries of Europe:
The Chateaux of the Loire
Key sights: The Loire Valley of France is known for chateaux (castles), many of which are architectural masterpieces, and also for its fine wines.
Length of trip: One week.
Transportation: Car or rail.
Main route: Angers – Saumur – (Fontevraud) – Chinon – (Azay-le-Rideau, Villandry) – Amboise – Blois – (Chambord) – Orleans
Great Itineraries of Europe:
The Royal Paths from London
Key sights: This quintessential tour of England revisits many centuries of England’s past—from the Saxon period of the ninth century to the present day.
Length of trip: 10 to 14 days.
Transportation: Car is best; public transportation to small towns will be sporadic.
Main route: Winchester – (Salisbury) – Warminster – (Stonehenge) – Wells – (Glastonbury) – Bath – Cirencester – (Cotswold villages) – Stratford-upon-Avon – (Shakespeare) – Oxford – (colleges, Woodstock, Blenheim Palace) – London
Great Itineraries of Europe:
Germany — The Romantic Road
Key sights: This 260-mile road is specially designated for touring and winds north-south through a mosaic of art, history, and architecture.
Length of trip: 7 to 10 days.
Transportation: Car is best.
Main route: Wurzburg – Rothenburg ob der Tauber – (Feuchtwangen and Dinkelsbuhl) – Nordlingen – (Harburg and Donauworth) – Augsburg – (Landburg, Schongau) – Fussen
Great Itineraries of Europe:
“Moor” of Spain
Key sights: This interesting and colorful itinerary through Andalusia represents the characteristics and traits of the whole country, highlighting those areas where the Moors left their mark on the art and architecture of Spain.
Length of trip: 7 to 8 days.
Transportation: This winding route of approximately 600 miles is best covered by car or train, although it is possible to go by bus with careful planning.
Main route: Madrid – (Escorial and Valle de los Caidos) – Segovia – (Avila) – Toledo – Cordoba – Seville – Granada – Madrid
Great Itineraries of Europe:
Austrian Rhapsody
Key sights: This one-way journey between Salzburg and Vienna follows the scenic Danube.
Length of trip: 7 to 10 days.
Transportation: Car is strongly recommended; boat trip on the Danube between Melk and Krems is also recommended if the traveler has lots of time.
Main route: Salzburg – Bad Ischl – (Hallstatt and Ebensee) – Gmunden – (Wels) – Linz – (St. Florian and Melk) – Krems – (Weissenkirchen and Durnstein) – Vienna
Great Itineraries of Europe:
Treasures of Tuscany
Key sights: This 150-mile round trip combines the beautiful scenery of the Tuscan landscape with world-famous works of art and architecture.
Length of trip: 7 days.
Transportation: Car is best; connections between most of the major towns can be made by rail or bus.
Main route: Florence – (Prato, Pistoia, and Montecatini Term) – Lucca – (Pisa) – Siena – (San Gimignano) Greve-In-Chianti – Florence
Great Itineraries of Europe:
Capitals of Eastern Europe
Key sights: This tour highlights the major cities of the cold-war Eastern Bloc countries.
Length of trip: 14 to 18 days.
Transportation: Recommend rail, with excursions by car into the countryside; driving the entire itinerary is only for the adventurous, since some roads are not as well maintained as those in western Europe.
Main route: Berlin – (Frankfurt) – Leipzig – Dresden – Prague – Budapest – (Danube cruise, Lake Balaton) – Krakow – (Auschwitz) – Warsaw – (Gdansk on Baltic coast)
Spotlight on: The British Isles in 2 weeks
Day 1: Arrive Shannon – Killarney
Day 2: Killarney – Ring of Kerry – Blarney Castle
Day 3: Cork – Wexford – Glandalough – Dublin
Day 4: Dublin
Day 5: Dublin – Belfast
Day 6: Belfast
Day 7: (by steamer) – Edinburgh, Scotland
Day 8: Edinburgh
Day 9: Gretna Green – English Lake District – Chester
Day 10: North Wales – Snowdonia – Droitwich Spa
Day 11: Coventry – Warwick – Stratford-upon-Avon
Day 12: Blenheim – Oxford – Cotswolds – Bath
Day 13: Bath – London
Day 14: London
England and Scotland in 6 days
Day 1 - London
Day 2 - London - Oxford - Stratford-upon-Avon
Day 3 Stratford-upon-Avon - York
Day 4York - Edinburgh
Day 5 Edinburgh
Day 6 Edinburgh
Spotlight on: Iberian Adventure
Day 1: Arrive Lisbon, Portugal
Day 2: Lisbon – excursion to Estoril and Sintra
Day 3: Lisbon – Seville, Spain
Day 4: Seville
Day 5: Algeciras – Tangier, Morocco
Day 6: Tangier – Malaga – Costa del Sol
Day 7: Costa del Sol – Granada
Day 8: Granada – Madrid
Day 9: Madrid
Day 10: Madrid
Day 11: El Escorial – Avila – Salamanca
Day 12: Salamanca – Canas de Senhorim, Portugal
Day 13: Coimbra – Fatima – Lisbon
Day 14: Lisbon
10 days Lisbon - Seville - Morocco
Day 1 Lisbon Day 2 Lisbon - Seville Day 3 Seville Sightseeing Day 4 Seville - Marbella Day 5 Marbella Day 6 Marbella - Algeciras - Ferry - Tangier Day 7 Tangier - Fez Day 8 Fez - Marrakech Day 9 Marrakech - Casablanca Day 10 Casablanca Sightseeing
Spotlight on: Alpine Adventure
Day 1: Zurich
Day 2: Zurich – Rhine Falls – Lake Constance – Munich
Day 3: Munich – excursion to Bavarian Alps and Neuschwanstein
Day 4: Munich
Day 5: Munich – Salzburg, Austria – Vienna
Day 5: Vienna
Day 6: Vienna – Lake Worth
Day 7: Lake Worth – Villach
Day 8: Villach – Dolomites (Italy) – Bolzano
Day 9: Bolzano
Day 10: Bolzano – St. Moritz
Day 11: St. Moritz – Glacier Express – Chur
Day 12: Chur – Vaduz (principality of Liechtenstein)
Day 13: Vaduz – Lucerne
Day 14: Lucerne
Spotlight on: Classical Italy and Greece
Day 1: Rome
Day 2: Rome
Day 3: Rome – Florence
Day 4: Florence
Day 5: Florence – Venice
Day 6: Venice
Day 7: Venice – San Marino – Assisi
Day 8: Assisi – Sorrento
Day 9: Sorrento (excursion to Capri)
Day 10: Sorrento – Pompeii – Brindisi (overnight ferry)
Day 11: Patras – Olympia (Peloponnese)
Day 12: Olympia – Delphi
Day 13: Delphi – Athens
Day 14: Athens
Spotlight on: Swing Through Scandinavia
Day 1: Arrive Oslo, Norway
Day 2: Oslo
Day 3: Oslo
Day 4: Oslo – Norwegian lakes – Grindaheim
Day 5: Grindaheim – fjord country to Solvorn
Day 6: Solvorn – Skjolden – Lillehammer
Day 7: Lillehammer – Karlstad, Sweden
Day 8: Karlstad – Stockholm
Day 9: Stockholm
Day 10: Stockholm – Gota Canal – Jonkoping
Day 11: Jonkoping – Gothenburg – Frederikshavn – Aalborg, Denmark
Day 12: Aalborg – fairytale country – Aarhus – Fredericia
Day 13: Fredericia – Odense – Copenhagen
Day 14: Copenhagen
The Middle East is the birthplace of
the world’s three major religions: Christianity, Judaism, and Islam
Of all the countries that make up the Middle East, _____ is probably the most frequently visited.
Israel
Kibbutz
Working farms scattered throughout Israel with overnight accommodations.
Typical Israel 8 Day Itinerary
Day 1: Tel Aviv
Day 2: Tel Aviv – Haifa
Day 3: Haifa – Nazareth – Kibbutz
Day 4: Kibbutz – Jerusalem
Day 5: Jerusalem sightseeing
Day 6: Jerusalem – excursion to Bethlehem
Day 7: Jerusalem – excursion to the Dead Sea and Masada
Day 8: Jerusalem – Tel Aviv
North Africa Destinations
Morocco, Tunisia, and Egypt
This country is often included in southern European tours because of proximity to the Iberian peninsula
Morocco
This African country is known for “stay put” vacations along its beautiful coastline.
Tunisia
Central East Africa Destinations
Tanzania and Kenya for safaris
This country is known for a kaleidoscope of features including different cultures and breathtaking scenery
South Africa
Spotlight on: Egypt
Day 1: Cairo sightseeing
Day 2: Cairo – excursion to the Pyramids at Giza
Day 3: Cairo – excursion to Memphis
Day 4: Cairo – Aswan (flight)
Day 5: Aswan – Nile cruise – Kom Ombo
Day 6: Kom Ombo – Nile cruise – Edfu – Esna
Day 7: Esna – Nile cruise – Luxor
Day 8: Luxor – excursion to the Valley of the Kings and Queens
Day 9: Luxor – excursion to the Temple of Karnak – Cairo (flight)
Spotlight on: Central East Africa
Day 1: Nairobi, Kenya
Day 2: Nairobi – Aberdares National Park (tree hotel)
Day 3: Aberdares – Mount Kenya – Samburu
Day 4: Samburu (game drives)
Day 5: Samburu – Lake Nakuru
Day 6: Lake Nakuru – Lake Naivasha – Masai Mara
Day 7: Masai Mara (game drives)
Day 8: Masai Mara – Nairobi
Have additional time and want to visit the famous Serengeti Plain and other fantastic natural wonders?
Suggest the following extension into Tanzania. The Tanzania extension begins in Tarangire, approximately a one-hour flight from Nairobi.
Day 1: Nairobi – Tarangire, Tanzania (flight)
Day 2: Tarangire – Lake Manyara National Park – Ngorongoro
Day 3: Ngorongoro Crater excursion
Day 4: Ngorongoro – Arusha
Day 5: Arusha – Nairobi
There are two basic types of safaris
depending on the type of transportation: a land safari, using minibus vehicles; or a wing safari, using scheduled or charter air flights. Safaris can also vary depending on the type of accommodations (tented camp or lodge).
Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe
If your clients have additional time, suggest a side trip to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. Frequent flights are scheduled between Johannesburg and Victoria Falls. Allow at least two full days of sightseeing to enjoy this beautiful area.
Spotlight on: South Africa
The following two-week trip includes all of the key highlights plus an optional round-trip excursion, by air, to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe.
Day 1: Johannesburg – rail trip on the Blue Train – Cape Town
Day 2: Cape Town – excursion to Cape of Good Hope National Park and Table Mountain
Day 3: Cape Town – Caledon
Day 4: Caledon – drive along the Garden Route – Wilderness
Day 5: Wilderness – “Outeniqua Choo Tjoe” steam train – Port Elizabeth
Day 6: Port Elizabeth – Durban (flight)
Day 7: Durban – Zululand
Day 8: Zululand – Swaziland
Day 9: Swaziland – Kruger National Park
Day 10: Kruger National Park
Day 11: Kruger National Park – excursion to Pilgrim’s Rest – Eastern Transvaal
Day 12: Eastern Transvaal – Johannesburg
Day 13: Johannesburg
Spotlight on: Far East Overview
Day 1: Tokyo
Day 2: Tokyo – Osaka (Shinkansen “bullet train”)
Day 3: Osaka – excursion to Kyoto/Nara
Day 4: Osaka – Bangkok, Thailand (flight)
Day 5: Bangkok sightseeing
Day 6: Bangkok sightseeing
Day 7: Bangkok – excursion to Pattaya
Day 8: Bangkok – Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (flight)
Day 9: Kuala Lumpur sightseeing
Day 10: Kuala Lumpur – Singapore (rail or motorcoach)
Day 11: Singapore sightseeing
Day 12: Singapore – excursion to Johor
Day 13: Singapore sightseeing
Day 14: Singapore – Hong Kong (flight)
Day 15: Hong Kong sightseeing
Day 16: Hong Kong sightseeing
Day 17: Hong Kong – excursion to Guilin
Day 18: Hong Kong – excursion to Macau
Spotlight on: China
The Golden Route Itinerary:
Day 1: Beijing sightseeing
Day 2: Beijing – excursion to the Great Wall and Ming tombs
Day 3: Beijing sightseeing
Day 4: Beijing – Xian (flight)
Day 5: Xian sightseeing – Terra Cotta Army
Day 6: Xian – Shanghai (flight)
Day 7: Shanghai sightseeing
Day 8: Shanghai – excursion to the Grand Canal and Classical Gardens of Suzhou
Day 9: Shanghai – Guilin (flight)
Day 10: Guilin – Li River sightseeing cruise
Day 11: Guilin – Guangzhou (flight)
Day 12: Guangzhou – Hong Kong
Day 13: Hong Kong
Day 14: Hong Kong
Spotlight on: Australia
Day 1: Cairns sightseeing
Day 2: Cairns excursion (day cruise) to the Great Barrier Reef
Day 3: Cairns – Brisbane (flight)
Day 4: Brisbane sightseeing
Day 5: Brisbane – Surfers Paradise (Gold Coast resort)
Day 6: Surfers Paradise – overnight rail to Sydney
Day 7: Sydney sightseeing
Day 8: Sydney sightseeing
Day 9: Sydney – excursion to Blue Mountains
Day 10: Sydney – Ayers Rock (flight)
Day 11: Ayers Rock
Day 12: Ayers Rock – Perth (flight)
Day 13: Perth sightseeing
Day 14: Perth – excursion to Fremantle
Spotlight on: New Zealand
Day 1: Auckland
Day 2: Auckland – Waitomo
Day 3: Waitomo – excursion to glow worm grotto – Rotorua
Day 4: Rotorua – Christchurch (flight)
Day 5: Christchurch
Day 6: Christchurch – Mount Cook
Day 7: Mount Cook
Day 8: Mount Cook – Dunedin
Day 9: Dunedin – Te Anau
Day 10: Te Anau – Milford Sound
Day 11: Milford Sound – Queenstown
Day 12: Queenstown
Day 13: Queenstown – Franz Josef Glacier
Day 14: Franz Josef Glacier – Greymouth
Day 15: Greymouth – Christchurch (via Tranz Alpine Express rail)
Day 16: Christchurch
Destination: South America
7 day Incan Adventure
Day 1: La Paz, Bolivia
Day 2: La Paz – city tour
Day 3: La Paz – excursion to the ruins of Tiwanaku
Day 4: La Paz – Lake Titicaca
Day 5: Lake Titicaca – hydrofoil to Island of Kalauta
Day 6: Lake Titicaca – excursion to Sun Island and Copacabana
Day 7: Lake Titicaca – La Paz – short flight – Cuzco
Day 8: Cuzco – Machu Picchu
Day 9: Machu Picchu – Cuzco
Day 10: Cuzco – excursion to the “Sacred Valley of the Incas”
Day 11: Cuzco – short flight – Lima
Day 12: Lima sightseeing
Day 13: Lima
Destination: Eastern Europe
These clients have traveled to western Europe many times and now want to see the European countries that were difficult to visit during the cold war: eastern Germany, Slovakia, Czech Republic, and Poland, for example. Because you are able to get an excellent round-trip airfare to Vienna, that will be their starting and ending point. They want to visit the capitals and cultural centers in Hungary, Poland, and the Czech Republic. They especially want to visit sites located in what was formerly East Germany.
Day 1: Vienna
Day 2: Vienna – Budapest, Hungary
Day 3: Budapest sightseeing
Day 4: Budapest – Bratislava, Slovakia
Day 5: Bratislava – Krakow, Poland
Day 6: Krakow – sightseeing and excursion to Auschwitz
Day 7: Krakow – excursion to Czestochowa – Warsaw
Day 8: Warsaw sightseeing
Day 9: Warsaw – Poznan
Day 10: Poznan – Berlin, Germany
Day 11: Berlin sightseeing
Day 12: Berlin – Dresden
Day 13: Dresden – Ore Mountains – Prague, Czech Republic
Day 14: Prague – Lake District – Trebon – Vienna
Destination: India and Nepal
Your clients are young, upscale, and adventure-seeking. They are well-traveled and enjoy hiking and trekking on their vacations. They are particularly fascinated by the subcontinent of India. On this trip, they want to experience the major cities of Mumbai and Kolkata, but they are also intrigued by the exotic mysticism of Kathmandu.
Plan a two-week active vacation for them. You will have to include air and possibly some rail segments in their itinerary because of the distances and rugged topography involved.
Day 1: Mumbai sightseeing
Day 2: Mumbai – Aurangabad
Day 3: Aurangabad – Delhi (flight)
Day 4: Delhi sightseeing
Day 5: Delhi – Jaipur (short flight or long drive)
Day 6: Jaipur sightseeing
Day 7: Jaipur – Agra
Day 8: Agra sightseeing – excursion Fatehpur Sikri
Day 9: Agra – Khajuraho
Day 10: Khajuraho – viewing Ganges River – Varanasi
Day 11: Varanasi – Kathmandu, Nepal (flight)
Day 12: Kathmandu – excursion to Pokhara
Day 13: Kathmandu – Kolkata
Day 14: Kolkata sightseeing
Circle Trip
A type of routing in which the beginning and ending point of the itinerary is the same.
City Sightseeing Tour
A narrated sightseeing event that takes place wholly within the city limits (standard length of time: one-half day or full day). It includes transportation (usually motorcoach), services of a local guide, fees/admissions to local attractions, and meals if applicable.
Excursion
A narrated sightseeing event that takes place outside of the city limits, with a return to the originating point (excursions can be one-half day or up to several days in length). It includes transportation (usually motorcoach), services of a local guide, fees/admissions to local attractions, and meals if applicable.
FIT (Foreign Independent Tour)
A tour for which the travel professional books all elements of the tour and designs a unique and individualized itinerary for an independent client.
Hub-and-Spoke
A type of routing that allows the client to stay in one “home base” for a period of time, while taking day trips and excursions. Similar to the hub-and-spoke system of the airlines.
Itinerary
The logical, interesting, and sequential planning of all the elements of a trip — transportation, accommodations, sightseeing, visits to attractions, meals, and so forth.
Open-Jaw
A type of routing in which the arrival and final departure cities are different.
Tour Elements
All components of a tour itinerary, including transportation segments, accommodations, and activities.
