| How To Save Up to 75% Of the Cost Of Traveling to Almost Anywhere
How would you like to visit Paris in the spring? Sample local wines
in Tuscany in September? Enjoy the English countryside in the summer?
Sound like a dream? It doesn't have to be.
You can travel to some of the world's most exotic and beautiful locations,
and stay in an Italian villa, a Parisian pied-a-terre, or an English
manor and you'll only pay for airfare, dining out and tourist attractions!
How? By using a housing exchange service. Some of these companies
have been around for 50 years, and are widely used in Europe, Asia
and Australia.
It works like this. You pick what country you want to visit, when
you want to go, and how long you want to stay. Arrangements are made,
and you exchange homes with someone else.
This is a wonderful way to drastically cut costs, and yet see exciting,
wonderful places. By staying in a home, you're not paying the high
cost of hotels (which can run upwards of $125 a night) or dining in
restaurants, saving you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars!
Plus, you get the added benefit of living like the locals do. You
enjoy total immersion into the culture, and rather than being treated
like a tourist, you have the opportunity to make new friends and participate
in your surroundings as a member of the community. With a "homebase" you
have the choice of how you want to explore the region.
You also have the peace of mind that comes from knowing that your
home is being carefully looked after, your plants are being watered,
and your pets are taken care of.
So, how do you get started? Do an Internet search for "housing
exchange." Find a company that you're comfortable with. Sign up
and join the housing exchange list. (Some companies have over 10,000
members!) Decide where you want to travel, when and how long you want
to stay. Then, with a click of your mouse, you can find information
of other, like-minded travelers, who want to visit your area.
You can look at pictures and read short bios about the homes, to help
you make your decision, and then contact the owners to reach an agreement.
Here are some of the things you'll want to agree on:
Total number of adults and children staying in the home
Use of the vehicle and it's maintenance
What linen will be provided in house, and how will it be cleaned?
Care of pets
Long distance phone calls
Don't worry though. Your housing exchange company can help you put
together a list, and give you ideas for preparing for your guests.
Instead of going to a cold, impersonal hotel room, you go "home" and
are welcomed by your next door neighbor, who gives you the house keys
and invites you to dinner the next evening, telling you to call them
if you have any questions.
When you enter the front door, there's a bottle of wine and fresh
flowers on the table to welcome you. You find a note on the fridge,
telling you how to heat the light meal that's been prepared for you.
On the kitchen counter is a pile of brochures and maps, giving you
insider information about where to go and what to see.
Over the next week, you visit the places you've only dreamed about
during the day, making new friends and building memories that will
last a lifetime. And every night when you come "home" you
get to relax and unwind, without stress or worrying about anything.
You can have the vacation you've always dreamed about, and save thousands
of dollars at the same time! Bon voyage!
Athens & 4 Day Greek Isles Cruise
Price: 1,859.00
9 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, August
November 2011 Departs: New York Kennedy (JFK); other gateways on
request Includes: Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers,
many meals, touring & more. Does not include taxes & fees.
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Kenya Wildlife Safari
Price: 3,149.00
10 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, August
December 2011 Departs: New York Kennedy (JFK) Includes: Includes
airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals, touring
& more. Does not include taxes & fees.
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A Taste of China
Price: 1,349.00
10 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, August
2011 April 2012 Departs: Los Angeles (LAX) Includes: Includes
airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals, touring
& more. Does not include taxes & fees. If you think you can't afford
to visit this gem of a destination, think again. With prices from
just $999 per person, our 10-day Taste of China includes flights
from Los Angeles, superior first class hotels in Beijing, Xi'an
and Shanghai, all internal flights and transfers, 10 bountiful meals
and a touring program that includes many important sites you'll
want to see. If you've been waiting for just the right tour at just
the right price, you won't want to miss this amazing opportunity.
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Best of China including Yangtze River Cruise
Price: 2,699.00
15 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, August
November 2011 Departs: Los Angeles (LAX) Includes: Includes airfare,
fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals, touring & more.
Does not include taxes & fees. For travelers interested in visiting
an important culture that is truly different from their own, China
is an experience of a lifetime, and our "Best of China" tour has
been designed to assure that you see, and experience, the very best
this magnificent nation has to offer. But don't let our exceptionally
low pricing fool you. There are no compromises on quality and content.
If you've wanted to experience the best of China, from its most
dynamic, modern cities to its timeless villages and breathtaking
natural wonders, this is one trip you won't want to miss.
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Best of India & Nepal
Price: 2,799.00
15 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, October
2011 May 2012 Departs: New York Kennedy (JFK) Includes: Includes
airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals, touring
& more. Does not include taxes & fees. Our 15-day India and Nepal
journey will amaze you with its abundance of fascinating, stunning,
and exotic sights and sounds. You'll visit many of India's most
important and significant cities, including New Delhi, the nation's
capital and third-largest city, Jaipur, known as the "Pink City"
for its unusual rose-colored sandstone architecture, Agra, site
of the Taj Mahal, Khajuraho, with its exquisitely carved sculptures,
and Varanasi, the holiest site in India, where thousands of Hindu
pilgrims tour its temples and bathe in the Ganges River to gain
religious merit. You'll continue to Nepal, at the foot of Mt. Everest,
which few countries on Earth that can match for its combination
of spectacular scenery, exotic culture and hospitable people. All
of this for prices that represent exceptional value for money.
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Discover Morocco
Price: 2,199.00
8 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, September
November 2011 Departs: New York Kennedy (JFK) Includes: Includes
airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals, touring
& more. Does not include taxes & fees. Morocco, one of Africa's
most popular travel destinations, offers the visitor a dazzling
mosaic of Arab and Berber cultures, with a dash of African and European
influence thrown in for good measure. From its beautiful Atlantic
and Mediterranean beaches, deserts complete with oases and towering
sand dunes, magnificent imperial cities, Islamic landmarks, Joujoukan
and Gnaoua trance music, fantastic food, Roman antiquities and mountain
villages, even the most experienced globetrotter will find plenty
to see and do in Morocco. Our tour includes non-stop flights, transfers,
beautiful superior first class and deluxe hotels, most meals and
comprehensive guided touring, all at prices that are impossible
to resist. But don't wait too long to reserve your spot. With prices
so low and value so high, this tour will sell out quickly.
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Classic Israel
Price: 2,659.00
10 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, September
December 2011 Departs: Newark (EWR); other gateways on request
Includes: Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers,
many meals, touring & more. Does not include taxes & fees.
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Dazzling Dubai
Price: 1,879.00
6 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, September
November 2011 Departs: Los Angeles (LAX), New York Kennedy (JFK),
San Francisco (SFO), Houston (IAH) Includes: Includes airfare, fuel
surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals, touring & more. Does
not include taxes & fees.
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Italian Treasures
Price: 3,099.00
10 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, August
November 2011 Departs: New York Kennedy (JFK); other gateways
on request Includes: Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels,
transfers, many meals, touring & more. Does not include taxes &
fees. Join us for a fabulous 12-day journey to Italy, going "off
the beaten path" and exploring the magic of Milan, Verona, Venice,
Bologna, Montecatini Terme, Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, Orvieto,
Rome, & the Amalfi Coast. These cities are filled with history,
culture, art and romance, waiting to be discovered. But don't wait
too long, because at these prices, our Italian Treasures tour will
sell out quickly.
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Pyramids & Petra
Price: 1,899.00
8 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, September
November 2011 Departs: New York Kennedy (JFK) Includes: Includes
airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals, touring
& more. Does not include taxes & fees.
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Beautiful Bhutan
Price: 4,399.00
14 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, October
December 2011 Departs: Los Angeles (LAX) Includes: Includes airfare,
fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals, touring & more.
Does not include taxes & fees.
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Exotic Ecuador
Price: 1,239.00
8 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, August 2011
January 2012 Departs: Los Angeles (LAX), New York Kennedy (JFK),
San Francisco (SFO), Miami (MIA), Washington Dulles (IAD), Philadelphia
(PHL), Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Detroit Metro (DTW), Logan (BOS); other
gateways on request Includes: Includes airfare, fuel surcharges,
hotels, transfers, many meals, touring & more. Does not include
taxes & fees.
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Amazing Peru
Price: 2,799.00
12 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, August
December 2011 Departs: Miami (MIA) Includes: Includes airfare,
fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals, touring & more.
Does not include taxes & fees.
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Ecuador & Galapagos Islands
Price: 3,029.00
8 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, October
December 2011 Departs: Los Angeles (LAX), Miami (MIA), Chicago
O'Hare (ORD), Logan (BOS); other gateways on request Includes: Includes
airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals, touring
& more. Does not include taxes & fees. Discover the wonders of Ecuador
& the Galapagos Islands, a remarkable collection of landscapes,
people, cultures, animals, plants, and more. Our tour covers the
highlights of this incredibly diverse country. You'll visit the
capital city and UNESCO World Heritage Center of Quito and the colorful
and bustling Otavalo market. Round out your tour with a cruise through
the Galapagos Islands, a unique, living laboratory, where Darwin,
and those who followed, studied evolutionary changes that led to
a new understanding of life on earth. This is truly a once in a
lifetime adventure you'll never forget, full of discovery, beauty,
history, culture and more fun than you can imagine. And while there
are no compromises in the quality of the hotels and the scope of
touring included in our program, it's yours for a price that's as
amazing as the trip itself!
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Best of Spain & Portugal
Price: 2,699.00
12 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, September
November 2011 Departs: Newark (EWR); other gateways on request
Includes: Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers,
many meals, touring & more. Does not include taxes & fees.
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Taj Mahal Express
Price: 1,399.00
9 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, September
2011 March 2012 Departs: New York Kennedy (JFK) Includes: Includes
airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals, touring
& more. Does not include taxes & fees.
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A Taste of Vietnam
Price: 1,499.00
10 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, August
2011 January 2012 Departs: Los Angeles (LAX) Includes: Includes
airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals, touring
& more. Does not include taxes & fees.
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A Taste of Thailand
Price: 1,199.00
9 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, September
2011 May 2012 Departs: Los Angeles (LAX) Includes: Includes airfare,
fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals, touring & more.
Does not include taxes & fees.
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Aegean Greek Island Hopper with Athens
Price: 2,499.00
13 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, July
October 2011 Includes: Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels,
transfers, many meals, touring & more. Does not include taxes &
fees.
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Cyclades Greek Island Hopper with Athens
Price: 2,619.00
13 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, July
October 2011 Includes: Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels,
transfers, breakfast daily, ferries & more. Does not include taxes
& fees.
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Darwins Galapagos Island Hopper
Price: 2,229.00
7 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, July December
2011 Departs: Los Angeles (LAX), New York Kennedy (JFK), Miami (MIA),
Washington Dulles (IAD), Philadelphia (PHL), Chicago O'Hare (ORD),
Detroit Metro (DTW), Logan (BOS); other gateways on request Includes:
Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals,
touring & more. Does not include taxes & fees.
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Darwins Galapagos Island Explorer
Price: 2,529.00
8 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, July December
2011 Departs: Los Angeles (LAX), New York Kennedy (JFK), Miami (MIA),
Washington Dulles (IAD), Philadelphia (PHL), Chicago O'Hare (ORD),
Detroit Metro (DTW), Logan (BOS); other gateways on request Includes:
Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals,
touring & more. Does not include taxes & fees.
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Incredible Thailand
Price: 1,599.00
14 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, September
2011 May 2012 Departs: Los Angeles (LAX) Includes: Includes airfare,
fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals, touring & more.
Does not include taxes & fees.
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Best of Vietnam & Cambodia
Price: 2,899.00
16 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, September
2011 January 2012 Departs: Los Angeles (LAX) Includes: Includes
airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals, touring
& more. Does not include taxes & fees.
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Best of Turkey
Price: 1,699.00
14 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, November
December 2011 Departs: New York Kennedy (JFK) Includes: Includes
airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals, touring
& more. Does not include taxes & fees.
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Costa Rica Pura Vida
Price: 1,249.00
9 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, August
November 2011 Departs: Los Angeles (LAX), New York Kennedy (JFK),
San Francisco (SFO), Miami (MIA), Washington Dulles (IAD), Philadelphia
(PHL), Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Atlanta (ATL),
Seattle-Tacoma (SEA), Logan (BOS); other gateways on request Includes:
Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals,
touring & more. Does not include taxes & fees.
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Captivating Costa Rica
Price: 999.00
7 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, July December
2011 Departs: Los Angeles (LAX), New York Kennedy (JFK), San Francisco
(SFO), Miami (MIA), Washington Dulles (IAD), Philadelphia (PHL),
Chicago O'Hare (ORD), Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW), Atlanta (ATL), Seattle-Tacoma
(SEA), Logan (BOS); other gateways on request Includes: Includes
airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals, touring
& more. Does not include taxes & fees. The Manuel Antonio extension
requires that your flights be confirmed separately by the airlines.
Please note that it typically takes 3 to 5 business days to confirm
your extension flights with the airline, and that we will notify
you immediately upon confirmation of the flights. This extension
also requires a minimum of 2 passengers to operate.
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Best of South Africa
Price: 2,999.00
13 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, August
December 2011 Departs: New York Kennedy (JFK) Includes: Includes
airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals, touring
& more. Does not include taxes & fees.
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Best of Kenya & Tanzania Wildlife Safari
Price: 4,579.00
14 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, August
December 2011 Departs: New York Kennedy (JFK) Includes: Includes
airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals, touring
& more. Does not include taxes & fees.
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Croatia Cruise Adventure
Price: 2,899.00
12 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, August
October 2011 Departs: New York Kennedy (JFK); other gateways on
request Includes: Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers,
many meals, touring & more. Does not include taxes & fees.* Croatia
is quickly becoming a favorite destination for travelers seeking
a European vacation with a twist. It offers gorgeous scenery, historic
cities, impressive architecture, charming villages, great food and
wine, sparkling clean water with plenty of sports and activities
for everyone. Take advantage of our 12-day tour and cruise program
to visit the most enticing areas of this beautiful country, including
the amazing Plitvice Lakes National Park and Split, as well as Hvar,
considered the sunniest and loveliest island in the Adriatic, and
other islands. The small ships can easily navigate between the sparkling
islands of the region. Croatia is on sale now, but don't wait too
long. At these prices, space will fly!
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Discover Namibia
Price: 4,499.00
14 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, August
October 2011 Departs: Los Angeles (LAX), New York Kennedy (JFK),
San Francisco (SFO), Logan (BOS); other gateways on request Includes:
Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals,
touring & more. Does not include taxes & fees. Friendly Planet is
pleased to bring you Discover Namibia, one of our most enthralling
and off-the-beaten path tours yet. Discover the startling natural
beauty of this small African nation on our 14-day comprehensive
tour package. You'll experience all of the highlights of this fascinating
countryfrom the shimmering salt pan and diverse wildlife of Etosha
National Park, the enormous Sossusvlei sand dunes in the heart of
the Namib desert, the rugged terrain of Damaraland, the ancient
rock engravings at Twylfelfontein, the quaint coastal town of Swakopmund,
and more. And as always, we've put together a package that includes
everything your need to enjoy your stay in Namibia. Roundtrip flights,
transfers, great hotel and lodge accommodations, daily buffet breakfast,
7 dinners, safari game drives, touring, and more are all part of
these once-in-a-lifetime vacation package. But, space is very limited,
so be sure to reserve your spot quickly!
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Western Mediterranean Cruise
Price: 1,899.00
10 day cruise package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, October
2011 Departs: Newark (EWR); other gateways on request Includes:
Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, cruise, hotel, transfers, many
meals & more! Does not include taxes and fees.
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Eastern Mediterranean Cruise
Price: 1,699.00
10 day cruise package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, October
November 2011 Includes: Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels,
transfers, many meals, & more. Does not include taxes & fees. Join
us on this fantastic celebration of the cultural riches and natural
beauty of the Eastern Mediterranean as we set sail aboard Royal
Caribbean Navigator of the Seas. Enjoy the spacious and comfortable
surroundings, five star dining, extensive activities as embark on
the journey of a lifetime. Our package includes flights from New
York, a 7-night Mediterranean cruise, a 1-night bonus stay in Rome,
all meals aboard the cruise, and breakfast in Rome, and all transfers.
Explore the ports on your own, or take interesting and inexpensive
optional shore excursions. All the flexibility and fun is yours
for incredibly low prices. Space is limited and at these prices,
it will surely sell out quickly.
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Adriatic Sea Cruise
Price: 1,699.00
10 day cruise package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, October
2011 Departs: New York Kennedy (JFK) Includes: Includes airfare,
fuel surcharges, cruise, hotel, transfers, many meals & more! Does
not include taxes & fees. Join us on this fantastic celebration
of the cultural riches and natural beauty of the Adriatic Sea as
we set sail aboard Royal Caribbean Voyager of the Seas. Enjoy the
spacious and comfortable surroundings, five star dining, extensive
activities as embark on the journey of a lifetime. Our package includes
flights from New York, a 7-night Adriatic Sea cruise, a 1-night
bonus stay in Venice, all meals aboard the cruise, and breakfast
in Venice, and all transfers. Explore the ports on your own, or
take interesting and inexpensive optional shore excursions. All
the flexibility and fun is yours for incredibly low prices. Space
is limited and at these prices, it will surely sell out quickly.
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Highlights of Greece & Turkey Cruise
Price: 2,309.00
12 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, August
October 2011 Departs: New York Kennedy (JFK); other gateways on
request Includes: Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers,
many meals, touring & more. Does not include taxes & fees. Join
us for an amazing journey of discovery to the most important classical
sites of western civilization aboard the Louis Cruises Lines Cristal.
You'll experience the great treasures of Greece, Turkey, Israel,
Egypt and Crete without ever having to pack and unpack as you sail
from country to country by night, and visit such world treasures
as the Acropolis in Athens, the Blue Mosque in Istanbul, the ancient
sites of Jerusalem, the great pyramids of Egypt, and so much more,
by day. All of this, plus airfare from New York and many other cities,
is yours for an incredible price. We're excited about this new program
and we know you will be too, but don't wait too long to book, as
space is sure to sell out quickly.
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Magical Madagascar
Price: 5,699.00
12 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, September
December 2011 Departs: New York Kennedy (JFK), Washington Dulles
(IAD); other gateways on request Includes: Includes airfare, fuel
surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals, touring & more. Does
not include taxes & fees.
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Pyramids & Nile Cruise
Price: 2,399.00
9 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, August
September 2011 Departs: New York Kennedy (JFK) Includes: Includes
airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals, touring
& more. Does not include taxes & fees. The birthplace of one of
the greatest civilizations ever known, Egypt retains the glory of
the past. Visit the the antiquities in and around Cairo, including
the Old City, Egyptian Museum, Pyramids of Giza and Sphinx, and
enjoy a three-day deluxe cruise on the Nile River.
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Athens & 3 Day Greek Isles Cruise
Price: 1,789.00
8 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, August
November 2011 Departs: New York Kennedy (JFK); other gateways on
request Includes: Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers,
many meals, touring & more. Does not include taxes & fees.
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Impressions of China with Yangtze River Cruise
Price: 1,649.00
10 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, September
November 2011 Departs: Los Angeles (LAX) Includes: Includes airfare,
fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals, touring & more.
Does not include taxes & fees.
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Exotic Borneo & Bangkok
Price: 1,899.00
11 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, September
2011 May 2012 Departs: Los Angeles (LAX) Includes: Includes airfare,
fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals, touring & more.
Does not include taxes & fees.
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Kenya Safari Express
Price: 1,899.00
8 day tour package Travel Dates: scheduled departures, September
December 2011 Departs: New York Kennedy (JFK) Includes: Includes
airfare, fuel surcharges, hotels, transfers, many meals, touring
& more. Does not include taxes & fees.
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