Latest Travel Articles

Saturday, July 09, 2011

The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo is a series of military drum performances done by International and Commonwealth military bands, as well as the British Armed Forces. It is performed annually in Edinburgh, Scotland. It takes place through the month of August during the Edinburgh Festival.

The first tattoo, called “Something About A Soldier” was performed at the Ross Bandstand in Edinburgh in 1949. The first official Military Tattoo, however, started in 1950 with only eight items in the program. It was done at the Edinburgh Castle, and brought nearly 6,000 people in to watch. In 1952, the stands were upgraded to allow an audience of to 7,700. This allowed up to 160,000 people to view the live performances each year.

Presently, on average, over 217,000 people come to see the Tattoo live yearly on the esplanade of the castle. For the last decade, the tickets have sold out in advance. The Tattoo performs every night of the week, and twice on Saturday all through August, and to this day has never been cancelled due to weather. There aren’t any performances on Sundays. Every performance has Pyrotechnics, but the second Saturday showing includes a fireworks display. 100 million people watch the performance every year on television, and it is broadcast in 30 different countries.

Many different groups have performed at the Tattoo over the years, including African tribes and international military regiments. The Band of the Royal Netherlands Grenadiers were the first regiment outside the UK to take part in 1952. A ‘lead’ service performs each year, alternating between the Royal Air Force, the Royal Navy, the British Army, and the Royal Marines.

The Tattoo also performs in order to generate money to donate to charities. Over the years, they have given over €5 million to numerous charities. Charities that the Tattoo support includes any that help people with disabilities, homelessness, poverty, and unemployment. Some of the charities that benefit from the help of the Tattoo include the RAF Benevolent Fund, the Army Benevolent Fund, and Seafarers UK. The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, is the official patron of the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

This year, the Tattoo will be performing from August 5th to August 27th. On Friday, August 5th, the performance will begin at 8:30 pm. Otherwise, the performances will take place Monday through Friday at 9:00 pm. Saturday performances will be at 7:30 pm for the first, and 10:30 pm for the second. There are four different ways to book tickets to attend the Tattoo: postal bookings, over the counter, Internet bookings, and over the telephone. For telephone and Internet reservations, there will be a €4.00 fee for each transaction completed. Internet and telephone reservations will not be accepted on the day of the performance. Depending on the seating you want, ticket prices range from €25 to €55. An extra €3.00 will be added for the Saturday 10:30 pm performance due to the fireworks display.

Why not book your Europe tour for 2012 that includes the Edinburgh Military Tattoo and take advantage of early booking deals where you save 10%?

Globus Tours 2012   Trafalgar Tours 2012    Insight tours 2012

Thursday, July 07, 2011

Ask anyone who has been to Alaska and they'll tell you the best way to see magnificent scenery is from the water.  To cruise Alaska's dramatic coastline is to wander in the company of whales, to gasp at glaciers and to stand in awe of soaring, craggy peaks draped in forested green.

But start considering your options and you'll quickly discover there's more to cruising Alaska than simply stepping aboard and setting sail.  What exactly distinguishes cruisetours?  How is a traveler to decide which is the best option?  We talked to a couple of our Alaska experts to learn more.  Here's what they had to say:

What is a Cruisetour?

In simple terms, a cruisetour is a seamless vacation that combines the best of both sea and land travel.

How is this different from a cruise and its shore excursions?

Cruisetours take a cruise's shore excursions a step further.  Alaska is a state of superlatives.  It's not only the biggest state, with its thousands of miles of shoreline, but also 17 of the 20 highest peaks in the United States are in Alaska, including Mt. McKinley, known as Denali, whih is the highest peak in North America at 20,320 feet.  Looking at a map of Alaska it's clear that Denali is inaccessible by water.  The same is true of Fairbanks, the Yukon and much of the Arctic.  To see those places requires more than a day's shore excursion.

How do cruisetours work exactly?

Cruises and cruisetours operate from the same ships.  So, for example, the ship might sail from Vancouver and cruise up the Inside Passage to Anchorage.  On the way, the ship calls in Ketchikan and Glacier Bay, among other stops, with shore excursions avaiable at each of those ports.  When the ship arrives in Anchorge, some travelers might fly home from there, but the cruisetour passengers spend the night in Anchorage then board direct rail service for Denali.  Over the next three to five days, visit Denali National Park, stay in gorgeous lodges, hike, walk or take sightseeing and wildlife-viewing tours and then return to Anchorage for their trip home.

What are some favorite cruisetour opportunities?

With more than 3,000 rivers, 3 million lakes and over 100,000 glaciers, Alaska is a naturalist dream.  For travelers who are interested in fishing, wildlife, adventure travel, photography, riverboat cruising or natural history, there's really nothing like this amazing place.

What else can I see on my Alaska vacation?

Fairbanks still retains the gold rush frontier feeling, with a lot of amazing history.  Dawson City, where the Klondike and the Yukon rivers come together, is the heart of the gold rush country.  Cruisetours will take you into fascinating territory, with tremendously knowledgeable guides who can really bring the past to life.

So How Does a Traveler Decide Whether to Cruise or Cruisetour?

It depends on the traveler's interests, time and energy.  Many people like the "unpack just once" aspect of cruise travel.  They really settle in on the ship, soak up the scenery, relax and make themselves at home.  Shore ecursions provide the right amount of touring and when they reach the cruise detination, they're ready to return home.  Other travelers feel their vacation isn't complete if they haven't explored some of the more inland scenery - they've come so far to reach Alask that they want to see everything they possibly can.  Those are the people who will love a cruisetour.

Any Final Advice?

With myriad activities and gorgeous landscapes, Alaska provides the perfect setting for family or group vacation - three or even four generations can enjoy the experience together. An Alaska cruise is perfect for thost that want to fit a vacation in 7 or 8 days.  An Alaska cruise tour will take you much deeper into Alaska, where you are sure to experience more wildlife and activities.  For those that have already experienced an Alaksa cruise and just want to explore the interior, an Alaska land tour is the perfect option.

Tuesday, May 24, 2011

Suites, Villas & More

Norwegian Cruise Line’s Suites, Villas & More Collection™ is the ultimate experience in family travel. The accommodations are chic and luxurious, including interconnecting staterooms and multi-room Suites and Villas with walls of windows offering amazing ocean views, and private balconies. And there are as many ways to have fun as there are to have dinner. From water slides, sports courts and kid’s programs to Blue Man Group on stage, tapas, teppanyaki and more. High above the sea, hidden away and accessible only by keycard is a very private Courtyard with a sundeck and hot tub, private fitness room and steam rooms. You’ll enjoy the perks of a butler and concierge service, full breakfast menu for in-suite dining, treats delivered to your door each night, invitations to exclusive cocktail parties and dining experiences and priority embarkation. It’s all about freedom, privacy and exceptional value and you’ll find it aboard Norwegian Cruise Line.

Club Med Sandpiper Bay, Florida

Located on Florida’s east coast in Port St. Lucie (the home of the New York Mets spring training camp), Sandpiper Bay Club Med is the only all-inclusive resort in the U.S. For adults, there are golf, tennis and fitness academies that turn players into pros. The Kids Program offers age-specific clubs with tennis, golf, soccer, hockey, basketball, sailing, circus school, cooking (pictured left), music, arts, dance and much more. They have a baby gym, nap room and play areas for the littlest ones. Plus, there are amazing tours and cruises, fishing, surfing lessons and dolphin encounters. This is a resort that knows how to cater to families, how to please the whole family and offer adult-friendly activities, too. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, and the restaurants offer a variety of tasty and healthful choices in a beautiful setting.

Walt Disney World®
Resort For a family trip close to home that caters to both the kids and the adults, nothing beats a visit to Epcot® and, of course, the three other exciting theme parks of the Walt Disney World® Resort. There is plenty to delight travelers of every age and countless things to do together. We recommend timing your vacation around the delectable Epcot International Food & Wine Festival from September 30 – November 13, 2011. The festival assures that your “world travel” adventure includes culinary adventures as well, with guest chefs and speakers, seminars and demonstrations, fine food and wine, shopping and terrific musical entertainment. You (and the kids!) can sample flavors from six continents as you stroll through the marketplace and promenade.

For blissfully relaxing nights, stay at one of the uniquely themed and luxuriously appointed Disney Deluxe or Disney Deluxe Villa Resorts. Disney Animal Kingdom Lodge, set amidst an expansive wildlife reserve, provides your family the experience of staying at an African safari lodge, complete with animal encounters – and the added benefit of supervised children’s activities. Disney’s Old Key West resort offers similar family benefits, but in a Florida Keys atmosphere. No matter which Disney Resort hotel you choose your family is sure to love it!

Monday, May 23, 2011

The Atlas Cruises & Tours Groups Department goes beyond your travel expectations with flawless service and caring from our first discussion until the group returns safely home.

For information concerning group travel feel free to email our Groups Manager, John Unger at john@atlastravelweb.com or call him directly, at 866-503-6429.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

We answer some of your most frequently asked questions about family travel.

Q: Our teenagers are impossible to please. What do you recommend?

A: Cruises are a great options for families with teenages, as there are a wide range of activites on board. Take Royal Caribbean cruise line for example.  On their Freedom Class ships which include the Freedom of the Seas, Independence of the Seas and the Liberty of the Seas, you will find a FlowRider^® surf park, canitilevered whirlpools, ice-skating rink, full-size boxing ring, H2O Zone waterpark and more!

If you prefer staying in one place, we urge you to consider ‘all-inclusive’ resort stays. You can have all of the features of a resort, great food, delectable drinks and unlimited activities, all included in the price. That gives the entire family the freedom to experience an amazing array of activities without stress or hassle. We love Club Med’s “Most Inclusive” family plan programs at resorts like the Cancun Yucatan, Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and the recently renovated Sandpiper Resort in Florida. These are places that really know how to manage the diverse needs of family groups, from tots to teens to adults of all ages.

Q: I want to take my two older sons on a ‘sporty’ vacation (and not just golf!). Any suggestions?

A: There’s really nothing like fishing and hiking in the Canadian Rockies. The scenery is spectacular and the angling is world-class. We recommend the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise and the Fairmont Banff Springs. But caution: this trip can be very habit-forming! Hiking and river rafting in the National Parks is another great vacation.

We already mentioned Royal Caribbean cruise line with a number of sports activities onboard, but they aren't the only cruise line.  Consider Norwegian Cruise Line, specifically their new ship, the Norwegian Epic.  Here they'll find a sports deck with a repelling wall, extreme rock climbing wall, bowling alley, full size basketball court, volleyball, soccer, dodge ball, a batting cage, bungee trampoline, rope adventure course and a 24 ft. tall enclosed climbing cage called the spider web.  Then they can cool off in the first ever Aqua Park that offers 3 waterslides. The Epic Plunge, the only tube slide at sea, has a thrilling drop through a 200 ft. long tube. How that for a variety of "sport activities?"

Q: We’re having a tough time deciding which U.S. National Park to visit this year. Any clues?

A: Yellowstone is great for kids, with all the animals and geysers. Yosemite is good for older kids and adults, who can climb Half Dome and appreciate the waterfalls and wildflowers. For a little more adventure, how about hiking the Appalachian Trail or camping in Maine’s stunningly beautiful Acadia National Park?

Q: We’re planning a big family reunion getaway. Do you have any suggestions?

A: We keep getting rave reviews from large reunion groups that cruise together. There’s loads to do, both aboard and on shore, great accommodations for group activities and staff that really know how to entertain and satisfy the needs of several generations in one party. Depending on your time and interests, consider a family cruise to Alaska or the Mediterranean.

Q: We want to start planning our next great family adventure. What are the hottest “long-haul” destinations right now?

A: Australia and South Africa are at the top of our list of favorites. We can take you to both places, from azure oceans to cosmopolitan cities to the wild outback. Take a fabulous safari to South Africa and travel to Cape Town and the Kapame Game Reserve. Discover Down Under with a grand journey to the Great Barrier Reef, Ayers Rock and Sydney. Whether you want an experienced guide to help you navigate the new terrain or would rather venture on your own, we’ll help you choose a guided vacation or craft a tailor-made independent journey just for you.

Q: My husband and my kids and my parents want to go to Hawaii. Help!

A: Hawaii is the perfect multi-generation family destination. From lounging at the pool to hiking, surfing, shopping, golf, spa treatments, etc., there’s truly something for everyone. Consider Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa, where children 18 and younger stay free. Or how about the new Aulani Disney Resort & Spa on Oahu? It’s the first Disney resort not attached to a theme park…and sure to be a big hit!

Q: Any last-minute packing tips for traveling with families?
A: Limit each person to one wheeled suitcase and one carry-on backpack or shoulder bag (keep one hand free to hold onto your child). Make a packing checklist for each person and let older kids be responsible for their packing. Pack several days before you leave so you have time to remember those last-minute items. Pack each day’s clothing together in outfits. Choose washable clothes that can be mixed and matched and dressed up with a jacket or shawl, and make sure shoes are comfortable and broken in before your trip! Visit our Travel Advice section on our blog for more travel tips. If you are looking for a new luggage set or carry on bag, take advantage of this ebags coupon code. 

Q: Any recommendations for a family getaway at the end of the year?

A: For a really ‘magical’ holiday, the dazzling Christmas markets in Europe will please all the family. Or, for an off-the-beaten-path holiday and an escape into warm weather, take a Paul Gauguin Cruise to Tahiti or enjoy a relaxed resort experience on Fiji. But plan ahead! Resorts sell out in the summer for the holidays and family suites tend to sell out first.

Q: We’d like to take our kids on a guided vacation as a graduation gift for our daughter. What do you suggest that would appeal to both the young people and the adults?

A: For starters, here are two very different suggestions: Costa Rica and Italy tours. Both of these remarkable places are packed with scenery, colorful culture, fantastic food and warm, welcoming people. There are plenty of other options across the globe, so give us a a call and we’ll help you craft the experience that fits your preferences and your budget.

Q: I’m worried about what will happen if someone gets sick when we’re on our trip.

A: Being sick on a trip is never fun, but you can protect yourself against some of the anxiety and inconvenience with travel insurance. There are many options and we’d be happy to talk with you and help you choose the best plan for your family.