Trafalgar launches 2013 itineraries for the Philippines

MANILA, Philippines - Trafalgar is excited for the future growth of the Philippine outbound market in 2013 on the back of a highly successful 2012. Trafalgar, an award-winning travel company which primarily runs guided holidays to Europe and North America, has seen a 40-percent increase in sales out of the Philippines. “The Philippine market has grown from strength to strength in the past four years, and has now surpassed sales from other mature Asian markets by jumping up to the number two spot behind Singapore.” says Nicholas Lim, regional director of Trafalgar Asia. “The growth has been staggering and we are certainly buoyed by such a performance going into the New Year with 2013’s latest collection of itineraries.”

The Trafalgar brand has had a long history with 65 years of heritage and evolution since its inauguration in 1947. Its product range is vast for the Philippine market, as the Europe & Britain First Class, and CostSaver brochures, which are packed with over 150 itineraries across 37 European countries, are catered to suit every taste and budget. “Our clients from the Philippines are increasingly travel savvy and are looking to indulge in more authentic local experiences from their holiday and we feel we’ve got something for everyone,” adds Lim.  

Each itinerary includes VIP priority sightseeing at Europe’s most famous landmarks, as well as a wealth of exclusive Insider Experiences, one of which is “Be My Guest.” This is an experience whereby a local family hosts guests in their home by cooking local recipes and sharing stories of their local culture, which provides an atmosphere of camaraderie that is unique to Trafalgar and its travelers. For 2013, the First Class brochure offers more than 40 dining experiences in family homes, farms, wineries and other private venues. Providing unforgettable experiences that no other guided holiday operator offers, Trafalgar invites travelers to see the world from the inside, with a chance to be a guest and not just a tourist.

Trafalgar will also launch the 2013 CostSaver brochure for Europe & Britain, which is packed with 34 cost-effective itineraries that allow travelers to book affordable vacations and relish their holiday on their own pace and own time. With an addition of five new trips that provide an incredible range of inclusions, the new brochure features more included meals and the use of audio headsets for all guided visits.

Prices for the new First Class and CostSaver European itineraries in 2013 have also been reduced by up to 13 percent, and exclusively to the Philippines and Asia, a further 10-percent savings with its new Early Payment scheme that ends on Jan. 31, 2013. Clients can save up to $1,500 per couple, and past customers can save more by pairing the Early Payment Discount with the five-percent Travel Club or Group Discounts.  With all these fantastic elements in place, Trafalgar foresees an increase of 15- percent to 20-percent in bookings for 2013.

“We want each and every guest to feel like a traveler, not a tourist,” says Lim. “Therefore this year we have further enhanced the entire product range with more of our unique, local Insider Experiences than ever before. With lower prices in 2013 and a new Early Payment scheme in place, we hope to bring Europe and other dream destinations closer to all our Asian clients.”

Inspired Vacations offers guests a specialized area of interest, and the unique opportunity to feed their passion, enhance their understanding, and explore each destination like an insider. Trafalgar’s 2013 Europe and Britain brochure introduces two new and enhanced Inspired Vacation itineraries for guests to experience: WWI & WWII Battlefields, and Flavors of Italy. 

The 12-day WWI & WWII Battlefields takes travelers to wars’ most significant monuments, memorials and museums throughout England, France and the Netherlands. Beginning in London and ending in Amsterdam, the trip will sojourn in Caen, Amiens, Paris, Lilles and includes day trips to Somme, Ypres, Portsmouth and more. Travelers will get the opportunity to pay their respects to brave soldiers when visiting Vimy Ridge and also the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery and Memorial, containing the remains of over 2000 Canadian soldiers who lost their lives in World War II. On an excursion to Ypres, guests will also stop in Passchendaele to visit the museum and see a replica trench, then visit Essex Farm Cemetery.

The 10-day “Flavors of Italy” tour is for seasoned and new foodies alike. Starting in Rome and ending in Venice, the trip takes guests to some of Italy’s renowned gastronomic cities including Tuscany, Greve, Parma and Bologna. The food adventure begins with a tasty gelato treat in Rome then moves on to Greve, where guests will visit a wine and olive oil outlet, tasting excellent Chianti wines and extra virgin olive oils before enjoying a special Be My Guest dinner in a family-owned vineyard overlooking the rolling Chianti hills. In beautiful Florence, guests are treated to Trafalgar’s unique Tuscan lifestyle experience, where they spend some time shopping for ingredients at a fruit and vegetable market for a cooking lesson by a professional chef. The tour wraps up in Bologna, known for its cured meats like prosciutto and salami, then departs for Venice where guests join a secret walking tour with a local guide to see where the locals shops for the best cuisine.

For more information, call your local travel agent or visit trafalgar.com. Follow Trafalgar on Twitter at @TrafalgarAsia or find them on Facebook.