Tours in Review

April 2004 issue

"Southern Africa Odyssey" with Odysseys Unlimited

We took a fascinating trip, “Southern Africa Odyssey,” Nov. 2l-Dec. 9, ’03, with Odysseys Unlimited (85 Main St., Ste.101, Watertown, MA 02472; phone 888/370-6765 or visit www.odysseys-unlimited.com).

The tour, including land arrangements, safari and round-trip air from our gateway city of Tampa, Florida, is currently priced at $6,195 per person, and the upgrade to business class (which we used) on South African Airways is $3,795 each.

There were only 11 on our tour, all well-traveled and most interesting companions. James McKenzie, the guide, was definitely one of the most...

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April 2004 issue

New Zealand with World Discovery Tours

My wife, Esta Lee, and I visited New Zealand November-December ’02. As we didn’t expect to make other trips there, we wanted to spend a substantial period of time. We chose World Discovery Tours (P.O. Box 6145, Auckland, New Zealand; phone [1 p.m.-midnight PST] 800/880-0152, e-mail steve@world-discovery.com or visit www.world-discovery.com), which offered longer tours for less cost than the other companies we researched.

We opted for the 3-week “Magnificent New Zealand” plus a few extra days in Christchurch and Auckland. This tour is actually several shorter modules combined. Often...

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May 2004 issue

Central America with Advantage Travel & Tours

Cathy Parda of Advantage Travel & Tours (Box 503228, San Diego, CA 92150-3228; phone 800/882-2098 or e-mail advantaget@aol.com) arranged our “refuge from the winter cold” trip to Central America. We had previously visited many of the Aztec and Mayan sites in southern Mexico and the Yucatan, but we needed to see Copan and Tikal and bask in the pleasant winter climate of Guatemala and Belize.

Our 18-day trip in January ’03 cost $2,978 per person, including air from Washington, D.C.

Chichicastenango, Guatemala, famous for its Sunday market, was our first destination. The...

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May 2004 issue

Custom tour of Turkey with Asia Minor Travel & Tours

After a careful selection of cities in eastern Turkey that would provide a mix of ancient civilizations, Roman ruins and Islamic traditions, I contacted six companies found in ITN and chose Asia Minor Travel & Tours (6919 W. Broward Blvd., PMB 259, Plantation, FL 33317; phone 800/532-2938 or visit www.asiaminortours.com).

My husband and I and another couple were escorted on our 18-day custom tour in May ’02 by Aydin Aygun. An ex-member of the Royal Turkish Army, he has a broad background in Turkish history, religions, foods and folklore. The price of $3,200 per person included...

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