Known as the “City of Sails,” Auckland is the most populous urban area in New Zealand. It sits on the North Island, surrounded by beautiful harbors and volcanic landscapes. Nearby Auckland is an island of vineyards and beaches. This multicultural city has a food and art scene to rival some of the more cosmopolitan cities around the world—and is always close to natural wonders.

Panama is located in the middle of countries with such natural wonders that it can be difficult to choose just one. Yet, Panama has its own charm with rich cultures and diverse landscapes. Being bordered by ocean on two sides, it has beaches galore. From the modern skyline of Panama City to the biodiversity of wildlife at Bocas del Toro, to the highlands of Boquete, Panama is packed with chances for a true Central American experience.

For the average traveler who just wants to take a two-week vacation sometime during the year, there are all sorts of messes she can stumble into. We are now in a world of constant change, and to travel well requires the guidance of a full-time professional—one that can keep on top of the changes as they affect travel and inform clients about the many things that could ruin their vacations. Read the rest of this entry »

After Britain’s new prime minister, Liz Truss, announced her plan for tax cuts, the value of the country’s currency plunged. Now the exchange rate between the U.S. dollar and the British pound is outrageously good for American travelers. The dollar is now worth about £.90. That’s almost one for one. Considering that the pound was worth around two dollars as recently as the 2006-2008 period, that means the dollar has more buying power now in Britain than at almost any time in memory.

With the Philippines opening its borders to international tourists since February of 2022, the tropical paradise is looking to spread the word. Now, the wholesale tour operator Avanti Destinations and the Philippine Department of Tourism have collaborated in the creation of an e-brochure for travel advisors.

The new brochure includes eight destinations within the Philippines, along with two customizable Avanti vacations, six private sightseeing tours, and 15 four-star hotels and resorts.

The e-brochure, The Philippines: Pearl of the Orient Sea, is available here.

Paul Barry, CEO of Avanti Destinations, had this say, “If your clients are looking for a tropical paradise with friendly local people, it’s hard to top the Philippines.”

He continued, “There are so many eco-adventures to be had: snorkeling, scuba diving, world-class surfing, volcano-trekking, parasailing, wildlife-spotting, swimming with the world’s largest fish – the list goes on and on. We have several unique private tours and experiences, like a visit to the indigenous Aetas people or a foodie tour of Manila’s Chinatown, that can be added to any custom itinerary. We are pleased to be partnering with the Department of Tourism on this campaign to show travel advisors the many possibilities.”

The webinar for more details on the collaboration will be held on Tuesday, September 27, 2022 at 1 pm EST—click here to register for the webinar.

Once the capital of a sprawling empire, Rome has persisted through the ages as a spectacle of awe. From the Colosseum, once a place that embodied this very spectacle, to the intricate stonework of the Trevi Fountain, to the immaculately maintained Pantheon—Rome is full of sights to behold. This classically romantic city has much to offer, even in the winter when the crowds have thinned out and the heat of a humid summer has subsided.

As Europe clocks one of the busiest summers it’s seen in years, clients looking to avoid crowds, travel delays, and baggage hassles on their vacation might want to reconsider the season. Independent travel retailer Avanti Destinations believes their “Go365” campaign will aid travel advisors in warming clients to the idea of year-round travel opportunities, including cold-weather and off-peak trips. Read the rest of this entry »

Wholesale FIT travel specialist Avanti Destinations has launched an e-brochure for advisors describing the many reasons Great Britain appeals to independent travel clients, whatever their interests or demographics, and whether they are first-time or repeat travelers to the UK. Read the rest of this entry »

In honor of National Travel Advisor Day, Wednesday, May 4, 2022, and National Travel Advisor Month, independent travel specialist Avanti Destinations is offering a $25 gift card for each FIT land booking of $5,000 or more made between May 1 and May 31, 2022 for travel any time before December 31, 2022 and paid with at least a deposit on land arrangements by the end of the May. Bookings may be made either online at  https://book.avantidestinations.com or by calling Avanti’s reservation center.

“Our travel advisor partners are the cornerstone of Avanti’s success,” said Paul Barry, Avanti’s chairman. “We want them to know how much we appreciate their hard work.” This offer applies to each booking over the minimum qualifying value. There is no limit to the number of gift cards a travel advisor can earn.

The Portland, Oregon-based wholesale tour operator creates and sells custom-built independent and group travel 365 days a year in Europe, Asia, North Africa, the Middle East, and Central and South America exclusively through travel advisors.

For more details on the National Travel Advisor Day offer, log onto the travel advisor portal https://book.avantidestinations.com or call 1-800-422-5053 to speak with an expert travel specialist.

Since 1981, Avanti Destinations has been selling independent travel products and custom-crafted vacations in Europe, Central and South America, Asia, North Africa, and the Middle East. The Portland, Oregon-based wholesale tour operator offers a wide range of FIT components to travel advisors only, including air, rail, rental cars, hotels, sightseeing/attractions, transfers and hard-to-find experiential travel options.  Avanti specializes in hand-picked, locally-owned hotels in both large and small cities and in connecting all the pieces of complex, multi-destination itineraries. The company also creates complete packages for custom groups of 15-100 passengers. For more information: https://book.avantidestinations.com.

Wholesale tour operator Avanti Destinations has teamed with the Tourist Office of Spain to educate and inspire advisors and their clients on customized independent travel to Spain. Avanti sells custom independent (FIT) travel exclusively through travel advisors.

The new joint campaign focuses on the key cities of Barcelona, Madrid and Seville with three customizable suggested vacations – two are new — in a new 24-page e-brochure, “La  Buena Vida; Savor the Good Life in Spain”, available on Avanti’s agent portal at https://www.flipsnack.com/779977E569B/visit-spain.html .

In addition to descriptions of destinations, a sample of hotels and activities, such as cooking classes, the e-brochure gives advisors helpful information for planning independent travel to and around Spain, including the best times to visit, typical food and drink, and transportation options.  Clients can choose a self-drive vacation for maximum flexibility or take advantage of Spain’s efficient rail system, especially its network of high-speed trains, to connect destinations quickly and conveniently.

Travel advisors can easily tailor each client’s vacation to suit specific interests and preferences selecting from a total of over 180 hotels, 13 recommended vacations, and more than 100 activities, transfers, tours, and experiences that Avanti offers throughout Spain.  Experiences described in the e-brochure include: a paella cooking class with a market visit; wine cellar tour; all-day excursion to Spain’s picturesque medieval capital of Toledo; private walking and driving city tours; tapas walking tour; and flamenco and tapas dinner.

“Spain is, and justifiably has long been, one of our best-selling European destinations,” said Paul Barry, Avanti’s CEO. “With milder winter temperatures and plenty of sunshine all year, it also has a rich diversity of food, culture, history, and landscapes. That makes it a perfect one-country destination for custom-tailored independent vacations.

“We are very pleased to partner with the Tourist Office of Spain on this campaign.  We also highly recommend that advisors encourage clients to book now in order to lock in current pricing since transportation costs are rising and likely to continue doing so,” added Barry.

Two new customizable independent vacations – one self-drive, the other by rail

Of the three vacations described in the e-brochure, two are new.  One new itinerary is by rental car, the other by rail. Rental car segments can be added to any rail itinerary to explore more of the surrounding areas, and rail can be substituted for rental car to travel quickly between cities.

• NEW Spanish Heritage (self-drive): 7 days/6 nights self-drive vacation staying in Madrid, Toledo, and Segovia (home to a Roman aqueduct and historic city center), with suggested stops in the medieval walled city of Avila and the royal monastery of San Lorenzo del Escorial. Includes: private tapas walking tour in Madrid, private walking tour of Toledo with local guide, plus entrance to the cathedral and synagogue; car rental; choice of hotel accommodations; daily breakfast.
• NEW Culture and Tradition (by rail) –9 days/8 nights vacation staying in Madrid and the Andalusian cities of Cordoba, Seville and Granada, all showing the cultural and culinary influence of 700 years of Arab rule.  Includes: private Madrid tour by car; three-course restaurant dinner in Madrid; walking tour in Cordoba, the largest city in Europe in the 10^th century when it was the capital of the Moors; flamenco performance and tapas dinner at a private home in Seville; 24-hour hop-on/hop-off Seville city sightseeing tour; private Alhambra Palace walking tour in Granada; arrival and departure transfers (private or shared) in Madrid; rail travel between cities; choice of hotel accommodations; daily breakfast.

For additional information on booking unique experiences and custom-built, multi-destination FIT travel 365 days a year to Europe, Asia, the Middle East, North Africa, and Central and South America, log onto the travel agent portal https://book.avantidestinations.com or call Avanti Destinations at 1-800-422-5053 to speak with an expert travel specialist.