Enlightened serendipity

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By Arnie Weissmann

If you want to feel enlightened, go to Sri Lanka.

But first, prepare to be humbled.

Sri Lanka simultaneously exalts and surprises, its attractions often so stunning one can't believe they're not better known: Outstanding ruins on a grand scale. A cultural blend that exists nowhere else on Earth. Artistic traditions that not only produce dreamy and mystical imagery but incredible modern architecture.

Perhaps for Americans, some lack of familiarity with Sri Lanka's offerings will soon dissipate. Europeans and Australians embraced the country soon after its 25-year civil war ended in 2009, and together those source markets account for almost 45% of all arrivals.

Americans represented less than 5% of the arrival total in 2015, but that's a 16% rise over the previous year. Sri Lanka in 2016 appeals to American early adopters, those in the first waves of travelers who reached Myanmar, Vietnam and Bhutan when those countries opened up.

But there is a difference: Pioneering Americans who traveled to those destinations in their early stages often found only standard accommodations at best; in Sri Lanka they'll find upscale hospitality companies, including luxury brands such as Aman, Taj and Anantara, as well as inspired homegrown resorts and hotels.

For the time being at least, they're also likely to find they're the only Americans in residence at some of those properties. And that may be the case for some time to come; the biggest barrier preventing Sri Lanka from growing its American arrivals significantly is distance, and that isn't going to change. There are no scheduled nonstop flights between North America and Colombo, its capital and largest city.

In fact, many Americans going there now were already in the neighborhood, tacking Sri Lanka onto a trip to India.

The good news for those who combine these two destinations is that as wonderful as India can be, Sri Lanka won't suffer in comparison. There are some similarities beyond a shared love of curry, cricket and kites, but the country is much smaller and less densely populated than India, and it has an identity and culture that are strikingly distinct.

PHOTO: River cruising on the Danube in Durnstein, Austria. (Photo by Janeen Christoff) 

Pick Your Passion. There are so many river cruises from which to choose, pick one that focuses on something you love such as castles on the Rhine, a wine-themed cruise or bring the kids on a family-friendly Christmas markets sailing. You will love your cruise that much more when you are combining it with something that you are passionate about. River cruising is one of the breakout stars in travel for 2016 and there are more ways than ever to experience rivers around the world onboard any number of ships. However, there are a few tried and true tricks to making your river cruise experience a success and to fall in love with this mode of travel that can take you around the world. Here are five ways to enjoy the journey.

Prepare Your Appetite. River cruising is not about all-you-can-eat buffets and gorge-yourself dining — but there is a lot of eating. From five-course meals to cultural cuisine to tasting all of the different varieties of wine in a region — you should come prepared to enjoy the food. Don’t worry about the calories. You are sure to walk those off later on. 
For those with special dining needs, onboard chefs on every cruise line are happy to accommodate with special meals to make dining a relaxing and fun experience for everyone. 

Immerse Yourself in Local Culture. The beauty of river cruising is that you get to see smaller towns and destinations that offer a glimpse into the everyday lives of local people in each of the countries that you visit during your cruise. If the ship docks in a small, river-side town that is used as a jumping-off place to explore a larger more popular destination, make some time to stroll the streets of the smaller towns and get to know what life in the country is really like. 

Get ready to relax. The beauty of river cruising is that there is a lot on offer to keep you busy but one goal should be to clear some time to enjoy the cruise as well. Ditch a tour and stroll through town on your own. Spend some time on people-watching on the sun deck or swimming in the pool. Clear a few hours to play games in the lounge or enjoy a cocktail. Book a spa appointment instead of doing a walking tour.

While it is tempting, there’s no need to do all of the activities that are available or to over schedule yourself. Sit down with the cruise director and let them help you customize the cruise to be perfect for you. After all, that’s what they are there for. 

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July 201517 min read

Why Are The Azores The Next Big Travel Destination

Just like the myth of Atlantis, it’s time for the islands of Azores to rise and shine from its long sleep. Yap, they’re on track to become the next big travel destination!

The puzzled face of people when I say I’m from the Azores is a frequent dejà-vu in my life.

And I understand: for decades the islands has been under the shadow of other destinations and remained as one of the most exotic and remote places in Europe. Eventually the conversation reaches one question.

How is it like in your home island?

I like to answer back: How do you think it is? and find amazing how different can preconceived ideas on the exact same thing be. 

Some people imagine Azores as the Canary Islands or even Malta: full of top-notch beaches and with warm dry climate all year. Nope. Others see it more like Madeira: flowers, impressive cliffs and hotels everywhere. Still very far away from the truth. Idilic rocky beaches like in some Croatian islands? *Wrong buzzer sound*.

THIS is what you can expect in Azores.

Although I love how everyone thinks I come from some idyllic enigmatic place – wouldn’t mind to keep that mystery in the air -, I feel it’s about time to put some light on it once and for all, as I’m sure Azores can be the next big travel destination in Europe!

Where are the Azores?

Let’s start with the basics. Azores are a group of nine volcanic islands in North Atlantic ocean and a autonomous region of Portugal.

São Miguel is the biggest and most populous island (160,000 inhabitants) and also holds the largest city of the archipelago: Ponta Delgada.

They were first settled in the 15th century and today only 5-10% of the territory is build-up area, the rest is occupied by nature. The wild humid climate, dramatic landscapes, green pastures and fishing villages all result in a relaxing and remote-feel scenario. Excited already?

Azores map in the Atlantic

Azores location in the Atlantic. Yap, it’s quite remote.

A common misconception is that Azores are “just off the coast of Portugal”. That’s what I grew up thinking too. But after taking several 2-hour flights to reach mainland Portugal, I started thinking either the airplanes were terribly efficient or I lived far more remotely than I imagined.

Turns out the islands are about 2/3 of the way between the U.S. and Europe, so I was pretty much based in the Atlantic ocean.

So… how are the Azores like?

For a start, just think of Azores as if like one day someone grabbed Iceland, moved it south – no ice anymore, just greenery – and smashed it in nine pieces in the middle of the Atlantic.

Let’s get more visual. The landscape is actually insanely green in different shades with hills, meadows and lush vegetation as the most striking features. The craters from several volcanos are now occupied by awe-inspiring blue lakes and lagoons creating quite eye-catching contrasts.

The super black igneous volcanic rock makes up all the coastline. Finally some spots of whitehere and there from the numerous Frisian cows (they compete with humans for the most populous animal in the islands).

When wandering around in Azores, be careful with black/white stuff on the ground. You might be stepping on a cow.

I now have this mental exercise of trying to define random stuff in #hashtags (don’t ask). If I had to do it for the Azores it would be something like the following.

#nature #islands #volcanic #relax #green #cows

Apart from this nature-designed scenery that can (and will) step you back in time, the standard of living is not from decades ago. There are restaurants, spas, cafés and a wide range of supermarkets. And yes, computers, mobile phones and wi-fi connections are all available and DO work seamlessly. I would say living in one of the largest cities/villages is now equivalent to living in any european small-medium sized city.

Find out more information about the Azores on my micro-page about the islands. Climate info, best time to visit and much more for your perfect holidays!

Why you should go to the Azores

1. Nature. Nature. Nature.

For some reason Azores are constantly named as one of the most sustainable travel destinations in the world (they have actually reached the top spot in a couple of occasions).The best motivation to go to the islands is to be in direct contact with nature.

Hard to go back to my flat in chaotic Barcelona after this.

2. There’s a lot to do.

A few years ago Azores may have been a somewhat boring destination, but today there’s a tremendous potential in terms of activities to feed your adventurous and sporty side.

While they have always been sort of a diving mecca, they are now becoming increasingly popular for outdoor activities such as hiking, bird and whale watching and surfing. Here’s a quick introduction as what can you do in the island of São Miguel .

3. Kima.

If you ever are in the islands, you’ll see this name everywhere. Kima is a soft drink made from pulp of the passion fruit. It’s only available in the Azores so it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to drink this nectar of the Gods.

Start your search for accommodation in Azores with my pre-selected list of hotels/guesthouses/villaswith wifi and best value-for-money relation in Booking!

4. The volcanic experience.

Due to its volcanic origin, across all islands it’s possible to find volcanic phenomena such as thermal baths, hot springs (the bathable ones) and hot hot springs (the ones you’ll get boiled alive). In Furnas, it’s even possible to use the energy of the planet to cook your lunch.

Also, beaches in Azores are slight different to what you might be used to experience, as the sand is of a dark grey colour – I’ve even had eeewww reactions when I shared this with some people. Seriously? Can’t understand why, golden beaches are so last century!

This is one of the HOT HOT springs, not advisable to be used as a jacuzzi.

No reason to be racist regarding the color of the sand you put your towel in.

5. Four seasons of the year in just one day.

Yap. Even though the climate in Azores is tricky, don’t let it bring you down. The wind can get a bit crazy, it rains often and most importantly: the weather changes quickly and frequently. But that just adds to the thrill of it, right?

This photo and the cover of this posts were taken with a 2 hour difference. Quite a weather change!

6. The timing of going to Azores couldn’t be better.

In my opinion, this is key, When I was living in Lisbon, in a very good day I’d get a return deal to Azores from about 200EUR. Two years ago I even paid 430EUR. Sure it was kind of a last-minute purchase – my fault for not complying with the buying airline tickets most basic rules – but still, paying that amount of money for a 2 hour-long flight is ro-bbe-ry.

So… what has changed?

Short answer: everything!

Long answer: Since March 2015, the air space in Azores has finally been liberalised, which means literally any airline company can now fly there. Ryanair and Easyjet have already regular routes from Lisbon, Porto and London (they’ve promised more routes).

Nowadays, flights can be as low as 30EUR. To cater this herd of new low-cost tourists, guesthouses, hostels and other cool accommodation as well as new creative tours/things to do have been popping out like mushrooms. All of a sudden, EVERYONE IS COMING!

Anyway the islands are still gaining momentum in their state of semi-discovery. Which means now it’s that sweet spot where the minimum amount of tourism offers and services are in place to get you the maximum experience exploring the unspoiled nature of the islands. Take advantage of it.

Inspirational Travel Quotes for the day!...:)

– “Fate is what happens to you…destiny is what you do with it.” –Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

– “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness.”    –Mark Twain

– “One’s destination is never a place, but a new way of seeing things.” –Henry Miller

– “A traveler without observation is a bird without wings.”  –Molish Eddin Saadi

– “All journeys hae secret destinations of which the traveler is not aware.” –Mark Buber

– “Not all those who wander are lost.” –JRR Tolkien

– “Once you have traveled, the voyage never ends, but is played out over and over again in the quietest of chambers. The mind can never break off from the journey.” –Pat Conroy

Viking Star Overview

By Carolyn Spencer Brown, Editor in Chief; updated by the Cruise Critic staff

Editor Rating 
5.0

How many cruise companies can build an entirely new line and style of ship, simply because loyal customers ask for it? That's the advantage Viking Ocean Cruises -- the sister line to the already established Viking River Cruises -- enjoyed when it developed Viking Star, its first oceangoing vessel, in 2015.

The result is a 930-passenger ship that carries some of the spirit of river cruising onto the high seas. As is the case with the line's river cruises, Viking Star is destination focused with port-intensive itineraries. Calls are longer than average, with frequent overnights. Cruisers receive a choice of included tours in every port; for-fee options are also available. Port talks are in-depth, focusing on sights and history as opposed to shopping opportunities.

Other inclusions lifted from river ships include complimentary wine and beer at lunch and dinner, transfers, and most specialty restaurants. Wi-Fi is free and unlimited, and it worked well in cabins and public areas. Perhaps the most stunning inclusion is the Nordic spa, which boasts a thalassotherapy pool, a steam room, a hot tub, a sauna, heated ceramic lounge chairs and a cold plunge pool, as well as the first "snow grotto" at sea.

This Nordic bent is felt throughout the ship. Viking owner (and native Norwegian) Torstein Hagen has put his own stamp on the line's ocean ships, with modern Scandinavian decor, luxe fabrics and leather furniture, a small historical display on Viking history and family recipes at Mamsen's, a delightful Norwegian-themed casual cafe. The attention to detail and artwork feel personal, even idiosyncratic, making the ship feel more like an intimate boutique hotel than a cruise ship.

Viking Star might not please all travelers, though. Because of the destination-intense itineraries, with few days at sea, the ship lacks some amenities to which cruisers might be accustomed. The ship has no casino and only a handful of organized activities scheduled throughout the day. Entertainment at night is inconsistent, ranging from lackluster to engaging.

Viking Oceans is unabashedly not oriented to families with young children. The minimum age to sail is 16, and no activities onboard are arranged for children.

Viking Star will be joined by the fleet's next new ship, the nearly identical Viking Sea, in spring 2016.

Destination(s) of the month

Australia & New Zealand

Both Australia and New Zealand contain some of the most beautiful landscapes in the world. While the former boasts gorgeous beaches, lush rainforests, and the open outback, the latter has stifling mountains and remote valleys which helped make it the filming site for The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Well-known for its wildlife which features koalas, kangaroos, and crocodiles among others, the sightseeing possibilities in Australia will capture any travelers’ interest. Adventurous clients can take an Ultimate Jetboat ride along the iconic Gold Coast, to the breathtaking Skywalk on the Sydney Tower Eye Observation Deck. Aside from its stunning landscape, New Zealand has great activities to entertain the entire family. Travelers can go for an exciting helicopter flight with a snow landing in Fox Glacier, or for a whale-watching cruise in Kaikoura. They may even have interest in setting off on an exhilarating jet boat ride down the Waikato River, the longest in New Zealand.

Spain

OVERVIEW Introduction Geography History Snapshot Potpourri SEE & DO Sightseeing Recreation Spectator Sports Shopping DINING Dining Overview SECURITY Etiquette Personal Safety Health Dos & Don'ts FACTS Geostats Weather What to Wear For More Information

Overview INTRODUCTION Spain offers visitors a richness and complexity that may surprise. All the tempting postcard fantasy pictures are there in reality, side-by-side with other, less-expected ones. You may come across fiesta dancers in a village square, a young man practicing flamenco guitar, a medieval Arab fortress or windmills so enormous Don Quixote could be forgiven for thinking they were giants. But there's also the Guggenheim Museum Bilbao, its mind-bending shapes like those of no other museum in the world, just as the exuberant architecture of Gaudi's Sagrada Familia in Barcelona makes it like no other church in the world. You may see ultracool young Madrilenos togged out in urban chic, talking endlessly on their cell phones; international businesspeople hurrying to appointments; and tourists and golfers of many nations flocking to Spain's spectacular countryside and balmy beaches. There are super-fast trains, and there are villages where life goes at a pace that has changed little for centuries. Spain today is an engaged member of the European Union that has transformed itself from a remote backwater to a modern nation, all within living memory. The contrasts, the colors and the vibrant spirit of the place will stay with you for a long time. GEOGRAPHY Spain is Europe's second-most mountainous country (only Switzerland has a higher terrain), and the climate varies dramatically according to altitude as well as latitude. In the province of Granada, it is possible to ski in the mountains and lounge on a beach, both in the same day. True alpine conditions prevail in many of Spain's mountains, from the Pyrenees along the border with France to the Sierra Nevada above Granada in the south, and the central two-fifths of the country is primarily high plains crossed by mountain ranges and rivers. Besides the mainland peninsula, Spanish possessions include the Mediterranean Balearic Islands, the Canary Archipelago (in the Atlantic off the coast of Africa) and the Moroccan coastal enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. Mainland Spain can be divided into three climatic zones: the Oceanic in the north (the rainiest and greenest part along the Bay of Biscay and in Galicia); the Mediterranean Zone (sunny and semiarid); and central Spain (hot in summer, cold in winter, relatively dry). Spain is also divided into distinctive, politically autonomous regions, each with its own culture and history, and several with their own languages (including Catalonia, Valencia, Galicia and the Basque region). Hot, arid Andalusia, to the south, is the home of flamenco, bullfighting and spectacular Moorish architecture. HISTORY Spain's history was shaped by many forces—the Celts, Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans and Germanic tribes (Visigoths, Vandals) all had a strong hand in influencing the people of the Iberian Peninsula, of which Spain is a part. Perhaps the greatest artistic and intellectual ferment in Spain, though, was under the Islamic conquerors, the Moors (Arabs and Berbers), who ruled parts of the peninsula from 711 to 1492. This period of history in al-Andalus was characterized by a diffusion of culture among Jews, Christians and Muslims, and Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Periods of peace and cooperation were interspersed with spells of fierce fighting. Universities, unique architecture and an age of religious toleration were all fostered by many of the Islamic rulers, most notably those of the Caliphate of Cordoba in the late 10th and early 11th centuries. After a protracted struggle with Christian forces, the Moors were finally defeated in 1492. That same year, all Jews were expelled from Spain, and Columbus crossed the Atlantic under the Spanish flag to reveal the New World to Europe. The next century saw the apogee of Spain's power and influence throughout the world: Theirs was the first worldwide empire. In addition to their adventures far afield, Spanish kings controlled all or parts of what are now Portugal, the Netherlands, Italy and France. By the early 1600s, most Muslims had been forced to convert or were expelled from the peninsula. Imperial ambitions brought on imperial excess, however, and adventurism finally sapped the strength of Spain. The country went into a decline that saw it lose nearly all of its colonial possessions by the late 1800s. In the early part of the 20th century, Spain was in turmoil as its traditional culture and economy clashed with modern political and social forces. The breaking point was reached in 1936 with the first shots of the horrific Spanish Civil War. Fascist dictator Gen. Francisco Franco, with the help of Hitler and Mussolini, emerged victorious from the civil war and ruled until his death in 1975. He left Spain in the care of King Juan Carlos I, who helped transform Spain into a modern democracy. With its new freedoms, the country enjoyed a cultural renaissance in the 1980s and 1990s, and joined the European Union in 1986. The country held the world's attention in 1992 as host of the Summer Olympics (in Barcelona) and Expo '92 (in Seville). It is fully integrated into the EU and uses the euro as its currency. SNAPSHOT Spain's main attractions are historical sites, lively cities, some of the finest art in the world, castles, cathedrals, the Alhambra, shopping, the White Villages, traditional fiestas, cultural events, beaches, museums, caves, hiking, watersports and great food and wine. Anyone who likes to travel will enjoy Spain. From its art museums and its tapas bars to its beaches, Spain's appeal is so broad that it's truly a country with something for everyone.

Sponsored by The Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel

Families and Ecotourism: A Natural Fit

Incorporating Ecotourism into Family Travel

August 30, 2016

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Just as the 100th birthday of the National Park Service is casting a spotlight on U.S. national parks in 2016, we can expect an enhanced emphasis on ecotourism throughout 2017—declared the International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development by the United Nations. 

To be sure, the idea of ecotourism isn’t a new one—it’s already known as one of the fastest growing segments in the tourism industry. Put that together with family travel—another of the industry’s rapidly growing segments—and the time is ripe for family vacations that include ecotourism. 

At its core, the concept of ecotourism is simple. According to The International Ecotourism Society (TIES), ecotourism is defined as "responsible travel to natural areas that conserves the environment, sustains the well-being of the local people, and involves interpretation and education."  

And, as with so many segments of tourism, the line blurs easily, with ecotourism overlapping with adventure travel, wellness travel and voluntourism, to name just a few other popular segments that often go hand-in-hand with ecotourism. 

“Travel agents have a remarkable ability to influence where people go,” says Jon Bruno, executive director of TIES. “Ecotourism provides so many opportunities—and it doesn’t have to be 100 percent. It could be adding on a tour that has an ecotourism aspect to it, choosing accommodations that are a member of TIES, introducing the concept of asking about sustainability practices…”

“Many people automatically turn to big theme parks, giant cruise ships, all-inclusive resorts and those kinds of things when they think of family travel,” says Chris “Chez” Chesak, executive director of the Family Travel Association. “Those are all great products that are appropriate for families—but there’s also such a diversity of experiences that lie outside those products. We’re seeing an increasing interest in ecotourism and suppliers who consider children the next generation and stewards of the earth—they love to educate children about the impact on the land and local communities.” 

A NATURAL ALLIANCE

For some, ecotourism means a group of millennials climbing Mount Everest; for others, it’s a month-long safari tour of South Africa—but for most, it’s a natural integration of the unique environmental and cultural aspects of any destination into a vacation experience. 

“Kids and nature just go together—it’s such an easy match,” says Lauren Goldenberg, founder of the Family Traveler, an agency focused on family travel whose clients tend to be in the deluxe to luxury range. “It can fit into any style of vacation and almost anybody’s trip plan—from making time to kayak at the beach all the way up to going cruising around the Galapagos Islands to learn about Darwin.” 

At the mid-range, Julia Slatcher, owner of Inspire World Travel, sees a similar interest in incorporating nature and learning into any vacation experience. Beyond the pure fun such activities can add to a vacation, she’s also seeing clients who start with the idea of “adding meaning to their travel,” she says. “A lot of parents today are interested in travel that helps their kids learn and care about the world. They want their children to be good citizens of the world, and they’re looking for ways to add that element to their travel—while bearing in mind that they have limited vacation time and also want to have a good time and relax.”  

And sometimes it’s the kids themselves who seek meaning in their travel experiences. Lauren Maggard, a luxury travel consultant at Jet Set World Travel, recently planned a high-end trip to Africa for a family with two teenage daughters. “One of the daughters is vegan and very environmentally focused,” she explains. “They asked us to make sure that every accommodation option we chose had an opportunity for the family to engage in philanthropy or to give back to the community. Budget wasn’t an issue, but it was a challenge to find the right mix of upscale properties with an environmental focus, community outreach and vegan cuisine options.” 

By Michelle Baran / November 03, 2016

Terror attacks took a toll on tourism to France this year. Photo Credit: Shutterstock

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Following a challenging year for travel to Europe, tour operators have at least one selling advantage heading into 2017: a strong dollar. Many 2017 Europe tours are being priced lower than their 2016 versions, and tours are also being enhanced with more and better experiences, tour operators said.

For example, Trafalgar lowered its 2017 Europe tour prices by between 4% and 12% compared with last year's rates. That followed an average decrease for Trafalgar’s Europe tour prices of 4% in 2016 compared with 2015. The Globus family of brands said it, too, was able to bring down prices slightly in a few European destinations, such as the U.K. and Northern Europe.

"The Brexit situation is now allowing us to renegotiate both on the currency and on product because there are some genuine fears of uncertainty," said Trafalgar president Paul Wiseman. He said the greatest price drops for 2017 were for the U.K., where Trafalgar tour prices have come down at least 10% for 2017.

Following the Brexit vote, the pound fell about 10% in a span of a few hours, dropping to an exchange rate below $1.35. It has continued to drop, dipping to $1.22 as of mid-October.

While the impact of the vote on currency-exchange rates landed a little late in the pricing cycle for it to be felt uniformly across the tour landscape, some operators were able to renegotiate their rates and incorporate savings into their 2017 brochures.

"We recently launched our first-ever trip to Great Britain after locking in very favorable post-Brexit exchange rates," said Greg Geronemus, co-CEO of SmarTours. Geronemus said any further drops in the value of the pound won't impact SmarTours' 2017 pricing but will make shopping and other out-of-pocket costs less expensive for travelers.

Other tour operators didn't bring down prices but instead focused on using a more favorable negotiating environment in Europe to enhance the product.

Paula Twidale, executive vice president at Collette, said, "Overall, the pricing for Europe 2017 [tours] remains attractive in comparison to 2016 as a result of enhancing the product and upgrading brand standards. Although the savings may not appear as transparent initially, the guest will benefit from increased product value for the money that they have invested."

Tauck, too, said the company was focused on investing in enhancements such as including private, after-hours tours of the Louvre on selected departures of the company's "A Week in Paris and Provence itinerary, as well as hotel and meal upgrades on multiple tours. Consequently, Tauck actually inched up its Europe prices for 2017 a few percentage points above 2016.

While the euro's exchange rate has remained below $1.15 this year, giving operators a potentially favorable pricing environment, there are other factors at play when it comes to Europe prices. For one, competition from emerging source markets such as China and Brazil remains an issue in sought-after destinations.

Additionally, while France, for instance, was hit pretty hard due to the terror attacks in Paris last November and Nice in July, other European destinations in fact saw an increase in demand, such as Eastern Europe, Spain, Italy, Iceland and Ireland. Consequently, in those destinations, pricing often remained the same or rose for 2017 compared with 2016.

Recognizing that travelers to Europe might need some pricing incentives to be motivated to head across to the Continent, Globus also introduced 15 tours in Europe priced at $200 a day or less.

"The idea is that we have a price-sensitive European travel market right now," said Steve Born, Globus' senior vice president of marketing. "But at the same time you can't keep feeding discounts or you compromise the product."

Instead, Globus created the $200-a-day tours by getting creative with the product and, for instance, including better accommodations in less crowded European cities. So instead of three nights in Florence, the lower-priced Globus Italy tours might include two nights in Padua and one in Siena.

"The hotel is as good if not better," Born said. "And you're still including that Florence experience."