New itineraries, lesser-known destinations and up-close experiences with locals are all hallmarks of the new Europe 2017 program for Insight Vacations.

Whether clients prefer wine tours, culinary programs or artistic endeavors, the new Insight Europe program has more than 40 countries to explore, providing a broad field for exploration. A highlight of the new program is the collection of Signature Experiences, a series of first-hand encounters with artisans, chefs, storytellers and other local experts, to fully learn about the customs of the destination.

For example, a number of Premium Italian itineraries include a private after-hours dinner inside the Vatican Ethnological Museum. The museum’s curator will join guests at this VIP dinner, which is only offered to brands in the TTC (The Travel Corporation) family. Other Signature Experiences include a private visit to the Guinness factory in Dublin before the it opens to the general public; a cruise on a traditional sailing barge and meeting one of the survivors of the Siege of Sarajevo in the War Tunnel Museum.

“The new brochure brings out the ‘Insight Difference,’ making it easy to understand why an Insight vacation is so special and memorable; from the premium and Signature Hotels in the best locations to the farmers, artisans, chefs, vineyard owners, storytellers and Local Experts you meet along the way,” said John Boulding, global CEO, Insight Vacations. “We’ve also clearly broken out our trips into travelling styles, so that agents can easily identify the right trip for the right client; for guests looking for more relaxed starts and longer stays in each place, then Easy Pace will be for them, while a Discovery Journey takes in multiple destinations so is perfect for the first time visitor to Europe.”

The new-look brochure, designed in a magazine-style format, highlights each Signature Experiences as well as Insight’s Signature Hotels. Also detailed are five different travelling styles, in order to select the right type of itinerary for each guest. Insight Vacations’ website has also been updated to reflect this new look and feel.

And for clients who book—and pay for—their Europe travels by January 12, 2017, they can take advantage of Insight’s Early Payment Discount, which can save Canadian travellers up to 10 per cent ($2,530 per couple).

“We are also continuing to extend a variety of savings such as Early Payment Discount, huge savings for solo travellers on specific Single Friendly departures and our Club Bon Voyage savings for returning guests,” said Cris David, president, Insight Vacations Canada. “So there’s never been a better time to come to Europe with Insight Vacations. [Clients] can travel at ease and they’ll exchange warm smiles and hearty handshakes with the locals they meet.”

New Itineraries for 2017

• Country Roads of Southern Scandinavia—This 13-day itinerary is an off-the-beaten track adventure through Scandinavia’s southern mountains, fjords, rivers and cities. The journey starts in Oslo and winds its way through to Copenhagen, and highlights include a visit to the market stalls of Bergen, an island-hopping cruise through the dramatic fjords that line Norway’s western coast, from Bergen to Stavanger and two nights in vibrant Aarhus, which has been designated Europe’s Capital of Culture for 2017.

• Scandinavian Heritage—For a more in-depth exploration of the region, this 30-day itinerary is comprised of the new Country Roads of Southern Scandinavia itinerary tacked on to the existing Grand Tour of Scandinavia program, for an epic romp through Denmark, Sweden, Finland and Norway. Guests Among the highlights are a stop in the place where Hans Christian Andersen was born, visiting a working husky farm, enjoying a champagne toast at the northernmost point in Europe.

• Warsaw and the Baltic States—The 9-day itinerary visits Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. Explore the growth of the region, post-WWII and visit to the area’s storybook castles, sites and settings. The itinerary easily connects with the Easy Pace Russia itinerary to form a 16-day Russia, Warsaw and the Baltic States program.

Insight Vacations has also added two journeys – Scenic France and Northern Spain. and Elegance of Great Britain – to its Insight Inclusive collection, so they now include all breakfasts, dinners and sightseeing. Since there are no optional extras, guests can count on a clear, upfront rate. The Insight Inclusive itineraries offer plenty of flexibility with built in free time and lunches at leisure as well as Freestyle Dining in the evenings, where they are given a budget so they can dine in the restaurants of their choice.

The Scenic France and Northern Spain itinerary includes wine tasting at Saint Emillion with an expert vintner as well as a visit to the 16th century Château de Monestier in Bordeaux, where guests learn about the double-distilling and aging process to make Cognac.

During the Elegance of Great Britain, a 12-day exploration of Britain’s history, guests will explore the region’s stately homes and gardens, with visits to Beaulieu Abbey, Blenheim Palace and Chartwell, the home of Sir Winston Churchill. Also included are a scenic cruise and rail journey through the spectacular Lake District.

For more information, visit www.insightvacations.com.

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