| |
Contents
FROM A TOUR MEMBER
DAVID REPORTS ON RECENT TOUR OF MADAGASCAR
SINGLE FEMALES
FOCUS ON THE ENVIRONMENT
HOTEL STAR RATINGS
40TH ANNIVERSARY CONTEST WINNER
LIMITED SPACE
GOING TO SOUTH AFRICA?
2010
FANTASTIC PRICES WHILE THEY LAST!
OBERAMMERGAU 2010 - WHY ALL THE HYPE?
|
CRAIG GROUP MEMBERS HELP VILLAGE IN INDOCHINA
Our
recently returned Indochina group had a wonderful story to share. On
visiting one of the villages on the tour, some group members spoke with
their local guide about the villagers' water supply. Each village
requires a well to ensure a clean, safe water supply. The cost to dig
such a well is approximately USD $120 - $140. Group members decided
they would contribute $10.00 each and collected enough money to
construct a well and install a pump in a remote village in Cambodia. We
recently received this photo and news that a pump had been installed in
the village of Kok Beng. This small gesture means so much to the
residents of this village and will have a profound impact on the daily
lives of these people. Congratulations to all who participated!
FROM A TOUR MEMBER
"Just
a note to say that the Australia/New Zealand trip was the best planned
trip that I have ever been on. I can't say enough about the whole
experience. Our tour leader, Ross McLean was just fantastic. He went
ahead of us at each stop and made sure that our rooms were alright; he
helped with any problems that any one might experience. He was
courteous, a wealth of information, and very amusing. At each airport
he took everyone's luggage off the turn table and was very helpful in
getting us through LAX when we had little time to catch our next plane.
Even when we reached Toronto he was still helping in any way he could.
I commend him on a very good job with his family (us). Hopefully we
will all stay in touch and much of this can be attributed to his care.
I would highly recommend this trip to anyone and have already done so."
Elaine, Oshawa
40TH ANNIVERSARY CONTEST WINNER
Winner of our March Anniversary Contest question and recipient of 5,000 CT points towards his next trip is Mr. Alex Carman of Barrie, Ontario.
Mr. Carman correctly answered our question "In what building would you
find the world's greatest collection of antiquities from the time of
the Pharaohs?" Answer: Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo.
CONGRATULATIONS, Mr. Carman!
Visit our website to answer our April question "In which city can the unique Fisherman's Bastion be found?"
Hint: The answer can be found in two places on our website. Good luck!
LOOKING FOR SINGLE FEMALES
We have single females looking for room mates on the following departures. Call us for details!
Norway - Land of the Midnight Sun September 3, 2009Learn more
Russian Waterways September 15, 2009Learn more
Romantic Danube September 17, 2009Learn more
Wonders of Italy & Oberammergau September 12, 2010Learn more
There
are also single ladies willing to share on several other Oberammergau
itineraries and dates. Please call for further information.
CONGRATS TO CRAIG TRAVEL STAFF MEMBERS
Congratulations
to all Craig Travel staff members! All employees and management
recently passed the new TICO (Travel Industry Council of Ontario)
education standards exam. Passing the exam is a new requirement for all
personnel in Ontario who are working for a retail travel agency and
selling travel services or providing travel advice to the public. All
personnel must, by law, meet the Industry's Education Standards by July
1, 2009 and be familiar with the Travel Industry Act and Ontario
Regulation 26/05.
| |
| | MADAGASCAR - LAND OF LEMURS - DAVID'S REPORT
Roslyn
& I had the good fortune to escort a group of fellow travellers to
the island last September and without any doubt this was the most
exciting new destination that we have explored in the last decade. For
those who feel they've "been there and done that" with so many
destinations, if you haven't been to Madagascar, I can assure you it
will be at the top of your travel memories and a most welcome
alternative. For those who are looking to find a new and wonderful
destination, Madagascar will surely fill the bill. Read more of David's report
FANTASTIC PRICES WHILE THEY LAST!
BEST OF IRELAND September 4 - 19, 2009 NEW! PRICES REDUCED! SAVE $250 - $360 per person! Learn more
RUSSIAN WATERWAYS September 15 - 28, 2009 SAVE $300 per person!
Must book by June 1st. SPACE IS VERY LIMITED.Learn more
ROMANTIC DANUBE RIVER CRUISE September 17 – 28, 2009 SAVE $400 per person!
It is extremely unusual to have sales on European river cruises. Don't miss this opportunity! Learn more
BELLA TUSCANY & UMBRIA October 1 – 14, 2009 SAVE $250 - $400 per person! Learn more
GRAND DANUBE RIVER CRUISE October 14 – 28, 2009 SAVE $300 per person!
Learn more
LANDS OF THE BIBLE November 6 – 26, 2009 SAVE $70 per person plus the
tour has been extended by one day! Learn more
FOCUS ON THE ENVIRONMENT
HOW WE CAN ALL DO OUR PART
Never
before has there been such cause for concern for the environment and
the state of the planet which we will leave to our children and future
generations. We invite you to read a note from a concerned Craig Travel
client and former Tour Leader. Read more...
LIMITED SPACE!
NEWFOUNDLAND & LABRADOR August 5 – 16, 2009 1 seat only!Learn more
ALASKA'S INSIDE PASSAGE Holland America July 8, August 12 & September 9 8-day sailings Learn more
GAELIC LANDS Holland America August 20 – September 6, 2009
Roundtrip London visiting ports in England, Ireland, Scotland Learn more
ALASKA & THE YUKON Holland America August 25 – September 6, 2009Learn more
JOURNEY TO THE AMAZON Holland America – November 25 – December 21, 2009
Space is filling very quickly on this high demand itinerary!
Learn more
OBERAMMERGAU 2010
WHAT IS IT AND WHY ALL THE HYPE?
As
travel industry folk, we always assume that everyone knows about
Oberammergau – the town, the Passion Play, how it all came to be and
why thousands upon thousands of tourists race to purchase tours several
years in advance which include the Play. One reason may be that the
Passion Play is produced only one season every ten years, with the
exception of a special season in 1984 which celebrated its 350th
anniversary. 2010 will be the 6th time that Craig Travel has presented
a series of tours and cruises which include this special event. For
2010, we are offering 7 unique European itineraries (5 land tours and 2
river cruises) and a choice of over 30 dates, all of which include 2
nights in the heart of Oberammergau and first class tickets to the
Play. So, how did it all begin? Read more...
GOING TO SOUTH AFRICA? Please don't feed the baboons!
Baboons
seeking snacks are breaking into tourists' cars in South Arica and
authorities have threatened to fine visitors who give them food. There
have been a number of recent cases where baboons have stolen picnics
and bags from people in popular tourist spots around Cape Town. "We
appeal to the public to exercise extreme caution in interacting with
baboons. Under no circumstances should they ever feed the animals and
should they do so they can be similarly charged." People face a maximum
fine of 1,500 rands (USD$150) or six months in jail, or both. There are
around 20 to 30 troupes around Cape Town. They are a protected species
under South African legislations, but their persistent pursuit of food
often leads to conflicts with locals. Primatologists say baboons get as
much nutrition from a half loaf of discarded bread as from what they
forage in four hours in the undergrowth. Brett Myrdal, manager of Table
Mountain National Park, said the emphasis would be on trying to educate
people rather than to control the baboons. "It's not the baboons who
are the problem," he said.
HOW DO HOTELS GET THEIR 'STAR' RATINGS?
It's
advertised as a 5-star hotel, but if you were in charge, you'd rate it
as a 3. The lobby furniture was worn, the pool was closed in the
evening, front-desk staff were rude and the bathroom had only two
towels.Read more...
INTRODUCING 2010 'GRAND' CRUISES
We invite you to experience the pinnacle of world cruising on our selection of 2010 Holland America voyages that are, in every way, GRAND.
It's
not only the length of a cruise that designates it as a GRAND
experience. It's fine service made even better; hand selected crew
members, nearly 1 crew for every 2 guests, festive gala balls and
formal nights, award-winning entertainment and special guest
headliners, special Explorations Speakers, gourmet demonstrations with
wine tastings and cooking classes, indepth shore excursions and much
more. YOU MUST BOOK EARLY ON THESE SPECIAL DEPARTURES!
Our specially selected Grand Voyages for 2010:
JOURNEY TO THE PACIFIC
January 4 – February 6, 2010 34 Days
Hawaii, Tahiti & the Marquesas Islands
Just
a short flight to San Diego, exotic ports of call (remember, it's
freezing at home!), many relaxing days at sea, luxurious surroundings
on the beautiful ms Rotterdam!Learn more…
AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
February 23– April 17, 2010 51 Days
Sail
roundtrip Sydney visiting fascinating ports in both countries plus many
highlights including a visit to spectacular Milford Sound, a visit to
Indonesia's Komodo Island, home of the Komodo dragon (and a chance to
view them up close), a 2-day visit at the Great Barrier Reef and much
more! Enjoy it all onboard the luxurious ms Volendam. Learn more…
This itinerary may also be broken into 2 separate segments:
New Zealand February 23 - March 13 19 Days
Australia March 9 - April 17 39 days
JOURNEY TO THE AMAZON
March 23 – April 25, 2010 34 Days
Sail
Rio de Janeiro to New York on the lovely ms Veendam. Enjoy 1 hotel
night in exciting Rio with sightseeing before setting sail for the
adventure of a lifetime visiting tropical ports, then up the world's
mightiest river, the Amazon and into the warm Caribbean waters. Learn more...
MADAGASCAR...CONT'D
Roslyn
& I had the good fortune to escort a group of fellow travellers to
the island last September and without any doubt this was our most
exciting new destination that we have explored in the last decade.
Located
off the east coast of Africa, this island is truly a land apart. The
fourth largest island in the world, it is best known as the Land of
Lemurs, those furry little smiling animals that you may have seen in
the animated Madagascar movies and which are a delight to behold. They
are truly bewitching and come in a huge variety of sizes and shapes,
all of which are readily visible as we explored this land, sometimes
hiding in treetops, but just as often in plain view and sometimes even
eating out of our hands. Some are as small as a tiny mouse, others are
comparable to a large monkey. Some jump from tree to tree, while others
appear to dance across the landscape. But the two common features of
the lemur are that they are delightful to watch and they can only be
seen in the wild on this wonderfully exotic island.
Madagascar
is of course much more than Lemurs. This island offers a huge variety
of fascinating and ever changing landscapes and geographical regions,
ranging from dense rainforest to rolling deserts, from terraced
farmlands to the unique spiny forests of the south, from massive baobab
trees that appear to be growing upside down to wonderful tree ferns.
More than 80% of the plants and animals are found nowhere else in the
world. The people of the island are equally unique and diverse. In the
central highlands we found orderly villages with two storey brick homes
while the coastal tribes are reminiscent of South Sea Islanders. And
everywhere we found people who are friendly and welcoming, glad to
share their land, their culture, and their food.
While
Madagascar is definitely one of the world's poorest countries (70% of
the population exists on less than $2 per day), we were hard pressed to
accept this as we drove through the highlands. The country has
surprisingly excellent roads (with a few exceptions, of course),
perfectly adequate hotels (some of which are truly exceptional as
well), and some wonderful dining experiences (after all, the French
were here). While we did not rave about the haute cuisine, we certainly
didn't come away hungry.
This island nation has some of the
best national parks in the world protecting Madagascar's world heritage
biodiversity. While we found a couple of walks that even challenged the
fit, for the most part we found the parks to be truly accessible to
most members of the group. The best time to visit is during the dry
winter season, ranging from April through early November when the
temperatures are generally very comfortable and the humidity is very
low. Still come prepared to be part of nature, to enjoy the countryside
and its amazing array of sights and sounds.
Although Madagascar
was in the news earlier this year, concerning a dispute between the
President and the Mayor of Tana, the country's capital, the President
has now stepped aside, the Mayor has assumed his role and the country
appears to be moving forward once again. Any current problems appear to
be restricted to the centre of the capital, an area that can be
avoided. In reality, this is a land that has enjoyed close to a decade
of peaceful development with new roads, new schools, and a new spirit.
It is a country in which people still happily live off and of the land
and, especially in the central highlands, they enjoy a wonderful sense
of order and community. Now is the time to discover this delightful
destination, before it becomes a huge tourist destination and loses its
natural charms. D. Craig
Learn more about our next tour…
CREATING A 'GREEN' ENVIRONMENT
"For
years I have travelled the world and have been involved with Craig
Travel, both as a tour host and a passenger since 1990. Being an
advocate for "a green earth" throughout my life, I suffer from an
underlying feeling of guilt as we fly through the skies, leaving behind
large carbon footprints.
Sensing that many of you have similar
feelings, I did some research with The David Suzuki Foundation and
would like to pass along my findings. There is a website where one can
go and type in the details of your flight. The amount of CO2 produced
is calculated and a small amount appears (in comparison to the flight
price), which can be your gift to offset your travel miles. Then you
may donate to that actual site or to an environmental charity of your
choice, such as Trees Canada, a local Conservation authority, The David
Suzuki Foundation... and the list goes on!
With such a concern
for global warming filling our news reports, you can proudly say to
your friends that we Craig Travel customers are "doing our bit for the
world". And, most importantly, pass it on!"
To learn more about ways that you can do your part in improving our planet, we suggest you visit www.planetair.ca.
Planetair
is a not-for-profit service offered by the Unisféra International
Centre. Planetair helps individuals, corporations, and institutions to
reduce their climate footprint. Launched in 2005, it has three main
goals:
1) To raise the awareness of individuals, corporations, and
institutions about how their day-today activities impact upon our
global climate.
2) To foster the behavioural changes required to reduce their GHG emissions.
3) To call for actions to offset those GHG emissions that cannot be effectively reduced.
We
think you will find a lot of interesting information on this site
including tips and ways we can all do our part in saving this good
earth.
OBERAMMERGAU...CONT'D
The
history of Oberammergau goes back to Roman times when a fortified halt
seems to have stood near the site of the present village. The route to
the North was changed in later years and, losing the benefits of the
transit traffic, the villages learned the art of wood-carving which
became their principal means of livelihood and is still a most
important source of income today.
The wood carving of
Oberammergau is a craft handed down from father to son and is largely
responsible not only for material prosperity but for the mentality of
the inhabitants and their style of life. The close relationship between
wood-carving and the "Passion Play" is apparent to the most superficial
observer.
BORN OF THE PLAGUE
In 1632 when the plague,
or Black Death, was decimating the population of Europe, sweeping the
region and exterminating whole families, the few survivors made a
solemn vow that if our Lord would save them from the pestilence, the
villagers would enact the story of Christ's Passion every 10 years.
This they have done since 1634, except for disruptions caused by wars.
The special performance for 1984 was on the occasion of the 350th
anniversary.
Now, of course, the "Passion Play" has a greater
claim than the wood-carving to Oberammergau's world-wide reputation,
and the 2000 season clearly showed that this moving drama has lost none
of its magnetic power.
Portraying the life of Jesus Christ, from
His entry into Jerusalem until His resurrection and ascension, the Play
itself will be as familiar to you as the Bible. The unique setting, the
magnificent music, the cast of 600 (all of whom, by tradition, must
have been born in the village); all of these and more combine to make
this a never-to-be-forgotten experience.
In their unique
presentation of the Life and Passion of Jesus Christ, the residents of
this small village in the Alps demonstrate their faith and loyalty to a
long standing tradition. The Play, altered little during its long
history, is an event of true religious and cultural significance; it
carries a message as vital today as it was 376 years ago and will long
be remembered by all those who attend.
The environs of
Oberammergau are not only renowned for great scenic beauty, but for
what is known as "Luftmalerei", exterior house painting in the artistic
sense, depicting religious scenes and adding great charm to the area.
Other great attractions are the castles of King Ludwig II of Bavaria.
Linderhof, the `Royal Villa' of the unhappy king, lies in a green
valley near Oberammergau. Not far distant is the fabulous castle of
Neuschwanstein, another of Ludwig's amazing theatrical residences. The
`Church in the Meadow' at Wies is surely the quintessence of the Rococo
style. Altogether this is a fascinating part of Europe.
Learn more about our series of Oberammergau 2010 tours and cruises.
HOTEL 'STAR' RATINGS....CONT'D
Do
you ever wonder exactly who assigns the number of stars to hotels?
Unfortunately, there is not one definitive answer. While some rating
systems are more reasonable than others, the reality is that there is
no one organization which oversees hotel ratings worldwide. Michelin is
one of the more dependable ones, but there are still no guarantees that
a hotel they rate as 4 star, is really a 4 star. Levels of service and
amenities change and it is impossible to be on top of it all, all of
the time. In many cases, one organization will call a hotel a 5 star
while another company will call it a 4 star. Hotel chains, tourist
boards, sun destination tour operators and local governments all take
it on themselves to hand out star ratings. Individual hotels sometimes
rate themselves – it's one way they sell rooms.
To add to the
confusion, different organizations have different criteria for
measuring hotels. One group may have a set list of hotel amenities –the
more amenities the higher the star rating. Some may have anonymous
inspectors who critique the facilities and services. In some regions,
the star rating may depend on what hotel choices are available in that
area. The best hotel in the area may really only be a 4 star, but if
it's the best available, it could rate a 5 star.
Today, thanks
to the internet, travel blogs and consumer-driven sites such as
TripAdvisor, we can find out for ourselves what hotel patrons are
saying about any given hotel prior to making our own reservations. Keep
in mind, though, that everyone's expectations are different. While one
tourist thinks a property is the best thing since sliced bread, another
may have found the experience disappointing. Confusing? Certainly. Want
to book a tour and trying to decide which travel company to book with?
Book with the one that works with reputable local land operators in the
destination. They are there, on the ground, and can personally check
out the properties in question. Happy travels!
| |
