Celebrate Easter by visiting the Holy Sites in Europe with Trafalgar
Featuring the pilgrimage sites of Vatican City, Fatima and Mont Saint-Michel
Toronto – April 2nd, 2014 - With Easter just around the corner, Trafalgar (www.trafalgar.com) the Insider
of guided vacations, invites travellers to the Holy sites in Italy, Portugal and France to celebrate this
significant holiday of faith, hope and personal renewal. For centuries, pilgrims and history lovers from
around the world have flocked to Europe to visit these significant sacred sites. Travellers can also partake
in the excitement of the newly elected Pope Francis and his increasing popularity. Since the Pope’s
appointment in March 2013, more than three times (approximately 6.6 million) the amount of visitors
have attended events at the Vatican, compared to his predecessor. When travelling with Trafalgar, guests
will get to bypass the normally long lines at famous sites like the Sistine Chapel in Rome and Benedict
Abbey in Mont St. Michel with their expert Travel Directors.
“With Easter fast approaching, we realize that our Canadian clients are eager to celebrate this significant
holiday where we take them beyond the expected across these historical European sites,” says Doug
Patterson, President of Trafalgar Canada. “And at Trafalgar, we truly strive to make each guided vacation
special, so we incorporate Unique Insights like a special day trip to Lourdes which bring guests to the
Basilica atop St. Bernadette’s grotto.”
Trafalgar is also offering extended savings for their Early Payment Discount, now giving travellers 5 per
cent off select USA, Canada, Hawaii & South America vacations.* Travellers can also save 5 per cent on
base airfare when booking North or South America guided vacation air-inclusive. Full payment is due by
April 30, 2014.**
Italian Discovery
Uncover the wine regions, floating cities and historic capitals in the 11-day Italian Discovery trip. Starting
and ending in Rome, explore six of Italy’s best-known cities from the south to the north. A perfect start to
Italian Discovery will take guests on a sightseeing tour of Rome with a Local Expert who will show them
the Unique Insight in the Vatican of the Bramante double-helix spiral staircase, where they’ll follow in
the footsteps of Michelangelo and da Vinci in an area not open to the public. Travellers will also see
Michelangelo’s stunning frescoed ceiling in the Sistine Chapel and the famous Pieta at St. Peter’s Basilica.
Visits to the Forum where chariot races were held and to the impressive Colosseum are also in-store for
clients. In Florence, guests will be treated to a Be My Guest dining experience on an organic olive-oil
estate owned by the Landi family at the Villa il Leccio and guests will savour delicious dishes grown and
farmed from the land. Sightseeing highlights are endless on this trip with visits to the famous Leaning
Tower of Pisa, Piazza San Carlo, Juliet’s Balcony in fair Verona and St. Mark’s Square in Venice.
Best of Portugal
This journey around Portugal brings together the beaches of the Algarve, the unique port wine of the
Douro and multiple UNESCO World Heritage listed sites. Beginning in Lisbon, guests will see the
Monument of the Discoveries, the Belem Tower and the site of the Hieronymite Monastery. The trip
continues south with stops in Vilamoura, Evora and Viseu. On the way to Oporto, travellers travel though
the beautiful Douro Valley where port wine is produced and in the evening they will enjoy a Regional
Dinner on the waterside of the city. As the journey continues, travellers will visit the UNESCO World
Heritage site of the Convent of Christ in Tomar, and later arrive in Fatima where they’ll visit the Shine
where three young shepherds famously saw the apparition of the Virgin Mary.
The Treasures of France
This 9-day Treasures of France fuses the charmed lands of Loire Valley, chicness of Paris and poignancy of
Omaha Beach. In Paris, guests will begin their journey with a sightseeing tour with a Local Expert and see
the illustrious Champs Elysees, Arc de Triomphe and Place de la Concorde. On the way to Bayeux, guests
will visit the Honfleur, the picturesque port immortalized by Monet and in Omaha, travellers will visit the
D-Day landing beach and military cemetery. In Mont Saint-Michel, they will visit the Benedict Abbey,
where according to legend, the Archangel Michael appeared to the Bishop of Avranches and inspired him
to build an oratory on the Mont-Tombe. Later, they will travel through the countryside of the Loire Valley
to sample delicious wine and local delicacies.
For more information on Trafalgar, please contact your local Sales Manager or visit www.trafalgar.com
and follow us on Twitter at @TrafalgarCanada and Facebook.
-ENDSTerms and Conditions: * Early Payment Savings of 5 per cent is only applicable to trips featured in 2014
USA & Canada, Hawaii & South America brochures. Valid on New bookings only, made between Feb 1 Apr 30, 2014. Not valid on bookings that already received a 6/10 or 12 month EPD. Early Payment
Discount savings will vary by itinerary and are not valid on all vacations and/or departure dates (blackout
dates may apply). Not applicable to departures marked with a diamond ♦ which operate as per Trafalgar’s
2013 brochure. A deposit of $200 per person is due within 3 days of reservation, full payment is required
by Apr 30, 2014. Discount can be combined with other brochure discounts where applicable and only
applies to vacations featuring the ‘Early Payment Discount’ in the price panel. Discount cannot be
combined with other National promotions and time-limited offers.
**Matching 5 per cent savings on flights is based on the Base airfare price (exclusive of air taxes and fuel
surcharge). Land and Air must be booked with Trafalgar and valid on new bookings only. Full payment for
Air is due by Apr 30, 2014. Flights must be round-trip departing from a Canadian gateway to USA including
Hawaii, South America or for domestic travel within Canada. Offer is not valid on Intra-tour air, air taxes
and fuel surcharge include with the brochure-listed price. Open-jaws and Seat Sale fares are permitted
but earlier ticketing payment may apply; not applicable to Published Air and One-way itineraries. Flights
are non-refundable once paid in full. No name changes are permitted. Air is non commissionable to the
Agent.
About Trafalgar: Trafalgar is the world’s leading guided vacation company offering exceptional quality
and value itineraries to a range of exciting destinations. With some 67 years of experience and unrivaled
local expertise, Trafalgar provides an authentic insider’s view to create truly unique travel experiences in
Europe, Britain and Eastern Mediterranean, South Africa, Asia, Australia and New Zealand, China, Mexico,
Central and South America, USA and Canada.
Trafalgar is a part of a joint initiative with The TreadRight Foundation, a not-for-profit foundation
established by The Travel Corporation to encourage sustainable tourism within our own family of brands
and in the places we visit. To find out more about our work with TreadRight visit: www.treadright.org.
Media Contacts:
Marie Anne MacRae
Director, Public Relations
TRAFALGAR
T 416-915-7016
E marieanne.macrae@trafalgar.com
Katherine Chin
PR & Digital Media Specialist
The Travel Corporation, Canada
T (416) 322-8468 ext. 7536
E katherine.chin@travcorp.ca