FROM MONGOLIAN HUTS TO EUROPEAN CASTLES, TOURS AND PACKAGES OFFER UNUSUAL ACCOMMODATIONS

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If you’re looking for something different consider a stay in a traditional Mongolian Ger, a castle in Europe, a farm in Ireland, an eco-lodge in South America, or a traditional Spanish country inn. From luxury tenting to chateaux, travelers who want to trade highrise hotels for something more exotic can find a variety of vacation packages and tours with unusual accommodations.

The U.S. Tour Operators Association recently asked its members – who send more than 11 million people on vacation yearly – whether they offer unusual or offbeat lodging.

More than 60% of respondents said they offer vacation packages and tours with some type of non-traditional lodging.

Taming the Wilderness
Experience the outdoors in style on a luxury tenting trip to Africa and other far-off destinations offered by tour operators such as Abercrombie & Kent, Goway Travel, and Tauck World Discovery. SITA World Tours offers tenting in India , while International
Expeditions has accommodations in traditional gers, or native huts, in Mongolia. In the U.S., TrekAmerica arranges outdoor tours with tent and cabin accommodations. And if
you’re between 18 and 34 years old, you can check out Euro-camping in Europe with Top Deck.

Rustic Comfort
Outdoors-lovers can find more solid accommodations and rustic comfort by choosing wilderness lodging in Alaska on a Cruise West Vacation, or in Latin America on a holiday from ISRAMWORLD, while Sunnyland Tours offers eco-lodge and farm stays in
Costa Rica. Other companies offering stays in eco-lodges are Goway Travel in Australia and New Zealand and International Expeditions in Africa and South America.

“At Home” Stays
To experience the true nature of a country travelers can book stays in Bed & Breakfasts in Ireland through Brian Moore International Tours, and in Irish farm houses, villas, or manor houses through Celtic Tours World Vacations. Mayflower Tours offers homehosted and home-stay opportunities in New Zealand, while Image Tours can book you into family-run hotels and chalets in Europe.

Moving up the Comfort Notch
While a man’s home may be his castle, you can stay in the real thing in Ireland through Avanti Destinations. Both Collette Vacations and Globus offer castle stays in Europe. Avanti Destinations can set you up with a chateau in France, while in Spain and Portugal travelers can experience an authentic Parador or Pousada (traditional country inn) through Escapade Vacations.

And for the 18 – 35 set Contiki Holidays has escorted motor coach tours that stay in resorts throughout the U.S. and Europe.

For more information, and to select a USTOA member by destination served, activity preference, or even by personality type log onto www.ustoa.com or ustoa.travel. Or see your travel agent.

USTOA members have met the industry’s highest standards, including participating in the USTOA Travelers Assistance Program, which among other things, requires a member
company to post $1 million security in order to protect consumers’ payments in case the company goes out of business.

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FROM THE PRESIDENT'S DESK

October 2007 Far & Wide Update

USTOA is dedicated to protecting the world's treasures for future generations of travelers. Visit the Tourism Cares website for more information.