Hi from Rick: Our New Scotland Tour
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| Scotland has always been one of Rick's "kilty" pleasures. |
Dear Traveler,
September is a month when it really pays to check your mailbox — it’s when you’ll find our shiny new 2006 Tours catalog (if you don’t see it by October 1, order one here). This is the most beautiful thing we’ve ever printed, and it reflects the quality and excitement of our 2006 program. I hope you enjoy paging through this album of "travel dreams.”
One of our most exciting additions for 2006: a Best of Scotland in 11 Days tour. I was there just last week filming a new TV show. From the shooting of the daily 1:00 gun (the thrifty Scots save 11 rounds by not shooting it off at noon), to the coffee shops (places where this generation’s great Scottish writers like J.K. Rowling weave their fantasies into best sellers), to the new parliament (housing the Scottish government — not in London for the first time since 1707), there’s a pride and energy in the air. That pride rang loud and clear as I was dining in a candle-lit Edinburgh restaurant (serving "auld alliance” French-Scottish cuisine). The pub below was packed with soccer fans watching a big game against Norway. Every time the Scots scored a goal it felt like an earthquake hit the building — the floor boards shook from the thunderous cheers.
After my recent visit I’m particularly hot on our new Scotland tour. To learn more about this, our popular new Family Europe tours — and more — read through your soon-to-arrive catalog, or go straight to the tour section of our website. Here are some other fun happenings, explained in more detail in this month’s Tour News:
- Book a 2006 tour before October 15, 2005, and we’ll give you a promotion code for a 15%-off shopping spree at our online Travel Store (a great way to stock up on luggage and accessories for your upcoming trip).
- If you just can’t wait until 2006 to travel with us, we’re offering $300 discounts on select 2005 departures: Germany-Austria-Switzerland in 16 Days (10/8); Best of Italy in 17 Days (10/12); Florence in 7 Days (10/30); and Venice-Florence-Rome in 10 Days (12/9). Call us at 425-608-4217 for details.
- Have you already been on a Rick Steves tour? Mark your calendar for the weekend of January 14-15 when we’ll host our 21st annual Tour Alum Reunion Party (and "Test Drive a Tour Guide” classes) here in Edmonds.
- Win a free tour: alums of our 2005 tours are invited to enter our annual Online Tour Scrapbook Contest. Check out this month’s Tour News for details and a fun peek at our past winners.
You'll hear lots more about my latest trip in my next email dispatch.
Thanks for traveling with us!
Rick Steves