EXOTIC
ESCAPES, based in Beaverton, Ore., is marking its one-year
anniversary with a contest for travel agents. For every booking
made between Dec. 1, 2005, and June 30, 2006, the booking agents
name will be entered in a drawing for one of three prizes. The
grand prize is an air-inclusive vacation package to the Fiji
Islands that includes three nights at the Tokoriki Island Resort;
three nights at the Qamea Resort and Spa with meals and a spa
treatments included; a three-night cruise with Blue Lagoon Cruises
with meals included; and a one-night stay at the First Landing
Beach Resort & Villas. The second prize is a $200 gift card
while the third prize is a tropical gift basket. For information
call (866) 666-8922, e-mail [email protected] or visit www.eevacations.com.
MIR
CORP., a Seattle-based operator specializing in Eastern
Europe and Central Asia, is offering a tour that heads deep into
western China to the Karakorum Mountains. Called The Backside of
K2, the trip gives its participants a rare glimpse of the
28,250-foot K2 peak in the Himalayas, second only to Mount Everest
in height. Its a 23-night program that begins with a flight to
Beijing followed by flights to Urumqi and Kashgar before finally
settling down to a land itinerary in four-wheel drive vehicles that
includes many stops along the Silk Road and the Taklamakan Desert
to the Karakoram Mountains, 60 of the highest peaks in the world.
The land price of the tour is $7,495 per person, double, with a
departure set for Sept. 17. For information, call (800) 424-7289 or
visit www.mircorp.com.
AMONG
GLOBUS new offerings for 2006 is the Classic China
itinerary, so called because it includes a well-rounded selection
of the most popular tourist attractions of the mainland, including
Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City, the Great Wall, the Summer
Palace, the Ming Tombs, the Terracotta Warriors, and Shanghais
Bund. The nine-night program provides three nights in Beijing, two
in Xian, one in Hangzhou, one in Suzhou and two in Shanghai. Land
prices range from $1,719 to $1,859 per person, double occupancy;
air-inclusive rates are $2,627 to $2,758. For information, see www.globusandcosmos.com. To book, call (800)
221-0090.
PARK
PLAZA Hotels & Resorts, a Carlson Hotels brand, opened
its first property in China. The 216-room [including 16 suites]
Park Plaza Beijing Wangfujing is located minutes from such
attractions as The Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square. The hotel,
described as a contemporary yet classic hotel by Park Plaza, has
three meetings rooms, a business center, a lounge/bar, two
restaurants and a fitness center. Special grand opening rates start
at about $87 per night, double. For details, visit www.parkplaza.com.