Collette Vacations just introduced its 2009 season, offering more guaranteed departure dates than ever before. Customers can look for many new types of programs and new destinations―Turkey, Morocco and Jordan. The destination roster spans seven continents and Collette’s three brands, including its small tour division, Explorations by Collette, and its Smithsonian Journeys Travel Adventures learning tours, both of which have been expanded due to increased consumer demand.

“In response to travel trends we saw developing in the escorted tour market,” says Melissa Famiglietti Snape, vice president of product, “we’ve developed four new tours that feature a rail component, including Eastern Rail Odyssey – which travels the Eastern Seaboard of the U.S. – and Beautiful British Columbia which features the Rocky Mountaineer Train’s Fraser Discovery Route."

“Four new programs were developed featuring U.S.-based destinations, fulfilling a demand for travel closer to home,” Snape added. “Domestic travel is really surging, though there is still a strong demand for international destinations – especially to exotic places like Morocco and Jordan. Also, we’ve launched an all-Australia small group program this year, which affords travelers more time for in-depth exploration and discovery in one of our top destinations.”

Daniel Sullivan, Jr., president and CEO of Collette Vacations, emphasizes India’s growth this year as well. “Last year, we launched our first program to visit India, and as the 2009 season takes off, more and more people want to go there; it’s really on the map now.”

Sullivan also notes that Oberammergau, famous for its once-in-a-decade Passion Play, is being featured in five 2010 European itineraries centered around the performance. “It’s already selling incredibly well; the limited engagement of this historic event is one of the driving forces for customers in the coming travel season.”

New Collette Vacations tours:
• Eastern Rail Odyssey, 8 days • 10 meals Starting at $2149*
• Cruise the Bays & Railways of New England, 10 days • 16 meals
Starting at $1899
• Colors of New England, 8 days • 10 meals Starting at $1899
• Historic Trains of California, 10 days • 14 meals Starting at $2099
• Beautiful British Columbia, 11 days • 15 meals Starting at $3299
• Coastal Ireland, 13 days • 18 meals Starting at $2399
• France and Bavaria, 10 days • 12 meals Starting at $2049

New Explorations by Collette tours:

• Journey through Jordan & Egypt, 15 days • 24 meals
Starting at $2899*
• Treasures of Spain, 11 days • 17 meals Starting at $2849
• Australian Adventure, 18 days • 23 meals Starting at $4199

New Smithsonian Journeys Travel Adventures tours:
• Crossroads of Sicily, 11 days • 15 meals Starting at $2299*
• Mediterranean Spain & Morocco, 13 days • 19 meals
Starting at $3449
• Classical Turkey, 12 days • 19 meals Starting at $2199

To view day-by-day itineraries and available departure dates, visit Collette’s website at www.collettevacations.com.

*Prices are starting at, per person, land only, based on double occupancy.