Explore Holidays goes holistic with ‘Explore America 2007’

Hopes that Elvis will finally stage an appearance in Memphis and Nashville next year to help celebrate the 30^th anniversary of his death may be somewhat optimistic, but even if the ‘King’ doesn’t show, Explore Holidays can guarantee a fantastic insight into both US cities and a taste of the 30^th anniversary celebrations – even the odd imitation Elvis or two – with a brace of new short duration ready-made ‘experience’ tours designed to provide the perfect Tennessee fix.

Prices for a three-day/two-night ‘Music City Nashville’ program start from $337* per person twin share.

This includes all accommodation, a Nashville City Tour designed to showcase the city’s legendary musical history and return airport-hotel transfers.

The ‘Music City Nashville’ tour dovetails well with a four-day/three ‘Marvellous Memphis’ program priced from $356* per person twin share including all accommodation.

Highlights include a visit to Presley’s ‘Graceland’ and a half-day Memphis sightseeing tour.

The two new programs are prime examples of the ‘holistic’ approach Explore Holidays has taken to US travel in 2007 with the release of ‘Explore America 2007’.

The ‘experience’ tour range is based on a series of three, four, five, six and seven-day mini stays offered throughout America in the new brochure.

Cities include Los Angeles, several Anaheim/Disneyland combinations, San Francisco, San Diego, New York, Boston, Chicago, Miami, Las Vegas, an Orlando Walt Disney World option and Washington DC.

All of the ready-made packages feature accommodation programs and a variety of value-added inclusions ranging from ‘city pass’ combined transport/sightseeing cards and transfers to day tours.

A good example is the four-day/three-night ‘Anaheim Short Break’ program, one of seven Anaheim ‘experience’ options, which includes a two-day Disneyland Resort Park Hopper Ticket and a one-day Universal Studios ticket complete with return hotel transfers.

The ‘Anaheim Short Break’ program is priced from $459* per person twin share.

Explore Holidays has also produced two new West Coast self-drive options ex-Los Angeles aimed at those who like to do their own thing while remaining on a pre-planned itinerary with everything – including all accommodation – taken care of along the way.

Features of the 14-day/13-night ‘Best of the West‘ itinerary include Palms Springs, Phoenix, the Grand Canyon National Park, Las Vegas, Death Valley and Yosemite National Park.

Priced from $1011* per person twin share, the itinerary also travels California’s spectacular northern coastline via San Francisco, the Napa Valley, Monterey, Santa Barbara and Malibu before returning to Los Angeles.

The 14-day/13-night ‘Canyon Country’ program provides a fantastic overview of the country’s stunning natural beauty with visits to no less than six national parks en route from Los Angeles to San Francisco.

These include Zion, Bryce Canyon, Arches, the Grand Canyon, Death Valley and Yosemite.

Priced from $1080* per person twin share, the program also includes one night in Las Vegas’ famous Circus Circus Hotel & Casino.

For those who prefer fully-guided coach travel, canyons and national parks also form a feature of a comprehensive new six-day/five night ‘Canyonlands Explorer’ tour priced from $912* per person twin share, including all accommodation and sightseeing.

Also new for 2007 is a 15-day/14-night ‘Rocky Mountain Frontiers’ coach tour operating ex-Denver to Los Angeles.

Itinerary highlights include Cody and the Buffalo Bill Historical Centre, Deadwood, Fort Laramie, Mount Rushmore and Yellowstone National Park, Route 66, the Grand Canyon, Death Valley, Yosemite, Las Vegas, Monterey, Carmel and San Francisco.

The ‘Rocky Mountain Frontiers’ tour is priced from $2631* per person twin share including all accommodation and sightseeing.

*Conditions apply. Prices are based on travel in low season. Seasonal surcharges apply.

Please note prices do not include international airfares. Car hire is not included in self-drive programs.

For more information, contact Explore Holidays on (02) 9423 8000 or 1300 73 1000 or visit www.exploreholidays.com.au

Report by The Mole