Trip to Ecuador for $1,199: misprint?
Friendly Travel Planet admits its $1,199, eight-day, escorted, all inclusive vacation to Ecuador sounds like the wrong price in part because it also includes lodging and airfare from Miami. But no.
"The fact that we sold out these tours in the first quarter of the year shows that people are traveling. This is at least partly due to the incredible incentives being offered by airline and hotel operators in exotic locations, who are anxious to maintain their tourism business," said Peggy Goldman, president of Friendly.
She added;
"It’s a buyer’s market with operators offering unprecedented prices to companies like Friendly Planet Travel, which can fill blocks of seats and hotel rooms. As always, Friendly Planet Travel continues to pass along those savings direct to our passengers, offering prices that continue to lure travelers even in these difficult economic times."
Ecuador has become an increasingly popular destination as American travelers have become more culturally and environmentally aware. "Ecuador’s biodiversity and its indigenous culture are major attractions for American travelers," she said.
The tour, which is escorted throughout by an English-speaking Ecuadorian guide, explores the rich culture, fascinating environment and diverse climate of the country, starting at the capital Quito, labeled a World Heritage Center by UNESCO. Also included is the town of Otavalo, home to South America’s most colorful open air market. The tour then heads south to the Amazon regions and then north again into the Andes and a visit to Cotopaxi National Park, site of the highest active volcano in the world.
Friendly Planet Travel says it makes high-quality exotic travel affordable for everyone. Each year, the tour company offers more than 30 different group travel packages to Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Europe and South America at discounts of hundreds of dollars off similar vacations.
By David Wilkening
David
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