Adventure Travel Tour Operator Extends Last-Minute Summer Booking Trend for Family Vacations
Adventure Travel Guide Austin-Lehman Adventures adds trips to accommodate last-minute summer travelers and offers free adventure travel insurance and protection coverage for guests booking summer adventure vacations from now through August 31
Billings, MT (PRWEB) June 19, 2005 -- Whoops! Summer is creeping up and still
no vacation plans? Never fear, there’s one company that thrives on responding to
last-minute, packaged vacation bookings.
“Hey, we’re easy,” says Dan
Austin, co-founder and director of operations for Austin-Lehman Adventures, a
luxury multi-sport, active travel company. “We’ve found ways to manage our trip
offerings so that folks who perhaps procrastinated a bit too long or have waited
to take advantage of last-minute airline travel deals can still book a trip with
us this summer.”
As an added incentive, the company is also offering free
adventure travel insurance and protection coverage for guests booking summer
adventure vacations from now through August 31. Depending upon the tour price,
this translates into a savings of up to $240 per person. Plus at no extra cost,
Austin-Lehman Adventures will expedite all documents and pre-departure
information via overnight mail for trips leaving inside of 30
days.
Austin says the trend toward last minute bookings has dramatically
increased over the past four years. “In 2001, ‘last-minute’ bookings, defined as
reservations made inside of 30 days prior to departure, accounted for just 3% of
our annual business. This year, we expect that number to be closer to 10%.”
An uncertain economy, international unrest, consumer conditioning to
expect summer airfare wars, the growth of the dual working household and
resulting complexities of planning a family vacation – for whatever the reason,
people are waiting longer and longer to book a summer vacation
tour.
Austin-Lehman’s message is simple, “Don’t panic! We still have a
space for you!” Here are a few examples of adventures in South, Central, and
North America that are still available for last-minute booking:
Yellowstone Family Adventure: Hike, ride horses and raft for 6 days,
departing: June 26 • July 3 • July 10 • July 17 • July 24 • August 7 • August 14
• August 21; Price: adults $1,998 / kids (age 7 to 12) from $1,399.
Costa
Rica Family Adventure: For 8 days, explore the jungles of Tortuguero National
Park, Caribbean beaches with nesting turtles, elegant haciendas, a farmers’
market, a local school, and the history and excitement of San José, departing:
June 25 • July 9 • July 23 • August 20; Price: adults $2,348 / kids (age 5 to
12) $1,798.
Travel Peru - Machu Picchu & Sacred Valley: The 9-day
trip weaves from Lima to Cusco, from ruin to ruin across the Sacred Valley, and
by train and breathtaking footpath over the Inca Trail, with an overnight at the
world-class Hotel Monasterio, departing: July 23 • August 6; Price: from
$3,398.
Whistler Summer Adventure – British Columbia: Over the course of
6 days, based from the elegant Fairmont Chateau Whistler, you’ll hike, bike,
raft, and canoe through the most breathtaking topography Canada has to offer,
departing: July 17 (family trip) • July 31 • August 14 (family trip) • August
21; Price: adults $2,498 / kids (age 7 to 12) from $1,749.
Says Austin,
“We don’t see this consumer booking trend easing up anytime in the near future.
We live in uncertain times and it is hard to make commitments on one’s vacation
time too far into the future. In fact, we would like to be known as the “go to”
vacation resource for people faced with the challenge of planning their family
vacation at the last-minute.”
Austin-Lehman Adventures’ 32 expeditions
include iconic North American destinations utilizing National Parks and National
Forests in Wyoming, Montana, and Utah; the Canadian Rockies and the seacoasts of
British Columbia and Nova Scotia/Newfoundland; and the culture and scenery of
Santa Fe and Taos, New Mexico. All domestic trips are weeklong and conveniently
run from weekend to weekend. Prices that vary per trip start at $1,898 per
person with single supplements from $295. On designated Family Adventures, rates
for children age 7 to 12 begin at $1,329. Programs are outlined in a free,
48-page, four-color catalog available by calling toll-free in the US and Canada
1.800.575.1540, or e-mail e-mail protected from spam bots or log onto www.austinlehman.com. This
international number services England, New Zealand and Australia:
1-406-655-4591.
All Austin-Lehman Adventures come with one of the most
consumer-friendly guarantees in the business: If for any reason your
expectations are not met and Austin-Lehman is unable to resolve the matter to
your satisfaction, the company will refund up to 100% of the trip fee.
#
# #
Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/6/prweb251748.htm