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FAM's (Familiarization Tours, Cruises, etc)

Familiarization Tours, Cruises, etc. (FAM's) are provided by some suppliers to travel agents at substantial discounts and even sometimes free. The reason suppliers do this is so the travel agent can get first hand knowledge of the vacation package and will be better able to sell it to their clients.

Following are some examples of FAM packages.

GERMANY - 4 Nights Nov. 1st thru Feb. 28th $444 ppdo. Wednesday and Thursday departures with RT Air from NY to either Frankfurt, Munich, Berlin or Dusseldorf, 4 nights accommodations at centrally located NH hotels, breakfast daily. Upgrades to a 5-star Kempinski hotel is $159 extra. Additional nights available at $99. Single supplement is $99. Other departure cities available for additional charge. Other Germany destination cities available for $75.

GREECE - 9 Days Every Sunday Sept. 25 thru Nov. 14th $1,175 ppdo. RT airfare from JFK, transfers, 4 nights in superior first class hotel in Athens (upgrade to a deluxe hotel for $175 pp additional), buffet breakfast daily, sightseeing to Athens and an excursion to Cape Sounion, 3 night Greek Island cruise visiting Rhodes & Patmos, Greece and Kusadasi (Ephesus), Turkey, service charges and admission fees. Companion supplement $225 (non-IATA must pay companion supplement). Single supplement 150%. US and Greek taxes are $89, and cruise taxes are $55.

GREEK & TURKEY CRUISE - 10 Nights Sept. 30th "Cruise-Only" $799 ppdo. Cruise-only. Includes all transfers, 3 nights in a first class hotel in Istanbul, breakfast daily, sightseeing in Istanbul, Belly Dancing Show with dinner, 7 night Turkey and Greece cruise on the MV Royal Olympia Renaissance visiting Istanbul, Mykonos, Rhodes, Patmos, Crete, Kusadasi, and Piraeus (Athens). Ocean view cabins are $100 additional. Companion supplement is $100. Port taxes are $179.

PARIS - 4 Nights in July & August "Land-Only" $499 ppdo.
Land-only. Independent FAM to Paris during July and August includes 4 nights hotel accommodations in the Heart of Paris at either the 4-star Hotel Concorde Saint-Lazare or 4-star New Hotel Roblin, breakfast daily, private car one way airport transfer, morning cruise of romantic "Old Paris" along the St. Martin Canal for an out-of-ordinary view of Paris, 3-course lunch at the "Belle Epoque" Cafe' Terminus at the Hotel Concorde Saint-Lazare including wine and mineral water, a visit to the Fragonard Museum, Galeries Lafayette fashion show, and more. Open to all travel industry professionals and their companions at the same rate. Single supplement is $399. Extra nights are $125 ppdo and $250 single.

PERU - 6 Nights Lima, Cusco, and Machu Picchu "Land-Only" $249 ppdo. Land-only. Includes all airport transfers, 2 nights tourist class hotel accommodations in Lima, 4 nights tourist class hotel accommodations in Cusco, American breakfast daily, hotel tax and service charge, services of a bi-lingual licensed tour guide, guided excursion to Machu Picchu, all entrance fees and train tickets. Upgrades available to first class, deluxe, and luxury hotels. Optional tours available in Lima and Cusco and other destinations in Peru. Does not include International or domestic airfare.

LAS VEGAS – Complimentary Tour Coupons. Receive complimentary tour coupons for tours to the Hoover Dam, Primm/Stateline, and Laughlin Getaway.

EGYPT - 9 Days Oct. 16, 23, 30, Nov. 6, 27, Dec. 4 & 11th $1,095 ppdo. RT air non-stop from JFK on EgyptAir, domestic airfare on EgyptAir within Egypt, transfers, 4 nights in Cairo at the 5-star Sheraton Royal Gardens Hotel with buffet breakfast daily, most meals, sightseeing in Cairo including the Egyptian Museum of antiquities, Old Cairo, Giza for the Pyramids and Sphinx, Khan El Khalilii Bazaar, Aswan Dam, Unfinished Obilesk, Temple of Kom Ombo, Temple of Horus in Edfu, Temple of Karnak, Temple of Luxor, Collossi of Memnon, Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, and the Temple of Hatshepsut with museum & parks fees, 4 nights Nile River Cruise with a jr. suite with all meals on board the ship with all sightseeing and shore excursions. All transportation provided by deluxe air-conditioned motor coach or private car. Spouse supplement is $195. Companion supplement is $395. Single supplement is $250. International airport taxes and fees are $75. Tourist entry visa is $25. Optional tour to Abu Simbel to visit the Great Temple of Ramses II and the Temple of Queen Nefertari is $180. Processing/handling fee is $50. Open to IATA, ARC, CLIA, & Airline Employees.

SCOTLAND - 7 Days "All-Year" from $982 ppdo. RT airfare from Newark, Baltimore, Boston, or JFK to London (other cities available), 6 nights accommodations at your choice of 3 and 4 star Best Western Hotels in England, Scotland and Wales with full hearty breakfast daily, , a self-drive car with unlimited mileage and tax for 6 days (large cars minivans, and automatics are available), VAT tax, and service charges. Yes, you can stay longer.

IRELAND – Join the “Shamrock Club” and become an Ireland Specialist. The 7 chapter course costs $150. Upon completion, the agent can attend educational FAM trip to Ireland for $300.

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – 5 Nights ”All-Inclusive” Thurs. thru Sun. thru Dec. 20th $515 ppdo. RT air from New York to Santo Domingo, transfers, 5 nights "All-Inclusive" accommodations at the Guatapanal, Marien Coral, Occidental Allegro Puerto Plata, Playa Dorado, or the Grand Flamengo. There is an additional charge of $75 for Jack Tar or Caribbean Village. Companion supplement is $75. Single supplement is $145.

AMAZON FAM - 6 Days "Land-only" $285 ppdo. Land-only Friday thru Wed. 1 night at the 5-Star Dorado Plaza Hotel in Iquitos, Peru, Amazon and Napo river boat trip to the ExplorNapo Lodge for 2 nights with buffet meals, visit 250,000 acre Primary Rainforest Reserve, botanical gardens, world’s longest canopy walkway, 2 nights at the luxurious Ceiba Tops Lodge & Resort with buffet meals, and transfers to and from Iquitos airport. Rate $285. Companion rate is the same.

CHINA - 10 Days Beijing, Xian, Yangtze Cruise, & Shanghai Sept. 13, Oct. 11 & 21st $1,699 ppdo. RT airfare from LAX to China on Air China, Intra-China airfare, transfers, 4 and 5-star hotel accommodations, most meals, visiting Beijing (2 nights), Xian (2 nights), 4-Day Yangtze River cruise including all meals and shore excursions, and Shanghai (1 nights). Extensive sightseeing in each city with English speaking guides, entrance fees, and private tour bus. Companion supplement is $50. Single supplement is $160. US and China airport and departure taxes are $121. China visa fee is $75. Upgrades to business class is $2,350 additional.

Lyn Liming
Independent Travel Agent