London Horse Guards Parade – Note: click on all photos for larger views. ©2012, David A. Porter

Jo, our client, at the Trooping of the Colour

With the sharp decline of the British Pound following the Brexit vote last June, Americans are flocking to Great Britain in droves (see article).  Last week, I sent our British in-country travel planning partner an email asking if she’s seeing an increase in bookings to Great Britain; she said, “Absolutely! Its been utter madness!”.

Carol and I last visited London in 2012 and we’re itching to go back.  With the decline of the British Pound, our American dollars bring nearly 40% more buying power, no language barrier, untold numbers of centuries-old historical sites to visit; kind locals, and the best cabs in the world, I’m absolutely dying to go back, and to spend more time in the British Museum.

I snagged the above photograph in April of 2012 as we made a fabulous stroll from our hotel (The Stafford Hotel) past Buckingham Palace, and through St. James Park as we made our way to see Big Ben, Westminster Palace, and Westminster Abbey.  You can see all of the posts from our visit at this link.

Our British Connections

One of the great benefits we bring our clients are the in-country travel planning partners we have located in nearly every country in the world. These relationships come to us through our affiliation with Virtuoso®, the world’s leading international luxury travel agency network. These relationships are decades old, stringently curated, and bring our clients access to experiences that are simply not possible booking on the Internet.

Let me give you an example: this year was HRH Queen Elizabeth II’s 90th birthday.  Without question, the grandest event in London this year was her birthday bash at the annual Trooping of Colour on the grounds of the London Horse Guards.

Thousands and thousands packed the streets, all hoping for the slightest glimpse of the Queen.  Through our connections, we were able to get “up close and personal” tickets for our clients Bob & Jo where they enjoyed all of the pomp and circumstance within ear-shot of the Queen.

The picture above was taken by Jo with her smartphone. As you can see, we got them fabulous seats.  Right!

Bottom Line

Listen, it’s no secret that you can book a trip to Great Britain on your own.  But, let me ask you a gentle question: would you rather be in the street packed among 10s of thousands of people, or would you rather use our connections and observe the event from the perspective above?  Stand with the crowds, or let us VIP you to an unforgettable experience?

This is just one example of thousands.  Through our world-wide affiliations and in-country travel planning partners, we bring you buying power, access, and exclusive privileges that you simply can’t get on your own.

If you haven’t yet made your 2017 travel plans, we highly recommend that you consider England, Wales, or Scotland.  All three of these countries within Great Britain will bring you the financial boon from the falling British Pound, and we have the tools and resources to help you regardless of your travel style.  Want to golf Scotland’s Old Course?  Perhaps this is the year! 😁

To explore the many different options we have available for a visit to the UK, call our office at (480) 550-1235, or use our convenient online information request (click here) and we’ll reach out to you.

If you’re a 4-star+ traveler, you might enjoy this small group travel option from our friends at Tauck, one of our nation’s most highly respected small group tour operators. To explore further UK travel options, come visit our travel dreams website: click here. To book these or other available options, just give us a call.
 
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