Do It Yourself Travel - Monograms® DIY Travel

October 28, 2009 (PRLEAP.COM) Travel News
With nearly 40 offices staffed with more than 200 travel experts that extend as far as Asia and as wide as Europe, Monograms – the independent travel arm of the Globus family of brands – has inherited a rich reputation as a company travelers can depend on to help them simplify travel planning while personalizing their dream getaway. And, in 2010, Monograms is taking this notion of dependability a step further, becoming the "go-to" company for travelers visiting a destination for the first time in nearly every corner of the world with 100 travel packages from which to choose the perfect escape – be it a family vacation, honeymoon, couple's retreat or a much-needed girlfriend getaway.

"We give travelers the power to personalize their vacation without having to take care of planning details and logistics," said Scott Nisbet, president and chief executive officer for the Globus family of brands. "And, in 2010, we're extending our offerings with new vacations in Europe, North and South America and Asia."

Monograms 2010 vacation offerings provide travelers diversity in length of stay (itineraries range from four to 20 days) pricing and destinations, boasting getaways to Britain, Ireland, France, Holland, Italy, Hungary, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Switzerland, Spain, Russia, South America, Asia, the South Pacific and many cities and regions in North America.

The company is not only expanding its vacation portfolio, it has increased the services that make Monograms the perfect travel companion. For instance, Monograms is now providing travelers the chance to book activities and excursions online before their vacation. And, Monograms has expanded the cities worldwide in which Local Host services and expertise are available.

"Monograms is the only brand in the world to provide travelers a Local Host in dozens of destinations around the globe," said Steve Born, vice president of marketing for the Globus family of brands. This on-site local expert helps Monograms vacationers get to know their destination by facilitating a half day of sightseeing. Then, the expert helps them personalize their experience by providing suggestions, making excursion arrangements and answering questions while also taking care of such details as facilitating transportation between cities as well as airport and hotel transfers.

"Our goal is to make our clients feel both comfortable and confident while traveling abroad," said Born.

Monograms vacation packages also come with an impressive selection of hotels recommended for their location and amenities. And, a daily buffet breakfast is included in most Monograms getaways (in Europe, South America, Asia, the South Pacific).

"The plethora of services Monograms provides takes away many of the stresses the average person experiences when planning and taking a getaway – domestically or internationally," said Nisbet. "Our experts take on the details so our travelers can immerse themselves in their escape and focus on fun."

DEAL ALERT: Monograms 2010 package prices are down an average of 15 percent in Europe and 10 percent worldwide. Travelers booking a 2010 Monograms Europe vacation between now and October 13, 2009 can receive $150 per person off the air-inclusive price.* In addition, Monograms, United and Lufthansa are offering travelers incredible savings to European cities like London, Paris and Rome.**

United and Lufthansa round-trip fares from JFK sample fares:
- London – as low as $428
- Paris – as low as $442
- Rome – as low as $445

NEW Monograms vacations in 2010 include:
- Rome & Sorrento (7 days), priced from $1,343
- Brazil, Argentina & Chile (12 days), priced from $3,039
- Costa Rica Wonders (7 days), priced from $1,299
- Tokyo & Kyoto (7 days), priced from $2,099
- Beijing & Shanghai (7 days), priced from $1,109
- Bangkok & Phuket (9 days), priced from $1,219
- Maui & Kauai (7 days), priced from $829
- Vancouver & Whistler (7 days), priced from $549
- Redwoods, Wine Country & Yosemite (9 days), priced from $699

The above prices are based on land-only, including intra-vacation air and rail transfers. Air-inclusive pricing is also available, including hotel/airport transfers when Monograms issues tickets.

Visit www.monogramstravel.com for a full list of 2010 vacation packages.

*Book a 2010 Monograms Europe air-inclusive vacation to receive the $150 off per person offer. Booking must be made, under deposit and discount applied between September 16 and October 13, 2009 for travel through December 31, 2010. Offer not valid with any other offer except Journeys Club. Applies to new 2010 bookings only, and offer will not be applied to pre-existing bookings. Offer reliant on space availability. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply.

**Special fares available on select 2010 Monograms Europe air-inclusive vacations only on United/Lufthansa from applicable U.S. gateways to select European gateways, and are subject to availability in a designated class of service. Booking must be made, under deposit and discount applied between October 14 and December 1, 2009 for travel between January 1 and October 24, 2010. Offer not valid with any other offer except Journeys Club. Applies to new 2010 bookings only, and offer will not be applied to pre-existing bookings. Full cancellation penalties will apply. Due to limited availability, offer may be withdrawn at any time by the Globus family of brands or United/Lufthansa. Sample fares shown are per-person, roundtrip shoulder/low-season, mid-week travel from JFK, EWR, ORD and BOS include fuel surcharges but do not include a September 11th fee up to $10, passenger facility charges of up to $18, Federal domestic flight segment fees of up to $3.50 per segment and U.S. and International arrival and departure and other government imposed fees of up to $300 depending on your itinerary. For current prices, please see our web site. Additional restrictions may apply.

ABOUT MONOGRAMS
With nearly 40 offices staffed with more than 200 travel experts that extend as far as Asia and as wide as Europe, Monograms has a rich reputation as a company travelers can depend on to help them simplify travel planning while creating special dream getaways. Monograms affords travelers the power to personalize their vacation without having to take care of planning details or logistics, thanks to the on-site support of a Local Host (internationally) and Service On Call (in North America). With Monograms, travelers are assured their vacation details are taken care of, including hotel, transportation, sightseeing and more, so they can simply focus on having fun. Monograms is part of the Globus family of brands, an award-winning, travel industry leader with more than 80 years of international travel expertise. The Globus family of brands is a member of Sustainable Travel International (STI).
Consumers can book a Monograms vacation or request brochures by visiting a preferred travel agent or by calling the following toll free number: 1.800.250.7614. For more information, please visit www.monogramstravel.com. Travel agents can request Monograms brochures by calling toll free 1.800.221.0090.