| Journal: TWUK | Section: |
| Title: | Issue Date: 29/05/00 |
| Author: | Page Number: 45 |
| Copyright: Other |
Product review: by Alan Moore
Operators take to raising Arizona
Range of escorted tours, independent packages and accommodation is on the increase
sample productLAs vegas/arizona
British Airways Holidays: has a new escorted tour called Silverado Trails, which starts in Denver and ends in Los Angeles. It costs from £1,115 for 11 days.
Thomas Cook Holidays: more noted for its escorted tour range, has introduced a 14-day America Canyon Country flydrive between LA and San Francisco that extends into Arizona from day four to day 10. Prices for departures until October start from £892 including flights, car and accommodation.
Northern exposure: tourists are now venturing further into Arizona
UK TOUR operators have boosted both their choice of escorted tours and independent packages to Arizona this year.
In addition, a wider range of accommodation varies from luxury resorts, working ranches and lodges in the state’s canyonlands.
Managing director of Funway Holidays, Stephen Hughes said: “California has always been a top flydrive market but clients are now venturing further into the Grand Canyon and Arizona, as well as Nevada.
“The growth is due to the importance of Phoenix and Las Vegas as alternative gateways to the West Coast cities of Los Angeles and San Francisco.”
The availability of more free one-way car rental drop-offs has enabled the operator to expand the Arizona content in new pre-planned self-drive itineraries.
One option that takes in Phoenix combined with Las Vegas and San Diego is called The Old, New and Wild West tour priced from £689 for 13 nights including accommodation, flights and car.
Another new addition is a 10-day Native American self-drive from £315 twinshare including accommodation and car until December.
For four sharing the price drops to £205 each. Overnights take in Phoenix, the Grand Canyon and Canyon de Chelly.
United Vacations says it is seeing an increase in bookings to Arizona based on the scheduled services of parent United Airlines’ flights into the West Coast.
Product and marketing manager Zia Bapuji said: “Sales have risen 8% year on year, with the strongest growth to Scottsdale. As California is our top-selling destination, this is having a knock-on effect for travel to Arizona as travellers are looking to visit more than one state as part of a flydrive holiday.”
British Airways Holidays now features a wide range of go-as-you-please accommodation in Arizona that can be used to tailor-make a flydrive from Phoenix, using BA non-stop flights from Gatwick. These include hotels at Flagstaff, Lake Powell, Kayenta, Sedona, Tucson and a lodge at Tombstone costing £31 per person per night including breakfast
Travelpack has also increased its range of escorted tours coverage in the state with a 10-day Western Wonderland itinerary and five-day Golden West Adventure. Both feature the Grand Canyon, Phoenix/Scottsdale, Lake Powell, Bryce Canyon and Zion National Park. Tour-only twinshare prices are from £561 and £253 respectively.
The fashionable desert resort area of Scottsdale, historic Tucson and the Grand Canyon form part of two new escorted tours from Cosmos and Jetsave. Flights and excursions are included, with prices from £1,389 for the 13-day Favourites of the Southwest package from Cosmos and from £978 for Jetsave’s 15-day High Chaparral itinerary. Both depart from Los Angeles.
Scottsdale is becoming a destination in its own right, according to North America Travel Centre director Ruby Briggs.
NATS is also discovering a small but growing market for spa stays in Arizona.
The operator features three-night/four-day packages at the Canyon Ranch near Tucson for around £780, excluding flights but including all meals and use of spa facilities. Treatments are extra. NATS also offers a different way of touring in Arizona by featuring Harley Davidson motorbikes from around £75 a day. This rate includes limited mileage, transfers, state taxes and transfers.
Glitz and glamour: one-way car rental drop-offs has helped operators expand their product range to destinations such as Las Vegas