Holidays 2002: Chill out, it's Iceland next stop

COACH holidays have always been value for money...and now they reach destinations that would have seemed impossible just a few years ago. Step aboard these days and you could find yourself doing anything from stalking big game in Africa to chilling out in Iceland. And the vehicles are more luxurious too, with every mod con. DAVID KERR checks out the best deals around for you...

A BIGGER and better programme than ever is being offered this summer by Wallace Arnold.

The award-winning operator has a choice of more than 100 destinations in over 30 countries. It breaks new trails with tours to Croatia and Morocco while also expanding its Jersey, Ireland and Britain brochure with more than 25 additional holidays.

Prices start at 219 for a five-day Belgium and Dutch bulb fields holiday with two excursions for 239.

New packages include a 12-day adventure to the Italian Dolomites from 559 and a nine-day Summer Sunshine Cruise which takes in Portugal, Spain, Gibraltar and Morocco costing 599 per person.

Details: (0845 756 6665 www.wallacearnold.com)

NEW themed breaks for the 2002 season have been introduced by Shearings.

The holidays include a five-day, half-board Heartbeat Country package for 129 per person and five days half-board in Constable Country for 189 per person.

Customers can also choose from many all-inclusive packages with prices starting at 119 per person at Shearings' Royal Hotel, Whitby, for four nights dinner, bed and breakfast.

Shearings also operates a variety of coach, air, rail and cruise holidays to destinations in Europe and beyond. New breaks include Paris and Versailles.

Details: (01942 824 824 www.shearingsholidays.com)

NEW to the Archers Direct worldwide brochure is the Wonders of Iceland. This nine-day escorted tour takes in breathtaking volcanic scenery and costs from 1,195.

Also new is a 14-day Discover South Africa tour starting at 1,475, taking in unforgettable scenery, big game and sophisticated cities.

Two new itineraries have been added to the "Leisurely" tours - Discover the Tuscan Hills (eight days from 539) and Discover Naples and Gargano (eight days from 519).

Customers now also have the chance to "design their own holiday" by combining several tours.

Details: (0870 751 2000 www.archersdirect.co.uk).

THE popular Battlefield Tours offered by Leger Holidays have been expanded for 2002. A five-day tour of WW2 sites in France features the company's new 12-seater luxury mini-coach and is priced from 469 per person including transport, half-board accommodation and a specialist guide. The new vehicle has leather upholstery, air conditioning and state-of-the-art video equipment.

The company's new Disneyland Paris brochure features the resort's second park, Walt Disney Studios, which opens in the spring. Prices start at 318 for a family of two adults and two children under 12 for two nights at Disney's Hotel Santa Fe, theme park admission and coach travel.

Details: (0845 130 7007 www.leger.co.uk)

TWO new Italian holidays have been added to Cosmos Tourama's "Leisurely Tours". Holidaymakers stay in just one or two locations but benefit from a wide variety of included sightseeing excursions by coach. The two new tours are the Tuscan Hills (eight days based in Lucca from 743 per person) and Naples and Gargano (eight days based in The Gargano from 584).

The Wonders of Iceland nine-day tour is also new from Cosmos with highlights including Reykjavik, Thingvellir National Park, the boiling mud pots at Namaskaro and geyser at Strokkur. Prices start from 1,385 per person and include return scheduled flights, accommodation on a bed and breakfast basis and some dinners.

The new America and Canada brochure is offering early-booking discounts of up to 200 per couple before February 28.

Details: (0870 264 6012 www.cosmostourama.co.uk)

BOOK any Travelsphere Holiday by February 14 and you could be in with a chance of winning one of five round-the-world tours for two, plus 1,000 each spending money.

The competition is being held to mark the company's 25th birthday.

The new European brochure features over 120 holidays, 43 of which are new. Prices start from 99 for a weekend in Paris, rising to 699 for a 15-day Top To Toe tour of Italy.

A weekend break in the Champagne region of France is on offer from just 129. Further afield, a 15-day all-inclusive tour of Thailand costs from 895. Other exotic holidays include the Caribbean islands of Antigua, St Lucia and Barbados from 1,395 and a 15-day tour of Australia from 1,495.

Travelsphere also offers escorted holidays by train throughout Europe and worldwide from just 225 per person.

For real adventure it has to be the 13-day Trans-Siberian tour from 1,945. This is the "big train ride", 5,811 miles from Moscow to Peking, via Mongolia - an incredible journey.

Details: (0800 191418, www.travelsphere.co.uk)

Copyright 2002 MGN LTD
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.