SOUTHWEST USA top tips...
• Perfect match… “Push the theme parks and the coast to families, road trips to couples, and combining Las Vegas and Los Angeles with the Caribbean to clients celebrating a special occasion” BARRY ROBERTSON Long Haul Supervisor, Barrhead Travel
• Come what May… “Because the weather is cooler and rates are reasonable, end- April to end-May is a good time to travel to Arizona and Nevada. A lot of Scottsdale hotels have good free-night offers then” MANDY MCGLADE USA Product Manager Tailor Made Travel
• Peace and quiet at the ranch… “Pitch having some peace and quiet for at least one night of a trip to Las Vegas by flying over the Grand Canyon by helicopter and staying at Heli USA’s Grand Canyon Ranch Resort” JONATHAN COUCH USA Product & Purchasing Manager Travel 2
• Temperature gauge… “Western USA is definitely a year-round destination, but remember that in some of the desert destinations temperatures can reach 35C-plus in the summer and be freezing in the winter” MARK WHITE Product Manager North America Gold Medal
Coast along the Highway… “Suggest driving along the Pacific Coast Highway to see some of the most-beautiful coastline in the US. En route, call in at Hearst Castle” NEIL MURRAY Travel Writer
They are perfect
for the entire family to explore the great outdoors.”
Ask the Operator MARk WhiTE
Product Manager North America, Gold Medal “Los Angeles, San
Francisco and Las Vegas are still extremely popular, but customers now use Vegas as a gateway to explore the Grand Canyon and the other national parks. “We have introduced Maverick
helicopter Tours, offering scenic tours from Las Vegas.”
MAnDy MCGLADE USA Product Manager Tailor Made Travel “Self-drives in
California, Nevada and Arizona are increasing, as are rail enquiries for clients wanting to travel between San Francisco and Los Angeles on Amtrak’s Coast Starlight. “Demand is growing for activity breaks, so ranching holidays,
especially in Arizona, are selling well. “We plan to grow our northern
California product, maybe to include self-drives or trains to Oregon and Washington.
JonAThAn CouCh USA Product & Purchasing Manager Travel 2
“Las Vegas continues to sell well, especially high-end product such as the Vdara, MGM Grand and Bellagio. Rates are competitive and there are discounts on accommodation. “Hilton Grand Vacations has just opened a new hotel on the Las Vegas strip, the old Ph Towers.”
Ask the Agent BARRy RoBERTSon
Long Haul Supervisor, Barrhead Travel “Customers aren’t
always aware of the variety the area has to offer, so we give them examples of itineraries to spark their imagination. Those who have already had a taste of the USA, such as New York, then want to see more of the country.”
20 October 2012 •
www.sellinglonghaul.com
Above, left to right: Colourful chilis form the basis of New Mexican
cuisine; sunset desert in Arizona; The open road in New Mexico; Virginia City, Nevada; Roadside petrol pumps,
New Mexico; Adobe architecture, New Mexico; Alien cult culture, Roswell,
New Mexico; Bar, Madrid, New Mexico; Nevada’s Hoover Dam; Roadside shop, New Mexico. Below: A chipmunk; Retro-looking Las Vegas.
Where To Book It GoLD MEDAL - 0800 014 7777
www.goldmedal.co.uk A 14-day Best of the West self-drive, starting and ending in Los Ange- les and visiting the Grand Canyon National Park, Death Valley, Yosemite National Park, Las Vegas, Napa Valley and Monterey, Santa Barbara and Malibu, costs from £539pp. It in- cludes accommodation and economy two-door car hire (fully inclusive in- surance). London-Los Angeles flights start from £630pp.
iMAGES: STuART hALL
STuART hALL
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MATT BonnER
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