Travelers Can Gather Just 9 Friends Or Family And Create Their Own Vacation Package In Ireland or Italy With Sceptre Tours

New 6-Night Programs Provide More Flexibility, Down Time,
And Can Be Customized To A Group's Personal Interests

Lynbrook, NY (July 12, 2010) - Sceptre Tours has created a new Groups Your Way program that offers travelers the flexibility to customize 6-night travel programs to Ireland or Italy for a minimum of only 10 people — family, friends, or a special interest group — and take advantage of a group volume discount.

According to Chris Accomando, President of Sceptre Tours, "We decided to create this type of group program in response to the growing vacation trends of Baby Boomers. Over the past few years we have found that more and more Baby Boomer generation travelers are coming to us with the desire to travel with small groups of friends or on multi-generational trips with family and they want the ability to customize a tour. In the past, most customized group programs required a minimum of 15 to 20 passengers and are often restrictive with regard to the elements of the tour."


Mr. Accomando adds that, "A program of this type is relatively unheard of because it provides travelers with the flexibility to customize travel for a minimum of 10 people at a very affordable rate. Prior to this, one would have to secure a minimum of 20 passengers in order to match such rates."

Due to Sceptre's volume buying power and long-standing relationships in the industry, it has been able to negotiate such affordable pricing to appeal to this burgeoning small group travel market. Additionally, Sceptre has been able to negotiate incredibly affordable group airfare rates for Wednesday travel (travel is available for any day of the week; however Wednesdays are most affordable). Additionally, for those who take advantage of the Wednesday air rates, if 10 people are traveling, one person flies free for travel November through March.


Travelers, working on their own or with a travel agent, can start with eight basic six-night packages (five for Ireland and three for Italy) and then customize them based upon the groups' preferences for sightseeing excursions, down time, and transportation. The base packages all include 6 nights' accommodation, round-trip airport transfers, airfare (if applicable), and a minimum of two days of excursions. The traveler's then have a virtual Chinese menu of approximately 15 excursions to choose from based on the group's specific interests ranging from family friendly tours to religious tours, pub tours, culinary classes, wine tastings, etc. Sceptre can also assist with arranging transportation via motor coach, chauffeur-driven car, or rental cars for those who want to drive themselves.

The Groups Your Way program includes such notable properties in Ireland as Adare Manor Hotel & Golf Resort, The Ritz-Carlton Powerscourt, and The Heritage Spa & Resort as well as such prime locations in Italy like the Amalfi Coast and Tuscany.

"The important factor to note here," adds Mr. Accomando, "is that often when groups take an existing escorted tour, they don't have the flexibility to make it their own or to take a day or two off from sightseeing if they so choose. With our program, they can do as much or as little as they like and truly design an affordable vacation that appeals to their individual interests."


Land only rates for the Groups Your Way program start at $579 per person based on 10 people traveling.