Here are links to Insight's Australian 2009 e-brochures which are in Adobe Acrobat format:

2009 Europe and Britain Premium
2009 Ancient Civilizations
2009 European Essentials
2009 Italy and Sicily
2008 2009 European Autumn, Winter and Spring
2009 Canada and America

NOTE: These are very large files and make take some time to download.

Click: to download the free Acrobat Reader.

phil

This message has been edited. Last edited by: phil,

As I speculated a few months ago, the new 2009 brochures show that Insight have adopted the "PD" (Preferred Departure) nomenclature, rather than the "TG" (Tour Guaranteed) nomenclature.

I believe this is a better description of what the status of these selected tours was always intended to be and this new description will better assist clients in making their travel plans in future.

phil

PD.png (31 Kb, 177 downloads)

WHAT'S NEW FOR 2009

The new 2009 Premium tours are:

• Elegance of Great Britain (Formerly Country Roads, Gardens and Stately Homes of Britain) [11 Days]
  
• Iberian Elegance (Formally Country Roads of Portugal and Spain) [15 Days]
  
• Moroccan Elegance [9 Days]
  
• Aegean Elegance [11 Days]
  
• Easy Pace Turkey and Greece [11 Days]
  
• Elegance of Egypt [10 Days]
  
• Elegance of the Pharoahs [10 Days]
  
• Elegance of the Nile [13 Days]
  
• Egypt and Jordan [13 Days]

The new 2009 European Essentials tours are:

• Majestic Britain & Ireland [13 days]
  
• Essential Europe [8 days]
  
• Gems of Europe [11 days]
  
• Classical Europe [12 days]
  
• European Kaleidoscope [19 days]
  
• European Journey [20 days]
  
• Bohemian Rhapsody [9 days]
  
• Spanish Fantasy [10 days]

This message has been edited. Last edited by: phil,

Phil

Any indication of the extent of price increases?

Hi Koot,

I really haven't had a chance to do any comparisons with last year's prices yet but from past experience, price changes are unlikely to be uniform from tour region to tour region. I suspect price variations will also be quite different amongst the various brochures. According to Insight's Terms and Conditions in the Australian brochure:

quote:

Tour Prices: Are based on costs, charges, tariffs, rates, prices, taxes, levies and exchange rates as at 8th September 2008. Should any of these costs change a surcharge may be made on the price of your vacation. If the total tour price increases by more than 10%, passengers will have the right to cancel within 7 days of notification of the surcharge without penalty. No surcharges in respect of cost or currency fluctuations will be made once payment for the deposit of your land tour is received. This guarantee does not apply to pre-registered bookings, or departures where prices are still subject to confirmation.This guarantee also excludes fuel surcharges and does not apply to any taxes, charges or levies imposed by any government or its agencies. In exchange for these guarantees no refund will be made if costs are reduced. Prices include the Goods and Services Tax where applicable. All prices are in Australian Dollars, unless otherwise specified.

phil

Phil

I realise it will be different. Unfortunately the South African Rand has lost quite a bit of ground against other currencies. I was just looking for a general indication of the cost increase, realising that ours will probably be worse.

Well with my 15% and by preregistering, I've saved around $637. The B/I Explorer is about $140 dearer. Not too bad. Still...that's a nice extra meal in Paris now!

Koot,

as a general comparison of 2008/2009 brochure prices, I compared the prices of a broad selection of tours departing as close as possible to July 1st. The tours I selected were:

Britain & Ireland Explorer
Britain & Ireland Discovery
Country Roads of Ireland
Road to Rome
Highlights of Europe
Romantic European
European Grandeur
Best of Spain & Portugal
Treasures of Spain, Portugal & Morocco
Best of Morocco
Country Roads of France
Italian Escapade
Country Roads of Italy
Country Roads of Switzerland
Country Roads of Bavaria, Switzerland & Austria
Country Roads of Dalmatia & the Adriatic Riviera
Highlights of Eastern Europe
Northern Capitals & Russia
Grand Tour of Scandinavia
Grecian Odyssey
Treasures of Turkey
Splendours of Egypt
Grand Tour of Egypt

Overall, there was a price increase of +6.6% for this selection of tours. However, as I quoted above, the tour prices were based on exchange rates as at 8th September 2008. I don't know about your country but in Australia, there has been a dramatic change in the exchange rate since then and I would not be surprised to see Insight having to adjust their prices as a result (in accordance with their terms and Conditions).

phil

Insight's New Zealand website now also has the 2009 eBrochures.

Hi Phil. Thanks for the info on the 2009 brochures. Probably should bump this up. Jim