WHY IT RATES:Check out these amazing new tours and visit Wales today! - Eric Bowman, TravelPulse Senior Editor
2017 marks the Year of Legends in Wales, and whether exploring the country by foot, staying at a luxury accommodation or making new friends on a small-group tour, visitors can embark on a journey rooted in folklore and history on one of nine new tours to the Celtic country.
Wales has become an increasingly popular destination among North American travelers. During the first three-quarters of 2016, visits to the country from the United States and Canada have increased almost 10% compared to the same period last year, according to results from VisitBritain's International Passenger Survey.
"North America remains a priority market for tourism to Wales and working with the travel trade is a key component to our strategy," said Lauren Summers, the Director of Marketing for Visit Wales in North America. "Travel agents are instrumental in selling the destination and there are now even more ways for them to book their clients on epic vacations where they'll make legendary memories."
It's not only Wales that has seen an increase in tourism - the same can be said for Britain as a whole. Visits to the UK from the United States and Canada were up roughly 5% during the first three quarters of 2016. "These strong numbers show how much Americans enjoy exploring the culture, heritage, cities and countryside of Britain," said VisitBritain's Interim Executive Vice President Paul Gauger in a statement. "And with the current exchange rate, Americans see value for money. It's a great time to visit the UK, and enjoy the benefits of how much further your dollar can take you."
New Tours to Wales for 2017:
1) Avanti Destinations: From coastal vistas to rugged terrain, travelers will walk their way through the varying landscapes of North Wales on Avanti Destinations' Hiking North Wales tour. In its Best of Travel for 2017, Lonely Planet named North Wales a "top region" to visit, and on this five-night vacation package visitors will stay at seaside resorts, enjoy daily breakfast, and hike mountainous countryside in the area.
2) R. Crusoe & Son: The Welsh have a vibrant history - from fortresses used as strongholds in the Middle Ages; mines that supplied the world with slate; and a Celtic language that's endured centuries. On R. Crusoe & Son's eight-day tour of Wales, travelers will explore the nation's past with castle and museum visits, behind-the-scenes experiences, and luxury hotel stays.
3) STA Travel: The tour company that focuses on student travel is offering three new tours to Wales, all starting at less than $100 a day including accommodation, activities and a car rental. STA's six-day tour focuses on North Wales with visits to Caernarfon Castle, a medieval fortress that makes up a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and Zip World Velocity, Europe's fastest zip line. The company's Wild and Winding National Parks Loop vacation highlights the three national parks in Wales - Snowdonia, Brecon Beacons and Pembrokeshire. And, in 12 days, STA's Wales on a Shoestring tour stops at countryside towns like Llangollen, an underground zip line in Blauneau Festiniog, and parts of England like Bath and Stonehenge.
4) Tenon Tours: Want the flexibility of an independent tour, but the reliability of escorted travel? Tenon Tours offers an eight-day hopper tour that does just this. Travelers will explore Cardiff, take a day tour to the Gower Peninsula, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Wales, and visit Snowdonia National Park all before settling in Llandudno, a waterfront town with Victorian elegance and links to Alice in Wonderland. Tenon Tours also has three, new self-drive itineraries in Wales that range from five to 10 nights and explore cathedrals, gardens and castles.
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