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Franklin Travel Announces a Tour of Europe for Wargamers

This is NOT an ordinary plain-jane tour with 52 people stopping for gift shops of porcelain. And not a Veterans tour that spends half its time in cemeteries. We are limited in how many we can take because our custom-redesigned motorcoach (see SPW PS IV below) has tables for en-route gaming. I have spent this time getting unbelievable air fares.

With the following features included:

*Games Features at Stops & Aboard our Sonderkraftfarzeug Panzerspiel IV (otherwise known as Automatischkampfspielkahrzeug I)

We feature aboard our "Sdkfzg PzSp IV (Aukaspfzg I)" several miniature games (first European motorcoach with a good-sized magnetic miniatures table), Boardgames (on smaller tables & WiFi lan games!

Advise if you want to host a game for a tour discount. Space is very limited for # passengers on board because we have a custom-configured coach with gaming tables (usually seats 52 but we're taking out many seats and putting in many tables). don't delay!

This is a unique opportunity to see battlefields firsthand AND play wargames en route (both on board the coach and at several stops)!

Component Prices Itemized

I list prices for each component so that those who have frequent flier miles can see what they'd save by using those. To book your place, we need your check (or call us tollfree 800-397-2525 extension 150 with your credit card) for $850/person deposit. Balance of tour cost due 11/13/02.

Price

Please advise whether you want full trip from Rome to London or the "core" trip from Maginot to Paris. Total price includes all air fares, current taxes & fees, hotels, baggage handling, transportation, sightseeing per itinerary and some meals. and is per person, based on two sharing a room with 2 twin beds. Extra costs would be tank driving option in England (est. $250), lunches & dinners on most days.

Singles

If you do not have a roommate, we guarantee that we can find someone and even if we don't you will have a single room at no extra charge. If you want a single room, the extra cost is $590. Note that single rooms are smaller and limited in number at each hotel so book early.

Wargames & Battlefields from Agincourt, World War II & Waterloo!

1. Before the core tour would be 4/13/2003 fly to Rome, 2 nights there as Arturo takes us to Anzio (and its battlefield museum) and games that invasion (and perhaps as many as 4 other battles) in his club's giant clubhouse/bunker. We will also have a quick tour of major sights in Rome. I have visited Arturo in the past in Rome and he warmly welcomed me and my family. He has generously offered to feed us yummy REAL Italian Pizza while there. We then fly to Luxembourg where we join the arriving Core Tour members. (Incidentally, we chose to offer the Full Tour and Core Tour separately for folks who are just too short on time or money to do the full trip. But I recommend you don't miss Rome and London and the great folks we'll meet.)
2. Core tour, 11 days, 9 nights, from 4/15 (from the U.S. & flying overnight) starting in Luxembourg 4/16/03 when you are picked up by American Express tour manager coming out of the customs area & return home 4/25 unless continuing on to England. Tour starts with stay in Luxembourg (Bock Casemates). We visit Maginot Line fort (Cattenom & Galgenberg), continue on for stay in Bastogne & visit Bulge area, on up to stay in Liege and then have a private visit to Eben Emael (the most powerful fort in the world in 1940; until German glider troops landed on it with shaped charges), Waterloo, Gent splendidly restored olden city (where we will have a two stay including more miniature games with Edwin van der Straeten & optional visit to WWI battlefield Ypres/Passchendaele, Blockhaus d'Eperlecques--V3 site near Calais (never completed nuclear tipped artillery Hitler planned to bombard England), Agincourt, Caen, Pegasus Bridge, Sword, Longues Battery, Arromanches (Mulberry bits still visible out in the harbor), Omaha Beach, Pointe du Hoc, Utah, St Mere Eglise, Samur Tank Museum (rivals Bovington - which is awesome itself - and was Patton's Cavalry School!), Le Mans (I DO have an Avalon Hill game for THIS too!) & Chartres (neither anything to do with battlefields, I just wanted to stop along the way), fly home from Paris or continue on to...
3. Fly to London 4/25 3 nights, a possible visit on arrival to Imperial War Museum the light cruiser Belfast and Tower of London, Salute next day (THE best British wargame convention with dozens of vendors and incredibly beautiful demonstration games of all descriptions; our hotel is nearby so you don't have to forklift the lead you buy too far), Tank Driving (YOU drive'em!) option (it's not included in the package price & you are not forced to do this since it's pricier than the average side trip) at a rather armor-minded farmer's place near the Salisbury plain (I did this in 1997 and it was great fun with Mark, Mitch & Nick; you will get to drive Chieftain, Abbott Self Propelled Gun, APC & Quad Biking; minimum 5' height and maximum chest size of 44"; suggest you consider bringing a video camera for this event!), fly home 4/28/03.

Core Tour Maginot-Paris April 15-25
$1,588 Land Tour Portion (transportation, driver, tour manager, hotels, some meals)
$150 Intra-Europe Air Flights (2)
$399 Transatlantic Air Fares
$128 Current Taxes & Fees
$2,265 Total Package Price**


Full Tour with Rome/London too Apr 13-28
$2,298 Land Tour Portion (transportation, driver, tour manager, hotels, some meals)
$366 Intra-Europe Air Flights (3)
$399 Transatlantic Air Fares
$128 Current Taxes & Fees
$3,191 Total Package Price**

**Price based on double occupancy, per person. Deposit required, per person: $850.00. Incl transatlantic flight from NYC, other departure points:

Leave from Chicago/O'Hare instead:
Transatlantic portion from ORD $432
Core tour from ORD $2,298 (including air fares/taxes)
Core tour from ORD $3,224 ( " )

Leave from Los Angeles instead:
Transatlantic portion from LAX $499
Core tour from LAX $2,365 (including air fares/taxes)
Full tour from LAX $3,291 ( " )

Requires min. of 8 psgrs from each depart point. Or price will be based on next fare level. If your city is between the 3 we list, call for a quote!

What We Do

We design custom tours for a living and have done several myself for Military History, Gaming and other specialty interests. We utilize American Express' London office to make professional arrangements. They have excellent tour managers who are year round employees and we take all the hassles out of traveling. You can sit back and relax or join in a game-your choice! Either way, this unique opportunity will be unlikely to repeated and will provide wonderful memories-you'll be glad you did it.

Things to Do Now

• Write these dates in your calendar- April 13-28, 2003
• Call your $850 deposit in on your credit card: 800-397-2525
• Get your passport (or if you have one, see if still up to date; ask if you need application form)
• Call other gamers to join us! Best recruiter gets a medal.
• Advise if you are a WiFi fan and want to bring your laptop computer along
• If you have any questions!