Places of Remembrance

Vivian Vassos | November 11th, 2013
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Canadian National Vimy Memorial - Photo Credit Globus

Travel companies such as Trafalgar and Globus are giving a nod to remembrance during this week, with fantastic, limited time-only deals to travelers interested in visiting some of the First and Second World Wars’ most iconic sites. Did you know the 250–acre park surrounding the Canadian National Vimy Memorial has 11,285 Canadian shrubs and trees to commemorate the soldiers who went missing in action? This is just one of the stirring monuments on the Trafalgar tour.

Trafalgar: For a moving insider experience

The Deal: Trafalgar is offering their Early Payment Discount of 10% off the cost of 2014 Europe & Britain summer guided vacations*, as well as 10% off flights*, when the trip is booked and paid in full by January 15th, 2014.

With the upcoming Remembrance Day memorials, 2014 is a historically significant year for Canadians, as they not only honour those who fought in The Great War 100 years ago, but also remember the World War II 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings. On the anniversary of these two notable periods in history, Trafalgar (www.trafalgar.com), the Insider of guided vacations, invites travellers to join them on a journey to the most poignant battlefields and monuments in Southern England, northern France, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Honour the 100th Anniversary of the First World War and the 70th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings on the Battlefields of Europe

Trafalgar offers a 13-day trip to WWI & WWII’s most poignant sites in
England, France, Belgium and The Netherlands

On the 13-Day WWI & WWII Battlefields, Trafalgar takes travellers beyond the expected to explore the rich military and cultural history of Europe. Guests will reflect on the loss of their countrymen at important sites of the two wars, such as the beaches of Normandy, Somme battlefields and Bayeaux Cemetery, plus three sites that hold special significance to Canadians: Ypres Battlefields, Vimy Ridge and Groesbeek, the resting place of more than 2000 Canadian soldiers.

“With 2014 as the 100th anniversary of the start of WWI and the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings of WWII where 14,000 young Canadians from the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division valiantly fought on Juno beach, travellers from all over the world will be heading to Europe to be part of the remembrance ceremonies,” says Doug Patterson, President of Trafalgar Canada. “Whether you have ancestors who fought in the war or are simply a history buff that wishes to honour those who fought for our freedom, Trafalgar’s battlefields itinerary gives Canadians the opportunity to pay their respects at some of our nation’s most significant sites in Europe.”

Starting in London and ending in Amsterdam, the trip stops in Caen, Amiens, Paris, Lilles and includes day trips to Somme, Ypres, Portsmouth and more. Canadians will get the opportunity to pay their respects to their brave countrymen and women when visiting Vimy Ridge, the Groesbeek Canadian War Cemetery and Memorial, an excursion to Ypres, guests will also stop in Passchendaele to visit the museum and see a replica trench, then visit Essex Farm Cemetery where Canadian John McCrae wrote his immortal poem ‘In Flanders Fields’. Other highlights of the trip include a visit to the historic D-Day Normandy landing beaches, a wine tasting at a champagne house in Lille, a special Be My Guest dinner of Dutch cuisine with a local family just outside of Amsterdam and a tour of Paris and London with a Local Guide.
Travellers can take advantage of Trafalgar’s Early Payment Discount of 10% off the cost of 2014 Europe & Britain summer guided vacations*, as well as 10% off flights**, when the trip is booked and paid in full by January 15th, 2014.

(*For terms and conditions, and more information on Trafalgar, please contact your local travel agent or visit www.trafalgar.com.)

NEXT: MORE DEALS AND STEALS: Canadian heritage insights and a historic river cruise

Globus: For Canadian heritage insights and a historic river cruise

The Deal: Save up to $700 per couple when you book November 6 – 26 this year

History, heritage and even heartbreak: an unusual combination for a trip to Europe, and part of what makes Globus’ Great Canadian War Memorial Tour a memorable and meaningful experience. The tour, described as “designed by Canadians, for Canadians,” takes in many museums, memorials and special sites that commemorate Canadians’ contributions during both world wars. “These tours have clearly struck a nerve with those who have a personal connection or abiding interest in European history,” says Stéphanie Bishop of Globus’ Canada.

The 10-day tour to France and Belgium takes in the impressive and inspiring Canadian Memorial at Vimy Ridge and the Canadian Cemeteries in Reviers and Dieppe, as well as the Newfoundland Memorial Park at Beaumont Hamel. Other sites include the Landing Beaches of Normandy, the Juno Beach Memorial Centre, Amiens and Ypres in Belgium.

“We find the itinerary appeals not only to history buffs but also to Canadians who grew up hearing tales of war from their parents and grandparents,” says Bishop. Over one million Canadians served with the British Forces in World War II alone.

There are five departures slated for 2014, from April to September, and all include first class accommodation, transportation by WiFi-equipped coach, many meals, all admission fees and the services of an expert tour director. Price is from $2,419 per person excluding airfare (reflecting a discount, depending on departure date, of up to $200 per person when you book between November 6 and 26 this year)– and anyone who has travelled with Globus or its sister companies Cosmos, Monograms or Avalon Waterways is eligible for a further $50 per person discount plus a 5 per cent repeat traveller discount.

Plus, when Globus arranges your airfare you’ll also enjoy an additional $100 saving plus free airport transfers in Europe when you fly on dates that coincide with the tour departure/return dates. Or for travellers who prefer to see Europe from a sleek river cruise ship, Globus’ sister company Avalon is featuring a European History and Politics themed cruise and a new WWI History cruise in 2014.

For more information, visit www.globusjourneys.ca or www.avalonwaterways.ca; call 1-800-268-3636 or see your travel agent.