ancestral connections
For many, a significant birthday or anniversary is time to take
stock of one’s life. These occasions are an ideal time to embark
on a journey to rediscover one’s roots.
For instance, millions of Americans can trace their families
back to Ireland, and Brendan Vacations offers a wide range of
trips to all parts of the country. Marking a milestone in a country
pub with a platter of fish and chips and a pint of Guinness, as a
fiddler plays traditional reels in the background, is a memory
that will last a lifetime. Brendan’s escorted trips also offer the
chance to make new friends on lively, convivial coaches.
Travelers who would prefer lots of free time to meet relatives or
track down records in quiet country churches can choose an
independent Brendan tour. Hotels and rental cars are pre-booked,
but each day’s activities are up to the traveler. For the ultimate in
convenience and flexibility, Brendan also offers chauffeur-driven tours.
Another family might rediscover their roots by treating their
grandparents to a trip to Italy to mark their 50th wedding
anniversary. The Tuscany Family Journey itinerary offered
by Smithsonian Journeys includes six nights in a restored
13th-century castle in the Tuscan countryside, two nights in
spectacular Florence and a soccer game for the kids with their
football-mad Italian counterparts.
Cooking holidays in China, historical tours of Eastern Europe,
Spanish-immersion classes in Mexico:These and many other vacations
offer a way to reconnect with one’s heritage while on vacation.
the trip of a lifetime
When someone celebrates a major life milestone, an exotic, life-changing journey often beckons. The occasion often seems like the
perfect time to tackle a daunting physical challenge, travel to a
far-flung locale, or deepen one’s knowledge of a place, tradition
or philosophy. One person’s dream may be to spend a notable
birthday cycling the French countryside with a group of high
school buddies. Another may fantasize about marking a significant
wedding anniversary with a cruise to spot penguins in Antarctica.
For still another, a mystical or spiritual site—a Buddhist temple
in Nepal, St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City, Uluru or Stonehenge,
among many others—may be the ultimate destination for a
moment in life that requires an unforgettable celebration.
Trips for large groups and excursions to isolated spots require
specialized expertise and careful planning. To make sure your
milestone trip goes smoothly, rely on the knowledge and skills of
your American Express Travel professional. n
GETTING THERE: CELEBRATION TRAVEL
The following are just a few of the many special 12/13/09. Prices start from $1,359 per person
offers available to eligible Cardmembers. Contact for six nights in a Garden View Room.
your American Express Travel professional to
HAWAII Pleasant Holidays can help you celebrate
take advantage of exclusive benefits, including
life’s journeys Hawaiian style. Spend three nights
double Membership Rewards points,1 a
on Oahu, Maui or Kauai in the comfort of a
Cardmember Annual Travel Benefit2 and a full-
Hyatt resort. Prices start from $372.
year subscription to Travel+Leisure magazine. 5
CARIBBEAN CRUISE Carnival Cruise Lines®
IRISH HOLIDAY Take in lively St. Patrick’s Day
brings you four- and five-day Western and
festivities with the countless entertainers who
Eastern Exotic Caribbean Cruises aboard the
come from all over the world to celebrate
Carnival Destiny.® These round-trip itineraries
Ireland’s national holiday, on Brendan’s nine-
from Miami are perfect for a quick getaway
day Irish Pubs & Folklore tour. Prices start from
or celebration with friends and family. Book
$1,965. Book by 2/28/09 and receive a $75
between 1/30 and 2/28/09 and receive a two-
American Express Gift Cheque.
category room upgrade. Prices start from just
TOUR ITALY Book your Easy Pace Italy tour with $329 per person, category 4A.
Insight Vacations by 3/15/09 and save $100 per
MEDITERRANEAN CRUISE Life’s special
person on air-inclusive packages. Prices for the
moments are cause for celebration. What better
14-day tour start from $3,450 (land only).
way to commemorate a wedding, honeymoon,
KAUAI, HAWAII Classic Vacations gives you reunion, birthday, graduation, anniversary
reason to celebrate with Sunshine on Sale. or milestone event than aboard Celebrity
Receive every sixth night free and daily buffet Cruises? With distinctive pleasures to make your
breakfast for two when you book your vacation celebration even more memorable, a 10- or
at the Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spa by 11-night Celebrity cruise aboard the Celebrity
SolsticeSM to the eastern Mediterranean is a
perfect setting for your special occasion. Book an
ocean-view or above stateroom by 3/1/09 and
receive a $100 onboard credit per stateroom.
ALASKAN CRUISE What better way to
celebrate special events
with family and friends
than on Holland America
Line’s Glacier Bay Inside Passage cruise? Depart
aboard the ms Zuiderdam on 5/23/09 for a
seven-day discovery of Alaska. Prices start from
$1,029, category G.
TUSCANY FAMILY JOURNEY Smithsonian
Journeys offers an unforgettable Italian
countryside experience. Hiking in the countryside,
playing bocce and soccer with locals, and
learning to make pizza are all part of the fun. The
10-day Tuscany Family Journey departs 7/25/09.
From $4,995 (adults) and from $4,595 (children).
Book by 2/14/09 and save $300 per person.
Talk to your American Express Travel professional
for more cruise vacation ideas. See page 34 for
complete terms and conditions.
