Austin Adventures

Austin Adventures Tips Hat to Travel Agents Whose Bookings Have Doubled Over Last Year

Details: Released on Thursday, 14 September 2017 07:59

BILLINGS, MT – Sept. 14, 2017 – Austin Adventures is tipping its hat to travel agents who have contributed to the doubling of this company’s travel agent bookings over the previous year. If increased early activity and bookings are any indication, 2018 stands to be another record breaking year for agent bookings.

Dan Austin is the founder and visionary director of Austin Adventures, the world’s leading multisport adventure company for families and adults. He attributed this aggressive increase to a new generation of savvy agents who better understand the adventure travel market and appreciate the “value-add” of an Austin Adventures vacation. “Combine that with the increased efforts of the Austin Adventures team to embrace and appreciate the agent community and you have a formula for success,” said Austin.

“We are excited to see years of effort paying off and agents booking more and more adventure travel. It is a pleasure to work in this community of travel professionals to educate and enlighten on the value of working with proven and established tour operators,” Austin emphasized.

Being a member of Virtuoso Network as a Preferred Tour Operator and Partner also helps. This network of top agents and providers is where busy professionals often turn for help when arranging the complicated itineraries typical of adventure travel. They are also the go-to resource when booking travel at the 11th hour. “We’ve seen a ton of last-minute agent requests and reservations this year and we are all too happy to help,” added Austin.

“We are really happy to see the growth and success that Austin Adventures has made with the Virtuoso Network. It takes time for new partners to get entrenched, but the relationship and overall business is growing nicely due to their marketing, communications, sales training efforts and exceptional quality of their programs,” said Cece Drummond, CTC, Virtuoso Managing Director of Destinations and Experiences.

The 29th annual Virtuoso Travel Week held Aug. 11-17, 2017, in Las Vegas hosted a record-breaking 5,693 travel professionals from 103 countries. Austin Adventures received overwhelming response to the over 800 meetings its staff conducted here.

As incentive to do business with the company, all agents regardless of affiliation receive an extra $100 bonus per guest when they book their first Austin Adventures trip. This is on top of a 12 percent commission paid to all travel agents. In the case of group or private trips, the company offers a competitive net rate that agents can sell for increased margins.

“With Austin Adventures, both my travelers and I feel like the only clients on the roster! Every guide and every experience feels tailor-made — and every one of my travelers comes home saying that theirs was the trip of a lifetime! Can’t wait to work with you all again!” said Pam Goodwin of The TravelPlanner.

Another agent had this to say about her experience, “From the first call to post trip follow up I knew I was in great hands. You folks took one of my best clients and his family on the trip of a lifetime… they are still raving about how well they were taken care of and how seamless everything appeared. And to consider how quickly it all came together! My heroes! You are ROCK STARS!” exclaimed Daria Kaldawy of Protravel International LLC.

Austin explained that his company has the most straight-forward commission policy in the business. “We pay 12% commission on all agency bookings and will never come between a travel agent and their client. Furthermore, we have a policy in place ensuring you receive commission for every trip your customer books, year after year. We will gladly pay agents the appropriatelevel commission for trips booked directly by their clients with Austin Adventures. Our only requirements are that the client confirms the agent relationship and that the agent can take over the reservation within 30 days of the client’s date of deposit.

In addition to this commission policy, Austin Adventures attracts, trains and maintains travel agent bookings and relationships by providing free familiarization tours to agents who have sold multiple Austin Adventure trips. Agents may also enjoy FAM trips for 50 percent off of the listed price (25 percent off a companion’s rate). Throughout the year agents enjoy relationships with Austin Adventures’ staff through one-on-one trainings, quarterly agent-focused webinars, deskside visits, sales materials, PDF’s of trip pre-departure information documents with all the details and a special travel agent-only website portal that outlines information and sales guidelines. Every sales person on Austin Adventures’ team is trained to assist and take agent bookings.

For the travel agent portal please see https://www.austinadventures.com/about-us/travel-professionals/. To help plan, Austin Adventures’ 2018 catalog can be ordered ONLINEor call 1.800.575.1540. For a full roster of 2018 trips please visit http://www.austinadventures.com, call (800) 575-1540 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

About Austin Adventures

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Media Contacts: Widness & Wiggins PR:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 720-301-3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Bush Rover Glamping in Tanzania - The Newest Twist to Austin Adventures’ Great Migration Safari

Details: Released on Thursday, 10 August 2017 10:30

BILLINGS, MT – Aug. 10, 2017– Comfort in the wilderness. A concept born in Africa and forever a key element in Austin Adventures’ active tour strategy as they explore the world’s most remote and intriguing places. Guests on the company’s newest safari experience will now be introduced to the latest development in creature comfort in the wild.

On the plains of the Serengeti in Tanzania the annual beat of hooves from June through August signals “the great migration,” an exodus of an estimated 1.5 million wildebeest with thousands of zebra and antelope in tow. Austin Adventures will be there as these magnificent beasts depart the dry plains for lush grasslands of Kenya’s Masai Mara.

In summer 2018 the masters of “wow” when it comes to surprises on the trail, Austin Adventures, will ferry guests off road on a new 11-day/10-night Tanzania/Bush Rover Explorer itinerary right into the thick of this migratory action. Here a posh home, a private Bush Rover Suite, is assembled atop each Land Rover. In glamping comfort (elevated bedroom, solar powered hot water, wood paneled bathroom, lights and power sockets for battery charging) from their private balconies, guests witness “the great migration,” a feat of Nature that’s right up there with the solar eclipse and the Northern Lights. And yes, the lions roar here too. The Bush Rover Suite then folds up back to a moving vehicle and moves on to the next exciting view point, leaving no trace of human footprint. Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kbRRo5ITk3Y

Austin Adventures, the world’s leading multisport adventure company for families and adults, delivers the migration along with traditional game viewing at five other prime locations on June 8-18 and Aug. 16-26, 2018, departures. (The August departure is a President’s Tour with company founder/owner Dan Austin and wife Carol, along as hosts.) The rate is from $4,498 per person, double. Additional departures for just a minimum of two people can be arranged to fit anyone’s schedule.

The itinerary begins with a two-night stay on the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro in Moshi, Tanzania. Here guests roast their own beans while visiting a coffee plantation. After transferring to a bungalow on Lake Victoria, guests are draped in the stars of an African night while enjoying five-star dinners interspersed with days full of guided bird walks and canoeing among Africa’s densest and most diverse population of birds. Leaving the water behind, a game drive into Serengeti National Park leads to the wildebeest, two glamping nights and animal-filled days. All too soon guests migrate back to Lake Victoria and a posh hotel near Mwanza that offers a Nirvana Spa, swimming pool, several restaurants and a bar.

Mixing it up isn’t just a cocktail formula, however, as Austin Adventures transfers its guests by air from Mwanza to Dar es Salaam and on to Saadani National Park, the only coastal wildlife preserve in east Africa. Here at an elephant conservancy guests can climb a 20-meter viewing tower, the Roof of Saadani, to overlook surrounding bush and the Indian Ocean. Then it’s on to this ocean where game drives mingle with walks on the beach and perhaps a dip or two. The sounds of the sea accompany sweet dreams on the last two nights at a camp run by solar power and created of recycled natural materials.

Even on the final day not a minute is wasted. Guests are up early and head straight to the Wami River for a boat safari amongst hippos and crocs before transferring to the airstrip for flight to Dar es Salaam for their onward journeys.

For details please see https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/tanzania-bush-rover-explorer/.

Exhilarating outdoor adventures that blend with cultural interactions are intrinsic to other new itineraries in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. Austin Adventures’ close-to-home programs continue to embrace US and Canadian national parks.See: https://www.austinadventures.com/new-2018-departures/.

“We’ve been hard at work putting together a roster of new trips and destinations second to none,” says Dan Austin, founder and visionary director of Austin Adventures (https://www.austinadventures.com/). As an incentive for early bird bookings on current trips, Austin Adventures will honor 2017 trip prices on all 2018 departures until Sept. 1, 2017.

About Austin Adventures

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Media Contacts: Widness & Wiggins PR:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 720-301-3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Austin Adventures, World Leader in Multisport Adventure Travel, Announces Ambitious Roster of New Trips for 2018

Details: Released on Tuesday, 11 July 2017 17:36

BILLINGS, MT – July 10, 2017– Austin Adventures, the world’s leading multisport adventure company for families and adults, is on the cusp of completing another record-breaking year. And it’s bullish on 2018, announcing a lineup of 10 new domestic and international itineraries that represents one of the most impressive expansions in the company’s nearly four-decade history. The new, creative itineraries continue the company’s trademarks of exceptional value, VIP experiences and unexpected “wows.”

Close-to-home programs continue to embrace US and Canadian national parks. Exhilarating outdoor adventures that blend with cultural interactions are intrinsic to new itineraries in Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. See:https://www.austinadventures.com/new-2018-departures/

“We’ve been hard at work putting together a roster of new trips and destinations second to none,” says Dan Austin, founder and visionary director of Austin Adventures (https://www.austinadventures.com/). “Here’s an advanced preview for those of us who can’t wait for our 2018 catalog release in mid-July.”

North America: US & Canada

Montana/Wyoming | Rockies Adventure – Grand Teton, Yellowstone and Glacier national parks star in this Wild West adventure in the Northern Rockies where guests explore the distinct personalities of these mountains, from the towering Teton Range to the volcanic plateau luring wildlife to roam in Yellowstone to the glacially carved valleys of Glacier’s Going-to-the-Sun Road. This is an adult-only, 6-day/5-night program at $3,998 per person, double occupancy. 2018 departure dates: July 15 & 25. https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/montana-wyoming-rockies-adventure/

Montana/Wyoming | Western Adventure – Austin Adventures is headquartered in Billings, MT, making this new itinerary a no-brainer for the planning team who have highlighted favorite places where locals love to play. For example, therelatively undiscovered Beartooth Pass allows passage through the quiet side of Yellowstone via Cooke City. Lamar Valley, populated by bears, wolf, bison and pronghorn, plus the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone River whet excitement enroute to Cody’s Monster Lake Ranch, a paradise for families looking for a Wild West experience. This is a 6-day/5-night family program at $2,498 per adult, double; from $1,998 per child. 2018 departure dates: July 1 & August 5. https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/montana-wyoming-western-adventure/

Utah | Mighty Five National Parks– Utah’s “Mighty Five” National Parks take top billing with an array of surreal scenery and terrain-specific activities. Thisred rock heaven focuses on Canyonlands, Arches, Bryce, Zion and Capitol Reef, all within a relatively small geographical area. This is an adult-only, 6-day/5-night program at $3,498 per person, double occupancy. 2018 departure dates: June 10 & September 9. https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/utah-mighty-five-national-parks/

Alberta | Banff Winter – The snow-draped peaks ofBanff National Park create a mid-winter beauty that’s a backdrop for powdery adventures like cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and dog sledding. Guests arriving “home” each night anticipate mugs of hot chocolate or a glass of wine to sip beside a fireplace before a sumptuous dinner. This is a 6-day/5-night program at $3,298 per adult, double with special child pricing available. 2017-2018 departure dates: December 17(F), 31(F) & January 7 (adult only). https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/alberta-banff-winter-family/or https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/alberta-banff-winter/

Africa

Tanzania | Bush Rover Explorer – Some say that “safari” is synonymous with Tanzania, where wildebeest graze across the grasslands, hippos jostle for space in muddy waterways, elephants mosey along seasonal migration routes and chimpanzees swing through the treetops. Guests are accommodated in a Bush Rover Suite, a full working Land Rover that converts into a stunning home by night. This home on wheels brings visitors to the wildlife, all in splendid isolation and comfort. This is a 7-day/6-night program at $4,498 per person, double. Departs weekly. Call for availability. https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/tanzania-bush-rover-explorer/

Kenya | Samburu to Masai Mara - Vast savannahs peppered with herds of wildlife mix with traditional peoples who bring soul and color to the earth. Kenya is the home of Africa wildlife conservation. The safari (the word means journey in Swahili) was born here, where visitors aspire to spot the much-heralded Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino and elephant).This is a 7-day/6-night program at $2,698 per person, double. Departs weekly. Call for availability. https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/kenya-samburu-masai-mara/

Asia

India | Delhi to Pench (National Park) - A land of incredible diversity – from artistic culture and ancient traditions to culinary creations and glorious landscapes – India kindles curiosity, shakes up the senses and ignites travel passions. Guests explore the Golden Triangle (Delhi, Agra and Jaipur) and search for sloth bear, leopard and tiger in Pench and two national parks. This is a 12-day/11-night program at $4,598 per person, double. Departs weekly. Call for availability. https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/india-delhi-pench/

Laos/Cambodia | Luang Prabang to Angkor Wat – Two bite-size destinations,Laos and Cambodia, begin to reveal themselves on small side streets, along back alleys, in temples at Luang Prabang and Cambodia’s famed Angkor Wat. In the throes of cultural intoxication, guests relax on a private island before experiencing Cambodian cuisine and nightlife in Phnom Penh. This is a 12-day/11-night adult-only program at $4,998 per person, double. 2018 departure dates: February 12 & November 3. https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/laos-cambodia/

Europe

Holland / Germany | Amsterdam to Aachen – This multisport adventure takes guests by bicycle and foot from Amsterdam’s colorful tulip markets to Aachen’s famous cathedral. They taste a caramel-filled stroopwafel in a quaint café, cycle the fabulously flat and scenic landscapes of the Dutch countryside, and explore Germany’s westernmost city of Aachen with a knowledgeable guide.This is a 7-day/6-night program at $2,998 per adult, double with special child pricing available. 2018 departure dates: May 13(A), June 10(F), July 1(F), July 22(F), August 26(A), September 2(A) (A-adult, F-family). https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/holland-germany-amsterdam-aachen-family/

South America

Colombia | Bogotá to Cartagena - Soaring Andean peaks, pristine Caribbean coastline, mysterious Amazon jungle, yet-to-be-heralded archaeological ruins and cobblestoned villages combine in this emerging tourist destination. Colombia appeals to those looking beyond Machu Picchu, Cuba and the Galapagos. This is a 9-day/8-night program at $2,198 per person, double. Departs weekly. Call for availability. https://www.austinadventures.com/packages/columbia-bogota-cartegena/

As an incentive for early bird vacation planners, Austin Adventures will honor 2017 trip prices on all 2018 departures until September 1, 2017. To assist those efforts, Austin Adventures’ 2018 catalog is enjoying its earliest release ever! It will hit the street on July 15. Please order ONLINEor call 1.800.575.1540. For a full roster of 2018 trips please visit http://www.austinadventures.com, call (800) 575-1540 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

About Austin Adventures

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Media Contacts: Widness & Wiggins PR:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 720-301-3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Collaboration of Travel Industry Visionaries Brings Donated Bicycles and Community Development to Jordan

Details: Released on Tuesday, 16 May 2017 17:08

BILLINGS, MT, May 16, 2017 – Inspiration leads to action. Moved by a passionate story from Malia Asfour, Jordan’s Tourism Board Director for North America, a small group of travel professionals gathered for dinner in Anchorage, AK for the ATTA adventure travel industry summit, came up with a plan to benefit impoverished rural communities in Jordan through the donation of used bicycles, the building of bike shops and support for tour guide and bicycle business training.

At the table that night, inspired by Asfour’s narrative, were Keith Sproule, Executive Director of A&K Philanthropy, Dan Austin, founder of Austin Adventures and the non-profit Wheels of Change that began donating bikes and operational skills to remote communities in Africa in 2010, and Muna Haddad, Director of the Jordan-based social enterprise Baraka whose mission is to support sustainable tourism while conserving and protecting cultural heritage and natural resources.

Once the fire was lit, this core group began to reach out to other tourism professionals for additional support and received commitments from World Nomads / Footprint Network who stepped up and agreed to help provide funding along with Tourism Cares who also committed to additional money to assist the establishment of community bicycle enterprises.

The wheels then began to move fast. Four months after the plan was hatched in Alaska, the first large container of 260 mountain bikes, spare parts and tools organized by Wheels of Change departed Billings, MT for Feynan, Jordan. On April 26, 2017, the container was officially opened and the process of distribution and training began. Present for the festivities were Andy Austin and Corey Meyer, two Austin Adventures guides assigned to do much of the mechanical training, along with Muna Haddad of Baraka, tasked to be the on-ground project manager. Haddad and her staff will work with the beneficiary communities, investing in setting up the shops. conducting training, oversee facilities and handle the logistics of ground transport into and around Jordan.

The plan is to establish two bike shops in Um Qais Village and Feynan. The shipping container will be repurposed as a bike rental and sales shop. Each shop established will include a bike tour component venture. So, in addition to the sale and repair of bikes at these shops, they will also be the starting point for local bike tours. Four individuals from Um Qais are currently being trained as tour guides, bringing new employment opportunities to the village.

A second container of 412 mountain bikes, spare parts and wheels sent by A&K Philanthropy in partnership with Working Bikes in Chicago was shipped on March 13, 2017. It is scheduled to arrive on or about May 28th in Madaba, Jordan. A&K Philanthropy covered the expense of the container and shipment.

Baraka will assist in establishing another bike shop venture in Madaba as well as a bike share program at Petra University making it the first bicycle-friendly campus in Jordan.

“It's beautiful to see an idea come to life,” posted Haddad on Facebook. “This is how we change the world, one idea at a time and a lot of hard work in between.”

Jordan is seeing an increasing interest in cycling according to its tourism board. But currently only the affluent can afford to own a bike. In rural areas bikes are very scarce. Access to them at an affordable price would bring increased mobility to the population. Bikes would facilitate more students getting to school, aid in creating more commerce between communities, offer better access to health care and help create new skills and business opportunities.

Jordan is actively building partnerships with adventure travel companies, introducing new cycling itineraries and mapping out adventurous bike trails nationwide. Recently completed is the Jordan Trail, a long distance multi-use trail in Jordan that connects the length of Jordan from Um Qais in the north to Aqaba in the south. It offers 40 days of uninterrupted hiking over more than 650 kilometers of trail, travelling through 52 villages and towns on its way.

All of this will be showcased at the Adventure Travel Trade Association’s AdventureNEXT Near East, May 15-17, 2017. A&K Philanthropy’s Keith Sproule and others will present the bike donation initiative at the conference and use it as a case study on how such strategic partnerships can successfully benefit grass-roots development and tourism in countries such as Jordan.

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Media Contacts:

Widness & Wiggins PR - for photos, interviews and more information:

Dave Wiggins / 720-301-3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Austin Adventures / Wheels of Change:

Dan Austin, President / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it./ 1-406-671-6067

A&K Philanthropy:

Keith Sproule, Executive Director / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it./ 1-630-725-3400 Ext 180

Jordan Tourism Board, North America:

Malia Asfour,Director / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it./1-703-243-7404

Baraka / Jordan Trail Association

Muna Haddad, Managing Director of Baraka / President, Jordan Trail Association

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Adventure Travel Trade Association – ATTA

Casey Hanisko, Vice President, Marketing & Communications This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

National Parks Getting Too Much Love - Record Visitation Brings Challenges, One Solution: Let a Tour Operator Take Care of the Details

Details: Released on Wednesday, 10 May 2017 11:15

BILLINGS, MT – May 10, 2017– Last year, a record setting 331 million people visited a national park in the U.S. 2015 had earlier set the record at 307 million visitors. Over the last two years there has been a 13 percent visitor increase overall. This is a trend that experts say is here to stay.

The good news is that more and more people are enjoying America’s “best idea.” The downside is that roads and entrance stations are more crowded than ever, parking is hard to find, campgrounds are booked full by noon, restaurant reservations are difficult to secure and for those waiting too long to book lodging, there’s no room left at the inn.

Because vacation time is too precious for such factors as frustration and anxiety, advance vacation planning that includes putting a professional tour operator in charge of the logistics can help buy peace of mind and a better overall experience.

“When a national park is in the equation, a good tour company can give you the kind of quality park vacation that just might not be possible on your own,” said Dan Austin, President of Austin Adventures (https://www.austinadventures.com/), a leader in family-focused, multisport vacations here and abroad.

Austin’s company offers a good reason of why one should consider a tour operator for a national park vacation. “We have stayed ahead of the growth curve by adding capacity and trip departures. We also work hard to block the best rooms inside a park, a year or more in advance.” This is an investment (and risk) to the tour operator, having to secure everything so far into the future. But in Austin Adventures’ case, it has been a winning strategy.

Where an individual or family may find frustration going it on their own, booking through an operator can make the process pain-free. A tour operator has the rooms, the restaurant reservations and sightseeing logistics all worked out. They alleviate parking woes by dropping guests off at a trailhead and picking them up at a different spot later. They can also avoid the masses because they know where the crowds aren’t as well as the best times to be there (on Austin’s Yellowstone Park trips they often avoid the crowds at Old Faithful by visiting at sunrise – a short walk from their lodge).

“Guests benefit from our expertise, ‘insider’s knowledge and long-standing park connections,” Austin said.

Rick Hoeninghausen is Director of Sales & Marketing for Yellowstone National Park Lodges. He said tour operators know the area, inside and outside the park, as well as the best places to stay, eat, view wildlife, etc. They have highly trained guides who are focused on customer service, safety and security, as well as having fun.

He went on to explain that quality tour operators often build in special touches that enhance the experience for their guests. For example, Austin Adventures will surprise their guests with fresh made ice cream and fruit parfaits served along the hiking trail.

"We like working with Austin Adventures because we know their guests are getting a very special and unique Yellowstone experience, one that's characterized by creative and thoughtful itineraries, expert and engaging guides, and personal attention. Their guests are our guests when staying in the park, and we know these guests are some of the happiest visitors we'll serve!" Hoeninghausen said.

Some of Austin Adventures’ most popular National Park family itineraries include Yellowstone Family Adventure, Yosemite National Park Multisport, Grand Canyon Family Vacation & Tour, and the Bryce and Zion National Park Tour in Utah. For information on all of the company’s National Park adventures, see: http://www.austinadventures.com/national-park-vacations/

To receive Austin Adventures’ 2017 catalog of Adventures please order ONLINE or call 1.800.575.1540. For more information on destinations, trips and itineraries offered by Austin Adventures, visit http://www.austinadventures.com, call (800) 575-1540 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

About Austin Adventures

Based in Billings, MT, Austin Adventures has spent more than 40 years building an international reputation as a top provider of luxury, pre-set and custom-designed small group tours for adults and families to the world’s most captivating destinations. In 2013, Austin Adventures joined the Xanterra Parks & Resorts® portfolio of experiential leisure offerings that includes operations in Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Zion, Crater Lake, Glacier, Rocky Mountain and Petrified Forest National Parks; Mount Rushmore National Memorial; Furnace Creek Resort in Death Valley National Park; and five Ohio State Park Lodges as well as the Geneva Marina at Ohio’s Geneva State Park. Xanterra Parks & Resorts also owns and operates Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va., the Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel in Williams, Ariz., the Grand Hotel in Tusayan, Ariz., Windstar Cruises, VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations, Country Walkers and Austin Adventures.

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Media Contacts: Widness & Wiggins PR:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 720-301-3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Austin Adventures Honors National Park Week: Second Child in Family of Four Travels Free on Austin Adventures’ 2017 National Park Discoveries

Details: Released on Tuesday, 11 April 2017 14:28

Special Offer on Trips Booked During the Celebration - April 15 – 23, 2017

BILLINGS, MT – Apr. 11, 2017– The National Park Service along with the National Park Foundation, the official charity of America's National Parks, celebrates National Park Week April 15 to 23, 2017. A generous offer from Austin Adventures, America’s leader in family-focused multisport vacations, helps parents share the many wonders of National Parks this summer with their children.

This new initiative from Austin Adventures allows the second child in a family of four to travel at no cost on any of their National Park itineraries scheduled for 2017. The only stipulation is that families need to book their trip during the weeklong national celebration from April 15 to 23, 2017. Austin Adventures’ offer is good for families with at least two adults and two children ages 12 and younger, who choose to share the same room. (This promotion applies to new bookings only).

According to the National Park Service, “National Park Week is America's largest celebration of national heritage. It's about making great connections, exploring amazing places, discovering open spaces, enjoying affordable vacations, and enhancing America’s best idea—the National Parks!”

Dan Austin, President of Austin Adventures (http://www.austinadventures.com/), couldn’t agree more. “Since my kids were old enough to walk they have been exploring the world of the parks with me and my wife Carol. We are now enjoying the amazing impact it has had on their adult lives and passions. Our oldest has joined the company as director of operations and the other is making quite a reputation as an accomplished landscape and adventure photographer.”

He went on to say, “I want as many families to experience that transformation themselves, and after the success of our Fourth Graders Go Free to National Parks program last year, I decided to expand it in 2017 to let the second child in every family travel with us for free. What a tremendous deal and opportunity this will be for active families who seek true adventure right here in the U.S.”

National Parks are experiencing unprecedented popularity. For the third year in a row, park attendance achieved an all-time high with 325 million visitors in 2016 (compared to a record-breaking 307 million the previous year). Lodging availability in park lodges can be in short supply, especially during the busy summer season. However, Austin Adventures is up to the challenge when it comes to accommodating their guests.

“Trip participants benefit from our expertise and “insider” knowledge and connections. After a record setting 2016 season, we added more departures and secured more blocks of rooms within the parks to accommodate our guests,” explains Austin. “We are set and ready to roll, holding “hard to get” space and offering our groups the best rooms in the most sought-after national park lodges. Our long-established relationships and connections have helped our team meet the increased demand and satisfy the high expectations of our guests.”

Some of the company’s most popular National Park family itineraries include Yellowstone Family Adventure, Yosemite National Park Multisport, Grand Canyon Family Vacation & Tour, and the Bryce and Zion National Park Tour in Utah. For information on all of the company’s National Park adventures, see: http://www.austinadventures.com/national-park-vacations/

To receive Austin Adventures’ 2017 catalog of Adventures please order ONLINE or call 1.800.575.1540.

For more information on all of the 2017-2018 destinations, trips and itineraries offered by Austin Adventures and to take advantage of the Second Child Travels Free offer, visit http://www.austinadventures.com, call (800) 575-1540 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

About Austin Adventures

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Media Contacts:

Widness & Wiggins PR:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 720-301-3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Austin Adventures Celebrates Families in 2017 - Second Child in Family of Four Travels for Free on Most Trips

Details: Released on Thursday, 15 September 2016 11:55

Special Offer Good for Next Year’s Trips if Booked by November, 1, 2016

BILLINGS, MT – Sep. 15, 2016– For families looking to show their children the world, travel just got a little easier -- and less expensive -- with a new initiative from the leader in family multisport vacations, Austin Adventures. The adventure travel company, widely recognized for their outstanding family-focused itineraries, will allow the second child in a family of four to travel at no cost on most of their family itineraries throughout 2017.

The only stipulation is that families need to book their 2017 trip by November 1 this year. With the new 2017 catalog hitting the streets this week it may be hard to pass this offer by.

Building on the success of their 2016 promotion where all fourth graders travelled for free on the company’s National Parks itineraries (tying into the National Park Foundation’s Every Kid in the Park initiative), Austin Adventures has extended the program to the majority of their family itineraries and to children ages 12 and younger. The offer is available for families with at least two adults and two children, who choose to share the same room.

“My now-adult children have been exploring the world with my wife and me since they were tiny, and I’ve seen the amazing impact it has had on their lives,” says Austin Adventures President Dan Austin. “I want as many families to have that experience as possible, and after the success of our Fourth Graders Go Free to National Parks program this year, I decided to expand it to let the second child in every family travel with us for free. What a tremendous deal and opportunity this will be for globe-trotting families or even those who just need an extra push to begin their world adventures.”

Austin Adventures is committed to providing the best family adventures in the business, focusing on taking care of all the details, so families can experience incredible destinations together stress-free. Named Travel + Leisure’s No. 1 Family Travel Company in the World and Best Safari Outfitter for Families, the company has a vast expertise in family travel not only for safaris, but for U.S. National Parks and European multi-sport and biking trips. In 2014, Dan’s daughter Kasey Austin was recognized as Outside Magazine’s Family Guide of the Year and today she oversees guide operations and helps plan new family itineraries with her father.

New for 2017 is a family walking tour of Cuba where families can explore caves, swim at the base of a waterfall, snorkel and hike a UNESCO biosphere site. Some of the company’s most popular family itineraries include Yellowstone Family Adventure, Yosemite National Park Multisport, Germany’s Mosel Valley Family Bike Tour, and Costa Rica Family - Arenal Rainforest to Manuel Antonio Adventure.

To receive Austin Adventures’ 2017 catalog of Family Adventures please order ONLINE or call 1.800.575.1540.

For more information on all of the 2016-2017 destinations, trips and itineraries offered by Austin Adventures and to take advantage of the Second Child Travels Free offer, visit http://www.austinadventures.com, call (800) 575-1540 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

About Austin Adventures

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Media Contacts:

Widness & Wiggins PR:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 720-301-3822 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Step Ahead PR:

Lyn Mettler / 404-713-1110 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Austin Adventures Returns to Cuba with Active Itineraries That Combine Hiking, Snorkeling, Landscapes, People and Culture

Details: Released on Thursday, 28 July 2016 10:14

BILLINGS, MT – July 28, 2016– A forte of Austin Adventures, the pacesetter in active luxury vacations worldwide, is providing opportunities for its guests to get up close and personal with both landscapes and people.

New for 2016-2017 come two first-ever adventure-oriented, people-to-people tours of the once forbidden isle of Cuba. One itinerary has been designed just for adults, the second is paced perfectly for families.

Unique to Austin Adventures’ guests, the nine-day/eight-night Cuba vacation combines hikes through national parks, opportunities to spot the tiniest bird in the world (the 2-inch Bee Hummingbird), explorations of flora and fauna and a visit to a botanical garden, relaxing over coffee in the shade of colonial gems and mingling with island locals. Multiple departures begin in mid-October 2016 and are scheduled through mid-April 2017.

Leading a Dec. 30, 2016, holiday season tour of Cubawill be two individuals who have traveled the globe together seeking out the best in adventure travel – Dan Austin, founder, president and visionary force behind Austin Adventures, and his wife Carol who is responsible for the talented sales team and back office administration.

Austin Adventures (http://www.austinadventures.com) was one of the first tour operators to bring people to Cuba back in 2012 with the blessing of the US State Department. After a hiatus of a few years to refine its program, the company’s brand-new itineraries dig deeper than ever into the culture of Cuba through exchanges with locals, exploring traditional Cuban cuisine, culture and music and showcasing Cuba’s many protected lands, UNESCO World Heritage sites, national parks and vibrant historic cities. A more active element has also been added.

“We had one of the first People to People licenses to operate in Cuba four years ago,” explains Austin. “When I first visited I immediately fell in love with the country, its vibe and its people and I couldn’t wait to return. Now as it gets a bit easier to navigate the island, we are ready to once again share this magical paradise with our travelers in the way I’ve always imagined.”

And in true Austin Adventures tradition, they have created a more adventurous vacation that encourages guests to be physically in touch with the wonders of Cuba by…

· hiking through the 11,000-acre biosphere of La Terrazas, a UNESCO safeguard home to over 117 bird species;

· traversing otherworldly limestone mogotes and stalagmite-rich caves in the Valle de Viñales, a karst landscape and agricultural region of fruits, vegetables, coffee and tobacco;

· leaping into a swimming hole at the base of a waterfall in Topes in Gran Parque Natural Topes de Collantes;

· basking in the warm waters of Playa Larga on the Bay of Pigs;

· snorkeling the exquisite coral reefs of Playa Giron.

In the wetlands of Ciénaga de Zapata, a national park with expansive tracts of dense forests and mangrove-lined swampland,guests will be on the lookout for crocodiles, iguanas and flamingos. In the seductive streets of Cienfuegos they will feel the embrace of a French flair combined with a Caribbean verve and colonial charm. If they close their eyes they can imagine Hemingway’s boat, Pilar, bobbing near the seaside village of Cojimar, while exploring the author’s former estate. They will marvel at the folklore, often through music, in time-warped communities, including Trinidad, home in history to many sugar refineries. They will wonder at the over 2,000 species of plants at Jardin Botanico Cienfuegos, where American sugar baron Edward F. Atkins hoped to introduce new varieties of sugar cane and instead created Cuba's largest gardens. And perhaps they will cut loose in Old Havana, a virtual citadel of culture and history that expresses the power of sugar cane and rum that once defined this Caribbean capital.

The per person, double, rates are from $3,490 ($500 single supplement). 2016 departures are scheduled Oct. 14 and 28; Nov. 18 and 25; Dec. 2, 9, 16, 23 and 30. 2017 departures include Jan. 6, 13, 20 and 27; Feb. 3, 10, 17 and 24; March 3, 10, 17 and 24; and April 7 and 14. For more information on the adult itinerary please see http://www.austinadventures.com/packages/cuba-vacation/ For details on the family-focused program please see http://www.austinadventures.com/packages/cuba-family-vacation/.

For more information on all of the 2016-2017 destinations, trips and itineraries offered by Austin Adventures visit http://www.austinadventures.com, call (800) 575-1540 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

About Austin Adventures

Based in Billings, MT, Austin Adventures (formerly Austin Adventures) has spent more than 40 years building an international reputation as a top provider of luxury pre-set and custom-designed small group tours to all seven continents. In 2013, Austin Adventures joined the Xanterra Parks & Resorts® portfolio of experiential leisure offerings that includes operations in Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Zion, Crater Lake, Glacier, Rocky Mountain and Petrified Forest National Parks; Mount Rushmore National Memorial; Furnace Creek Resort in Death Valley National Park; and five Ohio State Park Lodges as well as the Geneva Marina at Ohio’s Geneva State Park. Xanterra Parks & Resorts also owns and operates Kingsmill Resort in Williamsburg, Va., the Grand Canyon Railway and Hotel in Williams, Ariz., the Grand Hotel in Tusayan, Ariz., Windstar Cruises, VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations, Country Walkers and Austin Adventures.

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Media Contact: Widness & Wiggins PR:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 720-301-3822 /This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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Austin Adventures Shares Five Active Itineraries That Embrace Fall in Europe Along with Autumn’s Culinary Bounty

Details: Released on Tuesday, 05 July 2016 10:07

BILLINGS, MT – July 5, 2016– Along with visits to farmers markets that have ramped up for the season come dreams of fresh fare in foreign lands.

Now’s the time to plan where to be come fall when harvests are bountiful and airfares, especially in September and October, are more affordable. Plus, when eyeing Europe, it’s also the time that crowds thin out and the mood is more carefree.

Austin Adventures (http://www.austinadventures.com/), the pacesetter in luxury multisport and active vacations worldwide, has designed fall harvest itineraries in five European destinations: Spain, Italy, Croatia, Germany and France.Here are the highlights:

Spain: No one throws a culinary party like the Spaniards. From toasting with freshly bottled wine in La Mancha to savoring jamón ahumado on bread with a drizzle of Spanish olive oil, harvest means pressing grapes and also gathering chestnuts, mushrooms and bundles of crocus blossoms from some of the world’s largest saffron fields to deliver the spice that puts the pizzazz in paella. A Sept. 11, 2016, departure explores the northeast of Spain from the Pyrenees to Costa Brava and the Mediterranean. Over seven days and six nights guests hike, bike, kayak and soar in a hot air balloon. The per person rate, double, is from $3,998. See: http://www.austinadventures.com/packages/spain-catalonia/

Italy: Gourmands turn naturally to Italy for wafts of roasting chestnuts or hazelnut-infused chocolate truffles along with, in the mountains of the South Tyrol and the Dolomites, sightings of foragers on the alert for rare mushrooms and truffles. The next meal may well be a bottle of Valpolicella paired with tagliolini tossed with butter and shaved fresh white truffles, speck (seasoned, smoked prosciutto) and insalata di porcini freschi, topped off with a steaming apple strudel. A six day/ five night itinerary departing Sept. 4, starts at $3,398 per person double for a custom holiday spent biking, hiking and exploring the castles, vineyards and orchards of this mountainous region with a complex and diverse culinary tradition. See: http://www.austinadventures.com/packages/italy-south-tyrol-and-the-dolomites/

Croatia: Gastronomical surprises abound while biking, hiking and kayaking through this must-see destination. Flavors dazzle even the dullest of taste buds, especially when topped off with freshly harvested olive oils and truffles. Paški Sir (Pag cheese) risotto, Fuži (foo-shee--a hand-rolled pasta dish), Punjena Paprike (stuffed peppers) and Kulen (hot-peppered flavored sausage) can be washed down with the national wine, Prošek. The Dalmatian Coast is an adventurer’s paradise that in addition to biking mixes up a UNESCO World Heritage Site with hiking and beach time. A six day/five night tour from $3,998 per person, double, includes an evening cooking class learning to prepare ćevapčiči (spiced sausages) with ajvar sauce, mussels and black risotto -- or other specialties. Another cooking lesson demonstrates making sweet and savory burek pastry (the breakfast of choice for farmers and fishermen) in the home of a local chef. In 2016 there are four late summer-autumn confirmed departures: Aug. 21, Sept. 4, Sept. 25 and Oct. 2. http://www.austinadventures.com/packages/croatia-dalmatian-coast/

Germany: Come fall there’s more to Germany than Oktoberfest beer and bratwurst. While pedaling along the Romantic Road guests discover Germany’s robust wine region and such dishes as Swabian Maultaschen ravioli, rostbraten, zwiebelkuchen (there’s bacon in this one!), bubenspitzle and even asparagus. The humble potato achieves new acclaim. This seven day/ six night holiday departs Sept. 18 with rates from $2,898 per person, double. http://www.austinadventures.com/packages/germany-romantic-road/

France: Gastronomy here is a UNESCO “intangible cultural heritage” treasure that in the fall ranges from an abundance of figs to the perfect ratatouille that showcases seasonal vegetables. Guests are known while biking on roads flanked by vineyards to pluck a pear or apple or two. Roasted chestnuts, chanterelles mushrooms and truffles are in all the markets and on Michelin-starred menus. And because this is also hunting season, pheasant, quail, wild boar, hare and venison can be topped off with a tart tatin or poire poche and a glass of Calvados. A Sept. 4, 2016, departure enchants guests as they discover Provence on bikes, kayaks and while hiking. The per person double rate is from $3, 898. See: http://www.austinadventures.com/packages/france-provence/

To catch the fall flair please see http://www.austinadventures.com/travel-resources/harvest-delights-europes-best-fall-food-destinations/.

For more information on all of the 2016 destinations, trips and itineraries offered by Austin Adventures visit http://www.austinadventures.com, call (800) 575-1540 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

About Austin Adventures

Based in Billings, MT, Austin Adventures (formerly Austin Adventures) has spent more than 40 years building an international reputation as a top provider of luxury pre-set and custom-designed small group tours to all seven continents. In 2013, Austin Adventures joined the Xanterra Parks & Resorts®portfolio of experiential leisure offerings that includes operations in Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Zion, Crater Lake, Glacier, Rocky Mountainand Petrified Forest National Parks; Mount Rushmore National Memorial; Furnace Creek Resortin Death Valley National Park; and five Ohio State Park Lodgesas well as the Geneva Marinaat Ohio’s Geneva State Park. Xanterra Parks & Resorts also owns and operates Kingsmill Resortin Williamsburg, Va., the Grand Canyon Railway and Hotelin Williams, Ariz., the Grand Hotelin Tusayan, Ariz., Windstar Cruises, VBT Bicycling and Walking Vacations, Country Walkersand Austin Adventures.

# # #

Media Contact: Widness & Wiggins PR:

Sara Widness / 802-234-6704 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Dave Wiggins / 720-301-3822 /This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Follow Austin Adventures:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AustinLehmanAdventures