There’s a certain romance to road trips – open highways, quirky attractions, greasy diner food – but the actual amount of time required to drive from, say, Sonoma County to the Grand Canyon (13 hours and 40 minutes) can be prohibitive for those of us tethered to vacation days. Enter Mauiva’s AirCruise.
The new concept, a sort of hybrid between air travel and cruise ships, charges passengers one price to jet from sight to sight via private planes and coach buses, plus bundles most meals, accommodations (at mid-range hotels – think Hyatt, Sheraton, or Doubletree), and entrance fees into that rate.
For now, the company offers two tours: The six-day All American East Experience, which starts in New York City before stopping at highlights like Niagara Falls, Toronto, Washington D.C., and Hershey, PA; and the weeklong Western Wonder route, which takes off from Los Angeles and visits Monterey and Caramel, San Francisco, Yosemite, the Grand Canyon, and – of course – Las Vegas. Both are available as a comprehensive package, which includes all meals and guided tours, or as the more free-wheeling Fly, Stay, & Drive option.
Cruises can cost as much as $1,799 per person (for the comprehensive Western Wonder trip), but we’ve finagled a 25 percent discount on select dates just for our readers (valid on the comprehensive package and the fly-and-drive option). Here’s what you’ll get for that price on either side of the country:
All American East Experience: All transportation, six nights’ accommodations, daily breakfast and dinner, gratuities, and guided tours; discounted cruises available July 14, 15, 17, and 26. From $1,125 per person, with discount; call 407-215-7204 and mention ShermansTravel to book.
Western Wonder Experience: All transportation, seven nights’ accommodations, daily breakfast and dinner, gratuities, and guided tours; discounted cruises available July 17, and 22. From $1,350 per person, with discount; call 407-215-7204 and mention ShermansTravel to book.
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