Those who want to explore the Mediterranean can save up to 30% over booking independently with vacations and tours from members of the U.S. Tour Operators Association. On itineraries to Italy, Egypt, and Israel, travelers can also save the time it would take to make the same arrangements on their own, and low season savings are available as well.
 
Below are examples of a custom tour to Egypt with early bird savings and an Italy tour with a high season rate that reflects savings over doing-it-yourself, plus an Israel tour with savings from almost 10% in low season.   
 
Save up to 30% over booking independently      
8 night Egypt custom tour from $1,299 with air
 
Early birds can save from $200 per person on Sunny Land Tours’ 9 day, 8 night, air-inclusive “Grand Nile Cruise and Tour”, through April 2011.  Sunny Land indicates that early bird prices, from $1,299 per person, correspond to savings of up to 25%, or more, over booking independently.   This custom tour offers round-trip airfare from New York City, all intra-trip flights, a seven day Nile cruise aboard MS Crocodile or MS Carnival with nightly entertainment and on board tour director, one night hotel in Cairo, eight breakfasts, six lunches, seven dinners, and all transfers. Optional excursions are additional.
 
6 night Italy tour for $1,775 in high season            
 Explore Italy in high season for $1,775 per person with a land only “Italian Holiday” tour from Trafalgar Tours.  According to Trafalgar, this represents a 30% percent savings over doing it on your own.  Included on this 7 day, 6 night tour are first class hotel accommodations, six hot buffet breakfasts, two three-course dinners, a farewell dinner with wine in Rome, sightseeing in Rome and Florence with local guides, and a canal cruise in Venice.  Touring by luxury air-conditioned coach, a tour director, airport transfers, hotel service charges and tips, baggage handling fees, and local taxes are also included. Travel in low season for $1,650 per person.  The prices are valid through November 12, 2010, and the tour must be booked by July 31, 2010. 
 
Low season savings from almost 10%
7 night Israel tour from $2,425 in low season
 
Visit Israel during low season and save from almost 10% over high season on Isram World’s “Israel Prelude” tour.  With Thursday departures, this 9 day, 7 night, land only tour includes a choice of nine hotel plans with two nights in Tel Aviv, one night in Haifa, one night in Tiberias, and three nights in Jerusalem, from $2,425 in low season versus $2,615 in high season.  Also included are Israeli breakfast daily, four dinners, lunch at a Kibbutz, five days of touring, a walking tour of Tel Aviv, and all transfers.  Book by September 1, 2010 for travel valid through April 7, 2011.  

All prices are based on double occupancy.  Restrictions and additional security fees, departure and local taxes and fees may apply. USTOA members have met the travel industry’s highest standards, including participation in the USTOA Travelers Assistance Program, which, among other things requires each member company to set aside $1 million security to help protect consumers’ payments in case the company goes out of business.