You don’t have nearly enough capital letters swirling through your head, so add these to the mix: RTW. Stands for ’round the world, as in travel. Now, pair those letters with these numbers: $1,295. That’s how much AirTreks.com is charging for its RTW “Global Junket” that circles the Earth from Chicago. The price covers all air portions of the following itinerary: Fly from Chicago to London; make your own way to Paris; fly from there to Delhi, India; fly from Delhi to Bangkok; make your own way to Kuala Lumpur; fly from there to Honolulu; fly from Honolulu to Chicago. Tickets must be booked and purchased by March 31, and you must depart by May 31. You’ll have up to a year to return; how long you stay in each place, and how much that costs, is up to you. But AirTreks.com will help with the Bangkok stay by throwing in your choice of one night at the five-star Peninsula Hotel with chauffeured transfers and breakfast, or two nights at the five-star Emerald Hotel. (877-AIR-TREKS, or at www.airtreks.com)
ROOTS
It says something about the power of books when years after one makes the bestseller list, the yearnings it laid bare express themselves in what has become an annual pilgrimage. In this case, the book was Alex Haley’s “Roots,” and the pilgrimage is to The Gambia. Traditional wrestling, parades, fashion shows, boat races, gospel singing and an Islamic vigil are all part of the Fifth Annual Roots Homecoming Festival. California-based Gallery Asha offers a Homecoming trip June 21-July 2. Its $2,043 price covers round-trip air from New York to Dakar, Senegal; resort hotels with daily breakfast; transport to Banjul, The Gambia; festival admission; and excursions such as Goree Island and Juffure. (310-726-9230)
FREE STUFF
This might be the next best thing to printing money in your basement: printing
discount hotel coupons off the Internet. (www.roomsaver.com) . . . Bedding down in Grand Haven, Mich., with your extended household may be easier to plan with the region’s 2000 Vacation Rental Guide. These five sheets, copied front and back, list 56 homes — location, number of bedrooms, furnishings, sleeping capacity and rates — for Grand Haven, Spring Lake and Ferrysburg. (800-968-0891)
FAMILY HO
The Belgian draft horses of Pawnee Wagon Train Vacations make about 2 miles a day as they pull a covered wagon across the shortgrass prairie of northeastern Colorado. They pull out from Sterling every Sunday, June-August on three-night hauls into the Pawnee National Grassland. For $550, those who join this particular form of westward expansion will travel like pioneers by day; retire to tents, cots and bedrolls by night; and dine on fare from bacon and eggs to steaks and homemade biscuits at mealtime. Price is 10 percent less for children under 12, though the outing is not recommended for those younger than 6. (800-284-0367)
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Tour prices generally are per person, double occupancy.
Contact Trips, Tips & Deals in care of Toni Stroud at tstroud@tribune.com.
