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Planning a winter-retreat to the UK?

Make sure and add “Get BritRail Tickets” to your planning list

By Marilyn Loeser

Paging through brochures and surfing the Internet, I’m finding fairytale photos of Christmas trees in the shadows of centuries-old thatched-roof cottages, Yule logs burning brightly in stone fireplaces and shops filled with an array of uniquely British fare. What a wonderful time to visit England: with flight prices dropping, holiday hotel packages available and BritRail — my favorite way to see the country — offering discounts, you can have it all and not break the bank.

BritRail is currently offering a 25 percent discount on any BritRail Pass options: Consecutive Day, FlexiPass or England only, and the London Plus Pass. No matter where you want to travel, there’s a BritRail Pass to fit your needs.

And, you can combine these off-peak savings with Senior, Youth, Child and Family Pass discounts.

Off-peak BritRail Passes are available through December 31, 2006. When you arrive in the UK, simply activate your pass. Discounted travel is good from November 1, 2006 through February 28, 2007. 

Why travel in the off-peak season?

Budget is an important consideration, but there are other reasons to travel during the winter months.

Temperatures are mild, the crowds are gone and throughout the UK there are special winter events and holiday celebrations.

During the holidays, for example, visitors can head for Rochester, Kent —

located an hour south-east of London — and the city’s annual Dickensian Christmas Festival, this year December 2, 3 and 4.

Paying homage to England’s most highly acclaimed novelist, Charles Dickens, the residents of Rochester transform their city into a Victorian-themed oasis where costumes and décor are modeled after the images prevalent throughout Dickens’ novels.

Or, for a different take on a Victorian Christmas, travelers can tour the royal estate of Osborne House including Queen Victoria and Prince Albert’s private rooms. The estate is located on the Isle of Wight, off the south coast of England. The home is open for tour from November 11 to January 7.

In York, located 200 miles north of London, it’s the Festival of Angels December 9 and 10. The heart of the city is transformed into a winter wonderland dressed with ice sculptures and snow, and stalls are filled with unique holiday fare including flavorful foods of the season.

These events are just the tip of the iceberg, but no matter where you travel during a winter holiday, your BritRail pass will get you there.

If you go:

Now through December 31, 2006, an Off-Peak 4 Day Standard Class BritRail England FlexiPass is $165, A First Class Pass is $246 USD. Passes are for four days of travel in one month: the FlexiPass, or the Consecutive Day option. 

Seniors and Youths can double dip on discounts and kids (5-15) travel free with a pass-purchasing adult.

 For more information contact your travel agent, call 1-866-BRITRAIL or check the website at www.britrail.com.

For more information about spending the holidays in Britain, call 1-800-462-2748, e-mail travelinfo@visitbritain.org or visit the website at www.visitbritain.com/usa.

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