Bee Travel
Traveling in luxury worth a look
CHRISTINE HICKS- USTA Travel
Idream of traveling in luxury, taking that private jet-around-the-world tour or touring with Abercrombie and Kent - this from one who has postponed Christmas to snag the cotton turtleneck of choice for 10 percent off the $6.97 clearance rack. (I don't delude myself that I'm saving. I call it "re-spending," as in buying two when normally you'd get one, or investing said savings in frozen lobster tails.) All the same, who doesn't dream of indulging decadently in something? Of course, even if I won the lottery, I'm not sure I could part with the kind of funds it takes to travel A&K. Now, if someone else were buying ...

Abercrombie and Kent - it even sounds expensive. Such expense delivers in thoughtful and complete ways. From private journeys to villas in Europe, safaris in Africa and aboard the Royal Scotsman, regardless of where you travel with A&K, you have the backing of a quality outfitter. The company routinely wins awards in the "best of" category. They handpick every hotel, ship, experience and English-speaking guide from best offered. They stand behind your experience; at those prices, you would expect it. But then, who else can you get to arrange a wedding in Dubai? A private island to yourself in Fiji? There's something amazing in these experiences, even if you only dream about them.

The A&K experience is unique. You often travel in groups of 12 to 15 travelers. You can custom-tailor an itinerary for you and however many of your best friends with whom you wish to travel. You'll be in the hands of full-time A&K professionals, often staying at camps and lodges owned by the company. Every tour program is thoughtfully crafted to include unique and intimate experiences. It might be lunch at Kilshannig House, ancestral home of Diana, the late Princess of Wales, or a personal greeting from the mayor of a Romanian village. Maybe it's a rustic lunch at a Provencal farmhouse, or a private harpsichord concert in a 17th-century home.

Your A&K guide is a professional and must be experienced, well-educated and intelligent, not to mention just being pleasant to be around. The guides are there to handle any aspect of your journey, sort of like a guardian angel, someone keenly familiar with where you'll be. Some programs include a traveling bellboy - and yes, he's just that. All he does is manage your luggage. That's his job. Besides guides and lodging, meal programs set A&K apart as well. An "a la carte" option means you may eat anything anywhere with anyone when traveling on its Europe escorted programs. Anything. Anywhere.

If you have the means - and judging from the sold-out tours I encountered on its Web site, many do - it may just be impossible to beat the quality of the Abercrombie & Kent experience. Whether it's a once-in-a-lifetime experience or dreams about a once-in-a-lifetime experience, no matter where you're headed, A&K is worth a look. See for yourself at www.abercrombiekent.com.

(Christine Hicks-Usta has enjoyed more than 30 years of globe-trotting as a member of the travel industry. Direct questions to her at Bee Group Newspapers, P.O. Box 150, Buffalo, NY 14231-0150.)