Welcome to our website and our Main 2011 Tour Brochure. I hope you like our tour programme for the year ahead which includes many of the old favourites, such as our well known Vintage Port holiday, plus some exciting new destinations including Turkey, Estonia, Japan and Taiwan.

We have had an unbelievable response to our “preview” brochure which has resulted in six tours being already sold out. This has never happen before so we are hopeful of a record year ahead. I am especially pleased to welcome Richard Faulkner to our team. Richard has an amazing background, including Chair of the Railway Heritage Committee from 2004-2009, and has led tours for other rail based Companies in the past. Richard will be leading the tour to Taiwan and developing other areas for PTG.

We are also now one of a select few rail holiday companies that are members of ABTA. ABTA have extremely strict financial criteria for membership and it shows just what a strong and stable company we are. Over the last few years of “recession” we have bucked the trend and continue to grow and sell out most of our tours. All our 2010 rail and culture tours operated as planned.

I still find it incredible that we have now been operating for over 12 years. This success is down to three things; operating unique tours which appeal to a wide range of interests, the friendships that develop in our small tour groups, and most of all the loyalty of our customers who return again and again.

I very much hope to get to meet as many of you as I can in 2011.

Paul Spracklen, Owner

“Vintage” Tours

These are our classic tours which are generally for group sizes in the 30-36 range. We stay at good 4-star hotels and the itineraries are designed for easy going days with plenty of off train activities, culture, history, gardens etc. Where possible the trains we use will have a certain “heritage”. One or two steam hauled trips are often included. Rail travel forms only a small part of each day with few long journeys; most being shorter then two hours. Destinations include Portugal (Douro Valley), Italy, Slovenia and Bulgaria. These are regular tours which we aim to run each year, often twice a year.

“Undiscovered” Tours

Very similar to our “Vintage” tours but taking in areas which are even more “undiscovered” by the tourist market. Destinations include Central Portugal and Cuba. Generally some special charter trains are used.

“Rail Wonders” Tours

Even more unique these tours are aimed at both the Culture and Enthusiast market. Normally using special charter trains we aim to cover as much of an area/country’s rail system as possible. Often we will cover (such as in Estonia this year) the whole rail system including non-passenger lines. These tours are generally one-offs and in 2011 will include Estonia, Sardinia and the amazing Spanish narrow gauge system of FEVE in the north of the country.

“In Style” Tours

Our top luxury tours to long haul destinations. A small group size of 15-20 is normal and we aim to stay in some of the best hotels. These tours will not appear in our brochure for the following year although they may be repeated in future years. Destinations in 2011 include New Zealand (already almost sold out), Japan (again almost sold out), Taiwan and Canada.

“Enthusiast” Tours

These tours are aimed more at the rail enthusiast but, if you read the itineraries, you will find that we do include some off train, culture, options. Like our “rail wonders” tours these are normally with special loco hauled charter trains covering scenic and unusual, non-passenger lines. Good hotels are still used but as we can end up in remote places these may only be 3-star (although 4-star is more common). Our special trains are normally hauled by vintage diesel (or steam) locomotives which you would not normally be able to travel behind. Group sizes are normally in the 60-100 range. Destinations in 2011 include Portugal, South Africa and Bulgaria.

Comfort and Friendship

At PTG Tours we pride ourselves on the enjoyment that you get from our tours. Many of our customers have become good friends and return time and time again. PTG Tours Limited was established in 1998 and has built up a good strong reputation for quality and reliability.

Plenty for Everyone

Our holidays are for anyone looking for something a bit different. They have a railway theme but include visits to historic cities, gardens, vineyards, port lodges, river cruises and much more. We use vintage locomotives (sometimes steam) and carriages, where available, therefore adding to the atmosphere. By using trains we allow you to see the most beautiful areas from the comfort of your seat in the most relaxing and safest form of transport. Many of the areas we visit are only visible from the railway line.

Douro Valley

One of our specialist areas is Portugal’s most beautiful region, the port vineyards of the Douro Valley. This wide river valley was tamed by a series of dams in the 1970’s enhancing the beauty of the area even more. The only way to see the area at its best is by train and river cruise. Our tours combine both forms of transport to give you an unforgettable experience. Visits to vineyards, the palace of Mateus and port lodges complete the experience.

No Fly Option

Many of our European tours have the option of travelling overland by rail from St Pancras. A price for this option, if available, will be included in each tours price list shown in this brochure. We can also arrange bespoke overland travel to connect with your chosen tour. For example for Douro Valley tours you could travel in daylight with nights in Bordeaux, San Sebastian and Vigo. Please contact us for further details.

Freedom and Security

On all our tours you have the services of our guides to help you as much or as little as you feel you need. Our tour managers should have extensive knowledge of the areas we visit and are able to help with any language barriers in the more remote regions. All tours are fully escorted by at least one PTG Tour Manager; sometimes from London, sometimes from the point of arrival. PTG Tours Limited is an established company with hundreds of very satisfied customers. Unlike some other tour operators we prepay all our suppliers (hotels, trains, coaches etc) before you leave the UK. Therefore in the very unlikely event of something happening to the company while you were away your holiday would not be affected in anyway. In accordance with “The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package Tours Regulations1992″ all passengers booking with PTG Tours Limited are fully protected for the initial deposit and subsequently the balance of all monies paid to us, including repatriation if required, arising from cancellation or curtailment of your travel arrangements due to the insolvency of PTG Tours Limited. PTG Tours are ATOL bonded (10060) and members of ABTA (Y2193) so are one of the most financially secure companies that you can travel with.

Save Even More

Although we are happy to include travel from the UK to the destination company as part of your holiday booking you may be able to save more money by making your own flight arrangements over the internet. A good site to try is www.kayak.co.uk.

Who We Are

Paul and Lisa Spracklen are the Directors and help run the Company from the UK. You will speak to Paul as he continues to run the main office and take an interest in every single tour and every single customer. There are not many holiday companies where you get direct access to the company’s owner!

Marion Matthews (based in the UK) acts as Tour Manager on many of our tours including Cuba, Portugal, Spain, Slovenia, Estonia and Bulgaria. Marion also helps out with administration and telephone cover.

Graham Garnell (based in Lisbon, Portugal) is our key person in Portugal and has been leading our Vintage Port holidays from day one (this particular holiday celebrates its 32nd running in 2011). If you travel on any of our Portugal tours then the chances are that Graham will be looking after you.

Philip Wormald has an unbelievable knowledge of the world’s railway systems. Phil is becoming more and more involved with us and sets up most of our enthusiast tours. Phil also leads some of our other tours including Turkey and Bulgaria. For 2012 Phil is already setting up trips to Alaska, Peru and former Yugoslav countries.

John Bennett (based near Barcelona, Spain) sets up and leads our tours to Cuba, Spain, Sardinia and Switzerland.

Stephen Martin (based in the UK) Acts as Tour Manager on most of our long haul tours, and works to create new tours to add to the PTG portfolio.

Bill Burns sets up and leads our Canada tours and is working on developing US tours for 2012.

Geoff Cooke sets up and leads tours in South Africa, Zimbabwe and surrounding countries.

Richard Faulkner is new to PTG in 2011. Richard has set up, and will be leading, our tour of Taiwan and will be developing other tours for inclusion in our 2012 programme. Richard has a strong background in railway heritage and has led tours for other rail holiday operators in the past.

Angelina Pons leads our Italian Vintage tours.

Mark Minnett and Andrew Donnelly help out on some of our enthusiast tours.