WFCR Travel Program: 2009 Santa Fe Opera Tour

WFCR's 2009 Santa Fe Opera Tour
August 10-14, 2009
5 days / 4 nights
WFCR Host: John Montanari

For the 4th year, WFCR 's Travel Program is offering a summer trip to The Santa Fe Opera. We prepared this itinerary for WFCR with our travel partners, Ellen Gill CTC and Tours of Distinction.

WFCR will offer one trip as a Winter E-Pledge Prize on December 12-13. For details, see WFCR's website at www.wfcr.org

The tour highlights:

MON: 8/10/09

We depart Bradley International Airport at 7:40AM and arrive in Albuquerque at 1:35PM local time (via American Airlines with a connection in Dallas/Ft.Worth). A motor coach transfer to Santa Fe is provided. After check-in at our hotel, the La Fonda Hotel on the Plaza in Old Santa Fe, the remainder of the afternoon is at leisure. An afternoon walking tour around historic Santa Fe Plaza is provided. We dine tonight at the La Plazuela Restaurant at La Fonda. (Those who wish can attend a performance of Gluck's "Alceste" at Santa Fe Opera at additional cost). Meals included: Dinner

TUE: 8/11/09

After a full breakfast at La Fonda, we travel to the Santa Fe Opera House for a private backstage tour of the state-of-the-art theatre, acclaimed for its architectural design. We'll meet the resident costume designers in the theatre's costume shop and see the design process for "La Traviata", "The Elixir of Love" and other Santa Fe productions. We'll lunch (on our own) at the Opera Cantina with members of the Santa Fe Opera's apprentice program. After lunch, we return to Santa Fe. The afternoon is at leisure for sightseeing on your own in Santa Fe or for relaxing at the hotel. After an early dinner at one of Santa Fe's unique restaurants, we attend a performance of Verdi’s “La Traviata” with Natalie Dessay. Overnight at the La Fonda Hotel. Meals included: Breakfast and dinner.
 
WED: 8/12/09

After a Full Breakfast at La Fonda Hotel, we tour the major sites of Santa Fe with a local guide. Stops include Loretto Chapel, The Palace of the Governors and the International Folk Art Museum. After lunch on your own, the afternoon is at leisure to explore the Museum Hill museums, Canyon Road galleries, and other attractions. Dinner tonight is at the Santa Fe Opera's Cantina. During dinner, we'll be treated to an "informance" prior to a performance of Donizetti’s “The Elixir of Love”.
Overnight at The La Fonda Hotel. Meals included: Breakfast and dinner.
 
THU: 8/13/09

After a Full Breakfast at La Fonda Hotel, we depart Santa Fe for a full-day's visit to Taos with a local guide. We'll visit the Bandelier National Monument, site of the ancient Anasazi ruins; the Taos Pueblo and the Millicent Rogers Museum. Lunch on own. After some leisure time to explore Taos' distinctive shops and galleries, we'll have an early dinner at Doc Martin’s at the historic Taos Inn, before returning to Santa Fe. Overnight at The La Fonda Hotel. Meals included: Breakfast and dinner.
 
FRI: 8/14/09

After a Full Breakfast at La Fonda Hotel, we check out and head for Albuquerque with a stop enroute at the Sandia Mountain tramway. We'll travel to the top of Sandia Peak for dramatic vistas of New Mexico, including Albuquerque. We then travel to Albuquerque's Old Town for sightseeing, shopping, and lunch on one's own. We have an early afternoon check-in for our flight home. We depart Albuquerque at 3:45PM and arrive at Bradley International Airport at 12:45AM on Saturday, 8/15/09. Air is American Airlines via Dallas/Ft. Worth. Meals included: Breakfast.

Tour price includes: round-trip airfare between Hartford/Springfield and Albuquerque; airport transfers in New Mexico and all local transportation in Santa Fe, Albuquerque, and Taos; four nights accommodations at La Fonda in Santa Fe; 4 breakfasts, 4 dinners; orchestra seating for two opera performances at Santa Fe Opera; guide services, admissions as listed in itinerary; fulltime tour escort, and Tips/gratuities for local guides, skycaps, bellhops. A portion of the tour cost benefits the programs and services of WFCR and WNNZ.

Not included: lunches, alcoholic beverages, items of a person nature, travel insurance, tips for tour escort and bus driver; additional taxes and fuel surcharges, airline charges for checked baggage.

Prices:

Early Bird (when deposit is paid before March 31, 2009): $3,959.00 per person/double occupancy; $640.00 single supplement. Land only: approximately $300.00 per person less***

Regular: (after March 31, 2009): $4,259.00 per person/double occupancy; $640.00 single supplement. Land only: approximately $300.00 per person less***

Deposit ($500 per person) due to secure reservation. Balance payments due on or before June 5, 2009.

***Participants who choose this must make their own transfer arrangements to/from Albuquerque Airport and Santa Fe at their own expense.

For information on the WFCR Santa Fe Opera Tour: www.wfcr.org