crystal tour operator

Prepare For Departure

Our destinations.

We specialize in  tours to Ireland, Scotland and the rest of the UK  but are always expanding and enhancing our wide range of offers, as well as adding new and exciting tours of  Iceland and the other Nordic countries, Italy, Switzerland, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Looking for something different? We can take you wherever you want to go!

England & Wales

Switzerland, rest of europe, what we offer, escorted motor coach tours.

Inclusive luxury motor coach tours to Ireland, Britain and Europe with no "optional" add-ons.

Independent Vacations

Self-drive, chauffeur, and rail tours of Ireland, England, Scotland, or Wales staying at B&B, hotel, castle or self-catering accommodation including tours and activities.

All-Inclusive Packages

Whether you're celebrating your honeymoon or simply wish to get away with the family, our all-inclusive vacation packages have you covered.

Group Tours

We can - and regularly do - customize any of our tours for groups ranging from a single traveler to a group of 200.

Featured Tour

Unwind in ireland | 10 day self-drive, trending tours, old irish pub tour | 7 day self-drive, taste of iceland & ireland | 9 day escorted, iconic ireland and ashford castle | 10 days escorted, best of scotland | 7 days escorted, meet the family.

There are some things you can’t travel without.

Our team’s expertise is one of them. 

Joe Donnellan

Ann O’Brien

Who Are We?

Crystal Travel & Tours is a family-owned tour operator and travel agency located in Boston, MA.

Experience & Accuracy

Our staff are experienced, well-traveled and have years of travel knowledge among them. They draw upon their own first-hand experiences when customizing vacations just for you.

Personal Service

We will offer you a personal service and will handle your booking from start to finish ensuring that all your travel needs are met.

We Offer Flights

Many travel agencies are unable to offer this. Crystal Travel & Tours works with most all international airlines and frequently offers the most competitive fares for travel to Ireland,Britain and Europe.

Accredited & Licensed

We have full accreditation with the Airlines Reporting Corporation (for meeting and maintaining the rigorous financial, personnel, and business standards)

Stay Updated

Travel & tours blog, irish wish (2024) | filming locations | netflix.

Mighty Northern Ireland | 12 Game of Thrones Filming Locations

Donegal Has It All | Reasons to Visit

UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Ireland

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Family owned since 1985 | Boston, Massachusetts

100 Spring St, Boston MA, 02132 1-617-327-4242

© 2024 Crystal Travel & Tours. All Rights Reserved. | Powered by Brave River Solutions.

Call for a quote, group discounts or to book 020 8313 3999

• Finland (Lapland)
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Crystal Ski Holidays

Adamello Hotel

• Half Board Hotel

AktivHotel Veronika

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Alpen Hotel Vidi

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AlpenHotel Tirol

AlpenHotel Tirolerhof

Alpenpark Resort

Alpenparks Hotel And Apartments Orgler

• Self Catered Apartment

Alpin Hotel

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Alpin Resort Sport & Spa

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Alpina Eclectic Hotel

Alpina Lodge Apartments

Alpine Palace Ski Hotel

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Alpinhotel Maistatt

Antares Apartments

Anthony’s Hotel

Aparthotel Alpina

Aparthotel Olimpiades

Apartmenthouse Madeleine

Apartments Campo Smith

Apartments Eiger

Appartementhaus Aurora

Arc 1950 Le Village Apartments

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Arlen Lodge Hotel

Art-Hotel Kristiana

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Au Coeur du Village

B&B by Zillners

Balcons de Bellevarde Apartments

Banff Aspen Lodge

Banff Park Lodge

Banff Ptarmigan Inn

Banff Rocky Mountain Resort Condos

Banyan Hotel

Belambra Club Panorama

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Bow View Lodge

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Brewster’s Mountain Lodge

Campitello 4 Star Saver

Canalta Lodge Banff

Caribou Lodge & Spa

Central Hotel Gotthard

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Plein Sud Hotel

Poblado Apartments

Premier Luxury Mountain Resort

Prestige Apart’Hotel L’Eclose

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Principi di Piemonte Hotel

Quartier des Bergers Apartments

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Royal Park Hotel & Apartments

Rundlestone Lodge

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Santa Terra Residence

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Schonblick Sport and Active Hotel

Seefeld Lodge

Sentido Alpenhotel Kaiserfels

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Soleil Vacances Residence

Sowell Residences

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Sport Hotel Exclusive

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Stadthotel Brunner

Sunstar Hotel Wengen

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Tabor Residence

Terrasses du Soleil d’Or Apartments

The Crystal Lifestyle Hotel

The Crystal VAYA Unique

The Green Leaf Niseko Village

Tourotel Apartments

Trois Vallees Hotel

TUI Blue Fieberbrunn

Valamar Obertauern

Valtur Cervinia Cristallo Ski Resort 4*

Valtur Cervinia Cristallo Ski Resort 5*

Vestlia Resort

Villa Frejus Residence

Villa Strass

Village Montana Apartments

Westin Resort & Spa

Wiesenheim Apartments

Ski Line are delighted to have an agency agreement with Crystal Ski for the 2024 ski season. This coming winter will be our 28th year as partners to TUI and Crystal Ski.

Crystal Ski are one of the UK’s best-known ski holiday brands, being part of the TUI group, a massive German holiday business, their buying power across Europe makes them one of the biggest ski tour operators trading today. Crystal feature skiing in the most popular resorts in France, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Finland, Canada, and America.

Crystal’s strength is undoubted with hotels and apartments, rather than catered ski chalets.

No other British tour operator matches their choice of regional flights, which are available from UK airports. Crystals huge flight capacity makes them a favourite for last-minute ski deals.

Crystal Holidays are ATOL bonded and they are also members of ABTA.

When you book a Crystal Ski Holiday through Ski Line you get our 5* service, our phone lines are answered by a real person, generally with a few in rings. You pay the same price, but get the full support from a travel agent that cares.

This Luxury Cruise Line Is Back After Bankruptcy—Here’s How Sailing It Compares to Before

What do you get when one of the world’s most respected tour operators buys a beloved cruise brand and brings it back to life seven years after first sailing with crystal cruises, one writer decided to find out..

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Crystal is back, and so, too, are some of its hallmarks.

Mark Luscombe-Whyte/Crystal

When global tour operator A&K Travel Group bought the Crystal Cruises brand and its two original ocean liners out of pandemic bankruptcy last year, it promised to continue delivering—and improving on—everything that had made the line a favorite of luxury cruisers for 30 years.

It was a tall order to fill, given Crystal’s long-standing reputation for impeccable service, narrow staff-to-guest ratios, and arguably unrivaled guest loyalty. But as one of those original Crystal fans, I can say with confidence that after a preview sailing on the revamped Crystal Symphony in August, the marriage of two of travel’s most renowned brands is off to a promising start.

When I embarked in Dubrovnik, it was hard to believe I was boarding a 30-year-old ship, or to even recognize the interior of this shiny, modern vessel as the same one that had converted me from cruise averse to cruise lover seven years earlier on a two-week sailing in the Greek isles.

Gone was much, but not all, of the more traditional wooden cruise ship decor that I recalled dominating the cabins and public areas, replaced almost entirely across the board with Italian marble, glass, and fabrics with a much more contemporary flair.

The Bistro on the Crystal Symphony serves up coffee, pastries and light bites.

Courtesy of Crystal

The biggest change was in the number of cabins. The company didn’t just renovate the vessel, it took much of the ship down to the steel to knock out walls and combine cabins into larger suites, reducing by nearly a quarter the number of staterooms while maintaining the ship’s already expansive public spaces, which include eight dining venues, a spa and fitness center, pickleball court, multiple lounges, a library, theater, nightclub, a putting green and driving range nets on the top deck for practicing your golf game.

Today, the Symphony holds just over 600 passengers, down from nearly 850. And there is a wide variety of cabins, both in layout and decor, to choose from.

I stayed in one of 85 Sapphire Veranda suites, with modern blue and earth tone decor that included an art display of blue glass discs above the couch. The living area also had a small table with two chairs, a desk area, small coffee table, a sitting chair near the couch, and a walk-in closet. The rest of the suite (in what would have previously been a second cabin) was all bedroom and bathroom, which included a long, marble double vanity, plenty of shelves and storage, and a shower so large that one fellow traveler commented it was big enough to host a party.

Guests can relax and spread out in one of the many suites now onboard.

At guests’ request, A&K CEO Cristina Levis said, some of the cabins have retained their more traditional wooden decor. And then, of course, there are the penthouse and junior penthouse suites, with furnishings and amenities that rival those of the world’s finest hotels.

While the ship overall has a sleek, updated feel throughout, it didn’t take long to start recognizing some of my favorite spots, including the glass-walled Palm Lounge at the front of the ship, the upper deck pool, and little hideaways like the Avenue Saloon and Connoisseur Club cigar bar. What also hasn’t changed is that intimate, hyper-service-focused Crystal feel.

About 45 minutes after getting settled into my suite, I stopped by the front desk to inquire about the Wi-Fi.

“Hello Jeri, how can I help?” asked the attendant, whose only previous interaction with me had been to check me in.

The next day, as my butler delivered, just shy of 7:05 a.m., the breakfast I had ordered for delivery between 7 a.m. and 7:15 a.m., I said to him, “Great, thanks. Just on time.”

“Actually, Jeri,” he said, “I’m a few minutes late. I apologize.”

That is exactly the kind of intimate, luxury service that Crystal fans came to love—and expect. But it’s also the kind of service that has been harder and harder to find after so much pandemic employee turnover across the hospitality world globally . But with 80 percent of the ship’s former, and very loyal, crew back under the employ of new owner A&K, that Crystal service model, and nearly 1–to–1 guest-to-passenger ratio, was on full display.

Indeed, aside from a few cosmetic issues such as exterior touch-up painting that were still being finalized, it was hard to find any sign that our recent preview sailing from Dubrovnik to Athens was what the industry calls a “shakedown” cruise, a first-time sailing where things can often go awry as some of the initial kinks are still being worked out.

Now, A&K is focused on both expanding and evolving the Crystal brand, tapping into the company’s global network of luxury tour specialists to develop a larger roster of itineraries, excursions, and pre- and post-sailing land options that go beyond the traditional offerings.

During the relaunch in July of Symphony’ s sister ship, Serenity , the company announced plans to build four more ocean vessels, two about the same size as the Symphony , and two expedition vessels that will carry about 220 passengers. Over breakfast during the Symphony preview cruise, Levis told me the company is also working on a deal to add river boats on the Peruvian Amazon and Colombia’s Magdalena River, which will see its first-ever passenger cruises when AmaWaterways launches two 60-passengers ships there next year .

Just weeks into the relaunch of the Serenity and Symphony , many of the excursion options remain very much a work in progress, Levis said, as the two companies work together to leverage their collective strengths. But we did get to sample one of the ways that Crystal is tapping into A&K’s expertise and its focus on small group journeys to go beyond the status quo when it comes to excursions and pre- and post-sailing options.

On the morning before setting sail in Dubrovnik, while many were doing the traditional tour of the old town, a local A&K tour guide took a small group of us on “A Taste of Croatia” excursion to a family estate near the village of Orasac, home to a nearly 300-year-old, horse-powered olive oil mill. After watching a demonstration of this traditional pressing method, we sampled the local oil, along with local wines, hams, and cheeses. From there we headed to Mali Ston, on the coast just outside the walled city of Ston, where we boarded a small boat that took us just offshore to an oyster and mussel farm to sample the shellfish as they were being plucked straight from the sea. Those stops proved to be just appetizers, as we settled in for an outdoor seaside lunch at the Bota Sari oyster and sushi restaurant.

There is no shortage of fine dining to explore, including Italian-focused Osteria D’Ovidio.

The next two days were spent mostly at sea, enjoying the ship and its fine dining, including Umi Uma, the only Nobu restaurant at sea, and Osteria D’Ovidio, an Italian specialty restaurant named after company owner Manfredi Lefebvre D’Ovidio. The food, wine pairings ,and service were outstanding at all the venues I tried—from the salt-baked sea chard with tarragon sauce and Swiss chard to the Asian noodles and salad I sampled at the sprawling Marketplace with indoor and outdoor seating at the back of the ship.

Seven years after that first Crystal sailing changed my view of cruising, I admittedly still tend to shun ships with a capacity of more than a few hundred. But the newly revamped Symphony once again proved that a larger ocean ship can feel just as intimate—or even more so—than a small ship when you’re on the right vessel.

Just don’t call it luxury.

“The word luxury has been used and abused for so long that every [company now] says that about themselves,” Levis said. “And it’s different for all of us. So, we decided to call ourselves ‘exceptional,’ because we are an exception. Because we are different.”

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About the company.

The All-Inclusive Crystal Experience® is a heady combination of indulgent services and enriching discovery. Since our debut in 1990, we have been elevating and redefining the traditional notions of luxury cruising with innovative excellence, exquisitely designed ships, bold itineraries, customized destination immersion, and the highest standards of personalized service at sea and on land. We are committed to providing excellent service to our customers, the guests and travel professionals who book and support our product. In meeting their needs, every service we provide to our customers must be of the highest quality and integrity – whether it is shipboard or shoreside.

Crystal Cruises Trips & Specials

Majestic Europe

Treasures of the Danube

Grand Europe - Budapest to Amsterdam

Inaugural - Jewels of the Rhine

Legendary Rhine - Basel to Amsterdam

Want a tailor-made trip instead, your trip, your way, planned by an expert:.

• You choose budget, destinations, activities, transport & lodging type
• Expert designs the itinerary for you, and once approved, takes care of logistics

Top Crystal Cruises Trip Categories

Crystal cruises company ranking by category, similar companies.

Silver Magellan Award – River Cruise Ship:  Crystal Mozart (2016)

Cruise Critic Editors' Pick - Best New River Ship -  Crystal Mozart (2016)

Cruise Critic UK Editors' Pick - Best New River Ship -  Crystal Mozart (2016)

Reader’s Choice Award – Best Cruise Line  (1992-1993, 1995-2005, 2007-2016)

Editor-in-Chief Award   –    Most Groundbreaking Cruise Company  (2016)

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My Guide to Booking the Best Manatee Tours in Crystal River, Florida

Not far from the maddening crowds of Florida’s theme park epicentre Orlando, a natural world of hidden treasures awaits those with the desire to detour from the well-trodden tourist trail.

Defined by the mangrove laden tributaries of its namesake the Crystal River, during the chilly winter months (November to March), this unassuming coastal enclave plays host to the largest population of manatees anywhere in the state .

Nicknamed the ‘Manatee Capital of the World’, the gentle aquatic herbivores that inhabit the 70 or more natural springs which feed Crystal River’s Kings Bay have become the region’s main attraction for residents and visitors alike.

Planning a visit to Crystal River and looking for travel advice and itinerary suggestions?

Here’s my guide to booking the best hotels and best manatee tours in Crystal River Florida ; I can assure you that like me, you’ll leave with manatee fever.

When to visit Crystal River to swim with manatees

On the basis that most travellers who read this are planning to visit Crystal River to meet the wild manatee population I thought I’d better start with the best time of year to plan your trip.

Manatees actually much prefer to be out in the Mexican Gulf feeding on sea grass, however when the water temperature drops they have to seek shelter in warmer coastal waters. As such, the highest population of visiting manatees arrive during the winter months of November through until mid-March when they seek shelter in the warm water of natural springs like those in the Crystal River.

The best time to see manatees in Crystal River is late January/early February when the waters in the Mexican Gulf drop to their coldest all year.

The best manatee tours in Crystal River for active eco travellers

The main take-away from my time in Crystal River was the sensitive nature of manatee tourism .

Crystal River is the only region in Florida where you can legally be in the water with manatees, and as such, the local council and tour operators have an ongoing responsibility to make sure that tourism does not have a negative effect on the behaviour and well-being of the visiting manatee population.

With this in mind, here are a few things to consider when booking a manatee tour:

• Read Tripadvisor reviews and check social media channels before booking. Make sure the reviews and images online reflect ‘passive observation’ , not display images of people touching and harassing manatees.
• All operators are required to show guests a video entitled ‘manatee manners’ which outlines the correct in-water behaviour to minimise the impact of your visit on the animals. Make sure you get to see this, and be mindful of these rules when in the water.
• If you can, discuss with the tour operator which sites they plan to take you to . Some areas can become crowded at times and although less-popular, alternative locations with fewer people in the water can offer a more intimate experience.

If you have your own vehicle ( I picked up a Hertz rental car from Orlando Airport on arrival ), I would highly recommend booking your manatee tour on the neighbouring Homosassa River.

Just a few short miles from the Crystal River (and still part of the Crystal River region), the Homosassa is lesser known, and with fewer operators you’ll find you’re one of only a handful of people in the water at any one time .

Best manatee tour guide: review of Mellow Mangrove Charters

My best manatee tour experience was during a private tour with Captain Sean Daugherty of Mellow Mangrove Charters ; setting out at around 7:15am one Sunday morning we were the only boat on the water for at least an hour. Slowly making our way to a secluded spring around a 15 minute ride from the dock, I spent 90 minutes in the company of five different manatees who seemed very happy to have me hang out with them in the shallows.

Captain Sean clearly knew the river like the back of his hand, and spoke passionately about his commitment to protecting the integrity of manatee tours on the Homosassa and Crystal Rivers. He impressed upon me the importance of remaining as still as possible when in the water, and ensuing that any interaction was initiated by the manatee , and not by me touching or stroking the animals.

Check out this video of one of the interactions I was lucky enough to experience. This was filmed on my GoPro 5 with a dome port lens attachment and a selfie stick.

Cuddly manatee in the Homossassa River That moment when a manatee gives you a cuddle and your heart just melts 😍😍😍During my stay in Crystal River, Florida, I spent a lot of time in the water with manatees, and travelled with local guides and people who dedicate their lives to protecting this magnificent species. Because Crystal River is the only place in Florida where you can legally swim with manatees, I was conscious of the current conversation regarding whether swimmers should be allowed to touch the manatees, or whether passive observation would be a more positive way to co-exist with these amazing mammals. Because of this I was always conscious of not touching the manatees, but floating silently beside them, watching them as they made their way around the springs. However, one morning, very early, I went out to swim in the Homossassa River, and I was fortunate enough to meet a male manatee who was clearly as fascinated by me as I was by him. Making sure that I didn't harass him, I floated beside him, and watched as he acquainted himself with me, nudging my arms and investigating my snorkel and mask. After around 45 minutes of swimming alongside him, he seemed to reach out to me, and take my arm toward his chest, to simulate a sort of hug. I feel incredibly privileged to have experienced such an intimate moment with a wild animal, and encourage everyone to respect the boundaries between man and the wild. #DiscoverCR Posted by Wanderlusters on Friday, 9 February 2018

Best hotels in Crystal River

Crystal River boasts a range of accommodation options with everything from budget to high-end. When planning my stay I knew that I wanted a comfortable option that offered value for money , and was close to most activities and a range of restaurants and eateries.

As such I chose the Plantation on Crystal River , and I wasn’t disappointed.

Review of the Plantation on Crystal River

A relaxed waterside resort, the Plantation offers Floridian charm in abundance . Set aside the banks of the river and boasting a traditional elegance, the resort’s amenities are second to none, and their restaurant serves up the best brunch buffet I’ve ever eaten.

With an onsite golf club, spa pool, and water sports team who offer manatee tours and sunset cruises , this is the ideal destination for a five day stay in Crystal River.

Check their latest availability now, then take a look at their river cam for a real time view of happenings at the Plantation.

Best adventure activities in Crystal River

Although best known as the home of the Florida manatee, Crystal River boasts a varied array of outdoor activities , including kayaking, scuba diving, bird-watching, and fishing.

Having spent five days exploring the region, here are some suggestions for your itinerary:

Meet a manatee at the Three Sisters Springs boardwalk

If you’re not inclined to get in the water to meet a manatee, the Three Sisters Springs boardwalk is the place to go. Set around one of the most popular manatee hangouts in the Crystal River Region, Three Sisters is like the manatee equivalent of a day spa ; they come here for a little rest and relaxation.

During the peak manatee season you’re guaranteed to find a least a handful of manatee chilling out here, and thanks to the gin-clear water of the spring, you get a great view of them from above the waterline .

Go Kayaking on the Chassahowitzka River

Affectionately known as ‘The Chaz’ the Chassahowitzka is a spring-fed river that wends its way through five miles of Citrus County’s most unfettered terrain, and for those with an active interest in the natural world a kayaking excursion is a must .

Offering the opportunity to catch sight of a veritable menagerie of species, the headliners of which are the bald eagle, the manatee, and the iridescent kingfisher, a day on the Chaz is full of unexpected surprises.

I booked a three-hour guided kayaking tour with the team at Hunter Springs Kayaks and highly recommend their chilled-out, eco-friendly approach.

Try paddle boarding in Kings Bay

Perfect for those who prefer to explore at their own pace, a paddle board rental offers the opportunity to avoid the main river traffic and head to some of the more secluded spots in the bay.

I launched my board at Hunter Springs Park and during my two hours on the water I saw lots of manatees including a manatee mummy and her baby, and a pod of dolphins who came into the bay to feed just before sunset.

Take a sunset cruise to the Gulf of Mexico

As part of their activity suite the Plantation on Crystal River offer a sunset cruise which offers the opportunity to see some of Florida’s outstanding Nature Coast, and an uninterrupted view of the sun setting into the oceanic horizon of the Gulf of Mexico .

Meet Lu the hippo at Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park

Lucifer, or Lu as he is known, is the Crystal River resident hippo that you simply have to meet . The only hippo in the world to be granted Floridian citizenship, yes you read that correctly, Lu lives in the Homosassa Springs Wildlife State Park just a short drive from Crystal River.

Although not native to Florida, the residents of Crystal River petitioned for him to remain in the park after the state decide to house only endemic species at the facility. He’s actually become one of the park’s main attractions!

Visitors can also enjoy the park’s underwater manatee viewing station , as well as the opportunity to visit a whole host of endemic Florida wildlife such as black bears, snakes, alligators, and crocodiles.

How to get to Crystal River, Florida from the UK

By far the quickest route from the UK to Crystal River is to fly from London Gatwick to Orlando, and then pick up a rental car and drive the two or so hours on to Citrus County. I flew Premium with Norwegian and can highly recommend their service .

Over one metre of legroom, a premium meal service, and two checked bags of 20kg come as standard with the ticket price. Not only that, their new state-of-the-art aircraft are faster, greener and help reduce the effects of jet lag .

QUICK FACTS

Norwegian fly a year round direct service between London Gatwick and Orlando International Airport

• Flights are operated by a fleet of brand new Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft with two cabins – Premium and economy

To book visit  www.norwegian.com/uk  or call 0330 828 0854

Planning a self drive Crystal River itinerary

Regardless of where you’re visiting from, a self drive Crystal River itinerary is ideal for the active and adventurous traveller. I was able to book a comfortable rental car with Hertz for just 37USD per day and it gave me the freedom to explore the region at my own pace.

It also meant that I could book a private manatee tour and be out on the water before anyone else, something which afforded me the opportunity to have a more intimate encounter on the Homosassa River.

You can pick up a Hertz rental car from both Orlando Airport and from a depot in Homosassa (a five minute drive from Crystal River).

• A large selection of vehicles are offered at all locations – check options here
• Bookings can be amended up to 48 hours before collection
• Rental helpline is open 7 days a week

To book visit  www.hertz.co.uk/rentacar/reservation/

INSPIRED?? PIN THIS POST TO YOUR TRAVEL PINTEREST BOARDS!

Have any questions about booking the best manatee tours in Crystal River, Florida? Leave a comment below!

That animal looks so big, but the pictures are great!

Wow! Such a spectacular experience, Charli. I would love to go on a manatee tour one day and enjoy the dive! Florida, here I come! 🙂

Great suggestions! I have been to Florida but I haven’t heard of Chrystal River before. I would love to swim with the manatees but apart from that, your sunset shot was pretty awesome!

For those wanting information about guiding yourself to see manatees in Crystal River (or to check your guide), we developed this free mobile app to help you out. It is for use on a GPS enabled mobile device. It will show you where to go, how to spot and what to do when you see a manatee. It is free of advertising and emphasizes passive observation.

I went to Crystal River as a kid. It’s beautiful! Great post!

I grew up in Florida but have never done this! I’m going for the first time in a few days and I cannot wait.

What we are interested in is a guided kayak tour to, possibly, see manatees on the Crystal River. Seeing all the other flora and fauna sounds great also. But, my bucket list includes seeing a manatee, up close, in a natural environment. Is a guided kayak tour something I could arrange through Wander Lusters? Please let me know if this is possible and the cost of this adventure. BTW I have never been in a kayak though my husband has kayaked on a small lake. Thanks

Thank you for getting in touch. I can offer a full trip planning service however I do not book single tours. If you already have your accommodation and itinerary organized I can highly recommend going direct to Hunter Springs Kayaks – http://www.hunterspringskayak.com/ – I booked a three-hour guided kayaking tour with the team at Hunter Springs during my own visit to Crystal River and highly recommend their chilled-out, eco-friendly approach.

Safe travels, Charli

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Will it be easy to find my way in the Moscow Metro? It is a question many visitors ask themselves before hitting the streets of the Russian capital. As metro is the main means of transport in Moscow – fast, reliable and safe – having some skills in using it will help make your visit more successful and smooth. On top of this, it is the most beautiful metro in the world !

. There are over 220 stations and 15 lines in the Moscow Metro. It is open from 6 am to 1 am. Trains come very frequently: during the rush hour you won't wait for more than 90 seconds! Distances between stations are quite long – 1,5 to 2 or even 3 kilometers. Metro runs inside the city borders only. To get to the airport you will need to take an onground train - Aeroexpress.

RATES AND TICKETS

Paper ticket A fee is fixed and does not depend on how far you go. There are tickets for a number of trips: 1, 2 or 60 trips; or for a number of days: 1, 3 days or a month. Your trips are recorded on a paper ticket. Ifyou buy a ticket for several trips you can share it with your traveling partner passing it from one to the other at the turnstile.

On every station there is cashier and machines (you can switch it to English). Cards and cash are accepted. 1 trip - 55 RUB 2 trips - 110 RUB

Tickets for 60 trips and day passes are available only at the cashier's.

60 rides - 1900 RUB

1 day - 230 RUB 3 days - 438 RUB 30 days - 2170 RUB.

The cheapest way to travel is buying Troyka card . It is a plastic card you can top up for any amount at the machine or at the ticket office. With it every trip costs 38 RUB in the metro and 21 RUB in a bus. You can get the card in any ticket office. Be prepared to leave a deposit of 50 RUB. You can get it back returning the card to the cashier.

SamsungPay, ApplePay and PayPass cards.

One turnstile at every station accept PayPass and payments with phones. It has a sticker with the logos and located next to the security's cabin.

GETTING ORIENTED

At the platfrom you will see one of these signs.

It indicates the line you are at now (line 6), shows the direction train run and the final stations. Numbers below there are of those lines you can change from this line.

In trains, stations are announced in Russian and English. In newer trains there are also visual indication of there you are on the line.

To change lines look for these signs. This one shows the way to line 2.

There are also signs on the platfrom. They will help you to havigate yourself. (To the lines 3 and 5 in this case). 

Moscow Metro Tour

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Moscow metro private tours.

• 2-hour tour $87:  10 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with hotel pick-up and drop-off
• 3-hour tour $137:  20 Must-See Moscow Metro stations with Russian lunch in beautifully-decorated Metro Diner + hotel pick-up and drop off. 
• Metro pass is included in the price of both tours.

Highlight of Metro Tour

• Visit 10 must-see stations of Moscow metro on 2-hr tour and 20 Metro stations on 3-hr tour, including grand Komsomolskaya station with its distinctive Baroque décor, aristocratic Mayakovskaya station with Soviet mosaics, legendary Revolution Square station with 72 bronze sculptures and more!
• Explore Museum of Moscow Metro and learn a ton of technical and historical facts;
• Listen to the secrets about the Metro-2, a secret line supposedly used by the government and KGB;
• Experience a selection of most striking features of Moscow Metro hidden from most tourists and even locals;
• Discover the underground treasure of Russian Soviet past – from mosaics to bronzes, paintings, marble arches, stained glass and even paleontological elements;
• Learn fun stories and myths about Coffee Ring, Zodiac signs of Moscow Metro and more;
• Admire Soviet-era architecture of pre- and post- World War II perious;
• Enjoy panoramic views of Sparrow Hills from Luzhniki Metro Bridge – MetroMost, the only station of Moscow Metro located over water and the highest station above ground level;
• If lucky, catch a unique «Aquarelle Train» – a wheeled picture gallery, brightly painted with images of peony, chrysanthemums, daisies, sunflowers and each car unit is unique;
• Become an expert at navigating the legendary Moscow Metro system;
• Have fun time with a very friendly local;
• + Atmospheric Metro lunch in Moscow’s the only Metro Diner (included in a 3-hr tour)

Hotel Pick-up

Metro stations:.

Komsomolskaya

Novoslobodskaya

Prospekt Mira

Belorusskaya

Mayakovskaya

Novokuznetskaya

Revolution Square

Sparrow Hills

+ for 3-hour tour

Victory Park

Slavic Boulevard

Vystavochnaya

Dostoevskaya

Elektrozavodskaya

Partizanskaya

Museum of Moscow Metro

• Drop-off  at your hotel, Novodevichy Convent, Sparrow Hills or any place you wish
• + Russian lunch  in Metro Diner with artistic metro-style interior for 3-hour tour

Fun facts from our Moscow Metro Tours:

From the very first days of its existence, the Moscow Metro was the object of civil defense, used as a bomb shelter, and designed as a defense for a possible attack on the Soviet Union.

At a depth of 50 to 120 meters lies the second, the coded system of Metro-2 of Moscow subway, which is equipped with everything you need, from food storage to the nuclear button.

According to some sources, the total length of Metro-2 reaches over 150 kilometers.

The Museum was opened on Sportivnaya metro station on November 6, 1967. It features the most interesting models of trains and stations.

Coffee Ring

The first scheme of Moscow Metro looked like a bunch of separate lines. Listen to a myth about Joseph Stalin and the main brown line of Moscow Metro.

Zodiac Metro

According to some astrologers, each of the 12 stops of the Moscow Ring Line corresponds to a particular sign of the zodiac and divides the city into astrological sector.

Astrologers believe that being in a particular zadiac sector of Moscow for a long time, you attract certain energy and events into your life.

Paleontological finds 

Red marble walls of some of the Metro stations hide in themselves petrified inhabitants of ancient seas. Try and find some!

• Every day each car in  Moscow metro passes  more than 600 km, which is the distance from Moscow to St. Petersburg.
• Moscow subway system is the  5th in the intensity  of use (after the subways of Beijing, Tokyo, Seoul and Shanghai).
• The interval in the movement of trains in rush hour is  90 seconds .

What you get:

• + A friend in Moscow.
• + Private & customized Moscow tour.
• + An exciting pastime, not just boring history lessons.
• + An authentic experience of local life.
• + Flexibility during the walking tour: changes can be made at any time to suit individual preferences.
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• + Expert advice on what to do, where to go, and how to make the most of your time in Moscow.

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