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OCTOBER 24, 2006 at 10:41 AM
Posted by GERI
Source: HPANA
This past July fans of Harry Potter from around the world participated in the third annual HP Fan Trips, enjoying a trip on the Hogwarts Express and participating in an exclusive gala event at Edinburgh Castle. Next year's itinerary has just been announced and will include new locations where scenes from Order of the Phoenix were filmed. There will also be a VIP screening of the movie the week it is released in Edinburgh.
October 24, 2006 -- HP Fan Trips
announced today its 2007 summer Harry Potter tour packages designed by fans, for fans. Finely tuned and sporting exciting new additions, the group has demonstrated its success over the last four years at hosting the most comprehensive, fan-centric Potter tour on the market.
The 2007 packages, open to all fans worldwide, adds exciting new locations and activities as suggested by fans, guides and staff. "We've consistently been blown away by the response to these trips, and have taken every suggestion for improvement to heart," said Jeff Guillaume, one of HP Fan Trips' organizers and webmaster of award-winning Harry Potter fan site HPANA.com. "For 2007, these already amazing tours have been made even better by adding new elements from the filming of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. It definitely reflects our ongoing commitment to be the premiere Harry Potter 'fan experience' tour."
Colorado tour company Beyond Boundaries Travel will once again whisk hundreds of fans into the very heart of JK Rowling's phenomenal series. A staple of HP Fan Trips is an exclusive ride on vintage steam locomotive #5972 Olton Hall, the very train used by Warner Bros. as the official "Hogwarts Express" in the Potter films.
The various itineraries feature visits to London, Oxford, Alnwick, The Highlands and Edinburgh. Two nights in the Highlands are included, where many backdrops for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire were filmed. A built-in flight from London to Inverness shortens travel time and allows for a visit to Loch Ness, a must-see for most visitors to the region.
HP Fan Trips in the summer of 2007 will coincide with the theatrical release of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, as it continues to offer an unsurpassed glimpse into the fantasy and real-world elements of Harry Potter for the fourth straight year. Highlights include a VIP movie screening, an exclusive magical banquet and party at Edinburgh Castle, and the use of the entire hotel used by cast and crew in Glencoe (the Highlands) while they were shooting Goblet of Fire. Fans can even take part in an exciting drawing for the chance to stay in the actual rooms used by Dan Radcliffe (Harry Potter), Rupert Grint (Ron Weasley), Emma Watson (Hermione Granger) and Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy).
The tours are open to all Harry Potter fans worldwide and include separate, specialized packages for families, teens and adults.
"We go to locations in London, Oxford and Scotland that appear in the films," said Guillaume. "But we also give fans a chance to experience the very real connection to British culture that influences JK Rowling's stories by exploring the United Kingdom and its history."
Top international Harry Potter fan sites have offered their support for this unique experience, including the Harry Potter Automatic News Aggregator (HPANA), MuggleNet, DanRadcliffe.com, FictionAlley, Harry Potter Fan Zone and others. The web sites for these organizations have loyal readers in more than 83 countries with over 45,000,000 hits per month.
About HP Fan Trips
HP Fan Trips debuted in June 2004 after a year of planning by Jeannie Barresi of Beyond Boundaries Travel; Jeff Guillaume, a 26-year-old programmer and creator of Harry Potter news site HPANA.com; and Heidi Tandy, an intellectual property lawyer and co-founder of fan site FictionAlley.org. HP Fan Trips has since been featured in the New York Times, CNN, Frommer's, Fodors, New Zealand Herald, Malaysian Star and other international media.
About Beyond Boundaries Travel
Since 1991, Beyond Boundaries Travel has designed special interest group travel. It is an international tour company working with fandom web sites, The History Channel, the World Bank, the United Nations, the National Institutes of Health and other organizations. Beyond Boundaries works with a wide variety of suppliers to create uniquely themed experiences for their exceptional clients.
MEDIA INQUIRIES: Jeannie Barresi
TEL: +1 800-487-1136 (U.S.)
TRIP INQUIRIES: Contact online
http://www.hpfantrips.com/contact/
WEBMASTERS:
By supporting and promoting this year's tours (absolutely free), we will happily link back to your site as a way of saying thanks. Plus, by referring 25 people, you get a free trip valued at up to $2,800! Go to here for instructions. Be sure to check out the totally revamped HP Fan Trips web site!
Reader Comments (161)
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Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1437
allilau says:
How fantastic! I've dreamnt many times of riding the Hogwarts express and it's great that the package caters to both young & old, families and friends. If I find myslef overseas next year, it's something I would definatley do!
Posted Oct 26, 2006 at 2:06 AM EST
Student
Points: 228
Jlgrigsby says:
Coolness. I want to go, really bad.
Posted Oct 26, 2006 at 8:22 AM EST
Prefect
Points: 364
kappy says:
That would be an exciting trip to take my family on. I will definitely be checking out the cost of these trips. I'm glad I've joined the site so I have access to all this great information about HP.
Posted Oct 26, 2006 at 10:30 AM EST
Witch
Points: 828
Elphaba_Thropp says:
Wow...that sounds really good.
Getting to see the movie would be the best bit!
Posted Oct 26, 2006 at 2:54 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1252
1USHPFN says:
What a magical adventure that will surely be! I would love it, as I'm sure would any fan. There is such great access to so many things "Potter" in these tours that I believe you could take them all and feel completely immursed in the wizarding world.
Posted Oct 26, 2006 at 3:27 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2108
phoenix_feathers says:
Soudns like a fascinating trip! I too have always wondered what scotland would be like...
Posted Oct 26, 2006 at 4:01 PM EST
Order of Merlin, 4th Class
Points: 1229
sapphire260 says:
I wish i could take this trip, but that is not possible!!!
Posted Oct 26, 2006 at 5:24 PM EST
Squib
Points: 180
hermioneismytwin says:
Sounds great! Too bad I would nevr be able to go. I wish though! Maybe when I'm old enough, have a job, can go by myself.Wait, that doesn't sound fun! Just kidding, I wish I could. Sound facinating.
Posted Oct 26, 2006 at 9:35 PM EST
Professor
(Moderator)
Points: 1180
Vermin Jerky says:
*throws a tantrum* Why must I be poor? Oh to be able to go! I really need to start saving up and go on one after movie seven so I can see everything of importance.
Of course it's either that or my retirement fund... Nah. Fan Trip. For sure. I can work 'til I'm 70.
Edit: Woo hoo! Point #999 for this post. Tres cool.
Posted Oct 27, 2006 at 2:37 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 3rd Class
Points: 1426
Vampire Slumber Party says:
*Sigh* I hate being broke. I wish I could go
Posted Oct 27, 2006 at 3:58 AM EST
Professor
Points: 1018
ILuvHarryDiggoryKrum says:
I really want to go but cant L.O.L
oh well have fun everyone who does
Posted Oct 27, 2006 at 9:07 AM EST
Malfoy by Nature
Points: 12528
WickeDraco says:
Jeff Guillaume? Oh god, I've been a member on HPANA for nearly two years now and I did not know that he was the creator of the site. How sad.
Posted Oct 27, 2006 at 9:29 AM EST
Auror
Points: 2351
Skitch says:
Wow, that would really be so incredible to go and ride the Hogwart's Express, and then get to screen the movie early. I'm sure everyone who goes will have a really great time.
Posted Oct 27, 2006 at 10:32 AM EST
Order of Merlin, 2nd Class
Points: 1647
Hermione's younger sister says:
That would be so much fun to go to, except I didn't understand how to do it, oh well, it is a long was away from where I live.
Posted Oct 27, 2006 at 11:21 AM EST
Magickal Mead Wench
Points: 2505
SnapesSorceress says:
I still think it is so bizarre that the tour company presenting this, Beyond Bounderies, is 90 minutes from my house in CO Springs. Maybe I can eventually take advantage of that and go on one of their Harry Potter tours. I have a friend who works for a different tour group out of Denver and they also feature a Harry Potter tour, albeit rather inferior to the Beyond Bounderies one. But for me this is all so close, and yet so far...
SnapesSorceress
Posted Oct 27, 2006 at 11:59 AM EST
Lupin's Eternal Love
Points: 3088
BlackKatL says:
*cries* I want to gooooooo! Why am I poooooor!!! I need to go to that trip!!!
It's just perfect for me!!! Visit UK and a Harry Potter tour!!!
*sniff, sighs, sniff*
Posted Oct 27, 2006 at 11:13 PM EST
Witch
Points: 754
Griselda Marchbanks says:
The tour sounds really great, but I have like zero chance of actually going. The highlight would have to be watching the new movie and the party at Edinburgh Castle.
Posted Oct 28, 2006 at 2:40 AM EST
Princess of Cleverness
Points: 5207
unicorn_purple says:
That is really cool!!!!!!!!!!!
How I wish I could go on this trip too.
Posted Oct 28, 2006 at 3:09 AM EST
Wizard
Points: 874
Silly Dragon says:
It looks really nice, but just as expensive, unfortunately. I couldn't afford going before a long time, still I hope it will be easier for me in a couple of years.
Posted Oct 28, 2006 at 5:44 AM EST
Witch
Points: 634
Tammyant says:
How cool would it be to go on one of these tours. I would love to do that with my son. It would be a dream come true for both of us!
Posted Oct 28, 2006 at 11:06 PM EST
Harry's Mental Advisor
Points: 19432
Smileyradcliffe says:
Man, I would SO love to take one of these trips. There are sure to be some awesome spots to see and I would just be fun to chat with some other HP fans too! :o)
Posted Oct 28, 2006 at 11:52 PM EST
Auror
Points: 2465
undisputed760 says:
Man, i always hate hearing about that cause theres never any way i could go. I think theres an age requirement that i dont meet becaue im too old, oh and yeah, i live in the US, a whole ocean away.
Posted Oct 29, 2006 at 1:00 AM EST
Lips of an Angel
Points: 26390
3.1415926535 says:
I hope no one minds that i am off topic here.. but has anyone else noticed that they cant post in the Forums! This is the ONLY place i can post! Whats happening mods..??
Posted Oct 29, 2006 at 1:20 AM EST
Slugmeister
Points: 3731
Prawg says:
I wanna gooooo! Now I am so jealous of those who have been and will go in the future! I wanna go!!! I would proably knock myself out at King's Cross, though, trying to bang my head into that barrier.. :D
Posted Oct 29, 2006 at 1:42 AM EST
Delusional Army Soldier
Points: 4393
ILoveHP! says:
Wow... *sighs* Wish I had the time and money for that... Sounds like a dream for a true HP fan... *sobs*
Posted Oct 29, 2006 at 2:28 AM EST
Muggle
Points: 82
Hufflepuff is Love. says:
That trip seems like so much fun.
I would love to go.
Posted Oct 29, 2006 at 2:03 PM EST
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