HP Fan Trips to take over Edinburgh Castle in 2006

  December 1, 2005 at 10:35 AM ET
  Cheeser     HPANA (via HP Fan Trips)
  harry potter tours, harry potter trip, harry potter fan trip, harry potter fan tour


In 2004, over 100 peopleopens in new window took a chance on the first-ever Harry Potter tour designed by fans. This past summer, that number doubled to over 200opens in new window. Next year, HP Fan Trips will once again whisk hundreds of fans to the United Kingdom, with all-new, exciting features including a takeover of Edinburgh Castle for a private party!

HP Fan Trips announces summer 2006 tours for Harry Potter fans

December 1, 2005 -- HP Fan Tripsopens in new window released today its international 2006 summer tour programs for Harry Potter fans. Building on the success of its trips in 2004 and 2005, the group has secured more exclusive experiences for fans in 2006, including a private party at Edinburgh Castle, in the same rooms used during the launch of JK Rowling's sixth book.

Colorado company Beyond Boundaries Travelopens in new window will once again operate the tour, which includes an exclusive ride on vintage steam locomotive #5972 Olton Hall, the very train used in the Warner Bros. films as the official "Hogwarts Express."

"We've really tailored this year's program by listening to past trip participants' feedback," said Jeff Guillaume, one of HP Fan Trips' organizers and webmaster of Harry Potter fan site HPANA.com. "It definitely reflects our ongoing commitment to be the premiere Harry Potter 'fan experience' tour."

Highlights for 2006 include an exclusive magical banquet and party, as HP Fan Trips takes over Edinburgh Castle and the entire hotel used by cast and crew in Glencoe (the Highlands). Fans can 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).

An all-new itinerary features visits to Oxford, Alnwick and Edinburgh. Two nights in the Highlands have been added, where many backdrops for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire were filmed. Another feature is a built-in flight from London to Inverness which shortens travel time and allows for a visit to Loch Ness, a must-see for most visitors.

The tours are open to all Harry Potter fans worldwide and include specialized, separate choices for families, teens and adults.

"Naturally, 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."

Top international Harry Potter fan sites have offered their support for this unique experience, including the Harry Potter Automatic News Aggregator (HPANA), MuggleNetopens in new window, DanRadcliffe.comopens in new window, FictionAlleyopens in new window, Harry Potter Fan Zoneopens in new window 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 25-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, 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/opens in new window

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 $2,600! Go to hereopens in new window for instructions. Be sure to check out the totally revamped HP Fan Trips web site !

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