For 2016, Abercrombie & Kent is introducing new Connections programmes in Italy and Cuba, in addition to 3 new Family Journeys in Central Europe, Italy, Scotland and Ireland, and 4 new themed European River Cruise Journeys, with a focus on Food & Wine, Art & Architecture and Christmas Markets.

A&K’s Connections Worldwide Group Journeys were designed to offer travellers the same activities and expert Resident Tour Directors A&K is known for in small group travel –but priced 30% less, with 4-star-plus and 5-star accommodations and a slightly larger group size of no more than 24 guests.

“With the value offered in Connections by Abercrombie & Kent, so many more travellers are able to connect with the world’s greatest destinations,” explains A&K President Phil Otterson. “Our goal is for guests to return home feeling as though they made a unique, authentic connection to each place they visit.”

Italy: Rome & the North

Clients can discover the best of Rome with a local guide, including the Colosseum and Campo de Fiori, and then explore Florence and its Uffizi Gallery with a specialist art guide. They can relax among the breathtaking beauty of Cinque Terre, tour a family-owned balsamic vinegar factory, sampling this regional favourite before sitting down to a farmhouse lunch, then continue on to Verona, setting for ‘Romeo & Juliet’. 11 days from $6395

Cuba: Across the Island: People to People

Clients can explore the length of the isle, from Holguin, the coastal city where Christopher Columbus landed, to Santiago de Cuba at the southern tip, ending in Havana on this interactive experience aimed at fostering a meaningful connection with the Cuban people.13 days from $7995

Prices are per person, double occupancy