Tour guide offers to trace 'Dracula' footsteps in Transylvania, Romania

July 9, 1:37 PMTwilight ExaminerAmanda Bell

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We've all heard about the various tours offered to Twilight fans through Forks, Washington and the like, but have you ever thought of tracing the footsteps of the most acclaimed vampire story in literary history?

That would be Dracula, and if you haven't thought about it before, this press release may give you something to chew on (pun intended).

Going into its thirteenth year, "DraculaTour" is a unique travel adventure which takes travelers to Eastern Europe's most infamous land of the unholy, Transylvania (in Romania). For one week, guests experience the definitive vampire-themed adventure with fellow fans, friends & fiends of the macabre on a vacation that is scary, sexy, spooky, campy - but most of all - fun for all ages!

DraculaTour” is billed as the only true fully-escorted “vampire vacation” professionally organized by fans especially for fans. It travels from the U.S. on October 27th and returns on November 3rd, planned so that participants spend their Halloween celebration in Dracula’s Castle. This annual pilgrimage to Transylvania, in Romania, is presented by Tours of Terror, who also host "Weekend of the Witch" to Salem, and also the annual “GHOSTour Week of Horrors” (to England and Scotland).

In a time where travel is down, and people may think twice about taking such a journey, inquiries are higher than ever, and organizers point to all the vampire-mania. Tours of Terror director Charles Rosenay (who, as Cryptmaster Chiller Chucky, is also examiner.com's Horror Happenings editor) always saw the lure of the trip being that travelers could spend Halloween night in Dracula’s Castle, but he expects this year's summer version of the pilgrimage to be just as “hot.” The Halloween trip sells out every year. According to Rosenay, “We usually attract twice as many people for Halloween, but because of “Twilight,” “True Blood” and other recent or upcoming vampire-related media extravaganzas, the summer Dracula Tour had a very strong turn-out too.” He adds, “The combination of romance and heat generated by these newer vampire projects are getting more and more people interested in our tours, and they seem to be just as interested in visiting the Carpethian Mountains in the summertime, when Transylvania is lovely, and probably a lot sexier.”

“DraculaTour” follows Jonathan Harker’s trail from the novel “Dracula,” while throwing in all sorts of spooky surprises along the way. There is a mock witch trial, visits to haunted graveyards and time spent in the world’s largest and oldest tools of torture museum. There is both educational and entertainment value as the tour includes historical Bran Castle, Clock Tower, the Black Church, Vlad’s birthplace, Vlad’s castle (also known as Dracula's fortress) and also the monastery where Vlad is buried. It’s the perfect combination of fun and fear, for anyone looking for an unusual weeklong ghoulish getaway. Vampires, vampire fans and even vampire slayers are welcome, and all get along harmoniously on this travel adventure.

The highlight of the “Dracula Tour” is undoubtedly spending a night inside Dracula’s Castle. All travelers dress in their best costumes, eat a lavish meal, experience a “vampire” show, descend to the dungeon of the castle where “the coffin” lies waiting, dance to appropriate macabre music (everything from “The Monster Mash” to music from “Rocky Horror”), partake in a moonlit bonfire and simply have the times of their lives ... even if they’re part of the undead. Every year, one couple takes the experience one step further -- they get married during the trip with their ceremony and reception at Dracula's Castle, and all the fellow travelers are guests at this unique wedding! Whereas most couples kiss after their cake-cutting ceremony, the bride and groom bite each other’s necks (lovingly, of course).

What are some of the highlights of this trek of terror? Travelers will actually follow the footsteps of Jonathan Harker's trail from Bram Stoker's novel "Dracula." They’ll spend time in Bucharest and Brasov ascending the Carpethian Mountains to Vlad Castle. They see the Black Church and haunted Farmer's Market in Sighisoara, birthplace of Dracula (Vlad). They visit the eerie Clock Tower and Square History Torture Museum. They embark on a journey through Borgo Pass to Dracula's Castle and they also explore the Snagov Monastery (Tomb of Dracula) as well as the Transylvanian Castle of Bran, a fortress built in 1377 and preserved as national monument. And that's just the daily sightseeing part of the trip. Nights are filled with howling parties, film screenings, bonfires and surprises. Rosenay expects group discussions on the “Twilight” books and film to be a popular feature of the upcoming tour.

This professionally-guided, fully-escorted tour is ideal for the single traveler, but also is well-suited for couples and even families. If you're the type who would enjoy dressing up (or down) for a masquerade ball in Dracula's Castle, or if you can imagine have a blood-suckingly great time partying under a full moon in a land that time forgot, this is the tour experience of a lifetime.

DraculaTour is presented by "Tours of Terror.” It's a $4700 value for only $2499 per person, based on double occupancy. Package price includes round-trip airfare from the NY metro area, deluxe hotel accommodations, meals, transfers, luxury coach ground transportation, all events - parties - guests appearances - attractions - admissions. Reservations are now being accepted for the October 27-November 3, 2009 Halloween haunted holiday journey.

To read about the past vampire vacations, or for additional information, visit the official website: www.toursandevents.com. For a free color brochure, write to "Tours of Terror" at 315 Derby Avenue, Orange CT 06477, email DracTours@aol.com or call toll-free (866) T-E-R-R-OR-T-O-U-R (direct line is 203-795-4737).

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