For Immediate Release
Transylvania, Romania: Spending Halloween night in Dracula’s Castle sounds like something Abbott & Costello might have done by mistake in one of their movies. But it’s something that Dracula and horror enthusiasts actually do every year on the “Dracula Tour,” thanks to a tour group (www.DracTours.com) which brings fear-filled travelers to Transylvania every year.
The “vampire vacation” to Transylvania welcomes travelers of all ages, monster mavens, goths and gorehounds in a travel adventure that follows in the footsteps of Bram Stoker’s novel, “Dracula” from October 27-November 3. During the week, there is an equal portion of history, involving Vlad Tepes, plus the myth and mystery surrounding Dracula, and the ways that Vlad inspired Dracula.
The tour visits Snagov Island, where a secluded monastery contains Vlad’s coffin. There’s a visit to Vlad’s birthplace in the best-preserved medieval town in all of Europe, Sighisoara. This is the region of Transylvania where there were attempts to build a “DraculaLand” theme park, but the area will remain uncommercialized. While there, the group also ventures into a haunted graveyard, takes part in a witch trial (a re-creation, that is) and also climbs the historic Clock Tower above the Torture Chamber and torture museum. In Sibiu, the group visits the Evangelical Church built in 1300, which contains burial vaults in its crypt connected to both Dracula and the legend of Frankenstein. That’s just one of the numerous horror-related sites. The group explores the historic ruins of Vlad’s Poenari Castle, which is as breathtaking as the more tourist-visited Bran Castle, also on the itinerary.
Ascending up Borgo Pass into the Carpethian Mountains, travelers follow the path of Jonathan Harker, the character described in the Dracula novel. “We partake in a gala dinner banquet at Jonathan Harker’s Golden Crown Restaurant, the Romanian Coroana de Aur, for the ritual meal of robber steak and blood brandy, just like in the novel,” proclaims tour organizer Charles Rosenay of “Tours of Terror,” based in Orange, Connecticut. “But the highlight is unquestionably Halloween, when travelers from all over the world experience what is the definitive Mad Monster Party – a gala masquerade ball, in the dungeon room at Dracula’s Castle in Piatra Fantanele atop the Romanian alps.” The costume party is preceded by an outdoor bonfire with music by local gypsy musicians, followed by a six-course meal, culminating with an unforgettable costume extravaganza and dancing into the early morning hours.
Participants travel in a luxury coach that journeys alongside the horse & buggies which to this day still share the Romanian countryside roads. Along the way, Rosenay screens classic horror films on the coaches and adds fun to the fear. It’s a dream-come-true (or nightmare-come-true) for fans of Dracula or the horror genre, and is one of the more unique leisure vacations offered for the popular holiday. The “vampire vacation” costs travelers $2499 per person based on double occupancy for all this, included round-trip airfare, deluxe accommodations, meals, admissions, parties, guests, attractions, a complimentary souvenir travel bag and a “bloody” good time.
“Dracula Tour” is the only fully-escorted, professionally-guided vacation organized by fans for fans. The annual pilgrimage to the “unholy” land is accepting reservations for Halloween, 2012 (October 27-November 3). There is a similar summer version of the tour every July. The trip is open to all ages, and welcomes couples, families and solo travelers. There is both educational and entertainment value for anyone looking for an unusual week-long ghoulish goth getaway. Vampire fans, vampire slayers and perhaps even vampires are obviously all welcome, and all get along harmoniously. Rosenay is still waiting for a real vampire to go on the tour, though. “We’ve had dozens of people dress as Dracula or Nosferatu or other famous vampires at our Halloween masquerade ball, but there’s only one way we’ll really know if there’s ever truly a vampire on the tour… they’ll fly back as bats and won’t need the return airplane flight home.”
For further details on the “Dracula Tour,” call toll-free (866) T-E-R-R-O-R-T-O-U-R (direct line 203-795-4737) or visit the website www.DracTours.com, where you could see photos of past travelers and also read past tour reports.
Bela Lugosi would be proud.
Website: www.DracTours.com
