‘A wonderful way to see the world’

Staff report

For employees thinking about a vacation, how does Rio de Janeiro or Italy sound? What about Hawaii? These are the destinations of trips now being planned by U.Va.’s Employee Travel Program.

The tour to Rio de Janeiro will be offered Nov. 5-12, with an optional trip Nov. 12-14 to Iguassu Falls, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. For 2006, destinations being discussed include Italy and Hawaii. Information about the tours will be posted on the Human Resources Web site at www.hrs.virginia.edu, and on the Health System Web site at http://www.healthsystem.virginia.edu/intranet/knowledgelink/manage-life/travel-opps.cfm. Those interested can also call Jackie Cooke of Faculty & Staff Employee Relations at 924-4430.

What are the trips like?

They’re well-planned, well-attended, well-priced and well-enjoyed, according to participants.

Dr. Mary Bryant, assistant professor of clinical physical medicine & rehabilitation, said that she enjoys the fact that “no advanced planning is necessary. All you have to do is show up.”

Nearly 100 employees, family members and friends did just that for the Employee Travel Program’s most recent tour to Budapest, Hungary and Prague in the Czech Republic in early March.

During the week-long tour of Budapest and its surrounding area, the group experienced ancient castles and cathedrals, monuments to the famous and infamous, and a cruise along the Danube. A highlight was a trip across the Hungarian puszta (or plain) to a horse farm where employees were entertained by the world famous “horseboys” (Hungarian cowboys). Nearly half of the U.Va. group continued on to Prague.

Sally Barber of the Office of the Vice President & Provost, said, “Budapest was my fifth U.Va. travel trip, and we had a great time. … You can’t beat these trips for the price. The flexibility to ‘do your own thing’ or sign up for the optional day trips is the best of all worlds.”

Debbie Hiatt of Medical Center Human Resources said, “I’ve been going on the U.Va. trips since 1989. … If you like to travel, this is a wonderful way to experience new cultures [and] a great way to see the world.”