[Updated] MINI has teamed up with Virgin Vacations to offer a MINI Motoring Holiday. Here are all the details:

Get ready for a some curves, dips, fish and chips. You’ve got a chance to do a little motoring in the old world. In the place it all began, Oxford England.

MINI USA has partnered with Virgin Vacations to create the MINI Motoring Holiday, a new travel program for MINI owners and enthusiasts. The new program will offer bookings for travel beginning June 20, 2005.

The program is designed specifically for those MINI enthusiasts who would like to create their own customized holiday to the UK. Most notably, travel includes unique ‘MINI-esque’ extras such as a tour of the MINI manufacturing plant in Oxford, England and the option to rent a MINI while on holiday.

There are individual packages to suit varying interests, budgets and travel schedules. Available packages include: the “Short Cut”, with three nights in London, the “Long Cut”, a six-night London stay and “The Scenic Route”, offering three nights in London and three nights in Oxford. Each package offers the add-on option of a MINI rental car as well as additional sight-seeing and travel options that can be booked in advance.

The 3 or 6-Night London Stay and the 6-Night London/Oxford Stay:

Inclusions:

  • Round-trip Economy air on Virgin Atlantic Airways
  • Choice of stay at first-class, superior or deluxe hotel in London or Oxford
  • Meet & Greet service upon arrival in London
  • Round-trip standard class rail ticket to Oxford
  • MINI plant tour
  • Round-trip airport transfer
  • Complimentary Virgin “Extras” including London City Guide, Carry-all bag and MINI Motoring Holiday kit
  • Optional MINI Car Rental: Cooper S – and coming soon – Convertible S
  • Links to additional activities

Pricing:

  • 3 night London: start from $759*
  • 6 night London: start from $949*
  • 6 night London/Oxford: start from $1,029*
  • Rental car: rates from $125 per day**

*Prices based on double occupancy for travel 9/6 – 10/18 2005 from New York. Other travel dates and gateways available at applicable prices.
** Rental cars are based on number of days.
Please note: more detailed pricing and travel information is attached.

Also available are a number of unique activities that travelers can book which are ideally suited to the MINI enthusiast. Travelers get to choose from activities that include driving go-karts, racing MINIs on the track or even commanding a real tank. Tours are also available at the National Motor Museum and Heritage Motor Centre museum which feature historic Mini displays.

The partnership with Virgin Vacations and MINI USA to create a travel program is appropriate as both brands posses a unique and fun customer orientation. The MINI Motoring Holiday emphasizes the sense of adventure MINI owners and enthusiasts possess, while offering travel packages managed by Virgin Vacations, experts in travel to Great Britain and other European destinations.

“MINI is about individualization and discovering the road less traveled,” said Marian Hawryluk, MINI Sales Process Manager, “Our partnership with Virgin Vacations is a natural fit as our program caters to those MINI enthusiasts who wish to experience a customized holiday package that offers a unique British flavor – yet with a MINI twist.”

[ MINI Motoring Holiday ] MINI/Virgin Vacations

Based on a conversation I had a while back with someone at MINI, quite a few people have been hard at work on this idea for sometime. While a true UK delivery option for US customers probably will never happen (right side driving + left side wheel = huge liability) this looks to be the next best thing. Kudos to MINI for offering something like this.