TRAINS & TRAVEL
P.O. BOX 10625
RENO, NEVADA 89510-0625
Chris@traintrips.biz Rail Tours Manager. For question regarding tour itineraries and details.
Deborah@traintrips.biz Office Manager: Accounting
1-800 359-4870 USA
1-800 752-1836 CANADA
1-800 266-8751 FAX
(530) 836-1944
OFFICE HOURS 9AM TO 5PM MONDAY-FRIDAY
PACIFIC WEST COAST TIME


TOURIST TOUR
AUGUST 9-22, 2011
SURE-GO


Starting in London, you will travel in a small executive motor coach as you explore some of England's most interesting tourist attractions. The hotels have been especially selected to complement the tour. From country estates to fine city hotels, they offer excellent dining and good quality rooms.

Trains feature in most of our tours, and this one is no exception with journeys on some of Britain's finest. The Statesman will carry you to Edinburgh for the Tattoo in their Pullman Dining service, and the Shakespeare Express will steam to Stratford Upon Avon as you enjoy breakfast, and back again with afternoon tea. We have added two preserved steam train journeys for a well balanced railway experience

Day 1 Tuesday August 9: (D) Arrive in London today. Make your way to the 4 star Charring Cross Hotel, your home for the next two nights. Geoff will be there to meet you and to offer any advice you need on planning your visit. Private transfers from your airport can be arranged on request (extra cost).

Day 2 Wednesday August 10: (B, D) Join a tour of London today. Following our coach drive past some of London's most famous landmarks including Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament we will arrive at the Tower of London. Our very own Yeoman Warder will lead us into this world heritage site before it opens to the public, on a private guided tour explaining the history behind this fortress of imprisonment and torture. We should also be the first group to see the Crown Jewels before enjoying some free time to explore on our own. Why not visit Traitors Gate, the armouries or the Bloody Tower? And keep an eye out for the famous Ravens. Tradition has it that if the Ravens leave the Tower the monarch will fall! Departing the Tower we will head to The Mall to watch the Changing of the Guard ceremony as one of the Queens Household Regiments march from St. James Palace to Buckingham Palace dressed in their world famous tunics and busbies.* Next we will take a short cruise on the River Thames as we enjoy views of St. Paul's Cathedral and Shakespeare's Globe Theatre before heading for a traditional pub lunch in Whitehall, close to Downing Street, the residence of the Prime Minister (food/drink not included). After lunch we will have a photo stop at Westminster Abbey before continuing to St Paul's Cathedral to explore Wren's masterpiece, designed in 1673. Our professional guide will taking time to listen to the 1695 organ that Mendelssohn once played and visit the tombs of Nelson and Wellington. There will also be the chance to test the unique acoustics of the Whispering Gallery before we head through Knightsbridge to one of the worlds most famous stores - Harrods, where we finish our day with tea and scones served on the fourth floor terrace restaurant. Tea includes tea, scones, jam and clotted cream. The tour ends at Harrods leaving you free time to explore the store at your leisure. Make your way back to the hotel in time for an included dinner and a West End show.

Day 3 Thursday August 11: (B, D) Enjoy a morning at leisure in London. Our hotel is conveniently situated at Charring Cross Station, a short walk from Trafalgar Square and the National Portrait Gallery, the Thames Embankment and South Bank, The Strand and Covent Gardens. Shortly before lunch, we will leave London and motor to Lymington in the New Forest. Our hotel for the next four nights will be the Macdonald Elmers Court.

Day 4 Friday August 12: This morning, visit the Beauleau Estate. See the Palace House and gardens, the National Motor Museum and the Abby. A guided tour will introduce you to many facets of the estate, including their involvement in covert operations during World War II. There will be time to explore the museums and estate, including a ride on a monorail and a recreated First World War double deck bus. This afternoon we will visit Buckler's Hard, an historic village that had strong associations with Nelson's Navy. Included is a guided tour and a cruise on the Beauleau River.

Day 5 Saturday August 13: (B, L, D) Maintaining a nautical theme, we will visit Portsmouth's historic dockyard, home to King Henry VIII's Mary Rose and Lord Nelson's HMS Victory, the oldest commissioned warship in the world. Enjoy an included boat trip around Portsmouth Harbour and an included lunch in a harbour-side restaurant before riding an elevator to the top of The Spinnaker, Portsmouth's dramatic new landmark.

Day 6 Sunday August 14: (B, D) Board a ferry at Yarmouth this morning, bound for the Isle of Wight. Motor to Ryde to join the Island Line, an electric railway that uses old London Underground trains. Change at Smallbrook Junction for a steam train to Havenstreet, where there will be time to explore the railway museum and refreshment rooms before we motor to Carisbrooke Castle. This afternoon we will visit Osborne House, Queen Victoria's favourite home – her Palace by the sea.

Day 7 Monday August 15: (B, D) Visit Salisbury Cathedral, unique amongst medieval English cathedrals as it was built within one century with no substantial later additions. The building itself is remarkable, a testimony to the faith and practical skills of those who erected it. Continue to Stonehenge, the most famous and largest of Britain's many ancient stone circles. This afternoon, motor to Bath where we will check into the Macdonald Bath Spa Hotel before exploring the famous Roman Baths, a 10 minute walk away.

Day 8 Tuesday August 16: (B, D) Motor to Bristol to see Brunel's great steamship, the SS Great Britain. Learn about the first trans Atlantic steam service and the problems that faced Brunel as he built the largest ship of the time. Continue through the picturesque Cotswolds to Bourton on the Water, where we will stop for refreshments. Later this afternoon, continue to Brockencote Hall in Worcestershire, our hotel for the next two nights.

Day 9 Wednesday August 17: (B, D) After breakfast, join Geoff for a walking tour of Worcester before visiting the Severn Valley Railway. Our steam train will run from Kidderminster, long the scenic River Severn valley to Bridgenorth, where there will be time for lunch before we visit the Royal Air Force Museum at Cosford.

Day 10 Thursday August 18: (B, D) This morning we will visit the Black Country Living Museum, where a wide variety of buildings representing the industrial heritage of the area have been relocated. Included is a canal boat ride into the fascinating tunnels that were cut deep into the surrounding hills to extract limestone. Later this morning we will motor to Birmingham to check into the centrally located 4 star Macdonald Burlington Hotel. This afternoon, take a short walking tour of England's second city, including the Art Gallery and Museum, followed by free time. Attend an included show or concert tonight.

Day 11 Friday August 19: (B, L, D) This morning we will motor to Leicester to join the Statesman train bound for Edinburgh. Travel in the premier dining service, enjoying top shelf silver service as we glide through the English and Scottish countryside. Our train will travel north over Shap summit with views of the Lakeland mountains, through Carlisle and over the border at Gretna with an arrival into Edinburgh mid afternoon - there will be time for shopping on Princes Street or to experience the historic charm of the Royal Mile. As the sun starts to set, make your way to the castle and take your reserved seats for the evening performance which will include stirring music of the pipes, drums and massed bands of the Scottish Regiments and those from around the world. At the close of the show it is a 15 minute downhill walk to Waverley station where our train will be waiting to take us through Falkirk to Stirling for overnight accommodation in the 4 star Doubletree by Hilton Dunblane Hydro hotel.

Day 12 Saturday August 20: (B, L, D) Travel by motor coach through Callendar, known as the gateway to the Highlands, and through the stunning scenery of the Trossachs, made famous by Rob Roy, before we board the 110 year old restored steamship “Sir Walter Scott” for an hour’s cruise on beautiful Loch Katrine. After a short break we will return through the Queen Elizabeth Forest to Stirling. Travel south today on the Statesman and arrive back in Birmingham this evening where we will stay at the Macdonald Burlington Hotel for two nights.

Day 13 Sunday August 21: (B, D) This morning, ride the Shakespeare Express steam train from Birmingham's Snow Hill Station to Stratford Upon Avon. We will travel in Premier Class dining, enjoying a full breakfast as we travel through the delightful Staffordshire countryside. Tour Stratford upon Avon before returning to Birmingham this afternoon with that most English tradition, high tea, served on board the train.

Day 14 Monday August 22: (B) Your tour ends following breakfast this morning. London is just two hours away by train, or you may wish to extend your stay in England or Wales.

PRICES                          PRICES ARE PER PERSON

Double room occupancy...........................$6448
Single room supplement..........................$ 998
Deposit to hold space...........................$ 500
Final payment due by May 9, 2011

TOUR INCLUDES

27 MEALS
FULLY ESCORTED
13 NIGHTS LODGING
BAGGAGE HANDLING
ALL TRANSPORTATION PER THE ITINERARY
ALL EVENTS & TICKETS PER THE ITINERARY


Click here for Travel Insurance Information

TOUR BOOKING CONDITIONS

TOUR PRICE: All tour prices are corrected to November 1, 2010 and are subject to change without notice, at any time. All prices based on double room occupancy. We reserve the right to change tour prices if necessary.

PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE: Personal items, meals not listed in the itinerary, laundry, phone calls, excess baggage charges, rental cars, side tours, insurance, passport fees including visas, vaccinations, gratuities, medical costs, tips to train or motor coach staff, extra tour costs due to unanticipated changes in the itinerary for reasons beyond our control, including weather, travel conditions, or cancellations, government intervention, sickness, political disputes, and failure of transportation or other causes beyond our control.

TRAVEL AND HEALTH DOCUMENTS: A valid passport is required for our international tours. In some cases a visa is also needed. Consult your health professional for the recommended immunizations and documents. Trains and Travel International , here on referred to as TTI, assumes no other responsibility if a client is refused entry into a country. Cost and cancellation fees will be paid by the client in the event they do not have valid documents.

CHANGE OF ITINERARY: We reserve the right to substitute, alter or modify the tour if any unexpected and unforeseen conditions beyond our control preventing the completion of such. Conditions can include weather, train schedules, equipment, motive power, revision of train consist, train delays, labor strikes, political disputes, derailments, closure of a rail line, break down of railroad or motive power equipment, railroads not honoring contracts and bus equipment problems. We will always endeavor, in each case, to provide substitutes, if any changes take place. TTI is not responsible for canceled trains, delays, hotel rooms, route changes or missed connections, for any reason whatsoever. We will not give refunds if such conditions or cancellations take place.

TRAVEL INSURANCE: TRAVEL INSURANCE: Travel insurance is mandatory and is required, but you can opt out. The Decision to Opt-Out or Decline is Mandatory. Insurance will cover and give tour members many benefits and protection. Benefits include baggage loss, accident, life, trip cancellation, sickness, bankruptcy, strike, weather conditions, employer termination or layoff effecting you or a person sharing the room with you, terrorist incident in your departure city or city of destination, jury duty, you are subpoenaed, hijacked, or quarantined, your residence or traveling companion residence is rendered uninhabitable, emergency military duty, traffic accident, single supplement upgrade when your traveling companion cancels their trip, trip interruption, trip delay, missed connections, itinerary change,emergency medical benefits, medical evacuation, pre-existing medical conditions if enrollment is within 21days of your invoice date, assault of you or your traveling companion before departure, burglary of you or your companion before departure 24 hour hotline emergency assistance, emergency cash transfer and more. We will supply you with a travel insurance brochure with rates and application when we mail you the invoice after your bookings. Travel insurance protects your vacation investments. US law allows us to offer this insurance to all persons worldwide. We will accept a "refusal of travel insurance wavier" if you do not wish to purchase any travel insurance.

RESPONSIBILITY AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: Accepting your payment represents an agreement that you understand all the conditions, to be a member of our tours. TTI gives notice that they are acting agents for the owners, contractors and suppliers, providing the transportation and all related travel services and assume no responsibility for injury, sickness, damage, loss, additional expenses accidental delay or irregularities which may be caused through willful or negligent acts or omissions on the part of the companies providing or engage in transportation, accommodations or services related to the accomplishment of the tour. Nor do we assume responsibility for natural disasters, social or political upheaval, acts of terrorism or acts of nature. TTI reserves the right to substitute hotels, tour leaders, equipment, motive power, trains, onboard accommodations, routes and to alter the itinerary when deemed necessary without notice. The right is also reserved to cancel any trip or train prior to departure for any reason . TTI is not responsible for expenses incurred by tour members in preparing for the tour, including non-refundable airline tickets, visa fees, planning, phone calls, or any other expenses. TTI reserves the right to decline to accept, or ask to leave a tour, any person whose actions impede the daily operations of a tour, welfare or enjoyment of other tour members. TTI cannot give any refunds for any unused services. The terms contained herein shall serve as a waiver of liability to TTI. Assumption of risk on behalf of the client, their heirs, executor, administrators, successors, and assigns for any and all known persons injuries

RESERVATIONS: A deposit is due in our office within 14 days after you make your bookings. Full payment is due 90 days before departure. You will receive an invoice, reservation form and current tour bulletins with your confirmation and travel insurance forms. No notice for final payment will be sent to you. It is your responsible to make the final payment on-time.

CANCELLATIONS: TTI does not accept cancellations on the phone. Cancellations must be received by postal mail, email or fax before any refunds will be considered. Allow enough time if sending your written notice by US mail postal system. When a written cancellation is received in the Trains and Travel office this will be the effective date of the cancellation. Please take note that it can take up to 60 days to to process some refunds. Cancellation refund rules: 100 days prior to the start of any tour you will receive a full refund less a $100 per person administration fee. 99 to 61 days before the departure of any tour there will be a 80% cancellation penalty based on the full cost of the tour. Cancellations received 60 or less days before the start of any tour will not receive any refund. GW Travel Ltd has their own cancellation rules and these will apply. If booking on GW Travel Ltd ask for cancellation rules.

PRE-DEPARTURE TOUR BULLETINS: Tour bulletins will be sent to clients that have booked on tours operated by TTI. Bulletins include travel info related to the tour. Final documents will be sent out about two to three weeks before a tour begins. We offer tours operated by other companies and they may or may not send out tour bulletins and updates and most send out final documents only one to two weeks prior to the start of their tours.

PAYMENTS: Payments can be made with personal check drawn on a U.S. Dollar account, money order for U.S. Dollars, bank wire transfer, or credit card. We accept Visa, Master Card, Discover or American Express. Final payment for all tours is due 90 days prior to departure. If final payment has not been received 7 days after the due date, a late fee of $50 per week will apply.

SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: All prices are based on double room occupancy. We will try and match you with a roommate if one is available. If not, you may be charged the single room supplement listed for the tour you are booked on. Single rooms may not be available in some remote locations and on some trains.

TOUR REFUNDS: If for any reason tour members amend or delete any arrangements during travel, and leave the tour on their own, we cannot give any refunds on unused portions of the tour. If buses and trains are cancelled by the carrier or there is a labor strike or they go out of business, we cannot be held responsible and we cannot give refunds. Travel insurance will protect you for any of these reasons. If TTI needs to cancel any tour everyone will receive a full refund. Please take note that in some cases refunds can take up to 60 days to process.

PARTIAL TOURS: We will allow passengers to join or leave a tour at certain points. It will all depend on the tour and the conditions. Give us a call and we will try and work up a custom option for you.

MILEAGE COLLECTORS: Mileage collectors please take note that TTI does not cater just to mileage collectors. We cater to all folks that enjoy trains and Rail journeys. We give strong warning that itinerary and route changes do happen and this is totally beyond our control when it does. If the only reason that you would want to book a tour is to collect the rare mileage, you need to understand that possible route changes do happen.


01776  visits October 21, 2010.

Last modified: Thursday, 12-Jan-2012 08:16:17 PST