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


TOUR 34
RAILFAN/TOURIST TOUR
SEPTEMBER 19-OCTOBER 3, 2009
This Excursion Is Limited To 35 Railfans Only.
CANCELLED ACCOUNT OF THE RECESSION


TESTIMONIAL FROM THE 2008 TOUR

October 6, 2008
Swiss precision is amazing! All trains on time, all amazing for one reason or another-a fantastic trip!!. Great itinerary, Peter and Theo indispensable. Swiss rail took very good care of us. Highly recommend this trip!!!

Janet Westbrook
Ridgecrest, CA



Our Swiss Rail Adventure tour is an in depth look at Switzerland by Rail. Each traveler will receive a first class Swiss Rail Pass for use during the tour. This is a tour aimed at the railfan traveler, train rider, and mileage collector. General tourism is limited, but the trip does include some of the most famous tourist rail experiences. We have chosen the hotels for this tour because they are close to the railway stations in most cases. Some are in very small towns far from the usual tourist areas. In all cases we are staying in good tourist class hotels. Maximum group size will be 35.

Saturday September 19: (L-D) Independent morning arrival at Zurich airport. Your guide, Dr. John Kirchner will meet the group at the Zurich airport at 10:30AM for the transfer into the city. The first point of interested to be visited will be the Tramway Museum, followed by a ride on a chartered tram over portions of the city's extensive street railway system. Overnight in Andermatt at the Hotel Monopol and welcome dinner after check-in.

 Hotel Monopol in Andermatt


Sunday September 20: (B-L) Today we ride the Furka Bergstrecke steam rack train, powered by an 80-year old cog locomotive, along a scenic route that takes us into alpine scenery, well above the tree-line. Overnight in Andermatt.









Monday September 21: This morning we join the famed Glacier Express Andermatt - Zermatt line, including a spectacular ride to Gornergrat by cog wheel railway (3089 meters above sea level) Overnight in Zermatt at the Hotel Gornergrat. B-L


Hotel Gornergrat in Zermatt



Tuesday September 22: (B-L-D) The day starts with a Swiss Rail train ride from Zermatt to Berne using the old or new Lötschbergtunnel. We then board the Bernese steam tramway for a ride over parts of the city tram system. In the afternoon we travel by train from from Berne to Pré-Petitjean, switching en route to a 1913 electric railcar on the meter gauge Chemins de fer du Jura. Overnight in Pre-Petitjean at the Hotel Gare.







Wednesday September 23: (B-L-D) Today it's all-day steam action with chartered double-headed tank Mallets over the scenic rails and grades of the CdefduJ. Overnight Pré-Petitjean.









Thursday September 24: (B-L) Transfer from Pré-Petitjean to Locarno via Gotthard tunnel, a relaxing day of train riding and great scenery. Overnight in Locarno at the Hotel Garni Montaldi. B-L



Friday September 25: (B-L) The wonderful Centovalli Railway takes us from Locarno, in Switzerland, to Domodossola in Italy. We then continue from Domodosssola to Montreux, on beautiful Lake Geneva, via the famous Simplon tunnel. Overnight in Montreux at the Hotel Helvetie.






Hotel Helvetie in Montreux


Saturday September 26: (B-L) Our adventure today takes us by steam over the Blonay-Chamby museum railway. Overnight Montreux.

Sunday September 27: (B-L) Next is Montreux - Interlaken - Brienz via the Golden Pass There we connect with the Brienz Rothorn Bahn steam railway. Overnight in Interlaken at the Carlton Hotel.


Carlton Hotel in Interlaken






Monday September 28: (B-L) Today we enjoy one of the continent's most famous rail trips-Jungfraujoch to the "Top of Europe." 2nd night at the Carlton Hotel in Interlaken.




The above photos were taken in the Interlaken area


Tuesday September 29: (B-L) Transfer from Interlaken via Brünig to Lucerne, followed by a steam boat ride on Lake Lucerne to Vitznau. There we join the Rigi Railway rack line for the steep climb into the Alps. Transfer back to Lucerne. Overnight in Lucerne at the Hotel Drei Konige.




Hotel Drei Konige in Lucerne


Wednesday September 30: (B-L) It's off on the Voralpenexpress from to Pfäffikon. We then transfer Pfäffikon - Chur - Samedan. Overnight in Samedan at the Hotel Terminus.






Above photo of the Terminus Hotel in Samedan


Thursday October 1: (B-L) Our adventure takes us over the Bernina railway (2253 meters above sea level) Overnight Sameden.





Friday October 2: (B-L-D) Transfer Samedan - Chur - St. Gallen - Herisau to the Appenzellerbahnen. Overnight in Herisau at the Hotel Herisau. (farewell dinner)

Saturday October 3: (B) Independent transfers via high speed train from Herisau to the Zurich airport. Trains take 1 hour to make this trip and they depart from Herisau every 30 minutes starting at 5:37AM.


PRICES                               PRICES ARE PER PERSON

DOUBLE ROOM OCCUPANCY................................$4398
SINGLE ROOM SUPPLEMENT...............................$1098
Deposit to hold space due when tour is called a sure-go
FINAL PAYMENT DUE JUNE 12, 2009

TOUR INCLUDES

*32 MEALS
*22 TRAIN RIDES
*FULLY ESCORTED
*14 NIGHTS LODGING IN TOURIST CLASS HOTELS

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 is mandatory for all tours. This insurance will cover and give the tour members many benefits and protection. Benefits include baggage, 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, baggage delay and loss, pre-existing medical conditions if enrollment is within 21 days of your invoice date, burglary of you or your companion before departure, felonious assault of you or your traveling 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 trip deposit is received. Travel insurance protects your vacation investments and is a very good investment for your travel and vacation money. 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. FOR CUBA: Because of the nature of these tours travel insurance is MANDATORY for everyone. We have a special American travel insurance company that will insure all folks going to Cuba on legal US approved tours. This insurance information will be sent to you upon receiving your booking.

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.



04989  visits since September 16, 2008.

Last modified: Thursday, 12-Jan-2012 08:20:19 PST