ENGLAND,
SCOTLAND IRELAND, NORTHERN IRELAND and WALES
Specially-priced
Air Rates
Available:YES
From
the lively cities to the breathtaking scenery, you’ll discover the best
of England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and Northern Ireland on this
in-depth, budget-minded vacation in Britain and Ireland.
Britain and Ireland are known for their breathtaking scenery, and this
tour will not disappoint. You’ll see the 100-mile Ring of Kerry, with
its rugged and magnificent landscapes; stunning scenery on Ireland’s
Dingle Peninsula; the spectacular 668-foot Cliffs of Moher; Northern
Ireland’s awe-inspiring Giant’s Causeway, formed millions of years ago;
Llanberis Pass—with its rugged natural beauty—in Wales’ Snowdonia
National Park; England’s tranquil Lake District; Brecon Beacons
National Park, with its dramatic landscapes; and the Isle of Skye, with
some of Scotland’s most spectacular scenery. Enjoy time in the Scottish
Highlands, filled with dramatic landscapes, rolling farmland,
picturesque seaside towns, and beautiful lochs (lakes).
Britain and Ireland are also known for their picturesque and historic
towns. On this affordable Britain and Ireland tour, you’ll visit many
of these towns, including Oxford, home to some of England’s most famous
colleges; Stratford-upon-Avon, where you’ll get a glimpse into life in
16th-century England in Shakespeare’s hometown; York, England's most
complete medieval city with its cobbled streets and the magnificent
York Minster, England’s largest gothic cathedral; Berwick-upon-Tweed, a
peaceful coastal town with a turbulent past; Strathpeffer, known in its
heyday as an European health resort; Looe, a pretty fishing village;
the seaside town of Tramore; Bath, known for the excavations of Roman
baths used for bathing and socializing 2,000 years ago; and many more.
You’ll also visit the capitals—London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Dublin, and
Belfast.
These are just some of the many highlights of this budget travel
package through the British Isles. For value-minded vacationers, this
is the perfect way to see England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and
Northern Ireland!
SIGHTSEEING:
Visits to Hampton Court Palace Gardens, Shakespeare’s
Stratford-upon-Avon, Berwick-upon-Tweed, North Berwick, Edinburgh
Castle, tickets for Edinburgh Military Tattoo (departure numbers July
29 through August 19), St. Andrews, Pitlochry, Culloden Moor,
Inverness, Ullapool, Fort William, Alloway, Belfast, Giant’s Causeway,
Derry, Belleek Pottery, W.B. Yeats’ burial place, Sligo, Galway, Cliffs
of Moher, Killarney, Blarney, Waterford, Avoca handweaving mill,
Glendalough, Llangollen, Builth Wells, Bath, Glastonbury,
Widecombe-in-the-Moor, Plymouth, Looe, Stonehenge, Brighton;
orientation drives in Glasgow, Dublin, Cardiff; walking tours in
Oxford, York
SCENIC HIGHLIGHTS:
Cotswold Hills, Scottish Lowlands and Highlands, Isle of Skye, Loch
Lomond, Northern Ireland’s Antrim Coast, The Burren, Dingle Peninsula,
Ring of Kerry and Lakes of Killarney, Snowdonia National Park, Brecon
Beacons National Park, Dartmoor National Park, Salisbury Plain
Notes:
Departure May 31 – Stonehenge will be closed due to Summer Solstice and
a visit to Salisbury Cathedral will be included instead.
Inside
visits and
special features: Shown in UPPERCASE in
the tour description including admission charges where applicable. OPTIONALS:
Choice of optional excursions at reasonable prices to customize your
own experience. Please find a detailed list in your travel documents
HEADSETS
throughout the tour
LONDON Novotel London West (F) or Holiday
Inn Kensington High Street (ST)
COVENTRY Jurys Inn Hinckley
Island (F) at Hinckley
NEWCASTLE Jurys Inn (F)
EDINBURGH Capital (F) or
Kings Manor (ST)
STRATHPEFFER Ben Wyvis (ST)
GLASGOW Pond (F)
BELFAST Jurys Inn (F)
SLIGO Great Southern Hotel
(SF)
ENNIS Auburn Lodge (ST)
KILLARNEY Holiday Inn
Killarney (F) or Killarney Court Hotel (F)
TRAMORE Majestic (ST)
DUBLIN The Bonnington Dublin
Hotel (ST)
WREXHAM Ramada Plaza (F)
CARDIFF Novotel (F)
PLYMOUTH Jurys Inn (F)
BRIGHTON Jurys Inn (F) HOTELS -
(SF) Superior First-Class (F) First-Class (ST) Superior Tourist Class
(T) Tourist Class
DINING
HIGHLIGHTS
Full
English breakfast daily; 10 three-course dinners with choice of menus
TRANSPORTATION Private, first-class,
air-conditioned motorcoach; Isle of Skye ferry; round-trip Irish Sea
crossings by day ferry; ferry across the Shannon estuary
GUIDES
Local Guide for city sightseeing in Edinburgh; host service in London;
professional Tour Director while touring
AIRPORT TRANSFERS Airport transfers
may be included when you make your flight arrangements.
Day 1 Arrive in London,
England Check into your hotel. In the afternoon,
there’s time to rest or to start exploring the lively British capital;
uniformed hosts are available to help you make the most of your stay.
Day2LondonWhat’s your pleasure? Today is devoted
to exploring on your own or enjoying our exciting program of optional
activities. You may choose to join a Local Guide for an optional
morning sightseeing tour of the city’s famous landmarks: the Houses of
Parliament and Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Whitehall’s mounted
horseguards and the Prime Minister’s Downing Street, Piccadilly Circus,
and Buckingham Palace. The highlight is a visit to St. Paul’s
Cathedral, Sir Christopher Wren’s masterpiece built between 1675 and
1708. Later on, maybe visit Windsor Castle or the Tower of London with
its spectacular Crown Jewels. Tonight, a leisurely cruise on the Thames
River would be fun!
Breakfast
Day 3 London–Oxford–Stratford-upon-Avon–CoventryMeet your Tour Director and traveling
companions and depart at 8 am for a memorable day of sightseeing: a
photo opportunity at Hampton Court Palace; Runnymede, where King John
sealed the Magna Carta; a walking tour in Oxford, one of the country’s
oldest seats of learning; and skirting the Cotswold Hills to
Shakespeare’s Stratford-upon-Avon. Take photos of Anne Hathaway’s
Cottage and explore the town at your own pace. Overnight near Coventry.
Breakfast Dinner
Day4Coventry–York–NewcastleLeave the Midlands and head north to
York, England’s most complete medieval city. Stand in awe in front of
the great structure of York Minster, then follow your Tour Director
through a maze of quaint streets, including the narrow Shambles. Stop
for the night in Newcastle, once an important center for the wool trade
and coal mining and now a vibrant, modern city.
Breakfast Dinner
Day 5 Newcastle–Berwick-Upon-Tweed–North
Berwick, Scotland–EdinburghOn your way to Scotland, drive along the
picturesque coastline to Berwick-upon-Tweed, situated just south of the
Scottish border. This peaceful town suffered a turbulent past, and its
Elizabethan walls, built to keep invading Scots from entering the town,
could tell a colorful tale. Stop for photographs of the Firth of Forth
in pretty North Berwick before arriving in Edinburgh. Later, a unique
optional experience: board the former Royal Yacht Britannia, which was
once the perfect royal residence for glittering state visits and family
holidays. Tour five decks and see how the Royal Family and crew of 240
lived and worked on board. Dinner rounds off this optional evening. For
departure numbers July 29 through August 19, tickets are included for
tonight’s performance of the world-renowned MILITARY TATTOO.
Breakfast
Day6EdinburghA full day to enjoy the Scottish
capital. Morning sightseeing with a Local Guide introduces you to the
200-year-old “New Town,” home to famous scientists, inventors, and
novelists. In the “Old Town,” drive up the narrow Royal Mile to
EDINBURGH CASTLE to admire Scotland’s Crown Jewels. Afternoon at
leisure. A suggestion for this evening: a traditional Scottish night
out, with Highland dancers, bagpipers, and, of course, the Ceremony of
the Haggis.
Breakfast
Day 7 Edinburgh–St.
Andrews–Dundee–Perth–Pitlochry–Culloden Moor–Inverness–StrathpefferA day of memorable sightseeing. Take the
elegant Forth Road Bridge to St. Andrews, whose Royal and Ancient Golf
Club has given us the rules of golfing, then cross the Firth of Tay and
via Dundee and Perth, head into the Highlands, with a stop in the
Victorian mountain resort of Pitlochry. Cross the battlefield of
Culloden Moor with its memories of Bonnie Prince Charlie, then via
Inverness, head for your Highland destination.
Breakfast Dinner
Day8Strathpeffer. West
Coast ExcursionMore spectacular Scottish scenery:
Dornoch Firth, the Kyle of Sutherland, the Mountains of Assynt, and
Knockan Crag. Then, follow Strath Oykel for a visit to Ullapool, a
remote fishing harbor on Loch Broom, before returning along Loch
Glascarnoch. Our recommendation for this afternoon: join the optional
Loch Ness Experience, which includes a cruise on the loch, followed by
supper.
Breakfast
Day 9 Strathpeffer–Isle of
Skye–Fort William–GlasgowMore heather-clad moors as you drive
through the western Highlands to Lochalsh and the Inner Hebridean Isle
of Skye. The route back to the mainland is by FERRY across the Sound of
Sleat to Mallaig, then breathtaking scenery all the way to Fort William
beneath Ben Nevis. Glen Coe, where the MacDonald Clan was massacred in
1692, and a drive along the “Bonnie Banks” of Loch Lomond are scenic
highlights on the way to Glasgow, Scotland’s great cultural city.
Breakfast Dinner
Day10Glasgow–Alloway–Belfast,
Northern IrelandOn this morning’s orientation drive
through Scotland’s largest city, see the fine 12th-century cathedral,
imposing university buildings, and elegant Georgian squares, built by
wealthy tobacco barons. Later, stop at Alloway, the birthplace of
Robert Burns, before boarding the FERRY for the Irish Sea crossing to
Belfast.
Breakfast
Day 11 Belfast–Giant’s
Causeway–Derry–Belleek–Drumcliff, Ireland–SligoTake the scenic route along the Antrim
Coast to awe-inspiring GIANT’S CAUSEWAY, then let the province’s story
unfold as you head for the city of Derry. Later, visit BELLEEK POTTERY,
renowned for its exquisite cream-colored Parian china. At Drumcliff,
see the grave of native son and poet W.B. Yeats before arriving in
Sligo, tonight’s destination.
Breakfast Dinner
Day12Sligo–Galway–Cliffs of Moher–EnnisTravel south to Galway, a popular
seaside destination and a buzzing cosmopolitan center with colorful
shops and a busy café and bar culture. Then, cross the limestone
plateau of The Burren to visit the spectacular 668-foot CLIFFS OF
MOHER. Tonight, a chance to attend an optional medieval banquet at a
historic castle.
Breakfast
Day
13
Ennis–Dingle
Peninsula–KillarneyVia Clonderlaw Bay to Killimer for the
FERRY across the Shannon estuary. Breathtaking scenery this afternoon
on the Dingle Peninsula, where the 32-mile Slea Head drive affords
magnificent vistas of the Atlantic Ocean. Afternoon arrival in
Killarney, your destination for the next two nights.
Breakfast Dinner
Day14Killarney. Ring of
Kerry ExcursionAt Killorglin, join the road known as
the RING OF KERRY for a 100-mile coastal panoramic drive featuring
sparkling seascapes, mountains dotted with brightly colored farmhouses,
winding lanes bordered with subtropical vegetation, and spectacular
views of the Lakes of Killarney. Then, a special optional adventure:
take a horse-drawn jaunting car along the national park lakeshore for
pictures of Ross Castle. Later, enjoy the optional outing to Tralee for
dinner and a performance at Siamsa Tire, Ireland’s National Folk
Theatre.
Breakfast
Day 15 Killarney–Blarney–Dungarvan–TramoreMore scenic splendor as you head into
County Cork. Stop in Blarney, famous for its Stone of Eloquence, with
time at your leisure to see the castle, and shop for Irish crafts and
handmade crystal. After lunch, drive past Cork, the country’s
second-largest city. Finally, pass Dungarvan and travel along the
Copper Coast to the seaside resort of Tramore. Tonight, maybe join an
optional pub tour before dinner at your hotel.
Breakfast Dinner
Day16Tramore–Waterford–Avoca–Glendalough–DublinHighlights on your northbound journey:
Waterford, famed for its exquisite crystal; Enniscorthy, site of the
final battle of the Great Rebellion of 1798; a visit to Ireland’s
oldest HANDWEAVING mill at Avoca; views of the Wicklow Mountains; and
Glendalough with its ruins of a center of Irish Christianity, founded
by St. Kevin. Afternoon arrival in Dublin—top off the day with an
optional Irish cabaret evening including dinner, dance, song, and
laughter.
Breakfast
Day 17 DublinA day in the “Fair City” starts off with
an orientation drive through Ireland’s capital and includes
statue-lined O’Connell Street, elegant Georgian squares, and St.
Patrick’s Cathedral. The rest of the day is free to enjoy Dublin at
leisure. This evening’s optional dinner excursion is to the famous
Guinness Storehouse.
Breakfast
Day18Dublin–Wrexham,
WalesTake the FERRY across the Irish Sea to
Holyhead on the Welsh Isle of Anglesey with its tongue-twisting names.
Enjoy the best of North Wales on a scenic drive through Snowdonia
National Park, including spectacular Llanberis Pass. Then, on to
Llangollen, home of an annual national competition for poets and
musicians, before arriving in Wrexham. Later, why not join an optional
excursion by barge along the Llangollen Canal?
Breakfast Dinner
Day 19 Wrexham–Builth Wells–Brecon–CardiffA day dedicated to Wales as you head
south through the ancient market town of Builth Wells and Brecon
Beacons National Park, land of salmon rivers and the Welsh mountain
pony. In Cardiff, an orientation drive takes in Cathays Park with its
splendid civic buildings and Cardiff Castle. Tonight’s optional
excursion is an evening of Welsh entertainment and dinner.
Breakfast
Day20Cardiff–Bath,
England–Glastonbury–Widecombe–PlymouthAcross the Severn Bridge to
the elegant Georgian city of Bath, famed for its Roman relics. Into the
West Country via Glastonbury and its associations with King Arthur, and
wild and romantic Dartmoor with a visit to the picture-book village of
Widecombe-in-the-Moor. Upon arrival in Plymouth, hear about Sir Francis
Drake and see the Mayflower Steps, where the Pilgrim Fathers embarked
in 1620.
Breakfast Dinner
Day 21 Plymouth. Looe ExcursionToday’s excursion takes you to the
pretty fishing village and former smuggler’s port of Looe. Then, follow
in the footsteps of Drake, Raleigh, and the Pilgrim Fathers on an
optional cruise on Plymouth Sound, one of the world’s greatest natural
harbors.
Breakfast
Day22Plymouth–Stonehenge–BrightonAn interesting day heading into Thomas
Hardy’s Wessex and a visit to intriguing, prehistoric STONEHENGE.
Explore the visitor center with its imaginative exhibitions, then
admire the magnificence of the monument up close. Via Arundel,
dominated by the Duke of Norfolk’s huge castle, continue on to the
seaside resort of Brighton for an overnight stay.
Breakfast Dinner
Day 23 Brighton–LondonA leisurely last day with time this
morning for a seafront promenade stroll and out onto the famous
Brighton Pier; a walk along The Lanes, a quaint area of narrow streets
renowned for its antique shops; or even a flight on the i360, the
world’s tallest moving observation tower, to enjoy spectacular views
over the beautiful South Coast. Return to London in the early
afternoon. How about celebrating the success of your tour with a night
out on the town?
Breakfast
Day24LondonYour vacation ends with breakfast this
morning.
Breakfast
The
British Isles In Depth
24 Day Tour
From $3649USD
(Less
applicable COSMOS PROMO(S) and Gardner Travel Discounts)
REQUEST
RATES, AVAILABILITY AND
OTHER INFORMATION HERE
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UNPUBLISHED RATEand
availability for this tour:
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your tour online OR
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we
will provide our private rate back to you by email
response or phone
call
as you prefer it.
PLEASE NOTE: We have access
to the
U.S./Canada reservations only for this tour. If
you reside outside of the U.S./Canada please contact the closest Globus
Family of Brands travel agent in your country of origin.
Exceptional
Vacations
Celebrating
over 85 Years of Touring!
Prices
are
per person based on double occupancy and are land only. We also offer
competitive group-based airfares from your home city airport that fit
with this particular touring program.
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Free Call
1-877-510-4653 USAandCanada
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provide an additional agency
point-of-sale discountfor
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Cosmos
and Avalon
Waterways
tour programs. Offer subject
to availability and change without notice.
TALK
TO AN EXPERIENCED
As
a
full-service travel provider, we can help you in finding your
perfect tour at the best price available, today. We've been
representing the GLOBUS Family of
Brands for
over 35 years as a Premier Agency
Partner - a designation only awarded to the top tier agencies
that are authorized to represent the full Globus Family of Brands. We
can take you all the way from your own hometown to
some of the most beautiful touring experiences in Europe and then back
again - all with the expertise of a seasoned COSMOS professional
representative.
When it is important to get it right, you can trust the services of our
own professional COSMOS Certified travel specialists.
Requesting Availability We will check your requested tour
program and accommodations for the date range that you may specify in
the boxes below and reply back to you as soon as possible. Of course
the more information that you can provide us, the closer we will be in
matching your needs and preferences. We will not knowingly sell or pass
along your information that you provide to any third party for any
reason (see Liabilities
and Privacy Policy). And we use SSL Technology to safeguard your
information on our tour request forms that we have posted throughout
our website. We
are available to answer your inquiries in person Monday - Friday
(except holidays) from 8:30am until 5:30pm CST (1-877-510-4653 |
817-788-5210). We are available from time to time on the weekends via
email to answer your questions. Our typical response time for your
email request ranges from 3 hours to as many as 72 depending upon the
availability of onsite resources and those of the tour companies and
resorts/lodging establishments, as well as any variations you may
request from our listed programs. We will respond to your
requests as quickly as possible and as soon as we have all components
of your package confirmable. All tour program rates are based upon
double occupancy unless otherwise specified.
Thank
you for
your interest in this quality Cosmos Tour by The GLOBUS Family
of Brands!
Randy
C.
Gardner President Gardner Travel
Service,
Inc.
More
than three decades ago Cosmos
pioneered the idea of quality value
travel
to Europe. Since then we've developed and refined the concept of
vacation
packages. Over a million people have come back to us for a second or
third
vacation...or more!
Our clients'
repeat business is the best testimony to the incredible value and
experience
we offer.
If you've never
taken a package vacation, consider this: Traveling with Cosmos is less
expensive, more comfortable, and far easier than going it alone. Our
volume
contracting for hotels and services provides you with travel at
wholesale
prices. A Cosmos package is carefully planned to make the best possible
use of your time.
Our team of
experts has refined our itineraries to combine the must-see sights with
significant time on your own, offering more choice and flexibility. You
can travel relaxed and hassle-free, knowing that we've taken care of
all
the details. Once you've
discovered the special advantages of traveling with Cosmos, you'll
never
want to travel any other way again. Cosmos is "A Smart Way To Go."
Guidance At
the heart of every great Cosmos tour are the friendly, knowledgeable
folks who show you around and help you maximize your free time. We go
to incredible lengths to find the most professional Tour Directors and
Local Guides. They deliver commentary in English, but are multilingual
so they can navigate Europe with ease and give you the richest
experience possible.
Headsets
For all guided visits and included sightseeing in Europe, Cosmos will
provide personal audio headsets. See tour itinerary for details.
The Right Balance
No one enjoys a vacation where every second is spent on a schedule. We
build free time into every Cosmos vacation, so you can eat, shop, and
explore the way you want. Your Tour Director and Local Guides can offer
suggestions for things to see and do-or you can join one of our many
intriguing optional excursions.
Sightseeing
Our packages include guided sightseeing and scenic highlights that
reveal the best of Europe, North America, and South America. Enjoy
inside visits of the must-see sites with knowledgeable Local Guides who
will bring each destination to life. Inside visits and special features
are shown in UPPERCASE in the tour description. See individual
itinerary pages to learn what is included in your vacation.
Personalize Your
Vacation with MyCosmos
Cosmos lets you enhance your tour with optional excursions that are
meaningful to you. Whether you enjoy art, music, food, wine, history,
or whatever, we give you the freedom to truly personalize your trip.
Best of all, you can make your selections-and even pre-pay-in advance
online at Cosmos.com/MyCosmos.
Cosmos
Takes
Care of Your
HotelsWhere
you stay makes all the difference. After a day's
traveling you want to relax at a comfortable, clean, and attractive
hotel.
We have chosen hotels with the best rooms, service, and food for the
money.
Of course, they vary as different countries have different standards.
However,
we ensure that everywhere you get the best available in cleanliness and
comfort.
Cosmos hotels
are always located in good neighborhoods, some more centrally and
others
in residential areas. Especially in large cities we sometimes prefer
good
hotels in residential areas on the outskirts to less desirable or
overpriced
downtown hotels.
Rooms at all
our hotels include private facilities: private bath or shower and a
toilet.
Triple rooms
are usually no larger than twin rooms and the third bed is often a
roll-away
bed put into a twin-bedded room just for the night.
Cosmos
specifies
your hotels Our hotels
are mainly superior tourist-class (ST) and tourist-class (T)
establishments,
but we also feature some first-class (F) hotels. Cosmos hotel ratings
follow
standards set by the independent Official Hotel Guide (OHG) or by
national
tourist boards. The specific rating for each contract hotel is
determined
by our quality controllers.
We reserve
the right to substitute hotels listed on the tour pages with hotels of
equivalent standard. With your Cosmos travel documents you'll receive a
list of hotel addresses, telephone numbers, and fax numbers for your
tour.
Stretch
Your
Vacation Dollars Value-packed
vacations at bargain prices. With Cosmos,
a company that specializes in package travel arrangements, you'll visit
the world without spending a fortune. Because all our buying power is
devoted
to package travel, our clout with suppliers is powerfully concentrated
-- and we pass the savings on to you with affordable vacation packages
for every budget.
Singles
save
with "guaranteed share" rates More than one-third
of all people traveling with Cosmos are traveling independently. We
therefore
accept reservations on a "guaranteed share" basis. We charge singles
the
basic price and match up singles of the same gender in twin-bedded
rooms.
For mutual comfort we adopt a no-smoking rule in shared rooms.
"Guaranteed
shares" are not available for extra nights before or after your tour,
on
tours with overnight trains, or on train or cruise extensions. If we cannot
find a roommate for a traveler who has booked on a "guaranteed share"
basis,
we'll absorb the single room supplement, and that traveler will be
accommodated
in a single room at no extra charge. Of course we
do offer single rooms when available to those who prefer to travel solo
and pay the single supplement.
Triple
room
reduction Cosmos grants
a reduction to three people who travel together and share the same
accommodation.
Triple room reductions, when available, are listed in the Dates and
Prices
box on the tour page.
A word of caution:
Triple rooms usually are no larger than twin rooms, and the third bed,
if there is one, is often a rollaway bed put in a twin-bedded room for
the night.
Discount
for
young tour members Cosmos grants
a 10 percent discount on the land tour price to travelers who are under
18 years old on the tour departure date, provided they are accompanied
by an adult. We do not accept children under eight on our tours because
we have found that they are too young to enjoy these vacations.
Cosmos Vacations
Offer Flexibility Joining late and
leaving early*
Many Cosmos land arrangements start and end in London. If you have
already spent time in the British capital, you may want to skip one or
more of the included London nights or even join at the first overnight
hotel on the Continent. Call your Travel Agent for any reductions that
apply to your vacation for joining late or leaving early. Vacations
with these reductions are sold on a land-only basis.
A
professional team takes care of you in London
For any help or information you might require during your London stay,
please contact the Cosmos hospitality desk at your hotel. Our
knowledgeable staff will serve you with a smile; give you guidance on
what to do and where to go; and arrange excursions, evening
entertainment, and theater outings for you.
Extra
nights*
If you'd like more hotel nights than we've provided at the start or end
of your tour, we can make reservations for you at the rates quoted
below, provided you request them at the time you book your vacation.
Rates are per person, per night, and include room with private bath,
breakfast, service charges, and taxes.
Extra nights are only available immediately prior to or after your
tour. Extra pre-tour nights in London are not available if you join
your tour later than Day 2.
Every effort is made to reserve extra nights at the hotel where your
tour stays. If space at the tour hotel is not available, alternative
accommodation will be reserved at a hotel of equivalent standard. When
this is the case, the transfer to and from the tour hotel is at our
expense.
As hotel space is limited, we cannot reserve more than two extra nights
before and/or after a tour, unless they are needed to bridge the gap
between two Cosmos vacations. During particularly busy periods, hotel
space in certain cities can become so tight that we may be unable to
sell extra nights.
Trust
& Travel Insurance
For
generations, Globus has worked
hard to provide the best on-trip experiences, world-class customer
service, and the best consumer protection plans available in the travel
industry.
DETAILS
OF THIS INSURANCE PROGRAM WILL BE INCLUDED IN ALL OF OUR QUOTES.
and The Globus
Family of
Brands
More than 75
years ago, Antonio Mantegazza bought a rowboat to transport commercial
goods across Lake Lugano in Switzerland. Who could know that rowboat
would launch the world's leading escorted travel company? Today Globus
is a global, family-owned company reaching every corner of the world.
Globus is now the first choice among individuals looking for vacations
with both domestic and international travel in a variety of styles to
six continents and hundreds of itineraries to choose from (see Globus History video right).
Antonio's
frequent trips across the scenic lake led him to
consider opportunities in a different market - tourism. His
entrepreneurial instinct pushed him to gradually acquire some
motorcoaches to transport tourists around the Lake Lugano area. In
1928, Antonio opened a company specializing in motorcoach touring
called Globus Viaggi. The company began with a fleet of 12 coaches
which operated local excursions for European tourists in Switzerland.
By
1950, Globus Viaggi had grown to a fleet of 33 coaches
and featured overnight excursions to Rome, Venice, the Dolomites and
the French Riviera. Gradually, these became regularly scheduled tours
and grew longer to cover more ground. Later that decade, under the
leadership of Werner Albek, Antonio's business partner, Globus
pioneered the concept of Grand European Touring by offering first-class
European tours to North Americans. By 1961, the company launched its
Cosmos arm, which featured affordable, value-priced European touring
for the cost-conscious British traveler.
The
coach tours were so successful that Cosmos soon
introduced another form of travel for the British market: air holiday
packages to the sunny destinations of southern Europe. By 1968, Cosmos
air holidays became so popular the company formed its own airline,
Monarch Airlines. Monarch Airlines started out modestly with two used
Britannia aircraft and eventually blossomed into one of the most
successful European charter companies with a large fleet of modern jets
and its own engineering division.
Under
the flagship of Sergio Mantegazza, current president
and son of Antonio, Globus began expanding its markets beyond Great
Britain and North America. Since 1974, travel packages have been sold
in Australia, New Zealand, Canada and most recently in Southeast Asia.
Starting in the 70s, the company also aggressively expanded its
offerings, introducing travelers to more countries than any other tour
operator with packages to Africa, South and North America, Europe, the
South Pacific and Asia.
Today,
the Globus family of brands is marketed and operated
by a network of more than 32 independent tourism and aviation
businesses, serviced by a group of more than 5,000 professionals
worldwide. Combined, Globus, Cosmos, and Monograms carry over 500,000
passengers a year, making the organization the leading operator of
guided vacations worldwide. Globus attributes its success to the ideals
of founder Antonio Mantegazza. For three generations, his vision, hard
work, love for travel, and commitment have guided the company. These
values are the cornerstone on which Globus was built and will continue
to grow.
If
you like the above tour program you
may also want to view the following tour programs for
comparison:
From
the lively cities to the breathtaking scenery, you’ll discover the best
of England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland, and Northern Ireland on this
in-depth, budget-minded vacation in Britain and Ireland.
