ABOUT TRAFALGAR TOURS

 
Trafalgar Tours is the world's best selling escorted tour company. Established in 1947, Trafalgar has grown to become one of the world's largest and most respected tour companies, offering personalized service and comprehensive inclusive itineraries at the most affordable prices.

Through ongoing research Trafalgar Tours has created vacation packages that allow our guests to discover the world in comfort and style. Travelers in the new millennium expect more from a vacation: they want new experiences that prove to be exciting as well as relaxing. We recognize that each guest has individual tastes and specific preferences, so we have responded to our customers' feedback and are offering a variety of global excursions that vary in length and adventure.

In addition Trafalgar offers a number of touring styles to make your vacation as wonderful as you've planned and dreamed. Choose from a new line of  "Leisurely Paced" itineraries, as well as "City Stay" packages; "Regional Discovery," and "European Explorer" multi-country tours. Our European CostSaver tour program offers even greater savings, with 35 budget tour options.

Our offerings also go beyond Europe. We currently offer more than 200 vacation choices to Britain, Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the Orient to include India, Vietnam, China, Nepal, Thailand, Hong Kong.

As we move into the 21st century, Trafalgar Tours will continue to build upon our solid reputation and success built over the last half century, offering the highest quality vacations at excellent value.
 
 

TRAFALGAR TOUR PROGRAMS European Spree / Grand European / Scenic England / Irish Highlights / Wonderful France / Best of Switzerland / Switzerland & Austria / Best of Greece / The Best of Portugal / Best of Holland / Best of Egypt / China the Beautiful / Moghul India / Australian Experience / Great Australian and New Zealand Adventure / Autumn Colors / Historic Highlights / Trailblazer

•  Tour prices: Are based on costs, charges, tariffs, rates, prices, taxes, levies and exchange rates as at 28th September 1999. A Goods and Services Tax will take effect on 1 July 2000. We may be required to charge you the Goods and Services Tax on some or all of the services we provide to you. The Goods and Services Tax which may be required to be levied will be in addition to other charges, costs, tariffs, rates, prices, levies and exchange rates. Should the total tour price increase by more than 10% excluding the amount levied pursuant to the Goods and Services Tax, passengers will have the right to cancel their tour within 7 days of notification of the surcharge without penalty. No surcharges in respect of cost or currency fluctuations will be made once payment for the deposit of your land tour is received. This does not apply to fuel surcharges and any taxes, charges or levies imposed by any Government or their agencies.

•  Child Reductions: Children 5-12 years of age (at start of tour) must share a room with two adults (adults pay appropriate twin room rate). Please see itinerary of your choice for the discount per child, (LAND only). Certain exclusions apply to this discount. This discount cannot be combined with any other discount except 'Second Tour Discount'. Please see page 23 for full details. The adults who share with the child(ren) will be charged the appropriate price for the accommodation occupied - see page 23 for triple room discounts.

•  Teen Reductions: Teen's 13-17 years of age (at start of tour) must travel with a minimum of one adult (adult pays appropriate room rate). Each teen will be charged the twin room price, less 5% off the itinerary of your choice, (LAND only). Certain exclusions apply to this discount. This discount cannot be combined with any other discount except 'Second Tour Discount'. Please see page 23 for full details. The adult(s) who share(s) with the teen(s) will be charged the appropriate price for the accommodation occupied - see page 23 for triple room discounts.

•  Tour Participation: Children under 5 years of age are ineligible. Children under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult. Passengers with disabilities are welcome on Trafalgar's tours providing they are accompanied by a companion capable of providing all assistance required, and do not require special assistance from Trafalgar personnel. Trafalgar reserves the right to refuse to carry anyone it is felt cannot cope with the requirements of coach tour travel and who may require services and facilities that Trafalgar cannot guarantee will be available. You agree to not hold the Trafalgar group of companies responsible for any decision made by any of them or any service provider to refuse to carry you, provide any facilities or accommodation to you or to provide any service to you.

•  Itinerary Variations: Trafalgar constantly strives to improve tour itineraries and features. If such improvements can be made, or unforeseen circumstances beyond our control make changes necessary - we reserve the right to vary itineraries and to substitute hotels. At certain peak periods duplicate departures may operate, and sometimes in reverse order in which case hotels may vary from those stated on the itinerary pages.

•  Tour Cancellation: Trafalgar reserves the right to cancel or re-schedule any tour departure in accordance with operating requirements or circumstances beyond its control.

•  Trafalgar is not responsible for any other travel arrangements affected due to our cancellations.

•  Airfares to and from Europe, except where specified, airport taxes, passport and visa fees, insurances of all kinds, laundry, phone calls, beverages, meals not detailed in the itinerary, tips to Tour Directors, motorcoach drivers and local city guides, items of a personal nature, excess baggage, optional excursions etc. The tour price also does not cover costs and expenses, including the return to your home, if you leave the tour at your volition, or due to illness, or as a consequence of official action by the government of any country visited.

1.  Your land reservation will be confirmed on receipt of deposit which must be within 10 DAYS of booking or the reservation will automatically be cancelled.

2.  Payment in full is required at time of booking for reservations made less than 45 days before tour departure.

3.  Trafalgar reserves the right to cancel the reservation and impose cancellation charges should payments not be received within the above specified periods.

4.  Tours with intra-European air flights included in the price must be paid in full 70 DAYS before the tour departs.

5.  Your Agent shall, on the receipt of any monies, hold such monies for each and every person named in the booking until the booking is confirmed at which times those monies shall be remitted promptly by your Agent to us. All such monies received by us will be deposited as required by law. We will be entitled to keep for each account any interest earned on such monies. It is a condition of our confirmation of your booking and acceptance of your deposit in respect of your tour, tha t all monies paid by you to us through your Agent, whether by way of deposit or otherwise in respect of your tour, may be disbursed by us as and when we see fit or in respect of the services to be provided or fees payable under the tour programme, and the payment of a deposit or otherwise for your tour, shall be deemed to be a direction to disburse such monies as aforesaid.

6.  Travel documents and instructions for joining your tour in Europe will be sent to you approximately 21 days prior to tour departure (providing full payment has been received). If you are leaving home earlier, please ask your Travel Agent to request your tour documents in good time.

BOOKING CHANGES, CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS

Booking Changes:

A fee of $30 per person will be charged for any revision or alteration made to a reservation after the booking is confirmed unless the change is to a more expensive tour.

Cancellation and Cancellation Fees:

•  A $100 fee per person per tour will be charged for all cancellations.

•  Notice of cancellation must be made in writing either directly to Trafalgar or through your Travel Agent.

•  The following scale of charges will apply when notice of cancellation is given within 45 days of tour commencement date. Please also refer to Trafalgar's Gold Seal on the opposite page.

5.  If you purchase intra-European/Middle Eastern air tickets from Trafalgar in conjunction with any tour, the following scale of cancellation charges will apply:

1.  Single and triple rooms in Oberammergau are extremely limited. Clients booked in single or triple rooms on tour may have to share with other clients of the same sex in the Oberammergau area. No additional supplements/reductions will apply.

2.  Oberammergau supplements must be paid in full along with the regular tour deposit.

3.Cancellation fee  % of Oberammergau Supplement

Between 1 Jan 2000 and 90 days prior to departure  50%
Within 90 days of tour departure 100%
Please note: these cancellation fees are separate from and in addition to normal tour booking conditions.

•  London and European City Hotel Accommodation which is cancelled within 14 days of booked dates incurs a 100% cancellation charge.

•  These cancellation fees are in addition to any cancellation fees that may be levied by your Travel Agent.

•  Illness or Absenteeism In the event of your withdrawal from a tour after commencement for reasons of illness, you must obtain a medical certificate in support of any insurance claim. We regret that no refunds can be made for absences from a tour, including but not limited to missed meals or sightseeing. Trafalgar makes no representation or guarantees concerning reimbursements of funds paid by you under any insurance claim.

•  Airlines & Airfares If a promotional air fare contained in this brochure is broken or extended for any reason, an additional cost may be incurred. Airfares are subject to change at any time. Changes to flight itineraries and name changes may result in penalties charged by the Airline concerned and passed on to the passenger.

Trafalgar Tours (Bermuda) Limited and Trafalgar Operations Limited, referred to as the Operators, are the agents for Trafalgar Tours International Ltd., who have empowered the Operators on its behalf to undertake the following duties:

1.  The Operators shall be responsible to the passenger for supplying the services and accommodations described in this brochure, except where such services cannot be supplied or the itinerary used is changed due to delays or other causes of whatever kind or nature beyond the control of the Operators. In such circumstances, the Operators will do their best to supply comparable services, accommodations and itineraries and there shall be no refund in this connection.

2.  This brochure represents the entire agreement between the passenger and the above mentioned Operators.

3.  In the absence of their own negligence, neither the Operators nor their agents or co-operating organisations shall be responsible for any cancellations or for acts of any other service providers concerned, diversions or substitution of equipment of any act, variations, postponements, omission or default whatsoever by air carriers, land carriers, hoteliers or hotels, transportation companies, or any other persons providing any of the services and accommodations to passengers including any results thereof, such as changes in services, accommodations or facilities necessitated by same. Nor shall they be liable for any loss or damage to baggage or property, or for injury, illness or death, or for any damages or claims whatsoever arising from loss, negligence or delay from the act, error, omission default or negligence of any person not their direct employee or under their exclusive control, including any act, error, omission, default, or negligence of any country, government or governmental authority, officer or employee. All baggage and personal effects are at all times and in all circumstances at the risk of the tour participant. Baggage insurance is recommended. The carriers, hotels and other suppliers who provide services on tour are independent contractors; they are not agents, employees or servants of the Operators or their associated companies. The Operators are not responsible for any criminal conduct by third parties.

4.  Where the passenger occupies a motorcoach seat fitted with a safety belt, neither the Operators nor their agents or co-operating organisations or service providers concerned will be liable for any injury, illness or death or for any loss or damages or claims whatsoever arising from any accident or incident, if the safety belt is not being worn at the time of such accident or incident.

5.  Transportation companies, airlines etc. are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not on board planes, transportation or conveyances. The passenger contracts in use by the airlines or transportation companies when used shall constitute the sole contract between the airline, transportation company and passenger or purchaser of this tour and the Operators assume no responsibility in this connection. Enrolment in and payment for a tour shall constitute agreement and acceptance by the passenger of the terms and conditions set forth in this brochure which cannot be varied except in writing by an officer of the Company.

6.  Trafalgar Tours (Aust) Pty Ltd. is only responsible for the services it provides. It does not accept any responsibility or liability for any of the acts, omissions or defaults, whether negligent or otherwise, of its principal Trafalgar Tours International Ltd., or any of the companies of the Trafalgar group of companies.

All matters arising in relation to the services provided by Trafalgar Tours (Aust) Pty Ltd., but not in respect of other things, are subject to the law of the State of New South Wales.

7.  Every effort is made to ensure brochure accuracy at the time of going to press; however Trafalgar cannot be held responsible for printing or typographical errors, or errors arising from unforeseen circumstances.

8.  The nominated and featured airline(s) does not by virtue of its endorsement of this brochure represent itself either as contracting with any purchaser of a holiday from Trafalgar Tours (Aust) Pty Ltd. or as having any other legal relationship with any such purchaser.

All bookings made with any provider of any transport, facilities, meals, other goods or of any services are subject to terms and conditions imposed by them in relation to matters not covered particularly and expressly by our agreement with any of the above-mentioned two Operators in the Trafalgar group of companies.

If you decide that you do not want to visit a country or part of a country you intended to visit because of any law, condition or requirement of any government or governmental authority, official, servant or agent, you are responsible for any costs, expenses, charges, fees, losses or damage incurred as a consequence and any cancellation or amendment fees.

None of the companies in the Trafalgar group of companies, or any of their servants or agents, accept any responsibility or liability for your acts, omissions, defaults, conduct, state of health, condition or circumstances.

OTHER CONDITIONS

It is your responsibility to comply with the terms, conditions or requirements of any service provider, or any country or governmental authorities, or to bear any costs or losses incurred as a consequence of you not complying with them.

BOOKING ARRANGEMENTS

Your booking arrangements are to be made by your Travel Agent and the person effecting the booking shall be deemed to have accepted the booking conditions. What's included in the tour price:
 

• • Inter-city Travel: By private motorcoach, trains and ferries (see itineraries).
• Touring: By air-conditioned luxury motorcoaches with on-board washroom and only 49 reclining seats for maximum comfort.*
• Air Transportation: Within Europe is included in the land price only when indicated in the Features panel on specific itineraries.**
• Hotel Accommodation: Prices per person are based on two persons sharing a twin-bedded room with private bath or shower.***
• Cruises: Per person prices are based on two persons sharing a cabin with two berths, private shower and toilet. A limited number of single cabins are available at extra cost.
• Tour Director: Escorted tours are conducted in English only by a professional multi-lingual Tour Director. Hosted service is provided in London, Paris, Rome, Athens and Cairo.
• Meals: In-flight meals and snacks are served according to airline policy. Continental or buffet breakfast on all tours except in Ireland, provincial Britain and Scandinavia, where full national style breakfasts are served. Dinners and lunches are included as detailed on itineraries. All meals are included on cruises.
• Sightseeing: Excursions and entrance fees to places of interest visited as detailed on each itinerary with an English-speaking guide where necessary.
• Transfers: Between airports, hotels and piers in Europe where indicated on the tour itinerary. Please see page 26.
• Porterage: Baggage handling is included for one suitcase per person with dimensions not exceeding 29" x 20" x 10" at airports (except London), hotels, railway stations, and piers. A surcharge of US$3 per additional bag per day will be collected by the Tour Director.
• Tips and Taxes: All tips are included for services on tour provided by dining-room waiters, chambermaids and porters at hotels, airports, docks and stations.

* In the British Isles, Ireland and some Regional Tours, motorcoaches without toilet facilities are used. In the Middle East air-conditioned motorcoaches (or minicoaches in Israel) without toilet facilities are used. If, due to circumstances beyond our control, these are used on tours otherwise advertised on the itinerary page, a refund of $10 per person will be made.

** UK Air passenger duty is included in all intra-European air tickets issued by Trafalgar London.

*** When booking triple rooms please note that the third bed may be a "roll-away" bed. Availability of triple rooms is limited. Substitute hotels may be used at certain times and will be of similar standard whenever possible. Please note that single rooms in Europe will generally besmaller than twin-bedded rooms. Passengers who are members of Hotel Frequent Traveller programmes are not entitled to earn points with any of the hotels featured on a Trafalgar tour.

ADDITIONAL OPTIONAL TOURS

With Trafalgar, you will enjoy many of Europe's famous highlights as included features on your tour - at no extra cost. However, there is an exciting array of Additional Highlight Excursions which we make available to further enhance your enjoyment.

These Excursions are optional, and are offered at special preferential prices. They can only be booked once you start your tour in Europe, as many of them are carefully programmed to coincide with the best highlights available at the time of your visit.

A detailed list and cost of these and many more exciting options is included in your tour documentation. You can book and pay for them through your Tour Director, by cash, Credit Card or Travellers Cheques.

All British Isles tours are operated by

TRAFALGAR TOURS (BERMUDA) LIMITEDJF Burrows Building, 1st Floor, Chancery Lane87 Front Street, Hamilton HM12, Bermuda

All Continental Europe tours are operated by

TRAFALGAR OPERATIONS LIMITEDJF Burrows Building, 1st Floor, Chancery Lane87 Front Street, Hamilton HM12, Bermuda

The Trafalgar group of companies has offices/agents in: Australia, Bermuda, Canada, Hong Kong, India, Israel, London, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, South Africa, Switzerland, Thailand, USA and Zimbabwe.