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Visiting
Omaha Beach — Utah Beach — Pointe du Hoc
Ste. Mère Eglise — St. Lô — Pegasus Bridge |
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| A Journey in American History by Matterhorn Travel / 2008 |
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Tom Brokaw called the World War II generation “The
Greatest Generation.” Certainly, this generation saved our western civilization
from Nazi terror. As President Roosevelt expressed it, the generation
had a “Rendezvous with Destiny.”
Among the very greatest were the soldiers who landed at Normandy on
D-Day in the largest military invasion from the sea in the history of
the world. These men fought in Normandy during the summer of 1944.
Our long weekend journey will follow the path of our soldiers from the
D-Day landings on June 6 to the capture of St. Lô on July 20. We'll
visit Omaha Beach, the bloodiest of the D-Day landings; Utah Beach, Ste.
Mère Eglise, where our paratroopers landed, Pointe du Hoc, where
our rangers landed, and the hedgerow (bocage) region of St. Lô.
Of course the war did not end at Normandy. Much fighting still remained
as our troops raced across eastern France to Luxembourg and Belgium. In one of the ironies of history, our troops in eastern France in 1944
retraced some of the same battlefields where American “doughboys” fought
in 1918. The Battle of the Bulge during the bitter cold winter of 1944-45
was the largest battle ever fought by the American Army. Our three day
extension includes First World War battlefields, the Battle of the Hürtgen Forest, the Battle
of the Bulge, and the Rhine.
The advance from D-Day was not without mistakes. In Normandy our army was unprepared for hedgerow
combat. The huge losses in the Hürtgen Forest served no significant purpose. Our army was initially
unprepared for the German offensive of December 16, causing high casualties until the Germans were stopped
and pushed back. These battles will be covered by our historians, and we will visit some of the sites.
The trip is more than a retracing of battles. Education sessions are included to enhance our understanding of
World War II in Europe. Our approach will consider both the “worm’s eye view” of Ernie Pyle, and the high command
environment of General Eisenhower and his staff.
Most of our historians are graduates of West Point or have taught at West Point; all have advanced degrees.
Our journey will be memorable; we hope that you will join us.
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Included Features
Round trip transatlantic flights
- USA to Paris
- Paris (or Frankfurt) to USA
Hotel accommodations for four nights
- One night in Paris
- Two nights in Normandy
- One night in Paris
Breakfast and dinner each day
Special Features
Three Education Sessions
Experienced historian as education host |
Education Sessions
| 3rd Day |
World War I and the Origins of the Second World War
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| 4th Day |
D-Day Landings - June 6, 1944
Preparations in England
The Role of the Navy
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| 5th Day |
The Battle of Normandy
On the Ground in France; St. Lô
The Role of the Air Force |
Visits
Normandy
Omaha Beach, Utah Beach, Pointe du Hoc, Bayeux,
Ste. Mère Eglise, Pegasus Bridge, St. Lô, Three Museums
Travel between cities via deluxe motorcoach with English
speaking tour manager
Round trip airport transfers
Hotel porterage |
Fly this afternoon from your departure city to Paris. Cocktails, dinner
and continental breakfast will be served in flight.
There is also a movie
for your in-flight enjoyment.
Arrive Paris in the morning, local time. Upon arrival, you will be met
and transferred to your hotel.
The balance of the morning is at leisure.
This afternoon we have included a panorama tour of the major sights of
Paris.
Those who already know Paris may wish to spend the afternoon at the Louvre
or another of the city's world class museums.
Or, you may prefer just to
stroll along the Champs Elysees, or while away the afternoon at a sidewalk
cafe.
3rd Day, Friday
Normandy: Caen – Pegasus Bridge |
Back to Top |
This morning we'll follow the Seine west to Normandy, a land of rich pastures
and orchards; of castles, cathedrals and medieval towns.
“Good luck! And let us all beseech the blessing of Almighty God upon
this great and noble undertaking.”
General Eisenhower, Order of the Day, June 4, 1944
Two of history's greatest epics occurred in Normandy. William
the Conqueror invaded England from Normandy in 1066. In 1944, green
and peaceful Normandy with its picturesque landscape and villages
was the setting for the greatest military invasion from the sea
in world history. On June 6, 1944 - called the Longest Day - General
Eisenhower's allied forces landed on the beaches of Normandy.
This afternoon we'll visit the Memorial Museum of Caen to introduce
us to the events of D-Day and the summer of 1944.
Next, we will pay homage to our British allies and visit Pegasus
Bridge, where British glider troops landed and captured the span
over the River Orne, preventing the Germans from using the bridge
to reinforce their defenders at the landing beaches. Landing at
12:30 AM on June 6, these British airborne troops had the honor
of beginning the Battle of Normandy.
4th Day, Saturday
Normandy – Beaches and Battles |
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“In this column I want to tell you what the opening of the second front entailed, so that
you can know and appreciate and forever be humbly grateful to those both
dead and alive who did it for you.”
- Ernie Pyle, June 12, 1944
Today and tomorrow we will follow the paths of the
American Infantry, rangers, and paratroopers in
Normandy.
The first Americans to land on June 6 were our
paratroopers of the 82nd and 101st airborne divisions.
We will visit the Airborne Museum
at Ste. Mère Eglise,
the first village to be liberated. Today, this village still
hangs a parachute on its church steeple as a reminder
of its liberation.
We will visit the bridge at La Fière, where the 82nd Airborne Division sealed the Ste. Mère Eglise – Carentan – Utah Beach area against German reinforcements from the North. We will see the foxhole of General Gavin, Commander of the 82nd, still largely intact.
Next we will proceed to Utah Beach, where our troops
landed about a mile from its intended point. Theodore
Roosevelt, Jr., senior officer present, and at age 57 the
oldest person to land at D-Day, declared “We’ll begin our
war right here.” We will visit the museum at Utah Beach.
“These are the boys of Pointe Du Hoc. These are the men
who took the cliffs. These are the champions who helped free a continent. These are the the heroes who helped end a war.”
- Ronald Reagan,
June 6, 1984, Normandy, France
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| Pointe Du Hoc - Rudder’s Desperate Mission |
Among the bravest of brave on D-Day were the Rangers,
led by Lt. Col. James E. Rudder, who scaled the vertical
cliffs at Pointe Du Hoc in face of opposing enemy fire.
As General Omar Bradley wrote, “Never has any
commander been given a more desperate mission than
that assigned to James Earl Rudder.”
We will visit Pointe Du Hoc to see the German
fortifications and pock-marked landscape resulting from
the massive pre-assault bombardment.
We will walk on the beach at “Bloody Omaha” and visit
the cemetery overlooking the beach, where more than
9,000 Americans are buried.
The D-Day book of Cornelius Ryan was called The Longest Day, as
was the film starring John Wayne, Robert Mitchum and Curt
Jurgens.
The phrase came from the analysis of Field Marshall
Erwin Rommel,
Commander of the German forces in France.
“Believe me...the first 24 hours of the invasion will be decisive...the
fate of Germany will depend on it...for the Allies, as well as
for us, this will be the longest day.”
Rommel was correct. D-Day was decisive. Fortunately for us, the
beaches were secured. Although terrible fighting lay ahead, Germany's
fate was sealed on this fateful day. General Eisenhower's prayer
was answered.
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St. Lô after the battle. The town was finally liberated
in late July, 1944, after huge losses by both Germans
and Americans. After the war, the French called
St. Lô the “Capital of Ruins.”
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| American infantrymen engage the enemy in a thick Norman hedgerow, June 1944. We will walk along a typical hedgerow near St. Lô. |
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During the ensuing weeks, fierce battles were fought throughout the Normandy hedgerows. The largest battle was around the town of St. Lô, which was almost totally destroyed. We will visit the surrounding hedgerow (bocage) country and see the monument to Major Tom Howie, the “Major of St. Lô,” who was killed on the Martinville Ridge.
The hedgerows in the “bocage” (a French word meaning a mixture of pasture and wooded land) are small fields ringed by earthen banks of dirt and roots four to six feet high, with trees and shrubs growing out of them—tight enough to serve as fences that cattle and other farm animals could not get through.
Combat in the bocage was like fighting in a maze, making it impossible to see beyond a single field at a time. It was terrain which greatly favoured the defender against the Allied forces, who were not trained to fight in such country.
Between the hedgerows, dirt farm tracks, that had sunk beneath the level of the surrounding fields by centuries of erosion and use, formed a labyrinthine pattern. Units commonly found themselves lost a few minutes after launching an attack. Just as typically, two outfits could occupy adjacent fields for hours before discovering each other’s presence.
Our historian will walk with us along a typical hedgerow near St. Lô, and show us why the Normandy hedgerows were so extremely difficult for the American troops to attack, and so advantageous for the Germans to defend.
The break-out from Normandy took 75 days.
The invasion of 1944 was not the first invasion across the English Channel. Nearly 900 years earlier in 1066, William the Conqueror invaded England from Normandy. |
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Pictures of William’s 1066 expedition can be seen in Bayeux. Honest! The famous Tapestry of Bayeux, 230 feet long and 900 years old, shows in astonishing detail - via millions of stitches - the life and customs of the Middle Ages and William’s epic invasion of England.
In the late afternoon we will proceed east to the medieval city of Rouen for dinner at a typical provincial restaurant.
Continue to Paris for overnight.
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| Technical innovations helped turn the tide in Normandy. A Sherman tank is equipped with a hedgerow cutter constructed of materials from German beach obstacles. Invented by Sgt. Curtis G. Culin of the 2nd Armored Division, the “rhino” device was a huge benefit to our tanks in hedgerow combat. |
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This morning we will be transferred to Paris airport to board
our return flight to the U.S. Cocktails and meals will be
served
in flight, and a movie will also be available. Arrive back in the
U.S. this afternoon.
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| Prices |
| Prices Per Person, Double Occupancy |
| From the East |
Boston, New York, Newark |
$2195 |
| From the Mid-Atlantic |
Washington, Philadelphia |
$2245 |
| From Chicago |
Chicago |
$2295 |
| From the Mid-West |
Minneapolis, Detroit, Pittsburgh, Kansas City, St. Louis |
$2345 |
| From Atlanta and the Carolinas |
Atlanta, Charlotte, Raleigh/Durham |
$2345 |
| From Florida |
Miami, Tampa, Orlando |
$2345 |
| From Texas |
Dallas, Ft. Worth, Houston |
$2395 |
| From the West |
Denver, Phoenix |
$2445 |
| From the Pacific Coast |
Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle |
$2495 |
Inquire about prices from cities not listed above.
Land Only Price: $1795 per person, double occupancy.
Single Room Supplement $249. Triple Room Reduction $20 per person. Add $274 U.S. and foreign airport and security taxes. |
Stay Longer
World War One – Battle of the Bulge – Battle of the HÜrtgen Forest You're already over there, so it's easy - and inexpensive - to follow the advance
of our troops across France to the Siegfried Line, Battle of the Hürtgen Forest,
Battle of the Bulge, the Rhine.
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Included Features
Hotel accommodations for three nights
- One night in Luxembourg
- One night in the Ardennes
- One night near Frankfurt
Breakfast and dinner each day
Special Features
Two Education Sessions
Experienced historian as education host |
Education Sessions
7th Day Battle of the Bulge
8th Day Battle of the Hürtgen Forest
The Bridge at Remagen
Visits
Belleau Wood, Argonne Forest, Verdun
Luxembourg, Bastogne, Hürtgen Forest,
Siegfried Line Pillbox, Remagen
Travel between cities via deluxe motorcoach
with English speaking tour manager
Airport transfer
Hotel porterage |
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“...We will always remember. We will always be proud. We will always be prepared, so we may always be free.”
President Ronald Reagan
Omaha Beach, June 6, 1984
6th Day, Monday
Belleau Wood – Argonne Forest – Verdun – Luxembourg |
Back to Top |
What were the causes of World War II? The war can be considered
as an extension of the First World War, which destroyed the European
civilization that existed in 1914.
Woodrow Wilson called World War I “The war to end all wars.” Although
hindsight is always 20-20, this prediction was wildly wrong. In one
of the ironies of history, our troops in eastern France in 1944 retraced
some of the same battlefields where American “doughboys” fought in
1918.
This morning we will proceed to Belleau Wood, where U.S. Army and
Marine Corps troops in 1918 helped to stop the German advance from reaching Paris.
In the Meuse-Argonne Region, we’ll see the Pennsylvania
State Monument and the American Memorial at
Montfaucon. It was
in the Argonne Forest that Sergeant
Alvin York showed his extraordinary courage and
marksmanship, and where the “Lost Battalion,” led by a
Wall Street lawyer called up from the reserves, was
surrounded by Germans for five days, refusing to give
up. A precursor to Bastogne!
World War I on the Western Front was largely trench
warfare - a four year stalemate where millions of soldiers
were killed or wounded. Although American troops were
not involved, we will also visit Verdun. The Battle of
Verdun, lasting from February to December 1916, was
the longest and largest single battle in world history. We
will visit the trench at Fort de Vaux above Verdun. In
planning for the Second World War, senior generals on
both sides were determined to avoid the futile slaughter
of trench warfare.
Next, we enter Luxembourg and return to World War II.
We’ll visit the American Military cemetery, were General
Patton is buried.
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7th Day, Tuesday
Bastogne – Battle of the Bulge |
Back to Top |
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The Bitter Woods
Battle of the Bulge, Winter 1944-45,
John S.D. Eisenhower, Author
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| Because of its rugged construction, heavy firepower, and ability to haul large bombloads, the P-47 Thunderbolt was ideally suited for close air support
missions. General Weyland’s command included six P-47 groups, two P-51 groups, and one reconnaissance group, totalling 400 aircraft. |
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“They got us surrounded - the poor bastards”
American Army Medic
“Nuts”
General Anthony McAuliffe
The Battle of the Bulge, as the Ardennes Campaign is widely known, was the largest land battle of World War II. It was also the largest battle ever fought by the American Army.
The last offensive of the German Army, the battle cost 19,000 Americans killed in action. But our troops held the line and the offensive was a disaster for the Germans, who had put their soldiers in a noose to be cut off by reinforcing Americans under General Patton. The above comments
during the siege, from an unnamed army medic and General McAuliffe, became the most widely quoted comments of the war in Europe. We’ll visit Bastogne, where our soldiers were surrounded for a week, and see the town’s monuments to this epic battle.
The noose was closed on January 16, 1945, when the 2nd Armored Division of our First Army linked up with the 11th Armored Division of our Third Army at Houfalize, north of Bastogne.
Near Malmedy we will visit the site where Nazi troops massacred 85 American prisoners.
We will visit the Battle of the Bulge Museum at Diekirch, where Colonel James E. Rudder and his troops fought to prevent Germans from expanding the southern shoulder of their penetration. By this time, Rudder was a regimental commander with the 28th Infantry Division.
Greatly assisting General Patton’s 4th Armored Division in its drive north to relieve Bastogne was the close air support provided by XIX Tactical Air Command under General Otto P.Weyland.The book Air Power and Ground Armies from the Air University at Maxwell AFB described the cooperation between Patton’s Third Army and Weyland’s XIX TAC as
“the most spectacular Allied air-ground team of the Second World War.” Patton himself called the relationship “love at first sight.”
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8th Day, Wednesday
The Hürtgen Forest and Siegfried Line |
Back to Top |
“In the [Hürtgen] forest our gains came inch by inch and foot by foot, delivered by men with rifles–bayonets on
one end and grim, resolute courage on the other. There was no battle on the continent of Europe more devastating, frustrating or gory.”
Maj. Gen. Wiliam G. Weaver
Commanding General
8th Infantry Division
“The Hürtgen’s voracious appetite for casualties was greater than the army’s ability to provide new troops.”
Michael Doubler, author
Closing With the Enemy
“The Hürtgen was a battle that should not have been fought.”
Maj. Gen. James M. Gavin
Commanding General
82nd Airborne Division
The battle of the Hürtgen Forest, lasting from September,
1944, to February, 1945, was one of the worst battles ever
experienced by the American Army. Negligently planned
by senior generals who had no knowledge of forest
combat, we could not employ in the dense forest the
advantages of air superiority, artillery, and armor, which
had been decisive for us since D-Day. The crucial
objective of the Roer River dams was ignored for weeks.
The battle of the Hürtgen Forest has been overshadowed in
historical memory by the Battle of the Bulge. A text book
example of high command negligence and its disastrous
consequences, the Hürtgen Forest battles have been
presented as case studies to classes at the U.S. Army
Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth,
Kansas.
Accompanied by our historian, we will walk on the Kall Trail near Vossenack, reflecting back on that horrible time
in the autumn of 1944
when thousands of American
soldiers became casualties among the
firs of the black
Hürtgen Forest. |
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| In the Hürtgen Forest, November, 1944 |
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““We’re gonna hang out our washing on the Siegfried Line, if the Siegfried Line’s still there.”
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Kall Trail, looking toward Vossenack in the Hürtgen Forest.
Note thrown tank tracks.We will walk on the Kall Trail. |
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This humorous song was popular in England and the U.S. during
World War II.
But nothing was humorous about the Siegfried Line Campaign. There was enormous, brutal combat, with American soldiers pitting their courage and stamina against extremely cold weather and a fiercely stubborn enemy.
From D-Day on June 6, it took our troops 96 days to reach the border of Nazi Germany and the Siegfried Line (also known as the West Wall), a complex of pillboxes, dragon’s teeth, and strongpoints built during the 1930’s to protect the Reich against invasion from the West.
It took us almost five additional months to advance beyond the Siegfried Line and continue less than 100 miles into Germany to reach the Rhine River.
We will visit a German pillbox along the Siegfried Line, and then drive east to Remagen.
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Anti-tank “dragon’s teeth” along the Siegfried Line, still visible today. We will see dragon’s teeth
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Remagen – The Rhine – Darmstadt
By 1945, both the American and German armies assumed
that all permanent bridges across the Rhine would soon be
destroyed and any crossing by the Allies would be via
boat or pontoon bridge. But the retreating Germans failed
to bring down the Ludendorff Bridge over the Rhine at
Remagen; our Ninth Armored Division captured the
structure on March 7.
The capture of the bridge at Remagen enabled thousands
of our troops to cross the Rhine “with dry feet.” General
Eisenhower called the bridge “worth its weight in gold.”
The enormous benefit of the bridge to the Allied advance
was recognized by Hitler, who ordered an all-out assault
against the bridge by aircraft bombing, rockets (the V-2 had
just become operational), frog men, and artillery.
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| The Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen after capture by American troops on March 7, 1945. The bridge collapsed on March 17. |
At Remagen, we will visit the site of Ludendorff Bridge and
see the imposing towers that still stand today.
We will visit the small museum inside the west bank towers.
This afternoon enjoy a delightful drive along the Rhine. See
the vineyards of the famous Rhine wines, the many barges
on the busy waterway and perhaps best of all, the fairy
tale castles around almost every bend
in the River. Of
particular note are the famous Lorelei rocks, immortalized
in the classic poem of Heinrich Heine. Set to music, the
poem tells the story of the boatmen lured to their death by
a beautiful maiden
sitting on the rocks, combing her long
blonde hair while singing her fateful song.
Dinner this evening, with German entertainment, will be at
a popular Rhineland restaurant.
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This morning we will be transferred to Frankfurt airport to board our
return flight to the U.S. Cocktails and meals will be served in flight,
and a movie will also be available. Arrive back in the U.S. this afternoon.
| Inclusive Cost for Extension |
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$1195 Per Person, Double Occupancy
Single Room Supplement $142
Note: We also have departures in May, June, July, September, and October. These dates include an optional weekend extension, following the advance of our troops across Germany to the end of the war in Berlin. See our World War II in Europe trip for more information. Please contact us for a detailed brochure.
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| Two Departures / 2008 |
| Depart |
Return |
Return |
Wednesday, March 19
(Easter Week) |
Monday, March 24 |
Thursday, March 27 |
Wednesday, November 5
(After Election Day) |
Monday, November 10 |
Thursday, November 13 |
| Hotels |
| Paris (Airport) |
Marriott, Holiday Inn, Millennium |
| Normandy |
Mercure, Holiday Inn, Novotel |
| Luxembourg |
NH, Novotel, International Clervaux |
| Ardennes Region |
Kallbach, Paulushof, Forsthaus |
| Frankfurt Area |
Maritim, Marriott, Dorint |
| Education Hosts |
| Kenneth Hamburger, Ph.D. |
During two tours of combat in Vietnam, Ken Hamburger was awarded the Silver Star, the Legion of Merit, the Distinguished Flying Cross, and thirty Air Medals. He holds a Master's Degree and Ph.D. from Duke University, and has taught courses at West Point on the Korean and Vietnam Wars, Grand Strategy, and Leadership. His recent book is a study of combat leadership in the Korean War. |
| Harold Winton, Ph.D. |
A graduate of West Point, Hal Winton received his M.A. and Ph.D. in history from Stanford. He is also an honors graduate of the Infantry Officer's Advanced Course and the Army Command and General Staff College. On active duty he served as a platoon leader, company commander, and battalion commander. Hal has taught history at West Point and Auburn University, and is currently Professor
of Military History and Theory, School of Advanced Airpower Studies, at the Air University. He has published numerous books, articles and essays on air power, World War II, and the Battle of
the Bulge. |
| Heath Twichell, Ph.D. |
A graduate of West Point, Heath Twichell served 24 years as an infantry officer and led troops in the U.S., Germany and Vietnam. He taught history at West Point, as well as policy and strategy at the U.S. Naval War College.
Heath has written books on military history. His biography of General Henry T. Allen won the Allen Nevins Prize for the best doctoral dissertation in American history for 1972. |
| Alexander P. Shine, M.A. |
Colonel, U.S. Army (retired) Al Shine graduated from West Point in 1963. His 27 years active duty as an infantry officer included a tour of Korea and two in Vietnam. Al is the son and grandson of WWII and WWI veterans. All of Al's siblings served in Vietnam; both of his brothers were killed in action.
Al has a masters degree in history from Harvard and taught at West Point, Wheaton College (IL), and the Army War College. His articles on a variety of topics have appeared in the Airpower Journal, and Command. His awards and decorations include the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Silver Star, and Purple Heart. |
| Kenneth E. Block, M.A. |
A graduate of Princeton, Ken Block has studied at the University of Berlin and holds a Masters Degree in history from Columbia University in New York. He has served as a Naval Officer and as a Foreign Service Officer with the Department of State in Europe and Asia.
Ken founded Matterhorn Travel and has 41 years experience designing and operating history travel programs. In addition to World War II in Europe, Ken has put together history programs covering Colonial America and the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, the Western Expansion, and World War II
in the Pacific. |
| * Other highly qualified education hosts may also participate. |
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Left to right: Vonnie Block,
Kathy McCary, Ken Block, JoAnn West |
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Our holiday is operated by Matterhorn Travel.
Established in 1986, Matterhorn Travel has carried over
50,000 passengers to Europe. Matterhorn officers have
a combined experience of 94 years with the company.
Please note the all-inclusive nature of our trips. There are
no hidden operational costs. We include all features for a
complete holiday - breakfasts, dinners every evening, and
full sightseeing. |
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Deposits and Final Payments
An initial deposit of $300 per person must be sent with the reservation(s). Final payment is due two months before departure.
Responsibility
These tours are under the operation and management of Matterhorn Travel Service, Inc., 3419 Hidden River View, Annapolis, Maryland 21403. The Tour Operator shall be
responsible for supplying the services and accommodations as outlined in this brochure, except to the extent that such services and accommodations cannot be supplied due to delays or other causes beyond its control, in which case the operator will use its best efforts to supply comparable services and accommodations. The Tour Operator reserves the right at its discretion to change the sequence or alter any part of the itinerary or hotel accommodations, without prior notice for any reason; but in the event of substantial reduction in the services rendered, a proportionate refund will be made to tour
participants upon written request to the Tour Operator. If there is a major change in the itinerary, participants will be notified before departure and offered an opportunity to cancel with full refund.
In the absence of negligence by the Tour Operator, the Tour Operator accepts no responsibility for
losses or additional expenses due to delays or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather strikes, or other causes. All such losses or expenses will be borne by the passenger. The tour
member waives any claim against the Tour Operator for any damage to or loss of property or injury or death of persons due to any act of negligence of any hotels, or any other persons rendering any of the services or accommodations included in the ground portion of the itinerary. The Tour Operator shall not be responsible for any delays, substitution of equipment or any act of omission whatsoever by the carrier, its agents, servants and employees, and tour member hereby waives any claim arising
therefrom. Tour participants agree that the Tour Operatorhas no responsibility or liability of any nature whatsoever for loss, damage or injury to property or person resulting from air transportation. The air carrier provides insurance for the protection of passengers and performance within the provisions of its tariffs. The Tour Operator reserves the right to decline, accept or remove any tour member as a
participant of these tours at any time. If any tour member is removed from the tour, a proportionate refund for unused services will be made.
Cancellations/Refunds
Refunds cannot be made to any passenger who does not
complete the tour. In the event of cancellation by the Tour Operator,
Tour Operator's liability shall be limited to a refund of all payments made
by the tour participants to Tour Operator.
All cancellations and requests for refunds must be submitted in writing to the Tour Operator. If
cancellation in writing is received by the Tour Operator more than two months before tour departure, an administration charge of $75 per person will be retained. For cancellations received within two months of departure, the following cancellation charges apply:
Two months to one month before departure: 25% of the tour price
One month to one week before departure: 60% of the tour price
Less than one week before departure: No refund
Insurance
Trip accident, health and baggage insurance is recommended. Cancellation insurance is also available and is particularly recommended.
Details will be furnished upon request.
Baggage
One suitcase per person (50 pounds) may be taken on the trip. The liability of the carrier for loss or damage to personal baggage shall be limited to the actual value of such baggage but not more than approximately $9.07 per pound in the case of checked baggage and approximately $400 per person in the case of unchecked baggage or other property. (Domestic-actual value not to exceed $500.)
Airport Transfers
Airport transfers are provided only for passengers arriving and departing Europe via flights reserved by the Tour Operator. Passengers using different flights are responsible for their own airport transfers.
Special Note
Prices quoted are based on air fares, taxes, European supplier costs,
and rates of foreign currency as of September 15, 2007. Prices are subject to
change prior to departure. Participants will be notified in writing at least
two months before departure if there is any increase in tour price required
by such cost increases. There is no credit for unused services. Forwarding
of participants' deposit(s) indicates acceptance of these terms and conditions.
THE AIRLINES participating on this tour are not responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time the passengers are not on board their airplanes or conveyances. The issuance of the passage contract by the airline concerned shall constitute the sole contract between the airline and the
purchaser of this tour and/or the passengers. In addition to the participating airlines, the services of any IATA and ARC carrier may be used in connection with these tours.
This program is valid from March 1 to November 30, 2008.
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