After one training trip with EF and 3 years of leading student tours, I am now joining forces with another branch of EF called GO AHEAD TOURS. Take a look at these FAQ’s and let me know if you have any additional questions by emailing me at jaylaura327@msn.com or texting 816-377-4921 and we can schedule a time to chat!. Whether you are a seasoned traveler or have never traveled abroad, I hope you will join me In England, Scotland, and Ireland, July 15-26 202I. Enrollment is open now.
#10 How much does it cost? The base price for one person is $3479 with flights being an additional $1180 But you can use your travel points and fly on your own, but you are responsible for ground transportation to and from the airport and meeting up with the group on the first and last day of the tour. If your flight is delayed it is your responsibility to meet up with the group wherever we may be. If you book through Go Ahead then all of that is taken care of for you. *If you pay Go Ahead they can book a flight for you from any city if you wish.
#9 Can I cancel?I recommend travel protection. Nobody wants to be stressed out that they MIGHT have to cancel for any number of unexpected reasons. Cancellation fees vary depending on how close we are to tour. I suggest being committed or insured. I suggest insurance anyway!
#8 Does EF offer travel insurance? Yes! There are a couple of varieties and I recommend looking at the fine print to find one that best suits your needs. The best people to talk to are the EF consultants that can help guide you in your decision.
#7 Are we doing the London extension is entirely up to you. Jay and I plan to go to Newcastle/Tynemouth area for a few days after the tour and we will fly home from Newcastle or London. We would love for you to join us! This will be travel on your own and not a part of the EF trip. You can also extend your stay and EF will book your flight home from any city you wish for an additional fee. You are responsible for everything once you leave the official tour. So if you want to stay in Europe for a while, you must book your own transportation and hotels.
#6 Is it customary or expected to pay gratuities? Yes. Although there is no tipping in restaurants, we will tip $10-15 a day for our tour guide, bus driver and local guides. As a courtesy to you, I will pre-collect tips and take care of handing those out at the appropriate time.
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#5 Are meals included? Only select meals as indicated on the itinerary are included. Those meals will be 3-course meals and mid to upscale eateries with beer or wine included. That means you can get to choose where you eat which is such fun!
#4 What are the hotels like? Go Ahead books 4-star hotels for adult tours (for reference, I book 2-3 stars when we travel alone) These hotels are usually in the city centers which is great if you want to go out at night or just stay back for part or all of the day instead of doing the planned activities.
#3 How many people per room? The rooming is set up for 2 people per room. If you are traveling solo, it benefits you to find a roommate either already booked on the tour, or grab a friend and invite them to come along. There are also family rooms for 3 people. Families larger than 3 will have to get 2 rooms. I LOVE TRAVELING WITH FAMILIES! I often have mother/daughter or mother/son or father/son combos. You get the idea.
#2 Do we have free time? Compared to the student tours there is a lot more free time. Typically there will be a guided tour or activity in the morning followed by free time to explore in the afternoon. The tour director will offer suggestions for free time activities or places to eat or shop. This is YOUR tour. We get you there and then you do what you want! You can even opt-out of the entire day and spend it doing whatever you wish!
Additionally I will be booking or leading my own excursions for our free time (although there is not much of it on this itinerary) that you are welcome to sign up for and pay me. I love suggestions so let me know your interests and I will look into it!
#1 Are we doing the “optional excursions?” If we have 10 people signed up then yes, these will run as planned. These excursions are optional and can be added any time. These excursions look great and if we add them then we get the Go Ahead experience with tour guide and transportation. I can help you decide which excursions are the best value for your time and money and I can get them added to your itinerary for you.
Why group travel? I was never a fan of group travel, until my son and I were in Florence and after having done everything ourselves or a week we decided to pay $100 per person to hop on a bus for a guided tour. The second I got on that bus, I was hooked. Our guide was going to tell me everything I needed to know AND I got to go places I never would have traveled on my own. One day we visited Sienna, a medieval town, Pisa, and did a wine tour of an Organic Wine Farm complete with lunch and wine tasting. IN. ONE. DAY.!!! We loved it so much we booked a tour for the next day for hiking and swimming trip to Cinque Terre. I never would have been able to hike down the hills, see locals picking grapes, have lunch in a secret spot or swim and boat in the Mediterranean if it weren't for that tour!
Our tour guide will take control of arranging our special meals, transportation, admissions, travel, and hotel. Whatever you need, they are there to help! I have seen multiple instances where the EF guides go above and beyond to help. I’ve seen them grab cabs for tired people or sick travelers, they got me ice when my foot was hurting, they point out where the public restrooms are they will walk you to a restaurant they think is awesome all for the asking.
It is also wonderful to be with a group of people where you are not stressed from travel and you can chat and share experiences. Traveling alone or with family can be lonely and stressful.
I hope you will consider joining our group this summer or any summer after that. Also, let me know if you have any interest in an off season tour.
Enroll online: https://www.grouptoursite.com/tours/laurasmith2021#overview
Enroll via phone: 800.438.7672
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