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WALES, CHESTER, & THE LAKE DISTRICT
Scotland, July 2 - 8: 6 nights, 7 days,
Both tours: June 23 - July 8: 14 nights,
The prices are based on $1.00 = £0.4786 or £1.00 = $2.089, and 16 enrolled.
Since the dollar has now strengthened against the pound, I have lowered the price by 5%. (See above) Also, if we go over 18 people to 20, I will very happily take perhaps as much as$300 off of the combined tour. Under favorable conditions (20+ people and a pound over 0.5025), look for a final price of $3500.00 for both Wales & Scotland with comparable savings for the shorter versions.
INCLUDED: Dinner-bed and breakfast throughout, plus all of the excursions, entrances, train & boat rides mentioned in the itinerary.
NOT INCLUDED: Personal expenses such as laundry, room service, FAX or telephone charges, internet connections, excess luggage fees, or sightseeing and meals which are not included in the itinerary, gratuities for guides and drivers. Normally I provide drinks at dinner, but the tradition in the UK is drinks before dinner and wine prices in the restaurants are beyond absurd. However, I am negotiating some workarounds to solve the problem.
AIRFARE ARRANGEMENTS: Since not enough of us are flying out of the same city to qualify for a group fare, you will need to book your own flight. For the first part of the trip, depart the USA on 23 June and arrange for your arrival in Manchester in the morning. United has a flight that comes in at 8:05; American Airlines has one that arrives at 7:20. Either of these would work. For the return, for the first part only, fly out of Manchester on 3 July. For Scotland, fly out of Glasgow on 8 July. For Scotland only, fly into Glasgow (or anywhere in the UK) but arrange to be in Perth by the time we arrive in the late aafternoon of 2 July.Our hotel is located within 100 meters of the train station.
ENROLLMENTS: I have conceived of this trip for around 16 people, with a minimum of 12 for both legs of the trip. An ideal maximum would be 20 people.
FAMILIES: With kid-friendly museums, short train rides on antique steam trains, real castles rather than the stucco variety built by Disney, and boat rides across beautiful lakes, this is a natural for school age children. I won't put a minimum age requirement--after all, I have traveled with some college age kids who weren't socialized enough for a tour, and had some 10-year olds who have done very well, thank you. Most all of the dinners are in the hotel, so if sitting around with the adults gets to be too much of a chore, the kids can go up to their room. I will work out an attractive family price if any of you are interested.
Wales Draft Itinerary
Day 1. Monday, 23 June 2008
Fly from USA
Day 2. Tuesday, 24 June 2008
Meet this morning at Manchester Airport. Coach transfer to Chester. After checking into our rooms, take some time to recover with a nap and a shower followed by a late afternoon walking tour of the town. Dinner and overnight in the Westminster Hotel (+44 01244 317341), Chester.
Day 3. Wednesday, 25 June
9:00 a.m. departure for full-day excursion, first to Wroxeter for short visit of this Roman town, then on to Iron Bridge, where the Industrial Revolution began. Visit includes entrance to the Victorian Village. After lunch (independent), continue on to Cosford RAF Museum. Time permitting we'll take a walk around Shrewsbury. Dinner and overnight in Chester.
Day 4. Thursday, 26 June
Check out of hotel in time for 9:00 a.m. departure for Conwy town today to see Conwy Castle, the road and rail bridges, Plas Mawr and the smallest house, followed by a trip on the Great Orme cable car at Llandudno. Dinner and overnight in the Royal Oak Hotel (+44 01690 710219), Betws-y-Coed.
Day 5. Friday, 27 June
Depart hotel in time for 10:00 a.m. departure on the Snowdon Mountain Railway, followed by visit to Slate Museum and lunch (not included). At 14:00, depart on boat trip on Lake Pardarn. At 16:00, visit Electric Mountain, a huge power station built inside an old slate cavern. Return to Betws-y-Coed. Dinner and overnight in Betws-y-Coed.
Day 6. Saturday, 28 June
Excursion to Slate Mine, continuing to Blaenau Ffestiniog to join the steam train to Porthmadog. After lunch, drive to Caernarfon to visit the castle and town. Dinner and overnight in Betws-y-Coed.
Day 7. Sunday, 29 June
Morning excursion to Bodnant Gardens followed by visit to Penrhyn Castle. Lord Penrhyn made his money in the slate industry. Read the Wikipedia article for more information concerning this important Welsh industry. Dinner and overnight in Betws -y-Coed.
Day 8. Monday, 30 June.
Check out of hotel. 9:00 a.m. Coach transfer to Bowness on Lake Windermere. After noon arrival, check in, and lunch (independent), take boat across Lake Windermere followed by steam train ride to Haverthwaite. The coach will pick us up and bring us back to our hotel. Dinner and overnight in the Burnside Hotel (+44 (0) 8700 468640), Bowness.
Day 9. Tuesday, July 1.
Morning circular drive of the lakes to Coniston Water. Lunch (independent) at Ambleside with possible visit to Wordsworth Museum. Return to Windermere, afternoon free. Dinner and overnight in Bowness.
Day 10. Wednesday, July 2.
Check out of hotel and drive to Penrith via Ullswater. At Penrith, if you are leaving us at this point, you will take the train to Manchester. Dinner and overnight in Manchester.
Day 11. Thursday, July 3.
Return to USA
SCOTLAND OPTION
Day 10. Wednesday, July 2. Continued
Check out of hotel and drive to Penrith via Ullswater. After dropping off the people who are returning to the USA we will then continue on to Perth, Scotland. Dinner and overnight in the Queens Hotel, (+44 01738 442222), Perth.
Day 11. Thursday, July 3.
Coach trip to Sterling Castle. Falkirk Wheel. We will then visit Hopetoun House, the largest stately home in Scotland. Dinner at Queensferry. Return and overnight in Perth.
Day 12. Friday, July 4.
Train to Edinburgh for the day. Upon arrival, we will walk across the street and get on a “hop on, hop off” bus which will serve as transportation for the day. Return to Perth
Dinner and overnight in Perth.
Check out of hotel. On our way to Inverness, we will first visit Blair Castle and then continue on to Aviemore. There we will take a steam train trip on the Strathspey Railway. Continue by coach to Inverness. Dinner and overnight in The Royal Highland Hotel (+44 1463 231 926), Inverness.
Day 14. Sunday, July 6.
Full day coach excursion to Isle of Skye with distillery visit somewhere en route. .Return to Inverness, dinner and overnight in the Royal Highland Hotel, Inverness.
Day 15. Monday, July 7.
Check out of hotel. On our way to Glasgow, we will visit Loch Ness, Fort William, and the Culloden Battle site, arriving in Glasgow in the late afternoon. Overnight in the Holiday Inn Glasgow Airport, +44-870-4009031
Day 16. Tuesday, July 8.
Return to USA
EVERYTHING (15)
Laurence Barker
Carrol Smith & Donita Lincoln
Sara Lewis & Bess Nowotny
La Rue Atterbury & Beverly Baucum
Maureen Nowotny & Naomi Patterson & Isabella Bernal
Ben & Gail Plummer, Adam Litch
Ken & Julie Ortolon
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