P06. 33 tips for budding adventurers Girls, bring less shoes.
P08. Eat, sleep, repeat And then eat some more.
P10. Go, explore, stay, play
It’s your trip, your way.
P12. State of play
The ultimate in North American sports.
P14. Travel budget
Because you want to save money.
P15. Your crew
P16 Flexible adventure
Trips
P17. 7 Day | California Calling UHCCLS/UHCCSL | Ex. LA/SF
P18. 10 Day | Golden States UHDDLS | Ex. LA
P20. 16 Day | Southwest Adventure UHSALL/UHSASS/UHSAVV | Ex. LA/SF/LV
P22. 13 Day | Coast to the Bay UHSALS | Ex. LA
P23. 10 Day | Coast to Vegas UHSALV | Ex. LA
P24. 9 Day | Vegas to the Coast UHSAVL | Ex. LV
P25. 13 Day | The Bay to Vegas UHSASV | Ex. SF
P26. 13 Day | Stars & Stripes UHDDLN | Ex. LA
P28. 28 Day | Road Trip USA
UHRTLN/UHRTNL | Ex. LA/NYC
P30. 13 Day | Southwest States
UHRTLO/UHRTOL | Ex. LA/NO
P31. 16 Day | Sunshine States
UHRTNO/UHRTON | Ex. NYC/NO
P32. 9 Day | Beaches & Bayou
UHRTMO/UHRTOM | Ex. MI/NO
P33. 8 Day | Southern Charm
UHRTNM/UHRTMN | Ex. NYC/MI
P34. 21 Day | American Dream UHADLM | Ex. LA
P36. 13 Day | USA & Canada Adventure UHECNN | Ex. NYC
P38. 11 Day | Canadian Rockies UHCRKK | Ex. VA
P40. Stay & play
Arrive early, stay late.
P41. 4 Day | I NYC UHDDNN | Ex. NYC
P42. 4 Day | NYC New Year’s USNYNY | Ex. NYC
P43. 4 Day | Las Vegas New Year’s USNYLV | Ex. LV
Reference
P44. Social
P45. Terms & conditions
P46. How to read our itineraries
P47. Maps
#DREAMBIG
#DREAMBIG
WE ARE TOPDECK
We do epic American road trips, Big Game safaris, Eurotrips, pyramid expeditions, surf camps and other awesomeness around the world for travellers between 18-39.
We realise that everyone’s di erent, which is why all our trips include heaps of free time to play and explore. It’s your trip, your way.
Your trip includes all the must-see, must-do activities and top-notch local fare to recharge those batteries between stops, which means you can spend your money where it matters and we’ll take care of the rest.
You will hit the road on modern coaches, stay where the action is and hang out with other young explorers bent on seeing the world.
And that’s just how we got started. We had a group of mates, some wheels and enough wanderlust to make most mothers worried.
Forty years into it, we’re still discovering new places to see and unforgettable travel experiences to make our passengers’ trips just that little bit more awesome.
That’s us, but this is about you. It’s time to live large, dream bigger and squeeze life for all it’s worth. The rest can wait.
Ready to pack your bags? Let’s talk.
New York, New York
If it feels like a movie set, it’s because it is. Productions like Sex & the City, Law & Order and Spiderman were all filmed here and for good reason. Home to everything from Ralph Lauren to the Italian mafia, New York packs an eclectic punch of international flavours, hipster culture and world class shopping.
Niagara Falls
Two countries, three waterfalls, 500,000 litres of water per second. The world’s fastest moving waterfall doesn’t really need an introduction. It’s not the biggest waterfall in the world, but what it lacks in height, it makes up for in volume and rainbows. Head over to the Canadian side for the best chance to spot one.
Lake Tahoe
This is not just another ski resort. With world class skiing, plenty of snow and the most positive weather in the US, Lake Tahoe is a no-brainer at any time of the year. For aspiring winter warriors, there’s snowshoeing, dog sledding, helicopter tours and breathtaking views. Bring a camera and don’t feed the bears.
Alligator snaps
It’s man vs. handbag on the Everglades. Shaped by floods and fire, the Everglades wetlands is home to more than 200,000 alligators and a number of rare to medium rare species feeding the local Mangrove ecosystem. Jump on an airboat tour for a face-toface meeting with T-Rex’s second cousin.
A taste of Amish life
You say Yosemite?
If giants roamed the world, this would be their hunting ground. The United States’ most famous wildlife reserve is probably better described as a wizard’s playground. With cli s towering thousands of metres above sea level, thundering waterfalls and the largest trees in the world, all magic here is provided courtesy of Mother Nature.
Ghostbusters
03 04 09 10 07 08 05 06
Everyone has a few ghosts in the closet, but Quebec’s history will make your blood freeze. Follow your guide through the city’s old streets and re-live 400 years of executions, murders and haunting tragedies. These are the stories the history books have been trying to forget, but will you?
This is Vegas, baby
In the age of social media, what happens in Vegas doesn’t necessarily stay in Vegas. But don’t let that stop you from having a good time. The desert never sleeps and neither should you as you take on Sin City. Prepare for an evening of glitz, glamour and some of the best nightlife on earth.
Grand Canyon
Scientists are aren’t exactly sure how it got there, but that’s okay. What we do know is that the rock formations of the Grand Canyon carry 40 percent of Earth’s history on their shoulders. You’ll get the best view from the air so take Arnie’s advice here and get to da choppah!
Slap it like Gretzky
Sorry, but your beard is not from Brooklyn. Every Amish person would tell you that beards are grown by married men and not 20-something baristas. Join the 250,000 strong bearded society for a day and get a glimpse into a simple way of life, long forgotten by young city-slickers.
They say you will never really understand the US (or Canada) until you’ve been to a sports game. If you can, hit Dodger Stadium or Maple Leaf Gardens for the playo s, or just go and cheer for the local college team. Grab a beer and a hot dog and watch the crowd go wild.
33FOR BUDDING ADVENTURERS TIPS
“TRAVEL IS MORE THAN THE SEEING OF SIGHTS; IT IS A CHANGE THAT GOES ON, DEEP AND PERMANENT, IN THE IDEAS OF LIVING.”
MIRIAM BEARD
PLANNING YOUR TRIP
01. Decide your budget.
02. Add a bit more.
03. Pick your must-do experiences, and then add a few more to make sure you don’t miss out.
04. Planning with friends is like herding cats so start early.
05. Your friends flaked? No problem, you’re not the only one. You will meet lots of cool people anyway!
06. Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your trip finishes.
07. Get travel insurance. Seriously.
FLYING OUT
16. A lot of airlines let you check in online. This is your best chance to get a good seat.
17. If you fail to check in early, be very, very, very nice to the person at the check-in desk.
18. Don’t joke around with security. They’re not paid to laugh.
19. Noise cancelling headphones are a godsend to drown out airplane noise, crying babies and annoying conversations.
20. They also let you hear what actually goes on in the movie you’re watching. Double win.
WHEN YOU GET BACK
WHAT TO BRING
08. No you don’t need all that.
09. Not that either.
10. If you have trouble dragging your luggage up the stairs, you’re bringing too much.
11. Seriously, you’re not moving overseas.
12. Girls: bring less shoes.
13. Guys: bring shoes.
14. Bring more pairs of underwear.
15. You can never have enough memory cards for your camera.
29. Tell your friends all about your trip.
ON THE ROAD
21. Try new food, new things and new experiences. This is your chance to get outside your comfort zone!
22. If someone doesn’t talk to you, it doesn’t mean they don’t want to. They’re probably just shy.
23. What are you waiting for? Go over and say hello.
24. Hello best friend!
30. When your friends zone out, call up one of your friends from the trip and reminisce over that awesome night in Vegas.
31. OMG, has it been two weeks since you got back already?
32. Plan your next trip.
33. Share your best photos from your trip on our Facebook page or tag them with #topdecker on Instagram.
25. Talk to the locals too. You’re overseas for a reason.
26. More friends!
27. Always stay positive. All new experiences, come with ups and downs, but at the end of the trip it will all be worth it.
28. Get people’s contact details. You’ll never know when your paths might cross again.
“ASK
NOT WHAT
YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR COUNTRY. ASK WHAT’S FOR LUNCH.” ORSON WELLES
Meals on wheels
You can’t judge the food by the size of the kitchen. With more than three million food trucks across the country, you’ll find everything from beet chips to Korean tacos served straight out of the back of converted delivery trucks. Don’t confuse it for cheap, fast food though. Some of the best food trucks are run by scrappy foodie entrepreneurs who have decided to let their cooking do the talking. And they’re here to stay.
Where: Country-wide with hot spots in NYC, LA, Austin, Chicago, Washington D.C. and Miami. Expect: The unexpected. That’s the beauty of the concept.
High Fidelity
While old mate Castro might have hit the pause button on the economy, it hasn’t stopped the country from producing some of the world’s best co ee, cigars and cocktails. Just like it’s fiery, music-loving culture, Cuban cuisine is a melting pot of Spanish, African and Caribbean flavours. Slow cooked or sautéed meat, pork and poultry is well seasoned with cumin, garlic, oregano and bay leaves and served with beans and rice. Head down to Little Havana, Miami, for the best Cuban experience on the US mainland.
Where: El Cristo.
Expect: Latin hospitality, vibrant food and a taste of authentic Cuban culture.
The 72oz steak out
Been there, done that? Hit up the Big Texan Steakhouse in Amarillo, TX for one of the US’ most famous steak challenges. The deal is: if you can eat 72oz (4.5 pounds) of dry-aged sirloin with accompanying starches within 60 minutes, you’ll eat for free. Since its inception, 48,000 people have taken up the challenge and only 8,000 have succeeded, among them a 64-year old grandmother. Top tip: Don’t eat the fat and leave the starches until last.
Where: Big Texan Steakhouse. Expect: Meat.
Cajun cook-up
March of the penguins
Known for their fried pickles, pimento cheese and mouth-watering burgers and hot dogs, the Penguin is a well-established landmark in Charlotte, North Carolina. You’re here for the “penguin pounder” – a two-pound meat monolith stacked between layers of home made pimento cheese and signature pickles. Just don’t expect to move far after you’re done. What’s on tv tonight, honey?
Where: The Penguin Drive-In. Expect: Burgers, hot dogs and diner classics.
With live zydeco music nightly, a 14-foot stu ed alligator named Al and a good serve of Southern hospitality, Prejean’s is everything a Cajun food experience should be and more. Seafood lovers will find a well-seasoned menu of catfish, oysters, tilapia, crabs, crawfish and shrimp and the white chocolate bread pudding is said to be the stu of legends. Don’t miss the boudin balls and the catfish Catahoula. Welcome to Lafayette, LA.
The best things in life are handcrafted. All our experiences have been perfected over time with you in mind. We know a good road trip should be more like Thelma & Louise than that tacky movie with Britney Spears. It’s adventure with style.
Our recipe is simple: A coach built for people (not cattle), a group of young explorers and handcrafted itineraries designed to mix freedom with epic experiences.
EXPLORE GO
Stories worth sharing
There are two kinds of stories emerging from the road. The first one is about places, food and good times. These are the stories you tell your Facebook friends, but they’re not the ones that matter.
Real stories are shared with the people you meet - bonds created between people who truly lived and friendships forged in the most unlikely places. These are the stories we have been creating for over forty years.
No more FOMO
Let’s face it, location matters. There’s a certain kind of feeling that comes with being able to ninja roll straight out of your hotel and land right where the action is.
Say sayonara to the airport hotel behind the brick factory, you won’t miss it. Hello inner-city nightlife, beach views and breakfast choices. We know the power of FOMO and have picked all our accommodation to make sure you can make the most of your trip.
STAY PLAY
Just press play
We were born to fly and we dare to soar. We were born into a world where change is the only constant and we don’t like living our lives on repeat.
All our trips are designed to let you roam free while keeping things hassle free. We’ve got the bucket list sorted, the accommodation booked, and enough time built in to let you do your thing. Press pause or play and explore the world at your own pace.
STATE OF
“CLIMB
DAVID MCCULLOUGH JR
LAKE TAHOE
During winter, we swap the towering treetops of Yosemite for some powder action in the Sierra Nevada Mountains. Straddled across the border of California and Nevada, Lake Tahoe is one of the sunniest places in the world outside Australia, averaging 300 days of sunshine and 12 metres of snow per year.
Staying in the southern area of the lake means access to some of the best slopes in the region and après ski options ranging from hot chocolate to nightclubs. If you’re yet to join the ranks of Red Bull’s extreme team, there are plenty of non-skiing activities on o er. Jump in a helicopter and check out the terrain from above, take a snowmobile tour, go ice-skating or just chill out in town.
The following trips include 3 nights/2 days at Lake Tahoe between December and March. These nights replace 1 night in Vegas and 2 nights in Mariposa/Yosemite National Park. Departures featuring Lake Tahoe will be marked with a T on the trip pages.
PLAY WORLD
THE WORLD.”
SUPERBOWL
This is the game that stops a whole nation. While getting your hands on tickets is determined by a lottery that’s close to impossible to win, it doesn’t mean you can’t enjoy the action. Get the right jersey and hit up a local sports bar for the party of a lifetime.
STANLEY CUP
Witness a clash of titans when the National Hockey League’s top teams battle it out over one of the most prestigious trophies in ice hockey. Apart from glory and new Twitter followers, each player on the winning team is guaranteed 24 hours of personal time with the Cup during the summer o -season. My precious…
UFC
Are you ready to rumble? Watch the world’s fastest growing sporting event live at the ground zero of modern MMA and get the chance to rub shoulders with fighters and fans from all over the world. In the words of Big John McCarthy: “Let’s get it on!”
NBA ALL STARS
There are two requirements to get into the NBA: athletic talent and a taste for ink. If you’re from Denver or Detroit, eight out of ten players have tattoos whereas Charlotte takes a more conservative stance with only 30 percent of their players sporting a tattoo. Either way, this is your chance to watch your childhood heroes hustle it out in front of a roaring crowd.
ANYTHING AT MADISON SQUARE GARDEN
You want to watch the Rangers take on the Canadiens? Check. Boxing? Check. As the epicentre of major sporting events, Madison Square Garden serves up everything from college basketball to pro wrestling on a weekly basis. If it happens, it happens here.
JEN TRIP LEADER
Jennifer is a self-confessed Californian beach bum who still can’t believe she gets paid to travel. She loves road trips, good tunes and meeting new people from around the world.
INSIDE TIP:
Hit up El Farolito on 24th and Mission for the best Mexican food in San Francisco. Follow up with some artisanal ice cream from Bi-rite on 18th and Delores to top o your day.
ADAM TRIP LEADER
Adam
is showing
His
the
of the
beyond what you see on tv. When he’s not travelling, you’ll likely find him snorkeling and jet skiing in Key West.
INSIDE TIP:
Get away from the tourist streak at Bourbon Street in New Orleans and head over to Frenchman Street for a chance to see local bands tear it up on stage.
HELEN KELLER
7 DAY California Calling
DAY 1 Los Angeles, California to Laughlin, Nevada. Laughlin is kind of like Vegas’s younger brother – a mini sin city on the banks of the Colorado River. If it was 1968 you could have had a 98c all-you-can-eat chicken dinner at the Riverside Resort. Luckily, we’ve got you covered tonight. Winner, winner, chicken dinner! (D)
DAY 2 Laughlin to Grand Canyon.* Motocross riders, tightrope walkers, a jetman –they’ve all #nailedit. But before you audition for team Red Bull, we’ll make it easy with a cruise on Route 66 and an optional helicopter ride over the widest section (29 kilometres) of one of the world’s largest natural skate bowls. For giants. (B,D)
DAY 3 Grand Canyon to Las Vegas. You’ve seen it done in The Hangover but if you’re less inclined to kidnap tigers and pull out your own teeth, let us ease you into the action with a party bus tour of the strip before you let the dogs out. (B)
DAY 4 Las Vegas.* Where else in the world can you take a gondola ride down a Venice canal, see the Pyramids of Giza and the Ei el Tower before lunchtime? Closet Britney fans, now’s your chance to fly your fan flag loud and proud. We won’t hold it against you (much).
DAY 5 Las Vegas to Mariposa/Yosemite National Park, California. We’re not going to lie. Today it’s all about the bus… but the live-action film happening outside your window is stunning enough to rival Samsara. Use the downtime to edit your Vegas selfies before we arrive in Mariposa – gateway to Yosemite National Park. (D)
DAY 6 Mariposa/Yosemite NP.* There’s not enough flowery adjectives to describe the beauty of Yosemite Valley. It doesn’t have honey badgers, but it does have bears, coyotes and golden eagles that are badass in their own right. Hike, ride or take the valley shuttle as far as you can go on this free day. (B,D)
Day 7 Mariposa to San Francisco, California. Just like a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow, the reward of walking on the Golden Gate bridge awaits us as we arrive in free-loving San Francisco. Pack
On the Bucket List
• Grand Canyon
• Yosemite National Park
• Party bus in Las Vegas
More Inclusions
• 4 breakfasts (B), 4 dinners (D)
• 6 nights in hotels, motels & lodges
• Modern air-conditioned coach/mini-coach
• Sightseeing tours of all major cities
• Awesome Trip Leader
• National park entry fees
For the Foodies*
• The $17 million Caesar’s Palace bu et
• Raw food bars and organic farmers markets
your crystals and let your beard flow free, once our trip ends we hand you over to the city. (B)
NOTE: If you want a get into jail pass to visit Alcatraz, do the crime (of booking) BEFORE you come on tour. You won’t have time to do the tour today so save it for tomorrow.
Dates & Prices 2015-16
10 DAY Golden States
DAY 1 Los Angeles, California. Bust out those dollar, dollar bills and make it rain with some serious shopping along Rodeo Drive or strap on some rollerblades and check out the free (and wacky) entertainment along Venice Beach during our sightseeing tour. Anything is possible in Hollywood, kid. (D)
DAY 2 Los Angeles.* TMZ tours drive by the biggest and best Hollywood landmarks and homes, but it’s more often than not that you’ll pull up next to a celeb while on the road. Your choice: Booking a tour or DIY paparazzi?
DAY 3 Los Angeles to Las Vegas, Nevada. We don’t do Vegas by halves baby, which is why our first night in Sin City kick-starts with a party bus to cruise the strip and hit up Fremont Street for a night you’ll probably forget by tomorrow. (D)
DAY 4 Las Vegas.* “Vegas is so lame.” Said no one ever. Why not see a show, go indoor skydiving, visit a shooting range or jump on the Canyon Blaster roller coaster at Circus Circus? You know, have a quiet, boring day.
Day 5 Las Vegas. You call that a hole? This is a hole! Check out the awesomeness that is the Grand Canyon on this epic day trip and get a scenic view of Las Vegas beyond the bright lights and 24-hour party scene.
DAY 6 Las Vegas to Mariposa/Yosemite National Park, California. Grab the flannel and grow that beard y’all, it’s nature time! Okay, not exactly, but this former gold-mining town is full of history and sits at the gateway to beautiful Yosemite National Park. (D)
DAY 7 Yosemite National Park to San Francisco, California.* Once upon a time it was the California Gold Rush that brought people here. Now it’s the breathtaking views of Yosemite Falls, Half Dome and Mirror Lake. Cycle the valley or climb the trails until you’ve reached your nature quota. (B)
DAY 8 San Francisco. Hum the Full House theme while walking on the Golden Gate Bridge, pose outside the Painted Ladies and shop up a vintage storm at Haight-Ashbury. Explore Chinatown and
On the Bucket List
• Grand Canyon
• Party bus in Las Vegas
• Sunset sailing in San Francisco Bay
More Inclusions
• 3 breakfasts (B), 4 dinners (D)
• 9 nights in hotels, motels & lodges
• 3 day San Francisco MUNI pass
• Modern air-conditioned coach/mini-coach
• Sightseeing tours of all major cities
• Awesome Trip Leader
• National park entry fees
For the Foodies*
• World-class vegetarian food in SF
• The $17 million Caesar’s Palace bu et
• Raw food bars and organic farmers markets
North Beach (optional) and work up your appetite for dinner. (B,D)
DAY 9 San Francisco.* You + 3-day Visitor Passport = DIY Amazing Race around San Fran. Jump on a cable car up to Lombard Street to watch cars tackle the eight hairpin turns, or head to Golden Gate Park (20% larger than NYC’s Central Park!). (B)
DAY 10 San Francisco.* Our time together might be over, but we’re betting you’re not ready to say goodbye. Grabbing yourself some sweet treats at Ghirardelli Square will make it a little easier to swallow.
This is a section of the 13 Day Stars & Stripes trip. See full trip on p.26.
ARRIVE EARLY, STAY LATE See p.40 for more details
TRIP PRICE OF £1060
TRIP PRICE OF £1175
TRIP PRICE OF £1295 G = GUARANTEED DEPARTURE N = LAS VEGAS NEW YEAR
16 DAY Southwest Adventure
DAY 1 Los Angeles, California to San Diego, California.* Know much about San Diego besides Ron Burgundy and Sea World? Nope? That’s okay. With a coastline position that’s close enough to high-five Mexico, it’s all about how many fish tacos you can consume in the next 48 hours anyway. (D)
DAY 2 San Diego.* Keep today classy with a ride on a historic trolley, a jaunt through the Spanish-style Balboa Park and a visit to San Diego Zoo (one word: pandas!). Or just get in on the sun and surf action along the 70 miles (112km) of beaches. (B,D)
DAY 3 San Diego to Prescott, Arizona. Milk will be a bad choice today as we drive through the Mojave desert – a landscape dotted with Joshua Trees – to Prescott, where cowboy hats are part of the local’s uniform and Whiskey Row is the place to be. (B)
DAY 4 Prescott to Grand Canyon, Arizona. Stretch your legs in Arizona’s ‘little Hollywood’, Sedona – a spiritual mecca in the desert (and set of many a John Wayne film). Say a few ‘oms’ amongst the red sandstone before we travel towards the Grand Canyon. (B,D)
DAY 5 Grand Canyon.* Ready to “go big or go home”? With a full day free at the Grand Canyon you can see billions of years of rock history from every angle, including a 360 panorama if you take the chopper. (B)
DAY 6 Grand Canyon to Monument Valley, Arizona/Utah. Urban hippies rejoice! The Cameron Native American Trading Post will soothe twitching shopping withdrawals with drums and silver jewellery before a Navajo-guided Jeep tour of Monument Valley that will have you looking out for Wile E. Coyote and Roadrunner. (B,D)
DAY 7 Monument Valley to Zion National Park, Utah. Zion means the kingdom of heaven – once you arrive, you’ll see why. Millions-year-old sweeping sandstone canyons, iridescent waterfalls and ethereal landscapes make this a hiker and photographer’s utopia. Walk along the canyon floor or heed the challenge up to Angel’s Landing. (B)
DAY 8 Zion to Las Vegas, Nevada. We could draw comparisons between saints and sinners here, but we won’t. Heaven to you may be a nightclub on wheels and a pocket full of casino chips. With a Las Vegas party bus on o er tonight, it works for us! (B)
DAY 9 Las Vegas.* Gamble your time in Vegas away on the roulette of activities available at your doorstep: bet high with indoor skydiving, put everything on a night with Britney or take your winnings straight to the skies with a helicopter flight.
DAY 10 Las Vegas.* Circle the globe without leaving the strip (Ei el Tower, Statue of Liberty, Pyramids of Giza… the gang’s all here!), take a leave pass to tour Hoover Dam or Death Valley, or go white-water rafting. Whichever way you choose, you’re winning.
DAY 11 Las Vegas to Mariposa/Yosemite National Park, California. Lost track of time last night? There’s plenty of opportunity to catch up on Zzzs as we take the (pretty freakin’ spectacular) drive to Mariposa – gateway to Yosemite National Park. (D)
DAY 12 Mariposa/Yosemite National Park.* Want to walk in the footsteps of giants? Take a peek into their playground in Yosemite National Park. Hike, hire a bike or take the free shuttle to explore the real-world equivalent of Narnia. (B,D)
DAY 13 Mariposa to San Francisco, California. The colour orange is associated with extroverts and the unconventional – so apt for San Fran. Add a bit of ‘International Orange’ to your life when we walk
On the Bucket List
• Grand Canyon
• Monument Valley with Navajo guide
• Party bus in Las Vegas
More Inclusions
• 10 breakfasts (B), 8 dinners (D) (Departures ex San Francisco only have 7 dinners)
• 15 nights in hotels, motels & lodges
• Modern air-conditioned coach/mini-coach
• Sightseeing tours of all major cities
• Awesome Trip Leader
• National park entry fees
For the Foodies*
• Raw food bars and organic farmers markets
• Traditional Navajo cuisine (included)
• Mexican food in Old Town, San Diego
the Golden Gate Bridge, then sail into the sunset on our optional cruise. (B,D)
DAY 14 San Francisco.* Have a one-day a air with this free-loving city. Act one: Ogle the ‘Painted Ladies’ and Cal Academy of Sciences. Act two: Have a stairmaster workout up Lombard Street. Act three: Finish with a tea tasting in the largest Chinatown outside Asia.
DAY 15 San Francisco to California Coast.* Leave the cable cars behind and take the coach to Monterey. Watch the jellies at the aquarium and wander the historic buildings on Cannery Row. Tonight we’ll be crashing with the college kids in San Luis Obispo (SLO). (D)
DAY 16 California Coast to Los Angeles, California. Before we re-enter the LA sprawl, there’s time for one last beach stop in Santa Barbara – home of Jack Johnson, Kelly Slater and an underground salt cave that’s supposedly awesome for detoxifying the body. Seems as good a time as any! (B)
DAYS 10-12 are spent in Lake Tahoe December-March. See p.12 for more details
13 DAY Coast to the Bay
Dates & Prices 2015-16
DAY 1 Los Angeles, California to San Diego, California.* You know what’s awesome about San Diego beaches? Fire pits. Have yourself a bonnie on the beach to toast your first night in town then hit up the historic Gaslamp Quarter. (D)
DAY 2 San Diego.* Is it “the greatest city of all time”? Answer after you’ve ridden the Vintage Trolley, explored Balboa Park, stu ed yourself with fish tacos and had a sand sculpture lesson with JT (B,D)
DAY 3 San Diego to Prescott, Arizona. Recharge your body batteries on our trip to Prescott. Go bar hopping on Whiskey Row and soak up some of the lingering history from the notorious strip of gun-slinging saloons that once stood there. (B)
DAY 4 Prescott to Grand Canyon, Arizona. On our way to that big hole in the ground, we make a stop in Hollywood’s forgotten backlot – Sedona. Mecca for alternative healers and spiritual seekers, the red sandstone has an eerily calming e ect. All right stop, meditate and listen. (B,D)
DAY 5 Grand Canyon. You’ve seen pictures. But nothing can prepare you for the humility that comes with standing on the precipice of something so mighty. Whether it’s six million or two billion years old we don’t know (jury’s still out) but this? Is #lifechanging stu . (B)
DAY 6 Grand Canyon to Monument Valley, Arizona/Utah. Satisfy your inner hippie at Cameron Native American Trading Post (think: turquoise jewellery and traditional weaving) before we meet the mesas of Monument Valley for a Navajo tour. Look familiar? Forrest Gump, Doctor Who and the Lone Ranger have all been through here. (B,D)
DAY 7 Monument Valley to Zion National Park, Utah. Heaven is a place on earth and it’s called Zion Canyon. Strap on your hiking boots and challenge yourself to reach Angel’s Landing – the views are worth the sweat and tears. Trust us. (B)
DAY 8 Zion NP to Las Vegas, Nevada. From Bear Grylls’ utopia to his kryptonite, we leave the sandstone valley behind and push on to the oasis of indulgence in the desert: Vegas. Our party bus will ease you into the all-hours party on The Strip. (B)
On the Bucket List
• Monument Valley with Navajo guide
• Grand Canyon
• Party bus in Las Vegas
More Inclusions
• 9 breakfasts (B), 6 dinners (D)
• 12 nights in hotels, motels & lodges
• Modern air-conditioned coach/mini-coach
• Sightseeing tours of all major cities
• Awesome Trip Leader
• National park entry fees
For the Foodies*
• Food trucks and craft beer.
DAY 9 Las Vegas.* Cocktails and craps. Bulldozers and bu ets. Gondolas and guns. Casinos and no clocks = Classic Phil Vegas. Eat. Sleep. Rave. Repeat.
DAY 10 Las Vegas.* What happens in Vegas doesn’t happen in reality. So make the most of living in the now. Race a Ferrari on a speedway, swim with sharks at the Golden Nugget, or chow down at the Heart Attack Grill (no judgement).
DAY 11 Las Vegas to Mariposa. We’re transitioning back to nature today so it’s fitting that our destination – Mariposa – is Spanish for butterfly. (D)
DAY 12 Mariposa/Yosemite National Park. There’s national parks and then there’s Yosemite. Sheer granite cli s, ridiculously good looking waterfalls and giant sequoias provide the designer landscape coveted by discerning black bears, bobcats, marmots, deer and white-tailed jackrabbit. (B,D)
DAY 13 Mariposa to San Francisco, California.* Your mission should you choose to accept it is to hunt down the best ‘Mission Burrito’ in San Fran. That may take you a few days so we’ll wish you well as we duck o after our walk on the Golden Gate Bridge. (B)
This is a section of the 16 Day Southwest Adventure trip. See full trip on p.20.
DAYS 10-12 are spent in Lake Tahoe December-March. See p.12 for more details.
10 DAY Coast to Vegas
DAY 1 Los Angeles, California to San Diego, California.* Surfers froth over San Diego for its variety of breaks within (almost) paddling distance. Look out for pros like Rob Machado in the line-up. Total beginner? Try La Jolla Shores. Tonight, hit up Gaslamp Quarter or seek out rooftop bars for cocktails with a view. (D)
DAY 2 San Diego.* Ditch the “scotchie, scotch, scotch” and hone your craft beer vocab with a self-guided tour through over 80 breweries and brewpubs in “America’s Craft Beer Capital”. Or, you know, head to the zoo. (B,D)
DAY 3 San Diego to Prescott, Arizona. Rip o the leg rope and slip on your cowboy boots – we’re heading west through the Mojave Desert to the home of the world’s oldest rodeo. Don’t worry, we’ll give you more than eight seconds to experience its notorious Whiskey Row. (B)
DAY 4 Prescott to Grand Canyon, Arizona. Find some zen in Sedona – mecca for new age spiritual types and alternative healers – nestled in between glowing red sandstone rocks and gorges, on our way to one of nature’s biggest footprints. (B,D)
DAY 5 Grand Canyon.* Chuck Norris once dug a small hole with a spoon. Today we call it the Grand Canyon. Okay, maybe not but at six million years of age (according to latest scientific reports) it would’ve taken someone as badass as Chuck to create something so epic. See it from the rim or get to da chopper. (B)
DAY 6 Grand Canyon to Monument Valley, Arizona/Utah. We like big buttes and we cannot lie. There’s plenty to see on our Navajo-guided Jeep tour today. (A butte is a hill FYI.) (B,D)
DAY 7 Monument Valley to Zion National Park, Utah. Zion Canyon is one of those places you’ve likely never heard about, but one look and you won’t know how it ever managed to stay o your radar. Prepare for #natureporn to be burned into your retinas. (B)
DAY 8 Zion NP to Las Vegas, Nevada. Today we’ll make like a condor and soar across the desert to a little town called Las Vegas. Let us ease you into
On the Bucket List
• Monument Valley with Navajo guide
• Grand Canyon
• Party bus in Las Vegas
More Inclusions
• 7 breakfasts (B), 4 dinners (D)
• 9 nights in hotels, motels & lodges
• Modern air-conditioned coach/mini-coach
• Sightseeing tours of all major cities
• Awesome Trip Leader
• National park entry fees
For the Foodies*
• Mexican food in Old Town, San Diego
• Traditional Navajo cuisine (included)
the action aboard a party bus before you let the dogs out. (B)
DAY 9 Las Vegas.* What do you get for waking up in Vegas? Endless options to have one helluva time. Shoot a gun, skydive inside, stu yourself silly at the Bellagio bu et, ride a water slide through a shark tank. Yep, you read that right. Just don’t go all Fear and Loathing on us.
DAY 10 Las Vegas.* Vegas is cheesier than a stu ed crust pizza but that’s what’s so awesome about it. Our trip ends after this morning’s bu et. Will you put everything on the line to stay a few more days?
This is a section of the 16 Day Southwest Adventure trip. See full trip on p.20.
TRIP PRICE OF €1155
TRIP PRICE OF €1220
TRIP PRICE OF €1285
GUARANTEED DEPARTURE
9 DAY Vegas to the Coast
Dates & Prices 2015-16
DAY 1 Las Vegas, Nevada. Jet lag shmet lag, tonight we party. On a bus. Nu said? BTW: You’ll meet your new wolf pack tonight.
DAY 2 Las Vegas.* Yep, it’s as cheesy as a block of cheddar, but it’s also really cool. Take a tour of the world (Paris, New York, Venice) without leaving Vegas. Or, shop ‘til you’re broke enough to put it all on ‘black’.
DAY 3 Las Vegas.* Have a break from the strip with some fresh air and open spaces. And by open, we mean grand. And by spaces, we mean canyon. Or just relish in a food coma from Big Mama’s Rib Shack. You’ll drool over both.
DAY 4 Las Vegas to Mariposa/Yosemite National Park, California. Cash in your chips (or cut your losses) – we’re swapping bright lights and high rises for mountain ranges and waterfalls. You’ll have a chance to relax and reboot on the journey from Vegas to Mariposa. Yosemite National Park awaits. (D)
DAY 5 Mariposa/Yosemite National Park. Hiking boots aren’t sexy, but the view of Yosemite Valley sure is. And they’re your best bet to get up close and personal with the Miranda Kerr of the national park world. (B,D)
DAY 6 Mariposa to San Francisco, California.* Crim-free since 1963, you’ll have a cracking view of Alcatraz as you stroll on the Golden Gate Bridge. The best way to say “hello San Fran!” or “holy #$%@ I’m afraid of heights!” Finish the day with a date with the bay on our sunset catamaran cruise. (B,D)
DAY 7 San Francisco.* Fortune cookies, Tom Hanks and Mrs Doubtfire. San Fran’s claims to fame are as long as its list of ‘things to do’. Jump on a cable car to see the sights/avoid the crazy steep hills. Hot tip: Alcatraz = busy. Book ahead.
DAY 8 San Francisco to California Coast.* Speaking of Tom Hanks, it’s time to run. Vino, antiques and tentacles await at Cannery Row in Monterey – on our way to SLO, aka, San Luis Obispo for a quick one night stand. We’ll buy you dinner first. (D)
On the Bucket List
• Party bus in Las Vegas
More Inclusions
• 3 breakfasts (B), 4 dinners (D)
• 8 nights in hotels, motels & lodges
• Modern air-conditioned coach/mini-coach
• Sightseeing tours of all major cities
• Awesome Trip Leader
• National park entry fees
For the Foodies*
• Food trucks and craft beer.
• The $17 million Caesar’s Palace bu et
DAYS 3-5 are spent in Lake Tahoe December-March. See p.12 for more details.
DAY 9 California Coast to Los Angeles, California.* “I can’t wait for this trip to end.” Said no one ever. LA will just have to wait, Santa Barbara is calling with o ers of Spanish architecture, tasty cuisine and a chance of bumping into Kelly Slater on the beach. (B)
This is a section of the 16 Day Southwest Adventure trip. See full trip on p.20.
13 DAY The Bay to Vegas
DAY 1 San Francisco, California to California Coast.* Swap cable cars for the coach to Monterey. You might choose to visit the aquarium, lie in fields of purple flowers or step into a Steinbeck novel on Cannery Row. We crash in San Luis Obispo tonight. (D)
DAY 2 California Coast to Los Angeles, California. Take Sydney’s food, shopping and arts, add Spanish architecture and squish it into 20 square miles. Delete tra c. Add wine. This is Santa Barbara. Explore your heart out before we hit LA for a two-night stay. (B)
DAY 3 Los Angeles.* You + LA + 24 hours = #gotime. Will you practice your socialite script on Rodeo Drive? Hang at The Grove? Lose 10 hours in Whole Foods? Go on a celeb-stalk? Or take a selfie on the Walk of Fame?
DAY 4 Los Angeles to San Diego, California.* Yoga gear is acceptable to wear everywhere in LA but stay classy because we’re heading to San Diego. Eat some fish tacos and check out Mission Beach Tonight we’ll hit Gaslamp Quarter. (D)
DAY 5 San Diego.* Will it be beach, baseball, bears (at the zoo), biking the boardwalk or another word starting with B? You’re in the craft beer capital of California, home to 87 craft breweries and brewpubs. Also countless beards. (B,D)
DAY 6 San Diego to Prescott, Arizona. Joshua trees are like a mutant cactus-crosspandanus and you’ll only spot them in Southwest USA. See how many you count on our trip to Prescott – home of Whiskey Row and the world’s oldest rodeo. (B)
DAY 7 Prescott to Grand Canyon, Arizona. Grab your crystals, switch on your Deepak Chopra and have a spiritual awakening in Sedona – home of red sandstone, ‘energy vortexes’ and John Wayne films. Next stop: Flagsta , ready for a big grand day out tomorrow. (B,D)
DAY 8 Grand Canyon.* If ever there was a place to gain perspective, the Grand Canyon is right up there. Find a ranger and quiz them on the geology
On the Bucket List
• Grand Canyon
• Monument Valley with Navajo guide
• Party bus in Las Vegas
More Inclusions
• 8 breakfasts (B), 5 dinners (D)
• 12 nights in hotels, motels & lodges
• Modern air-conditioned coach/mini-coach
• Sightseeing tours of all major cities
• Awesome Trip Leader
• National park entry fees
For the Foodies*
• Mexican food in Old Town, San Diego
• The $17 million Caesar’s Palace bu et
• Traditional Navajo cuisine (included)
or take an optional chopper ride across the canyon’s widest section (29 kms!). (B)
DAY 9 Grand Canyon to Monument Valley, Arizona/Utah.* Load up on as many dreamcatchers and turquoise rings as you can carry at Cameron Native American Trading Post before we move onto Monument Valley – where Forrest Gump stopped running – for a Navajo-guided Jeep tour. (B,D)
DAY 10 Monument Valley to Zion National Park, Utah. If there really is a heaven, it’s here in Zion National Park. The purity of this place is obvious in the choice of names (Think: Virgin River and Angel’s Landing). It’s a hiker and photographer’s nirvana. (B)
DAY 11 Zion to Las Vegas, Nevada. Sunglasses at night are totally acceptable as we roll into Vegas (those lights!) and jump onto a party bus tour of the strip. You have been out in nature a lot. Welcome to another kind of reality. (B)
DAY 12 Las Vegas.* Eat. Sleep. Rave. Repeat. You’ve got 48 hours to kill. Go shopping, stay in the pool, go skydiving indoors, drive a Ferrari, stalk Britney or
suit/frock up and have a flutter. When in Rome (or Vegas)...
DAY 13 Las Vegas.* You’ll be waking up in Vegas (hopefully not with a ring on it). Maybe you’re still awake. Is it time to repent your sins or keep the party going? Your call, but we’re smoke screenin’ outta here this morning.
This is a section of the 16 Day Southwest Adventure trip. See full trip on p.20.
13 DAY Stars & Stripes
DAY 1 Los Angeles, California. Today: Sightseeing 101 as we pound the pavement in Pretty Woman’s footsteps along LA’s most famous streets and visit the beaches at Venice and Santa Monica you’ve seen in hundreds of movies. Hungry? Dinner’s on us tonight. (D)
DAY 2 Los Angeles.* BYO is awesome, but today is all about PYO (pick your own). Say #YOLO and add an optional excursion to your LA bucket list – Universal Studios, Disneyland or celeb abode spotting, perhaps? Or you could just head back to the beach.
DAY 3 Los Angeles to Las Vegas, Nevada. Pack your satchel and assemble the wolf pack; next stop, Vegas. Postcards home write of bu ets, blackjack and the Bellagio, but few mention the ridiculously-Instagrammable journey there. Sink your teeth into a super-sized meal and hit the strip aboard our party bus. (D)
DAY 4 Las Vegas.* G-rated Vegas sounds like an oxymoron, but there’s plenty of family-friendly options from indoor skydiving and roller coasters to Britney, live. Today, Vegas is your oyster, and there’s a good chance it will be battered and deep fried!
DAY 5 Las Vegas. Stay by the pool or #livelarge? Your choice, but a day trip to the Grand Canyon is included. The OMFG view, on the canyon rim or from the chopper (optional), is well worth the journey along the famous Route 66.
DAY 6 Las Vegas to Mariposa/Yosemite National Park, California. Travel is a great way to shed the old you, so it’s fitting that today’s destination – Mariposa – is Spanish for butterfly. We’d call it a hidden gem but ‘nugget’ seems more appropriate, as a once-thriving gold mining town. (D)
DAY 7 Yosemite National Park to San Francisco, California.* Yosemite is like watching a nature documentary. In high definition. With 3D glasses. And epic surround sound. Hike/bike around Yosemite Falls and Mirror Lake, or do your best Attenborough impersonation, watching for black bears, bobcats and deer. (B)
DAY 8 San Francisco. Famous for cable cars, THAT bridge and inventing the fortune cookie, this morning is all about San Fran’s best assets – from the Painted Ladies to Fisherman’s Wharf – before we take on North Beach (aka Little Italy) and Chinatown (optional). (B,D)
DAY 9 San Francisco.* Use your public transport pass to back the Giants in a ball game, trawl the museums or skateboard through Dolores Park (aka Hipster Hill). Or, if you want to escape to Alcatraz, be sure to book tix in advance! Tonight, we’re romancing you with a catamaran cruise. (B)
DAY 10 San Francisco to New York City, New York. Pack your bags, and don’t leave anything in San Francisco (besides your heart). You heard Alicia Keys and Jay Z, we’re headed for the concrete jungle where dreams are made. Time is precious so we’re flying, not driving (lucky you!).
DAY 11 New York City. Wake up and smell the ‘cawfee’. And the bagels. And the pretzels. Ahhh, New York. Walk the Lower East Side with a local as your GPS. Then, get a 360-degree view from the Top of the Rock after dinner tonight. (B,D)
DAY 12 New York City. What lies beneath the Hudson? Oh, just a 350-foot steamship, 1,600 bars of silver, and cement-eating worms. Luckily, you’ll be catching the sights ABOVE the water on our morning harbour cruise – like the Statue of Liberty. (B)
On the Bucket List
• New York Top of the Rock at 30 Rock
+ harbour cruise
• Grand Canyon
• Sunset sailing in San Francisco Bay
• Party bus in Las Vegas
More Inclusions
• 6 breakfasts (B), 5 dinners (D)
• 12 nights in hotels, motels & lodges
• Flight & airport transfers SF-NYC.
• 3 day San Francisco MUNI pass
• 7 day NYC Metro Pass
• Explore Lower East Side, Little Italy and Chinatown in NYC with a local guide
• Modern air-conditioned coach/mini-coach
• Sightseeing tours of all major cities
• Awesome Trip Leader
• National park entry fees
For the Foodies*
• Craft beer at Prospector’s Brewing Company
• Celebrity chef restaurants in Las Vegas
• Mexican food in Old Town, San Diego
DAY 13 New York City.* There will be tear-stains on your I Heart NYC T-shirt today as our trip wraps after breakfast. Spend your last New York minutes (or hours, depending on your flight) reenacting scenes from your favourite shows or drowning your sorrows in cronuts. (B)
28 DAY Road Trip USA
DAY 1 Los Angeles, California to Las Vegas, Nevada. It may be only 269 miles (433km) from LA to Vegas but it’s a parallel universe. Ease into the action on our private party bus (we’re not so uptight on dress code. You will still need shoes.)
DAY 2 Las Vegas.* Only in Vegas can you dig at a bulldozer theme park, visit a neon sign museum and skydive inside all in one day. #bestdayever
DAY 3 Las Vegas to Grand Canyon, Arizona.* Robbie Knievel leaped it on a motorbike in ‘99. You can take Route 66 + an optional helicopter ride to see it in all its glory, instead. (D)
DAY 4 Grand Canyon to Durango, Colorado. After seeing Monument Valley you’d be forgiven for wanting to miss the bus. Especially once you learn the stories of the mesas from our Navajo guide. But the fairytale-esque town of Durango awaits! (B,D)
DAY 5 Durango.* Make Mother Nature’s day. Get busy with optional white-water rafting, hiking, biking or the scenic Durango Silverton train ride in this gorgeous old mining town. (B)
DAY 6 Durango to Santa Fe, New Mexico.* Indulge your artistic side in Santa Fe – a centuriesold city of clay houses, art and mezcal margaritas. Shop, museum hop or hit the spa. (B,D)
DAY 7 Santa Fe to Amarillo, Texas.* Channel Banksy at Cadillac Ranch – an art installation of half-buried Cadillacs. Tonight, take the 72oz. steak (2kg) challenge at Big Texan steakhouse and see if size really does matter. (B,D)
DAY 8 Amarillo to San Antonio, Texas. Fact: The world’s largest cowboy boots stand proudly in San Antonio. A far more fulfilling experience comes via our visit to the Alamo Mission today. (B)
DAY 9 San Antonio to Austin, Texas. Cool o with an included tubing trip down the San Marcos River (during summer) before we arrive in the live music capital of the world for a two-night stay. (B,D)
DAY 10 Austin.* Hello thrift shopping, Airstream cuisine (cooler than regular food trucks) and the ethos “Keep Austin Weird”. Hit 6th Street tonight for a live music smorgasbord. (B)
DAY 11 Austin to Lafayette, Louisiana. Lafayette has more restaurants per capita than any other American city. Also Zydeco (Google it). Taste its Cajun roots tonight with an included group dinner. (B,D)
DAY 12 Lafayette to New Orleans, Louisiana.* Crank the Creedence and get down on the bayou to spot some gators, before New Orleans wraps us up in a warm, jazz-fuelled, Southern Hospitality hug. (B)
DAY 13 New Orleans.* Eating makes some of the most memorable travel experiences. Broaden your horizons with fried oysters, crawfish, shrimp jambalaya and more delicious deep south soul food on this free day. (B)
DAY 14 New Orleans to Panama City Beach, Florida. Welcome to the Spring Break capital of the world. Forty-three K’s of sugar-white sand, turquoise water and tan lines – aka THE quintessential Florida experience. (B,D)
DAY 15 Panama City Beach to Orlando, Florida. Left your heart on the beach (or in a bar)? Don’t be upset. Today we’re heading to the (home of the) happiest place on earth. (B,D)
DAY 16 Orlando.* Orlando has a shopping complex that’s twice the size of Manhattan. But let’s be honest, it’s all about the theme parks. Choose your (rollercoaster) poison. (B)
On the Bucket List
• Ghost tour of Savannah
• Everglades alligator experience
• Grand Canyon
• River tubing in Texas
• Monument Valley with Navajo guide
• Party bus in Las Vegas
More Inclusions
• 23 breakfasts (B), 14 dinners (D)
• 27 nights in hotels, motels & lodges
• Tabasco factory in Lafayette
• Modern air-conditioned coach/mini-coach
• Sightseeing tours of all major cities
• Awesome Trip Leader
• National park entry fees
For the Foodies*
• Eat, sleep, repeat. You won’t miss anything.
DAY 17 Orlando to Gulf Coast, Florida. Come down from your adrenaline high as we cruise to Florida’s Gulf Coast and recount heroic tales of ride conquests over a group dinner tonight. (B,D)
DAY 18 Gulf Coast to Florida Keys, Florida. We’re losing ground. Literally. Today’s everglades tour reveals a ‘river-of-grass’ ecosystem (also: otters!) that covers the lower third of Florida. (B,D)
DAY 19 Florida Keys.* Sunsets and Instagram go together like salt and caramel. Will you get a Key West #sunset pic that throws down the gauntlet on your friends’ feeds on our optional cruise?
DAY 20 Florida Keys to Miami Beach, Florida. Today: ‘Sail’ by bus (Florida Keys is actually over 1700 islands!), arrive in Latin America’s cousin and devour an included Cuban dinner. Miami #likeabaws. (D)
DAY 21 Miami Beach*. In between sun, sand, surf, sweat, speaking Spanish, celeb-spotting in South Beach and shopping, will you have enough energy to hit the dance floor tonight? (B)
DAY 22 Miami Beach to Cocoa Beach, Florida.* Surf Kelly Slater’s stomping ground breaks and/or live out your dreams of becoming an astronaut with an optional trip to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center. (B)
DAY 23 Cocoa Beach to Savannah, Georgia. We take one giant leap towards the south, landing in Savannah – our historically beautiful home for the next two nights. (B,D)
DAY 24 Savannah. Savannah makes you want to spruce up and ‘take tea’. It’s also terrifyingly haunted. Meet some of the mysterious locals on tonight’s ghost tour. (B)
DAY 25 Savannah to Charlotte, North Carolina. From one southern Belle to the next, get your fill of American diner fare (with a southern twist) tonight. Hope you like your pickles fried! (B,D)
DAY 26 Charlotte to Washington, DC. Harold and Kumar went to White Castle. Tonight we’re going to (see) the White House. In all its illuminated glory. Also other monuments. Sans cheeseburgers. (B,D)
DAY 27 Washington.* Kick it like Obama and clue yourself up on US history via monuments and museums. Lead your trivia team to victory when you get home. (B)
DAY 28 Washington to New York City, New York.* Say it with meat. We stop in Philadelphia en route to NYC and toast the trip’s end with the Don Mega: A Philly Cheesesteak (sorry vegos). (B)
Dates & Prices
13 DAY Southwest States
DAY 1 Los Angeles, California to Las Vegas, Nevada. LA might be glary, but Las Vegas is the brightest city in the world (just ask the guys in space). Grab your sunnies and board the party bus.
DAY 2 Las Vegas.* Shoot a gun, operate a tractor, skydive inside, jump on a giant trampoline, get married, visit the Ei el Tower and eat frozen custard… all in one day. Only in Vegas.
DAY 3 Las Vegas to Grand Canyon, Arizona.* Today we hit the mother road, aka, Route 66. Next stop – Grand Canyon. Chopper over the canyon’s widest point (29 kilometres) or plant your feet on million/billion-year-old ground and enjoy the view from the rim. (D)
DAY 4 Grand Canyon to Durango, Colorado. It would take a monumental e ort to tackle Monument Valley on foot. Even Forrest Gump failed at it. So, jump in the jeep for a tour by our Navajo guide. You’ll never be more amazed by rocks. (B,D)
DAY 5 Durango.* If you thought the jeep ride was bumpy, wait ‘til you hit the rapids on Animas River – white-water rafting is on o er today. Smooth ride seekers can spot prairie dogs (+ cracking scenery) from the Silverton steam train. (B)
DAY 6 Durango to Santa Fe, New Mexico. Time to make like a train and roll – we’re on our way to Santa Fe for a history lesson. Minus all the boring stu . And with cool art. (B,D)
DAY 7 Santa Fe to Amarillo, Texas. Finally, a legitimate reason to wear a cowboy hat. You’ll need it when we’re spray painting 10 old Cadillacs under the hot Texan sun. Don’t ask questions – just get excited. Dinner’s on us at the Big Texan steakhouse. (B,D)
DAY 8 Amarillo to San Antonio, Texas. Time to trade the cowboy hat for a sombrero – we’re o to soak up the Latino vibes at San Antonio. But first, a quick history lesson at the Alamo Mission. (B)
DAY 9 San Antonio to Austin, Texas. You + innertube + San Marcos River = totally awesome way to spend a few hours en route to Austin (summer only). (B,D)
On the Bucket List
• River tubing in Texas
• Monument Valley with Navajo guide
• Party bus in Las Vegas
More Inclusions
• 10 breakfasts (B), 6 dinners (D)
• 12 nights in hotels, motels & lodges
• Modern air-conditioned coach/mini-coach
• Sightseeing tours of all major cities
• Awesome Trip Leader
• National park entry fees
For the Foodies*
• Cajun feast at Prejean’s (included)
DAY 10 Austin.* Nudists, boot scooters, cheese makers and 1.5 million bats. Just a few of the things you might see on your free day in Austin. Who’s ready to get their weird on? (B)
DAY 11 Austin to Lafayette, Louisiana. More than just a spice you add to your chicken, Lafayette is home of the French-speaking Cajun culture. Tonight we’re feasting on seafood gumbo, jambalaya and oysters. You’ll be happy about this food coma. (B,D)
DAY 12 Lafayette to New Orleans, Louisiana.* Meet a few gators on a swamp cruise then dance o last night’s dinner at the home of Dixieland Jazz. Pssst: It’s ‘New OR-luns’ round these parts. (B)
DAY 13 New Orleans.* It’s not over ‘til it’s over. And it’s not over until you’ve devoured one more beignet (okay, maybe three more) and done the New Orleans shu e with a street musician in the French Quarter. (B)
The trips on these pages are sections of the 28 Day Road Trip USA trip. See p.28 for full trip.
16 DAY Sunshine States
DAY 1 New York, New York to Washington, DC.* Put down the bagel – we’re making a pit stop in Philadelphia. Famous for its Philly cheesesteak, today is a sad day for anyone who’s gluten-free. (D)
DAY 2 Washington.* Is that the Washington Monument or are you just happy to see me? The Smithsonian’s museums can list 137 million objects on display. How many can you tick o the list? (B)
DAY 3 Washington to Charlotte, North Carolina. March straight to the Penguin Drive-In to try their famous burgers, hot dogs and fried pickles. Mmm pickles. (B,D)
DAY 4 Charlotte to Savannah, Georgia. This southern belle might be full of grand architecture and tree canopies dripping with Spanish moss but she also knows how to party. (B,D)
DAY 5 Savannah.* Hunt down some southern fried chicken and wash it down with a Lulutini from Lulu’s Chocolate Bar. Tonight you’ve got a ghostly date with America’s most haunted city. (B)
DAY 6 Savannah to Cocoa Beach, Florida. In Cocoa Beach surfing is so important that Ron Jon’s iconic surf shop is open 24 hours. You never know when you’ll need a surfboard in the middle of the night. “Utah, get me two.” (B)
DAY 7 Cocoa Beach to Miami, Florida.* Not on Branson’s guest list for a trip to space? Head to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center instead. Tonight we roll into the land of bikinis beautiful people and beans and rice. (B,D)
DAY 8 Miami. Miami is like a giant ice cream sundae with a scoop of every flavour, from South Beach’s sun and celebs to Little Havana’s Latino-licious. (B)
DAY 9 Miami to Florida Keys, Florida. More than just a string of islands, the keys are scattered out across the ocean with a 200+ kilometre overseas highway linking them. More importantly, this is the home of key lime pie. (B,D)
DAY 10 Florida Keys.* You’re in paradise. Get your Jacques Cousteau on with diving by day and toast the epic Key West sunset from the water.
On the Bucket List
• Ghost tour of Savannah
• Everglades alligator experience
More Inclusions
• 13 breakfasts (B), 8 dinners (D)
• 15 nights in hotels, motels & lodges
• Modern air-conditioned coach/mini-coach
• Sightseeing tours of all major cities
• Awesome Trip Leader
• National park entry fees
For the Foodies*
• A food revolution in Little Havana (included)
DAY 11 Florida Keys to Gulf Coast, Florida. Meet some real life gators on the Everglades – a ‘river of grass’ that covers the lower third of Florida. (D)
DAY 12 Gulf Coast to Orlando, Florida. You probably won’t be able to sleep tonight. Well, when you’re this close to Mickey Mouse… (B,D)
DAY 13 Orlando.* Four guys hold the Guinness World Record for number of di erent roller coasters ridden in 24 hours – 74 (in 10 parks, in four US states, reached via helicopters). How many can you get through today? (B)
DAY 14 Orlando to Panama City Beach, Florida. Come down from your theme park high with 43 kms of sugar-white sand, turquoise water and tan lines on the Gulf of Mexico. (B,D)
DAY 15 Panama City Beach to New Orleans, Louisiana. Get some sax in your life in the birthplace of Dixieland jazz. Strap on your dancing shoes and explore the French Quarter. (B)
DAY 16 New Orleans.* Smell that? That’s the scent of your dreams coming to dance with your tastebuds. Sadly, our trip ends after breakfast, but if you stick around there’s fried oysters, crawfish, po’boys, shrimp jambalaya and lots of beignets. Yum. (B)
TRIP PRICE OF €2050
TRIP PRICE OF €2145
TRIP PRICE OF €2250
Dates & Prices 2015-16
DAY 1 Miami, Florida. Three things you should do pre-Miami to guarantee good times: pack sunscreen, brush up on your Spanish, and download LMFAO’s “I’m In Miami Trick”! Our trip kicks o in the evening.
DAY 2 Miami to Florida Keys, Florida. Imma let you finish Miami, but set your watch to island time, coz we’re heading to the Florida Keys. One long road, 42 bridges, and nothin’ but teal water as far as the eye can see. (B,D)
DAY 3 Florida Keys.* If you don’t like blue and its various shades and tones, then you’ll hate the Keys. Blue sky, blue water. Just awful. Instagram the crap out of its famous #sunset on our optional cruise or from Mallory Square, Key West.
DAY 4 Florida Keys to Gulf Coast, Florida. From above, the creeks and vein-like rivers of the Everglades look like cracked green earth. What you’ll see from the water reads like the cast from Noah’s Ark – including gators galore. Don’t worry, we won’t be catching our own dinner. (D)
DAY 5 Gulf Coast to Orlando, Florida.* There are times in life when it’s perfectly okay to eat fairy floss for lunch and ride roller coasters until you feel sick. Permission granted. Welcome to the theme park capital of the world. (B,D)
DAY 6 Orlando.* Every day hundreds of children are lost (and found) at Orlando’s theme parks. So wear a leash and free your inner child at Disney World, Universal Studios or the Epcot Center. Hate theme parks? (Oh, the humanity!) Head downtown, instead. (B)
DAY 7 Orlando to Panama City Beach, Florida. Twenty-seven miles of sugary-white beaches? Check. The Gulf of Mexico as your swimming pool? Check. Welcome to Panama City Beach. Stop, flop and drop, or hit the D-floor until sunrise, and make the most of your final fracas with Florida. (B,D)
DAY 8 Panama City Beach to New Orleans, Louisiana.* If ever there was a time to say YOLO, it would be here in NOLA. It’s time to slip into The Big Easy as we wave goodbye to the beach and say hello to blues, beads, beignets (Google this, immediately) and beyond. (B)
On the Bucket List
• Everglades alligator experience
More Inclusions
• 6 breakfasts (B), 4 dinners (D)
• 8 nights in hotels, motels & lodges
• Modern air-conditioned coach/mini-coach
• Sightseeing tours of all major cities
• Awesome Trip Leader
• National park entry fees
For the Foodies*
• A food revolution in Little Havana
DAY 9 New Orleans. Who dat say dey gonna miss New Orleans? It doesn’t make much sense, but it’s one of this city’s colourful catchphrases. Translation: Alas, our time has come to an end, but we’re sure going to miss this place. Cue tears. (B)
This is a section of the 28 Day Road Trip USA trip. See full trip on p.28.
8 DAY Southern Charm
Day 1 New York, New York to Washington, DC.* There’s only two words to care about today: Philly Cheesesteak. The concept is simple – beef, cheese and bread – but a stop at the home of this deliciousness is essential. Sleep o your meat coma. Wake up in DC for a tour of the US capital’s illuminated monuments. (D)
Day 2 Washington.* Be a mall rat of a di erent kind today, hanging out at the US Capitol Building, Reflecting Pool and War Memorials in National Mall. DC is the land of memorials, museums and monuments so don your best hipster specs and carb up on culture. (B)
Day 3 Washington to Charlotte, North Carolina. If you don’t know what hush puppies are yet, you’re about to find out as we head south to North Carolina and enjoy some good ol’ Southern Hospitality with burgers, hot dogs and fried pickles a-plenty at Charlotte institution, Penguin Drive-In. (B,D)
Day 4 Charlotte to Savannah, Georgia.* Savannah is a bona fide southern belle, filled with 18th-century buildings and dreamy walkways sheathed in moss-covered trees. Have your own “Life is like a box of chocolates” moment where Forrest Gump waited for the bus then devour Girl Scout cookies in the club’s birthplace. (B,D)
Day 5 Savannah. In Savannah you can take your beer or cocktail “to go”, as long as it’s in a plastic cup but before you get too festive, remember tonight we’ll be on a ghost tour of one America’s most haunted cities. (B)
Day 6 Savannah to Cocoa Beach, Florida. Wash away any bad spirits on the Space Coast. November 17 is o cially Kelly Slater Day in Cocoa Beach – the birthplace of surfing’s shiniest star –but you can practice your best barrel pose with his bronze statue any day you like. (B)
Day 7 Cocoa Beach to Miami, Florida.* Don’t have $250,000 for a trip to space on Virgin Galactic? Join today’s optional trip to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center instead. Tonight we roll into the land of ice-cream toned art deco buildings, Double Ds and Cuban deliciousness. (B,D)
On the Bucket List
• Ghost tour of Savannah
More Inclusions
• 7 breakfasts (B), 4 dinners (D)
• 7 nights in hotels, motels & lodges
• Modern air-conditioned coach/mini-coach
• Sightseeing tours of all major cities
• Awesome Trip Leader
• National park entry fees
For the Foodies*
• A food revolution in Little Havana (included)
• The legendary ‘penguin pounder’ burger
Day 8 Miami.* All good things must come to an end. Will you make like a Kardashian and Take Miami for a few days longer? If you stick around, try not to bump into Pitbull, practise your Spanish in Little Havana and work on your tan. (B)
This is a section of the 28 Day Road Trip USA trip. See full trip on p.28.
ARRIVE EARLY, STAY LATE
See p.40 for more details 40
TRIP PRICE OF €1065
TRIP PRICE OF €1095
TRIP PRICE OF €1145
21 DAY American Dream
DAY 1 Los Angeles, California. After a speeddating-style tour of Tinsel Town, Santa Monica and Venice you’ll be filled with hope. Probably also an aversion to Botox. (D)
DAY 2 Los Angeles.* Stars in your eyes? You could head to Universal Studios or take the Movie Star’s Homes Tour... or you could run into Christian Bale in Whole Foods. Holy smokes, Batman!
DAY 3 Los Angeles to Las Vegas, Nevada. Swap palm trees for Joshua Trees as we Thelma and Louise our way across the Mojave Desert. You’re on the list for a party bus. How you play your cards afterwards is up to you. (D)
DAY 4 Las Vegas.* See where the chips fall today: Shopping, sports cars, Britney Spears… who needs Disneyland when you’ve got the strip?
DAY 5 Las Vegas. You could take a day trip to the Grand Canyon. Or you could stay and sip cocktails around the pool. Tough life.
DAY 6 Las Vegas to Mariposa/Yosemite National Park, California. Imagine an Attenborough commentary over the action outside your window and today will fly. See you on the other side of Sierra Nevada. (D)
DAY 7 Yosemite National Park to San Francisco, California. Yosemite has everything you would expect from a World Heritage Site. Plus Half Dome and Mirror Lake. Ain’t nobody can compete with that! (B)
DAY 8 San Francisco.* Feel the (summer of) love exploring North Beach and Chinatown. Hello dumplings! (B,D)
DAY 9 San Francisco. Yes, they have green juices in San Fran. And tacos. And chowder served in a sourdough bowl. (Save some room for our sunset cruise.) (B)
DAY 10 San Francisco to New York City, New York. Please prepare the cabin for takeo . Next stop: An empire state of mind.
DAY 11 New York City. Get sidewalk savvy with a local on the Lower East Side, divide and conquer this afternoon then head to the 70th floor of Rockefeller Plaza for THE BEST view of where you’ve been. (B,D)
DAY 12 New York City. No man is an island but Lady Liberty stands on one. We’ll cruise past her and Ellis Island this morning then hand you the keys to the city. (B)
DAY 13 New York City.* Ways to annoy a human of New York: stop in the middle of the sidewalk, walk around looking up, try to chat on the Subway. Escape to Brooklyn and drink craft beer instead. (B)
DAY 14 New York City to Washington, DC. Throw on a sweatband and do your best Rocky when we make a quick stop in the land of the Philly Cheesesteak. (D)
DAY 15 Washington*. Be a mall rat of a di erent kind, hanging out at the US Capitol Building, Reflecting Pool and War Memorials in National Mall. (B)
DAY 16 Washington to Charlotte, N.Carolina. The Penguin Drive-In is famous for its fried pickles and ‘Penguin Pounder’. Scared? Don’t be. It’s delicious and you only have to roll into bed afterwards. (B,D)
DAY 17 Charlotte to Savannah, Georgia. You’ll be sweating penguins when we land in one of America’s most haunted cities and get creeped out on a ghost tour. (B,D)
On the Bucket List
• New York Top of the Rock at 30 Rock + harbour cruise
• Grand Canyon
• Party bus in Las Vegas
• Sunset sailing in San Francisco Bay
• Ghost tour of Savannah
More Inclusions
• 13 breakfasts (B), 9 dinners (D)
• 20 nights in hotels, motels & lodges
• Flight & airport transfers SF-NYC.
• 3 day San Francisco MUNI pass
• 7 day NYC Metro Pass
• Modern air-conditioned coach/mini-coach
• Sightseeing tours of all major cities
• Awesome Trip Leader
• National park entry fees
For the Foodies*
• A food revolution in Little Havana (included)
• American diner classics at the Penguin (included)
• Raw food bars and organic farmers markets
DAY 18 Savannah. Pop on your most dapper threads, order a mint julep and fall head over heels for this American beauty queen. She may be haunted, but she sure is pretty. (B)
DAY 19 Savannah to Cocoa Beach, Florida.* Girl Scouts were born in Savannah. Grab some cookies before we leave the Spanish moss for Kelly Slater’s hometown. (B)
DAY 20 Cocoa Beach to Miami, Florida.* Not catching any waves? Check out NASA’s Kennedy Space Center instead. Take a bite out of Cuba tonight with dinner in Miami. (B,D)
DAY 21 Miami. Thankfully The Situation has long left Miami so you can ditch the gym, tan, laundry and just soak up the sunshine and good vibes. Our trip ends after breakfast but you can take Miami as long as you like. (B)
This is a combination of the 13 Day Stars & Stripes and 8 Day Southern Charm trips. See p.26 and 33 for full trips.
Activities not included unless stated, but too awesome to leave out. It’s your trip, your way.
13 DAY USA & Canada Adventure
DAY 1 New York, New York to Washington, DC.* New York might be a hell of a town but we’ve gotta run. Making a pit stop in Philadelphia, you’ll get the best of both worlds with a delicious Philly Cheesesteak (if you please) and a side-eye night tour of Frank Underwood’s stomping ground. (D)
DAY 2 Washington.* Embrace the stars and stripes and brush up on your American history with a full day at one of the 19 Smithsonian museums on o er. Just remember it’s the “United States of don’t touch that thing right in front of you!” (B)
DAY 3 Washington to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Hang on to your horse and buggy, we’re in Amish country! Welcome to the simple life, where you’ll enjoy a delicious home cooked lunch at a traditional Amish Farm and indulge in a baked treat or two. (B,L)
DAY 4 Harrisburg to Niagara Falls. Calling the Niagara Falls epic would be like saying Snoop Lion likes a collaboration. We’ll let the thunder of fourmillion-cubic-feet of water per minute speak for us instead. We’ll even have time to see ‘The Falls’ illuminated at night, before dinner. #winning! (B,D)
DAY 5 Niagara Falls to Toronto, Ontario. Practice your best poncho selfie, because we’re heading to the foot of the falls for the ‘Maid of the Mist’ boat tour. Later, we’ll turn water into wine with a stop for a tipple at a local winery before driving to Canada’s big smoke. (B,D)
Day 6 Toronto.* With 8000 restaurants and counting, it’s hard to imagine anything in Toronto that doesn’t involve food – but an international film festival, the Hockey Hall of Fame and North America’s largest drive-in screen will prove you wrong. (B)
DAY 7 Toronto to Montreal, Quebec. If your French doesn’t extend beyond the odd dirty word, you might want to bust out the ol’ dictionary. That’s right, it’s Montreal time. Did we mention it has a city underneath the city? Yeah, you read that right. (B)
DAY 8 Montreal. Sure, sightseeing is fun, but today you’ll get to try poutine – that’s French fries covered in fresh cheese curds and gravy. (B)
DAY 9 Montreal to Quebec City, Quebec. Perched on a cli that towers over the St Lawrence River, Quebec City is old school Europe in the middle of North America. Walk the cobbled streets, visit historic Old Town and get your nightlife fix down the Grand-Allée. (B,D)
DAY 10 Quebec City. With 400 years of spinetingling history to draw upon, tonight’s ghost tour will unleash the darker side of this otherwise seemingly quaint city. Are you getting goosebumps yet? (B)
DAY 11 Quebec City to Boston, Massachusetts.* Batter up! We’re bussing it over the border and travelling to a city immersed in the American Revolution and Independence movement. To sweeten the deal even more, we hear there’s a pretty amazing Boston cream pie on the must-eat list. (B)
DAY 12 Boston.* It’s your free day! Check out Barack Obama’s old Alma mater (Harvard), trek the Freedom Trail that leads to 16 historic sites and have a cheeky bevy at the original Cheers bar before making your way to baseball heaven at Fenway Park. (B,D)
DAY 13 Boston to New York.* Our trip might be over, but you’d be bananas for leaving the Big Apple. Expand your New York state of mind with a carriage ride through Central Park and some window-shopping at Ti any’s. (B)
On the Bucket List
• Amish farm experience
• Maid of the Mist boat tour at Niagara Falls
• Ghost tour of Quebec City
More Inclusions
• 12 breakfasts (B), 1 lunch (L), 5 dinners (D)
• 12 nights in hotels, motels & lodges
• Modern air-conditioned coach/mini-coach
• Sightseeing tours of all major cities
• Awesome Trip Leader
• National park entry fees
For the Foodies*
• Niagara region wine tasting (included)
• Poutine in Montreal (included)
11 DAY Canadian Rockies
DAY 1 Vancouver, British Columbia to Kelowna, British Columbia. Kelowna is known for two things – golf and grapes. There’s no time to tee o , but being in the heart of Canada’s wine country, it’d be sacrilege if you didn’t qua a local drop (and we’ll play designated driver). (D)
DAY 2 Kelowna to Golden, British Columbia. If the von Trapps were Canadian, and travelled by bus, today would be like a scene out of The Sound of Music. Glacier National Park has the quintessential mountain peaks and lush valleys of Maria’s Alps, and we haven’t even reached the Rockies yet. (B,D)
DAY 3 Golden to Banff National Park, Alberta. It’s Louise vs Moraine in today’s episode of Lake’s Got Talent – you be the judge as we cross through Kicking Horse Pass into Ban via Yoho National Park. Settle in for après-ski dinner (minus the skiing!) on us tonight. (B,D)
DAY 4 Banff.* Ban is National Geographic on steroids – all snow-capped peaks and sky-mirroring lakes. If you run out of FOMO-inducing hashtags, lower your phone and raise your pulse with optional white-water rafting, mountain biking or horse riding. Warm up in the hot springs tonight.
DAY 5 Banff to Jasper National Park, Alberta. Today’s theme? Ice, ice baby! First, the world’s most scenic highway – the Icefields Parkway. Second, the Columbia Icefield – the largest ice cap south of the Arctic Circle. Third, a ‘Sno Coach’ tour of the Athabasca Glacier. Defrost in Jasper tonight. (D)
DAY 6 Jasper. Jasper shares more than just its name with Edward Cullen’s brother. It’s white (in winter), cold and sparkles in the sunlight. And the local wildlife o ers a smorgasbord of vampire delights – wolves and coyotes and bears, oh my!
DAY 7 Jasper to Kamloops, British Columbia. At over 12,000 feet (almost 4000 metres) Mount Robson is the Rockies’ highest peak – yep, size matters (sorry, gents). You’ll have just enough time to take a selfie with a mountain goat statue before we rendezvous with Kamloops. (D)
On the Bucket List
• Sno-coach Glacier Adventure at the Athabasca Glacier
More Inclusions
• 5 breakfasts (B), 6 dinners (D)
• 10 nights in hotels, motels & lodges
• Entry to Ban Upper Hot Springs
• Modern air-conditioned coach/mini-coach
• Sightseeing tours of all major cities
• Awesome Trip Leader
• National park entry fees
For the Foodies*
• Okanagan region wine tasting (included)
DAY 8 Kamloops to Whistler, British Columbia. Summer is the new winter in Whistler, so named for the whistling hoary marmot that lives here. It’s the holy grail of ski resorts, but you’ll be surprised at how much more there is to do when the snow melts. (D)
DAY 9 Whistler.* Make your travel insurance work hard for you with a spot of mountain biking, ziplining, or work on your tan at the beach (seriously) with the other o -season ski bunnies. Keep your eyes peeled for bears! (B)
DAY 10 Whistler.* On the second day, Whistler created five lakes to dip your toe in, a gondola lift to enjoy the view from, countless spas to relieve your stress (four-handed massage, anyone?) and enough cafes, boutiques and galleries to max your credit card. Have fun! (B)
DAY 11 Whistler to Vancouver.* We’ll wrap up our trip along the scenic Sea to Sky Highway to Vancity. Cue sad faces and good byes or head straight to one of the 40-plus brew houses in this craft-beer capital. (B)
The 5th July 2015 departure is a special 12-day trip including two nights in Calgary during the Calgary Stampede.
Los Angeles
Robertson Boulevard is where it’s at for all you paparazzi. Then there’s Universal Studios, Beverly Hills and raw juice bars to suit even the pickiest celebrity.
San Francisco
Check out the liberal home of tech startups, craft beer and hipster culture. Expect trams, rolling hills and lots of food trucks.
Las Vegas
This is where Louis Vuitton meets 99-cent margaritas and happy hour is every hour. You don’t have to go into debt to do Vegas.
Miami
If you don’t drive a Lexus you probably drive a Camaro. Welcome to the city of bu bodies, art deco neon and eternal sunshine.
New Orleans
The world’s northern-most Caribbean city is a cultural concoction of blues, gumbo and Creole delights. Eat your heart out.
Vancouver
Go skiing in the morning, hang out on the beach in the afternoon and check out some of the best Asian food joints in North America.
SINGLE
4 DAY I NYC
DAY 1 New York City, New York.* There’s more than a few reasons why 52 million visitors infiltrate the island of Manhattan each year and you’re in the best position to find out what they are. Be warned: Once you taste the Big Apple, you may be ruined for any other city for life. Time your arrival so you’re prepped for our meeting tonight. Afterwards, will you sneak o to a comedy show in West Village? Grab a beer in Williamsburg? Or see a Broadway show?
DAY 2 New York City. You don’t come to NYC for Times Square (not really, anyway). You come to feed your soul, your motivation, your creativity... and your insatiable appetite for bagels. You might try to sneak some in this morning when we hook up with a human GPS who knows all the best bits of the Lower East Side. Explore and conquer with your included 7-day Metro Pass before we meet up for dinner + a trip up to Top of the Rock tonight for the real-life version of IKEA wall prints and NYC ‘pins’ the world over. Seeing the Empire State Building all lit up = priceless. (B,D)
DAY 3 New York City.* Oh say can you see (the Statue of Liberty)? This morning we cruise the Hudson – taking in views of the city where dreams are made + Lady Liberty and Ellis Island – before you map out your ultimate day in NYC. You could jump on the Sex and the City tour, grab some food truck nosh, head up to Harlem, do your best Gossip Girl impersonation on the Met Steps, or take yourself out to a ball game at Yankee Stadium. Or maybe you’ll just stand in the middle of Times Square and know you’ve truly arrived. (B)
DAY 4 New York City. Ready to move here permanently? Our trip ends after breakfast but if this New York Minute wasn’t quite long enough, stick around to see where your blossoming love a air takes you! (B)
This is a section of the 13 Day Stars & Stripes trip. See full trip on p.26.
On the Bucket List
• Explore Lower East Side, Little Italy and Chinatown in NYC with a local guide
• Top of the Rock at 30 Rock in NYC
• NYC harbour cruise
More Inclusions
• 3 breakfasts (B), 1 dinner (D)
• 3 nights in a hotel
• 7 day NYC Metro Pass
• Awesome Trip Leader
For the Foodies*
• Food trucks, NYC pizza and bagels.
• Soul food in Harlem. *
but
4 DAY NYC New Year’s
Dates
&
Prices
2015-16 TRIP CODE: USNYNY
DAY 1 New York City, New York. Anyone who’s ever muttered the words, “New Year’s is so overrated” has obviously never been to NYC. Say hello to the most insanely awesome (also densely populated) island on earth. Your only challenge will be trying to not get overexcited and peak too early. Tough gig, because once you see Manhattan – and we mean all of it, including that pointy spire of the Empire State –from the Top of the Rock (home of 30 Rock) tonight, you won’t be thinking about going to sleep anytime soon. Taxi!
DAY 2 New York City.* Start the morning with views like the ones you’ll see this morning on our harbour cruise past the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, and you’ll forget you need ca eine. Armed with a 7-day Metro Pass, the city is your oyster. Go ice skating in Central Park, ponder at the Guggenheim or stroll the High Line. Tonight: It’s the New Year’s epicentre of the universe and you’ll be front and centre at our NYE party in Midtown! (B,D)
DAY 3 New York City.* Lift that weary head – Lady Liberty’s not done with you yet! After our Lower East Side walking tour (and perhaps a nice big pastrami on rye?) you’ll be ready for round two. Will you walk the Brooklyn Bridge to eat pie at Grimaldi’s? Sip your way around Manhattan on the Sex and the City tour? Take a helicopter flight to feel like you’re in the centre of King Kong? Or scope out the best food trucks? New York, we love you. (B)
On the Bucket List
• NYE Dinner & Party
• Explore Lower East Side, Little Italy and Chinatown in NYC with a local guide
• Top of the Rock at 30 Rock in NYC
• NYC harbour cruise
More Inclusions
• 3 breakfasts (B), 1 dinner (D)
• 3 nights in a hotel
• 7 day NYC Metro Pass
• Awesome Trip Leader
DAY 4 New York City. It’s a new year, and you’re in New York. What comes next? Only you can know! Our trip ends after breakfast but if it’s your resolution to stick around, we can help you make some plans. (B)
ARE YOU OVER 21?
Due to US drinking age restrictions, you will have to be at least 21 years old to book any of our New Year’s Eve trips.
4 DAY Las Vegas New Year’s
Day 1 Arrive Las Vegas. It’s pretty hard to not feel like a high roller when you suit/frock up and saunter onto the strip. Think of tonight as your NYE warm up. Our party bus kicks things o with a stop at the ‘Welcome to fabulous Las Vegas’ sign for obligatory #selfies before we assault your senses at the Fremont Street Experience – aka what $70million in LED lights looks like. Try not to pick up any tigers or babies before the big event tomorrow night.
DAY 2 Las Vegas.* They don’t call it Sin City for nothing. Try to tick o all seven deadly sins in one day – shopping, overindulging on the bu et, lazing around the pool, indoor skydiving, doing your best Fast and Furious impersonation... You’re in Vegas, baby! Get ready to welcome in the new year #likeabaws. We’ve got you sorted with dinner and VIP club entry to one of the hottest NYE parties on the strip. Go double or nothing tonight – you’re only going to farewell this year once! (B, D)
DAY 3 Las Vegas.* As the dust settles on an epic night, the only question is: are you ready for round two? Thankfully partying in Vegas doesn’t have to mean booze-fuelled benders. Take advantage of your desert position and welcome in the New Year from a helicopter flight over the Grand Canyon, or visit the neon sign museum to take enough pics to fill your Tumblr for a year – your (New Year’s) day, your way.(B)
the Bucket List
Party bus
NYE Dinner
VIP entry to nightclub on NYE
Inclusions • 3 breakfasts (B), 1 dinner (D) • 3 nights in a hotel • Awesome Trip Leader
DAY 4 Depart Las Vegas. If you come out of this experience with more than a few chips in your pocket, you’ve done very well. Our trip ends after breakfast but Vegas, the old dog, will always be the last one standing. Question is, will you keep standing with it? (B)
ARE YOU OVER 21?
Due to US drinking age restrictions, you will have to be at least 21 years old to book any of our New Year’s Eve trips.
CODE: USNYLV
TERMS & CONDITIONS
It is our intention to set out clearly and simply the responsibilities which we at Top Deck Tours Ltd, a company registered in the UK, (Company Registration number 04905253), hereafter referred to as “Topdeck, us or we” have to You, your heirs, executors and assigns and any member of your party and their heirs, executors and assigns (“You”) and which You, in turn, have to us when a contract is made between us. You should therefore read and understand the contents.
All coach trips in this brochure are operated by Topdeck and Your contract for your trip will be with Top Deck as the operator.
All Topdeck’s trips are sold subject to the following conditions (“these Conditions”).
1. (a) Please note that our trips are designed for young people between the ages of 18 to 39 years. We may in special circumstances approve persons outside this range. If You are 17 years of age and wish to book on one of our trips, please contact us before making a booking as we will require the written consent of your parent or guardian. We reserve the sole right to decline a booking request from You should we think our trips are not suited to You. Please note that legislation In North America may restrict persons under the age of 21 from participating in some aspects of the programmes. (b) A contract between You and us will exist as soon as we issue an invoice in response to your request for a booking and the deposit has been paid to your travel agent or us.
BOOKING YOUR TRIP
2. Bookings can be made either through your local travel agent or with us direct and must be secured with a deposit of €75 per person paid at the time of booking. This deposit is non-refundable unless we cancel your trip. If You are making a booking within 42 days of departure, then full payment is required PROVIDED HOWEVER that if the trip comprises a special o er we may require full payment including any pre and post accommodation and sundry service charges to be paid at the time specified in the o er. Your booking is taken to be confirmed, and accepted when we issue an invoice. If your booking is made through a travel agent, we will address all correspondence to that travel agent. All monies paid by You to the travel agent will be held by them on behalf of Topdeck. If You arrange your trip direct with us, all correspondence and communications will be sent to your address in our booking file unless You specify otherwise. Balance of all payments is required at least 42 days prior to your trip departure date. If You do not pay within this period we may deem your booking cancelled and your deposit forfeited.
3. Alterations or cancellations by You after your booking has been accepted will be e ected subject to the provisions of clauses 5, 6 and 7 of these Conditions.
4. Prices quoted in our brochures are calculated on costs and exchange rates at 01 June 2014. These prices may increase or decrease and we reserve the sole right to alter prices and other particulars contained in our brochures and on our website. Price changes in trips featured in subsequent brochure versions will supersede the prices in this brochure. (The version date is indicated on the back cover of this brochure). Before You make a booking we will provide You with details of the current price of your chosen trip This will also be displayed on the website. Once You have accepted this price and your booking has been confirmed in accordance with clause 2 that price will remain fixed and will not be subject to surcharges.
5. You must clearly state all your requirements at the time of booking. Please note that any dietary requirements will be a request only. We cannot guarantee special dietary requirements nor will we assume any responsibility or liability if your special requirements cannot be fulfilled. If You want to change any aspect of your booking including but not limited to a change to a trip of shorter duration or di erent departure date You must notify us as soon as possible in writing. We will do our best to accommodate your requested changes but You will be required to pay an amendment fee of €30 (€20 for pre- or post-accommodation within 42 days) per person per change. If a request is made less than 42 days before departure, normal cancellation fees will apply in accordance with clause 7 unless the transfer or change is to an earlier departure of the same trip. In the event of a request for a change to be made a new invoice will be issued by Topdeck and cancellation charges/amendment fees will be shown. All amendment fees are payable within 7 days of the issue of a new invoice or on the date of departure, whichever is the sooner.
6. If You are prevented from traveling as a result of illness, the death of an immediate family member, jury service, or other reason beyond your control which we consider significant, we will agree to your booking being transferred to another person who satisfies all the conditions applicable to the trip, subject to You and the other person accepting liability for full payment of the trip cost and any additional costs arising from the transfer PROVIDED THAT we must be given at least 21 days written notice of the proposed change.
CANCELLATION BY YOU
7. Cancellation of a booking by You must be made in writing. We will not regard a booking as cancelled unless and until written notice is received by us. On cancellation the following charges will apply:
because of circumstances beyond our reasonable control. If a material modification or cancellation is made by us within six weeks of the scheduled departure date for reasons other than Force Majeure in accordance with clause 20 You will receive compensation as stated in the scale below. Period before scheduled departure date that we notify You or your travel agent together with the compensation o ered.
Over 42 days Nil
42-29 days €25
28-14 days €35
13-7 days €50
6-0 days €100
11. Topdeck reserves to itself the sole right to require a minimum number of participants for certain trips and in the event that there are insu cient bookings recorded by not later than 42 days before the scheduled departure date we will be entitled to cancel the scheduled trip, whereupon all monies paid by You for your Topdeck trip shall be refunded but no further compensation will be paid and You and Topdeck hereby agree to mutually release each other from any further obligations which would have been enforceable had the trip not been cancelled.
12. We reserve the right to alter or substitute the type of vehicle or style of transport mentioned in the brochure, depending on the number of passengers carried, which can vary from trip to trip. For group sizes of 13 or less we sometimes will use a minibus. Normally the maximum group size is 45 passengers. Please also note there are strict laws in North America governing driver’s hours and this may necessitate utilizing public transport in some cities. We STRONGLY URGE all passengers within our vehicles to wear seatbelts at all times while the vehicle is in motion. This requires cooperation and action on your part. Your safety is not only the responsibility of our Leaders, but yours too, as the driver cannot be expected to constantly check to make sure that all passengers have buckled their seatbelts. Please also note that US Law regulates the total number of hours that your Trip Leader is available to work. We have designed our trips to make the most of your time in the States, but please understand that there are certain times during each day that your leader will need to be o duty from work. This includes having meal and rest periods and personal time. Due to these restrictions, particularly after the longer driving days, your leader may not be able to join you on some of the daily activities or may need to tend to other work duties during this time.
OUR LIABILITY TO YOU
13. Save where the provisions of Force Majeure apply, in the event that the trip does not reasonably comply with the description in the brochure, Topdeck may compensate You to a maximum value equal to twice the price of the trip but excluding insurance premiums and amendment fees AND Topdeck will only be liable to pay the maximum amount of compensation where there has been a total failure of consideration for your payment. Where the failure to provide such trip is not caused by any fault of Topdeck, its agents or suppliers or is caused by or contributed to by You, Topdeck will not be liable to pay any compensation.
14. If You are killed, injured or become ill during or as a result of, carriage by ship, train or coach forming part of the trip in circumstances where such death, injury or illness is not caused by or contributed to by You our liability to pay damages and/or the amount of compensation we will be liable to pay is limited in accordance with the liability of a carrier under any international Convention applicable to such events, including, but not limited to:
• In respect of carriage by sea: the Athens Convention 1974;
• In respect of carriage by rail, the Berne Convention 1961; and,
* In respect of carriage by road, the Geneva Convention 1973.
15. The terms of these Conventions are incorporated into and form part of our contract with You. You should know that the carrier will rely upon its ‘conditions of carriage’ which may limit or remove the carrier’s liability to You and limit compensation under any international Conventions.
16. In the event that Topdeck (or its insurers) make any payment to You for death, personal injury or illness, You must give us or our insurers all and any rights You may have to take action against the party responsible for causing the death, personal injury or illness and You must co-operate fully with us in seeking recovery of any payment we may make from such party.
17. Your booking is accepted on the understanding that You appreciate the possible risks inherent in adventure travel and that You undertake the trips featured in this brochure of your own volition. Every e ort will be made to operate all trips featured in this brochure but because of the number of places visited on trips there may be a necessity to vary the itinerary from that stated in the brochure. Delays may occur for a variety of reasons beyond our control, which may mean the changed itinerary may not be able to visit all places as shown in the original itinerary. The need for a flexible attitude to this type of travel is stressed in our publication. The final decision on the itinerary and the content of the trip will be taken by the Trip Leader, as appointed by us in the interest of the group as a whole. Please note that due to Public holidays or festivals some sights or activities may not be available on a particular trip.
18. No refund will be made for services made available by Topdeck but which for whatever reason are not used by You once the trip has departed.
OPTIONAL ACTIVITIES AND EXCURSIONS
Cancellation of Open Dated Passes before booking a departure date incur a €150 cancellation charge. Once your chosen departure date is booked all booking conditions apply including cancelation charges as listed above. FLIGHTS
Cancellation charges for the flight segment of the “Stars and Stripes” and “American Dream” trips are:
Up to 42 days before trip departure: Included in trip deposit loss
Less than 42 days: €50 plus any airline charges, which could be up to the full value of the ticket
CANCELLATION OR MODIFICATION BY US
8. Every e ort will be made to operate all trips as advertised but it must be remembered that our trips are planned up to eighteen months in advance. We therefore reserve the sole right, at our discretion, to modify or cancel any trip, accommodation or arrangement at any time. We will notify You as soon as possible of any changes and they will form part of our contract with You. In the case of any material modification or cancellation, we will, if possible, provide You with three alternatives: (1) a trip of an equivalent or closely similar standard and price, if available; (2) a trip of a lower standard together with a refund of the di erence in price; or
(3) cancellation with a full refund of all monies paid.
9. A material modification is one which has a serious e ect on your trip and includes a change of departure date, departure point or airport, or change of departure time of more than twelve hours, which would cause substantial inconvenience to You. We do not consider a change of accommodation, or transport style a material change.
10. We will endeavor not to materially modify or cancel the trip within 42 days of the date of the scheduled departure unless compelled to do so
19. During Your trip You will be o ered the chance to purchase various optional excursions and activities. Topdeck does not own, operate or control any of the companies or individuals which provide the optional activities or excursions. Some of the optional activities and excursions, are inherently risky. If You want to take part in such optional activities or excursions You must be fit enough to do so and must follow all reasonable instructions. The standards of health and safety which will be adopted by the company or the individual providing the optional activity or excursion will be those of the country where the optional activity or excursion takes place. Please note that these standards may not be the same as You would find in Your home country. If You wish to book any optional excursion or activity, You may do so subject to the operator’s terms and conditions. Your contract will be with the operator of the activity or excursion and will be governed by local law. Topdeck acts only as their agent. Topdeck’s Trip Leader will have further details and additional information can be found on our website. Topdeck accepts no liability for any act or omission of any operator, its employees, agents or sub-contractors.
EXCLUSION OF LIABILITY – FORCE MAJEURE
20. We do not accept liability for any loss, damage or expense resulting from war or terrorist activities threatened or actual, civil unrest, industrial action threatened or actual, weather conditions, fire, flood, drought, closures, unforeseen alterations to public transport schedules, rescheduling of aircraft or boats, epidemic or outbreaks of illness or any other event outside our control which either delays or extends or reduces the trip, or compels a change in the trip arrangements after departure.
CONTRAVENTION OF LAW
We will not be responsible for any loss or damage sustained by You as a result of a contravention of any law or regulation of any of the Countries or States visited while on the trip.
HEALTH AND MEDICAL CONDITIONS
21. If You have a medical condition or disability which may a ect your trip, we ask that You inform us in writing at the time of booking the trip of any special arrangements required by You so that we are able to advise as to the suitability of those arrangements. If we reasonably feel we are unable to satisfactorily accommodate your particular needs, we reserve the right to decline the booking or ask for You to be accompanied by a person who is able to provide full assistance to You throughout your trip.
YOUR LIABILITY TO US
22. You will not be permitted to embark or continue on the trip if your mental or physical condition is, in the reasonable opinion of any representative of Topdeck, such as to render You incapable of caring for yourself, or whereby You become objectionable to other passengers, or You become a hazard to yourself or other passengers. We will not be responsible for expenses resulting in You being precluded from completing the trip for any reason, nor will we refund You any part of your trip cost. In all cases we will notify You of the reasons why we have taken this action. We will have no obligation to arrange for your return to the point of the trip departure where your condition manifests itself after the trip departure. Further, if the trip involves travel by air, the captain of your aircraft can refuse to allow You to fly on the aircraft if he believes that You could be dangerous or disruptive to other passengers on the flight.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
23. Please ensure You carefully read your invoice, tickets and all other documents we send to You as soon as You receive them, and contact your travel agent, or us immediately if any information appears to be incorrect. We will not accept any liability if You fail to notify us of any inaccuracy in any document within 14 days of us sending them to You or your agent. While we will do our best to rectify any changes made outside this time, it is your responsibility to meet any additional costs which may be involved, except in the case of an error made by Topdeck and where there is reasonable justification for You not contacting us within the specified time. You are responsible for ensuring that all necessary travel documents including, but not limited to, passports, visas and vaccination certificates are valid and subsisting. We strongly recommend that You verify current documentation requirements and all other relevant protocols and procedures associated with your trip with your travel agent or us. Please note requirements change and you must check with your Consulate for the most up to date information. Passports must have an expiry date of at least six months after completion of the trip.
INSURANCE
24. You must take out comprehensive travel insurance before You travel on your trip. Your insurance protection must include cover for cancellation, medical and repatriation expenses, personal injury and accident, death and loss of personal baggage and money and personal liability insurance. Evidence of such insurances must be produced to Topdeck on request, (normally on day one of your trip). Insurance cover o ered by credit card companies or reciprocal medical cover agreements are often not comprehensive.
25. You hereby indemnify us against all third-party actions taken against us for loss or damage caused by You or arising from your participation on the trip.
26. In the event of
insurers wish to enforce those rights which have been assigned to Topdeck.
27. In the event that You make a claim against us which is covered by your insurance policy, You agree to pursue the claim through your insurer either in addition to, or in substitution for, your claim against us (if any). We agree to indemnify You in respect of reasonable expenses incurred in successfully pursuing such a claim and acknowledge that any settlement made by the insurer shall not prejudice your rights against us.
28. In the event of You not making a claim before 5 working days of the maximum length of time permitted by your policy, You must assign, by letter sent by courier delivery to Topdeck not less than 5 working days prior to the said specified time, the benefit of the policy and give immediate notice of such an assignment to your insurer.
COMPLAINTS
29. In the event of any dissatisfaction with the accommodation or any other service provided by Topdeck, You must report it immediately to the Trip Leader so that action can be taken to remedy the problem. Failure to notify the Trip Leader of any problem immediately may prejudice Topdeck and may result in your ability to claim compensation from us being extinguished or reduced. Any complaint made to Topdeck following the conclusion of the trip should be made in writing within 28 days of completion of the trip. In the event that You do not notify us in writing within 28 days, Topdeck’s ability to investigate the complaint may be prejudiced and may extinguish your claim. If you have a dispute with the Company which we cannot resolve, You may call upon the ABTA (A UK Travel Association) who operate a low cost Arbitration Scheme (details on request) which is administered independently by the Institute of Independent Arbitrators. This scheme does not apply to claims over £5000 per person or £25,000 per booking, nor does it apply to claims solely in respect of physical injuries, illness, or their consequences.
DATA PROTECTION
30. Topdeck has measures in place to protect the personal booking information held by it. However, in order to make your booking and ensure that your travel arrangements run smoothly, we need to use the information You provide and pass it on to other relevant suppliers who are responsible for parts of your travel arrangements. In making this booking, your consent to this information being passed on to the relevant persons is deemed to be given unless You object and advise Topdeck of your objection at the time of booking. The information may also be provided to public authorities such as Customs or Immigration if required by them, or as required by law. This consent applies to any sensitive information that You give to us such as details of any disabilities or dietary/religious requirements.
SMOKING
31. Topdeck operates a non-smoking policy on our coaches (although we make frequent stops for breaks), and in most of our accommodation.
LUGGAGE
32. There are strict weight limits for coaches when fully loaded. Therefore You are only entitled to have one piece of main luggage of standard size (see the pre-departure information or our website for size limits), and not weighing more than 20kg. In addition You may bring a daypack.
FINANCIAL PROTECTION
33. The Company is a member of ABTA (L8291/Y2992) (a UK Travel Association) and is bonded to provide for your financial protection in the event of the Company’s insolvency.
GENERAL
34. You understand that future Topdeck advertising and publicity material may include statements made by passengers, or their photographs, and You consent to such use of your comments or photographic/video likeness.
35. No servant, agent, employee or representative of the Company has any right to alter, vary or waive any of these Conditions, nor undertake any activity likely to lead to increased liability whatsoever on behalf of Topdeck unless such be in writing and signed by a duly authorised person.
36. All contracts for bookings made with Topdeck, for trips in this brochure, are governed by English law and are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts in the UK, should any dispute between us not be otherwise amicably agreed.
37. Interpretation • In these Conditions, any words importing the singular or plural numbers shall include the plural or singular number respectively or words importing a particular gender shall include all genders.
• Notice required to be given in writing in these Conditions may be given by mail, facsimile transmission or email.
HOW TO READ OUR ITINERARIES
We’ve created this handy reference to help you understand the ins and outs of our itineraries and make an educated decision on the best trip for you. Go forth and explore, grasshopper!
The basics
Where you start, finish and top line inclusions.
Highlights
This is where the fun starts. Compare bucket list items, highlight inclusions and must-eats for each trip.
The itinerary.
A magical string of words that gives you the lowdown on where we go, what we do and the awesomeness you will encounter on the way.
Icons
Getting in early or staying late? We’ll help you out with the accommodation!
Link two
for
awesomeness and a discount.
Map
Everyone’s favourite way to visually make sense of the world since 600 B.C. Also super useful to get the lay of the land and understand what regions you will cover on your trip.
Trip code
Use this to book a trip through our website or when you talk to your travel agent. Not useful for Scrabble so don’t even go there.
Travel dates
Planned departure dates for the upcoming travel season. Trips marked with a ‘G’ are guaranteed, which means just that. Check our website regularly for updated departures.
Price
The starting price of your adventure and goal amount for your piggy bank, excluding add-ons and optional activities.
