Fall “No Cozumel” Cruise – November 7-14, 2010

Our popular “No Cozumel” cruise option returns this November as we set sail from our own Texas port of Galveston for a fun week at sea….and we skip Cozumel again! You know that until recently, all cruises from Galveston made a port stop at Cozumel, and since many of you have visited that port several times, we have made every effort to find cruises that avoid that stop. I think we’ve found the perfect option this year!

Carnival’s beautiful Conquest sails from Galveston on Sunday, November 7th, for a full 7 days in the scenic eastern Caribbean. We visit the charming port of Key West, with its lovely beaches, tempting shops and bars, and Earnest Hemingway’s home. (And yes, the 6-toed cats are still running wild in the yard.)

We enjoy two stops in the beautiful islands of the Bahamas, one of the most popular spots in the Caribbean for U.S. visitors. Our first stop is Nassau, (my favorite port). Offering a distinct blend of international glamour and tropical ease, Nassau and its neighboring Paradise Island will show you a wonderful day of fun, relaxation, beach activities, or just wandering the cobbled streets.

Freeport is our 2nd stop in this interesting and beautiful chain of Caribbean Islands. Where Nassau is a blend of the old and new, Freeport/Lucaya is a modernistic planned city and is situated on the island of Grand Bahama. Here you will find long stretches of deserted-clean-white beaches, world class scuba diving facilities and land and sea sports. Shopping is also a feature, with duty-free treasures from around the world.

And you’ll enjoy 3 full days at sea to relax, experience the fun and activities of shipboard life, or to try your luck in the casino. Sea days are so much fun!

Of course, we’ll get you to and from Galveston in comfort and style. Our private motorcoach will depart at 6am on Sunday, November 7, and will bring you back home around 5:30pm on the 14th. Our specially discounted pricing includes round trip transportation from Sherman, cruise fare including all meals and entertainment, (and Carnival has free ice cream!) all port taxes and fees, snacks, refreshments and lunch on the way to Galveston, and return snacks and beverages on our return to Sherman.

Join me for this value-priced, fun-filled cruise this November and see why our cruise packages are so popular…we’ve included everything to make your week relaxing, convenient, enjoyable and affordable. Call me today to sign up. Cabin space is limited and prices are not guaranteed until we receive your deposit of $250 per person.

Pricing begins at $859 per person for an inside cabin. $979 for an ocean view cabin. $1149 for a balcony cabin. Pricing is based on two persons in a cabin and include everything listed below:

Cruise/tour Features:
Private motorcoach transportation from Sherman to Galveston
Snacks and beverages aboard our motorcoach
Lunch enroute to Galveston
Cruise fare in selected cabin (pricing shown below)
All meals and entertainment aboard ship
Port Taxes and government fees
Fully escorted from Sherman by veteran tour escort Vickie White

Oberammergau Passion Play – September 5, 2010

11 Days/9 nights

Italy, Switzerland, Austria and Germany

Nestled high in the Bavarian Alps, the village of Oberammergau is a favorite destination for those seeking respite and rejuvenation. But every ten years, it achieves mystical proportions. It began in 1632, when a woodcarver brought the bubonic plague home. Within a year, the plague ravaged the region and had taken nearly a quarter of Oberammergau’s inhabitants. The town of Oberammergau vowed that if God were to spare them from the effects of the plague, they would perform a play every ten years depicting the life and death of Jesus. The death rate among adults rose from one in October 1632 to twenty in the month of March 1633. The adult death rate slowly subsided to one in the month of July 1633. The villagers believed they were spared after they kept their part of the vow when the play was first performed in 1634. The most recent performance was in 2000. In 2010, the village will perform the play for the 41st time, and we invite you to experience the mystical power of this world-famous event with us.

Included features: 

· Round trip flights from Dallas/Ft. Worth

· Hotel accommodations for nine nights, including hotel taxes and service charges with premium hotel accommodations in the Oberammergau region

· Daily breakfast, two lunches and five dinners, including a Welcome Dinner at the beautiful hotel Bristol

· Premium location tickets to the Passion Play

· Half-day city sightseeing tours of Lugano, Innsbruck and Munich

· Full-day sightseeing of Como, including a lake cruise

· Oberammergau/Hohenschwangau:  Excursion and visit of Neuschwanstein Castle

· Services of an English-speaking escort from arrival in Milan/Stresa to departure in Munich

· Fully escorted from DFW by veteran tour escort Vickie White

· Cancellation Insurance

$5669 per person based on double occupancy

Itinerary details

Day 1 – Depart DFW for Milan, Italy

 Day 2 – Arrive Milan/Stresa.  Your escort will give a brief orientation tour of the Lakes District on the way to the hotel.  Enjoy a welcome dinner this evening at your hotel. (D)

Day 3 – Breakfast at the hotel before a full daya tour of the Italian Lakes district, including a three-island cruise on Lake Como.  Return to Stresa for overnight (B)

 Day 4 – Breakfast at the hotel before your free day to shop, relax or take an optional tour to Milan to view the “Last Supper.”  Dinner this evening is at the hotel. (B, D)

Day 5 – Breakfast at the hotel prior to departure for a scenic drive through the heart of Switzerland, stopping in Lugano for an included sightseeing tour.  After lunch, continue to Interlaken where you overnight. (B) 

Day 6 – Breakfast at the hotel before a free day in the beautiful town of Interlaken.  Tonight’s activity will be a typical Fondue dinner. (B, D) 

Day 7 – Breakfast at the hotel prior to departure for a scenic drive through Tyrol’s famous Brenner Pass to the Austrial Alps and Innsbruck.  Enjoy a short tour of the town and time for lunch on your own.  In the afternoon take a short drive to Oberammergau and overnight in Ettal. (B, D)

 Day 8 – Breakfast at hotel and morning at leisure.  Transfer to Oberammergau to experience the moving and spectacular Passion Play. Overnight in Ettal. (B, L,) 

Day 9 – Breakfast at the hotel prior to departing for Munich and a sightseeing tour that includes the Marienplatz and the Frauenkirche Cathedral.  Afternoon free.

Day 10 – Breakfast at the hotel and a full day at leisure to enjoy more of Munich. (B, D)

 Day 11 – Breakfast at the hotel prior to our departure from Munich.  Afternoon arrival back in DFW

 Our Hotels

 

Grand Hotel Bristol, Stresa Superior First Class. This spacious, contemporary hotel can be found on generous grounds in a quiet location near the city center. The public areas are lavishly decorated with mahogany furniture, crystal chandeliers and tapestries.  Amenities: Restaurants, café, bar/lounge, complimentary breakfast, lakeview garden, indoor and outdoor swimming pools (open May-Sept), steam room, sauna, spa tub, concierge, fitness equipment, wireless Internet access, laundry/dry cleaning, giftshop, newsstand, limited room service.

Metropole Hotel, Interlaken The Metropole Hotel lies in the center of the beautiful mountainous area of the Bernese Oberland.  It towers majestically over the roofs of Interlaken. We offer highlights such as the specialty restaurant “Bellini”, the panorama restaurant “Top o’Met” with a terrace on the 18th floor and the “Metro-Bar” with live piano music. You may also enjoy the indoor pool, the sauna, shopping at the Metropole gallery, the tourist office next door, a hairdresser and a perfume shop. Simple elegance is paired with function and provides you as a guestany kind of comfort a 4-star-house can offer. The rooms are equipped with furniture in a light and friendly color in order for youto feel all-around comfortable. The modern features such as the safe, TV, minibar and online access.

Renaissance Hotel, Salzburg. Located in the new business center next to the main train station and within walking distance to area sites, the Renaissance Salzburg Hotel offers an ideal locale and wonderful amenities. Rooms feature luxurious bedding, wireless Internet and Premiere and BBC TV channels. indoor pool and sauna or workout in the fully equipped fitness center.  Enjoy culinary delicacies with local wines and beer at the restaurants offering local and international specialties.

Marriott Hotel, Munich. Located in the capital of Bavaria, close to the Munich city center, the Allianz Arena and steps from public transportation, the Munich Marriott Hotel is perfect for business or leisure travel. All Munich Marriott Hotel guest rooms feature a new state of the art bathroom, air-conditioning, safe, mini-bar and high-speed Internet access. Choose from American and International cuisine at our two restaurants. After a day of sightseeing, enjoy the new Thai Health Club “Himaphan” with sauna, pool, steambath and fitness center. Other hotel features include concierge, business center services, and 24h room service.

Post Hotel, Ettal. Ettal is located in a narrow valley not far away from Oberammergau. Our restaurant “Poststub’n” is a hint for gourmets with a special preference for exceptional quality. Visit our terrasse where we serve delicious cakes and gâteaus to our houseguests.

Greek Isles and Cruise – July 10-19, 2010

The stunning beauty and joy of Greece was captured perfectly in the recent hit film, “Mamma Mia.” Join in the fun and excitement of this movie on our summer trip to Greece! We’ve included the very best highlights of Athens, including the iconic Acropolis and Olympeieon, and will board our cruise ship for a 4 night Greek Isle Cruise visiting the most scenic and stunning islands in the Mediterranean Those islands you’ve seen in films, postcards and books including Santorini, Crete, Rhodes, Mykonos and the island of Patmos. We visit the Turkish port of Kusadasi, where you’ll have an opportunity to visit the town of Ephesus, the most beautifully preserved ancient city in the area, with its deep Christianity roots and influences. Enjoy great food, sightseeing, time for shopping and strolling the safe and charming public markets, and feel yourself drawn to the centuries of history that have created this beautiful country. We’ve planned an itinerary that shows you the very best of Greece!

Included features:
Hotel accommodations for four nights, including hotel taxes and service charges
Five Day Cruise from Athens, visiting the ports of Mykonos, Kusadasi, Patmos, Rhodes, Crete and Santorini.
All meals aboard ship.
Breakfast each day in Athens
Dinner each evening in Athens
Extensive sightseeing program as shown in itinerary
Services of a local escort and guide in Athens.
Fully escorted from DFW by veteran tour escort Vickie White
Taxes and fees on all tour features

Itinerary details below:
Sat, July 10- Departure Day. Ask about our group airfare from DFW. Other cities available.

Sun July 11 - Arrive Athens. Local transfer with guide from Airport to our hotel., the beautiful Royal Olympic Hotel. Your afternoon is free after check-in to relax or rest before our group arrival dinner in the hotel. Overnight at the Royal Olympic (D)

Mon – July 12 – After breakfast at our hotel, we enjoy our first introduction to this interesting and beautiful city. We’ll depart on our private motorcoach for sightseeing, including the Acropolis, ancient agora of Athens, Archaeological Museum of Keramiekos, Museum of the Ancient Agora, and Olympeion. We will return to our hotel for our free afternoon. Perhaps you’ll want to head down to the Plaka, the most popular spot for shopping and great local foods. It’s an amazing place to spend your first full day in this city! We will return for our included dinner including wine for this evening. Overnight at the Royal Olympic (B, D)

Tue – July 13 – After breakfast at our hotel, we depart for the Port of Piraeus and our cruise! We board our ship for lunch and afternoon sailing to the Greek Island of Mykonos, known for its iconic windmills. Enjoy a guided tour of this island, or simply take your own walking tour to the wonderful galleries, restaurants and bars and scenic points of this beautiful island. Return to your ship for dinner. (BLD)

Wed – July 14 – Enjoy shipboard life and all the included meals today as we sail to the Turkish port of Kusadasi. This is always a favorite stop on this cruise itinerary because of its proximity to the Biblical town of Ephesus. This town is widely acclaimed in Christian circles because of the apostle Paul’s letters to the Ephesians. You will see an ancient town that is beautifully restored with many buildings appearing as they did in those times, with the library and the main shopping area of the town open for tourists. Shopping in Kusadasi is amazing, with excellent prices on leather goods, textiles and locally produced goods. Return to ship and cruise to the Island of Patmos. (BLD)

Thurs – July 15 – The beautiful island of Rhodes is our destination today. This walled city is particularly beautiful, with its tiled-floored castle. Rhodes has a beautiful and interesting shopping area, with lots of places to draw your eye for gifts and souvenirs, as well as many places to sit in the sun and relax with a local Greek drink. Return to ship for any meals you wish this day. (BLD)

Fri – July 16 – We cruise to the port of Heraklion on the Island of Crete today for a short visit, then it’s on to the jewel of this cruise, Santorini. Known the world over for its stunning blue-roofed, white painted houses, it is one of the few places that live up to its hype. You will have time to enjoy this incredible island and maybe ride the donkeys from the top of the island back down to the ship. (BLD)

Sat – July 17 – We return to The Port of Piraeus and Athens today and will return to the Royal Olympic Hotel for our remaining 2 nights in Athens. You have the day to enjoy more of Athens; maybe you will want to return to the Plaka, or to one of the many museums in Athens. Dinner is included at our hotel (BD)

Sun – July 18 – Breakfast at our hotel, then you have a final day to enjoy Athens before we leave. We’ll have suggestions for activities you may want to enjoy! Our farewell dinner is tonight, so enjoy the day! (B, D)

Mon – July 19 – All too soon, we say goodbye to Athens and Greece and transfer back to the airport Greece is unforgettable, though, so enjoy the memories we made!

Price Per Person – $1975

The fine print
A valid U.S. Passport is required for travel to Greece. Ask about our free passport picture service.
Price excludes: tips to guides and drivers,any airline-imposed luggage fees,, passports and visas if required, items of a personal nature. Travel/Cancellation insurance is available and is highly recommended. Contact Vickie White for costs (based on age at time of travel.)
Itinerary and scheduled/included visits are as shown on above itinerary. Please note: Though rare, it may be necessary to substitute hotels and adjust itineraries due to local conditions. Similar hotels may be substituted with prior notice.

Booking Instructions

A deposit of $250 per person is required to confirm your space on this tour, along with correct names as shown on your passport. Final payment is due no later than 75 days prior to departure. Deposit and/or payments may be made by check or major credit card. Please mail all payments to: Vickie White Group Tours and Travel, P O Box 2131, Sherman, TX 75091. Please contact me at 903-815-2169 for questions or to give me your credit card information.

Spring Break in Scotland – April 10, 2010

In keeping with our more than 20 year tradition, we’re on our way to another exciting regional tour in 2010.  This year’s often-requested destination is the bonnie isle of Scotland, including the Scottish Highlands.

This 9 day tour will introduce you to the beauty, history and majesty of Scotland. We’ve included the most popular and interesting stops in our tour, including Glascow, Inverness and Loch Ness, Culzean Castle and country park, Burns National Heritage park including the Burns Cottage and Museum, Auld Brig O’Doon, Loch Lomond (you take the high row and I’ll take the low road),Glencoe and Fort William, the gardens of Inverewe and the Am Ploc Ard penninsula, the “Scotch Malt Whisky Trail”, and a visit to one of Scotland’s most impressive distilleries, St. Andrews and Glamis Castle, and Edinburgh, including a tour to St. Giles Cathedral and the John Knox House, and Edinburgh Castle;

And we’ve included great food in our tour. Along with a full breakfast each morning, you’ll enjoy five full dinners, and a farewelll dinner and show at Auote Scottish Evening.  Haiggis anyone?

We’ve built an itinerary that allows for busy touring days mixed with free time for you to enjoy the charm and history that can be found in street cafes, and sidewalk shops and stores.  We think those free afternoons spent among the locals of each place we visit can make a trip most memorable, and can help you understand and love people around the world.

What no description can capture, however, is the friendship and comaradarie that our tour participants experience.  Many of our guests return annually for this popular tour; new travelers join us year after year to experience the security and  convenience of traveling with friends from this area.  For more than 30 years, I’ve been taking the best people to the best places in the world.  Join us in 2010 as we travel to Scotland to experience yet another memorable journey.

Read on for more tour details:

4/10/10- Motorcoach transfers from Sherman to DFW and our flight to Glascow, Scotland.

4/11/10 —Glasgow - Morning arrival in Scotland’s largest and most lively city.  Our tour guide will meet us after clearing customs, and the fun begins!  En route to our hotel, we will enjoy a brief orientation tour of the city, including a panoramic view of Glasgow Cathedral, the University, and the stunning Victorian city architecture. Spend the afternoon at leisure, enjoying Glasgow’s fine parks and the only complete medieval cathedral in Scotland.  Return to our hotel for our welcome dinner and overnight.

4/12/10 – Glasgow: After breakfast, we depart Glasgow and head south today to discover the wonderful region of Ayrshire famous as the birthplace of Robert Burns.  This morning visit Culzean Castle, a romantic 18th century Castle built for the 10th Earl of Cassillis.  It perches on the cliff edge above the Firth of Clyde with ever-changing views of Arran and the Ailsa Craig – sometimes they’re hiding in the mist, at others, they seem so close that you feel you could reach out and touch them!  Furnished in a light and elegant stgyle, its notable features include a cantilevererd oval staircase and circular turret rooms affording spectacular sea views.  It also houses a display of amour and an exhibition in honor of Eisenhower, a frequent visitor to the Castle.  The Castle, which now belongs to the National Trust for Scotland, is set in extensive grounds forming the Culzean Country Park, the first of its kind in Scotland.

Passing through the seaside town of Ayr on the west coast, we will then visit the nearby town of Alloway where we will visit the simple thatched cottage (now a museum) which was built by his father and where Robert Burns was born on January 25, 1759 and lived until 1766.  A monument has been erected in this small town to commemorate the Scottish poet and nearby is the Auld Kirk of Alloway and the single arched Brig o’ Doon over the River Doon, both of which ffeatured in Burns’ rambling tale Tam o’Shanter.  Return to Glasgow for dinner and overnight.

4/13/10 – Glasgow/Inverness:  After breakfast, depart Glasgow this morning, following the shores of Loch Lomond, the largest loch in Britain with its beautiful central islands.  The journey climbs steadily north over barren Rannoch Moor and through the dramatic valley of Glencoe, whose name in Gaelic means the “vale of tears”.  This was the scene of the tragic massacre of the Clan MacDonald by their long-time enemy, the Campbells in 1692.  Pass the town of Fort William lying at the foot of Ben NEvis, Britain’s highest mountain at 4,406 ft.  In the late afternoon, visit Urquhart Castle, situated on a promontory on the banks of Loch Ness- 24 miles long and 700 feet deep.  The dark, deep waters of this famous loch are considered home to “Nessie”, a mysterious and elusive monster.  Continue on to Inverness, “Capital of the Highlands”, and the northernmost large town in Scotland.  Arrive at our hotel for dinner and overnight.

/14/10 – Inverness/Loch Maree: Take a full day trip to the magnificent west coast driving via mystical Loch Maree and Gairloch to the tropcal gardens of Inverewe Gardens for a visit.  This garden is spectacular.  Created from 1865 on the shores of the sea loch, Loch Ewe, it covers the entire Am Ploc Ard penninsular.  Planned as a wild garden around one-dwarf willow on peat and sandstone, it has been developed as a series of walks through herbaceous and rock gardens, a wet valley, a rhododendron walk and a curved gevetable garden and orchard.  It is a plantsman’s garden, containing many tender species from Australia, New Zealand, China and the Americas, sheltered by mature beech and pine trees.  The gulf stremam here make possible a luxuriance and variety of plants all times of the year.  After our visit, we will drive to the busy fishing resort of Ullapool, then the Corrieshalloch Gorge, which is a 200 ft ravine into which the Measach Falls plunge 150 feet.  Return to Inverness for dinner and overnight.

4/15/10 – Malt Whisky Trail/Aberdeen – After breakfast, depart Inverness and head southweat for a day of Whisky.  This morning visit the Speyside Cooperage centre.  For three generations, since 1947, the Taylor family has been running this unique business in Graigellachie in the heart of Speyside.   Some of the finest oak for coopering is grown in the USA and the Taylors make regular visits to Missouri, Kentucky and Tennessee to purchase this high quality american Oak.  Savor the sights, sounds and smells of the bustling workshops and why not have a go at building a ‘demonstration’ cask.  Watch the skilled coopers and apprentices at work building their barrels.  The journey continues through the magnificent Speyside and the “Scotch Malt Whisky Trail”.  Visit one of Scotland’s most impressive distilleries and discover the traditions used to make Scotland’s national drink.  There will of course be the opportunity to sample the whisky if you wish.  Continue to the city of Aberdeen and our hotel for dinner and overnight.

4/16/10 – Aberdeen/St. Andrews/Edinburgh: Today after breakfast we  depart for St. Andrews and Edinburgh.  We journey south to the 17th century Glamis Castle, childhood home of The Queen Mother and the birthplace of Princess Margaret.  Portions of the castle have 15 ft. thick  walls and the oldest part of today’s castle is Duncan’s Hall, the legendary setting for Shakespeare’s famous play “Macbeth”.  There are also fine collections of china, paintings, tapestry and furniture.  Cross the River Tay Bridge to arrive in St. Andrews, one of the most beautiful locations in all of Britain.  Long before golf, even before the founding of its university in 1410, St. Andrews occupied a key position in Scottish history.  The 16th century cliff-top castle and remains of the vast Cathedral still give a vivid impression of the importance of this city as a historic and ecclesiastical center.  There will be some free time to explore the town on your own before we continue towards Edinburgh, Scotland’s stately capital city.  Arrival at our hotel.  Dinner is on your own tonight.  Enjoy a local pub or one of the fine restaurants in the city.

4/17/10 – Edinburgh: After breakfast at our hotel, we will start our guided city tour of Edinburgh for an introduction to Scotland’s majestic Capital (and one of my personal favorite cities!) We will tour the Old Town, which is built around Edinburgh Castle and down along the Royal Mile to Holyrood Palace.  The style here is very traditional and medieval with high tenement houses and very narrow lanes, so called ‘closes’.  We will see the 16th Century Old Town, steeped in history with the Grassmarket where criminals were hanged in the olden days.  Here are found buildings of note such as St. Giles Cathedral, the City Chambers and John Knox House.  In contrast there is the New Town, which was built in the classic Georgian Style, at the endo of the 18th century,. to handle the increasing population and business activities of the time.  We will see the elegant tree-lined crescents of the 18th century Georgian New Town and Charlotte Square at the west end of George Street, a fine architectural example of its time.  Visit Edinburgh castle, which stands on a volcanic row towering over the city.  The afternoon is free to explore Edinburgh on foot.  This evening we will say farewell to Scotland with a dinner and show at Auote Scottish Evening.  Haiggis is on the menu, for sure!

4/18/10 – Edinburgh/DFW: After breakfast this morning, we will transfer from our hotel to the airport for our flight back to DFW.  Private motorcoach transfers to Sherman will be waiting for us when we arrive in the early afternoon.

Ask about our optional 3 day tour extension to London.  It’s the perfect way to see the world’s most popular tourist destination while you’re in the U.K.

Tour price – $3175 per person,based on double occupancy

The fine print
A valid U.S. Passport is required for travel to Scotland.  Ask about our free passport picture service.
Price excludes: tips to guides and drivers,any airline-imposed luggage fees,, passports and visas if required, items of a personal nature.  Travel/Cancellation insurance is available  and is highly recommended. Contact Vickie White for costs (based on age at time of travel.)
Itinerary and scheduled/included visits are as shown on above itinerary.  Please note:  Though rare, it may be necessary to substitute hotels and adjust itineraries due to local conditions. Scheduled hotels are as follows:  Glasgow Thistle (2 nights), Inverness Thistle (2 nights), Aberdeen Caledonian(1 night) and Novotel in Edinburgh (2 nights.)  Similar  hotels may be substituted with prior notice.

Booking Instructions

A deposit of $250 per person is required to confirm your space on this tour, along with correct names as shown on your passport.  Final payment is due no later than 75 days prior to departure.  Deposit and/or payments may be made by check or major credit card.  Please mail all payments to:  Vickie White Group Tours and Travel, P O Box 2131, Sherman, TX  75091.  Please contact me at 903-815-2169 for questions or to give me your credit card information.