Caren's Charters, Inc

August 29 - September 10, 2016

Abbreviations:  B = Breakfast  L = Lunch
D = Dinner

Day 1: Monday, Aug 29
Our journey begins from Kansas City International Airport as we depart for London, England.© James Hall

Day 2: Tuesday, Aug 30 (D)
Arrival at London’s Heathrow Airport.  Here we begin our exploration of one of the world’s great cultural centers, Europe’s largest city and the residence of English monarchs for a thousand years. Tonight we enjoy a welcome dinner. Accommodations: Central Park Hotel (or similar) www.centralparklondon.co.uk

Day 3: Wednesday, Aug 31 (B)
This morning we set out on a panoramic bus tour that will acquaint us with many of London’s landmarks: Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Piccadilly Circus, and Trafalgar Square. Our sightseeing includes the changing of the guard at Buckingham Palace, a tour of Westminster Abbey (scene of coronations beginning with William the Conqueror in 1066, royal weddings, and the burial place of the monarchs). The afternoon and evening are at leisure to pursue individual interests. World famous art galleries, museums, parks, and shopping opportunities are all within our reach.

Day 4: Thursday, Sept 1 (B,D)
Our day begins at the Tower of London. Built as William the Conqueror’s fortress soon after his victory at Hastings, the Tower has been expanded over the centuries. Its reputation as an infamous prison was well-earned, and today it houses a stunning collection of the Crown Jewels. A yeoman warder (or "Beefeater") leads us on our tour. Following our visit the rest of the day is free to continue our London experience.© James Hall

Day 5: Friday, Sept 2 (B,D)
We drive northward to the ancient walled city of York where a locally guided tour takes us back 2000 years. Celts, Romans, Germanic tribes and the Vikings all took up residence here. In the 8^th and 9^th Centuries, missionaries trained at York were involved in spreading the Gospel throughout northern Europe. At the York Minster (Protestant “cathedral”) we see a collection of medieval stained glass windows ranked among the finest and rarest in the world - 128 stained glass windows containing about 2 million individual pieces of glass. Some of the glass dates from as early as 1270. Accommodations: Holiday Inn York (or similar) www.hiyorkhotel.co.uk

Day 6: Saturday, Sept 3 (B,D)
A morning drive brings us to the Beamish Museum, located just southeast of Newcastle. This 300 acre living history museum depicts life in the Victorian and Edwardian eras (19^th and early 20^th centuries). Containing a mining village, a mine, school, farm, and railway, the Beamish Museum has an impressive list of awards, including European Museum of the Year in 1987. As we drive westward from here, we view a portion of the 73-mile long defense system known as Hadrian’s Wall. It was built by the Romans in the early 2^nd century at the direction of Emperor Hadrian to “separate the Romans from the barbarians” on the northern frontier. Our destination today is an area known for its scenic beauty, Cumbria and the Lake District. This was home to Beatrix Potter, who wrote "The Tales of Peter Rabbit", and the poet William Wordsworth, who lived a simple life in these peaceful surroundings. Accommodations: Grasmere Red Lion (or similar)© James Hall

Day 7: Sunday, Sept 4 (B,D)
Our exploration of the Lake District ends with a short steamer cruise from Ableside to Bowness, two picturesque towns on the banks of Lake Windermere. Afterwards we journey southward to Chester near the Welsh border. Here elegant half-timbered buildings and houses, some going back to the 14^th century, are ringed by a nearly intact city wall. Accommodations: Westminster Hotel (or similar) www.bestwestern.co.uk/hotels/best-western-westminster-hotel-83767

Day 8: Monday, Sept 5 (B)
An excursion into Wales today takes us along its northern coast to Conwy, considered one of the world’s finest walled towns. The purpose of this fortification, built in the 13^th Century by King Edward I of England, was to contain the Welsh. From the battlements there are grand views of the Snowdonia Mountains and the Irish Sea. We continue on to Caernafon, location of another mighty English fortress, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. From Caernafon, we take a scenic rail journey through the Snowdonia Mountains to Porthmadog. Returning to Chester, we have the rest of the day at leisure.Day 9: Tuesday, Sept 6 (B)
We drive to the Midlands region this morning. Our journey to Stratford Upon Avon hearkens back to Tudor England and the Elizabethan Era of the late 16^th century. This was the birthplace of the Bard, William Shakespeare. It is here that he lived, worked, died, and lies buried in the parish church. This tranquil little town is one of the most visited sites in England. We view the home of Shakespeare’s birth and then we take a tour of the thatched-roof cottage and garden where Shakespeare courted his future wife, Ann Hathaway. Tonight we have the option of attending a play at either the Royal Shakespeare Theater or the Swan Theater [Tickets not included in tour price]. Accommodations: Best Western Grosvenor www.bestwestern.co.uk/hotels/best-western-grosvenor-hotel

Day 10: Wednesday, Sept 7 (B,D)
Another full day of sightseeing awaits us. We will visit Avebury, a very small, typical English village that is surrounded by ancient stones of an earlier civilization. Our next stop is at Bath, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where we visit the extensive, 1^stcentury Roman bathing complex which utilized the area’s thermal springs. Many centuries later, Bath became England’s first spa resort. A short distance from Bath we go even further back in history – 4,500 years. At Stonehenge we enter the mystery that surrounds this pre-historic stone monument. The last leg of our drive brings us to Salisbury with its magnificent Cathedral. The steeple soars to a height of over 400 feet and is the tallest in England. Accommodations: Holiday Inn Salisbury (or similar) www.hisalisbury-stonehenge.co.uk© James Hall

Day 11: Thursday, Sept 8 (B,D)
After a tour of the Salisbury Cathedral, we drive to Pourtsmouth on England’s channel coast. Here we learn about England’s rich naval history. We encounter famous ships from the past, including the flagship of Henry VIII’s navy, the Mary Rose, the sinking of which he witnessed. It has now been recovered along with much of its valuable cargo. We also visit the HMS Victory, the warship commanded by Admiral Nelson at the victorious sea battle against Napoleon’s navy at Trafalgar in 1805. This was the battle in which Nelson was killed. Our visit to the dockyard includes a harbor cruise to view ships of the Royal Navy. Late this afternoon we return to the London area for a farewell dinner. Accommodations: Holiday Inn Portsmouth (or similar) www.hiportsmouthhotel.co.uk

Day 12: Friday, Sept 9 (B,D)
We drive northward to Windsor for a tour of the mighty royal residence where Queen Elizabeth spends many of her weekends. Late this afternoon we attend the evensong service at St. George Chapel, burial place of King Henry VIII and other English monarchs. The music of the choir provides an uplifting conclusion to our tour. [Subject to choir schedule] Tonight we enjoy a farewell dinner. Accommodations: Central Park Hotel (or similar) www.centralparklondon.co.uk© James Hall

Day 13: Saturday, Sept 10 (B)
This morning we transfer to Heathrow Airport and board our homebound flight.

INCLUDES:
● Estimated round trip airfare from Kansas City to London and return
● Current departure and fuel taxes included (always subject to change).
● Private, deluxe motor coach transportation in England, Wales for our entire tour
● Eleven nights accommodations as listed in itinerary.
● Porterage for one suitcase each, may bring carry-ons for which you are responsible
● Memorable meals, as indicated in itinerary
● All sightseeing activities as indicated in the itinerary
● Caren’s Charters Services, plus our full-time English tour director
● Current city, regional and national taxes are included in the tour price.
● Gratuity for local guides
● Gratuity for hotel or restaurant staff

Anticipated costs not included in tour price:
● Passport
● Meals not included on the tour
● Beverages with meals (except at breakfast)
● Optional activities during free time
● Optional travel insurance, amounts listed. Travel insurance available and recommended! As suppliers are paid in advance, the trip and all deposits are non-refundable. In the event of the traveler must cancel their cancel their trip, trip costs are refunded via the insurance company for provable medical reasons, minus the non-refundable insurance premium. Brochure available.
● Airline baggage fees (if applicable)

COST:
$5,790 pp double occupancy / $491 Trip Interruption & Cancellation Insurance

$6,500 pp single occupancy / $546 Trip Interruption & Cancellation Insurance

PAYMENT SCHEDULE:
Deposit: $500 due now plus the Travel Interruption & Cancellation Insurance premium to hold your reservation
($500 + $491 = $991 for double occupancy
$500 + $546 = $1,046 for single occupancy)
Second Payment: $3,000 due October 12, 2015
Final Payment: by May 10, 2016

Based on estimated airfare, anticipated departure and security taxes, and current exchange rates. Increases in airfare, exchange rate, departure and/or security taxes, or imposition of airline fuel surcharges may necessitate an increase in the tour price. If a currency surcharge is unavoidable, participants will be informed in writing by April 20, 2016.

Small group travel, to maximize your travel experience!
Size limited to 15-18 participants

© James Hall