Highlights |
| Escorted Package Includes |
| Inclusions |
- 2 nights at The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver
- 4 nights at the Magnolia Hotel & Spa
- 5 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 5 dinners
- Tour Manager throughout
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| Highlights |
- Enjoy authentic afternoon tea
- Explore the Royal BC Museum with your guide
- Visit Craigdarroch Castle and Butchart Gardens
- Sit down to a traditional Christmas Day dinner
- See over 50 holiday decorated trees at the Festival of Trees
- Relax with a spa treatment (facial & massage)
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Celebrate a Victorian Christmas full of the festive lights and holiday traditions of Canada. Ring in the holiday season on Vancouver Island with a stroll through a collection of finely decorated trees at the Fairmont Empress Festival of Trees. See the dazzling decorations and festivities of the season as you visit the historic Craigdarroch Castle and Butchart Gardens decked out for the holidays. Discover the region's history at the Royal BC Museum, sip traditional "high tea," and savor a delightful Christmas dinner with all the delicious trimmings in a spirited celebration. A blend of natural and cultural beauty, the Pacific Northwest's Christmastime atmosphere is not to be missed!
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Itinerary |
DAY 1, Monday - Arrival in Vancouver and Welcome Dinner
Arrive in Vancouver and transfer independently to the hotel. This evening, meet your group for a welcome dinner
Overnight: Vancouver
Meals: Dinner
DAY 2, Tuesday - Vancouver City tour and Ferry to Victoria
This morning, enjoy a panoramic bus tour of Vancouver, the most populous metropolitan area in western Canada. See the major sights of the city as learn about the various landmarks and neighborhoods. In the early afternoon, board the ferry for Victoria. Upon arrival, enjoy a brief orientation tour of the city, which is consistantly ranked among the top cities in the world in which to live
Overnight: Victoria
Meals: Breakfast
DAY 3, Wednesday - Royal BC Museum and Christmas Eve Dinner
This morning, walk to the Royal BC Museum for a guided tour of its galleries, including the First Peoples and Natural History Exhibits, followed by a visit to Helmcken House, located behind the museum. Built in 1852 by Dr. John Sebastian Helmcken, the property has been well-preserved and is now a historic site. Afterward, enjoy a visit to the 19th-century Craigdarroch Castle and learn about its varied history throughout its six distinct eras of occupation. This evening, enjoy a special Christmas Eve dinner in Victoria
Overnight: Victoria
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 4, Thursday - Butchart Gardens and Christmas Dinner
Enjoy a leisurely Christmas morning. Following lunch, depart for a visit to Butchart Gardens, a stunning botanical attraction and excellent opportunity to take one-of-a-kind photographs. Employing fifty full-time gardeners who bed over a million plants each year, the gardens are renowned for the breadth of the collection. In addition to Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter, Butchart Gardens has a special season dedicated just to Christmas, when over 25 miles of lights are strung and fiery poinsettias adorn the interiors of the buildings. After a chance to witness the natural beauty and lighthearted spirit of the gardens that are decked for the season, return to Victoria for a delicious Christmas dinner
Overnight: Victoria
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 5, Friday - Spa Treatment and Afternoon Tea
Today is reserved for relaxed elegance and delightful indulgence. Set off on a leisurely Boxing Day carriage ride through Victoria. Then, participate in a Victorian tradition, afternoon tea. Enjoy an assortment of fine teas and light fare, such as scones with clotted cream and strawberry preserves, in a casual yet sophisticated atmosphere. Finish off the day with a pampering spa treatment including a facial and a massage
Overnight: Victoria
Meals: Breakfast, Tea
DAY 6, Saturday - Ferry to Vancouver, Tour of Vancouver's Chinatown & Visit to VanDusen Botanical Gardens
This morning, board the ferry for Vancouver. Upon arrival, enjoy free time for lunch on your own before a guided tour of Vancouver's Chinatown. Later this afternoon, visit VanDusen Botanical Gardens, sprawling over 55 acres with plants gathered from across the globe. Here, see the famous Festival of Lights, an incredible special event. This evening, join your fellow passengers for a farewell dinner in downtown Vancouver
Overnight: Vancouver
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
DAY 7, Sunday - Return Home
After breakfast, transfer independently to the Vancouver airport for your return flight home.
Meals: Breakfast
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| Although most of the planning and preparation is taken care of for you, there are still a few things you should know and some details you should take care of to ensure your comfort, safety and peace of mind. Please review the following information before your departure to ensure that any surprises along the way will only be pleasant ones. | | Passports and Visas | It is each traveler's responsibility to have a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of departure and a visa if required. Please check the information at www.gate1travel.com/visas.aspx for the specific country/region you are visiting for more details. Passengers who are not U.S. citizens must check with the respective consulate or a visa agency to determine what personal identification is required. Passport applications are available at most U.S. Post Offices, as well as at regional Passport Agencies.
| | Trip Preparation | A little pre-planning can make your trip go a lot smoother. Several weeks before your trip, make a list of what you’ll need to take with you. Make sure your personal documents (passports, visas) are in order and that you have enough prescription medications to last through the trip.
| | Health Information | Check with your personal physician for the latest overseas travel health information, or contact the Center for Disease Control’s travelers’ hotline at 404-332-4559, web site www.cdc.gov.
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| Airline Flights | Please check in at least three hours prior to the scheduled departure time to allow for security steps. Passengers connecting from another point within the USA may check their luggage through to their final destination, and although problems with lost luggage have been minimal, it is a possibility. Certain carriers do not allow baggage “interlining,” and luggage must be checked separately for each flight. If you are connecting from a domestic flight which is delayed for any reason, causing you to miss your international flight, you must ask the airline for assistance in getting you to your destination. Since all airline tickets are issued on special fares which carry restrictions and penalties if changed, you must have the airlines responsible make alternate arrangements on your behalf as Gate 1 has no authority or control over airline activities and policies. Do not leave the airline check-in desk until an alternative itinerary has been confirmed for you.
| | Airline Luggage Restrictions | Most international airlines are consistent with regard to the number and weight of the pieces you may check and bring onboard. Domestic carriers however, typically on small aircraft, differ. Therefore, we suggest that you check in advance if you are concerned about size or weight restrictions.
| | Airline Seats | Airline seats are confirmed whenever possible. Some airlines and/or fare types do not allow for pre-seating and require this be done at airport check-in only. Even when seats are pre-assigned however, we recommend that you contact the carrier one to two weeks prior to departure to reconfirm your seats. In many cases there are equipment changes after your initial booking which can cause airplane seating reconfiguration.
| | Airline Tickets | Most airline tickets are issued using special fares which cannot be changed or canceled without incurring additional cost. Should you lose or misplace your tickets while traveling, you should immediately notify the airline. In most cases they will have you complete a Lost Ticket Indemnity Form, and for a fee, issue replacement tickets.
| | E-tickets | Most airlines now require that we provide e-tickets in place of paper tickets. At check-in, you should be ready to provide your e-ticket itinerary and identification to the agent. In a few cases where e-tickets cannot be issued, you will receive your tickets in a paper form.
| | Code-share Flights | Many airlines participate in alliances and special agreements with other airlines which permit passengers to travel from one point to another using more than one carrier. While your ticket may indicate that you are flying with one carrier (eg: Delta), you may find that you are actually seated in a plane belonging to another carrier (eg: Alitalia). Please review your airline itinerary carefully to determine which airline you should go to for check-in; if your flight is operated by a carrier other than the primary airline indicated on the itinerary, your itinerary will state "Flight Operated by (Airline)." If you have any concerns regarding which airline to check-in with, you may contact the airline directly or Gate 1 Travel for clarification.
| | Luggage | All Gate 1 tour packages allow one piece of luggage per person, plus carry-on bag. Additional baggage will be subject to airline handling charges of up to $100 per piece. As Gate 1 will not be responsible for loss or damage to luggage and personal belongings, you MUST report any loss or damage immediately at the time of the incident and obtain a written report from the local authority for submission to your insurance provider. If your luggage is lost or damaged by the airlines, a baggage claim form MUST be filed with the carrier before leaving the airport. See www.gate1travel.com/luggage.aspx for Important Baggage Information for U.S. Travelers.
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| Arrival Procedures | | If your program includes airport arrival transfers, please complete immigration formalities and claim your luggage. You will be met by our local representative after you pass through customs. Look for someone holding a Gate 1 Travel sign and/or a sign with your name on it. If you do not connect with the Gate 1 transfer personnel, go to the Tourist Information Desk and ask them to page the Gate 1 Travel representative or phone the number on your voucher. | | What To Do When Your Flight Is Delayed | | Airlines do not share flight manifest information. Therefore, the only way we may learn of a delay or schedule change while you are traveling is from you, the traveler. The sooner you are able to contact one of our offices, overseas or in the USA, the better we can respond. Gate 1 Travel is only able to guarantee pre-reserved arrival transfers for up to one hour from the scheduled time, no matter the cause. In case you are delayed for any reason, and are unable to follow the instructions on your voucher, please make independent transfer arrangements and retain your receipts. Unused tour services, including transfers and hotel nights are not refundable. Upon your return home you will need to contact your airline and/or insurance carrier to investigate the possibility of reimbursement for any unused tour services. | | Departure Procedures | | If your program includes departure transfers, instructions will be stated on your voucher or provided locally. | | Transfers | Due to local traffic and other extenuating circumstances, we ask that you allow 30 minutes from your scheduled transfer time for our representative to arrive. This includes hotel, airport and cruise transfers. Such possible delays are taken into consideration in scheduling transfers and you should therefore have no concerns about arriving late for your tour, flight or cruise. For transfers from a hotel, let the hotel reception desk or concierge know that you are waiting for a transfer. In the case of a missed transfer, reimbursement for your out-of-pocket expenses will be considered provided you obtain a written statement from the hotel's front desk verifying the length of time you waited, and the time you left the hotel, and a receipt for your transportation with time and date.
Escorted tour programs include transfers, providing you have purchased airfare from Gate 1 to arrive and depart on the scheduled tour dates. If you are traveling independently, you may purchase the transfers from Gate 1 or contract your own method of transportation to the hotel or cruise ship. The cost of a transfer will generally be more expensive than hiring a taxi as the pre-arranged transfer necessarily includes round trip service, or a 'dead-leg'. Additionally the driver may have to wait at the collection point for up to an hour.
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| Hotels | | Gate 1 Travel has carefully selected each hotel based on overall quality, location, price, food, service, and cleanliness. All rooms are standard rooms with two single beds and private facilities, unless you have specifically requested and paid for an upgrade. Room selection is strictly at the discretion of the hotel management. We reserve the right to make hotel substitutions with those of equal standard. | | Hotel Check-in/ Check-out | | Check-in time is usually 4pm or later. Check-out time is 12 noon. If you will be arriving early in the day or departing in the evening, hotels will usually allow you to store your luggage in their luggage room. Ask at the front desk if the hotel can check you in earlier, or let you stay later. |
| Shopping | | Shopping in a foreign country can be a wonderful experience. You may find fantastic, one-of-a-kind merchandise. You may get terrific bargains. However, we advise you to exercise care and common sense when making any purchase. Always get a formal receipt. And remember that, just like in this country, if a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is! | | Currency | We suggest getting a small amount of currency for the first country you're visiting before you leave the U.S. It is a good idea to carry a chart with you to help you convert U.S. dollars to the local currency. It's also a good idea not to carry too much money. Many countries have ATM machines that accept most U.S. ATM cards, but be sure you know your ATM password in numbers-the keypads on foreign ATMs don't always have letters. ATM machines will only dispense cash in local currency. Check with respective consulates to learn current currency allowances and requirements. Use your credit card whenever possible. Should you decide to carry cash or travelers checks, exchange them at banks where the rate is more favorable than at hotels or exchange bureaus
| | Credit Cards | While credit cards are accepted in most destinations, it is advisable to carry local currency. Inform your credit card company that you are travelling to avoid your card being blocked for security reasons.
| | Tipping | | This is a matter of personal discretion. You may use the foll | | | | |