he · 2014-12-11 · 15-day tour featuring holland, belgium,germany, austria, italy, switzerland...

15-day tour featuring Holland, Belgium,Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland & France

TM

Our Heart of Europe tour,now in its 44th year, is the

ideal choice among first time travelersto Europe and anyone looking for agreat vacation value. The itineraryoffers a potpourri of seven countries,major cities, and wonderful local flavor.

Included FeaturesMeals - In addition to any meals you may be servedduring your flights to and from Europe, the tour priceincludes 13 breakfasts and 9 dinners during the landportion of the tour. For a complete list of IncludedFeatures, please see page 8.

1©2003 Image Tours, Inc. www.imagetours.com

Weekly departuresApril through November

2004

15

Days

2

The hours in parentheses ( ) indicate time on the motor coach between stops.

©2002 Image Tours, Inc.www.imagetours.com

DAY 1 Departure from the USA.

DAY 2 Arrive at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. Meetyour tour manager and transfer to your hotel in Holland.(1½ hrs). (Dinner)

DAY 3 Day at leisure or explore Holland. The ‘GrandHolland’ optional begins with a drive through Holland’scountryside and a stop at a picturesque Dutch village(1 hr). Continue to Amsterdam for free time and a boatride through the canals (1 hr). Dine at your hotel(1½ hrs). (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 4 Visit historic Antwerp (2½ hrs) and an AmericanWWII Cemetery (2 hrs). Overnight in Lanaken, Belgium(¾ hr). (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 5 Cross the border into Germany’s North Rhinearea (2 hrs). At Boppard, begin your cruise of thecastle-lined Rhine River (1 hr). Then tour the old townand castle of Heidelberg. Overnight in Mannheim,Germany (¾ hr). (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 6 Sleepy little villages, majestic fortresses andtimeless castles enhance the scenery before and afterthe morning pause (1 hr). Then it’s on to Rothenburg,Europe’s best-preserved medieval city (1 hr). Afterlunch and an afternoon stop (1½ hrs), travel toAugsburg, Germany (1½ hrs). (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 7 Sightseeing in the Bavarian capital of Munich(1 hr). Brief stop at the German/Austrian border (1 hr).End your day in the Austrian Alps at the imperial city ofInnsbruck, Austria (2 hrs). (Breakfast)

DAY 8 A free day in scenic Innsbruck, Austria. On the‘Bavarian Castle’ optional, you will walk through theLinderhof Castle in Bavaria (2 hrs) and visit the PassionPlay town of Oberammergau (½ hr). Also make a photostop with a picture-perfect view of the famous

Neuschwanstein Castle (¾ hr) before heading back toInnsbruck (2 hrs). (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 9 Continue across the spectacular Brenner Pass(½ hr) and through the Alps. Stops along the way inBolzano (1¼ hrs) and Lake Garda (2 hrs) before reach-ing Bussolengo, Italy (1½ hrs). (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 10 A free day in and around Bussolengo andnearby Verona. On the ‘Verona & Venice’ optionalexcursion, visit legendary Verona (½ hr) with a lunch stop(1 hr) on the way to the romantic city of Venice (¾ hr).Return to Bussolengo for the evening (2 hrs). (Breakfast)

DAY 11 Cross the border into Switzerland (2½ hrs).Leisurely break in Lugano, ‘Rio of the Old Continent’(1 hr). Continue through William Tell country (1¾ hrs)and overnight in the Lake Lucerne Region (2 hrs).(Breakfast)

DAY 12 Leisurely day in the Lake Lucerne Region.Half-day sightseeing in Lucerne, Switzerland (¾ hr).‘Swiss Mountain’ optional will ascend to the peak of aSwiss mountain for spectacular alpine vistas.(Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 13 Cross the French border into the wine country ofthe Alsace region (1½ hrs). Lunch stop in Kaysersberg(1½ hrs). Proceed past Nancy (2 hrs) and on to St. Dizier,France (1½ hrs). (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 14 St. Dizier to morning stop outside Paris (2¼ hrs).On to Paris (½ hr). Spend your last afternoon andevening in the City of Lights. Optional Paris sightseeingwith boat ride on River Seine and elevator to the firstfloor of the Eiffel Tower. (Breakfast)

DAY 15 Fly back to the U.S.A. from Paris’ CharlesDe Gaulle Airport (¾ hr). (Breakfast)

Rothenburg, Germanyfrom the village bell tower

DAY 1 - Departure from U.S.A. -Flight to Europe. The excitement ofdeparting for a new adventure isupon you. Your Image Tours FinalDocuments will lend you a helpinghand, instructing you on check-inprocedures and how to meet up withyour fellow tour members. Take timeto relax on your transatlantic flightwith the comforting knowledge thatImage Tours will see to the details ofyour vacation. Flying eastwardthrough the night, you will lose 6hours from the East Coast and 9hours from the West Coast beforearriving in Amsterdam the nextmorning.

DAY 2 - HOLLAND . . AmsterdamSchiphol Airport - Garden ofAmsterdam - Tiel/Leusden, 30miles southeast of Utrecht. Asmorning arrives, the Europeancoastline comes into view and yourplane soon touches down atAmsterdam’s Schiphol Airport. Onceon the ground, you will disembark,clear passport control, claim yoursuitcase, and pass through customs.Time allowing, you may take advan-tage of the airport facilities such aswashrooms, currency exchange,news stands, and coffee shops.Communicating is no problem here,

An endearing symbol of HollandCorrin & Shirley Aughenbaugh - Mechanicsville, PA


as English is widely spoken. Your‘Arrival Instructions’ will state exactlywhat time to meet your tour man-ager and will guide you to the‘Meeting Point’. Board the deluxemotor coach and begin the escortedportion of your tour with a pleasantdrive through the neatly-groomedDutch lowlands. The Dutch country-side is characterized by canals,bridges, windmills, and dikes. Youwill motor in a southeasterly direc-tion through the region called‘Garden of Amsterdam’. Continue toTiel or Leusden, where Van der ValkHotels, a Dutch hotel chain knownfor its hospitality, comfortable rooms,and excellent food, will be your hostfor the next two nights. Thisevening, enjoy the ‘Welcome toEurope/Get Acquainted’dinner at the

hotel and meet yourfellow tour members whowill soon become friends.Your stay in Holland will intro-duce you to Dutch ‘gezelligheid’.This word means ‘coziness’, yetconnotes so much more, as you willexperience in the days ahead.(Dinner)

DAY 3 - HOLLAND . . Country Stayin Tiel/Leusden. Today, enjoy a dayof leisure, affording you the opportu-nity to catch up from your overseasflight and to acclimate to your newsurroundings. Another option is totake advantage of Holland’s efficientbus and railway network to justabout any location of your choice.There is a myriad of interestingplaces less than an hour away. Athird option is to take the full-dayoptional ‘Grand Holland’ excursion(see page 68), featuring a kaleido-scopic overview of Holland,including a drive through Holland’scountryside and a stop at a pictur-esque Dutch village. You will spendthe afternoon in Amsterdam, with itsidyllic canals and bridges, one of thegreat cities of the world. Once aleader in world trade,Amsterdam is stilla powerful fi-nancialand

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For tour

dates & prices,

see brochure insert

or ask your travel agentTulips bloom in Holland from

late March to mid-MaySharlee Dougherty - Villa Park, CA

Tulips bloom in Holland fromlate March to mid-MaySharlee Dougherty - Villa Park, CA

4www.imagetours.com

cultural center. Renowned for im-pressive architecture and worldfamous museums, Amsterdam offersa window to the past and is also avibrant, modern city. The many shopsand pubs are staffed with friendlylocals who speak perfect English.Bikes are available for rent, and pub-lic transportation is inexpensive andalways nearby. You will have the op-portunity for shopping and exploringand if you like, our motor coach willtake you to the Anne Frank House orRijksmuseum (National Art Gallery,

with paintings by Rembrandt andother great masters). Your visit toAmsterdam will be topped off witha delightful boat ride through thecanals and harbor. Dinner tonightwill be enjoyed at your hotel.(Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 4 - BELGIUM . . Antwerp withits Notre Dame Cathedral, GrandSquare, City Hall, Home ofRubens and 17th-century GuildHouses - Margraten AmericanMilitary Cemetery - Lanaken. Wefocus on Antwerp this morning.You will cross the three majorDutch waterways, Lek, Waal, andMaas. Soon thereafter, you enterthe Belgian province of Flanders,of which Antwerp is the capital.Antwerp is the world’s third busiestseaport and known for its convivialatmosphere and numerous out-door cafes. Your tour manager willoffer a short orientation walk, rec-ommend a lunch stop, and leaveyou time to explore the old citycenter. Be sure to try the Belgianwaffles sold along the way. Thereare also quaint lace and chocolateshops to discover, or spend yourtime exploring the meanderingstreets around the city’s GrandSquare. This afternoon, enjoy aride through the countryside andinto the hilly Ardennes Region ofeastern Belgium. For manyAmericans, the next stop at theMargraten American Military Cem-etery is an emotional experience.The graves of over 8,000 Ameri-can servicemen stand in ever-lasting memory of the atrocities of

WWII. For information regardingthe location of specific

graves, you can write to:The American BattleMonuments Commis-sion, Washington, DC20314 or connecton the internet atwww.abmc.gov. Fromhere, it is just a shortride to your cozy hotelin Lanaken, located in

Belgium, just a few miles northwestof the Dutch town of Maastricht. To-night, enjoy a festive dinner, withmusical entertainment. (Breakfast,Dinner)

DAY 5 - GERMANY . . Rhine RiverCruise - Heidelberg Castle & OldTown - Mannheim. Guten Morgen!In Germany, some of your travel willbe on the German ‘Autobahn’, thefirst state-of-the-art superhighwaysystem, which was begun by Hitler toprovide speedy deployment of troopsand supplies. Near Koblenz, leavethe Autobahn and meander throughthe Rhine River Valley to Boppard. ARhine steamer awaits you for an up-stream cruise on this great, romanticriver (in the extremely rare event thatthe water level is too low, you will‘cruise’ the river valley by motorcoach). You will glide past enduring

villages, avariety ofcastles, andhillside

Get a tasteof Germany!

Munichcapital

Antwerp’sGrand Square

Robert & Marlene Terwilleger - Mechanicsville, PA

©2003 Image Tours, Inc.

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A castle seen fromthe Rhine River

your home-away-from-home tonight.(Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 6 - GERMANY . .Medieval Rothenburg withChristmas Shop andRathaus - ArchitecturallyDiverse Augsburg. Bysleepy little villages, ma-jestic fortresses, andtimeless castles, traveleastward this morningtoward the walled city ofRothenburg. Inside thewalls is an enchanting, me-dieval city preserved in itsentirety without a single mod-ern building in sight. You willfeel like you are walking into a fairytale when you see the narrow,cobblestone streets, historic inns,and quaint shop fronts. During yourfree time, why not climb to the top ofthe ‘Rathaus’ Bell Tower for a bird’s-eye view of the city, or walk atop theold city walls surrounding the town?Take a peek into one of the uniquemuseums such as the MedievalCriminal Museum, which displaysexhibits about life, crime, and pun-ishment in more draconian times.You can also visit St. Jakob’s Churchfeaturing a hand carved woodenaltar in the Gothic tradition. Or strollthrough the castle gardens over-looking the River Tauber. Delightfulshopping opportunities also awaityou at the “Weihnachtsdorf”, theyear-round Christmas shop . . . thereis something of interest for everyonehere. Your afternoon journey alongthe Autobahn leads south to theBavarian Alps. This area is rich inunspoiled countryside, historiccastles, and medieval villages.Following an afternoon rest stop,you soon come to the largest cityon Germany’s Romantic Road,Augsburg. Before check-in at thehotel, there will be a panoramic tourof this historic city. Founded as acolony by the Roman EmperorAugustus, Augsburg became thewealthiest city in Europe during the15th century due to a strong textile

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industry. Augsburg also features theworld’s oldest stained-glass windowsin the cathedral, St. Maria Dom. Aflag flying from the left tower of thetown hall indicates that visibility isclear enough for a view of the Alps,tomorrow’s destination. Tonight enjoya nice dinner with musical entertain-ment at your hotel in Augsburg. Ifyou are a beer lover, try a stein of thelocal ‘Paulaner Pilsner.’ (Breakfast,Dinner)

DAY 7 - GERMANY . . Munich withNymphenburg Palace, Old Town,City Hall, Marienplatz, Glockenspiel,Hofbräuhaus & AUSTRIA . . Thauror Hall, near the Imperial City ofInnsbruck. From Augsburg it’s just60 kilometers (37½ miles) to Munich,the elegant capital of Bavaria. Onyour way into the city, see theNymphenburg Palace, the OlympicVillage, the Bohemian district ofSchwabing, Victory Gate, and thestately buildings which line theLudwigstrasse. Once in the citycenter, you leave the motor coachbecause the Old Town has beendeclared a ‘pedestrians-only’ zone.Take a stroll around this fascinatingarea where modern departmentstores have been skillfully graftedamidst the old city gates and historic

vineyards known for producing thecelebrated Rhine wines. Near theend of your cruise, you will pass bythe treacherous Loreley Rock. Leg-end has it that the bewitching chantof a fair maiden sent boatmen crash-ing into the rock. Back on land,continue to lovely Heidelberg, thehistoric university town consideredby many to embody the spirit ofGermany. Your driver/tour managerwill accompany you on a walkingtour of the medieval Old Town. Thenhop on the bus for a ride up the hillto the red, sandstone HeidelbergCastle. The castle offers a splendidpanorama of Heidelberg, the oldbridge over the Neckar River, andthe valley. Youmay even be ableto see the neigh-boring city ofMannheim, situ-ated on theconfluence ofthe Neckar andthe Rhine, and

is the festiveof Bavaria

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6 ©2003 Image Tours, Inc.www.imagetours.com

buildings. There are plenty of openspaces with benches and outdoorfood stands. Street musicians areabundant, some very talented. Thefocal point is the ‘Marienplatz’ squarewith the handsome City Hall, whichhouses the famous ‘Glockenspiel’.See its magical performance at 11:00a.m. For lunch consider the‘Hofbräuhaus’, the world’s most fa-mous beer hall, which provides youwith a taste of ‘Oktoberfest’ year-round. At 1:00 p.m. head south onthe Autobahn to the Austrian border,and soon you are surrounded bymountains. Travel along the Inn Riveras it winds its way through the Aus-trian mountains all the way to theTyrolean capital of Innsbruck. By4:00 p.m. the motor coach puts you inthe center of this imperial city, withinwalking distance of all the importantsights. See the Imperial Church, theGolden Roof — built in 1500 as aroyal box to view entertainment in thesquare below and consisting of 1,399gilded tiles — the Maria TheresienBoulevard, and the Triumphal Gate.Innsbruck, certainly one of Europe’sprettiest cities, is situated betweentowering mountain peaks and on theaqua waters of the Inn River. It twicehosted the Winter Olympics (in ‘64

and ‘76). The city owes its architec-tural beauty to Maximilian I, whoruled 500 years ago and becameEmperor of the Holy Roman Empire.

Your chalet-style hotel forthe next two nights, in a

quaint village nearInnsbruck, is sur-

rounded byspectacular Tyrolean

scenery. For yourevening meal

you will find thatInnsbruck offers avariety of eateries.Or, perhaps you pre-fer a relaxing dinnerback at your hotel. TrySchnitzel, Goulash, orBauernschmaus. Anotheroption for the evening is a‘Tyrolean Folklore Show &Dinner’ (see page 70). (Breakfast)

DAY 8 - AUSTRIA . . Thaur or Hallnear the Imperial City of Innsbruck.Whether you spend your day relax-ing amidst the marvelous mountainscenery, exploring Innsbruck on yourown, or taking the optional ‘BavarianCastle’ excursion (see page 67), youwill rarely see a more beautiful area.Feast your eyes on the majesticmountains, green valleys, rushingrivers, story book villages and lovelychalets with flower-laden balconies.Dinner tonight is served at your hotel.To complete the sensory indulgencesof the day, you may choose to endyour evening with a nice glass ofwine from Austria’s own renownedvineyards. (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 9 - ITALY . . Brenner Pass -Dolomite Mountains - Bolzano -Lake Garda with its subtropicalvegetation - Bussolengo nearVerona. This morning bid farewell toInnsbruck, but not to the beautifulalpine scenery . . . for you are off tothe magnificent Dolomite Mountainsof northern Italy. Take the scenicroute of the Brenner Pass, which fea-tures the spectacular ‘Europabrücke’(Europe Bridge), rising 627 feetabove the valley, separating Austriaand Italy. At 10:00 a.m., take a break

A long distance call from Austria

Impressive grounds ofNymphenburg Palace

Harry & Marge Kroeger - Maineville, OH

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in one of the attractive cities alongthe route. Most often the stop is inBolzano with its comfortable, coveredshopping arcades. You now haveyour first experience with Italian cul-ture and cuisine. This afternoon youare in for a real treat, as you descendto Italy’s largest lake, the stunninglybeautiful Lake Garda. Marvel at thecrystal clear, turquoise surface andits mountainous shores which seemto rise straight up from the lake. Dueto its subtropical climate, this regionis rich in vegetation, including olivegroves, laurel trees, peaches, andgrapes which produce some of thefamous Italian wines. Oleanderbushes with their profusion of red,white, and pink blooms abound. It’sno wonder that Lake Garda has longbeen one of Europe’s favorite play-grounds and resorts. An extensivestop affords ample opportunity tostroll along the lakefront, browsethrough the quaint markets, and en-joy an Italian ice cream (gelato) atone of the many outdoor restaurants.Today’s final destination is the townof Bussolengo, near Verona.(Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 10 - ITALY . . Bussolengo nearVerona. If yesterday’s stop on LakeGarda enchanted you, and you havevisions of relaxing under a Cinzanoumbrella sipping a Campari orcappuccino, why not? If you wouldlike to spend the entire day studyingthe fascinating architecture andbrowsing the fashionable shops andhistorical sights of Verona, this isalso possible. The buses to Veronaand Lake Garda stop right outsideyour hotel. If you would rather notventure out on your own, join theoptional ‘Verona & Venice’ excursion(see page 70). Italy is the cradle ofEuropean civilization, art, architec-ture and music. It remains one of themost romantic countries in the world.People experience Italy in differentways. On this brief visit, see how Italyaffects you . . . Perhaps you’ll want toreturn to see its other great trea-sures. Overnight in Bussolengo.(Breakfast)

DAY 11 - SWITZERLAND . . LakeLugano - City of Lugano - GotthardPass - Swiss Alps - Lake LucerneRegion. Just past Milan, the princi-pal industrial city of Italy, travel northtowards the unsurpassed splendorof the Italian and Swiss lake districts.

This region’s naturalbeauty abounds as youwill see traveling past itsazure lakes, grand mountains,and unspoiled countryside. Feastyour eyes on pretty little villas, withthe snow-capped peaks of the SwissAlps looming in the distance as youcross the border into Switzerland.When Lake Lugano comes into sight,your senses awaken to a captivatingsetting. Often referred to as the ‘Riode Janeiro of the Old Continent’,Lugano is an ideal spot for a lunchbreak. In the afternoon, the 11-mile-long St. Gotthard Tunnel takes youfrom the Italian section of Switzerlandinto the German section. Halfwaythrough the tunnel, a sign marks thecrossing. Traveling through WilliamTell country, the serene beauty of theSwiss Alps comes alive. Lucerne issituated on the edge of beautifulLake Lucerne. The rising peaks ofRigi and Pilatus, standing guard overthis vast water basin, create one ofthe most imposing sights in Europe.Venture out for dinner on your own orjoin the ‘Lake Lucerne Boatride &Fondue Dinner’ optional (see page68). Spend the night in one of thecozy villages in the Lake LucerneRegion. (Breakfast)

For tour

dates & prices,

see brochure insert

or ask your travel agent

Land of cable carsAl Walter - Reading, PA

©2003 Image Tours, Inc. www.imagetours.com

Lake Garda is a popular resort area for Italians

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8www.imagetours.com ©2003 Image Tours, Inc.

DAY 12 - SWITZERLAND . . Lucernewith its Chapel Bridge and LionMonument - Lake Lucerne Region.Today concentrate on the Swiss al-pine splendor of the Lake Lucernearea. First, tour the city of Lucerne tosee such sights as the Old City Walland the famous Lion’s Monument inthe Glacier Garden. This inspiringstone carving, hewn out of naturalrock, commemorates the heroicdeath of Swiss soldiers who de-fended Louis the XVI during theFrench Revolution. The rest of theday is yours to explore, or simplyrelax in this glorious setting. Visit themany lovely sights in the Old Townor walk along the beautiful‘Vierwaldstättersee’ (Lake Lucerne)— maybe you could bring a picniclunch out to the lake. This pretty lakedistrict is also a shoppers paradise.You will enjoy browsing through dis-plays of delightful wood-carvedmusic boxes, delicate Swiss lace,and delicious chocolates. As youundoubtedly know, Lucerne is worldrenowned for its precious watches.Bring your camera if you decide totake the optional ‘Swiss Mountain’excursion, on which you will enjoysome of the most incredible alpinevistas (see page 70). Other choicesfor your free time in Lucerne are aboat ride on the lake or a visit to theSwiss Transport Museum, the largest

museum of its type in Europe. Be-fore or after dinner at the hotel,

your tour manager may orga-nize an optional ‘Natur Pur’

covered wagon trek into

the ‘pure nature’ surroundings (seepage 68). (Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 13 - FRANCE . . Alsace Region,with its Vineyards - AlbertSchweizer’s Town of Kaysersberg -Lovely Vosges Mountains -St. Dizier. The church bells usher inanother glorious day. Follow theSwiss Autobahn to Basel, strategi-cally located where Switzerland,Germany, and France meet, and theRhine River becomes navigable.

Cross the border into the northeast-ern part of France, a large portion ofwhich is taken up by a mountainrange named ‘Vosges’. This region,also known as the ‘Alsace’, has goneback and forth between Germany andFrance, and, still today, many townshere have German names. The re-gion is famous for its wine, beautifulforests and attractive resorts, makingit a highly popular vacation destina-tion. Your lunch stop will be in theauthentic medieval village ofKaysersberg, said to be the prettiestvillage on the wine road. Enjoy thecobble stone streets and half tim-bered homes, where flowers gracethe balconies of almost every build-ing. This afternoon travel past Nancy,which was subjected to the relentlessconfrontations between the Germanand allied armies during WWII. It is inthis area that you will make a reststop along the Autoroute before con-tinuing to St. Dizier, your bivouac fortonight. In contrast to Paris, St. Dizieris not a noteworthy town, but it is trulyrepresentative of hundreds of similarsmall cities all over France. Your stayhere will give you an impression ofhow the average French citizen, out-side the cosmopolitan city of Paris,lives. Tonight enjoy a glass of cham-pagne from a nearby vineyard as a

Beautiful Lucerne,Switzerland

Paris is the perfectplace to end your tour

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FamedNotre DameCathedral


fitting way to toast the highlights ofthese past two weeks. Once again,dinner will be accompanied by musi-cal entertainment. The happy chordsare certain to brighten tonight’s din-ner party at the St. Dizier hotel, whichis always a memorable evening.(Breakfast, Dinner)

DAY 14 - FRANCE . . ChampagneRegion - Paris. Travel through theChampagne-Ardennes area with itslakes, forests, and fertile valleys.Vineyards, which produce the famed‘champagne’, are interspersed be-tween rustic towns. After a coffeestop proceed to Paris, the Frenchcapital. What a thrill it is to ride intosuch a celebrated city, rich in history,art, and architecture. Paris is a spec-tacular city, but also large and busy,so make a plan as to how you want tospend your time. Avid shoppers mayneed to forego the museums or theEiffel Tower. Art lovers may want tovisit the galleries or museums in-stead of shopping (be aware that theLouvre museum is closed on Tues-days and other museums are closedon Mondays). Arrival at the Place dela Concorde will be at approximately12:00 noon. Your tour manager willtell you about the location of theprincipal sights and stores.You will have the option ofsightseeing on your own, orjoining your tour manageron an optional excursionwhich includes a 1-hourboat ride on the RiverSeine and a visit to thefirst level of the EiffelTower (see ‘Seine RiverCruise & The EiffelTower’ on page 69). At4:30 p.m. the motor

coach will gather all tour partici-pants for the transfer to the hotel.On your last evening in Europe,what better place to be than Paris?If you wish, you can spend thisevening on your own, but be pre-pared . . . restaurants and night spotsin this internationally acclaimed cen-ter of high fashion, gastronomy, andnight life command prices that rivaland surpass those of New York. Soyou might prefer to join the ‘ParisEvening’ optional (see page 69).This excursion includes dinner at anice restaurant, followed by a fare-well tour of the “City of Lights.” Yourshort taste of Paris is only meant tointroduce you to one of theworld’s great cities and

Read what past tour participants sayabout their experience with Image Tours.

See pages 58 - 65.

will certainly make alasting impression. Incase you do lose your heartin ‘La Ville Lumière’, promiseyourself to return here for a moreleisurely stay. (Breakfast)

DAY 15 - Daytime Flight across theAtlantic, back to the U.S.A. Alas,this enchanting journey of some ofEurope’s scenic, cultural, and historichighlights is coming to an end.You have seen the best of Europe.You will forever remember the manysights, sounds, and tastes from youradventure, as well as your newlymade friends. Maybe, just maybe,you’ll have a chance, sooner or later,to come back for more. GOOD BYEAND DO COME AGAIN!!! (Breakfast)

Extending Your Tour inParis and/or London

If you would like to spend more timein Paris and/or if you want to addLondon, we offer Independent TourExtensions including hotel and rail(see page 71 and ask your travelagent for pricing information).

If you would like a longer tour withmore of Italy, consider our es-

corted ‘Heart of EuropeGrand Tour ’ whichincludes Paris,London, and Rome.

For tour

dates & prices,

see brochure insert

or ask your travel agent

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Most of the questions you have regarding your tour can be answered by reading through thissection and the ‘Tour Contract’ that follows. Knowing as much as you can beforehand will enableyou to enjoy your tour experience to the fullest. For these reasons, we request that you read the‘ANSWERS TO FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS’ and the ‘TOUR CONTRACT’ sections priorto making reservations.

When to Make Reservations. If youhave a particular departure date inmind, or are not flexible in the daysthat you are able to travel, the bestway to get the date you want is tobook as early as possible. Further-more, the sooner you sign up, thebetter your chance will be to get thelowest tour price and the most favor-able air schedule. For these reasons,we recommend making your reserva-tion five months or more prior to yourdesired departure date.

Children. Except for the EnchantedEngland Tour, children under 8 yearsof age are not accepted on ourescorted tours, as it is difficult to keepthem entertained on the motor coach,and they may distract from the enjoy-ment of other tour members. Childrenages 17 and under must be accompa-nied by an adult. If children are notaccompanied by their legal guardian,the legal guardian must sign theirReservation Application and a nota-rized consent form.

Discounts for Children. Unless youare informed otherwise at the timeyou make reservations, the followingdiscount will apply: Children whowill be ages 8 through 17 at time ofdeparture and will be accompaniedby at least one legal guardian are en-titled to a $150 discount off the landand air inclusive tour. No children’sdiscount applies to the land onlyprices, extensions, optional excur-sions, or any other additional costs.

Visas - U.S. Citizens. No visas arerequired for passengers carrying aU.S. passport.

Visas - Non U.S. Citizens. If you donot carry a U.S. passport, a visa maybe required for some of the countriesyou will visit. You should check withthe consulate of each country you will

visit whether a visa is needed.It is your responsibility to determinewhich visas are required and to ob-tain them before your departure.

Airport Coordination in the UnitedStates. Since we have departuresfrom many U.S. cities, it is notpossible to send an Image Toursrepresentative to each airport.However, we will give you clear andprecise instructions to guide youthrough the check-in process.

Seating - Airlines. If the airlineallows pre-assigned seats, you mayask your travel agent to request seatassignments from the airlines85 days or less prior to departure.Please note these seat assignmentsmay be canceled by the airline dueto schedule or equipment changes,and you should, therefore, reconfirmyour seat assignments 25 days be-fore departure and again a few daysprior to departure.

Frequent Flyers. If you are amember of a frequent flyer club andif the airline offers miles on ticketsissued by Image Tours, it is your re-sponsibility to make sure that youare credited your mileage. The bestway to do this is to present yourfrequent flyer card/number uponcheck-in for both your departureand return. Image Tours recom-mends you keep your passengercoupon of the air ticket and boardingpasses even after you have returnedand until your frequent flyer state-ment includes your miles, so youhave proof of travel to show the air-line, in the event of any problem.Image Tours cannot provide copiesof tickets after travel is completed.

Transfers. Complimentary airport/hotel transfers are scheduled for aspecific time, based on the sched-

uled arrival and departure times ofthe participants who purchased the‘land and air’ inclusive tour fromImage Tours. For this reason, pas-sengers who purchase ‘land only’from Image Tours should expect tomake their own way between the air-ports and the hotels at their ownexpense, but are welcome to join thecomplimentary transfer if thepassenger’s actual flight times hap-pen to coincide with the actualtransfer times.

Joining Your Tour. Instructions onwhere and when to meet the tourmanager will be included with theFinal Trip Documents Packet, re-ceived one to two weeks prior todeparture. If you are unable to makethe scheduled transfer time, due toflight delays or for any other reason,you will need to make the transfer onyour own, and the entire cost of thistransfer will be your responsibility.Your Final Trip Documents Packetwill also include instructions and ap-proximate costs for the mosteconomical way to transfer to the firsttour hotel. However, we cannot guar-antee this information and, under nocircumstances, will Image Tours beheld responsible for any portion ofthe cost of these transfers. Manytravel insurance programs includecoverage for travel delays of morethan 12 hours. As you considertravel insurance, check if the policyincludes travel delay coverage.

Day Room. If your arrival is morethan three hours prior to the time youare scheduled to meet your tourrepresentative, we recommend thatyou inquire about a day room at theairport information desk. Even ifthere is not enough time to take anap, a day room affords you theprivate environment to freshen upand relax a little after your flight.

www.imagetours.com©2003 Image Tours, Inc.


Leave Early/Return Later. We ac-cept requests to leave earlier or re-turn later. You may even be able toadd another city at the beginning orend of your tour. However, beforeyou do any of the above, ask yourtravel agent about availability andhow such a tour revision may affectyour air fare. Any change(s) in yourdeparture/return date(s) and orarrival/return city/cities may increaseyour air fare and subject you to asurcharge. Further, if you are con-sidering any such changes after youhave sent in your deposit, changefees will apply.

Interrupting the Tour. If you wishto interrupt the tour for any reason,and notify Image Tours in writing atleast 60 days before departure,we will give you a credit of $35 perperson for every night you are awayfrom the tour. You may leave thetour at any place on the itinerary, butyou can only rejoin the tour at one ofthe overnight hotels.

Early Returns. The special air fareswe use for our tours often require aminimum stay of 7 days with the pos-sibility of a stiff surcharge for returnswithin 7 days. But, if you must returnwithin 7 days for any physical/medi-cal reason, the airlines may waivethis requirement. Therefore, makesure you obtain a statement from theattending physician/hospital as tothe physical/medical reason youmust return home.

Driver/Tour Manager. As a rule,Image Tours provides both a driverand a tour manager when indicated.However, at our sole discretion, wemay have the driver double as tourmanager.

Smoking. We have adopted a non-smoking policy on the motor coach.Frequent sightseeing and rest stopsare made during which there will beopportunity to smoke. Smoking is-sues are not being addressed asaggressively in Europe as they havebeen in the U.S.; many restaurantsdo not have non-smoking areas andmany hotels do not have non-smok-

ing rooms. Therefore, we do notaccept requests for ‘non-smoking’rooms prior to departure, but youmay tell your tour manager of yourpreference for a non-smoking room,and he/she will keep this in mindwhen possible.

Seating - Motor Coach. Seating onthe motor coach will be assigned bya rotation system. Out of fairness toall passengers, we do not acceptspecial seating requests for the mo-tor coach for any reason and expectfull participation in the rotationsystem. Although Image Toursstrives for a maximum of 44 seatson the motor coach, Image Toursreserves the right to add additionalseats if necessary.

Rest Rooms. Motor coaches inBritain and Ireland are not equippedwith washrooms. Although usuallymotor coaches for our other toursare equipped with an enclosed‘porta-potty’, you are asked to limitits use to ‘emergencies only’, due tolimited disposal sites. Frequentsightseeing and rest stops will bemade in order to allow for a comfort-able traveling experience.

Heating & Air Conditioning - MotorCoach. All our motor coaches areequipped with heating and air con-ditioning, (except in Britain wherethey are equipped with an efficientair ventilation system). Due to strin-gent pollution prevention laws,however, the motor coaches mustturn off their engines when at astandstill, and the air conditioningwill only function when the engine isrunning. You will find that the tem-perature in the motor coach is about10º lower than outside. For in-stance, if the outside temperature is80º, then the motor coach will beabout 70º.

Heating & Air Conditioning -Hotels. Due to a milder climate, airconditioning is not as widely used inEurope as it is in the U.S.A. There-fore, a number of our hotels do notfeature air conditioning, but all areequipped with central heating.

Hotel Rooms. All rooms have aprivate bathroom with sink, toilet,and shower or bathtub. Roomassignments for each tour are madeby the individual hotels. This is apractice accepted worldwide. Thelocation, view, and size of the roomsmay vary. Often the European ‘twin’is two beds made up separately,placed side by side sharing thesame headboard. In some hotels itmay not be possible to separatethese twin beds.

Roommates. Unless advised oth-erwise at time of booking, if you aremaking your reservations more than90 days prior to departure, ImageTours offers a ‘Guaranteed Share’program for all escorted tours ex-cept the Enchanted England Tour. Ifyou indicate on your ReservationApplication that you would like us totry to find you a roommate, ImageTours will assign you a roommate ofthe same sex. If Image Tours doesnot find a roommate for you, you willbe assigned a single room but willnot be charged a single supple-ment. Please note, if you request tochange from a ‘Guaranteed Share’to a single room for any reason, thischange will be subject to availabilityof a single room at the time you re-quest the change. If you requestthis change more than 30 days priorto departure, you will be chargedthe single supplement. If you re-quest this change within 30 daysprior to departure or during the tour,you will be charged double thesingle supplement. Requests for aroommate made within 90 daysprior to departure will not be guar-anteed and, in these cases, if weare unable to find a roommate, or inthe event of cancellation by a room-mate, you will be charged the singlesupplement.

Single Rooms. For the applicablesingle supplement for each tour,please refer to the ‘Dates andPrices’ guide or ask your travelagent. Single rooms are usuallymuch smaller and not as well lo-cated as double rooms, and only alimited number are available. Once

12©2003 Image Tours, Inc.

our standard allotment of singlerooms (4 per tour) is sold out, wemay be able to confirm additionalsingles at an extra $10 per night.Although highly unlikely, if you havepaid the single supplement and areforced to share a room, an appropri-ate refund will be made.

Triple Rooms. Most European hotelrooms are not designed to accom-modate three persons, and ‘triples’usually consist of a standard doublebed or two twin beds, with a foldingbed, cot, or rollaway for the third per-son. Be aware that this may not becomfortable for three adults. Thereare no discounts for triple rooms.

Meals. Some hotels may still servea continental breakfast, but usuallybreakfasts are buffet style with aselection of rolls, butter, jam, cheese,cold cuts, coffee, tea, milk and juice.On occasion, the buffets may alsoinclude cereal, sweet rolls, fruit,yogurt, eggs, or other items. The in-cluded dinners are usually preparedfollowing a prearranged, fixed menu.We work with the hotels to try toprovide you a variety of mealsthroughout the tour. Beverages arenot included with dinners.

Diets. If notified in writing at least50 days prior to departure, ImageTours accepts the following dietrequests only: 1) vegetarian;2) diabetic; and 3) low salt. Althoughwe will inform the driver/tour man-ager and the hotels of these dietrequests, any dietary requirementsremain entirely your own responsibil-ity. Please do not give the tourmanager a list of items you may ormay not eat. Instead, leave itemsyou may not eat on your plate andorder additional items ‘à la carte’, atyour own expense. Please ask yourtravel agent to forward your diet re-quest to the airline. Image Toursexpressly disclaims any responsibil-ity or liability in connection with yourdietary requirements.

Included Sightseeing. For sightsee-ing and admissions included in thetour, please consult ‘Included

Features’ and the itinerary for eachtour. On Sundays and holidays,some sights and stores may beclosed or have limited hours. De-pending onthe time of year, certain features oroptional excursions may not be avai-lable, or, at the sole discretion of thedriver/tour manager, may not beoffered.

Optional Excursions. The toursare carefully planned to offer you acomfortable balance of sightseeing,entertainment, and leisure time. How-ever, experience shows that many ofour clients like to use their free timeto make one or several additional ex-cursions. The proposed optionalexcursions for your tour are noted inthe itinerary and an updated list willbe included in your Trip DocumentsPacket. Optional excursions must bebooked with and paid to your tourmanager in Europe. Prices are inAmerican Dollars, and you may paywith USD cash or with USD traveler’schecks. Personal checks, foreigncurrency, and credit cards are NOTaccepted. Operation of theseexcursions is subject to sufficientparticipation, and our driver/tourmanager reserves the right to makechanges in these excursions at his/her sole discretion.

If You Get Lost. The chance that youbecome lost is very small indeed. Ifthis does happen, you will usuallymanage to find the motor coachbefore it leaves at the agreed time.However, in the event the bus hasleft, you should proceed to your hotelusing a taxi, train, or bus. This willbe at your own expense. If you needto do this, there are always peopleready to help: police, bus drivers,train station or tourist office person-nel. Always carry your passport anda copy of your ‘Overnight Schedule’with you!

Lost Articles. Neither Image Toursnor any company contracted throughImage Tours shall be responsible forarticles lost, stolen, or left behind.Such articles are rarely retrieved,therefore, we recommend you check

that you have all your possessionseach time you leave a motor coach,hotel, restaurant, and on all otheroccasions throughout your tour. Outof consideration for your fellowtravelers, do not ask the driver/tourmanager to turn the motor coacharound to retrieve a lost article. Anyitems found by tour managers, driv-ers, or hotel personnel will bebrought to the attention of ImageTours. Locating the owner of a ‘lostand found’ item will be most success-ful if the owner reports the loss toImage Tours immediately upon re-turning to the USA. Upon receipt ofpayment for the shipping and han-dling (on average $25 per item)Image Tours will ship ‘lost and found’articles to their owner.

About the Weather. The weather inEurope, like that in most places, isunpredictable. While planning yourwardrobe, imagine that you are plan-ning a trip through the USA. Seasonfor season, the climate of the midwestis comparable to western and centralEurope, and the climate in our south-ern states is comparable to southernEurope. Even in the summer, bringthat warm sweater and a raincoat.Conversely, during fall and winter,you may experience some lovelyweather with pleasant daytime tem-peratures. Before the tour, everyoneis concerned about the weather.When you return, the weather is thelast thing you’ll remember. In evalu-ating the tour, participants rarelymention the weather. Instead, peopleattribute the success of their tour tosuch things as the hotels, meals,motor coach, extras, pre-tour informa-tion, local guides, driver/tourmanager, dinner entertainment,sightseeing, the people they’ve met,things they’ve learned, and all thenew experiences they’ve had.Indeed, enjoying the sights, sounds,and smells of Europe is in no waybound by seasons, or the weather.You can enjoy our tours as much inNovember as in August. So, whetherguided by your calendar, or by yourpocketbook, pick the season thatsuits you best and capture the funand enjoyment of an Image tour . . .any season!

www.imagetours.com

General. Upon full payment ofthe tour price by the participant,Image Tours, Inc., 2828 KraftAve. S.E., Grand Rapids, MI49512-2076, Ph: 616/957-1010,Fax: 616/957-0103, hereinafter re-ferred to as ‘the Tour Operator’,agrees to provide the servicesspecified in this brochure, subjectto the terms, conditions, and limi-tations contained in this contract.The participant agrees that if thereare any corrections or changes,the correct information will prevail.

Included. Please consult the‘What’s Included in Your Tour’page and the itinerary for eachtour.

Not Included. Charges for pass-ports, visas, inoculations, laundry,beverages (except coffee, tea, ormilk with breakfast or whenexpressly specified), travelinsurance, optional excursions,postage, telegrams, telephonecalls and surcharges, any itemsof a personal nature, or any otheritems or services the inclusion ofwhich has not been expresslyspecified in this brochure.

Reservations. The Tour Operatorrequires a signed ReservationApplication and deposit for eachparticipant within one week fromthe date you make your reserva-tion. Take or mail your signedReservation Application and adeposit of $150 per person (plusinsurance premium if you arepurchasing travel insurance of-fered by the Tour Operator), or fullpayment if less than 75 days priorto departure, to the travel agencywhose name and address appearon the Reservation Application.

Final Payment must be receivedby the Tour Operator at least 50days prior to departure.

Please Note:1) The Tour Operator will not

release the Trip Documents forany participant for whom it hasnot received a signed Reserva-tion Application and paymentin full.

2) In case of late payment, yourtravel agency may charge you$15 to $30 for express mailingpayment to the Tour Operatorand for express mailing TripDocuments from the Tour Op-erator to your travel agency.

3) The Tour Operator requires16 days to clear a regularcheck. Therefore, to expeditefinal payment and releasedocuments, the Tour Operatorrecommends the use of wiretransfer, cashier’s check, Visa,Mastercard, or Discover.

4) Within 50 days beforedeparture, the Tour Operatorreserves the right to cancel areservation for which it has notreceived final payment, or forwhich it receives a check thatis returned to the Tour Opera-tor due to insufficient funds.

Price Changes. Tour prices arebased on tariffs, taxes and rates ofexchange as they were known tothe Tour Operator on the date ofbooking, and are subject to change,without prior notice. However, ifthe tour price increases by morethan 6%, the participant(s) may,within seven (7) days from the dateof notification of such increase,cancel with full refund.

Price Guarantee. If participantpays in full at the time of reserva-tion, the Tour Operator gives anunconditional price guarantee.

Cancellations. The Tour Operatormust receive a written notificationof cancellation by mail or fax.Using the date such notification is

received by the Tour Operator,the following cancellation penal-ties apply and will be retained bythe Tour Operator:1) More than 90 days prior to

participant’s scheduled depar-ture date, $75 per person.

2) From 90 days to 50 daysprior to participant’s sched-uleddeparture date, $150 perperson.

3) From 49 days to 1 day priorto participant’s scheduleddeparture date, provided alldocuments (including airlinetickets and/or train tickets ifapplicable) are returned toand received by the Tour Op-erator prior to or within eightweeks after the cancelled de-parture date:a) Without a medical state-

ment, 50% of the ‘landonly’ price plus the costof the air transportation(the difference betweenthe land only and the landand air inclusive price).

b) With a medical statement(see ‘Medical StatementRequirements’ in the nextsection), 30% of the ‘landonly’ price plus any can-cellation fees charged bythe airlines.

Note: No refund will be sentuntil the Tour Operatorreceives the documents.Additional penalties and ser-vice fees will apply, possiblyresulting in no refund, fordocuments and medicalstatements received by theTour Operator more thaneight weeks after the can-celleddeparture date.

4) Scheduled departure date andafter, no refund.

Note: No refund will be issued forany unused portions of a tour.


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Medical Statement Require-ments. The Tour Operator mustreceive the medical statementwithin eight weeks of the sched-uled departure date. The medicalstatement must be on the letter-head of an attending licensed phy-sician (M.D. or D.O.) to the effectthat participant or participant’stravel companion is unable to traveldue to the sickness or death of theparticipant or participant’s travelcompanion, or a member ofparticipant’s or travel companion’simmediate family, namely, spouse,child, brother, sister, parent, in-law,grandparent, or grandchild. No re-fund will be sent until the Tour Op-erator has received this medicalstatement.

Change Fees. After the TourOperator receives the deposit, allchanges, including but not limitedto departure/return date (whenthe tour date remains the same),departure/return city in U.S.,arrival/return city in Europe, ‘airand land’ to ‘land only’ and viceversa, and spelling of participant’sname, are subject to acceptanceby the Tour Operator and may re-sult in an increase in your tourprice. Changes must be submittedby fax or mail, and if confirmed bythe Tour Operator, the followingchange fees will apply: More than90 days prior to departure, $25 perperson. From 90 days to 60 daysprior to departure, $50 per person.Less than 60 days prior to depar-ture, all changes are considered acancellation and re-booking andthus, are subject to the cancella-tion policies. Note: Tour changes(to a different tour date or itinerary),and name changes (substitutions)are always considered cancella-tions/new bookings and are subjectto the cancellation policies for thattour.

Insurance. For your protection

against cancellation penalties wehighly recommend trip cancellationinsurance. In case your healthinsurance does not cover you out-side the United States, you maywant to purchase travel accidentand optional sickness coverage.We also recommend purchasingbaggage insurance. Ask yourtravel agency for travel insuranceoptions.

Baggage. As you prepare foryour trip, baggage is one of yourmajor concerns. Here is importantinformation with regard to allow-ances, loss or damage, and insur-ance:1) Allowances. Although the air-

lines may have more generousbaggage allowances, andmany people would like tobring a larger bag, the luggageallowances for our Europeanmotor coaches are as follows:Each participant on the tour isentitled to one suitcase andone carry-on bag. The suit-case cannot exceed 30" x 22”x 10” (excluding wheels andhandles), and cannot exceed60 lbs (27 kg) in weight. Thecarry-on must fit in the spaceunder your seat. This spacemeasures 17" x 14" x 8". Inaddition, each participant maycarry a coat over their arm, acamera or small purse overtheir shoulder, and a magazineor book in their hand. Partici-pants may bring a camcorder,but, for their own travel com-fort, we recommend taking itin place of a carry-on. Bag-gage space on the coach islimited, and with a full comple-ment of passengers we cannotcomfortably accommodatemore baggage. In fairness toall passengers, our tour man-agers are under instruction todirect any participant with asuitcase exceeding 30" x 22”

x 10” to purchase a replace-ment bag on Day 2 of the tourand to leave the oversized bagbehind or ask the hotel to shipit back home, entirely at theparticipant’s own expense. If,however, there is room on themotor coach for the oversizedluggage, the tour manager, athis/her sole discretion, mayallow the oversized luggage onthe motor coach, in whichcase the tour participant mustpay the equivalent of $3 perday to the tour manager at thebeginning of the tour. If over-weight luggage is refused bythe hotel porters and/or thedrivers, the tour participant willbe required to carry their ownluggage between the motorcoach and hotel room.

2) Loss or Damage. Baggageloss or damage sustainedwhile in the custody of an air-line, hotel, bus company, ortransfer company is not theresponsibility of the TourOperator. Airline liability forpassengers’ baggage is clearlystated on the passenger con-tract included on all air tickets,or a statement can be foundon file for inspection at theoffices of the airline. Theairline’s liability shall in noevent exceed the actual lossincurred by the passenger,subject to proof of the amountof the loss.

Baggage SizeAllowances


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3) What to do in case of damageor loss by an airline. The par-ticipant must report the loss ordamage immediately (whilestill at the airport) to the airlinein question for two reasons:a) Most airlines require imme-diate claims or they will notaccept them, and b) Insurancecompanies have the right tovoid any claim that is notreported immediately.

4) Baggage Insurance. We rec-ommend that participants pur-chase baggage insurance.Many travel insurance pro-grams include coverage forlost or damaged baggage. Asyou consider travel insurance,check if the policy includesbaggage coverage.

Physical Condition. Due to lim-ited access for motor coaches toold town centers, a fair amount ofwalking is required to take in all ofthe old-world charm and sights onour escorted tours. In order tokeep up with the pace of the tour,we recommend participants beable to comfortably walk a halfmile in 10 minutes. If you are con-cerned about your physical condi-tion, please consult your familyphysician as to whether the tour issuitable for you and consider thefollowing points:1) If you are not keeping up with

the rest of the group, the tourmanager will ask you to staynear the motor coach and for-feit any sightseeing that re-quires walking as a group.In case you are separatedfrom the group during sight-seeing time, it will be your ownresponsibility to position your-self at the pre-designated re-embarkation point, at theagreed time. If you have totake a taxi to do so, it will beat your own expense.

2) Staying on the motor coach

during stops is not an option,because when parked, all pas-sengers must disembark sothe driver can lock the motorcoach and take a break.

3) Tour and hotel personnel willnot be available to lift or other-wise physically assist tour par-ticipants on and off the bus, inand out of hotels and restau-rants, during rest stops andsightseeing stops, etc. Thus,if you require any type of as-sistance, you must bring a ca-pable travel companion whocan comfortably help you keepup with the pace of the tour asdescribed above.

4) With an average of 40 partici-pants per tour, the tourmanager’s principal responsi-bility is to ensure the enjoy-ment of the tour by the overallgroup. The tour manager mayask you to leave the tour if youare unable to keep up with thepace of the other tour partici-pants, to the extent that it im-pedes the other tour members’enjoyment of the tour, and allresulting costs will be your re-sponsibility.

If You Require the Use of aWheelchair. We discourage youfrom taking our tours if you requirea walker or wheelchair, or are un-able to comfortably walk a halfmile in 10 minutes. If you use awalker or wheelchair and still de-cide to take our tours, please notethe following requirements:1) If you normally use a walker,

you will need to bring a wheel-chair and leave your walkerhome. A walker is simply notpractical on the tour due tomotor coach entrances, un-even sidewalks, and cobblestone streets.

2) You must bring your own fold-ing wheelchair. Non-folding ormotorized wheelchairs are not

allowed on the motor coach.3) At time of reservation, you

must notify the Tour Operator,in writing, that you will bring awheelchair. If you fail to com-ply with this requirement, thedriver will not accept yourwheelchair on the motorcoach.

4) The wheelchair will be storedin the luggage space under-neath the motor coach; there-fore, it should fold quickly andeasily. The charge for thehandling and storage of yourwheelchair on the motor coachis $50. This is a one-timecharge, payable to the driver atthe beginning of the tour.

5) You must bring a capabletravel companion who cancomfortably help you keep upwith the pace of the tour.Please refer to points 1through 4 of the Physical Con-dition information on this page.

6) In Europe, the laws do not yetrequire motor coaches beequipped with wheelchairramps or lifts or hotels tooffer provisions for the physi-cally challenged. So, pleasedo not expect these facilitieson our tours.

7) You must always try to be thefirst person to get on the motorcoach and the last person toget off. This will ensuresmooth and swift embarkationand disembarkation for all pas-sengers. To help facilitatethis, we recommend you makeit a habit to arrive at the motorcoach slightly ahead of theother passengers.

Air Schedules. The airlines andair schedules provided by the TourOperator are subject to change atany time, and cancellation by tourparticipant due to airline or sched-ule changes will be subject to thecancellation penalties as outlined

©2003 Image Tours, Inc.www.imagetours.com

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in the ‘Cancellations’ section onpage 86. Revisions requested bythe tour participant will be noted, butunder no circumstances will theserequests be guaranteed, and theparticipant will be responsible forany price increases caused by suchrequests. If the tour participantdoes not like the air schedule, andwishes to get a more convenientschedule, he/she may ask theirtravel agent to check the cost andavailability of a different air sched-ule/airline, but must do so at least90 days prior to departure. If thetour participant chooses another airschedule/airline, the tour participantwill be charged the ‘land only’ priceby the Tour Operator and the air fareby the Travel Agent, and may notbe eligible for airport transfers. Iftickets are purchased by a sourceother than the Tour Operator, theTour Operator shall not be held li-able for any penalties incurred fromthe cancellation or change of the airticket, for any reason. Therefore,we recommend tickets not be is-sued until 45 days or less prior todeparture. Prices are based onEconomy Class air space. Partici-pants requesting to fly in the roomierBusiness Class should expect topay at least $2,000 additional perperson.

Responsibility of the Airlines.The airlines are not held responsiblefor any acts, omissions, or eventsduring the time the passengers arenot on board their aircraft or convey-ances. The passenger’s contract inuse by the airlines, when issued,shall constitute the sole contract be-tween the airline and the passenger.Any and/or all transportation compa-nies shall have or incur no responsi-bility for liability to any traveler asidefrom their liability as common carri-ers. Services performed and ticketsissued by the air carrier are subjectto rules and regulations relating toliabilities established by the WarsawConvention and the terms and con-

ditions of this contract.

Cancellation by the TourOperator. The Tour Operatorreserves the right to cancel a tourat any time for any reason, and itsliability shall be limited to a refundin full of only those moneys it hasreceived from or on behalf of theparticipant. If the participant haspurchased the air ticket throughany source other than the TourOperator, it is his/her own responsi-bility to become familiar with thepenalties and restrictions of the airticket and, in the event of a cancel-lation or date change by the TourOperator, the Tour Operator shallnot be held liable for anypenalties incurred from the cancel-lation or change of the air ticket.Therefore, we recommend ticketsnot be issued until 45 days or lessprior to departure.

Responsibility of the TourOperator. The Tour Operator shallbe responsible for supplying theservices and accommodationsoffered in this brochure as theyrelate to the land portion of thetour. If such services and accom-modations cannot be supplied dueto causes beyond its control, thereshall be no responsibility or liability.In this event the Tour Operator willuse its best efforts to supply com-parable services and accommoda-tions, and all travel arrangementsmay be subject to alteration or can-cellation at any time with or withoutprior notice for any reasonablecause. Such alterations will not beconsidered cause for cancellationby the participant(s), and the usualpenalties will apply. Nor shall theTour Operator be liable for any inju-ry, loss, damage, accident, delay,irregularity, or expense arising fromstrikes, war, weather, quarantines,sickness, governmental restrictionsor regulations, or from any act oromission of any individual, firm, orcorporation furnishing sightseeing,hotel accommodations, or any oth-

er services in connection therewith,nor for any additional cost or ex-pense due to disruption of adver-tised schedules, rates or services,or for any other cause beyond itscontrol. The Tour Operator re-serves the right to decline, to ac-cept, or retain any person as amember of the tour at any time pri-or to departure, or in the course ofthe tour, should such participant’shealth, mental condition, physicalinfirmity, or general deportment im-pede, in the Tour Operator’s judg-ment, the operation of the tour orthe rights, welfare, or enjoyment ofother tour participants, and all re-sulting costs will be the responsibil-ity of the participant. Theacceptance by the participant ofany travel plan or other serviceshall be deemed to constitute ac-ceptance of theselimitations of liability or responsibili-ty. No representative, employee,or agent of the Tour Operator isauthorized to modify, waive, or inany way change the terms of thiscontract.

Breach. The Tour Operator andparticipant recognize and agreethat a breach of this agreementby the other party will be action-able and will entitle either party toinjunctive relief and other suchequitable relief as deemed appro-priate by the courts. The partiesconsent to the jurisdiction of theCourts of the State of Michigan,Kent County, in any such enforce-ment action, which will be gov-erned by the laws of the State ofMichigan.

Entire Agreement. Other thanas stated herein, the participantwarrants that no promises or in-ducements have been offered forthis agreement other than as setforth herein and that this agreementis executed without reliance uponany other promises orrepresentations.


Trip Cancellation /Interruption - Trip CostIf you have to cancel or interrupt your trip due to a covered injury,sickness, or death — your own or that of a Traveling Companionor a member of the Immediate Family — or for Other CoveredEvents, as defined below, you will be reimbursed up to the tripcost for: cancellation charges imposed on travel arrangementsprovided by Image Tours if you cancel before departure; or if youmust interrupt your trip after departure, you will be reimbursed forthe unused, non-refundable land or water arrangements and theadditional transport charges paid to return home or to rejoin yourtrip (limited to economy one-way airfare or first class, if youroriginal tickets were first class). This policy does not cover a lossthat results from an illness, disease, or other condition (of you, anImmediate Family Member, Traveling Companion or BusinessPartner), event or circumstance which occurs at a time when thispolicy is not in force for you.

Trip Delay - $500Provides reimbursement up to $500 for accommodations andmeals if you interrupt your trip due to a covered injury or sicknesssuffered by you or your Traveling Companion. Coverage begins12 hours after the trip departs the location where you are detained;a limit of $100 per day applies.

Travel worry free! Image Tours’ Travel Protection Plan provides an easy, affordable way to protect your vacation investment.If you would like to purchase the Travel Protection Plan, please indicate this on your Reservation Application and add the $99per person premium to your deposit. Please note, premiums will not be accepted after final payment for your trip has beenreceived and, once paid, the premium is non-refundable and the coverage is non-transferable. Pre-existing medical conditionsare covered if your premium is received within 7 days of your initial deposit for your trip (provided you are not already disabledfrom travel at the time you pay your premium).

Baggage/Travel Documents - $1,000Coverage for direct physical loss or damage to your baggage,passports or visas while on your trip. A $500 maximum limitapplies to jewelry, gems, watches, cameras and cameraequipment, and furs — a $250 per article limit applies to all otheritems. If, while on your tour, your baggage is delayed for 24hours or more, we will pay up to $300 for the purchase ofadditional clothing and personal articles.

Medical Expense/Emergency Assistance - $50,000Provides reimbursement for reasonable and customary medicalexpenses incurred within 365 days of a covered injury orsickness which occurs while on your trip; emergency dentaltreatment received during your trip; the costs for emergencytransport to home or an appropriate hospital, including escortexpense (both, if deemed necessary by the attending physician)for a covered injury or sickness; the cost of homeward carriageif deceased.

Accidental Death & Dismemberment - $25,000These benefits are paid if loss occurs within 365 days of acovered injury which occurs while on your trip.

Protect yourtravel investment

for only $99

The “Description of Coverage Brochure” defines Traveling Companion to be a person booked to share the same accommodations withyou during your entire tour; Immediate Family Member as the following relatives — yours, or those of your Traveling Companion — spouse,children, parents, step-parents, parents-in-law, sisters, brothers, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law, aunts,uncles, nephews and nieces, grandparents and grandchildren; and Sickness as an illness or disease of the body which requires treatmentby a physician — Sickness of you, a Traveling Companion, or Immediate Family Member must commence while your insurance is in force.

Certain exclusions and limitations apply, these are detailed in the “Description of Coverage Brochure”. For example, coverage does notapply to: any Sickness or condition of yours that existed during the 90 days prior to the effective date of the coverages (this exclusion iswaived if you purchase coverage within seven days of your initial deposit/payment), suicide, normal pregnancy, war or any act of war,mental or nervous disorders. Other Covered Events, as defined, includes the following events or their consequences: a documentedtraffic accident while enroute to departure; jury duty; destruction of your residence; a documented theft of passports or visas; or due to terroristacts in their departure city or in a city which is a scheduled destination for their trip provided that the terrorist acts occur within 30 daysof the scheduled departure date and the premium is received within 7 days of the initial deposit for the trip. All Medical Benefits are definedto be in excess of any other group or government insurance you maintain.

This advertisement briefly describes the travel insurance plan. You should review the "Description of Coverage Brochure" which providescomplete details of the benefits, conditions, and limitations of the plan. Please note: this advertisement does not constitute or form anypart of the travel insurance plan or any other contract of any kind.

All travel insurance claims and inquiries must be submitted to: Trip Mate Insurance Agency, Inc. 9225 Ward Parkway, Kansas City,MO 64114 • 1-800-888-7292. This plan is underwritten by: Monumental General Casualty Company (all states except as otherwisenoted) under Policy Form #TAHC2000GPC and Stonebridge Casualty Insurance Company (CO, MI, MN, NY, VT) under Policy Form#TAHC3000JPC and (WI) under Policy Form/Certificate # TAHC5000GPS/TAHC5000GCS.

FEATURES

COVERAGE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
