Tour Logistics

Insurance

I highly recommend that you research and obtain insurance coverage. I am not an insurance agent so I cannot recommend any particular policy. Be sure to understand what you are purchasing; here is a great article from Forbes Magazine about travel insurance versus travel protection. The nerds over at Nerdwallet have a good article on how to research and find the best policy for your situation. Rick Steves also has some tips and tricks. 

Transportation

Airfare is not included in the tour. You will be responsible for getting yourself to the meeting point. In some cases, I will be able to meet you at a nearby airport or train station and escort you to our lodging. I will certainly work with you to figure out the best course of action. 

The best part about European towns is how walkable they all are! We will usually stay somewhere where we can easily get breakfast and have easy access to town amenities, like cafés, town tours, and markets. Depending on the activity, we may need other transportation options. I will show you how to use the bus, we can hire taxis or private cars, I will show you where to find bike rentals, and, for day trips, I will rent a vehicle.

Luggage

Speaking of vehicles, the trunk of our car has limited space. After much trial and a few errors, we've learned to limit the size of our bags or they won't all fit. The baggage allowance is the same as what you can bring onto an airplane: a carry-on (the size of which would be able to fit into an airplane's overhead bin) and one other carry-on item (sized to fit underneath a seat, like a backpack). Anything more and the car's trunk just won't close. 

Itinerary:

I will have a general itinerary ready to go: one that allows us to experience the best parts of the area by securing tickets in advance, but also allows for spontaneity and serendipity. In general, I will have two activities planned for each day with some of those being open for your own exploration or flexible suggestions from me (that I will lead, should you want that). 

We will have varied activities in order to get as much out of the region as possible. Some examples are: taking a regional cuisine cooking class, visiting museums, walking the ramparts (where we can find them!), checking out artist’s studios, touring castles, sunning on the beach, and boating on the waterways. No matter where we go, I always start out with a tour of the local area for physical, cultural, and historical orientation. 

Tour member expectations: 

G&T tours are moderately physically active, our hotels are centrally located but may provide fewer American-style amenities, and our people policy emphasizes a positive, flexible attitude. These are essential characteristics of the G&T tour experience. On any G&T tour, you assume certain obligations and responsibilities to G&T and your fellow tour members, including, but not limited to, the following:

1. Carry or roll your own luggage, possibly over uneven pavement, then haul it up a few flights of stairs to reach your room (please contact us if you have concerns about stairs, we may be able to ensure elevator access).

2. Be comfortable on your feet with brisk two-hour walking tours, climbing stairs, using public transportation, plus standing and walking inside museums and outdoors in all weather conditions.

3. Sleep in hotels with no (or inadequate) air conditioning, possible street noise, and slow Wi-Fi connections or Wi-Fi only in common areas. Thankfully most G&T tours are scheduled for the cooler and less crowded shoulder seasons, so heat and noise should not be major issues. That being said, G&T will do its best to find lodging that does have air conditioning, especially since it is becoming more and more common. 

4. Sleep in lodging where you may have to share a bathroom. G&T will do its best to find lodging where en-suite bathrooms are available for every traveler but, as it states above, American-style amenities aren’t standard in European travel.

5. Follow all safety precautions and health directives set by Libby Cecchi, by G&T, or by local officials. Examples may include maintaining proper social distancing, the use of face masks (covering your nose and mouth), proper handwashing, the use of hand sanitizer, quarantining if you are showing symptoms of any contagious illness, being seen by a health professional, and/or taking a certified or proctored COVID test as a condition of continuing on with the tour. The possible precautions and directives required are not limited to the examples included here.

Read the fine print: Tour Conditions