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travel to Australia, Southeast Asia, South America and Alaska
FROM AU LAC TO VIETNAM
2000
years of arts, crafts and architecture
with
an extension to the Temples of Angkor
October
2011
Tour
Information
Tour
Date
The tour is in October 2011; the departure date is to be determined.
As airlines have not yet published air schedules for this period
there may be a slight adjustment to the itinerary if schedules vary
from those of 2010. There is no set group air, but we do have recommended
flights from a number of gateway cities to fit in with the itinerary
and which we can make. For those who wish to take other flights,
use frequent flier miles, add days pre or post tour we can make
these arrangements and arrange air if desired.
Cost
Tour cost is also to be determined, however as of June 2010 we envisage
a cost of $2750, not including air; the Angkor Wat Extension $855.
As we are over one year prior to departure, and some suppliers have
not yet finalized their costs we reserve the right to increase the
tour cost by up to $200 if necessary; by joining the tour you agree
to such an increase if necessary.
Please
note: this tour is open only to members of the Birmingham Museum
of Art. Information
on joining can be found here.
Inclusions
This is an all-inclusive tour; no part is refundable if missed or
you choose not to partake, nor can any sections be broken out for
individual costing. Cost of the tour includes transfers to and from
airports when traveling on our chosen flights; nights 4 or 5-star/best
available hotels in Vietnam and two nights 5-star hotel in Siem
Reap; multi-shared hotel rooms last night of tour in Siem Reap to
clean up prior to flight; all touring as private touring; entry
fees; all meals as per the itinerary, tips to drivers, guides and
hotel staff; English-speaking guides throughout and accompanied
throughout including extension by Dr Don Wood. In short, this is
a very inclusive tour with few additional costs other than two lunches
and one dinner and personal expenses likely to be necessary.
Exclusions
International and internal Vietnam flights, departure taxes (currently
$14 for Vietnam and $25 for Cambodia; the Cambodian tax is paid
with your air ticket but the Vietnamese one is not); visa costs;
soft drinks and alcohol; personal snacks; other items of a personal
nature such as phone calls and laundry; transfers required due to
personalized flight arrangements.
Flights
Numerous carriers fly to Vietnam and Cambodia. Our preferred carrier
is Korean Airlines as it has conveniently timed flights into Saigon
and out of Siem Reap with no internal flights required. Korean also
flies from a number of US cities spread around the US. However,
other airlines also offer suitable flights, and each participant’s
home city will help determine the most suitable flight. Generally
flying across the Pacific, even for many cities in the eastern half
of the country, is more convenient and provides better connections
and fares. As of June 2010 fares for this tour, including taxes,
were about $1150 - $1250 depending on home city and routing. Naturally
as the tour does not depart until October 2011 we can only estimate
air fares. Those with frequent flyer miles or other flight possibilities
should contact us first for suggested flights before finalizing
arrangements with the airlines involved.
Travel
Insurance
Travel Insurance is highly recommended, as deposits and final payments
are necessary well in advance of travel, as is airfare payment,
and there are steep cancellation penalties. While participants can
choose any insurance provider we strongly suggest contacting us
before you do so to ensure the correct type and level of coverage
is chose. Our insurance provider, Travelex, one of the world’s
largest, has very competitive and comprehensive insurance, and we
would be happy to give you a quote to compare if you have another
preferred provider. Please note that the insurance provided by many
credit cards is not as comprehensive as normal travel insurance.
Please note that due to the remoteness of parts of this tour medical/evacuation
insurance is mandatory for the tour and is part of the ship conditions
of carriage. This is covered in all normal travel insurance policies,
and can be taken out separately for a very modest sum ($45 including
fees for a person 61-70 years old) through our insurer. MedjetAssist
also provides annual evacuation insurance. More information about
both these forms of travel insurance can be found here,
including downloadable forms. Information can also be found by clicking
on the Travelex and Medjet logos in the side panel of this page.
Remember that you only need to insure for the amount you have laid
out; the amount covered, and therefore the premium, can be increased
later to cover the entire trip.
Terms
and Conditions
Please see our full Terms and Conditions, including
cancellation policy and charges, on our reservation
pages.
Booking
Please call Andrew Haffenden on 1 877 285 1170
to secure your place. Our
reservation form can downloaded here.
Payment
Schedule
A deposit of $500 per person is required to secure your place for
the main tour. Final payment is due 60 days prior to travel. An
additional deposit of $200 is required for the Angkor Wat extension.
Payment for air arrangements will be required when those arrangements
are made. Please see our Terms
and Conditions for cancellation policy and charges.
Passport
and Visas
A valid passport effective for six full months beyond the return
date is required. Vietnam requires a visa; more information can
be found at www.vietnamembassy.us/consular_services/visa_info/.
A PDF of the Vietnam visa
application form can be found here. It takes about a week for
a visa to be issued, and can be applied for up to 6 months prior
to travel. As the exact arrival and departure dates must be included
on the application, this should not be sent until final travel arrangements
are secured. Cambodia also requires a visa; this can be obtained
at the airport (you need a photograph and a form which will be usually
distributed on the plane, or can be obtained at the airport). However,
it is recommended that you obtain your visa prior to travel to avoid
waiting in line at the airport. This can be done through the Cambodian
Embassy www.embassyofcambodia.org/visa.htm.
There is also an e-Visa system, which is faster and cheaper as there
is not fedex type cost, but there has been some controversy over
its operation. While officially endorsed by the Cambodian government,
it is operated privately and any problems must be addressed to the
company, not the embassy. A PDF Cambodian
visa application form can be found here.
All
tour documents can be viewed and downloaded here.
Call
1 877 285 1170 to reserve your space
