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VIETNAM
& CAMBODIA
DISCOVERING THE MEKONG AND THE TEMPLES OF ANGKOR
with
Judy Brzoska
September
8 to 21, 2010
Tour
Date
The tour departs September 8 using currently available air, and
returns September 21. As airlines have not yet published air schedules
for this entire period some departures may be late evening September
7. There is no set group air, but we do have recommended flights
from a number of gateway cities to fit in with the itinerary. For
those who wish to take other flights, add days pre or post tour
we will assist with arrangements and air if desired.
Cost
Tour cost with upper deck cabin is $2870; with middle deck cabin
$2670. Please contact us for lower deck cost if cabins are available;
we are not holding any at this time. As we are nearly 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 $100 if
necessary; by joining the tour you agree to such an increase if
necessary. Please see here
for the Pandaw Deck Plan. The Kep Extension is $765.
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; transfers to/from
ship docks; two nights 5-star hotel in Saigon 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; one day private group
land touring in Vietnam and 2.5 days private group land touring
in Cambodia; entry fees; all meals from breakfast Day 3 to dinner
Day 14, Mekong cruise in selected cabin category including land
touring morning of Day 11; all meals on board ship including local
soft drinks and beer, normal teas and coffee (soft drinks and alcohol
are not included with land-based meals); all tour activities provided
by ship; port fees; tips to drivers, guides, hotel staff and ship
crew; English-speaking guides throughout and US-based Tour Director.
In short, this is a fully inclusive tour with no additional costs
other than personal ones likely to be necessary.
Fuel
Surcharge
The ship reserves the right to impose a fuel surcharge if oil costs
warrant. No such surcharge is currently in place. If such a surcharge
is levied this is not included in the cost and inclusions above.
If yo choose to cancel due to imposition of a fuel surcharge normal
cancellation rules will apply.
Exclusions
International flights, departure taxes (currently $25 for Cambodia
and $14 for Vietnam; the Cambodian tax in paid with your air ticket
but the Vietnamese one is not); visa costs, fuel surcharges; ship-board
imported beverages such as wines, premium spirits and liqueurs,
fancy soft drinks such Perrier, espressos and cappuccinos at the
bar; soft drinks and alcohol during land-based meals; 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 October 2009 fares for this tour, including taxes,
were about $1350 - $1650 depending on home city and routing. 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 separate pages.
Booking
Please call Andrew Haffenden on 1 877 285 1170
to secure your place. Due to the restricted number of cabins available
places will be awarded in order of cabin deposits. We will hold
a cabin without payment for one week, when it will be released unless
a deposit is made. Our
reservation form can downloaded here.
Payment
Schedule
A deposit of $800 per person is required to secure your place. Final
payment is due July 8, 2010. 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 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
on board the Pandaw at the Cambodian border. Please make sure you
bring two passport photos with you for this visa.
Call
1 877 285 1170 to reserve your space
