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Australia Vacations


Cosmopolitan Cities
11 Days / 8 Nights from $1399


Destinations

Sydney, Melbourne

This Itinerary Features

Family, Nature

Your Itinerary Includes

  • International coach class air
  • Internal coach class air in Australia
  • 4 nights Melbourne
  • 4 nights Sydney
Additional Tour Package (Optional)
  • All round trip airport transfers
  • Melbourne half day city tour
  • Sydney half day city tour
Day-By-Day Itinerary

This itinerary can be fully customized; to tailor this package to your specific requirements please call one of our travel specialists.


Day 1 Fly USA to Melbourne (Via Sydney)

Day 2 You cross the International Dateline
The International Date Line is an imaginary line on the earth’s surface that approximately coincides with the 180th meridian (LONGITUDE), and separates the calendar date. Traveling east across the line takes the traveler back one day; traveling west, takes the traveler forward one day.

Day 3 Welcome to Melbourne, Australia
On arrival into Melbourne you will need to clear customs and make your way through the main arrivals hall from where you will either catch a taxi into the city or be transferred to your accommodation.

At first glance, Melbourne may resemble any other modern city with its skyline full of concrete & glass. However, if you look a little closer, you'll find the real Melbourne, a city of unique charm.

There are the clanging trams (street cars), swanky boutiques, friendly taxi drivers, Australian Rules Football, fickle weather and 'BYO's', by the hundred (restaurants to which you bring your own liquor or wine). Add to this, Melbourne's traditional virtues of tree lined boulevards, glorious parks, elegant buildings & imposing Victorian Banks & Churches, and of course the giant Melbourne Cricket Ground and you'll have some idea of the city.

Melbourne has become a polyglot society with a huge diversity of cultures, Italian, Greek, East European, Middle Eastern & Asian. This diversity is reflected in the food styles, the lifestyle, & even the language spoken in the street.

Days 4-6 At leisure, Melbourne
At your leisure to explore the very cosmopolitan city of Melbourne. The many attractions of the city vary from the spectacular parklands and gardens that surround the city, to the museums and festivals that are a continuing part of the city life. Excellent restaurants are on every corner and cater to every taste in the world.

Day 7 Fly Melbourne to Sydney
Make your way to the airport for your flight north to Sydney.

Sydney - Australia's premier city is the oldest settlement in Australia, the economic powerhouse of the nation and the country's capital in everything but name. Built on the shores of the stunning Port Jackson, you would have to die and go to heaven before you see a more spectacular setting for a city. It's a vital, self-regarding metropolis, exuding both a devil-may-care urbanity and a slavish obsession with global fads. The Sydney area was the ancestral home of the Daruk tribe, whose territory extended from Botany Bay to Pittwater.

There are some 2000 Aboriginal rock engraving sites in the Sydney area, and many of Sydney's suburbs have Aboriginal names. The city of Sydney began life as a penal colony in 1788 and for the next 60 years received the unwanted, persecuted and criminal elements of British society. Despite its brutal beginnings, the city's mixture of pragmatic egalitarianism and plain indifference has transformed it into a thriving multicultural society. Sydney now attracts the majority of Australia's immigrants and the city's predominantly Anglo-Irish heritage has been revitalized by large influxes of Italian, Lebanese, Turkish, Greek, Chinese and Vietnamese.

Days 8-10 At leisure, Sydney
At your leisure to explore Sydney. Most of the major attractions of the city are within easy walking distance of your accommodation - Sydney Opera House, Darling Harbour, Centrepoint Tower, Circular Quay, The Rocks etc

Day 11 Fly Sydney to USA
Make your way to the airport for your departure flight. During your international flight you will re-cross the International Dateline and arrive back into the west coast of the United States the same morning. From there you can make easy connections to most US cities.


Hotels

For more information about the hotels visited in this itinerary please click the hotel name below.
 
City Standard Superior Deluxe

Sydney

Park Regis

Holiday Inn Darling Harbour Sydney Harbour Marriott

Melbourne
Mercure Hotel OR
Travelodge
Southbank
Mercure Grand on Swanston Langham Hotel

Pricing

To determine pricing for your tour select the appropriate travel season and desired accommodation level from the table below.

 
  Standard Superior Deluxe
Reference #

433525

433526 433527

Low Season

$1399

$1549 $1779

Shoulder Season

$1779

$1929 $2159

High Season

$2099

$2189 $2419

Peak Season

$2299

$2499 $2769

Single Supplement

$410

$550 $780

Optional Tour Package

$170

   

All prices reflect a 3% discount for purchases made by cash/check. 
There are no discounts for payment made by credit card.

International Airfare Credit
   

Air credit pricing can be deducted from the overall package cost if you have already obtained/plan to obtain your international flights independently.  For this itinerary, the air credit includes the following flight segments: LAX-MEL//SYD-LAX

   
Low Season $670
Shoulder Season $970
High Season $1270
Peak Season $1320

Travel Seasons  
   
Low Season 5/1–6/9/05 and 8/1–9/15/05
Shoulder Season 4/1–4/30/05; 6/10–7/31/05; 9/16–12/2/05 and 3/1–3/31/06
High Season 12/3–12/9 and 12/24–2/28/06
Peak Season 12/10–12/23/05

Terms & Conditions


*Prices are per person, twin/double share in USD. Travel may be restricted to certain days of the week and be available from one or multiple US departure points. Add on fares are available from most US cities and surcharges may be applicable for travel on particular days of the week. Seats are limited and may not be available on every flight. Hotels and tours remain subject to availability. US and Foreign Govt. taxes and fees, Passenger Facility Charges and the September 11th Security Fee of up to $10 per person, are not included. After ticketing changes may not be permissible in some circumstances, or a change fee may be applied. Cancellation penalties and other booking or alteration restrictions may exist. Please note that some air segments may be served by an associated carrier. Full payment for special deals may be required within a number of days of the reservation being made as nominated by your consultant at the time of booking (or 45 days prior to departure). Please note blackout dates may apply to Christmas, New Year and local special event periods. Prices indicated remain subject to change without notice. Group inquiries are welcome however specials remain subject to hotel and airline capacity control and therefore may not be applicable for group travel. The best deal available for group travel will always be given in lieu of the offer indicated. Unless otherwise indicated all travel must be completed by March 31, 2006 if not before. CST #2012413-20

FOR RESERVATIONS, SEE YOUR PROFESSIONAL TRAVEL AGENT.

PAYMENT INFORMATION
(Deposits and Final payments)

Independent Travel: Travelers must pay a $250 non - refundable deposit per person†. Final payment is due 45 days prior to departure.

Escorted Tours: Travelers must pay a $250 non - refundable deposit per person†. Final payment is due 45 days prior to departure.

Air Only: Full payment of fare is required at time of reservation.

†Certain special or customized itineraries may require an additional deposit in order to confirm reservation.

General:

Independent Travel: Deposit plus non - refundable insurance premium is required at time of making your reservation.

Escorted Tours: Deposit plus non - refundable insurance premium is required at time of making your reservation.

For late bookings within 30 days of departure, full payment is due immediately. An additional fee of $50 per person will be charged for rush handling.

All payments can be made by check or credit card.

Credit cards will be taken for deposit and insurance payment without signature but a signed Credit Card Authorization Form is required within 7 days of such payment, which will acknowledge that the customer has read, understands and agrees to the Terms & Conditions. To receive this form, call your travel professional.

CANCELLATION INFORMATION

Time prior to departure Cancellation Charges (per person)

Independent Travel:
46 or more days $250*
45 to 1 day 25% of tour cost*
On or after departure date 100% of tour cost

*Plus any charges assessed by land suppliers, cruise companies, and airlines.

Escorted Tours:
46 or more days $250*
45 to 15 days 25% of tour cost*
14 to 5 days 35% of tour cost*
4 to 1 day 60% of tour cost*
On or after departure date 100% of tour cost

*Plus any charges assessed by land suppliers, cruise companies, and airlines.

Air-only: Rules of carrier apply plus $100.
Special events: Based on contract

REVISIONS/CHANGES: A handling fee of $50 per person plus any fees charged by the supplier will be charged for any alterations or revisions to a reservation. Spelling corrections to clients’ names after tickets have been issued are subject to airline revision fees. A change of trip date will be treated as a cancellation and new booking and regular cancellation fees will apply.

TRIP CANCELLATION PROTECTION AND TRAVEL INSURANCE
The cost of this comprehensive program is as follows:

Tour Cost Premium
Up to $1000 = $89
$1,000-$2,000 = $119
$2,001-$3,000 = $179
$3,001-$6,500 = $299
$6,501-$8,000 = $439
Over $8,000 = $6.50 per $100

We also offer our PREFERRED BENEFITS PROTECTION PLAN as an upgrade to the Travel Protection Plan at an additional cost of $35 per person.

The plan is available for purchase within two days of your tour deposit. Please include payment for this plan together with your deposit for the tour. Premiums are non-refundable.

A summary Description of Coverage detailing the coverage, terms, conditions and exclusions is faxed to your or your Travel Agent upon making your booking. Please review it because certain limitations and exclusions do exist, including a pre-existing condition exclusion and exclusions for some conditions such as mental/nervous disorders. To waive out of the pre-existing exclusion, you must purchase the plan within 2 days of making your initial trip payment and be medically capable of travel on the day you purchase the plan. To receive more information, ask your Travel Agent for a Description of Coverage, or call the program administrator, BerkelyCare, at (800) 453-4066.

The travel insurance benefits are underwritten by Virginia Surety, policy number HTP-03181. The program provides limited health insurance benefits and does not provide basic hospital, basic medical or major medical insurance as defined by the NY State Insurance Department. The trip cancellation provision takes effect upon receipt of payment; all other provisions take effect upon departure. This coverage is provided in excess of all other valid and collectible insurance or indemnity and shall apply only after such other benefits have been paid.

This plan was designed and is administered by BerkelyCare, a division of Affinity Insurance Services, Inc., in all states except: AIS Affinity Insurance Agency, Inc. in CA/MN/OK: and AIS Affinity Insurance Agency in NH and NY.

You will receive a Certificate of Insurance with your final documents, which describes the coverages and exclusions in detail. If you do not wish to purchase this insurance, simply deduct it from your payment.

CONSUMER DISCLOSURE NOTICE
Please read the Terms & Conditions carefully, as your deposit and payment for a trip constitutes consent to all conditions and general information contained in this brochure.

Responsibility: These trips are arranged by Swain Tours, (“Operator”). It has made the travel arrangements as agent for the transportation carriers and other suppliers of services connected with the tour (“suppliers”), all of which are independent contractors. The Operator in no way owns or operates the vehicles or facilities to be used during the trip, and does not guarantee or assume responsibility for the acts and/or omissions of suppliers, their employees, agents, etc. All bookings are accepted subject to the conditions imposed by suppliers and Operator, including airline, cruise line, rail, coach, hotel, restaurants, insurance and other companies, firms or persons concerned with the trip, and Operator will make no refund in the event of their delay, cancellation, overbooking, strike, force majeure or for elements of the package not used by customer. If there is a difference between Operator’s Conditions and those published by the supplier, the conditions of supplier shall apply. Price quoted is per person double occupancy, and does not include US or Foreign Government fees and taxes, airline or airport surcharges and September 11th Security Fee. Operator reserves the right to cancel a trip, change the itinerary or adjust rates whenever in its sole judgment conditions warrant, or if Operator deems it necessary for your comfort, convenience or safety. The Operator reserves the right to adjust prices due to fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. Please note that in some cases, your airline tickets will be electronically issued in lieu of paper tickets. Car Rental and Fly/Drive programs are subject to the rental terms in the country where you start your tour. In all cases, you will need to present a current drivers license. Other conditions such as age requirements, insurance, surcharges, fuel, extra drivers etc. will be explained to you at the point of rental. You will receive a flight confirmation with your documents which you must present at the time of check-in at the airport counter with proper and valid ID such as your passport.

Trips outside the USA require a valid passport or other acceptable forms of citizenship proof. You are responsible for, and release Operator from passport, visa, vaccination, requirements and safety conditions in travel destinations. For medical information, call the Centers for Disease Control at 877-394-8747; for travel advisories, go to www.travel.state.gov, or call the State Department's overseas citizens service center at 888-407-4747.

The Operator reserves the right to decline to accept any person as a member of the tour, or to require any participant to withdraw from the trip at any time who presents a significant risk to the health or safety of himself or others which can not be eliminated or reduced to an acceptable level by Operator’s reasonable accommodation. The Operator reserves the right to correct an error in the brochure presentation or advertised price prior to your departure. Prices in this brochure are accurate at the time of printing and are subject to change without notice due to changes in market factors including but not limited to foreign currency and supplier cost fluctuations.

Prices set forth in future brochures shall supersede the prices in this brochure. Airfare quotes and prices for tours that include air in this brochure are subject to airline capacity limitations and higher airfares may apply depending on seat availability at time of reservation. A contract is made when your reservation and payment are accepted by Operator at its office, and any dispute shall be governed by Pennsylvania law and subject to the jurisdiction of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. In calculating the cost of your trip, Operator has relied on your consent to these terms and in the absence of this release, the trip cost would have been higher. Operator reserves the right to substitute hotels of similar quality at any time or to make changes in itinerary of similar quality. Operator will not be responsible to any person for expense, loss of time, money or other circumstance resulting from a change in itinerary or change of tour arrangements. Operator also reserves the right to cancel a tour prior to departure and in such cases, all payments made to date will be refunded and shall constitute full settlement. If you purchase an airline ticket separately, ensure that your travel agent explains the conditions under which the ticket is issued, as the Operator assumes no responsibility for such airline ticket cancellation fees. Please understand that not all museums and attractions are open every day of the year. The Operator reserves the right to vary the sequence of sightseeing and/or to re-route the order of cities if that will enable you to visit all listed excursions. In either case, the itinerary content will be maintained to the best possible extent and there are no refunds for any unused or unavailable excursions.

CST #2012413-20



Creative Travel Adventures
Email: margi@CreativeTravelAdventures.com
Website: http://www.creativetraveladventures.com