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Q. Do I need to be Canadian, or live in Canada, to book your tour?
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A. Not at all. Although most of our clients are indeed Canadian residents, you can join our tours from anywhere. You would simply meet up with the tour group at the hotel on the first day in Europe.
Depending on where you are coming from, we might suggest you arrive at the start point of the tour the night before, and we can assist with quoting you an additional night at the group hotel (the most convenient option). We can also assist with your air travel arrangements if you wish. |
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Q. I do not have any family connection to the war years. Will I find a battlefield tour interesting? Does it make sense for me to come along?
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A. At least ½ of our travelers do not have any connection to the battlefields, they do not have any relatives who served. But, they find the history of this period fascinating and they have always wanted to visit the iconic places, like Vimy Ridge and Juno Beach. Perhaps this describes you as well.
We are certain you will enjoy every minute of the tour. The personal stories you will hear are compelling; walking around the places themselves is awe-inspiring; and of course there is always much more to each tour - the rich architecture, great restaurants, casual gatherings in the hotel lounge at the end of each day, and certainly some smiles and friendships along the way. |
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Q. I am really interested in a battlefield tour but my spouse isn't so much. Will they be bored? Should I try hard to convince them to come along?
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A. Our most earnest advice would be, come together. We have had many reluctant spouses who were quite certain they would dislike this kind of trip, that they would be uninterested.
Spouses quickly realize just how meaningful these tours are. There is so much rich history to be discovered, while standing with your feet on the ground amidst historic places. In just a day or two, they are converts. By the end of the tour they are feeling tremendous pride. For everyone, including the doubtful spouses, our tours prove to be one of the best trips you will ever take. Our tours are very special, and unique, unlike any trip you've taken before. You and your spouse will want to share the memories - please come together. |
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Q. Is there a lot of walking involved? Will I be ok if I use a walker or wheelchair?
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A. There is certainly some walking on all our tours. In some places you may be on your feet for 30-45 minutes walking around a historical site, and at other times you may be walking 10-15 minutes from the coach to go find a restaurant for lunch, and back again. Some tours include a walk along a footpath over a bluff, or a 1hr visit to a museum, etc. Regular walking is a feature of all our tours.
While we may not be heading out for expeditions across the countryside, we are walking around sites that will involve walking for some period of time or distance. We are sometimes on sandy beaches, steeper hills and roads, stair pathways, and the like. With all our tours, good mobility is essential. If you use walking poles or a cane, that's ok, provided that you are able to maintain a reasonably normal pace. If you move more slowly, you may find yourself a bit challenged at certain locations to keep up with the group as we explore, and we ask that you adjust your expectations accordingly. Those who use a walker, wheelchair or other similar assistance devices will not succeed on our tours and we must respectfully decline your reservation. |
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Q. Who typically comes on your trips, and how many people are in a group?
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A. Our travelers are typically retired couples. Usually our guests are 50+, and because it is mostly couples it means our tour mix is usually an even split of women and men. Sometimes we have a family combination of parents with kids, or a mother/daughter pair, or an uncle with his nephew, it's all good! Our only requirement for younger travelers is that they be a minimum 12 years of age, to be able to appreciate the content and to allow for an appropriate comfort level for all guests.
We especially enjoy and look forward to youth travelers, we like to throw them into the mix with special tasks and assignments - but don't tell them yet! Group sizes will vary depending on how many travelers book on a given tour. Our trips range from 20-40 passengers. A slightly larger group size is actually more fun, with better dynamics on the coach, at lunches, etc. We are proud to say that many guests have formed lasting friendships through our tours. |
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Q. I see that flights are not included, they are separate. How does the air travel work, are we required to book seats on the group flight from Canada? Can we make our own independent airfare arrangements?
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A. The Canadian group flight is entirely optional. We have a limited number of economy class seats set aside, for those who might wish to reserve seats and travel on the start/finish dates of the tour. The group flights are based from Toronto but you can connect from any other gateway. At the time you book your tour you would simply request the group flight seats and they will be reserved for you - no additional deposit is required. You will pay for the ground tour package, and flights, together at the final payment date. Please see our Terms & Conditions for more details on the group flight arrangements.
Or, maybe you would prefer to skip the group flight and do something different. Perhaps you would like to fly over to the start point of the tour a few days early, or stay at the end point of the tour a few days later, or both, in order to have more time to explore. Or perhaps you would like to fly more direct between the start/finish points of the tour, or fly business class instead of economy, or some combination of these. If you are planning on connecting with the tour from other travel already in progress, that works too! In short, all options are possible - subject to availability of course. We would be happy to quote you on your preferred air travel plans. You could also choose to make your own air travel arrangements, particularly if you are booking using points with a rewards program. Important note: do not book any non-refundable air travel for our tours until after the booking deadline has passed. Again, please see our Terms & Conditions for more details on air travel, and call us if you have any questions. We always leave airfare as a separate component so that you have complete booking flexibility. |
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Q. Can I extend my trip?
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A. Of course! We have lots of travelers who might wish to depart for the tour start-point sooner, to have additional time to explore, and/or return home later to allow for extra time to explore at the end. We can assist with a quote for these additional nights of accommodations.
If you would prefer to book accommodations yourself, that's fine too. Important note: do not book any non-refundable accommodations for our tours until after the booking deadline has passed. Best option: call us for a quote for all your pre-tour and post-tour accommodation needs, we can hold space for you, usually with no additional deposit. On average, 40% of our travelers book extra nights. |
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Q. I am a single traveler, will I be comfortable on your tours?
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A. Absolutely. You will meet other single travelers, and you will undoubtedly make new friends while on the tour. We can assure you that you will not be traveling alone. It is perhaps noteworthy that most of our single travelers are women. There are only a very limited number of single rooms on each tour, usually no more than 6. They are very popular and sell out quickly, so single travelers are urged to book early to avoid disappointment. You will need to add the Single Supplement fee to the price of the tour, and yes it is a bit extra cost, but it means you have the comfort and privacy of a full room to yourself.
Alternatively, if you are a single traveler who would like to share a room with another single, contact us and we'll place you on a waiting list and see if we can match you up with a compatible roommate. |
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Q. Are tips included, or do I need to bring extra money for tips to give to the coach driver, guides, etc?
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A. All gratuities are included. We take care of the little things so that you do not need to worry about those awkward moments of tipping, especially having to find a bank machine in the final days of the tour to get extra cash.
No tipping required by you. We look after all the staff. This includes our drivers, local guides and specialists, hotel porters, room cleaning staff, and the like. Please feel completely at ease not handing out tips, we have made sure everyone is completely cared for. |
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Q. What is our baggage allowance on a coach tour?
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A. There is sufficient space under the coach for each passenger to bring one (1) main suitcase, with a maximum weight of 23 kg / 50 lbs. In addition to this, there is sufficient space up in the cabin for one (1) small backpack / day bag per person. Always be sure to consult the airlines regarding your baggage size and weight limits.
Separate from this, passengers who use a CPAP can always bring these along. They will be stored under the coach - our coach drivers usually keep them in a separate area to ensure their safe travel. Here are baggage examples. If anything is unclear, please contact your tour manager. Your main suitcase:
Your main suitcase could be any one (1) of the above. If you have a typical 3-pc suitcase set at home, you could bring the large bag, or the medium bag, or even the smallest 'carry-on' bag as your one main bag for your trip. Or maybe you like to travel with a duffle-style wheeled bag, or a hiker-style pack. Any one of these can be your main piece of luggage for storage below the coach. Your cabin day bag:
In addition, each passenger may bring one (1) day bag up into the coach cabin. A typical small backpack works great. A larger backpack with wheels, or a hiker-style backpack, or a carry-on suitcase, cannot come on board as they are too large for the overhead bins. |
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Q. Will I be able to hear the guide? What if it's noisy or windy, or we have a slightly bigger group?
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A. Everyone receives an audio receiver, which you keep with you for the duration of the tour. A earbud for a single ear is provided but you can bring your own earbud set if you wish - the ones from your mobile phone will work great. (If you have a hearing aid, we provide you with an over-the-ear earbud.)
This receiver allows you to hear your guide as far as 30 meters away, so you won't need to worry about standing close to the guide to hear - you can wander a little, if you like. Your VOX audio receiver brings the history right to your ears! |
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Q. Are taxes added on top of the prices shown?
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A. Foreign travel from Canada is tax exempt - no tax! (And let's hope it stays that way!) Depending on the tour, there may be some tax involved for portions of air travel, or for local amenities, but in general our tours are free of any sales tax.
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Q. Are you affiliated with the military?
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A. No we are not, we are an independent Canadian tour operator and travel agency. However, we are proud to offer a $100 discount to all current and former members of the Canadian Forces! Simply provide a copy of your CF1 card at time of booking.
We have enjoyed the company of many CF veterans on our tours, including those who have served in WWII, Korea, UN Peacekeeping, and Afghanistan. |
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Q. Is my deposit safe?
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A. Yes. Our travel agency is fully licensed by the Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO), the regulatory body which governs all travel related sales in Ontario. If you book direct with us (even if you are from outside of Ontario), you have the comfort of knowing TICO stands behind you and your booking is protected.
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