Program photograph
Upcoming Programs:

Europe 101: For New Graduates and Young Alumni

May 26-June 5, 2007
U.Va. Faculty TBA

This program has been cancelled. If you are interested in seeing future programs like this, please let us know by emailing cavaliertravels@virginia.edu.

Overview

Graduates, their families, and young alumni are all invited to see the best of London, Paris, and Amsterdam on this carefree journey through the old continent.  Get a special taste of sophisticated Europe while having lots of chances for fun with other graduates, friends, and family on this exclusive post-graduation getaway! This is an exclusive U. Va. Trip.

Let us worry about reservations, transportation, tours, and the like.  All you need to worry about is having fun - and we'll even have people along to help you with that!

^ back to top

Program Highlights

^ back to top

Accommodations

^ back to top

Meals

^ back to top

Faculty

Faculty to be announced.

^ back to top

Itinerary

Day 1 - Departure: U.S. to London

Depart your gateway city for Independent departures from the United States to London, Heathrow. (Provided for Air-Inclusive participants only.)

Day 2 - Arrival in London

Independent arrivals at London airports with individual transfers to the Strand Palace Hotel, with its outstanding Covent Garden location

Drop luggage off at the hotel and be met by tour directors, who can assist with afternoon plans. 

Guests will receive a welcome packet and their unlimited Tube pass upon arrival at the hotel.

Enjoy free time to explore London on your own, and have an independent lunch

Reconvene at the Strand Palace Hotel at 2PM for check-in.

Gather for a grand Welcome Dinner in a leading local restaurant offering the best of English cuisine.

Strand Palace Hotel, London ( D)

Day 3 - London

Following breakfast, enjoy a morning historical and architectural walking tour of London’s West End and Westminster districts, with highlights including Westminster Abbey, Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Piccadilly Circus, Covent Garden. Our expert guide will offer insights and anecdotes on the city’s fascinating history and culture. 

Free time for independent lunch in one of the many restaurants near Trafalgar Square.

Meet the group for an afternoon tour of London’s famed National Gallery.

Dinner and evening are at your leisure.  Optional excursion to the Millennium Eye.

Strand Palace Hotel, London (B)

Day 4 - London

Day is at leisure to enjoy London on your own. An unlimited Tube pass is included in the tour cost, and an ISDI manager is available for assisting with arrangements and advising travelers with activities.

OR Optional half-day excursion to Hampton Court Palace, with special, in-depth tour of the palace and grounds. Evening at leisure.

Strand Palace Hotel, London (B)

Day 5 - London "Chunnel" to Paris

Take a mid-morning Eurostar train from London’s Waterloo train station to Paris’ Gare du Nord. The approximate travel time on the train is 2.5 hours, and the journey carries us through the Chunnel.

Take a short metro ride from the Gare du Nord to the elegant Hotel Minerve, located in the heart of the fashionable Latin Quarter.

Free time for an independent lunch near the hotel. Check-in the the Minerve, within easy walking distance of the Luxembourg Gardens, Notre Dame and the famous Louvre. Afternoon at leisure to explore Paris independently. Independent dinner and evening in Paris

Hotel Minerve, Paris (B)

Day 6 - Paris

Begin the day with a morning walking tour of Paris with our expert local guide- visit Notre-Dame, walk through the Tuileries Gardens and admire the architecture of the Latin quarter, while learning the complex history of the city. Free time for lunch. Meet in front of the Pompidou Center, the famous ‘inside-out building,’ for a guided tour of their outstanding modern art collection.

Dinner and evening are at leisure.  Optional dinner cruise on the River Seine.

Hotel Minerve, Paris (B)

Day 7 - Paris / Optional Excursion to Versailles

Day at leisure to enjoy Paris on your own. An unlimited Metro pass is included in the tour cost, and a tour manager is available for assisting with arrangements and advising travelers with activities. 

OR Optional ‘day of art’ with guided tours of the Louvre in the morning, followed by a mid afternoon visit to the Musee d’Orsay with expert guides. 

Special reservations avoid long waits.

Dinner and evening are at leisure.

Hotel Minerve, Paris (B)

Day 8 - Paris/ Northern France/ Amsterdam

Following an early breakfast, drive across the scenic countryside of northern France in a private deluxe coach. The travel time is approximately 6 hours. Check into the Amstel Botel, a unique “boat hotel” with canal views located in the center of Amsterdam’s most popular neighborhoods.

The remainder of the afternoon and evening at leisure to enjoy Amsterdam independently. 

Amstel Botel (B)

Day 9 - Amsterdam

Enjoy a walking tour of Amsterdam with an expert local guide. Stroll down the winding streets to Dam Square, one of Amsterdam’s best-known squares. Visit the Royal Palace, and the Anne Frank House, one of the city’s most popular museums. Free time for lunch in Amsterdam Reconvene for an afternoon highlights tour of the Rijksmuseum. Remainder of the evening at leisure

Amstel Botel (B)

Day 10 - Amsterdam

Day at leisure to enjoy Amsterdam on your own OR Option to rent out a bike for the day and see the Dutch capital on its most popular mode of transport. Cycle along the Jordaan’s charming canals before making your way over to the Pijp. Also visit the famous Albert Cuypmarkt market.

Gather for a memorable gourmet Farewell Dinner in one of Amsterdam’s leading restaurants.

Day 11 - Amsterdam/ U.S.

Independent transfers to Amsterdam’s Schiphol airport for return flights back to the U.S. or stay in Europe for volunteer or Work Abroad opportunities!

^ back to top

Program Fees

$2,995 per person, double occupancy, with Air from Newark. Other gateway cities can be arranged at a different cost. * Does not include Airport Security taxes, surcharges and fees (Currently about $250)

$2,495 per person, double occupancy, Land Only

A limited number of single rooms are available for a supplement of $445.

Price includes:

Price does not include:

In addition to the inclusions noted in the land-only pricing, air-inclusive price includes:

^ back to top

How To Register

Ready to register? The best way to do this is by phone so that we can ensure we are meeting all of your needs. Please call us at 800-346-3882. Or, e-mail cavaliertravels@virginia.edu with your contact information and the best time to reach you.

A deposit of $500 per person is required to reserve your spot.

Early registration is encouraged as space is limited.

^ back to top

Terms & Conditions

TRIP INSURANCE

Your tour operator will include information on obtaining trip insurance in your confirmation letter. Please note that there is a time frame for securing trip insurance. The University of Virginia will cancel its endorsement of and faculty and staff participation in any program destination for which a Travel Warning is issued by the U.S. Department of State. Vendor Terms of Agreement will specify under what circumstances the vendor will cancel a program and/or under what circumstances participants might receive some reimbursement if they cancel their travel with the vendor themselves. U.Va. strongly recommends that all participants purchase trip cancellation insurance which includes protection in the face of political unrest, natural disasters, and personal emergencies and participants should discuss this insurance directly with the vendor or other travel services with whom they deal. You will find more useful travel information by going to the Travel Resources link on this website.

ISDI and the sponsoring organization reserve the right to cancel any tour prior to departure for any reason including insufficient numbers of participants, as well as the right to decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the tour at any time.  If bookings fall below the minimum required, passengers will be advised of additional costs or itinerary alterations before departure date.  All cancellations must be received in writing by ISDI, and charges are calculated as of the day notification is received in writing by ISDI.  If a tour member cancels, the following scale of charges is incurred: There is a non-refundable administrative fee of $500 per person.  The costs associated with any tickets purchased for planned performances (as indicated in the itinerary) are non-refundable unless the tickets can be resold prior to performance. Written cancellation received by ISDI before February 2, 2007: full refund minus $500 per person administrative fee.  Written cancellation received by ISDI between February 2-April 27, 2007 results in forfeit of majority of funds, including a $1,000 per person cancellation fee (includes administrative fee). Cancellation in this time period could involve a loss of as much as 100% of land costs per person.  Cancellations received on or after April 28, 2007: no refund.  After the tour has commenced, it is not possible to issue any refunds.  No refunds for any unused portion of the tour including, but not limited to, occasional missed meals or any missed sightseeing tours. Costs for promotion, staff, and other group expenses are not refundable.  A package of cancellation, baggage, and medical insurance is strongly recommended. 

 

RESPONSIBILITY:

International Seminar Design, Inc. (“ISDI”) acts as the agent for the suppliers of services (including, but not limited to, air and ground transportation, meals, and lodging) provided in conjunction with the tour.  ISDI is not liable for the negligent acts, omissions, defaults, or failure to perform of such suppliers. The Participant releases ISDI and the Sponsoring Organization from any and all liability resulting from acts or omissions of the suppliers of services, including, but not limited to, loss, damage, delay or injury, or damage to Participant (including death) or Participant's personal property.  Nor do ISDI and the Sponsoring Organization accept responsibility for losses or delays arising from sickness, quarantine, government restraints, war, acts of terrorism, weather conditions, earthquakes, or acts of God.  In no event shall ISDI nor the Sponsoring Organization’s liability exceed the amount received by ISDI from Participant.

ISDI has no special knowledge of problems or hazards regarding health or safety in the destinations visited by Participant. Participant agrees to assume full responsibility for his/her safety during this tour and is advised that some destinations visited may involve risks of political instability, terrorism, social unrest, disease, and climatic extremes, as well as geographical and atmospheric extremes such as altitude and/or pollution, earthquakes, etc.  Participant assumes all risks of damage or injury in connection with such risks and agrees to indemnify and hold harmless ISDI and the Sponsoring Organization against any and all claims arising from Participant's travel to such destinations.  For additional information regarding hazards in specific destinations, Participant may consult the U.S. State Department and the Center for Disease Control.

Dates, schedules, program details, and costs stated by ISDI’s itinerary and brochure are given on good faith and based on information available at the time of publication of the brochure and of pricing the tour and are subject to change and revision at any time by ISDI.  ISDI does not guarantee the rates of any suppliers and reserve the right to substitute alternate suppliers if deemed necessary by ISDI.  ISDI and the Sponsoring Organization reserve the right to change Participant's itinerary if, in ISDI’s sole discretion, such change is advisable to protect Participant’s safety.  No refund shall be due from ISDI nor the Sponsoring Organization in conjunction with changes in rates or itineraries, substitution of suppliers, or Participant’s decision not to complete a tour itinerary.  ISDI and the Sponsoring Organization reserve the right to refuse to accept any Participant, cancel any tour at any time, or request a Participant to withdraw from a tour if, in ISDI's sole discretion, such refusal, cancellation, and/or withdrawal are in the best interest of Participant or other tour Participants.  Participants are encouraged not to purchase airline tickets until after receiving a letter stating that they are confirmed on the tour, and neither ISDI nor the Sponsoring Organization accepts liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable domestic ticket to the tour departure cities and return.  Baggage and personal effects are the sole responsibility of the owners at all times.

 

^ back to top