20th Anniversary Journey:
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Paris - Budapest - Bucharest - Istanbul
Friday 29th August 2003
Board the gleaming blue and gold carriages of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express at Paris' Gare de l' Est, mid-afternoon. Departure is scheduled for 3:40 p.m. After being greeted by your steward, settle into your private compartment. Later enjoy a delicious dinner on board and overnight on the train.Saturday 30th August 2003
Relax and enjoy the scenery as the VSOE travels into Hungary. Continental breakfast is served in your compartment and lunch will be taken in one of the opulent dining cars. Upon arrival in Budapest at 4 p.m., transfer to the Marriott Hotel. Private dinner at a nearby restaurant and overnight in Budapest.Sunday 31st August 2003
After breakfast at the hotel, enjoy a guided tour of the city of Budapest, with lunch at a local restaurant included. The city is divided by the mighty Danube River into 'Buda' and 'Pest'. Rejoin the VSOE about 6:25 p.m. Perhaps enjoy an aperitif in the Bar Car before dinner as the train travels into Romania. Overnight onboard.Monday 1st September 2003
After breakfast this morning, the train arrives at the mountain town of Sinaia at 8:20 a.m. Disembark for a visit to beautiful Peles Castle, which was also visited by the very first Orient-Express passengers in 1883. Rejoin the train at 10:50 a.m. to complete the short journey to Bucharest. On arrival transfer to the Athenée Palace Hilton Hotel where a late lunch is served. In the afternoon there will be a short city sightseeing tour. Dinner and overnight in Bucharest.
Tuesday 2nd September 2003
Rejoin the VSOE mid-morning as it travels south across the Danube and into Bulgaria. During the afternoon, a stop is made to enjoy this pretty, rural country. Lunch and dinner are served on board the train as your journey continues. This final night is spent on board VSOE.Wednesday 3rd September 2003
Early this morning the train enters Turkey and crosses the Thracian Plain. After breakfast and lunch on board, the VSOE arrives in Istanbul in late afternoon, at the end of a fascinating and unique journey across 7 countries and cultures. The VSOE is scheduled for arrival at 3:30 p.m.
TOUR Summary
Departs: Paris 29th August 2003
Arrives: Istanbul 3rd September 2003
Accommodation:
Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Paris-Budapest,
1 night Marriott Hotel, Budapest
1 night Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, Budapest-Bucharest
1 night Athenee Palace Hilton, Bucharest
1 night Vencie simplon-Orient-Express, Bucharest-Istanbul
Meals: All meals are included while on the train
Table d'hôte meals on board Venice Simplon-Orient-Express
Dinner, breakfast and lunch in Budapest
Lunch, dinner and breakfast in Bucharest
Also included in the tour are:
Guided sightseeing tours in Budapest: Peles Castle, Sinaia and Bucharest, Bulgaria. (All tours are conducted in English unless sufficient numbers permit the provision of other language guides.)
Transfers to and from the hotels in Budapest and Bucharest
Hotel service charges and room tax
Services of your hosts, Eleanor & Owen HardyNot included in the tour are:
Transfers to VSOE in Paris and from VSOE in Istanbul, unless booked separately
Personal insurance
Drinks (soft drinks, wine and alcoholic beverages) on board VSOE
Visas where required
Hotel extras (i.e. telephone, laundry)
Gratuities to the train staff are at your discretionNote
VSOE will require in advance full passport and travel details of all passengers in order to prepare border-crossing formalities.Cost of VSOE:
$5,745 per person, double occupancy
$1,262 single supplementPlease note: if you wish to upgrade your space on the VSOE, it is possible to put two bedrooms together by opening an adjoining door between the compartments. This would allow two lower beds, if desired. The cost for this option for two people is $5,745 per person plus $1,262 per person.
Pre- and Post-Tour Options:
We will be offering two-night pre- and post-tour options in Paris and Istanbul, including hotel overnights, champagne reception, dinner and tours. In addition, we can arrange any additional extension you may wish, including extra hotel nights, car rental and/or rail tickets or passes in Europe if you wish to extend your vacation. We will contact you with details as soon as they are finalized.
Air Arrangements:
We are happy to arrange coach, business or first class air for this journey on an individual basis.Call today to book your space! We have blocked space for 40 specially invited Society members. A 15% deposit is due in order to confirm your booking. This deposit is 100% refundable until January 7, 2003. Final payment is due 120 days prior to departure. Please read our booking conditions in full.
Booking Conditions
How to Book: Call our tour desk at 1-800-IRT-4881 to make a reservation. A deposit of 15% of the total trip cost is required. Deposits can be made by check or credit card (Mastercard, Visa, or Discover). Reservations are on a first-come, first-served basis. Final payment is due May 2, 2003, 120 days before departure. A remittance advice form is required for final payments made by credit card.
Passport: A valid passport is required, valid for six months after departure from U.S.
Cancellations: Notice of cancellations must be received by this office in writing. If cancellation occurs prior to January 7, 2003, a full refund will be given. Cancellations made between January 7 and the final payment due date will result in the loss of the deposit. Final payment is due 120 days prior to departure, May 2, 2003; after this date payment is 100% non-refundable. No refunds will be made in the event of "no-shows" or cancellations the day of the trip. No refund will be given for unused portions of the tour. No refund for airline tickets once issued.
Insurance: We strongly recommend that all passengers protect themselves with tour insurance to cover costs in the event of cancellation. Upon booking (or in advance upon request), we will send a brochure about Travelex tour interruption/cancellation insurance. We recommend purchasing coverage immediately upon booking. In order to cover pre-existing conditions, coverage must be purchased within 10 days of the initial trip deposit.
Minimum Participants: The tour must have at least 40 passengers in order to qualify for special group rates
Prices: This tour price is based on currency exchange rates in effect at the time of printing. In the event of revaluation or devaluation of U.S. currency, the tour operator reserves the right to make adjustments.
Price does not include: Passport and visa fees; personal expenses such as laundry; telephone calls; meals and alcoholic beverages not listed in the included section; optional sightseeing excursions; services other than those specifically mentioned in the included section; accident; sickness, trip cancellation and baggage insurance; and excess baggage charges.
Medical: Any physical or mental condition that may require special attention must be reported in writing. All Society trips require some walking on the train itself and during tours.
Baggage: Baggage and personal effects are taken at owner's risk throughout the trip and baggage insurance is strongly recommended. Please note that baggage limitations vary from country to country, depending on where The Society travels. Luggage space on this train is restricted to two suitcases and two smaller bags. Seasoned travelers pack overnight and evening requirements in light suitcases for the cabin and heavier bags are checked-in through to the final destination. There is no maximum baggage allowance for this tour, but most national and international airlines permit no more than 44 pounds per passenger. Private transfers and baggage handling will be offered on an optional basis in Paris and Istanbul.
Responsibility: The Society of International Railway Travelers, Inc. (IRT) and Hardy Publishing Co., Inc. (HPC), parent company of The Society of International Railway Travelers, act only as agents for the passenger with respect to travel services. IRT and HPC do not own or operate any of the suppliers of services or accommodations for your trip. As a result, IRT and HPC are not responsible for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such supplier of any other third party over whom IRT and HPC has no control.
We can assume no responsibility nor liability in whole or in part for any delays, delayed or changed departure or arrival, missed carrier connections, loss, damage, weather, strikes, acts of God, circumstances beyond our control, force majeure, war, quarantine, criminal activity, expense, accident, sickness, injury or death to person or property, or mechanical defect, failure, or negligence of any nature howsoever caused in connection with any accommodations, restaurant, transportation or other services, for any substitution of hotels or of common carrier equipment beyond our control, with or without notice, or for any additional expenses occasioned thereby. If due to weather, flight schedules or other uncontrollable factors you are required to spend an additional night, you will be responsible for your own hotel, transfers and meal costs. No refund will be made for any unused portion of the tour due to these causes or voluntary cancellations. Baggage is at the owner's risk entirely.
No revisions of the printed itinerary or the "included" section are anticipated; however, IRT and HPC reserve the right to make changes at any time and for any reason, with or without notice, and IRT and HPC shall not be liable for any loss whatsoever to passengers by reason of such cancellation, substitution or changes. All fares as well as ship and train schedules, port calls, hours of arrival and departure, special programs, and guest lecture series (if applicable), are subject to change without prior notice. IRT and HPC shall not be required to refund any portion of the fare or make any other compensation under these circumstances. IRT and HPC cannot be responsible for penalties assessed by air carriers that may result due to operational and/or itinerary changes, regardless if the passenger and/or IRT and HPC make the flight arrangements. Any additional expenses resulting from the above will be paid by the individual passenger. IRT and HPC reserve the right to substitute a similar category for those listed in this brochure. IRT and HPC reserve the right to increase the tour price in the event of cost increases due to changes in air fares, changes in the itinerary, currency fluctuations or fuel surcharges and such increases are to be paid to IRT and HPC by the tour participant upon notice to the tour participant of such increases.
When issued, the air tickets shall constitute the sole contract between the air company concerned and the purchaser of these tours and/or passenger. Please note that advertised air rates can change before ticketing. The airlines and other transportation companies concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission, or events during the time passengers are not on board their conveyances.
By forwarding of deposit or final payment by either check or credit card, the passenger certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical or other condition of disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other passengers and accepts the terms of this contract. IRT and HPC reserves the right to decline to accept or retain any person as a tour member should such a person's health, mental condition, physical infirmity or attitude jeopardize the operation of the tour or the rights, welfare, or enjoyment of other participants.
Behavior: Passengers are expected to behave in a reasonable manner toward other passengers, IRT personnel and other persons with whom we have contact during our tour. If a passenger behaves, in the opinion of our tour leader, in a way likely to disrupt the enjoyment or endanger the safety of other passengers, the tour leader will issue him with a verbal warning. Should this not resolve the matter, a second, written warning will be issued. If the disruptive behavior continues after the second warning, then the passenger will be removed from the tour and will have to make his own arrangements to return home. No refunds for the untraveled portion of the tour will be entertained. The right is retained to refuse any application for reservation(s), cancel any reservation(s) or decline to accept or retain any person as a member of the tour group at any time.
Acceptance of terms: Upon payment of a deposit, by either check or credit card, tour participants indicate acceptance of all stated IRT and HPC terms and conditions.
Optional Activities that may be Dangerous: Depending on the itinerary you have selected, optional activities furnished by independent suppliers will be available at some of the places you will visit. Some of these activities carry with them the inherent risk of serious personal injury. These activities include, but are not necessarily limited to: walking safaris; horseback /elephant back/camel safaris; canoe trips, white-water rafting and river cruises; hot-air balloon trips and gorilla-tracking on foot; locomotive foot-plate rides, cab rides or photo run-bys; helicopter rides scuba diving; shark diving; boat rides. You should be aware that your safety cannot be guaranteed. Should you elect to participate in such activities while you are on tour, you are of course, free to do so. However, you must understand that such participation will be at your own risk, and that The Society of International Railway Travelers, Inc. assumes no responsibility for your safety.
Complaints: The stated mission of The Society of International Railway Travelers is to offer the very best in rail travel around the globe for our members. However, if you have a complaint during your journey, please bring it to the attention to your tour leader as quickly as you can. Should the problem remain unsolved, please write to the Society at its main office at 1810 Sils Ave., Louisville, KY 40205). Our desire is to set things right. We cannot accept liability for any claims not made to us in writing within two months of completion of your journey. We also cannot tender any refunds for any reason outside the terms set forth above. All claims will be settled by arbitration in Louisville, Kentucky.
Please call us with questions, bookings:
800-IRT-4881
www.irtsociety.com
Send us e-mail with comments or questions
