FOR YOUR INFORMATION
GUARANTEED TOURS
Many Maupintour vacations are guaranteed to operate. Ask at time of booking about our guaranteed departures.
GUARANTEED PRICES
Once your deposit is received at Maupintour, your vacation price is guaranteed. All prices are in U. S. Dollars.
TOUR PRICE INCLUDES
Professional tour manager. Your friendly, knowledgeable tour manager accompanies you for the complete length of the tour including on-tour flights and cruises. Your tour manager is there to take the worries out of your holiday.
Hotels. All hotel accommodations are included and offer private facilities. Maupintour selects only the better properties available, without relinquishing value and comfort. Selected for their convenience and scenic locations, Maupintour uses many world-famous hotels. Hotels are listed in the day-by-day itineraries.
Meals. Most meals are included in your vacation price. You can have a full breakfast, usually buffet, or the Continental style, it's your choice. Meals are a variety of a la carte, table d'hote, buffet and preplanned menus. Ample selections are provided wherever practical. Regional cuisines are often featured at special lunch and dinner parties. Coffee or tea is included with all meals, dessert is included with all lunches and dinners. See B-breakfast, L-lunch and D-dinners in day-by-day itineraries.
Transportation. All surface transportation while on tour is included whether by motorcoach, cruise ship, train, helicopter or boat, none of which are owned, operated or controlled by Maupintour.
Gratuities are included for all expected tipping to luggage porters, bellmen, doormen, dining room waiters and sightseeing guides - you needn't worry or bother. Even on escorted tours which include cruise or rail, all staff gratuities are included.
Driver gratuities are only included on international tours, not domestic tours.
Luggage handling. Handling of two pieces of normal sized luggage is included on international tours or domestic tours of 10 days or more. However, because of some on-tour airline and rail restrictions, we encourage you to bring only one normal size piece of luggage. One piece of luggage will be handled on other tours. If you wish, you may carry a flight bag. We also recommend you have luggage insurance.
Cruises. On escorted tours cruise tipping and shore sightseeing excursions shown in the itinerary are included.
Transfers on international tours are only provided when you use our preferred international flights. If you arrive earlier than our preferred international flight, you many wait for the transfer. Those arriving later must use local transportation to the hotel at their own expense. Likewise on departure.
Other services. Included are special events, sightseeing excursions, entrance fees, local guides, service charges, selected entertainment and appropriate taxes.
Single rooms. Hotel rates are per room, causing the tour price for rooms occupied by one person to be higher than those where two or more share the cost. We must therefore charge a supplement for single travelers to cover this additional cost. Some hotels have specific rooms for singles that may sometimes be smaller and not as well located.
Room share. We offer assistance in arranging room shares but cannot guarantee that one will be available. Singles who wish to share with another tour member should request this at the time of booking and will be booked as a single but willing to share if possible. If at departure there is another person willing to share then the single supplement amount will be refunded. If while on tour your roommate should cancel or leave the tour for any reason, we will charge you the single supplement or prorate thereof.
NOT INCLUDED
Transfers on domestic tours are not usually provided because tour members arrive independently at different times. However, transfers are provided on selected itineraries. Read the day-by-day itinerary for transfer information. Public transportation is readily available and your booking agent can advise.
Air transportation. The land tour rate does not include any air transportation, unless specified on the specific tour program. If you use Maupintour's preferred international flights, you will be met and transferred to the hotel. Maupintour preferred flights provide very competitive airfares. Be sure to have air tickets for the flights to join the tour and return flights, as well as any on-tour flights unless otherwise specified in the itinerary.
Personal expenses. Room service, phone calls, alcoholic beverages, optional activities and any other personal services or expenses are not included.
Pre-tour hotel rooms. If you prefer to arrive a day or so earlier than the planned arrival date (to better adjust to the time zone changes), Maupintour can assist with extra night reservations at most hotels on a space available basis. Ask Maupintour or your booking agent for details.
Tour manager and driver gratuities. The traditional end-of-trip gratuity to your tour manager is not included. If you feel your tour manager helped you enjoy your vacation, we suggest you enclose a gratuity in an envelope and present it individually at the end of the tour. Driver gratuities are only included on international tours, not on domestic tours.
THINGS YOU SHOULD KNOW
Tour documents will be issued to you after final payment including passport case, membership certificate, itinerary, joining instructions, luggage tags, travel tips booklet and other information. Travelers will also receive a Maupintour flight bag.
Passports/ Visas. When traveling internationally, U.S. Citizens require a valid passport. Visas may also be necessary. Maupintour can provide the necessary information to obtain visas for U.S. citizens only. It is the individual's responsibility to have the proper travel documents prior to departure.
HOW TO MAKE A RESERVATION
Telephone or write advising of your request along with full name, address including primary address and telephone number. The tour deposit is due seven days after receipt of request.
Signature Travel
3901 Main Street
Phila., PA 19127
Deposits. To hold space permanently, a deposit must be received by the due date. The "Dates & Rates" section of each tour shows the amount of the deposit required.
Final payment is due at Maupintour's office 60 days prior to tour departure.
IF YOU HAVE TO CANCEL
Unforeseen things happen and if you would have to cancel, regardless of reason, cancellations and transfers are very costly and usually do not occur with time for resale of reserved tour components. To offset these costs the following fees will apply. In order to be fair to all, no exceptions can be made. These fees may apply even though you might transfer to another tour departure date.
If you cancel, a $100 per person handling fee and non-recoverable expenses will be charged or whichever is greater of the following:
FOR YOUR PROTECTION
Tour Cancellation Protection Plan. To protect yourself against cancellation charges, Maupintour offers a Tour Cancellation Protection Plan (TCPP) at a (non-refundable) cost of $100 per person for international tours and $75 per person for domestic tours. This plan protects you in three ways:
The rail and cruise portion of a tour is not covered under regular TCPP and is subject to cancellation charges imposed by the rail or cruise lines.
Participation in TCPP begins when the fee is received by Maupintour at our office. TCPP fee is non-refundable and valid for applicant only. This is not an insurance policy and does not include any airline cancellation penalties or travel agent commission protection. TCPP is available only to residents of the USA and Canada.
Maupintour clients are covered by the National Tour Association (NTA) Consumer Protection Plan. Maupintour also belongs to ASTNs TOP Program, open only to select tour operators.
Insurance. We recommend you have luggage and accident insurance. Maupintour is not liable for loss, damage or theft, or for personal injury, accident or illness. We also recommend you have trip cancellation fee protection. You can purchase Maupintour's TCPP as described or your booking agent can suggest a travel insurance policy.
MISCELLANEOUS
Smoking is not permitted while on motorcoaches. Stops are available en route for photography and breaks, providing opportunities for smokers.
Seat rotation. Seats on the motorcoach will be rotated at least once a day.
Travelers with special needs. Your health is important. These active tours require walking to fully experience the destination. Special dietary preparations of food cannot be assured. For personal comfort, tour participants who require assistance are advised to have a companion who is capable of and totally responsible for providing the assistance. Maupintour is subject to the policies of facilities, accommodations and available transportation carriers, none of which are owned, leased or operated by Maupintour.
Maupintour reserves the right not to accept or retain anyone on tour whose condition or general deportment impedes the operation of the tour or affects the rights of other passengers. A refund of unused tour services is the limit of Maupintour's liability if a person is required to leave the tour.
Itinerary variations. If unforeseen conditions beyond our control necessitate changes, we reserve the right to vary itineraries and substitute the best alternatives available. If substitutes result in a lower cost, a refund will be made when you return home. During local or national holidays certain features such as museums, sightseeing tours and shopping may be limited or unavailable. In such instances and whenever possible, itinerary adjustments and substitutions are made to minimize inconvenience.
The responsibility of Maupintour (a Kansas corporation headquartered in Lawrence, Kansas) and/or its agents or cooperative co-sponsors is limited. We act only as an agent for the passenger in all matters connected with hotel and dining services, sightseeing tours and other suppliers of services, and transportation whether by rail, air, motorcoach, car, boat or any other means. As agent, Maupintour holds itself free of responsibility for any damage, injury or loss resulting from any cause. We cannot be responsible for any extra costs or losses resulting from any damage, expense or inconvenience caused by delays or canceled transportation services, changes of schedule, strikes or other conditions beyond Maupintour's control. Maupintour neither owns nor operates any of the suppliers of services. All suppliers of services are independent of Maupintour. Maupintour is neither responsible nor liable for actions of those not directly under our control.
Maupintour is not responsible for cancellation penalties imposed by airlines or other transportation carriers.
If any tour must be withdrawn prior to beginning tour date, Maupintour's liability is limited to a refund of monies received by us.
Carrier responsibility is limited. Carriers are not responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not on board their conveyances. The passenger contract in use by the carriers, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between carriers and purchasers and /or passengers of these tours. Any airline may be flown.
Please be sure to read the statement of responsibility printed on the Travel Document Questionnaire and Tour Membership Certificate in your tourdocuments.
Brochure information is for use through 1997. Similar vacations on similar dates will be offered again in 1998.
Professional Memberships: Maupintour is a member of the National Tour Association (NTA), Pacific Asia 'ftavel Association (PATA), American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) and Cruise Lines International Association (CLIA).
Maupintour's 46th Anniversary