Inclusive Prices
Event prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel accommodations, entertainment, land transportation, special dinners, airport transfers, sightseeing, luggage handling, and the services of the Tauck Directors, local guides and drivers are included. A representative of Tauck will meet you at Blue Grass Airport in Lexington and provide transportation to Griffin Gate Marriott Resort, provided that Tauck has accurate flight information at least two weeks prior to the first day of the event. On the last day of the event, Tauck will provide you with transportation from Griffin Gate Marriott Resort back to Blue Grass Airport.
Hotel Accommodations – The price of the event includes guest accommodations at Griffin Gate Marriott Resort. Two-bedded rooms with a private bath are generally reserved. Triples are usually two-bedded rooms plus a rollaway cot where available and are not recommended for comfort.
Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary. A variety of dining experiences may range from buffets to picnics to set menus at private events.
Tauck Director – The ‘Run for the Roses’ event is conducted by a team of Tauck Directors who will accompany you during the event. They are professional, fully trained employees of Tauck.
Gratuities Included – All appropriate gratuities for the hotel and restaurant staff, local guides and drivers, and Tauck Directors are included.
No Options Sold - Tauck Directors assist with information on free-time activities based on honest opinion and guidance, but they will not sell you anything. This means better value and a more relaxed, pleasant experience for you.
Not Included
Airfare to and from the event is not included. Airfare may be purchased from Tauck for travel originating in the United States.
Hotel Rooms Before and After the Event – To avoid jet lag and possible flight delays, you may wish to make hotel arrangements for the nights preceding or following this event. As a service, Tauck will book additional nights for you on a space-available basis using special rates only available through Tauck. Hotel room charges will be added to the event cost. If you wish to spend additional nights, please consult the
Extend This Journey section on this website and discuss it with the reservations agent when you book your tour.
Luggage Responsibility – Although every effort is made to handle your luggage carefully, we cannot be responsible, assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage and personal effects due to breakage, theft, or fair wear and tear through hotel, airline and group carrier handling. It is important for your own self-interest and protection that you make certain you have adequate insurance to cover these eventualities. Please refer to
Tauck Travel Protection for more information.
Personal Expenses - Phone calls, alcoholic and bar beverages, laundry and dry cleaning, airline excess luggage charges, visa fees and services, and other optional or incidental extras are not included and may be significant.
Additional Information
Airline Security Measures – If you are a U.S. citizen, you must provide identification in the form of a government-issued photo ID for travel within the U.S. at the time of airport check-in. Your government-issued photo ID name must match the name on your tour reservation and airline ticket or you may be denied boarding.
If you are a citizen of another country, you generally are required to present a passport and valid visa issued by a U.S. Consular Official, unless you are coming from a country eligible for the Visa Waiver Program, or are a lawful permanent resident of the U.S. or a citizen of Canada. For more information, please contact an embassy or consulate of the U.S. or log on to the U.S. Customs Border Protection Internet site by clicking here.
Air Services – Airfare may be purchased through Tauck for travel originating in the United States. By using Tauck's air services, you agree that Tauck, in purchasing, selling or otherwise arranging air transportation, is acting only as your agent and is not liable or responsible for any accident, death, personal injury, illness, property damage, delay or other loss or expense of any nature whatsoever arising directly or indirectly out of any act of God, or any actions or omissions (including any failure to provide services) or default of, any carrier. All carriers are independent contractors and are not owned, managed, controlled or operated by Tauck. Your airline ticket constitutes a contract between yourself and the airline (and not Tauck), even if purchased through Tauck. Tauck is not liable for, and does not assume responsibility or accept claims with regard to, seat assignments, schedule changes, flight changes, cancellations, claims for a refund or reimbursement of airline ticket fees, or any other loss incurred by you for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation to, bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar relief from creditors). Tauck must handle ticketing for Tauck's special fares, which are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed until reserved. Special fares cannot be combined with any other promotional offer. Tauck's air services can only be purchased in conjunction with a Tauck tour or event. Tickets or e-ticket numbers will be mailed with final documents. If you cancel or change your air before or after departure, all airline cancellation and change fees will apply.
Event Start and End Times are provided at the time of booking. The event begins at 7:00 p.m. local time at Griffin Gate Marriott Resort in Lexington. You or your booking agent will be advised of any change to this schedule. When making flight arrangements, please allow sufficient time to claim luggage and clear customs in order to join the event on time. The event ends upon your transfer to Blue Grass Airport on the last day of the event. When departing from Lexington, allow at least 2 hours for flight check-in.
Event Photography – Occasionally, Tauck will use photographs taken by fellow guests or your Tauck Director at the event for promotional purposes. If you prefer that your photo not be used in any marketing activities, please notify your Tauck Director at the start of the event.
Group Size – Due to the nature of the Run for the Roses event, Tauck expects a large number of guests and does not limit the size of the group.
Itinerary Changes and Price Flexibility – Tauck pledges to make every effort to operate the event as advertised. Tauck reserves the right to alter or curtail the itinerary, or substitute sightseeing, hotels, and/or conveyances as deemed necessary. Any savings realized by these changes will be refunded to you. Any resultant added expense will be covered by Tauck. Although not expected, prices on this website may be modified due to unexpected significant external factors not forecasted at the time of printing.
Membership will be granted to all persons. Tauck reserves the right to terminate the event participation of any person who is abusive of others or whose behavior disrupts the event.
Preparing to Go
Air Conditioning – All motor coaches and hotels are air conditioned for your comfort.
ATM and Credit Cards - Tauck recommends that you contact your bank in advance of departing for this event to determine whether you will be able to use your ATM and credit cards while traveling. When contacting your bank, notify them of your travel dates so that they will anticipate charges being made outside of your hometown and do not suspend your cards for what may appear to them to be “suspicious” charges. Tauck also recommends that you make a photocopy of the front and back sides of your ATM and credit cards to leave behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your cards are misplaced, lost or stolen.
Clothing and Packing – Dress for comfort and convenience with a wardrobe that is adaptable and allows for layering. Casual, cotton resort wear is suggested. For the welcome reception and the farewell dinner you may wish to dress up a bit – jacket and tie for men, casually-elegant outfit for women - but by all means be comfortable. On Derby Day the atmosphere is festive and men usually wear jacket and tie and women wear dresses and hats.
Bathrobes, hairdryers, irons and ironing boards are provided in each hotel room.
The Griffin Gate Marriott Resort provides valet laundry and dry cleaning services.
We recommend that you pack an adequate supply of your prescription medication in its original container to last through your entire journey, together with a copy of your doctor’s prescription or a letter from your health-care provider on office stationery explaining that the medication has been prescribed for you, a list of the generic names of your medication, your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bag to avoid any inconvenience in the event that your flight or luggage is delayed.
Following is a list of recommended items to pack for Tauck’s 5-day Run for the Roses event:
- Jacket and tie for men
- Casually-elegant outfits for women
- Short and long-sleeved cotton shirts
- Shorts, slacks and jeans
- Tee shirts
- Socks
- Comfortable walking shoes that have already been broken-in
- Light sweater
- Light jacket
- Light raincoat and rain hat
- Collapsible umbrella
- Sunglasses, sunscreen and sun hat
- Insect repellent
- Camera, lenses, batteries, memory cards and plenty of film
- Daypack for camera equipment
- Copies of your travel documents that should be secured in the safe in your hotel room while traveling
Health – While the Run for the Roses event is relaxing and the pace leisurely, to fully enjoy all the event has to offer, you should be in fairly good health and able to walk reasonable distances over uneven surfaces, as some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot. For the most part, however, the amount of walking you do is at your discretion.
Derby Day is a long day; you will arrive at Churchill Downs at approximately 9 a.m. and will not return to the hotel until approximately 9 p.m. All sites are wheelchair accessible, but movement is a challenge due to the large number of people attending the Derby. The same conditions apply at the Oaks Day Race on Friday.
Tauck will have a private hospitality tent in Marquee Village. There you will find an air-conditioned refuge, where you may dine, drink, bet on the races or watch the races via closed circuit TV. Tauck will have reserved seats for the day of racing along Churchill Downs’ First Turn.
We regret that we cannot provide you with individual assistance for walking, dining or other personal needs. If you require such assistance, you must be accompanied by an able companion who will help you.
Please check with your health insurance provider to determine whether you are covered while traveling. If you will not be covered under your current policy, we strongly suggest that you arrange for adequate coverage while at this event.
If you have a medical condition that might limit your participation in activities, please consult your physician for pre-departure health advice and notify Tauck as soon as possible, if you have not already done so. We will advise your Tauck Director accordingly.
No vaccinations are currently required for travel to the U.S.
Luggage Restrictions:
Checked Luggage – General
While it is common for airlines to allow passengers to check more than one piece of luggage per person, space constraints during your Tauck journey make it difficult to accommodate extra luggage. We ask that you limit your checked luggage to one average size suitcase per person.
In addition, airlines have adopted more strict policies in enforcing size and weight limits. Luggage exceeding maximum restrictions may require expensive overage fees, frustrating and hurried re-packing at the ticket counter, or even risk being left behind.
As of June 2006, many carriers require checked luggage not exceed a weight of 50 lbs (22.7 kg) per piece. Airlines revise luggage policies frequently and often without notice; therefore, Tauck cannot be held liable to the weight limit listed above. We urge you to check with your airline before traveling to determine current weight and size restrictions. It is also important to note that restrictions for luggage size and weight may vary with the same airline based on the class of service you select. First and Business Class ticket holders may have different restrictions than Coach Class travelers.
Tauck World Discovery cannot be held liable for additional fees or inconveniences imposed by the airline due to luggage size, piece or weight policies.
Please be sure to attach your Tauck luggage tag to your suitcase before leaving home.
Carry-on Luggage - General:
Although oversized bags and wheeled, carry-on luggage are popular for airline travel, they are often not convenient or appropriate for motor coach travel or for many on-tour flights. Most modern sightseeing motor coaches offer limited space for numerous or larger items. Space under seats or in the overhead rack is typically small, and designed to accommodate items like coats, hats, purses, and small camera bags, etc.
For your day-to-day travel while on tour, we recommend that you limit your hand luggage to a small, soft-sided carry-on piece, and only those items you need handy during the day such as purses, make-up, medications, cameras, film, etc. Items too large to fit under the motor coach seat or in the overhead rack must be stored in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, and may not allow for access during daytime travel.
Travel Document Requirements – Please refer to the above section entitled ‘Airline Security Measures’.
Tauck strongly recommends that your passport be valid for six months beyond the completion of your tour. Also, Tauck recommends that you make at least two photocopies of all the travel documents that you bring with you. Include copies of the photo page of your passport that contains the date of issuance, date of expiration and your citizenship, as well as the front and back sides of your driver’s license. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your hotel room while traveling and leave one set behind with someone at home who will assist you in the event your documents or cards are misplaced, lost or stolen.
Travel with Children – If you travel into or out of the U.S. with children under the age of 18, you should be aware of the following: because of increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody cases and because children are at risk as possible victims of child pornography, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) strongly recommends that unless the child is accompanied by both parents, you should have a note from the child's other parent (or, in the case of a child traveling with grandparents, uncles or aunts, sisters or brothers, or friends, a note signed by both parents) stating that the parent(s) not traveling acknowledge that the parent(s), family members, etc. who are traveling out of the country with the child have permission to do so.
CBP also suggests that this note be notarized. While CBP may not ask to see this documentation, if they do ask, and you do not have it, you may be detained until the circumstances of the child traveling without both parents can be fully assessed.
If there is no second parent with legal claims to the child (deceased, sole custody, etc.) any other relevant paperwork, such as a court decision, birth certificate naming only one parent, death certificate, etc., would be useful.
All children who are U.S. citizens should also have a certified copy of their birth certificate or baptism record for ID. Children over the age of 14 are also required to have a photo ID.
Tauck is not responsible for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for any travelers, including children traveling without both parents. While there is no definitive format or standards for these letters, Tauck does offer for
download a sample letter for guardians or one parent traveling with a child.
Destination Information
Cell Phones - We understand and appreciate the value of instant communication when we travel; it keeps us in touch with friends and family, and it's a reassurance in the event of an emergency. However, the use of cell phones can be disruptive to an event and to other guests who are enjoying their vacation. As a courtesy to others, we ask that you refrain from using your cell phone during motor coach travel, group functions, when sightseeing and when the Tauck Director is addressing the group as a whole. There are usually ample opportunities to make or receive calls at times when it does not impact others.
Please contact your cell phone carrier to determine whether your cell phone will operate while at the Kentucky Derby.
Currency and Exchange Rates – The official U.S. currency is the U.S. dollar. Griffin Gate Marriott Resort can exchange foreign currencies on a limited basis.
To obtain the most current exchange rates you may want to check your local newspaper or log on to the Internet website,
www.oanda.com.
Customs and Tax-Free Shopping – If you are not a U.S resident, you should contact an embassy or consulate of the U.S. to determine what customs regulations apply to your travel to the U.S. In general, if you are not a resident of the U.S., you do not have to pay import duty on the following items: 50 cigars or 200 cigarettes or 2 kilograms of tobacco, or a proportionate mix of these, and if you are over 21 years of age, you may import 1 U.S. quart of alcoholic beverages. You may also enter the U.S. with gifts valued at $100 USD or less provided your stay in the U.S. is not less than 72 hours and that the allowance has not been used in the preceding six-month period. The CBP maintains a website which may assist you in determining which laws apply. To access that website, please log on to the Internet by clicking here.
The individual states within the U.S. levy sales taxes on consumer goods and services. There is no federal tax system similar to the Value Added Tax system used abroad that would allow travelers who are not U.S. residents to obtain refunds of the sales taxes levied by each state.
If you are not a U.S. citizen, please refer to your own country’s rules and regulations regarding customs and duty-free shopping to ensure compliance when you return home.
Electrical Current – The electrical current in Kentucky 110 V, 60 Hz, AC, which accommodates standard U.S. plugs having either two flat pins or two flat pins and a round grounding pin. If you bring electrical devices that are not compatible with this system you should bring the appropriate adapters and converters.
Time Zones – Lexington, Kentucky, is 5 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (or Greenwich Mean Time). In May, Lexington will be 4 hours behind, due to Daylight Savings Time.
To determine current time in major cities around the world, we suggest you log on to the Internet website,
www.timeanddate.com.
Weather – The weather in May in Kentucky is mild. The average high temperature is 74°F (23°C) and the average low temperature is 54°F (12°C). The average rainfall for the month is 4.8 in (122 mm).
To determine current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website,
www.weather.com.
If You Have to Cancel
Cancellation Fees – Regardless of reason, cancellations of confirmed bookings result in Tauck incurring costly penalties and cancellation fees from our travel and hotel providers. Therefore, if you have to cancel a confirmed booking, Tauck will charge you a cancellation fee according to when your cancellation notice is received in our Norwalk, CT office. To help limit your liability, Tauck offers
Tauck Travel Protection.
If you choose to purchase Tauck’s Guest Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver, you will have your cancellation penalties reduced. Click
here for more details.
If you choose not to purchase Tauck’s Guest Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver, you will incur cancellation penalties per person as follows:
60 days or more before departure
$2,000 per person (the amount of the deposit)
59-30 days before departure
$2,500 per person
29-1 days before departure
Loss of 100% of the cost of the event, per person
