2009 – 8 Days from $2,350
From Philadelphia to Washington DC tour landscapes that have seen centuries of historic events, and walk in America’s footsteps. Travel back in time on an enchanting carriage ride along Philadelphia's historic tree-lined streets. Visit the poignant battlefields of the Civil War in Gettysburg, where a storyteller reveals what it was like to be a civilian during the famous battle. Appreciate America’s scenic beauty through the rolling hills of Pennsylvania and along the Skyline Drive in Shenandoah National Park. Discover the distinctive cultural influences that came together to create Jamestown, the first permanent English colony in the New World, at an educational lecture. In Colonial Williamsburg, meet 18th-century "residents," dine at a colonial tavern featuring colonial-era menus, recipes and dishes, and take a candlelight ghost walk. Tour the magnificent homes of Thomas Jefferson at Monticello and George Washington at Mount Vernon. Finally, discover the past and present on a Washington DC tour, including sightseeing of the capital's spectacular monuments illuminated at night.
Day 1- Welcome to Philadelphia
The City of Brotherly Love abounds with history and charm. Your Philadelphia to Washington DC tour begins at 5:00 PM at the Sheraton Society Hill Hotel. A transfer is included from Philadelphia International Airport to the Sheraton Society Hill Hotel. You might want to schedule your arrival a day ahead of time to explore Philadelphia on your own, seeing sights like the Liberty Bell or the Constitution Center. Please join us and meet your fellow travelers at a welcome cocktail reception and dinner this evening on the Moshulu, a tall ship turned elegant restaurant on Philadelphia's waterfront.
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Sheraton Society Hill Hotel, Philadelphia, PA
Day 2 – Historic Philadelphia and Lancaster County
Your journey down America's road to independence begins with a horse-drawn carriage ride through the beautiful tree-lined streets of Philadelphia. After a visit to Independence Hall, journey to Lancaster County, home of the Amish. With their simple ways, the Amish still live very much as their ancestors did, without all the modern conveniences that we take for granted. Gain insights into the Amish culture during a tour with a local guide and continue on your Philadelphia to Washington DC tour to historic Gettysburg. Tonight, a storyteller in Civil War-period garb describes the civilian experience during the battle of Gettysburg at an exclusive Tauck dessert reception.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Wyndham Gettysburg, PA
Day 3 – The Civil War battlefields of Gettysburg
Sense the haunting quality of the battlefields where this decisive battle of the Civil War was fought during a visit to Gettysburg National Military Park; you'll have sufficient free time to visit the park's newly opened $135-million Museum and Visitor Center. Journey into Virginia along the famous Skyline Drive, a National Scenic Byway, and the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains; spend the night in a lodge inside Shenandoah National Park.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Big Meadows Lodge / Skyland Resort Lodge, Shenandoah National Park, VA
Day 4 – Legacy of Thomas Jefferson - and dine in a tavern
Journey to Charlottesville and explore Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's fantastic colonial mansion, where you'll feel the presence of the great statesman, scientist, founding father and 3rd U.S. President throughout the estate he designed himself and remodeled extensively over the last 40 years of his life. Spend the next two nights in Colonial Williamsburg, restored much as it was when it was Virginia's colonial capital; dinner tonight is at one of Williamsburg’s famous taverns, featuring colonial-era fare, followed by a ghost walk by candlelight through the restoration's cobblestone streets.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Williamsburg Lodge, Williamsburg, VA
Day 5 – Living history at Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg awaits your independent exploration today. Restored to its 18th-century glory and inhabited by interpreters living its 18th-century lifestyle, a visit to this colonial city is a true step back in time. There is so much to discover about life in colonial times today.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Williamsburg Lodge, Williamsburg, VA
Day 6 – Historic Jamestown and a Washington DC tour by night
En route to Washington DC tour the first English settlement in America at Jamestown, established 400 years ago as the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. You have an opportunity to contrast three cultures that converged here – Powhatan Indians, the English and the Africans – at a lecture, and take a walking tour to see gallery exhibitions focusing on America's early heritage. Continue on to America's capital city for a Washington DC tour at night – the illuminated monuments are a special sight.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Renaissance Mayflower Hotel, Washington, DC
Day 7 – From historic Mount Vernon to a Washington DC tour by day
Take an excursion to the beloved Mount Vernon estate of George Washington, overlooking the Potamic River; explore the estate and its state-of-the-art interactive museum as you tour the mansion and landscaped grounds. Depart Mount Vernon and return to the capital for a daytime Washingon DC tour featuring such stirring sights as the poignant memorials to those who served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, as well as the Lincoln Memorial. Attend a special farewell cocktail reception and dinner tonight.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Renaissance Mayflower Hotel, Washington, DC
Day 8 – Tauck's Williamsburg & Washington DC tour concludes
Tauck's Philadelphia to Washington DC tour ends in Washington, DC. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel to Ronald Reagan National Airport or Dulles International Airport; allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in formalities.
Meals: Breakfast
Don’t miss this opportunity to experience five centuries of American history
Airline Security Measures – In the U.S., you must provide identification in the form of a passport at the time of airport check-in for travel to international destinations. Your passport name must match the name on your tour reservation and airline ticket or you may be denied boarding.
If you are traveling from an airport outside the jurisdiction of the U.S, you will need to determine what travel documentation and identification is required for that particular airport.
Due to heightened security regulations, certain items such as a metal nail file, pocketknife, cigarette lighter, or tweezers, and some liquid, gel, and aerosol items may not be permitted in your carry-on luggage. Please call your airline prior to departure to obtain current information on non-permissible carry-on items and recommended airport check-in times.
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.
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 – Williamsburg & Washington, DC begins and ends in the U.S.
Travel with Children
Age Recommendations – Children 5 years of age or older at the time of travel are welcome on this Tauck journey. Based upon our experience with family travelers, for each itinerary we have a minimum recommended age to encourage comfort and enjoyment for all of our guests. All children must be accompanied on activities by a parent or guardian. At least one guest in the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older in order to make a reservation.
Babysitting – Tauck journeys are designed for adults and children to share the wonder of discovery together. However, our guests have occasionally inquired about babysitting services. If you are interested, your Tauck Director will put you in contact with the appropriate hotel staff with whom you may make babysitting arrangements, to ensure your precise needs are met. There is usually an additional fee for these services. Many hotels do offer babysitting services that may be arranged on site; however, babysitting services are not guaranteed at all of our hotels. Please note that our Tauck Directors are not responsible for providing babysitting services.
Safety and Welfare Responsibility – Tauck welcomes the participation of child travelers on our exciting excursions. For safety and security purposes, children under 18 years of age must be booked into a room with at least one accompanying adult. If you are traveling with a child on a Tauck journey, you have the sole responsibility for ensuring that that the child with whom you are traveling follows all rules of safety throughout the tour. By traveling with Tauck, you release Tauck, Inc. and our partners of all liability for any risks and/or injuries to the child with whom you are traveling.
Special Travel Documentation for Children
Authorization for Travel
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 into or out of the U.S. 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.
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 a tour 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 affect others.
Please contact your cell phone carrier to determine whether your service extends to Williamsburg and Washington.
Currency and Exchange Rates - The U.S. dollar (USD) is the unit of currency and is divided into 100 cents. Only major banks exchange foreign currency. ATMs are widespread and credit cards and travelers’ checks are widely accepted. Travelers’ checks should be taken in U.S. dollars to avoid hassles. Banking hours are generally Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
To obtain the most current exchange rate, 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 resident of the United States, you are normally entitled to a duty-free exemption of $100 USD on items that you bring into the U.S. To find out more information on what information must be provided to U.S. Customs and Border Control (CBP) upon entry, please refer to the CBP internet website by clicking here. You should also refer to your own country’s rules and regulations regarding customs and duty-free shopping to ensure compliance upon your return.
The individual states within the U.S. levy sales taxes on consumer goods and services. There is no federal tax similar to the Value Added Tax (VAT) used in other countries that would permit non-residents to obtain refunds of the sales taxes levied by each state.
To read about current weather conditions, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, www.weather.com
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 its Norwalk, CT, office. To help limit your liability, Tauck offers a Tauck Protection Plan.
If you choose to purchase Tauck’s Guest Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver, you will have your cancellation penalties waived. Please click here for more information.
If you choose not to purchase the Tauck Protection Plan, you will incur cancellation penalties per person as follows:
2009 Itinerary
Day 1- Welcome to Philadelphia
The City of Brotherly Love abounds with history and charm. Your Philadelphia to Washington DC tour begins at 5:00 PM at the Sheraton Society Hill Hotel. A transfer is included from Philadelphia International Airport to the Sheraton Society Hill Hotel. You might want to schedule your arrival a day ahead of time to explore Philadelphia on your own, seeing sights like the Liberty Bell or the Constitution Center. Please join us and meet your fellow travelers at a welcome cocktail reception and dinner this evening on the Moshulu, a tall ship turned elegant restaurant on Philadelphia's waterfront.
Meals: Dinner
Lodging: Sheraton Society Hill Hotel, Philadelphia, PA
Day 2 – Historic Philadelphia and Lancaster County
Your journey down America's road to independence begins with a horse-drawn carriage ride through the beautiful tree-lined streets of Philadelphia. After a visit to Independence Hall, journey to Lancaster County, home of the Amish. With their simple ways, the Amish still live very much as their ancestors did, without all the modern conveniences that we take for granted. Gain insights into the Amish culture during a tour with a local guide and continue on your Philadelphia to Washington DC tour to historic Gettysburg. Tonight, a storyteller in Civil War-period garb describes the civilian experience during the battle of Gettysburg at an exclusive Tauck dessert reception.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Wyndham Gettysburg, PA
Day 3 – The Civil War battlefields of Gettysburg
Sense the haunting quality of the battlefields where this decisive battle of the Civil War was fought during a visit to Gettysburg National Military Park; you'll have sufficient free time to visit the park's newly opened $135-million Museum and Visitor Center. Journey into Virginia along the famous Skyline Drive, a National Scenic Byway, and the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains; spend the night in a lodge inside Shenandoah National Park.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Big Meadows Lodge / Skyland Resort Lodge, Shenandoah National Park, VA
Day 4 – Legacy of Thomas Jefferson - and dine in a tavern
Journey to Charlottesville and explore Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's fantastic colonial mansion, where you'll feel the presence of the great statesman, scientist, founding father and 3rd U.S. President throughout the estate he designed himself and remodeled extensively over the last 40 years of his life. Spend the next two nights in Colonial Williamsburg, restored much as it was when it was Virginia's colonial capital; dinner tonight is at one of Williamsburg’s famous taverns, featuring colonial-era fare, followed by a ghost walk by candlelight through the restoration's cobblestone streets.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Williamsburg Lodge, Williamsburg, VA
Day 5 – Living history at Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg awaits your independent exploration today. Restored to its 18th-century glory and inhabited by interpreters living its 18th-century lifestyle, a visit to this colonial city is a true step back in time. There is so much to discover about life in colonial times today.
Meals: Breakfast
Lodging: Williamsburg Lodge, Williamsburg, VA
Day 6 – Historic Jamestown and a Washington DC tour by night
En route to Washington DC tour the first English settlement in America at Jamestown, established 400 years ago as the first permanent English settlement in the Americas. You have an opportunity to contrast three cultures that converged here – Powhatan Indians, the English and the Africans – at a lecture, and take a walking tour to see gallery exhibitions focusing on America's early heritage. Continue on to America's capital city for a Washington DC tour at night – the illuminated monuments are a special sight.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Renaissance Mayflower Hotel, Washington, DC
Day 7 – From historic Mount Vernon to a Washington DC tour by day
Take an excursion to the beloved Mount Vernon estate of George Washington, overlooking the Potamic River; explore the estate and its state-of-the-art interactive museum as you tour the mansion and landscaped grounds. Depart Mount Vernon and return to the capital for a daytime Washingon DC tour featuring such stirring sights as the poignant memorials to those who served in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, as well as the Lincoln Memorial. Attend a special farewell cocktail reception and dinner tonight.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Renaissance Mayflower Hotel, Washington, DC
Day 8 – Tauck's Williamsburg & Washington DC tour concludes
Tauck's Philadelphia to Washington DC tour ends in Washington, DC. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from the Renaissance Mayflower Hotel to Ronald Reagan National Airport or Dulles International Airport; allow a minimum of two hours for flight check-in formalities.
Meals: Breakfast
Don’t miss this opportunity to experience five centuries of American history
for yourself on Tauck's popular Philadelphia to Washington DC tour!
Inclusive Prices
Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel accommodations, motor coach transportation, sightseeing, special dinners, admissions, luggage handling, and the services of the Tauck Director, local drivers and guides are included. A representative of Tauck will meet you at Philadelphia International Airport and provide transportation to the Sheraton Society Hill Hotel, regardless of the day and time of your arrival, provided you have furnished us with accurate flight arrival information at least two weeks prior to the start of your tour. Tauck will also provide transportation from the Mayflower Renaissance Hotel to Ronald Reagan National Airport or Dulles International Airport on the day of your departure.
Hotel Accommodations – The tour price includes all hotel accommodations with private baths. The Tauck standard is to provide the best available accommodations without sacrificing value. Although the quality may differ slightly from place to place, this standard remains uncompromised. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are two-bedded rooms with a rollaway cot when available and are not recommended for comfort.
When visiting Colonial Williamsburg, Tauck reserves rooms at the Williamsburg Lodge. On a limited, space-available basis and for an additional $225 USD per person, double occupancy, or $450 USD per person, single occupancy, you may reserve accommodations at the Williamsburg Inn. Triples accommodations are only available at the Williamsburg Lodge.
Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.
Tauck Director – Williamsburg & Washington, DC is conducted by a Tauck Director who will remain with the group throughout the tour. Your Tauck Director is a professional, fully trained employee of Tauck.
Gratuities Included – All appropriate gratuities for hotel and restaurant staffs and local guides are included.
No Options Sold – Your Tauck Directors will assist you 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 and pleasant experience for you.
Hotel Accommodations – The tour price includes all hotel accommodations with private baths. The Tauck standard is to provide the best available accommodations without sacrificing value. Although the quality may differ slightly from place to place, this standard remains uncompromised. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples are two-bedded rooms with a rollaway cot when available and are not recommended for comfort.
When visiting Colonial Williamsburg, Tauck reserves rooms at the Williamsburg Lodge. On a limited, space-available basis and for an additional $225 USD per person, double occupancy, or $450 USD per person, single occupancy, you may reserve accommodations at the Williamsburg Inn. Triples accommodations are only available at the Williamsburg Lodge.
Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.
Tauck Director – Williamsburg & Washington, DC is conducted by a Tauck Director who will remain with the group throughout the tour. Your Tauck Director is a professional, fully trained employee of Tauck.
Gratuities Included – All appropriate gratuities for hotel and restaurant staffs and local guides are included.
No Options Sold – Your Tauck Directors will assist you 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 and pleasant experience for you.
Not Included
Airfare to the tour departure point and from the tour ending point is not included. Airfare may be purchased from Tauck for travel originating in the United States.
Hotel Rooms Before and After Tours – To avoid jet lag and possible flight delays, you may wish to make hotel arrangements for the nights preceding or following your tour. 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 tour 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 the Tauck Protection Plan for more information.
Personal Expenses - Phone calls, room service, alcoholic and bar beverages, mineral water, soft drinks, laundry, airline excess luggage charges, vaccinations, visa fees and services, airport transfers, airport and departure taxes, and other optional or incidental extras are not included and may be significant.
Tauck Director Gratuities – The customary gratuities to the Tauck Director and driver are not included. Gratuities should be extended on a voluntary, individual basis and not as a group.
Hotel Rooms Before and After Tours – To avoid jet lag and possible flight delays, you may wish to make hotel arrangements for the nights preceding or following your tour. 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 tour 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 the Tauck Protection Plan for more information.
Personal Expenses - Phone calls, room service, alcoholic and bar beverages, mineral water, soft drinks, laundry, airline excess luggage charges, vaccinations, visa fees and services, airport transfers, airport and departure taxes, and other optional or incidental extras are not included and may be significant.
Tauck Director Gratuities – The customary gratuities to the Tauck Director and driver are not included. Gratuities should be extended on a voluntary, individual basis and not as a group.
Additional Information
Airline Security Measures – In the U.S., you must provide identification in the form of a passport at the time of airport check-in for travel to international destinations. Your passport name must match the name on your tour reservation and airline ticket or you may be denied boarding.
If you are traveling from an airport outside the jurisdiction of the U.S, you will need to determine what travel documentation and identification is required for that particular airport.
Due to heightened security regulations, certain items such as a metal nail file, pocketknife, cigarette lighter, or tweezers, and some liquid, gel, and aerosol items may not be permitted in your carry-on luggage. Please call your airline prior to departure to obtain current information on non-permissible carry-on items and recommended airport check-in times.
You may also visit the U.S. Transportation Security Administration Internet website to obtain more information on acceptable identity documentation and prohibited luggage items 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. 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.
Holidays and Museum Closures – Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or the many religious, state and local holidays locally observed.
Itinerary Changes and Price Flexibility – Tauck pledges to make every effort to operate your tour 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 publication.
Journey Start and End Times are provided at the time of booking. The tour begins at 5:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Society Hill Hotel on the first day of the tour. You or your booking agent will be advised of any change to this schedule. When making flight arrangements, allow sufficient time to claim luggage and clear customs in order to join the tour on time. The tour ends at Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, DC, on the last day of the tour. When departing from Washington, allow at least 2 hours for flight check-in.
Membership will be granted to all persons. Tauck reserves the right to terminate the tour of any person who is abusive of others or whose behavior disrupts the tour.
Photography on Tour – Occasionally, Tauck will use photographs taken by fellow guests or your Tauck Director on your tour 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 your tour.
Holidays and Museum Closures – Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances or the many religious, state and local holidays locally observed.
Itinerary Changes and Price Flexibility – Tauck pledges to make every effort to operate your tour 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 publication.
Journey Start and End Times are provided at the time of booking. The tour begins at 5:00 p.m. at the Sheraton Society Hill Hotel on the first day of the tour. You or your booking agent will be advised of any change to this schedule. When making flight arrangements, allow sufficient time to claim luggage and clear customs in order to join the tour on time. The tour ends at Mayflower Renaissance Hotel in Washington, DC, on the last day of the tour. When departing from Washington, allow at least 2 hours for flight check-in.
Membership will be granted to all persons. Tauck reserves the right to terminate the tour of any person who is abusive of others or whose behavior disrupts the tour.
Photography on Tour – Occasionally, Tauck will use photographs taken by fellow guests or your Tauck Director on your tour 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 your tour.
Preparing to Go
Air Conditioning – All of the hotels and the motor coaches are air-conditioned for your comfort.
ATM and Credit Cards - Tauck recommends that you contact your bank in advance of departing for this tour 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 – The weather in the U.S. Mid-Atlantic states in spring and fall is generally warm and sunny, though rain clouds typically appear every few days. Dress for comfort and convenience with a wardrobe that is flexible and allows for layering. Casual, cotton clothing is recommended. A light sweater or jacket will provide warmth on a chilly early morning walk or a late night stroll, especially in the Shenandoah NP where early spring and late fall can be cooler than the other areas visited. For dining in finer restaurants and for the welcome reception and the farewell dinner, you may want to dress up a bit – jacket for men, casually-elegant outfit for ladies – but by all means be comfortable.
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.
Valet laundry services are available and fee-based at all hotels except at the Big Meadows Lodge. Hair dryers are available in all rooms except at the Big Meadows Lodge. All the hotels have a swimming pool, except for the Big Meadows Lodge.
Following is a list of recommended items to pack for your tour of Williamsburg and Washington:
- Sports jacket for men
- Casually-elegant outfits for women
- Short and long sleeve cotton shirts
- Shorts, slacks and jeans
- Tee shirts
- Socks
- Light sweater
- Light-weight jacket
- Comfortable yet sturdy walking shoes that have already been broken-in
- Raincoat and rain hat
- Collapsible umbrella
- Swimwear
- Sunglasses, sunscreen and hat
- Insect repellent
- Camera, lenses, batteries, memory cards and plenty of film
- Copies of your travel documents that should be secured in the safe in your room while traveling
Elevation - The maximum elevation on this tour is approximately 4,000 feet (1,219 meters) along the Skyline Drive in Virginia
Health – Williamsburg & Washington, DC tour is relaxed and the pace is leisurely. You should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances over uneven terrain, as some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot. Colonial Williamsburg has been reconstructed as accurately as possible to look and feel like the 18th century and, therefore, roads, walkways and architecture will present difficulties for some guests with physical disabilities. For the most part, however, the amount of walking you do at the various sites and towns is at your discretion.
Other sites visited may be equally challenging for those who have difficulty walking. The Williamsburg Lodge has one elevator, and the building is long and narrow. At Monticello, you must walk around the grounds and wait in line to view the home. At Mount Vernon you must walk a gravel path to enter the house.
We regret that we cannot provide you with individual assistance for walking, dining or other personal needs. If you need 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 on tour.
If you have a medical condition which 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. For complete vaccination and inoculation information, contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. The Travelers' Health Section of the CDC operates a 24-hour, pre-recorded "Travelers' Health Hotline" at 877-394-8747 (toll-free in the U.S.). You may also logon on to the CDC Internet website at www.cdc.gov
Luggage Restrictions:
Checked Luggage – General
Health – Williamsburg & Washington, DC tour is relaxed and the pace is leisurely. You should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances over uneven terrain, as some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot. Colonial Williamsburg has been reconstructed as accurately as possible to look and feel like the 18th century and, therefore, roads, walkways and architecture will present difficulties for some guests with physical disabilities. For the most part, however, the amount of walking you do at the various sites and towns is at your discretion.
Other sites visited may be equally challenging for those who have difficulty walking. The Williamsburg Lodge has one elevator, and the building is long and narrow. At Monticello, you must walk around the grounds and wait in line to view the home. At Mount Vernon you must walk a gravel path to enter the house.
We regret that we cannot provide you with individual assistance for walking, dining or other personal needs. If you need 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 on tour.
If you have a medical condition which 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. For complete vaccination and inoculation information, contact your physician, the public health service in your area, or the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) in Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A. The Travelers' Health Section of the CDC operates a 24-hour, pre-recorded "Travelers' Health Hotline" at 877-394-8747 (toll-free in the U.S.). You may also logon on to the CDC Internet website at www.cdc.gov
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.
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 – Williamsburg & Washington, DC begins and ends in the U.S.
In general, visitors to the U.S. must provide:
- A valid unexpired passport and visa
- Citizens of countries authorized to participate in the Visa Waiver Program are required to present an unexpired machine-readable passport
- Mexicans may provide a passport and valid DSP-150 (BCC) in lieu of a visa
- Canadians flying to or through the United States are required to have a valid passport or a NEXUS card, when used at a NEXUS kiosk at designated airports.
If you are frequent traveler to the U.S. from Canada, you may benefit from the NEXUS program, as mentioned above, which is joint initiative between the U.S. Customs and Border Protection Agency and the Canada Border Services Agency that allows pre-screened and approved travelers faster processing at designated highway lanes in high-volume border crossing locations, at a NEXUS kiosk at Vancouver International Airport, and at certain marine reporting locations in the Great Lakes and Seattle regions. For further information, you may log on to the Nexus Internet website by clicking here.
If you not a U.S. citizen, you should contact an embassy or consulate of the U.S. to determine what travel documentation is necessary. You may also log on to the U.S. State Department’s Internet site by clicking here.
We strongly recommend that your passport be valid for six months beyond the completion of your tour. We also recommend 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, the date of expiration and your citizenship, as well as both sides of your driver’s license. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your 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.
If you not a U.S. citizen, you should contact an embassy or consulate of the U.S. to determine what travel documentation is necessary. You may also log on to the U.S. State Department’s Internet site by clicking here.
We strongly recommend that your passport be valid for six months beyond the completion of your tour. We also recommend 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, the date of expiration and your citizenship, as well as both sides of your driver’s license. Secure one set of copies in the safe in your 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
Age Recommendations – Children 5 years of age or older at the time of travel are welcome on this Tauck journey. Based upon our experience with family travelers, for each itinerary we have a minimum recommended age to encourage comfort and enjoyment for all of our guests. All children must be accompanied on activities by a parent or guardian. At least one guest in the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older in order to make a reservation.
Babysitting – Tauck journeys are designed for adults and children to share the wonder of discovery together. However, our guests have occasionally inquired about babysitting services. If you are interested, your Tauck Director will put you in contact with the appropriate hotel staff with whom you may make babysitting arrangements, to ensure your precise needs are met. There is usually an additional fee for these services. Many hotels do offer babysitting services that may be arranged on site; however, babysitting services are not guaranteed at all of our hotels. Please note that our Tauck Directors are not responsible for providing babysitting services.
Safety and Welfare Responsibility – Tauck welcomes the participation of child travelers on our exciting excursions. For safety and security purposes, children under 18 years of age must be booked into a room with at least one accompanying adult. If you are traveling with a child on a Tauck journey, you have the sole responsibility for ensuring that that the child with whom you are traveling follows all rules of safety throughout the tour. By traveling with Tauck, you release Tauck, Inc. and our partners of all liability for any risks and/or injuries to the child with whom you are traveling.
Special Travel Documentation for Children
Authorization for Travel
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 into or out of the U.S. 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.
Authorization for Emergency Medical Treatment
In the unlikely event of a medical emergency, a medical facility will require permission from the child’s parents to provide treatment. Therefore, we strongly suggest that you bring along a letter from both parents authorizing emergency medical treatment for their child.
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 standard for these letters, click here to view a sample letter for guardians or one parent traveling with a child.
In the unlikely event of a medical emergency, a medical facility will require permission from the child’s parents to provide treatment. Therefore, we strongly suggest that you bring along a letter from both parents authorizing emergency medical treatment for their child.
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 standard for these letters, click here to view 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 a tour 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 affect others.
Please contact your cell phone carrier to determine whether your service extends to Williamsburg and Washington.
Currency and Exchange Rates - The U.S. dollar (USD) is the unit of currency and is divided into 100 cents. Only major banks exchange foreign currency. ATMs are widespread and credit cards and travelers’ checks are widely accepted. Travelers’ checks should be taken in U.S. dollars to avoid hassles. Banking hours are generally Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
To obtain the most current exchange rate, 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 resident of the United States, you are normally entitled to a duty-free exemption of $100 USD on items that you bring into the U.S. To find out more information on what information must be provided to U.S. Customs and Border Control (CBP) upon entry, please refer to the CBP internet website by clicking here. You should also refer to your own country’s rules and regulations regarding customs and duty-free shopping to ensure compliance upon your return.
The individual states within the U.S. levy sales taxes on consumer goods and services. There is no federal tax similar to the Value Added Tax (VAT) used in other countries that would permit non-residents to obtain refunds of the sales taxes levied by each state.
Electrical Current – The electrical current in the U.S. is 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 electric devices that are not compatible with this system you should bring the appropriate adapters and converters.
Time Zones – All of the cities on this itinerary are 5 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (or Greenwich Mean Time). From early April to late October, these locations switch to Daylight Savings Time and are 4 hours behind.
To determine current time in major cities around the world, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, www.timeanddate.com
Weather – Daily high temperatures in the Mid-Atlantic region average 60 to 80°F (16 to 27°C) during the spring and fall months. The weather is generally warm and sunny, though rain clouds typically appear every few days.
Time Zones – All of the cities on this itinerary are 5 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (or Greenwich Mean Time). From early April to late October, these locations switch to Daylight Savings Time and are 4 hours behind.
To determine current time in major cities around the world, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, www.timeanddate.com
Weather – Daily high temperatures in the Mid-Atlantic region average 60 to 80°F (16 to 27°C) during the spring and fall months. The weather is generally warm and sunny, though rain clouds typically appear every few days.
|
|
Average Temperature
|
|||
|
|
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
|
Williamsburg, Virginia
|
||
|
Month
|
Hi/Lo ºF
|
Hi/Lo ºC
|
Hi/Lo ºF
|
Hi/Lo ºC
|
|
January
|
39 / 25
|
4 / -4
|
49 / 28
|
9 / -2
|
|
February
|
42 / 28
|
6 / -2
|
53 / 30
|
12 / -1
|
|
March
|
51 / 35
|
11 / 2
|
61 / 37
|
16 / 3
|
|
April
|
62 / 44
|
17 / 7
|
71 / 44
|
22 / 7
|
|
May
|
72 / 55
|
22 / 13
|
78 / 54
|
26 / 12
|
|
June
|
81 / 64
|
27 / 18
|
85 / 62
|
29 / 17
|
|
July
|
86 / 70
|
30 / 21
|
89 / 67
|
32 / 19
|
|
August
|
84 / 69
|
29 / 21
|
87 / 66
|
31 / 19
|
|
September
|
77 / 61
|
25 / 16
|
82 / 60
|
28 / 16
|
|
October
|
66 / 49
|
19 / 9
|
71 / 48
|
22 / 9
|
|
November
|
55 / 40
|
13 / 4
|
62 / 39
|
17 / 4
|
|
December
|
44 / 31
|
7 / -1
|
53 / 32
|
12 / 0
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Washington, D.C.
|
|
||
|
Month
|
Hi/Lo ºF
|
Hi/Lo ºC
|
|
|
|
January
|
43 / 24
|
6 / -4
|
|
|
|
February
|
47 / 26
|
8 / -3
|
|
|
|
March
|
55 / 33
|
13 / 1
|
|
|
|
April
|
66 / 42
|
19 / 6
|
|
|
|
May
|
76 / 53
|
24 / 12
|
|
|
|
June
|
84 / 62
|
29 / 17
|
|
|
|
July
|
89 / 67
|
32 / 19
|
|
|
|
August
|
87 / 65
|
31 / 18
|
|
|
|
September
|
80 / 57
|
27 / 14
|
|
|
|
October
|
69 / 44
|
21 / 7
|
|
|
|
November
|
58 / 36
|
14 / 2
|
|
|
|
December
|
48 / 28
|
9 / -2
|
|
|
|
|
Average Rainfall
|
|||
|
|
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
|
Williamsburg, Virginia
|
||
|
Month
|
Inches
|
Millimeters
|
Inches
|
Millimeters
|
|
January
|
3.5
|
89
|
4.2
|
106
|
|
February
|
2.7
|
70
|
3.5
|
88
|
|
March
|
3.8
|
97
|
4.6
|
118
|
|
April
|
3.5
|
88
|
3.2
|
82
|
|
May
|
3.9
|
99
|
4.5
|
115
|
|
June
|
3.3
|
84
|
3.4
|
86
|
|
July
|
4.4
|
112
|
5.3
|
136
|
|
August
|
3.8
|
97
|
5.0
|
127
|
|
September
|
3.9
|
99
|
5.0
|
126
|
|
October
|
2.8
|
70
|
3.6
|
92
|
|
November
|
3.2
|
80
|
3.4
|
86
|
|
December
|
3.3
|
84
|
3.3
|
85
|
|
|
|
|||
|
|
Washington, D.C.
|
|
||
|
Month
|
Hi/Lo ºF
|
Hi/Lo ºC
|
|
|
|
January
|
3.6
|
91
|
|
|
|
February
|
2.8
|
72
|
|
|
|
March
|
3.9
|
100
|
|
|
|
April
|
3.3
|
83
|
|
|
|
May
|
4.3
|
109
|
|
|
|
June
|
3.6
|
92
|
|
|
|
July
|
4.2
|
107
|
|
|
|
August
|
3.9
|
99
|
|
|
|
September
|
4.1
|
104
|
|
|
|
October
|
3.4
|
87
|
|
|
|
November
|
3.3
|
84
|
|
|
|
December
|
3.3
|
83
|
|
|
To read about 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 its Norwalk, CT, office. To help limit your liability, Tauck offers a Tauck Protection Plan.
If you choose to purchase Tauck’s Guest Protection or Cancellation Fee Waiver, you will have your cancellation penalties waived. Please click here for more information.
If you choose not to purchase the Tauck Protection Plan, you will incur cancellation penalties per person as follows:
60 days or more before departure
$350 per person (the amount of the deposit)
59-8 days before departure
$600 per person
7-1 days before departure
$900 per person
$350 per person (the amount of the deposit)
59-8 days before departure
$600 per person
7-1 days before departure
$900 per person
Did you know that you can link-up Tauck itineraries to create longer journeys? Many of these trips are in the same region, and depending upon availability you might connect with them before or after your trip. Alternatively, you might find one of these options better suited for your interests and preferences or for when you are available to travel.
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Explore the region famed for its 11,000 inland lakes and 36,000 miles of rivers and streams on Tauck's comprehensive Michigan tour, featuring two-night stays at the world-famous Grand Hotel on Mackinac Island and the award-winning Grand Traverse Resort & Spa.
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