Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel accommodations, motor coach transportation, sightseeing, admissions, luggage handling, and the services of the Tauck Director, local guides and drivers are included. A representative of Tauck will meet you at San Francisco International Airport and provide transportation to the Westin St. Francis, 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 Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina to the San Diego 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 of may differ slightly from place to place, our commitment to your comfort is unwavering. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples on this journey are often accommodated with two double beds (without a rollaway cot), or a king bed plus a rollaway, and are not recommended for comfort.

Meals – Most meals are included as specified in the itinerary.

Tauck Director – California‘s Gold Coast is conducted by a Tauck Director who will remain with the group throughout the duration of the tour. Your Tauck Director is a professional, fully trained employee of Tauck.

Gratuities Included – All appropriate gratuities for hotel and restaurant staff and local guides are included.

No Options Sold – Your Tauck Director will 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 and pleasant experience for you.

 

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, airport arrival 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.

 

Airline Security Measures –

If you are traveling from the U.S., beginning in 2010, the U.S. Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) Secure Flight program will require that your name, as it appears on your domestic or international airline ticket, precisely match your name as it appears on the government-issued photo ID (i.e., passport or driver’s license) that you present during security screening. The ID name must also match any additional airline data, such as frequent-flyer information. For example, if you present your driver's license to security and it says John T. Smith, your ticket must also say John T. Smith; not John Thomas Smith, not Jack Smith, or any other variant. Your date-of-birth and gender information provided to the airline must also match your photo ID.

If you make your air travel arrangements through Tauck, please ensure that the name you provide us precisely matches your name as shown on the identification you will use while traveling. If you make your own airline reservations, please ensure that the airline has the correct information.

For more information on the Secure Flight program, please visit the TSA web site, www.tsa.gov, by clicking here.

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, pocket knife, cigarette lighter, or tweezers, and some liquid, gel, or 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

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.

Holiday 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 forecast at the time of publication.

Journey Start and End Times are provided at the time of booking. The tour begins at 5:30 p.m. at The Westin St. Francis in San Francisco 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, please allow sufficient time to claim luggage and clear customs in order to join the tour on time. The tour ends when you depart from San Diego on the last day of the tour. Check-out time at the Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina is 12:00 p.m. Transportation to the airport is provided by the hotel's complimentary shuttle service. We suggest you 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 persons who are abusive of others or whose behavior disrupts the tour.

Photography on Tour – Occasionally, we 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.

 

Elevation - The maximum elevation on this tour is 6,000 ft (1,829 m) in Yosemite National Park; the maximum overnight elevation is at the Ahwahnee Hotel at 4,000 ft (1,219 m).

Health – California Gold Coast covers 1,100 mi (1,770 km), passes through several different climates, and leads you from the ocean shore to the mountain heights of Yosemite National Park. You should be in good health and able to walk reasonable distances over some uneven terrain, as some of the most memorable sightseeing can only be accomplished on foot. However, for the most part, the amount of walking you do at the various sites and towns is at your discretion.

On day 7, we take Tour #1 at Hearst Castle which includes La Casa del Sol, an 18-room guest cottage, the Esplanade and Gardens, the Neptune Pool and Roman Pool, and La Casa Grande, the main house. There are 150 steps at Hearst Castle. Hearst Castle offers wheelchair-accessible tours, but space is very limited and these tours must be booked well in advance. In order to take a wheelchair-accessible tour, you need to have a travel partner capable of pushing your wheelchair up and steering it down inclines.

The Getty Museum, on day 8, has a limited number of wheelchairs for guests' use. The San Diego Zoo, on day 10, rents wheelchairs and motorized carts for a fee.

Some of the optional sightseeing tours in Yosemite, while not strenuous, do involve long drives on mountainous roads and significant changes in altitude.

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.

If you routinely require oxygen, please notify Tauck so that special arrangements can be made.

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 California. 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 CDC operates a 24-hour travelers' information number at 800-232-4636 (toll-free in the U.S.). You may also log on 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 for 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 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 oversize 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 – California’s Gold Coast begins and ends in the U.S. 

 

In general, visitors to the U.S. must provide:

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.

 

 

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.

Many other countries also share this concern for children who travel without both parents. To ensure smooth travel, Tauck requires all guests to comply with the travel regulations of each country visited. This information is available from each country’s consulate.

All children who are 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.

 

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 or group functions, when sightseeing and when the Tauck Director is addressing the group as a whole. There are usually many 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 California.

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 am to 3:00 pm.

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 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 California 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.

Internet Access - Access is available at all the hotels as indicated below:

The Westin St. Francis – High speed Internet access in rooms for a fee
The Ahwahnee – Complimentary wireless access in the Great Hall
InterContinental The Clement Monterey – High speed Internet access in rooms for a fee
The Cliffs Resort – Complimentary high speed access in rooms; 3 guest
computers are located in the lobby
The Langham Huntington, Pasadena, Los Angeles – High speed access in rooms for a fee
Sheraton San Diego Hotel & Marina – High speed access in rooms for a fee; complimentary access in the lobby on 5 guest computers

Time Zones – California is 8 hours behind Coordinated Universal Time (or Greenwich Mean Time). From early March to Early November, California switches to Daylight Savings Time and is 7 hours behind. In June, California is 3 hours behind New York City.

To determine current time in major cities around the world, we suggest you log on to the Internet website, www.timeanddate.com

Weather - Weather in California varies moderately with the seasons, and the temperatures in San Francisco and along the central coast average 10 ºF+ (6 ºC) cooler than Los Angeles from February to October.

The average high temperature in spring and fall for all the locations combined is 68 ºF (20 ºC); the average low temperature is 49 ºF (10 ºC). The average high temperature in summer is 77 ºF (25 ºC); the average low temperature is 57 ºF (14 ºC).

You may encounter occasional fog in San Francisco, Monterey, and along the coast; it can also be quite breezy and a bit chilly in the summer months. But the inland and southern California areas are desert-based, the air is dry year-round, and the daytime temperature can drop up to 20 ºF (12 ºC) degrees by evening.

 

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 the Tauck Protection Plan.

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 the Tauck Protection Plan, you will incur cancellation penalties per person as follows:

 

60 days or more before departure
$350 per person (the cost of the deposit)

59-8 days before departure
$600 per person

7-1 days before departure
$900 per person