Tour prices are per person in U.S. dollars. All hotel accommodations, motor coach transportation, special dinners, 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 Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf, 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 Portola Hotel & Spa to Monterey Peninsula Airport when you choose to depart. For those flying out of San Francisco International Airport, one group transfer is included on the last day of the tour only from Portola Hotel & Spa for flights leaving after 12:00 noon.

 

Child Discount – Children 12 years of age and under may receive a discount of $200 USD on the tour price. To qualify for a child discount, the child’s birth date must be provided at time of booking. No child discount is offered on the Tauck Travel Protection plans.

Hotel Accommodations – The tour price includes all hotel accommodations with private baths. The Tauck standard is to provide the best available hotels without sacrificing value. Although the quality may differ slightly from place to place, our commitment to your comfort is unwavering. Two-bedded rooms are reserved in most hotels. Triples and quadruples are usually accommodated in two-bedded rooms with a rollaway cot or a sofa bed, when available. For safety and security purposes, children 18 years of age and under must be booked into a room with at least one accompanying adult; exceptions may be granted under certain circumstances with parental consent. Quadruple accommodations are not available for four adults.

Please note that we cannot guarantee adjacent, adjoining or connecting rooms. We will do all that we can to secure rooms next to one another or connecting when possible. A hotel may consider “adjacent” to be across the hall.

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

Tauck Director ― Majestic California: The Pacific, Redwoods & Yosemite is conducted by a Tauck Director who remains with the group throughout the tour. Your Tauck Director is a professional, fully trained employee of Tauck.

Gratuities Included ― All appropriate gratuities for restaurant and hotel staff, local guides and drivers, and the Tauck Director are included.

No Options Sold ― Your Tauck Director will assist you with information on free-time activities based on honest opinion and guidance but 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 waters and soft drinks, laundry, airline excess luggage charges, vaccinations, visa fees and services, individual airport transfers (where applicable), and other optional or incidental extras are not included.

 

 

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 6:00 PM at the Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf on the first day of the tour. You or your booking agent will be advised of any change to this schedule. Please allow sufficient time to claim your luggage and clear customs in order to join the tour on time. The tour ends when you check out of Portola Hotel & Spa on the last day of the tour. Individual transportation is provided to Monterey Peninsula Airport when you choose to depart; one group transfer is provided to San Francisco International Airport for flights leaving after 12:00 noon on the last day of the tour only.

 

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, we will use photograph 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.

 

 

Air Conditioning ― All the motor coaches used on this tour are air-conditioned for your comfort. Air conditioning is provided at the Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf and the Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite. Heat only is provided at Portola Hotel & Spa in Monterey.

ATM and Credit Cards ― We recommend 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. We also recommend 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 coastal climate of San Francisco and Monterey is cooler than the desert-like conditions of inland California where the heat of the day may drop 30 °F (17 °C) by evening. We suggest that you dress for comfort and convenience with a wardrobe that is flexible and allows for layering. Casual, cotton clothing is recommended. A light sweater and jacket will provide warmth on a chilly early morning walk or a late night stroll.

Check-in time at the Hyatt is 3:00 PM, so you may want to pack swimwear in your carry-on bag to enjoy a dip in the outdoor heated pool when you arrive.

You will find a hair dryer located in your hotel guest room. Irons and ironing boards are available upon request. Valet laundry and dry cleaning services are available for a fee.

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.

Children may want to consider bringing along pocket toys and games with a “sound off” button or a portable radio or CD player with headphones for use on longer travel days. Journals, binoculars and cameras are also great for children to have with them to make the most of their adventure.

Each child will be sent a complimentary backpack from Tauck Bridges! If the child resides in the United States, the backpack will be sent to his or her home approximately two weeks prior to the tour departure date. If the child resides outside of the U.S, the backpack will be waiting on arrival at the Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco because customs regulations prohibit the easy delivery of the backpacks in advance.

Following is a list of recommended items to pack for your trip to California:

Elevation ― The maximum overland elevation on this tour is approximately 6,000 ft (1,829 m). The maximum overnight elevation is 5,200 ft (1,585 m) at Tenaya Lodge.

Health ― This Tauck Bridges tour is paced to accommodate guests of all ages; nonetheless, the itinerary is active and extensive. 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. For the most part, however, the amount of walking you do at the various sites and towns is at your discretion.

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.

Smoking

California has a statewide smoking ban in all public places, including bars, restaurants and non-hospitality workplaces. For the health of all its guests, Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite is an entirely non-smoking resort.

Vaccinations

The incidence of communicable diseases in the U.S. is such that they are unlikely to prove a hazard for international travelers greater than that found in their own country. There are, of course, health risks, but in general, the precautions required are minimal.

Be sure your routine vaccinations are up-to-date. Although childhood diseases, such as measles, rarely occur in the U.S. and other western countries, they are still common in many parts of the world. If you are not vaccinated, you may be at risk for infection. Routine vaccinations include inoculations for influenza, chickenpox (or varicella), polio, measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), and diphtheria/pertussis/ tetanus (DPT).

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. You may access the CDC Internet website, Health Information for Travelers to the United States, by clicking here.

Medical Facilities

Medical treatment in the U.S. is generally very good and widely available.

Medical Insurance

We strongly urge you to consult with your medical insurance company prior to traveling to determine whether your policy applies to the destinations visited and whether it will cover emergency expenses such as a medical evacuation. Please click here to view a description of Tauck’s Travel Protection Plan.

Medical Emergency Information

If you not a citizen of the U.S., we recommend that you determine which emergency medical services may be available to you through your country’s representative in the U.S. before you travel.

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 number, 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 number, weight and size restrictions. It is also important to note that restrictions for luggage number, weight and size 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 number, weight and size 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 be accessible during daytime travel.

Travel Document Requirements ― Majestic California 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.

 

Travel with Children ―

Age Recommendations ― Children 3 years of age or older at the time of travel are welcome on this Tauck Bridges 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. We recommend that children be 8 years of age or older to participate fully in all activities planned for this tour. At least one guest in the traveling party must be 21 years of age or older in order to make a reservation.

Babysitting ― Tauck Bridges 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 ― We welcome 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

All children traveling abroad must have a valid passport.

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.

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 and group functions, as well as 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 official unit of currency in California is the U.S. dollar (USD) and it is divided into 100 cents. Major banks and private exchange companies provide exchange services. ATMs are widely distributed, and credit cards and travelers’ checks are widely accepted. Travelers’ checks should be taken in U.S. dollars to expedite your purchases. Banking hours are generally Monday to Friday 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM, and Saturday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM.

To obtain the most recent currency exchange rates, you may want to check your local newspaper or log on to The Currency Site, oanda.com, by clicking here.

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 standard, you should bring the appropriate adapters and converters.

 

Internet Access is available at each hotel as indicated:

 

Hyatt at Fisherman’s Wharf – Wireless access throughout the hotel for a fee
Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite – Wireless access in rooms for a fee
Portola Hotel & Spa – Internet access is available in rooms for a fee

 

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.

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

Weather ― The coastal climate of San Francisco and Monterey is cooler than the desert-like conditions of inland California where the heat of the day may drop 30 °F (17 °C) by evening. The temperatures in San Francisco and Monterey average 15 °F (8 °C) cooler than southern California from June through August.

The average high temperature along the coast in summer is approximately 67 °F (19 °C); the average low temperature is 52 °F (11 °C). The average high temperature in Yosemite in summer is 87 °F (31 °C); the average low temperature is 52 °F (11 °C).

You may encounter occasional fog in San Francisco, Monterey, and along the coast; it can be quite breezy and a bit chilly in the summer months.

 

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