On The Road

Worldwide

Our 3-step approach to travel wellbeing protocol, gives you the peace of mind to enjoy your trip, knowing you are in good hands.

GET collaborated with the World Tourism & Travel Council (WTTC) to align and create global protocols and procedures which have been awarded the WTTC Safe stamp. This, coupled with existing national and regional government authority regulations and the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, has produced our enhanced, on-trip standards to assure the health and happiness of our guests.

Europe Tour

While traveling in Europe, you can expect to enjoy a variety of hotel accommodations. Hotel room sizes, facilities and services may vary from country to country and region to region and are often local in style. While you may find yourself enjoying a stay in one of the well-known hotel chains for part of your trip, a stay in a traditional, unique hotel that reflects the local area may also be included.

On occasion, we may substitute hotels listed in an itinerary and will always endeavor to ensure that any alternative hotel will be of an equivalent (if not higher) standard.

There may also be some slight differences between hotels in Europe and other parts of the world. These generally are as follows:

• In Europe, the first floor is often considered the first floor above ground level and the lobby is considered level zero.
• Room size is generally slightly smaller than you may be used to. Space is a precious commodity in Europe and especially in its busiest cities. Many of the buildings will have been in existence for hundreds of years and were not built with the modern traveler in mind. The up side is that usually they are in excellent locations and have a fascinating story to tell.
• Bed sizes may also differ. In Europe, King- and Queen-sized beds are very rare. Here, Double beds are the norm and you may often find that a double room consists of two twin beds pushed together instead of a full bed, but made up with one set of linen. You may also find that twin beds will be placed very close together.
• Hotel accommodation usually consists of bathrooms with combination bathtubs and showers. In place of a shower curtain, there will often be a door that extends half the length of the tub. Simply ask at reception if you require a non-slip bath mat, which most hotels will deliver to your room. Bathroom linens rarely include face cloths/wash cloths as an amenity. If you use a washcloth or loofah, be sure to pack those and bring them with you.
• Electricity in Europe is mostly 220-240 voltage. You may wish to bring a travel adapter and a power converter with you. Items that normally require converters are mainly larger devices such as computers, hair dryers, sleep machines, etc. We always recommend that you try to minimize the number of items you plug in at one time as for safety reasons, most hotels have sensitive triggers to electrical surges and overloading items could lead to a blackout. You may also need to change adapters when changing countries since electrical outlets can vary. In European bathrooms, sockets are usually for shavers only.
• Tea- and coffee-making facilities are not usually provided in your hotel room in Europe; however, the exception to this rule is the UK, where tea- and coffee-making facilities are usually available.
• Europeans are very socially and environmentally conscious, and air conditioning in Europe is often quite different from air conditioning in other parts of the world. Europeans generally have a different mindset and are acutely aware of both the expense and potential damage to the environment. While you may find the larger hotel chains enable you to control the temperature in your room manually, other hotels control the temperature automatically. Some unique, historic buildings cannot be retrofitted easily to allow for air conditioning at all. There are often local and national laws and regulations in place which prohibit use at night or in low season (October – May).

Rest of World

We select our hotels for their quality, impeccable service and comfort. The majority of them have air conditioning.

Europe tours

Your chosen trip itinerary will provide details of all included meals. Where included, there may be a table d’hôtel menu (set), buffet or a typical regional menu. You and your traveling companions will generally dine together at a designated time. Tables will often vary in size, and free seating enables you to dine with family members or new traveling companions each evening. When a choice of menu is offered, it is possible that you may be required to make your meal selection in advance.

Iced water will be provided during your meal with tea and coffee usually served afterward. Many tour dinners will include the choice of a complimentary glass of wine, beer or soft drink. Any additional beverages may be purchased at your own cost and any bills settled at the end of the meal.

A breakfast buffet is included daily and will reflect the local region’s tastes and culture. Breakfast items may also include some familiar favorites such as eggs, bacon, bread, muffins, cereals, fruit, yogurt and cold meats and cheese. Very occasionally, an early departure may result in a packed breakfast for you to take away.

Lunches are sometimes included but are usually an opportunity for the guest to enjoy some free time to visit a local café, bar or restaurant and eat where the locals do. Your Travel Director will be able to provide you with a range of options to suit all tastes and preferences. Please refer to your itinerary for details of all included meals and planned dining experiences.

Specific dietary requests
We encourage all guests to advise us about any specific dietary needs that they may have (vegetarian, diabetic, gluten-free, etc.) and we will strive to accommodate these. We kindly request that you advise us of any dietary requirements when completing registration on https://my.getours.com/login. Where possible, we will endeavor to make arrangements with our suppliers.

It is important to discuss any special dietary requirements with your Travel Director at the beginning of the trip, as hotels and restaurants do need to be advised in advance. Suppliers will do their utmost to provide an alternative to the menu. However, such requests cannot be guaranteed on every occasion.

Water
At GET, we’re about caring for our planet, and with that in mind, we always recommend that you pack a reusable water bottle for your trip. Bringing your own reusable water bottle or asking for tap water at restaurants means you can make a difference by reducing your vacation plastic waste. The good news is that the majority of countries in Europe have safe drinking water. In Western Europe, all water is safe to drink, and when traveling through Eastern Europe you may find that alternative water options are recommended in some areas, but your Travel Director will advise when the use of bottled water is suggested as an alternative.

Throughout the day, there will be multiple rest stops allowing time for a bottle refill or to purchase a drink. We also recommend you download the app "Tap - Find Water Anywhere" on your phone, which allows its users to find the closest nearby Refill Stations where you can refill your water bottle. Thanks for helping us do our part for the planet when you travel, every little bit makes a difference.

Please note: To keep you healthy and hydrated when you travel, bottled water is available to purchase on board our coaches.

Rest of the world

If you have specific dietary requirements
We encourage all guests to advise us about any specific dietary needs that they may have (vegetarian, diabetic, gluten-free, etc.) and we will strive to accommodate these. We kindly request that you advise us of any dietary requirements when completing registration on https://my.getours.com/login. Where possible, we will endeavor to make arrangements with our suppliers.

It is important to discuss any special dietary requirements with your Travel Director at the beginning of the trip, as hotels and restaurants do need to be advised in advance. Suppliers will do their utmost to provide an alternative to the menu. However, such requests cannot be guaranteed on every occasion.

Drinking water
At GET, we’re about caring for our planet, and with that in mind, we recommend that you pack a reusable water bottle for your trip to the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. For other countries, your Travel Director will let you know if it’s okay.

Bringing your own reusable water bottle or asking for tap water at restaurants means you can make a difference by reducing your vacation plastic waste. We also recommend you download the app "Tap - Find Water Anywhere" on your phone, which allows its users to find the closest nearby Refill Stations where you can refill your water bottle. Thanks for helping us do our part for the planet when you travel. Every little bit makes a difference!

Europe, North & South America, Australia & New Zealand tours

We know that the human touch is what differentiates unforgettable travel experiences from those that are simply ‘good.’ Our Travel Directors come from a variety of backgrounds, but they all share a passion for travel and their home countries. These experienced professionals show you what the guidebooks can’t – a true insider’s perspective of each destination.

Each Travel Director has been through a bespoke training program, and many have at least five years’ experience under their belt. Your Travel Director will manage all of the logistical details and planning of your vacation to ensure that everything runs seamlessly throughout your trip, but they will also be your friend as you travel. Their support and care enable you to be relaxed and comfortable as you experience new places and cultures. They will skillfully navigate you through each day’s planned itinerary and help you to get the most out of your free time while responding to any problems or issues that you might experience on the way.

Our Travel Directors are as interested to hear your story as they are passionate to share their own, so as to anticipate your needs and provide those personal touches that surprise and delight our guests whenever they travel with us.

Africa & Asia tours

On our East Africa and Namibia tours, you will be accompanied by a Driver Guide, who is both a driver and a destination expert.

Worldwide

We plan to show you a great deal and always endeavor to make the most of every day of your vacation. In order to make that possible, we thank you in advance for your punctuality, which affords all our guests the opportunity to enjoy their time with us to the fullest.

Departure time is the time when everyone is seated comfortably and the coach is pulling away from the hotel or rest stop. The savvy traveler will always allow themselves enough time for bathroom visits, settling bills and slow elevators. Your Travel Director will choreograph the day to enhance the itinerary and go out of their way to ensure that those all-important timings are clearly explained. They will also provide you with a contact number should you be in need of assistance.

Sightseeing is included in your itinerary and will generally involve a fair amount of walking and standing (as well as sitting). Some of the areas visited may be pedestrian-only with some steep inclines and cobblestones, so we would suggest bringing suitable footwear for your ease and comfort. Many streets in Europe are narrow and coaches may not be permitted to drop guests off at the entrance. Although we will always try to get you as close as we can, some walking should be anticipated.

There are a number of terms used to describe sightseeing activities in the itinerary and there are slight differences in their meaning:

• A day to relax – No planned activities; time for Optional Experiences or other independent activities. Your Travel Director will be able to assist you by providing ideas and suggestions to match your interests and get the most out of the day.

• Orientation tour – Places of interest are pointed out, allowing you to go and explore them on your own.

• See – Observe sights while passing by on your coach, cruise or train.

• Sightseeing tour - A Local Specialist will accompany you on a trip of a city or site.

• Time to relax and discover – Free time on your own.

• View –  A brief stop to enjoy the sights and take some photos.

• Visit – A stop with time to enjoy a specific site.

• “Why not see” or “perhaps enjoy” – These phrases refer to Optional Experiences not included in the trip package but which are available for an additional fee. Your Travel Director will be happy to provide you with information regarding these, or other ways in which to spend your free time.

Optional Experiences

Europe tours

To enable you to personalize your tour experience, you will find a number of Optional Experiences designed to complement the itinerary.  These are designed to offer a deeper insight into the culture and character of the areas to be visited and provide some wonderful highlights to your travels. The optional program is designed to let you experience more of what interests you and to get the most from your vacation without replacing or overlapping with anything included in an itinerary.

The majority of Optional Experiences will be offered to you by your Travel Director at the beginning of your trip. Some may be subject to change, depending on the time you are traveling or local circumstances including weather and days of the week. Further information will be provided by your Travel Director.

Usually, most Optional Experiences will be priced in the local currency, but please read through the details of individual optional experiences for specific information. Exact payment options will be advised locally by your Travel Director/Local Representative for each Optional Experience, but in many cases, cash, Visa, MasterCard and American Express are all accepted. Please be sure to advise your credit card provider that you will be traveling in Europe, before you leave home.

Children who are aged 15 and under are entitled to a 25% discount on all European-operated Optional Experiences (some Eastern Mediterranean trips excluded).

If there is an Optional Experience that you really wish to enjoy, please email London.24x7@ttc.com where we can check with your Travel Director to ensure that it will be available on your trip, or to advise you on how to go about booking independently.

Rest of World

To enable you to personalize your tour experience, you will find a number of Optional Experiences designed to complement the itinerary.  These are designed to offer a deeper insight into the culture and character of the areas to be visited and provide some wonderful highlights to your travels. The optional program is designed to let you experience more of what interests you and to get the most from your vacation without replacing or overlapping with anything included in an itinerary.

The majority of Optional Experiences will be offered to you by your Travel Director at the beginning of your trip. Some may be subject to change, depending on the time you are traveling or local circumstances including weather and days of the week. Further information will be provided by your Travel Director.

Usually, most Optional Experiences will be priced in the local currency but please read through the details of individual optional experiences for specific information. Exact payment options will be advised locally by your Travel Director/Local Representative for each Optional Experience, but in many cases cash, Visa, MasterCard and American Express are all accepted.

Worldwide

Complimentary Wi-Fi is available in many guestrooms and/or public areas of most hotels. On some occasions, it may require an access code from hotel staff. Your Travel Director will provide you with details when checking in to each hotel.

Europe tours

Tipping etiquette varies by country, culture and the situation and it is a gesture that shows appreciation for the quality of service that you received.

When traveling with GET, we have pre-paid certain tips and gratuities for you. Baggage handling at hotels, service charges and tips for hotel wait staff (for included meals) will be taken care of by your Travel Director. There are however a few instances where individual tipping is welcome.

Taxis
Usually rounding up the fare for gratuity for the driver is more than adequate in most countries. Always ask hotel or airport staff for recommended taxi companies and ensure that pricing is clearly indicated prior to departure. If possible, pre-negotiate any fares with the driver.

Restaurants
There is no obligation to leave a tip, but between 5% and 10% is normal in most European restaurants, although make sure to check that a service charge hasn’t already been added on! You’ll more often than not find that it has been. Also bear in mind that tipping is only necessary at a table service restaurant. When eating out at the likes of a pub or fast food outlet where you order your food from a counter, tipping isn’t necessary or in any way expected.

In general, if you’re unsure on tipping, don’t go any higher than 10% (unless, of course, the service was so fantastic you feel you want to do so!). Servers may not receive tips when left on a credit card, so always try to tip in cash whenever possible.

Hotel services
It is customary to tip hotel staff for room service delivery if the charge has not already been added to the bill. Where ice machines are not available and you receive ice from the bar, a small tip to the bartender is always appreciated.

Local Specialists
It is customary to show appreciation for the insights, stories and know-how shared with you by the Local Specialists and we suggest a gratuity of €1-2 (Euro) or £1 (GBP) in the UK per person per half day.

Your Coach Driver
Gratuities for your driver are not included in the trip cost and the suggested gratuity of €3 (Euro) £2.50 (GBP) in the UK per day per person is recommended in appreciation of a job well done.

Your Travel Director
At the end of your trip, you may wish to express appreciation to your Travel Director for their excellent service and the personal attention you received. Gratuities are given at the discretion of each guest but it is customary to give an amount of €5 (Euro) £4 (GBP) in the UK per person per day.

For your convenience and ease, there is an option to pre-pay gratuities for the Travel Director and Driver at the time of booking.

North & South America, Australia & New Zealand tours

We’ll check you in, look after your luggage and take care of all hotel porterage, tips and gratuities – whether it is for restaurant staff, chambermaids or porters. Please note that Travel Director and Drivers gratuities are not included in the trip cost. You do have the option to add pre-paid gratuities on booking.

Africa & Asia tours

On our Asia and Africa tours, there is no option to pre-pay gratuities. If you would like to thank your destination expert, this can be done on tour. 

Europe tours

Our modern air-conditioned coaches complete with WiFi, have been selected with your comfort in mind. Your Travel Director will introduce the Driver, explain any safety information in detail and familiarize you with all of the features on board.

A washroom is fitted for your comfort, and please rest assured that regular stops are made for you to stretch your legs, take refreshments, fill up your water bottles and use the facilities. For safety reasons, any hot drinks consumed on board must have a lid. As our coaches are non-smoking, rest stops also provide an opportunity for those who wish to smoke or vape.

Seat rotation
To ensure fairness and to enhance your coach experience Trafalgar practices a daily seat rotation system, which your Travel Director will facilitate. This enables guests to enjoy the panoramic views from a different seat and provides opportunities to get to know your fellow travelers and make new friends each day.

Coach comfort and courtesy
In consideration for your fellow travelers, we respectfully ask that you do not disturb others when using a mobile phone, playing electronic games or listening to music through headphones. Please also be aware of obstructing the view of those behind you when using tablets to take photos or video footage.

WI-FI on the road
Complimentary Wi-Fi is generally available on coaches. Using 3G mobile network, it means that connection is slower than standard broadband and at times may not be available. It is good for checking emails, web browsing and updating social media accounts, but less so for streaming video or large photo uploads.

Rest of the world

Seat Rotation
To ensure fairness and to enhance your coach experience, Trafalgar practices a daily seat rotation system, which your Travel Director will facilitate. This enables guests to enjoy the panoramic views from a different seat and provides opportunities to get to know your fellow travelers and make new friends each day.

Smoking
There is a no smoking policy when on board the coach. We do, however, make plenty of comfort stops.

Trips will operate with a number of empty seats to allow for extra physical distancing. Adapting to the right size groups, based on government distancing requirements, you can rest assured that you will travel with the comfort of your own personal space. Have peace of mind that all of the experiences, hotels, and restaurants you’ll enjoy on your trip, have been vetted to ensure they adhere to social distancing and hygiene guidelines.