As soon as a tour and date have been decided. The sooner one signs up, the better chance of securing the lowest tour price and the best choice of dates.
The applicable single rate for each tour can be found in the Rates section on the tour page.
It’s recommended that a traveler books at the single rate to guarantee their space. While most of our Tour Operators do not have a roommate match service, if multiple people ask for a roommate, most will make an introduction. However, people booking at the single rate should be prepared to room by themselves as roommates are not guaranteed.
Most tours include airport transfers if passengers arrive/depart at the scheduled times; this is indicated in the tour inclusions. If the tour does not specifically state the inclusion or exclusion of airport transfers, please check prior to booking. If passengers arrive/depart outside of the scheduled times or for a pre/post night, they are generally on their own for transportation to the tour starting point, though arrangements can sometimes be made on a case-by-case basis.
The Tour Manager will be waiting at an assigned meeting point at the tour start location. This will be provided to the traveler in the final documentation.
Will the Tour Manager accompany the entire tour?
The tips for the Tour Manager and Driver are not usually included in the tour price. This allows travelers to express their level of appreciation for performance and for their contribution to the overall enjoyment of the tour. Depending on level of service provided, an average tip is between $2.00 and $4.00 per person, per day, to each the Tour Manager and Driver, paid in the local currency.
Tipping is included for all services that are pre-arranged, such as hotel staff, restaurant staff and other services that are included in the tour or in the optional excursions. Generally, if anyone who provides a pre-arranged tour service is just doing their job, you need not tip them. Feel free however, to tip any service personnel who are extra helpful or friendly, or who provide a special or unexpected service. Questions should be directed to the Tour Director.
At the airports, luggage carts are available to transport luggage to the coach. At each hotel, a Porter will take luggage (one suitcase per person usually) up to the room. Each morning of checkout from a hotel, luggage should be placed in the hallway outside the room, the hotel Porter will take it down to the coach and the driver will load it onto the coach. Although highly unlikely, there may be a rare occasion on which individual baggage handling is required at a hotel. Carry-on luggage must be carried by its owner throughout the tour.
During a sightseeing stop, the Tour Manager will typically indicate points of interest while on the coach and/or with a walking tour and will also allow time for independent sightseeing. Walking tours may be skipped if more independent time is preferred.
For coverage of cancellation penalties or missed days of the tour, due to unexpected reasons for cancellation or travel delay, TAP highly recommends travel insurance. Individual TAP Operators may use different travel insurance companies; inquiries about travel insurance at the time of booking is encouraged.
The latest security information can be found on the web at www.tsa.gov. TSA requires travelers to provide a full name, as is appears on identification and birth date for all domestic and international travel.
Please inquire at the time of registration if traveling outside the U.S. (including Canada and Mexico). For those of foreign citizenship, we highly recommend checking with the country’s embassy and follow its instructions to make certain travel will be legal and seamless. U.S. citizens in need of a passport can pick up an application at any post office. Please allow 8-10 weeks for processing.
Some tours may allow for certain optional excursions to be paid for in advance, but most can be paid for once on the tour. If not specifically called out in the tour description, plan to purchase them while traveling with our Operators.
Seating on the motorcoach is typically assigned by a rotation system. Out of fairness to all passengers, we do not accept special seating requests for the motorcoach for any reason and expect full participation in the rotation system.
Although motorcoaches are usually equipped with an enclosed 'porta-potty', passengers are asked to limit its use to 'emergencies only,' due to limited disposal sites. Frequent sightseeing and rest stops will be made in order to allow for a comfortable traveling experience.
Room assignments for each tour are made by the individual hotels. The location, view, and size of the rooms may vary.
Some tours have the hotels defined in the itinerary portion on this site. For tours that include a hotel brand “or similar,” a list of the hotels used for the tour will be included with final documentation, which will be provided about one week prior to departure.
In order to get full value from a travel experience, it is important to be in good mental and physical health. Walking and some step-climbing are necessary to participate in the normal activities of our vacations. While we do almost everything for guests on most TAP Tours, the Tour Director cannot provide sustained attention to individual clients. Please be advised that we visit many cultural sites on tour, and not all of them may meet A.D.A. requirements due to their historic status. Having said that, be assured that people with mobility restrictions are welcome on our vacations. Many of our travelers are over 70-years-old (or even 80 or 90), something we keep in mind when planning our itineraries. In our office, the Tour Planner for each departure knows the itinerary well and would be happy to consult with clients personally, should they have questions regarding the amount of walking, elevations, etc., on a particular trip.
Passengers with disabilities are welcome to travel on most TAP Tours. A companion capable of providing for their needs must accompany persons requiring special assistance. Single travelers must be independent travelers who require no additional assistance. The Tour Director is unable to provide individual service for wheelchairs, baggage handling, etc. Passengers must be capable of getting on and off the coach without the assistance of the Tour Director or Driver. Wheelchairs, some models of motorized scooters, walkers, and oxygen can often be stored under the coach. Oxygen must be stowed in secure boxes underneath the coach for safety purposes. Allergies, medical needs, and dietary needs can be accommodated for to a certain extent. Hotels, restaurants, and attractions will be made aware of any special requirements of our passengers. In the past, fridges have been arranged for insulin, oxygen has been delivered to hotels, and allergy-friendly rooms have been arranged. TAP Operators will do their best to meet requests and needs; however, we do have to work within the confines of the accommodations and restaurants that host us. For those with specific needs, it is recommended to check with the TAP Operator prior to booking travel/tour.
Included meals are indicated on the itinerary section of the tour page. All other meals are on the client’s own.
If notified in writing at least 50 days prior to departure, most TAP Operators will accept special dietary requests and will make every attempt to accommodate them, but accommodations are not guaranteed. Although we will inform the Tour Manager and the hotels of these diet requests, any dietary requirements remain entirely your own responsibility. TAP expressly disclaims any responsibility or liability in connection with dietary requirements.
Pre- or post-tour extension accommodations are often available at an additional expense but should be requested at the time of reservation and are subject to availability of the hotel space.
If travelers must return early for any physical/medical reason, make sure to obtain a statement from the attending physician/hospital, as this may allow any airlines to waive change fees and this will assist in making a claim if insurance has been purchased. Final payment is generally due 30-60 days prior to departure (spelled out in the cancellation policy on each tour page), therefore, TAP recommends purchasing travel insurance with trip interruption coverage.
Some departure locations will allow clients to leave their vehicles at the departure location; it is advised that clients check into this prior to departure and inform the departure location that you are doing so.
Though this is subject to the discretion of each TAP Operator, most tours listed on this site are not recommended for children. If children are approved for a tour, the minimum age is typically 12. Children under the age of 18 should be accompanied by an adult. If children are not accompanied by their legal guardian, the legal guardian must provide a notarized consent form to the TAP Operator. There are no discounts for children, unless specifically otherwise stated. Several Operators do offer student tours, most of which are not listed on this site. Call to ask about student tours to a particular area.
The chance that a traveler becomes lost is very small indeed. If this does happen, travelers will usually manage to find the motorcoach before it leaves at the agreed time. However, in the event the bus has left, the traveler should proceed to their hotel using a taxi, train, or bus. This will be at the traveler’s own expense. It is recommended to ask for assistance from police, bus drivers, train station or tourist office personnel. Always carry a copy of the daily schedule and the Tour Manager’s phone number!
Neither TAP, TAP Operators, nor any company contracted through TAP or TAP Operators, shall be responsible for articles lost, stolen, left behind, confiscated, or damaged. Such articles are rarely retrieved; therefore, we recommend travelers check that they have all possessions each time they leave a motor coach, hotel, restaurant, and on all other occasions throughout the tour. Out of consideration for fellow travelers, do not ask the Driver/Tour Manager to turn the motorcoach around to retrieve a lost article. Any items found by Tour Managers, Drivers, or hotel personnel will be brought to the attention of the TAP Operator. Locating the owner of a 'lost and found' item will be more likely if the owner reports the loss to the TAP Operator immediately. Upon receipt of payment for the shipping and handling (on average $50 per item) most TAP Operators will ship 'lost and found' articles to their owner, provided the item is approved for shipping.
TAP Operators respect the privacy of their tour participants. If a client wishes to contact fellow tour participants after the tour, names and addresses should be exchanged during the tour, as TAP Operators will not be able to provide this information except in rare cases.