Get Ready for Europe in 2008!

Hello fellow European Travelers and future European Travelers,

2007 was a fantastic tour season and all the tours were full. Thank you very much to all of you who had your adventure to Europe with us. Those of you who traveled with us this year will receive a follow up survey so we can get your feedback. In the meantime, feel free to email us if you have any questions or comments.

The 2008 the lineup will be especially fun and exciting!

The 2008 tours have been listed on the website for several months and we’ve had a great response. The first tour to Italy in early-May filled up quickly so we added a second one in mid-May. Due to feedback from our customers, we replaced the Da Vinci Code tour with a new longer Highlights trip to Italy which includes Cinque Terra, Pisa, Pompeii, Sorrento and the beautiful Amalfi Coast in addition to the places we already visit in our Jewels of Italy tour. These cities include Venice, Tuscany and Rome. This is a very popular tour and we expect it will sell out again so book your trip soon!

SPECIAL OFFER: Think 2008 might be your year to visit Europe? We have a special offer for our newsletter subscribers. Tours typically fill up quickly in January and February and we don’t want you to miss out. If you are considering a tour but aren’t quite sure, you can hold your space by sending in your $300 deposit. If you change your mind for any reason before January 31st, your deposit will be refunded to you. Grab your spot now with no risk. As always, our returning travelers receive a 10% discount.

2008 Tour Schedule

Remember all of our tours:
  • groups are small(8-15)
  • hotels are charming and very comfortable
  • lots of free time for you to explore
  • local guides know their stuff and are fun
  • the food is FABULOUS!

Discover London and Paris. If you've never been to Europe, this is a great trip to start with. In 8 days you will be introduced to Europe’s cultural capitals. Highlights include the London Eye, Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, historic Marais, cathedrals of Notre Dame and Ste Chapelle, the Louvre and the magnificent Chateau de Versailles.
Dates: May 25 - June 1 & August 24 - 31, 2008.
Visit the website for more details of London and Paris.

Discover Jewels of Italy. This 10-day tour explores some of the best Italy has to offer; Venice, Tuscany and Rome. In Venice highlights include Piazza and Basilica San Marco, Doge’s palace, and the Rialto Bridge and marketplace. In Tuscany they include the beautiful town and Duomo of Siena, the art and architecture of Florence with Michelangelo’s David and the Uffizi museum, and a private wine tasting and tour. In Rome they include a private tour of the ancient sites of the Colosseum, Forum, and the Vatican with Michelangelo’s amazing Sistine Chapel and more!!
Dates: May 1 - 10, May 15 - 24 & October 12 - 21, 2008.
Visit the website for more details of Jewels of Italy.

Discover England and Scotland. This 14-day tour is the perfect mixture of two worlds - the magnificent historic sites and the beauty of the quaint villages. Highlights include Westminster Abbey, St. James Park/Buckingham Palace, St. Paul’s Cathedral, Georgian city of Bath, ancient Stonehenge and Avebury, the Cotswolds, Blenheim Palace, Warwick Castle, York Minster, Scottish Highlands, Glencoe, Edinburgh Royal Mile, Edinburgh Castle.
Dates: Aug 31 - Sept 13, 2008.
Visit the website for more details of England and Scotland.

Discover Highlights of Europe. If you only have two weeks and you want a little taste of some of Europe’s best, this popular tour is the perfect choice. The tour visits Paris, the Alps in Switzerland and Germany/Austria, Venice, Tuscany and Rome. The highlights are too numerous to mention, so see the website for the details.
Dates: June 1 - 14 & September 14-27, 2008.
Visit the website for more details of Highlights of Europe.

Discover Highlights of Italy. New for 2008! This 14-day tour is the perfect combination of the incredible history and relaxing charm Italy has to offer. The tour visits Venice, Cinque Terra, Pisa, Tuscany, Rome and the Sorrento/Amalfi Coast with all of the highlights included in the Jewels of Italy tour plus the adorable seaside 5 villages of Cinque Terra, the leaning tower of Pisa, a guided tour of ancient Pompeii and a picturesque full day tour around the Amalfi Coast.
Dates: Sept 28 - Oct 11, 2008.
Visit the website for more details of Highlights of Italy.

Come join us to discover your own little piece of Europe!

    Ellie Burns-Brookens
   Owner, European Discovery

The time has come to purchase that European vacation you’ve been dreaming about. You paid the deposit on your tour, bought your airline ticket and have started looking at travel books. Wait…what about travel insurance?

Most travelers purchase travel insurance for one of three reasons: peace of mind, protection against the unexpected and concern over losing the money invested into the trip. Most people are aware of flight and trip cancellation insurance, but many people are unaware of travel health insurance, baggage coverage and medical evacuation insurance.

Trip Cancellation and Interruption insurance protects your investment and is based on the cost of your vacation. This covers you if you should get sick and miss your trip. It also covers you should your flight be delayed or cancelled.

Health Care Insurance is the most confusing type of travel insurance. Most travelers think they are covered by their existing health care insurance. Within the US, that is the case. However, you may not be covered while traveling abroad and you may not be covered for basic emergency care overseas. Your health insurance, in almost all instances, may not cover the expense of sending you back to the US for treatment. Also, if you are in a foreign country, many hospitals may ask for payment before you leave. Check your present health care insurance to see what coverage you have while traveling abroad.

Baggage Insurance is included in many trip cancellation and interruption policies. It provides coverage for lost, damaged, delayed or stolen bags. While you are covered under US airlines liability for lost or damaged luggage, the limit is $3000 per passenger. Several items are not included such as jewelry and all items reimbursed are based on the depreciated value. Also this coverage covers the reasonable purchase of essential items should your baggage be delayed.

Summary: Most travel insurance companies sell all of the above at a package price rather than individually. The cost is based on your age and the amount of the tour that is non-refundable. For example, base coverage which includes all of the above for our May Italy tour ($2,545) and $400 non-refundable airfare for a person that is 45 years old cost about $100-135 for complete coverage. You can, of course, customize the benefits and pay a little more or a little less.

To buy or not to buy? Do your homework. Compare the cost of your trip with the cost of the policy. Many policies are based on the trip cost per person and your age. Some policies include children under 18. Read the fine print to see what is or isn’t covered. We have a longer page talking about the pros and cons on our own website at www.eurodiscov.com/travel_insurance.htm.

Additional Resources:
Travel insurance company comparisons: www.insuremytrip.com
Access America: www.accessamerica.com 1-800-729-6021,
Travel Guard International: www.travelguard.com 1-800-426-4919.

Are you thinking of traveling to Europe next year? Then, don’t delay on getting your passport or renewing your passport. Due to a law that went into effect in January 2007, travelers returning from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda by air now are required to have a passport. As a result, 2007 has brought a sharp increase in passport applications. Over 18 million passport applications are expected in 2007, up from 12.1 million in 2006. Though the State Department has added staff, the normal 6 week processing time has gone up to 12 weeks or often more.

If you already have a passport, check your renewal date. Your passport should be valid for 6 months after you return from your international trip. A passport can often be renewed by mail. If your passport is current, not damaged and you were over 16 years old when it was issued, you can renew your passport through the mail. Go to www.travel.state.gov/passport to download the Application for Passport by Mail, form DS-82. Fill out the application, attach to it your recent passport, two identical passport photos and a check for $67 (provided you are over 16), payable to the US Department of State and mail it all to the National Passport Processing Center.

If this is the first time you have applied for a passport, then you must apply in person. Passport application forms are available at passport agencies or acceptance facilities, or you can download an application through the State Department’s website, www.travel.state.gov/passport. The website has the locations of passport agencies and other acceptance facilities, often post offices, which are in your area. When filling out the form, do not sign it as that must be done in front of the official processing your application. Also, you need proof of US citizenship, which is a certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state where you were born. Provide two passport photos and pay the application fee. More detailed information is available on the State Department’s website. You will receive your passport in the mail.

Even if you don’t have a trip planned right now but think you might travel in 2008, getting a passport now will give you some peace of mind. In part because passports will be needed for land and sea arrival from Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda by 2009, so many more travelers will be applying for passports.