IF = In-flight meals, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, AT = Afternoon Tea, D = Dinner

Day 1: Friday, June 19, 2020: Departure
We will depart from the USA today. Flight bookings and pre-tour arrangements can be made through Reformation Tours. (IF)

Day 2: Saturday, June 20, 2020: Arrival in Amsterdam, Leiden, The Hague
On arrival in Amsterdam, we will travel to the Hague and check in to our hotel. In the afternoon, we will visit the American Pilgrim Museum (subject to availability), which tells the stories of the founders of New England. It features furnishings from Pilgrim times, as well as maps and engravings from the 16^th and 17^th century. The Pieterskerk was founded in 1121 and has a small exhibition about the Pilgrims.  John Robinson is buried in this church and we will see his home nearby, marked with a plaque. We will dine in our hotel this evening. (B/L/D)

Day 3: Sunday, June 21, 2020: Delfshaven, Scheveningen, The Hague
This morning we will visit the Pilgrim Fathers’ Church for the morning service (in Dutch) and then explore the harbor district, the departure point for the Speedwell. We will have a traditional Dutch lunch in Scheveningen, then return to The Hague. In the afternoon we will have a guided tour of the Mauritshuis to see stunning Dutch art including Vermeer’s Girl with a Pearl Earring. The rest of the day will be at leisure. (B/L)

Day 4: Monday, June 22, 2020: Amsterdam, The Hague
We will take a day trip to Amsterdam today with a local guide. We will enjoy a narrated canal excursion, passing gabled warehouses, noble mansions, arched bridges, and colorful houseboats. We will have lunch together, then stroll through the Begijnhof, one of Amsterdam’s best-known almshouses. There will also be an option to visit the Anne Frank House (subject to availability). After some free time to explore, we will return to our hotel. (B/L)

Day 5: Tuesday, June 23, 2020: Leiden, Harwich, Colchester
We will take a morning flight to Stansted Airport, England and transfer to Harwich. This is the port town where Captain Christopher Jones was born and we will tour his house and the Guildhall, as well as the Ha’penny Pier. We will check in to our hotel in the Colchester area and dine in our hotel this evening. (B/D)

Day 6: Wednesday, June 24, 2020: Colchester, Dedham
Colchester is England’s oldest recorded town and David Furlow will share about its fascinating history, with a particular emphasis on Queen Boudicca. The tour will include Colchester Castle. In the afternoon we will go to the delightful village of Dedham, made famous by the artist Constable. There will be an optional walk to nearby East Bergholt, of special interest to Allerton and Winslow descendants. It’s the perfect spot for afternoon tea, a walk along the river, or to browse the art galleries and boutique shops. We will dine in a restaurant this evening. (B/D)

Day 7: Thursday, June 25, 2020: Boston, Lincoln, Retford
Boston is a port town on the East coast. In 1607, a group of pilgrims walked 60 miles from Scrooby to Boston to meet a ship to take them to Holland. They were betrayed and instead of a new life, they were arrested and taken to the Guildhall. We will see the cells where they were held, as well as the new exhibit. St. Botolph’s Church, known as “Boston Stump,” is one of England’s largest parish churches. Rev. John Cotton urged members of his congregation to join the Massachusetts Bay Company, and he helped found the city of Boston in the 1630s. The Puritan Path leading to the church is in his honor. We will continue on to Lincoln and attend Evensong in the Cathedral. We will dine in our hotel in Retford. (B/D)

Day 8: Friday, June 26, 2020: Babworth, Scrooby, Gainsborough, Retford
This morning expert guide and researcher Sue Allan will take us on a tour of local sites that would have been very familiar to the Pilgrim Fathers. We will start at Babworth church where William Brewster and William Bradford came together under Richard Clyfton’s leadership. We will view Scrooby Manor, Brewster’s home in Scrooby, as well as the village church. In Austerfield, we’ll enjoy lunch in the Mayflower Pub, then visit St. Helena’s church to  see the font where Bradford was baptized and learn about his childhood. We will then continue on to Gainsborough, from where the Pilgrims set out on their final and successful escape attempt. We will tour the medieval Old Hall, home of a local puritan.  After time to browse the excellent gift shop, we will return to Retford. (B/L)

Day 9: Saturday, June 27, 2020: Stratford-upon-Avon, Gloucester
After breakfast we will drive to Stratford-upon-Avon and have a tour of the top Shakespeare sites, such as Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, the Birthplace, and Trinity Church. Shakespeare was a contemporary of the Pilgrims and so it’s a good place to go to understand what their lives and language were like. We will then continue on to Gloucester to see the stunning Cathedral. The cloisters were used for filming scenes in Harry Potter. John Stafford Smith, the composer of the Star-Spangled Banner, was christened in this Cathedral. We will dine in a restaurant this evening. (B/D)

Day 10: Sunday, June 28, 2020: Plymouth
We will have breakfast in our hotel, then continue our drive to Plymouth. We will tour the city with a specialist guide who will tell the story of the Mayflower Pilgrims, the ship, and the voyage. We will view the Mayflower steps, the cobbled streets of the Barbican, Sutton Harbour, and have admission to the brand-new Box Museum. The evening will be at leisure. (B)

Day 11: Monday, June 29, 2020: Plymouth, Dartmouth, Winchester
After breakfast we will have a boat ride in Plymouth harbor, then travel to nearby Dartmouth, which is where the Mayflower and the Speedwell had to dock for repairs. The Pilgrims would still recognize the Tudor Bayard’s Cove Fort, St. Saviour’s Church, Smith Street and other areas around the waterfront. We will have some free time to explore on our own, before we continue on to Winchester, stopping along the way for an afternoon tea. We will dine in our hotel this evening. (B/AT/D)

Day 12: Tuesday, June 30, 2020: Southampton, London
Today, our local expert guide will take us on a guided walk describing Southampton as it would have been in 1620. We will hear about the provisioning of the Speedwell and Mayflower ships and see their departure point. This is now commemorated with a Pilgrim Fathers’ Memorial, which was unveiled in 1913.  We will have a group lunch in the Tudor House and Garden, which existed at the time of the Pilgrims’ departure. We will continue on to London and check in to our hotel. The evening will be at leisure. (B/L)

Day 13: Wednesday, July 1, 2020: London
We will have a fabulous view of London from the London Eye this morning, followed by a round-trip cruise from Westminster Pier. The bus will then take us to lunch in the Mayflower Pub in Rotherhithe. This used to be called the Shippe Inn and was well known to the crew of the Mayflower. We will see the original 1620s mooring point and we’ll have the opportunity to sign the Mayflower Descendants’ visitors’ book. The rest of the day will be at leisure. (B/L)

Day 14: Thursday, July 2, 2020: Departure day
After breakfast, we will travel to Heathrow, either as a group, or by separate transfers. Post-tour travel options are available. (B/IF)

Please note this itinerary is copyrighted.

What are accommodations like?

Our hotels are chosen for their quality, amenities and proximity to areas of interest. Whenever possible, we choose hotels in town centers, so that you are able to go off and explore in your free time. It may be necessary for us to substitute hotels for others of equal quality. You will be fully informed of any changes that affect you. Enjoy your stay!

The Hague, Netherlands
June 20-23, 2020
The Marriott
Johan de Wittlaan 30
2517 JR Den Haag

Colchester, England
June 23-25, 2020
Best Western Rose & Crown Hotel
East Street
Colchester CO1 2TZ

Retford, England
June 25-27, 2020
Best Western Plus West Retford
24 North Road
Retford DN22 7XG

Gloucester, England area
June 27-28, 2020
The Gables Hotel
Bristol Road
Wotton-under-Edge GL12 8DL

Plymouth, England
June 28-29, 2020
The Copthorne Hotel
Armada Way
Plymouth PL1 1AR

Winchester, England
June 29-30, 2020
Winchester Royal Hotel
St Peter Street
Winchester SO23 8BS

London, England
June 30-July 2, 2020
The Holiday Inn Bloomsbury
Coram Street
London WC1N 1HT

Arrival and Departure Transfers

Transfers are automatically included if we have booked your flights.

If you have booked your own flights, we can still provide transfers, as long as we have your flight details on file and a phone number to give to the driver. We will include your transfer information in your final packet. Transfers will be arranged for each arrival, so that you won’t have to wait for other tour members if their flight is delayed. Transfers can be arranged for the day of your choosing, but we can’t arrange transfers if you arrive or depart by train.

Please note that individual transfers are booked through a third-party and you will be responsible to communicate with the company in case of delays.

Flight Information

When this tour is a guaranteed departure, we will be able to start making air reservations. Various flight booking options will be available at that time. Please read our printable guide to booking your flight to better understand these options.

Option 1: For 10+ traveling together, we can provide a group air booking. Payment is due with final payment in April 2020.

Option 2: You may request a flight quote from us by filling out this form. Payment is due at the time of booking. Please note we are currently not purchasing any new flights, as airlines are so affected by the coronavirus.

Option 3: You may book your own flights, making sure you land on the morning of June 20, 2020 no later than 10:00 AM.  If you would prefer to arrive earlier, we can arrange a pre-tour hotel night in Amsterdam or The Hague. You are welcome to depart at any time on July 2. Please wait until the tour is a guaranteed departure before booking non-refundable airfare, and send us a copy of your flight itinerary for our records as soon as you have booked it.

Please note that if you would like to use air miles you will need to book directly with the airline.

We can arrange pre-tour nights in Amsterdam or The Hague and post-tour nights in London, but due to the volume of tours in 2020, we are not able to arrange additional travel within Europe.

What’s included in the land tour price of $3,799?

Price based on a minimum of 25 participants

Your Tour Includes

•   Transportation: via deluxe air-conditioned coaches
•   Accommodations (double-occupancy) in 3-star and 4-star hotels
•   Meals as indicated in the itinerary
•   Professional Tour Director throughout the tour
•   Local step-on guides for city tours and major attractions
•   Guides will use Whisper Headsets throughout the tour
•   Admission to all activities indicated in the itinerary
•   Arrival and departure transfers
•   Baggage handling when available (1 piece per person)
•   Basic travel insurance (upgrade to full-coverage available)
•   All taxes and tips except as indicated below

Your Tour Does Not Include

•   Round-trip air transportation (assistance available)
•   Transfers, other than the main group transfers
•   Single supplement ($900)
•   Meals and beverages not identified in itinerary
•   Items of a personal nature, such as passports and visas. Passports must be valid for 6 months beyond return date.
•   Upgraded passenger trip cancellation insurance ($500 of basic coverage included)
•   Tips for tour director and driver

Payment Schedule

•   Deposit of $350 will secure your place on the tour. Please send all payments to Reformation Tours, P.O Box 854, Belleville, IL 62222.
•   Final invoices will be sent in March 2020
•   Final payment is due on April 5, 2020
•   Reservations will be accepted until April 5, 2020 subject to availability

Insurance

We offer the Professional Plan offered by Roam Right Insurance, a division of Arch Insurance Company.  We offer all of our travelers post-departure insurance coverage (up to $500 of coverage.) If you would like to have pre-tour cancellation and trip interruption coverage, the upgrade cost depends on the tour price. It’s approximately the tour cost (minus the $500 that we cover) x 6.14%.  To insure your land costs, the price is $3,799 – $500 x 6.14% = $203. A quote will automatically be added to your invoice and updated once the air cost is available.

Cancellations

Regardless of reason, cancellations are costly. To offset these costs the following fees will apply, plus any non-recoverable expenses to our suppliers:

From time of deposit to 100 days before departure: $100 cancellation penalty
From 99-15 days prior to departure: $350 cancellation penalty plus any non refundable deposits
14 days or less prior to departure: No refund– Cancellation charges also apply to additional accommodation reserved prior to and after the tour.
– Cancellations must be received in writing by 5:00 p.m. central time on the last business day of the applicable time period.
– For flight changes or cancellations, revision fees and/or airline cancellation charges will apply.
– Roommates canceling can result in a single supplement charge for the roommate. The Participant who cancels will be responsible for that charge if a substitute roommate cannot be found.
– Trip Cancellation and Interruption Insurance is strongly recommended.
Reformation Tours cannot assume responsibility for any additional costs or fees relating to the issuance and/or cancellation of air tickets or other arrangements not made through Reformation Tours.