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Key: IF = In Flight Meals, B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Day 1: Wednesday, September 16, 2020: Depart North America
We will depart from the USA today. Flight bookings and pre-tour arrangements can be made through Reformation Tours. (IF)

Day 2: Thursday, September 17, 2020: Amsterdam, Leiden
When we arrive in Amsterdam, we will transfer directly to Leiden and drop our bags at the hotel. The tour director will be available to suggest leisure options, including a boat ride on the canal, the Botanical Garden, and the Museum De Lakenhal. We will meet the rest of the travelers at the Welcome Reception in the hotel, followed by dinner. (B/D)

Day 3: Friday, September 18, 2020: Leiden
After a leisurely breakfast, we will tour the American Pilgrim Museum, which tells the stories of the founders of New England (subject to availability). It features furnishings from Pilgrim times, as well as maps and engravings from the 16^th and 17^th century. The Pieterskirk 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, which is marked with a plaque. The afternoon will be at leisure, with an optional tour to the Mauritshaus Art Gallery in The Hague, where we can see paintings by the Dutch Masters, including The Girl With The Pearl Earring. We will dine together this evening. (B/D)

Day 4: Saturday, September 19, 2020: Delfshaven, Harwich
This morning we will visit Delfshaven, the departure point for the Speedwell. We will visit the Pilgrim Fathers’ Church and explore the harbor district. We will then make our way to the Hook of Holland to board our own ship bound for England. The crossing to Harwich takes 6½ hours. The ship has restaurants on board, as well as shops, and a cinema. When we arrive in England, we will check in to our hotel near Harwich. (B)

Day 5: Sunday, September 20, 2020: Harwich, Lavenham, Boston, Lincoln
Harwich is the port town where the Mayflower was built and where its captain, Master Christopher Jones, was born.  We will tour his recently renovated house, the Guildhall, and the Ha’Penny Pier. We’ll have free time for lunch in Lavenham, one of the best-preserved and picturesque medieval villages in England. We will then drive to Boston, 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 in the Guildhall. 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 dine in our hotel in Lincoln. (B/D)

Day 6: Monday, September 21, 2020: Retford, Babworth, Scrooby, Gainsborough, Lincoln
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. In nearby Retford, we will spend time at the newly opened Mayflower Gallery in the Bassetlaw Museum. 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 Lincoln. We will then have some free time to explore Lincoln with the option of attending Evensong in the cathedral.  (B/L)

Day 7: Tuesday, September 22, 2020: Lincoln, Stratford-upon-Avon
After breakfast, we will drive to Stratford-upon-Avon, a medieval market town that was the 16th-century birthplace of William Shakespeare. We will tour Shakespeare’s Birthplace, Anne Hathaway’s Cottage, and Trinity Church. The rest of the day will be at leisure and tickets to a Shakespeare production can be arranged. (B)

Day 8: Wednesday, September 23, 2020: Droitwich Spa, Worcester, Plymouth
After breakfast at the hotel, we will travel to nearby Droitwich Spa to visit St. Peter’s Church where Edward Winslow was baptized. He served three terms as governor of Plymouth Colony. Winslow was educated at King’s School, which was part of Worcester Cathedral at that time. We will have a tour of one of England’s loveliest Cathedrals, followed by time to purchase lunch in the Cloister cafe.  We’ll end the day with dinner in our hotel in Plymouth. (B/D)

Day 9: Thursday, September 24, 2020: Plymouth
We will have breakfast in our hotel, then spend a full day exploring Plymouth. Our specialist guide will tell the story of the Mayflower Pilgrims, the ship, and the voyage, before they finally set off on September 16, 1620. We will see the Mayflower steps, the cobbled streets of the Barbican, and Sutton Harbour. We will then have a few hours to explore independently, before we meet again for a boat cruise around the harbor. We’ll visit the new Box Museum, then the rest of the evening will be at leisure. (B)

Day 10: Friday, September 25, 2020: Southampton, London
After breakfast, we will travel to Southampton. In the afternoon, our local expert guide will take us on a guided walk describing Southampton as it would have been in 1620, when the Pilgrims arrived from Leiden. We will hear about the provisioning of the Speedwell and the Mayflower and see their departure point. This is now commemorated with a Pilgrim Fathers’ Memorial, which was unveiled in 1913.  We will tour the Tudor House and Garden, which existed at the time of the Pilgrims’ departure. We will continue to London and dine in our hotel. (B/D)

Day 11: Saturday, September 26, 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 at 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 12: Sunday, September 27, 2020: London
After breakfast, there will be a group transfer to Heathrow and additional transfers can be arranged. 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!

Leiden, Netherlands
September 17-19, 2020
Hotel Golden Tulip
Schipholweg 3
Leiden

Colchester, England
September 19-20, 2020
Wivenhoe House Hotel
Wivenhoe Park
Colchester CO4 3SQ

Lincoln, England
September 20-22, 2020
Doubletree by Hilton
On Brayford Wharf North
Lincoln LN1 1YW

Stratford-upon-Avon, England
September 22-23, 2020
Crowne Plaza Hotel
Bridgefoot
Stratford-Upon-Avon CV37 6YR

Plymouth, England
September 23-25, 2020
St. Mellion
Saltash
Cornwall PL12 6SD

London, England
September 25-27, 2020
Copthorne Tara Hotel
Scarsdale Place
London W8 5SY

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 July 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 September 17, 2020 no later than 10:00 AM.  If you would prefer to arrive earlier, we can arrange a pre-tour hotel night in Amsterdam. You are welcome to depart at any time on September 27. 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 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 $3,599?

Price based on a minimum of 25 participants

Your Tour Includes

•   Transportation: via deluxe air-conditioned coaches
•   Arrival and departure transfers
•   Accommodations (double-occupancy) in superior 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
•   Admission to all activities indicated in the itinerary
•   Arrival and departure transfers (Heathrow Airport)
•   Baggage handling when available
•   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 (Reformation Tours can assist in booking flights)
•   Departure transfers (can be arranged through Reformation Tours)
•   Single supplement ($750)
•   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
•   Gratuities for tour director and driver

Payment Schedule

•   Initial deposit of $350 will secure your place on the tour. Please send all checks to Reformation Tours, P.O. Box 854, Belleville, IL 62222.
•   Final invoices will be sent in June 2020
•   Final payment is due by July 3, 2020
•   Reservations will be accepted after July 3, 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 $3,599 – $500 x 6.14% = $191. 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.