Tour FAQ
IMMIGRATION:
All persons traveling between the U.S. and Canada by land or sea (including ferries) are REQUIRED to present a valid passport ($145 valid for 10 yrs) or a passcard ($65 valid for 10 yrs) . Both of these items are easily obtainable through the U.S.Post Office. The time to receive the documents after application may be four weeks or longer. Those persons who are not citizens of the U.S. MUST have necessary documents for entry into Canada and re-entry into the U.S. PLEASE CARRY THESE PAPERS SO THEY ARE EASILY ACCESSIBLE FROM INSIDE THE MOTORCOACH.
Travelers Needing Special Assistance:
McCarter Coach & Tour regrets that it cannot provide individual assistance to a guest for walking, wheelchairs, motorized scooters, dining or any other personal needs. Guest needing such assistance must be accompanied by a companion who will assist them. If you need to bring support of any kind, i.e., wheelchairs, scooter, oxygen, etc. please alert our office when making your reservation.
Transportation:
Deluxe motorcoach equipped with air conditioning, DVD player, public address system, luxurious reclining seats, lavatory, and large tinted glass windows. McCarter Tours are not bus rides, but complete vacations offering fun-filled, carefree travel. When we order our coaches, we leave out a row of seats in order to have more space for each passenger.
ACCOMMODATIONS:
Persons rooming three to a room must agree to a double bed and a roll-away. In most cases rooms are equipped with two double or queen beds. Also in a very few cases it may become necessary for two person, in a double occupancy situation, to share one double bed.
MEALS:
Meals included in the tour cost are indicated in the tour description using the following code:
CHILDREN:
12 years and younger are eligible for reduced rates on most overnight tours when rooming with two adults or an adult paying the single rate. Contact our office for further information. On most day tours there is no reduced rate for children. For the comfort and convenience of all passengers, we do not accept children under the age of 6 on any tour.
single travelers:
McCarter Coach & Tour requires that clients traveling singly provide our office with the telephone number and address of a responsible person NOT traveling with them, whom we may contact in case of an emergency.
ESCORTS AND DRIVERS:
Your experienced escort and professional driver are committed totally to helping you enjoy your vacation. In addition to supervising arrangements, they will try to assist with any problems you may have.
GRATUITIES:
Gratuities for the escort and driver are not included in the cost of the tour. However, it is customary, but not obligatory, to show your appreciation to them. In response to queries about how much to tip the escort and driver, $2.00 per person per day for the tour escort and $2.00 per person per day for the driver is suggested, depending on how you view the service. We could include this in the tour at an additional cost per person, but we feel you get the best service when the customer handles the tipping on an individual basis.
PAYMENT: ONE-DAY TOURS:
Your reservation is not firm until full payment is received. Payment is due in our office two weeks after reservations are made. Reservations are cancelled without further notice if payment is not received.
PAYMENT: MULTI-DAY TOURS:
A deposit of $75.00 or the amount stated in the trip description, is due in our office two weeks after making reservations or reservations will be cancelled without further notice on our part. The full cost of the trip is due 60 days prior to departure.
LUGGAGE TAGS:
Approximately one week prior to departure you will receive a letter listing departure times, pickup points, luggage tags, and hotel telephone numbers. Luggage tags are coded for hotel use and do not reflect your assigned seat number.
LUGGAGE:
One piece of luggage for each person, weighing not more than 45 pounds, is included in the tour cost. A second piece of luggage, not weighing more than 45 pounds, will be handled at the cost of $5.00 per day. WE MUST ENFORCE THE LUGGAGE WEIGHT, AS OUR DRIVERS CANNOT HANDLE BAGS OVER 45 LBS. PLEASE PAY FOR A SECOND BAG IF YOUR BAG IS OVER 45 LBS. BAGS WILL BE WEIGHED THIS YEAR, ANY BAG OVER THE WEIGHT LIMIT WILL BE CHARGED $5.00 PER DAY EXTRA. In addition, a small piece of hand luggage may be carried on the coach, and will be your responsibility for the entire trip. This carry on piece must be small enough (8” x 16” x 20”) to fit in the overhead bin. Soft sided will fit better in this bin. Although every effort is made to handle luggage as carefully as possible, we cannot assume liability nor accept claim for loss or damage of luggage due to breakage, theft, hotel or carrier handling. WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO EXAMINE ALL CARRY ON LUGGAGE AND BAGS.
SEATING:
You determine the location of your seat for the first day of the trip based on when your deposit is made. Seats are assigned in accordance with the order deposits are received, and are rotated each traveling day on multi-day trips. (NO EXCEPTIONS WILL BE MADE TO THIS RULE.) On single day tours seats are not rotated, and assignment is made by order of full payment.
SMOKING:
All tobacco products will be prohibited from use on the motorcoach. This includes ANY type of “vaping” and “e-cigarettes.” We have adopted this policy in the interest of passenger comfort.
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES:
Absolutely no alcoholic beverages are to be consumed on the motorcoach.
FRAGRANCES:
Please refrain from wearing heavy perfumes/fragrances as many people are allergic to these scents. Our trip could be delayed by an allergic reaction.
TRIP PROTECTION:
Low cost Trip Protection is available and is recommended for all tours. Especially, for tours of a longer duration, day tours which include a theatre ticket or in case of emergencies cancellations. This protection could prevent a costly cancellation fee. The cost is $11.00 per day for tours up to 9 days. For tours 10 days and over, the cost will be $14.00 per day. A complete refund of the cost of the tour will be made up to 48 hours before departure. To cancel a tour, a telephone call must be received in our office by this deadline. In the case of a Monday or Tuesday departure, the cancellation must be received in our office before 5 p.m. the Friday before the tour departs. If you desire coverage which includes trip interruption, baggage claims, cost of returning home during the tour, last minute cancellation, etc., we can advise you where you can purchase this type of insurance. THIS TRIP PROTECTION MUST BE PURCHASED AT LEAST 60 DAYS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE DATE FOR MULTI-DAY TOURS AND 30 DAYS FOR DAY TOURS.
REFUNDS: ON MULTI-DAY TOURS:
A telephone cancellation must be reconfirmed in writing. A complete refund will be made of deposits up to 60 days prior to departure. If a double reservation is made, and if for any reason, one of these persons cancels, the single rate would apply to the person remaining on the trip. The same would be true of a triple changing for any reason to a double. From 60 days until two weeks before departure a $25 charge per person will be made plus any deposits for meals, lodging, and attractions made by McCarter Coach & Tour that can not be recovered by McCarter Coach and Tour. Cancellations with less than two weeks prior to the trip departure are subject to no refund. Tour Protection is available and is recommended for tours of a longer duration. It is assumed that all portions of the tour will be used by each individual. There can be no refunds for unused sightseeing or missed attractions or meals. All included items are listed at the end of each trip description. Tour Protection information will be sent to you on receipt of your deposit on multi-day tours. PLEASE read it carefully.
REFUNDS: ON ONE DAY TOURS:
Complete refunds will be made up to six weeks before the trip. From six weeks up to the day of the trip the following schedule applies.
*Six weeks prior to departure: A complete refund.
*Six weeks to 2 weeks before trip: Refund, less monies we cannot recover, (tickets, etc.)
*Less than 2 weeks: No refund.
If the tour departs with all seats sold, we will make a complete refund on day tours.
CLOTHING:
The wise traveler travels light. Wear clothing suited to the climate of your destination. A light sweater may be a good idea for use on the air conditioned motorcoach. An all-weather raincoat is an excellent choice on most trips, as well as comfortable walking shoes, bathing suit (many hotels have indoor pools.) And don’t forget your camera!
PERSONAL ITEMS:
Upon leaving the tour, it is your responsibility to check for all belongings. We will not be responsible for items left in the motorcoach.
RESPONSIBILITY:
These tours are operated by McCarter Coach & Tour, a division of McCarter Transit, Inc., Beaver Falls, PA. McCarter Transit, Inc. is certified and bonded by the Interstate Commerce only as an agent for tour members in arranging room accommodations, transportation, sightseeing, admission and restaurants. McCarter Coach & Tour reserves the right in its sole discretion to make changes in itinerary and is not responsible to any person for expense, loss of time or money or other circumstances resulting from a change in itinerary or change of tour arrangements made by it for tour members. McCarter Coach and Tour reserves the right to decline to accept or to retain any person as a member of any tour at any time, and no further obligation will be assumed by McCarter Transit, Inc. We also reserve the right to cancel any tour prior to departure, and in such cases all payments will be refunded without further obligation on our part. If a passenger leaves the tour at any time, all return fares and other expenses will be assumed by the passenger. An attempt will be made to secure return of monies for unused hotel rooms and missed meals for passengers leaving the tour.
INSURANCE:
You are fully insured on our motorcoach as required by law. It is understood that the carrier assumes no liability for accidents, damage, losses or non-performance of service on the part of any establishment referred to in connection with the tour. Carrier’s responsibility is limited to the actual transportation services offered in connection with the tour.
SPECIAL ARRANAGEMENTS FOR YOUR SCHOOL, CLUB, OR PRIVATE GROUP:
We can design tours and itineraries to your individual requirements. If your club would like to take a trip, ask us to plan it for you.
GIFT CERTIFICATES:
Gift Certificates are available in any amount for any occasion. Give the special person in your life a treat that will ensure them a good time. A gift certificate from McCarter Coach & Tour is always the right size and color and may be exchanged for many happy memories.
