Pre-Departure

• What is included in the price?
All accommodation as per the itinerary; both on board the train and in hotels; all meals starting with dinner on the first day (on some tours this may differ slightly, so please refer to the specific itinerary); a generous allowance of wine, beer, soft drinks and tea and coffee with all lunches and dinners both on and off the train (except where stated otherwise); all arrival and departure transfers (providing you arrive/depart on the tour start/end date and except where stated otherwise); guided off train sightseeing excursions; the services of experienced tour leaders; complimentary tea, coffee and mineral water 24 hours a day, all gratuities; a doctor (except where stated otherwise).

• What is not included in the price?
International and domestic airfares; visa and excess baggage charges; insurance.
Personal expenses such as drinks in the bar car or laundry. On some tours there may also be an occasional optional activity that needs to be paid for locally.

• How do I book my flights & are they included?
Flights are not included, but we can recommend Expedia.co.uk. Please note that we do not advise that you book flights more than 60 days in advance.

• Are visas included and how do I obtain them?
Visas are not included within the price and it is essential that they are obtained well in advance of departure. You may require a visa support letter. We use the services of a visa support agency. Please contact our reservations department for assistance or further information. IMPORTANT: For passengers in the UK only, we provide a low cost full visa service. Please contact us for more information.

• Is insurance included and do I need it?
It is a booking condition that you must be fully insured for any medical expenses that may be incurred whilst travelling. Comprehensive travel insurance policies can be obtained from our agent Campbell Irvine. Please contact us for more details.

• What is the standard of Hotels that I will stay in as part of the tour?
Hotel accommodation as described in the tour itinerary is included in the price of the tour. All hotels are of a 4/5 star standard or best available. Room upgrades are available on request, subject to availability and an additional cost.

• Do I need to tip when I am on the tour?
All gratuities are included in the tour price and we encourage passengers to refrain from offering gratuities to crew/hoteliers/drivers etc. We would prefer passengers to inform our management of any exceptional service received, and GW Travel will reward accordingly.

• What currency will I need to bring?
For most tours we recommend taking US$ with you as they can be changed easily. You should only need money for bar and laundry bills and any souvenirs you would like to purchase along the way. It is possible to run a “tab” on board and make one payment at the end of the tour. If the bill is less than USD100 you will be required to make this payment in cash. International credit cards (VISA and Mastercard are both accepted) for payments over USD100. The Tour Manager will advise where you can exchange money along the way.

• Can I use credit cards and travellers cheques?
ATM machines are now available in all large towns and cities along our routes, however, we do not recommend that you rely on ATMs alone for money. We also do not recommend bringing travellers cheques as they are virtually impossible to exchange.

• Are transfers included?
Arrival and departure transfers are included on most of our tours if you arrive on the first day of the tour and depart on the last day.

• Can I make pre- or post-tour arrangements?
If you would like us to make local arrangements for pre or post tour stays, please contact us with your requirements for our proposal.

• What happens when I arrive at the airport?
If you have an arrival transfer, you will be met by one of our representatives who will be waiting with a GW Travel sign. If arriving by air, this will be after immigration, once you have collected all of your luggage and cleared customs.

• What happens if I miss my flight, or am delayed?
Prior to departure you will receive final documentation which will include a 24-hour Emergency Contact Card. This displays the telephone numbers of our representatives in both the country of arrival as well as our offices in the UK. If you have any problems you can call the appropriate person detailed on the card.

• Are there any restrictions on the size and number of pieces of luggage I can bring?
There is limited storage space inside your cabin. We recommend taking soft-topped luggage as it is easier to store.

• What is the dress on board the trains?
During the day dress is casual both on and off the train. In the evening we suggest smart casual.

• What type of footwear is required?
Since every tour requires some walking we recommend you pack some comfortable walking shoes. A rubber sole is recommended to avoid possible slipping.

• Do I need to take my own toiletries?
We provide shampoo and shower gel; but you may wish to bring your preferred brands with you.

• Do I need to make any special prior arrangements if I am travelling with medication?
You need to ensure you have the correct quantities of prescription medication. We strongly advise that you seek medical clearance prior to travelling. Our on-board doctor must be advised if you are travelling with prescription medication.

• Do I need any special vaccinations?
As with all overseas travel, your client will need to contact their GP or local travel clinic to get the most up to date information on what vaccinations if any are required.

• What is the average age of the passengers?
Although we have no age restrictions on our tours, the majority of our travellers are 55 +. The average age is 64.

• How many passengers will be on the tour?
This all depends on the individual departure. Our maximum capacity is 120, but some of our departures will leave with less than that.

Staff and Service

• How many Tour Managers are on board?
There is one senior Tour Manager on board and also a number of assistants depending on the total number of passengers

• Is there a doctor on board at all times?
GW Travel provides a doctor, who travels with the train and passengers at all times (apart from on our Canadian tours). The doctors are available 24-hours a day and are responsible for primary health care. They do carry medicines, but if you are taking prescription medication, please bring enough supplies to last for the duration of your trip.

• Is the Doctor English speaking?
Under normal circumstance we always provide an English speaking doctor, however there may be exceptional circumstances when that will not be possible.

• What happens in the event hospital treatment is needed?
We will make every effort to ensure that you receive the highest possible level of care and if required, will get in touch with your relatives at home.

• How many people do the train attendants look after?
This depends on the actual train, but on average 2 attendants look after 12 passengers.

• Are there porters to help with baggage?
There are porters at each of the hotels and at the station to help us get our luggage on and off the train.

Excursions

• Are there daily briefings on the places we pass through / visit?
When you board the train there will be a brochure specific to you chosen route detailing more about their journey and the places en route in your cabin. The Tour Manager also organises a programme of briefings on the cities we visit throughout the journey.

• Are all off train excursions included in the price?
On the majority of our tours all excursions are included. Occasionally we may offer an optional excursion that requires extra payment. If you do not wish to take an off train excursion you can either stay on board the train or make some private arrangement. You will then be responsible for ensuring that you are back at the train by the departure time as the train will not be able to wait and must leave as per the schedule.

• Who is the guide for off train tours?
We provide local English speaking guides

• Are the guides English speaking?
Yes, the local guides speak English as well as the on-board Tour Manager. If you wish to have a guide in a language other than English, you need to ensure that this request is made at the time of booking and we will aim to provide one (charges may apply).

• I have limited mobility – am I able to go on all the excursions?
If you need a wheelchair this must be arranged at the time of booking and we will do our best to accommodate the request. However, it may not be possible to go on all of the excursions.

• What happens if I want to make my own arrangements during the hours off train times?
You can make your own arrangements but you will need to advise the Tour Manager and it is your responsibility to ensure you are back at the train by the departure time as the train will not be able to wait and must leave as per the schedule.

• How many people travel to the same sights at the same time?
The buses carry up to 35 passengers and tours may be divided into groups to visit specific sights/museums etc.

Trains

• Are the trains run by steam?
Only our Canadian trip is hauled by steam. All of our other trains are powered by electric or diesel engines.

• Can passengers make a request to see the engine or/ and to drive?
For safety reasons we can not allow passengers to drive the train, however when we are stopped in the stations it is possible to see the engine. Please ask the Tour Manager who will be able to make the request on your behalf.

• Smoking policy.
For the comfort of the passengers a NO SMOKING policy applies throughout all trains (cabins, bars, restaurants, lounge cars).