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- How do I purchase a Gift Certificate?
- What clothing should I bring on a tour?
- How early should I arrive at my pickup?
- Does Van Galder reserve seats on the coach?
- What kind of identification do I need crossing the border?
- What if I need two beds (or want one bed) in my room?
- How much luggage can I bring on a tour?
- What if I need to cancel my tour?
- Is the driver's or tour director's gratuity included?
- How does Van Galder accommodate single or odd numbered groups on the motorcoach?
- Will I receive a confirmation of my reservation?
- Does Van Galder Tours send out bills for final payment?
- Is there a minimum age on the tours?
- How are the rooms configured for double, triple and quad occupancy?
- What does Van Galder do in the event of inclement weather conditions?
- Are the motorcoaches equipped with electrical outlets and WiFi?
- Is smoking or drinking allowed aboard your vehicles?
- What is the difference between Coach USA, Coach Canada, and the other business names I’ve seen on this website?
- How do I book a "shared" room with a friend who will make their own booking?
- For a multiple-day trip, when will I receive information about departure times and a final itienrary?
1. How do I purchase a Gift Certificate?
Getting a Gift Certificate for a future Tour & Travel trip, in any dollar amount, is EASY! Simply call 1-800-747-7407 and we can take care of you!
2. What clothing should I bring on a tour?
Our coaches are air-conditioned, so a light sweater may be advisable. If any additional attire is needed on a tour (i.e. formal wear) it will be listed on your tour itinerary. We recommend viewing the Weather Channel for accurate weather information.
Back To Top3. How early should I arrive at my pickup?
We recommend that you arrive at your pickup point at least fifteen (15) minutes prior to the departure time and for tours requiring a passport at least 30 minutes prior to departure.
Back To Top4. Does Van Galder reserve seats on the coach?
Under no circumstances can seats be reserved on the coach for any tour. On One-Day Tours, seats are available on a first-come, first-serve basis the first morning of the tour. On Extended Motorcoach trips, you will be seated in the order you booked. There will also be a regular rotation of seats on tours of five days or more unless otherwise noted on the tour itinerary. Tour passengers who are traveling alone or in a small group with an uneven number are always welcome on our tours. However, due to the double seating on the coach, you may be asked to sit with another single or uneven numbered group so that we may accommodate all passengers traveling together. Small groups on the tours may not always be seated together. The seat directly behind the driver will be utilized by the Tour Director. Van Galder does not reserve seats for motion sickness, bad backs, sore knees, etc. All passengers that are prone to motion sickness should consult their physician for a medication to relieve the malady or try Sea-Bands from your local pharmacy.
Back To Top5. What kind of identification do I need crossing the border?
Any individual without valid ID risks having the entire motorcoach upon which he/she is traveling and all its occupants denied entrance to Canada or re-entrance into the USA. *All passengers traveling to CANADA are REQUIRED to carry valid proof of citizenship consisting of a valid passport or government-issued photo ID PLUS a government-issued birth certificate with a raised seal or stamp (note: hospital-issued birth certificates are not acceptable.) *A passport will be required for all AIR and SEA travel to or from Canada, Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean amd Bermuda. *Adults traveling in or out of the U.S. with children under the age of 18 should be aware of the following: because of increasing incidents of child abductions in disputed custody cases and as possible victims of child pornography, Customs and Border Protection strongly recommends that unless the child is accompanied by both parents, the adult have a notarized note from the child's other parent (or, in the case of a child traveling with grandparents, uncles or aunts, sisters or brothers, or friends, a note signed by both parents) stating "I acknowledge that my wife/husband/etc. is traveling out of the country with my son/daughter. He/She/They has my permission to do so." *A valid passport is currently required for all tours of Europe. *For non-citizens, it is the passenger's responsibility prior to the trip's departure to have the proper documentation and approval permitting entry in Canada, Mexico, the Caribbean, Europe and re-entry into the USA. *Van Galder/Coach USA reserves the right to disembark any individual without valid ID at any time with no cost reimbursement. *Van Galder/Coach USA reserves the right to deny boarding to all passengers who do not have proper documentation. Improper documentation will result in loss of total purchase price of the tour.
6. What if I need two beds (or want one bed) in my room?
Please make room/bed requests at time of booking. Van Galder will make the request of the hotel on your behalf, but cannot guarantee a specific room type at every hotel. The hotel has the final say.
7. How much luggage can I bring on a tour?
Each passenger is allowed one suitcase (weighing no more than 50 pounds and no larger than 30 in.X 20 in.X 13 in.) without charge. Extra bags must be paid for at the rate of $5.00 per bag/per day with prior office approval. You may also bring a carry-on (18 in.X10 in.X10 in.) which you are responsible for at all times. When packing bags for an overnight tour, please do NOT place valuables, including jewelry, cameras, car keys, prescription medicines, etc., in any suitcase that will not be kept with you at your seat. While we make every effort to safeguard your belongings, frequently the bags are out of our control when being loaded, unloaded, or transported to a hotel room. Van Galder cannot accept responsibility for baggage which may be mishandled (damaged) or which you choose to leave in the motorcoach overnight. Vehicle luggage bays can be broken into. Carrying important or valuable items separately insures that your trip will not be spoiled by the accidental loss of a bag.
When ending your tour, please be sure that you remove all of your items before departing the motorcoach. Van Galder will not accept responsibility for returning or locating lost items.
8. What if I need to cancel my tour?
Advise the office of your cancellation. See Tour Policy regarding cancellation charges.
Written cancellation must be received before refunds will be made. Refunds are returned by the same method as original payment.
We strongly recommend that you purchase insurance, especially for Van Galder's longer tours. It is recommended, to insure no loss of money, that you find a replacement person(s) for your seat(s).
Trip Cancellation Insurance is available for multiple-day tours through TransAmerica Insurance (see Tour Policy). This policy must be purchased at the time of deposit for the tour and the premium is NON-REFUNDABLE.
Please inquire at the time of booking about travel insurance for the air and cruise tours.
9. Is the driver's or tour director's gratuity included?
No, it is NOT included. Gratuity is left up to your discretion. We suggest the following amounts per passenger:
~Tour Driver $2.00-$3.00 per day/per person
~Tour Director $2.00-$3.00 per day/per person
On your Van Galder Tour, we take care of paying the following tips for you:
~Baggage handling at hotels.
~Hotel service charges for all normal service - (excluding room service).
~Meal service for all meals included in your tour.
10. How does Van Galder accommodate single or odd numbered groups on the motorcoach?
The single traveler cannot occupy a double seat by themselves unless they wish to purchase this privilege. Singles or odd-numbered passengers will be asked to sit with other single passengers by the tour director or driver.
Back To Top11. Will I receive a confirmation of my reservation?
Van Galder Tours DOES NOT send a confirmation stating that reservations have been received. Unless we have questions regarding your reservation, you will be contacted by our office through the mail with departure times.
Back To Top12. Does Van Galder Tours send out bills for final payment?
Van Galder Tours DOES send out invoices with final itinerary for final payment. Final payment is due in the Van Galder office thirty (30) days prior to the departure date (unless otherwise indicated). Your canceled check or credit card statement serves as proof of payment. (See Tour Policy for details).
All payments are due prior to the departure.
13. Is there a minimum age on the tours?
Due to the nature of our tours, Van Galder Tours requires that passengers be at least eight years of age unless the tour description specifically states the ages that are permitted on the tour.
Back To Top14. How are the rooms configured for double, triple and quad occupancy?
The double, triple and quad occupancy is based on one room with either two, three or four people occupying that one room. The hotel configuration is generally two double beds. With triple and quad occupancy, people will have to share a bed. Cots and roll-aways are sometimes available, mattering on fire codes for that city. The roll-away or cots are an additional price. This cost will be given upon request and added to the price of the tour.
Back To Top15. What does Van Galder do in the event of inclement weather conditions?
The tours will go unless the roads to the destination have been closed. You will be notified by phone of the cancellation.
Back To Top16. Are the motorcoaches equipped with electrical outlets and WiFi?
All of our fleet of motorcoaches have been equipped with WiFi but not with electrical outlets.
Back To Top17. Is smoking or drinking allowed aboard your vehicles?
For the health and safety of our passengers and drivers, smoking is not allowed on any of our vehicles. Smoking of e-cigarettes is not permitted in our workplaces, facilities (eg bus and rail stations) or on our public transport services. Alcohol is generally not allowed, except when consumed in a responsible manner on some of our motorcoach tours. Charter groups may transport unopened alcoholic beverage containers in the luggage bays for use at their destination.
Back To Top18. What is the difference between Coach USA, Coach Canada, and the other business names I’ve seen on this website?
Coach USA and Coach Canada own over 25 local companies in North America that operate scheduled bus routes, motorcoach tours, charters, and city sightseeing tours. While owned by Coach USA or Coach Canada, these local companies are each independently managed and operated to meet the specific needs of their local communities. Coach USA and Coach Canada are a division of the Stagecoach Group, a Scottish-based leading global transportation company.
Back To Top19. How do I book a "shared" room with a friend who will make their own booking?
If you and a friend plan to travel together, but pay separately, the only way to book the trip is by calling us a 1-800-747-7407. We have to create a link behind the scenes between the two reservations. It is just a limitation of our current online booking system.
Back To Top20. For a multiple-day trip, when will I receive information about departure times and a final itienrary?
You will receive a whole packet of information approximately 2-3 weeks before your multiple-day trip departs. It will include: departure and return times, an updated itinerary, luggage tags, and a parking pass, if you're boarding in Janesville. We don't send out information prior to that because we want to have our final confirmations made with hotels, venues, restaurants, etc. before we send information to you.