Washington, New York & Niagara Falls

WHERE STORIES BEGIN - SAVE UP TO 15% ON ALL 2023/24 AIR HOLIDAYS - BOOK BY 28 FEBRUARY

Discover a trio of historic, enthralling American cities, and gaze in awe at one of the world’s greatest natural wonders. Fly to Toronto to see the breath-taking sight of majestic Niagara Falls, before heading south into the historic heart of America. You’ll visit the Gettysburg battlefield site, and explore the original US capital Philadelphia. You'll also have the chance to enjoy an optional guided tour of the nation's modern seat of power, Washington DC, and visit breathless Manhattan before returning once more to Niagara’s plunging waters on this packed tour of Canada and the USA.

Highlights

Spending a day discovering Washington DC
A trip through beautiful, forested, up-state New York
Travel south from Canada to historic Gettysburg
Visit the Gettysburg National Military Park
Philadelphia, the birthplace of American Independence
Bookend your tour with stays close to Niagara Falls
Explore New York, one of the most exciting cities on Earth
Enjoy a brief visit to the waterfront city of Toronto

Inclusions

Eight nights’ room-only hotel accommodation, plus one night on the aircraft
Return flights to Toronto
Coach travel and transfers throughout
Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager

Day 1

Fly into Toronto, meet your tour manager and travel around Lake Ontario’s shore to your overnight hotel in Niagara Falls. Catch a brief glimpse of this extraordinary work of nature before making the most of a chance to rest and relax after your journey.

Day 2

Board the coach, this morning, for the journey across the border into the US, heading across scenic New York State and into The Keystone State, Pennsylvania. Continue south to stay overnight in Gettysburg, close to the site of the 1863 battle.

Day 3

Step back in time today as you pay a visit to, and your respects at, the Gettysburg National Military Park, which preserves the land upon which Unionist forces overcame the Confederates during one of the bloodiest battles of the American Civil War. In addition to the battlefield site itself, with its monuments and memorials, including that at Gettysburg National Cemetery dedicated to Abraham Lincoln’s famous Address, the site has a Museum and Visitor Center that houses a collection of over 40,000 Civil War artefacts. After a fascinating day, you’ll continue to Tysons Corner, close to Washington DC, where you'll spend the next two nights.

Day 4

Spend a day in the "most powerful city on Earth", America’s capital – Washington DC. An optional guided city tour will introduce the giant, domed Capitol building on Capitol Hill – home to the US Senate and the House of Representatives – the vast Library of Congress and the Supreme Court. Stretching two miles from the Capitol to the Potomac, the manicured acres of the Mall boast the Washington Monument, the Lincoln Memorial, the Vietnam Veterans’ Memorial, the Smithsonian museums and – across the green swathe of the Ellipse, at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue – the White House itself. Across the Potomac lie Arlington National Cemetery and the hulking Pentagon. After the tour, you'll have the rest of the day free to explore before you return to Tysons Corner.

Day 5

Travel to the original US capital, historic Philadelphia. Here, Independence Hall National Park is home to the place where the Declaration of Independence was prepared and – after the tolling of the Liberty Bell – first read to the nation in July 1776. Enjoy an orientation tour, which will bring to life the colourful story of America’s birth and the characters of the men, like Benjamin Franklin and George Washington, who wrought it. After a fascinating day, you’ll travel north to Hasbrouck Heights, New Jersey for a two-night stay.

Day 6

Make the most of a full day in the incomparable Big Apple, the "city that never sleeps", perhaps the world’s most famous metropolis. Discover its landmark skyscrapers, the green acres of Central Park, the famous Fifth Avenue stores, glittering Broadway, bustling Times Square, world-class museums and the irrepressible buzz that extends from Harlem in the north to Wall Street’s Financial District overlooking the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island. Choose to join our optional guided city tour and you'll also have the chance to ride to the top of the Rockefeller Centre for spectacular views of the Manhattan skyline. At the end of your day in this wonderful place, we'll travel back across the Hudson River to spend a second night in Hasbrouck Heights.

Day 7

Today you'll board the coach for the scenic journey through beautiful Upstate New York, its forested landscape dotted with typical, idyllic New England style towns and villages, and back towards Niagara Falls for your final two nights.

Day 8

Spend a day in awestruck wonder as you visit the Falls, which plunge over their famous precipices and are without question one of nature's greatest sights. The trememdous noise and permanent misty spray can be heard and seen for miles around. While you're here, why not enjoy lunch in a restaurant overlooking the Falls, and stroll the green acres of the park that runs above the rushing waters of the Niagara River, before spending a last evening in the resort town?

Day 9

Treat yourself to an optional helicopter flight over the Falls today – the perfect way to bid them farewell – before you board the coach for the journey to Toronto. After a brief visit to the city - home to the sky-piercing CN Tower and some bustling waterfront developments - you'll return to the airport to check in for your evening flight home.

Day 10

Arrive back in the UK early this morning, after an overnight flight.

Further Information

Passports and visas

When travelling to the USA, British citizens require passports with an integrated chip (shown on the front by a small rectangular symbol beneath the word PASSPORT), valid for 90 days after the return date from the tour. Visitors to Canada must apply for an eTA (Electronic Travel Authority) with Canada Immigration before departure at www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/eta.asp The current charge is seven Canadian dollars for British Citizens, and the eTA is valid for unlimited visits to Canada over a five year period. Visas are not normally required for entry in to the US by land from Canada, although a charge of 6USD is made when crossing the border. British subjects, and anyone who has a criminal record or has ever been arrested, should consult the US and Canadian Embassies as a visa may be required. Note too that if you have visited North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria, Libya, Somalia or Yemen since March 2011, or have dual nationality with any of these countries, you do require a US Visa and cannot travel on the Visa Waiver Programme.

Tipping

Gratuities are a way of life in North America, and it is generally accepted that they form part of a person's earnings. Customary gratuity to a coach driver and tour manager is about $5 per person per day; in a taxi or a restaurant leave 15-20 per cent of the bill and in a bar leave a dollar or so per drink.

Hotel transfer times

The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately one hour and 30 minutes.

Foreign Office travel advice

Visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice to find out the latest Foreign And Commonwealth Office travel advice for your holiday destination, as well as information about passports and visas.

Border crossing

Please note there is a US$6 per person charge to cross the border from Canada to the USA. This is payable in cash at the border crossing and is not included in the tour price.

Combining hotel transfers

We sometimes need to combine transfers to and from your hotel. We always try to keep any wait to a minimum, but you may be asked to wait at the airport for up to an hour, while other incoming flights arrive, before the transfer to your hotel. Similarly, we may need to transfer you back to the airport up to three hours before your flight home departs.

Luggage allowance

You are permitted to take one suitcase per person on the aircraft, which should not exceed 23kg.

Special requirements

If you have notified us of any special requirements, please check that they have been noted and acknowledged. This is especially important with any dietary needs you may have.

Changes to your hotels

Should circumstances require, we reserve the right to accommodate you in alternative hotels, of a similar standard, nearby. Full details of your hotels will be sent with your Final Travel Documents. On some dates you will stay at the Courtyard Secaucus Meadowlands on nights 5-6. On departure dates in 2021, nights 3-4 will be spent at the Doubletree by Hilton, Tysons.

Itinerary changes

Occasionally, for operational reasons, we may have to change the order of the excursions on your holiday. The final day-by-day itinerary will be confirmed on your Final Travel Documents, which you will receive approximately three weeks prior to your departure.

Disabled access

The majority of our tours involve a certain amount of walking, including a short walk from the coach stop to the town, attraction or venue you're visiting. If you are bringing a wheelchair, please let us know at the time of booking so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Terms and conditions

Terms and Conditions: 15% discount applies to specific holidays and tours only. All other holidays and tours will have a 10% discount applied. The Where Stories Begin offer applies to new bookings only booked between 26 December 2022 and 28 February 2023 inclusive. The Offer does not apply to holidays with late availability pricing and excludes, Ocean Cruise, River Cruise, Andre Rieu events, Lapland and Wimbledon. This offer cannot be combined or used in conjunction with any other discount, promotion or concession. When booking a holiday as described above, prices shown will automatically have the 15% or 10% applied. The discount applies to your final holiday price (excluding holiday insurance) at the time of booking. The Offer is subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time.