New England in the Fall
Highlights
- Explore New York, the world’s most exciting city
- Follow Boston's world-famous Freedom Trail
- A spectacular, full-day Fall Foliage tour
- A drive along the glorious Kancamagus Highway
- Visit North Conway, in the heart of the scenic White Mountains
- The delights of coastal Maine, including Portland and exclusive Kennebunkport
- Visit the Yankee Candle flagship store, where it's Christmas every day
- Discover historic Plymouth and fashionable Newport, Rhode Island
Inclusions
- Seven nights’ room-only hotel accommodation, plus one night on the aircraft
- Return flights to New York
- Coach travel and transfers throughout
- Fully escorted by a friendly, experienced tour manager
Day 1
Fly to New York, meet your tour manager and board our coach for the transfer to your overnight hotel in New Jersey.
Day 2
Make the short transfer across the Hudson River into the heart of New York – Midtown Manhattan – for a marvellous, memorable day in the incomparable Big Apple. Explore this breathtaking city under your own steam, or join our optional guided city tour. Marvel at the famous sights – the Empire State and bustling Times Square, the green acres of Central Park, the southern tip of Wall Street and the waterfront district, before ending your tour with a ride to the top of the Rockefeller Center. This afternoon, perhaps take in Macy’s or Saks, two of the world’s most celebrated shopping meccas before we return to New Jersey at the end of the day.
Day 3
Board the coach for the journey north into the scenic highways and by-ways of Upstate New York. Break your journey at Yankee Candle's flagship store in Deerfield, where a huge range of candles, Christmas and Halloween novelties make for a fascinating diversion. You’ll then continue into the scenic Berkshire Hills for an overnight stay in Mount Snow in Vermont.
Day 4
Take a full-day tour through New England's spectacular scenery at a time when it's at its very best. Soak up the beauty of this region of rolling, forested hills and picture-book villages and towns like idyllic Woodstock. Travel through spectacular Quechee Gorge and along the Kancamagus Highway - often voted best spot for foliage viewing, or leaf peeping as it's sometimes known - enjoying the startling Fall Foliage displays, then make a short stop in North Conway, in the heart of New Hampshire. Here several renowned outlet malls vie for your custom, before we head into Maine and to the beautiful mountain village of Bethel for a two-night stay nestled at the foot of appropriately named Paradise Hill.
Day 5
Today offers opportunities to rest, relax and enjoy the delights of Bethel, but many will want to join our optional excursion to Mount Washington. Ride the mountain's historic Cog Railway – the only one east of the Rockies – to the summit of what is New England's highest peak, at the heart of the scenic White Mountains. (The summit station can be one of the worlds windiest places, so hang onto your hat!) Back in Bethel, this evening, you'll also enjoy a guided drive in search of moose.
Day 6
Journey south to the prosperous, seafarers city of Portland, with its waterfront wharves and fine seafood restaurants, today. Then continue - via the exclusive Bush Family retreat of Kennebunkport - towards America’s most European city, Boston, and to the resort of Nantasket Beach, south of Boston across Quincy Bay and your base for the last two nights of your tour.
Day 7
Spend an unforgettable day in Boston, one of America’s most welcoming, walkabout cities. You'll have an opportunity to begin your visit with a fascinating optional guided tour that will bring to life this Cradle of the American Revolution, as you follow the famous Freedom Trail through the heart of the compact city. Take in the green acres of Boston Common, and the gold-domed State House, then perhaps visit colourful Quincy Market and its speciality stalls. Boston's rejuvenated Waterfront area is also home to the wonderful New England Aquarium and to the replicas of the famous Tea Party ships. Stroll around the parks and gardens, check out Newbury Street’s stylish boutiques, or perhaps visit one of the city's many brew houses – Boston is one of North America’s craft beer capitals – and enjoy lunch in a vast choice of eateries. This afternoon, cross the Charles River to famous Cambridge, home to Harvard University, before returning to Nantasket at the end of the day, perhaps to dine on traditional clam chowder or New England lobster – a final holiday treat.
Day 8
Your final day sees you head to New York to board your overnight flight back to the UK. On your way, call in the Pilgrim city of Plymouth, where the historic streets of "America's Hometown" were once trodden by the first settlers, and fashionable Newport, Rhode Island, where "weekenders' cottages" are opulent mansions.
Day 9
Arrive back in the UK at the end of a wonderful, colourful autumn holiday in New England.
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 beyond the return date from the USA. Visas are not normally required for entry, but visitors must apply for an ESTA online with US Immigration at least 72 hours before departure at www.cbp.gov/esta. The current charge is $14 for British Citizens. British subjects and anyone who has a criminal record or has ever been arrested should consult the US Embassy as a visa may be required. Note too that if you have visited North Korea, Iran, Iraq, Sudan, 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 Program.
Hotel transfer times
The transfer time from the airport to your hotel is approximately one hour.
Departure dates and Fall colours
This tour covers a large distance, and so Fall foliage will naturally vary. On early departures, leaves are more likely to have turned in the northern areas covered, whereas on later dates it is the more southern areas that will be most notable, with leaf-fall having already occurred further north.
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.
On your flight
All outbound flights depart and arrive on the same day. All return flights leave in the evening and land in the UK the next day. On-board meals will usually include lunch and a snack on outward flights, and dinner and breakfast on flight home. Soft drinks are complimentary, but some airlines will charge for alcoholic drinks.
Luggage allowance
You are permitted to take one suitcase per person on the aircraft, which should not exceed 23kg.
Tipping
Gratuities are a way of life in North America, and it is generally accepted that they form part of a person's earnings. The customary gratuity for a coach driver or Tour Manager is about $5 per person per day. It is normal to tip 15-20 per cent of the bill for a taxi or in a restaurant, and to leave a dollar or so per drink in a bar.
Smoking
Smoking is not permitted on any coach forming part of your holiday, though regular stops will be made for your comfort en route. The majority of hotels in North America are non-smoking throughout, including in all bedrooms. In general smoking outside is acceptable, but do look out for signs prohibiting this close to public entrances or bus stops.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Hotel rooms
Standard hotel rooms in North America will contain one or two double- or queen-sized beds, and it is not possible to add extra beds to the room. Parties consisting of more than two travellers, but who have only booked one room, will be expected to make use of the two beds provided. If this is a concern, you may wish to consider booking more than one room for your group.
Terms and conditions
15% Offer applies to new bookings only on air-inclusive holidays to destinations outside of the UK and Europe booked between 4th January and 8 March 2021 inclusive. The Offer does not apply to holidays with late availability pricing and cannot be combined with any other concession. Prices shown when booking do not include the discount which will be applied to your booking once the promo code OFFER15 has been entered and will be confirmed before purchase. 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.