6 days with 2 October 2018 from £589

Dear members Oh My. Doesn’t time fly! It is hard to believe that it is six years since nearly 50 of us spent five lovely days in Jersey. Why do I raise this? It is that I have not forgotten how a number of you were, at the time, interested in literature, displayed in the hotel, on a day excursion to the smaller Channel Island of Sark which I said I had had the good fortune to visit. It is a unique travel experience. Sark is the last remaining feudal state in Europe and makes an easy and memorable, beautiful day excursion from Guernsey, the second largest of the Channel Islands. Such was the interest while we were in Jersey that, I said I would leave it a couple of years before organising a tour to Guernsey which would include a full day in Sark. My apologises it has taken six years but am pleased to announce that my latest new tour will be to Guernsey and Sark next October. Following my mailing to most of you on my initial planning for Guernsey and your subsequent comments I have been able to reduce the tour price by changing the travel arrangements to high speed ferry from Poole—just 3 hours to Guernsey. I have also changed the date, avoiding the Jewish holidays, on which we travel. I do hope you can join us. Best wishes Denise The beauty of GUERNSEY SARK and its horse drawn carriages

ITINERARY Our usual coach pick-ups from Watford Junction station and Bushey Heath for our coach transfer to Bournemouth for an overnight stay at the Suncliffe Hotel in Bournemouth. Coach transfer to Poole Quay for our cruise to Guernsey where we will have an introductory guided coach tour of the is- land. This will first include the capital, St Peter Port considered one of the prettiest harbour towns in Europe, the Little Chapel (said to be the smallest chapel in the world) before tea time transfer to our hotel overlooking Grand Havre Bay. Our time in Guernsey will be very relaxed and individually planned but let me first explain our main excursion, a full day tour to the feudal island of Sark, a 45 minute sea cruise when you need to be on the watch for inquisitive dolphins which some days can be plentiful. On arrival at their harbour we are taken up to the village by tractor drawn trailer as its 600 residents decree that no other motorised vehicles are allowed and you soon realise that bikes and horse drawn carriages are the method to get around. There are no cars on Sark. The guide accompanying us for the day from Guernsey will direct us to a fleet of various sized carriages driven by their proud island owners which will, for two hours, drive us around the pretty lanes stopping when- ever requested to take photos of unparalled scenic views. A half hour will be spent at the RHS recommended gardens at La Seigneurie, the official home of the head of the feudal governor of the island of Sark. Our carriage rides will finish in Main Avenue which has a charming array of quaint gift shops and cafes and two small hotels. A small interesting fact it is worth noting about Sark is that in 2011 it was the first place in the world to be granted Dark Sky Status! Sark really is a unique island! Closer island to Guernsey than Sark is just 8 minutes by frequent ferry whose famous Shell Beach has recently been voted by Trip Advisor one of the top 20 beaches in Britain. Go down to Belvoir Bay and appreciate the stunning views as you enjoy Herm’s own made ice cream. The attractions of the St Peter Port, are numerous. Its cobbled, floral festooned streets with its No Vat independent boutiques rise from its harbour on which stands its 800 yr old which houses five museums and from where the ceremonial Noon Day Gun is fired daily. Look out for historic Candie Gardens with its band stand and concerts, Hautville House, the former home (and now museum) of French Les Miserables author Victor Hugo, get a snapshot of island life over the years at the Guernsey Tapestry and don’t miss the fascinating German Occupation Museum. On our last day we will visit Saumarez Park, one of the main gardens on the island containing the Guernsey National Trust’s Costume and Folk Museum with 8000 fascinating items. A last opportunity to explore St.Peter Port before our late afternoon cruise to Poole and coach transfer back home. PENINSULA HOTEL is a 3 star hotel ideally situated on a sandy beach on the north-west coast of the island. The en-suite bedrooms have satellite television, hair dryer, direct-dial telephone, tea/coffee facilities. WiFi connection available free in hotel lobby, excellent restaurant and bar. Limited number of sea rooms at supplement. There is live music on some evenings weekly. The hotel is served extremely well by 4 local bus routes. For most of the day and well into the evening there are buses every half hour from outside the hotel to the centre of St. Peter Port taking only 20 minutes. Every half hour the Guernsey Vaeux island coastal route departs serving all the main bays and tourist attractions such as Guernsey Clematis Nursery (from where Raymond Evison OBE has produced 28 Chelsea show medals), the Sausmarez Manor, the Freesia and Carnation Centres and L’Eree Bunker, one of the 800 installations that can be sought out reminding visitors that Guernsey spent 5 years under German occupation between 1940—1945. OUR HIGH SPEED SEA CROSSING This is the new Condor Ferries trimaran ferry, the first of its type in Europe. It carries 900 passengers and 245 cars and takes only 3 hours to make the crossing between Poole and Guernsey. Spacious airconditioned lounges, guaranteed reserved seat for everybody, licensed restaurant and duty free shop. PRICE and GENERAL INFORMATION PRICE per person: Minimum 40 persons—£589 Minimum 35 persons—£606 Minimum 30 persons—£627 Double room for SINGLE occupancy in Peninsula Hotel— £60 supplement Sea view room supplement £48 per room Double room for SINGLE occupancy in Suncliffe Hotel—£22, No supplement for true single rooms in Suncliffe Hotel (only 6 available) Price includes: Coach transfers to Bournemouth, Poole Harbour, to and from Peninsula Hotel and return to Watford, return Condor ferry to Guernsey, 1 night half board accommodation in Suncliffe Hotel, 4 nights half board accommodation in Peninsu- la hotel, guided coach travel on 1 day in Guernsey, guided day excursion to Sark inc.ferry and horse drawn cart ride.

BOOKING PROCEDURES The tour must have a minimum 30 persons to operate. Balance payment will be due by 20th July 2018. A deposit cheque of £100 per person, made out to Success Tours Ltd, should be sent to Denise Piddington as soon as possible. This will not be banked until we have the minimum number of bookings to operate the tour. Once your deposit has been banked it is non-refundable. This tour is being organised by Success Tours, a well established award winning UK tour operator. They meet the financial security requirements of the EU Consumer Protection Act by all payments held in a Trust Account until our tour has been successfully completed.. Success Tours also hold a British Government Air Travel Operators License (Number 5114). Passengers are expected to have their own travel insurance, particularly to cover possible cancellation costs. Late cancellations of less than 10 weeks may incur charges according to length of notice given prior to departure. Bushey U3A cannot entertain financial claims should a member suffer any losses through the tour operator defaulting on their obligations.

St. Peter Port Parks and gardens are plentiful

Bushey U3A BOOKING

Please reserve …… places on The Guernsey and Sark tour 2 October 2018 SPECIAL REQUESTS Indicate any disabilities, diets etc ROOMS: …….. Singles ……. Doubles ..….. Twins

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