Cultural Capitals & Ancient Heritage: Mexico City to Oaxaca 2021
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
GRAND CIRCLE TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE Cultural Capitals & Ancient Heritage: Mexico City to Oaxaca 2021 Learn how to personalize your experience on this vacation Grand Circle Travel ® Worldwide Discovery at an Extraordinary Value 1 Grand Circle Travel ® 347 Congress Street, Boston, MA 02210 Dear Traveler, At last, the world is opening up again for curious travel lovers like you and me. Soon, you’ll once again be discovering the places you’ve dreamed of. In the meantime, the enclosed Grand Circle Travel Planning Guide should help you keep those dreams vividly alive. Before you start dreaming, please let me reassure you that your health and safety is our number one priority. As such, we’re requiring that all Grand Circle travelers, Program Directors, and coach drivers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 at least 14 days prior to departure. Our new, updated health and safety protocols are described inside. The journey you’ve expressed interest in, Cultural Capitals & Ancient Heritage: Mexico City to Oaxaca vacation, will be an excellent way to resume your discoveries. It takes you into the true heart of Mexico, thanks to our groups of 42 travelers (with an average of 30). Plus, our Mexican Program Director will reveal their country’s secret treasures as only an insider can. You can also rely on the seasoned team at our regional office in Boston, who are ready to help 24/7 in case any unexpected circumstances arise. Throughout your explorations, you’ll meet local people and gain an intimate understanding of the regional culture. Learn about the secrets of how some of Puebla’s delicious dishes are made when you join a local family for a personal demonstration of traditional Mexican cooking. You’ll also get a taste, figuratively and literally, of one of Oaxaca’s most famous contributions to the culinary scene—chocolate—during a visit to a local chocolate factory. Plus, a portion of our proceeds goes toward the charitable efforts of Grand Circle Foundation: inside you’ll also see how your travel dollar helps make the world a better place. We understand that no two people are the same. That’s why more than 80% of our travelers take advantage of the freedom to personalize their experience. Join the 68% of travelers who extend their time abroad. Add the pre-trip extension to Mexico: San Miguel de Allende & Querétaro, post- trip extension to Mexico: Campeche, Mérida, or both of these extensions to your Mexico vacation. I hope you find this Grand Circle Travel Planning Guide helpful. If you have any further questions, don’t hesitate to contact one of our Travel Counselors at 1-800-221-2610. Warm regards, Harriet R. Lewis Vice Chairman Overseas Adventure Travel P.S. For further peace of mind, please know that we are EXTENDING our Risk-Free Booking Policy through 12/31/21. Learn more at www.gct.com/riskfree-booking. 2 WHAT’S INSIDE TRIP SUMMARY It’s Included . 4 Departure Dates and Prices . 5 Freedom to Personalize Your Experience . 6 DETAILED DAY-TO-DAY ITINERARY . .7 ESSENTIAL TRAVEL INFORMATION . .29 Travel Documents & Entry Requirements . 31 Rigors, Vaccines & General Health . 33 Money Matters: Local Currency & Tipping Guidelines . 37 Air, Optional Tours & Staying in Touch . 40 Packing: What to Bring & Luggage Limits . 43 Climate & Average Temperatures . 49 About Your Destinations: Culture, Etiquette & More . 51 Demographics & History . 58 Resources: Suggested Reading & Movies . 61 Health & Safety Measures – Vaccines Required . 64 MAP . .67 3 New! Cultural Capitals & Ancient Heritage: Mexico City to Oaxaca Mexico: Mexico City, Puebla, Oaxaca Countries: 1 | Cities: 3 C hurch of Santo Domingo, Oaxaca, Mexico IT’S INCLUDED 1 2 days from $ 2495 Choose to purchase Grand Circle’s airfare, and your airport transfers, Including international airfare • government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges are included. Or, make from Dallas your own air arrangements Travel from only $208 per day • Accommodations for 11 nights in comfortable rooms with private baths $ • 21 meals: 11 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 3 dinners 1 2 days from 1795 • 12 included features: 7 guided tours and 5 exclusive Discovery Series Tour only events: Mexican cooking experience • Benito Juarez Market visit • Travel from only $150 per day Chocolate factory visit • Wool weaving demonstration • Don Agave mezcal distillery visit Single Supplement: FREE • Personal headset for all included and optional tours on your main trip • Gratuities on your main trip for local guides and motorcoach drivers MAXIMIZE YOUR • Exclusive services of a local Grand Circle Program Director (assigned to no DISCOVERIES & VALUE more than 42 travelers) OPTIONAL EXTENSION S • Private motorcoach land travel • Baggage handling for 1 piece of luggage per person, including tips Mexico’s Colonial Highlands: San Miguel de Allende & • 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your next trip Queretaro 5 nights pre-trip from $1195 The Yucatan Peninsula: Campeche & Merida To get a richer view of the Included Features on this trip, 5 nights post-trip from $1195 watch our Trip Itinerary video at www.gct.com/mex2021 Cultural Capitals & Ancient Heritage: Mexico City to Oaxaca 4 CULTURAL CAPITALS & RISK-FREE BOOKING POLICY: RESERVE WITH CONFIDENCE—NOW THROUGH 12/31/21 ANCIENT HERITAGE: MEXICO We will waive any change fees if you transfer to another departure date for any reason—up until 24 hours prior to departure. CITY TO OAXACA See details at www.gct.com/riskfree-booking. 2021 DATES & PRICES DEPART FROM: SEPTEMBER;-OCTOBER NOVEMBER DEC 2 DEC 9 Dallas $2495 $2595 $2695 $2895 Houston $2595 $2695 $2795 $2995 Boston, Chicago, Miami, Orlando, San Diego, $2695 $2795 $2895 $3095 San Francisco, Tampa Atlanta, Baltimore, Denver, Los Angeles, New York, Newark, Philadelphia, Phoenix, $2795 $2895 $2995 $3195 Portland, Seattle, Washington, DC Detroit, Minneapolis $2895 $2995 $3095 $3295 Additional departure cities are available. Upgrade to Business Class may be available for the international portion of your flight. Call for details. SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER Land tour only $1795 $1895 $1995 MEX2021 Prices are per person. Airfare prices include government taxes, fees, and airline fuel surcharges. All prices and availability are effective as of the date of this publication, and are subject to change without notice. Standard Terms & Conditions apply, please visit our website: www.gct.com/tc. Every effort has been made to produce this information accurately. We reserve the right to correct errors. For specific departure dates, current availability, and detailed pricing, visit www.gct.com/mex2021pricing SAV FREE SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS SHARE YOUR LOVE OF TRAVEL WITH OUR GOOD BUY PLAN on your main trip and extensions. New travelers you refer will instantly The earlier you reserve your departure We don’t charge you more for your save $100, and you’ll earn increasing and pay in full, the more you’ll save—up own room. rewards—up to a FREE trip! to 10%—plus, you’ll lock in your price. Each departure has limited solo space For details, visit www.gct.com/va For details, visit www.gct.com/gbd available—call today. Publication Date: 1/5/21 1-800-221-2610 • www.gct.com/mex2021 5 Freedom to Personalize Your Experience Your Choice, Your Trip, Your Way Extending the length of your stay in a destination can improve your overall travel experience—and allow you to seek out even more eye-opening cultural interactions. Your local Program Director will help to ensure you’re getting the personalized experiences you’re looking for. In fact, 85% of our travelers are personalizing their experience in more than 85 countries. Call us at 1-800-221-2610 to discuss personalizing your vacation today or visit us online at www.gct.com/personalize-mex2021. Maximize Your Time & Value: 55% of our travelers Back-to-Back Trips: 90% of our travelers who choose to take a pre- or post-trip extension combined two vacations rated it excellent See more of the world and maximize your value by Consider combining this vacation with Southwest National taking advantage of your already-included airfare. On Parks: Arches, Zion, Bryce & the Grand Canyon. If you’re this vacation, you can choose between Mexico’s Colonial already traveling, why not see more of the region and avoid Highlands: San Miguel de Allende & Queretaro and The another roundtrip flight? Plus, you’ll save $250 per person Yucatan Peninsula: Campeche & Merida. when you reserve two trips right after one another. “Break Away” Options: 30% of our travelers choose Air Options: More than 50% of our travelers to arrive early or stay late in their destination customize their flights Before or after your main tour or trip extension, “break We make every effort to provide you with non-stop away” anywhere you’d like to go to do more exploring flights and acceptable connection times to and from entirely on your own. your destination. You also have several other ways you can personalize your air itinerary, including choosing your Please note: Our Travel Counselors can help you plan your departure city and airline, upgrading your seat, and more. airfare if you’d like to “break away,” however since this option is completely on your own, you will need to plan your own accommodations, meals, tours, and transfers. Cathedral of Merida, Merida, Mexico 6 Cultural Capitals & Ancient Heritage: Mexico City to Oaxaca 2021 12-Day Land Tour EXTEND YOUR TRIP PRE-TRIP Mexico’s Colonial Highlands: San Miguel de Allende & Querétaro POST-TRIP The Yucatán Peninsula: Campeche & Mérida Your Day-to-Day Itinerary 7 GRAND CIRCLE TRAVEL Grand Circle Travel, founded in 1958 to serve the American Association for Retired Persons (AARP), is the leader in international travel and discovery for Americans over age 50. Grand Circle vacations have been recommended by The New York Times, Conde Nast Traveler, The Los Angeles Times, Travel + Leisure, The Wall Street Journal, Arthur Frommer’s Budget Travel, and others.