GRAND CIRCLE TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE Southwest National Parks: Arches, Zion, Bryce & the Grand Canyon 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, Southwest National Parks: Arches, Zion, Bryce & the Grand Canyon vacation, will be an excellent way to resume your discoveries. It takes you into the true heart of the American southwest, thanks to our groups of 42 travelers (with an average of 30). Plus, our American 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. Enjoy a visit to a family-owned farm in Colorado where you’ll chat with the owner about life in rural America. While here, you’ll also savor a family-style meal prepared with farm-fresh ingredients. 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 30% of travelers who extend their time abroad. Add the pre-trip extension to Colorado: Denver, post-trip extension to Utah: Salt Lake City and New Mexico: Santa Fe, or both of these extensions to your national parks 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 . .22 Travel Documents & Entry Requirements . N/A Rigors, Vaccines & General Health . 24 Money Matters: Local Currency & Tipping Guidelines . 28 Air, Optional Tours & Staying in Touch . 30 Packing: What to Bring & Luggage Limits . 33 Climate & Average Temperatures . 37 About Your Destinations: Culture, Etiquette & More . 40 Demographics & History . 46 Resources: Suggested Reading & Movies . 49 Health & Safety Measures – Vaccines Required . 57 MAP . .59 3 Southwest National Parks: Arches, Zion, Bryce & the Grand Canyon Colorado: Durango | Utah: Moab, Bryce Canyon, Salt Lake City | Arizona: Page Countries: 1 | Cities: 5 | National Parks: 6 Sandstone formations, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah IT’S INCLUDED 1 2 days from $3195 • 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 Denver your own air arrangements Travel from only $267 per day • Accommodations for 10 nights in comfortable rooms with private baths • 23 meals: 11 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 5 dinners 1 2 days from $2795 • 9 included features: 8 guided tours and 1 exclusive Discovery Series event: Tour only James Ranch visit Travel from only $233 per day • Exclusive services of a local Grand Circle Program Director (assigned to no more than 42 travelers) Single Supplement: FREE • Gratuities on your main trip for local guides and motorcoach drivers • Personal headset on all included and optional tours MAXIMIZE YOUR • Private motorcoach land travel DISCOVERIES & VALUE • Baggage handling for 1 piece of luggage per person, including tips OPTIONAL EXTENSION S • 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your next trip all with FREE Single Supplements Denver & the Rocky Mountains 3 nights pre-trip from $1395 Salt Lake City & Santa Fe To get a richer view of the Included Features on this trip, 4 nights post-trip from $1295 watch our Trip Itinerary video at www.gct.com/nps2021 Southwest National Parks: Arches, Zion, Bryce & the Grand Canyon 4 SOUTHWEST NATIONAL RISK-FREE BOOKING POLICY: RESERVE WITH CONFIDENCE—NOW THROUGH 12/31/21 PARKS: ARCHES, ZION, BRYCE We will waive any change fees if you transfer to another departure date for any reason—up until 24 hours prior to departure. & THE GRAND CANYON See details at www.gct.com/riskfree-booking. 2021 DATES & PRICES JUNE; DEPART FROM: MAY SEPTEMBER JULY AUGUST Denver $3295 $3495 $3195 $3395 Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Detroit, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Philadelphia, Phoenix, Portland, $3395 $3595 $3295 $3495 San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, DC Atlanta, Boston, Houston, Miami, New York, Newark, $3495 $3695 $3395 $3595 Orlando, Tampa Additional departure cities are available. Upgrade to Business Class may be available for the international portion of your flight. Call for details. MAY JUNE; SEPTEMBER JULY AUGUST Land tour only $2895 $3095 $2795 $2995 NPS2021 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/nps2021pricing 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/nps2021 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-nps2021. Maximize Your Time & Value: 55% of our travelers choose Back-to-Back Trips: 90% of our travelers who combined to take a pre- or post-trip extension two vacations rated it excellent See more of the region and maximize your value by One of the most common vacations travelers combine with taking advantage of your already-included airfare. On this one is The Great National Parks: Yellowstone, Grand this vacation, you can choose between Denver & the Rocky Teton & Mount Rushmore. If you’re already on the road, why Mountains and Salt Lake City & Santa Fe. not see more of the region and avoid another flight? Plus, you’ll save $250 per person when you reserve two trips right “Break Away” Options: 30% of our travelers choose to after one another. arrive early or stay late in their destination Air Options: More than 50% of our travelers customize Before or after your main tour or trip extension, “break their flights away” anywhere you’d like to go to do more exploring entirely on your own. We make every effort to provide you with non-stop Please note: Our Travel Counselors can help you plan your flights and acceptable connection times to and from airfare if you’d like to “break away,” however since this option your destination. You also have several other ways you can is completely on your own, you will need to plan your own personalize your air itinerary, including choosing your accommodations, meals, tours, and transfers. departure city and airline, upgrading your seat, and more. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado Southwest National Parks: 6 Southwest National Parks: Arches, Zion, Bryce & the Grand Canyon 2021 12-Day Land Tour EXTEND YOUR TRIP PRE-TRIP Denver & the Rocky Mountains POST-TRIP Salt Lake City & Santa Fe 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. But our most impressive reviews come from our travelers.