ATRAVEL COLLECTION By Jules Verne MAKE UP FOR LOST TIME Dear Traveller What a rollercoaster of a year this is proving to be. Firstly I would like to thank you for the many positive comments you have sent through to us, many in response to our reviews through Feefo. It is your support during these difficult times that keeps us forging ahead. I know many of you follow us through our social media channels and it is always pleasing to receive your comments and feedback to our activity however, we felt the time was now right to produce a practical summary of our tours, our Travel Collection so to speak. The good news (at least for us travellers) is that we are slowly starting our return to the world of travel. We have spent the last few months checking that our partners are implementing the latest advice on keeping us all safe. You may have seen that we have restarted our programmes, with Italy, Greece and Turkey especially in demand. The launch of our UK and Ireland itineraries was very well received by our regular customers taking this opportunity to plan a trip closer to home. In this Travel Collection we have included most of your all-time favourites and over 30 new small group tours to whet your appetite, with many certain to inspire your wanderlust. We have been busy during the past few months, researching and putting together some fantastic itineraries both for our ever popular regular programme and for our Great Journeys. For ease of reference you will find them grouped by theme. At your request we have included more single centre Classic Resorts and short breaks as well as more private departures on our most sought-after tours. Single travellers will also find a greater range of No Single Supplement and Solo Groups places across many of our departures. As ever full details of all our tours are on our website vjv.com. With so many customers deferring their travel plans to 2021, combined with our smaller group sizes, our tours are starting to fill up, especially our European ones. We would hate for you to miss out on your first choice so please get in touch. We have also introduced our flexible booking policy (see page 3) this gives you the assurance to book now and secure your place safe in the knowledge that you can amend this holiday if nearer the time you wish to change your travel plans. In most cases you can amend a holiday up to 61 days before departure. Many of you have already taken advantage of this new guarantee. Travel insurance was the other area of concern for many of us and we are pleased to confirm that many insurance companies now include cover for most eventualities, make sure you book the cover that is right for you. So grab yourself a nice cup of tea, or a glass of wine…as you browse through our wonderful collection of travel options for 2021 and into 2022. When you are ready, just give us a call and we will talk through all the details for you before confirming your booking in the knowledge that should you change your plans, your travel dates can change too. Yours sincerely Francis Francis Torrilla Managing Director 2 vjv.com 020 XXXX3131 5916 XXXX 002-006 Intro.indd 2 06/10/2020 13:19:06 CONTENTS WHY BOOK WITH JULES VERNE? 3 THE JULES VERNE DIFFERENCE 4 JULES VERNE KEY FEATURES 5 JULES VERNE FLEXIBILITY 6 RAIL JOURNEYS 7 NEW OFFERS 8 SHORT BREAKS 10 CLASSIC RESORTS 12 HIGHLIGHTS 14 EUROPEAN TOURS 16 TOP SECRETS 20 GRAND TOURS 22 WORLDWIDE TOURS 24 WILDLIFE 28 RIVER CRUISES 30 BARGES 32 COASTAL CRUISES 33 GREAT JOURNEYS 34 WHY BOOK WITH JULES VERNE? FLEXIBLE BOOKING POLICY journeys worldwide. We invest in our availability, so early booking is Our newly introduced flexible booking Personal Travel Experts who have recommended – check vjv.com for policy applies to all reservations for genuine first-hand knowledge of our available departure dates). Additionally, tours departing more than two months tours and destinations, and who are we try to minimise the single ahead. Whether you are making a new there to offer you guidance. supplement charged by hotels, cruise booking or re-booking a tour, you may and rail companies. alter to a new date and/or destination, WE ARE RECOGNISED either later this year or in 2021, free We are proud to have been voted ‘Best SOLO GROUPS of charge, as long as the original tour Specialist Tour Operator’ by readers of We offer on selected tours, departures departure date is outside the 61-day the Times and Sunday Times, and ‘Best with No Single Supplement where ‘balance due’ period. Cultural Tour Operator’ by Silver Travel the group is comprised only of single Advisor, for three consecutive years. travellers, following the same itinerary WE LISTEN and accompanied by a UK or local Your opinion is important to us! We PRIVATELY GUIDED tour manager. constantly review and evaluate our Enjoy a personal experience with family arrangements and act upon your or friends, visiting programmed sights HOW TO BOOK feedback. with your own private vehicle and Please telephone us on 020 3131 5916, driver/guide, allowing better access complete our online booking form at WE ARE INSPIRED and flexibility than larger groups/ vjv.com or send an e-mail to sales@ Like you, we are inspired and have vehicles. Choose a published departure vjv.co.uk. One of our Personal Travel converted our passion for travel and or another date. Supplements are per Experts will be pleased to assist you in years of expertise to create the best person based on two but reduced ‘pro booking your holiday. You can also book possible experiences. rata’ for groups of 3 or more. at any Kuoni store which can be found in over 20 locations throughout the UK including some branches of John Lewis. WE HAVE THE EXPERIENCE NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT We have over 40 years’ experience of We offer a range of destinations creating extraordinary adventures, and dates where there is genuinely pioneering voyages and inspirational No Single Supplement (limited 020 3131 5916 vjv.com 3 002-006 Intro.indd 3 06/10/2020 13:17:27 THE JULES VERNE DIFFERENCE That sense of adventure to discover the world is at the heart of Jules Verne. Established in 1978, our innovative small group escorted tours offer authentic travel with a twist for people who love to see the world. Packed with special touches and little extras, our expert guides will show you the true character of each destination and take you beyond the norm, whether your chosen destination is closer to home or far-flung. Fully ABTA and ATOL bonded and winner of many travel awards, our expert staff organise every detail so you can book in complete confidence. • Inspiring tours to all seven continents • Small groups and privately guided tours • Knowledgeable local guides • Expertly planned and organised 4 vjv.com 020 3131 5916 002-006 Intro.indd 4 29/09/2020 12:19:13 NEW TOURS SMALL GROUPS JULES VERNE For 2021 we include 30 new tours Travelling as part of a small group following our customers’ feedback from you will enjoy a more intimate and KEY FEATURES reviews and questionnaires and taking sociable atmosphere, benefit from more into account special opportunities and personal attention from our guides and JULES VERNE SIGHTSEEING changed accessibility and preferences. delve into your destination in more detail, experiencing local life in a more This most important of Key Features Please see pages 8 and 9. personal and informal setting. indicates that sightseeing is tailored just for our group, taking into account your NO SINGLE SUPPLEMENT Our small group sizes avoid congestion caused by travelling in a large group. preferences and our experience over We offer a range of destinations many years and not combining with Most programmes have a maximum and dates where there is genuinely of 25 guests and many are limited to other visitors. Sightseeing is undertaken No Single Supplement (limited by expert local guides who we consider 18 guests or fewer. We normally operate availability, so early booking is programmes even for very small groups to be the best source of information. recommended – check vjv.com for On a few programmes such as cruise and our average group size is under available departure dates). Additionally, 10 people. For 2021 we have reduced or rail programmes sightseeing may be we try to minimise the single shared with non-Jules Verne guests. our average minimum group size to supplement charged by hotels, cruise under 5 and maximum to under 20. and rail companies. SPECIAL EVENTS HOTELS To enhance the experience of SOLO GROUPS Jules Verne travellers, we arrange We offer hotels which enhance the We offer on selected tours, departures experience of the destination: Historic exclusive and memorable special with No Single Supplement where events, illuminating the country and Hotels are former noble residences or the group is comprised only of single classic hotels; Central Hotels make the peoples you visit. Attend a special travellers, following the same itinerary ceremony, performance, meal or drinks evening an experience for a stroll or to and accompanied by a UK or local visit a local restaurant or bar. party at characteristic and spectacular tour manager. locations; learn about cooking and the We indicate local hotel ratings and local way of life; discover less-visited check hotels for health & safety, taking corners or special locations not normally UNESCO HERITAGE SITES into account Covid requirements.