GRAND CIRCLE TRAVEL PLANNING GUIDE Let Freedom Ring: A Civil Rights Journey 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, Let Freedom Ring: A Civil Rights Journey vacation, will be an excellent way to resume your discoveries. It takes you into the true heart of Mississippi and Alabama, thanks to our groups of 38 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. Visit the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, and learn how a portion of your travel dollars go toward helping them reveal and dismantle institutional racism in America today. 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. Consider joining us on the pre-trip extension to Memphis, Tennessee, post-trip extension to New Orleans, Louisiana, or both of these extensions. 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 . 27 Air, Optional Tours & Staying in Touch . 29 Packing: What to Bring & Luggage Limits . 32 Climate & Average Temperatures . 36 About Your Destinations: Culture, Etiquette & More . 38 Demographics & History . 42 Resources: Suggested Reading & Movies . 44 Health & Safety Measures – Vaccines Required . 47 MAP . .51 3 New! Let Freedom Ring: A Civil Rights Journey Mississippi: Jackson | Alabama: Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile Countries: 1 | Cities: 4 M artin Luther King, Montgomery, Alabama, 1964 IT’S INCLUDED 11 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 3 U.S. cities your own air arrangements Travel from only $291 per day • Accommodations for 10 nights in comfortable rooms with private baths • 20 meals: 10 breakfasts, 4 lunches, and 6 dinners $ 11 days from 2595 • 15 included features: 12 guided tours and 3 exclusive Discovery Series Tour only events: Examining Jim Crow conversation • Chaplain Browder conversation • Travel from only $236 per day Equal Justice Institute conversation • Exclusive services of a local Grand Circle Program Director (assigned to no Single Supplement: FREE more than 38 travelers) • Gratuities on your main trip for local guides and motorcoach drivers MAXIMIZE YOUR • Personal headset on all included and optional tours DISCOVERIES & VALUE • Private motorcoach land travel OPTIONAL EXTENSION S • Baggage handling for 1 piece of luggage per person, including tips all with FREE Single Supplements • 5% Frequent Traveler Credit toward your next trip Memphis, Tennessee • A portion of the proceeds from this trip will be donated to the Equal Justice 3 nights pre-trip from $1295 Initiative, an Alabama non-profit which combats racial injustice New Orleans, Louisiana 3 nights post-trip from $1395 To get a richer view of the Included Features on this trip, watch our Trip Itinerary video at www.gct.com/cvm2021 Let Freedom Ring: A Civil Rights Journey 4 LET FREEDOM RING: RISK-FREE BOOKING POLICY: RESERVE WITH CONFIDENCE—NOW THROUGH 12/31/21 A CIVIL RIGHTS JOURNEY We will waive any change fees if you transfer to another departure date for any reason—up until 24 hours prior to departure. 2021 DATES & PRICES See details at www.gct.com/riskfree-booking. DEPART FROM: APRIL-MAY; SEPTEMBER-NOVEMBER Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit $3195 Baltimore, Boston, Denver, Houston, Miami, Orlando, $3295 Philadelphia, Tampa Dallas, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York, Newark, Phoenix, $3395 Portland, San Diego, San Francisco, Seattle, Washington, DC Land tour only $2595 Additional departure cities are available. Upgrade to Business Class may be available for the international portion of your flight. Call for details. CVM2021 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/cvm2021pricing 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: 12/16/20 1-800-221-2610 • www.gct.com/cvm2021 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-cvm2021. 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 region and maximize your value by taking One of the most common vacations travelers combine with advantage of your already-included airfare. On this this one is Southwest National Parks: Arches, Zion, Bryce & vacation, you can choose between Memphis, Tennessee and the Grand Canyon. If you’re already on the road, why not New Orleans, Louisiana. see more of the region and avoid another flight? Plus, you’ll save $250 per person when you reserve two trips right after “Break Away” Options: 30% of our travelers choose one another. to arrive early or stay late in their destination Before or after your main tour or trip extension, “break Air Options: More than 50% of our travelers away” anywhere you’d like to go to do more exploring customize their flights entirely on your own. We make every effort to provide you with non-stop flights and acceptable connection times to and from Please note: Our Travel Counselors can help you plan your your destination. You also have several other ways you can airfare if you’d like to “break away,” however since this option personalize your air itinerary, including choosing your is completely on your own, you will need to plan your own departure city and airline, upgrading your seat, and more. accommodations, meals, tours, and transfers. French Quarter, New Orleans, Louisiana Let Freedom Ring: 6 Let Freedom Ring: A Civil Rights Journey 2021 11-Day Land Tour EXTEND YOUR TRIP PRE-TRIP Memphis, Tennessee POST-TRIP New Orleans, Louisiana 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. More than two million people have traveled with us, and the overwhelming majority say they’d gladly do so again. LAND TOUR During your Grand Circle vacation, you’ll have reliable assistance available at all times from an on-site local Grand Circle Travel Program Director throughout your trip.