We have outlined the differences of our tours to other escorted coach touring companies below the FAQ's section at the bottom of this page. In summary we have:

• We have group guaranteed departures.
• Our tours are ‘genuinely inclusive' – even ‘end of tour’ tips to your tour manager and driver are included. You will NOT find any ‘options lists’ or later charged excursions and extras. We include all the sightseeing, special dinners and relevant entrances.
• Our tours are designed with a more leisurely pace with 2, 3, 4 and even 5 night stays - that’s important; you are not constantly packing and unpacking your bags.
• Our tours are specifically designed to suit the travel needs of Australian and New Zealand passengers. We have less travelling time and more sightseeing time. We indicate the average number of kilometres travelled per day on each tour.
• Our feature hotels are selected for their style, character or location.
• We have a NO currency surcharge guarantee.

Documents will normally be mailed 21 days prior to departure provided full payment has been received.

Luggage space under the coach is naturally limited. Porterage is only included in your tour programme for one suitcase per person. This suitcase is generally the size allowed on your international airline carrier.

Not fully inclusive as we don’t include all meals. Our tours are genuinely inclusive - there are no ‘options lists’ or later charged excursions on our tours and even ‘end of tour’ tips to your tour manager and driver are included. We include all the sightseeing, ‘special’ dinners and relevant entrance fees.

Our hotels are generally First Class. If a first class hotel is not used the alternative is selected for a very good reason - for its style, character or central location. Sometimes in certain towns or regions, first class hotels are simply not available. Naturally all bedrooms in all hotels have private facilities. Generally throughout Europe tea and coffee making facilities are NOT available in the rooms.

No, each country varies due to that country’s system of grading hotel rooms (e.g. room size, facilities etc). Single rooms in European and Turkish Hotels are sometimes smaller than twin rooms and quite often have one single bed. Regarding twin share rooms. Throughout much of central Europe traditional hotels sometimes offer ‘French Twins’ which are 2 separate beds and mattresses attached together and sharing a single headboard. These are used for twin share or double rooms.

Coaches are first class, air conditioned touring coaches with 44-49 seats. Anzac and Christmas tours have a maximum of 42 passengers, European Summer tours have a maximum of only 30 passengers!

Yes, all Tour Managers are English speaking. Many of them do speak a number of other languages as well. All our Tour Managers are either UK or Europe based. They all have vast experience and knowledge of the countries/areas you will travel in/through. We market to Australian and New Zealand passengers only and therefore we do not have multi-lingual commentary on our tours – only English.

We request feedback from past clients who have travelled with Albatross and booked with Global Journeys. You can read their Albatross touring reviews here, and each of our tour itinerary pages displays past client reviews relating to that particular tour.

Generally the coaches do have toilets, however there are plenty of scheduled comfort stops on all itineraries.

We have Guaranteed Group departures. All Albatross tours are group touring programmes. The term ‘group tour’ is defined as having a minimum of 7 passengers travelling. Once the tour confirms 7 deposited passengers travelling, it guarantees that the group tour will depart. Please ask your Global Journeys consultant and we will confirm the current status the tour departure.

No – you will be required to make your own way to and from the hotel at the beginning and end of the tour. Our passengers all arrive independently on different dates, from different locations and since many arrive by train or using car rental we are unable to book individual transfers.

Yes, however Individual passengers can request us to match them up in a twin share room with another individual of the same sex. Should we not be able to match you in a twin share room by the final tour balance payment date the single room supplement rate will apply. Please Note: should you be ‘matched’ with another person we cannot be held responsible if the choice is not to your satisfaction. You must consider there will always be a certain risk of incompatibility.

Tipping is an integral part of the service industry in Europe. A service worker – waiter, taxi driver, barman etc will be paid a base salary to perform a task and their employers expect them to supplement their wages by earning tips. Remember your tour package price INCLUDES the end of tour tips to both your Tour Manager and Driver.

On a day to day basis you may wish to allow for a morning and afternoon beverage, lunches, a few sundry items, perhaps budget for an average of $30pp per day. If you are buying dinner out a decent meal may be $30-$50pp. Then there’s the souvenirs and other items (personal choice).

No, all prices shown are land only prices for the tours. You need to add the cost of international flights, air taxes and fuel surcharges, travel insurance. Your Global Journeys dedicated tour consultant can organise these for you if you wish or you can book your own. Before booking your flights please confirm with us that your tour departure date is Guaranteed to operate.

The weather can vary considerably depending on your destination the time of year you will be travelling. If you are travelling earlier or later in the year remember that I can get much cooler in the evenings.

• Dressing for dinner is smart but casual is probably the easiest formula. We do not expect anyone to ‘dress for dinner’ however you might like to bring along a dinner outfit for a special dinner or event.
• Bathing Clothes – depending on your tour, some hotels you will be staying in may have leisure facilities including swimming pools, whirlpool/spas and saunas.
• Many churches and religious sights require conservative clothing to be warn. In Italy, Turkey and Mediterranean countries ladies are often required to wear longer skirts and to cover your shoulders.
• Comfy shoes are always a must. When sightseeing you may be spending some time on your feet so please make sure you bring comfortable shoes.

Christmas Tours
The weather can get rather cold, but there is no reason why you should be uncomfortable as your first class coach is fitted with heaters and double glazed windows and your hotels will be warm and comfortable. Just remember a few simple points and all will be well.

• You will want to keep some winter clothes at hand for when you first arrive.
• Comfort starts form the feet up. You should aim to keep your feet warm and dry. Good socks and reasonably sturdy ‘day to day’ shoes are a must.
• Wear a woolen ‘beanie’ or hat. (a body loses the majority of its heat through the top of the head).
• More layers are better than thicker layers. Base your clothing around a simple set of thermal underclothes, spencers etc. Add normal clothing, a woolen jumper and then a good overcoat jacket.
• Buy some gloves. If you are especially concerned about cold fingers get mittens as they are warmer.
• Your Christmas hotel should be very warm. Surprisingly so. Make sure you have a couple of items of light clothing.
• Sunglasses and block-out sunscreen – snow can be very ‘glary’. Ensure you pack your sunglasses, especially for an ‘on snow’ trip where 100% block-out sunscreen is essential.