Holiday Markets, Downtown Hotel, Great Touring, and the Rockettes!!

DAY ONE: “Silver bells, silver bells… It’s Christmas time in the city. ~ Ring-a-ling, hear them sing… Soon it will be Christmas day! “Yes, it will soon be here, and we are celebrating it in one of the most “Christmas-y” places in the USA – The Big Apple!  We’ll relax on our deluxe coach as it takes us across PA and into Manhattan where accommodations for 4 nights await us in Midtown at the Holiday Inn Express (343 West 39th St. – about a 15 min. walk from Rockefeller Center/Times Square) so you can be near the festive excitement! * Dinner is included at Junior’s Cheesecake (or similar) before turning in for a good night’s rest so we’re ready for the great days just ahead!  (D)

DAY TWO:  You’ll start your Holiday Sightseeing the best way possible with a wonderful overview of the city as we embark on a Professionally Guided City Tour on our coach – See things such as Broadway’s Theater District and famous St. Patrick’s Cathedral, stop at Rockefeller Center to see the fabulous Christmas Tree & skating rink, and visit ‘Top of the Rock’ to ride the elevator to the Observation Deck on the 70th floor for a breathtaking view! * Get lunch in Times Square, the world’s busiest intersection with the Spirit of Christmas oozing from every corner – so fun! * Next is our visit to the Bryant Park Holiday Market hosting artisans from NYC and the world!  This Winter Village is housed in special kiosks and is filled with Holiday Shops in the style of European open-air markets – you’ll love this! * Laden with all those special gifts, it will feel good to sit down at Tick-Tock, an icon of the American diners with delicious food and family-friendly atmosphere. (B, D)

DAY THREE:  Our NYC Guide joins us again, and away we go for another day of exciting Holiday Merriment!  First, we’ll drive to the Upper West Side to view “The Dakota’, one of Manhattan’s most prestigious and exclusive residential buildings. It’s famous as the home of Beatle John Lennon and where he was murdered in 1980!

Tour St. John of the Divine Cathedral, the world’s largest Gothic cathedral – hear the history of this great sacred space and be awed by the stunning stained-glass windows including the magnificent rose window, the largest in the USA!

Covering 843 acres, Central Park is unquestionably the most famous city park in America.  We’ll drive by Vista Rock, the Belvedere Castle, and make a stop at ‘Strawberry Fields’.  In a corner of Central Park, the Columbus Circle Holiday Market will transport you to a quaint German village enthralled in holiday spirit. With about 100 booths, the European-style market is one of the best and largest holiday markets in NYC!

Back on our coach, we continue with our driving tour to view Little Italy, Chinatown, and others as time permits.

A stop at Battery Park allows you to set your eyes on a 305-foot statue located on Liberty Island in Upper New York Bay, and our symbol of Freedom and Democracy, the Statue of Liberty.

Dinner is on your own at Westfield World Trade Center before we begin one of the true Highlights of this trip – a Holiday Lights Tour!  During the Season, Midtown Manhattan lights up like no other place in the world!  Mechanical window displays, synchronized light & sound shows, not to mention Santa and the toy soldiers that await you in this winter wonderland, an experience only NYC can offer! Lighting and window displays we’ll see include Saks 5th Ave, Tiffany & Co, Macy’s Herald Square, Bergdorf Goodman, and more – what a fabulous opportunity!!  But we’re not done!  We stop at the renowned Union Square Holiday Mart, hailed as a must-visit spot for unique gifts. (B)

DAY FOUR:  This morning is Free Time so you can be part of the Hustle-Bustle in Times Square and Rockefeller Center – What fun to grab a hot chocolate from a street cart and stroll among the excitement & magic they hold!

Grand Central Holiday Fair offers a magical, one-stop holiday spree in one of the most beautiful architectural settings in the world and one of the finest indoor holiday fairs in the City.

I don’t know that you’ll ever see a show more outstanding than the “Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular” featuring the famous Rockettes (pending availability). Over 140 sensational dancers perform in pure Christmas spirit for 90 minutes.  Sparkling costumes, breathtaking unique stage sets, and loads of joyous Christmas songs inspire audiences year after year!

Farewell Dinner in the heart of Manhattan.  Free rest of the evening to have fun as you wish – perhaps take in a Broadway Musical or a Carriage Ride in Central Park (costs on own) – ENJOY!! ( B, D)

DAY FIVE:  We won’t want to, but it will be time to journey back to our pick-up points, taking home Once-in-a-Lifetime Memories from a sparkling New York City Holiday ~

* $1,725 per/person, double occupancy *   * $1,535 p/p, triple occupancy *

*$1,445 p/p, quad occupancy*   * $2,215 single *

* Special Note #1:  At this writing, everything we are planning to do was not able to be 100% confirmed, but we hope to include all that’s listed.  Should something not be available, we will substitute it with another activity.  If you are concerned, ask about it before you pay your final balance.

* Special Note #2:  A friendly reminder that any trip to NYC does include a lot of walking!  This one, with all the markets, is no exception.

* Special Note #3:  In general, this tour is subject to cancellation if conditions in NYC are not favorable for a visit at the time – we want you to be safe and will know more closer to departure date.  Feel free to sign up for it (and we hope you will!), but please understand we may choose not to venture into NYC and will make that decision at least a month out at which time we will notify you for a full refund. ~Thank you for understanding.

Please note: The following are TLC's general polices and procedures that cover all of our tours, so some of these may or may not be applicable to this particular tour.

Age Requirements:

All ages are welcome to join a TLC Tour beginning with age 5 years old and up.  Because our goal is to provide a relaxing, enjoyable ride for all when on our coach, we must ask that adults plan appropriate, quiet entertainment for their younger ones in order to not disturb the others aboard.  There may be a reduction in cost for the younger children, but no guarantees, especially on Day Trips.

Seating:

On all overnight tours of 30 or more, we use a daily seat rotation to provide a variety of vantage points for everyone. The first day of a trip, you choose your seat when you board and rotate from there. Each day you move up one seat.  If you are in the front you would move to the back.  We feel this is fair to all. If the coach is not full, a less formal rotation may be used at the Escort’s discretion. Persons traveling single or with uneven amounts in their group may need to sit with other like-travelers. We cannot guarantee that small groups will be seated together. We welcome single travelers, but the single rate does not include two seats on the coach. * We cannot accept doctor’s notes regarding requests to sit in the front seat/s. Please consider boarding at the first pickup location if your seat location is of concern. It is also recommended to see your doctor for motion sickness medication, if this should apply.

Smoking/Drinking:

We make regular stops for restrooms and for the convenience of smokers; however, we have a NO SMOKING (or vaping) policy aboard all coaches. If someone violates the non-smoking policies of places we are staying or visiting while on tour, it is the sole responsibility of that person should there be any penalties and/or fines for not adhering to their rules and regulations. Consumption of alcoholic beverages is not permitted at any time on the coach.

Transportation:

All of our tours use beautiful modern, deluxe wide-body motorcoaches from Campbell Bus Lines. Campbell has received the highest possible rating with the Dept. of Transportation. The motorcoaches are equipped with air-conditioning, reclining seats, public address system, DVD player, outlets for each passenger, and emergency restrooms.  We do not have WI-FI on our coaches. Our intent is for all overnight tours to be professionally escorted. Upon occasion, in order to avoid canceling a trip with a low passenger count, our Driver may serve both positions of Driver and Escort, and all are professionally trained to do so. ~ Also, on air trips with low passenger counts, we will not be able to provide an Escort from our company. However, once you arrive at your destination, a guide from our connecting company will be with you throughout the entire tour.

Lodging and Meals:

Your lodging is included on all overnight tours. All hotels are AAA rated. We never use second rate hotels, restaurants, or activities on any tour, to the best of our ability to make that determination. If you need two beds in your room, please state this when making your reservation. *Special note regarding accessible (handicapped) rooms:  While we can request an accessible room if you ask us to, every hotel has their own definition of exactly what “accessible” fully entails at their property.  We cannot be responsible if something is not exactly as you hoped when you arrive.  Nor will any hotel guarantee they will be able to fulfill a handicapped room request, especially if the hotel should be full and all such rooms are already taken. ~~ Regarding meals:  Generally, some meals are included on overnight trips (see individual tour inclusions); however, we cannot guarantee any special dietary requirements.  Most restaurants are now requiring us to order from a pre-set Group Menu, often ahead of departure.  We cannot accommodate individual entrée requests other than the ones given to us by the restaurant.

Border Crossings:

As of June 2009, a Passport or Passport Card is required for border crossings. Either of these travel documents may be obtained through your local courthouse. The Passport Card is limited but is sufficient for Canadian border crossings and is good for 10 years – it is also very easy to apply for. Your Driver and/or Escort will be asking to see one of these documents before boarding the coach for trips with this requirement. We cannot be responsible if you are unable to travel due to failure on your part to obtain the proper documentation. Please begin the process early enough to ensure that you will have it in time for your tour’s departure. Click here for for more information.

Luggage:

One suitcase per person is included in the price of your tour. We ask that you are respectful of the weight.  Our Drivers handle up to 54 pieces of luggage multiple times throughout a tour, and if it’s too heavy for you to lift comfortably, it is too heavy for them.  You are also permitted a carry-on, which is your responsibility.  Additional luggage may be transported at the cost of $10.00 per bag, per day – you must clear this with the Office ahead of time.  It is wise to travel light.  Luggage tags are provided and required for hotel identification and are sent with the final letter and phone numbers of your hotels.

Medical Devices: 

Medical devices must be handled by you, the passenger.  They are either to be stored under your seat (not protruding out into the person’s space behind or in front of you), or if too large for that accommodation, they must be placed under the coach by you, and taken off at each place it’s needed by you.  It is not safe for a medical device to ride in an overhead compartment for multiple reasons, nor are our Drivers or hotel personnel allowed to handle it for safety and liability reasons.  If it needs to ride under the coach, please have it in a quality container (as small as possible) to assure it rides safely.

Taxes and Gratuities:

All taxes and gratuities for included meals and activities are included, unless otherwise mentioned by the Escort. Driver and Escort gratuities are not included in the price of your tour. The suggested rate for a “job well done” is a minimum of $4.50-$5.00 per person/ per day for the Tour Escort, and a minimum of $4.50-$5.00 per person/per day for the Driver. We request that you express this on an individual basis and let the quality of service received be your guide.

TLC Reward Cards:

TLC Cards are non-transferable and non-replaceable.  Please take care to keep it in a safe place you will remember.  If you decline your TLC Card punch while on tour, you cannot get it later.

Payment:

All prices are per/person rates.  On one-day tours, full payment must be made with the reservation. For overnight tours, see “How To Make A Reservation”.  Balance of an overnight tour is due 60 days prior to departure (unless otherwise stated/notified).  Confirmation will be sent after we receive your deposit. Please call a soon as possible if you should decide not to go.

FYI:  About a week before your overnight trip departs, you will receive from our office a letter packet with updated itinerary, passenger list, departure and return times, luggage tags, hotel phone numbers, and other pertinent information.

1- Please Note – We’re truly sorry if we’ve canceled a trip that you wanted to go on.  Sometimes excellent trips with super itineraries are canceled when people wait ‘til the last minute to put in their reservation.  OUR monies are usually due at least 60 days ahead on regular trips, and sometimes 90 on certain ones.  If we don’t have enough signed up at that time, we have no choice but to cancel it.  Then when you call later, it’s already too late… and disappointing for us all!  Please help us and CALL EARLY – Thank you so much.

2- The information about trips on this website (funwithtlc.com) is complete.  It contains the same information that a paper flyer has.  However, if you prefer a paper flyer you can call for Fully Detailed Flyers for Most Trips of 3 Days or More. We’ll gladly send extras for you to pass along to your friends!  We will also happily send a Tour Book to anyone you feel would enjoy receiving one.

Refunds:

Prior to 60 days before departure date, a full refund will be made.  * Tours that include tickets generally have earlier non-refundable dates – ask upon booking.  There are no refunds for cancellations made within 60 days prior to your departure date.  However, we will do our best to recover as much as we can but cannot guarantee anything including prepaid reservations and other costs that are non-refundable to us. There will be a $75.00 per/person charge for this service for overnight tours and $25.00 for day trips. There will be no refund, for any reason, for a “no-show” on the day of the tour.

~ Please Note:  Refunds will be made by the same method you paid us; e.g., if you paid by credit card, the refund will be put back on that credit card.  No exceptions.

TLC Tours offers a “Refund Protection Plan”  for overnight tours that is available at our office at a minimal cost.  It needs to be purchased when you book your trip. This insures you a full refund for two situations. In case of A.) a death in your immediate family (requires a copy of death notice), or B.) personal illness (requires a doctor’s written note confirming you were too ill to travel).  Exceptions would be made if an immediate family member’s serious illness necessitates you staying home but would still need confirmation by a doctor’s note. *Immediate family, in these situations, includes spouse, parents, siblings, or children only.  Call our office for full details about TLC’s RPP.  We encourage you to take advantage of the protection plan, or secure comprehensive travel insurance on your own if you prefer “cancel for any reason” coverage (these companies are easily found via a Google search).  Our Refund Protection Plan is not available for Day Trips, nor are there any refunds for Day Trips, with a few exceptions.

Illness:

Should someone become ill during or after their tour, we assume no responsibility or liability. We cannot control every minute of everyone’s day, nor can we control how people handle themselves when off the coach. Our coaches are cleaned and sanitized on a regular basis, and we have done our very best to secure accommodations and venues that state the highest sanitation protocols to the best of their ability.  We ask that you take your own temperature before leaving home on the morning of Day One, and if you show any fever at all, please stay home.  If you have additional/other symptoms that suggest illness, we ask that you please stay home.  We trust that our upstanding TLC customers will “do the right thing” and not put anyone else at risk for contracting an illness on a TLC tour, to the best of their ability.  If you do need to cancel at the last minute because of concerning symptoms, our normal cancellation policies apply, just as they would to any other last-minute illness that prevents you from going on a tour.  See ‘Refunds’ in the section above. ~ If on tour you should become ill, you would be responsible to quarantine yourself and arrange for transportation home when appropriate. — By traveling with us, you are agreeing that TLC Tours, LLC will not be held responsible for contracting viruses or other such illnesses, nor liable for any expenses involved in any way.

Cancellations:

TLC Tours reserves the right to cancel any tour that has not reached a minimum number of reservations. We always avoid changes and cancellations, if at all possible, as we realize the inconvenience to you, our valued customer. We reserve the right to cancel or refuse service to anyone, in our sole discretion. Any person may be dismissed from a tour at any time by the Tour Escort or Driver should their conduct be problematic in any way. No refund will be made, nor will any further responsibility be assumed by TLC Tours or anyone in their employment.

Responsibility:

TLC Tours, LLC is insured. Campbell Bus Lines is registered and insured with the ICC. TLC Tours acts only as an agent. We are not responsible to any person for any loss of time or money due to a change or delay beyond our control. Nor are we responsible for non-performance by those we have contracted with. We reserve the right to change tour prices, inclusions, and itinerary, if so, dictated by circumstances beyond our control. We are not responsible for pricing, typographical, or other errors. Any claims against TLC Tours must be made, in writing within 30 days of the trip.

Ohio Departure Points:

Our departure points are as follows:

• Akron:  Home Depot, 2811 S. Arlington St, Akron – just up north from the Walmart – park in the front corner behind Golden Corral
• Canton:  Target parking lot behind Panda Express, 5584 Dressler Rd. NW – near Belden Village (you park in the row of the buggy corral)

• Alliance:  The back parking area of Lowe’s, 2595 W. State St. (turn into Lowes and drive straight back to the third from last row)

• Salem:  Burger King on E. State St. (rear parking area back by fence)

• Columbiana:   Our TLC Office at 44139 St. Rt. 14.
• *We have a special TLC Tours rate at a nearby hotel in both Columbiana and Slippery Rock if you have an early pickup and would like to come stay the night before. Call for more info.

Other departure points may be established for groups of 10 or more if the itinerary and direction of travel permits. We reserve the right to change departures. Departures are arranged in the direction of travel, with last departure being the closest to the destination, for the convenience of all passengers.

Pennsylvania Departure Points;

*We may use smaller shuttle buses to make these pickups and will join the tour enroute at a logical transfer point.

For both Overnight and Day Trips –choose from 2 locations:

• Slippery Rock:  Campbell Bus Lines, 258 Grove City Rd
• Butler:  Ollie’s, 602 Moraine Pointe Plaza

For TLC DAY TRIPS:

For day trips, we do not have any insurance or Refund Protection Plan available.  Payment must be made in full when booking a day trip, and if you cancel your reservation up to 45 days prior to the trip’s date, you will receive a full refund.  *Occasionally a day trip may have a different cancellation date other than 45 days out – it is good to inquire when making your reservation.  — If TLC should need to cancel the entire day trip, you will receive a refund.

For TLC OVERNIGHT MOTORCOACH TOURS:

For most overnight tours, a full refund will be made up to 45 days prior to departure date. However, some of our tours, especially the longer ones, may have a 60-day cancellation date.  The specific date will be listed on your confirmation which you will receive in the mail once you make your reservation. Tours including tickets may have earlier non-refundable dates – please inquire when making a reservation for a tour that includes tickets. There are no refunds for cancellations made within the 45 (or 60) days prior to your departure date. However, we will do our best to recover as much as we can, but cannot guarantee anything including prepaid reservations and other costs that are non-refundable to us. There will be a $25.00 per/person charge for this service. There will be no refund, for any reason, for a “no-show” on the day of the tour.

** Please Note: Refunds will be made by the same method you paid us; e.g., if you paid by credit card, the refund will be put back on that credit card. No exceptions.

TLC’s REFUND PROTECTION PLAN for Overnight Motorcoach Tours:

 TLC has an in-house “Refund Protection Plan” which we offer for overnight motorcoach tours through our office at a minimal cost. It needs to be purchased when you book your trip. This insures you a full refund in case of:

• ) A death in your immediate family (requires a copy of death notice)
• ) Personal illness (requires a doctor’s written note confirming you were too ill to travel)
• ) Exceptions would be made if an immediate family member’s serious illness necessitates you staying home, but would still need confirmed by a doctor’s note. *Immediate family, in these situations, includes spouse, parents or children only.

The RPP covers you up to the morning of departure; however, you must call your Escort (number will be provided) that morning before your pick-up time in order for the RPP to be valid.  She will need to call all the places the tour is going to change the passenger counts.  Failure to call the Escort that morning cancels your RPP coverage.

Feel free to call our office for full details about TLC’s RPP. We encourage you to take advantage of the protection plan, or secure more comprehensive insurance on your own, if desired.

TLC “FLY TRIPS”:

For any of our tours that involve flying, the connecting companies we use for our air tours offer their own insurance plans and instructions.  You will find that information listed on each tour’s page and/or flyer near the respective pricing and other pertinent details.  It is up to you, of course, whether or not you choose to take insurance out, but it is highly recommended.