| About
Us
Specialtours
Style
International
Museums & Societies
The
Art Fund
Your Guarantees
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Specialtours STyle
We pride ourselves on offering a personal service and attention
to detail. Our clients can expect a high level of comfort,
as well as good value for money. We list below some of the
features of our tours:
Travel
For our ex-UK tours we use scheduled flights (with the
very occasional exception for logistical reasons) departing
from London Heathrow and London Gatwick. We use licensed,
modern coaches for ground transport.
Accommodation
The majority of hotels used on our tours are four star
category, while many of our 'incoming' American groups request
five star luxury hotels. In more remote places, we choose
the best available accommodation. Location, character, atmosphere
and standards of service are key factors in our selection.
For further details of the ratings used in our tour details,
see Booking Conditions.
Itineraries
Our programmes are meticulously researched, drawing from
years of experience. While the majority of our tours are
art, architecture or archaeology-orientated, we also arrange
garden tours and tours devoted to painting and walking.
We aim to offer a broad cultural experience so your programme
may include a concert, a ballet or opera performance, a
visit to a vineyard with a wine-tasting, a browse in the
souks, or a cookery demonstration. We hope to strike the
perfect balance between a holiday and an academic study
tour.
Lecturers
Our lecturers are chosen not only for their expertise,
but also for their ease of communication, their company
and above all the enthusiasm which they bring to their subjects.
Several of our lecturers have been accompanying tours for
us for years and have established a devoted following. For
details of lecturers on this year's tour, click
here.
Private Visits
Specialtours' reputation rests to a great extent on the
special private visits which we are able to arrange, thanks
to a network of contacts established over 40 years, particularly
in Italy, but also in France, Spain, Great Britain, the
United States and elsewhere. These visits range from drinks,
lunches or dinners in private homes, to owner-guided visits
to art collections or gardens. In addition to privileged
access to private houses, we can often arrange out-of-hours
visits to places which are open to the public. Sometimes
the client Society will help us to 'open doors' - museum
directors or curators, restoration teams and the owners
of private collections or gardens will make special arrangements.
Restaurants
We offer a variety of restaurants, from characteristic
local restaurants with regional cooking to elegant, gastronomic
establishments. Menus are chosen and balanced with great
care. Drinks, usually water, wine and coffee, are included
with most meals.
Value for Money
Our brochure prices include economy class air travel; accommodation;
ground transport; all or most meals; guides; taxes, entrance
fees and the services of a lecturer and/or tour organiser.
In addition we provide a list of suggested reading and a
printed booklet with a participant list, practical information,
the itinerary and sightseeing notes. The only extras, apart
from personal expenses, are insurance and some tips and
drinks. |
