2017 Alumni Tour England

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1 2017 Alumni Tour England

2 Merry Olde England The RMU Alumni Tour continues its adventurous explorations this May 8-17 with a voyage to merry olde England. Join President Chris Howard and his wife, Barbara Noble Howard, and an exclusive group of alumni and friends for an unforgettable journey to our friends across the pond. Experience Oxford in a way few visitors can as the guest of a former Rhodes scholar. Relax in the pastoral Cotswolds, with its rolling hills, medieval cottages and stone churches, and meandering herds of sheep. In the spa town of Bath, tour the ancient Roman ruins around the mineral springs and view the grand Georgian architecture. In London, take in the famous sights with our private guides, then cap it off with a flight over the Thames on the dizzying London Eye. RMU Alumni Tour guests stay in superior accommodations, dine in elegant restaurants and charming pubs, and enjoy a private travel itinerary to experience the very best England has to offer. Windsor Castle On the Cover: London skyline

3 Day One Monday, May 8 Depart Pittsburgh in the late afternoon, connecting in Charlotte for our flight to London Heathrow. Your Hotels: Francis Hotel Queen Square, Bath BA1 2HH This elegant ensemble of townhouses in Bath s signature honey-colored stone has been welcoming visitors since 1858 and is a short walk from the Roman Baths and the Jane Austen Centre. Randolph Hotel Beaumont Street, Oxford OX1 2LN Opened in 1866, this Victorian Gothic landmark building is well located in the city center, just minutes from Balliol, Trinity, Exeter, and the rest of the colleges that make up the University of Oxford. Above the Thames The Chesterfield Mayfair 35 Charles Street, London W1J 5EB From this Regency style hotel in the exclusive Mayfair neighborhood, it is a stroll through the park to Buckingham Palace and walking distance to Piccadilly Circus and premium shopping on Bond Street.

4 Day Two Tuesday, May 9 Marlborough We meet our guide and driver at Heathrow and begin our luxury coach tour west to Bath, stopping for lunch in Hungerford or Marlborough. In midafternoon we arrive in Bath, the most celebrated spa town in England. You have the rest of the afternoon free before we gather in the evening for our welcome to England dinner. The Buzz on RMU Alumni Tours Travel arrangements went smoothly, accommodations were lovely and located perfectly for sightseeing, local guides were extremely knowledgeable, and we never felt rushed. This was our first trip with the group, and we have vowed not to miss another. We ended the trip feeling like we ve been friends forever with every person in the group. Cathy 75 and Jim Zambito 75 Francis Hotel Included meals: lunch, dinner

5 Day Three Wednesday, May 10 Francis Hotel Roman Baths This morning we set off on a walking tour of Bath, ending at the Roman Baths, where we will have lunch in the Pump Room. Your afternoon and evening are at your leisure. For those with a lot of energy, the guide and bus will be available for a tour to a nearby charming town such as Castle Combe or Lacock. The Buzz on RMU Alumni Tours I would never have thought to vacation in Prague and Budapest until this opportunity with the RMU Alumni Tour. The sites along the Vltava and Danube Rivers were absolutely amazing. The combination of great sites, great food, great guides, and a great group of fellow travelers made for yet another memorable trip, thanks to the fantastic planning team at RMU. Jodi Vasalani 92 Included meals: breakfast, lunch

6 Day Four Thursday, May 11 Departing Bath in the morning, we tour the pastoral Cotswolds with its homes built of honey-brown stone and thatched roofs, stopping at the historic walled village of Stow-on-the-Wold. We continue to Woodstock for a visit of Blenheim Palace, England s answer to Versailles, home of the 11th Duke of Marlborough with landscaping by the great Capability Brown. Blenheim is also known as the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill. Then we proceed to Oxford, which you are free to explore that evening. The Buzz on RMU Alumni Tours Great tours, great guides, great company! Diane and Dale Harrison 71 Stow-on-the-Wold Randolph Hotel Included meals: breakfast, lunch

7 Day Five Friday, May 12 Nigel Bowles, Chris Howard s former professor at St. Anne s College during his Rhodes scholar days, joins us for breakfast and tales of his life as an Oxford don. Then our walking tour takes in the sights of the college of Christ Church, Carfax Tower and the Old Bodleian Library, the Queen s College, and the sweep of High Street. A full day also includes afternoon tea at stately Rhodes House and dinner in the evening. Rhodes House Oxford Randolph Hotel Queen s College Included meals: breakfast, tea, dinner

8 Day Six Saturday, May 13 Departing Oxford, we visit Windsor Castle, the biggest inhabited castle in the world and the weekend home of Queen Elizabeth II. Built by William the Conqueror after the Norman conquest of 1066, it has more than 1,000 rooms. After the visit, you are free to visit the town, have lunch, and possibly stroll over to Eton College, the historic private boarding school for boys. We then proceed to London, and relax with a good pub dinner. Eton College Windsor Castle The Chesterfield Mayfair Trafalgar Square Included meals: breakfast, dinner

9 Day Seven Sunday, May 14 Sleep in, explore, or attend a service as you wish. In the afternoon, we take a private, panoramic guided tour of central London, featuring Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey, Parliament, and Big Ben. We finish at the London Eye, in our own reserved capsule for a half-hour flight and a bird s eye view of London. After all that excitement, we will settle down for a lovely dinner together. Changing of the Guard Big Ben The Chesterfield Mayfair London Eye Included meals: breakfast, dinner

10 Day Eight Monday, May 15 We have a busy morning with a private guided tour of the Tower of London and St. Paul s Cathedral. After lunch, we visit the fascinating Museum of London, built next to the wall that once surrounded the Roman settlement of Londinium. You are free for the remainder of the afternoon. In the evening, we head for the West End for a theater surprise. Tower of London St. Paul s Cathedral The Chesterfield Mayfair West End Included meals: breakfast, lunch

11 Day Nine Tuesday, May 16 Westminster Abbey The Chesterfield Mayfair Take the last day to explore whatever most appeals to you in this amazing city. The Chesterfield concierge can help you choose from possibilities such as the British Museum, Westminster Abbey, or the nearby Cabinet War Rooms and Churchill Museum. We gather in the evening for our farewell to England dinner. Included meals: breakfast, dinner Day Ten Wednesday, May 17 Return to Pittsburgh After breakfast, we transfer to London Heathrow for our flights back to Pittsburgh, arriving in early evening. Included meals: breakfast Cost $4,437 per person based on double occupancy (airfare included) About Gulliver s Travels of Shadyside We ve invested decades building personal connections with the managers and presidents of top hotels, cruise lines, tour companies, airlines and ground operators around the world. Please call Paul Busang with questions or to request a reservation form at (412)

12 Office of The President 6001 University Boulevard Moon Township, PA (412) rmu.edu/alumni tour