Pauwels Travel Bureau Ltd. 95 Dalhousie Street, Brantford, Ontario N3T 2J1 Tel. 519-756-4900 / 519-753-2695 - Fax 519-753-6376 tours@pauwelstravel.com - www.pauwelstravel.com A windmill on Faial, with Pico in the background THE AZORES, EUROPE S EXOTIC WESTERN ISLES 11 days, from Wednesday, October 2 to Saturday, October 12, 2013 Only $3,150.00 from Toronto, based on double occupancy single room supplement: $425.00 A glorious late fall break, exploring 4 of the 9 exotic islands of this Portuguese archipelago, situated in the middle of the Atlantic. We will enjoy magnificent mountain and coastal scenery, lush subtropical vegetation, and traditional Portuguese culture, hospitality, food, and wine (included with dinners)! Accommodation in firstclass (4-star) hotels, and almost all meals are included! Excellent local guides will provide plenty of information about the islands natural attractions, history, and culture. The tour is escorted by Don Kasta. PROPOSED ITINERARY: (Meals: B=breakfast, L=lunch, D=dinner) Day 1 - Wednesday, October 2: (Inflight meal) Departure from Toronto on the non-stop flight to the Azores on SATA, a Portuguese airline. Dinner and a light breakfast will be served on board. The flight lasts only 5 ½ hours! Day 2 - Thursday, October 3: (L+D) Early morning arrival in San Miguel, and short connecting flight to Terceira, one of the largest islands of the Azores Archipelago, and the second most populated, with nearly 60,000 inhabitants; Terceira is also called the Ilha Lilás, the lilac or the violet island. Transfer to the 4-star hotel Terceira Mar, a resort-style property located in Fanal Bay, in the town of Angra do Heroismo, overlooking the ocean, the park of Monte Brasil, and a 16 th -century fortress. Lunch, followed by free time to settle in. In late afternoon, visit to the Angra do Heroísmo Museum, located in the historical Monastery of San Francis, featuring a fine collection of furniture, ceramic and porcelain, paintings, sculptures, music, navigation instruments, coins, medals, weapons as well as carriages. Return to the hotel in time for dinner.
< Hotel Terceira Mar in Anagro do Heroismo Day 3 - Friday, October 4: (B+D) After breakfast, walking tour of the picturesque town of Angra do Heroismo, the Azores' oldest city and historical capital and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Angra was an obligatory port-of-call for the Portuguese fleets sailing the Atlantic on their way back from the East and West Indies after the first great voyages of discovery, exemplified by Vasco da Gama s journey to India in 1498-99. Places of interest include the Pacos do Concelho (City Hall), Misericordia Church, Monte Brazil, and St. John the Baptist Fortress. Rest of day free; dinner at the hotel. Day 4 Saturday, October 5: Leisurely full-day tour of Terceira s rugged and beautiful coast as well as its hilly and very green interior, featuring amazing quilts of fields, to be admired from viewpoints such as the one at Serra do Cume. Other attractions are dormant and active volcanic phenomena such as the Algar do Carvão cave and the hot water springs known as the Furnas de Enxofre, and tentaderos, farms specialized in breeding bulls for the touradas à corda ( bullfights by rope ), a kind of running of the bulls that is very popular on this island. Group lunch in the town of Praia. Also visit to the wine museum of Biscoitos, an area which produces one of the most famous wines of the Azores. Return to hotel before dinner in the restaurant. The green fields of Terceira Day 5 - Sunday, October 6: (B+D) Morning free to relax, swim, or perhaps play a round of golf (see www.portugal-golf.info/azores/terceira.htm). In late afternoon, transfer to the airport in time for the short flight to the island of Faial. Arrival on Faial, and transfer to the first-class Hotel do Canal, overlooking the town of Horta, the bay, and the big mountain on neighbouring Pico Island. Dinner in the restaurant of our hotel. Panoramic view of Horta Day 6 Monday, October 7: (B + L +D) Full-day tour of beautiful Faial, an island of volcanic origin, also known as Ilha Azul, the Blue Island, due to the large quantity of hydrangeas that bloom during the summer months. The sights will include the town of Horta itself with its colourful harbour, a traditional stopover point for sailing vessels on transatlantic crossings; Espalamaca Belvedere; windmills originally built by Flemish settlers in the 15 th century; Caldeira, an impressive ancient crater featuring unusual vegetation; and Capelinhos, new land produced by an underwater
volcanic eruption in 1957/58. Return to Horta in late afternoon via the town of Ponta Furada, and time for shopping before dinner in our hotel. Day 7 Tuesday, October 8: Excursion by boat to neighbouring Pico Island, nicknamed Ilha Preta, the Black Island for its black volcanic earth. Classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, Pico boasts an amazing mountain (2,350 m.), Portugal s highest cliffs, and splendid vineyards. We will visit the strange rock formations along the seashore at Arcos do Cachorro, Misterios, the island s Whalers Museum, a cheese factory, and a winery, including a tasting, of course! Return to Faial in late afternoon. Dinner in the hotel. Day 8 - Wednesday, October 9: After breakfast, transfer to the airport, and short flight to São Miguel, the largest and most populated of the Azorean islands, a.k.a. Ilha Verde, the Green Island. The landscape here features densely forested areas with exotic pine trees and eucalyptus, tea plantations, vineyards, and much green grazing land for dairy cattle. Arrival in São Miguel, transfer to the first-class Hotel Avenida, situated close to the waterfront and the shopping area, and lunch in its restaurant. In the afternoon, short walking tour of the old town, and visits to the Carlos Machado Museum, featuring an eclectic collection of works of art and artifacts, much of it focusing on the day-to-day lives of people in the Azores and especially on the island of São Miguel (see www.museumac.com/item3.php?lang=1&id_channel=21&id_page=32&id=47) and to the lush José de Canto garden (www.jardimjosedocanto.com). Dinner in the hotel. < The Lake of Sete Cidades Ponta Delgada Day 9 - Thursday, October 10: Today we tour one of the greatest attractions of São Miguel and the entire archipelago, the mountains of Sete Cidades, with as absolute highlight the stop at Vista do Rei Belvedere, offering breathtaking views of greenblue Sete Cidades Lake at the bottom of an enormous volcanic crater. After a group lunch in a typical restaurant, we visit a pineapple plantation and taste pineapple liqueur. Return to Ponta Delgada, with a short visit to the Jose de Canto Garden before dinner in the restaurant of our hotel. Day 10 - Friday, October 11: A full day of sightseeing in the eastern highlands of São Miguel, with beautiful Lake Lago do Fogo; the belvederes of Sta Iria, Pico de Ferro, and Caloura; Furnas Valley with its famous fumaroles (hot springs); Terra Nostra Park; also the towns of Ribeira Grande with its Baroque architecture, and Vila Franca do Campo, the island s former capital. Our group lunch in Furnas will feature the local specialty, Cozido nas Caldeiras, cooked in the hot springs! Return to the hotel and some free time before dinner. This evening s dinner will be enlivened by traditional Portuguese music and dance. < Cozido nas Caldeiras and Azorean wine bom apetite!
Day 11 Saturday, October 12: (B+L) Morning free to shop and/or explore Ponta Delgada on your own, or to pack and/or relax in the hotel. After a final group lunch, transfer to the airport, and non-stop SATA flight to Toronto. Tour cost from Toronto: $3,150.00 based on double occupancy Single room supplement: $425.00 Included in the price are: - Return flight to the Azores and domestic flights with SATA Airlines as shown in the program; - Accommodation based on double occupancy in first-class (four-star) hotels, the single room supplement is $425; - Buffet breakfast and dinner daily (including wine and water) as well as a total of eight lunches; - Airport transfers and excursions via private coach; - All visits and sightseeing as outlined in the itinerary, including admission to museums and monuments mentioned; - Hotel taxes and gratuities. Not included: -***The usual combination of airport taxes/security fees/fuel surcharges, presently (December 2012) approximately $340, but subject to change; - All expenses of a personal nature; - Travel insurance, available as follows: All inclusive insurance: Non medical insurance: Up to age 59: $254.88 Up to age 59: $212.76 Ages 60-64: $314.28 Ages 60-64: $236.73 Ages 65-69: $376.92 Ages 65-69: $263.52 Ages 70-74: $514.08 Ages 70-74: $298.08 With single supplement: All inclusive insurance: Non medical insurance: Up to age 59: $273.24 Up to age 59: $231.12 Ages 60-64: $336.96 Ages 60-64: $259.20 Ages 65-69: $403.92 Ages 65-69: $290.52 Ages 70-74: $545.40 Ages 70-74: $330.48 Lighthouse on Pico
THE AZORES: The Azores are an archipelago of nine islands of volcanic origin, situated in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, at about 1,500 km (930 mi) from Lisbon and about 4,000 km (2,400 mi) from the east coast of North America. The islands form an autonomous region within Portugal, and the main economic activities of their approximately 250,000 inhabitants are tourism, cattle breeding and other types of farming, and fishing. The Azores enjoy a mild temperate maritime climate, and the average temperature in October is 15 degrees Celsius or 60 Fahrenheit. The lush, subtropical vegetation includes crops such as bananas and pineapples, native and imported trees such as cedar, Brazilian mahogany, and wild cherry, and an abundance of flowers such as birds of paradise, hortensias, hydrangeas, azaleas, camelias The Azores were uninhabited until the 15 th century, and settled by the Portuguese, who discovered the islands in 1427. USEFUL WEBSITES: - Azores in general: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/azores and http://wikitravel.org/en/azores - Terceria: http://www.azores.com/terceira - Faial: http://www.azores.com/faial - Pico: http://www.azores.com/pico - São Miguel: http://www.azores.com/sao-miguel
PAUWELS TRAVEL BUREAU LTD. 95 Dalhousie Street, Brantford, Ontario N3T 2J1 Tel: 519-753-2695/519-756-4900 Fax: 519-753-6376 Email: tours@pauwelstravel.com Ont. Reg. #1034992 TERMS AND CONDITIONS RESERVATIONS AND DEPOSITS: Reservations should be made as early as possible to ensure the departure of your choice. A deposit of $750.00 is required at the time of registration. Your reservation is confirmed upon receipt of your deposit and application form. No reservations will be accepted without a signed application form. REFUND OF UNUSED ARRANGEMENTS: Because the rates of Pauwels Travel Bureau Ltd. are based on group participation, no refund can be made for any tour accommodation or tour service or tour feature not taken. If cancellation occurs while the tour is in progress, no refund can be made for the tour portion not taken. We strongly suggest that to allow for any unexpected contingencies, you purchase the all-inclusive insurance. CANCELLATION POLICY: Refund of deposit is made in full if cancellation is received in writing by Pauwels Travel Bureau Ltd. more than 90 days prior of the departure date of the tour less a $500.00 non refundable administrative fee per person. For cancellation received in writing 90 days prior or less the following cancellation charges apply: 90 days to 46 days before departure: 25% of tour cost 45 to 15 days before departure: 50% of tour cost Within 14 days prior to departure: 100% of tour cost RESPONSIBILITY: Pauwels Travel Bureau Ltd. reserves the right without notice, to withdraw any part or all of the tour. Factors such as airline schedule changes, hotel overbookings, inclement weather, etc. necessitate changes in the itinerary as outlined. There also may be other circumstances in which changes become necessary or advisable. Any savings realized by these changes will be passed on to the passengers, any resultant expenses shall be borne by the passenger. Pauwels Travel Bureau Ltd. acts only as an agent in securing hotel, transportation and other travel services and in no event shall be held responsible for the failure by any person or company to render any transportation, lodging or other travel service to be provided on the tour. All hotel, transportation and other travel services are provided to tour members subject to all the terms and conditions under which they are offered to the public generally. The acceptance of the initial service to be provided under the tour shall be considered an acceptance by the tour member of those conditions. Pauwels Travel Bureau Ltd. also reserves the right to decline, to accept or retain any person as a member of the tour, in which case equitable refund will be made at the discretion of the tour operators. AIR TRANSPORTATION: Trans Atlantic economy flight by scheduled, IATA carriers, based on charter class fare. All fares are subject to specific rules and regulations, to changes and to government approval.
APPLICATION FORM Please book seat(s) on the The Azores, October 2-12, 2013. Enclosed is my/our deposit of ($750 per person, plus insurance premium if taken.) Deposit and insurance premium, if taken, are due with registration. You will be invoiced for the balance approximately 45 days prior to departure. WE NOW REQUIRE A COPY OF YOUR PASSPORT (INFORMATION PAGES ONLY) TO BE SENT WITH YOUR APPLICATION FORM AT TIME OF REGISTRATION. Name as on Passport. Indicate the appropriate title before each name (Mr., Mrs., Miss, Dr., Ms.) NAME(S): If applicable, give your commonly used first name as you would like it to appear on your name tag: (e.g. Liz for Mary Elizabeth ) ADDRESS: Postal Code: PHONE: (Residence) (Business) (Fax/Email) If traveling alone, please indicate your willingness to share accommodations: YES NO SINGLE ROOM REQUIRED: (We will try to find a roommate for those willing to share, but cannot guarantee success in doing so. For single travelers we are not able to match, the single supplement will apply.) SPECIAL REQUESTS: (Dietary, wheelchair assistance, frequent flyer number, twin beds, etc.) Please list here so we can do our best to assist you. (We will do our best to assist you but cannot guarantee success, especially in the case of requests for specific seating arrangements, since airlines do not normally allow individual seat selections for groups.) I/we agree to the terms and conditions attached to the program. Insurance - I/we accept: All-inclusive Package Non-medical Package Decline Insurance Signature (s) If purchasing travel insurance, we require your date of birth: Name: Date of Birth Name: Date of Birth PAYMENT: Cheque payable to Pauwels Travel Visa Mastercard American Express Amount Paid: Card Number: Expiry: Security Code: Signature: Please forward this completed form, copy of passport and payment to: PAUWELS TRAVEL BUREAU LTD. 95 Dalhousie Street, Brantford, Ontario N3T 2J1 Tel: 519-753-2695 / 519-756-4900 Fax: 519-753-6376