1. travel
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2015
CHRISTOPHER POLLARD TOURS
I am delighted to enclose our brochure for 2015. As you can see it contains a full programme of
cultural, historical and gastronomic tours all led by Chris Pollard.
The scope of our tours now enthusiastically embraces Italy as well as the Iberian Peninsula, Morocco
and France. Our purpose is to explore parts of Europe and North Africa that other tour organisers
don’t always reach and to present them in an accesible, informative and entertaining way.
In Spain – an infinite source of interest and delight – we are DELIGHTED to offer COMPLETELY NEW
itineraries. This year these include: a major new Wine Tour of the Mediterranean, Mallorca, Salamanca
and the Duero Gorges and the wonderful landscapes of the Province of Teruel. After 22 years we are
reviving the majestic journey across the Pyrenees, ‘From Coast to Coast’ and honouring the Classic
Cuisine of Madrid by doing the rounds of all the venerable restaurants. In addition we are featuring
the fascinating story of ‘The Basque Country’ and the spectacular landscapes of Almeria. We are
going to Amsterdam to savour this great city’s artistic and musical heritage in January. Colonel Peter
Knox will be joining us for his unforgettable tour in Normandy whilst we are delighted to present a
very special event in October linking three great battles and a very fine restaurant. The Season ends
with a long weekend in one of our favourite gastronomic destinations - Girona.
The formula, which has now worked well for 25 years, is unchanged. We offer GENUINELY ALLINCLUSIVE conducted tours from start to finish. Flight, all transport, accommodation, all meals
(wine and other drinks included with meals). All entrances and excursions are included in the price. I
must also emphasize that we have kept our prices more or less frozen and our tours offer excellent
value for money. You just have to glance at the brochures of other operators (often NOT all-inclusive)
to confirm that. I hope that you agree with all this and that we might have the pleasure of travelling
together in 2015.
CHRIS POLLARD is a West Country man, born in Somerset, brought up and educated in Devon.
Durham University was followed by a life-changing two years in Jerez de la Frontera. He has taught
English in Spain and Spanish in England; he has acted (professionally for 3 months!), sung, directed
for the stage, translated, lectured, written on Spanish culture and gastronomy and since 1990 has
run Pollard Tours, a highly successful business taking small groups around the Iberian Peninsula,
Morocco and France. Chris is a much-respected expert on many aspects of Iberian culture (art,
literature, music, food and drink, bullfighting, modern history, the Spanish Civil War…) He will give
informal but meaty talks throughout the tours.
MONER LAACHIRI is a Tangerine. Brought up
in a city where cultures meet and languages
abound, it is not surprising that Moses (as
he is known) speaks Arabic, French, Spanish
and English. He came to Spain to study at
Granada University, then Madrid for a Diploma
in Tourism. He is a genial and caring travelling
companion and accompanies Chris on most
of the tours. In his company Morocco comes
alive and clients are assured of a riveting and
insightful holiday: few people have Moses’
knowledge of the nooks and crannies of this
fascinating country.
TOUR DIARY 2015
19th-24th January
WINTER IN FLORENCE
29th January-3rd February AMSTERDAM ART AND MUSIC
4th-9th February
AMSTERDAM ART AND MUSIC
10th-16th February
BARCELONA
19th-25th February
THE WINES OF THE MEDITERRANEAN
10th-16th March
MALLORCA
7th-13th April
MENORCA
21st-27th April
THE ROMANTIC RHINELAND
5th-11th May
SALAMANCA AND THE DUERO GORGES
14th-21st May
EASTERN SICILY
¡TERUEL EXISTS!
25th May-31st May
4th-8th June
GASTRONOMIC MADRID: THE CLASSICS
15th-19th June
NORMANDY AND THE LANDINGS
25th June-3rd July
FROM COAST TO COAST
3rd-9th September
BILBAO AND THE BASQUE COUNTRY
14th-20th September
STRASBOURG AND ALSACE
29th September-5th October PALERMO AND WESTERN SICILY
8th-14th October
THE HEEL OF ITALY
19th-24th October
A TALE OF THREE BATTLES
29th October-4th November
9th-17th November
19th-25th November
1st-5th December
GRANADA AND ALMERIA
MARRAKECH AND THE DESERT
CHEFCHAOUEN, THE RIF AND TANGIERS
GASTRONOMIC GIRONA
Christopher Pollard Tours
Prioryfield House, 20 Canon Street, Taunton, Somerset TA1 1SW
01823 286097
Website: www.christopherpollardtours.com
Email: [email protected]
“All the flights and flight-inclusive holidays in this brochure are financially protected by the ATOL
scheme. When you pay you will be supplied with an ATOL Certificate. Please ask for it and check to
ensure that everything you booked (flights, hotels and other services) is listed on it.Please see our
booking conditions for further information or for more information about financial protection and
the ATOL Certificate go to: www.atol.org.uk/ATOLCertificate”
WINTER IN FLORENCE
19th - 24th January
Two years ago, chatting to a Florentine taxi driver about the impossible number of tourists in the city, we
were told. ‘Come in January; there is no-one here in January’. We followed his advice last Year and had a
marvellous out-of-season six days: a hotel next to the Ponte Vecchio, the Uffizi to ourselves, no queueing…
wonderful! We have no hesitation in repeating the Tour.
Our hotel is the noble Torre Guelfa perfectly located 200 yards from the Uffizi and the Piazza del Duomo. It
is surrounded by excellent restaurants and we can walk everywhere. Our visits include the major Museums,
the Uffizi, the Palazzo Pitta, the Duomo, the Accademia, the Bargello Museum, Santa Croce and much more.
There will be an opportunity of hearing an Opera in the famous Teatro Communale. In addition, a visit to the
legendary Vasari Corridor will be an intrisic part of the morning in the Uffizi.
THIS 6-DAY TOUR WILL DEPART: OUR HOTEL:
NUMBER IN THE PARTY: THE PRICE OF THIS TOUR: 19th January 2015
The delightful Torre Guelfa
14-18
£1,725 (Single Supplement £175)
ART AND MUSIC IN AMSTERDAM
29th January - 3rd February
4th February - 9th February
Amsterdam has always been a major centre for Art and Music. However, in recent years, art-lovers have been
frustrated by several of the city’s principal museums being closed for repairs. The Rijksmuseum in particular
seemed to have closed for ever. At last, it’s business as usual. The great galleries have re-opened in all their
glory and the city is once again an irresistible destination. We spend five nights in the excellent Hotel Dikker
an Thijs, perfectly located in a 19th-century house on the Prinzengracht Canal in the heart of the city.
During the Tour there will be illustrated lectures on various aspects of Dutch Art and visits to the Stedelijk
Modern Art Gallerty, the glorious Rijksmuseum and the Van Gogh Museum - all re-opened after major
restoration. We shall also visit the Van Loon Museum, a perfectly preserved noble residence and the Anne
Frank House (very moving despite the hype). We shall take a turn on the Canals, explore traditional Dutch
Cuisine as well as the exciting cooking of Indonesia and Suriname.
Two very exciting concerts at the Concertgebouw Halls will be included: an orchestral concert of Greig’s Piano
Concerto and Strauss’s ‘Also Sprach Zarathustra’ and a recital of Beethoven, Prokofiev and Rachmaninov by
the legendary Russian super-star Evgeny Kissin.
THIS 6-DAY TOUR WILL DEPART: OUR HOTEL: NUMBER IN PARTY: THE PRICE OF THIS TOUR: 29th January 2015
The Dikker an Thijs
14-18
£1,750 (Single supplement £175)
BARCELONA
10th - 16th February
Our traditional February visit to Barcelona starts in 2015 on 10th February. This is an ideal time to visit the
city. The temperatures are balmy and there are few tourists. The tour offers an opportunity to experience
every aspect of the city.
Our visits include all the major buildings by Gaudí including the Sagrada Familia (well on to the way to
completion), the Pedrera - a visit to whose roof-top is one of the great experiences! We also include the
recently re-opened Guell Palace and the Casa Batllo. We do not forget that other Modernista genius,
Domenech i Montaner visiting his majestic Hospital de Sant Pau, attending a concert in the Palau de la
Musica and dining in the inimitable surroundings of his Hotel Espanya.
We spend the day on Mont Juic, visiting the Miro Foundation and the unforgettable National Museum of
Catalan Art which contains, among many other things, the frescoes from the Romanesque churches in the
Pyrenees. We stroll in the Gothic Quarter, visiting the Cathedral and Barcelona’s most beautiful medieval
building, Santa Maria del Mar. We shall not forget the city’s most famous adopted son and spend time in the
Picasso Museum and take drinks in the Café Els Quatre Gats.
During our stay the Gran Teatre del Liceu will be presenting Bellini’s ‘Norma’ with a stupendous cast including
Sondra Radvanovsky and Gregory Kunde. Good seats will be included in the Tour.
THIS 7-DAY TOUR WILL DEPART:
OUR HOTEL: NUMBER IN PARTY:
THE PRICE OF THIS TOUR:
10th February 2015
Our usual - the 4-star Colon opposite the Cathedral
14-18
£1,750 (Single Supplement £175)
THE WINES OF MEDITERRANEAN SPAIN
19th - 25th February
We are delighted to announce a major new Tour exploring the winelands of Mediterranean Spain from the
Priorat in the Province of Tarragona down to to the vineyards of Alicante. It is a wonderful route down 600
kilometres of coastline.
We visit no fewer than NINE Denominated Regions: Montsant, Priorat, Terra Alta, Utiel-Requena, Valencia,
Almansa, Yecla and Alicante. They are not among the best-known of Spanish Regions but their wines are
fascinatingly varied, and often of astonishing quality. On this tour we shall taste some of the finest white
wines in Spain and some of the best red wines in the world. The landscapes through which we travel are
often spectacular; the wine towns and villages, picturesque and often remote. Every day we shall visit at
least two wineries and there will be conducted tastings of wines from all the Regions. In addition to our
wine-based activities we shall spend time in Tarragona, have a Calçots (giant spring-onion) Feast, a Barbecue
in the Priorat; we spend much of one day exploring Valencia and take lunch in Michelin-starred El Poblet. On
Day 7 we travel to El Pinoso to the restaurant of Paco Gandia to savour ‘The Best Paella in the World’ (and
that’s Official!)
Our hotels are atmospheric, family-run small hotels in stunning locations. In Montsant, we stay in Gratallops
(2 nights) in a hotel run by a wine-making family; in Requena (2 nights) our home is the Hotel de la Villa a
medieval house in the Main Square; in the Province of Alicante (3 nights) we stay in the marvellous Villa de
Biar in the wine town of the same name.
THIS 8-DAY TOUR WILL DEPART: OUR HOTELS: NUMBER IN PARTY:
THE PRICE OF THIS 8-DAY TOUR: 19th February 2015
El Balcó del Priorat in Gratallops (2 nights),
La Villa in Requena (2 nights) and Villa de Bihar (3 nights)
12-14 (strictly)
£1,925 (Single supplement £185)
MALLORCA
10th - 16th March
A recurring theme of this spring is the ‘The Islands of the Mediterranean’. We start the Odyssey in Mallorca
where we are delighted to announce a completely new tour. Mallorca is a wonderful island whose history,
culture and landscapes contrast with the perception of the island by many people as a holiday playground
for the Young and Noisy. Nothing could be further from the truth and most of Mallorca is entirely untouched
by mass tourism.
Our tour is based on Palma, one of Spain’s finest cities with an immense artistic, and cultural heritage.
Our visits include the great Gothic cathedral, of course, with its modern additions by Gaudi and Miquel
Barceló, the Royal Palace, Bellver Castle, the churches of Santa Eulalia and San Francisco, one of the few
remaining sets of Baths from the Moorish Era and the Museums that make Palma a veritable Capital of the
Fine Arts. These include the wonderful House and Museum of Joan Miró, the March Foundation with its
unique collection of Spanish 20th-century artists, the Museum of Mallorca, and the Sa Baluard Gallery of
Contemporary Art.
We take a number of excursions: we go to the Monastery of Valldemossa with its Chopin and George Sand
connections and then up through the Sierra to the exquisite village of Galilea. We take the historic train and
tram to Port Soller. We drive up to the spectacular northern coast and on to Cape Formentor. In Mallorca we
shall enjoy the unique gastronomy of this lovely island: the delicious rice dishes, the fish and seafood, the
rich array of fruit and vegetables. We shall take Ensaimada (THE Mallorcan pastry) in historic Café Can Joan
de s’Aigo and savour ‘Mar i Montanya’ (a dish of game and sea-food) in Port Sóller.
Our hotel is the excellent Hotel Almudaina, set in an historic building five minutes from the medieval heart
of the city
THIS 7-DAY TOUR DEPARTS: OUR HOTEL: NUMBER IN PARTY:
THE PRICE OF THIS TOUR:
MENORCA
10th March 2015
The excellent, renovated Hotel Almudaina
14-18
£1,850 (Single supplement £190)
7th - 13th April
Last spring we accompanied our first group visit to Menorca. It was a great success! With the peerless
collaboration of our local friends - wildlife expert, Javier, who conducted two painless but unforgettable
nature walks, our driver Jaime, and Lorraine Ure from the British Historical Society -we discovered every
aspect of this multi-faceted island. Menorca offers such a wide range of activities: it has the largest number
of prehistoric standing stones in the Mediterranean; fabulous birdlife and wild flowers; spectacular coastal
scenery. In Ciutadella and Mahón, it has two fascinating historical cities in miniature. In Mahón we spend a
morning with the British Historical Society who are restoring the 18th-century Isla del Ré to its pristine glory
as an English hospital.
Our home in Menorca is the lovely Hotel Sa Barrera which enjoys a spectacular coastal location. Needless
to say, we enjoyed delicious Menorcan cuisine with an abundance of fresh fish and seafood, an emphasis on
salads and vegetables and, of course, wonderful cheese.
THIS 7-DAY TOUR WILL DEPART:
OUR HOTEL:
NUMBER IN PARTY:
THE PRICE OF THIS TOUR:
7th April 2015
Sa Barrera in Cala en Porter
14-18
£1,785 (Single supplement £175)
THE ROMANTIC RHINELAND
21st - 27th April
After successful visits to Berlin, we are delighted to feature a further tour to Germany, in this case the Valley
of the Rhine, the wine villages of the Pfaltz, Heidelberg, Speyer and Baden-Baden. Our base is the world
famous Deidesheimer Hof, the favourite hotel of Helmut Kohl to which he invited all the world leaders at
the time. It is set in the exquisite village of Deisdesheim one of the wine villages of the Pfaltz. Our plans
include visits to several other of the picturesque villages of the región with a visit, of course, to a winery and
a tasting of the delicious wines of the Rhineland. These are particularly attractive villages full of history and
– of course – good food and wine.
Flying into Frankfurt, we travel the relatively short distance to our home for the tour: the 5-star Deidesheimer
Hof. From here we travel out to the Imperial City of Speyer where we visit one of Germany’s oldest and most
splendid cathedrals: and Heidelberg, Germany’s oldest University City which has an extensive and unspoilt
Old City and a spectacular riverside location. We shall spend a day in Baden-Baden, an irresistibly attractive
spa town. Magnificent Baroque buildings and lovely tree-lined walks characterise this legendary town. The
region is full of eminent concert venues and the tour will include a concert or opera.
THIS 7-DAY TOUR WILL DEPART:
21st April 2015
OUR HOTEL: The famous 5-star Deidesheimer Hof
NUMBER IN PARTY:14-18
THE PRICE OF THIS TOUR:
£1,925 (Single supplement £195)
SALAMANCA AND THE DUERO GORGES
5th-11th May
There is no doubt that Salamanca is one of the most beautiful cities in Spáin, indeed in Europe. A UNESCO
World Heritage City since it has an extensive Old Quarter of 16th-century buildings second to none. The
quality and colour of the local sandstone gives Salamanca a particularly warm, inviting atmosphere.
Salamanca boasts TWO cathedrals, one Romanesque, the other late-Gothic, several monasteries, all with
exquisite cloisters, a dozen churches (most full of major works of art), many palaces and a main square of
staggering beauty. It has a Roman bridge and Roman city walls, one of the oldest universities in Europe and
a unique Museum of Art Nouveau.
Salamanca is the city of unforgettable experiences: we climb to the roof of the Old Cathedral and see the
interior of the New Cathedral from an entirely new perspective; in the Convent of Santa Clara we have access
to the medieval ceiling, hidden for centuries behind the Baroque extension; we have aperitifs in the loveliest
outdoor café in Spain and follow in the footsteps of many literary heroes.
We take two excursions from Salamanca. On Day 4 we travel up to the Natural Park of the Arribes del Duero,
one of the very last regions in Spain unknown to most visitors. In 4x4 Landrovers and then in a small riverboat we can reach the very heart of this spectacular region. On Day 5 we travel the short distance to Zamora,
a remarkable city also on the River Duero. With its stunning 12th-century cathedral and clutch of churches,
Zamora is rightly regarded as the Capital of Castilian Romanesque.
Our home for the tour is the very comfortable NH Puerta de la Catedral, magnificently located, as the name
would suggest, next to the Cathedral.
THIS 7-DAY TOUR WILL DEPART:
5th May 2015
OUR HOTEL: The very comfortable NH Puerta de la Catedral
NUMBER IN PARTY:14-18
THE PRICE OF THIS TOUR:
£1,850 (Single supplement £175)
EASTERN SICILY
14th - 21st May
Sicily is now an intrinsic part of our touring calendar and we are delighted to offer for the second time our
Eastern Sicily Itinerary.
We divide the tour between Catania (3 nights) and Syracuse (4 nights). We shall use direct flights from
London to Catania and our driver and companion will once again be Sebastiano, on his home territory.
In both cities we shall use hotels in 18th-century buildings in the heart of the Old City. Catania has a
distinguished history starting in Greek times (it has major Classical remains), a marvellous Baroque centre
full of palaces and churches, and excellent Museums. Its 17th-century cathedral is a show-case for Sicilian
Baroque. On day 3 we travel out to Mount Etna and visit Europe’s greatest volcano in the company of
experts.
On Day 4 we move to Syracuse, one of the key cities of the Ancient World. Its classical heritage is stunning
and includes a terrific Greek theatre and Roman amphitheatre. We have two days in Syracuse, time to do
full justice to its excellent museums, its artistic patrimony (which includes a Caravaggio) and its picturesque
and atmospheric Old City. En route I am delighted to say that we shall be visiting Piazza Armerina and
possibly the finest and most extensive set of Roman mosaics in existence.
We spend Day 6 in Noto, ‘one of the most beautifully built little towns in Europe’ (Douglas Sladen in 1905).
This Baroque gem boasts over 40 churches (we shan’t visit them all), numerous palaces and one of the fine
wines of Sicily.
This is a tour which contains an abundance of unforgettable sights and experiences from the 8th Century
BC to the present day: Greek and Roman theatres and amphitheatres, medieval churches, Baroque palaces,
beautiful cathedrals, stunning landscapes whether inland (including Europe’s greatest active volcano) or
coastal, and scrumptious food and wine.
THIS 8-DAY TOUR DEPARTS:
OUR HOTEL:
NUMBER IN PARTY:
THE PRICE OF THIS TOUR:
14th May 2015
Hotel Royal in Catania and Grand Hotel Alfeo in Syracuse,
both perfectly located and in Baroque palaces
12-16
£1,895 (Single supplement £185)
¡TERUEL EXISTS!
25th May – 31st May
Throughout the last 10 years Spain has expanded its enviable network of motorways and high-speed rail.
The unique and wonderful, but isolated, Province of Teruel has lobbied for its inclusion in the New Spain
under the battle-cry ‘Teruel Exists!’. In October 2014, this cry has yet to be answered; perhaps visitors and
lovers of Teruel are not too concerned as its status as one of Spain’s last wildernesses remains unthreatened.
The Province of Teruel lies between Cuenca and the Mediterranean coast around Valencia. It is landlocked,
mountainous, outrageously picturesque and full of charming towns and villages. It is under-populated,
barely visited by tourists and an ideal location to experience still ‘The Real Spain’.
This major new tour explores many of the corners of this fascinating Province. In a recent series of articles,
the Spanish daily ‘El Pais’ identified the Most Beautiful Villages in Spain. No fewer than four of the top
twenty are in Teruel. We visit all of them.
DAY 1: Flying to Madrid we set out for the Province of Teruel, passing the north of Castile-La Mancha and
the Mountains of Cuenca. Our goal is Albarracín, an astonishingly beautiful town, founded by Romans and
developed as an intractable fortress town by the Spanish Moors; many hundreds of metres of perfectly
preserved medieval walls survive to testify to the town’s Golden Age.
Our home in Albarracin is an impeccably equipped hotel on the edge of the old quarter ranked by most
commentators as the best in town.
DAYS 2 & 3: This Tour combines the culture and architecture of the historic towns of Teruel with its glorious
landscapes. During our two days in Albarracin we explore the extensive heritage of a town which is a
National Monument and on the waiting-list for UNESCO World Heritage status. We travel out of town into
the incomparable scenery of the Montes Universales.
During the 1930’s Albarracin found itself in the front line during the Spanish Civil War: a theme we shall
further explore in the Provincial capital.
DAY 4: Leaving Albarracin we travel the short distance to the UNESCO World Heritage city of Teruel where
we spend most of the day. From the beauty of its Mudejar Cathedral and churches, through the romance of
its medieval legends, to the stark reality of the most hideous battles of the Civil War, Teruel offers its visitors
a varied and rewarding day.
Late afternoon we set out for Calaceite, our home for the second part of the Tour. This is one of El Pais’s
‘most beautiful viilages’.
DAYS 5, 6: Our two days in the east of the Province are spent among the incomparable beauty of three
wonderful places: Calaceite, Valderrobre and Puertomingavo. Don’t worry. Very few Spanish people have
heard of them either, but these villages are quintessential examples of the charm and beauty of life in rural
Spain as well as having a distinguished ancient history from Pre-history, through Roman times, Moorish
Spain into the Baroque era and on to modern times all of which have left their mark on these unique places.
Our home for the second part of the Tour is the lovely Hotel del Sitjar, located in the Plaza Mayor with views
of the surrounding countryside.
THIS 7-DAY TOUR WILL DEPART:
25th May 2015
OUR HOTELS:
The Doña Blanca in Albarracin and El Sitjar in Calaceite.
NUMBER IN PARTY:12-18
THE PRICE OF THIS 7-DAY TOUR:
£1,875 (Single supplement £180)
GASTRONOMIC MADRID: THE CLASSICS
4th - 8th June
For two decades Spain has led the world of gastronomic excellence in innovation and achievement. It
is an ongoing process and mould-breaking young chefs emerge consistently. This, of course, has been
accompanied by an enthusiastic interest in all things culinary. Madrid has its fair share of mould-breaking
chefs but it is also the natural home of a number of great restaurants whose continuing success resides in
their staus as bastions of a more classic cuisine. This tour focuses on these wonderful places.
As well as great food and wine, our weekend will include a very interesting concert of R.Strauss, Mozart and
Schoenberg at the Auditorio. There will also be an opportunity of attending a performance of ‘Fidelio’ at the
Teatro Real or even a bullfight at La Ventas.
DAY 1: We fly in during the afternoon (regional airports are available). Our hotel will be the best-located
hotel in Madrid: the Europa in the Puerta del Sol. After cocktails in venerable De Diego we take our first
dinner in Zalacaín, the first Spanish restaurant to be awarded three Michelin stars.
DAY 2: For our long weekend in Madrid, clients will be provided with entrance tickets to the three great Art
Galleries and, as a group, we shall visit the lovely museum devoted to the work of the post-impressionist
Joaquin Sorolla. Lunch will be taken on tapas and fine sherry at Albora and dinner at O Pazo perhaps the
finest seafood restaurant in the world.
DAY 3: Clients are free to continue their exploration of the Art Galleries or simply potter around the centre
(the hotel is 16 yards from the Corte Inglés). Lunch will be taken in the tapas bars around the Plaza Mayor
and dinner at Horcher, a unique experience in a restaurant founded in Berlin over a hundred years ago and
a monument to classic service of classic cuisine.
Both Zalacaín and Horcher ask men to wear jacket and tie. I own one specifically for these occasions!
DAY 4: A wonderful day which starts in the Auditorio Nacional with a concert by the National Orchestra. We
then repair to the Ritz and join la toute Madrid for Sunday lunch. Those who so wish can go on to the Teatro
Real for Fidelio.
DAY 5: We have time before taking our flights for a late gourmet breakfast at César Martin´s famed
´LaKasa´restaurant.
THIS 5-DAY TOUR DEPARTS:
OUR HOTEL: NUMBER IN PARTY: THE PRICE OF THIS TOUR: 4th June 2015
The 3-star Europa in the Puerta del Sol
Máximum 12
£1,740 (Single supplement £170)
NORMANDY AND THE LANDINGS
15th - 19th June
No-one who was on the tour with Peter Knox four years ago will forget the moving, life-enhancing experience
of visiting (or re-visiting) the extraordinary places associated with the Allied Landings. Over 70 years later,
Normandy still lives and breathes the historic events of June 1944.
Our itinerary takes in many of the unmissable sites, all brought dramatically to life by Peter Knox’s vivid
commentary. In addition, we shall watch two major films that will greatly increase our understanding of
D-Day: ‘The Longest Day’ (of course) and ‘The True Glory’, a documentary made directly after the Landings
and containing documentary footage and eye-witness testimony.
DAY 1: The group will foregather at St Pancras station prior to taking the Eurostar to Paris where we shall
take our traditional lunch at Art Nouveau Brasserie Terminus Nord before moving on to Gare St Lazare and
our TGV to Caen where we stay in the excellent Hotel Kyriad.
DAY 2: Our exploration of the key D-Day sites begins with the British sector - Pegasus Bridge and Museum,
coffee in the Gondree cafe followed by a visit to Ouistrehem and a picnic on Sword Beach where we follow
the extraordinary single-handed exploits of Sergeant-Major Stan Hollis, the only recipient of the VC on
D-Day.
DAYS 3 & 4: Day 3 focuses on the US sector – the celebrated church at St Mere Eglise, Utah Beach (picnic
lunch at Grandcamp Maisy), Omaha Beach and the US cemetery. On Day 4 we start the day at the 360
degree cinema at Arromanches, then on to the Batterie des Longues and then Bayeux. There we shall visit
the Commonwealth War Grave Cemetery, not forgetting the wonderful Cathedral and - naturally – that
Tapestry.
Day 5: We return, via Paris to St Pancras.
THE TOUR DEPARTS:
OUR HOTEL: NUMBER IN PARTY:
THE PRICE OF THIS TOUR: 15th June 2015
The perfectly located Kyriad in Caen
12-18
£1,595 (Single supplement £160)
COAST TO COAST
25th June - 3rd July
It is now 20 years since we last led our unforgettable tour across the High Pyrenees from Coast to Coast. It
really is high time we repeated the experience.
The tour begins in San Sebastian, the most beautiful coastal city in Spain. We then move off across the
Basque Country, through Navarre to the National Park of Ordesa (Spain’s Grand Canyon). After two nights
in Ordesa our route takes us across the Pyrenees to the second National Park, Aiguestortes. From there we
continue our remarkable journey down to the Mediterranean Coast and the lovely Hotel Sant Roc in Calella
de Palafrugell.
This is a unique tour…a non-stop succession of majestic scenery, exquisite mountain villages, Romanesque
churches, medieval castles and cathedrals, picnics in incomparable surroundings, hearty rural cuisine….
DAYS 1 & 2: Landing at Bilbao we make for our home for the first two nights: the lovely Hotel Niza on
the Concha beach in San Sebastian. This is Spain’s premier coastal resort, a majestic 19th-century city
surrounding a compact and atmospheric Old Quarter with an excellent museum that has just been totally
refurbished. It is also the capital of Basque Gastronomy: we shall savour the incomparable Pintxos Bars and
a Gourmet dinner at La Reja.
DAYS 3 & 4: Early on Day 3 (early by Pollard Tours standards!) we set off for the Pyrenees and our momentous
journey has begun. By-passing Pamplona, our first stop is in the spectacular surroundings of the Lumbier
Gorge where we walk with vultures for a hour. Pausing in Jaca to visit the oldest catedral in the Iberian
Peninsula we continue to Torla in the heart of the National Park of Ordesa. Sensational mountain scenery,
exquisite mountain villages, delicious mountain cuisine are all on the menu in Ordesa.
DAYS 5 & 6: Our route now takes us along the High Pyrenees to the village of Erill la Vall in the Valley of Boi.
Our delightful family-run hotel is opposite one of the Romanesque churches which have brought celebrity
and World Heritage status to the Valley. As well as discovering the unique cultural heritage of Boi we shall
spend some time in the incomparable surroundings of the National Park of Aiguestortes (pronounced ‘eggswith-tortoise’).
DAYS 7 & 8: The final leg of our journey takes us south from Erill to the Cathedral City of Seu d’Urgell. After
visiting the catedral we continue through incomparable landscapes to the Monastery towns of Sant Joan and
Ripoll and on to our final destination: Hotel Sant Roc perched on a cliff-top above the charming fishing port
of Calella de Palafrugell and the Mediterranean.
A gentle Day 8 will be spent exploring this unspoilt corner of the Costa Brava.
DAY 9: We take our return flight from Barcelona.
THIS 9-DAY TOUR WILL DEPART:
25th June 2015
OUR HOTELS:
Art Nouveau Hotel Niza in San Sebastián
Los Abetos in Torla and L’Aut in Erill La Vall
Sant Roc, overlooking the Mediterranean in Calella.
NUMBER IN PARTY:12-16
THE PRICE OF THIS TOUR:
£2,090 (Single supplement £200)
BILBAO AND THE BASQUE COUNTRY
3rd - 9th September
The Basque Country has now experienced twenty years of painstaking re-building and is one of Spain’s most
attractive destinations for the discerning tourist: it has everything, marvellous coastal and inland scenery,
exciting cities, wonderful architecture ancient and modern and – of course – fabulous food and wine.
Our home for six nights is a perennial favourite: the Conde Duque in Bilbao. From here we can explore all the
varied attractions of the city itself, either on foot or on the excellent Bilbo-Tram. We make three excursions:
to the winelands of the Rioja Alavesa, to the handsome city of Vitoria and to Gernika and the Basque Coast.
DAY 1: Flying in to Bilbao we make our way directly to the Hotel Conde Duque which has been our home
in the city for many years. It is comfortable, friendly and perfectly located on the riverbank opposite the
Guggenheim. A short pre-dinner walk is followed by our first experience of Basque Cuisine, one of the finest
in the world.
DAYS 2 & 3: An enlightened programme of urban renewal has turned Bilbao into one of the most handsome
and welcoming cities in Spain. This renewal has been led, of course, by the Guggenheim Museum, still the
most exciting new building in Europe. We shall spend much of Day 3 in the Museum. Before that we shall
have had a chance to get to know historic Bilbao: its catedral, its medieval quarter and the wonderful Museum
of Fine Arts. We shall take lunch in the famous Pintxos bars and dine in Michelin-starred Euskalduna.
DAYS 4,5,7, 6: We take three excursions from Bilbao: to the elegant and fascinating
City of Vitoria, to the Basque Rioja Region and to Gernika and the coast. Each excursion offers something
different: Vitoria, two cathedrals, a picturesque old Quarter and Peninsula War connections; la Rioja, stunning
landscapes, quaint wine towns and a visit and lunch in a family-run winery; Gernika, the best-known story
of the Spanish Civil War, glorious coastal scenery and exquisite fishing villages.
We shall talk about the ‘Basque Problem’, visit the Museum of the Basque People and explore the ways in
which the people, culture, life-style and language set this wonderful region apart from the rest of Spain.
DAY 7: We take our return flight.
THIS 7-DAY TOUR DEPARTS:3rd September 2015
OUR HOTEL: Old friends, perfectly situated opposite the Guggenheim: the Conde Duque
NUMBER IN PARTY :
14-18
THE PRICE OF THIS TOUR: £1,885 (Single supplement £190)
STRASBOURG AND ALSACE
14th - 20th September
We are delighted to repeat our new tour based on the wonderful city of Strasbourg. Clients have a choice
of travel options: those who so wish can travel by Eurostar and TGV or there is a direct flight from Gatwick.
Accommodation will be in the excellent Hotel Guttenberg, a boutique hotel located in an ancient building
150 metres from the Cathedral. Strasbourg is a great city situated on the border between France and
Germany, much fought-over and today the European city par excellence, straddling two cultures. Its artistic
and architectural heritage is extensive and fascinating, its gastronomy and wines unique.
DAY 1: Those who have opted to travel by rail will foregather at St Pancras where we take our Eurostar to
Paris. A painless transfer to Gare de l’Est is followed by the TGV which transports us to Strasbourg in 2 hours
30 minutes. Those who travel by air will be met at Strasbourg Airport which is less than 30 minutes from the
city centre.There will be time on the first evening for a stroll and aperitifs on the banks of the River Ill before
our first taste of Alsace cuisine.
DAY 2 & 3: Strasbourg was the first city to receive the accolade of UNESCO World Heritage for an entire
historic centre. Its medieval buildings are spectacular and include one of France’s greatest cathedrals, many
fine churches and handsome civic buildings. Its Old Quarter is beautifully preserved and very atmospheric.
It has several outstanding museums of fine arts, its artistic patrimony being conveniently divided into styles
and eras. Most of Strasbourg is easily accessible on foot but we shall also take to the river for an entirely new
perspective.
DAYS 4,5 & 6: From Strasbourg we make three excursions. To Maison Klipfel at Barr, one of the most
prestigious wine producers in Alsace for a visit, full tasting and lunch; to Colmar, one of the most picturesque
of all Alsatian towns; to the charming village of Baerenthal for one of the gastronomic experiences of the
year at wonderful Restaurant Arnsbourg where Jean-Georges Klein achieved promotion to the exclusive club
of the holders of 3 Michelin Stars in 2002.
THIS 7-DAY TOUR DEPARTS:
OUR HOTEL: NUMBER IN PARTY: THE PRICE OF THIS TOUR:
14th September 2015
The excellent Hotel Guttenberg
12-18
£1,975 (Single supplement £185)
PALERMO AND WESTERN SICILY
29th September – 5th October
We are delighted to kick off our Italian Autumn with Western Sicily and Palermo. This Tour focuses on some
of the finest ancient sites on the island from the Phoenicians to the Romans. We drive up to the exquisite
hill-top town of Erice, cross to the atmospheric Islands of Mozia, and visit the Moorish settlement of Mazaro
del Vallo.
Our first three nights are spent in the lovely wine town of Marsala where we enjoy some of the best food and
wine in Sicily. This is a perfect base for visiting many of the island’s most important sites. We then move on
to glorious Palermo, a thrilling city where 1000 years of architecture have created an infinitely fascinating
tapestry of Romanesque, Gothic, Baroque, neo-Classical and Contemporary. Palermo is a city with a real
buzz!
DAY 1: Flying into Palermo we set off to Marsala, pausing in the spectacular town of Erice: an historic and
picturesque citadel perched 800 metres above the coast and a stunning prelude to the Tour. We continue
to our home for three nights: the excellent Hotel Stella d’Italia perfectly located in an 18th-century mansion
and start our exploration of Marsala, visiting the Cathedral and its well restored old quarter.
DAYS 2 & 3: We take two fascinating excursions from Marsala: south to the extensive and wonderful
Greco-Roman site of Selinunte and the Moorish settlement of Mazara del Vallo where our visits include
the impressive Duomo and the Museum which contains the Greek bronze ‘Dancing Satyr’, the single most
beautiful artefact in Sicily. We spend Day 3 on the Island of Mozia, a Phoenician settlement. This is a
charming and lovely place full of archeological interest and another superb museum.
DAY 4: Leaving Marsala our journey takes in two of the most exciting buildings in Italy. In the first place the
Greek Temple at Segesta. The nobility and beauty of one of the great buildings of the Ancient World are
breath-taking. No less so is the magnificent monastery at Monreale, its nave with the 11th-century mosaics,
one of the highlights of the tour. Arriving in the heart of Palermo we settle into our home for three nights the palatial Hotel Centrale.
DAYS 5 & 6: We have two full days in Palermo: a glorious medley of majestic streets, squares, palaces and
churches; labyrinthine backstreets, crammed with fish restaurants; the biggest opera house in Europe and
the hurly- burly, even near-chaos, of a city overflowing with culture and atmosphere.
Our visits include the glorious Norman Palatinate, the Cathedral, the Oratorios and Churches whose
sculptured interiors are among the finest in Europe.
DAY 7: We take our return flights back to London.
THIS 7-DAY TOUR DEPARTS: OUR HOTELS:
NUMBER IN PARTY:
THE PRICE OF THIS TOUR:
29th September 2015
The Stella Italia (the Best in Town) in Marsala and the Centrale Palace perfectly located in an 18th-century Palazzo in the heart of Palermo
12-18
£1,935 (Single supplement £190)
THE HEEL OF ITALY
8th - 14th October
We are delighted to announce an exciting new Tour exploring one of Italy’s hidden masterpieces: the Region
of Puglia. It is a region of stunning landscapes, inland and coastal, glorious Baroque towns and exquisite
villages, UNESCO World Heritage Sites (it has FOUR, no less), all still mercifully untouched by mass-tourism.
We divide our time between two places: Matera and Lecce. Both are fascinating towns, extraordinarily
beautiful in very different ways, packed with interest and history. From our bases, we explore the towns,
castles and monasteries that characterize Puglia, not forgetting its scenic interior and spectacular coastline.
DAY 1: We fly to Bari and make for our home for three nights: the Montecale in Matera. Matera is a very
special place indeed: perhaps the only town of any size in Europe where people have been living in the same
houses for over 9000 years (really!). These are the Sassi, of course, pre-historic dwellings still habited.
Matera’s astonishingly ancient appearance has made it a natural film set and was used by Passolini in his
‘Gospel According to St Matthew’ and Mel Gibson’s ‘The Passion of the Christ’. We shall find time to watch
these two films.
DAYS 2&3: Our excursions from Matera take us to Alberobello, also UNESCO World Heritage because of its
unique and picturesque Trulli Houses, and on to the lovely coastal town of Monopoli, where, among other
sites, we shall visit the monumental Castle of Charles V. We complete our excursion driving up the stunning
coast road towards Bari.
DAY 4: Moving on to Lecce; our route takes us across the ‘heel’ to Brindisi where we pause for lunch and
to visit its Norman and Aragonese Castles and its interesting Romanesque churches. Our destination is the
charming Grand Hotel di Lecce in the heart of this outstanding Baroque town.
DAYS 5 & 6: Lecce is a fine city. It has such a wealth of Renaissance buildings (sacred and secular) that it is
known as the ‘Florence of the South’. On Day 6 we travel out to the tip of the Peninsula where the Ionian Sea
meets the Adriatic and the historic city of Otranto.
DAY 7: We travel up to Bari for our return flight.
THIS 7-DAY TOUR DEPARTS:
OUR HOTELS:
NUMBER IN PARTY:
THE PRICE OF THIS TOUR:
8th October 2015
The Montecale in Matera and the Catedrale in Lecce
14-18
£1,935 (Single supplement £190)
A TALE OF THREE BATTLES
19th - 24th October
Special Events merit special Tours - I hope this one meets this requirement!
2015 is the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo; it is also the 600th Anniversary of Agincourt and,
of course, we are currently marking the 100th Anniversary of the Great War, August 2014 witnessing the
Battle of Mons. Three eras, three legendary Battles.
We visit the three battlefields, led by our friend, the doyen of battlefield guides, Colonel Peter Knox. His
descriptions, based in part on moving eye-witness accounts, will bring these world-changing conflicts to life.
The Tour begins with three nights in the Hotel Le Coté Vert in Waterloo, perfectly located opposite
Wellington’s headquarters. During our two days in Waterloo, as well as visiting the battlefield, we shall also
travel to the crossroads at Quatre Bras to understand the preamble to the battle and to Lygny and the site
of the last victory of Napoleon’s career. We shall watch the excellent Hollywood epic ‘Waterloo’, Rod Steiger
appropriately tortured as Napoleon and Christopher Plummer wonderfully and aristocratically arrogant as
Wellington. The historical content of the film is not quite the equal of the acting as Peter Knox will delight
in pointing out.
We spend Day 4 at Mons, scene of the first major encounter between the British and German Armies in 1914
and then drive on to Busnes and the Hotel Chateau de Beaulieu, home of the illiustrious chef Marc Meurin.
The second part of the Tour will be immeasurably enhanced by two nights in the wonderful Hotel and by the
Cuisine of its great chef. We shall take two contrasting dinners in his 2-star Michelin Restaurant
The Hotel Chateau de Beaulieu is 20 kilometres from the Battlefield of Agincourt, (normally spelt Azincourt
in French), where we shall spend most of Day 5. 600 years have past but the Battle of Agincourt still holds
a special place in our perception of medieval history. This is thanks in part to Shakespeare’s incomparable
play, of course, and our visit to the Battlefield will be accompanied by a showing of the best cinematic
version of ‘Henry V’: that of Kenneth Branagh. Discuss.
On Day 6 we return to Lille for our train back to London.
THIS 6-DAY TOUR DEPARTS:
OUR HOTELS:
NUMBER IN PARTY:
THE PRICE OF THIS TOUR: 19th October 2015
The excellent Coté Vert in Waterloo
The wonderful Chateau de Beaulieu in Busnes.
12-16
£1,895 (Single supplement £190)
GRANADA AND ALMERIA
29th October – 4th November
We are delighted to announce a completely new Tour to two cities and two provinces that are over-flowing
with natural and man-made interest and beauty. We divide our time between two utterly different locations:
the great city of Granada and Natural Park of Cabo de Gata. Between the two lie the Alpujarras, one of
Spain’s most beautiful natural regions, the city of Almeria and the coastal landscapes of the Natural Park of
Cabo de Gata.
Flying into Malaga we drive up to Granada where we are to spend the first three nights, surrounded by
some of the most famous and beautiful buildings in the world; no words can do justice to the glory of the
Alhambra which remains the most beautiful complex of Medieval buildings in the Western World.
After Granada we can savour an amazing variety of landscapes: mountainous, coastal and desert. We visit
charming hill-top villages, Moorish and Renaissance castles. We spend a day in the provincial capital, talk
about the Spanish Civil War,visit the village where Lorca was inspired to write his most famous play and the
haunting locations for Sergio Leone’s famous Westerns.
DAYS 1, 2 & 3: Granada is one of the very few places where ones expectations, however high are always
exceded by the reality. The fortified citadel, the palaces of the last ruling Moorish dynasty and their gardens
represent the culmination of Moslem art and architecure in the Iberian Peninsula. And there is a lot more
to Granada: the burial place of the Catholic Monarchs in the Royal Chapel, the vast Renaissance catedral,
the great Baroque monasteries. We shall visit the house where Manuel de Falla lived and the house where
Federico Garcia Lorca was arrested.
DAY 4: Leaving Granada we drive through the Alpujarras, the mountains that Granada shares with Almeria.
Travelling around, one is struck that little has changed since Gerald Brenan immortalized the Region in ‘South
from Granada’.
Almeria is a city with a long history. Its Moorish period is represented by the imposing and beautifully
preserved Kasbah; the Middle Ages, by the Cathedral and Old Quarter; the Modern Era by the many Modernist
buildings and intriguing examples of industrial architecture. During the Spanish Civil War, Almería was the
scene of many atrocious events which have left their mark on the modern city and add another layer to our
exploration and discussion. We spend three nights here .
DAYS 5 & 6: The Natural Park of the Cabo de Gata is a truly lovely place. We spend Day 5 in the company
of local experts who will guide us through the geology and wild-life and take us a a gentle walk. On Day 6
we travel up to Nijar where in the setting of a charming village we explore among other things the inspiration
for Lorca’s masterpiece ‘Blood Wedding’ and – on one of our more bizarre outings – travel to the relics of the
colourful film sets where Sergio Leone made his celebrated ‘Spaghetti Westerns’ (why ‘Spaghetti’?)
DAY 7: We take our return flight to London.
THIS 7-DAY TOUR DEPARTS: 29th October 2015
OUR HOTELS: In Granada the Hesperia, perfectly located in a 16th-century mansión
In Almeria, the Catedral.
NUMBER IN PARTY: 12-16
THE PRICE OF THIS TOUR:
£1,885 (Single supplement £175)
MARRAKECH AND THE DESERT
9th – 17th November
A Grand Tour if ever there was one! We start off in Marrakech at the Riad Amira Victoria (where else?) where
we enjoy a totally central location, exquisite Moroccan interior décor and the best food in Marrakech.
Marrakech always lives up to expectations, however, high. Guided by our dear friend Abdu (an inveterate
reader of Thomas Hardy, believe it or not), we explore all the corners of this remarkable city: the Museums,
the Palaces, the Medersas, the Souks, the most famous and exciting square in Africa ....
On Day 5 we set off for the Atlas Mountains. The incomparable journey takes us as far as Ouarzazate where
we stay in a superb hotel located in a traditionally-styled building. From there we visit the spectacular
village of Ait Ben Hadou, setting for many Hollywood movies from Lawrence of Arabia to Gladiator.
Day 6 sees us travel the 200 miles to Merzouga on the edge of the Sahara. There we stay in the Kasbah Hotel
Erg Chebbi. The ride through the desert and the dunes are unforgettable. After two nights in Merzouga we
start the return journey, pausing to take breath and enjoy a final, delicious Moroccan dinner in the Kasbah
in Ouazarzate.
THIS 9-DAY TOUR DEPARTS:
9th November 2015
OUR HOTELS: Riad Amira Victoria in Marrakech, Dar Chamaa in Ouarzazate Kasbah Mohayut in Merzouga.
NUMBER IN PARTY:
12-18
THE PRICE OF THIS TOUR:
£1925 (Single supplement £195)
CHEFCHAOUEN, THE RIF AND TANGIER
19th – 25th November
Join us for seven days in a beautiful and intriguing corner of North Africa. We start in Chefchaouen, one of
the most picturesque and alluring towns in Morocco. We spend three nights in the legendary Casa Hassan
which Rick Stein chose as the base for one of his journeys through Moroccan cuisine.
Chefchaouen is in what was until very recently a remote, even inaccesible Rif Mountain location. Westerns
entered the region at their peril! Today it is completely the opposite: nowhere is more welcoming and our
stay includes a day in the lovely landscapes of the Rif, lunch in a Berber villaje and an insight into Berber
culture.
From Chefchaouen we travel to the coast and spend the morning in Tetuan, erstwhile capital of Spanish
Morocco. This is a fascinating city perched on the edge of both Europe and Africa. The same could be said
of our second destination, Tangiers. This has always been a melting pot of cultures and its history goes back
over two thousand years.
Whilst in Tangiers we shall visit the Kasbah, built by Morocco’s greatest sultan, Moulay Ismael, and now
housing an excellent museum of Moroccan art; the Medina, one of the country’s biggest and liveliest; the
American Legation (the first diplomatic outpost of the United States) and the English Church and Cemetery.
We shall eat like kings in some of the best restaurants in the country (also featured by Rick Stein, if that’s
anything to go by!)
THIS 7-DAY TOUR DEPARTS:
OUR HOTELS: NUMBER IN PARTY:
THE PRICE OF THIS TOUR:
19th November 2015
Casa Hassan in Chefchaouen and Dar El Dasbah in Tangiers
12 - 16
£1,650 (Single supplement £165)
GASTRONOMIC GIRONA
1st – 5th December
Many years have passed since our last visit to the province of Girona and much has changed. We have
observed the unstoppable rise of a gentle local restaurant in Olot which now has two Michelin Stars and
represents the quintessence of the blend of innovation and tradition: we travel out to Les Cocs for lunch on
Day 2. We celebrate the faultless cuisine of Pedro Massana and travel out to the Marangels for the very best
of rural cooking.
On the Costa Brava, the great Carme Ruscalleda has continued to maintain the highest of standards as one
of Spain’s distinguished group of 3-Star Michelin chefs. We shall travel to Sant Pol for lunch on Day 3.
Girona itself is a fascinating and beautiful city with an extensive medieval quarter. Its majestic cathedral
is the widest in Spain and it boasts a clutch of splendid churches and monasteries. It has also preserved a
Jewish quarter and a Museum of Jewish life, unique in Catalonia.
We shall savour the new breed of tapas bars and visit one of the premier wineries of the Empordà, La Vinyeta.
In Figueres, we visit the extraordinary Dali Museum and take light lunch at Restaurante Durán, one of the
oldest in Spain and a flag-ship of Catalan cuisine.
Our home for this celebration of Catalan gastronomy will be the excellent Ciutat de Girona, perfectly located
in the heart of this lovely city.
THIS 5-DAY TOUR DEPARTS: OUR HOTEL: NUMBER IN PARTY:
THE PRICE OF THIS TOUR:
1st December 2015
The Ciutat de Girona
12-16
£1,645 (Single supplement £160)
GENERAL INFORMATION
THE RANGE OF OUR TOURS GIVES ENORMOUS FREEDOM OF CHOICE. Clients can choose to
spend the week based in one hotel from which daily excursions will be made or to embark on a grand
journey, staying in two, three or more locations. Most tours contain some rural elements, and when
appropriate we time our visits to coincide with the best of the flowers and the wildlife or the autumn
colours.
Scheduled FLIGHTS or HIGH SPEED TRAIN from the UK, ALL travel in Spain, excellent hotels, ALL
meals (breakfast, snack or picnic lunch, dinner), DRINKS AND WINE with the meals, ALL excursions
and the round-the-clock services of Chris, Moses and the team are INCLUDED IN THE PRICE. This
alone makes Christopher Pollard Tours unique!
HOTELS VARY IN STYLE AND SIZE: we choose them for their character and location. Rooms are
always en-suite, of course. Our chosen restaurants offer the best of local cuisine: wine is always
served with meals and is often a style and a vintage of high quality.
EVERYTHING IS ORGANISED FOR YOU – the best available flights, the most appropriate
accommodation, the most rewarding excursions, the best picnic spots and restaurants – you can
relax and enjoy everything without any of the hassles associated with travelling independently.
OUR SINGLE SUPPLEMENTS SIMPLY REFLECT THE CHARGES MADE BY THE HOTELS. It is
regrettable but true that it is more expensive to travel singly than à deux. This is entirely because of
the price of hotel rooms; a ‘single’ is always far more expensive than half a double. Our single clients
normally have a double for single occupancy, there is no limit to the number of singles available and
our single supplements are significantly lower than those of ANY OTHER comparable tour organizer.
THE ATMOSPHERE OF OUR TOURS IS THAT OF A PARTY OF FRIENDS TRAVELLING TOGETHER!
OUR TOURS ARE METICULOUSLY PLANNED from beginning to end and clients can embark on each
adventure in the certain knowledge that they will be guided, entertained, instructed and cossetted
by leaders who really do know what they’re doing. Every tour is accompanied by Chris Pollard.
OUR TOURS REPESENT REMARKABLE VALUE FOR MONEY. In addition we have more or less frozen
prices for 2014. We never charge surcharges of any sort. Our prices compare very favourably with
those of similar tour organisers who rarely (if ever) offer genuinely all-inclusive holidays. Clients on
Pollard Tours are NEVER left to their own devices, for example, to find lunch OR dinner.
PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO CONTACT THE OFFICE SHOULD YOU REQUIRE ASSISTANCE OR
INFORMATION.
Susan Rose and her team are committed to making every aspect of your holiday problem free. Flights
are arranged by our ticketing agent, Sandra Williams (07767 201543). When available, flights from
regional airports can be arranged; these may attract a surcharge and it will be your responsibility to
meet up with the main group.
OUR TELEPHONE NUMBER IS 01823 286097. Outside office hours an answer phone service
is available. Our e-mail address is [email protected] and our website is www.
christopherpollardtours.com
CLIENTS ON POLLARD TOURS ARE PROTECTED BY OUR ATOL BOND number 10256
BOOKING CONDITIONS 2015
1. To make a booking please send the booking form to us duly completed with a deposit of £200 per person.
Cheques should be made payable to CHRISTOPHER POLLARD TOURS. Provisional bookings can be made by
telephone and will be held for one week.
2. The price does not contain holiday insurance. We recommend that you check your household policy or private
medical insurance. Marks & Spencer (telephone), 0800 683918; Boots the Chemist (0845 8402020) and the
Post Office (0845 7223344) all offer travel insurance policies. For passengers with an existing medical condition
All Clear Plus (0845 2505350) should be contacted.
3. We purchase return scheduled air tickets for our clients. These tickets are fully pre-paid and are dispatched to
the client before the balance of payment is due. Eight weeks before departure we shall send you your air tickets,
full travel details and other practical information. You will then let us have the balance of payment.
4 .On certain tours is it possible for clients to fly from local airports and these flights can be arranged but clients
should be aware that they often involve a small surcharge and that it is their responsibility to ensure that they
are at the airport in time to meet up with the incoming group. On occasions this might involve an overnight stay
at the destination, at their expense.
5. Everything is done to provide tours as detailed but we may have to modify or cancel them up to 8 weeks
before departure. After that date changes will only occur as a result of circumstances beyond ourcontrol or
force majeure. Should alternative arrangements of comparable standards not be acceptable, weshall make a full
refund.
6. Every booking is accepted subject to the standard terms and conditions imposed by the coach, shipping, hotel,
restaurant, insurance company, or any other companies, firms or persons involved.
7. CHRISTOPHER POLLARD TOURS accepts liability for any loss sustained as a direct result of the negligence of
one of its employees, but cannot accept liability for the actions of those concerned with any
aspect of your holiday over whom we have no direct control, or who is not employed by us.
8. All the elements in the tour are included in the price: that is, scheduled air ticket, all transport during the tour,
hotel, all meals, all entrance fees, all itineraries, the services of Chris Pollard and his staff.
Occasional coffees and drinks outside mealtimes are not included.
9. The air holiday packages in this brochure are ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority. Our ATOL number
is 10256. ATOL protection does not apply to all holiday and travel services in this brochure. Please ask us to
confirm what protection may apply to your booking.
10. Your Financial Protection
When you buy an ATOL protected flight or flight inclusive holiday from us you will receive an ATOL Certificate.
This lists what is financially protected, where you can get information on what this means for you and who to
contact if things go wrong.
11. We, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL Certificate, will provide you with the services listedon the
ATOL Certificate (or a suitable alternative). In some cases, where neither we nor the supplier are ableto do so
for reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder may provide you with the services you have bought or a
suitable alternative (at no extra cost to you). You agree to accept that in those circumstances the alternative ATOL
holder will perform those obligations and you agree to pay any money outstanding to be paid by you under your
contract to that alternative ATOL holder. However, you also agree that in some cases it will not be possible to
appoint an alternative ATOL holder, in which case you will be entitled to make a claim under the ATOL scheme
(or your credit card issuer where applicable).
12. If we, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL certificate, are unable to provide the services listed (or a
suitable alternative, through an alternative ATOL holder or otherwise) for reasons of insolvency, the Trustees of
the Air Travel Trust may make a payment to (or confer a benefit on) you under the ATOL scheme. You agree that
in return for such a payment or benefit you assign absolutely to those Trustees any claims which you have or may
have arising out of or relating to the non-provision of the services, including any claim against us, the travel agent
(or your credit card issuer where applicable). You also agree that any such claims may be re-assigned to another
body, if that other body has paid sums you have claimed under the ATOL scheme.
13. Cancellation of Booking must be in writing and, regrettably, will mean the retention of some of the total tour
price to cover expenses already incurred by us. If reasons for cancellation are covered by holiday insurance,
claims for refund should be submitted to the insurance company.
Cancellation of booking received:
60 days or more before departure - deposit retained
29 – 59 days before departure - 30% of total price retained
15 – 28 days before departure - 50% of total price retained
3 – 14 days before departure - 75% of total price retained
48 hours before departure or later - 100% of total price retained
CHRISTOPHER
POLLARD
TOURS
Prioryfield House, 20 Canon Street, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 1SW
Tel: 01823 286 097