California Coast

Nine days San Francisco to San Diego
San Francisco, Monterey, Santa Barbara, Long Beach, San Diego.

Travel down California's beautiful and rugged coastline, starting in cosmopolitan San Francisco. Take in the artistic town of Carmel, the celebrated 17-Mile Drive and Monterey Bay Aquarium before a visit to the opulent Hearst Castle en route to Spanish-influenced Santa Barabara and Los Angeles. Continue for a stay in Long Beach where you will enjoy dinner aboard the Queen Mary and take a cruise across to Catalina Island, then keep on southwards to San Juan Capistrano Mission and San Diego with a farewell sunset cruise as a finale to this classic American tour.

Tour INSIDE VISITS and SPECIAL FEATURES are shown in UPPERCASE and include admission charges where applicable.

Tour Itinerary

DAY 1 - SAN FRANCISCO

Arrive in San Francisco and meet your tour director and fellow travellers at an evening WELCOME RECEPTION, where you will also learn more about your forthcoming California Coast tour. (WR)

DAY 2 - SAN FRANCISCO

Spend the morning sightseeing one of America's favourite cities, famous for the Golden Gate Bridge stretching across its natural harbour, historic cable cars, lively streetlife and its bustling harbourside. Your city tour includes Golden Gate Park, Nob Hill, Twin Peaks and more, ending at Fisherman's Wharf to take lunch overlooking the bay. The afternoon is free to explore more - shop in Union Square, visit Chinatown, or maybe take the ferry across to Alcatraz island. (B,L)

DAY 3 - SAN FRANCISCO-CARMEL-MONTEREY

Strike out south to the ruggedly beautiful Monterey Peninsula, and stop on the way in Carmel, a quaint seaside artists' colony, before travelling down the celebrated 17-MILE DRIVE to Monterey itself. On the way you will see Pebble Beach Golf Links, one of the world's most beautiful and exclusive courses, plus views of the tenacious Lone Cypress. Monterey Bay is surrounded by a deep ocean canyon harbouring a rich variety of life. You can explore this hidden world at the MONTEREY BAY AQUARIUM, the USA's largest marine sanctuary. The bay's habitats are recreated here, and you can see everything from shallow tide pools to glimpses of the deep sea. (B)

DAY 4 - MONTEREY-SAN SIMEON-SANTA BARBARA

Journey onwards to San Simeon for a visit to HEARST CASTLE, the luxurious mansion built by newspaper tycoon William Randolph Hearst. It houses hundreds of art treasures and antiques purchased for around $50 million. You will also see highlights of the 123-acre estate before driving on through the Santa Ynez Mountains to reach Santa Barbara, where you will stay in a resort hotel for the night. (B,D)

DAY 5 - SANTA BARBARA - LOS ANGELES - LONG BEACH

Free morning to enjoy oceeanfront Santa Barbara. Take the trolleycar, relax by the pool, rent a bicycle and cruise the seafront, visit Stearns Wharf or discover some of the city's Spanish heritage, like the 18th century Mission. From Santa Barbara drive down the coast via Malibu and Santa Monica, passing opulent celebrity homes, as you approach Los Angeles, the film capital of the world. Tour the City of Angels, taking in Hollywood and Beverly Hills. Step onboard the RMS QUEEN MARY in the evening for dinner and overnight in Long Beach. (B,D)

DAY 6 - LONG BEACH. CRUISE TO CATALINA ISLAND

CRUISE across the San Pedro Channel for the 26-mile journey to CATALINA ISLAND, a haunt of the rich and famous in the 1930s and 40s and still a laid-back destination, with the Mediterranean-like port of Avalon lined with quaint streets and restaurants. Head back to Long Beach after lunch, and in the evening you could take a stroll down the harbourside at Shoreline Village, with its boutiques, speciality stores and boardwalk entertainment. (B)

DAY 7 - LONG BEACH-SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO-SAN DIEGO

MOve further south along the coastal highway to stop in San Juan Capistrano for a visit to the 18th century Spanish MISSION, with its peaceful cloisters and crumbling old adobe buildings. Then continue into San Diego to take a sightseeing tour of this Spanish-influenced city. (B)

DAY 8 - SAN DIEGO. CHOOSE YOUR EXPERIENCE

Choose how to spend your day, with the GLOBUS PLATINUM CHOOSE YOUR EXPERIENCE day. Choices include a visit to SAN DIEGO ZOO, one of the world's leading zoological parks, or a trip to SEAWORLD. In the evening join your tour director and fellow guests for a FAREWELL DINNER CRUISE round San Diego Harbour, with wonderful views, gourmet cuisine, dancing and a spectacular sunset. (B,D)

DAY 9 - SAN DIEGO

Airport transfers are provided for your return journey. (B)

Departure Dates & Prices

Dates	Twin Per Person	Single Supplement	Triple Reduction
11/04/2008	€1,469	€575	€108
25/04/2008	€1,469	€575	€108
09/05/2008	€1,469	€575	€108
13/06/2008	€1,482	€575	€108
27/06/2008	€1,482	€575	€108
18/07/2008	€1,482	€575	€108
01/08/2008	€1,482	€575	€108
15/08/2008	€1,482	€575	€108
05/09/2008	€1,469	€575	€108
19/09/2008	€1,469	€575	€108
03/10/2008	€1,469	€575	€108
17/10/2008	€1,469	€575	€108
All prices shown are for tour only and subject to availability. Please call to ask for a full package inclusive of airfares.
Pre/Post Tour overnights are also available and rail/cruise upgrades can be quoted where applicable

Included Highlights

• SAN FRANCISCO: Welcome reception, city sightseeing tour
• MONTEREY: 17-Mile Drive, Monterey Bay Aquarium
• SAN SIMEON: Hearst Castle
• LOS ANGELES/HOLLYWOOD: City sightseeing tour
• LONG BEACH: Catalina Island cruise and tour, dinner on the RMS Queen Mary
• SAN JUAN CAPISTRANO: Visit the Mission
• SAN DIEGO: Choose Your Experience, city sightseeing tour, Farewell Celebration Dinner cruise

Included Meals

Daily American breakfast (B), one lunch (L), three dinners (D)

Superior Hotels

SAN FRANCISCO Omni San Francisco, MONTEREY Monterey Marriott, SANTA BARBARA Fess Parker's Doubletree Resort, LONG BEACH Renaissance Long Beach, SAN DIEGO Westin.