Download the full tour itinerary brochure here.
Passenger Contract
Vassar Sicily: Meeting of Worlds (October 20*-31, 2026) *tour begins Oct 21 in Palermo
NB: these Terms and Conditions may be downloaded here.
GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
This tour is organized by The Grand Tour Travel Company [TGT] of Peterborough, NH. “Tour Sponsor” below refers to VASSAR
Tour Cost:
The cost of the tour is $8,975 per person, ground only, based on double-occupancy, and a minimum of 18 persons.
Single supplement cost: $1,575. A portion of the proceeds benefit VASSAR.
Tour Cost includes:
• Deluxe accommodations at Grand Hotel Wagner in Palermo (4 nights), Hotel Baglio Oneto outside Marsala (2 nights), and Palazzo Artemide in Syracuse (3 nights)
• Guided tours with expert private guides of top historic sites in Palermo, Syracuse, and elsewhere in Sicily, including the Cappella Palatina, the Cathedrals of Monreale, Cefalù, and Syracuse, the archaeological park of Selinunte, the Villa Romana del Casale, and the Whitaker Museum
• Guided excursions to the town of Cefalù, the island of Mozia, and the town of Noto
• Sunset cruise in the Syracuse harbor
• Breakfast daily, 7 lunches and 3 dinners
• Travel by private air-conditioned motorcoach on all excursions
Tour Cost does not include:
• Single supplement of $1,575
• Travel to and from Europe
• Meals and alcoholic beverages not offered as part of the tour
• Activities not offered as part of tour
• Tips for hotel room cleaning personnel
• Personal expenses and purchases
• Personal travel insurance
Tour Deposit:
The deposit for the tour is $1,000 per person, and is first come, first served. $500 of the deposit is nonrefundable. NB: in order to reserve a spot on this tour, deposits must be submitted at the time of registration. Once you have completed and submitted the registration form online, return to the Travel Portal page on TGT’s website and follow the instructions for making your deposit. Alternatively, you may call the TGT office (800) 727-2995 and pay your deposit by credit card over the phone, or mail payment to:
Vassar Sicily: Meeting of Worlds / The Grand Tour
PO Box 274
Peterborough, NH 03458
Upon receipt of the registration form and deposit, The Grand Tour will send a letter of confirmation and travel insurance information. Additional items of interest will be mailed to the participants prior to departure. Please note that tour participation is limited to 25 participants or as hotel space allows.
Final Payment:
The final payment must be received by the Tour Sponsor or The Grand Tour by Friday, August 21, 2026
Rates:
Prices could increase due to below minimum participation. Participants will be notified of any such price increase at least 30 days prior to departure.
Cancellations:Â
You are entitled to a full refund if the tour is canceled by the Tour Sponsor or The Grand Tour (TGT). If you should cancel, there is a non-refundable $500 fee. The remaining balance will be refunded according to the following schedule:
Before Aug 22, 2026: 100% after $500 is deducted
Aug 22-Sept 4, 2026: 50% after $500 is deducted
Sept 5-18, 2026: 25% after $500 is deducted
After Sept 18: 0%
Notice of withdrawal from the tour must be communicated to The Grand Tour by e-mail: info@thegrandtour.com. All cancellations will be confirmed by The Grand Tour. No refund will be given for any passenger who, for any reason, does not arrive for either airline or vehicle departure. No refund will be made for features the passenger opts not to use. Once travel begins, any change made by a passenger is the responsibility of the passenger. Cancellation penalties caused by accident or illness to a passenger do not constitute waiver of applicable fees. Refunds will be processed within 90 days of receipt of cancellation notice. No person outside the group may participate in tour activities, including transportation and meals, unless he or she is admitted under the full tour cost.
Itinerary or Program Modifications:
While every effort will be made to adhere to the tour itinerary as planned, the Tour Sponsor and THE GRAND TOUR reserve the right to modify the itinerary or programs at their discretion as warranted by circumstances at the time of the tour, including the right to substitute hotels of similar quality. In the event of any changes, the Tour Sponsor and TGT will work to substitute programs of comparable value.
Accommodations:
Hotels are chosen for comfort, location and character. Because some may be located in historic buildings, please be advised that not all rooms are alike and may differ in size. Specific room assignments are within the sole discretion of the hotel.
Transportation:
Participants are responsible for booking all air travel. Airport transfers, when offered as part of the tour, are arranged only for those travelers arriving and departing on TGT-recommended flights. All other participants will be responsible for meeting up with the group in the destination city and for any fees incurred by these arrangements. Neither the Tour Sponsor nor The Grand Tour is responsible for any expenses and/or damages incurred due to weather and/or flight delays. Any additional costs incurred outside of the set guidelines will be the sole financial responsibility of the traveler.
Travel Insurance:
As cancellation fees are strictly enforced, we strongly recommend for your protection that you purchase trip cancellation insurance. Travel insurance is also highly recommended in order to protect participants who must cancel or interrupt their trip due to illness or injury. Trip cancellation insurance is available, and information will be sent after your reservation is received.
Responsibility:
The Grand Tour Travel Company, LLC, and the Tour Sponsor and its and their employees, shareholders, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, and directors or trustees do not own or operate any entity which is to or does provide goods or services for your program including, for example, lodging facilities, airline, vessel, or other transportation companies, guides or guide services, local ground operators, providers or organizers of optional excursions, food service or entertainment providers, etc. All such persons and entities are independent contractors. As a result, The Grand Tour and the Tour Sponsor are not liable for any negligent or willful act, failure to act, financial failure or other defaults of any such person, entity, supplier or any other third party. In addition and without limitation, The Grand Tour and the Tour Sponsor are not responsible for any injury, financial or other loss, death, inconvenience, delay, or damage to person or property in connection with the provision of any goods or services whether resulting from, but not limited to, “acts of God” or force majeure, such as regarding the Covid-19 virus, acts or orders of government, denial or delay of entry into any country, acts of war or civil unrest, insurrection or revolt, bites from or attacks by animals, insects or pests, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind or the threat thereof, sickness, illness, epidemics or the threat thereof, quarantine, the lack of availability of or access to medical attention or the quality thereof, mechanical or other failure of airplanes, vessels or other means of transportation, or for any failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart timely or safely.
Further, you release The Grand Tour and the Tour Sponsor from its own negligence and assume all risk thereof. If due to weather, flight schedules or other uncontrollable factors, you are required to spend an additional night(s), you will be responsible for your own hotel, transfers and meal costs. Further, the Tour Sponsor and The Grand Tour shall not be responsible for losses or additional expenses of the participant due to sickness, weather, flight schedules or other uncontrollable factors, strife, civil unrest, acts of terrorism, quarantine, “acts of God,” loss of baggage, or other causes beyond their control. Neither the Tour Sponsor nor The Grand Tour is responsible for any expenses incurred regarding the Covid-19 virus, including but not limited to medical expenses, testing fees, quarantine, evacuation expenses, added air or hotel expense, etc., as a result thereof. Under no circumstances is The Grand Tour obligated to refund the cost of any purchased travel insurance. The Grand Tour is not required to cancel any program for any reason including without limitation, United States Department of State, Centers for Disease Control, World Health Organization or other Warnings or Advisories of any kind. The Grand Tour is not responsible for fees assessed by air carriers resulting from operational and/or itinerary changes, even if The Grand Tour makes the flight arrangements or cancels the program. The Grand Tour reserves the right to substitute vessels, hotels or attractions of a similar category for those listed in the brochure.
Miscellaneous:
The Grand Tour reserves the right to decline to accept or to retain any person as a member of the tour should the person’s health, actions, or general deportment impede the operation of the tour or the rights or welfare of the other participants. No refund will be made for any unused portion of the tour.
Forum:
Any dispute regarding these terms and conditions or the trip itself must be brought only in courts in and for Peterborough, New Hampshire. For this specific purpose, the parties agree to personal jurisdiction and proper venue in such courts.
The Grand Tour Travel Company
800-727-2995 | info@thegrandtour.com
Contact The Grand Tour Travel Company at (800) 727-2995 or info@thegrandtour.com
Coming soon!
