Q. Do I still need personal travel insurance before traveling with Jackdaw Journeys?
A. Yes, you still need personal travel insurance before embarking on a Jackdaw Journeys tour. We recommend checking with your airline for suggestions or investigating agencies (for example, SquareMouth, AARP or AAA) online for travel insurance companies that provide policies stating, “Cancel for any reason.”
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- Cancellation due to government imposed Covid-19 restrictions: Customers who register and reserve a trip with a deposit are entitled to a full refund if, due to Covid-19-related travel restrictions imposed by the relevant government authorities in your home country or in the trip destination country, the trip is cancelled.
- Cancellation by you for all other situations: Because of our up-front costs organizing the trip and pre-paying hotels, transportation cost and other vendors, we can not give you a refund if your plans change or you are unable to travel because of health issues, work, financial hardship or family commitments.
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Travel insurance is the only mechanism that can reimburse you if you are unable to join the trip.
As outlined above you need a policy that states “cancel for any reason.”
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- When you purchase trip cancellation insurance, obtain sufficient insurance to cover the total trip cost plus, your airfare and any other expenses.
- Cancellation by us: If we have to cancel a trip for a reason unrelated to a Covid-19 government restriction we will offer you the option of joining us on a rescheduled trip at a later time or you will receive a refund.
- Jackdaw Journeys does not accept responsibility for loss of or damage to baggage or loss of any of the guest belongings.
- In addition, it shall be the participant’s responsibility to be at the designated pick up area at the airport on the designated date and time provided by Jackdaw Journeys, LLC, in advance, for transportation to the hotel.
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Q. What is your cancellation policy?
A. Travel insurance is the only mechanism that can reimburse you if you are unable to join the trip.
Because of our up-front costs organizing the trip and pre-paying hotels, transportation cost and other vendors, we can not give you a refund if your plans change or you are unable to travel because of health issues, work, financial hardship or family commitments.
When you purchase trip cancellation insurance, obtain sufficient insurance to cover the total trip cost plus, your airfare and any other expenses.
(also see Insurance FAQ above)
And that’s the second thing—there aren’t any coach buses. We travel in smaller, comfortable vehicles, allowing us to go far off the beaten path to places those large coach buses never could. Most notably, our tours are walking-intensive… exploring the magical charm of rarely seen villages and vistas—the heart and soul of Provence.
Our third distinguishing feature is that our tours aren’t structured rigidly, allowing ample options for spending time as you wish.
Next, our tours include options for French cooking classes with local top rated Chef —a richly rewarding experience.
Last and far from least, and in addition to touring Provence, our Guests are also treated to the French Riviera—adding extraordinary value to an already incredible trip of a lifetime.
A. First of all, you’ll NEVER have to wear a name tag around your neck.
Your Jackdaw Journeys experience begins with your own complimentary branded market bag.
Jackdaw Journeys was founded and is run by a single owner, Dee Poquette—who also happens to be your Personal Tour Guide for the entire trip. Additionally, Dee is easily reached to answer any of your questions before, during and after your trip.
And while our itinerary involves different locations, we tour in utterly unique ways that give our Guests ADDED VALUE in the form of exposure to less traveled destinations and pleasures—from quaint villages to charming hotels, the French Riviera, a greater variety of authentic French foods and more.
And once again, due to our small size, you’ll NEVER waste precious moments or photo ops being herded on and off coach buses.
Licensed, comfortable Mercedes transportation (gas, tolls and parking included) for each destination and activity. This includes transfer from Nice airport to our first hotel upon your arrival to beautiful Southern France – all guests will be asked to arrive at the same time so we can coordinate the group pickup and kick off the tour together.
Accommodations (room + tax) for 9 nights through the duration of our tour. Incidentals are on own.
Breakfast each morning (10 days).
1 Welcome Meal included. This may be lunch or dinner depending on the itinerary.
Group tour of La Maison Godet Parfumeur in Saint Paul de Vence
1 Cookery class.
A walking food tour in the beautiful city of Aix-en-Provence.
Wine tasting in the sun kissed hills of Bandol.
Boat ride along the French Riviera.
Special Historical Guides based on itinerary and locations.
Priceless memories and new friends along the way.
Flights – Your flights to & from your home to Nice are not included in our tour package. We recommend using such online resources as kayak.com or hopper.com to search for the best flight costs. We’ve also found that flight searches on Tuesday nights are sometimes best for landing great deals!
Travel Insurance – We recommend travel insurance for all our Guests (see Insurance FAQ above). Important reminder: travel insurance that includes cancellation for ‘any reason’.
Any meals not specified in the “what’s included” section – We’ve designed our itinerary so that our Guests can experience Provence optimally. Some meals are included but for those that aren’t, the beauty of our tour is the flexibility to eat with the group, or do what suits you best. Our goal is for you to truly relax and rejuvenate, never feeling strapped to a rigid timeline or itinerary.
Your return transfer to Nice Airport – Some Guests decide to tack on a few extra days, while others may opt to leave on our last ‘official’ day. You Guide will arrange for your transportation back to the airport, depending on flight times and schedules—however, each Guest is responsible for paying for that transportation (if leaving from our last hotel in Nice, this cost is typically $15-$20/person,as we are only about 25-30 minutes away).
Travel Visa(s) – As new requirements are put in place a visa may be necessary. This is not included in the trip price.
Q. Who is your typical Guest, and where do they come from?
A. Our Guests include Francophiles, seasoned and first-time travelers, alike.
Jackdaw Journeys happens to be based in Connecticut, US, thus one might assume that our Guests come largely from the Tri-State Area of Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. However, our Guests hail from all over North America.
Jackdaw Journeys truly is an experience for the senses, set in magical Provence and The French Riviera. We hope you’ll join us, soon!