Save $100 per person on  select Fall Foliage vacations.*

From the blazing glow of the golden Aspens to the varying shades of orange, red and purple in New England, fall colors shuffle in the beginning of the fall season. You can choose from one of two Cosmos New England tours that allow you to experience this beautiful time of the year in full color. And if you book your Cosmos Fall Foliage vacation before October 31, you will save $100 per person on select departures.*

New England Traditions

10 days from New York City to New York City

Charming New England comes to life on this scenic and historic vacation. Start your trip in New York City, then travel to Newport, Rhode Island, home to magnificent mansions, skilled sailing, and fresh seafood. Continue to Plymouth, Massachusetts, for two overnights and plenty of time to sightsee. Visit Plimoth Plantation, where costumed interpreters portray the early 17th-century lifestyle of the Pilgrims, and see Plymouth Rock, the spot where the Pilgrims landed in 1620. A major highlight in Plymouth is a whale-watching expedition for dolphins as well as finback and humpback whales.

New England Traditions with Extended Stay in New York City

12 days from New York City to New York City

Enjoy a harbor cruise in Hyannis, the "Homeport of Cape Cod." Then travel to historic Boston for a sightseeing tour of Boston's major sights and free time, before spending an overnight in the oceanfront village of Ogunquit, Maine. Marvel at New England's glorious fall foliage as you travel to Lake Winnipesaukee for a scenic cruise and an overnight in Shelburne, New Hampshire. In Vermont, taste local maple syrup and sip fresh apple cider before boarding a ferry across Lake Champlain into New York. While in New York, visit Lake Placid, Saratoga, and Albany before traveling back to New York City for two nights and an orientation tour of New York City's most famous sights. From the historic sights to the scenic beauty, this vacation through New England is sure to delight.

More than one third of all people traveling with Cosmos tours are single or traveling alone.  To give you an alternative to the single room supplement, Cosmos accepts reservations on a "guaranteed share" basis.  Cosmos will charge the basic double rate, and match up singles of the same gender in twin-bedded rooms.  For mutual comfort, Cosmos does adopt a no-smoking policy. If no other traveler has booked on a "guaranteed share," basis, Cosmos will absorb the single room supplement, and that traveler will be accommodated in a single room at no charge.

"Guaranteed share," basis is unavailable on certain vacations.  For exceptions, please call us. 

For single travelers who prefer their own room, single accommodations can, of course be reserved.  Single room supplements are available from your tour specialist.

Indeed, it's that unforgettable culinary and wine experience that entices more than a 40 percent repeat visitor number from North America, a teasing combination of memorable flavors and aroma that can't be duplicated in even the most favorite Italian restaurant back home. Which is why Ricardo Strano, North American director of the Italian Government Tourist Board. is committed to marketing Italy in 2011 with the accent on wining and dining, combined with food and wine touring that introduces special cuisines and signature vineyards of familiar and lesser-known regions. "While Rome, Florence, Venice, Tuscany, and Amalfi are the familiar icons of Italy, the second- and fifth-time visitors look to expand their horizons with new sights and experiences." Reminding travelers that, "Near every great museum is a great restaurant."

In fact, he points out, Italy invented the "Slow Food" movement that focuses on locally grown, sustainably farmed products, giving visitors the opportunity to learn that, "discovering regional cuisines is a delightful and delicious way to understand that-as in fashion and lifestyle-high-quality and simplicity are the hallmarks of the special flavors of Italy."

Thankfully, for those travelers looking for that unforgettable culinary and wine adventure, there are abundant options for food and wine touring in Italy, including deluxe tours spiced with great restaurants, cooking classes for a half-day or a week, hiking and biking tours with routes to outdoor markets, specialty bakeries, olive mills, vineyards and wine cellars. Many experts, for example, consider the region of Emilia-Romagna to be a legendary gourmet center with such tasty towns as Bologna, Parma and Modena. Ristoranti, osterie and pizzerie are the dine-around menu when exploring Venice and vicinity, while Piedmont's wine-making traditions produce the world-renowned Barolo and Barbaresco wines.

Globus family of brands-Globus tours, Cosmos tours and Monograms vacations -offers a host of trips to Italy, some with an accent on dining, including Umbria's Treasures where clients will be able to sample this region's famous cuisine with its simple, yet flavorful ingredients, fresh fruits and vegetables, and high-quality olive oil, and nibble on Perugia's world-renowned chocolate delights. Or, for an emphasis on cooking classes, book with Chicago-based The International Kitchen, specialists in cooking classes and culinary vacations in 12 of Italy's 20 regions, including three different programs based in Bologna.

In 2006, all eyes were on Torino (Turin) as host city during the Winter Olympic Games, and again in 2011, this capital of the northern Piedmont region will be front and center when Italy celebrates the 150th anniversary of Italian Reunification. Celebrations and special events will take place nationwide, but Torino is the place the reunification movement was born. Today Torino is a dynamic center for industry (home to Fiat for one) and art-world-class is its Egyptian Museum & Galleria Sabauda, housing the fabulous collections of the House of Savoy. Take time out from touring for a cup of bicerin, Torino's signature blend of coffee and chocolate.

Talk to a tour specialist at Atlas Cruises & Tours about italy tours and expierence Flavors of Italy first hand.

"...discovering regional cuisines is a delightful and delicious way to understand that-as in fashion and lifestyle-high-quality and simplicity are the hallmarks of the special flavors of Italy."  Ricardo Strano, North American director of the Italian Government Tourist Board

By: Carla Hunt

The true value of your vacation is in the accurate detailed vacation description, on the websites and in the brochures, that is unusually specific and specifies accommodation, touring in deluxe coaches, sightseeing and included meals. The agenda for each day is spelled out with exactly what is included in the price. Sightseeing with local guides is clearly listed. Inside visits and special features are spelled out in UPPERCASE.

How hectic is my vacation going to be?

Globus Family of Brands offers over 400 vacations and while some are very leisurely paced other are hectic or medium paced. Typically, Panorama vacations covering more countries / cities in a short duration make a vacation quick paced and Regional Discoveries are medium to leisurely pace. Every vacation has a pace meter indicating it’s pace on the brochure & website.

How long will we be on the road everyday? How often does the coach stop enroute?

Driving time varies for each vacation. It depends on the itinerary and the driving distance is mentioned in the travel documents. You can also request this information in advance. When driving between cities, the coach stops after every 1 and a half to 2 hours at places where you can pick up a snack / meal and use washrooms. Most vacations do not include drives from one city to another everyday.

How early does one have to wake up on the vacations?

The wake-up call differs based on the type of vacation, the season when you are travelling, the city that you are in and even the weather. Wake up timings are not the same for each day and the Tour Director will advise you of these once the tour starts. Early starts offer the advantage of reaching sightseeing spots before the rush starts and this leaves you free the rest of the day giving you more time to enjoy the destination and to do as you please.

Can I get Indian / Vegetarian / Special cuisine on request while on tour?

Our vacations strive to introduce you to the authentic flavours so you can enjoy the destination in a deeper way. Therefore, meals included are usually local or continental. None of the vacations include Indian or other speciality Asian cuisine. Breakfast is included in most vacations, with the exception of Cosmos North America, though some of these vacations offer optional breakfasts that can be purchased at the time of booking the tour. Please request vegetarian meals with the Tour Director when on tour and this can usually be accommodated when requested in good time. When meals are not included, you may choose an Indian restaurant, on your own, in European and North American cities. In certain countries and regions such as National Parks of North America, it may be difficult to find Indian or occasionally even vegetarian food. The exact number of meals included on your tour is clearly specified on the itinerary and is different for each vacation.

Who will be my travel companions?

Our vacations are very popular worldwide and the demographic profile of travellers is varied. Your fellow travellers will include many nationalities including American, English, Canadian, Australian, Kiwi, Japanese, Thai, Indian and many others. They are usually of varied ages and professional backgrounds. This is a wonderful opportunity to make friends from people across the world.

Are prices published in the brochure / on the website guaranteed?

Prices quoted in the brochure / website are based on rates and taxes – including all important foreign exchange rates – known at the time of costing. They are subject to increase without notice if rates or taxes change substantially & current price will be confirmed at the time you book your vacation. Once we receive your deposit, the land price is guaranteed. 2010 prices and itineraries are subject to change.

Do vacation prices include tips to Tour Directors, Drivers & Local Guides?

It is customary worldwide to pay tips to Tour Directors and Drivers on all international vacations. Gratuity is automatically added to the tour price on the majority of our tours and river cruises at the time of booking so you don't have to budget for this at the end of the tour. To know if the gratuity will be added and the exact amount of gratuity you are paying, please refer to the price box for your chosen vacation. You will receive Gratuity vouchers with your travel documents and all you need to do is give this to the Tour Director and driver or Cruise Director and ship's crew at the end of the vacation. Gratuity is fully refundable if you need to cancel your tour for any reason. Tips for Local Guides are not included in this charge.

What is the difference between a twin-bedded room and a double room?

A double room is a room designed to accommodate two people, though not necessarily with two separate beds. A twin-bedded room has two separate beds of any size; this is what we usually reserve for our travelers.

What size is a triple room?

A triple room is the same size as a twin-bedded room. It will have beds to accommodate three people; however, we cannot guarantee that there will be three separate beds. If there are only two beds, a rollaway bed may be requested but also cannot be guaranteed.

How are optional tours booked?

The Tour Director / Local host / Cruise Director will go through the optional excursions for purchase while you are on tour. Approximate costs and descriptions of possible optional tours are mentioned on our websites and in the travel documents to enable you to budget for the same. They can be booked and paid for on tour only. Some optional tours mentioned in your travel documents may not operate due to weather, minimum participation, and other operational reasons.

When will I receive my travel documents?

Travel Documents are sent approximately two to three weeks prior to departure, provided full payment has been received. If available, a service charge per reservation is added for documents requested in advance.

What airline can I fly? Is the arrival and departure transfer arranged for all vacations?

You may fly any airline of choice based on what is recommended by your travel agent and that suits the dates of your travel. Airport transfers may be purchased on all land-only reservations provided the arrival and departure timings are within the scheduled airport transfer times as specified for the particular vacation. The timings can be checked by your travel agent. Transfers are not available for non-brochure dates but can be arranged if purchased with pre/post nites. Transfers cannot be provided if joining late or leaving early. Your travel agent will be able to provide you with information on availability and prices of transfers at the time of booking. Transfers will be provided only if confirmed by Globus Family of brands. Transfers will be provided only if confirmed by Globus family of brands. Look for confirmation of your transfer in the travel documents.

Why Cosmos tours?

• Great value: complete travel packages including hotel, transportation, sightseeing, and a professional Tour Director for as low as $75 a day.
• Visits to major and must-see sights included in the vacation price.
• Expert Tour Directors share their unique stories and knowledge of destinations.
• Well chosen, pre-selected hotels so you can relax in a comfortable, clean, and attractive environment.
• Optional excursions at an unbeatable value—diverse enough for unique interests, and all reasonably priced.
• A dynamic blend of transportation including first-class motorcoach, rail, air, and cruise—we make getting there part of the fun.
• Many meals included in the package price for a great value, plus the freedom to experience the local fare as you wish.
• Plenty of leisure time to explore on your own or sit back and take it all in.
• More than 45 years experience showing people the world.
• Portage included—not handling your own bag really makes you feel like you are on vacation.
• Cosmos vacations are recommended by Budget Travel from renowned travel expert Arthur Frommer.
• Cosmos budget travel packages receive a 93 percent satisfaction rating on our customers’ post-vacation surveys.

Here is a wonderful blog and review from one of our clients who recently experienced a Cosmos tour.