Prices and availability are subject to change at any time.
Exploring Rome on foot with Collette.Photo: ColletteA Note from Elisa
Hi there!
Thank you for your interest in Collette! I’ve gathered the most important details in one easy place, so you can see exactly what’s included, what you may want to add, and what to expect before, during, and after your tour.
Family-owned since 1918, Collette guides travelers around the world, with a local Tour Manager by your side from the first hotel to the last. Take a look through the sections below, and whenever you’re ready, I’d love to help you choose between a Classic tour, a small-group Exploration, or a Spotlight stay, and find the destination, season, and pace that fit you best.
Elisa RzymskiCertified Collette Specialist
The Guide
The Experience
What’s included, where you’ll stay, and how you’ll spend your days.
What’s Included
Thoughtfully Included
A Collette tour brings the planning together in one package, from hand-selected hotels and many of your meals to a local Tour Manager who travels with you from your first hotel to your last.
Here’s what you can look forward to on a Collette tour.
Imagine a jaunting car ride through Killarney, a castle stay in Ireland, and someone else minding every detail along the way.
A jaunting car ride in Killarney, on Shades of Ireland.Photo: Collette
Included on Collette Tours
A Tour Manager
A local expert who travels with your group from start to finish, part guide, part concierge, and part friend.
Local Guides
Insiders who join you in each destination and bring its history and character to life.
Hand-selected hotels
Collette chooses four-star and above hotels for comfort and location, including memorable stays such as a castle in Ireland.
Many of your meals
Breakfasts and a selection of other meals, listed on each tour page. Shades of Ireland, for example, includes 13 meals.
Sightseeing & cultural experiences
The must-see sights plus moments with local people, such as a sheepdog demonstration or a home-hosted meal.
Included choices
On select tours, Choice on Tour days let you pick between included experiences.
Transportation on tour
A motorcoach between destinations, plus local transportation where it suits the place, from trains to tuk-tuks.
Airport transfers with Collette air
Round-trip airport-to-hotel transfers when you purchase airfare through Collette.
Home-to-airport sedan service
On air-inclusive tours, a private car to and from the airport within 50 miles of more than 90 U.S. airport gateways. Not available on group travel.
24/7 support
Help around the clock if plans change, plus the Collette Compass app for your itinerary on the go.
Inclusions vary by tour and are set by Collette. Airfare, visas, gratuities, optional excursions, travel protection, and personal expenses are not included. Details: The Collette Difference
Elisa’s Tip
When you compare guided tours, look at the number of included meals, the hotel nights in each city, and the activity level, not only the price. Each Collette tour page lists all three, and I’m happy to compare them side by side for you.
Find Your Style
Classic, Explorations & Spotlights
Collette travelers in Acadia National Park, Maine.Photo: Collette
Collette offers several ways to travel on land, each with a Tour Manager, hand-selected hotels, and included experiences, at a different pace. Here’s a quick way to picture which one fits the trip you have in mind.
Collette Classic, Explorations and Spotlight tours compared
At a Glance
ClassicAll the iconic sights
ExplorationsSmall-group touring
SpotlightsCity stays & getaways
Group Size
Larger groups (Shades of Ireland averages 37 travelers, up to 44)
Small groups of no more than 24 travelers
Varies by tour (Spotlight on Tuscany averages 37)
Pace
Several hotels along the route, with the must-sees included
Off-the-beaten-path days and more time with locals
One hotel for the whole stay, with free time to explore
Signature
Iconic sights, castles and cultural evenings
Specialty tastings, chef-led demonstrations and Impact Moments
Easy day trips from a single home base
Best For
First visits and classic highlights
Curious travelers who love local connections
Unpacking once and settling in
Classic Tours
Collette’s flagship collection, from Ireland to Italy and beyond, with the iconic sights and plenty of included experiences.
Small Group Explorations
More than 50 journeys worldwide, with off-the-beaten-path adventures, authentic culinary experiences, and Impact Moments, visits to social enterprises and nonprofits that benefit the local community. Collette reports that all of its Explorations tours are carbon neutral.
Spotlights
City stays and quick getaways with a single hotel, such as a seven-night stay in Montecatini Terme on Spotlight on Tuscany, or several nights in New York City.
Faith Journeys
Pilgrimages and shrine tours, including Pilgrimage to Fatima and Lourdes, the Shrines of Italy, Ireland, and France, and Greece: In the Footsteps of Paul the Apostle.
Private Touring
Many Collette itineraries can run as a private tour for your own group, priced in tiers starting at 10 guests.
A village visit in Kenya.Photo: ColletteTime with a local guide in Morocco.Photo: Collette
This guide covers Collette’s land tours. Collette’s river cruises and ocean voyages have their own terms, and I’m happy to share details if one interests you. Details: Collette travel styles
Where You’ll Stay
Hand-Selected Hotels
Collette’s tour designers hand-select four-star and above hotels for each itinerary, chosen for comfort and convenience, and often for a location in the heart of the destination. Sometimes the hotel becomes a highlight of its own.
Hotels Travelers Remember
Cabra Castle Hotel in Ireland, on Shades of Ireland
Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise in Canada’s Banff National Park
The Hermitage Hotel beneath Aoraki / Mount Cook in New Zealand
Sumaq Machu Picchu Hotel in Peru
The Wallow Lodge, a tented camp near Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe
Cabra Castle Hotel, an overnight stay on Shades of Ireland.Photo: Collette
Good to Know About Rooms
Twin & Double Rooms
A twin-bedded room has two separate beds and is the type most often used. A double room may have a single larger bed instead.
Single Rooms
Single rooms are limited, offered first come, first served, and are often smaller.
Triple Rooms
A triple is the size of a twin room, with beds for three that may not be three separate beds.
Check-In
Check-in is usually late afternoon, so rooms may not be ready if you arrive early in the day.
Older & Historic Hotels
Rooms in some countries are smaller than in the United States, and some older properties may not have air conditioning.
Each tour page lists the hotels and the number of nights in each. Hotels are set by Collette and may change. Details: Collette accommodations
Your Days on Tour
Tour Managers, Local Guides & Free Time
A Collette group in the Vatican Museums, Rome.Photo: Collette
Collette describes its Tour Managers as part tour guide, part concierge, and part friend. Many have traveled with Collette for more than 20 years, and they’re locals in the places you’ll explore.
Your First Day
Your tour begins at your first hotel, where your Tour Manager will contact you with the details for the days ahead.
Local Guides
In each destination, local guides join your Tour Manager to share an insider’s view of the places they call home.
Free Time
Most tours balance included experiences with a free morning, afternoon, or evening to explore on your own.
Getting Around
A motorcoach is the main mode of travel, and Collette designs routes to spend as little time on it as possible, adding trains, trolleys, jeeps, or dog sleds where they fit.
Seat Rotation
Seats on the coach rotate under your Tour Manager’s direction, so everyone shares the best views.
The Collette Compass App
Your itinerary, flights, hotel and transfer details, and local tips, with most features working without Wi-Fi or data.
Activity Levels
Every Collette tour carries an activity level from 1 to 4, shown on its tour page. Here is roughly what each means:
Level 1: a leisurely pace, with walks of up to about 60 minutes and at least one flight of stairs
Level 2: a balanced pace, with two to three miles of walking a day, often on cobblestones or moderate hills
Level 3: an on-the-go pace, with walking and standing for two to three hours at a time and about four miles a day
Level 4: an active pace, with longer walks over uneven terrain and full days
Levels 3 and 4 are not a fit for travelers who use mobility devices. Pacing varies by itinerary, and I’ll help you find a tour that matches the way you like to travel.
A Taste of Every Region
Dining with Collette
Collette believes food is one of the best ways into a place. Included meals range from hotel breakfasts to dinners in local restaurants and, on some tours, in local homes, with free evenings to discover a favorite spot on your own.
A Taste of What’s Included
Cooking classes, such as a fresh pasta lesson in Italy
Tastings such as Irish whiskey, Tuscan wine and olive oil, and cheese where it is made
Home-hosted meals, such as a family dinner in New Zealand
Diner’s Choice on Shades of Ireland, where you pick from a selection of Killarney’s best restaurants
A cooking class in Kyoto, Japan.Photo: ColletteIrish coffees at the Kilbeggan distillery in Ireland.Photo: Collette
Elisa’s Pro Tip
Included meals often feature set menus that showcase local cuisine. Share any dietary needs or allergies with me when we book, and I’ll pass them to Collette. On tour, your Tour Manager is your best ally with each restaurant, though Collette can’t guarantee every request.
Alongside the famous sights, Collette weaves in moments with the people who call each place home. They’re often the part travelers talk about most.
Cultural Experiences
A sheepdog demonstration and a castle stay in Ireland
A visit to a Tuscan winery near Siena
A traditional tea ceremony with a local family in Japan
A visit to the Emberá village in Panama, by dugout canoe
A sheepdog demonstration in Ireland.Photo: Collette
Choice on Tour
On select days, you choose between included experiences, such as hanging bridges or a zip line in Costa Rica, a lava cave or the lava fields in Iceland, or Boone Hall Plantation or the USS Yorktown on Southern Charm.
Optional Excursions
Extra activities on many tours, at an additional cost. Most can be purchased ahead, up to 15 days before departure.
Price Guarantee
Optional excursions you purchase ahead keep their original price once your tour is paid in full.
Changing Your Mind
Collette refunds prepurchased options canceled before departure. Options canceled once your tour is underway are nonrefundable.
Lisbon’s Tower of Belém, on Sunny Portugal.Photo: Collette
Arrive a little early, linger a little longer, or pair two tours into one journey, all arranged around your Collette tour.
Ask Me About
Pre- and post-tour extensions on select tours, such as three nights in London before Shades of Ireland or three nights in Edinburgh after
Extra hotel nights before or after your tour
Airport transfers for those extra nights, available to purchase
Combining two tours, with one long-haul flight
Airfare through Collette, so your flights are protected if a tour date changes
Some extensions are hosted rather than escorted: a local host greets you on arrival and stays on call. Your Tour Manager is not available during extra hotel nights, so I’ll make sure you have everything you need for those days.
Extensions not purchased when you place your deposit are subject to availability. Some need a minimum number of travelers to operate.
The Guide
Savings & Rewards
Ways to save, from current offers to the Collette Passport Club.
Ways to Save
Current Offers & Savings
Collette offers limited-time savings throughout the year, often shown as an amount to save on select departures of each tour. An experienced advisor can make sure you receive the strongest value for your trip.
Early Booking
Reserve ahead for the best choice of tour, date, and room, often at the best price.
Seasonal Promotions
Limited-time savings and added value on select departures.
Solo Travelers
Reduced or waived single supplements on select departures, when available.
Groups & Celebrations
Special value for milestone trips and travel with family and friends.
Multi-Tour Savings
When you book two or more tours at the same time, Collette has offered 5% off the land price of each additional tour. I’ll check whether it applies to your dates.
Offers are capacity controlled and change often. Tell me who’s traveling and your target dates, and I’ll apply every offer and benefit you qualify for.
Welcome Back
The Collette Passport Club
Collette’s Passport Club rewards you after every completed tour, and the more you travel, the more you receive.
Adventurer (1 to 2 tours)
A loyalty credit of 5% of your last tour’s land price toward your next Collette tour, when you travel within 24 months, or 3% within 25 to 36 months.
Explorer (3 or more tours)
The same loyalty credit, plus a $100 credit toward extras such as extensions, extra nights, or optional excursions, and early word of new tours and offers.
A Say in New Tours
Explorer members also get the chance to help Collette choose and develop new itineraries.
The credit is based on the land portion of your last tour, less any discounts, and is applied before final payment on your next booking. It may combine with other offers and has no cash value. Details: Collette Passport Club
The Guide
Booking & Preparation
Deposits, travel protection, gratuities and the paperwork to have in order.
Booking with Confidence
Reserving Your Tour
Deposit & Final Payment
Collette asks for a nonrefundable deposit of $349 with a land-only reservation, or $698 with Collette air. The balance is due 90 days before departure, and bookings made within 90 days are paid in full. I’ll confirm the exact amounts and dates in writing before you commit.
Your land price is guaranteed once your deposit is received
Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover are accepted
A $25 handling fee applies to each change after booking
A change of departure date within 11 months of travel is treated as a cancellation
If Your Plans Change
Cancellation charges are a percentage of the land price and grow as departure approaches.
Collette cancellation charges for land tours
More than 90 days before
Deposit
90 to 16 days
40%
15 days to 1 day
75%
Day of departure or after
100%
Airfare is nonrefundable once paid in full. Collette’s Travel Protection Plan, described below, can refund these charges.
Collette’s Travel Protection Plan lets you cancel for any reason, up to 24 hours before departure, and receive a full refund, less the cost of the plan.
What to Know
It must be purchased at the time of booking, with your deposit
It also includes insurance benefits such as trip interruption, travel delay, baggage, and medical expenses
Pricing varies by tour and is quoted when you book
It covers canceling the whole tour package; partial cancellations carry their own fees
Instant Purchase airfare is refunded only for covered reasons, under the plan’s insurance benefits
Unless otherwise listed, all pricing is per person, based on two people sharing a room, specific to the tour, departure date, and room type quoted, and subject to availability at the time of booking.
Pricing Terms
Because Collette tours depart on set dates with limited space, prices and availability can change without notice. By booking, you agree to the supplier’s terms, available on its website.
Supplemental Charges
Tour operators reserve the right to add surcharges for items such as government taxes and fees. Additional fees may apply from Avoya Travel or the tour operator if a cancellation occurs.
Cancellation Policy
Please review Collette’s full cancellation policy before final payment, available in its Terms & Conditions.
Travel Protection
I recommend travel protection for every trip, and I’m happy to provide quotes so you can compare coverage before final payment.
If you ever need help with payments, or would like me to walk you through your options, I’m always here.
Thanking Your Tour Manager
Gratuities on Tour
A toast in the African bush, on safari with Collette.Photo: Collette
Gratuities are not included in Collette’s tour prices, and prepaid tipping is not available, so tips are given in person during your tour. Collette includes gratuity guidance in the final travel documents you’ll receive before departure.
Gratuities at a Glance
On TourTour Manager · Driver · Local Guides
In Your DocumentsCollette’s guidance · By destination
Your Tour Manager & Driver
Gratuities for your Tour Manager and primary motorcoach driver are customarily given at the end of the tour.
Local Guides & Hotel Staff
Gratuities for local guides and hotel housekeepers are customary as well, and your documents include Collette’s guidance.
Extensions & Extra Nights
Hosts and drivers on extensions and transfers work separately from your Tour Manager, and I’ll share local practices as we plan.
Gratuity practices are set by Collette and may change. I’ll confirm what’s customary for every part of your journey.
Before You Go
Preparing for Your Tour
Before You Go
In the months and weeks before departure, a few simple steps get you ready:
Review your tour’s activity level and the walking involved
Purchase any optional excursions at least 15 days before departure
Download the Collette Compass app, available to log in 45 days before departure
Confirm your sedan service or airport transfers if you’re flying with Collette
Pack comfortable walking shoes for cobblestones and uneven ground
Your first hotel’s address and phone number are in your final travel documents.
Helpful to Have Ready
A little preparation makes your first day effortless. Keep these details handy:
Passport details that match your reservation exactly
Flight and transfer information
Any dietary, medical, or accessibility needs, shared at booking
Emergency contact information
I’m glad to walk through every step with you.
Passports & Paperwork
Travel Documents & Entry Requirements
It is each traveler’s responsibility to carry proper documentation. Here’s what to have in order before you go.
Proof of Citizenship
A valid passport, valid at least 6 months beyond your travel dates, with at least 3 blank pages
Visas where required
Green cards or other immigration documents, as applicable
Authorization documentation when traveling with minors
Names on reservations must match your passport exactly.
REAL ID
Since May 2025, U.S. travelers need a REAL ID-compliant license or other accepted ID, such as a passport, for domestic flights and certain federal facilities.
Travel Visas
Collette does not process visas, so each traveler arranges any visa needed directly. Allow two weeks to two months, and verify requirements through CIBTvisas. I’ll confirm exactly what your itinerary needs.
ETIAS (Europe)
Europe’s new travel authorization for U.S. visitors is not yet in effect, and no launch date has been announced. I’ll let you know if it applies to your trip.
UK ETA
An Electronic Travel Authorisation is required for entry to the United Kingdom.
EU Entry/Exit System
Europe’s border system now registers non-EU visitors with fingerprints and a photo, so allow a little extra time at passport control on your first entry.
Travel Advisories & Health Guidance
I strongly recommend reviewing travel advisories and health guidance before your trip so you’re fully prepared.
A few things that are helpful to know before you go.
Flexibility on the Road
Good to Know on the Road
A guided tour handles the details, and a little flexibility goes a long way. Here are a few things Collette travelers find helpful to know.
Days Can Shift
Holidays, weather, and local events can change the order of sightseeing, and similar attractions are substituted when one is unavailable. Wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
Walking & Historic Centers
Some of the best sights are in historic areas closed to motorcoaches, so expect some walking on uneven ground. Some remote hotels and lodges have no elevators.
Comfort Stops
Most motorcoaches have a washroom for emergencies, and the itinerary includes plenty of comfort stops. Safari vehicles and some Explorations tours do not.
Special Assistance
Share any physical or medical needs when we book. Staff cannot lift travelers, motorized scooters are not permitted, and a companion who can assist is recommended.
Luggage
Motorcoaches and airlines limit the number and size of bags, so I’ll share the limits for your tour before you pack.
Travel Subject to Change
All travel is subject to schedule adjustments, itinerary changes, weather disruptions, and operational delays.
Someone else has the map. All you have to do is enjoy the view.
Your Next Step
Let’s plan your journey.
Whether you already have a destination in mind or are just beginning to dream, I’d love to help you find the Collette tour that fits you best. I’ll compare itineraries and travel styles, apply every savings offer you qualify for, and take care of the details from your first question to your welcome home.
Prices and availability are subject to change at any time. Amenities, offers, and policies are set by Collette and may change without notice. Photography courtesy of Collette.
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