Prices and availability are subject to change at any time.
Local insight, on a Globus tour.Photo: GlobusA Note from Elisa
Hi there!
Thank you for your interest in Globus and Cosmos! 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 vacation.
Founded in Switzerland in 1928 and still family-owned, the Globus family plans guided vacations around the world: first-class touring with Globus, independent travel with Globus Independent, and value-minded touring with Cosmos. Take a look through the sections below, and whenever you’re ready, I’d love to help you find the brand, style, and season that fit you best.
Elisa RzymskiCertified Globus Specialist
The Guide
The Experience
What’s included, where you’ll stay, and how you’ll spend your days.
What’s Included
The Globus Way
A Globus vacation brings the logistics together in one package, so your days are about the places you came to see, with VIP access to the icons and a Tour Director who knows the way.
Here’s what you can look forward to on a Globus tour.
Imagine stepping past the line into the Roman Forum, then a free afternoon to wander on your own, with the details already handled.
The Roman Forum, with VIP access on Globus.Photo: Globus
Included on Globus Tours
A Tour Director & Local Guides
A Tour Director travels with you throughout, and Local Guides from each region join you along the way.
Handpicked hotels
Globus hotels are first class and above, near the sights, with hotel taxes and service charges included, and porterage for one suitcase on most tours.
VIP access
Skip-the-line entry to many of the world’s iconic sights.
Included meals
Several meals on Globus tours, and daily breakfast on Independent tours, each listed in the itinerary.
Local Favorites
Off-the-beaten-path experiences listed in each itinerary, from a tango lesson in Argentina to baking scones in Ireland.
Choice Excursions
Choose-your-own-adventure days on nearly 80% of Globus itineraries in Europe and North America.
Private motorcoaches
Air-conditioned coaches with free Wi-Fi, extra legroom, and an emergency restroom, plus high-speed trains where they fit, such as Paris to London.
Airport transfers
Included when you fly with Globus, and available to add to a land-only booking, with a host to meet you. Airport transfers aren’t included on North America itineraries.
Inclusions vary by tour and style and are set by Globus. Airfare, gratuities for your Tour Director, Local Guides, and driver, optional excursions, and travel protection are not included. Details: What a Globus tour includes
Elisa’s Tip
When you compare guided tours, look at the included meals, the VIP entries, and the hotel locations, not only the price. Each Globus itinerary lists them day by day, and I’m happy to compare them side by side for you.
Find Your Style
Classic, Small Group & Independent
Andalusia, on Globus’s Captivating Spain small group tour.Photo: Globus
Globus offers many ways to tour, from fully guided Classic tours to independent travel with support on call. Here’s a quick way to picture which one fits the trip you have in mind.
Globus Classic, Small Group Discovery and Independent tours compared
At a Glance
ClassicThe signature style
Small Group DiscoveryFewer guests, more access
IndependentNo group, built-in support
Group Size
Larger groups, with Small Group dates (about 24 guests) on many tours
About 15 guests in Europe (no more than 18), about 18 elsewhere (no more than 24)
Just you and your own companions
Guiding
A Tour Director throughout, plus Local Guides
A Tour Director throughout, plus Local Guides
Local Hosts for advice, plus included sightseeing with Local Guides
Signature
VIP access to the icons and Choice Excursions
Small Group Exclusives, such as a night at the Alhambra Palace Hotel
Handpicked hotels, daily breakfast and travel between cities
Best For
Seeing the essentials with ease
Travelers who want intimacy and access
Independent spirits who want a safety net
Undiscovered Tours
The must-sees plus lesser-known towns, coasts, and local traditions, with guides who live in the region.
Unpack and Explore
A charming home base in one or two places, such as Split, Venice, Memphis, or Montréal, with easy day trips and built-in free time.
Independent City Stays
A centrally located hotel, daily breakfast, a city orientation, included sightseeing, and your own Local Host.
Globus Escapes
The best itineraries in the off season, with cooler temperatures, smaller crowds, and lower prices.
Rail, Faith & Special Events
Scenic rail journeys, pilgrimages through Globus Faith, and tours timed to once-in-a-lifetime events.
Private Tours
A Globus itinerary in Europe for your own party of 2 to 24, with a dedicated Tour Director and private transportation.
Travelers who remember Monograms will find its style in Globus Independent Tours, which took its place at the end of 2022. This guide covers land vacations; Globus Cruise & Tour vacations and Avalon Waterways river cruises have their own terms. Details: Globus travel styles
Cosmos is the Globus family’s value brand, for travelers who would rather spend an extra day in a new destination than have a fancy chocolate on their pillow. For more than 60 years, it has offered guided vacations with the essentials included at a smaller price.
What’s Included
Hotels, transportation, a professional Tour Director, sightseeing with Local Guides, and some meals on most vacations.
Hotels
Comfortable, clean, and attractive hotels, always with a private bathroom, chosen for the best value.
Getting Around
Private first-class motorcoaches, most with free Wi-Fi, plus trains, cable cars, and scenic ferries along the way.
Free Time
Built into every vacation, with longer stays in key cities and optional excursions you can reserve ahead online.
Ways to Travel
Classic escorted tours, Unpack and Explore stays, Undiscovered tours, faith journeys, and private touring.
Good to Know
Hotel porterage is generally not included on Cosmos tours, so plan to handle your own suitcase.
Cosmos tours follow the same booking terms as Globus. Details: Why Cosmos
Where You’ll Stay
Handpicked Hotels
Globus hand-selects and tests its hotels for location and comfort, choosing properties that are first class and above and near the sights you came to see. On Small Group Discovery tours, the stay itself can be the highlight.
A Stay to Remember
On select Small Group Discovery tours of Spain, travelers explore the Alhambra in Granada, then spend the night at the historic Alhambra Palace Hotel.
Globus reserves twin-bedded rooms, with two separate beds. A double room, with one bed, can be requested but not guaranteed.
Single Rooms
A single supplement ensures a room of your own, which is often smaller.
Triple Rooms
Availability varies, and a triple has beds for three that may not be three separate beds.
Final Hotel List
Hotels are confirmed about 30 days before departure and appear in your travel documents.
Porterage
Hotel porterage for one bag per person is included on Globus tours where available, though not at the start and end of the tour, at airports, or at train stations. It is not included on Independent tours or Cosmos.
Hotels are set by Globus and may be substituted with properties of a similar standard. Details: Globus FAQs
Your Days on Tour
Tour Directors, Local Guides & Free Time
Exploring together, at the pace of a Globus tour.Photo: Globus
Globus describes its Tour Directors and Local Guides as part magician, part storyteller. More than logistical navigators, Tour Directors bring the sights to life with the stories behind them, and they’re full of ideas for your free time.
Local Guides
Experts who live in the region join you for inside visits and walking tours.
Local Hosts
On Independent tours and City Stays, a Local Host offers recommendations and support while you explore on your own.
Built-In Free Time
Room to wander markets, linger at cafés, or follow an insider tip from your Tour Director.
Daily Seat Rotation
Seats on the coach rotate each day, so everyone enjoys a variety of views.
Wi-Fi on Globus transportation is provided by a third party and not guaranteed. MyGlobus is where you’ll reserve optional excursions before you go.
A Taste of Every Region
Dining with Globus
Globus offers a mix of included meals and dining on your own. Included meals feature local flavors, each with at least one complimentary glass of regional wine, beer, or soft drink, and coffee or tea.
Experiential Dining
Lunch at a working estancia in Argentina
Dinner on a Sicilian farm
A boat ride in Spain’s Albufera Natural Park followed by paella, on Captivating Spain
Tapas at a Barcelona market, and mint tea in Granada’s Albaicín
Outside the United States, Globus can’t process special meal requests, and they depend on each hotel or restaurant. Share any dietary needs or allergies with me when we book, and I’ll help you plan around them with your Tour Director.
Included meals vary by tour and are listed in each day-by-day itinerary. Gratuities for wait staff at included meals are included, except for hotel meals in Europe.
Your Day, Your Way
Choice, Local Favorites & Optional Excursions
Every Globus itinerary blends the icons with moments you’d be hard-pressed to find on your own, and on many tours, you choose how to spend part of your day.
Choice Excursions
Limoncello in a Sorrento garden, or a gelato lesson in Sorrento
Cawdor Castle and Culloden Battlefield in the Scottish Highlands
Budapest’s thermal baths
Upper Antelope Canyon with a Navajo guide
A bike ride across the Golden Gate Bridge to Sausalito
A garden view, on a Choice Excursion day.Photo: Globus
Local Favorites
Behind-the-scenes visits listed day by day in each itinerary, such as a calligraphy lesson in Japan.
Select Your Choices Ahead
Included and Choice excursions should be selected before departure, following the instructions in your travel documents, to be sure of a place.
Optional Excursions
Extra activities at an additional cost, available to view and purchase in MyGlobus 90 days before your vacation, and on tour.
Excursions vary by tour and season, and not every optional excursion runs on every departure. Details: Globus Choice Excursions
The Guide
Savings & Rewards
Ways to save, from seasonal offers to off-season Escapes.
Ways to Save
Current Offers & Savings
Globus and Cosmos offer savings throughout the year, from seasonal sales to solo offers. An experienced advisor can make sure you receive the strongest value for your vacation.
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.
Value with Cosmos
The same expert planning at a smaller price, for travelers who want the essentials included.
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.
Travel in the Off Season
Globus Escapes
The Mediterranean coast, quieter in the off season.Photo: Globus
Globus Escapes tours run in the off season, when many of the world’s favorite destinations have milder temperatures, shorter lines, and lower prices, with the same inclusions as any Globus tour.
Where
Popular itineraries in Europe, South America, North America, and the Middle East, from the Great Pyramids to the Grand Canyon.
Solo Travelers
On select Escapes tours of Europe, the single supplement is waived for the first five solo travelers on each departure.
Same Inclusions
VIP access, Tour Directors and Local Guides, included meals, hand-picked hotels, and Local Favorites.
Escapes offers are capacity controlled and apply to new bookings. Details: Globus Escapes
The Guide
Booking & Preparation
Deposits, travel protection, gratuities and the paperwork to have in order.
Booking with Confidence
Reserving Your Vacation
Deposit & Final Payment
Globus and Cosmos ask for a nonrefundable deposit of $250 per person for most tours. Final payment is due 60 days before departure for most trips, and 90 days before for Africa, Asia, South America, the South Pacific, and some North America rail journeys. I’ll confirm the exact amounts and dates in writing before you commit.
Your price is locked in once your deposit is received
After you deposit, complete Globus’s online Guest Acknowledgement to confirm your reservation
Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express are accepted
Changes on or before final payment cost at least $30 per person
If Your Plans Change
Your deposit is nonrefundable, and cancellation fees are a percentage of the total price once final payment is due.
Globus and Cosmos cancellation charges
Before final payment date
Deposit
Final payment date to 30 days
50%
29 days to 1 day
80%
Day of departure or after
100%
Up to 180 days before departure, your deposit can move to another trip. Travel protection premiums are always nonrefundable.
The Globus Travel Protection Plan refunds your cancellation fees, less the cost of the plan, when you cancel for an eligible reason, and offers a future travel credit when you cancel for any other reason.
What to Know
Cancel for any reason travel certificates are valid for two years and cannot be transferred or redeemed for cash
The pre-existing medical condition exclusion is waived when you buy the plan within 14 days of your deposit
It also includes insurance benefits such as trip interruption, travel delay, baggage, and medical expenses
The Globus family posts $1 million with the USTOA Travelers Assistance Program to protect advance payments
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 Globus 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 Globus’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 Director
Gratuities on Tour
Gratuities for your Tour Director, Local Guides, Local Hosts, and driver are not included in Globus and Cosmos prices and are at your discretion. A few gratuities are already taken care of.
Gratuities at a Glance
IncludedWaiters at included meals · Porters, where included
Your ChoiceTour Director · Driver · Local Guides
Prepaying
In select destinations in North America, South America, Africa, and Asia, you can prepay a set amount for your Tour Director and driver, when you book or later. In South America, it covers Local Guides too.
Europe & the South Pacific
Tours in Europe and the South Pacific, and Independent tours, are not part of prepaid gratuities, so tips are given in person on tour.
Already Included
Gratuities for wait staff at included meals, except hotel meals in Europe, and for porters wherever porterage for one suitcase is included.
Gratuity practices are set by Globus and may change. I’ll confirm what’s customary for every part of your journey.
Before You Go
Preparing for Your Vacation
Before You Go
In the months and weeks before departure, a few simple steps get you ready:
Complete your Guest Acknowledgement right after you deposit
If you’re flying with Globus, share your passport name, gender, and date of birth within 10 days of booking air
Reserve optional excursions in MyGlobus, opening 90 days before departure
Select your included and Choice excursions before departure
Watch for your travel documents, about two to three weeks before departure once you’ve paid in full
Globus asks for an emergency contact and an on-trip phone number for every traveler.
Packing for the Coach
Space on the motorcoach is limited, so Globus sets clear luggage limits:
One suitcase per person, up to 30 x 21 x 11 inches and 50 lb
One small carry-on, up to 12 x 11 x 6 inches
No wheeled carry-ons on the motorcoach
A second suitcase cannot be accepted
Some tours, including safaris and trips with flights between cities, have lower limits. I’ll confirm yours before you pack.
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 return date
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
Some destinations require a visa in advance. Globus offers visa help through iVisa, and you can 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 vacation handles the details, and a little flexibility goes a long way. Here are a few things Globus and Cosmos travelers find helpful to know.
Holidays & Closures
Local holidays, events, and seasons can close or limit a venue, and Globus offers alternatives when it can.
Be on Time
Meeting times keep the group on schedule, and Globus can’t refund sightseeing or meals missed when a traveler is late.
Accessibility
Most transportation is not equipped with wheelchair ramps, and individual assistance isn’t always available, so let’s talk through your needs before you book.
No Smoking Onboard
Smoking and vaping are not allowed on Globus transportation, and many hotels are entirely non-smoking.
Itinerary Timing
Daily timings are a guide and may shift with traffic, weather, and local conditions.
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 Globus or Cosmos vacation 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 Globus and Cosmos and may change without notice. Photography courtesy of Globus and Cosmos.
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