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Art and Architecture in the USA: Chicago, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC and ‘Fallingwater’ 2024

Status: limited

15 Sep – 2 Oct 2024

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Overview

Art and Architecture in the USA: Chicago, Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Washington DC and ‘Fallingwater’ 2024
Tour Highlights

Join Prof. Chris McAuliffe to explore the greatest art and architecture in six American cities. Chris has taught art history at the University of Melbourne, the Australian National University and Harvard University, and was Director of the Ian Potter Museum of Art, University of Melbourne for thirteen years. Chris will be assisted by writer Stephanie Holt.

  • Visit Robie House and other homes designed by Frank Lloyd Wright in Oak Park, Chicago, including his own house and studio. View his eloquent Kentuck Knob at Chalk Hill, the famous Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York, and his masterpiece Fallingwater.
  • View Chicago’s finest architectural landmarks on a tour hosted by the Chicago Architecture Foundation, and enjoy an architectural cruise on Chicago River and Lake Michigan.
  • Discover two famous examples of modernist domestic architecture: Mies van der Rohe’s Farnsworth House in Plano, and Philip Johnson’s The Glass House in New Canaan Connecticut.
  • Explore some of the world’s greatest art collections – the Chicago Art Institute, the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, the Boston Museum of Fine Arts, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Frick Collection, the new Whitney Museum of American Art and MoMA in New York; and the Phillips Collection and National Gallery of Art in Washington DC.
  • In Boston tour the historic Public Library, visit the Institute of Contemporary Art and the splendid collections of the Museum of Fine Arts.
  • Visit the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia housing America’s finest collection of Impressionists and early Modernists including Cézanne, Renoir, Van Gogh, Seurat, Matisse, and Picasso.
  • Compare the innovative contemporary architecture at IIT (Chicago) and MIT (Boston) with the historic buildings of Harvard and Yale Universities, and visit the Harvard Art Museums.
  • Visit Glenstone, a private gallery in Potomac Maryland, where pavilions and galleries are set within a landscape of meadows, forests and sculpture.

Overnight Chicago (4 nights) • Boston (3 nights) • New York (5 nights) • Washington DC (3 nights) • Pittsburgh (2 nights)

Testimonials

This was the best tour I have ever taken. I have considered a Frank Lloyd Wright tour of the USA for some time, but this tour embraced other famous architects as well as the most significant art galleries. It provided the perfect balance.  Jane, NSW.

I loved this trip because of the range of art we enjoyed and the exciting cityscapes we explored, all under the expert guidance of Chris McAuliffe. All together, it was another stand-out ASA tour.  Helen, VIC.

Don’t miss this tour! Tour Leaders Chris and Stephanie enlightened us in a knowledgeable and gentle way. We came away knowing more about architecture and art, yet stimulated to know more. We had a great group of travelling companions who were eager to learn and participate in every aspect of the tour. Robert, NSW

Itinerary

Itinerary

The days on this tour have been carefully programmed, however there will be opportunities for tour participants to break from the group to explore their own interests if they so desire. Evenings have been deliberately left free to allow participants to avail themselves of endless dining opportunities and sample the many performing arts options found in each of the major cities to be visited. The daily activities described in this itinerary may be rotated and/or modified in order to accommodate changes in museum opening hours, flight schedules etc. The tour includes breakfast daily, and dinners indicated in the itinerary where: B=breakfast and D =dinner. All entrance fees on the official program are included in the tour price.

Chicago - 4 nights

Day 1: Sunday 15 September, Arrive Chicago
  • Tour commences at 6.00pm in the foyer of the Staypineapple The Loop Chicago Hotel
  • Welcome Meeting

Meeting Point: The tour commences at 6.00pm in the foyer of the Staypineapple The Loop Chicago Hotel. Please meet your tour leader, Professor Chris McAuliffe, and fellow travellers for a welcome meeting and drink. (Overnight Chicago)

Day 2: Monday 16 September, Chicago
  • Architecture Highlights Coach Tour
  • Chicago Art Institute
  • Welcome Dinner at the Drawing Room Library Restaurant

This morning we embark on a Chicago Architecture Foundation ‘Highlights by Bus’ tour. On this two-and-a-half-hour private tour we shall visit Chicago’s finest landmarks, including Ludwig Mies van der Rohe’s IIT Campus and Frank Lloyd Wright’s Robie House.

This afternoon we visit one of the world’s great art museums, the Chicago Art Institute. The Art Institute collection is both enormous and of the highest quality, and presents major works by Monet, Renoir, Picasso, Matisse and many more. Chagall’s impressive stained glass windows are truly stunning. Our visit includes an orientation tour of the collection and participants will have time to wander at their leisure.

This evening we enjoy a Welcome Dinner at the Drawing Room Library Restaurant at the Chicago Athletic Association Hotel. (Overnight Chicago) BD

Day 3: Tuesday 17 September, Chicago
  • Oak Park, incl. Frank Lloyd Wright’s House & Studio
  • Architecture River Cruise

This morning we drive to leafy Oak Park, where we see Frank Lloyd Wright’s house and studio, featuring furniture he designed. We also see many other examples of his work in the Oak Park neighbourhood. Our visit is hosted by the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.

After lunch we will take one of the famous Architecture cruises on the Chicago River. The rest of the afternoon will be free to explore the city – perhaps by visiting the Sears or Hancock building to take in the views. (Overnight Chicago) B

Day 4: Wednesday 18 September, Chicago – Plano – Chicago
  • Farnsworth House, Plano
  • Museum of Contemporary Art
  • Chicago Cultural Centre

Ninety-four kilometres out of Chicago is one of North America’s architectural masterpieces – Mies van der Rohe’s 1951 Farnsworth House. This morning we drive to Plano to tour Farnsworth House and explore this fine example of Modernist domestic architecture.

On our return to Chicago there will be time at leisure for lunch before we visit the massive and modular home of the Museum of Contemporary Art, which offers an impressive array of exhibitions. We then make our way along the Magnificent Mile to the Chicago Cultural Centre, formerly the Chicago Public Library, which boasts two backlit stained glass Tiffany domes. (Overnight Chicago) B

Boston - 3 nights

Day 5: Thursday 19 September, Chicago – Boston
  • Morning flight: Chicago – Boston
  • Boston Public Library

This morning we transfer by coach to Chicago airport for our flight to Boston on the East Coast. Boston, one of the most important historical cities in the USA, has been described as ‘the cradle of American Independence’. Its most important buildings are more than just landmarks – they are icons of US history. Boston’s citizens have played a critical role in the development of the USA up to the present day. After settling into our hotel, we walk across the road to the marvellous Boston Public Library for a guided tour. Established in 1848, this was the first large free municipal library in the United States. The present building on Copley Square was completed in 1895, designed by architect Charles Follen McKim as a ‘palace of the people’. In addition to its superb collection of books, the library is renowned for the murals that adorn the walls of the main halls. (Overnight Boston) B

Day 6: Friday 20 September, Boston
  • Institute of Contemporary Art
  • Harvard Art Museums
  • MIT Campus

This morning we will travel by coach to the revitalised South Boston Seaport District where we shall visit the Institute of Contemporary Art. Originally established as the Boston Museum of Modern Art in 1936 and located at Harvard, the current building was opened in 2006 and contains both galleries and performance space. We then cross the Boston Harbor by ferry to ICA’s new site – the Watershed. Opened in 2018 in a converted waterside warehouse, this space is used for special exhibitions. We then drive to Cambridge where we will visit the Harvard Art Museums, located alongside Harvard Yard. Established as an important learning tool for the university’s students in the disciplines of art history and conservation, the Harvard Art Museums are also dedicated to advancing learning in the wider community with public education programs. Our day ends with a walking tour of MIT, one of the most architecturally dynamic university campuses in the world. The site has undergone an extraordinary regeneration over the last few decades. Here we will tour the buildings of this complex to see the works of ‘Starchitects’ Frank Gehry, I.M. Pei and Alvar Aalto, who transformed this previously pedestrian campus into a showcase of contemporary architecture. (Overnight Boston) B

Day 7: Saturday 21 September, Boston
  • Boston Museum of Fine Arts
  • Afternoon at Leisure

Today we use the efficient Boston transport system to visit the Boston Museum of Fine Arts which boasts one of the country’s finest collections of American art as well as extensive Asian and European art collections. Highlights of the collection include Rembrant’s The Artist in his Studio, Goya’s Seated Giant, Copley’s Paul Revere, and a host of works by El Greco, Velázquez, Monet, Degas, Cézanne, Van Gogh, Singer Sargent and a superb collection of Egyptian antiquities. (Overnight Boston) B

New York - 5 nights

Day 8: Sunday 22 September, Boston – New Haven – New Canaan – New York
  • Yale University
  • The Glass House, New Canaan

Today we travel by coach from Boston to New York. En route we shall visit New Haven, the home of Yale University. Here we shall have lunch and make a brief visit to the remarkable university.

We then continue on to New Canaan where we visit one of the great architectural masterpieces of the USA – Philip Johnson’s Glass House. Designed in 1949 the house has exterior walls of glass and almost no interior structures; it is a transparent glass box that seamlessly integrates into the surrounding landscape. Its counterpart is The Brick House that faces it across a grass court. Here the brick walls are unbroken, except for small round windows at the rear, with skylights illuminating the interior. The Brick House is currently closed for restoration work. (Overnight New York) B

Day 9: Monday 23 September, New York
  • Central Park
  • Metropolitan Museum of Art
  • Afternoon at leisure

We start today with a walking tour of Central Park, that wonderful green oasis so important to New Yorkers and visitors alike. We follow this with a visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art (the Met), one of the world’s largest art museums. The collections are extraordinary, featuring works from prehistoric times to the post-industrial age. The antiquities collection is spellbinding, as is the huge holding of tribal art. The Met also has one of the greatest displays of American art and presents a comprehensive collection of European art that is arguably the most outstanding outside Europe. The Egyptian collections, including the Temple of Dendur, are a sight to behold. The medieval collection is housed in the Cloisters, located at the top of Manhattan Island. A visit could be easily achieved independently in the afternoon. There are a range of eateries in the Met and one of the world’s largest and most impressive museum shops. After formal introductions to the collections you will be able to explore the Met at your leisure and stay until closing time, as the rest of the day is free. (Overnight New York) B

Day 10: Tuesday 24 September, New York
  • Museum of Modern Art
  • Architecture walking tour

Today we take the subway to the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), renowned throughout the world for the quality, scope and diversity of its collections. MoMA provides an unparalleled overview of the development of modern art. The building has been refurbished in recent years which makes the visit even more pleasant. There is a courtyard featuring a magical array of sculptures by artists such as Picasso and Moore. Museum shop fans will love the huge range of merchandise available. There will be an introductory presentation and tour of the museum and its collections. Afterwards, there is time to wander at your leisure through MoMA.

We walk the short distance to the New York Public Library’s flagship Stephen A. Schwarzman Building. This iconic building, with its flight of steps guarded by lions, was opened in 1911. Its Rose Main Reading Room has provided a work and reading space for scholars and notable authors, but also for the general public who are welcome to use its facilities.

We then travel by subway to visit some of the innovative architecture of Downtown Manhattan – the World Trade Center Memorial and also the remarkable new Transportation Hub designed by Santiago Calatrava. Structural steel ribs create the vast open space within before extending upwards to form canopies, giving the building the appearance of a great white bird lifting in flight. (Overnight New York) B

Day 11: Wednesday 25 September, New York
  • Whitney Museum of American Art
  • The High Line and The Shed

This morning we visit the Whitney Museum of American Art. The Whitney opened at this new site in 2015 and is the country’s preeminent museum dedicated to collecting, preserving and exhibiting the contemporary art of the United States. After a guided tour and time to visit the Whitney Biennial at your leisure,  we walk to the nearby Gansevoort Street entrance to the High Line, a public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan’s West Side. The High Line is owned by the City of New York and maintained and operated by Friends of the High Line. We shall walk a section of this park before returning to the hotel by subway. On our walk we will pass the impressive new art and performance space – The Shed. Opened to the public in April 2019, this is New York’s first multi-arts centre designed to commission, produce and present all types of performing arts, visual arts and popular culture. The building itself is highly innovative  and its most notable design feature is a telescoping outer shell that deploys over a plaza to create a great hall. (Overnight New York) B

Day 12: Thursday 26 September, New York
  • Walking tour including Fifth Avenue, Trump Tower and the Plaza Hotel
  • The Frick Madison
  • Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum

Our day will start with a 2-hour walking tour along Fifth Avenue, which provides an opportunity to pass the Trump Tower and the Plaza Hotel. Our first major stop is the magnificent Frick Collection. The collection owes its existence to Henry Clay Frick (1849-1919), a Pittsburgh coke and steel industrialist. Although relatively small in size, it does feature an acclaimed collection of Old Master paintings, Renaissance sculpture, eighteenth century furniture, porcelain and bronzes. The collection is usually displayed in a glorious Fifth Avenue mansion built by Frick in 1913-1914 as his New York home. However, since late 2020 this building has been undergoing an extensive renovation and the Frick art collection is now presented at the Frick Madison – a building designed by Marcel Breuer in 1966.

We then visit the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum. World famous for its striking architecture, it is the work of the architect Frank Lloyd Wright – whom we have encountered in Chicago. Our visit will focus on the extraordinary architecture of this museum and also on the special exhibition that presents the story of the museum through a selection of highlights from the permanent collection. Group members then have the option of extending their visit to see the collection of notable modern artists, while some may wish to further explore some of the city’s great architectural delights: Johnson’s Seagram Building and AT&T House and SOM’s Lever House. (Overnight New York) B

Washington - 3 nights

Day 13: Friday 27 September, New York – Philadelphia – Washington DC
  • The Barnes Foundation, Parkway Museum District

Early this morning we depart New York for Philadelphia to visit the new Barnes Foundation located on Benjamin Franklin Parkway. Located on 4.5 acres, the vast two-storey building houses the Foundation’s art collection in an exhibition space that replicates the scale, proportion, and configuration of the original galleries in Merion. Designed by architects Tod Williams and Billie Tsien, it is described as a ‘gallery in a garden, a garden in a gallery.’ Boasting a textured grey-and-gold Ramon limestone exterior and a glass canopy that glows at night, the building is a breathtaking addition to the Parkway Museum District. It includes a number of sustainable features, including a green roof and a 40,000-gallon rainwater cistern to water the Olin-designed gardens. But the true draw is the Barnes Collection, arguably America’s finest collection of Impressionist and Modernist works, including 181 Renoirs, 69 Cézannes and 59 Matisses, along with works by Manet, Degas, Seurat and Picasso. A tour of this collection will deepen your understanding of the European landscape tradition that has enriched American landscape painting and gardening.

This afternoon we continue our journey south to Washington DC. Time permitting, there will be a short orientation drive past some of the city’s monuments on the way to our hotel. (Overnight Washington DC) B

Day 14: Saturday 28 September, Washington DC – Potomac – Washington DC
  • Glenstone
  • The Phillips Collection

This morning we drive to Potomac, Maryland, to visit Glenstone, a private art museum significant for both its contemporary collection of art and its architecture. The collection is displayed within a series of galleries and pavilions set within an extensive landscaped park intended to integrate architecture and nature. Glenstone describes the focus of its collection as “We collect iconic examples of modern and contemporary art that represent pivotal shifts in the perception and understanding of the art of our time”.

This afternoon we return to Washington DC to visit the Phillips Collection, founded by Duncan Phillips in 1921. The museum is noted for its broad representation of both Impressionist and modern paintings, with works by European masters such as Courbet, Bonnard, Braque, Villon, Cézanne, Daumier, Degas, van Gogh, Klee, Matisse, Monet, and Picasso. In 1923, Phillips purchased Pierre-Auguste Renoir’s impressionist painting, Luncheon of the Boating Party (1880-81), the museum’s best-known work. (Overnight Washington DC) B

Day 15: Sunday 29 September, Washington DC
  • National Gallery of Art
  • Afternoon at leisure

The morning will be spent at the National Gallery of Art, one of the USA’s greatest art collections, with work by Da Vinci, Vermeer, Rembrandt, Monet and Renoir. After an introductory tour of the gallery highlights, participants will be free to explore the extensive museum at their own pace. You may even wish to try out the ice-skating rink in the Sculpture Garden!

This afternoon is at leisure. You may wish to visit one of the many wonderful museums to be found in the city – the National Museum of American History, National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum (formerly the National Museum of American Art) are all located in the Mall area and host marvellous collections. (Overnight Washington DC) B

Pittsburgh - 2 nights

Day 16: Monday 30 September, Washington DC – Pittsburgh
  • Morning flight: Washington DC – Pittsburgh
  • Andy Warhol Museum, Pittsburgh
  • Afternoon at leisure

Early this morning we depart Washington and take a flight to Pittsburgh. On arrival we visit the Andy Warhol Museum, which houses the world’s largest collection of Warhol’s work and archival materials. The collection of drawings, paintings, postcards, videos, sculptures and photographs covers the entire career of the artist, from his student days in his hometown of Pittsburgh through to his pop art paintings and films.

We then transfer to our hotel, and the afternoon is at leisure to explore this fascinating city. You may wish to visit the Carnegie Museum of Art, which houses a very fine collection of European and American art. (Overnight Pittsburgh) B

Day 17: Tuesday 1 October, Pittsburgh – Mill Run – Chalk Hill – Pittsburgh
  • Fallingwater, Mill Run
  • Kentuck Knob, Chalk Hill
  • Farewell Dinner

Today is dedicated to visiting two remarkable houses designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Fallingwater was designed in 1936 for the family of Pittsburgh department store owner Edgar J. Kaufmann. The house’s setting is dominated by the waterfall over which the house is built. The Kaufmanns chose the waterfall location but were unprepared for Wright’s suggestion that the house rise over it rather than face it; yet they accepted the architect’s original scheme unchanged. Completed in 1939, Fallingwater was constructed of sandstone quarried on the property and was built by local craftsmen. The stone walls rise between reinforced concrete ‘trays’ carrying the living and bedroom levels, that are dramatically cantilevered over the stream. Fallingwater was the weekend home of the Kaufmann family from 1937 until 1963, when the house, its contents and grounds were presented to the Western Pennsylvania Conservancy by Edgar Kaufmann Jr. Fallingwater is the only remaining great Wright house with its setting, original furnishings, and artwork intact.

We then visit Frank Lloyd Wright’s Kentuck Knob, which bears eloquent testimony to his genius. Dramatic yet serene, the home blends into the mountain against which it stands. It looks out on a breathtaking panorama of the Youghiogheny River Gorge and surrounding mountains. Kentuck Knob is a refinement of Wright’s core principles of organic architecture. Designed in 1953 for the I.N. Hagan family, it was constructed by skilled local craftsmen. With an open plan based on a hexagonal grid it is constructed entirely of tidewater red cypress and native fieldstone. These stone walls not only visually anchor the house’s two wings but also rise to penetrate the horizontal line of its copper roof. Its open floor plan, cantilevered overhangs and great expanses of glass artfully integrate outdoor and indoor spaces. Its expansive yet intimate interior is furnished to the tastes of its current owners, Lord and Lady Palumbo, dedicated patrons of the arts. A sculpture park has been integrated into the woodlands and informal gardens surrounding the house. It features 35 sculptures by masters such as Andy Goldsworthy, Harry Bertoia, Claes Oldenburg, Ray Smith, Michael Warren and Sir Anthony Caro.

We return to Pittsburgh, and this evening enjoy a farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (Overnight Pittsburgh) BD

Day 18: Wednesday 2 October, Depart Pittsburgh
  • Tour concludes in the morning
  • At leisure/Check out

Our tour ends in Pittsburgh after breakfast. In the morning you will be required to check out of the hotel. Please contact ASA if you require assistance with a transfer to the Pittsburgh Airport. B

Accommodation

Accommodation

ASA has selected 3- to 5-star centrally located hotels. All hotels provide rooms with en suite bathroom. A hotel list will be given to all participants prior to departure, in the meantime a summary is given below:

  • Chicago (4 nights): 4-star StayPineapple The Loop – a centrally located hotel showcasing bright and fresh contemporary interior design within a National Historic Landmark Building. www.staypineapple.com/the-loop-chicago
  • Boston (3 nights): 4-star The Lenox – established in 1900, is a landmark hotel in the Back Bay area, with classically decorated and freshly-renovated rooms. www.lenoxhotel.com
  • New York (5 nights): 3-star Hotel Beacon – a spacious hotel situated in New York’s Upper West Side, close to Central Park, the Theatre District and Manhattan’s many cafés, restaurants and boutiques. Each room includes a fully-equipped kitchenette with microwave, stove, refrigerator and coffee maker. www.beaconhotel.com
  • Washington DC (3 nights): 4-star The Melrose Georgetown Hotel – a spacious hotel, conveniently located in Georgetown, just 1 km from the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue. www.melrosehoteldc.com
  • Pittsburgh (2 nights): 4-star Omni William Penn Hotel Pittsburgh – an historic hotel in Downtown Pittsburgh. www.omnihotels.com

Note: Hotels are subject to change, in which case a hotel of similar standard will be provided.

Single Supplement

Payment of this supplement will ensure accommodation in a double (or twin) room for single occupancy throughout the tour. The number of rooms available for single occupancy is extremely limited. People wishing to take this supplement are therefore advised to book well in advance.

How to book

How to Book

ASA RESERVATION APPLICATION FORM

Please complete the ASA RESERVATION APPLICATION and send it to Australians Studying Abroad together with your non-refundable deposit of AUD $1000.00 per person payable to Australians Studying Abroad.

Covid-19 Vaccination Certificate

Commencing from November 2021 it will be a condition of travel that all group leaders and ASA travellers are fully vaccinated against Covid-19. All participants must send ASA a copy of their vaccination certificate at the time of submitting their Reservation Application Form. For information on how to obtain either a Covid-19 digital certificate or a certificate in PDF format please view the Australian Government Services Australia “What types of proof there are” web page.

Practical Information

Practical Information

The number of flags is a guide to the degree of difficulty of ASA tours relative to each other (not to those of other tour companies). It is neither absolute nor literal. One flag is given to the least taxing tours, seven to the most. Flags are allocated, above all, according to the amount of walking and standing each tour involves. Nevertheless, all ASA tours require that participants have a good degree of fitness enabling 2-3 hours walking or 1-1.5 hours standing still on any given site visit or excursion. Many sites are accessed by climbing slopes or steps and have uneven terrain.

This 18-day Art and Architecture in the USA tour involves:

  • Exploring Chicago, Boston, New York and Washington DC on foot.
  • Extensive walking daily (up to 5km per day), and standing during museum and other site visits.
  • Use of the New York, Boston and Washington DC subway system where participants may need to negotiate many stairs.
  • 3- & 4-star hotels with four hotel changes.
  • You must be able to carry your own hand luggage. Hotel porterage includes 1 piece of luggage per person.

It is important to remember that ASA programs are group tours, and slow walkers affect everyone in the group. As the group must move at the speed of the slowest member, the amount of time spent at a site may be reduced if group members cannot maintain a moderate walking pace. ASA tours should not present any problem for active people who can manage day-to-day walking and stair-climbing. However, if you have any doubts about your ability to manage on a program, please ask your ASA travel consultant whether this is a suitable tour for you.

Please note: it is a condition of travel that all participants agree to accept ASA’s directions in relation to their suitability to participate in activities undertaken on the tour, and that ASA retains the sole discretion to direct a tour participant to refrain from a particular activity on part of the tour. For further information please refer to the ASA Reservation Application Form.

Prior to departure, tour members will receive practical notes which include information on visa requirements, health, photography, weather, clothing and what to pack, custom regulations, bank hours, currency regulations, electrical appliances and food. The Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade website has advice for travellers: www.smartraveller.gov.au

Tour Price & Inclusions

Tour Price & Inclusions

AUD $14,990.00 Land Content Only – Early-Bird Special: Book before 30 Sep 2023

AUD $15,190.00 Land Content Only

AUD $4240 Single Supplement

Tour Price (Land Content Only) includes:
  • Accommodation in twin share rooms with private facilities in 3- to 4-star hotels
  • Breakfast daily; lunches and dinners as indicated in the itinerary where: B=breakfast, L=Lunch and D=dinner
  • Drinks at welcome and farewell meals. Other meals may not have drinks included.
  • Transportation by air-conditioned coach
  • Economy airfare Chicago – Boston (Day 5) and Washington DC – Pittsburgh (Day 16)
  • Porterage of one piece of luggage per person at hotels (not at airports)
  • Lecture and site-visit program
  • Tour reference book
  • Entrance fees
  • Use of audio headsets during site excursions
  • Tips for the coach driver, local guides and restaurants for included meals
Tour Price (Land Content Only) does not include:
  • Airfare: Australia-Chicago, Pittsburgh-Australia
  • Personal spending money
  • Airport-hotel transfers
  • Luggage in excess of 20kg (44lbs)
  • Travel insurance
Tour Map

Tour Map

Gallery
Terms & Conditions
Deposits

A non-refundable deposit of $1000.00 AUD per person is required to reserve a place on this ASA tour.

Cancellation Fees

If you decide to cancel your booking the following charges apply:

  • More than 75 days before departure: your initial deposit of $1000.00 is non-refundable
  • 75-31 days prior 50% of total amount due
  • 30-0 days prior 100% of total amount due

We take the day on which you cancel as being that on which we receive written confirmation of cancellation.

Unused Portions of the Tour

We regret that refunds will not be given for any unused portions of the tour, such as meals, entry fees, accommodation, flights or transfers.

Will the Tour Price or Itinerary Change?

If the number of participants on a tour is significantly less than budgeted, or if there is a significant change in exchange rates ASA reserves the right to amend the advertised price. We shall, however, do all in our power to maintain the published price. If an ASA tour is forced to cancel you will get a full refund of all tour monies paid. Occasionally circumstances beyond the control of ASA make it necessary to change airline, hotel or to make amendments to daily itineraries. We will inform you of any changes in due course.

Travel Insurance

ASA requires all participants to obtain comprehensive travel insurance. A copy of your travel insurance certificate and the reverse charge emergency contact phone number must be received by ASA no later than 75 days prior to the commencement of the tour.

Final Payment

The balance of the tour price will be due 75 days prior to the tour commencement date.

Limitation of Liability

ASA is not a carrier, event or tourist attraction host, accommodation or dining service provider. All bookings made and tickets or coupons issued by ASA for transport, event, accommodation, dining and the like are issued as an agent for various service providers and are subject to the terms and conditions and limitations of liability imposed by each service provider. ASA is not responsible for their products or services. If a service provider does not deliver the product or service for which you have contracted, your remedy lies with the service provider, not ASA.

ASA will not be liable for any claim (eg. sickness, injury, death, damage or loss) arising from any change, delay, detention, breakdown, cancellation, failure, accident, act, omission or negligence of any such service provider however caused (contingencies). You must take out adequate travel insurance against such contingencies.

ASA’s liability in respect of any tour will be limited to the refund of amounts received from you less all non-refundable costs and charges and the costs of any substituted event or alternate services provided. The terms and conditions of the relevant service provider from time to time comprise the sole agreement between you and that service provider.

ASA reserves the sole discretion to cancel any tour or to modify itineraries in any way it considers appropriate. Tour costs may be revised, subject to unexpected price increases or exchange rate fluctuations.

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