2016
California Adventure 8 DAYS/7 NIGHTS
San Francisco, CA/Los Angeles, CA Think California. What comes to mind? Maybe it's the glam and glitz of Hollywood Boulevard. The gnarly waves of the Pacific Ocean in a surfer's paradise. Or the breathtakingly beautiful Golden Gate Bridge stretching across the San Francisco Bay. Get ready to visit two of the most unique and important cities in California – Los Angeles and San Francisco. Whatever your California dream, it's all a part of this week long adventure!
Belo USA contact phone numbers: • Toll free: 1-877-235.6872 - 9am to 6pm CST • FAX: 1-312-376-3690 • E-mail: belo@belousa.com
Emergency contact: • Toll free: 1-866-314-0608 (Trip Coordinator - 24 hours during trip) dates)
Some of our educational goals of the trip include: 1. Learn about a unique culture within the United States. 2. Explore the many cultural differences and wonders of California. 3. Promote international understanding.
Operated by:
San Francisco
CA Los Angeles
PACIFIC
Program and the Belo trip coordinator will introduce themselves so students know who they are and what their role is during the trip. This meeting will prepare all students to safely enjoy this fantastic trip.
best view of San Francisco Bay. 12:00 pm – Lunch on Pier 39 (not included). At Pier 39 we will be able to see the famous Sea Lions!
DAY 2
San Francisco, CA Breakfast (included). DAY 1
Arrival Day Welcome to sunny California!!!
9:00 am - Today we will take a lovely tour of the sights of San Francisco!
Step off your airplane, breathe in the wonderful Californian air and get ready for 8 days of fun, sun, and adventure.
Our tour will include: the Fishermen's Wharf, Lombard Street, Union Square, and the famous San Fran cable cars!
8:00 am - 3:00 pm PST - Student Arrivals at Oakland International Airport (OAK).
Yes, we will be riding a cable car!
7:00 pm - Dinner (included). 8:00 pm - Orientation Meeting (mandatory). At the orientation, Belo USA will give all students the guidelines, as well as the logistics for the trip. The Trip Chaperone
We will be boarding the cable cars and cross the city all the way to Union Square where we will have time to shop, eat lunch and explore the city. 2:00 pm - Let's board our buses and continue our tour of beautiful San Francisco! After that we'll head to the largest Chinatown in the United States. We'll have some time to look in the shops there before grabbing dinner at one of the amazing restaurants! 7:00 pm - Dinner in San Francisco's famous Chinatown (included).
California Sea Lions have been always present in San Francisco Bay. They started to haul out on docks of Pier 39 in September 1989. Before that they mostly used Seal Rock for that purpose. Ever since September 1989 the number of sea lions on Seal Rock has been steadily decreasing, while their number on Pier 39 has been increasing. Some people speculate that sea lions moved to docks because of the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake, but the earthquake occurred months after the first sea lions had arrived at Pier 39. It's likely the sea lions feel safer inside the Bay. 2:00 pm - Grab your sailor's hat! Be prepared for an unforgettable stop at Alcatraz Island. Alcatraz is also known as THE ROCK and it is a small island located in the middle of San Francisco Bay. It served as a lighthouse, a military prison, then a federal prison until 1963. The prison held such notable criminals as Al Capone (included). 7:00 pm – Dinner (included)
DAY 3
San Francisco, CA Breakfast (included). 9:00 am - Stretch your legs and let's get a real experience by walking the 1.71 miles across the Golden Gate Bridge! Let's experience the
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DAY 4
San Francisco, CA Los Angeles, CA Breakfast (included). Today we'll say goodbye to San Francisco
Program and head to Los Angeles! 9:00 am - Departure to Los Angeles, CA (approx. an 8-hour trip).
music, this promenade is a great place to shop and feel the unique energy of Los Angeles!
We will have two stops on the way for the restroom and to get something to eat.
DAY 6
5:00 pm - Arrival in Los Angeles and time to explore the Santa Monica Pier!
8:00 am - Breakfast (included).
The Santa Monica Pier is a California landmark – here is the end of the famous Route 66. You can ride a ferris wheel and get a beautiful view of a California sunset. You’ll also have some time for shopping on the 3rd Street Promenade 7:00 pm – Dinner (included)
Los Angeles, CA
9:00 am - Today is our day to go to magical Disneyland (included)! "To all who come to this happy place Welcome!Disneyland is your land. Here age relives fond memories of the past and here youth may savor the challenge and promise of the future. Disneyland is dedicated to the ideals, the dreams, and the hard facts that have created America with the hope that it will be a source of joy and inspiration to all the world.” Walter E. Disney, July 17, 1955
Step onto the sidewalk anywhere on famed Hollywood Boulevard and you'll certainly see a number of stars... the bronze ones on the sidewalk, that is. The Walk of Fame was inaugurated in 1960 and more than 2,300 have been emblazoned with the names of famous personalities who've left their mark in the fields of radio, television, motion pictures, recording, and live performance. Free time to get some lunch in Hollywood. After our lunch time, we will head to Beverly Hills! Who hasn’t wanted to visit one of the most famous neighborhoods in the US and take a stroll down the well-known shopping street Rodeo Drive! 2:30 PM – time to head to the beach! We’ll spend a couple of hours soaking up that California sunshine in the sand.
DAY 5
Los Angeles, CA Breakfast (included). 8:00 am - Before we head to Universal Studios Theme Park (included) we will make a stop to check out the entire city at Griffith Observatory! Griffith Observatory is in Los Angeles, California, United States. Sitting on the southfacing slope of Mount Hollywood in L.A.'s Griffith Park, it commands a view of the Los Angeles Basin, including downtown Los Angeles to the southeast, Hollywood to the south, and the Pacific Ocean to the southwest. 10:00 am - Universal Studios Hollywood is a movie studio and the original Universal Studios theme park. Its official headline is "The Entertainment Capital of LA," though during the summer it is often advertised as "The Coolest Place in LA." It was initially created to offer tours of the real Universal Studios soundstages and sets. 7:00 pm - Dinner (included). Before dinner you'll have some time to explore Universal City Walk. Often filled with live
7:00 pm - Dinner (included) at the park and some time to relax before the famous fireworks!
7:00 pm - Dinner (included). Tonight is the farewell party. Let's have a great last night with all your new friends, and get ready to go back to your host families.
DAY 7
Los Angeles, CA 8:00 am - Breakfast and get ready for an exciting tour of Hollywood! We will arrive and go directly to Madame Tussauds, the Wax Museum (included). After, time to check out the Mann's Chinese Theatre that hosts many film premieres. One of its attractions is the famous cement forecourt containing hand and footprints of numerous screen legends including John Wayne, Marilyn Monroe and Jack Nicholson, just to name a few. The Kodak Theatre is the crown jewel of the Hollywood & Highland Center retail, dining and entertainment complex located in the heart of Hollywood. This 3,400 seat theatre opened in November 2001 and soon thereafter became known to more than one billion people across the globe as the first permanent home of the Academy Awards.
DAY 8
Departure Day from Los Angeles, CA Breakfast before departures (included). DEPARTURE DAY: All day our staff will be taking groups of students to the airport for their departures. Departures are between 8:00 am — 3:00 pm PST from Los Angeles (LAX) on this day. Students are not permitted to stay longer than the planned trip —all departing flights must be scheduled for this day. If there are any flight cancellations or delays, we will communicate with the host family. Thanks for travelling with us and we look forward to seeing you very soon! Belo USA Travel
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Useful Hints MANDATORY ITEMS: • Original Passport - students will not be allowed to travel without their passport; • Approximately US$ 175.00 for personal expenses during the trip, such as meals, gifts, and others. If you are interested in buying gifts, remember to bring a larger amount; • Alarm clock;
• Sandals, sneakers, tennis shoes and/or trekking boots;
• If you bring a credit card, leave a copy with your host family;
• Swimming suit.
• Any medication you take regularly.
• T-Shirts; • Cap;
ADDITIONAL SUGGESTED ITEMS:
• Sweatshirts
(Remember to put your name on your belongings!)
• Layered clothing;
• Camera, memory card and charger;
• Personal products;
• Video Camera and charger;
• Sunscreen, sunglasses;
• Cell phone and charger;
• Lock for luggage.
CLOTHING AND NECESSARY ITEMS:
OTHER
• Shorts, Jeans - take a look at the weather before you leave home and decide what you will need to wear;
• Accessories (belt, etc.);
• Flag from your country;
• Watch;
• Musical instrument you play, etc.
Price Includes • Transportation in coach buses; • Bottled water inside the bus for the travel day; • 4 Nights in Los Angeles Area (4 person shared accommodations); • 3 Nights in San Francisco Area (4 person shared accommodations); • 7 Breakfasts at the hotel; • 7 Dinners;
Hotel LOS ANGELES, CA Holiday Inn Buena Park 7000 Beach Blvd. Buena Park, CA 90620 Phone: (714) 522-7000 www.hibuenapark.com
• Ticket to Universal Theme park; • Ticket to Disneyland; • Ticket to Alcatraz Tour in San Francisco; • Ticket to Madame Tussauds (Wax Museum) in Hollywood; • Ticket for the Cable Car Ride in San Francisco; • City Tours mentioned in the program;
SAN FRANCISCO, CA
• Local specialized Guides; • Transfer Airport - Hotel - Airport; • Belo USA Coordinator; • Belo USA Monitor; • Chaperone; • 1 Trip T-shirt; • 1 Trip Video.
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• MP3 and/or I-Pod;
Hilton Oakland 1 Hegenberger Rd. Oakland, CA 94621 Phone: (510) 635-5000 www3.hilton.com
General Conditions 01. English is the official language of this trip. 02. It is not allowed, under any circumstance, for any student to separate from the program during the trip. 03. All students must bring their original passport on the trip, however please leave a copy of your passport with your host family. 04. Each student must submit the proper authorization forms to the Belo office 7 days before the start of the trip or their reservation may be cancelled. Students who arrive on the trip without the proper forms submitted will not be able to participate, and will responsible for any fees associated with an early return flight. Additionally, at the beginning and end of the trip, each student must leave from and go directly to their host community, unless the student has written permission from Exchange Student Organization and their host family. 05. Belo USA Travel Inc. is not responsible for buying any bus, airline and train tickets from the trip's final destination to your host city. It's the student's responsibility to pay for the ticket. 06. Illegal drug use of any kind is prohibited. 07. Stealing of any kind will be severely punished in addition to any possible legal consequences. 08. Purchasing or consuming alcoholic beverages is strictly forbidden. 09. Tattoos and body piercings are extremely discouraged and allowed only with the preauthorization of the natural parents and sponsor/local Exchange Student Organization. 10. Our schedules and itineraries must be followed by all students. The trip coordinator reserves the right to make changes in the schedule, when necessary, or if it is in the best interest of the group. 11. Lodging does not cover incidental costs, such as phone calls, mini-bar purchases, etc. If the students decide to use these services, they are responsible for paying these costs. 12. Keep luggage to a minimum. All students will carry and be responsible for their own luggage at all times. The maximum amount allowed is 50 pounds (23 kg) and a carry on bag (small bag or back pack). Remember to keep those items you will need during the day with you on the bus - like iPods, cameras, wallets, etc. 13. Students must be approved by Exchange Student Organization in order to travel. Students who have faced disciplinary action with Exchange Student Organization may be denied approval for participation. 14. All departure/arrival times from/to our activities will be decided by the coordinators, depending on the exact length of each activity. 15. The trip has a limited number of vacancies, which will be filled on a “first come – first serve” basis. 16. There must be at least 35 students signed up to open up the trip. However, there is a possibility for us to open more buses depending on the number of reservations. 17. Belo USA Travel Inc. reserves the right to operate the trip program backwards (i.e., switching the departure city and the arrival city) if needed because of number of students and availability.
18. Swimming: Even if you know how to swim please BE CAREFUL, because you are unfamiliar with the pool/places and are not aware of all potential hazards. 19. Please note that additional expenses are different for each individual. We believe that $25/per day is enough for food, extra entertainment, optional items, etc, but remember to bring additional money if you are planning to buy gifts. Also remember that anything you buy will have to fit into your suitcase in order to get it on the bus and back home.
33. In case you do not receive an email containing the link to the video, please contact Belo USA with your current email address. 34. Please make any comments or complaints regarding the trip in writing (via email or standard letter) to Belo USA Travel within 30 days of the end of the trip to ensure Belo USA a chance to respond. All contracts with Belo officially end 30 days after the trip and Belo USA, the tour operator, is therefore relinquished of any responsibility.
20. There will be plenty of ATM machines available during the entire course of the trip in case you need more money.
35. Once any student requests the description of any of the trip's programs organized by Belo USA Travel Inc., the client declares to know and to agree with all the terms of this “General Conditions”, that can be found in our trip program or on our web site.
21. Please bring all cash in US dollars.
Cancellation and Refund Policy:
22. If you are not comfortable traveling with cash, Traveler's Checks are a safer option. Most banks in the US can provide you with Traveler's Checks, which are accepted at most commercial locations.
36. In case we do not achieve the minimum number of participants needed, Belo USA Travel Inc. reserves the right to cancel the trip or to transfer the date and/or to offer other options of tours as well, according to the clients wish. If this occurs, all payments already made will be returned in full.
23. Travel expenses from your host city to the trip's departing airport are not included in the program fee. 24. If you take any regular medication, make sure to bring enough for the trip's duration. Also, please bring a copy of the prescription in case you might need it (just to be safe.) 25. Since we will be outside, please be careful and use lotion/sunscreen. 26. If any student's conduct is considered harmful to the rest of the students, or if any student breaks any of the program rules, he or she can be sent back to their host community immediately, assuming all extra costs, to his or her host city/family. Additionally, any violation of the rules and any students removed from the program will be reported to Exchange Student Organization. 27. All prices are in US dollars. In case of payment by international wire transfer, the dollar/euro/your local currency exchange rate to be considered for conversion will be the one listed by Chase Bank / JP Morgan on the day that the payment arrives in the USA. 28. All other optional activities that may be offered during student's free time are considered extra costs, and are not included in the overall trip price. 29. Belo USA Travel Inc. is not responsible for the cost of the student's travel expenses from his/her host city to the departure point and back. 30. Lost & Found: all the students' items found during the trip will be sent to Belo USA's office and kept for 60 days after the end of the trip. Any student who has lost something must send us an e-mail with the description of the item within 60 days of the end of the trip. Postage to return the item to any student is the student's responsibility. 31. All students who take part in this trip grant image use rights to Belo USA to produce a Trip VIDEO, as well as use of photos from the trip on our website and program materials. 32. The Trip Video will be sent to the students within six months of the completion of the trip. Belo USA will contact students by email when the video is ready. You will be sent a link and a password in order to view and download the video.
37. If the student chooses to leave the program or is sent home for breaking any program rules, he/she will pay a penalty according to the date of his written order to cancel the tour, read below: * Cancelled more than 30 days before the beginning of the trip: 10% of the trip's price. * Cancelled between 29 and 21 days before the beginning of the trip: 20% of the trip's price. * Cancelled between 20 and 7 days before the beginning of the trip: 40% of the trip's price. * Cancelled between 6 days or less before the beginning of the trip: 100% of the trip's price. - If a student cancels his or her trip, any payments previously made cannot be transferred to another student or host sibling. 38. Any student who leaves the trip during the program, for any reason, will not receive any refund. 39. A request for reimbursement due to trip cancellation because of an early return of the exchange student to his/her original country, must be made to Belo USA Travel Inc. at least seven (7) days in advance of the program trip's departure. After initial request, reimbursement will be made to a U.S. bank account and the penalties will be applied according to the “cancellation and refund policy” above. If the student does not follow the deadline established by the program, making it necessary for us to proceed with the reimbursement through International Wire Transfer, all taxes and bank fees will be the client's responsibility. - In case of early return of the student from the trip or to his/her original country, cost of return ticket is the student's responsibility. 40. Any cancellations or withdrawals must be made in writing – via letter, fax or email – by the tour's participant to Belo USA Travel Inc. 41. Belo USA Travel is not responsible for any reimbursements or change fees associated with flight or travel arrangements. Operated by:
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