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Table of Contents | Tour Guide | School Tours | Inbound Services | Group Tours | Careers at NAT | Site Map

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Who we are:

Our philosophy on group travel, the fine print, our experience, our office hours,
how to contact us and our professional affiliations.

Welcome to Notch Above Tours!  Founded in 1993, Notch Above Tours is a Vermont-based, full-service Tour Company providing an incredible range of motorcoach tours and tour design services.  Our tours feature fascinating locations throughout the United States and Canada.  Since our humble beginnings, we have served thousands of satisfied travelers with tours that blend entertainment, history, learning and discovery.  We are active members of the National Tour Association, the American Bus Association, the Vermont State Chamber of Commerce, the Vermont Tourism Network, the Vermont Convention Bureau, and a host of other regional Chambers of Commerce.  We serve travelers throughout Northeastern America, as well as visitors to the region from other areas of the continent and foreign countries.  Our guiding philosophy is:  to treat our clients the way we would want to be treated.  To create and conduct the best, most innovative tours possible.  To continue to learn, improve and have fun while we do it.

It has been my pleasure to apply my two decades of cultural, educational and travel tour experience to providing tours of exceptional value.  At Notch Above Tours, we go the extra mile to ensure a memorable mix of entertainment, historic and cultural significance, and above all, fun.  Our tour guides are friendly, highly experienced and able.  Our drivers are courteous and take great pride in providing the ultimate in traveler comfort and safety.  The quality of our motorcoaches (Mercedes-Benz Setras) are the pinnicle of luxury coach technologies.

We are pleased to answer any of your travel questions promptly.  Please feel free to contact us via e-mail, telephone, FAX, or by U.S. Mail; it will be our pleasure to serve you.  In the meantime, thank you for taking the time to visit our web pages and please don't miss our HELPFUL HINTS, pages devoted to helping you organize your travel for the best, most hassle-free experience.  We look forward to traveling with you soon!

OUR PARTNER HOTELS provide special rates for Notch Above travelers who want to stay overnight before a tour begins or after the tour  concludes.  Contact the hotels directly to make reservations and learn about preferred rates.  Mention the "Notch Above Tours rate" when you telephone.

•  Burlington Area - Vermont Maple Inn, 84 South Park Drive, Colchester  (802)655-1400 www.vtmapleinn.com
•  Rutland - Holiday Inn, 476 US Route 7 South, Rutland  (802) 773-6130 www.holidayinn.com
•  White River Junction - Hotel Coolidge, 17 South Main, Hartford (White River Junction) www.hotelcoolidge.com

IMPORTANT NASCAR INFORMATION  Advance reservations are required for all tours. Deposit required at the time of reservation. - $300 per person for Richmond and Martinsville, $400 per person for Charlotte and Bristol.  Payment: Check, MasterCard, VISA, or AMEX. The balance of payment is due no later than 45 days before departure. Refunds are given for legitimate reasons unless payments have been made to race tracks, hotels, restaurants and attractions and they do not refund Notch Above Tours. Non-refundable deposits to suppliers are in fact non-refundable. Typically, smaller refunds result when cancellations are made closer to the tour departure date. Notch Above will purchase tickets for the races on behalf of its clients. Once the tickets are purchased, they are non-refundable and become the property and responsibility of the client

Race Cancellation -  Notch Above will not be held responsible for race cancellations due to rain or conditions outside our control. If a Sunday race is rescheduled and held on Monday, we will normally stay for the Monday race which will add one day to the tour. Notch Above will make additional hotel arrangements, if available, at the client’s expense. If the race is rescheduled for another day or canceled, we can only make refunds to clients if we receive refunds from the racetracks and suppliers.  Tour Protection Plan -  We are pleased to offer our clients a travel protection plan at additional cost. The Plan has limited coverage for  trip cancellation and interruption. Contact us for a brochure.

SPECIAL NOTE FOR BASEBALL TOURS -  Rain Outs/Cancellations: Notch Above Tours will not be held responsible for game changes due to weather, delays, or otherevents beyond our control.  When tickets are refundable, not exchangeable, your ticket cost for the tour will be refunded. No other part of the tour cost will be refunded due to inclement weather/rainouts or other conditions beyond our control.

PLATTSBURGH, RUTLAND & WHITE RIVER JUNCTION SHUTTLE SERVICE - To make your travel more convenient, Notch Above is pleased to offer shuttle service to and from our departure locations. On multi-day (two or more day) tours, we will provide shuttle service from Plattsburgh to Essex Junction and from White River Junction to Rutland (for tours departing from Rutland) and from Rutland to White River Junction (for tours departing from White River Junction). The cost is $20 per person round-trip. Advance reservations are required. Operation of the shuttle service is contingent upon a minimum number of  travelers.  Contact  us for additional information.

CANCELLATION & REFUNDS - Notch Above Tours charges a modest cancellation fee: $10 per person for one-day tours and $25 per person for multi-day tours. Our refund policy is very generous by industry standards and is certainly one of the most "customer friendly" policies in our region. We normally give you back whatever we get back from suppliers minus the cancellation fee. If hotels, restaurants and attractions do not refund us, we cannot refund you. Non-refundable deposits to suppliers are in fact non-refundable! Typically smaller refunds result when cancellations are made close to the tour departure date. Notch Above will purchase tickets for concerts, sporting events and other performances on behalf of its clients. Once these tickets are purchased, they are usually non-refundable and become the property and responsibility of the client. You may purchase Travel Insurance to help protect your travel investment.

TRAVEL INSURANCE - Through our membership in the American Bus Association, we are able to offer our travelers a very competitively priced policy to help protect your investment in travel. The plan protects you if you need to cancel your tour for covered reasons prior to departure or if other covered unforeseen circumstances arise during your tour. A flyer with information is normally sent to you when you register for a tour. Contact our office for information. Insurance is offered through Insure America, A Division of Travel Guard International. They have a toll-free number (1-866-385-4839) if you have questions about the policy. When calling from abroad, call collect 1-715-295-5452.
Two important notes:  1. You must purchase the insurance within seven days after your initial deposit to waive the Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion. 2.  Medicare does not cover expenses incurred outside the United States. That means Medicare does not cover expenses in Canada. If you have supplemental insurance, those expenses may be covered by that company (check directly with them).  The Insure America policy applies to domestic and international travel.

NATIONAL TOUR  ASSOCIATION - Notch Above Tours has been selected for membership in NTA, the premier association for group and packaged travel professionals. Each member must abide by a stringent code of ethics. NTA serves as a consumer advocate through membership requirements and education.

TOUR PRICING - What is typically included? Luxury motor coach transportation, professional Notch Above Tour manager, baggage handling on multi-day  tours (one suitcase per person), all sightseeing, attraction fees, and meals listed as included in the tour description and taxes and gratuities for meals and attractions listed as included. What is typically not included? Any alcoholic beverages you personally request with meals, any incidental hotel charges such as telephone calls and room service, and anything listed as “optional” in the brochure as well as customary gratuities for tour manager, driver and local guides. Prices listed are subject to change.  We do our best to avoid raising prices, but since tour prices are determined far in advance, we must reserve the right to add a surcharge or to modify or cancel a tour if we are faced with significant increased costs and/or currency fluctuations over which we have no control.

GRATUITIES AND TIPPING - Tipping can be awkward for many people. Your tour price typically includes gratuities for baggage handling (hotel porters) and restaurant servers. Gratuities for the tour manager, driver and any local guides are not included in the tour price and should be extended on a voluntary basis. Tipping tour managers, driver and guides is a way of showing your appreciation for service, attentiveness and attitude. On multi-day tours (for your convenience) Notch Above provides gratuity envelopes in your pre-tour package. We discourage any solicitation of gratuities. If you encounter this, we recommend you offer no gratuity.

WHAT’S A “SINGLE” ROOM - AND WHY IS IT MORE EXPENSIVE?  Hotels frequently charge us a “flat” room rate (i.e. $x per room per night).  We take that amount and divide it by the number of people who will be sharing that room.  The per person amount is going to be less as the number of people in the room increases.  Thus the rate for a single room is higher than the rate for a quad (4 people per room).  Notch Above does not charge a “single” fee nor any other fee for single travelers other than the additional cost of the hotel room(s).  The cost of meals, attractions, transportation, etc. remain the same no matter how many travelers in your party.  When requested, we will refer single travelers to other single travelers who ask us to help them find a roommate.  With your permission, we provide those requesting this service with the names of any others requesting a roommate.  We strongly recommend that you get together before the tour for coffee or lunch to determine your compatibility.  Once you both agree to share a room, you both need to notify us to inform us of that decision. Triple & Quad Room Information:  It is important to note that the number of beds in the room does not normally change as the number of people sharing that room increases.  Two people in the room usually have two beds; three people have two beds; and four people have two beds.  That means rooms with three or four people should assume there will be more than one person in each bed. Occasionally we can request rollaway beds for travelers who opt for triples or quads.  Availability varies by hotel and there is often a fee for the additional bed.

TERMS OF SERVICE - Notch Above Tours, Inc., acts only in the capacity of agent for the tour participant. We in no way represent or act as agent for travel service suppliers such as hotels, motels, restaurants, sightseeing attractions and tours, and transportation, and we accept no responsibility or liability caused by the defect or negligence or default of any company or person engaged in carrying out or performing any of the services involved. We cannot be held responsible for events beyond our control, such as (without limitations) acts of God, declared or undeclared war, strikes, government restrictions, terrorist activities, defects in vehicles, breakdown of equipment, delay, or cancellation of, or changes in itinerary or schedule. We reserve the right to make changes in the published itineraries whenever, in its sole judgement, conditions so warrant, or if we deem it necessary for the comfort, convenience or safety of our tour participants. We reserve the right to withdraw without penalty any tour announced. Our sole liability upon cancellation of a tour is the refund of monies paid. We also reserve the right to decline to accept any person as a participant in a tour or to end an individual’s participation in a tour at any time when such an action is determined by the appropriate NOTCH ABOVE TOURS staff to be in the best interests of the health, safety, and general well being of the tour group, or of the individual participant. Any dispute or controversy that might be the subject of any action in court shall be governed by the laws of the State of Vermont and shall be resolved through binding arbitration in accordance with the terms and conditions of Title 12, Vermont Statutes Annotated, Chapter 192.

MAKE YOUR RESERVATION BY TELEPHONE, FAX OR U.S. MAIL.

Notch Above Tours, Inc. •  PO Box 367 • Jeffersonville VT 05464-0367
1-800-639-2367 • (802) 644-8027 fax (802) 644-8038 • info@notchabovetours.com

  • Advance reservations are required for all tours
  • For one-day tours, full payment is expected when making your reservation
  • For multi-day tours, a deposit of $100 per person is expected when making your reservation.
    Some multi-day tours may require a larger deposit.
  • Payments may be made by check, VISA, MasterCard. or American Express
  • NEVER SEND PAYMENT INFORMATION VIA EMAIL! Always use the telephone, or U.S. Mail.

WHY SHOULD I TRAVEL WITH NOTCH ABOVE TOURS?

Choosing a tour company is an important decision.  You are entrusting your valuable time and money with a company about which you may know very little.  Listings in the yellow pages or ads in the local paper do nothing to verify a company's stability, credibility and legitimacy.  We encourage you to take a few minutes to do some research to avoid travel scams.

1. Verify that the tour company is a legitimate business
… Notch Above was incorporated in the State of Vermont in 1993 and is an S-Corporation (Federal ID #03-0338391)

2. Verify that the tour company deposits your payments in a business account
… All payments to Notch Above are deposited in a Union Bank business escrow account

3. Verify that the tour company or travel agent is a member of a professional association
Notch Above has been selected for membership in the National Tour Association (NTA).  NTA requires that members:
… Hold at least $1,000,000 in Professional Liability, Errors and Omissions Insurance
… Have been in the packaged travel business a minimum of three years
… Have conducted at least 24 tour departures or 50 touring days in North America during the two 12-month periods prior to applying for membership.
… Submit references from NTA members with whom the applicant has conducted business
… Agree to abide by the NTA Code of Ethics

Notch Above also holds membership in the Vermont State Chamber of Commerce, American Bus Association, Vermont Tourism Network, Stowe Area Association, Vermont Convention Bureau, Champlain Regional, Smugglers' Notch & Plattsburgh/North Country Chambers of Commerce.  We were also selected for membership in the International Airlines Travel Agent Network, committed to upholding professional business standards that are widely recognized in the travel industry.

4. Carefully read the company¹s cancellation and refund policies
… Notch Above¹s policies are very generous by industry standards and are certainly one of the most "customer-friendly" policies in our region.  We normally give you back whatever we get back from our suppliers minus a small cancellation fee.  If hotels, restaurants and attractions do not refund us, we cannot refund you.  Non-refundable deposits to suppliers are in fact non-refundable.  Typically smaller refunds result when cancellations are made closer to the tour departure date.  Many companies set refund policies which are percentages with no relationship to the amount of money they receive back from suppliers.  Our position is not to make money on cancellations.

5. Verify that the tour company has errors and omissions, professional liability insurance coverage.
… Notch Above holds a $1,000,000 policy.  Certificates are available from our agent.

6. Ask for references from a client with whom you are familiar.
… Notch Above is always happy to provide names of individual travelers, group leaders, school officials and other tour companies who have used our services.

7. Prior to payment, review complete details about any tour in writing.
… Notch Above provides detailed itineraries, cost and payment information and terms in writing for each proposal we prepare.

8. Avoid high pressure sales with a limited time to evaluate the offer.

9. Beware of companies sending a courier for a check or requesting a direct bank deposit or certified check.

10. Decline offers requiring a property sales presentation.

11. Request specific hotel and coach names, addresses and Œphone numbers.  Broad terms such as "all major hotels" are big warning flags.

12. Insist on a local telephone number if you are given only an 800 number.  This will establish that the tour company or travel agency has a central office from which it operates.
… Notch Above has an 800 number (800-639-2367), local number (802-644-8027) and e-mail address (info@notchabovetours.com).  Our office is located at 64 Church Street, Jeffersonville, Vermont 05464.

13. Never use 900 numbers.

14. Make sure you are comparing "apples to apples" and "oranges to oranges".
Two competing tour proposals may in fact include significantly different qualities.  Are the hotels comparable? (Notch Above normally uses three and four star properties).  Are you comparing fast food meals in one proposal to four-star dining in another?  Are the motor coaches modern, state of the art touring coaches or are they older, well-worn buses?

15. If you receive a vacation certificate in the mail, take it to your local National Tour Association tour operator or the Better Business Bureau who can evaluate the offer.

16. Call the National Fraud Information Center (800-876-7060), the Federal Trade Commission (202-326-2000), or the Vermont State Consumer Assistance Program (800-649-2424) to report all incidences of travel-related fraud.

17. Just remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it is!

Notch Above is a Vermont-based, locally owned group tour business.  Our office is located in classic Victorian building in the village of Jeffersonville, Vermont.   We pride ourselves in personalized attention and quality tours.   While you tour with us our tour manager is with you and available to assist at all times.  Unfortunately, we cannot be in our office every day, every hour 24/7). However, we do have a voice mail message system on our telephone lines and we regularly respond via e-mail as well.  On weekends and evenings, especially during busy seasons, we check both voice mail and e-mail messages on a regular basis.
 

Our regular office hours are:    Monday-Friday 8:30am ­ 4:30pm

We appreciate your interest and look forward to having you join us on our tours!

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Table of Contents | Tour Guide | School Tours | Inbound Services | Group Tours | Careers at NAT | Site Map

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Call Toll Free 1-800-639-2367 •  email us
 

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