Sightseeing

Your Tour Director
Because the person you are most likely to remember from your Cosmos experience is your Tour Director, we go to great lengths to find the most professional guides. All natives, they deliver commentary in English but are able to speak at least one other language, so that they get around with ease in the countries you are traveling in. Expect your Tour Director to be knowledgeable, friendly, and eager to help you enjoy your holiday. In North America you will have Local Hosts and/or access to a 24-hour customer service hotline on holiday extensions.

They often have bright, witty personalities, and love to share anecdotes and chit-chat with “their family.” They can fill you in on a quaint little restaurant just two blocks from your hotel or suggest a shop where you’ll find the best buys. These very knowledgeable, delightful professionals can truly make your holiday a breeze. They ensure that you not only see the sights, but that you experience and live your holiday.

Scheduled group activities and free time
The success of an escorted holiday depends to a large extent on the operator’s skill in striking the right balance between scheduled group activities and free time. Cosmos planners try to give you as much free time as possible. Leisure time is important so that the less energetic can rest and the independently-minded can roam on their own. Your Tour Director is always on hand, with shopping tips and suggestions for optional side trips and entertainment.

Sightseeing and highlights included in the price
Our packages take in Europe’s most popular highlights. They are carefully planned to include visits to places of interest and panoramic drives through areas of natural beauty. There’s so much for you to look forward to! In Europe, you can cruise down the Rhine River; visit Athens, Istanbul, Lisbon, Madrid, Moscow, Paris, Rome, Venice, Vienna, and other great cities with knowledgeable Local Guides. And in North America you can ride a snocoach on Alberta’s Columbia Icefield, tour Washington DC and Québec City with expert Local Guides, and cruise the swampy waterways of Louisiana’s bayous. Please refer to the itineraries for a complete description of what is included in the holiday of your choice.

Optional excursions at unbeatable value
In addition to included sightseeing, we offer a rich program of optional excursions, all full of interest and very reasonably priced. You’ll particularly enjoy our optional nights out, such as a Swiss folklore evening in Lucerne, a Scottish evening in Edinburgh, a Greek taverna night in Athens, a cabaret in Paris, or a boat cruise on beautiful San Francisco Bay, helicopter flightseeing over the Grand Canyon, and a narrow-gauge train ride in Skagway.

Optional activities can be booked through your Tour Director. Many optional excursions are mentioned in the package descriptions. Your pre-holiday literature will specify cost and content of the optional highlights that may be offered during your trip. This enables you to budget accordingly before you leave home.

Shopping with Cosmos
For those interested in shopping, we recommend shops where we can vouch for the integrity of the owners. The merchants we suggest offer an excellent selection of the best local products. The prices are reasonable. The staff speak English and can efficiently dispatch bulky purchases to your home. When necessary, our shops give reliable post-sale service. Shopping can be one of the great pleasures of traveling, and with Cosmos, it’s safe.