UC Retirees Travel offers a variety of tour types. Many of our tours are exclusive to UC Retirees travelers, but others will be a mixture of our travelers and other group(s) or individual travelers.
You have many choices for group travel, but UC Retirees Travel offers an opportunity to travel with other retired faculty and staff from the 10 UC campuses and three national laboratories. We find that our travelers often share an instant camaraderie and similar approach to world travel because of our shared history working for the University of California.
By traveling on our escorted trips, you help to support CUCRA (Council of University of California Retirees Associations), a systemwide consortium of volunteer representatives from all the UC retiree associations. CUCRA represents retiree interests and advocates for retiree benefits in regular meetings with UC leadership. For example, CUCRA was instrumental in establishing the UC Healthcare Facilitator program, maintaining UC contributions to retiree healthcare premiums, advocating for the establishment of campus-funded retirement centers, and encouraging campuses to offer retiree perks such as free or reduced parking and continued use of UC email. The UC Retirees Travel program helps CUCRA continue to be the voice for UC retired faculty and staff.
UC Retirees Travel partners with three different tour operators:
With at least 12 UC travelers, the trip will include a UC Retirees Travel escort. With fewer than 12 travelers, escorts will still provide pre-trip assistance, but will not accompany travelers on the trip. In this case, travelers will still have the tour operator's dedicated trip leader for the duration of the main trip.
Each tour is led by a trip leader working for the tour operator. The trip leader is an experienced bilingual or multilingual guide in the country/cities you will be visiting. The trip leader coordinates all details while on the tour, including the itinerary, transportation, group activities, any local guides, meals, and accommodations. A UC Retirees Travel escort is a UC-affiliated volunteer that does much of their work pre-trip but also assists the trip leader as needed during the trip.
You pay the same for our tours whether you book one of our scheduled tours or book the same tour on another date directly with the tour operator.
UC Retirees Travel is managed by volunteer UC retirees working out of their home offices. The best way to reach us is via email at UCRetireesTravel@gmail.com.
UC Retirees Travel offers a variety of tour types. Many of our tours are exclusive to UC Retirees travelers, but others will be a mixture of our travelers and other group(s) or individual travelers.
It is important that you review the trip flyer, including the daily itinerary and activity level, before registering for a trip. Most of our travelers are moderately active to very active retirees, and daily itineraries may include three or more hours of physical activity and walking on uneven terrain. If you are unsure about the appropriateness of a trip, ask the tour operator or email us with specific questions.
Most of our land tours include daily walking tours that range from one to two hours each. In some cases, the trip leader can offer easier alternatives and travelers can always choose not to participate in certain activities. Most UC Retirees Travel land tours are not appropriate for those who use walkers, wheelchairs, or motorized scooters, as assistance or accessibility in international destinations cannot be guaranteed.
River cruises are usually the best option for those who prefer a more leisurely schedule or for those with mobility limitations. The ship serves as a floating hotel, so travelers just unpack once for the duration of the cruise. Most vessels can accommodate walkers and/or wheelchairs, but not all tours will be accessible. For those looking for tour operators specializing in travelers with mobility limitations, WheelTheWorld.com offers group tours.
Register directly with the tour operator for your desired trip. Click on the trip image on the UC Retirees Travel website to view the trip flyer with details and registration information. The trip flyer will list the group number or trip number that you will need to give the tour operator to ensure that you are correctly registered with our group trip.
Prior to the final payment date, trips can be reserved with a deposit, the amount of which varies by tour operator, and the cost of travel protection insurance, if desired. Trip flyers list the deposit amount. If booking after the final payment due date, payment in full is required when registering. Final payment for most trips will be due 90 days prior to departure; trips that include ships typically have earlier final payment dates.
Many of our trips are popular and fill many months to a year or more prior to departure, so early registration is advised. Each tour operator sets its own cancellation policy, so check the trip flyers for details. Generally, if you cancel prior to the tour operator's specified cancellation deadline, you will receive a cash refund. Collette and Premier offer an exclusive benefit of refunding trip insurance if a trip is cancelled prior to the specified date for that trip, but OAT does not refund the cost of trip insurance once it is purchased. If you move to another trip with the same tour operator rather than cancelling, your trip insurance can usually move to the new trip. After the specified cancellation date, cancellations will incur a charge that increases as the trip date nears. Trip insurance provides protection from these cancellation charges.
Yes, friends and family are always welcome on our trips. If they book the air-inclusive option and are flying from other cities, they can meet you at the destination and do not have to route through Los Angeles or San Francisco. Flight prices may vary depending upon departure city.
Our air-inclusive trips include economy flights, a dedicated tour leader, hotels, most group activities, many meals, and transfers, as well as gratuities for local guides, bus drivers, and waitstaff for included group meals. Not included are:
We list air-inclusive prices from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) because most of our travelers depart from one of those two airports. However, travelers can depart from any city, and do not have to route through SFO or LAX. When booking your trip, let the tour operator know your desired departure city. Prices may vary for other departure cities.
All of our trips include an air-inclusive price as well as a land-only price, so if you prefer to book your own flights, book the land-only tour. Be aware that if you book your own flights, you will be responsible for booking your own arrival and departure transfers between the airport and hotel.
The tour operators have contracts with specific airlines, so let the agent know your preferences when you book your trip. In some cases, you will be able to request specific airlines and/or routing, but there may be an additional fee. In most cases, you can arrive early, stay later, or add a stopping point enroute.
Each airline has different policies, but in general, the tour operator can arrange for an upgrade to business class or first-class tickets for an additional fee. Depending on the airline, upgrades to premium economy may be available, but in many cases, you will need to arrange for your own upgrades directly with the airline once the tour operator has ticketed your flights, usually 45-60 days prior to departure. If upgrades are vitally important to you, and the tour operator cannot make the arrangements you prefer, we recommend purchasing the land-only tour and arranging your own flights.
Testing for COVID-19 is no longer required unless a country we are visiting has this requirement. Participating in group activities carries a risk of exposure to any number of communicable diseases, including COVID-19. UC Retirees Travel strongly recommends that travelers receive the COVID vaccine as well as all boosters for which you are eligible. Read more about our COVID-19 protocols here.
It is highly recommended that travelers purchase travel insurance.