Tours Abroad.
Page 23
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THE REMARKABLE success which
• has attended the motor coach tours organized by Pickfords, Ltd., in this country—which, by the way, are dealt with in another part of this issue—has prompted this well-known company to extend their touring activities to foreign fields. They organized many interesting tours, during the first season following the conclusion of the war, to the battlefields of France, and we know that these tours have proved exceedingly popular. These trips are included in the forthcoming season's programme, and although their popularity may somewhat diminish as the war recedes into the past, there are many to whom they must always appeal as aids to pilgrimages, and for others they will provide a means of spending an instructive and healthful holiday. To refresh the memories of our readers (fur we dealt with these tours some months ago) we would mention that the itinerary includes visits to the districts in and around Verdun, Champagne, the Aisne, the Somme, Arras, Artois, Ypres, the coast defences of Belgium, and famous Zebrugge. The journeys are made by a combination of rail and motor 'coach, the former means being used to link up those parts of the journey which are separated by less-interesting districts. Paris—Which always makes special appeal to the tourist in France —has two days devoted to it, whilst the visit to Ostend also adds to the attraction of these tours.
For the 1921 season Pickfords, Ltd., have added to their motor coach trips abroad a comprehensive tour in Switzerland. Could a more unique and fascinating manner exist of seeing the worldrenowned Charms and beauties of the Alpine Republic? It is doubtful.
The vehicles which are to be used on these tours are a combination of Swiss and English design, the chassis being constructed by the famous Swiss concern of Saurer, whilst the luxurious body fitted, which seats 23 persons, is similar to that which has been standardized for use on vehicles engaged on long-distance tours in Great Britain, which, by the way, is the company's registered design. The bod17, is provided with armchair seats, the frames of which are of ash, keing constructed in pairs. The inner
i seat s staggered a few inches in order to provide an arm rest for the inside passenger, whilst the central gangway running the whole length of the seating space allows passengers to gain easy access to the seats. A luggage compart ment for small personal belongings is provided at the rear of the vehicle on a level with the back of the seats, access to it being given from the interior of the body. This compartment provides the means for storing the hood around it, so that no part of the latter projects, either at the sides or the backs, beyond the body width and length. This construction, apart from maintaining the graceful lines of the body, permits of the full width of 7 ft. 6 ins. which is allowed by law to be used in the build of body.
A further compartment of capacious proportions is also provided at the rear, and this is intended for the reception of heavier luggage. The vehicles are well appointed in every respect, and certainly provide the first essential in prolonged holiday touring by road motor—that of the maximum of comfort.
To return to the Swiss tour, the route selected is one of the most beautiful, and includes visits to Paris, Berne, Lucerne, . Engelberg, Interlaken, Grimmialp, Châteaux d'CEx, Montreux, and Lausanne. The motor coach part of this tour, which occupies 12 days, is confined to Switzerland, the journey to and from London, Paris, and Berne being carried out by rail and sea. The first of the Swiss tours starts on May 14th and the. last on September 26th, the interval between these dates being, covered by 15 similar tours. The hotels which have been chosen by Messrs. Pickfords for their patrons include some of the finest in Switzerland.
A tour of this description should provide a reseful and worry-free holiday, for the tourist is spared all those little incidentals (such as obtaining passports and securing the necessary visa) which are usually inseparable from a holiday abroad. The inclusive charge for this tour is 29 guineas, but, if the shorter sea passage is preferred, an extra two guineas is charged, both of these figures including all meals and first-class rail and boat accommodation.
Another concern which has shown commendable initiative in arranging tours to France and Switzerland is Messrs. Chapman and Sons, of Victoria Place, Eastbourne. Their motor coach tours to the battlefields have proved
exceedingly popular, and their programme for the forthcoming season includes a 7 days' tour and 12 days' tour through France and Belgium, the charge for the former being 15 guineas and for the latter 25 guineas, which includes first-class boat and hotel accommodation and tips to hotel servants.
The first of the 7 days' tours starts on April 14th, others being run on April 26th, May 19th, and June 16th, whilst the 12 days' tour starts on May 5th, others being run on June 2nd and June 27th.
Another magnificent tour organized by this Eastbourne concern is a 25 days' trip through France and Switzerland for an inclusive figure of 55 guineas. This tour will leave on May 2nd, and visits will be made to Paris, the Rhone Valley, Geneva, Interlaken, Lucerne, the Rhine, Irons Basle to Strassburg, AlsaceLorraine, Rheims, Amiens, etc.
We reproduce on page 185 a photograph of one of the company's Dennis vehicles at Nice.