Normally we include transportation, Tour Director, lodging, baggage handling, appropriate meals, attractions, show admissions, taxes and gratuities on included items.

Not included are incidental hotel charges, meals not specifically listed, alcoholic beverages, travel protection insurance, items of a personal nature, optional activities/tours and the customary end-of-tour gratuity for the tour director and driver.

We’re sorry, but we cannot "just put my name on the list.” You can hold your reservation ONLY by placing the appropriate deposit, (required for overnight or longer tours), or full payment, (required for one day tours),  for each person travelling on a tour package. Seats are NOT guaranteed until the appropriate deposit or full payment is received.

The payment options are simple:

1. Cash, Check, Money Order or credit card (We accept; MasterCard, Visa, Discover/Novus, American Express and Diner's Club).
2. Mail or phone

Contact our office for availability, reservations and payments. 

Get Away Tours and Cruises, Inc. office hours are:
9 AM to Noon, CENTRAL Time, Monday through Friday

We WILL miss you on one of our fun tours if you do not make an early reservation. Some tours fill-up quicker than others because they are very popular, such as the Mystery Tour. You MUST have a paid reservation or deposit in order to guarantee your seat. Or, a tour may cancel when we do not have enough reservations paid when we have deadlines to meet.

Don’t procrastinate about a tour and be too late to join the fun. The costs, deposits and reservation deadlines for tours are listed on this website. Please note what they are. The earlier you sign-up for a tour the less chance you have of being disappointed.

We board the motorcoaches at the following locations. Pick-up locations may vary according to how many people are going and where they are located.

Valparaiso: Village Park Enrichment Center at Banta, 605 Beech Street

Chesterton: St. Patrick Church, 638 N. Calumet

Merrillville: Sam's Club parking lot, U. S. 30 and Colorado Street

Hammond/Highland: Cracker Barrel Restaurant, I-80/94 (Borman Expressway) and Kennedy Avenue

Lansing, IL: Lot behind Ridgeway Chevrolet at 178th and Torrance Avenue

The full legal name for each person traveling is now required by both airlines and cruise lines. No nicknames or abbreviations are permitted. Names, including their spelling, not matching travel documents will prevent you from boarding your flight and/or cruise. The name MUST match the photo ID you use. Get Away Tours and Cruises, Inc. is not responsible for any costs, delays, or other problems incurred by an individual because the name and documents do not match.

You must provide us with the full legal name for each person traveling before the travel documents are issued. You are responsible for any charges or fees incurred for a name change after the documents are issued.

Due to heightened security U. S. Citizens MUST present a valid, current U. S. passport when returning to the U. S. from any foreign country by land, air, or sea. This includes returning from Canada, Mexico or the Bahamas. Failure to have a valid passport can result in lengthy delays, fines or even refusal to admit you to the U. S. Get Away Tours and Cruises, Inc. is not responsible for any costs or delays incurred by an individual because of failure to posses a valid passport. 

For more information, please visit the State Department travel website at www.travel.state.gov or the U.S. Department of Homeland Security website at www.dhs.gov.

To apply for a passport, U.S. citizens can visit www.travel.state.gov or call the U.S. Passport Office at 1-877-4USA-PPT, (877-487-2778). Passport applications may also be obtained at any U. S. Post Office.

All documents for overnight or extended tours will be mailed two to three weeks prior to the tour departure date.

There are no travel documents, other than your receipt, sent prior to a one day tour. Tickets for shows or other attractions will be given out on the tour.

EMERGENCY INFORMATION - Download Form 
Complete a separate form for EACH person – Do not put two people on the same form

Please take the time to fill out this form completely and accurately. Bring your completed form along and give to your tour director on the first day of the tour. Since the information is personal it will ONLY be used in the unlikely event of an emergency. Then it will become very important and could save valuable time when given to qualified medical personnel. In order to maintain the privacy of your information the form is not seen by anybody else, is not used for any other purpose and is shredded after the tour.

Tipping is an individual decision. If you feel you have received good service from someone reward them at the end of the day, or the end of the tour, by presenting a tip personally.

Who to tip, when to tip and how much to tip? These are some of the most perplexing questions tour members have when traveling. We normally include a standard gratuity for all items included on the tour. You like to reward people for a job well done. If you feel you have received exceptional service from anyone you may provide them with an additional amount at your discretion.

According to Ted Bravos from the International Tour Management Institute in San Francisco, "The suggested gratuity today for a driver is a dollar to a dollar and a half per day per person; the rate for a tour director is a dollar and a half to two dollars per day per person."

You may also wish to tip persons whose services are not included in the cost of the tour. Those services may include cocktails, maids, services of a persoanl nature, extra meals, your tour director, motorcoach driver, or anyone else you may feel is deserving.