Book your ultimate road trip on the Shannons Club Tour of Route 66 Shannons are excited to announce the first exclusive Shannons Club Tour in conjunction with Classic Driving Tours, a 20-day guided self-drive tour on America s most iconic highway - Route 66. Tour in style driving two American muscle cars, swapping between a Chevrolet Camaro SS Coupe and a Mustang GT Convertible. Starting in Chicago, the tour takes The Mother Road west across eight states all the way to Los Angeles, California. Experience classic Americana, including amazing scenery, classic cars and bikes, historical landmarks and much more! Chicago Springfield St Louis Lebanon Carthage Tulsa Clinton Amarillo Santa Rosa Albuquerque Gallup Winslow Grand Canyon Kingman Las Vegas Los Angeles
TOUR DATES AND COST $10,595 Per person based on two people sharing a room and car hire. * 26 July 2019 14 August 2019 19 nights / 20 days total You must be a Shannons Club member to participate in this exclusive Route 66 Tour. If you re not a Shannons Club member, join today at shannons.com.au/club it s free. This exclusive tour is limited to 20 vehicles, please ensure you book early to avoid disappointment. The Shannons Club Route 66 Tour will be an unforgettable experience shared with a group of Shannons Club motoring enthusiasts from Australia. For further enquiries regarding the Shannons Club Route 66 Tour call Classic Driving Tours +61 (0) 755 774 655. Please Note: The tour cost does not include airfares and airport transfers, personal expenses, fuel, tolls and other items. See the full list of tour exclusions. *A non-refundable deposit of A$1,000 per person is required to be sent with the Booking Form directly to Classic Driving Tours, once received and cleared, your booking is secured. The balance owing for the Tour is due and payable four months prior to Tour departure, however you may remit payment of the Tour prior to this date. If you submit a Booking Form within 4 months prior to your Tour departure, you will be required to pay for the Tour in full. All Tour prices are in Australian dollars based on the exchange rate for the US dollar applicable on 1/8/18, include GST, and are subject to change and availability. Price increases may occur by reason of matters outside the control of Classic Driving Tours, which include, but are not limited to, adverse currency fluctuations, fuel surcharges and other taxes, fees or charges. All bookings are subject to Classic Driving Tour s Purchase Terms and Conditions and Classic Driving Tour s Cancellation and Refund Policy and should be read before making a booking. View these documents at shannons.com.au/club/tours/route66 within the Tour Dates and Cost section. All tours are organised by Classic Driving Tours only and Shannons Pty Limited ABN 91 099 692 636 (Shannons) is not responsible for the Tours, Tour prices, cancellations and changes to Tours. Shannons accepts no liability for any acts, omissions or default, whether negligent or otherwise of Classic Driving Tours. TOUR INCLUSIONS Accommodation > > 19-nights hotel accommodation Dining > > Full breakfast everyday > > 7 Dinners - Welcome and Farewell Dinners include sodas, beer and wine Transport > > 19-days car hire - Chevrolet Camaro SS Coupe and Mustang GT Convertible > > Car parking > > GPS Navigation with full route planning (returned at tour end) Activities & Tours > > Klairmont Kollection Chicago > > Route 66 Museum in Pontiac > > Meremec Caves > > Grandhall Experience in St Louis > > The Gateway Arch in St Louis > > Oklahoma Route 66 Museum > > Heartland of America - Oklahoma > > Acoma Sky City Tour > > Meteor Crater Arizona > > Grand Canyon National Park > > Hoover Dam > > Carroll Shelby Museum > > Petersen Museum Los Angeles
TOUR ITINERARY The Route 66 Tour is a fully guided self-drive tour with an itinerary planned by experienced, well travelled and passionate motoring enthusiasts. You will be provided with a fully programmed GPS with each day s itinerary, points of interest, hotels and restaurants. Along with a detailed Road Book that provides you with some history of the area, and may include some anecdotes or stories about the places you are passing. The tours are organised, but you don t have to be. Many choose to stay with the group at least for the first few days until becoming accustomed to the local conditions. You are free to spend your days as you wish, at your own pace and catch up with the group at the end of every day. Combining the benefits of independent travel with the support of experienced leaders. Day 1: Chicago - 26th July Arrive into Chicago and transfer to the SpringHill Suites in Downtown Chicago. Check-in time is 4:00pm. A Shannons Welcome Pack comprising Shannons Route 66 Tour caps and polo shirts will be waiting for you at the reception. Meet your tour guides and fellow travelers in Holloway s Bar for a welcome drink. Hotel: SpringHill Suites Chicago Downtown Day 2: Chicago - 27th July Today starts with a breakfast briefing at the hotel followed by a 5-minute walk to collect our cars. Once everyone is familiar with their car, we drive 30 minutes out of Downtown to the Klairmont Kollection, a 300-car private collection. Vehicles range from a 1906 American Motors Tourist and rare 1924 Pierce-Arrow Series 33 to a 1958 BMW Isetta and 1979 Ferrari 308 GTS. Lunch is available at the collection, and we return to the hotel mid-afternoon to prepare for our Welcome Dinner in a private room at Harry Caray s Italian Steakhouse which is within an easy walking distance of the Hotel. Hotel: SpringHill Suites Chicago Downtown Day 3: Chicago to Springfield Illinois - 28th July Attractions on the way today include the Route 66 Welcome Centre at Joliet, The World s Largest Coke Bottle, Abraham Lincoln National Cemetery, The Polk-a-Dot Drive In, Route 66 Hall of Fame Museum, Shea s Gas Station (reported to be the oldest on Route 66) and the Cozy Dog Drive-In, the birthplace of the corn dog. Our lunch stop is at the Edinger s Filling Station in Pontiac and we stay overnight at the Route 66 Hotel in Springfield Illinois. We catch up every evening and dinner tonight is your choice, the Mother Road Diner is a good option. Hotel: Route 66 Hotel, Springfield Illinois Day 4: Springfield Illinois to St Louis Missouri - 29th July Back on the road today towards St Louis. Stops today include Becky s Barn, the 1929 Chain of Rocks Bridge, the 1924 Coliseum Ballroom Antique Mall, Henry s Rabbit Ranch & Country Classic Cars. This afternoon, in St Louis we ll tour the iconic Gateway Arch where the unique tram will lift us 630 feet up to the top of the tallest man-made monument in the United States. Our hotel tonight is the St Louis Union Station Hotel, and we start with the Grandhall Experience and follow with dinner in the Station Grill. Hotel: St Louis Station Hotel, Curio Collection by Hilton
TOUR ITINERARY Day 5: St Louis to Lebanon Missouri - 30th July Just an hour s drive west of St Louis, our first stop for the day is the Meremec Caverns, a set of limestone caves that opened as a tourist attraction in 1935. Back on the Mother Road for a little more adventure, highlights today include the Jesse James Wax Museum, Circle Inn Malt Shop, the 1934 Wagon Wheel Motel, Totem Pole Trading Post and the 1923 Devils Elbow Bridge to name a few. If you re up for another Route 66 Museum, the one in Lebanon is highly rated. We overnight downtown and tonight we have planned a BBQ around the pool for dinner. Hotel: Hampton Inn & Suites Lebanon Day 6: Lebanon to Carthage Missouri - 31st July Just out of Lebanon is the historic Gay Parita s Gas Station and if you are looking for souvenirs, today s your big chance as a little further on is the World s Largest Gift Store right next door to Redmon s Candy Factory. Continue to avoid the Interstate and enjoy the old road, on the way into Carthage we pass the historic Boots Motel that is in the process of being renovated by local Route 66 enthusiasts. Our overnight is the Quality Inn & Suites. Dinner tonight is your choice. Hotel: Quality Inn & Suites Carthage Day 8: Tulsa to Clinton Oklahoma - 2nd August About 95% of our drive today is along the original old road with just a few miles of interstate. We pass through Chandler, one of the best preserved old towns on the Oklahoma stretch of Route 66 and just west of town is the Seaba Station Motor Cycle Museum. We ll stop at the Round Barn in Arcadia and Pop s Cafe fronted by a 66-foot tall soda bottle. Watch for the 1924 Blue Dome Gulf Oil Service Station, Depew Loop & Station, 1933 Texaco Station, the Round Barn, Lucille s Gas Station and the 1930 Milk Bottle Grocery. There s lunch and photo options a plenty. Our hotel tonight is the Hampton Inn, and dinner is your choice. Hotel: Hampton Inn & Suites Clinton Day 7: Carthage to Tulsa Oklahoma - 1st August An easy day today as we head into Oklahoma which boasts more Route 66 miles than any other state, on the way we cover the 13 miles of Kansas Route 66. The famous Old Riverton Store is about an hour from Carthage and a good stop for coffee and some nostalgia. Known for its murals, Quapaw is the first town we reach in Oklahoma and shortly after we detour onto the Sidewalk Highway, a very narrow stretch parallel to US 69. Our lunch stop is Clanton s Cafe in Vinita, famous for its chicken-fried beefsteak. Optional stops this afternoon could include the J.M Davis Arms Museum with over 14,000 firearms, and the Blue Whale at Catoosa just before we reach Tulsa. Our hotel tonight is the Doubletree Downtown, and hot food and cold beer at El Rancho Grande, famous for Mexican food on Route 66 since the 1950 s. Hotel: DoubleTree by Hilton Tulsa Downtown Day 9: Clinton to Amarillo Texas - 3rd August Welcome to the Indian Territories. Before we leave Clinton, we ll stop at the Oklahoma Route 66 Museum, a true showcase of Mother Road history and culture. We call into Elk City for the Sandhills Curiosity Shop and the Mediocre Music Makers. Then onto McLean for the barbed wire collection at the Devils Rope Museum and the beautifully restored Phillips Gas Station. You only need a light lunch today as our hotel tonight is right near the Big Texan Steak Ranch. Try the 72 oz steak - you just have to eat it all to get it free. Hotel: Hampton Inn & Suites Amarillo East
TOUR ITINERARY Day 10: Amarillo to Santa Rosa New Mexico - 4th August First stop today is the Cadillac Ranch, a classic landmark beside the road consisting of ten Cadillac cars which are half buried nose-down in the ground in a single file. Created in 1974, the cars were buried in their original conditions, with their normal body colour. However, the cars did not remain untouched for long, shortly after 1976, visitors started painting graffiti on them, and there was no way to protect the cars. The Cadillacs were repainted over the years, with many different colours and hues. Pink was quite popular, so was red, but the graffiti would return every time. Continuing west we explore the ghost towns of Glenrio and Endee, take some time for lunch in Tucumacri and end the day at the Santa Rosa Route 66 Museum. Dinner tonight is your choice. Hotel: Best Western Garden Inn, Santa Rosa Day 11: Santa Rosa to Albuquerque New Mexico - 5th August We will bypass the old alignment for Route 66 to Santa Fe and continue west to Albuquerque and our hotel in Old Town. Albuquerque was founded in 1706 with Old Town s oldest surviving buildings located along the Plaza and today the historic Old Town district stretches for about ten picturesque blocks offering an authentic experience of southwest heritage. Our hotel is in the heart of Old Town, and you will have time to explore the village before one of the included dinners tonight in the hotel. Hotel: Hotel Chaco, Albuquerque Day 12: Santa Fe - 6th August Rest today in Albuquerque or visit Santa Fe, one of the highlight cities of Route 66. Santa Fe is about an hour each way, so there s ample time to explore this iconic Route 66 city that combines Spanish Colonial and Native American Pueblo culture and history. Arts, crafts, food and amazing outdoor plazas with some historic Route 66 attractions are throughout the old town. Return to Albuquerque at your leisure and dinner tonight is your choice. Hotel: Hotel Chaco, Albuquerque Day 13: Albuquerque to Gallup New Mexico - 7th August About an hour west of Albuquerque, we turn off Route 66 to Acoma Pueblo and Acoma Sky City. Acoma Pueblo is the oldest continually inhabited city in the USA and the site of the San Esteban Del Ra Mission built between 1629 and 1640. We ll take a guided walking tour of the city and lunch at the Yaaka Cafe for a taste of traditional Acoman food before continuing to our overnight stop at Gallup. Dinner tonight is your choice. Hotel: Spring Hill Suites by Marriott Gallup Day 14: Gallup to Winslow Arizona - 8th August Today s first stop is the Yellowhorse Trading Post for yet more souvenirs, and then we detour off Route 66 to the Petrified Forest National Park, a huge landscape dominated by red vistas of the Painted Desert. After a quick stop at the Visitors centre, we drive the 28-mile loop through the park to rejoin Route 66 and head further west to spend the remainder of the day in Holbook. The historic sites in town will fill the day and don t miss lunch at Jo & Agies Café who have been serving great food since the 1940 s. Stop by the iconic freestanding teepees of the Wigwam Motel. We overnight at the La Posada hotel in Winslow, a huge ornate Spanish-style hotel, which was a favourite amongst the rich and famous in the 1930s. Dinner tonight is your choice. Hotel: La Posada Hotel and Gardens, Winslow
TOUR ITINERARY Day 15: Winslow to Grand Canyon Village Arizona - 9th August Time this morning to Stand on The Corner before we leave Winslow and head west for the Meteor Crater a few miles off the highway. At Winona, we turn north to follow a road around the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, and there s plenty of time in the afternoon to explore. Our hotel tonight is on the very rim of the canyon and dinner tonight at the hotel is included. Hotel: El Tovar Hotel, Grand Canyon Day 16: Grand Canyon to Kingman Arizona - 10th August An hour south of the canyon is the classic Route 66 town of Williams. Spend some time here but 30 minutes down the road is Seligman, the home of Route 66 and a great historic district. Stop for a soda at Snow Cap Drive-in and call into Seligman Sundries for a bit of history. Next stop is the Hackberry General Store for a bit more nostalgia before continuing on the Kingman for our overnight. Dinner tonight is your choice. Hotel: Hampton Inn & Suites Kingman Day 19: Las Vegas - 13th August We tour the Carroll Shelby Museum this morning then head out to Boulder to drive across the Hoover Dam before heading back into Las Vegas for our last afternoon in town and our Farewell Dinner at The Venetian Casino. Hotel: The Venetian, Las Vegas Day 20: Los Angeles - 14th August A late start this morning as we head out to Los Angeles and our last day on the road. We pass the northern border of the Mojave Desert and stop for lunch at Peggy Sue s 50 s Diner that was established in 1954 and has become a must stop on the way from Las Vegas to Los Angeles. In Los Angeles we ll tour the Petersen Museum for one of the USA s best car collections then late afternoon head down to the Santa Monica Pier for a final farewell before returning our cars and taking the shuttle to the airport for the flight home. Day 17: Kingman to Las Vegas Nevada - 11th August Leaving Kingman, we take one of the highlight roads of the tour to Oatman an old gold mining town in the Black Mountains where we take time out to walk the town in company with the burros that freely roam the main street. Passing through Laughlin, we ll lunch at Terrible s Roadhouse in Searchlight before rolling into Las Vegas, our home for the next three nights. Hotel: The Venetian, Las Vegas Day 18: Las Vegas - 12th August A free day today to explore The Entertainment Capital of The World. Las Vegas has something for everyone from the world s best shows to some outstanding shopping. And don t miss Fremont Street where it all started. There are no formal events planned for today, so it s play on, and we all meet again in the morning. Hotel: The Venetian, Las Vegas
TOUR HIRE CARS Experience the iconic Route 66 in a couple of America s favourite cars, a Chevrolet Camaro SS Coupe and a Mustang GT Convertible. During the tour you will get to swap between the two vehicles to get the best of both worlds! Car hire is subject to availability and the terms and conditions specified by the hire provider. In the event a specified vehicle is not available, a suitable replacement will be included. TOUR EXCLUSIONS > > Return airfares to USA > > Airport transfers, taxes and excess baggage charges > > Cost of meals and drinks and entry to places of interest other than those specifically included in the final itinerary > > Visa and passport fees > > Travel insurance > > Optional activities and personal expenses > > Fuel and Tolls See the Classic Driving Tour s Purchase Terms and Conditions for more details. View these documents at shannons.com.au/club/tours/route66 within the Tour Dates and Cost section.
TOUR FAQ I haven t driven in another country before, is it difficult? Changing from right to left hand drive, or vice versa is not as difficult as imagined and you may find that you will settle in to the wrong side of the car within a couple of hours. No navigation skills are required and each car is provided with a GPS navigator (to be returned at the end of the tour) with each day of the tour route pre-loaded so you just need to follow the spoken directions and if you choose to take a detour, the GPS will get you back on track. What meals are included? Breakfast is included every day and the included dinners are usually on the first night when we are staying more than one night at a hotel or we are in a remote location. On other nights dinner is of your choosing and we can provide you with options if you do not wish to dine in the hotel. Lunches are usually not included except when we have the opportunity to dine somewhere that offers something unique. How do I book? Once you have decided to join the Shannons Club Route 66 Tour, download the booking form from the Book Now link at shannons.com.au/club/tours/route66 and either email it to Classic Driving Tours driver@drivingtours.com.au or send by post with your deposit, as per the instructions on the booking form. Once your booking has been received Classic Driving Tours will send you confirmation of your acceptance and a receipt for your deposit. For further enquiries regarding the Shannons Club Route 66 Tour call Classic Driving Tours +61 (0) 755 774 655. Can I go by myself or is it only for couples? Yes, although you may incur some cost penalties if travelling alone as most hotels charge by the room. If you are considering travelling alone contact Classic Driving Tours on +61 (0) 755 774 655 for more details, and they will do their best to match you up with a compatible partner. What is the dress code? Daywear is as informal as you wish and smart casual is sufficient for evening wear. What type of people will I meet on the tour? The common interest is a love of driving, adventure, good food, fine wine and interesting company. You will meet people from many and varied backgrounds. We limit the number to 20 cars or 40 people and you will be sure to find other participants that share your interests. Some have been touring for years while others are first time tourers.