OVERVIEW

The Swiss Alps and Lakes, the French Alps and Provence will appeal more than ever when you take this special interest tour, showcasing some of the most interesting bridges of Europe. Christian Menn designed the Sunniberg Bridge in Klosters and Felsenau Viaduct in Bern. The elegant arch of the Salginatobel Bridge near Schiers was designed by Robert Maillart. The Tri-Countries Bridge at Weil-am-Rhein near Basel links France, Switzerland and Germany. French structural engineer Michel Virlogeux and British architect Norman Foster combined their talents to create the Millau Viaduct. The innovative design and aesthetic appearance of these civil engineering masterpieces render this a unique experience.

ITINERARY

AIR SCHEDULE

The exact timing of these flights is subject to change and will be reconfirmed.
Check-in at the airport should be 3 hours prior to departure time.

HOTEL ADDRESS

Hotel Senator

Heinrichstrasse, 254-256

Zurich, Switzerland

http://senator.hotelszurich.it/

My Suite Gaillard

102, Rue de Geneve

74240 Gaillard, Annemasse, France

http://www.mysuiteapparthotels.com/en/index.php

Mercure Centre Hotels

Avignon

Specific property to be advised 21 days prior to arrival.

http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-0549-mercure-pont-d-avignon/index.shtml

All Seasons Gare de l'Est

1 et 3 rue de Château Landon 

75010 Paris, France

http://www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-2730-all-seasons-paris-gare-de-l-est-chateau-landon/index.shtml

PRICE

$2,525.00 (includes airfare, taxes and surcharges)

This price includes:

*  Airfare from Philadelphia to Zurich, returning from Paris with US Airways
*  Airport taxes and surcharges

*  Breakfast daily
*  Hotels as follows (subject to final confirmation):
    - 2 nights Zurich Hotel Senator with hot buffet breakfast
    - 1 night My Suite Gaillard Hotel with continental breakfast
    - 2 nights Mercure Centre Hotel with hot buffet breakfast
    - 2 nights Paris Hotel All Seasons Gare de l'Est with cold buffet breakfast

*  Transfers, assistance, guide services and sightseeing as per itinerary

*  8 nights accommodation in double room

*  Supervision of Penn State Faculty

This price does not include:

* Single room supplement + $ 555 .00

* Merchant fee of 3.5% on payments made by Visa or MasterCard

* Cost of personal items: phone, drinks, laundry, etc

* Gratuities to local guides and drivers

* Meals other than specified

* Optional travel insurance covering trip cancellation

* Passport and visa fees

Everyone needs a passport valid until November 24, 2010. If you are not an American citizen, a visa may be required. A Green Card is compulsory.

COURSE REGISTRATION

Students planning to register for course credit should take the following steps to enroll:

1) Meet with your academic advisor to discuss how this course will impact your educational progress. If you de-termine that you will be taking the course for academic credit, have your advisor sign a drop/add form to add this class. Forms are available in C216 Olmsted.
2) Contact the travel agency to pay the deposit or total cost for the trip and obtain a receipt from the travel agency showing you have paid the deposit or cost of the trip.
3) Bring your signed drop/add form and your travel agency receipt, Registrar’s Office in Swatara Building to enroll in the course.

Course requirements will include mandatory pre-departure meetings during spring term, group reading, journals and a final project to be turned in after return.

Registration for the trip through Celestial Voyagers is necessary by February 1, 2010.

If you are an undergraduate honors student, there is scholarship money available through the honors program at Penn State Harrisburg. Please contact Dr. Sims for honors funding. In addition, the University has money for students traveling internationally.

For details visit  http://psu.edu/dept/iit/hbg/international/index.php

There are also a limited number of travel awards on a first-come, first-served basis in the Office of International Programs at Penn State Harrisburg. Please contact Marie-Louise Abram for information.

COURSE DESCRIPTION

C E 497—Special Topics—2 Credits

"Design and Construction of Bridges in Europe" provides stu-dents with a basic understanding of Europe's bridges including history, the design and construction process, and the impacts on the society. The course will include classroom lectures, on-site visits, and research for students to understand bridge building in Europe.
Several award-winning, modern bridges in Germany, Switzer-land, and France will be explored. Other tour opportunities may be scheduled to take advantage of the rich artistic heritage of the region to enrich the student's cultural experience.

TRIP REGISTRATION

Registration online: (click here)
Register online, then mail your deposit immediately with copy of your passport, if available, along with the optional travel insurance amount to:

Celestial Voyagers
27-28 Thomson Avenue, SW11
Long Island City, NY 11101

Registration by mail:
All registrations for this trip should be submitted online

PAYMENT (TERMS & CONDITIONS)

Celestial Voyagers’ terms relate to contracts with airlines, hotels and other suppliers. The regulations below must be strictly enforced as they are related to these contracts.

Deposit $500 .00 due upon registration and before February 1 , 2010

Balance due no later than  March 26, 2010

After February 1st, full payment is due with registration

All check payments to be made out to Celestial Voyagers escrow account. Your deposit secures your  reservation with the airline, the hotel and other suppliers. It must be sent with a copy of your passport and the registration form.

Credit card payments:
We accept Visa and MasterCard. Since Merchant fees are not included in the package price, a 3.5% supplement applies should you wish to pay by credit card.

Cancellation:
All cancellations must be received in writing. The following penalties apply:

* $150.00 non-refundable processing fee

* $150.00 additional fee for cancellation received between February 1st and March 1st

* Penalty of 50% of the total trip cost if cancellation is received between March 2 and March 25

* Penalty of 100% of the total trip cost if cancellation is received on or after March 26 and in case of a no-show.

These policies will be strictly applied.

TRANSFERS CAMPUS/AIRPORT/CAMPUS

Transfers between Penn State Harrisburg Campus and international departure airports such as Newark, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington Reagan, Washington Dulles or JFK are always included in our tour  price if the group has 25 passengers or more.

Should the group be smaller than 25, either you will be responsible for transportation or the Office of International Programs will charge you for a charter bus service to the airport. You will be notified if a charter service is planned and what the supplement will be.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

All travelers on Penn State programs are required to purchase travel insurance through HTH Worldwide. Students will be sent enrollment information 2 weeks prior to departure. Non-students must purchase TravelGap or TripProtector from http://www.hthtravelinsurance.com.

Contact: Marie Louise Abram at mla9@psu.edu with questions.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

Travel documents will be sent to Penn State College and delivered by your professor.

If your documents have to be sent directly to you, you must submit your request for this service in writing and supply your address. Somebody will need to be home to sign for the package and a $20.00 administration, handling and mailing fee applies.

CONTACTS

For more details on the program or for additional information, please contact:

Marie Louise Abram,  Director of International Programs and External Relations
Phone: 717-948-6316
E-mail: mla9@psu.edu

Dr. Joe Cecere,  Associate Professor of Engineering
Phone: 717-948-6135

E-mail: jjc3@psu.edu

Dr. Barbara Sims,  Director of the Honors Program
Phone: 717-948-6044

E-mail: bas4@psu.edu

All travel arrangements are made by:

Celestial Voyagers, Inc.
Francoise, Leigh or Jimmy
27-28 Thomson Avenue, SW11
Long Island City, NY 11101

Email: sales@celestialvoyagers.com
Phone: 516-829-1525
Fax:      718-729-0306

Friends and family of Penn State students, faculty and employees are welcome on our trips.