OUR FABULOUS ITINERARIES

MEMPHIS & TUPELO LUXURY BREAK

Day 1. Tuesday 26th April 2022

Morning departure from London’s Heathrow* Airport for the flight to the USA. We’ll clear through US Immigration & Customs at a Gateway airport before taking our onward flight to Memphis. Coach transfer to the hotel. Remainder of the evening at leisure, perhaps for your first look at the beautiful Graceland mansion.

The Guest House at Graceland.
5 nights.

An exciting addition to the Graceland complex, this luxury class full-service hotel is an experience in itself. With 450 handsomely furnished, all en-suite rooms, a choice of restaurants and a lobby bar and a sports bar, a Ballroom, convention facilities, a 464 seat theatre, a large outdoor pool and pool bar, the hotel is set in beautifully landscaped grounds adjacent to Graceland’s Chapel in the Woods and the Graceland mansion.

Day 2. Wednesday 27th April

Morning visit to Graceland. Your ‘Elvis Experience + Airplanes Pass’ entitles you to a self-guided tour of the mansion plus access to the all-new Elvis Presley’s Entertainment Complex with admission to Elvis’ aircraft, the Presley Motors Automobile Museum and other Elvis exhibits – so much of the day will be taken up with those.  Evening at leisure – why not enjoy dinner at Marlowes situated on Elvis Presley Boulevard – a well-known Memphis restaurant that’s popular with Elvis fans.

Day 3.  Thursday 28th April

Today we’ll have a full day’s comprehensive guided sightseeing tour of Elvis’ Memphis, starting with the Circle G Ranch before heading downtown and taking you to all the major sights of the city but with emphasis on Elvis’ life here. You’ll see where he lived, where he went to school, performed and shopped and lots more besides. It includes a tour of the famous Sun Studio, a visit to the Presley family’s Lauderdale Courts apartment plus lunch at the Arcade Restaurant - a downtown ‘diner’ that was one of Elvis’ favourite eating-places. Evening free.

Day 4. Friday 29th April

Another real treat today as we head south, over the Mississippi State Line and on to Tupelo, the town where Elvis was born. We’ll first of all take you to the Birthplace itself – a humble little building that’s now the most popular visitor attraction in the whole of the State. Time here to also visit the Elvis Museum and Visitor Centre and to stroll through the lovely landscaped grounds. Then it’s back on the coach for a guided tour of the sights of Tupelo and we’ll show you lots of places that are so relevant to Elvis’ life here. Time for photo’s and a bit of exploring before we take you to a large shopping mall – a great place to eat and to have some retail therapy before we head back to Memphis, arriving in the mid-evening.

MEMPHIS, TUPELO, FORT CHAFFEE, SHREVEPORT & NEW ORLEANS
‘The King Creole Tour’

Days 1 to 6.

Tuesday 26th April to Sunday 1st May 2022

Exactly as per the Memphis & Tupelo Tour except that instead of flying back to the UK on Sunday afternoon we join our coach and head west, over the Mississippi River into Arkansas – taking the same route that Elvis would have taken on the 24th March 1958 as he headed for Fort Chaffee after being inducted into the US Army. We’ll stay overnight at the Comfort Inn Hotel in nearby Fort Smith – frontier gateway to the Wild West.

Day 7. Monday 2nd May

Morning for us to explore fascinating Fort Smith and to visit the original Fort to hear stories of soldiers serving on the very edge of Indian Territory, of dangerous outlaws, brave lawmen and a ‘Hanging Judge’. We’ll take a tram ride through the town before heading out to Fort Chaffee. The army base has mostly gone but there’s still the Fort Chaffee Museum and the Barbershop Museum for us to see – complete with the barber’s chair where Elvis received the most famous army haircut in history. Onward then to Shreveport, Louisiana where we check-in to our hotel, the Homewood Suites.

Remainder of the evening at leisure.

Day 8. Tuesday 3rd May

Morning’s short guided tour of Shreveport culminating in a visit to the Municipal Auditorium, the vast theatre that was the home of the famous Louisiana Hayride radio show and where Elvis became a regular performer between 1954 and 1956. Outside are statues of Elvis and also of James Burton - Elvis’ favourite guitarist who hails from Shreveport and still runs his Charitable Foundation

from here.

Remainder of the day at leisure – a chance perhaps to visit the massive 8th Air Force Museum in the twin-city of Bossier, to explore at leisure or perhaps to just relax by the hotel pool? Optional evening visit to a floating Casino.

Day 9. Wednesday 4th May

A full but fascinating day as we drive south through the heart of Louisiana before a lunch stop after-which we’ll join the winding River Road alongside the Mississippi River past many beautiful ‘Gone With The Wind’-style plantation homes, stopping at one where we’ll have a guided tour. Mint Julip anyone?

We’ll arrive into New Orleans in the early evening and after checking into our hotel, the Holiday Inn – Superdome, the remainder of the evening is free for you to take your first look at this exciting city.

Days 10 and 11. Thursday 5th and Friday 6th May

Two glorious days to enjoy the City of New Orleans. Our comprehensive walking tour* of the famous French Quarter will include the places where the location shots for Elvis’  King Creole were filmed and the luxury hotel where Elvis stayed whilst making the movie.

You’ll love New Orleans – one of the most colourful cities in the USA. Any excuse for a parade (even a funeral!), for bursting into music (the street musicians are sensational) or for eating….the food here is mouth-wateringly sumptuous – whether it be Creole-style fine dining or just beignets (French-style doughnuts) and coffee at a sidewalk café. There are lots of interesting optional excursions also planned including a swamp tour, Mardi Gras Museum visit and a movie tour (New Orleans is fast becoming a second ‘Hollywood’ with regard to the number of movies made there). Plus there’s shopping opportunities a’plenty and a final chance for a laze in the sun on the hotel’s pool deck.

*Tour coaches are not allowed in the narrow streets of the French Quarter but don’t worry it’s neither too far nor too fast.

Day 12.
Saturday 7th May

Morning at leisure. Mid-afternoon departure for the return flight to the UK.

Day 13.
Sunday 8th May

Mid-morning arrival back into the UK.

Questions Answered

The Tour Price is inclusive of all the following:-

Memphis & Tupelo Tour

• Scheduled economy class flights inc. taxes and Security Charges

• Five nights luxury accommodation at The Guest House at Graceland

• Airport transfers and coaching as per itinerary inc. the Memphis Shuttle Bus Service

• A Tour Pass for Graceland including the Mansion tour and admission to the aircraft,
  car museum and other Exhibits

• A guided tour of the Elvis sights of Memphis including tours of Sun Studio,

  the Presley’s Lauderdale Courts Apartment and lunch at the Arcade Restaurant
• A full day visit to Tupelo including a guided tour and admission to the
  Elvis Presley Birthplace and Museum

• Driver gratuities

• The services of an experienced Elvis Travel Service Tour Manager
 

The King Creole Extension Tour

As above plus…

• Coach travel via Fort Smith/Fort Chaffee and Shreveport to New Orleans

• One night’s accommodation at the Comfort Inn in Fort Smith

• Two nights at the Homewood Suites hotel in Shreveport

• Three nights at the Holiday Inn Downtown/Superdome in New Orleans

• Breakfast daily throughout the Extension Tour.

• A guided tour of Shreveport and the King Creole tour of New Orleans.

• Admission to Fort Chaffee, Fort Smith, the Municipal Auditorium in Shreveport, and the Laura House Plantation Home.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

It is mandatory that all passengers have sufficient travel insurance. Please telephone America as you like it on 020 8742 8299 who will be pleased to recommend cover for you. Cover is not effective until the premium has been paid and your application approved by the insurers. If you are relying on travel insurance provided by your bank or credit card provider as part of their service please check that their cover is sufficient, in particular with regard to cancellation charges.

FLIGHTS AND TIMINGS

The flights will be in economy class on a major scheduled airline from London’s Heathrow* Airport. *Please contact us for a price from other UK airports.  Flight times will be confirmed on your Confirmation-Invoice although these are subject to change. The baggage allowance is 50lbs(22kgs) per person.

EXCHANGE RATES

The tour price is based at the currency exchange rate at the time of costing this holiday - £1. Sterling being equal to $1.34 US Dollars.

PASSPORTS AND VISAS

A full Electronic Passport (e-Passport) issued by the UK government or a member state of the European Union and valid for at least 6 months after the date of return to the UK is required. Visas are not required by the majority of British Citizens travelling on a UK Passport, however we recommend you check your eligibility at https://uk.usembassy.gov/esta/. UK Passport Holders should ensure that they have completed the online Visa Waiver Form (ESTA) at https://esta.cpb.dhs.gov/ at least 72hrs before the date of travel. The charge for an ESTA is currently $14 per person and can be paid using most debit/credit Cards. Without a valid ESTA you would be denied boarding by the airline. The registration is then valid for 2 Years or until the expiry of your passport (whichever is the sooner). If you do not have access to the ESTA website then the Elvis Travel Service are happy to do this for you. Please contact them on 01473 621 564 and have your UK passport details available. Holders of all other passports should consult the US Embassy for visa requirements.

HEALTH

No vaccinations or inoculations are currently required for British Subjects. The Department of Health produces the Health Advice for Travellers booklet (T) which is available from your local Post Office or by telephoning 0800 555 777 free of charge.

CLIMATE AND CLOTHING

The weather in late April/Early May in Tennessee and Louisiana is probably at its best this time of the year with relatively low rainfall and average daytime temperatures in the mid to high 20’s C (75’ – 85’ F.) so best take light-weight clothing but with a jumper or light/mid-weight jacket for the cooler evenings (or for the low air-conditioning setting in many restaurants and bars!).

Also don’t forget a comfortable pair of walking shoes or trainers for sightseeing. The USA is known for its informality and so nowhere (not even at these lovely hotels) are you expected to ‘dress-up’ – however there will be a few opportunities in the evenings for those who might wish to do so.

PAYMENT AND TRAVEL DOCUMENTS

£600 per person deposit is payable upon booking. Upon receipt of your deposit (and obviously subject to places being available) you will be sent a Confirmation-Invoice showing the balance due. A further £600 will be required by 1st November 2021 with the final balance due no later 15th February 2022. Approximately 15 days before departure you will be sent your Travel Wallet containing your e-tickets, baggage tags, a souvenir lanyard/tour pass and final itinerary and joining instructions.

PAYMENT BY CREDIT/DEBIT CARD

We are pleased to accept payment by credit or debit card for all, or part, of your holiday cost. Please complete the appropriate box on the Reservation Form.

TELEPHONE ENQUIRIES

If you have any queries regarding the holiday detailed in this brochure please don’t hesitate to phone the Elvis Travel Service on 01473 621 564 or America as you like it on 020 8742 8299. Telephone bookings can be made but these are only provisional and must be confirmed with a completed Reservation Form within 5 working days.

HOW TO BOOK

To book simply call the Elvis Travel Service on 01473 621564

BONDING AND RESPONSIBILITY

The holiday in this brochure is ATOL protected by the Civil Aviation Authority under America as you like it, ATOL 2966. America as you like it is also a member of the Visit USA Association.

The holiday arrangements are the responsibility of America as you like it. Your Contract is subject to their Reservation Conditions which are available by post by calling the above number or can be downloaded from their website.

The holidays are designed and co-ordinated by the Elvis Travel Service/Strictly Elvis UK, an organisation that has led the way in Elvis holidays and events for nearly 50 years. During this time we have helped tens of thousands of fellow fans fulfil their dreams of visiting Graceland.  Strictly Elvis UK, Unit D Bristol Court, Martlesham Heath Business Park, Ipswich, Suffolk, IP5 3RY Tel: 01473 621 564   Email: enquiries@strictlyelvis.net  Website: www.strictlyelvis.net is registered with Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc.

The names ‘Elvis’, ‘Elvis Presley’, ‘Graceland’ and ‘The Guest House at Graceland’ are registered to Elvis Presley Enterprises Inc with the USPTO.