Vintage Christmas at Hearst Castle

Journey with us on this holiday excursion to Hearst Castle

Celebrate the season in regal style on this enchanting 3-day escape to California’s Central Coast. Atop the misty hills of San Simeon, the legendary Hearst Castle awaits—dressed in dazzling holiday finery reminiscent of its 1920s and ’30s golden era. Step inside the grand Assembly Room, where twin 18-foot Christmas trees shimmer beneath gilded ceilings, and marvel at the opulence of the festively adorned Dining Room on a captivating guided tour. You’ll also view the IMAX film Building the Dream and have time to explore the Visitor Center and gift shop.

Spend two nights at the cozy and welcoming Apple Farm Inn in San Luis Obispo, a beloved retreat that blends rustic charm with gracious hospitality. Along the way, enjoy scenic visits to Santa Barbara, including a photo stop at the beautifully preserved Old Mission Santa Barbara, known as the “Queen of the Missions” for its graceful architecture and sweeping views. Discover the artisan village of Cambria, the whimsical hamlet of Harmony (population 18), and the storybook town of Solvang, where festive lights and Danish-style storefronts invite warm holiday wandering. You’ll also visit the elephant seal rookery, a remarkable natural spectacle where these massive marine mammals gather in dramatic numbers along the shoreline.

With five delicious meals, coastal beauty, and the timeless magic of Hearst Castle dressed in its holiday best, this seasonal journey offers an unforgettable blend of elegance, wonder, and cheer.

Tour Fare:

$1095 per person double occupancy

$1265 per person single occupancy

Early Booking Savings:

Be one of the first 20 guests to book and save $100 per person off the above fare!

Cancellatin Protection:

$110 per person, double or triple occupancy

$125 per person, single occupancy

Deposit and Final Payment:

A deposit of $150 per person due at time of booking

Final balance due Oct. 30

Santa Barbara Mission

Tour Manager:* TBD

Activity Level: High

Considerable walking is involved at most locations visited on this tour including some areas with uneven or unpaved surfaces and inclines.  The Hearst Castle tour is 75 minutes in length and includes approximately 190 steps each way, up and down, and a 2/3-mile walk. An accessibly-designed Grand Rooms Tour may be available for disabled guests who have difficulty climbing stairs or standing and walking for extended periods of time. The ADA tour has limited availability and must be selected during the booking process, when available.There are loaner wheelchairs available for the tour if needed. Single and multiple-pronged canes are allowed on all tours as long as they have rubber tips. Seat canes are not allowed. There are single canes available for guests to borrow.

What's Included in the Tour Fare

• Round-trip luxury motor coach transportation

• Professional Tour Manager throughout the trip

• Complimentary bottled water and snacks on the coach

• Visit Santa Barbara with a photo stop at Old Mission Santa Barbara

• Two-night accommodations at Apple Farm Inn in San Luis Obispo

• Welcome dinner at Olive Garden

• Time on own in Cambria

• Guided walking tour of Hearst Castle

• Visit San Luis Obispo with photo stop at Bubblegum Alley

• Time for shopping in Danish Solvang

• 5 meals: 2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and 2 dinners

Day 1 - Included Olive Garden Dinner Choices:

All entrees include unlimited breadsticks and famous house salad, as well as choice of fountain drinks, fresh brewed iced tea, hot coffee, or hot tea.

• Tour of Italy:

  Three Olive Garden classics all on one plate! Chicken Parmigiana, Lasagna Classico* and signature Fettuccine Alfredo – all with homemade sauces made fresh every morning.

• Shrimp Scampi:

  Shrimp sautéed in a garlic sauce, tossed with asparagus, tomatoes and angel hair Pasta.

• Eggplant Parmigiana:

  Hand-breaded eggplant, lightly fried and topped with marinara and melted mozzarella. Served with a side of spaghetti.

• Spaghetti & Meatballs:

  Spaghetti and meatballs with your choice of marinara or meat sauce.*

• Chicken Alfredo:

  Creamy alfredo sauce made from scratch with ingredients like parmesan, cream, garlic and butter, served with fettuccine pasta and topped with sliced grilled chicken.

• Dessert: 

  Sicilian Cheesecake with Strawberry Topping.

*Meat sauce is made with pan-seared beef and Italian sausage

Day 2 - Included San Simeon Beach Bar & Grill Dinner Choices

All entrees include a green salad, table bread, coffee, tea or soft drink

• Grilled Salmon:

       Topped with lemon dill butter. Served with rice and vegetables

• Mediterranean Chicken:

       Chicken breast marinated in herbs and lemon. Served with rice and vegetables

• Pasta Riviera (vegetarian option):

      Topped with tomato, basil, capers, mushrooms, garlic, olive oil, parmesan and herbs. Served with garlic cheese bread.

• Dessert: 

       vanilla ice cream with chocolate topping

What's Not Included in the Tour Fare

• Meals not listed in the itinerary

• Travel insurance

• Room incidentals

• Alcoholic beverages

• Gratuities for the Tour Manager & Driver

How to Book Your Reservation

Making your reservation is easy. Simply click the Book Now button above to select your date and confirm your space online, 24/7. You can also call the DayTripper Tours reservations department at (619) 334-3394 during business hours of M-F, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Deposit and Final Payment

A deposit of $150 per person is required to secure your booking, with the final balance due 45 days prior to departure.

Smartphones

Although not necessary to fully enjoy your trip, a personal smartphone and personal headset can greatly enhance your tour experience. Take high-quality photos, share your experience on social media in real time, search for nearby restaurants and topics of interest, set reminders, and more.

45-Day Cancellation Deadline

• If you purchased the optional Cancellation Protection Plan (CPP) before the cancellation deadline, your tour is fully refundable at any time (see below). If you did not purchase the CPP you may cancel your booking forty-five (45) or more days prior to the tour’s departure date to receive a refund less a $100 per person cancellation fee. Alternatively, when you cancel your booking forty-five (45) or more days prior to the departure date, we can waive the cancellation fee and transfer the full amount to another tour or a non-refundable voucher, which can be applied to any future excursion booked within one year of the original tour date. Cancellations within 45 days of departure are nonrefundable and nontransferrable for any reason if you did not purchase the optional CPP.

• Passenger name changes, deviations, or other changes made by the passenger after the final payment deadline has passed will be assessed a $50 per person change fee plus any fees incurred by the service providers. No refunds, transfers or credits can be issued for any reason on bookings canceled after the cancellation deadline. Travel insurance is available through Travelex during the booking process.

Protect Your Investment with Optional Cancellation Protection Plan (CPP) - Cancel for any reason and receive a full refund

• DayTripper Tours offers an optional Cancellation Protection Plan (CPP) for this tour. The CPP allows you to cancel your reservation for any reason at least two or more hours prior to your scheduled departure time for a full refund (less the cost of the CPP). The CPP may be purchased prior to the tour’s stated cancellation deadline. To cancel your reservation please call (619) 334-3394 during business hours to notify a reservations agent, or leave a time-stamped voice message after hours at least two hours prior to your scheduled departure time, and your refund will be processed. The CPP cost for multi-day motor coach tours is $5 for each $50 increment of the full, non-discounted tour fare plus any add-on options. CPP does not cover the single supplement of the remaining traveler when a traveling companion cancels from a double occupancy reservation. The CPP is not insurance, but rather an agreed-upon cancellation fee paid in advance for the right to cancel a reservation according to the terms stated in this clause. Protect yourself even further with Travel Insurance (see below). CPP is not offered on tours that include air, rail, or cruise line transportation.

Protect Your Well-Being with Optional Travel Insurance

• At DayTripper Tours, we recommend you purchase insurance to help protect against unforeseen events such as sudden sickness or injury, all of which could impact your excursion. In today’s ever-changing travel environment, you can relax and enjoy your trip with the security of knowing those unexpected circumstances are covered by a travel protection plan. You can purchase travel insurance from any company you choose; however, for your convenience we offer travel protection through Travelex Insurance Services (CA Agency License #0D10209). For more information and to receive a quote, click here. Please note: Your policy must be purchased on or before the date you submit your final payment for the tour in order to be eligible for the pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver.

*Tour Manager is subject to change without notice.