Frequent Questions

NO – EVERYONE IS WELCOME! Regardless of vaccination status!

Given the significant, positive progress in the public health environment, A la Carte Tours is thrilled to welcome all guests back on our tours – regardless of vaccination status and with no testing requirements. While the world has changed, your health and safety still remains our highest priority. A worry-free experience for our guests is very important to us, and with a few changes and new protocols, you can continue to enjoy peace-of-mind while traveling.

COVID-19 infection rates have seen significant improvements in recent months. But trusted health authorities predict an increase in COVID-19 and influenza (FLU) cases as we move into the winter months. Therefore, we are recommending the following measures be taken for your own protection and safety prior to joining and while on the tour.

A la Carte Tours is currently recommending guests 5 years and older to be up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccines, including booster shots, along with the annual FLU vaccine prior to joining the tour.

Updated boosters became available in September, 2023. Although not required, updated COVID-19 vaccines are now available to provide increased protection against the currently circulating subvariants. If it has been at least 2 months since you completed your COVID-19 primary series or had your last booster, then you are eligible for an updated vaccine. The CDC recommends that everyone stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines. Getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you recover from COVID-19 infection provides added protection. Boosters are an important part of protecting yourself from getting seriously ill, hospitalized or dying from COVID-19.

Some people may get additional doses of COVID-19 vaccines:

People aged 65 years and older may get 1 additional dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 4 or more months after the 1st updated COVID-19 vaccine.

People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may get 1 additional dose of updated COVID-19 vaccine, 2 or more months after the last updated COVID-19 vaccine. Please consult your healthcare provider to see if you qualify for additional updated doses.

Do not travel if you have COVID-19 symptoms, tested positive for COVID-19, are waiting for results of a COVID-19 test, or had close contact with a person recently infected with COVID-19.

Remember: Medicare and most health insurance policies cover the COVID-19 vaccine at little or no cost to you. Find a COVID-19 vaccine location near you.

Wash your hands often. If soap and water are not readily available, use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.

Face Masks are currently recommended and at your own discretion while on the tour. Currently, there are no COVID-19 masking mandates or vaccination requirements for the Tournament of Roses Parade, Rose Bowl Game or included events.

Travel Insurance is available from our office to protect your travel investment, in case you test POSITIVE for COVID-19, or incur any other illness or serious injury that would prevent you from joining the tour. This insurance will also provide additional protection if you should become ill while on your tour. For additional information, or to purchase Travel Insurance, please call our office during normal business hours.

Airport Transfers are available from the Sheraton Gateway Hotel – 24 Hours a day. The Shuttle runs every 20 to 30 minutes depending on traffic. Just look for the Sheraton Gateway – Hotel Shuttle at the Hotel Shuttle Pick-Up Point on the Upper Level from Baggage Claim. There is a ‘Welcome Orientation’ at 5:00pm on December 29th. Check-in and Ticket Packet Distribution starts at 4:00pm. Please check with the Hotel Front Desk for the location of the event. If your flight is delayed and you miss the ‘Welcome Orientation’, your Ticket Packet will be waiting for you at the Front Desk upon Check-in at the Hotel.

Sheraton Gateway Hotel is located at 6101 W. Century Boulevard, Los Angeles, California in the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) area with convenient access to all Rose Parade activities.

Check-in time is 3:00pm at the hotel. If you should arrive earlier, and no rooms are available, you may leave your luggage with the Hotel Concierge Desk for storage until a room becomes available. Check-out time at the hotel is 12:00pm. Late check-out may be arranged with the Hotel Front Desk for an additional charge, or you may leave your luggage with the Hotel Concierge Desk for storage until your scheduled departure time.

The Sheraton Gateway Hotel is 5 minutes from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and 60 minutes from Orange County Airport (SNA) depending on traffic.

Sheraton Gateway Hotel is approximately 35-45 minute drive from Pasadena, California and the Rose Parade activities, depending on traffic.

The number of hotels in Pasadena are very few and do not meet our high quality standards and requirements for our group tour size. Dining and transportation options in Pasadena are very limited, and would require a rental car or taxi to get around.

Sheraton Gateway Hotel offers rooms with either 1 King Bed or 2 Queen Beds. Each room has a flat panel television, 2-line telephone, writing desk, personal safe, mini-fridge and iron with ironing board. Bathroom amenities include marble bathroom with step-in shower, hair dryer, lighted makeup mirror along with shampoo, conditioner and soaps. Maximum Occupancy per room is 4 Guests using existing bedding. Due to current Fire and Safety Regulations, roll-away beds are not allowed for additional guests.

Your Hotel room rate includes daily Breakfast with coffee, tea and juices, and a Grab-n-Go Breakfast on January 1st. Your room rate also includes all applicable local hotel taxes and resort fees.

YES – There is Self-Parking behind the hotel at ABM Parking at the current rate of $24.00 per day (NO In & Out). Overnight Valet Parking is available for $50.00 per day (normally $75.00 per day including In & Out privilages). All Valet Parking Fees are subject to change and are due and payable directly to the Hotel.

For our guests with Special Needs there are a limited number of Accessible Rooms available at the hotel. These rooms can accommodate guests requiring hearing accessible or mobility accessible rooms. The bathrooms will either have a tub shower with an extendable shower head with grab bars, or a roll-in shower.

YES – Sheraton Gateway Hotel has 2 Restaurants in the hotel. The Brasserie is open for Breakfast, and the Costero Bar & Bistro is open for Lunch and Dinner offering creative California cuisine and room service for your convenience. Starbucks is located just off the Main Lobby. Other Fast-Food and Full-Service restaurants are available within walking distance of the Hotel.

YES – Complimentary Basic wireless internet service is included at the hotel for all guests on our tour.

The motorcoaches depart the hotel promptly on December 30th at 7:15am, on December 31st at 7:30am, and on January 1st at 6:00am. We start boarding the motorcoaches 15 minutes prior to scheduled departure time. (Schedules subject to change)

The Tournament of Roses Parade starts promptly at 8:00am Pacific Time, and ends exactly at 10:00am Pacific Time.

It is a 1 block walk from where the motorcoaches are parked to the parade seating area. There is a slight incline leading up to the grandstands. The sun is to your back, and there are plenty of Port-a-Potty’s located beneath the bleacher seats. There are approximately 15 to 30 steps up into the stands to get to your seats, with a center hand rail for your assistance.

If you cannot climb stairs, PLEASE REQUEST HANDICAP SEATING at the time you make your reservation. Handicap seating is very limited and fills up quickly. Handicap seating cannot be requested on the day of the parade, and must be reserved in advance.

Our seats are at the beginning of the parade in Section 430, with the sun at your back. This is the area where the parade begins, where all the entertainment happens and where the television cameras are located that broadcast the parade. This is the perfect vantage point to capture all the pageantry and beauty of the Tournament of Roses Parade. You will have to climb approximately 15-30 steps up into the stands to your seats. There is a center hand rail in the aisle for your assistance and convenience.

The seats are bleacher-style, much like at a high school or little league game. Although the seats can be high there are no bad seats. Space is tight and there are no backs to the seats. Stadium seats with backs can be used, but are sometimes frowned upon by your neighbor. We provide you with a Complimentary souvenir stadium cushion for your comfort.

It is recommended you bring a hat and gloves, because the weather is cold in January. Don’t forget to bring your camera. Do not bring any large bags, there is no room for you to store them. Umbrellas are not allowed at the parade. If it is raining, it is recommended you wear a light jacket with a hood. For your safety no alcohol, drugs, weapons, cans, glass bottles, sports bottles, coolers, banners, flagpoles, sign posts, placards or rigid signs are allowed into the parade grandstands. You will be subject to a reasonable search of all bags before admittance into the grandstand area. Any non-compliant items will be confiscated by Rose Parade Officials. Complimentary bottled water is allowed and will be provided to you prior to entering the parade seating area.

YES – But our Premium Grandstand seats are above the lowest rows, and your view will not be blocked by anyone walking or standing in front of you or by television camera equipment.

We have limited space reserved for our guests that require Wheelchair, Walker or Mobility Scooter seating. Due to ADA regulations, the Accessible Seating is located at street level in front of the grandstand seating area. If you require Wheelchair, Walker or Mobility Scooter seating, FULL PAYMENT is required when you make your reservation to secure your space. Wheelchair, Walker and Mobility Scooter seating is limited to the guest using a Wheelchair, Walker or Mobility Scooter plus only one additional guest.

YES – Except for the motorcoaches most all areas we visit on the tour are Wheelchair, Walker and Mobility Scooter accessible. Normally, the only steps in the tour are on and off the motorcoaches, and the steps leading into the grandstands at the Tournament of Roses Parade. We have taken great care in selecting appropriate venues and minimizing any obstacles that may affect your access. But some issues are beyond our control, and complete access to all areas may not be available and cannot be guaranteed; as circumstances may change from time to time. A la Carte Tours cannot be held liable for any areas on the tour that have limited access.