Despite his legal troubles Donald Trump appears to be the steam-rolling his way to the Republican nomination. If anyone else is going to get a look in the pundits say it’s Iowa or bust.
This six-night tour, takes in the rural heartlands of Iowa where a mix of evangelism and agriculture make this natural Republican territory, before heading for the last three days of the race to Des Moines for access to experts, media and final rallies.
Above all else, the beauty of the Iowa Caucuses is that is gives you direct access to the candidates – and have the opportunity to hear numerous candidates speak.
From Trump himself to Nikki Haley, Mike Pence, Ron DeSantis and Tim Scott – just to mention a few – we expect to be in the room as they put their pitch to Iowa voters.
We’ll be in and around the state capital for the voting, and then look back over the results on Tuesday 16th before packing our bags and heading home.
Our tour experts include Doug Burns (Western Iowa reporter), Bradley Knott (polster and campaign strategist) and Dave Swenson (expert on Iowa politics and agriculture).
| DATES | Wednesday 10 – Tuesday 16 January 2024 | ||||
| DESTINATION | Nebraska,Iowa Led by US based correspondents | ||||
| DURATION | 6 nights | ||||
| INCLUDED |
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| COST | Cost: £4950.00 Single supplement: £850.00 |
Numbers will be strictly limited on this tour so early booking is advised.
Price: £4950.00
Single Supplement: £850.00
The tour includes all accommodation, transport on tour, expertise and talks, as well as breakfast, all lunches and 3 dinners.
More than any other tour we run this is determined by events on the ground; we take advantage of candidate appearances and our itinerary is deliberately flexible.
6 Nights: 2 nights in Western Iowa & 4 nights in Des Moines
Wed 10 Jan- Omaha, Nebraska
Thurs 11 Jan – Storm Lake (thereabouts), Iowa
Fri 12 Jan – Des Moines, Iowa
Sat 13 Jan – Des Moines, Iowa
Sun 14 Jan – Des Moines, Iowa
Mon 15 Jan – Des Moines, Iowa CAUCUS DAY
Tues 16 Jan – Tour ends / departures to airport
Feedback from our tour in Iowa – January 2020
“I would rather stick needles in my eyes than go to Iowa in February” reacted a friend when I asked her to join me for Political Tours’ US caucus tour. How wrong she was! The weather was cold, but not frigid and we even saw sunshine on several of the six days. Nicholas and Karen Wood accompanied we nine participants, and led an exciting and informative time learning about Iowa and its caucus history, together with Brad Knott, who is a senior Democratic strategist.
Among others, we met with experienced Iowa public policy journalists, members of earlier presidential and senatorial campaigns, a community economic research specialist from Iowa State and the Pulitzer prize-winning editor of The Storm Lake Gazette. We talked with the African American candidate for Iowa Secretary of State, the Chair of the Asian and Latino PAC , and two young Latinos who were the first in their immigrant families to attend college. The Trump rally on our first evening was amazing, whatever your political affiliation, and was a great comparison with rallies held by Joe Biden and Pete Buttegeig. The highlight was attending a caucus in a Des Moines suburb – so inspiring to see “democracy in action”, even though the result was not what was intended.
Would I go again? Absolutely, even if it means snow and wind and a crazy election process.”
SC, Iowa February 2020
Political Tours genuinely gives the most stimulating groups of any of the companies I travel with which is a fitting return for the work which goes into the programmes.
AR Iowa Caucus 2020
My best tour so far! Loved the mix of access to big rallies and rural Iowa. Really loved it!!
CS Iowa Caucus 2020
The Trump rally was the perfect beginning. I never thought I’d quote Joe Walsh, the Republican standing against Trump in Iowa, but he’s right – beating Trump should be the ONLY priority for the Democrats, and watching the President in action that night was a clarifying reminder of just how tough that’s going to be. Economic growth messages were warmly welcomed by the Trump crowd, but it was the raw meat subjects of guns, god, immigration and abortion that really got the crowd on their feet. This set the context for what we were to learn and witness over the coming days as the Democrats lined up to win the support of Iowans to take these issues, and this President, on in November.
Getting out of Des Moines was essential and we couldn’t have had a better guide that Dave Swenson. What a brilliant, engaging teacher! I learned more from him in that bus drive north than I think I ever have in a similar few hours anywhere. Again, this deep examination of the economic and social forces that are changing rural America, and the way its votes, was absolutely fascinating and enlightening. Art Cullen, the small town newspaper editor out of central casting, was the icing on the cake. Storm Lake will stay with me for a long time.
RC – Iowa Caucus Tour 2020
Intelligent and good fun companions and hosts. Lots of exposure to the politics from many different angles. Variety of perspectives – political, economic, geographic, academic, media, candidates – national & local – was excellent. You could not get the access and insight if you travelled on your own “DIY” political tour – so a real selling point. The tour exceeded my expectations.
Both experts were “on their feet” a lot, and had high energy and great insight. I liked the mix of political consultant and academic. It was great to listen to Eric give a Republican perspective on things. But all of the “guests” you invited along had interesting things to say – Joe Walsh and Trump were both equally fascinating!!
PG – Iowa Caucus Tour 2020
Days One to Three – Omaha, Denison & Storm Lake
The focus is very much rural and evangelical as we head out to a range of communities – churches and farms – and join candidates as they hold rallies here.
It’s an area that favours the likes of Mike Pence, a more natural evangelical than Trump or DeSantis. But Ron DeSantis and his wife have been campaigning hard and spending significant amounts of money. Niki Haley and others have made repeated trips too.
One thing to note, Trump too has swung behind the state’s significant bio-fuel lobby.
We’ll be in Denison – a western Iowa town with a strong Republican base. Doug Burns is our guide for the day. His family owned the local newspaper chain. We’ll also meet with the town’s Hispanic mayor (a conservative), Eileen Sailer a leading figure in the local GOP. (Part of Denison is devoted to Donna Reed the 1940s and 50s Hollwood star, complete with 1940s bars and restaurant).
Further north we’ll stop by with a leading evangelical community (The Dutch Reformed Church is big here) And we’ll head back to the Storm Lake Times, the Pulitzer Prize winning paper named after its local town (and which we visited in 2020).
Immigration is also a key issue. The irony is farms, and meat packing rely on migrant labour. Storm Lake is home to a significant Hispanic population. This provides a more complex approach to the issue than some candidates might wish.
Days Four to Seven – Des Moines (via Ames)
The worlds media is based out of Des Moines for the final days of the campaign. We get polling predictions, speak with Republican campaign organisers and journalists.
And crucially attend the key rallies in the last two days of the campaign.
On voting day Monday 15 Jan – permissions pending – you’ll be able to see people go through the strange method of caucusing (it is almost like choosing teams at primary school!)
Tuesday 16 – After the votes are tallied (remember the Democrats messed it up last time – so much so the Democratic party was determined to remove Iowa’s first-in-the-nation primary status) we’ll go back over the results.
And then we might know if anyone else but Trump has a hope.
Book Your Tour
What’s Included
All of your accommodation and meals with water are included, as well as local transport (except during your free time).
Flights are not included in the price and need to be arranged by customers themselves or with an agent.
Please contact us for further details of the flight you need to book that best suits the itinerary on Sunday, 1st November from Detroit, Michigan to Washington, DC.
Political Tours is a land only tour operator.
Following the news
Like all our tours the itinerary is focused on current affairs. Events on the ground may change and the final schedule may be adjusted accordingly.
Group size
As on all our expert-led tours the groups are deliberately small and will not exceed 14 people. Frequently we travel with 10-12 people. Limited spaces are available.
Visas
The United States runs a visa waiver system for the UK, Europe, Australia and New Zealand (ESTA or ETA). Candadians are exempt from visa requirements. It is always good to check with the embassy in your country for latest advice regarding visa requirements. Travellers from most countries will need to register online with the department of homeland security before you travel. Please get in touch and let us know what passport you are travelling on so we can help advise you on any visas you may require.
Travellers who have previously been to Iran are now required to get a tourist visa for the United States.
Weather
This is autumn/fall in the mid-west and the weather is likely to be mixed.
Dress
Wear layers for warmth, carry waterproof overcoats and wear comfortable footwear.
Secondly we have a range of meeting with politicians or senior officials where we are expected to be more formally dressed. We will advise you on a day-by-day basis on which meetings are coming up.
Men: Will need a jacket for some of the meetings.
Women: The female equivalent; jacket or blouse.
Currency
US dollar
Electricity
Plugs are North American 2 flat pin and 110v
FCO Website
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office publishes regularly updated travel information on its website www.fco.gov.uk/knowbeforeyougo which you are recommended to consult before booking and in good time before departure. Where it considers it appropriate to do so, the FCO may advise against all travel or all but essential travel to particular countries or parts of particular countries. Similarly, the FCO may withdraw any such previously given advice. Where the FCO issues such advice, we may as a result cancel your tour or make changes so as to avoid the area concerned (see clause 10). Alternatively, we may ask you to sign a form confirming you wish to proceed with the tour notwithstanding the FCO advice. It is in the nature of the itineraries we offer that the FCO may have issued such advice in relation to the country or parts of the country we are intending to visit prior to confirmation of your booking. In this case, you will be asked to sign the above form before we confirm your booking.
Medical Requirements
Advice on health requirements may be obtained from your GP, or alternatively from the Department of Health leaflet Advice on Health for Travelers, or the Department of Health in the UK. For further information on vaccination requirements, health outbreaks and general disease protection and prevention you should visit http://www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk/destinations.aspx
We suggest you visit your own doctor or local travel clinic who will have the most up-to-date travel advice, and be able to recommend any vaccinations prior to travel based on your medical history.
On all of our tours you are accompanied by a leading political journalist or academic. Together with your tour expert you will meet a range of speakers, analysts and ordinary people with a huge range of views and experiences.
The overall aim is to give you a nuanced and comprehensive overview of the country you are in, and an exceptional one at that.
Don’t just take our word for it …
“The main reason to travel really is the “being there” factor – the experience of seeing the reality for ourselves is what made the difference and gave us a context for the valuable inputs from the experts and propagandists we met. The tour’s openness to some unscheduled encounters with “ordinary” people on both sides provided further insight. I ended more sympathetic to them than I had been – and far less sympathetic to their leaderships.” AR
“The access you obtained was outstanding – really amazing.” AN
“It is a short but thorough exam of what makes a country tick – or not tick. An immersion class into the nuts and bolts of the area. I love it.” JG
“It sounds like a cliché, but the tours really take you beyond and behind the headlines, providing you with unexpectedly profound insights about the country.” EL
“To see so much and meet with so many people in so short a time, and to absorb so much information in depth, was very stimulating.” PF
In the Press:
“Who better to take people behind the headlines than the person who spent ten years writing them?” British Airways Highlife Magazine
“I had underestimated their high-mindedness… During the week-long tour there are talks and conversations with more then 20 guest speakers. The holiday makers are an equally impressive bunch.” The Financial Times, on a tour
“An eye-opening 10 days!” Sydney Morning Herald
Email us for a full list of speakers and meetings on this tour: info@politicaltours.com or call and ask to be put through to one of our staff.
US Elections
Rave Reviews from our tour in Iowa – January 2020
Would I go again? Absolutely, even if it means snow and wind and a crazy election process.”
SC, Iowa February 2020
The Trump rally was the perfect beginning. I never thought I’d quote Joe Walsh, the Republican standing against Trump in Iowa, but he’s right – beating Trump should be the ONLY priority for the Democrats, and watching the President in action that night was a clarifying reminder of just how tough that’s going to be. Economic growth messages were warmly welcomed by the Trump crowd, but it was the raw meat subjects of guns, god, immigration and abortion that really got the crowd on their feet. This set the context for what we were to learn and witness over the coming days as the Democrats lined up to win the support of Iowans to take these issues, and this President, on in November.
Getting out of Des Moines was essential and we couldn’t have had a better guide that Dave Swenson. What a brilliant, engaging teacher! I learned more from him in that bus drive north than I think I ever have in a similar few hours anywhere. Again, this deep examination of the economic and social forces that are changing rural America, and the way its votes, was absolutely fascinating and enlightening. Art Cullen, the small town newspaper editor out of central casting, was the icing on the cake. Storm Lake will stay with me for a long time.
RC – Iowa Caucus Tour 2020
Political Tours genuinely gives the most stimulating groups of any of the companies I travel with which is a fitting return for the work which goes into the programmes.
AR Iowa Caucus 2020
Intelligent and good fun companions and hosts. Lots of exposure to the politics from many different angles. Variety of perspectives – political, economic, geographic, academic, media, candidates – national & local – was excellent. You could not get the access and insight if you travelled on your own “DIY” political tour – so a real selling point. The tour exceeded my expectations. Fascinating!!
PG – Iowa Caucus Tour 2020