Passports and Visas
All passengers will require a passport for any tour that leaves the United States including Canada and Mexico. Your passport needs to be valid for six months beyond the conclusion of your trip. Certain countries that we tour also require a travel visa, including Egypt, Jordan, Russia, Belarus, Turkey and China.
Baggage
Each tour member can bring one large suitcase and one carry-on suitcase on the coach. Your large suitcase should not exceed 50lbs or 30″x22″x10″ in dimension. Some airlines have more restrictive policies regarding the size or weight of your luggage, so you will want to check with your airline prior to traveling in order avoid over-limit fees.
Your carry-on luggage should be no larger than 17″x14″x6″ in order for it to fit on the overhead shelf of the motor-coach. Most carry-on bags with wheels and a telescopic handle will not meet these dimensions. Our passengers often find that a backpack or small duffel works better for their carry-on luggage.
The handling of your large suitcase by hotel porters is included as part of your tour package, however your carry-on luggage is your responsibility.
What to Bring
This will depend upon your personal preferences, where you are traveling to and the time of year you are traveling. We recommend that you pack lightweight clothing as a basis for your wardrobe and then add layers to accommodate for a range of temperature. Packing versatile separates can mix and match to make several different outfits and will save you from over-packing. Wrinkle-resistant clothing can be found in most major department stores and make a great addition to your vacation wardrobe.
Bring soft, comfortable shoes for walking. For evening-wear, men may wish to take one coat and tie, while women should bring one or two wrinkle-free dresses. For the most part, however, dress is casual. Cruise passengers will require one semi-formal evening dress.
Please remember that traveling with a closet full of clothes is not really necessary, while an emphasis on comfort is paramount. You may also expect some rain showers so be sure to carry a light raincoat and a small, collapsible umbrella.
If you are traveling with a companion it is a good idea to pack clothing for each person in each of your suitcases. In the unlikely event that one of your cases doesn’t arrive with you, this will help to reduce the stress of waiting for your luggage to catch up with you.
Budgeting
This is obviously a difficult question, since the amount will vary from person to person and from tour to tour. Our itineraries include many features which will save you money on tour – if you study your tour pages in the catalog or on the tour page of our website you will see how many highlights are included with your sightseeing, as well as meals and entertainment. Listed below is a guide to extra expense for which you should budget per person.
Meals: Lunches are usually not included and peoples’ requirements vary. We suggest $20 per person per day. Where evening meals are not included, the cost will depend on the type and locations of restaurants used. As a guide, we generally recommend that you budget $40 per person per meal.
Optional Excursions: Experience has shown us that most passengers participate in these excursions and you should therefore budget for them in advance. You will receive a list of optional excursions with your final documents a few weeks prior to the start of your tour. If you would like to receive them sooner you are always welcome to call and request them or you can view sample optional excursions for our tours on our website.
Personal Expenditures:Souvenirs, stamps, postcards, telephone calls, taxi fares, laundry, etc. Allow yourself $10-15 per day, plus extra for any major gifts. Prior to departing the U.S., we recommend that each traveler acquire a small amount of cash in the currency of the country where your tour begins. An amount equal to $100 U.S. dollars per person is usually satisfactory for initial expenses. Your local bank should be able to assist you in acquiring foreign currency.
While travelers checks are still a safe method of changing money whilst traveling, it is worth noting that it can be hard to exchange checks and you typically incur charges or lower exchange rates than if you were to use your ATM card in a local bank cash machine. Major credit cards (VISA, MasterCard and American Express) are widely accepted in many stores and restaurants. Also, it is important that you inform your bank or credit card company of when and where you are traveling prior t in order to avoid any problems.
