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[ Passports | Visas | Medical Info | Weather | Electricity |
Luggage | Meals |
Tipping | Postage | Telephones | Insurance |
Money | Shopping | Customs Regulations |
Sightseeing | Not
Included | Packing Suggestions |
Travel Questions ]
Every traveler needs a passport. If you do not yet have one, apply
immediately! Your passport must be valid 6 months beyond your return date. If
it is not, review it now. You can pick up applications for new passports or to
renew an old one at major post offices.
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U.S. & Canadian Citizens
U.S. and Canadian citizens do not need a visa for any country in Europe
except Russia.
If You Will Visit Russia
We will get the Russian visa for you before you depart on your trip.
If You Are Neither a U.S. Nor a Canadian Citizen
You will probably need visas for some of the countries your trip visits. It
is your duty to check which visas you will need and to get them. You must get a
Multiple-Entry visa for any country you will enter more than once.
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No inoculations are required to visit the countries on your trip. You might
consult your personal physician for any special health concerns. You may wish
to pack with you any special medication or over the counter products, such as
aspirin and cold medications you require.
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Pack a wardrobe flexible enough to handle marked weather changes as the
climate can vary. As your trip nears, check your newspaper for temperature
ranges in the cities you will be visiting.
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European electric outlets carry 220 volts. Some hair dryers and electric
razors have a built in transformer and a switch to change voltages. Otherwise,
you will need a transformer (converter). You will also need
plug adapters to fit over American plugs so that they will fit
into the different configuration of the outlet. Check to see what configuration
the countries you will be visiting need.
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As our brochure indicates, your baggage allowance is one suitcase only, plus
a carry-on bag, small camera case and handbag. It is important to keep your
suitcase not more than 62 inches total measurement (long/wide/deep) or 70
pounds; otherwise excess baggage charges will be involved and remember, you
will be bringing things back with you from your shopping excursions! All
check-in luggage must be locked or have a luggage strap. Your carry-on can be
no more than 18 pounds or 45 inches total measurement (long/wide/deep).
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Please consult your itinerary for the daily breakfasts (B), lunches (L), and
dinners (D) included on your trip. The traditional European continental
breakfast is rolls and toast, butter, jam, coffee and tea. Some hotels have a
buffet breakfast offering an assortment of breads, cheeses, fruits and cold
meats, and sometimes eggs, bacon or sausages.
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While gratuities to porters, chambermaids and restaurant waiters are
included, tipping your tour director and bus drivers is not.
Guidelines: Tour director approximately $3-$4 a day and $2 a
day for your driver. Please budget such gratuities into your expenses.
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Each country has its own set of postage stamps and rates, and, of course,
each country accepts only its own stamps when you mail
something. You can buy your stamps at the local post office or the hotel’s
concierge desk. In Central Europe, stamps are sometimes available at tobacco
and souvenir shops. Sending postcards and letters is straight-forward, but
sending packages requires a green customs declaration form, giving the contents
and name and address of the sender (use your current hotel’s address) and
recipient. Parcel post is inexpensive but slow (it can take from six to ten
weeks to reach America).
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Not all public pay phones accept local coins; some use tokens or
magnetically-encoded phone debit cards, in some areas credit card phones are
also available. Tokens and cards are only valid in the issuing country, and
there are no refunds on partially used up cards. Hotels levy extra hone service
charges, usually the cost of a local call, even if you are using a telephone
calling card. The easiest way to call home is with a telephone calling card if
you know the AT&T/MCI/Sprint direct access numbers, and if your hotel room
offers touch-tone dialing.
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To purchase insurance purchased separately from a travel provider visit AccessAmerica.
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ATM Cards
It is recommended that you have an ATM card through your American bank
(checking account only!!). Be sure it displays the
international symbols (ask your home institution if you are unsure), and has a
PIN Code of 4 digits. Maximum in one day is about the equivalent of $200.
Personal Checks v. Travelers’ Checks
It is not possible to cash personal checks when out of the
USA. Travelers’ checks are the safest and most reliable way of
handling money. You can cash them at any Bank in the center of town or at an
American Express office. Always remember to take YOUR PASSPORT with you when
cashing travelers’ checks. You may wish to shop around as the rate of exchange
varies from bank to bank.
Bring most of your money in the form of traveler’s checks, since they are
refundable if lost or stolen. A few U.S. dollars cash are handy, since they
will likely be accepted when you can’t or don’t want to first buy local
currency. Some smaller stores may not take traveler’s checks or credit cards,
so you might want to change a small amount of currency for reach country you
will visit before leaving the U.S. Minimize the number of times you change
currencies each time you change currencies, it costs you money! Spend or
re-exchange any currency before you leave its issuing country,
and note that you can only exchange bills, not coins, into a second currency.
Banks generally offer the best exchange rates. Hotels, shops and restaurants
can also change money for you, but their exchange rates are not as good and can
vary greatly.
Credit cards are now widely accepted in Europe, including Master Card, Visa
and American Express (Diners Club is less common and Discover is virtually
unknown). Often, credit cards offer even better exchange rates than banks.
Bring at least one credit card, since many cards can be used to get cash
advances or cash a personal check. Check with your credit card company about
their policies in the countries you will visit. In many European countries you
can find ATM machines linked to Cirrus System where you can get a cash advance
in local currency.
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Except in supermarkets and department stores, most shopkeepers expect you to
say “Hello” and “Good-bye” even if you are just browsing. In Mediterranean
countries, bargaining is an established custom, where good negotiating skills
can save you money. Stores tend to have shorter opening hours than at home. The
opening hours are all mandated by law, so they are uniform in any one city.
Generally, stores open during the week by 9 a.m. and close by 6 p.m. Most shops
are closed on Sundays, and many offer limited hours on Saturday.
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When you return home, you will be responsible for customs duties levied on
items you bought abroad and are bringing with you, even if you are just a
resident and not a citizen. To prove what your new purchase costs, keep all
sales receipts handy. As a rule, alcoholic and tobacco products are stringently
restricted.
If Returning to the United States
There is a duty-free allowance for the first $400 worth of goods bought
abroad, on the next $1,000 of souvenirs, you’ll pay a flat 10% tax; for
purchases exceeding $1,400, import taxes specific to the particular kind of
item in question are imposed. Import duties must be paid in U. S. dollars.
If Returning to Canada
The duty-free allowance is C$300; you will pay a flat 20% tax on the next
C$300 worth of goods bought overseas. Anything over C$600 is subject to the
specific import duties levied on the item in question (an average of 10% duties
plus 12% sales tax). Import duties must be paid in Canadian dollars.
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As detailed in your itinerary, by private motor coach or other means of
local conveyance including the services of English-speaking guides, and
entrance fees to museums and other points of interest.
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Meals and beverages other than those stated, laundry, passport and visa
fees, personal insurance, excess baggage charges, items of a personal nature,
etc., are not included in your tour package. Any item not covered under The
Price Includes.
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Pack lightly, and bring casual clothes. A sturdy, comfortable pair of
walking shoes is an absolute must. A sports coat and tie for men, and one or
two dresses or pantsuits for women are suggested. These outfits will suit most
of the formal occasions while in Europe. All travelers should bring sweaters,
shirts and jackets that can be layered to suit a range of climates. The
following items are recommended: hair dryer and razor, common toiletries,
reading material (including a Europe guidebook), a metric converter calculator,
camera and film (film can be expensive in Europe), and perhaps a notebook or
diary to keep track of all your exciting days and nights while in Europe.
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Q: I have decided that I want to extend my stay, how can I change my
return ticket? How much will it cost me to change my ticket? Can the program
provider help me with this?
Please refer to the general terms and
conditions for your program. There are specific guidelines in regards to
extending your stay and how to go about doing this.
Q: Where do I purchase a rail pass such as Europass and
Eurailpass?
Europass and Eurailpass are special train
passes that can only be purchased in the United States; they
are not for sale in Europe. You must purchase a rail pass before you
depart from the United States. If you are interested in a rail pass,
please contact the travel provider or STA travel.
Q: Do I always need a seat reservation for train travel?
Seat reservations are required on selected
specialty trains (depending upon the route) such as the AVE in Spain, the TGV
in France, and the ICE in Germany. If you are uncertain if a seat reservation
is required for the trip you are planning, please ask at the rail office. You
can find personnel that speak English in all major cities and they will be
happy to assist you.
Q: What is the Schengen Treaty and how does that affect me?
As a result of the Schengen treaty between the
countries of Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Greece,
Iceland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain and
Sweden, American citizens traveling in these countries are allowed a cumulative
stay of up to 90 days during any six-month period. Should an American wish to
remain in any Schengen country longer than the cumulative 90 day period, he/she
is required to apply for an extension of stay with the immigration authorities
of that country. Students are required to obtain the necessary extensions
themselves. Journeys of Discovery does not assume responsibility for travel
documentation in regards to passports, visas, extensions and related items. As
the extension requirements vary among the member nations, please check directly
with the consulate or embassy of the country(s) in which you wish to extend
your stay.
Q: I am not an American citizen but I want to stay longer in Europe, what
should I do?
Please contact the consulate or embassy of the
country to which you will be visiting. If you are already in Europe and wish to
extend your stay, please ask your On-Sight Program Coordinator to help you.
Q: How do I make travel arrangements once I am in Europe?
If you are adventurous, you can make the
arrangements on your own via the Internet, directly at the train station, and
once you reach your destination, finding a hotel. Some train stations in major
cities also have offices that can help you book a hotel. Or, if you prefer,
there are travel agents throughout Europe who can help you make your travel
plans. Whichever method you prefer, please travel with care and
commonsense.
Q: My passport was lost or stolen, what should I do?
If you are an American
citizen, contact the nearest U.S. Embassy immediately. It is very
important that you file a police report in the city where your passport was
lost or stolen; the U.S. Embassy will ask if you have done this or not. It is
better to have this completed before you make a trip to the embassy.
Immediately inform the On-Sight Program Coordinator about your lost or stolen
passport. He or she can help you file the police report. Bring a copy of the
police report with you in addition to copies of your passport and birth
certificate. If you have any additional photo identification, such as a
driver’s license or military ID, please bring that with you as well. In some
cases, you may have to travel to a major city where the U.S. Embassy or
consulate is located. If you are NOT an American citizen, you
will still need to file a report with the local police. Please contact the
Embassy or consulate for the country that issued your passport. They will give
you further details.
Q: I have lost my airplane ticket home, what should I do?
Please inform your On-Sight Program
Coordinator immediately. The On-Sight Program Coordinator will contact the
travel provider and offer further details and how to take action.
Q: I want to return early from the program, what can I do?
Please contact your On-Sight Program
Coordinator and discuss with him or her why you want to return early. If you
still decide that you’d like to return home early from the program, please let
your On-Sight Program Coordinator know and she or he will contact your travel
provider for further action. NOTE: you will not receive a
refund for any portion of the trip you miss.
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