A valid passport is now required for all international travel by U.S. citizens. On the other hand, there are only a few countries that require U.S. or Canadian citizens to carry travel visas. In the event you are on a tour that visits a country with a visa requirement, we will provide you with a copy of the information sheet for U.S. and Canadian citizens which will be sent to us. It is the responsibility of the traveler to secure required visas before leaving home; please check your itinerary carefully. People who are not citizens of the U.S. or Canada (including those residing in North America) must consult with the appropriate Consulates to determine if any visas are needed. NOTE -- New passport requirements went into effect June 1, 2009. Make sure you know the latest information.

Do not take or pack anything which may create an emotional or financial hardship if lost or stolen. We recommend you leave the following items at home:

• Credit cards you don’t plan to use on your trip
• Keys (except for your home and car)
• Favorite/expensive jewelry
• Address book (Bring a duplicate, or perhaps a small list of crucial addresses/phone numbers)

If you plan to bring any new jewelry, cameras, electronics, or other valuables which were manufactured outside the U.S. and Canada, you will need to register them with U.S. Customs and Border Protection in person before you leave. It takes only a few minutes, and it would eliminate a potential headache upon your return. You may register articles at any Customs office, including those at airports, at no charge.

You should carry these items on your person, but not all in the same place, to limit your inconvenience in case of loss:

• Money/travelers checques/credit cards
• Passport/visas/driver's license
• All airline tickets and copies of your itinerary, hotel list, and reservation confirmations

Never pack these items into your baggage, even carry-ons. In some cases, a money belt may be useful while touring.

Never leave your carry-on baggage unattended at any time while in hotel lobbies or dining rooms. Remember to make a final check of your hotel room before departure (especially inside wardrobes/closets and bedside tables), to ensure you have not left anything behind. There is no guarantee that any forgotten items will be returned to you during or after your trip.

Porterage for one suitcase is included in your tour price. Due to limited Coach capacity, this single bag should have dimensions not exceeding 30x18x10 inches (76x46x25 cm), and weight not exceeding 60 pounds (27 kg) (These dimensions may vary, depending on the airline). The Tour Director reserves the right to collect a fee of US$5 per extra baggage item per traveling day; the fee may also apply if your suitcase exceeds the dimensions established by the airline. International air carriers may also impose fees or require you to remove articles and put them in another bag if weight or size limits are exceeded. Test the weight of your packed suitcase. You should be able to lift and comfortably transport it short distances. Remember that drivers and porters will be lifting and transporting your baggage during the tour, and they will be handling dozens of baggage items at a time, so we ask you to please keep the size and weight of your baggage within the above limits as much as possible on their behalf.

For your own comfort, and that of fellow passengers, please limit the size of your carry-on baggage so that it may be stored easily on the motor coach (approximately 17x14x8 inches, or 43x36x20 cm). Please note that international air carriers are also strict about the sizes and weight of carry-on baggage. Also, wheeled carry-ons are not suitable for motor coach travel. We will supply you with baggage tags for you to fill out and attach in a conspicuous place to your suitcase. It is also a very good idea to put a label with your name, address, and telephone number on the inside of your suitcase and hand baggage, in the event your baggage becomes lost or misdirected. For security reasons, please keep all unchecked baggage in your immediate possession during travel. Unattended baggage items are subject to confiscation by airport security personnel at any time.

Sometimes baggage is briefly delayed during air transport, so it is a good idea to have a change of clothing and essential toiletries in your carry-on. Another idea may be to pack some of your clothing in your traveling companion’s bag; that way, you won’t need to be stuck wearing the same clothes that you wore during your flight until your baggage is delivered. Always keep essential medication in your carry-on, but please keep in mind the regulations implemented by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The latest information on permitted and prohibited items for airline travel is available here (opens in a new window).

It is always a good idea to pack light. Research has shown that less than 30% of vacation travelers actually wear everything they pack on a trip, so the best advice to follow is “If in doubt, leave it out”. Adopt a simple color-coordination plan for your vacation to reduce the amount of clothing needed. For every week of touring, we suggest five tops/shirts and three skirts/shorts/slacks which can be coordinated together. Sportswear is fine during the day, butthere may be restrictions on shorts and/or bare shoulders for some religious sites; please consult the Travel Documents specific to your tour for details. Wrinkle-resistant, easy-care clothing is preferable for touring. We also suggest you bring three smart casual outfits for evening wear. If you plan to attend a somewhat more formal occasion or elegant dinner, you may also wish to pack one dressier outfit, as well. Of course, many hotels, beaches and other areas will offer you the opportunity to take a swim, so feel free to bring your bathing suit.

You will also need to pack one pair of comfortable walking shoes, one pair of dress shoes, sandals which can double as slippers, a warm sweater for evenings, a compact umbrella, and a raincoat (preferably with a removable liner for warm weather), and sufficient undergarments and socks to avoid frequent laundry service. Remember, weather is always a wildcard, and you may be traveling through different climates and elevations on any given day, so layering makes a sensible precaution. Check the “Helpful Hints and Information” section of your travel documents for the recommended dress code and advice on clothing specific to your tour.

Electrical utility service varies throughout the world. What works in the United States may not function at all in other countries. In some cases, the outlets will be different as you travel from one country to the next! Not only is this an inconvenience, but it can also have an adverse affect on all of your electronic equipment, from hair dryers and electric shavers, to camcorders and notebook computers. Specific information about cameras and video equipment is listed below. Check the “Helpful Hints and Information” section of your travel documents for specific information on what travel converters will be needed on your tour.

Make sure that you include a toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, razor, shaving cream/lotion (in a non-pressurized container), sunscreen and sun hat (where appropriate), plenty of facial tissue, feminine necessities, a couple of washcloths (foreign hotels usually don’t supply them), a travel alarm clock, and plastic bags for damp laundry and washcloths. It is also good idea to carry toiletries in plastic bags as protection against leaks; bring small trial sizes of toiletries to reduce baggage weight, and to comply with TSA requirements.

Make sure you pack an ample supply of any medications you are taking, as well as copies of your prescriptions and the telephone/FAX number of your doctor. Because of strict drug laws in some countries, any prescription medications you take must be in their original containers with a prescription label in your name. Be sure to advise your Tour Director if you are currently under any medical treatment.

If you wear glasses, pack an extra pair and/or a copy of your prescription. If you wear contact lenses, remember to pack eye drops and that you use them frequently, especially in dry climates.

Other items you may wish to bring: pre-printed address labels for postcards and letters, a small flashlight, a manicure set, and a small sewing kit (just in case).

Here are a few items we suggest you have with you at all times while you’re touring and sightseeing:

• A sufficient supply of any prescription medications
• Extra film/memory cards and spare batteries for your camera
• Light rainwear and a sweater, sunscreen and sun hat (where appropriate)
• A pen, pocket calculator, and transparent tape
• Insect repellent
• Aspirin, or other over-the-counter pain reliever
• Adhesive bandages
• A road map/hand-held GPS (if you enjoy “plotting your progress”)
• A small travel pillow

A few tips to keep your home safe while you're away:

• Arrange for pet, plant, and yard care
• Stop/suspend newspaper and mail delivery
• Install a timer for selected lamps, a radio and/or a TV
• Make sure all of your bills are up-to-date prior to departure, to avoid utility shutoff
• Secure all windows and doors
• Disconnect all electrical appliances that will not be in use.

• Check that you have adequate travel protection insurance coverage.
• Make appointments to visit your doctor, optometrist, dentist, and/or hair stylist.
• Rest as much as you can in the week before leaving.
• Take frequent walks to condition your body for your tour, especially if you are unaccustomed to being on your feet for long periods of time.
• Leave a copy of your itinerary and hotel list with a trusted friend or relative, in case of emergency.
• Do some research about where you're going. Get your hands on maps, check out books from the library, watch TV documentaries, or even surf online. Knowing about where you're going will make your trip more interesting.

As a rule, gratuities are usually not included in the tour price. As a result, in most cases, any gratuities are your responsibility. While the amount of these gratuities will depend upon your degree of satisfaction for services received, many of our clients have asked us for general tipping guidelines. For a good job, we suggest US$5.00 per day per tour member for both the Tour Director and for your motor coach driver. It is also customary to acknowledge a particularly good performance of a local city guide by leaving a tip. for more information on tipping in various parts of the world, click here (opens in a new window).

Make sure your camera and video equipment is in good working order, and that you bring plenty of media (film, memory cards, tape, and/or disks) and spare batteries (If you use rechargeable batteries, bring a spare set and your charger). Please bear in mind that airport security x-ray machines may damage exposed film; if this applies to you, please request airport security personnel to hand-inspect your camera equipment. As an alternative, specialized containers and pouches designed to protect film from x-ray damage may be purchased online or at most camera stores.

Be sure to label your camera/camcorder and media with your name and tour code, in case of loss; though not a guarantee, it will provide a better chance of them being returned to you. Remember to never leave your camera/video equipment unattended. Make sure that you bring it with you whenever you leave your hotel room, motor coach, or flight.

Also, if you purchase any videos abroad, please ensure they are in the correct format for viewing in the U.S. or Canada (NTSC for VHS tape, Regions 0, 1, or ALL for DVD, and Region A for Blu-Ray).

It is important that you arrive at the Airport of Origin at least two hours prior to domestic flights, and three hours prior to international flights. You may need to allow extra time during peak travel periods, such as summer and the Holiday season; the TSA website has a handy wait time calculator for your convenience (opens in a new window). This guideline should allow you sufficient time to check your baggage, present your passport and ticket, get your seat assignments and boarding passes (if you have not already done so), and pass through Security to the boarding area.

If you are connecting with an international flight, be sure to observe the legal minimum connecting times to transfer from one flight to the other, if you checked your baggage through to your final destination. In some cases, however, you may need even more time if you have to transfer your own baggage and check it again onto your connecting flight. Sometimes, flights may be late arriving for connections, so you’ll save yourself worry, effort, and expense if you allow plenty of time for every flight.

Flights between your home airport and the airport of origin (if necessary) are not included in the tour price. If this applies to you, you may have us book your flight from your home airport (for an added cost), or you may arrange your own transportation.

International flights, especially transoceanic crossings, can be exhausting for the unaccustomed traveler. Here are a few helpful tips to make your flight more comfortable:

• Set your watch to the time zone of your destination right after take-off.
• If your flight is scheduled to arrive in the morning (local time), try to get some sleep during your flight.
• If you feel pressure in your ears due to changes in altitude, swallow, yawn, blow your nose, or chew gum.
• Wear comfortable shoes, but try not to take them off; feet occasionally swell during long flights.
• If possible, walk up and down the aisle to stretch your limbs and promote proper circulation.
• Occasionally, rest your feet in the space below the seat in front of you, to avoid discomfort caused by having your seat press against your legs.
• Drink plenty of water on the plane. Avoid alcohol, caffeine, and carbonated drinks.
• Avoid wearing contact lenses in flight; cabin air may dry them out.
• If you arrive at your destination in the morning or afternoon (local time), try to stay awake until evening, as this will help your body clock adjust more readily.

Some countries utilize the 24-Hour Clock, rather than the standard "am/pm" clock used in the United States. This chart shows the conversion between the two timekeeping methods:

24-Hour	Standard	24-Hour	Standard
0100	1:00am	1300	1:00pm
0200	2:00am	1400	2:00pm
0300	3:00am	1500	3:00pm
0400	4:00am	1600	4:00pm
0500	5:00am	1700	5:00pm
0600	6:00am	1800	6:00pm
0700	7:00am	1900	7:00pm
0800	8:00am	2000	8:00pm
0900	9:00am	2100	9:00pm
1000	10:00am	2200	10:00pm
1100	11:00am	2300	11:00pm
1200	12:00pm (Noon)	2400/00xx*	12:00am (Midnight)
* -- 2400 is used specifically at 12:00am (Midnight). The new day begins with Minute One, so all times from 12:01am to 12:59am begin with "00", not "24" (For example, 12:30am = 0030 in the 24-Hour clock)

As you can see, morning times are fairly straightforward (For example, 0930 = 9:30am), but the afternoon and evening times tend to cause the most confusion. Here is a simple way to convert afternoon and evening times:

• From Standard to 24-Hour, add 12 to the hour.
  Example: It's 4:15pm. 4 + 12 = 16, therefore on the 24-Hour clock, the time is 1615.
• From 24-Hour to Standard, take the first two digits and subtract 12.
  Example: Dinner will be served at 1945. 19 - 12 = 7, so dinner is at 7:45pm