GENERAL TRAVEL INFORMATION (FAQ MATERIAL)
You are currently required to have a signed passport which must remain valid 6-months beyond the return date of the tour. Your passport is your formal document of US Citizenship and needs to be kept in a secure place on your person during the tour. Replacing a lost passport is extremely difficult, expensive, and time-consuming. Do not pack your passport in your checked luggage. We recommend you have a digital photo of your passport with you in case you lose the original. If you are traveling on a foreign passport, you may need a Schengen Visa. GrandTours can provided any required supporting documents.
The health, safety and welfare of all travelers is GrandTours’ highest priority. Review your group’s medical policies before departing. Do not pack medication in your checked luggage. Please inform your group leaders/chaperones of any illness. In case of an emergency, the tour managers will assist in locating a proper healthcare facility. We strongly recommend adequate travel insurance with medical coverage for all of our tours. It is the passenger’s responsibility to have a complete understanding of all health requirements in place at the time of travel.
All liquids, gels or aerosols in your carry-on luggage must be in original containers of 3 ounces or less. All containers of liquids, gels and aerosols are to be placed in one quart-size clear plastic zip-top bag. One quart-size bag of liquids, gels and aerosols per traveler is allowed. Visit www.tsa.gov for further details and the most current security policies.
The entire trip is casual so please dress for comfort. Bring comfortable walking shoes as you can expect 10,000-15,000 steps daily. Average daily temperatures will vary between 30-50° F over the course of the week. Bring layered clothing that allows you to stay warm and dry. Your directors will communicate proper performance apparel.
Most of Europe will be 7-hours ahead of CST during the tour. When it is 9:00 AM in Minneapolis it will be 3:00 PM in most of Europe.
The electricity in Europe runs at 220 volts. Most U.S. made electronic devices such as phones and tablets are dual voltage and only require a 2-prong European adapter. Other appliances such as hair-dryers, curling irons and straighteners may not be dual voltage and will need a step-down power converter/transformer and EU plug adapter.
If planning on using a mobile phone, check with your service provider for an international cellular/data plan. International charges can be very expensive and this deserves careful attention. If you do not have an international plan, turn cellular data off or put the device in Airplane Mode. You can then use free WiFi for voice and messaging to communicate.
Many of our tours use individual radio headsets for guided sightseeing and these are included in our tours, where required, at no cost to the traveler. They are compulsory in order to visit most sightseeing attractions today and allow you to listen to your tour guides in comfort. Your tour managers will distribute these to all travelers along with headphones. Each traveler is responsible for keeping their headset secure and in good condition. Your tour managers will have spare batteries and you should inform them if your headset is defective or problematic in any way. They will do their best to fix it or replace it for you. Headset rental companies charge for lost, stolen, or damaged radios, so please treat it as if it were your personal device and return it in good condition.
We recommend you bring a combination of cash and some type of debit/credit card that can be used in local bank ATM machines. Tap and pay is common with Visa and MasterCard throughout Europe. Check with your financial institution and card provider for any special instructions and foreign transaction fees associated with your cards. MasterCard and Visa are accepted nearly everywhere. American Express is also common, but not accepted everywhere. Discover cards are generally not accepted. ApplePay may be accepted as well in some locations. While spending money is completely a personal matter, we find that most families are reviewing their budget for meals that are not included, snacks, and a set amount for souvenirs. We find students are averaging $200-$400 in spending money on our tours. Be sure to call your financial institutions to let them know you will be traveling out of the country. Give specific dates and destinations of your international travel plans including connecting cities.
All gratuities to your tour managers, drivers, local guides, and restaurant staff have been included in the tour program. There is no need for any additional tipping on the tour.
