Collette tour travel tips, collette vacations travel tips

Collette Vacations - Travel Tips

Packing Tips and Helpful Hints
Follow these tried-and-true tips to ensure a stress free trip.

Bring a camera, film, flash bulbs and batteries. Be sure to bring enough photography supplies for your entire trip. If you have a video camera, bring along an extra battery.
Bring a notebook or trip diary and pen.
Remember sunglasses, tissues, aspirin, toilet articles and cosmetics.
Bring a travel alarm clock, sewing kit, travel iron and hair dryer. (There are ironing facilities at many of the hotels. Many hotels also have hair dryers in the room.)
If you are taking prescription medication of any sort, be sure to take an adequate supply for your trip. Pack your medication in your carry-on baggage - never in checked luggage. Carry an extra prescription in case medication is lost.
Pack items that may leak in sealed plastic bags.
Do not pack jewelry, money, travelers' checks, medication, or articles of value in your checked luggage.
In many cases, laundry services are available to you at the hotel.
As a precaution, divide the contents of your suitcase with your traveling companion.
Don't over pack! Leave room for souvenirs that you plan to take back home. Pack an extra carry-on bag.
Bring a copy of your passport/identification. Pack it separately from the original.

Tips for a comfortable flight:
Follow these tips to help make your flight more enjoyable.

Bring moisturizing lotion on the flight with you, as the air is very drying.
Fly in comfortable clothing and shoes. And don't forget to bring a sweater on the flight, since temperatures can vary when flying.
Drink plenty of water and juice on the long segments of your trip. Bring a bottle of water. You may want to avoid alcoholic beverages during the flight, as they are dehydrating.
Exercise on board the aircraft. Stretch in your seat; walk up and down the aisles. You'll feel more energetic (and less jet-lagged!) when you arrive at your destination. Exercise stiff joints upon arrival by taking a stroll or using your hotel's workout facilities.
Bring books, magazines and snacks for your flight.

Special Tips for Travel outside the United States:
Follow these tips to help make International Travel more pleasant.

Many foreign hotels do not provide face cloths. You may wish to bring one.
On Safari Tours, we recommend that you use a large duffel bag rather than a suitcase -- storage space on Safari vans is limited.
In many foreign hotels, Decaffeinated coffee and sweeteners are not readily available in many countries. You may want to bring packets of decaffeinated coffee and sweetener from home with you.

Customs and Immigration:
Follow these tips to help make International Travel more pleasant.

Upon returning to the U.S., be prepared to fill out a Declaration Form for U.S. Customs. Purchases up to $400 USD per person are allowed duty free . (Dollar amount is subject to change without notice.) Quantities and types of items brought back to the United States may be restricted.
For purchases being shipped home, please check with the store where purchases for the proper for on V.A.T. (Value Added Tax) purchases.

Passport/Visas/Proof of Citizenship
All airlines will ask for identification when you check in. If you're traveling outside the US, apply for a passport three months before you plan to travel, to ensure receipt before your travel date.

For travel in Canada:
Passengers should check with the Canadian consulate for entry requirements. Accepted proof-of-citizenship (at time of printing) are: a current passport or a driver's license and a birth certificate with a raised seal.
Collette recommends that all clients traveling to Canada should also pack a photocopy of their passport or identification. Keep the photocopies separate from the actual identification.

For travel in Europe, South America, Africa, Asia and the South Pacific:
Proof-of-citizenship is required for all trips outside the U.S. Passengers should check with the appropriate consulate for entry requirements.
Visas may be required for entry into certain countries. Check with the appropriate consulates for entry requirements.
Passports must be valid for eight months beyond the travel date of the planned vacation. Please check with destination consulate for specific requirements.
Collette recommends that all clients traveling to abroad should also pack a photocopy of their passport, identification and applicable visas. Keep the photocopies separate from the actual identification.

Luggage and Airline Regulation
Luggage: For unchecked luggage (carry on), please check with your airline. Limitations are in effect and may vary from airline to airline. Carry-on space on motorcoaches may also be limited.
Use sturdy, latch-type luggage in lieu of cloth or vinyl zipper bags - provides better protection against handling bumps and the possibility of theft.

REMEMBER: Label your luggage and important items with your name, home address and telephone number. It's safest to label your luggage on both the outside and inside of the bag.

Airline Regulations: The sum of linear measurements (length, height, and width) cannot exceed 62 inches. Should there be a second bag, the total for both cannot exceed 106 inches. Weight limitations vary. Please check with your airline prior to departure.

Currency
Check exchange rates to view the latest exchange information. We suggest that you exchange money upon arrival at your destination country. Exchanges are conveniently located throughout most countries.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is not included in the tour price?
The land price does not include air travel, airline fees, airport or departure taxes, transfers, visas, customary end of trip gratuities for your tour manager, driver, local guides, hotel housekeepers, cruise ship wait staff, and any incidental charges.

Can Collette Vacations book our airline reservations?
Collette Vacations is happy to assist you in accommodating your flight needs. Due to tour scheduling and limited availability you are strongly encouraged to take advantage of Collette's air packages. We are not responsible for air arrangements you have made on your own. On occasion, it is necessary to change tour dates. In this case, we can only protect air reservations booked through Collette Vacations. For all air reservations, it is strongly recommended to reconfirm flights before departure, in the event that the airline has an unexpected schedule change. We cannot assume responsibility for schedule changes, routings or flight cancellations involving the airlines.

Are airport and hotel transfers available?
Roundtrip airport-to-hotel transfers are provided FREE for all passengers who purchase airfare through Collette Vacations. These transfers are available on the first and last day of the tour date and do not apply to pre and post night stays.

Passengers who do not purchase airfare through Collette can purchase transfers at an additional cost of $100 per person, round trip. Some restrictions may apply.

Do you accept late bookings?
Tour sales normally close 7 days prior to departure. All late bookings are on request and must be guaranteed with a credit card if within 60 days of departure date. A late booking fee of $25.00 may be assessed to cover express mailing of documents and other expenses incurred.

Do I need a Passport?
A valid Passport is required for trips outside the USA. We strongly recommend that you have a valid passport (with six month validity) for all travel outside the United States. You are strongly urged to contact the appropriate consulate for additional details.

What is the difference between a twin room and a double room?
A double room is designed to accommodate two people, but may not have two separate beds. A twin bedded room has two separate beds of any size, and is the type most commonly utilized.

Do you rotate seats on tours?
Seats are rotated on board the coach for all Collette tours under the direction of the tour manager. So that we do not show partiality among passengers, exceptions cannot be made.

What size is a triple room?
A triple room is the same size as a twin bedded room and beds will accommodate three people; but we cannot guarantee that there will be three separate beds. If there are only two beds, a rollaway may be requested but cannot be guaranteed due to size of room and fire codes.

Can I extend my tour to see more of a region?
Yes! You may enhance your tour with either an extension, offered on select tours, or by purchasing pre/post hotel stays.

Extensions may be "hosted" rather than escorted. When hosted, passengers will be greeted upon arrival by a local tour manager who will provide all included services, and be available on-call during the duration of the extension. A minimum number of passengers may be required to operate some extensions. Extensions not purchased at time of deposit are subject to availability and applicable charges at time of request. Collette also offers pre and post hotel nights before and/or after a tour for you to explore the destination independently. Should you purchase additional nights, please be advised that your tour manager will not be available during this time.

Would my tour date ever be changed?
Collette Vacations reserves the right to cancel any tour prior to departure for any reason. Should this happen, Collette Vacations will make every effort to protect you on another departure date and if an alternate cannot be found, a full refund will be made. Air booked through Collette Vacations will be protected. We cannot be held responsible for other air arrangements.

Should you decide to change your reservation after initial booking, a handling fee of $25 per transaction will be charged for any alteration made to a reservation (including name changes). Revisions to air tickets are subject to the rules and regulations of the airline and fare type purchased and rates vary. A change of tour date or tour itinerary within the guidelines of the cancellation policy will be treated as a cancellation and regular cancellation fees may apply. See Cancellation Policy.

Where do I meet my tour manager?
Your tour will begin at your first hotel. The tour manager will make contact with you at the hotel and will provide details relating to your tour. The hotel address and phone number will be included in your documents.

How can I be best prepared for the pacing and physical requirements on a Collette tour?
Tour pacing varies by itinerary, as each destination, its sightseeing and activities are unique. Pacing is often subject to personal interpretation, however at Collette we do include the best a destination has to offer, enhancing your overall tour experience. For overnight pacing of a tour, please refer to the "Your Itinerary" section on each tour page. This describes the number of nights you will stay in each hotel during your tour. The day by day descriptions will provide additional detail about the number of activities included in each day. Some of the most unique sightseeing can mean accessing locations that restrict motorcoaches, especially in historic areas. For your comfort, we recommend packing walking shoes so you fully enjoy every aspect of your vacation.

Do I need to be a member of Smithsonian to take a Smithsonian Journeys Travel Adventures tour?
Yes, all Smithsonian Associates are invited to join our tours. If you are not currently an Associate you will be mailed the Smithsonian membership form with your pre-departure information packet. The membership fee is $29.00 USD per family. In addition to unique travel opportunities, Associates also receive the following benefits:
12 issues of Smithsonian magazine.
Discount of 10% at Museum shops and on catalog purchases.
Personalized membership card.
Advance notice for seminars and events in your area.
Free admission to The Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum in NY.

All prices, itineraries, accommodations and dates are subject to change without notice and at any time by the tour operators and cruise lines. Availability is limited and must be confirmed at time of booking. All information presented is based on promotional material provided by tour operators and cruise lines. Please call us toll free at 1-800-942-3301 to confirm availability and current pricing on all packages. The prices on this website are not guaranteed until a deposit has been made. We are not responsible for errors, omissions, or changes in these prices until a booking has been confirmed by an agent.

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