The
following information will help in preparing for your upcoming trip.
ENTRY DOCUMENTS – FOR U.S. CITIZENS:
A valid U.S. Passport is
required for entry into all countries. Many countries require that
passports be valid for at least another six months after travel has ended.
It is the responsibility of the traveler to have the proper travel
documents.
The only countries that require
a visa are
Paraguay
& Bolivia.
Check with their respective consulates or Embassies in
Washington DC for
specific requirements and applications.
Visa service companies will also handle obtaining these visas for you.
Any other nationalities should check with the Consulate of each country to
be visited to verify applicable entry documents.
HOW DOES YOUR TRIP WORK?
LADATCO TOURS uses local companies in each
country who are intimately familiar with the customs and business methods of
that country. They coordiate all the services and accommodations in that
country and will be available to help with any additional assistance you may
need.
Your specific tour inclusions
were detailed prior to receipt of your deposit but, in general, all of
LADATCO’s arrangements include transfers, tours, accommodations and any
specifically requested services.
Local host-guides will meet you
upon arrival at the airport or other entry point; they will be carrying a
sign with your name on it. They will be outside customs or, on domestic
arrivals, outside luggage claim.
They will transfer you to your
hotel and help you get checked in. They will verify with you all tours and
services to be provided, when to be ready for tour departures and they will
reconfirm your departure flight and transfer. They will also give you a
local contact number should you need additional assistance during your stay.
FINAL TRAVEL DOCUMENTS:
Final documents are generally issued three to
two weeks prior to your departure and will include a detailed day-by-day
Itinerary-Voucher with complete local and emergency contact information for
each destination, special baggage tags, restaurant suggestions for major
destinations.
Copies of your final travel documents will be posted on LADATCO’s DOCUMENTS
ONLINE portal and you, and anyone you allow, can access these documents
anytime anywhere you have internet access. Complete access instructions will
be included with your Pre-Departure Trip.
GRATUITIES:
Gratuities often represent a substantial part of
a worker’s earnings and are certainly an incentive to provide the best
service possible. Here are some
guidelines; adjust them to represent the service you receive and the thanks
you want to express:
If a service charge is included in your
restaurant bill, no additional tip is required.
However, if you had good service, it will be appreciated.
Tips for bellboys are usually
equivalent to $1 per bag; chambermaids $1 a day; taxi drivers 10% of the
meter reading; room service 10% of the bill if no service charge
included.
Tips for guides and drivers are left to
your discretion, but guidelines are:
For guides, per person: $5-$10 per half
day; $10-$20 per full day
For drivers, per person: $2-$3 for half day; $5-$8 per
full day
MEALS & WATER:
Meals that are included are to be taken in the
hotel dining room, unless a specific restaurant is indicated or the meal is
included on a tour. Meal
inclusions, especially beverages, can easily vary and you should always
verify what is included before ordering.
LADATCO includes meals only when
necessary or when it represents a plus value. We feel that leaving you free
to arrange your own meals gives you the freedom to choose not only where to
eat but what to eat as well. Check with your local host-guides for their
suggestions and recommendations; they’re out and about all the time and are
familiar with what’s good at the moment.
To be safe rather than eventually
sorry, always drink bottled water.
In most of the better hotels and restaurants, ice is generally made with
purified water. Elsewhere it is
better to drink pre-chilled drinks rather than put warm drinks over ice.
NOTE ABOUT
HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS:
Personal
physicians, local health centers and the CDC (800-232-4636) are your best
sources of information on what current inoculations are recommended and/or
required to the areas you will be traveling. Consult your physician for any
health-related issues/recommendations regarding your trip.
INSURANCE:
Because emergencies and unforeseen events can
occur and your travel arrangements represent a considerable investment, we
highly recommend that you have Trip Cancellation and Travel insurance.
NOTE ON
LUGGAGE ALLOWANCES:
Please be
sure to check with your airline(s) to verify carry-on and checked baggage
allowances that apply to your airfare. It is becoming more common that some
airfares do not include any checked bags. In such cases, passengers are
responsible for paying airline charges to check their bags either at the
airport counter at the time of flight check-in or some airlines offer lower
costs to pre-pay checked bags on-line.
ELECTRICITY, CONVERTERS & PLUG
ADAPTERS:
A guide to electric current and plug
adapters is available at the back of this Pre-Departure Trip Information
booklet. Be safe, and take what you need.
MONETARY MATTERS:
You can use credit cards (Visa, MasterCard,
American Express) in all major cities and in most of the better hotels,
restaurants and stores. ATM
machines are available in major cities only but use with the same caution as
you would in the USA.
More information included at the end of this booklet.
Due to currency fluctuations,
wait until arrival in a country before obtaining local currency.
Your local host will advise you as to exchange regulations and locations.
Exchange only what you need as you need it, as converting back to U.S.
Dollars is practically impossible.
Take along some One Dollar bills in good condition – you will find them
useful in many instances.
