Please refer below to read the answers to some of our most commonly asked questions. If you have a question that happens to not be on the list, please feel free to contact us today.
Do I need a passport and how long does it take to get one?
Any US Citizen looking to travel outside the US will need a valid US passport. You can apply at many government building, including local municipal buildings or US Post Offices. Go to www.USPS.com/passport for all information you need including completing forms to expedite your visit to the post office. You can also apply online directly through the US Department of State at www.travel.state.gov/passport. Passports typically take 6-8 weeks to be processed so be sure to give yourself plenty of time. If necessary this timeline can be expedited for additional fees. Note: We strongly recommend you make multiple copies of the information page (the one with the photo) of your passport. Keep one at home and bring one or two with you packed in a different place to your passport. Lost passports are more easily replaced if a copy is available.
Should we purchase travel insurance?
Although this is a personal choice we strongly recommend you purchase travel insurance. An international tour is a big financial commitment and for a relatively small additional premium you can protect your investment. At the time of making a deposit you will be given the option to purchase travel insurance through our partner Travel Insured, although of course you are welcome to do your own research and purchase your insurance independently.
How should I carry money?
All our destination countries have banks with ATM's that will allow you to access your accounts in the US. Local currency will be received and your account debited the appropriate amount converted to your home currency. You can also receive cash advances on most credit cards at most ATM's although be sure to check with your credit card provider about fees. Traveler's checks are safe and are good for making purchases, but not always the most convenient way of exchanging for cash. We recommend you order a small amount of currency from your bank so that upon arrival you have some local currency to spend before you have the convenience of finding an ATM. You can also exchange currency at airports although you will likely be charged higher fees than you local bank.
Do I need Vaccinations?
We recommend you talk to your primary care physician and inform them of your travel plans. In most cases you will not need any specific vaccinations, but should check to make sure that you are up to date with all routine immunizations. Parents of travelers under 18 are required to complete our Child Traveler Personal Health and Medical Record form.
What should we pack for our trip?
Pack as you would for any vacation, paying attention to the season. We recommend you visit www.weather.com to look at weather trends for the area you will be travelling to at the time you are travelling. Closer to the time you can check for unusual weather using the 10 day forecast for that area. Activities on all trips are fairly casual, so no need to bring any formal clothing. Casual wear will be acceptable in all hotel dining rooms and sightseeing activities. Pack a bathing suit as even if your itinerary or season does not accommodate beach time as many hotels we use have a pool. Of course all soccer players should remember to pack their soccer equipment (cleats, shin guards and uniform) and we recommend they pack this in their hand luggage.
What are the luggage limits / restrictions?
Luggage restrictions are constantly changing and are specific to each airline. You should check the website of your carrier for their specific instructions on number of bags and weight limits. We recommend you pack light to avoid any additional baggage fees, and also to make travel between airports, hotels and other destinations as easy as possible.
How should we handle money for my child travelling alone?
We recommend you open a simple, low or no cost bank account for your child that comes with an ATM card. You can then deposit a fixed amount of money into that account which your child can access as needed via any ATM machine. It is simple, and safe, as your child will never need to carry more than a small amount of cash. If your child does run out of cash for any reason it is very easy for you to "top up" the account. We do not recommend you give your child an ATM card for your account as that gives you no control over spending!
What is the best way to stay in touch with my child?
Rented Phone: We recommend you rent a cell phone for your child using our partners: TravelCell. Simply complete a UK Elite / Global Team Travel TravelCell order form and follow the instructions. You will receive your phone in the mail, and simply return it at the end of your trip in the pre-paid envelope provided.
• Rates are as low as approx $15/week (plus airtime)
• Incoming calls and text messages are free so you can keep in contacts as often as you like
• Insurance can be purchased for 99c /day to protect against loss.
You will also be provided with the cell phone number of our tour leader, but would ask that you only use this in the case of an emergency. I am sure you can appreciate it is not feasible for our tour leader to field regular calls on a daily basis from parents of travelers. You can also contact our main office in the US: 973 631 9802 as we are in constant contact with our tour leaders. Email: Many of the hotels we stay in have areas with internet access, and many of the cities visited will also have internet café's. Email is a quick and easy way to stay in constant contact. Skype: Video phone calls via Skype (or other provider) are also a good way to keep in touch with the benefit of course of being able to see your child. Skype accounts are free to set up, as is the service provided. Go to www.Skype.com for more information and details on how to set up accounts.
How can my child keep his her passport safe?
On arrival in the destination country our tour Leaders are prepared to collect passports from all children travelling alone. They will then utilize the service of the hotels (usually safe's) to keep all passports safe until needed.