• > How Strenuous are these Trips?
• > Group Participants and Tour Leader
• > Private Tours and Custom Dates
• > Local Transportation
• > Accommodations
• > Meals
• > Climate
• > Travel Documents
• > Flights
• > Airline Tickets
• > Money
• > Health
• > Luggage & Clothing
• > Resources
• > Communication

How Strenuous are these Trips?

Group adventures (with our Dutch groups) tend to be longer programs and are often more challenging than our private journeys in several ways. Participants, of all ages, take hearty hikes and will rent bikes to explore. The Dutch have spent their entire lives on bikes so even older travelers are good endurance. Be sure to ask the guide the nature of any hike and opt out if you feel it will be too much.  (This is also a great argument to lobby for bike paths in the States!). The infrastructures in many of the countries we visit can be very undeveloped compared to the States. Long road trips on bumpy roads can be uncomfortable for some travelers. On several of these trips, we spend a day or two in remote areas that may require a willingness to “rough it”. Roosters will crow, lights may dim, and a cold shower may be expected on these days. On some of our group adventures, we stay for a night or two in indigenous lodgings which can be basic or very primitive. Some have no formal bath facilities. Be sure to check the weather conditions for the dates you are considering at worldweather.org, and pack appropriate shoes and clothing for these trips. At most hotels there is no porter service and you must be able to carry your own luggage.

Our semi-private and private trips are less challenging. While these trips are also quite active, there are fewer physical challenges. Also some hotels and modes of transport are upgraded for the private/semi-private trips, and there is a little more one-on-one assistance from the guide.

Group Participants and Tour Leader

 Please consider the descriptions below before booking a trip with an international group.
On these trips, you will travel with groups of 8 to 20 travelers, of all ages, mostly from Holland and Belgium. These trips are great for our more active, independent minded travelers who welcome the added element, and occasional challenges of cultural immersion. This adds another element to your international experience. There are usually only one to four North Americans on any trip. We found that an even split of Dutch and North Americans sometimes created a cultural divide, and our intention is to blend travelers and to maintain the European feeling of these trips. True to the European style of travel is a diversity of ages represented in our groups. These active  travelers blend well and participants of all ages take hearty hikes, bike rides and welcome independent explorations.
The Dutch are typically very social and have a great command of English. It is inevitable that the participants will lapse into Dutch from time to time at meals and on the bus, until they get to know you. The guide will help to integrate you, but you will enjoy this trip more if you are the type of person who is also comfortable initiating conversations, from time to time. If you have a travel partner, it will be easier to find your way into the conversations or at least to have a buffer during times when the group is chatting in Dutch. After a day or two, you will normally get your rhythm.  You can probably expect lively conversations about world politics, especially in today’s climate.  Depending on your personal politics, this can be lots of fun, or not. The Dutch tend to be fairly liberal minded.
If this description sounds daunting or unappealing, then these trips are probably not for you and you may wish to consider our private and semi-private journeys, instead. They  offer plenty of excitement without some of the challenges. Please call us with questions.  Over half of our travelers prefer to travel the “Dutch way” booking these programs again and again.

Guide
The Dutch guide (a logistics coordinator, not a lecturer) will address the group in both Dutch and English. You will hear more Dutch than English, but you will get the important information. Guides will organize and accompany some activities and meals, but not all. They will offer suggestions for you so that you can also explore and dine safely on your own. These groups welcome these opportunities.
Our guides go through a period of training at our headquarters office in the Netherlands. In each country, they are in close contact with our land agents. Most of our land agents have worked with Djoser for 10 or more years. Their staff is there to help and are on call in the event of an emergency.

Private Tours and Custom Dates

This trip may be organized for private groups of 10 or more. Discounts will apply to larger groups.

Local Transportation

For transportation we use a locally rented bus. The bus is spacious and air-conditioned. The quality of the roads in Mexico is generally good. The tour includes a couple of long travel days. Of course we will make regular stops at small dining establishments or to stretch our legs or check out interesting places along the way. Our bus drivers are Mexican and they are experienced drivers. Occasionally you can also make use of public transportation such as the metro in Mexico City or in Palenque, a colectivo, which is a mini-bus; a cross between a taxi and a bus. You have several opportunities to participate in optional boat rides. We highly recommend the boat trip trough the Canyon del Sumidero. Use the following link to view slides of the transportation we use: http://www.djoserusa.com/transportation

Accommodations

The reserved hotels and pensions are usually centrally located. Where possible we stay in old colonial hotels with a cozy atmosphere. Several hotels have their own swimming pool. The reserved rooms are comfortable but not lavish and all rooms have private baths. Where necessary the rooms are equipped with fans or air-conditioning. The voltage is 110 V, the same as in the US. In most hotels you can have your laundry done.

Meals

Because of the many Mexican restaurants in our country almost everyone is familiar with the local cuisine. Once in Mexico you discover the tremendous variety of usually hearty and spicy local dishes. For breakfast you can choose between toast with jam or all kinds of egg dishes, with bacon, sausage and many different styles of prepared beans. Or you can have corn flakes and muesli with yogurt. La comida, the most comprehensive meal of the day, is served between 1 PM and 4 PM and is compatible to our dinner with a choice of soups, meats or fish, rice and vegetables. La cena, the evening meal, is a light version of our lunch. In addition there are of course the familiar snacks available such as tacos, tortillas, enchiladas and quesadillas.

Climate

The climate in Mexico differs per area. Due to the influence of two oceans and the difference in altitude you can find large variations when traveling relatively short distances. On the highlands, where Mexico City and Oaxaca are located, you find a very moderate climate with pleasant warm temperatures and cool nights. The landscape leaving Mexico City towards San Cristobal is hilly. Around San Cristobal you find vast forests; around Palenque, many jungle areas. The Chichen Itza area is flat and consists of tropical savannas with a pleasant tropical climate. On the coast there is usually a cool sea breeze. The rainy season lasts from June until the end of September which some people feel might interfere with traveling, however in these months the rain comes in short, heavy bursts at the end of the day and at night. The nature at this time is at its most beautiful.

Travel Documents

U.S. and Canadian citizens do not need a visa to visit Mexico. Your passport must be valid for six months after departing the country. Travelers from other nationalities must check with the Mexican consulate to verify entry requirements. For more information, you may call the consulate office in Washington D.C. (202) 736-1000. You may be directed to another consular office, depending on your place of residence. You can refer to the website: http://www.mexonline.com/consulate.htm.

If you need rush service on your passport we recommend an expediting service called It’s Easy, located in New York. You can check their website http://www.itseasypassport.com for passport requirements and to download the current forms and rates and processing fees. Or you can call them to fax you forms if you do not have Internet. Please indicate you were referred by Djoser, Inc to receive a 10% discount on the processing fee. They provide rush service for an additional fee.

It’s Easy (Passport & Visa Service)
Satellite Airline Terminal
125 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
Phone - (212) 286-8500,
Fax (212)-490-3224
Website http://www.itseasypassport.com
E-mail mail@itseasypassport.com

Flights

We book our flights with top airlines. Most airlines will honor earned mileage. You will need to submit your mileage credit yourself upon receipt of your flight information. For airlines that allow advance seating reservations, we typically request aisle and adjoining seats unless otherwise instructed on your registration form. It is vital that you arrive at the airport early, according to the airline (often 3 hours prior to flight time). We do provide airport transfers (airport pick-up and drop off) in our destination country for those who book the Land/Air package. Flight times are subject to change. It is recommended that you book your domestic Add-on (connecting) flights through Djoser in association with the international flight. To avoid penalties for flight changes do not book your own domestic add-on (connecting flight) without first receiving a printed copy of your flight record from Djoser confirming your actual departure and return flight times.

The costs of our trips are listed for trips from Los Angeles or New York City. We can provide flights from other cities within the United States at competitive prices. These “Add-on” cities and prices can be found on our website (www.djoserusa.com) within the destination section. The costs of these add-ons are added to the base price from either Los Angeles or New York. The flight routing will not necessarily go through that city, but the list price will serve as a baseline for your total cost.

Airline Tickets

You will receive your tickets or E-tickets 10-12 days prior to your departure date. In case the airline uses E-tickets you will receive two documents:

• A document that shows the E-ticket number & flight itinerary (sent by email & mail). 
• A receipt of the E-ticket (sent by mail).

The first document listed is needed to check in at the automated kiosks. If you check in at the E-ticket desk you don’t need any of the provided documents, you can simply show your passport and you’re good to go. Both the automated kiosk and the e-ticket desk insure a much faster check in than at the regular check in desks. It is important to hold on to your e-ticket receipt, as you might need it to claim your mileage credits (if the airline awards mileage for this particular flight).

Money

The currency is the Mexican peso. Almost everywhere in Mexico U.S. dollars will be accepted. We recommend that you bring traveler’s checks since they are insured against loss and theft. It is always important to carry some small bills with you. In most places you can use your credit card to secure cash from an ATM-machine. As you read in the literature, the tour cost does not include meals and personal expenses. You will need to budget for meals, drinks, entry fees, souvenirs. Please see the price chart for your estimated expenses. Of course this depends on your own spending patterns. It is always sensible to bring a little extra money in case of unexpected expenses, such as special souvenirs or medical expenses. While it is not mandatory to tip the guide, it is appreciated. Some guides will collect a tip pot at the beginning of the trip to tip the driver and other people along the way who assistance our group. If there is no tip pot, a driver is typically tipped the same daily rate as the guide. The amount of a tip is entirely up to you.

Tipping
While it is not mandatory to tip the guide, it is appreciated. Some guides will collect a tip pot at the beginning of the trip to tip the driver and other people along the way who assistance our group. If there is no tip pot, a driver is typically tipped the same daily rate as the guide. The amount of a tip is entirely up to you.

Health

The most up-to-date information on vaccinations and other health precautions may be obtained from the Center for Disease Control and Prevention’s hotline for international travelers at telephone 1-877-FYI-TRIP (1-877-394-8747); fax 1-888-CDC-FAX (1-888-232-3299), or by visiting the CDC Internet home page at http://www.cdc.gov. Typically recommended are:

• Hepatitis A/yellow fever: one shot with gamma globulin, duration depending on dosage
• DTP booster

Luggage & Clothing

Bring along a mid-sized suitcase or a frameless backpack as your luggage. This will make transporting your luggage easier for yourself as well as for the tour operator. You will also want a small day-pack to carry essentials. We request that you try to keep your luggage between twenty-five and thirty pounds since the luggage compartment in the bus is not always spacious. In most hotels you can have your clothes washed so there is no need to over-pack. In general, light cotton, airy summer clothes are preferable, however do make sure to bring something warmer for the higher altitudes. Bring along comfortable walking shoes with good traction.

Resources

Communication

With all the modern means of communication you are easily in-touch in Mexico. In most towns you find internet cafés where you can send and receive e-mails for a nominal fee. Please check with your provider regarding use of your mobile phone in Mexico.