• > 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

Custom dates can be arranged for your private group of 10 or more. Please inquire about discounts for larger groups

Local Transportation

During the trip we travel with our own comfortable bus that is ventilated and heated. On the way there is much to see and we can stop whenever we want to stretch our legs, take a picture or visit a cute town or market.

Accommodations

We will spend the night in tourist class hotels with private bathrooms. The hotels have been renovated in recent years, but they may still have an old fashioned ambiance. Almost all of them are within walking distance of the inner cities.

If you are traveling alone you will be matched with a roommate of the same sex. Please note the cost of a single room listed in the cost descriptions. If you request a roommate, but we are unable to match you, there will be no penalty charge for the single room.

Meals

Breakfast is included and usually consists of an ample buffet. The tour leader can recommend places or you may choose places to have lunch and dinner yourself. In the larger cities you will have a large number of restaurants to choose from. The choices in smaller towns are more limited. The tour guide will always be able to recommend a restaurant where the food is good and tasty. Aside from restaurants with the usual European dishes there are also international restaurants. Dairy products and salads are readily available.

Climate

Travel Documents

POLAND - Passport and proof of sufficient funds required*. Visa not required for tourist/business stay of up to 90 days. Visitors must register at hotel or with local authorities within 48 hours after arrival. For longer stays or more information, contact the Embassy of the Republic of Poland (Consular Division), 2224 Wyoming Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20008 (202/234-3800) or nearest Consulate General: Chicago, IL, 1530 North Lakeshore Dr., 60610 (312/337-8166), Los Angeles, CA, 12400 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 555, 90025 (310/442-8500), or New York, NY, 233 Madison Ave., 10016 (646/237-2100). Internet: www.polandembassy.org

RUSSIA - Passport and visa required. Tourist visa requires 1 application form and 1 photo.  Because special clearances and documentation are needed for Russian visas, it is required that you apply for your visa through IT'S EASY PASSPORT (expediting service) who will arrange for the proper documentation for clearances. Do not apply directly through the Russian Consulate for this visa.  We will provide the necessary instructions and contact information. For additional information concerning entry and exit requirements, and for most current forms and rates, travelers may contact  http://russianembassy.org. On visa applications, use the following info as your contact: Sollar  Toesjina 4, St. Petersburg Tel: 7 812

UKRAINE - No visa required. Passport is required.  http://www.ukrconsul.org/visa/visa_drops.htm    

In the event you would like to use a passport and visa expediting service, we recommend “It’s Easy.” For downloadable forms and requirements please visit: www.itseasypassport.com. You will need to know the entry and departure dates which we provide for you on an itinerary. You will also need to list a contact name in each country, which you will find in the literature we send you when you book a trip. It’s Easy honors a 10% discount for Djoser customers. The discount is applied to the service fees but not to the government fees.  For a higher fee they can process your passport in a few days.

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

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.  You will find more about flights in the General Information section. Below you will find the usual flight times for the airline indicated.

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

(Current exchange rates  can be found on on (www.exchangerate.com).
At time of printing, the various currencies are:
In Poland 3.3 the Zloty equals $1 (as of November 2005).

Tipping  
At the beginning of your trip, your tour leader will collect a “tip pot” of approximately $2 per land day, per person. So that you will not be burdened with tipping those who assist you along the way, this sum will dispersed by the tour leader as tips for the driver, local guides and hotel staff. The tip pot does not include the tip for the tour leader. A typical guideline for an American tip would be $2-$3 per day but the amount is at your discretion and should be based on his/her efforts and your satisfaction level. Dutch tipping habits are different than North American guidelines. You may feel more comfortable tipping your guide privately to avoid the great cultural tipping debate. However, it’s up to you! We take pride in our Djoser guides who do their utmost to make your experience great. We do ask that you bear in mind their extra challenge of a dual language group. 

Health

We recommend that you will be somewhat cautious about what you eat and that you bring along a small medical supply kit with some aspirin and some stomach medication. Immunizations are not required but the Center for Disease Control recommends the following. Check with your doctor or a travel medical clinic to see which are necessary for you, personally.
Hepatitis A or immune globulin (IG).
Hepatitis B, if you might be exposed to blood (for example, health-care workers), have sexual contact with the local population, stay longer than 6 months, or be exposed through medical treatment.
Rabies, if you might be exposed to wild or domestic animals through your work or recreation.
Typhoid, particularly if you are visiting developing countries in this region.
As needed, booster doses for tetanus-diphtheria, measles, and a one-time dose of polio vaccine for adults. Hepatitis B vaccine is now recommended for all infants and for 11– to 12-year-olds who did not receive the series as infants.
To contact the Center for Disease Control:
http://www.cdc.gov/travel/ or call CDC Traveler's Health 1-877-394-8747 or 1-800-311-3435.

Luggage & Clothing

We recommend that you bring a soft duffle bag or a small suitcase, which is most convenient for travel on busses. For easier transport and for your own comfort you may try to limit your luggage to about 30 pounds. Be sure to bring comfortable hiking shoes and be prepared for cooler days in spring and fall.
Electricity: 220 Volt and typical European outlets requiring an adaptor.

Resources

It is extremely useful to pick up a good travel guidebook. We highly recommend Lonely Planet. You will find a wealth of practical information regarding money issues, maps, local customs, history, activities, and much more. There are always great travel journals, historical and political books at your local bookstore as well. The internet is also invaluable for researching and finding great photos. Be sure to check out this trip’s Slide Show (see link above) to get a good feeling for the trip, lodgings and modes of travel.

Communication

Phones are available everywhere.
Internet cafes are in many locations.
Cell phones have good reception. Inquire with your provider beforehand.