• > 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

For the entire trip we make use of a comfortable and spacious bus. The travel distances are not so long so travel times are no longer than two to five hours. Spain and Portugal have excellent roads so we can cover a large distance in a relatively short period of time. Of course we will stop along the way to visit fun little villages or nature areas. The use of our own driver and bus allows us the freedom to stop when and where we choose to based on the group’s preferences. The larger cities can be explored easily by bus.  Use the following link to view slides of the transportation we use:
http://www.djoserusa.com/transportation

Accommodations

In Spain we spend the night in comfortable, mostly centrally located hotels. The rooms that we have reserved are clean and have private showers and toilets in the rooms. In the event that you prefer a single room, you can call us for the cost. For Spain there are a limited number of single rooms available so it is possible that we may not be able to accommodate your request.  Use the following link to view some of our lodgings: http://www.djoserusa.com/hotels

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

Meals are not included during the trip. This way you have a wide choice of eating establishments wherever we go. The eating patterns of the Spaniards and Portuguese are considerably different than ours. Breakfast is typically very light and consists of a roll or croissants with tea and coffee. The main meal takes place around 2 PM. almost every restaurant offers a cheap day menu. Between six and nine pm it is time for drinks and tapas, small snacks such as potato salad or a variety of fish with garlic, olives, etc, continued by an evening meal. In Southern Spain you can enjoy authentic paella or a delicious fresh bowl of gazpacho, and Andalusian specialty that tastes delicious on warm days. Typical Portuguese seafood meals are bacalhau and sardinhas.

Spaniards and Portuguese consider meals a social event, guarantying that around dinnertime there is always a cozy atmosphere in the restaurants. Breakfast is always eaten outside of the house so there are great choices. Breakfast should cost around $3.50 and for a three-course meal should run from $8.00 to $12.00 dollars.

Climate

Spain knows several climate zones. In general you can say that the Spanish climate from the north to the south forms a transition from the soft and rainy climate of Western Europe to the hot dry African climate. The summers in Southern Spain are generally hot. In Portugal the Atlantic Ocean influences the climate therefore the temperatures are milder and you will encounter more rain.

Travel Documents

Neither U.S. nor Canadian citizens will need a visa for this trip. You will need a valid passport. If you are of another nationality be sure to check with the embassies of Spain and Portugal to determine if you will need a visa.

If you need rush service for processing your passport, we recommend a 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.  By indicating Djoser as your referral source when you apply for your documents, It’s Easy will honor a 10% discount off the service portion of the processing fee. (There is no discount for the government fees).

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. Below you will find the usual flight times for the airline indicated.

Sample flight with Northwest/KLM

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 in Spain and Portugal is the Euro. But of course, the value of currency will change. It’s handy to take an updated currency chart, which you can find easily on the internet (www.exchangerate.com). In most places you will find ATM machines. Credit cards are widely accepted. In addition you can bring travelers checks. You need a minimum of $300 per week for meals, entry fees, tips, optional excursions and incidentals. This is a guideline and does not include the cost of souvenirs.

Tipping
To avoid constant tipping, the tour leader will generally organize a tip pot at the beginning of the trip to pay for tips for hotel personnel, drivers, guides and those along the way who assist us. The estimated amount per person is usually about $25 or a little more for smaller groups.

Health

The hygienic circumstances in Spain and Portugal are quite good. Vaccinations are not mandatory but be sure to refer to the Center for Disease Control for the most current recommendations at www.cdc.gov, phone 1-877-394-8747, Fax 1-888-232-3299. It is always handy to bring something for your stomach, such as Imodium, and a salt solution for dehydration. The guide has a medical kit with sterile materials in case of an emergency.

Luggage & Clothing

Try to keep the weight of your luggage below 30 pounds. A duffle bag or a soft suitcase is ideal for packing on the bus. Hard suitcases are difficult to load. You will generally carry your own luggage so be sure to bring what you can comfortably lift. Voltage in both countries is 220 V and a converter is required. In the summer you will want to pack airy, cotton clothing with a sweater for cooler evenings. In Spring and Fall it is important to bring warmer clothing.

Resources

Communication

With all of the modern telecom equipment these days, it is easy to reach you in Spain and Portugal. In most towns you will find Internet cafes, where for a small fee, you can send and receive emails. Access by cell phone will depend on your phone instrument and carrier.