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Preparing for departure

Preparing for departure. Confirmed dates and itinerary Coverage Optional excursions Passports and visas Emergency contacts Cows Tipping Spending money (stacks, and stacks, and stacks) Packing Light Flights & no Fights Airport/Plane Arrival Tour Director Bus Life didn’t choose me...

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Preparing for departure

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  1. Preparing fordeparture Confirmed dates and itinerary Coverage Optional excursions Passports and visas Emergency contacts Cows Tipping Spending money (stacks, and stacks, and stacks) Packing Light Flights & no Fights Airport/Plane Arrival Tour Director Bus Life didn’t choose me... Hotels Rooming Restaurants/Meals Communications Ambassadorship (Don’t be “The Ugly American” A world of support

  2. Our Confirmed Tour: Italy & Greece (R) Our Confirmed Departure Date: 3/13/15

  3. Our itinerary:

  4. All-Inclusive Coverage Plan • For just $155 your plan covers: • Illness and accident • Baggage and property • Tour cancellation and interruption • Flight delay • 24-hour access to an English-speaking representative • Deadline for enrollment is 70 days prior to departure: January 3 • If you miss this deadline and still wish to add a coverage plan, call EF Customer Service at 800-665-5364.

  5. Passports and visas All travelers are responsible for securing necessary documentation • Valid passports are required for all travelers. • Name and gender listedon your EF account must exactly match passport information. • Non-U.S. citizens may require special visas or other travel documents. • Carry a copy of your passport with you and also leave a copy at home. • Passports must be valid for 6 months after our return date.

  6. Emergency contacts • EF will use the emergency contact list if they need to communicate any information while we’re on tour. • Emergency contacts cannot be traveling with this group and must be available for the duration of the tour. • Confirm your emergency contacts at least 30 days prior to departure. • Make sure your information is correct and up to date. All changes can be made on your personalized website. • If you are contacted with an emergency, call the next person on your list to relay the information.

  7. Tipping Tour Director: $6 per day per participant $6 per day x 10 days of tour = $60 per person Local guides: $1-2 per local guide per participant $2 per guide x 3 guides on tour = $6 per person Bus driver: $3 per day per participant $3 per day x 10 days of tour = $30 per person Total: $70 per traveler

  8. Spending money ATMs are the best way to get money. Don’t bring traveler’s checks, which can be difficult to cash. Notify your bank or credit card company that you’ll be abroad. Bring the equivalent of at least $50 in the currency of your arrival destination. (euros) We are responsible for our lunches and tipping.

  9. Optional excursions Roman Catacombs Greek Evening The deadline to enroll on any new optional excursions has passed but if you still want to try and add them, let me know. (Your Tour Director may offer additional optional excursions while on tour)

  10. Packing Pack light: We will be responsible for loading our own luggage on and off the bus and into hotels. You are responsible for any luggage handling fees charged by the airlines. See the fees at eftours.com/baggage Carry any valuables or medications in your EF backpack or carry-on. • Pack a change of clothes in your carry-on in case your luggage is lost. • A full packing list can be found in the Tour Handbook or at eftours.com/packinglist

  11. Flights – Houston Intercontinental – George HW Bush Athens, Greece TERMINAL D 2:30 PM FRIDAY 3/13

  12. Flights • In-flight meal requests • Contact the airlines at least 72 hours prior to departure with any special requests. • Seat assignments • Our seats will be assigned at check-in. • Baggage allowance • Confirm baggage allowance with each airline before departure. You’re responsible for any associated fees. eftours.com/baggage

  13. Airport/Plane TRY AND GET 4-5 HOURS OF SLEEP Avoid caffeine and eat lightly. Get up and walk once every waking hour. Unless Forget the flicks. Get some sleep whenever you can, but especially after dinner is served. Keep personal items and a change of clothes within reach DO NOT wear contact lenses during plane trip. Take Bonine or apply a medicated patch before boarding the aircraft if prone to motion sickness. (or wristbands)

  14. Airport/Plane Do not separate. Wait just beyond each of the checkpoints. Passport Control first, then Baggage Claim, then Customs (P-B & C sandwich). Start looking for the EF representative carrying a sign or wearing EF apparel. On the way home, U.S. citizens must “declare” if you are bringing home more than $700 worth of goods. Each traveler will need to fill out a customs form.

  15. Arrival • We’ll meet our Tour Director once we have cleared customs and claimed our baggage. • We will have to wait at the airport for our other group. • We will start the tour right away and won’t check in to our hotel until the end of the day. • Staying awake throughout the arrival day is the best way to beat jet lag. Taking a nap might make you feel worse.

  16. Bus Neverbe late when traveling by coach. Keep your driver happy. Play by his rules. "Put your hand on your passport!“ Amenities: Bathroom? Maybe. Beverages? Maybe. A/C? Usually. Avoid "sensory deprivation" (iPods, Flappy Bird, etc.). MᾹᾹᾹᾹᾹᾹᾹPS! Boys will be chivalrous Knights! Boys get the suitcases out of the bus, ladies will be responsible for getting them into the hotel, airport. No talking anytime our city guide or tour director is using the microphone.

  17. Generally, hotel rooms are smaller than in the U.S. • Most hotels will not have air conditioning or elevators. • Wi-Fi will not always be available for free. • Late check-ins may be necessary. Hotels Rooming • Students are roomed 3-4 per room in a combination of twin and shared double beds. • Adults will share twin rooms with other adults unless they have upgraded otherwise. • Night ferry accommodations vary from tour to tour. Single rooms are not available on overnight ferries or trains. Night ferries are super different than anything we’ve ever done - accommodations are very basic but it’s also a really cool experience!

  18. Hotels “Clinkohan Maneuver” : • All bags going to a particular floor go into the lift along with one person. • The bag-owners use the stairs, meet the elevator to Most European hotels, keys left at the reception desk whenever you leave Electricity • Adapters and converters • Dryers/etc…share to save space • “wash ‘n’ wear” hairstyles. Noise/curfew!! Check-out • One roommate check in with the Chaperone • Make a final "sweep" of each room

  19. Restaurants

  20. Meals Breakfast typically includes cereal, bread, juice, coffee and tea. Lunch is on our own. Dinners will be a mix of local cuisine and familiar dishes and will be a preset meal for our entire group, rather than ordering from a menu. Food portions are smaller than they are in the U.S. Table water is included; other beverages are an additional cost. Bottled water is included in countries where it is deemed necessary. Inform us of any allergies.

  21. Communications There is NO ESCAPE. Sometimes roommates need a break. Please be respectful of others' things and needs. Preferably do not wear a lot of cologne or perfume. Be on time. Always. Be patient--with people and situations. Your tour will be an exciting and intensely emotional experience. Boyfriends or girlfriends back home? CHHHHHHHHIIIIIIIIIIIILLLLLLL Oh, please don’t fall in love on the trip... It’s not love, It’s just Rome.

  22. Safety & Traveling Groups of 3 or more. Always check in with your Chaperone when going somewhere. “pairs” and “squares”. Know where your roommates are. THEFT … be aware of your surroundings. Don’t flash money. Move your backpacks to the front on busy trains or in busy areas, so you can keep better watch. At airports always place the bags in a square pile with “squared” corners. Easy to spot missing luggage. In the subways: • Don’t stand close to door. You are an easy target for a “snatch-and-grab” thief. Know the name of the stop where you are to exit. • When you exit the car, move to the wall on the platform.

  23. Ambassadorship Don’t be an “Ugly American” I'll keep this simple: If my under 18 group members consume alcohol while on tour,theywill be sent home.

  24. A world of support EF Emergency Service Team numbers From the U.S.: 800-637-8222 While abroad: 001-617-619-2913 Arrival Information SUNDAY 3/22/15 3:25 pm HOUSTON INTERCONTINENTAL PARIS (DE GAULLE) - AIR FRANCE #636

  25. Tour Director Our dedicated Tour Director will be with us the whole time to handle logistics and provide suggestions for activities. All Tour Directors are trained to handle challenging situations and emergencies that might arise. Tour Directors have 24-hour access to local EF offices, as well as our worldwide and North American headquarters.

  26. Wanna meet our tour director…?

  27. - born and always lived in Rome - father is from Athens, mom is from Rome - speaks Italian, English and some Greek and Russian - started working with EF in 2006 Cristina Lambathakis

  28. Ready for some Backpacks?

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