Travel

Most airline tickets are now issued based on special fares. Airlines may impose penalties for any changes made to these special fare tickets once they have been issued. Airfare is not included in the tour price. Back to Top

Customs fees and airport or country departure taxes are not included in the cost of your tour. The airport departure tax for Latin American countries can be up to $30 cash per person. This exit tax is collected by a tax official at the airport on your departure. Usually, U.S. dollars or the local currency can be used for payment. On Mexico s Copper Canyon Tour this tax is collected on day two of the tour as you enter Mexico. Back to Top

Caravn transfers you between the airport and hotel on the starting and ending dates of all Latin American tours. Some transfers are provided on North American tours. Complete transfer information can be found on each tour itinerary page. Back to Top

Laundry and dry cleaning service are available at most hotels. We suggest that you arrange for this at a hotel where you will be staying for more than one night. Please check the rates before arranging laundry and dry cleaning. Back to Top

The tour rate includes the handling of one piece of standard sized luggage per person. Due to space limitations, suitcase size should not exceed 60 for the combined height and width and depth of a suitcase, or 25 for the longest side of the suitcase. Garment bags and canvas or nylon fold-up type luggage cannot be carried. Experience shows that garment bags do not stand up well when stored in aircraft, motorcoaches, etc. with regular hard luggage.

One small handbag and/or small flight bag may be personally carried on board the motorcoach. You are responsible for handling your carry-on luggage at all times. Please do not ask your tour director to lift your carry-on bags for you. For the comfort and safety of all tour members, wheeled luggage exceeding 18 in length is not acceptable as carry-on luggage, and must be checked as regular luggage. Unlike an airplane, the motorcoach does not have sufficient room to store this type of luggage in the overhead compartments or under the seats.

You will receive Caravan luggage tags about three weeks before departure. These luggage tags should be attached to your luggage before leaving home for easy identification.

Luggage insurance is highly recommended and is offered by Caravan as part of a reasonably priced, optional Travel Protection Plan. In addition, your homeowners and rental insurance policies may cover lost or damaged luggage.

COSTA RICA TORTUGUERO EXCURSION-LUGGAGE LIMITATIONS

Due to space limitations on the Tortuguero boats, each person is permitted to take only one carry-on bag with a maximum weight of 25 pounds to Tortuguero. You leave your main suitcase behind at the San Jose hotel. When your motorcoach meets you at the Tortuguero canal cruise dock after your two-night Tortuguero trip, your main suitcase will be awaiting you on the Caravan motorcoach. Back to Top

Meals included in the land price are indicated in the itinerary at the end of each day by B (Breakfast), L (Lunch), D (Dinner). Coffee or tea is provided at all included meals. In Latin America, bottled water is provided where specified. Where meals are not included, your Tour Director will be pleased to suggest a restaurant. We have found that the hotels and restaurants are unable to make provisions in advance for special diets such as: low-salt, vegetarian, diabetic, kosher, etc. and clients with food allergies should note we are unable to make any guarantees concerning food preparation. Alcohol beverages are not included unless specified. Back to Top

To ensure fair and equitable seating for all members of the tour, seating on the motorcoach will be rotated once or twice a day in a clockwise direction. Your Tour Director will advise you of the procedure. Back to Top

Be sure to take along enough film for your needs. Often, film purchased in other countries includes the cost of processing. Very seldom will you be in a spot long enough to take advantage of this service, and you will then end up paying for processing again on your return home.

Do not pack any film in luggage checked with airlines. Many airports now use a scan technology for checked luggage called axial tomography which can cause fogging or markings to appear when the film is developed. Film is safer packed in your carry-on because X-ray machines for carry-ons are supposedly calibrated to avoid damage to film. For absolute film safety, you can request a hand inspection of your film by airport security. Back to Top

We strongly caution against purchasing real estate or timeshares during your vacation with us. Instead, we suggest you use the experience for the purposes of orientation and information gathering. If you are interested in such a purchase, we suggest you return for at least one more visit and seek the guidance of a lawyer. Back to Top

Smoking is not allowed on the motorcoach. Frequent stops are made affording time for smoking outside of the motorcoach. Back to Top

Should you plan to use a tape recorder or camcorder while on tour, please be sure to ask the permission of any guides or your Tour Director before recording. You may find that some guides object to having their comments recorded, or they may be guiding you through a place that forbids recorders to be used. So, please, always ask first. Back to Top

Tips to your Tour Director and driver, are not included. Such tips are entirely at your discretion. Your Tour Director and Drivers depend on these tips. Most tour members compute these tips by allowing a certain amount per day based on service they have received. If you feel that service has been good, you may wish to leave an appropriately generous tip. We suggest the following guidelines:

US $4 to US $8 per traveler per day for the Tour Director.

US $2 to US $5 per traveler per day for the Driver.

These tips should be handed directly to the Tour Director and Driver on an individual basis. We request that no group collections be made. Tips to water craft personnel, local guides, waiters, porters and bellmen are included in the tour price. Back to Top

Caravan has included a name and address section in the day by day itinerary so that you may record the names and addresses of the new friends you make among your travel companions. At the welcoming reception, Caravan distributes a list of tour member names. This list does not include addresses, due to respect for personal privacy. Back to Top

The best way to enjoy your flight and your vacation is to drink lots of water! At sea level, the human body loses about a quart of water a day through air expired from one s lungs and through the skin. At flight levels and higher desert and mountain elevations, this loss can be up to 100% greater. This water has to be replaced. Therefore, to avoid dehydration and its symptoms, do as experienced flight crews do: drink lots of plain water. Simple, and effective. In Latin America, it is advisable to drink only bottled water. Back to Top

Should you need to call the U.S. while you are gone, please note that the cost can jump considerably for calls placed from your hotel whether dialed direct or placed through the hotel operator. What would normally be a $5 call can jump to $20-25. Frequently, it is more economical to purchase a prepaid phone card. Your long distance carrier (ATT, MCI, Sprint, etc.) may have a service that helps you to minimize hotel telephone surcharges. In many countries, you can now just dial a special number from almost any phone. Please contact your long distance carrier for details. In Latin America, you may find that sending a fax is quicker and cheaper. We suggest that you first check with the hotel operator or front desk. Back to Top

www.travel.state.gov/passport_services.html

As soon as you receive your passport, please sign it as indicated. The passport is not valid until signed. Your passport is a highly important and valuable document. Record the number and date of issue to facilitate replacement in case of loss, and keep this information in a separate place from your passport. Carry your passport with you at all times while abroad and never pack it in your suitcase. For all travel requiring a passport or visa, please make a copy of the page containing your photo on your passport, and make a copy of both your drivers license and your visa. This copy should be carried with you at all times in a location apart from your passport. Back to Top

U.S. CITIZENS

No visa is currently required for travel to and from Costa Rica, Mexico, Guatemala or Canada. For 2015 a passport valid for a further 6 months upon entry is required for travel to Costa Rica, Guatemala and for air travel in and out of Mexico and Canada. According to US Customs & Immigration, passports will not be required for land travel to and from Canada and Mexico until 2015. However, we strongly recommend clients travel with a valid passport and are not responsible for any travel problems arising from improper travel documentation or border crossing issues. If you passport is valid for less than 6 months, please call the nearest Consulate of the country to which you plan to travel. This time requirement may change and your passport may still be valid for travel.

NON-U.S. CITIZENS

Travel to All Countries: Non-U.S. Citizens: You may need a passport or visa to visit one or more of the countries on your Caravan Tour. If visas are required, they must be obtained before departure. Non-U.S. citizens traveling from the United States may need a multiple entry visa for return to the United States. If you have any questions, please check with your Travel Agent or the consulate of the countries concerned.

Resident Aliens. An Alien Registration card is needed for re-entry to the United States and, for purposes of income tax clearance, a Certificate of Compliance (Form 1040-D) commonly known as a sailing permit, must be obtained in person from the Internal Revenue Office nearest your home before you leave the U.S. Back to Top

Obtaining a passport is a simple procedure, if you arrange it in advance. Ordinarily it takes less than six weeks from the time you apply until you receive your passport, but delays do occur, so we strongly recommend that you apply as soon as possible. Right now is the best time! It is not necessary for travel arrangements to be finalized before a passport will be issued, so even if you re not certain of your travel plans, you should go ahead and apply for your passport now.

Each individual citizen must have his/her own individual passport, and must apply in person at a passport facility for a passport. Many post offices and courthouses serve as passport facilities. Passport facilities are located throughout the country. The passport fee is currently $60 plus $10 service fee. Your passport will be valid for 10 years from the date of issue. If you need to expedite the issuance of your passport within 2 weeks, the extra charge is $35 plus delivery. Back to Top

www.travel.state.gov/passport_services.html

for more information. Back to Top

PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP: For native born citizens, a previously issued passport, a birth certificate, or, if these are not available, a baptismal certificate or certified copy of the record of baptism. Naturalized citizens should present their naturalization certificate.

IDENTIFICATION: The following documents are acceptable, provided they contain the signature and either a photograph or physical description of the applicant: a previous passport, a naturalization certificate, a driver s license or a government (federal, state, municipal), industrial or business identification card or pass. If none of the above is available, an identifying witness is required who is 21 or over, a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, and who has known the applicant for at least two years. Husbands and wives may testify for each other.

PHOTOGRAPHS: Please note the following carefully: Photo print size must be exactly 2 2. Also, the head size, from bottom of the chin to top of the hair, must be at least 1, but no more than 1 3/8. The two duplicate photos must be clear, front view, full face, and taken in normal street attire. Vending machine pictures, Polaroid snapshots, etc. are not acceptable. Please go to a photo-shop that specializes in taking passport photos. Back to Top

As a U.S. citizen or resident alien, you are now granted a $800 duty-free allowance. As of July 17, 2006, the following requirements must be met: (1) You must have been abroad for at least 48 hours and have not used this duty-free allowance, or any part of it, within the preceding 30-day period. (2) You bring the articles with you, at the time of your return to the U.S. (3) The articles are for your personal use or for use as gifts and are not for sale. (4) The articles are properly declared to Customs. (5) The articles are not prohibited or restricted.

www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/travel/vacation/kbyg/ .

Cigars and Cigarettes

Liquor

If you are 21 years of age or older, one liter of alcoholic beverages may be included in your duty-free allowance.

Family Declaration

The head of a family traveling together can make a joint declaration, with each member of the family allowed $800.

Thus, a family of four has a joint allowance of $2400, even if all the purchases are made by one member only. Infants and children are entitled to the same allowance (except for alcoholic beverages).

Gifts

Friends and relatives in the U.S. may receive free of duty and tax gifts shipped from abroad provided that no one addressee receives more than $100 worth on a single day. Write Unsolicited Gift Value under $100 in large letters and the retail value on the face of the package. Personal belongings such as worn clothing can be mailed home without payment of duty as long as they have not been altered or repaired whilst abroad- write American Goods Returned in large letters on the outside face of the package

Foreign-Made Articles Taken Abroad

If you have a foreign-made item of value (watch, camera, jewelry, etc.), be sure to register it with U.S. Customs before you leave, thus ensuring duty-free re-entry on your return.

To expedite your re-entry through U.S. Customs, list all your purchases, have all your sales receipts ready and, if possible, pack all your purchases together, ready for inspection. Keep in mind that, under customs regulations, if you understate the value of an article on your declaration form, you may have to pay a severe penalty in addition to payment of duty. Back to Top

Foreign Customs officers are invariably liberal with pleasure travelers. They are mainly concerned with drugs, tobacco and liquor.

As far as film and cameras are concerned, the customs officials allow a reasonable amount of film for personal use.

Once you have joined your Caravan tour, you ll find that your Tour Director handles all formalities at entry points (always have your passport ready at this time), often making your customs inspection a swift and easy process. Back to Top