USA, Canada & Mexico Know Before You Go A step by step guide to your Trafalgar trip. Your insider’s journey begins… Thank you for choosing Trafalgar to show you the insider’s view of the USA, Canada and Mexico. A wealth of experience has taught us that your journey begins well before you leave home. So we have compiled this guide to provide you with as much information as possible to help you prepare for your travels. We look forward to welcoming you on the trip of a lifetime! Your insiders at Trafalgar. Manhattan, New York Before you go… Travel Documents Mexico Guided Vacations A couple of weeks prior to your vacation you will receive your International visitors are required to carry a valid machine Trafalgar wallet with your travel documents and literature. readable passport and MUST be valid for a minimum period These documents are valuable and contain a wealth of advice of 6 months beyond the last day of your trip, regardless of and essential information to make your vacation as enjoyable how long you intend to stay. All US citizens require passports as possible. Please read them carefully before your departure. to return to the USA (a birth / naturalization certificate and driver’s license is no longer sufficient). Holders of American, Passports and Visas Australian, Canadian, British/EU Member Country, New Guests traveling across any US, Canadian or Mexican border Zealand and Israeli passports do not need a visa to visit must be in possession of a machine-readable passport that Mexico. Holders of other passports should check with their must be valid for at least six months beyond the conclusion local Mexican Consulate for details of visa requirements. You of your trip. It is the responsibility of each guest to ensure can see a list of countries and get the latest entry information they have a valid machine-readable passport as well as any from the Mexican Consulate’s website. necessary visas. Some itineraries may require multiple-entry For participating countries (see paragraph above) in place of visas. Before you travel, be sure to check with your local US, a visa, a Mexican Visitor’s Permit (known as an FMM) will need Canadian and/or Mexican Consulate to confirm the specific to be completed. This is a simple form, which can be picked and possible changes to passport and visa requirements for up from the check-in counter at the airport and completed the countries you intend to visit. The operators and/or their on the airplane before you land. You can also obtain this form employees and their agents are not responsible for passport, when you land in Mexico and fill it out before you queue to visa requirements, entry, health or other requirements of the have your documents checked and stamped by the officials countries visited or for any loss sustained by you for failing to at the airport. comply with laws, regulations, orders and/or requirements of the countries visited. Please be sure to check with your local US, Canadian, and/or Mexican Consulate or Embassy before you travel to confirm Note: Effective January 20, 2010, passengers traveling from the specific and possible changes to visa requirements for selected countries under the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) are the country or countries you intend to visit. You can find a now required to complete the Electronic System for Travel directory of the world’s Embassies and Consulates at Authorization (ESTA) application to confirm eligibility to www.embassyworld.com travel to the United States of America under the VWP. For more information, please visit https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov Travel Insurance and contact your Travel Agent or applicable government We strongly recommend that you take out a comprehensive authorities to obtain necessary travel information. travel insurance policy that covers you the entire time you are Canada Guided Vacations away from home. Your policy should cover the following: International visitors to Canada must carry a valid machine- • Trip cancellation or curtailment readable passport. All US citizens require passports to enter • Loss or damage to property and baggage Canada and return to the USA (a birth/naturalization certificate • Loss of cash, traveler’s checks, etc. and driver’s license is no longer sufficient). Citizens of some • Medical costs and personal accident (Even US and countries are exempt from visitor visas such as Andorra, Canadian residents traveling within North America should Antigua and Barbuda, Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Barbados, check their policies to ensure coverage outside of their Belgium, Botswana, Brunei, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, local area.) Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Please ensure you pack a copy of your policy, contact phone Iceland, Ireland, Israel (National Passport holders only), Italy, numbers and instructions on how to claim in the unlikely event Japan, Korea (Republic of), Latvia (Republic of), Lithuania, that it is necessary. Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Papua New Guinea, Trafalgar’s Express Check-In Poland, Portugal, St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Trafalgar’s Express Check-In is an online check-in facility that San Marino, Singapore, Slovakia, Solomon Islands, Spain, allows you to provide all your essential details and preferences Swaziland, Sweden, Slovenia, Switzerland, United States, and to Trafalgar, prior to your departure, so that you don’t have to Western Samoa. Please visit www.canadainternational.gc.ca fill in any additional forms on the first day of your vacation. In for more details and updated information. order for your Travel Director to receive your information, we recommend that you complete Express Check-In at least 15 yourself with appropriate insurance. days prior to your departure date. If it is already less than 15 days before your departure, please complete the registration Packing form, print it and hand it to your Travel Director on the first When traveling as a couple, pack each suitcase with day and day of your guided vacation. Check-in takes 5-10 minutes. evening clothing for each person, so that in the unlikely event From Australia go to: one of your suitcases is mislaid on your flight, you’ll still be www.trafalgar.com/express/aus_index.htm able to manage. From New Zealand go to: www.trafalgar.com/express/nz_index.htm Ensure that your personal and vacation details are written on a From UK go to: label inside each suitcase (including name, address, telephone number, departure and return flight details). Write only your www.trafalgar.com/express/uk_index.htm name and destination address on outside labels. From Europe go to: www.trafalgar.com/express/eu_index.htm Make sure that your luggage is in good secure condition, and From South Africa go to: use a TSA approved lock for US security checkpoints. When www.trafalgar.com/express/sa_index.htm carrying fragile items, use a rigid style suitcase for protection. From Asia go to: Check in only your own suitcases. Do not carry items packed www.trafalgar.com/express/gsa_index.htm by other people. Never accept packages or articles from Luggage anyone unknown to you to carry on board the aircraft. There are strict airport security regulations on items that may Luggage Allowance be carried on board aircraft such as liquids/gels and metal This is restricted to one large suitcase per objects. Visit the Transportation Security Administration’s person with dimensions not exceeding website at www.tsa.gov for information on these and other 30x19x10” (76x45x25 cm) and a maximum restricted items and how they must be displayed at airport 30” weight of 50 lb (23 kg). Hotel porterage security checkpoints. of this luggage is included in your We suggest you pack only essential items for daytime use vacation price. in your hand-baggage, both for your flight and while on 19” the coach. For example, your camera, medicines, anything that you use frequently or is particularly valuable. Expensive Hand Luggage jewelry, clothing, etc. should be left at home for your peace Hand luggage should be one piece per of mind. person and small enough to fit under your coach seat or on the small overhead shelf Climate compartment. This is your responsibility and Depending on where you are traveling, North America should be carried on/off the coach with you. features many different climates. Please note that luggage with an adjustable The Western US handle and wheels will not fit in the overhead compartment of the coach and July, August and September are the hottest months of the cannot be accepted as carry-on luggage. year in the Western United States. Daytime temperatures in desert areas, including Las Vegas, can exceed 110F (43C). Your understanding and cooperation is appreciated, particularly Once the sun sets, however, temperatures may drop as low as it is necessary for your safety and comfort. If a second as 50F (10C). suitcase is carried, or if it exceeds the permitted weight and / or dimensions, it is subject to capacity of the coach and may be Western Canada declined or incur a fee. Please see the full booking terms and This stunning region provides a contrast of temperatures, from conditions on the inside back cover of the brochure your trip the hot, arid interior of British Columbia to the cool nights of relates to. the Rockies’ resorts. In the shoulder seasons (April/ May/June; September/October) early morning and evening temperatures Airlines may have additional restrictions and may impose are typically 38-50F (4-10C) and day time temperatures additional charges if you choose to check any baggage. Please are typically 58-70F (14-20C). In July and August, daytime contact your airline or refer to its website for detailed information temperatures are typically 70-94F (20-32C).