Israel, Egypt, Jordan & the Red Sea 2018
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Suez Canal Crossing: Israel, Egypt, Jordan & the Red Sea 2018 EXTEND YOUR TRIP Tel Aviv & Jaffa, Israel Palestinian Discovery Jerusalem & Masada, Israel Your Travel Handbook CONTENTS Passport, Visas & Travel Documents ......... 3 Climate ........................................ 24 Your Passport .................................. 3 Climate Averages & Online Forecast ......... 24 Visas Required ................................. 3 Advance Information for Jordan ................ 4 Aboard Your Ship ............................. 27 Trusted Traveler Programs ..................... 5 ....................................... 27 Emergency Photocopies of Key Documents ..... 5 M/V Clio Overseas Taxes & Fees ......................... 5 About Your Destinations ..................... 31 Health .......................................... 6 Your Trip Leader .............................. 31 ...................... 31 Keep Your Abilities in Mind ..................... 6 Culture & Points to Know ..................................... 34 Health Check .................................. 6 Shopping U.S. Customs Regulations & Shipping No Vaccines Required ....................... 7 Charges ................................... 35 Staying Healthy on Your Trip .................... 7 Demographics & History ..................... 36 Money Matters ................................ 10 Top Three Tips ................................ 10 Local Currency ................................ 10 Resources ..................................... 46 How to Exchange Money .................... 11 Suggested Readings ........................... 46 ATMs ......................................... 11 Suggested Movies ............................. 48 Credit & Debit Cards .......................... 12 Useful Websites ............................... 51 On Board Ship................................. 12 Tipping Guidelines ............................ 13 Preparing for Your Trip....................... 14 Land Only Travelers & Personalized Air ........14 Optional Tours ................................ 14 Communications.............................. 15 Packing ........................................ 17 Clothing Suggestions .......................... 18 Dress Codes: Shorts, Headscarves, and other FAQ ....................................... 18 What to Bring ................................. 19 Electricity .................................... 22 2 RDE2018 06/28/2018 PASSPORT, VISAS & TRAVEL DOCUMENTS Your Passport • Must be in good condition • Must be valid for at least 6 months after your scheduled return to the U.S. • Must have the required number of blank pages (details below) • The blank pages must be labeled “Visas” at the top. Pages labeled “Amendments and Endorsements” are not acceptable Need to Renew Your Passport? Contact the National Passport Information Center (NPIC) at 1-877-487-2778, or visit their website at www.travel.state.gov for information on obtaining a new passport or renewing your existing passport. You may also contact our recommended visa service company, PVS International, at 1-800-556-9990 for help with your passport. Recommended Blank Pages Please confirm that your passport has enough blank pages for this vacation. • Main trip only: You will need 4 blank passport pages. • Pre-trip extension to Tel Aviv, Israel or Palestine: No additional pages needed. • Post-trip extension to Jerusalem: No additional pages needed. • Both the pre- and post-trip extensions: You will need a total of 4 blank passport pages. Please note: You might not use all of these pages on your vacation (when you return, some may still be blank) but local officials will want to see that you have them. Visas Required We’ll be sending you a detailed Visa Packet with instructions, application forms, and fees about 100 days prior to your departure. In the meantime, we’re providing the information below as a guideline on what to expect. This information is for U.S. citizens only. All visas and fees are subject to change. • Egypt: Visa required. We recommend that you wait and get your visa in Egypt because your group should qualify for free “quick trip” visas that will be issued in port. • Israel & Palestine: No visa needed. U.S. citizens do not need a visa to enter Israel or Palestine. 06/28/2018 RDE2018 3 • Jordan: Visa required. We recommend that you wait and get your visa in Jordan because your group should qualify for free visas. To do this, we will need information from you no later than 30 days prior to your departure. Please refer to the “Advance Information for Jordan” section of this chapter. If you are staying longer in any of these countries, you should check with their embassy or consulate for the applicable regulations. If you are not a U.S. citizen, than you may need to get visas before you leave home; we recommend contacting the nearest embassy/consulate or calling our recommended visa service company, PVS International, at 1-800-556- 9990 to check. Traveling Without a U.S. Passport? If you are not a U.S. citizen, or if your passport is from any country other than the U.S., it is your responsibility to check with your local consulate, embassy, or a visa services company about visa requirements. We recommend the services of PVS International, a national visa service located in Washington D.C.; they can be reached at 1-800-556-9990 or www. pvsinternational.org. Traveling With a Minor? Some governments may require certain documentation for minors to enter and depart the country or to obtain a visa (if applicable). For further detail on the required documentation, please contact your local embassy or consulate. Advance Information for Jordan In order for our local office to prepare for your entry into Jordan they will need the following information at least 30 days prior to your departure: • Full name • Nationality • Passport number • Date of expiration of passport • Date and place of birth. If you have not already provided this information to us, you may do so by mail, online via your My Account, or by calling Traveler Support. If you have already provided this information, then you need not call. Even if you have already provided this information, you may receive an automated mailing requesting a confirmation. 4 RDE2018 06/28/2018 Trusted Traveler Programs Some travelers have found that Trusted Traveler programs can expedite long waits at customs when re entering the U.S. There are currently three programs available: Global Entry, NEXUS, and SENTRI. These three programs also include TSA Pre-Check, which allows you to use a dedicated security line at participating airports, or you can apply solely for TSA Pre-Check. TIP: Keep in mind that not all airports and airlines participate in these programs. You may want to consider checking with your airport prior to applying to find out if these programs would benefit you. To apply for a Trusted Traveler program or TSA Pre-Check, typically you will be asked to pay an application fee (varies by program) and schedule a background check and/or an interview. If you are approved, you will be issued a Known Traveler Number (KTN). Your KTN is valid for a set number of years, based on the conditions of the program. Please see the U.S. Customs and Border Protection website for more details on each of these programs: www.cbp.gov/ travel/trusted-traveler-programs. You can also find more information about TSA Pre-Check at www.tsa.gov/precheck. If you are enrolled in TSA Pre-Check (or a Trusted Traveler program that includes it), you must provide your KTN to the airlines. Emergency Photocopies of Key Documents We recommend you carry color photocopies of key documents including the photo page of your passport plus any applicable visas, air itinerary, credit cards (front and back), and an alternative form of ID. Add emergency phone numbers like your credit card company and the number for your travel protection plan. Store copies separate from the originals. If you plan to email this information to yourself, please keep in mind that email is not always secure; consider using password protection or encryption. Also email is not always available worldwide. As an alternative, you could load these documents onto a flash drive instead, which can do double-duty as a place to backup photos during your trip. Overseas Taxes & Fees This tour may have taxes and fees that cannot be included in your airline ticket price because you are required to pay them in person onsite. All taxes are subject to change without notice and can be paid in cash (either U.S. or local currency). If applicable, you will receive a list of these fees with your Final Documents. 06/28/2018 RDE2018 5 HEALTH Keep Your Abilities in Mind Please review the information below prior to departing on this vacation. We reserve the right for our Program Directors and Trip Leaders to modify participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home if their limitations are impacting the group’s experience. PACING • 16 days, with four 2-night hotel stays, one single-night hotel stay, and 6 nights aboard the M/V Clio PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS • Walk 3-5 miles unassisted and participate in 6-8 hours of physical activities each day, including stairs • Good agility, balance, and strength needed for possible rough seas • Not accessible for travelers using wheelchairs or scooters • Travelers using walkers, crutches, or other mobility aids will not be able to board the Clio • We reserve the right for Trip Leaders to restrict participation, or in some circumstances send travelers home, if their limitations impact the group’s experience