CLOTHING

PASSPORT TIPS

A valid passport that does not expire for at least 6 months after the scheduled return of your tour. It is your responsibility to keep your passport in a safe place while on tour either on your person, in a money belt or other security pouch, or in the hotel safe. In the case of LOSS, THEFT, OR DESTRUCTION OF PASSPORT, it should be reported immediately to local police authorities and to the Passport Services Office, Washington, DC 20520-4818, or, if overseas, to the nearest American Embassy or Consulate and the local police authorities. Your passport is a valuable citizenship and identity document, so it should be carefully safeguarded, its loss could cause you unnecessary travel complications, as well as significant expense.

U.S. CITIZENS - Major post offices throughout the U.S. are now authorized to process passport applications; check with your local post office for the nearest one. You may also apply in person at U.S. Passport Agency offices in various cities; addresses and phone numbers are available under government listings in the white pages of your telephone book. Most renewals can be handled through the mail; ask for information. When applying through the mail, the process may take 6-8 weeks. If time is a concern, consider applying in person or using Express Mail, Fed Ex, or UPS services.

ALIEN RESIDENTS OF THE U.S. - If your passport has expired or will expire before the scheduled return of the tour, you may apply for one at the nearest consulate of your country of citizenship.

1) Make sure you have a valid passport and visas, if required.

2) Make two copies of your passport identification page, leave one copy at home. Carry the other with you in a separate place from your passport. This will facilitate replacement if your passport is lost or stolen.

3) Leave a copy of your itinerary with family or friends at home, so that you can be contacted in case of emergency.

CLOTHING

Sightseeing calls for casual, comfortable clothing. Informal dress is quite acceptable for our itineraries, but bring one nice outfit if you wish to dine out in fine restaurants. Try to color coordinate your clothes for maximum wear. Bring easy to care for fabrics that are quick drying and wrinkle resistant. The following is a checklist of items you need to bring for your pilgrimage, however you may wish to change it to fit your needs and preferences. Please keep in mind that in Churches and Holy Places, modest dress is required and shorts are forbidden. Shoulders and knees must be covered.

Summer clothing - Lightweight clothes and a sweater or light jacket for cooler nights.

Winter clothing - Layering your clothes in winter works well. You can always remove a layer if it warms up later.

Shoes - Walking shoes that are already ”broken in” and perhaps ONE dressier pair for dining out.

Pajamas - One pair of pajamas is usually sufficient for our average length tours.

Underclothes - 7 to 8 pairs of undershirts & shorts or lingerie (wash & wear)

Socks - 7 to 8 pairs socks or stockings (wash & wear)

Pants & skirts - 4 to 5 pairs of slacks, jeans, or skirts

Shirts - 7 to 8 coordinating shirts or blouses

Jackets - 1 lightweight dress jacket, for both men and ladies.

Evening wear- 1 dressier outfit for fine dining. Men, remember your tie!!

And don’t forget.... Chewing gum or hard candy for the plane (packed in your carry-on or in your purse).

Prescription glasses, contact lenses, and sunglasses if needed. (replacement prescription) Any medications or prescriptions you may need. Enough to last the whole trip and a few extra just in case you drop one, etc.

1 small umbrella, lightweight raincoat or poncho. Remember to bring your Sun visor or hat

1 washcloth (optional - Hotels provide towels, but usually not washcloths)

1 bathing suit or swim trunks (optional for Dead Sea & resort areas, some hotels may have a swimming pool)

Toiletries - Toothpaste & toothbrush, comb, cordisone cream, benedryl, antacid tablets (tums) antibiotic cream (ie. Neosporin), a few bandaids (in a baggie), cosmetics, sun tan lotion, chapstick or lip balm.

Hair dryer & electric razor with Universal adapter and converters (available at most hardware stores).

Spot remover and/or liquid soap, ie Woolite (optional). Carry a few large Ziploc bags to pack damp clothing that may not be completely dry by morning. Suggestion: Carry a few of each sizeZiploc bags, all inside one large Ziploc.

Security pouch to wear UNDER clothing to keep money, traveler’s checks, passports, and airline tickets.

Waist pack or purse (optional) for day to day necessities.

BRING LOTS OF FILM (AND THEN PACK A FEW EXTRA ROLLS, YOU WILL MOST LIKELY NEED THEM)!!!

DO NOT pack your Credit Cards, Travelers Checks, and Passport in your suitcase.

PACKING HINTS: REMEMBER TO PACK A SMALL FLASHLIGHT!!

Shoes -Shoes can be carried in Ziploc bags to protect against scratches and to keep them from soiling your clothes. Socks and small items can be stuffed into shoes.

Ties - Ties can be folded over a piece of cardboard and secured with a rubber band, or rolled and stuffed into a corner.

Sweaters / skirts/ dresses - Skirts and dresses as well as sweaters can be packed inside out. This inverts the creases, making them less obvious.

Toiletries - Buy small containers for your shampoo and lotions, and fill them only 3/4 full to allow for air pres sure changes. Make sure cap is tightened. Place in clear Ziploc bags for good measure, in case they should leak.

Minimizing wrinkles - When packing your luggage, distribute weight evenly. A well-balanced bag is easier to carry, and with less slipping and sliding, you will have less wrinkling. Pack tightly (many people find that rolling the clothing rather than folding really helps in minimizing wrinkles), but don’t overpack. We tend to bring more than we use.

Fill in gaps, lumps and corners. Use small items (socks, undergarments, night gowns, & scarves) to stuff into folds of jackets, slacks, shirts and dresses. Keep in mind that your luggage will be in the upright position and pack heavier items on the bottom.

Always a good idea to pack a change of clothes, medications, and toiletries in your “carry-on” bag in case your luggage goes astray. Please take care of your own carry-on bag throughout the tour, porterage for carry-ons is not included.

Use airline ID tags for both pieces of luggage (for airline purposes) as well as the Sweet Adeline's Travel & Tours ID tag on your suitcase for porterage identification at the hotels. Please fill these out and secure to your luggage before you leave home. The airport can get hectic and you might forget to attach them if you wait until later.

BAGGAGE/PORTERAGE

We want your trip to be as smooth and comfortable as possible, so Porterage for ONE suitcase per person is provided in our itineraries. We strongly advise against bringing additional suitcases as there may be some points in the tour where you will be required to handle your own luggage, such as traveling through customs and if transferring trains. In addition, some motorcoaches have limits on the amount of luggage they can accommodate. Extra porterage fees for additional luggage will be at your own expense. Sometimes in smaller cities, porterage can be difficult. IF there is a problem, please ask the hotel management or tour guides for assistance. Be sure to attach the Sweet Adeline's Travel & Tours ID tag to your suitcase in order for the porters to recognize it as part of our group.

AIRLINE INFORMATION

Arrangements for specific seat assignments or special airline meals, can be made by dialing the airline directly, once you have received your tickets. Please refer to the following toll free phone numbers:

Alitalia (800) 223-5730 American (800) 433-7300 Air France (800) 237-2747

Continental (800) 525-0280 Delta (800) 221-1212 El AL (800) 235-3525

Iberia (800) 772-4642 KLM (800) 374-7747 Northwest (800) 225-2525

TWA (800) 892-4141 United (800) 241-6522 US Air (800) 428-4322

Lufthansa (800) 645-3880 AerLingus (800) 223-6537 BritishAir (800) 247-9297

Frequent flyer mileage credits may be obtained by you upon check-in, or by calling the airlines directly and providing them

with your frequent flyer number. Please allow yourself extra time to do this upon check in.

Save the receipt portion and boarding pass of the airlines ticket as proof of purchase.

MONEY

We suggest that you bring a combination of traveler’s checks, 1 or 2 credit cards, and U.S. dollars. Visa and Mastercard are readily accepted, Discover Card is usually NOT accepted. Generally, your best rate of exchange is using a credit card. Your money can be changed upon arrival at banks, hotels, and exchange offices at the airports and rail stations. Be sure to ask what the rate of exchange is and if there is a SERVICE CHARGE. It is advisable to keep receipts of currency exchanged in case it is necessary to convert back into dollars before leaving the country.

When deciding denominations of U.S. currency to bring, remember $1 bills are very handy. When purchasing items on board a train, it is advisable to use local currency or currency of the country that the train is destined for. It is advisable to wear a security waist pouch UNDER your clothing to keep your money, travelers checks, and important documents such as passports and airline tickets. DO NOT carry these in suitcases.

CUSTOMS INFORMATION

A pamphlet of the basic and essential customs information, can be obtained by writing to:

US CUSTOMS POCKET HINTS

Department of the Treasury Customs Service

Washington D.C. 20229

PASSPORT

Your passport should not expire for at least 6 months after scheduled return of your tour. Keep it with you in a safe place during your travels. In case of loss, report it immediately to local police authorities, and Passport Services Office, Wash. DC. If overseas, contact the American Embassy or Consulate immediately.

Make two photocopies of your passport ID page. Leave one at home, and pack the other in your suitcase (separate from your original passport). Leave copy of itinerary at home with family member or friend in case of emergency.

REACHING TOUR MEMBERS

Please leave a list of hotel phone numbers with your families. Family members can reach you by dialing directly to the hoteI. First dial 011 (overseas code), then the country code (listed below), then area code + phone number.

Egypt….. 20 France....33 Greece… 30 Israel…..972 Italy… 39 Spain…34

Jordon….962 Mexico....52 England...44 Portugal....35 lreland… 353

APPROXIMATE FLIGHT TIMES:

To Rome from New York = 8.5 hours from Los Angeles 13 hours

To Paris from New York =7 hours from Los Angeles 11.50 hours

To Tel Aviv from New York =11 hours from Los Angeles 16 hours

To Lisbon from New York =5.75 hours from Los Angeles 12 hours

TIPS FOR COMFORTABLE AIR TRAVEL:

Wear loose fitting clothing. Dress for comfort.

Take a sweater for fluctuations in cabin air temperature. (Airline may not always have enough blankets)

Take a blanket from the overhead immediately upon entering the aircraft if you think you will need one.

Eat lightly. Heavy meals without exercise dull the spirit and hype jet lag.

Step out of your seat every 20 minutes or so to walk around the cabin.

Drink plenty of water or fruit juice to avoid dehydration.

Move around as much as possible. Do leg and arm exercises in your seat to stimulate circulation.

Take heavy socks or slippers in your “carry on” to wear so you can remove your shoes, be comfortable and sleep.

Schedule any dental work at least two weeks prior to the flight. Fillings, extractions, and root canal work can

leave air pockets that cause pain in a pressurized cabin.

WEATHER

As in the United States, the distance from the sea and the altitude determines temperatures. The temperatures in Europe are generally mild, but bring a sweater for summer nights and a coat for winter. Bring along a small umbrella or lightweight raincoat or poncho for the occasional showers. The weather in the Holyland is warmer and dry with mild winters (except for the hilly areas). Following is a sample of daytime temperatures throughout the year:

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Rome 54 56 62 68 74 82 88 88 83 73 63 56

Jerusalem 55 56 65 73 81 85 87 87 85 81 70 59

Paris 45 46 52 59 65 70 75 78 70 60 50 45

Lourdes 49 40 49 53 57 66 69 67 61 58 49 43

Cairo 65 66 70 74 79 83 85 87 86 83 77 69

Dublin 42 45 48 54 60 62 68 68 64 58 50 44

Lisbon 51 57 58 61 63 69 72 77 73 69 57 53

Mexico 57 50 47 48 49 65 67 68 70 65 62 59

Spain 66 66 67 69 70 75 77 78 79 77 72 69

We wish you a Wonderful Tour !!!!

Adeline

Let Sweet Adeline get a “Sweet” deal for you !!

Travel Specialist: Adeline Castiglione

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