Money Questions
How much money should I take on the tour? It is difficult to make individual recommendations but a good guideline is listed below.

• Optional Excursions. First, determine which of the optional excursions you would like to take. In doing so, bear in mind that some optionals include dinner or lunch.
• Independent Dinners. For your independent dinners, you should allow anywhere from $15 for a modest meal on our own to $70 for one of the optional specialty dinners.
• Lunches. Figure an average of $10, from $5 at a snack bar or food stand to $15 at a moderate restaurant.
• Beverages. This may seem high, but with $1.50 to $2 for a bottle of Coke or a cup of coffee, plan on an average of $15 to $20 per day for beverages during morning stops, lunches, afternoon stops, dinners, and evenings.
• Tipping. For all prearranged services, tipping is included in the tour price. Tipping for non-prearranged services varies among countries. During your independent meals, the 'service charge' (tip) may be included in your bill.
• Souvenirs, Gifts, & Other Purchases. Purchases depend entirely on your personal finances and tastes. Regardless of how much money you take, the key word is budgeting!

What is the Euro and how will it affect my trip to Europe? The Euro is the new single European currency. This common currency eliminates many of the monetary exchanges travelers experience when touring Europe. The following 12 members of the European Union agreed to participate: Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Portugal and Spain. The independent states of Monaco, San Marino, The Vatican City and Andorra, although not members of the union, shall use the Euro as their sole currency as well. Denmark, Switzerland, Sweden and the United Kingdom currently have opted to retain their separate and unique monetary units for use within their borders. If travelling to one or more of these countries, keep in mind that the Euro cannot be used and you must obtain local currency for any purchases within these countries.

So what does all this mean? Convenience! Beginning January 1, 2002 Euros can be used in banknote and coin form for transactions within the participating countries. in preparing for your European holiday, we recommend you use traveler's checks. These can be ordered in either U.S. or Euro dollars. Keep in mind that the larger the denomination of the checks, the lower the conversion fees. You might wish to choose U.S. traveler's checks rather than Euro traveler's checks as these are still more advantageous in countries not using the Euro. While shopping in the Euro countries, you will see labels displaying prices in Euros using the following symbol: "ª". Think of this symbol as the equivalent to the "$" symbol for U.S. Dollars. To help you calculate the exchange between U.S. Dollars and the Euro when making purchases, consider bringing a small pocket size calculator or the exchange rate sheet included with your final documents.

Luggage Questions
Does it matter if my suitcase is 1-2 inches larger than the dimensions given? Please understand that we cannot guarantee that a larger suitcase will be allowed. It is at the tour manager's discretion to ask a passenger to purchase a new bag if the original bag is over the size limit and is causing a problem. Out of fairness to all passengers, we will not allow exceptions to our published luggage requirements.

Can I put carry-ons overhead on the bus? Some buses will not be able to accommodate this, so you should plan on putting carry-ons in the space under the seat.

What if my carry-on is larger than prescribed in the brochure? If you take a larger-than-allowed carry-on, you must be prepared to sit with your feet on it for the tour's duration.

Can I bring two suitcases if the tour is small (with a driver/tour manager)? No, we cannot allow a second suitcase, even in this situation. We only arrange for porterage of one suitcase per person.

Medical Questions
What is the best way to be covered in case of loss of prescription medication? Always carry a written prescription from your doctor, so you are able to replce it if lost. Bring these prescriptions and an adequate supply of all medication, clearly labeled, in your hand luggage, and not in your suitcase.

How should I carry insulin? The best way is to carry it in a small thermos and ask for fresh ice at the hotels each day.

Miscellaneous
What is the highest elevation on the Heart of Europe^® Tour? If clients choose to take the Swiss Mountain optional excursion, the elevation of Mt. Stanserhorn is 6-7000 feet. Otherwise, the highest elevation is Giswil, Switzerland at 3445 feet.

What are the costs of independent transfers or taxi rides to/from the airport? For 'Land Only' passengers and those with Pre- or Post-tour stays, costs and instructions for transportation to/from the hotel will be outlined in your final documents.

Do the hotels have a hair dryer, coffe maker, laundry facilities, etc.? This information can be found for each hotel in the Hotel section of each tour.

How much walking will I need to do on your tours? Generally you will not need to walk more than a mile at a time. If this is too difficult for you, you should find a place to sit and later join the group at a meeting point. However, you cannot stay on the motor coach duing stops. If you have walking difficulties, please discuss the tour with your physician, as our tours do 'move' around quite a bit.

Can I request non-smoking rooms in the hotels? We cannot accept request for non-smoking rooms, as most hotels in Europe are not able to accommodate this.

Is smoking allowed on the motor coach? No.

What type of breakfast do the hotels serve? Breakfasts are plentiful at most hotels and there is usually a continental breakfast buffet with rolls, meats, cheeses, eggs, cereals, coffee, tea, and juice. Occasionally, there will be a hotel that serves a continental breakfast at the table.

Will any visas be required? No, not for passengers with a U.S. passport. If you do not have a U.S. passport, you must check with the consulate for each country you will be visiting to see if they require a visa. It is the passenger's responsibility to find out about this and obtain any necessary visas before departure.

Are the hotels air-conditioned? Very few of our hotels provide air-conditioning, as it is just not as necessary in Northern and Western Europe. However, the motor coach is air-conditioned.

Planning
When is Tulip Time in the Netherlands? Tulip Time runs from the end of March through mid-May. Events take place in Holland throughout this time.