TRAVEL TIPS
- READ CAREFULLY AND OFTEN!
Pat Kane Music & Tours, Frequently Asked Questions
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1. What to bring?
PASSPORT, CREDIT/DEBIT CARD, a WATCH, a little CASH. There are ATMs all over Europe, so use your card.
Know your PIN#.
About $500 extra spending money should be enough.
Call your bank & credit card company!
2. How much luggage to bring?
PACK LIGHT !!! Just what you can lift and carry yourself !!!
Pack just a carryon 22" high, plus a “shoulder bag” per person.
No matter what the airline allows.
Check the carryon under the plane, bring shoulder bag on board.
3. What to wear?
Casual clothing, like “school clothes.”
Pack 2 pairs of good walking shoes,
pack a light jacket and sweater, and something waterproof.
“Dress for fall.” Dress in layers.
No formal wear. Dress for utility, not for fashion.
It's OK to wear clothes more than once.
Pack 2 weeks' worth of under garments and socks.
Pack one week's worth of outer clothes.
Wear them again in the second week.
4. How’s the weather?
Moderate, 55-70 F. in Ireland & Scotland. Not as rainy as feared. Italy might be warmer.
5. What kind of places do we stay?
Nice hotels, all rooms have private bath, elevators, and hair dryers. Careful stepping out of the shower! Bring washcloth, if you need it.
Bring electric adapters for chargers, etc.
6. How’s the food?
Great! Full, interesting meals with variety and taste
to rival “the continent.” Breakfast & dinner included every day, with lunch on your own.
7. Currency exchange?
About $1.20 buys one Euro (at the moment.)
About $1.40 buys one Pound Sterling in the UK. Subject to change. The best rate of exchange comes with credit card use.
Don’t bother changing money here.
Carry only about $50 cash on any given day.
8. What if I take medication?
Bring it, please, and take it, please!
In original bottle, if possible, or bring Rx copy.
9. What about trip insurance?
IT’S COVERED IN YOUR FEE, and you should not need more.
Seems like a necessary convenience these days, so we cover it.
This covers:
Trip cancellation, trip delay, baggage, medical, and more.
10. What kind of transport will we have?
Comfortable tour coach; we will not exceed 2 hours without a break.
Excellent driver/guides.
We will collect driver tips (appr 5euro/day pp,)
Hotel & dinner gratuities included.
When on your own, a 10% tip is plenty.
11. How’s the shopping?
Great! There’s plenty, nearly everywhere we stop.
Remember, it takes as long to stand in line to pay, as it takes to shop.
Use your credit card for best exchange rate.
Have items shipped if possible, rather than trying to pack them.
12. What is the VAT?
Value Added Tax. Usually we are charged it automatically. Sales tax.
When shopping, always ask for the Tax Back slip or card,
and save your receipts.
Sometimes you can get tax back on your card, at the airport.
13. What’s the time difference?
It’s 5 hours later in Ireland, 5 hours in Scotland, 6 hours in Italy.
Please wear a watch, punctuality makes a good tour.
Being "precisely on time" is fine. 5 minutes early, 2 min late.
Being part of a good group is more fun!
14. What airlines & airports do we use?
We fly from Newark or JFK, on United or Aer Lingus.
Both airlines are modern and comfortable.
Transport to and from airport is included in trip fee.
15. Is there much walking on the tour?
If you are asking this, you might consider another tour.
If you can walk up & down a flight of stairs without groaning,
and if you can walk about a mile at a time, that’s about right.
16. What is the legal drinking age?
Eighteen is the legal limit. This is a family style tour,
and pubs and restaurants welcome families.
However, minors need to be supervised by a family member.
“Being Irish is not only about drinking.”
17. Are there books or movies we can try before leaving?
Read Trinity, or How the Irish Saved Civilization.
Read the Scotland Street novels by Alexander McCall Smith.
Watch "Waking Ned Devine" or "Michael Collins,"
or “The Quiet Man,” or “Rob Roy” or “Brave Heart.”
See "Roman Holiday," "Eat, Pray, Love," "Gladiator,"
"Under the Tuscan Sun," or "Don't Look Now."
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