General Trip Information

Get a Passport ASAP

Check the expiration date on your passport when you first begin planning your trip.  Your passport must be good for 6 months after the departure date of your trip.  If you need a new passport or are applying for one for the first time, please apply immediately.  Although there are ways to expedite for emergencies, these methods are expensive.  Although the delays created by the Pandemic have been alleviated, allow 6 weeks to receive a new one.

Money

You can use your credit/debit cards in Europe, but it is best to inform your bank/credit card company in advance that you will be using them.  Credit and debit cards used in a bank ATM have the best exchange rate.

Some credit cards are available that charge no foreign transaction fees. Chase, Bank of America and Capital One, among others, offer such cards. Foreign transaction fees on some credit cards can be as high as 3%.

 Make sure that your pin does not start with number “0” and does not have more than 4 digits. Some ATM machines in Europe do not accept pins starting with “0” or pins that have more than 4 digits.

RIF card holders are advisable. They are available at any travel store or on-line through Amazon.com, Travel Smith or other online travel stores.

Cell Phones

Check with your cell phone provider before you leave to determine international calling and data options. Often the best option is the International Calling plan offered by major carriers.  Another alternative to consider limiting your plan to calling and texting. Wait until you can use the hotel WIFI to download pictures, check your Facebook or use WhatsApp or Face Time. 

Packing and Carry-on

Pack light! Statistics show that people normally do not use more than 60% of what they pack.  We suggest you pack a small wash cloth if desired. Most hotels in Europe do not provide one.

Pack your medicine, valuables, and one day’s change of clothes in a carry-on just in case your luggage does not arrive on time. You may visit the Transportation Security Administration website to get an itemization of everything you can think of and identifies if the item can be in the carry-on and or checked luggage.

Method of Payment

BPP Tours accepts checks, Zelle, Visa, Mastercard and American Express.  A non-refundable $500 deposit per person is due upon registration. The amount of this deposit may vary with difference trips.  Payments may be made on line at https://bpptours.com/reserve-your-trip/make-a-payment/

Very Important Notes

We suggest being at the airport at least 3 hours before your departure. Many international flights begin boarding one hour before departure.  If several airlines are leaving at the same time, the TSA lines can be extraordinarily long.  Please make a copy of your passport and place it in your carry-on luggage while traveling. Each traveler is responsible for expenses in cases where BPP Tours has no control over events (i.e. missed flight because of a highway accident, weather, etc).