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You are about to embark on an exciting trip with Worldview Tours. If you are amongst those who have traveled with us in the past…welcome back! If this is your first Worldview Tours tour…a special welcome to you. We hope you will join the ranks of the very satisfied Worldview customers.
1. What documents will I need?
A passport valid for at least six months beyond your return date is required. Visas are required for India, Nepal, Bhutan and Tibet. Assistance is provided in obtaining necessary visas for tours anywhere in the world. You will require a multiple entry visa for India. Over the years we have found Zierer Visa Service (www.zvs.com) to be very reliable and efficient. They arrange visas on behalf of most big tour operators in the country. Immediately after sign-up, a visa kit with requisite forms from Zierer Visa Service for the India visa are sent to you. Visa fee is not included in your tour price and the payment should be mailed with the completed application to the visa service. Should you decide to get your own visas, you can apply through the Indian Consulate in San Francisco, Washington DC or New York.
For more information or to download a Zierer Visa application visit www.zvs.com. To speak directly with ZVS Customer Service, call toll-free 866-788-1100, Monday-Friday, 9am-8pm EST, Saturday 10am-2pm ET.
If you are not a US citizen, please call us and we will help you find the correct visa requirements.
2. What shots do I need?
India, Bhutan, Nepal or Sri Lanka governments do not require any inoculations, except proof of a yellow fever shot if you have traveled in a yellow fever effected area within the past six months. As a minimum, most tourists take protection against Hepatitis A and get booster shots. CDC and your local health department maintain a list of recommended shots for travel to your destination. Your personal physician may recommend some shots for your special needs. For more information you may contact your local health department or the CDC at (404) 332 4559 Or visit http://www.cdc.gov/travel/indianrg.htm
3. What are the physical challenges?
You don’t have to be an athlete to participate in our tours, but you must be in reasonably good physical condition. The most that is physically required is walking from the bus parking to climb to a monument or inside a fort or museum where it may be necessary to climb steps to go from one exhibit to another. It is the responsibility of tour participants to select a trip suited to their abilities and interest. While none of our tours are rigorous but some can be physically demanding and include travel to areas where medical facilities are almost non-existent. Should you have any questions or need any clarification about a specific tour please ask for details at the time of booking.
4. I have paid my deposit for the tour. When is the balance payment due?
All unpaid balance must be paid in full 60 days before departure . We will send you a detailed invoice, approximately 75 days before departure. Since we cannot release your tour documents and tickets before final payment is received, please send remittance by the date requested.
5. When do I get my final tour documents and rendezvous instructions?
Your tour documents including airline tickets, tour members list, itinerary*, hotel list* with addresses ,telephone/fax numbers (* extra copies to leave behind),stopover vouchers ( if stopover packages are arranged through us),baggage tags, passport cases and any other relevant information about your trip is mailed to you two to three weeks before departure.
6. How much baggage may I take?
Baggage handling of only one piece of checked luggage per person is included on all tours. Coach class passengers can take two check-in bags… not to exceed 106 inches per bag and not to exceed 50 pounds for each bag on your flights to India. In addition one carry-on bag is allowed per person, not to exceed 11 pounds weight and 17”x12”x8” in dimension. Within India the domestic airlines allow each passenger only one checked bag not to exceed 54 pounds. Please check with us regarding restrictions on baggage to your destinations.
7. What weather to expect?
October through March is the best season to visit India. There is little or no rain in North India during this time. The average high temperatures in most of North India are in the low 80s and the lower range is between 50° to 70°F. However in January/February the temperatures could drop to low 40s°F. South India gets some monsoon rains in October/November, but December through March is relatively cool and dry. Kathmandu valley is only 4200-ft high and it rarely snows in the valley.
8. What clothes should I take?
No formal clothes are required on your tour, unless you wish to dress up a little for welcome and farewell dinners and/or for dining at the better restaurants of some Deluxe hotels. A jacket for men (tie optional) and one evening dress for ladies is about enough. Casual to smart-casual is the norm. During visits to a temple or a mosque, avoid showing too much skin. From November to February a sweater and a wind jacket may be necessary in north India. Remember comfortable walking shoes and a few pairs of dark “temple sox” that can be discarded after the tour.
9. Electric current in India?
The voltage in India is 220 volts AC 50 cycles. Wall plugs are the round, two-pronged European type. It is best to carry a travel adapter to fit your particular appliance. Most hotels will provide hair dryers.
10. Time Zone in India?
India has only one time zone; the entire country is 5.5 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time), and 9.5 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time in the U.S. During daylight savings time, the time difference is 10.5 hours. For current time in India visit: www.worldtimeserver.com
11. Should I buy trip cancellation, accident and baggage insurance?
Generally, a comprehensive travel insurance plan covers trip cancellation, trip delay, trip interruption, baggage, medical and emergency medical evacuation. Coverage costs 5 to 6 percent of the total tour price. Some insurance packages offer a ‘Pre existing medical conditions waiver’ if the insurance is bought within seven days of making your tour deposit. Whether on a group tour or a private tour, considering the heavy cancellation penalties, it is strongly recommended that you purchase travel insurance. Payments for any insurance should be sent directly to the insurance company.
12. What is the food like in India?
A smorgasbord of traditional local fare and continental favorites are available in most hotels. Full American breakfast is included daily with juice, fruit, breads, eggs and local items. On our escorted tours we have arranged lunches and dinners that are buffets or a choice of three-course western or Indian style meals. Some days a multi choice local favorite meal may be offered. All escorted group tours include gala welcome ‘get-acquainted’ and ‘farewell’ dinners. Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Chennai and Kathmandu offer fine dining in city restaurants; in all other cities it is perhaps best to eat in the hotels.
13. What health precautions I should take while on the tour?
Minor stomach ailments are the most common affliction of visitors to India. To minimize the chances of your getting sick, we strongly recommend that you drink only bottled water during your travel through India. Bottled drinking water is available for purchase throughout. In restaurants, insist that they bring a sealed bottle to your table. Avoid having ice in drinks unless you know it has been made with bottled water. It may be advisable to brush your teeth with bottled water. It is also a good idea to always wash your hands before and after eating. Try and avoid unpeeled fruits or raw salads or make sure fresh fruit or vegetables have been washed in bottled water.
14. Are doctors readily available?
Most hotels have excellent physicians on call. They are inexpensive (relative to what you pay at home), competent, and familiar with the common ailments that afflict travelers. Your tour might be traveling through remote areas where medical facilities may not be in easy reach. Our local staff are available to assist you in anyway possible.
15. How much money should I take?
Your hotels, sightseeing tours, mentioned meals and on some escorted tours gratuities are prepaid. However, customary end-of-the-trip gratuity to your tour escort is not included. It is easy to change money at your hotel cashier’s desk. There is no major advantage in changing money at a bank. It is better to take money by traveler’s checks. You may want to take some cash in twenties, tens, fives and ones for small purchases. You should try not to change too much money as it is often difficult to reconvert local money back to US dollars. When you change your money you get receipts (called "encashment certificates") should be retained, as these will enable you to reconvert the balance into dollars, at the time of departure from the country, if the last receipt is no more than 30 days old. All major establishments, hotels, restaurants and shops accept major credit cards. ATMs are very few in major cities only, so please do not plan on using them. Visitors to India are allowed to bring currency up to $2500 U.S. If the total amount of foreign exchange (including $2500 in currency) exceeds $10,000 USD, the amount must be declared upon entry on a Currency Declaration Form. International airports have currency exchange booths that are always open for arriving or departing overseas flights.
16. Photography in India?
Special permission of the Archaeological Survey of India, New Delhi, is required for use of tripod and artificial light. Most of the monuments have a still and moving camera fee (nominal charge ranging from $0.5-$8.00 per camera). Carry twice as much film or memory cards as you think you will need! Most airport security X-rays are film safe-but if you really want to be sure bring your films in special X-ray safe pouches. Videos are not allowed in the Taj Mahal complex past the first viewing area. Guests may store their cameras. Costs incurred for photography are at your expense and your Tour Escort/local guides will brief you in advance on the camera fees etc.
17. What can I expect of our tour escort?
He or she is the business manager of the tour while dealing with hotels, bus companies, etc. His job is to ensure you get what you paid for. He manages all logistics such as hotel, airline check-ins, departure and pick-up times. He will advise you of the time schedules for each day’s event, suggest any optional activities, and give shopping information if requested. He supervises the baggage handling, drivers, and guides and generally smoothens out any rough edges.
18. How is a tour escort different from local tour guides? Local guides are extremely important in your travel experience. He is a native resident of that city, he will conduct sightseeing tours indicating points of interest, explaining history, highlights of monuments visited, local customs, and current living conditions in the city. A comprehensive travel facts booklet is mailed when you book with us. |
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