General Trip Information

Airport and Passport

• Flights can originate and are included from anywhere in the USA where published.
• Get a Passport ASAP. Passengers are responsible to get their own passports and visas. Passengers are also responsible that their passport is valid and not expired. Passports must be current within 6 months past your travel dates.
• When you send a copy of your passport to our office, send only a copy of the first page that includes your photo, not a copy of every page of the passport.
• It is highly recommended that you register your trip with the US State Department online at Travel Registration

Flight Information

• Be at the airport at least 3 hours before departure. This applies only to the airport of origination, not necessarily to the airport of connection. For example, if you’re flying from Pittsburgh to Paris then from Paris to Rome, you need to be at the airport in Pittsburgh 3 hours before departure; not necessarily in Paris where your connection time might be less than 3 hours. Proximo Travel is not responsible if you don’t show up at the airport of origination. If you miss your flight for being late, our team will do the best we can to re-book the passenger’s flight. The passenger, however, is responsible for all the costs involved in changing the ticket.
• If the airlines cancel or delay the flight, they are responsible to re-book the passenger’s flight. If passengers show up at the airport and the airlines delay the flight or cancel it, passengers need to go to customer service of that specific airline and stay there until their flights are rebooked.
• You can deduct $800 from the price of the trip if you purchase your own flight. Credit for Land Only for North American tours is $300 per person. Feel free to use your mileage and join the group at your destination.
• If you choose to fly directly from your city to Europe, we fly you from anywhere in the USA and the price of the trip will remain the same.
• You can earn miles even though you are traveling as part of a group. Just call the airline we are using and tell them that you need to be credited for your miles.
• If there is a delay on your flight and the group has already left the airport; please contact your tour guide at the number listed in your final packet.
• If a group does not pay their balance on time, Proximo Travel cannot guarantee the flights promised in the contract with that specific group.
• If a group does not sign up on time according to the terms of the contract, Proximo Travel cannot guarantee the flights promised in the contract with that specific group.
• Proximo Travel does not provide economy plus upgrades. If anyone wishes to buy the economy plus upgrade, they have to purchase their own ticket and do their own upgrades. Thereafter, Proximo Travel is not responsible if flights change and customers lose their economy plus upgrade.
• Due to Covid-19 restrictions, we can no longer guarantee that the airlines will allow us to book large groups on the same flights.

Staying In Touch

• Each traveler will receive a final packet shortly before departure date. We suggest printing 2 copies (one for you & one for your family at home.)
• The trip is designed so that you and your family in the USA are always able to contact the tour guide during the trip.
• A Tour Guide or service representative will meet you at the airport and will remain with the group until you are safely returned to your departure airport.

Money

• Late fees are applied to the balance of those passengers who are late in paying their balance. Late fees are also applied to those passengers who are late in returning their signed credit card authorization form.
• US dollars are used in the Holy Land. If you are visiting Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Germany, or Austria, please convert your US dollars to euros.  If you are visiting Scotland or the United Kingdom(Pound sterling), Hungary (Hungarian forint), Poland (Polish zloty), Turkey (Turkish new lira), Czech Republic (Czech koruna), Croatia (Croatian kuna), Argentina (Argentine Peso), Brazil (Brazilian Real), Columbia (Columbian peso), Peru (Peruvian nuevo sol), Ecuador (US dollars), Canada (Canadian dollar), or Mexico (Mexican peso), please convert your US dollars to their respective currency.  It averages to be about $40 per person per day. 
• You can use your credit/debit cards, but inform your bank/credit card company in advance that you will be using them in your chosen destination. Credit and debit cards have the best exchange rate.
• AAA prepaid debit cards are also useful.
• Avoid bringing Traveler’s Checks with you.
• 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.
• Money belts are highly recommended.
• It should be noted that Proximo Travel does not refund any monies paid to date for a tour, regardless of circumstances. Travel Insurance is highly recommended to protect your investment. No change of names or substitutions is permitted. No refund or cancellation fees will be waived due to death or sickness.
• If you do not wish to purchase travel insurance you will lose your monies paid into the tour if you need to cancel.

Transportation in Europe and the Holy Land

• Proximo Travel, LLC  has its own private luxury bus at all times.
• Bus is air-conditioned and has large windows to enjoy the scenery.

Dress Code

• Dress is casual and comfortable. It is a vacation: relax and enjoy!
• Some sights (i.e. Vatican) require long pants (or capris) and shirts with sleeves.
• Bring comfortable walking shoes. Avoid sandals because they could get stuck between the cobblestones.
• Some of the hotels we use have a pool or a Jacuzzi (May-September). If you wish to use these amenities, please check the hotel’s website once you receive your final packet to see if bringing a bathing suit is warranted.

Packing and Carry-on

• Pack light! People normally do not use more than 60% of what they pack.
• We suggest you pack a small wash cloth if desired. Most hotels 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.
• Liquids should be in your checked luggage, not in your carry-on. If you choose to have your liquids in your carry-on, it should be less than 3 ounces per container and should be placed in a one quart-size plastic zip bag (one bag per person).
• You may visit the Transportation Security Administration website to get an itemization of everything you can think of and this will identify if the item can be in the carry-on and or checked luggage.
• Proximo Travel, LLC provides for one piece of checked luggage per passenger(checked bags not included for Mexico, Canada and US tours). Any additional pieces of luggage or luggage which exceeds the maximum weight limit will be an additional charge incurred by the passenger and not at Proximo Travel, LLC’s expense. For specific weight and size requirements please check with the airline carrier you have been assigned.

Safety

• Safety is our priority. As we tour each country, every passenger is always accounted for: there is always a count of passengers before and after touring each site. Due to strict bus regulations all passengers MUST adhere to the time frames in returning from tours to buses. Bus drivers & guides will NOT be able to wait for late passengers which may result in being left behind. It will be the passenger’s expense to catch up to group if they are late.
• Please carry your tour guide & hotel information pages from your final packet with you each day while touring in case you need to refer to them if you get disconnected from the group.

Hotels

• We use solely 4 and 5 star hotels, but for tours where they are not available a 3 star may be provided.
• Groups that sign up last minute risk not having the same quality hotels that are usually up to our standards.

Lots of Walking?

• Even though we have our own private bus, all of our tours require a good amount of walking, often on uneven surfaces or inclines. Bring comfortable shoes (dress shoes are not necessary at all). We suggest you start walking at least 2 months before your trip so you’re ready to tour! A wheelchair can be provided if you are traveling with a companion who is able to push you.  Please remember that some sites are inaccessible by wheelchair.