TRAVEL INFORMATION

TRAVEL INFORMATION
(Official Information plus some other items of interest)

How can I be sure to have problems on tour?
Simple. Ignore all the suggestions we've made for you. Your staff, with the help of Voyageurs, have learned from experience what works and what doesn't. We really encourage you not to assume anything - ask when you have questions!!

Click HERE to download a suggested packing list.

PACKING INFORMATION

Recheck the Voyageurs materials regarding packing. Remember - you may take ONE piece of luggage and a carry-on bag.

The luggage may not be larger than 58 linear inches including wheels and handles. Linear inches=width+height+depth. Also, your bag may not be heavier than 50 pounds.

The carry-on should be no larger than a gym bag (37 linear inches) since it must fit in overhead storage bins. A backpack is HIGHLY recommended. The carry-on may NOT have wheels or extensions.

Remember - YOU are the one who will carry your luggage in and out of airports, buses, and hotels. Lots of stairs await you!

MUSICAL EQUIPMENT

Be sure your instrument fits tighly in a SOLID case (no gig-bags or other soft cases). No "Anvil" cases for large instruments. Bring DUCT TAPE to tape your latches closed at the airport. Bring plenty of reeds, oil, etc. - we will NOT have a source to purchase these, and we will not be bringing extra.

Make sure your instrument is in excellent condition before we leave. If you might need small tools for adjustments (woodwinds), bring them, but put them in your CHECKED luggage.

BRING A FOLDING WIRE STAND! Put your name on the stand, and bring several wooden clothespins - we perform outdoors some, and it will be windy.

Check with your insurance agent to see if your instrument is covered on your homeowner's policy while overseas. Policies vary on loss and damage clauses. Read your Voyageurs information carefully.

PLANNING YOUR WARDROBE

Carefully review the Voyageurs dress code. Short shorts, tank tops (wife-beaters), halter tops, muscle shirts, mini skirts and clothing with objectional material on it will not be allowed. No bare midriffs. Jeans are fine, unless they are tattered or sagging. However, jeans are difficult to wash and dry on tour. You may take a cap or hat, but there will be times where they are not allowed, such as inside churches. Additionally, many sacred sights (churches, cathedrals, abbeys, basilicas, etc.) will not allow you inside if your shoulders and knees aren't covered.

You DO NOT need dress clothes or dress shoes. Our concert uniform will be the white polo shirt with khaki pants, athletic shoes, and our blue windbreaker. Make sure whatever shoes you take are comfortable and well broken-in; we do LOTS of walking. Pack lightweight clothing that can be washed in a sink and dry within a day. Layer your clothes to adjust to the widely varying temperatures. It has snowed on us and then been in the 90s within a couple of days.

The AAM jacket will be worn in airports, as part of the uniform, and wherever we go as a group.

OTHER THINGS TO BRING

Light raincoat with a hood (umbrellas are ok, but can be a hassle).

Sweater/Sweatshirt

Electric Converter and Adapters (check the packaging to be sure it will work in the countries we will visit)

Camera and Charger (Digital is by far the best - bring extra memory cards)

Document Safes (worn around the neck and tucked under your shirt; get the SOFT kind if your skin might get irritated. This will hold your passport, money and other valuables).

Prescription Medicines (make sure you have enough for the entire trip)

Laundry Supplies - powdered detergent, clothes pins and plastic floor covering for drip-drying

Sunglasses

Alarm Clock (we recommend small, travel clocks that are battery operated)

COMMUNICATING WITH THE FOLKS AT HOME

We recommend that you bring a cell phone. You'll need an international plan for calls and/or texting. Some older phones won't work in Europe, so you might have to upgrade.

If you're bringing a cell phone, don't forget the charger!!

If you're not going to use a cell phone, you can buy pre-paid phone cards in each country. The downside is that you'll have to deal with the local operators, and cards won't work from country to country. Additionally, there are fewer and fewer pay phones, so the lines can be long.

It's a good idea to have a rough plan about when you'll be calling. Remember - Great Britain is six hours ahead of Arkansas, and the other countries are seven hours ahead. Do the math before you call so it's not the middle of the night at home!

CURRENCY INFORMATION

We recommend having a small amout of local currency when you arrive in each country. Exchange rates vary daily and by location. You'll not get a good rate in tourist-heavy locations. It's better to have some currency and then get more when we arrive where we'll be.

Larger banks can get foreign currency within a few days. They may or may not charge a fee for getting it for you. Also, there is a source called Travelex (www.travelex.com) which specializes in foreign currency. You purchase the amount online, and they ship it overnight.

During the tour, you'll need American Dollars for meals and snacks in American airports. Also, the coach drivers often sell sodas and snacks while traveling. They prefer American dollars, but will take local currency.

When arriving in the United Kingdom, you'll need British Pounds. Flights 1&2 will spend several hours in HeathrowAirport, so you'll need to be prepared to buy some meals there.

After leaving Britain, you'll use Euros in France, Italy, Austria and Germany.

Switzerland has its own currency, the Swiss Franc.

Mr. Massey usually gets currency before the trip. He gets $50 worth of Pounds, $100 worth of Euros, and $30-50 worth of Francs. It's not necessary to get this much at once, but he prefers not having to change money right away.

While in Europe, ATM cards work in many machines. It's odd to see the local currency come out of the machine, but you'll be getting a good exchange rate.

We recommend using a Visa or MasterCard as much as possible. Your credit card provider will do the exchange automatically, and you will get a fair rate. Other credit cards may be problematic, especially in the smaller towns and villages.

We strongly encourage you to avoid traveler's cheques. They are not welcome at many places, especially in smaller towns. Also the exchange rate is not very good, and some shop keepers charge a fee (if they accept them at all). If you MUST use traveler's cheques, avoid the ones that require you to sign them twice.

LANGUAGE INFORMATION

American vs. British English

Here is an UNOFFICIAL bit of information for you. Even though we "Yanks" and the "Brits" speak the same language, there are some big differences. Here are some you might come across.

AS WELL - used where we say too. "I'd like some tea, and some cake as well."

BACON - ham. When you order a bacon cheeseburger, don't be surprised when it arrives with a slab of ham on it. If you want what we call bacon, order RASHERS.

BANGER - sausage. They also call them sausages, but you'll see Bangers a lot on menus. For example, several traditional British restaurants serve BANGERS and MASH - sausages with mashed potatoes.

BATHROOM - a room in which you take a bath. You'll want to ask for the TOILET or LOO if you need to use one. Many Brits simply refer to them as the GENTS or the LADIES.

BILL - what you ask for at a restaurant. They don't call it the check.

BIN - trash can.

BISCUIT - we call it a cookie.

BLOODY (and BLEEDING) and BUGGER are very useful swear words. My advice - don't go throwing them around in conversation; you will most likely offend someone.

BUM - the part of your body on which you sit. It doesn't mean a hobo or homeless person.

CAB - we call them taxis. They don't.

CAR PARK - parking lot.

CASHPOINT MACHINE - we call it an ATM.

CHEERIO - a polite way to say Goodbye. Americans sound silly when trying to use it.

CHEERS - has several meanings. You'll hear it used most as a way to say Thanks.

CHEMIST - drugstore.

CHIPS - French Fries. A traditional British dish is FISH AND CHIPS, which is fried fish, french fries, served in a newspaper.

CHRISTIAN NAME - your first name. You might see it on forms you'll need to fill out. Your last name would be your SURNAME.

CINEMA - a movie theatre. THEATRE is always a live show.

CLOTTED CREAM - a delicious topping for your scones.

CREAM TEA - a meal featuring a pot of tea and scones with clotted cream and jam. Delicious!!

COACH - the bus we ride. The drivers don't appreciate them being called buses.

COCK UP - a mistake. It has absolutely nothing to do with anatomy.

CRISPS - Potato chips.

DAFT - basically, it means stupid.

DODGY - not to be trusted. "He's a bit dodgy. Stay away!"

ENTREE - confusing to Americans: it's the appetizer. It's sometimes listed as "starters."

FANCY - to want or desire. Can apply to food ("I fancy a cup of tea") or attractive people (I fancy HER!")

FIRST FLOOR - the floor above the GROUND FLOOR. We'd call it the second floor. Keep doing the math to find your way in a hotel.

FORTNIGHT - a two-week period (14 nights).

HAVE - useful in restaurants. Asking a waiter if you can HAVE a refill will tell him to bring you more. Asking if you can GET a refill indicates you're a rude American who wants to go refill their own glass.

ICED TEA - no. Tea in England is always served hot. You'll get a funny look if you try to order it!

JACKET POTATO - we call it a baked potato.

JAM - we call it jelly.

JELLY - we call it jell-O.

JOLLY - essentially means very. "Jolly Good" means "very good." But it's another phrase Americans sound silly using.

LEMONADE - we'd call it Sprite or 7-up.

LIFT - the elevator.

LORRY - a large truck.

MARMITE - you'll see it with other condiments at meals. It's essentially a topping made from the leftover yeast when beer is made. I've never met anyone (other than a British native) who liked it.

NOSH - food; snacks.

NOTE - paper money. Five pound notes, ten pound notes, etc.

PAVEMENT - sidewalk.

PETROL - fuel.

PLASTER - a band-aid.

POWER POINT - electrical outlet.

PIE - a dish (either meat or dessert) with a crust on top. If you're wanting PIE like we have at home, you'll want a TART.

PUDDING - dessert of any kind. If you're looking for what we'd call pudding, you'll want a CUSTARD.

QUEUE - the line in which you wait. "Queue forms here" shows where to line up.

QUID - slang term for the monetary pound. If something cost 10 quid, it costs ten pounds. Kind of like $10 = ten bucks.

ROUNDABOUT - traffic circle. Basic rule of thumb is that vehicles already in the roundabout have the right of way.

ROW (rhymes with "cow") - an argument.

SCONES (rhymes with PAWNS) - resemble our southern biscuits in appearance. They're denser, and are perfect when cut in half, slathered with clotted cream and strawberry jam, and enjoyed while drinking tea.

SEMI-SKIMMED MILK - 2% milk.

SMASHING - means terrific.

SUBWAY - a pedestrian underpass. Allows pedestrians to avoid crossing large roads.

TAKE AWAY - food ordered "to go."

TROLLEY - one of the first things you'll find upon arriving in the UK. It's the cart that helps you carry your luggage.

WAY OUT - signs that show you where to find an EXIT.

WC - short for "water closet," it will be on signs showing where to find a toilet.

YANK - an American, regardless of Northern or Southern.

ZEBRA CROSSING - pedestrian crossings. They feature black & white stripes, flashing lights (for motorists) and sometimes an island in between the lanes of traffic.

ZED - the last letter of the alphabet. Really.

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