You’ve booked your tour! We’re thrilled that you’ve found an Expat Explore tour that ticks all of your bucket-list boxes and that you’ll be joining us on tour soon. However, before we set off on our grand adventure, there are a few things that you’ll need to take care of on your end.
Here’s a handy list of all your travel homework in the lead-up to your Expat Explore tour:
Two Months Before Departure
Now is the time to get the boring paperwork out of the way, so you can focus on the less taxing travel chores as your departure date comes closer.
Go through the pre-departure information for your Expat Explore tour
First things first – find the pre-departure information for your tour. Simply select your tour from the drop-down menu at the top right of the screen to find all of the important information regarding start- and end points, departure times, optional excursions and FAQs.
Make sure your passport is up to date
Your passport should be valid for at least six months after you return from your trip. Also ensure that there are plenty of blank pages for entry and exit stamps and visas. Be sure to also make photocopies of your passport before you leave home, and keep these separate from the passport itself. That way if your passport does go missing, you’ll at least have some documentation with you.
Get Travel Insurance
Having travel insurance in place is one of the prerequisites when applying for a visa. When you book a trip with us you’ll notice that travel insurance is compulsory. Aside from covering medical expenses, trip cancellation, lost luggage, flight changes and other losses incurred while traveling, travel insurance is also mandatory if you wish to cross the borders of most European countries. We recommend World Nomadsas a provider, but you are free to use the travel insurance provider of your choice.
Related: Here’s a bit more information about travel insurance.
Apply for any visas you may need
It is very important to make sure you find out if you will need a visa for your tour. Generally speaking Australian, Canadian, US, British, UK and EU passport holders will not require a visa to travel on any of our Europe tours but it is always advisable to double check this info, as the embassy rules change constantly. Please consult this helpful website to find out if you will need a visa (we cannot take responsibility for the accuracy of information on this website). Visit our visa page to find out which visa you will need.
The good news is that we’ll help by sending you support documents, no matter what visa you apply for. Once you’ve paid for your tour in full please request your visa support documents and we’ll send you the necessary support documents to make your applications, including an E-ticket, accommodation list and a letter to the relevant embassy confirming your booking. In order for us to do this we need the full names of those travelling (as it appears on your travel documentation).
What is a visa? If you want to find our more about visas, if you need one and how to obtain yours, read our handy blog.
We understand that the visa process might be confusing and overwhelming, so if have any questions please contact our team and we will be able to answer any queries you have.
Book your pre & post tour accommodation
Your tour can start and end in one destination or two different destinations. If you plan to arrive a day or two early or stay a couple of days after your tour, we highly recommend that you book pre and post-tour accommodation via booking.com. You can find your tour in the ‘Tour Start & End Points’ on our Help Section Page.
Get ready for some jam-packed days
Prepare yourself for a lot of walking as Europe is best discovered on foot. Our tours can be fast paced, so if there is any medical or mobility issues you want us to be aware of, please contact our customer service team as soon as possible and we will do our best to accommodate you. Keep in mind that some of the older hotels may not have lifts, and we do not offer porter services.
One Month Before Departure
A mere four weeks and you’ll be up and away! This is the time to ensure that you’ve provided us with all of your important passenger information, organise your travel budget and secure airport transfers.
Provide us with your Important Passenger Information
If you haven’t done so already, please provide us with all of your passenger information (we’ll send you the link via email). The important passenger information includes your full name as it appears on your travel documentation , your dietary requirements and accommodation preferences. This information allows us to ensure that you have the most comfortable travel experience possible.
Organise your travel budget
How much spending money you’ll need on your trip depends largely on how long you’ll be on tour for, how partial you are to buying souvenirs, drinks, snacks and going shopping. Our tour leaders will also give you some info on what things cost at each destination so that you can budget easily. Be prepared to find great little souvenirs, sample interesting foods and to have one or two extra drinks here and there.
Top Tip: Check and understand the currencies for all of the destinations you’ll be travelling to, so you are prepared for the conversion rates in the countries you visit. Also, think about how you will keep your money safe throughout your trip. Remember to contact your bank and notify them of your travel plans (if you plan to use your credit card while travelling).
Book your Airport Transfers
Although Expat Explore does not offer airport transfers, we have partnered with Welcome Pickups to offer a convenient and comfortable airport pick-up experience. On Egypt and Turkey tours, Expat Explore offers complimentary airport transfers.
Two Weeks Before Departure
Your departure date is right around the corner! Over the next 14 days, you should ensure your connectivity abroad, get in touch with your fellow travellers and start packing!
Ensure your connectivity abroad
Think of ordering an international SIM card or eSIM if you’d like to stay connected as you travel. All of the hotels you’ll stay with overnight will offer free WiFi on your Expat Explore tour. But when exploring beyond the hotel, we recommend using an international travel SIM or eSIM from reliable providers such as Airalo.
Start packing & check the weather forecast
Since we only allow one suitcase weighing not more than 20kg on our tours, it is very important that you plan your packing carefully. Have a good look at what we recommend you pack.
Join the Facebook group for your tour
You’ll receive an invite via email to join the Facebook group for your tour. This is a great way to connect with your tour leader and fellow travellers before the start of the tour, to share pictures and information during the tour and to stay in touch after the tour has come to an end! You can also join our Facebook Community page to learn more about other Expat Explore travellers, tours and deals.
As for what you should pack, this depends on the time of the year:
- Summer: European summers can be hot, with high temperatures ranging from the upper-20s right up into the mid-40s in places like southern Italy. Europe is a vast continent though, so be prepared for weather of all kinds. Up in Jungfrau, Switzerland, you’ll always need warm clothes, but you’ll be back in shorts and t-shirts at lower altitudes.
- Winter: Winters are harsh in Europe, with snow and ice dominating much of the continent, getting slowly more temperate as you head south (with the exception of the Alps of course). Here are some tips for cold-weather travel.
- Year-round essentials: No matter which season you’ll be travelling, bring comfortable shoes, as you’ll be walking around quite a lot during sightseeing. Bring a swimsuit and a beach towel if you plan to swim. Other must-have items include a hat, sunblock and sunglasses, small change for toilets, a journal and something to keep you busy on the bus when we travel for long periods of time.
Once you’ve ticked all this off your travel checklist, all that’s left to do is sit back and enjoy your Expat Explore tour!
Haven’t booked your tour yet? Have a look at our upcoming departures.
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