Before You Go

Will there be Wi-Fi available?
Most hotels have Wi-Fi and there is limited availability on the buses.

Will I be able to use my cellphone?
Talk to your cellphone carrier about international plans/data usage/etc.

How can my family get in touch with me?
On your final documents there will be phone numbers and addresses listed for the hotels you will be staying at, as well as emergency contact numbers for Pilgrim Tours and our overseas partners.

Should I carry around my wallet, purse, passport, etc.?
It is always advised to carry these items with you while you tour. We recommend carrying a small backpack, money belt or neck travel wallet to keep your money, credit card & passport safe. A room safe is normally available at the hotels which you can use to secure these items.

Money Belt: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0199S7HW2/ref=sspa_dk_detail_1?pd_rd_i=B018MHVPSI&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_p=21517efd-b385-405b-a405-9a37af61b5b4&pd_rd_wg=6NU0L&pf_rd_r=QZX417JEGND3T8N4YA6D&pf_rd_s=desktop-dp-sims&pf_rd_t=40701&pd_rd_w=pLTer&pf_rd_i=desktop-dp-sims&pd_rd_r=7abb1295-ecc6-11e8-b4a1-71fe8814db4b&th=1&psc=1#customerReviews

Travel Wallet: https://www.amazon.com/Passport-Holder-Blocking-Travel-Wallet/dp/B01MD19VH3

Is the water safe to drink?
We recommend only drinking bottled water and the filtered water provided at the hotels.

Will I have to pay to use public restrooms?
Paying for public restrooms is the norm in Europe, especially at train stations, highway rest areas, and some sights. However, some cities and countries have free public toilets, or allow the use of toilets in shops, restaurants, and bars without purchasing anything. The fee to use a public restroom is usually the equivalent to around 50 cents in US dollars.

Do I need to exchange money?
TURKEY: The currency in Turkey is the Turkey Lira. Check www.xe.com for the most recent exchange rate. You may choose to exchange a small amount of currency at a US bank before you leave, however, you may do so upon arrival at the airport. ATM machines are available in the major cities. However, in smaller towns ATM cards and credit cards may not be accepted. Please be advised that the ATM machines dispense TURKEY LIRA. For major purchases we recommend that you use a major credit card.

GREECE: The currency in Greece is the Euro. Check the travel section of your newspaper or the Internet for the most recent exchange rate. If possible, exchange currency at a US bank before you leave. There are ATMs available in major cities throughout Greece. However in smaller towns ATM and Credit Cards may not be accepted. Please be advised that ATM machines dispense money in EUROS – NOT US DOLLARS. Please notify your bank before you travel overseas.

Leave your travel information with a family member or friend, including a copy of your passport, your flight itinerary, travel itinerary, hotel names and phone numbers so that in the event of an emergency your family members have this information available.

Dress comfortably for the flight, wearing clothes that allow freedom of movement and shoes that slip on and off easily.

When at the airport, never leave luggage unattended for any length of time and for any reason. Do not accept packages from strangers to carry on to the plane for them.

Check in time for international flights is recommended at a minimum of 2 ½ to 3 hours prior to departure. When checking in at the airport, a valid passport is needed as proof of identification of each traveler. You will check in at the desk of your airline you are flying.

Do not pack your passport and other travel documents in your luggage. You will need to carry these items with you in your carry on for easy access.

You will be required to go through security before you may proceed to your gate. This may take some time during busy airport times.

After you arrive at your destination or are back in the United States, you will be required to go through customs after you retrieve your luggage. The wait for customs can also be lengthy if traveling during a busy time.

The customs officers are authorized to ask you questions about your trip and personal background, including: your citizenship, the nature of your trip, and anything you are bringing back to the United States that you did not have when you left.

There are specific items that you may not bring back into the United States from your traveled countries. You may go online to view what items are not allowed back into the United States at https://www.cbp.gov/travel/us-citizens/know-before-you-go/prohibited-and-restricted-items

Final documents will be sent out approximately 3 weeks prior to your trip departure. This will include your e-tickets, flight schedule, final trip information, and hotel and emergency contact information.

Get a good night’s sleep before you fly
People often end up having slept for just a few hours before a long flight – whether it’s pre-tour excitement or deliberate attempt to tire yourself out so that you’ll sleep through the flight. Big mistake. Last minute changes to your routine will only make it hard to adjust to the new time zone.

Avoid caffeinated beverages and drink lots of water
These artificial stimulants will affect your ability to sleep and increase jet lag recovery time. Your body functions best when it’s hydrated, so drinking lots of water is a great way to offset the effects of jet lag.

Do light exercises in the morning during your trip to help get your blood flowing and wake you up.

Use the flight to rest and reset
With a few hours of sleep during the flight, you’ll be functional the day you land. When the pilot announces your new time zone, reset your mind along with your wristwatch. Don’t prolong jet lag by reminding yourself what time it is back at home.

On arrival, stay awake until an early local bedtime and try not to go to bed too early.
Going to bed too soon the first night may wake you up much earlier than intended. Try taking a walk or another activity until early evening.

An average day will be 8:30am-5:30pm. There will be occasional days that you can expect an 8:00am-6:00pm schedule.

A standard wake up call on a tour day is 6, 7, 8. Wake up at 6, breakfast at 7, leaving at 8.

In order to see and experience as much of Turkey & Greece as possible our tours require a fair amount of walking. Portions of the tour require that you be able to walk a mile at a time at a moderate pace. We suggest that you begin to prepare for this at least a month in advance. Some portions of the tour will require walking and/or hiking on uneven terrain.

There will be time to relax, refresh and explore a little after dinner on a typical day.

In Turkey, show respect for the religious observances – do not eat or drink in or around religious shrines.

Be sure to carry your passport with you at all times.