ACCOMMODATIONS
It is suggested to arrive at the airport at least 3 hours prior to departure for international flights. If you do arrive early, this is the perfect time to grab a snack, review your Study Guide, and relax as you begin your journey!
Luggage is limited to one large suitcase per person, one carry-on bag that fits in the overhead compartment, and one personal item that fits under the seat. Please check with your airline for specific size and weight limits (typically not exceeding 40-50 lbs. for large suitcases), as these restrictions can vary. Be aware that overweight bags may incur additional fees.
When traveling internationally, travel insurance should be one of your biggest priorities. Travel insurance can help you in the event of trip delays/interruption prior to or post travel, lost luggage, sickness, or medical-related issues, and more depending on your policy and coverage.
When traveling internationally, travel insurance should be a top priority. It can cover issues such as trip delays or interruptions, lost luggage, illness, medical emergencies, and more, depending on your policy. For your travel insurance needs, you might explore options with Travel Guard, an AIG Company. To contact them, please call 1-800-826-5248 and reference agent code 127152. Alternatively, you can click here for more information.
We work with all major airlines, as well as several domestic airlines to get you to your final destination! As each trip varies from departure city and flight ability, we do our best to get you to your destination in the most efficient ways possible, however that can vary due to seasonality and other large factors. We primarily work with Air Canada, American, Delta, El-Al, Lufthansa, Turkish, United and more. To find out which airline you and your group are on, we recommend contacting your Tour Host, or your Operations Representative for more information.
To keep our prices competitive, we work with major airlines to secure group contracts. As such, all our fares are based on economy (or similar) seating unless stated otherwise. We are unable to accept SkyMiles®/Frequent Flyer points or other point systems for seating, and upgrades to economy plus (or similar) are generally reserved for individual ticket holders.
However, we can arrange upgrades to first class or business class. Please note that business class options vary by airline, with some offering recline-only seats and others providing lay-flat options, which can affect pricing. For more details and to specify your preference, please contact your Operations Representative.
For all trips utilizing our group airfare, we prepay the airport taxes, also known as "air taxes." This is a requirement from the airlines at the time of ticket issuance, so we do it for you. By covering these taxes in advance, we save you and your fellow travelers time during check-in, allowing you to proceed smoothly through security and get to your gate with ample time to spare.
While the simple answer is yes, there are several factors to consider. To keep our prices competitive, we work with major airlines to secure group contracts, allowing us to pass the savings on to you. However, we cannot offer flights from Hawaii, Alaska, or anywhere outside the continental U.S. (48 states).
For those traveling separately from the group (i.e., individual ticket holders), please note that additional funds may be required in-house before final payment. For more information, contact your Operations Representative.
If you are joining the trip from outside the continental U.S., Alaska, or Hawaii, you will need to travel as “Land Only,” as indicated in your tour brochure, and arrange your own flights.
For all flight requests, please contact your Operations Representative as soon as possible. While airlines ultimately decide on specific arrangements, we are happy to assist with requests related to seating, food allergies, and other preferences. When requesting special meal options such as vegan, kosher, gluten-free, or lactose-free, please include these details in your request. The more specific you are, the better we can communicate your needs to the airlines. If you require wheelchair assistance, please make sure to inform your Operations Representative as well.
Yes, absolutely! While fewer airlines now accept TSA Precheck and Global Entry within group contracts, you can still present your TSA Precheck or known traveler number at the gate upon check-in. Please provide your TSA Precheck or Global Entry information with your initial registration so we can forward it to the airline as needed. The sooner you provide this information, the better we can assist you. If you have any questions, feel free to contact your Operations Representative.
Nearly all our tours (unless specified otherwise) stay in 4-star (or better) hotels. For countries like Israel and Greece, these are comparable to Marriott Courtyard. Each room will have a private bath, a TV, and a phone. Some, but not all, will have irons and hair dryers. If they are not in the room, check with the front desk. Most rooms typically feature 2 doubles, or 1 king bed. For parties of 3 or larger, some rooms feature a pop-up or rollable cot-style bed for children. If you have a specific preference or need, please reach out to your Operations Representative to submit a request.
Nearly all of our tours (unless specified otherwise) include stays in 4-star (or better) hotels. In countries like Israel and Greece, these hotels are comparable to Marriott Courtyard. Each room comes with a private bath, TV, and phone. While some rooms may also include irons and hair dryers, if they are not provided, please check with the front desk.
Most rooms typically feature either two double beds or one king bed. For parties of three or more, some rooms offer a pop-up or rollaway cot-style bed for children. ADA-compliant and wheelchair-accessible rooms are available upon request. If you have specific preferences or requirements, including the need for accessible accommodations, please contact your Operations Representative to make a request.
Many of our hotels and cruises can accommodate CPAP machines, but you need to inform us upon registration to make the necessary arrangements. If you forgot to notify us initially, please contact your Operations Representative promptly so we can make the appropriate arrangements.
If you need distilled water for your CPAP machine, please let us know in advance. We can then coordinate with the hotel to provide it or make a stop at a local convenience store if it’s not available (which is rare).
PACKAGES
Sightseeing Options: You can participate in additional sightseeing during your leisure time. All options must be purchased by the final payment deadline and cannot be added afterward.
Extensions: An extension adds extra days to your basic tour. For example, if your tour is 10 days, you might have the option to add 3-4 extra days, if offered by your group leader. These extensions usually have pre-determined itineraries, which can be found in your brochure. If your group leader introduces an extension after the initial advertising, please contact your Operations Representative for more details. All extensions must be purchased by the final payment deadline and cannot be added afterward.
Deviations: A deviation occurs when a passenger requests to: (1) leave the tour during its course, (2) be ticketed individually (e.g., returning earlier or later than the group), or (3) return after the group. This usually happens when someone wants to stay beyond the planned tour dates or needs to return earlier. Please note that deviation fees may change based on airline policies and not all requests can be accommodated. Group travel may not meet all individual preferences.
If you’re interested in booking a private tour for you and your friends, we can accommodate groups with as few as 10 travelers. Currently, we only operate group travel and cannot accommodate individual travelers at this time. However, we are exploring options to offer individual travel in the future.
Transportation options vary depending on your destination and any extensions before or after your trip.
In Israel, available vehicles include:
- 7-seater limousines
- 10-seater zoto-buses
- 19-seater midi-buses
- Motor coaches with capacities of 19, 30, 47, 51, 55, or 59 passengers. Note: Buses in Israel do not have onboard bathrooms.
In Jordan, the buses typically seat 30 or 47 passengers. In Egypt, the buses range from 10 to 51 seats, similar to those in Israel.
In Italy and Greece, the maximum seating is 48. In Europe, double-decker buses can accommodate up to 69 passengers. Generally, we do not exceed 45 people in a motor coach unless the tour host decides otherwise.
Please keep in mind that larger buses may not fit into narrow streets for close-up sightseeing. As a result, you might need to walk up stairs to reach certain areas.
Absolutely! All our guides are licensed, highly trained, and passionate about their work, offering an “insider” perspective on the sites you’ll visit. Many guides are fluent in English and other languages, such as Spanish, their native tongue, and more. For more information about your guide before your trip, please contact your group leader.
Service charges, as imposed by hotels, and taxes levied by local municipalities are included in your tour price. See your specific brochure for U.S. and international airport taxes. Each program varies, so please read your brochure and tour conditions for specific inclusions/exclusions. Most standard tip expenses are included in the price of the tour (see tour brochure for details). This includes tips for your guides, drivers, maître d, front desk, and hotel porters who deliver your bags to your room and back to the bus. The Tour Host should handle the distribution of these tips. If you utilize any special services, please tip generously. In Europe it’s not uncommon for them to add a city tax for all travelers. This has become more common post-COVID and will need to be paid for by the individual traveler directly to the hotel at time of check-in/check-out.
While we do not offer standard coupon or discount codes, we do offer “early birds” on many of our trips. These can be found on the front of your trip’s brochure or registration form, or on our online registration. Early bird incentives vary depending on the price of the tour, as well as several other factors including (but not limited to) the time before departure. Please be sure to speak with your Tour Host for any questions regarding incentives prior to registration.
In most cases, yes! Nearly all of our trips offer a “Land Only” option, detailed on the back of the brochure. This option excludes the group fare for flights, including international flights and intercountry flights (e.g., from Athens to Thessaloniki), as these are part of the round-trip airfare package. If you prefer to arrange your own flights to and from your trip, the “Land Only” option is ideal and may be available at a reduced rate—please refer to the brochure for more details.
Note that service charges imposed by hotels, local taxes, and tipping are still included in your tour price. Travelers are also responsible for obtaining their own visas prior to departure, regardless of citizenship.
No. As of August 2024, individuals are required to obtain their own visas for Israel (see here), and with the implementation of ETIAS (see here) in early-2025, we will no longer be providing any visas regardless of citizenship. You will be responsible for obtaining the appropriate visas for all countries you plan to visit. Imagine is not responsible for visa arrangements for any travelers.
Absolutely! Between 21 and 28 days before departure, we will ship your Final Documents to your group leader. If you live more than an hour away or in another state, these will be sent directly via FedEx or UPS and will require a direct signature. Your documents will include luggage and name tags, a finalized hotel list, land itinerary, airline ticket and flight itinerary (when applicable), insurance information (when applicable), and a Study Guide for your destination (when applicable). If you need your documents sent to a different location due to travel or if you will be away, please contact your Operations Representative promptly before they are mailed.
CUSTOMS
No. U.S. law requires every citizen traveling outside of the country to secure his or her own passport personally. First time applicants must apply in person. Applications can be found at your nearest passport office, courthouse, post office, or online at travel.state.gov.
For tours booked beginning July 1st, a copy of your valid passport must be submitted to our office at least 120 days prior to departure. For all tours booked before this date, please refer to the tour brochure or contact our office for specific requirements.
Each passenger is responsible for ensuring their passport is valid with an expiration date at least six months beyond the return date of the trip. When submitting your passport, please include a copy of the photo page.
Purchases and gifts can be brought into the U.S. duty-free up to a retail value of $800 per person (as of 06/2023). Also, one liter of liquor/wine per adult is allowed duty-free. Most purchases more than this are subject to duty payments. If you ship purchases, you may be charged duty when the delivery is made. Be sure to declare all necessary goods purchased and keep in mind any restrictions on incoming products per government regulations. For more information, please visit the US Dept. of Homeland Security’s website.
Always carry your passport with you. DO NOT pack your passport into your checked luggage. You will need it for customs before getting your luggage. Also, passport numbers are required on Declaration Forms given to you on the return flight. These forms require you to declare all foreign merchandise that you are bringing into the country. We recommend travelers always keep their passport on them when traveling abroad. “A person without a passport, is a person without a country.”
COST
To start, all forms of payment must be made in U.S. currency, as we do not accept foreign currency (e.g., from Mexico, Canada, etc.). For your trip, we accept the following payment methods:
- Up to $500 for the initial deposit can be made via credit or debit card.
- All other payments must be made by personal check, cashier's check, money order, or ACH transfer and mailed to our office.
- For international travelers or last-minute registrations, we also accept wire transfers. For more information on wire transfers, please contact your Operations Representative.
Some of our tours offer a reduction for children between the ages of two and 11 by the date of departure. A child must leave and return prior to their “twelfth birthday” to qualify. However, not all fares provide this discount. It is important that you check with our office about a child’s reduced fare prior to sending in registration forms or paying deposits. Please note: The airlines will check your children’s passports if they have a discounted airfare to be sure they are the age they claim.
No refund will be made for any unused portion of the tour once the trip begins. Also, imagine Tours & Travel is not responsible for cancellation penalties imposed by the airlines if you change your itinerary. If you are forced to leave the tour early due to medical reasons, we highly encourage you to reach out to your travel insurance for any form of compensation. For more information regarding travel insurance, please refer to the “Do I need travel insurance?” question in Air & Accommodations above.
Yes, refunds are possible but subject to specific conditions. Refund policies vary by tour and are detailed in the “fine print” section of your tour program brochure. Generally, a minimum administration fee of $500.00 plus any applicable airline penalties applies if cancellation occurs before final payment—100 days prior to departure. Airline cancellation fees may be waived with a medical certificate showing illness as the cause of cancellation. Refunds are limited to the amount recoverable by Imagine Tours & Travel and typically take eight to ten weeks to process.
We strongly recommend purchasing optional travel insurance. For cruises, cancellation fees may vary. Please consult your Operations Representative if you have any questions about cancellation fees for your trip.
Yes. All prices are based on double occupancy (two people sharing a room). If you require a single room, an additional charge applies. Single rooms are subject to availability and may be smaller than standard rooms. For trips that include cruises, such as those in Greece, single room cabins are limited and may be subject to a finite number.
Triple rooms are also available as an option to avoid the need for a single room. For details on the supplemental charge for single rooms and availability, please consult the “Accommodations” section of your tour brochure or contact your Operations Representative.
Currently, we do not offer any financing options or in-house payment plans. If you are looking to finance your trip, we recommend contacting your personal financial institution or local bank to explore available options.
For tours booked after July 1, 2024, final payment is required 120 days prior to departure. For tours booked before this date, final payment deadlines typically range from 100 to 120 days prior to departure. Please refer to your tour brochure or contact your Operations Representative for specific details regarding your tour.
PACK
A recommended packing list would include:
- 3-5 pairs of pants, shorts, or capris
- 1 shirt per day
- Undergarments (including undershirts)
- Bathing suit
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Accessories (light jacket, raincoat, umbrella, sunglasses, sunscreen, and hat)
Dress comfortably and focus on casual attire; formal clothing is unnecessary. Keep in mind that some holy sites and churches may require men to cover their heads (any hat is acceptable), and everyone to cover their shoulders and knees. Women may need to cover beyond their knees, extending to the upper arms or shoulders in some locations. While hats are generally allowed, Catholic churches consider wearing them disrespectful, so it's best to remove hats when entering these sites.
We recommend dressing in layers due to varying temperatures and extensive walking throughout the day. Pack a well-broken-in pair of walking shoes and leave some space in your luggage for souvenirs.
Note: Most hotels offer laundry services, but they can be expensive. For alternative options, discuss with your guide. Consider packing a few travel-sized packets of laundry detergent as well.
Due to TSA regulations, liquids in carry-on bags must be in small quantities, so it’s best to pack most toiletries in your checked luggage. To save space, bring travel-sized products. Since liquids can expand at high altitudes, pack them in screw-top bottles and store them in plastic bags to prevent spills.
Additionally, consider bringing plastic shopping bags or trash bags for packing wet bathing suits, washcloths, or dirty shoes. Some hotels abroad may not provide washcloths or facial soap, so it's a good idea to bring your own if needed.
Most European and Middle Eastern countries use 220 volts, compared to the 120 volts used in the USA. To use your electrical appliances abroad, you will need both an adapter (to fit the plug shape) and a converter (to change the electric current). Without proper adaptation, items like curling irons or straighteners may overheat or combust.
While some hotels now offer USB ports for charging devices, bringing your own adapter and converter is still highly recommended. Universal adapters and converters are available at most stores or online retailers.
Most buses provide overhead storage for large carry-on items, similar to airplanes. However, oversize bags will be stored under the bus. For convenience, we recommend that ladies avoid bringing a purse unless absolutely necessary. Instead, bring a small bag for essentials like snacks and cameras.
While you can generally leave your small bag on the coach while visiting sites, please note that imagine Tours & Travel cannot be responsible for items that are lost, stolen, or left behind. Additionally, security at some sites may require backpacks to be searched.
Cameras are generally welcome at most sites during the tour. However, video recording is prohibited at some locations and may require a special permit. Please check local guidelines, laws, and restrictions for each country. Additionally, the use of drones is also restricted or prohibited at many sites. Be sure to review any relevant regulations before traveling.
Be sure to bring extra memory cards and batteries, as they can be difficult to find overseas. Alternatively, consider using your smartphone, which often provides a convenient and high-quality alternative to carrying large-format cameras, especially during long walks, hikes, or extended periods of standing.