Here’s what you should know about money - tipping, exchange rates, credit cards, etc.
Our guide will help all along the way with all these issues, but it’s good to be informed ahead of time.
We’ll be able to exchange currency in our hotels, so there is no need to do it before we leave the U.S.
Here are some handouts from the meeting: Trip Information, Travel Checklists , Debbie’s Checklist
Commissioning Service: Saturday evening at 7:00 PM we’ll have a commissioning service at Forest Park for our group. Be sure to be packed in advance so you can enjoy a time of fellowship and prayer.
Daily Devotional: We’ll start out our day with a short devotion. Anyone that would be willing to give a devotion, please email me and I’ll give you a date for yours unless you have a specific day in mind. To end the day, we’ll have a share time as well – just a short reflection on the day from each person.
Special Services: We’ll have opportunities for some special service at different sites also; communion, baptism, worship, etc.
Travel Insurance: Check the previous post for more info. Travel insurance can cover a wide variety of things. You are not obligated to use this company, but we recommend you purchase some kind of insurance.
Health: Drink bottled water – our hotel foods will be prepared with purified water, so this should not be a problem, but we will encounter different foods that could cause some discomfort. Debbie and Dr. Bonnie Lazor recommend broad spectrum antibiotics if needed, but to avoid Imodium.
Also, to avoid gastric problems, it’s helpful to begin eating yogurt each day for the week before we leave – it has probiotics which help protect the stomach – if you don’t like yogurt, acidophilus tabs will do the same job.
I’m going to send you an email asking for a list of the medications you are taking, the name and phone # of your physician as well as a brief medical history. This information will not be shared with anyone of course, unless there is a medical emergency during the trip.
Money: Debbie suggests carrying cash in your passport wallet or money belt. Credit cards and debit cards are widely accepted. Getting cash from a machine will dispense local currecy, but your transaction will show in US dollars, so it’s good to know the exchange rate.
Call your credit card company to let them know you are traveling – they have been known to cut off cards being used in several different cities on successive days.
Clothing: Debbie says that for the most part, shorts are not acceptable for public touring and women should have their arms covered to below the elbow. At the hotels, there is no “dress code”. Some sites will not even allow access to people not dressed appropriately.
Anyone not at the meeting, please feel free to contact some of the women that were there for clarification on any of these points – there was a lot of discussion about clothing options and I lost track after “no shorts”.
There are not many laundry options beyond washing something in the sink unless you want to pay the hotel an exorbitant fee. There will be hotel pools, possibly swimming in the Dead Sea and an opportunity for baptism in the Jordan, so bring a swimsuit or appropriate clothing for those occasions.
Beyond this, Debbie advises packing light, plan on washing out some things to re-wear, and to bring NOTHING but comfortable shoes or sandals.
Communication: Sim cards from your cell company are often unreliable, but you can contact them if you want to try it. What seems to be more effective is to rent or buy a “world phone” which can be used anywhere and charges you only for minutes used rather than buying a sim with minutes that you may not need and may not work. Here is one option: www.mobal.com.
Most of our hotels will have wifi so you can use your laptop and/or a computer center you can use for email.
Judy Sapp and I will both have a world phones for emergency contact – BE SURE to leave these numbers with your family in case they need to reach you. (I will send you these numbers at a later date). I will have a laptop with email access as well with a contact address for your family.
Checklist: Debbie provided this checklist in addition to the others here – there are a few extra items you may want to consider:
If you think of anything else, let us all know by replying to “reply all” from one of your emails.
It’s a spiritual journey we are about to embark upon, but let’s face it - you gotta buy some stuff too.
Just because you are a "rich American tourist" doesn’t mean you don’t want to find a bargain. Here are a few sites with some suggestions on finding deals. If you find others, let the rest of us know by clicking "comments" below.
Deposits are due by Wednesday, December 5th and it is $300 per person. Once I send in the money, Quest tours will contact you by mail to confirm your registration and set up your account. They will let you know how you can make payments, give you travel insurance information and give you other deadlines for payments, passports, etc.
Here’s who has signed up so far:
Ronnie Caswell
Donna Cole
Mary Brumback
Victor & Cheryl Himbaugh
Linda Johstone
Carey & Bonnie McDaniel
Terry Steiden
Glenn Wathen
Mike & Susan Luka
Don & Derema Bedsoe
I’m waiting on confirmation from 5 or 6 others before I mention their names. Once all deposits are in, I’ll send everyone a list.
The only new news I have is that our tour operator called me and said the photo I have of the bus on the powerpoint is NOT anything like theirs. He said he’ll send me a phot of their bus which is MUCH nicer.
He also informed me that we WILL need a visa to go to Egypt. I’ll take care of arrangements for those before we all meet. If you need a passport or need to update yours, work on that as soon as you can. It takes a bit longer now. There is stioll plenty of time, but best not to have any surprises late in the game.
Call if you need any information in the meantime. 836-9201
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