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Be Flexible
We always plan for delays and try not to get upset when things inevitably go wrong. Patience is extremely important when traveling!
Always Buy Travel Insurance
A medical emergency can wipe out your savings — or even worse. We use and trust World Nomads for travel insurance.
Overseas Travel Checklist
1. Get Visa Information: Do you need a pre-visa for the particular country you are visiting? We just recently went on a trip to South East Asia. We did not need a visa for the length of time we were staying in Thailand, and we planned on getting our Laos visa at the border of Thailand and Laos. Luckily, I stumbled upon the information that Vietnam’s requirements are a little different. They require a pre-entry visa, which you can get in Thailand or Laos, but only if you are staying in one place for about 5 days. We didn’t want to take any chances, so we rushed an application to the Vietnam Embassy in D.C. and got our Vietnam visa shortly before we left on our 6-week trip. 2. Register with the nearest Embassy: Before you leave, it is wise to register with the Embassy of each country that you will be visiting. It helps the Embassy to better assist you in case of an emergency, such as a lost or stolen passport. It will also be easier for the Embassy to help you in the case of a natural disaster. 3. Travel Medical Insurance: I always purchase a travel medical insurance policy before I travel to another country. This will cover important things like emergency medical evacuation, trip cancellation, and baggage delay. We use and trust World Nomads for our travel insurance policies. 4. Required Travel Vaccinations: Check with your local travel clinic about any vaccinations that are required and suggested for that particular area. 5. Copies of Important Documents: Make a copy of your passport, any credit cards you will be bringing, drivers license and travelers checks receipts. I usually keep a copy with me and also scan a copy to send to my email. Also, bring extra passport photos of yourself for visas. 6. It’s a good idea to join airline mileage programs to earn miles for all the flights you take. We have a couple favorites such as Continental and American that we use whenever we can. If I am taking a flight and they are not partnered with either of my main airline mileage programs, I always create an account with that airline. You never know when you will be taking that particular carrier again and it doesn’t hurt to get credit for those miles. In order to be sure you get all of your mileage points, keep a copy of your boarding pass!! The mileage program will ask for a copy when you call them to find out why they have not credited your miles. 7. Print out some currency conversion charts for the currency of the places you will be visiting. If you are bringing an ipod, download the conversion rate and you can use this instead of carrying around a bunch of paper. 8. Print out common phrases for the language of the country I am visiting. If you have a guidebook, they usually have this information in them. But I don’t always want to carry around my guidebook and knowing how to say, “thank you,” “hello,” “I’m sorry” and a few other phrases are a necessity whenever I’m visiting a country.
Why Choose Us
1. Over 15 years of success Stella Maris Tours has been setting standards in the local and regional tourism industry for over 15 years, and our years of experience have helped us craft finely-honed tour itineraries that never fail to delight. We’ve trekked and toured every attraction in our destinations many times over and are experts at making your trip as safe, comfortable, and memorable as possible. 2. Private guided tours Choose a vacation as unique as you are. Any Stella MarisTour can be custom tailored to meet your wants and needs whether you’re touring the classic attractions or new areas of interest. Our seasoned, knowledgeable professionals are well-equipped with the knowledge to make your private tour a memorable experience that is entirely your own. 3. We speak your language You’re reading this page in English, but did you know we have stuff and tour guides speak Romanian, Bulgarian, French, German, Arabic, Russian, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, Chinese, and Japanese? We guide travelers from all over the world and are dedicated to providing top-tier services in their native languages. Your inquiries, reservation, and tours can all be conducted with multilingual staff. 4. Solid planning, super flexibility Stella Maris Tours staff and management are focused on bringing you the best trip possible, based on your individual needs and desires. Tour itineraries are carefully planned but easily restructured to the benefit of our travelers. 5. Safety and security commitment Our staff make keeping travelers safe a top priority. We’re always in the know while we’re on the go, so we can stay aware of any events that might affect your security and adjust plans accordingly. You’ll be with a staff member at all times during tour hours. 6. Excellence in service guarantee Quality is our top priority, and our team of fun and friendly experts are the secret ingredient to an amazing expedition. You’ll be awed by the sights on your itinerary, but it’s our personable and knowledgeable guides that will really help make your experience shine. 7. Concern for value and time We respect that your vacation is an investment of time and money and we want to help you get the most of it. Our local partnerships help us offer tour packages at extremely competitive prices, so you can see more and do more on your trip. 8. Around the clock customer care Our staff are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer your questions and help you out. and we’re here day and night to reply to your emails as well. 9. Ethical and sustainable tourism Stella Maris Tours is conscious of the impact tourism has on the local environment and economy, and we are committed to making that impact as positive as possible. We aim to operate as environmentally friendly as possible, and work with local businesses to support the Egyptian economy. We also make a donation to the Magdi Yacoub Heart Foundation for each booking reserved. 10. Secure online / bank transfer payment Your vacation should be stress-free, and that should include the payment. Our system is speedy and secure, and our friendly multilingual staff are here to help. After you’ve reached an agreement with your personal tour consultant, you can make an online payment to Stella Maris Tours via bank transfer.