TRAVEL TIPS FOR JORDAN, ISRAEL, EGYPT
I. PREPARATION
1. Physical: Do walking around your village, treadmill or in the malls. This will prepare you for the
many times we will walk during the Pilgrimage.
Spiritual: Please pray for the Pilgrimage and the Pilgrims. Say a rosary and attend mass daily. Also,
we encourage everyone to go to Confession before the trip.
2. Bring with you:
• Alarm clock (to make sure you don’t miss your tour)
• Big collapsible bag (for unexpected buys)
• Medicine for common ailments (colds, LBM, etc)
• 3 in 1 Instant coffee, packets (it’s also expensive abroad)
• Detergent soap for laundry, preferably woolite
- Rosary, Bible
- Wedding Vows clothing (white dress/blouse for ladies, polo/barong for men)
- Maps
• Calling cards
2. Have a short haircut prior to departure as it is very expensive to have haircuts abroad.
3. Brush up on your knowledge of the history of the countries so you can appreciate
the sights better.
4. Duplicates of your passport (number, Date of issue, etc.) Better yet photocopy Passport per page, also include photocopy of your Airline Tickets. Place them in different bags.
5. Don’t bring so much clothes, bring those light to carry. Thermal wears are advisable. The weather is like Baguio, 10 degrees, please pack coats, bonnets, shawls, wool socks etc. We discourage washing of clothes during the trip as we will move from one hotel to another, but would there be a need please bring those easy to dry materials or disposable undergarments. Towels must be easy to dry too.
II. ON THE AIRPLANE
1. To be assured of a preferred seat (near window or aisles), better check-in very early at the airport. A seat in front means earlier serving of meals and you can rest immediately after.
2. If you have preferred magazines to read, scour around for it at the magazine racks as soon as you’ve laid your luggage aside. For preferred newspapers, ask the flight attendants.
3. To help you sleep, you can ask the flight attendants for hot milk. Ask for pillow and blanket if there’s none in the compartment above you.
4. If you become nauseated on the plane, you can request for air-sickness medicine. During take off or touch down, better have some candy or gum in your mouth.
5. At dawn or early morning, better go to the comfort room ahead of the others. There are usually shavers or toothbrush in the restroom.
6. If you are a first timer, request the help of the steward for adjusting your chair, seatbelt, emergency call button, and use of T.V and in filling out disembarkation forms. You can also ask for postcards and stationery which at times the airline will mail at no cost.
7. You can buy tax-free items at airport stores or aboard the airplane.
8. Don’t be ashamed to ask the assistance of the flight attendants. They’re there to help. Even extra servings of food if the flight is not full.
III. ACCOMMODATION
1. Be very careful in leaving valuables in your hotel room. They can get lost. Deposit valuables in your room deposit box or at the hotel front desk for safekeeping and ask for receipt or key. Have a reminder though.
2. Local calls from your hotel rooms are charged to you.
3. Night before departure, better pay already personal bills at hotel counter. Usually, it’s a long queue in the morning or pay early in morning before breakfast.
4. Check all closets, drawers, etc before checking out of hotel room. To keep tab of your belongings, always remember how many pieces of suitcases, airline bags, etc. you have.
5. When going out, ask directions from the Hotel Concierge/Front Desk. Have him write local instructions to taxi driver at your destination. A Tip for this service will be helpful. Better yet, ask for hotel calling card so if you go astray you can show taxi driver.
6. Don’t be ashamed to get candies or apples on trays in the front desk.
7. Return room key. At times even room cards are asked.
8. You may wish to bring home the small unused amenities in the room. But not towels or big items.
9. Items inside the mini bar are to be paid. At times you are provided free coffee or tea.
10. If you want hotel stickers, ask from the porter.
11. Ask directions from the porters.
12. There’s always CR in the lobby.
V. TRANSPORTATION AND TRANSFERS
1. Do not include hand luggage among suitcases.
2. Any additional suitcase must first be reported to the Tour Escort and must be properly identified.
3. It may be advisable to have one extra dress in hand luggage, in case your suitcase gets lost.
4. Tips for porters, local tour guides, chambermaids and taxi drivers can be loose change.
5. Anyone going ahead of bus or airplane or deviating from the tour group should first ask permission from the Tour Escort.
6. In case you miss a flight you will have to catch up by yourself.
VI. BAGGAGE
1. Always have calling cards inside and outside suitcase and hand carried bags.
Also distinctive ribbons for easier identification.
2. Better weigh in your luggage. You are allowed 20 kilos per passenger. Hand carried allowed is 7 kilos can be up to.
3. Prepare baggage in such a way that you can carry it yourself to economize in porterage. In the tour, we are allowed for 1 baggage for Porterage.
4. Bring extra collapsible bags. This can be handy.
VII. SIGHTSEEING AND SHOPPING
1.Be friendly, it opens many doors of welcome.
4. Try to learn some local words you can use for dropping.
5. Always listen to the guide first before picture taking.
VIII. MISCELLANEOUS
1. Exchange of money can be made at airports or downtown banks, hotels or stores. The most advantageous rates is in the stores. Watch-out for non-banking days like weekends or public holidays.
2. Dispose of local currency, specially coins at airport or border banks before leaving a country. Some banks will convert small change but at lower rate.
3. In case you get sick, most hotels have house physicians. There are also public hospitals but fees can be high. For insurance purposes, ask for official receipt.
4. Its most advisable to buy booklets on the countries or cities you visit. They serve well as coffee table books.
5. Anticipate low batt in cellphone or camera by bringing along chargers or extra batteries
Pilgrims