Money, plastic bags, link to adapter/converter

JeanneFleck

Hello- my name is Jeanne Fleck and my husband and I are doing K/T on Sept 7/8. Just received the spiral bound Tauck travel book and a couple of questions came up.( actuallyy that’s a lie- a lot of questions came up!) I read that crisp, newer bills are necessary. Do they have to be new? I realize the amount of cash one brings is individual however can someone give me a general amount. If we buy anything substantial it would be credit but I am just asking about cash. Also, is the tour director the same person throughout so that he/she could be given a tip at the end? I’ve read and read about converters/adapters but is someone willing to send a link to exactly what is needed? When I look on Amazon the choices are overwhelming! Also it was mentioned in the book about the plastic bags- I believe it is referring to the grocery type plastic bags but later it mentions zip loc as ok- is this true?( Not interested in the 38,000 fine or nights in jail!). I’ll probably have more questions, now it’s getting REAL, and many details....I appreciate any feedback anyone can give me. And if anyone else is out there on this same trip, please introduce yourself! Thanks Jeanne

Starfish50

The amount of cash you want to bring is up to you. I placed an order at my bank and got brand new bills to be safe. On the zip lock bags, I didn't think they were ok. I'm not bringing them.
On the converter, Tauck told me to go to Voltage Valet, which I did. Still confused I called them and they were very helpful. I'd suggest that.

British

You need an adapter not a converter. The confusion is often because people do not understand the difference between converter and adapter.
Plastic for paying—— if you want to buy at the Masai villages you will need dollars in cash, small denominations and as crisp and new as possible.
As I understand it, ziplocks are Ok.

Sealord

You can’t get dollars there, and you don’t want schillings. We did not spend anywhere near this amount, but we brought $200 in ones, $200 in fives, and $200 in tens. We brought the TD’s tip in twenty’s preloaded in it’s own envelope. All of the ‘normal’ tips are paid by Tauck, but your drinks, ice, laundry, and things of a personal nature are not. And there are always people who bring nothing but money that they cannot spend ... old wrinkled bills or high denominations. So we don’t advertise that we have the cash, but if someone needs ‘fresh’ money we are willing to make a trade. It may seem silly, but we have done three of these trips, so my wife actually irons the money to make sure we don’t have problems with it. Ironed cash also takes up a lot less space. We also bring the cash because we have had our credit cards go into the auto-shut-down mode even though we always inform the credit card companies of our travels. The last time was in Grenada and none of my cards worked. I don’t want to go into that cell phone conversation with Citi ... they reactivated it even though they insisted at first that they could not do that. I think all of the rooms had safes, and the theft occurances are very low to nonexhistant on this trip. Most of the time we carried our valuables on our persons.

AlanS

Plastic bags- The info, "quoted from the Kenyan Government website" has been posted here previously- they are talking large shopping and trash bags, not small ziplock bags. Google it or check the forum archives.

Adapter- Google it again, this time for websites that tell which adapter to use in each country (link)- then go to Amazon, etc. and buy it, buy a multi-adapter kit, or buy a universal adapter- most of the universals are truly universal, with the possible exception of South Africa. You shouldn't need to spend more than $10 unless you get a multi-outlet strip too- recommended if you've got multiple devices- one adapter and an outlet strip. It took me less time to Google what you need (Type G adapter for Kenya and Tanzania though some places in TZ may also need a Type D adapter) than it did to type this sentence. Also, ensure your devices will operate on 220volts (explained with pictures at the link above.)

Currency (bills)- you only need new or crisp bills to pay roadside or Maasai Village vendors, everyone else will take plastic (major- VISA or Mastercard, sometimes not AMEX and not off-brand cards.) Frankly, I would not worry too much about flat, crisp, new bills unless you plan on spending a considerable amount of money with small vendors. If they don't like your bills, tell them "No sale" and walk away- unless you have really ratty or torn bills they will quickly reconsider, or they don't get my business. You also need cash for the cost of a pre-tour Arusha National park excursion (for the driver/guide and vehicle) which is paid to the hotel. The hotel distributes and possible takes a cut(?). You'll also need a bit more cash for a tip for the driver/guide. I'm sure they will be more than happy to iron the bills they get from you.

British

Alan, I know you gave extra to the drivers, but I would think it was strange to give it to the hotel staff for them, I bet they never see it. This is partly why it is best to let Tauck give the tips included in the tour.

AlanS

British wrote:

Alan, I know you gave extra to the drivers, but I would think it was strange to give it to the hotel staff for them, I bet they never see it. This is partly why it is best to let Tauck give the tips included in the tour.

??? British, we tipped our driver/guide directly in cash for the private tour of Arusha National Park. As it turned out he was also the best driver/guide during the Tanzania portion of the Tauck tour so we tipped him a small amount, again directly, before moving on to Kenya.

The only cash given to the hotel was for the pre-tour Arusha Park booking. it was not a tip. I assume the hotel takes a small % for their booking services then gives the remainder to Asilia, the safari outfitter who provided vehicles and drivers to the hotel and Tauck in 2015.

I'll correct my previous post to make this more clear.

Sealord

Most purchases will cost more if you use a credit card, versus cash, including at the cultural center. We used cash there, and they are pretty clear about negotiating a cash price or a credit card price. Other places just tack on an additional charge if you use a credit card. I’m also pretty careful about where I ‘float’ my credit card information in places like Africa. I once got a $2500 dollar charge for carpet in India ... I didn’t purchase any carpet, and I had not been in India for many years. The credit card company caught it, but they also shut down my credit card and issued a new one ... which took a little time, and the card was delivered to our home, not where we were travelling. In the mean time I used cash. (;-)

Peggyp

Hi! I was on the July 21 2018 Kenya/Tanzania tour. Don't expect this tour to be a vacation. Your Tour Director will remind you of this every night when she gives you the next day's itinerary! This is not a shopping tour either. 25 minutes at the Cultural Heritage is barely enough to browse the entire store, much less buy anything of any value. And the owner will use 7 or 8 minutes of our allotted 25 shopping minutes to tell you about his store and how he furnished the Four Seasons! Thankfully, the magnificent hotels have nice gift shops if you want to bring back a few souvenirs. And, lastly, it's not a cultural tour. This tour can be difficult and exhausting with early wake-up calls and hours and hours bouncing in a Jeep looking for animals. It is not for the faint at heart. If I had to do it again, I would choose the South Africa tour for my first Africa venture. I am glad I took this tour because a safari is the experience of a lifetime. Thankfully, I travelled with Tuack which makes everything easier.

As to the plastic bag warning in the "green book", ignore it. My traveling companion and I got quite creative packing for two weeks after assuming the warning included ziplock bags. Ziplock bags are fine, dry cleaning bags are fine. No one checks your luggage. But who travels with grocery store bags?

British

Peggy, you question, who travels with grocery store bags, made me almost spray my coffee all over the sofa, because, much to my annoyance, Mr B does. He insists on packing one shoe per plastic bag! His methods of packing drive me crazy, but, I do have to credit him because once, we were returning from a Caribbean vacation and our bags were searched, the inspector said he had never seen such a neatly packed suitcase, and that was at the end of the tour. Mr B knows he cannot rely on these bags for our 2019 K and T tour, which will be a repeat for us plus Rwanda. Contrary to what you say about bags not being inspected, I have read the opposite and our instructions for our upcoming tour very strictly stress not to have these bags, so I would not risk it. We already know that ziplocks are Ok. It’s time the US had these restrictions like many other countries. In the UK you no longer automatically get bags when shopping, you have to pay as much as ten pence for a bag.
I find the tours tiring but I miss the lack of exercise on them especially since we eat and drink so much more than at home.
If people can catch the TV show Safari Live the Gauntlet showing on Nat Geo 11pm Friday nights at the moment, you can see the East Africa landscape and some safari vehicles in the background and the roads or lack of them. Then contrast the South Africa portion of the show and how the bush is very thick, making it much harder to spot animals both day and night. I believe this is also in Sabi Sands where Tauck goes, it certainly reminds me of our visit to that area. I think is the second season of the show, we watched last year and they have improved it quite a bit presentation wise.some wonderful but gruesome ‘Kill’ footage.
Shopping, we visited the Cultural center on our K and T tour years ago, at that time the tour had lunch there, I bought stuff. On our most recent trip to Tanzania, the hotels and lodges had very slim pickings but the visits to the Masai had the usual stuff, I always like the Masai collars and talking sticks. We did not stay at the Four Seasons and Mount Kenya hotels back then, I think that is why the Tour costs so much more money and is a day shorter than when we took it.
This is not a once in a lifetime experience for us, as soon as we get back we want to go again!

Sealord

The time at the cultural center is clearly variable. We were two weeks ahead of Peggyparks, and we were there for a couple hours, but no lunch like we had on our previous trip. But I had plenty of time to go to the shopping center that is next door to the cultural center. The ‘colonel’ escorted me there. And the colonel did get a tip which he appreciated.

LeeW

We were on Peggys trip. We had done the South Africa trip several years ago and loved it. We loved the cultural part, the history, the wine and the safari part. The safari part was 4 days and we felt like we wanted more. Thus we took the Tanzania and Kenya trip which is mostly safari (but so glad the Masai culture was part of this trip also- was so interesting). We knew we enjoyed the safari part and were definitely ready for more. They are two totally different trips. The Tanzania kenya trip is a lot more strenuous and a lot more of an adventure! Was wonderful! Glad we did the South Africa trip first.

As Peggy said they did not check our bags at all going into Kenya. As a group we walked into customs, they checked our papers and we walked out. Our bags stayed in the Tauck vehicles which drove through customs. We got back in the vehicles and drove on into Kenya. The ban as I understand it is only on plastic shopping bags just like many parts of the world including the USA are beginning to do.

Sealord

Sounds like you’ve done the Elegant Adventure, and K&T. Zambia, Botswana, and SA awaits. If we return again, we will probably do Botswana again. But it will be at least three years, and will of course require a degree of remaining mobility. (;-). We have three Tauck trips planned before that will happen.

British

Sealord, I know you love the safari parts of the tours, but I think you may enjoy the Elegant South Africa too. As well as the other cultural parts, the tour of Soweto is very worthwhile, it gives you another aspect of the African life. The safaris and lodges are very different. Looking for the animals in the landscape there is so different, it’s exciting plunging through the bush off road, going over trees that bounce back up after you go over them. And when you see the animals you are very much right up close and personal to them. Example, mom and baby rhino literally standing right next to your vehicle, or following a leopard down the road on a night Safari, so near you could reach out and touch it. Because the areas are in private concessions the drivers and spotter who sits by the font bumper of the vehicle pretty much know where animals like the lion pride will be. Then when you are in Cape Town you get to go and see the Penguins if they float your boat.

Sealord

I’m sure all of that is very interesting, but Africa for us is for the animals. Next year will absorb the culture in Portugal and Spain. (;-). And animals and culture in Costa Rica and Panama ... a week after your trip. I think you check out when we check in, or vice versa. In any case a close miss.

British

Ok, thought you might say that.

https://www.tvinsider.com/702305/natgeo-wild-safari-live-the-gauntlet-preview/

This is what we have been watching this past month, its been wonderful. Can’t wait to go back

Tonight we’ve been watching the new Mission Galapagos from BBC America. The adventure vacations are so much more fun and no need to worry about dressing for dinner!

Sealord

We have done the Galapagos three times. I’m afraid we wore that one out. We went on the Xpedition ... great trips.