South Africa Elegant Adventure November 26

Trish RinikerTrish Riniker
in South Africa: An Elegant Adventure
We are booked on that trip. Anyone going at that time. Still not sure what to take re clothing. Are the weight limits just for checked luggage? Do they allow carryon bags? We are from Wisconsin and will get there the day before in the evening. Anyone else traveling from Amsterdam on the 25th?

Thanks,
Trish

Comments

  • Tauck EmilyTauck Emily
    Hi Trish,

    Luggage Weight and Carry-on:
    Airlines are frequently updating their checked and hand-carry luggage restrictions. Going over the allowable weight and dimensions will likely cause for extra charges at the airports, as set forth by your airline.

    Tauck STRONGLY urges that checked luggage be limited to ONE 44 lb. piece of luggage Additionally, you may bring one carry-on piece of luggage weighing a maximum of 15 lbs. The on-tour flights to and from Johannesburg and Victoria Falls are chartered by British Airways. Any luggage exceeding the 44 lb (20 kg) weight limit will be stored in Johannesburg on Day 10 and returned to you on Day 12.

    Regarding what to pack:
    Pack casual, comfortable clothing for this tour. Lightweight cotton shirts, skirts, pants,and shorts are suggested for daytime travel and sightseeing. Most dinners are taken in casual hotel venues. A sport coat for dinner in dining rooms in hotels is not required. At other times, smart-casual attire such as dresses and skirts for women, and polo shirts and slacks for men are appropriate. Additionally, a light jacket, fleece, or windbreaker is suggested, as temperatures get cooler in the evening.

    On game drives it is recommended you wear natural earth-colored clothing, such as khakis, tans, browns, and greens, as well as comfortable walking shoes or sneakers. It is also a good idea to bring a swimsuit, hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, and lip protection. Game drives can be dusty, so wear something that can be washed while on tour. Dry cleaning service is not always available; many hotels and lodges have valet laundry available for an additional charge.

    A personal medical kit with medication for possible upset stomach, aspirin, and allergy medicine may also be useful. If you are taking prescription drugs, bring a prescription signed by your doctor, should you need an emergency refill while traveling. Insect repellent with DEET is an important item to take. Also, premoistened towelettes and a small flashlight may be useful.

    We also suggest bringing a good pair of binoculars to optimize your wildlife viewing. We recommend that you pack your prescription medicines (an adequate supply to last through your journey) along with your travel documents and a change of clothing in your carry-on bags to avoid any inconvenience.

    Hope this helps,
    Emily
  • Trish RinikerTrish Riniker
    Hi Emily,

    Does that mean one 44 lb. suitcase for two people or do my husband and I need to pack in the one suitcase?
    Also, do you need hiking boots for the safari part of the trip or for any part of the trip. Will sneakers or running shoes do?

    Thanks
    Trish
  • ecurb7342ecurb7342
    edited September 2012
    Hi , we are also on the nov 26 tour. We are also traveling on delta from JFK on the 24 and connecting to Kim and onto Cape Town on the 25. We live on long island. Where are you from and have you taken any other Tauck trips? What are you doing about yellow fever vaccinations? Bruce and eileen.
  • Tauck EmilyTauck Emily
    Trish Riniker wrote:
    Hi Emily,

    Does that mean one 44 lb. suitcase for two people or do my husband and I need to pack in the one suitcase?
    Also, do you need hiking boots for the safari part of the trip or for any part of the trip. Will sneakers or running shoes do?

    Thanks
    Trish

    Hi Trish,

    It's a 44lb suitcase per person, so both you and your husband can have a suitcase and a carry-on . Hiking boots are not necessary, we just ask that your shoes are comfortable. Sneakers or running shoes will be fine.

    Hope this helps,
    Emily
  • Trish RinikerTrish Riniker
    For Bruce and Eileen,

    We are leaving from Minneapolis on Saturday, Nov. 24 and arriving in Amsterdam on the 25th in the morning. We then leave Amsterdam for Cape Town on KLM, arriving at 9:45 p.m.

    We live in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Have taken Tauck before and they are wonderful. Couldn't ask for better service and trips.

    We look forward to meeting you. Maybe we'll see each other in Amsterdam. It will be a long, long flight to Cape Town.

    Trish and Jim
  • ecurb7342ecurb7342
    Hi, We have traveled the world with Tauck and had many wonderful trips. We are on the same plane to Cape Town and look forward to sharing travel stories with you. What shots did you take and what are you doing about yellow fever. Bruce
  • Tauck EmilyTauck Emily
    Hi ecrub7343,

    As of this posting Yellow Fever vaccine is not necessary if you are coming from a country that is not listed as "high risk", the US is not considered a high risk country.

    For the most current information, please consult the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at http://wwwnc.cdc.gov/travel/destinations/list.htm and the World Health Organization (WHO) at http://www.who.int/ith/en/. It may also be advisable to visit the web sites for the embassies of the countries you will be visiting. Besides providing details on vaccination requirements, these sites can also provide information on vaccinations that may be recommended (but aren’t required) and other potential health issues for which no vaccines are available.

    Any decisions relating to your health, of course, should not be based solely on information provided by a web site. It is critically important that you consult with your personal physician prior to your journey to obtain any required vaccinations and to review any optional recommendations offered by the CDC or other sources.

    Hope this helps,
    Emily
  • Trish RinikerTrish Riniker
    edited October 2012
    Hi Bruce,

    I just saw that Emily posted a reply regarding Yellow Fever. We were not planning to do anything about Yellow Fever. We are taking typhoid and malaria medicine and we've had all the shots they recommend.

    We are seated in Seats 12 F & G, so look for us either on the plane or at the terminal in Amsterdam. Look forward to meeting you and having a wonderful trip. We have traveled extensively, mostly on our own. However, I know Tauck is a very good touring company and we really want to have someone experienced to guide us in S. Africa.

    Trish and Jim Riniker
  • ecurb7342ecurb7342
    Thanks for the imput. We don't have seats for the Kim segment. We'll look for you on the plane. Bruce and Eileen
  • pilipili
    Tauck Emily wrote:
    Hi Trish,

    It's a 44lb suitcase per person, so both you and your husband can have a suitcase and a carry-on . Hiking boots are not necessary, we just ask that your shoes are comfortable. Sneakers or running shoes will be fine.

    Hope this helps,
    Emily

    why does it have to be 44 lbs when airlines allow 50 lbs? We plan to fly business class which allows 70lbs. What happens if I have a 55 lbs suitcase (one for each of us)? Thank you.
  • Tauck EmilyTauck Emily
    Hello Pili,

    Due to space limitations in the luggage bays beneath the motor coach, we urge you to bring one average size suitcase per person with weight not exceeding 44 pounds. The 44 lb weight restriction is applicable to the on-tour flights that are part of this journey. Luggage exceeding the 44lb weight restriction risk being left behind or subject to expensive overage fees.

    The on-tour flights to and from Johannesburg and Victoria Falls are chartered by British Airways. Any luggage exceeding the 44 lb (20 kg) weight limit will be stored in
    Johannesburg on Day 10 and returned to you on Day 12.

    In addition, one small size carry-on is permitted (one per passenger). We recommend the dimensions of your carry-on not exceed 20" long X 15" wide X 10" high.

    Hope this helps,
    Emily
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