HANOVER HOLIDAY TOURS

Washington Cherry Blossom

TRAVEL TIPS

JOINING THE TOUR

Enclosed in your Tour Documents you will find a Tour Membership Ticket.  This ticket shows the time and place where you are to join the tour.  Please be on time.  Please note Hanover Holidays has no pre arranged parking arrangements at departure points.  Should you experience a delay in reaching your joining point, please call 1-800-265-5530.  This number is available 24 hours a day.  If calling after hours, please press Option #2 to speak to the person on call.  You could be picked up at your pick-up point by the motor coach, courtesy van or taxi.  Please be on the look-out for such.  While all of the pick-up times are based on our 48 years of experience, weather, traffic and road conditions could potentially cause a delay.   Please be patient and call the office if your transportation is more than 10 minutes late.

PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP

Pleased be advised, effective June 1, 2009, Canadian citizens must present a valid passport for travel into the United States.  Trusted traveler program cards, such as NEXUS, will continue to be accepted for cross border travel.  Citizens from other countries, please verify requirements prior to departure.  All clients must be fully vaccinated to enter the United States at this time.  Please note acceptable proof below.

Please do not pack your proof of citizenship in your suitcase.  It should be kept on your person so that it is easily accessible when required to be shown to immigration officials at the border.    Please note a valid Permanent Resident (PR) is required to return to Canada for all landed immigrants.

**We have been advised that travel documents for tours crossing the border will be checked more thoroughly. Please be prepared for possible delays at Border Crossings.

·         Acceptable Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination

TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION

Your personal identification documentation is very valuable.  May we suggest you may wish to copy your identification and leave with family at home or carry separately with you while on tour.  Should this information become lost or stolen, it may assist in obtaining replacements.

ROLE OF YOUR TOUR DIRECTOR

Every Hanover Holiday Tour Director has been specially trained to conduct your tour in a friendly and professional manner.  The tour director is responsible to ensure that you receive all that was advertised to be included in your tour package at the level expected by the company.

At various times, there are local guides hired to provide their expert overview of a city.  Your tour director at that time will take a “back seat” and also ensure the local guide performs in a professional and pleasant manner.

The tour director is on call 24 hours a day, and should an emergency arise, he/she will assist you in acquiring any services that are needed.

It is the duty of the tour director to make the tour run as smoothly as possible, and to enhance your enjoyment of it.  If a situation arises that you need help or if you have any problems, please inform the tour director immediately so it can be resolved as soon as possible.  Most times, the tour director can correct the problem on the spot, but only if he/she knows about it.  It is to your benefit as well as ours, that you inform him/her of any minor detail which could corrected to help make your tour more enjoyable.

BAGGAGE

Hanover Holiday Tours will handle one large suitcase per person at hotels, weight limit of 50 lbs., with hand luggage carried personally aboard the motor coach. Your supplied luggage tags should be secured to your large piece of luggage by the tour director or driver upon arrival at the motor coach.  This tag identifies your luggage on the motor coach and at hotels.  Please note your baggage may be searched as we cross Canadian/American border.  To save time, we suggest on these days you do no lock your baggage.

Carry jewelry, money, important documents, medication, glasses or contact lenses in your hand luggage.  Every effort is taken to ensure that your luggage is handled with extreme care by the motor coach driver and transfers drivers.  However, we recommend that you purchase baggage insurance as we cannot accept responsibility for any damage which may occur.  If you notice damage at any time throughout the tour, please report it to the tour director immediately.  Please do not pack your laptop or other electronic equipment in your checked baggage.

SEAT ROTATION

As indicated in the Terms and Conditions on the Hanover Holidays Tour Brochure, this currently suspended.  Seats were assigned at booking.

MONEY

Due to the wide acceptance of credit cards, debit cards and travellers cheques, it is unwise and unnecessary to travel with large amounts of cash on your person while travelling.  Please remember to keep PIN numbers and cards secure.

SPECIAL REQUESTS AND ALLERGIES

Hanover Holidays has noted your request and specifications in regards to room type, allergies or special dietary requirements.  Please refer to your tour membership ticket for your requests.  Please note, room assignments are strictly at the discretion of each hotel, but your request is noted on your file.  Dietary needs/restrictions may not be accommodated fully on all tour itineraries.  Deluxe continental breakfast consists of standard fare of fruit/juice, cereal/oatmeal, yogurt, toast/muffins, and coffee/tea.  Substitutions in some cases may not be available to accommodate your specific need.  Specific food requirements/allergies should be forwarded at booking to enable us to forewarn hotels/restaurants of the requirements, to try and meet your request to the best of our ability.   Please note, many people have sensitivity to perfumes and cologne, and as such, we require all our guests to refrain from wearing such while on tour.

INSURANCE

When travelling outside the province of your residence, please make sure you have taken out an Accident/Sickness Insurance Policy to cover you over and above your provincial health plan.  If you have purchased medical protection, either from Hanover Holiday Tours or your Travel Agent, be sure to call the 24-hour travel assistance line within the time specified on your policy should you need medical assistance.  Failure to contact the assistance provider may result in the compensation being declined or substantially reduced.  If you wish, please ask your tour director for assistance.

MEALS

For moderate eating, please allow approx. $45.00 U.S. Funds per person per day.  Since individual tastes differ greatly, we try to choose places with varied menus.  Prices will vary with the area and your eating habits.  It is an accepted custom in restaurants/dining rooms to leave a gratuity for your waiter/waitress in the amount of 10-15% of your bill.  Some meals are included in your tour cost.  Please refer to your itinerary.

WEATHER AND CLOTHING

Temperatures will range from day time highs of 17 Celsius to a low of 5.  Take along an all-weather coat or a heavy sweater for the cooler evenings.  Don’t forget to bring your bathing suit to enjoy the pools at some hotels.  Comfortable walking shoes are a must and it is wise to travel with a small fold-up umbrella, masks and hand sanitizer.  We would also suggest you may consider packing a small flashlight and portable alarm clock.  We do require masks to be worn to board/exit/move about the coach, and they are not supplied.  Some attractions are also still requiring a mask to be worn.

NAME TAGS

Your name tag will be handed out by your tour director, as you are boarding the coach on the morning of departure.  While on tour, we would ask you to wear the name tag to identify us as a group.

PASSENGER STATISTICAL SHEET

Attached in your tour documents is a passenger statistical sheet which we would like you to complete and give to the tour director on the day of departure.  This information may be crucial in a medical emergency.

ACCOMMODATION LIST

Please be sure to forward or print a copy for your family or friends should you need to be contacted in case of an emergency.

TRAVELLING AS A GROUP

Every Hanover Holiday tour is created based on our more than 48 years of experience.  We include attractions and opportunities that are intended to give you a unique feel for the region into which you are travelling.  While your personal preference might be to spend more time at one attraction and less at another, please keep in mind that there will probably be someone on the tour that feels differently.  To enjoy your tour to the fullest, keep your mind open to the enjoyment that can be derived from each visit and share the enthusiasm that others may have for certain activities.  Getting to know your fellow travellers will add a lot of fun to your tour and usually enhance your overall travel experience.  While a group photo may be requested, we ask you to respect the privacy of others who may not wish to have their photo taken.  For those wishing to participate, please note Hanover Holidays has no control where photos taken may be posted by tour participants.   As well, due to the Privacy laws Hanover Holidays will not provide a name list of the group travelling.

TOUR DIRECTOR/DRIVER

Gratuities are not included for your tour director or driver and are left at, and in your sole discretion.

The industry standard for each is $4.00 per person per day.

We suggest you keep this as an individual activity between you and the staff member involved.

GUIDELINES FOR DUTY FREE SHOPPING

For Canadian Citizens 19 years of age or older, returning to Canada on this tour program, the following are the current allowances:

Permitted Goods  $800.00, which may include 200 cigarettes (1 carton), 200 sticks Tobacco, 200 Grams loose Tobacco, 50 Cigars OR Cigarillos and 40oz (1.14L) bottle OR 24-12 oz can/bottle of beer or ale OR 1500 mls of Wine or Champagne per person.

LAST DAY RETURN

You will be returned to your joining point on the last day of the tour.  If you have someone meeting you, please advise them to call 1-800-265-5530 after 3:00 p.m. to find out the time of your arrival.

In case you missed it, pre-entry tests for fully vaccinated travelers to Canada including Canadians returning home will expire on April 1. This means that all you will have to do is fill out a form online (or download the free app on a mobile device) called ArriveCAN showing proof of vaccination and you can travel freely.

MEDICATIONS AND U.S. CUSTOMS

Some members of the public have encountered problems at United States Border points in attempting to transport prescription and non-prescription medications into the United States.  Customs officials have taken action under a current policy of “ZERO TOLERANCE” in an attempt to curb drug trafficking across the border.  The following should be kept in mind:

1. Non-prescription drugs should be in the manufacturer’s original package.

Quantities should be sufficient only for reasonable personal use.

2. Prescription medications should be carried in the original dispensing package, and not be mingled with one another or transferred to an unlabelled container
3. Persons with chronic conditions who require ongoing medications would be advised to carry with them a note from the practitioner which certifies the drug(s) being used.
4. Persons carrying needed medications may wish to volunteer this information when crossing the border.

LEGALIZATION OF CANNABIS IN CANADA

On October 17, 2018, the Canadian federal government legalized cannabis in Canada.  This has created concern among the group travel industry regarding our customers knowledge and awareness of cannabis regulations, particularly when crossing the Canada-US border.  Please be sure to read the special Notice included with your travel documents.

HAPPY TRAVELLING!

Update Oct. 21, 2021

COVID-19 – Travel advice

Community transmission of COVID-19 continues in many countries.

You should be fully vaccinated by completing a COVID-19 vaccine series in Canada or abroad at least 14 days before travelling. Be aware that although you are better protected against serious illness if you are vaccinated, you may still be at risk of infection from the virus that causes COVID-19.

If you’re unvaccinated, you remain at increased risk of being infected with and spreading the virus that causes COVID-19 when travelling internationally. You should continue avoiding non-essential travel to all destinations.

Regardless of your vaccination status:

• stay informed of COVID-19 activity at your destination, which can vary significantly and change quickly from one country to another and within regions of the country
• use personal protective measures (like wearing a mask, washing hands and maintaining physical distancing where possible)
• follow any additional local public health measures while travelling