The Sights and Stories of The Sights and Stories of StSt. . Paul in GreecePaul in Greece

April 21 – May 4, 2014April 21 – May 4, 2014

Hosted by: Pastor Cheryl Mathison

St. Philip the Deacon Lutheran Church

Valid U.S. PassportValid U.S. Passport

Do not pack in your luggage

Sign your passport Photocopy the inside

cover pages, keep separate from your passport

VaccinationsVaccinations

None required but it’s wise to have a tetanus shot up to date

See the CDC website for more information http://www.cdc.gov/

Check with your physician

Final DocumentsFinal Documents

Your documents will include:

PocketDocs™ U.S. Customs information Leave-at-Home

Accommodations/ Contact List Luggage tags Luggage handle gripper Name tag E-Ticket itinerary and receipt

Group FlightsGroup Flights Apr 21 Delta 171 MSP / Paris 5:10pm – 8:35amApr 22 AF 1532 Paris / Athens 9:50am – 2:05pm

May 3 Aegean 111 Thessaloniki / Athens 11:30am - 12:25pmMay 3  KLM 1576     Athens / Amsterdam      5:15pm - 7:45pm

  (Overnight in Amsterdam)

May 4  Delta 259     Amsterdam / MSP  10:25am - 12:33pm

Frequent flier miles on Delta Airlines

now limited to up to 50% accrual

Baggage AllowanceBaggage Allowance 1 Checked Bag

44 lb maximum (Aegean Airlines requirement)

62 linear inches maximum

Aegean Airlines will only allow 1 piece of hand luggage and it must weigh under 17 pounds and cannot exceed measurements of 21” long x 15.74” high x 7.87” wide.

Tip: Place the tour itinerary in the outside

pocket of your suitcase in case it’s misdirected

Departure DayDeparture Day

Arrive at the airport by 2:30pm on Monday, April 21. Janet Tollund and Pastor Cheryl Mathison will meet you

at the Delta Airlines group check-in counter on Level T, one level below the baggage claim

Have your passport ready to present Be prepared to show TSA officials your quart-size bag

of liquids if you have one Check luggage all the way through to Athens

MSP, Level T1MSP, Level T1

TSA Security Requirement for TSA Security Requirement for Carry-on LuggageCarry-on Luggage

All liquids and gels in your carry-on bag must be put in a quart size zip-top bag. Note: Each item may not exceed 3 oz.

Arrival in AthensArrival in Athens

Before leaving the plane gather belongings Proceed to Immigration – present passport Pick up your baggage at Baggage Claim Go through Customs (Nothing to Declare exit) Your guide will be waiting on the other side of

the doors after Customs. Look for a sign that reads “St. Philip the Deacon”

Personal HealthPersonal Health

Pack medicines in your carry-onPack medicines in your carry-on

Carry your prescriptions with youCarry your prescriptions with you

Bring extra eye glasses or contact lensesBring extra eye glasses or contact lenses

Pack Pack your ownyour own over-the-counter medicines: pain over-the-counter medicines: pain killer, cold medication, first aid cream, tissues, killer, cold medication, first aid cream, tissues, Band-Aids, etc.Band-Aids, etc.

PackingPacking

Clothing Daytime casual Most evenings onboard ship are casual When visiting places of worship, shorts are not allowed

and shoulders should be covered Dress in layers for cooler evenings

Sturdy walking shoes Wash cloth or scrubby – some hotels don’t provide them Refer to the packing list in your final documents

Dress Code at MonasteriesDress Code at Monasteries

Dress codes are strictly observed in the monasteries. The monasteries will provide

skirts and pants at the entrance If you arrive not wearing proper attire. Women

must wear long skirts and men must wear long pants. Sleeveless attired is not

allowed.

WeatherWeather

Average April temps:Low High

Athens 53F 67FEphesus 48F 66FThessaloniki 50F 70F

Average Precipitation: 9.7 days in Athens, 7 days in Ephesus, 11 days in Thessaloniki

Communicating with HomeCommunicating with Home

Bring a Calling Card or a Pre-paid Phone Card Many U.S. cell phones won’t work in Europe

without a special SIM card (check with your provider) or purchasing an international plan

Be VERY careful about using data if you purchase an international plan. Turn your phone on to Airplane Mode to avoid high charges

Some hotels may have a computer for emailing

What Time Is It?What Time Is It? Greece is 8 hours ahead and Amsterdam is 7 hours ahead of Central

Daylight Time

Bring an alarm clock to wake up; your cell phone clock may not work abroad, and hotel wake-up calls are not always reliable

Electrical ConnectionsElectrical Connections

220 Volts

You’ll need an adapter (plus a converter if your appliance is not dual voltage)

MoneyMoney

Greece - The Euro 1 Euro = $1.32 (approximately)

Turkey – Turkish Lira TRY It’s possible to use foreign

currencies in some places (Euros are best; US dollars OK, too)

1.00 TRY = $0.55 

Money,Money, cont’dcont’d

ATMs prevalent; not all may work with your credit cardATMs prevalent; not all may work with your credit card

Bring some U.S. cash as back-up ($5, $10, $20)Bring some U.S. cash as back-up ($5, $10, $20)

Plan on an average $15-20/day for lunches Plan on an average $15-20/day for lunches

Charge cards may be used in larger stores; otherwise Charge cards may be used in larger stores; otherwise currency is recommendedcurrency is recommended

No Travelers’ Checks – too expensive to cashNo Travelers’ Checks – too expensive to cash

Call your credit card companies before leaving to informCall your credit card companies before leaving to inform them of your travelsthem of your travels

ShoppingShoppingTurkey Alabaster Brass Carpets Ceramics Copper Jewelry Leather Apparel Inlaid Wood Silk

 

Greece Grecian Urns Olive oil products Komboloi (worry beads) Embroidered linens Figurines Jewelry (Hellenic Gold) Leather Apparel Olive oil

Duty Free AllowanceDuty Free Allowance

What is “Duty Free?”

Each traveler is allowed to bring up to $800 of duty free items into the U.S. from a foreign country

General Travel SecurityGeneral Travel Security

Secure your belongings at all times Call your credit card and tell them when/where

you are traveling Make copies of passport, credit cards and keep

separate from originals Use a money belt or passport pouch Travel in groups during evenings

Group Travel CourtesyGroup Travel Courtesy

Advise your host or guide if you need

assistance Rotate seats on the bus Be on time Please & Thank You…..go a long way!

Essential Words to KnowEssential Words to KnowGreece

Good morning kali’me0 ra Good evening kali’spe0 ra Please pa,raka’lo0 Thank you e0 f,xari’sto0

Turkey Good morning günaydın Good evening İyi akşamlar Please lütfen Thank you sağ olun

Cuisine - Common foods include:Cuisine - Common foods include:

Vegetables and fruits Chicken and Lamb Kabobs Fresh salads Olives Baklava Sodas, beer, wine, water

Athens: Herodion HotelAthens: Herodion Hotel

86 air-conditioned guest rooms in the heart of Athens with private bath, TV, in-room tea and coffee, turn-down service, hairdryer, mini bar, in-room safe, and wifi.

Cruise: Louis OlympiaCruise: Louis Olympia

For a description of the ship and its cabins, go to: http://www.fodors.com/cruises/louis-cruises-712308/ships/louis-olympia-712310/

Note: Cabin quality is similar to superior tourist class hotels and smaller than cabins on the mega cruise ships.

Delphi: Apollonia HotelDelphi: Apollonia Hotel

Private bath TV In-room safe

Hairdryers Wi-fi available

Kalambaka: Hotel DivaniKalambaka: Hotel Divani

Indoor and outdoor pools

Sauna, gym Hairdryers in rooms Wifi available for a fee

Thessaloniki: Thessaloniki: Hotel Mediterranean PalaceHotel Mediterranean Palace

111 air-conditioned rooms with private bath, mini bar, satellite TV, in-room safe, direct dial telephone, wifi, and a hair dryer.

Amsterdam: Hotel ChariotAmsterdam: Hotel Chariot Hairdryers in rooms Free wifi Flat screen TV King sized beds Shower and tub Minibar

Departing AthensDeparting Athens

The guide will reconfirm the return flights for travelers ticketed by Group Travel Directors Upon arrival at the airport go the KLM ticket

counter. All bags should be checked through to Amsterdam

Go through security and proceed to the departure gate

Never, never make jokes about security

U.S. Customs and Border U.S. Customs and Border Protection Declaration FormProtection Declaration Form

During your flight complete

the form (front and back) and

sign it. Put it in your passport, as

you’ll need to present both

upon re-entry into the USA.

Upon Arrival in the USAUpon Arrival in the USAYou will go through U.S. Customs upon arrival in

Minneapolis/St Paul.

Before leaving the plane gather all of your belongings.

Proceed to Immigration (U.S. Citizens Line). Retrieve your baggage at Baggage Claim. With your luggage, proceed through U.S.

Customs.

Questions?Questions?

Group Travel Directors Janet Tollund 952-885-2133

jtollund@gtd.org

Janelle Ekstrom952-885-2129

jekstrom@gtd.org

www.gtd.org

Bon Voyage!Bon Voyage!