WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW

Your Questions, Answered

DO I NEED TRAVEL INSURANCE?

Check with your physician before traveling overseas and understand what health care you may need during your trip. Your health insurance plan may not provide coverage overseas. We strongly recommend supplemental medical insurance and medical evacuation plans. Remember that U.S. Medicare / Medicaid does not provide coverage overseas. Private health insurance plans may not cover claims. If they do, they may require you to pay costs directly before getting reimbursed. The Heart of Culture,LLC does require travelers to purchase their own travel insurance. Travel insurance is not only required by us, but also may be required by some countries. It is always a good idea to insure your travel investment. Although all policies are different, travel insurance usually covers most, or some of the following: lost luggage, delay or cancelations, medical emergencies, COVID, and so much more. Some travel insurance policies even cover cancel for any reason and pre-existing conditions if you purchase your insurance during a specified time period after your deposit for travel is given. Please read your policy carefully to understand your coverage. When in doubt, ask the provider to clarify.

HOW DO I KNOW WHICH TRIP IS RIGHT FOR ME?

Our trips are usually comfortable and suitable for all ages. Please keep in mind that although we do our best to keep our travelers comfortable, many of our trips involve a lot of walking (sometimes brisk speeds), standing, climbing of stairs or steep streets, and uneven terrain.

HOW DO I FIND OUT ABOUT VISA and PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS?

Each country will have their own visa requirements depending on the country which issued your passport. We highly recommend that you research the visa requirements prior to booking your trip. Although we will follow up with you and guide you as much as we can, it is the responsibility of the traveler to inquire and process your visa and pay the required fees with the proper authorities of the country you are visiting. We encourage you to visit. https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel.html for more information. Please note that visas for travel to Europe FOR NON-USA CITIZENS are in extremely high demand. We recommend appointments are made at least 5 months in advance. The Heart of Culture is not responsible for visas not being obtained in a timely manner. Third party providers such as but not limited to airlines, cruise lines, hotels, and tour operators, will not issue refunds for reasons of visas/travel documents. "Cancel for any reason" travel insurance policies must be purchased according to their timeline restrictions and do not usually cover 100% of your trip investment.

PASSPORTS : Some countries require a 6, 3, or 1 month validity on you passport. Airlines will not let you board on an international flight if the country of destination requirement of passport validity is not met. We always advise to have minimum 6 months validity from time of return. Even if it is not required, we want to be on the safe side. This rule is in place in case you must remain in the country for an extended period of time. Even a small delay with a short validity on your passport will cause disruptions and complications.

IMPORTANT: Passport may take a few months to process. We highly recommend you keep your passport valid at all times and be vigilent of your expiration date.

Does your company require COVID vaccinations to travel?

We do not require any vaccinations or tests to travel with us at this time, unless the country of destination requires it. Travel seems to have reverted back to pre-COVID regulations but we will still advise our travelers if there are any country requirements for vaccinations or tests still being used. Of course, we will always be on the look out for this, but it is also the travelers responsibility to research as well. Please visit Travel.State.gov for more info. You may also visit each country's travel authority web page, and the CDC Travel advisory website. We are not responsible for any passenger that is denied entry due to not adhering to the country's policy. TRAVEL INSURANCE IS REQUIRED TO TRAVEL WITH THE HEART OF CULTURE, LLC.

How many travelers attend each trip?

If the trip is labeled as "small group" it will be minimum 10 to maximum 20 travelers . Our trips not labeled small group, will host between 21-50 travelers.

How does your payment plan work?

Travelers may make monthly payments to The Heart of Culture, LLC via credit card (automated payments) depending on when your initial deposit is given. The full trip must be paid 45 days prior to departure. Therefore, your payment from the time of deposit may be broken into 4, 3, or 2 payments depending on how close the departure date is . We can custom design this for you. If you would like another option to have more time to pay, we have recently partnered with UPlift which will create a unique payment plan for you according to your application and credit.

How much luggage should I take and what should I pack ?

The weather can definitley make a big difference in your packing. Jackets and sweaters tend to take up more room. Will you have fancy dinners or events to attend requiring fancier clothing? It really depends on your destination and type of trip . We really recommend traveling light whenever possible. For example, just take a carry-on. Many hotels have laundry service as well. Try to keep it simple. It is easier to move around with smaller luggage, especially in Europe when you board trains or when we bus between cities. We usually give you a recommended "what to pack" list. Although we can't help you pack, we can sure guide you on what you will need or what will make your trip more comfortable. Also keep in mind that the attire in countries may change depending on their culture. For example, when traveling to places of religious worship, it is required to have your shoulders, knees, and at times, your hair covered. We are very respectful of cultures and their customs when traveling, therefore, travelers will know before hand of any requirements for dress.

Do you include some free time during tours ?

We do like to try to include free time on trips. We understand that it is very nice to just do your own thing. We will give you recommendations on what you can do on your free time, but after all, it is your time. However, there are some trips that are shorter and we do want you to see as much as possible when you are there, so you will have minimal free time, but enough time to shop, dine, and explore a little on your own. Some trips we will have free in between days so you can relax. It really depends on the destination and how many days we are there.