138|139What does my trip include?Coach transport, ferry crossings, accommodation, meals as specified, and activities & extras such as local city guides as specified depending on your trip. Services of a Trip Leader and Driver plus on our EuroClub the services of an 'On Site Chef' in Lauterbrunnen, Venice and Rome, and on our Scandinavian and EuroCamping trips an 'On Road Chef'.What's not included?Your spending money, visas, personal travel insurance, medical fees, cost of optional activities & excursions, entrance fees to the various museums and sights visited (unless specified in the What's Included section), flights, departure taxes, port taxes for Croatia sailing.How many other people will be on the trip?Group sizes vary. As a guideline, an average trip will have about 35 passengers on board. However, the coaches are often full - especially in high season. Minimum numbers would not normally be below 20 passengers. On our Explorer Series, the average is 20 although there can be up to 30.Do I need to change money before I leave?We recommend that you change approximately ?100 in cash before departure and approximately ?30 into Swiss Francs (if your trip goes through Switzerland). This will cover you for spending money until you have the chance to change more or find an ATM. Do I need Travel Insurance?Yes. Travel insurance is compulsory on all our trips. Topdeck or your travel agent can arrange a policy for you at the time of booking. Your insurance policy must cover you for cancellation, liability, curtailment, loss of money, loss or damage to baggage or personal belongings and medical insurance including repatriation costs. You MUST bring your policy with you on your trip. If you do not have one at the start of the trip you will be required to purchase a policy. What visas will I need?Obtaining correct visas is your own responsibility. Not having correct visas could mean you missing out on part or all of your trip. Please refer to the visa section on our website (which should be used as a guide only) or ask your Travel Agent. Then, double check with the individual embassies before you depart, remembering that visa requirements can change at short notice. For most of the countries where visas are required, it is NOT possible to obtain the visa whilst on the trip and some visas take 3-4 weeks to obtain. Some trips require a multiple entry visa for some countries, so check your itinerary carefully. For trips going to Russia, Topdeck will provide an invitation letter that you MUST have to obtain your visa.How do EuroHotel trips work? On our EuroHotel trips you will be staying in a range of 2 star & 3 star hotels, on a twin share/double basis with a 5% reduction for triple share. We have tried to select hotels that display the local character of the countries we visit and have avoided multi-national chain hotels. We have also tried to select hotels as centrally located as possible. Please bear in mind that European hotel rooms may be smaller than you may be used to for similar standard hotels in Australia, New Zealand, North America or Asia.How do EuroClub trips work? On our EuroClub trips you will be sleeping in multi-share accommodation with 2 to 4 persons of the same sex sharing. The Rhine Valley castle however has a variety of room sizes accommodating from 4 to 10. In certain hostels during peak season, some rooms may be larger depending on availability. The accommodation ranges from hostels and gasthofs to bungalows in some of Europe's best campsites. There are also some hotel upgrades on a number of trips.How do EuroCamping trips work?On our EuroCamping trips you will be sleeping in dome-style tents on a twin-share basis. In some parts of Europe you will receive a free hotel or hostel upgrade. Our tents are very roomy and easy to put up and your crew will demonstrate this at the start of your trip. Air mattresses are supplied but you will need to bring a sleeping bag. On all trips we carry our own spacious cook tent. All cutlery and eating utensils are supplied. Our 'On Road Chefs' will appreciate any assistance you may care to offer with meal preparation. How do Explorer trips work?Our Explorer Trips concentrate on Regional Europe rather than 'Round Europe Trips' and are so designed to give you an in depth insight into the countries visited. The group size is smaller (average is 20), but group sizes will vary between 10 and 30. Transportation is by coach plus we use local ferries in Greece and traditional motor/sailors on our Croatian sailing program. Accommodation on other Explorer programs is on a twin, double and triple share basis primarily using 3 star hotels. frequently asked questionsTrips departing from LondonCheck in for most trips departing from London is at 6.30am and we usually return back to London between 6.30pm and 8.30pm. Please check your itinerary carefully for exact details.For eurohotelUmi Hotel: 16 Leinster Square, Bayswater, London, W2 4PR (Closest London Underground stops: Bayswater or Queensway)For euroclub & eurocampingClink 78 Hostel: 78 Kings Cross Road, London, WC1X 9QG (Closest London Underground stop: King's Cross St. Pancras)Join in Paris or Amsterdam OptionIf it is more convenient, you can join your trip in Paris or Amsterdam (if it is the first stop of your trip). You must inform us or your agent at the time of booking so we know when you will be joining the trip. Trips that do not start in LondonMany trips start at various other European cities and some join trips already running. Please check your itinerary carefully for the joining point and time you should arrive so you can book your flights accordingly.

height 70cmdepth 27cmwidth 45cmMax Weight = 44lbs/20kgsHow much luggage am I allowed?Each person is allowed 1 item of standard size luggage (backpacks only on a EuroCamping trip) plus a day pack (and sleeping bag if on selected EuroClub or all EuroCamping trips). The maximum weight of your main bag must not exceed 44 lbs/20 kg. Size must not exceed 70cm x 45cm x 25cm. Due to the strict weight regulations for coaches in Europe, passengers whose luggage exceeds 44 lbs/20 kgs will be asked to off load the excess on the departure morning. What will I need to bring with me?This depends on the type of trip you choose. Sleeping bags are a necessity on some EuroClub and on all EuroCamping trips. A common problem is people bringing too many things! Please refer to our suggested clothing list in the pre-departure information which you can download from our website. Oh, and don't forget your camera, passport, visas and a positive attitude! If you suffer from any medical condition please bring extra supplies of medication as it could be difficult to find in Europe.What sort of people will be on the trip?Our travellers come from all over the world and are aged between 18 and 39. Like you, they will be up for a great travel experience and for meeting like-minded travellers. Roughly half of our passengers travel on their own. What about spending money? Naturally everybody's spending varies. There are many souvenirs to be bought and a great social scene should you wish to join in! Many of your meals (including many lunches on EuroClub & EuroCamping trips) are included, so this really just leaves the occasional meal and your personal spending to budget for. Throughout the trip, your Trip Leader will also inform you of optional activities which you can participate in, such as a gondola ride in Venice or an excursion up the Jungfrau Mountain in Switzerland. For a more detailed list and price guideline please refer to your personal itinerary. Most people budget on ?60 per day including optional activities and some souvenirs.What if i'm a smoker?Smoking is not permitted on our coaches; however, we stop regularly while travelling from place to place. Smoking is not permitted in most accommodation, including our tents.How does the Food Fund work?On all EuroClub and EuroCamping trips a compulsory Food Fund is shown separately on each trip page. This is paid at the time of booking. Unlike other companies, in addition to the listed breakfasts and dinners, Topdeck also includes many lunches on travelling days whilst on your trip (EuroClub & EuroCamping trips only). This means you don't have to buy lunch at expensive motorway service stations which gives you more money to spend on other things. Your Food Fund includes many meals at local restaurants giving you the opportunity to sample the local cuisine as you explore Europe. Water is fine to drink in central Europe; however, bottled water should be purchased in Greece, Turkey, Morocco and many Eastern Europe countries.How does Flotilla Sailing work?You sail the waters around Corfu Island on your very own six berth flotilla yachts. You are put into groups of six based on sailing experience, one in each group will be the Captain and another will be the First Mate. There is a skipper on the lead boat but you sail your own boats. There are sailing and swim stops during the day and each evening you dock in a different village where you can go ashore for dinner in a local taverna. Two of the three dinners are included. You are also provided with a 'sailing pack' per boat which includes food for breakfasts and lunches which you make yourselves on the boats. You sleep onboard the boats - please bring your own sleeping sheet or sleeping bag as no linen is provided. What if i'm on a special diet?if you have special dietary requirements e.g. vegetarian or vegan, we will make every endeavour to cater for your specific needs as long as you tell us or your agent when you book. Unfortunately in some places in Europe it is not possible to obtain certain special foods, and we cannot guarantee the variety of foods available when eating out. Our 'On Road/Site Chefs' will put every effort into catering for your specific needs. There are some diets we are unable to cater for such as religious diets, so if you are unsure please call us or ask your travel agent.When will I get more info about my trip?Topdeck issues e-docs which will be emailed to you 6 weeks prior to your trip departing, provided full payment has been received. These include your detailed day-to-day itinerary and any vouchers you need for pre and post trip accommodation. In addition to this, you MUST read the detailed pre-departure information relevant to your trip. This can be downloaded at any time from the trip page on our website. If you would like a copy posted to you, please contact your local Topdeck office or travel agent. The pre-departure document contains a number of important points that you should be aware of. Please take the time to download and read it.How do I claim my FRE global sim card?To redeem your SIM card visit - www.topdeck.ekit.com/freesim - and use your Topdeck "Booking Reference". Please apply for your SIM card at least 10 days before you travel to ensure it arrives before you depart your home country. All SIM cards are posted to the address supplied when applying and you cannot collect these on the coach or from the Trip Leader. Please note some call credit and shipping fees apply. How much time will I spend on the coach?We try to spend as little time on the coach as possible so that you have more time to enjoy the places you visit. Please remember though that Europe is a large place and it takes time to get around! On driving days between cities you will be on the coach during the day, stopping off to visit places of interest where possible. Strict driving rules apply in Europe that limit the maximum number of hours your Driver can drive each day. They also limit the maximum number of days that can be driven before a day off must be taken. We have worked hard to make sure this does not affect your trip, but in some cities it means we will use public transport. The cost for this is included in your trip price and your Trip Leader will show you how to get around like the locals. Will I be contactable whilst on my trip?As well as having regular internet access throughout Europe, if someone needs to contact you in the case of an emergency, the Topdeck Head Office in London will be able to get in touch with your Trip Leader. Do I need a sleeping bag?A sleeping bag is an essential item on some EuroClub and on all EuroCamping trips. Please refer to your pre-trip documentation. Keep up to date...Please check the Topdeck website, www.topdeck.travel before you travel for the most up to date information.Still got some questions? Why not get in touch with some past Topdeck passengers who've done it before. To find out more head to www.topdeck.travel/community