Passport & Visas

Obtaining correct documentation can be a lengthy process and it is advisable to complete this aspect of travel as soon as possible.

• Check that your passport is valid
• You must have a minimum of six months validity on your passport from your holiday return date
• British passport holders do not require visas in Latin America.
Please note that if you are a British ‘Subject’ rather than ‘Citizen’, visas may be required for certain countries. 


• Most nationals of other European Union countries do not require visas either but you should contact us for the latest information and we will advise you concerning your need for visas. Irish passport holders need visa fo Columbia. It is then your responsibility to obtain all necessary visas before travel. Experience has shown that the process is considerably speeded up if you go in person rather than relying on the post.

• However, if this is too time consuming, below are the addresses of commercial visa agencies which have proven to be helpful in visa applications and the UK Government department for passport renewal:

Thames Consular Services Rapid Visa Service UK PASSPORT AGENCY
Charing Cross Underground 135, Earls Court Rd. Helpline - 0870 521 0410 Anytime
London London Website - www.ukpa.gov.uk
WC2N 4HZ SW5 Application form requests on:
020 8995 2492 020 7373 3026 0901 4700 110 or Fax 0901 4700 120

Or try www.visapassport.com run by Visa & Passport Connection Ltd.

F or a full list of Embassies in the UK Visit the Foreign Office website.

The United Kingdom Passport Service (UKPS) now has a tiered application service. For those who do not require a new passport urgently, there is the standard 2 week ‘check & send’ service available from the UKPS, Post Offices and World Choice UK Ltd. Customers may also apply electronically by the website www.passport.gov.uk or request an application form by calling the hotline 0901 4700 110

For those that require a more rapid service, there is the guaranteed 1 week ‘Fast Track’ service.
(adults £63, children £49).

For those that require their passports urgently (not available for customers applying for a passport for the first time or to replace a lost, stolen or damaged passport), there is the same-day ‘Premium’ service. (adults £78, children £64). For these two services, customers must make an appointment by calling the (24 hr) Adviceline on: 0870 521 0410

Please be advised that as of 26 October 2003, the USA demands that all children, including babies, have their own passports. In addition to this, all citizens of Western European Countries should have machine-readable passports which can be swiped and if these are not held then a US Visa must be applied for. (It is those passports which have been issued by overseas posts which are sometimes not machine-readable). In addition to this, customers holding passports issued on or after 26 October 2005, must have Machine Readable Passports containing a digitalised picture on the details page.

• If you have not been able to obtain the necessary visa, you may be able to do so en route (not possible for the USA), but bear in mind holidays, weekends, opening times of offices, cost of visas (around $25) and the fact that the process can be considerably time consuming.
• Some immigration officials require you to show a return air ticket, if this is not possible it is advisable to get a letter stating the date of return to your country of residence from your consul.
• If you have ever been denied entry to the USA but are simply stopping to change planes, you will still need a full visa to do so. If your nationality requires a US Visa, this will even be necessary for those in transit.
• Ensure that your passport is stamped when crossing borders since the absence of entry and exit visas can cause problems with over-officious border control personnel.
• Photocopy your passport and relevant visas. (It is also worth leaving a copy of your passport at home).
• Take extra passport photos in case you lose your passport and if you still need to obtain visas on arrival.
• Leave your passport in the hotel safety box, you only need carry around a photocopy of your passport and only need your passport if you are changing travellers’ cheques. Loss of your passport is time consuming and without a photocopy or number, further delays can occur.

Travel insurance

All clients travelling on our tours must have appropriate insurance.

VELOSO TOURS TRAVEL INSURANCE Travel insurance is ideally suited to the holidays that we arrange. The insurance is arranged through Campbell Irvine Ltd and underwritten by AXA Insurance UK Plc, providing cover for baggage and personal effects, personal money, personal accident, cancellation, medical expenses, hospital benefit, personal liability, travel delay, missed departure and legal expenses.

Please contact us and we will be pleased to send you the full insurance cover details.

Airports in the UK

We offer a number of suggestions for an easier journey to and from the airport. These services are available from all major airports in the UK.

Chauffeur Driven Airport Transfers
The most convenient and comfortable way to travel between home and the airport is to be collected by your chauffeur, taken straight to the airport and be met at the airport to take you home on your return.
Prices from £80 return per car.
- Punctual pick-ups in smart saloon cars, all with mobile phone and space for 4 adults and 3 suitcases
- Uniformed professional chauffeurs. Help with luggage. 24 hours a day, 365 days a year
Please call us on 020-8762 0616 for further information, prices and reservations

Parking at the Airport
If you would like to leave your car at the airport, we offer a car park that has 24-hour security and frequent transport to the terminals. We can also offer any time beyond the initial two weeks as FREE PARKING (at London Heathrow).

Meet & Greet Parking
A driver will meet you at the airport terminal, and take your car to the secure car park near the airport. On your return, the driver and your car will be waiting for you outside the terminal ready for you to continue your journey home.
(Available at Gatwick, Heathrow, Stansted, Manchester, Birmingham, Edinburgh and Glasgow).

Airport Executive Lounges
We recommend that you check-in early and you can then wait for your flight in the tranquillity and comfort of an executive lounge for only £25.00 at Heathrow, away from the hustle and bustle of the airport. An announcement will inform you of your departure gate and when the flight is ready for boarding.

For further Information & Reservations concerning parking and lounges call “BCP” – 0870 013 4580 or their website - www.bcponline.co.uk

Airport Hotels
If your flight departs early in the morning or returns late at night, it can be very convenient to stay overnight at a nearby hotel. We are happy to provide further information about these services.

Hotels with Coach Travel
When you choose to stay at an airport hotel, you can also purchase your train or coach tickets to travel from your home town to the airport and back. We are happy to provide further information about these services.

Airport Hotels with Holiday Parking
Many hotels by the airport offer free or reduced rate parking whilst you are away, if you stay overnight before departure. We are happy to provide further information about these services.

For further Information & Hotel Reservations call “ABC” - 0800 41 41 41 / 0870 844 4100
AIRPORT INFORMATION IN THE UK or BAA AIRPORTS: - WWW.BAA.CO.UK

Health

Fitness
For tours covering high altitude areas, it is wise to get in a good amount of exercise before travelling. The rarefied air can initially make you feel weak, and the fitter you are the quicker you acclimatise.
Tours that involve trekking require you to be fit and healthy. It is a good idea to spend a few weekends building up your stamina; this will help you enjoy the treks to the full.

Insurance
It is vital that you take out health insurance that will enable you to be treated in private clinics, which can prove to be very costly. Many of the public hospitals are in pretty poor condition, whereas the private clinics offer a high standard of health care.

Basics
- Standards of safety and sanitation in some areas are well below par and one should be aware and take the necessary precautions, paying special attention to basic hygiene.
- It is a good idea to bring your own medical kit although it is not necessary to buy a huge amount of medicine ‘just in case’. There are plenty of well-stocked pharmacies.
- Have a dental check-up before travelling, toothache is bad enough but is crippling at altitude.
- Take a prescription for extra glasses.
- If you suffer from any chronic illness, check with your doctor and if possible obtain a letter explaining your disability, preferably translated into Spanish (Portuguese if travelling in Brazil).
- To avoid problems at customs, keep medicines in their original, labelled containers.

Vaccinations
It is advisable to start your vaccination programme as soon as possible since some require more than one dose and a longer period of time is needed to complete the programme.
You will need to take your vaccination card completed, signed and stamped with you on holiday.
Advice and vaccinations change rapidly as do affected areas within Latin America. Your GP may need time to acquire some of the following and the Yellow Fever vaccination is administered at designated centres only. A recent survey has shown that one in five people travelling to ‘at risk’ destinations is going without any vaccinations

Health & vaccination information can be found on:

British Airways Travel Clinics: 020 7439 9584, www.britishairways.com/travelclinics
Masta: 0870 606 2782, www.masta.org
International Travel Healthline: www.travelhealthline.com/cicc_supp.html
Fit For Travel: www.fitfortravel.scot.nhs.uk
National Centre for Infectious Diseases: www.cdc.gov/travel/index.htm
Foreign Office: www.knowbeforeyougo.co.uk
Department of Health: www.doh.gov.uk
Hospital for Tropical Diseases - Vaccination at Mortimer Market Centre, Capper Street, London WC1
(nearest Tube stations, Warren Street or Goodge Street) - 020-7388 9600 for appointments.
Tropical Health Advice Line, Pre-recorded message - 09050 567733 (University Hospital 0207-387 9300)

 

Travel Clothing and What to pack

Rucksacks & suitcases Remember: Try to travel light
A good suitcase will suffice where porters and our ground agents will take care of transporting your luggage every step of the way.
However if you do not have airport transfers arranged or you taking buses or plan to carry your luggage at times, a rucksack is easier to carry than a suitcase
For clients on a tour that involves trekking, it is important to buy a good rucksack with hip straps and a strong frame.
Please remember to tag all your bags, luggage and daypack with the Veloso Tours LUGGAGE LABELS, it helps to identify you to guides and transfer staff. We are happy to provide additional labels. Write our ground agent or / and hotel contact details.

Daypack
The daypack should contain everything you need for a day’s travel since you will not always have access to your main pack during the day’s excursions and travelling. (20-25 litres is recommended).
Most important items will include: water bottle (if trekking the ‘Platypus’ range is highly recommended as these bottles are collapsible and can also be used with a ‘hoser’ tube through which you have direct access to the water), camera, extra films, suntan cream, insect repellent, waterproofs, toilet paper.

Clothing
Pack your bag leaving space for any purchases made en route. This is not only for your own comfort, but it is far easier to keep track of one bag than a collection of smaller ones and thus reduce the chance of theft.

- Comfortable trainers or walking shoes/boots with ankle support and water protection if it is wet under foot.
- Walking boots should be well worn in and not brand new.
- Money belt
A fresh set of clothes for each day is not necessary as laundry services are available at most of the hotels en route, and all of the First Class hotels.

As a general idea:
• Long sleeved sweatshirts/ t-shirts, loose fitting.
• Trousers, loose fitting, more comfortable on long journeys
• Dress / skirt / shorts
• Tracksuit or night wear
• Spare pair of footwear, either pumps or sandals.
• Flip-flops or plastic sandals for use in the shower and for Galapagos ‘wet landings’.
• Waterproof - preferably not a plastic cagoul.
• Hat or head scarf
• Torch (‘Maglite’s’ are good and cut down on weight. ‘Petzl’s’ (head torches) are good for those trekking who want their hands free)
• Pen, notebook
• Jacket (with pockets-preferably on the inside)
• Swimming trunks/costumes (NO topless sunbathing anywhere in Latin America, Amazon or cruises)
• Towel (or sarong), although provided at most hotels, it can be useful for some trips (beach, pool, Inca Trail)
• First Aid kit
• Plastic bags to keep things separate and dry (‘ziplok’ bags are particularly useful for smaller items).
• Sunglasses
• Deal with variable temperatures, cold and hot, by taking light clothing and wearing it in LAYERS. You can then add layers of clothing when it is cold or remove items of clothing when it is warmer.

Additional suggestions:
• Books
• Binoculars
• Playing cards/games
• Mask, snorkel & fins - your own set will always be a better fit than equipment hired locally
• Travel pillow
• Shoe laces or string
• Swiss army pen knife
• Walking stick, such as a ‘Leki’
In mosquito-ridden areas, long sleeved tops and trousers are advisable, and it is wise not to pack your best clothes since some will invariably get damaged in the hotel laundry, or shrunk, or dyed.

On your international flight out to Latin America, pack your essentials (one change of clothes, personal items, medications, toiletries) in your hand luggage in case your main suitcase / rucksack is delayed.

For travel clothing and accessories: