+ Who can join a Bavaria & Beyond tour?

Anyone! While our pre-arranged group tours are designed with the retiree traveler in mind, anyone over the age of 16 is welcome to join us on these exciting trips. Our self-guided, small group, and large group private tours can be arranged for travelers of all ages.

+ Why are your prices listed in Euros and not US Dollars?

Being a small privately owned company we are unable to bear the risk/reward of currency fluctuations. All of our financial obligations are in Euros making it safer to list prices and accept payment in Euros. While payments are made in Euro through our safe and secure payment system, the USD equivalent is deducted from the guests’ account.

Here you can see the current USD to Euro exchange rate: https://www.xe.com/de/currencyconverter/convert/?Amount=1&From=EUR&To=USD

+ How can I pay for the tour package?

All payment transactions are made through our safe and secure online payment system. Here we are able to accept payments made with Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. Detailed information regarding the payment process is provided at the time of booking. Alternative payment methods can be organized upon request but may result in additional fees.

+ What is a "single supplement"?

Our packages are priced per person based off of double occupancy accommodations. The single supplement is an additional fee that lets us offer private accommodations for individuals traveling on their own. The single supplement amount varies depending on the package booked and can be found on each tour's webpage.

+ How does the booking process work?

After guests have submitted their reservation request via our online form at https://bavariaandbeyond.com/reservations, we will confirm availability and request the necessary non-refundable tour deposit be made. Upon receiving the tour deposit, we will contact guests with confirmation of their reservation and provide a receipt for the transaction. Final tour payment may be submitted from reservation until the final payment due date mentioned in your confirmation email. Please note, confirmed reservations do not ensure that the tour is a go unless otherwise noted.

+ When will tours be confirmed or canceled?

Once the minimum number of participants has been reached we will contact guests confirming the tour as a GO. While we do our best to confirm tours as soon as possible, tours will be either confirmed or canceled 60 days prior to arrival at the very latest. Most tours are confirmed months prior to the scheduled arrival date. In the event that a tour has to be cancelled due to lack of interest, guests will be refunded in full.

+ Why are deposits non-refundable?

Once a reservation has been confirmed we get right to work making preparations on your behalf. Reservations for accommodations and excursions often require non-refundable deposits. Furthermore, every spot reserved is one less spot we can sell. If guests decide to cancel, we not only lose the time and money invested in preparing their tour, but also the possibility of offering that spot to other interested parties.

+ When can guests make flight arrangements?

Once a tour has been confirmed, guests will be notified of the airport meeting spot and time on arrival day. Flights should not be booked prior to receiving tour confirmation unless they plan on traveling even if the tour does not take place. Please note, airport transfers are booked for the group in advance and cannot be adjusted. Information regarding alternatives for guests with delayed flights or early departures will be provided leading up to the tour.

+ Are flights included in the tour price?

No. Unfortunately, we are not able to book flights on behalf of guests and are therefore not included in the package price. To get an idea of flight costs, we recommend visiting any major flight arrangement platform such as Skyscanner.com, Expedia.com, or Kayak.com. For our private group tours we may be able to provide assistance in arranging group flights.

+ Is it possible to make a “waitlist” booking for sold out tours?

Absolutely. We encourage guests interested in one of our sold out tours to make a non-binding waitlist reservation. In the event that space should become available or a similar itinerary be offered, guests will be notified and given the opportunity to sign-up before we release spots to the general public.

+ What is the best way to exchange and travel with money in Europe?

• ATMs are the easiest and most cost effective way to obtain the local currencies in Europe. Many U.S. banks have very reasonable international ATM fees. The next ATM is usually just around the corner, making it easy to access money as needed. If you will be using an ATM card to access money, please make sure your credit or debit card has the "smart chip" as it is required for many ATMs and credit card machines in Europe. Please be sure to notify your bank of your travel plans prior to departure to avoid any security restrictions.

• Another great option for tech-savvy travelers are currency cards such as the Money Card offered by TravelEx and other providers (https://www.travelex.com/travel-money-card). Currency Cards allow guests to purchase various currencies and then withdraw those funds from most ATMs abroad with little to no transaction fee.

• While credit cards are becoming more prevalent in Europe, many merchants and vendors only accept cash payments. We encourage travelers who prefer paying with credit cards to keep a little spending money on them just in case cards are not accepted.

• Currency exchange services are limited and expensive. The most conveniently located currency exchange office will be at the airport upon arrival. Most European banks no longer offer currency exchange services making it difficult to exchange money outside of airports and major tourist destinations. Even here, while most offices claim to be “commission free” they are certainly there to turn a profit and hide fees in the poor exchange rates. A similar policy applies to travelers cheques, which are also difficult to exchange outside of airports and major destinations.

+ How much luggage am I allowed to bring?

To ensure space for all luggage, we kindly ask that guests limit their number of suitcases to 1 large and 1 carry-on sized suitcase. Should you require more luggage, just let us know and we will do our best to accommodate. Backpacks, handbags, and other small items are no need for concern and may be brought on board the bus and stowed overhead if desired.

+ What should I pack?

Packing recommendations vary from tour to tour depending on the itinerary length and destinations visited. More details regarding packing suggestions will be provided via email leading up to each tour.

+ Is there free Wifi at the hotels?

All tour accommodations include free wifi internet at the hotel.

+ In what language are tours given?

Your tour operators are native English speakers. They will be with you throughout your European vacation giving commentary and are happy to assist with any translations should the need arise. We also partner with local english speaking guides on select tours to give a deeper understanding of historical and cultural knowledge.

How many travelers are on a tour? Our pre-arranged group tours require a minimum of 20 guests for tours to be confirmed a GO. We can accept up to 24 reservations on most tours allowing 1 pair of seats on the bus for each booking. On average, our groups consist of around thirty-some travelers with 2 guides on all excursions plus an additional local guide on select tours.

+ How much walking is required?

All our tours require a fair amount of walking and mobility. Our leisurely pace is geared towards the retiree traveler. Europe has quaint but very antiquated infrastructure in many of the Old Towns we visit. Much of it, unfortunately, is not handicapped accessible. We do try to make accommodations, but please beware that some tours, or parts of tours, are not feasible without a certain amount of mobility. If you think this may be a problem, please contact us directly and we will do our best to accommodate. Our Leisure Style and Private Tours are a great option for guests with mobility concerns.

+ What is included in a Bavaria & Beyond tour package?

Our package vacations include airport transfer at the designated times, hotel accommodations with a daily breakfast, guided excursions and pre-arranged entry fees noted in the itinerary, welcome drinks upon arrival, dinner receptions at the start and end of each tour along with a memories video commemorating your trip. Please note, some tours may include additional or alternative offerings as noted in the trip itinerary. Private tour packages are tailored to each group with the package details listed at the time of booking.

+ Can you accommodate my dietary restrictions?

Prior to the tour's arrival date, we contact all guests requesting notification of any dietary restrictions allowing us to ensure the proper arrangements are made. During group meals we will do our best to ensure there are options available that lie within guests dietary restrictions. While we are happy to provide assistance, guests are responsible for overseeing their own allergies and dietary restrictions.

+ Can I take care of laundry on tour?

Many of our hotels offer laundry services to guests for a fee. Pricing varies greatly depending on the provider and can be reasonably priced or quite expensive. Most of our tours include stays near laundry facilities at some point during the tour and your guides are happy to provide you with more information during your stay.

+ What if there’s an emergency on tour?

The safety and well-being of our guests is our highest priority. Regardless of the situation that may arise, guests can rest assured that they are in safe hands. Whether it be a medical emergency or unexpected event, experienced guides will ensure guests are taken care of throughout their travels. With two guides on each tour, we are able to be even more personable and accommodating than any tour company around!