Trips for Knitters Cancellation Policy
- The $500 per-person non-refundable deposit is just that: NON-REFUNDABLE. This reflects our cost of booking and preparing your trip.
- All Cancellation must be in writing. E-mail is acceptable.
- Cancellations within 60 days of start date of event may result in a partial refund only if the space is filled.
- There is no refund for cancellations less than 30 days prior to the start date of event.
A deposit of $500.00 is paid upon booking, as a confirmation of your participation to the trip.
Then remaining balance of the trip should be paid no later than 3 months before departure.
Failure to pay in the delays imparted will result in the participant being dismissed from the tour. The deposit will not be refunded.
Trips for Knitters advises that all participants protect their trip investment by purchasing an accredited travel insurance protection plan that will cover trip interruption and trip cancellation.
Trips for Knitters is not responsible for any baggage or personal effects of any individual participating in the trips arranged by Trips for Knitters. Individual travelers are responsible for purchasing a travel insurance policy that will cover some of the expenses associated with the loss of luggage or personal effects.
Trips for Knitters encourages participants to ensure they have adequate medical insurance for the period of travel, and if outside the US, that participants purchase insurance to cover a medical incident in an international setting, including medical evacuation. Trips for Knitters is not responsible for procuring or providing medical care and in no way responsible for the cost of such care and associated expenses such as medications or medical supplies.
It is recommended that any participant with physical limitations or a medical condition that may predispose them to needing assistance as a result of the stress of travel bring a travel companion.
Trips for Knitters, sub-contractors, or rental homeowners assume no responsibility or liability for any claim of damages, expenses, injury, delay, inconvenience, loss or damage to person or property, or additional costs resulting directly or indirectly from causes that include, but are not limited to, acts of government, fire, theft, delays, cancellations, weather, vehicle traffic, strikes, illness or accident incurred in any manner including transportation by plane, bus, car, van, taxi, train, boat, or other conveyance.
Trips for Knitters reserves the right to cancel any trip when a minimum number of participants is not met, when a natural or other disaster indicates travel is not safe, or when Trips for Knitters deems that a trip cannot take place due to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances at Trips for Knitters. In the event of a cancellation, participants will be provided sufficient documentation to pursue claims with travel insurance carriers. Reimbursement may be available from Trips for Knitters, depending on the specific circumstances.
We do not assume responsibility for any loss, damage, accident, injury, sickness, change of schedule or other services, due to weather, strike, negligence, natural disasters, pandemic, war or any other cause beyond our control.
We really don’t want anyone to get COVID while on the trip. It could mean quarantining and delay further travel or your trip home. We’ll all be places where tourists are and we have no idea of their vaccination or illness status.
COVID PRECAUTIONS
1) minimize exposure in the month before travel (wear mask, social distance, avoid indoor crowded spaces)
2) get the new booster before travel
3) test no more than 3 days prior to departure.
if negative, proceed with travel.
if positive, seek medical attention and advice regarding travel
4) pack home tests
5) take test if any symptoms during the trip
if negative, continue to enjoy the trip
if positive, seek medical attention and advice regarding quarantine
if positive, the rest of the group will test
TESTING POSITIVE / QUARANTINE
Should the need for quarantine arise, we’ll do everything possible to keep you comfortable during our week stay.
This is important: Should anyone become COVID positive, it is your responsibility to obtain health care, if necessary. You are also responsible for quarantine beyond the time of the trip. Please familiarize yourself with the protocol for those testing positive in the area of the trip.
WEARING MASKS
While traveling, please wear a mask in airports, on plane and on public transportation. This will help ensure that we meet up with the best possible chance of not bringing COVID to the group.
Traveling can be exhausting, especially with longer layovers and fewer non-stop flights. Travel is stressful and we are exposed to a variety of germs packed in with other travelers.
Before the Trip
Of course, it’s best to enjoy a healthy lifestyle all the time, but it’s especially important before we travel to boost our immune system by eating healthy foods, rich in antioxidants. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains. Avoid alcohol the few days before travel, as well as those foods that increase stress: sugar, soft drinks, excess caffeine, fats and junk food. Get plenty of rest.
Avoid excess salt for a couple of days before travel to minimize swelling in your feet and ankles while traveling. To do this, be especially careful eating out. If you do get extra sodium, counter with lots of water. One year I stopped at a favorite Indian restaurant on the way to the airport. I could hardly walk when I got to Rome. Never again.
Another suggestion to help with jet lag is to start adjusting before travel by going to bed earlier and getting up earlier, moving the time a few minutes each day to get closer to the time at the destination. So, from the East Coast, USA, it’s six hours earlier than Italy. I don’t want to go to bed at 4pm instead of 10, but I could move toward 9, then even 8. That takes care of two hours.
On the Plane
Move: Move around during the flight as possible. Flex ankles and toes in your seat. There’s lots of info online on this topic. Anti embolism/pressure stockings may be appropriate, depending on your needs. Drink lots of fluids. It will get you out of your seat and help reduce swelling. If you have a layover, walk around in the airport to restore circulation.
Sleep: To help with sleep, some people use melatonin, a natural enzyme produced by our body to help regulate systems. Tablets can be purchased in a drug store vitamin section. Research doses and use before buying and using. A melatonin tablet on the plane can help induce sleep on an overnight flight. This may not be for everyone and should only be used if the flight is seven hours or longer or you may feel groggy
on arrival. I can’t speak to pharmaceutical sleep aids, but if you are familiar, this might help too. Avoid the stimulation of TV and light from the back of the seat monitor. Avoid coffee and alcohol.
Germs: I wear a mouth/nose mask on the plane in the hopes that I am not breathing in germs I don’t want. It’s not particularly attractive, but I can also use that factor to get an annoying seat mate to move or leave me alone. Wash your hands often and try to avoid touching anything on the plane or in the airport. This is one time I use an anti-microbial hand gel … often. There’s a reason the flight attendants wear gloves!
On arrival: To help support yourself as you adjust to new time zones, try to get out in daylight for a walk. The body senses the time of day and begins adjusting. Again, avoid the foods and drinks that tend to stress our bodies and go for the healthier choices. That said, you will be in a wonderful place with great food options, so enjoy a glass of wine and some delicious food…in moderation. Try to stay up until your usual bedtime and avoid napping.
Suggestions from a husband who has traveled to knitting events…
- Remember this is her trip with other knitters and you are NOT the focal point of her attention! It’s about the knitting and the connections with others.
- If you are here because you need the getaway from the rat race of business or home and can use a week of “by yourself time” to chill out, this is your opportunity to take advantage of being in the background and enjoy your quiet time.
- Do not make a nuisance of yourself and hang around the knitters, except at meal times. Can you imagine your spouse joining you and your buddies watching sports or playing card games?
- Bring plenty of books to read and necessary electronic devices to keep in touch with the world.
- Do a lot of walking and exploring on your own to exercise.
- Do research before you leave home to find out about the area. if you want to do side trips on your own during the day.
- She’ll really love your for your patience and ability to participate appropriately in this event.
Travel Insurance: Two Kinds
Travel insurance protects your investment in the trip. It can be confusing to figure out what kind of policy to purchase and where to purchase it. We all hope we never need it and chances are you won’t, but it’s a good idea to be covered.
There are two types of insurance to consider: travel and trip cancellation/interruption.
Check with your health insurer to see if they cover international medical bills. If not, look for a policy that includes travel health coverage. This should include medical treatment and emergency evacuation. The latter is what will be very expensive.
You also want coverage in the event a last-minute unforeseen health emergency prevents you from traveling or interrupts your travel. This is trip cancellation insurance. Purchase coverage for 100% of your trip costs: airfare, Trips for Knitters fee, and any other expenses such as pre-booked hotel and lodging on either end of the Trips for Knitters portion.
If you pay with a major credit card, find out what they cover. Many will cover airfare if the ticket is purchased with that card. They may protect other purchases. A phone call or review of card benefits will let you know what’s covered.
You almost always have to buy trip cancellation insurance within 15 days of booking your trip, so purchase when you make your final payment to Trips for Knitters.
We want every knitter to enjoy their trip — we make every effort to ensure Trips for Knitters are accessible to as many people as possible. Some of the trips are more physically demanding and may not be suitable for everyone. Contact us if you have questions or wish to discuss the amount of walking, stair climbing or other physical demands, especially if you have back, knee or hip issues.
Please let us know if you have any mobility or medical issues which may affect your ability to fully undertake the event as described. We accept no liability for mobility or medical issues that we are not told about prior to the trip. Advise us of any changes after registering and before the trip takes place.
To gauge your level of fitness, we suggest you honestly assess your ability to walk 1-5 miles at a reasonable pace. If you become short of breath, experience cramping or spasms, or find that this exacerbates a medical condition, you may not want to register for the trip. Contact us if you have questions about the physical demands of any trip.
While age is just a number, we need to screen participants over 75 to discuss the physical and mental demands of the trip. Send an email and a good time to call and discuss. We hope you’ll qualify without hesitation, but we want to be sure you are up to the trip before you register, pay and embark on travel.
Any questions or concerns, we’re here to discuss in confidentiality. We want the best outcome and enjoyment for every participant of Trips for Knitters events.
Use street smarts.
- Walk purposefully with your head up; look like you know where you’re going.
- If you get lost, be savvy about whom you ask for help; seek out another woman or a family, or go into a store or restaurant to ask for directions or to study your map.
- When you use cash machines, withdraw cash during the day on a busy street, not at night when it’s dark with too few people around.
Fit in.
- This won’t happen, but try!
- Wear business casual, comfortable clothes and shoes. Travel light so you aren’t tracking too many bags.
Unwanted attention?
- If you are being hassled, be firm, give dirty looks, use loud “No.”
- Watch for people distracting you. They may have an accomplice waiting to pick your pocket. SO, don’t have anything worth picking where they can get at it. Move on.
- Stand near a family or another woman.
- Stay alert and aware of your surroundings.
- Leave the fancy jewelry at home. Be modest in this respect.
Our goal in traveling is not to replicate what we have at home, but to have new experiences. That’s my primary argument for packing light. Enjoy the lightness. Reduce the stress of wondering if you ‘ll need it…chances aren’t you won’t. You can always borrow or buy if absolutely necessary. If you bring layers of clothing you can always be dressed for the weather.
CHECK THE WEATHER. Pack accordingly.
We have found the packing lists provided by veteran traveler Rick Steves to be ideal. Visit Rick Steves Europe for great travel information, particularly the following:
What about devices? If you have an iPad or other tablet, they are great for email and other means of keeping in touch with the world that we have become used to. We have wifi at our lodging. One of the reasons I find the iPad so handy is that I can load things on it and reduce my travel gear, especially books and knitting patterns. A smart phone camera is all most of us need.
Hair dryers are found at each of the lodgings, so don’t bring one.
Bring adapters for your devices. They are inexpensive and can be ordered online or picked up at electronic stores or in the electronics department of a big box store. Get one of the multi-country ones and you can go anywhere with just one.
This list includes everything. You’ll wear what you want from this list for travel day.
- Two pairs of very comfortable shoes for walking. One should be a slip-on that can double as slippers. Wear the heaviest pair on travel days.
- A lightweight compressible jacket appropriate for weather and temps at destination.
- 3 pairs of pants. Something that packs thin.
- 1 pair of shorts, capris, or a skirt if appropriate for weather at destination (or another pair of pants).
- 5 pairs of undies, 2 bras, 3 pairs of socks
- 4-5 shirts, long/short sleeves depending on weather.
- 1-2 sweaters for layering, weight depends on anticipated weather.
- Knitters — here’s where we can easily enhance our wardrobe: Bring 2–3 scarves/cowls/shawls. They can keep you warm, cover spots, and jazz up your wardrobe. A vest can be great for layering.
- Tip: make sure things match so you can interchange your wardrobe.
- Sleepwear.
- Hat and mitts if you think you’ll need them.
- Swimsuit if you think you’ll use it.
- Cell phone (turn on international service if you don’t automatically have it).
- Tablet, if desired. Load knitting patterns and books on it.
- Toiletries: make this as minimal as possible. You won’t find washcloths in Europe, so pack one if you’ll want it.
- Sunscreen
- Cold/flu prevention/remedy. Bring what you would take at home. Travel is not the time to experiment.
- If you tend to skin ailments, bring an anti-itch cream, insect repellent, etc.
- Knitting
- If you have been mailed project yarn, bring it as well as any supplies you were requested to bring.
- It’s a good idea to bring needles in sizes close to the ones requested so you can adjust if necessary.
- A simple project(s) for when you are tired or in other circumstances where your concentration isn’t at its best.
- Anything else you want to work on.
Pre-travel checklist:
- Make sure your passport is not expiring within 6 months of travel.
Trips for Knitters in the USA
Your cell phone should work fine and devices as well at any place with wifi.
Trips for Knitters outside the USA
Communicating from overseas to family and friends in the U.S.:
- Many cell plans now include the ability to make calls when overseas. Check with your carrier. They may also have an add-on service you can subscribe to for enabling this capability.
- Alternatives include using FaceTime (iPhone), Skype, Viber, WhatsApp, or Google Duo. For these, the other person must have the app on their device to receive calls. All are no cost to user and require wifi.
- Email will work fine, like always. Lodging has wifi, though it may not be as fast as we’ve become used to in most parts of the U.S., especially when we all hop on at once. We manage.
How to get in touch with Tammy while traveling on the arrival day:
- Tammy — info.tripsforknitters@gmail.com
- For Tuscany: You should only need to call to say you aren’t arriving as expected, for some unforeseen reason. First, try Tammy. If unable to reach Susan, please contact Gianmarco if he won’t be picking you up as expected. If you can’t phone or email, ask for help. Italians are very friendly and helpful. On travel day, you can contact Gianmarco: 338-186-8798; Villa: 057-784-5918; Liz: 338-387-5128 (cell), 057-784-5226 (home); Massimo: 349-492-654.
Event-specific contacts will be shared close to travel dates.
The good news is, your money is good everywhere! Don’t use traveler’s checks – they are outdated and can be difficult to cash. Don’t buy euros or other currency in advance in the US – you will pay unnecessary charges. Plastic is the way to go:
- Be sure to notify your bank or credit card company of any cards you will be bringing with you that you are going to be traveling. For most, you can go online and fill out a simple form with travel dates and destination. If you don’t do this you run the risk of the card use being suspect and a hold put on use.
- You will also need to know your PIN to use the bank machines to extract cash.
- Find out if your card charges extra for international charges (this is becoming common). Make arrangements with the one that doesn’t charge extra or charges the least percent if you can.
- Bank machines are widely available. In small towns, local merchants may only take cash.
To get foreign currency, use plastic:
- Avoid the exchange in the airport as they have surcharges.
- Bank machines are easy to find.
Check with your card company:
- Will my card work internationally? (Specify which countries you’re traveling to.)
- What do you charge for withdrawals or purchases? Is it a percentage, flat fee, or both?
- Are other currency conversion or foreign transaction fees tacked on?
- What will the total charge be on my card — including all fees — if I take out €100 at an ATM with my debit card? Or if I pay for a €100 purchase with my credit card?
- If my credit/debit card is lost or stolen, what do I do?
Specific to Debit Cards:
- What is my daily limit for ATM withdrawals? (If you want to change the limit, do so.)
- Do you have partner banks where I can use my card at an ATM without paying a fee?