A John Hall’s Alaska representative will meet you upon arrival at the airport and help load your bags at the baggage claim if arriving at a United States airport. If arriving at an international airport, our representative greets you outside of customs once you have claimed your luggage. All tours include airport-to-hotel transfers at the beginning of the tour and airport transfers at the conclusion of the tour.
Most cities will have cell phone reception. If traveling internationally, our advice is to contact your service provider and add an international data plan to your cell phone. Most hotels have wi-fi access although some charge a fee for in-room use. Most offer complimentary wi-fi in common areas. Depending on the remoteness of your location, each of these factors may vary, especially with our Southern Africa program.
Due to customs regulations, all prescription medications should be in their original containers with the doctor’s prescription printed on the container. It is advised that you travel with no more than personal use quantities, a rule of thumb is no more than a 90-day supply.
John Hall’s Alaska tour packages do not include home-city airfare to and from your destination. Airfare within the tour itinerary is included, where applicable. As a complimentary service to our guests, we are happy to check current airfare and assist in the booking process.
If booking your own air, please forward your complete air itinerary or airline confirmation number to our office. If your airline changes your flight number, please advise our office of the new flight number. Accurate flight numbers are how we track your arrival time in order to meet you at the airport. Final documents cannot be issued until full flight details, including airline confirmation numbers, are on file with the John Hall’s Alaska team.
For international travel, we recommend allowing 3 hours during international layovers due to additional customs and security. For return flights at the end of your tour, guests are transferred to the airport 3-4 hours in advance of your flight departure time.
Please advise when booking if you have a medical condition, physical disability, dietary restriction, or other special need. To the extent possible, we seek to accommodate anyone with a disability. Certain land and shore facilities may not be fully accessible to persons with disabilities. Although we cannot guarantee accessibility and that needs can be met, you must let us know in advance so that we may attempt to arrange for them with our partners. If you encounter changes to your medical needs, such as dietary restrictions or use of a mobility device such as a wheelchair, scooter, or walker notify us as soon as possible.
A list of hotel amenities, including laundry facilities will be included with your final documents. As a rule, most hotels have some form of laundry service available, whether coin-operated or send-out service. For a complete list of hotels with laundry facilities, you can also visit the hotel’s website. Hotels used on each tour are listed on each tour page.
Carry-On Items
Due to motorcoach overhead compartment space being smaller than airline overhead compartment space, any item carried on board must not exceed 45 linear inches. Items carried on board may include medical devices, coats, camera cases, or a handbag containing items of a personal nature. Flexible-type tote bags that are easily handled are encouraged rather than rigidly formed bags. Guests are limited to one carry-on bag. If you require a medical device, then you are may bring both the medical and your carry-on on board the motorcoach.
Luggage
On most land tours, one piece of large luggage is allowed per guest. Weight and other restrictions may apply depending on your World Adventure itinerary.
Luggage Handling
John Hall’s Alaska includes luggage handling and gratuities in your package. Your luggage will be delivered to your hotel room upon check-in and picked up from your hotel room upon check-out.
You will be well-fed. While touring, breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included on all full days of John Hall’s Alaska tour package. Our flexible approach to dining (whenever possible), provides guests with multiple entree options. Dinners during your tour include one adult beverage of your choice. Other meals may or may not include alcoholic beverages depending on the location.
Special Dietary Requests
Please let us know in advance if you have a special diet or food allergy and we will do our very best to accommodate your needs. Although we are unable to guarantee that all requests can be met, we will request where appropriate. Please update our office if anything has changed since the time of booking.
Day-to-day, the dress code is casual or resort casual. Although depending on the location, there are instances where jeans or shorts are not permitted in the dining room and instead, slacks or dresses are required. We will send you information about packing for your tour a few months before you travel, and again with your final documents, but those interested in planning now can get an idea by checking out our online packing guide.
World Adventures
Regardless of age, traveling to a foreign country requires a passport that is valid six months after your return date. Passport information will be collected at the time of booking. If travel VISAs are required, John Hall’s Alaska will include these with your package. Guests are responsible for acquiring any vaccines recommended for travel to certain countries and should check directly with their healthcare provider on recommendations.
Travel IDs & Passports
- US Citizens: When departing the U.S. for Canada, proof of citizenship in the form of a current valid passport or passport card is mandatory. No other forms will be accepted.
Note – a passport card is not a substitute for a passport and is not valid for international air travel. When a passport is required, we recommend applying for your passport as soon as possible due to months-long delays. Passports must be valid for 6 months beyond your travel return date to enter or re-enter the U.S.
Effective May 3, 2023 – for U.S. citizens aged 18 and older, a U.S. driver’s license must be REAL ID compliant to travel by plane. Non-compliant IDs will result in denied boarding. For more information visit: www.dhs.gov/real-id
For more passport information visit: www.travel.state.gov/passport or call the National Passport Information Center at 877.487.2778. - CANADIAN CITIZENS: When traveling by air, land, or sea from Canada to the U.S., Canadian citizens are required to present one of the following documents: a valid Canadian passport, or a NEXUS card.
- NON-U.S. & CANADIAN CITIZENS: All travelers must have and carry a passport valid for six months beyond the duration of the travels. Non-U.S. citizens who have previously been admitted to the United States for permanent residence must carry their Permanent Resident Card (Form I-551) commonly known as a Green Card.
- U.S. & CANADIAN CHILDREN: For travel in the U.S., children under the age of 16 traveling by air, land, or sea must present an original or copy of their birth certificate or proof of citizenship such as a naturalization certificate or citizenship card.
For the most part, our tours are all-inclusive. We do not include gratuities for our tour representatives and cash or check is appreciated for that. All major credit cards are accepted in each destination we travel to, and are recommended over traveling with a lot of cash. We also recommend that you contact your debit and credit card companies to inform them of your travel dates and destination. Should guests wish to add an activity, credit card details must be supplied directly to John Hall’s Alaska operations; credit cards will be processed following a guest’s completion of the tour.
When traveling long distances, we highly recommend arriving early, at least one day to assist in jetlag or travel repercussions. Guests may also choose to stay a bit longer after their tour. Considerations for enhancing your tour may include additional overnights, car rentals, added excursions, and customized day tours, just to name a few. We are happy to assist you with the process and you can reach us at (800) 325-2270 or by emailing [email protected].
Travel Protection covers unexpected circumstances and because our trips are inclusive in nature and completely pre-paid, we highly recommend that you consider protecting your investment. We offer a custom plan through Travel Insured that allows for additional flexibility based on pre-existing health conditions. Please visit our Travel Protection page for more information and to request a quote.
Please note: We do not sell trip insurance directly. Travel Insured will not cover residents from the state of NY. Please consider Travel Guard or CSA Travel Protection as alternates. Trip insurance should be in place before final payment is due on your tour. For the most complete coverage, consider the “Cancel For Any Reason” policy. [All policy questions should be discussed directly with your insurance provider.]
Our tours are activity-packed to ensure you get the most out of your John Hall’s Alaska experience and chances are, by the end of the tour you’ll need a vacation from your vacation! Activities are scheduled throughout each day unless otherwise noted in the itinerary to allow time for relaxation or exploring on your own. Some days require early mornings, but the silver lining, early mornings often present rewards of exceptional opportunities, and that’s why you came, right?
Wildlife is unpredictable, but a plentiful highlight on tours in destinations such as Australia and Africa and we recommend keeping your camera and binoculars handy. When viewing wildlife, we strictly adhere to all suggested or required distances and procedures determined by local and federal wildlife agencies. Sensitive viewing of wildlife that does not disturb their behavior is paramount to protecting wildlife populations. Your guides are experienced professionals – always spotting for and pointing out wildlife, and providing insight into the species you are viewing.