TRAVEL

Guests have paid TAUCK to manage all air flights, ship, and transfers between tour destinations and to provide for Travel Insurance.

U.S. citizens will need ETIAS but not a visa to visit Spain or Portugal.


ETIAS stands for the European Travel Information and Authorization System, a travel security program. Based on its American equivalent ETAS, ETIAS conducts background checks on applicants to identify potential security risks entering Europe’s external borders. Effective MAY 2025 all Americans must apply for ETIAS for any SCHENGEN county. 
https://etias.com/etias-application 

In-Seat Power Connections

Our 359 has USB and AC power for 110V AC (75 Watts max) featuring a receptacle that’s semi-universal and accepts the following plugs: US non-polarized 2-blade plug (both blades are same size), US polarized 2-blade plug (one blade is bigger than other), US non-polarized 2-blade plug with ground (3-prong).

Check the wattage that your device requires. My Dell laptop uses 65 watts. So I expect to be good. My ResMed uses 90 watts; so no CPAP sleeping on the plane.

TRAVEL TROUBLES

TRAVEL INSURANCE 


Tauck has partnered with Aon Affinity and United States Fire Insurance Company to provide our guests with travel protection. This document holds all of the relevant information you will need in regard to your travel protection plan.

Please review the following three (3) sections:  Cancellation Waiver - Provided by Tauck,  Travel Protection Plan Certificate - Including Applicable State Exceptions, Non-Insurance Assistance Services - Provided by CareFree Travel Assistance



WEATHER

Temperature

Average temperatures in Douro Valley vary greatly. Considering humidity, temperatures feel cold for about half of the year and otherwise nice with a fair chance of precipitation about half of the year. The area is somewhat temperate — in the 41st percentile for pleasant weather — compared to tourist destinations worldwide. The average monthly temperatures for lower half of November should be 60-degress high and low of 46-degrees.

Madrid is about the same as the Douro. Lisbon is about 4-degrees warmer.

Rainfall

November has a 26% of rain with a total precipitation of 4 inches.

Madrid is about the same as the Douro. Lisbon's total precipitation is about 10 inches.

Humidity

The relative humidity in November is about 76%

MONEY/ATM in SPAIN/PORTUGAL

USD to 0.92 EURO (approx on 7/22/24)

https://www.monito.com/en/wiki/atms-in-spain

https://www.portugalist.com/portugal-atms-guide/ 

TELEPHONES

Having a working cell phone internationally is very helpful. We often use a cell phone as a "walkie talkie" when travel members roam separately. The options are "burn phones", SIMS, Internet, and Verizon/AT&T/Visible internationally plans. They usually work while on land but no so much when on the ship. Avoid on planes.

For our two-week trip, using Verizon/AT&T/Visible internationally plans and Internet is the simplest and least expensive.  The international plans charge $10/day (as your phone uses domestically, voice, text, and mostly data) only when used daily when used. 

Before departure, set up your carrier's internationally plan. When you arrive in Spain and Portugal, your carrier will recognize your location and send you a text message about the connection.

VERIZON TRAVEL PASS

VISIBLE GLOBAL PASS

For $10/day, you can use your domestic plan's talk, text and data allowances just like you do at home. And you're only charged for days that you use your phone. Learn more by visiting our TravelPass FAQs.

If you don't choose an international plan you'll pay per minute, per text and per MB of data used (called Pay as You Go) when you're abroad. Learn more on our International Travel page.

AT&T INTERNATIONALLY DAY PASS

Similar to Verizon/Visible

INTERNET CELL PHONES

Internet connections can be FREE when on the hotel and ship with WiFi. On some airports you can find low cost or free WiFi (best to use a VPN in public WiFi).

When calling between two cell phone on iOS, use FACETIME.

When access between Androids and Apple, use WhatsAPP. Set up the app before departure.


POWER

Both Spain and Portugal use TYPE F plug and 230 VAC with 50 Hz.

ms Adorinha uses Outlets: Type F plug 220v in bathroom and above nightstands and desk, Type A plug 110V above dresser
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