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Cabin Upgrade - Europe
All Budget Expeditions tours in Europe are 100% camping tours, however we give you the option to upgrade to a combo of camping and cabins through our Cabin Upgrade (please refer to `the facts' box for each tour to see the estimated percentages of camping and cabins with the upgrade). Should you choose the camping option, we use spacious two person tents which include an inflatable air mattress (inflated by our onboard air compressor). If you would prefer, you can upgrade to cabins in many locations, by booking our Cabin Upgrade. Booking Cabins Should you wish to book the Cabin Upgrade for your tour, please advise your Travel Agent and complete the booking form using the tour code that represents the Cabin Upgrade. You will notice the Tour Price and the Local Fund are the same for both options however to upgrade to cabins there is an extra supplement (see specific tour for an exact amount) which needs to be paid to your tour leader on day 1 in addition to the Local Fund. This supplement must also be paid in Euros cash.
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Eur o pe C a bins · R us s ia Vis as & Tr ains · The R io C arniv al
About the Cabins Budget Expeditions will endeavor to provide you with cabin accommodation consisting of small cabins, hostels or caravans located within European campsites in destinations detailed in the Trip Notes. Most cabins do not have ensuite facilities, however as we use some of Europe's best campsites, good quality, clean bathrooms are readily available. Most cabins will be on a twin share basis (single supplements are not available) but on occasions multi share rooms will be used which allows us to keep the costs low. Should there be a situation where for reasons beyond our control cabins are not available, these nights will be spent camping and your supplement will be reduced accordingly. However we envisage these situations to be rare. Upgrading to Cabins during the Tour Due to Budget Expeditions flexibility, if you book the camping option then decide during your tour you prefer to upgrade to cabins, this can be arranged with your tour leader. You will be
required to pay the extra supplement in addition to the Local Fund. Upgrading to cabins whilst on tour is subject to availability on the day of arrival into the campsite as we would not have prebooked your cabin accommodation. Please note: if you have booked the cabin option but would like to camp this is not a possibility as many of the cabins have been pre-paid and late cancellation fees will apply.
Russia Visas & Trains
Information about obtaining Russia Visas To obtain a visa, you must first apply to Budget Expeditions for an invitation letter. You can obtain this by providing us with all the information requested on our online visa invitation form. We will then liaise with our local Russian Operator and obtain the hotel and voucher confirmation we need to issue your invitation letter (as endorsed by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs). We will also need details of the city where you wish to process your visa application. After forwarding this onto you, it is then your responsibility to organise your visa with the Russian Embassy. A Russian visa is required by all travellers to enter Russia and applications can only be lodged 3 months or less before your departure. Also, your passport must be valid for a further six months. The invitation letter is date specific so your exact arrival and departure details are required on the booking form before we can apply for your invitation letter. The visa lists entry and exit dates including pre or post accommodation you may have organised. Please note that we will need to know if you have booked yourself a pre tour hotel so we can add this to your invitation letter. When filling out the visa invitation form, be careful not to write outside the line and print neatly in black ink pen. We discourage bookings less than 28 days before travel as the time
frame given by the embassy can be unpredictable depending on demand, so the sooner you know your dates the better. We will provide you with a visa authorisation letter and service voucher to enable you to arrange your Russian visa. Please consult your trip notes for further information. If you are applying for a visa within 28 days of your departure, we advise that you use a visa agency to obtain your visa (although you can expect to pay more for this service). Please note: we charge an administration fee of £25 per invitation letter. The actual visa is the responsibility of the person travelling to Russia and this charge is paid by yourself no matter which avenue you should take. Failing this you are free to use one of the many visa agencies who will complete the entire service for you. This does work out to be more expensive; however, they will obtain the visa for you. Trains We use 2nd class carriages on the train, which sleep four to a cabin. This is two bunk beds with loads of luggage storage, individual reading lights (so bring a book or two), and a small table to rest your drinks and Russian vodka. Clean bedding is provided
on the train, and there is usually a western and squat style toilet in each carriage. Please note these toilets are locked before coming into the stations so timing is everything. There is a dining cart (trolley) on the train, however we advise you to take your own food in case they run out. Hot water is also available on the train so you can make your own hot drinks. The scenery is very beautiful and diverse, and the train is a great way for you to try to learn some local language from the Russians, or sample in the local vodka.
The Rio Carnival
Some Bex tours coincide with the spectacular Rio Carnival which occurs on the weekend before Shrove Tuesday / Ash Wednesday each year. In 2008 it is from Friday 1st to Tuesday 5th February and in 2009 it is from Friday 20th February to Tuesday 24th February. There are Carnival balls each evening which cost approx US$30 and free street parades in different areas. Parades in the Sambadrome run from Friday to Tuesday nights but the most spectacular are on the Sunday and Monday evenings and cost from US$35 depending on the seating. If you wish to experience the Carnival it is important to organise your fights well in advance (all Bex tours include 1 night in Rio). Accommodation can be booked independently or through Budget Expeditions.
the price increases after you have booked and paid in full. Any changes will be posted on our website and all affected passengers will be notified by their booking agent if there is sufficient time before your tour departs. If you have not paid any increase before you depart this will be collected in US$ cash by your tour leader at the start of your tour. Booking the Rio Carnival Hotel To book the Rio Carnival hotel package you must inform us at the time of booking and then pay in full with your final balance.
Cancellation Once you have booked and paid for your Carnival hotel package, cancellation by you is subject to our standard booking conditions (see clause 4a on page 97).
Rio Carnival Hotel 2008 £140 · 200 · CHF340 · US$270 · C$290 · A$320 · NZ$360 Rio Carnival Hotel 2009 £150 · 230 · CHF380 · US$300 · C$320 · A$360 · NZ$410 We block book Carnival rooms well in advance and can offer a 4 night Carnival hotel package on a shared (basic style) room basis, with included breakfast. Please note we are only able to secure hotels in 4 night packages and cannot book fewer nights. The cost for this 4 night package is shown above and is per person. Your Travel Agent my also charge an administration fee. Please note this is the current price for the Carnival hotel and is valid for all February 2008 hotel bookings. In the event that the price of the hotel increases for 2009 the increase will be passed on to you even if
Budget Expeditions · Price Does Matter · Tours for 18-35's
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