Passport must be valid for at least 6 months on the return date of your trip.

It is the own responsibility of all travelers to obtain proper visas to enter Australia and New Zealand. US passport holders do not need New Zealand visa. But all travelers including US passport holders must obtain a visa before traveling to Australia. Resident Aliens need both passport and Alien Resident Card for reentry to the States.

Bring emergency contact person’s name, address and telephone number with you.

Keep travel documents, passport, personal necessities and valuables with you at all times and make a copy of them.

Ritz Tours will provide Travel Protection Insurance at no additional cost to customers who have made their final payment 60 days prior to departure. Due to the long trip and different geological conditions, please consult your doctor before departure. Besides packing some over-counter medicine for flu, indigestion, car sick, vitamins etc., if prescription medicine is needed, make sure it is fully labeled and the doctor’s prescription or identity card is with you. In case of illness, please immediately advise your tour conductor and/or local guides for further assistance.

Airline fuel surcharge and all taxes for air ticket and airports have to be paid together with the tour fare at the time of reservation. Fuel surcharge and taxes vary by airlines and locations, and are subject to change at any time. Airport taxes for New Zealand is NZD25, must be paid at site by own.

Australia and New Zealand are located in the South globe with opposite seasons: Spring ( Sep - Nov ), Summer ( Dec - Feb ), Autumn ( Mar - May ) and Winter ( Jun - Aug ). With its vast territory and big difference between day and night temperatures, i t is the best to prepare attire for all kinds of climates.

Baggage is at the owner’s risk throughout. The allowance may vary by airlines and is subject to change without notice. Please check online with airline before departure. Currently the size of free checked baggage is 61 in (length+width+height) each, maximum free weight is 44 lbs. For your own convenience, it is suggested one check-in and one carry-on piece per person. To avoid over loading your suitcase, the less is the better. All luggage must have a lock and a tag listing the name, address in the US, telephone number as well as tour code. Please use luggage tags provided by Ritz Tours for easy identification. Consider including one night’s essentials for whole family in one of the suitcases or in your carry-on bag to avoid inconvenience in case of loss or delayed flight. Keep your personal necessities and valuables with you at all time instead of packing them in check in luggage.

Hair dryer, shaver, voltage converter (220V for Australia & New Zealand) and adapters.

Books, magazines, cassettes, walker-man and snacks, etc. Casual attire, comfortable walking shoes, sunglasses, hat, sunblock lotion, insect-spray, swimming suit, rain coat and short pants, etc..

Camera, camcorder, battery, film, solution for contact lenses, etc.. You may have no time to look for these items on tourbesides it may cost you more expensive.

Traveler’s checks are of best choice. Besides, prepare some cash in $100, $50, $20 and $1. Credit cards are widely accepted except Discover Card.

It is strongly suggested that you exchange US dollars for sufficient NZ dollars at airport upon arrival.

US$800 - US$1000 in cash are generally enough for a person ( not for purchase of big item or entertainment ).

The exchange rates as of February, 2008 for your reference. New Zealand: US$1=NZD1.21 Australia: US$1=AUD1.05

To make your trip more interesting & fruitful, it might be a good idea to collect some information of the culture, language, customs and habits of the places you will travel to.

Meals will be provided as mentioned in itinerary.

It is of customer’s own decision to join in and pay for any optional sightseeing provided by the local operator. Ritz Tours does not take any responsibility of it.

Tipping is solely at your discretion. As a guideline, Ritz Tours recommends the following gratuities: Ritz Tours tour conductor US$5.00 per guest per day; drivers US$2.00 per guest per day.

Be cautious when staying at a hotel. Never allow strangers into your room.

The telephone cost at a hotel is high. Prepaid local phone cards are available at hotel shops or reception. Or you may want to bring a calling card. Your tour conductor or local guide will assist you in this matter.

Generally, drinks in your hotel mini bar are more expensive than the stores. If you take drinks from the mini bar, be sure to pay the bill before you leave the hotel.

Keep an eye on your personal belongs and valuables at all time.

Respect other group members, your tour guides and drivers.

For the sake of fairness and general comfort of the group, rules will be set for daily seat rotation.

For the protection of your own interests, read carefully your itinerary and hotel information before departure. Leave a copy to your family.

Australia and New Zealand Customs are particularly strict with the declaration of animals, plants, and foods. Any fruits, genseng and honey are not allowed to bring in New Zealand. In the New Zealand Passenger Arrival Card, you must tick "Yes" in the customs section if you are bringing any kind of food or fruits with you. Any false declaration will cause you a fine of NZD200 or more.

A nice & smooth trip counts on every group member’s high cooperation. It is important to follow the indicated meeting time and meeting point. Use red color name badge provided by Ritz Tours for easy identification. Allow enough time for airport check-in: 2 hours for US domestic travel, 3 hours for international travel. For flight delay, flight cancel or any other emergency, please immediately contact Ritz Tours for assistance:
Headquarters:  626-289-2450
Los Angeles:    626-289-1010
San Francisco:  650-259-9983
New York:        212-973-1998

New Zealand Passenger Arrival Card & Notes:
http://www.customs.govt.nz/nr/rdonlyres/75fd14e8-59b5-4e97-92bb-d73e87de5e62/0/arrival_card_jan_2008.pdf

Optional Tours	Inclusion	Duration	Fees
Rotorua Skyline Tour	Scenic gondola, best buffet lunch in town, luge ride	2.5 hours	$50
Sydney Night Tour	Sydney Tower, Queen Victoria Building, Monorail	2.5 hours	$60
New Zealand Farm Tour	Animal farms, Fruit gardens, Kiwi wine tasting	1.5 hours	$25