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frequently asked questions
passport, visas, and important travel advisory for tour participants
Requirements vary from country to country. To be on the safest side we advise following the US State Department recommendation of 180 days/6 months from your expected date of return. We recommend visiting the US State Department website at https://www.state.gov/ for more information about their travel and passport recommendations.
Visit the US State Department website at https://www.state.gov/ for the most up to date information on passport renewals and expedited processing.
To make an in-person appointment for a passport renewal/expedited processing you will need to go to one of the following:
Find your Regional Passport Agency or call 1-877-487-2778; TDD/TTY: 1-888-874-7793 Monday through Friday, from 8 AM to 10 PM ET; or
Find your Passport Acceptance Facility.
There is an extra fee, plus delivery costs, for expedited service. For current passport processing times visit the US State Department website.
If you still have questions or concerns, please reach out to us at info@rowantreetravel.com.
Visas are destination dependent and we will notify travelers when and where they need to apply for a visa should their tour require it.
RTTF ADVISES ALL PASSPORTS BE VALID FOR AT LEAST 180 DAYS BEYOND YOUR INTENDED DATE OF RETURN TRAVEL.
This information can be found on your ticket information from Vivienne Kelly at Crystal Travel or your flight provider. If for any reason your passport expiration is within that time frame, please alert RTTF and/or Vivienne right away. RTTF cannot guarantee you will be able to fly. We can advise you on strategies to get you to an emergency passport office.
Many passport questions can be answered through the US State Department at https://www.state.gov/, you can also check the specific requirements of the country you are traveling to.
Yes! We’ve traveled enough to know that the extra cost involved in travel insurance is well-worth the peace of mind provided. Travel insurance is offered in many forms. Take time to consider what is most appropriate for you, especially if you or close family members have ongoing health concerns. Your credit card, personal insurance company and flight/booking site may offer tour insurance at a reasonable rate. Be sure to review insurance policies as to whether the coverage is for tour “interruption” or tour “cancellation.” We also recommend you closely review the criteria under which you can be refunded and whether that refund is 100% or a smaller/larger percentage of tour costs. Ask questions of your provider. It is always better to review the offered coverage contact prior to the tour rather than to be surprised later.
You may purchase travel insurance through our partner Arch RoamRight or through your own provider.
*Arch RoamRight is an affiliate of RTTF and we will receive a small commission for policies bought through the provided link.
The fact is that COVID-19 is now a part of our everyday lives, similar to Influenza and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). The best person to determine whether you are safe and comfortable traveling is you.
RTTF leaves the wearing of masks and additional health safeguards to be utilized at the discretion of each individual. However, if you exhibit any signs of sickness such as coughing, sneezing, etc., you will be asked to wear a mask while with the group. RTTF also reserves the right, at our sole discretion, to ask you to isolate at your cost. Please be sure to have N-95 masks as you may be asked to use them throughout the tour.
We highly recommend wearing a mask for the first 48-72 hours of the tour when with the group, given we will all have been coming from different areas and likely traveling on large planes.
Review our full Health Related Restrictions in our Terms & Conditions.
Our cancellation policy is available in our Terms & Conditions.
While we hate to see you go, we understand that life happens. If you need to cancel your tour, please be sure to review the Terms & Conditions and then complete the cancellation form linked within. We are unable to process any refunds without a completed cancellation form.
We all know about the global pandemic that disrupted not just travel, but our everyday lives for several years. Other things such as extreme weather conditions could also cause a tour to be cancelled.
Costs can vary by tour so be sure to review all tour details before registering, however tour costs generally include:
all lodging,
entry fees for destination included on the tour itinerary,
ground transportation during the tour (transportation to/from the airport varies by tour)
workshops,
educational experiences and studio visits,
breakfast every day, and on average lunch or dinner each day.
Items NOT included:
airfare,
alcohol,
gratuities,
activities you pursue during free time,
gifts,
yarn!
We aim to frequent boutique inns and hotels rich with history. At times we book entire properties - inns, hotels, castles, etc. - and always try to choose lodgings that have a lot of character and fit the feel of the tours we curate. At times we will find ourselves booking rooms in larger hotels if the group is staying in a large city for a night or two, or if the hotel has a particularly desirable location for the activities on our agenda.
We generally don't release our finalized lodging plans until approximately two months before the start of a trip to registered participants.
Accommodation Categories
We recognize (and relish!) that there are all kinds of travelers, with all kinds of accommodation needs and preferences. Our tours always include both private and shared rooms at a variety of price points. By reviewing the descriptions below, you’ll be sure to register for the one that suits you best. Please note that “ensuite” refers to a bathroom accessed from within a bedroom, for private use by the room’s occupant(s).
Single Room One person in a room with one bed, ensuite.
Shared Room Two people in a room, each with their own bed (i.e. two beds), ensuite.
Outside of the US, the two beds may be touching or quite close to each other. It’s a common room arrangement overseas.
Cozy Shared Room Two people in a room, sharing one bed (usually a queen or king), ensuite.
Please note: RTTF does not assign roommates in this category. Unless your favorite movie star is coming along. Then we can be bribed to do so.
Flex Two people wishing to spend some nights of the tour in a Single Room and some in a Shared Room, ensuite in all room types.
Flex is a great option for those who have or want to be matched with a roommate but would also enjoy some nights “in their own space”. The number of nights spent in each type of room changes depending on the tour. Be sure to check registration materials and/or consult with RTTF staff so you know the arrangements for your specific tour.
Budget Room (Single, Shared, Flex) Budget accommodations offer the same room arrangements as above but with mitigating factors that allow us to offer the room(s) at a reduced rate. Common reasons for offering a Budget Room include room size, shared bathrooms or bed type.
For example, if some nights of your tour are in a group of cottages, there are typically 2-4 bedrooms sharing 1-2 bathrooms. Travelers will need to coordinate with each other regarding use. You may encounter bunk beds. We never require travelers to sleep on a top bunk; there are sufficient bunks in a room so that each person can sleep in a bottom bed. Or there may be a small, ensuite room which is so tiny we don’t feel comfortable charging full price for it. Be sure to check registration materials and/or consult with RTTF staff so you understand the character of Budget Rooms offered on your tour.
Why is there an additional charge for a private room?
The reality of travel is that when you share a room, the cost of your lodging is reduced by about half.
In fairness to everyone, we build the tour price around those lower, shared room rates. Then we make the option of a single, private room available for those who prefer it and are willing to pay the additional expense. The pricing structure ensures each participant pays only what it truly costs them for lodging during the tour.
RTTF does not make a profit on our single, private room supplemental fees and we do our best to keep the single, private room supplement as low as possible. Think of it as an investment in some "alone" time -- often quite beneficial when touring for several days with a group.
If you are concerned about the impact of the fee on your ability to participate in a tour, please let us know. We will work to match you with another solo traveler with whom you can share accommodations.
In order to accommodate everyone's belongings during ground transportation, RTTF restricts luggage to one 24" suitcase and one personal item (such as a backpack, purse or tote).
Suzie has some great tips and tricks on our What to Bring page.
RTTF stays predominantly in small, locally-owned inns and hotels. Most do not have sufficient staff to disburse luggage to individual rooms. Some do not have elevators.
Our tour activity levels and personal mobility comfort levels can be found at the bottom of Our Tours page.
Outside of the United States, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requirements do not apply. Many of our lodgings do not have elevators and do have stairs. Walking paths or streets may not be paved or may be cobblestone. If you have particular mobility concerns, equipment or other requirements, please email us at info@rowantreetravel.com to discuss further.
When traveling within the United States you can expect that ADA-certified accommodations are available.
In most cases, we can make arrangements for vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free meals. With notice, restaurants and inns can also avoid specific ingredients to which you have allergies. Your best bet to insure trouble-free eating while on tour with us is to:
a) note your special needs on the registration form;
b) check with your Fiber Ambassador the start of the tour as to whether there are any potential problematic meals ahead; and,
c)check with your server at the beginning of each meal to remind them of your needs.
It will help if you are as flexible as possible while traveling. Bring along a few snacks or packaged foods – especially if your allergies are severe. RTTF staff always alerts our providers as to special diets and allergies prior to the tour. However, mistakes can happen. Working together, we and you can assure your continued health and comfort as we travel. In very rare cases, we may be unable to meet your dietary needs. If at all concerned that may be the situation, we will contact you to discuss the situation well in advance of travel dates.
Absolutely not! About a quarter of the participants on our tours are non-knitters. Sometimes they are the spouses, friends, or relatives of a tour participant. Sometimes they simply want to go where we’re going and enjoy the pacing, itinerary, and camaraderie of our tours. You don’t have to be a “maker” to come along on one of our adventures.
Yes. We require that any traveler under the age of 21 be accompanied by an adult 21 years old or older. Many establishments that we stay at require guests to sign in and the minimum age is 21 for these signatures.
Yes, and we encourage you to do so as it makes your international flights a smaller percentage of your overall cost to spend time overseas.
Prices are in $USD. Unfortunately, we cannot convert the website prices to another currency at this time. Exactly what exchange rate is applied will depend on your bank/credit card company but looking up the price in $USD converted to your currency on Google or websites like XE Trade should give you a close estimate as to what your bank would charge. If you decide to book and have trouble using a credit card, there are some international transfer options that we can recommend, please reach out to us at info@rowantreetravel.com.
Unless offered directly on WeTravel as an add-on for your trip, it's generally best if you contact the hotel directly. We recommend letting them know you are part of the Rowan Tree Travel & Fibercraft group and ask if you can reserve that same room for an additional night(s).
To join the waitlist for an active tour, visit the tour registration page and under "Available Packages" select the "Join Waitlist" button to the right of the packages.
To let us know your interest in a tour that is not currently being offered, you can review and update your Newsletter preferences at any time.
i have questions before i register . . .
This is a common question we get - what’s appropriate for conveying “thank you for such a great experience”? An appropriate amount would be $5-$10 per day. You may give this in local currency, US Dollars or (in Heather’s case) an equivalent of drinks from the bar each evening during knit sessions.
In general, try to pack less rather than more. We highly recommend traveling as lightly as possible. No one has ever said they wished they’d brought more stuff to lug around with them on a tour. Many though, have stated they could have carried and done with much less.
Check out our What to Bring page for recommendations regarding packing and review our Notes on Specific Destinations for tips on weather, passports and visas, adapters and more.
We will alert you if there are any unusual items you’ll need to have with you. Workshop tools and notions are either provided on site or you will be alerted as to what is needed to bring along.
You may choose to make your own flight arrangements or work with our associate, Vivienne Kelly, at Crystal Travel. She is located in Boston, MA (Eastern Standard Time). Contact her via email at vivienne@crystal-travel.com or by phone at (617) 327-4242. You can purchase your flights directly through her plus specify seats, arrange desired upgrades and assign the flight's mileage to existing frequent flier accounts. We highly recommend working with Vivienne, especially in these times of unpredictable, challenging air travel. It’s good to have someone with whom you can confer if things change, cancel or simply get confusing!
Please review the arrival and departure times for the tour. These times, or “windows” allow us to get you to and from the airport without significant waiting times. If you’re unable to make arrangements that match these windows, you may be responsible for the cost of your own transportation to meet up with the group.
We love to travel. We love to take people traveling! But we admit that travel can be tough. Over time, we've learned a number of tricks that make everything easier, less stressful and more comfortable. We highly recommend them - check out our Tips for International Travel.
Be sure to visit our Notes on Specific Destinations and What to Bring pages for more great information.
Yes! RTTF has our very own bookstore through Bookshop.org.
Whether you're gearing up for a tour, just finished your travels, or want to journey from the comfort of your armchair - find reading recommendations by destination and beyond. Curated by the RTTF staff and our Merry Band of Travelers.
Disclosure: RTTF is an affiliate of Bookshop.org and will earn a commission if you choose to make a purchase through our link.
Account setup: Visit How to access your booking after using Guest Checkout for the steps to complete this. Be sure to use the same email address that you used to sign up for your Rowan Tree Travel & Fibercraft tour and from there your trip will already be tied to your account.
Make a payment: Visit How do I pay my next installment for step-by-step instructions.
Account changes: Visit Update My Information for the latest steps from WeTravel on how to update your trip questionnaire, including adding your flight information.
Please add your flight information directly to your tour reservation in your WeTravel account once your flights are booked. Any updates should be made there as well.
1. Log in to your WeTravel account. (If you have not made a payment through WeTravel yet, you will have to set a password for your account).
2. Find your trip in the “My Trips” section and select “Manage Booking” for the trip that you wish to add flight information to.
3. Scroll down on the page until you see the section “Participant Information” and to the right select the button that says “Edit participant information".
4. A box will pop up that says “Checkout Info” and it may say “Info complete” if you have already filled out some of your information when you first made your booking. Click on the upwards arrow on the right hand side of the pop up to reveal the full participant information questionnaire.
5. Add or change any of your information here and be sure to click “Save” at the end of this section to save your updated information.
Download the WhatsApp Messenger at the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Visit WhatsApp for a video and step-by-step written instructions on how to set up your account, edit your name, add a profile picture, and more.
You will receive your tour group WhatsApp link approximately two weeks prior to the start of the tour.
Approximately two months before the start date of your trip.
We suggest checking with your cell phone carrier prior to traveling to understand fees and rates for international calling and/or data usage while traveling.
To place a call to the US press “+” then “1”, and enter the 10-digit US number.
To place a local call press “+”, and then enter the country code followed by the local number with its area code (if applicable).
To other countries press “+”, and then enter the country code followed by the international number.
Refer to our Destination Specific Notes to find country codes for the destinations we visit.
i've registered! what about . . .
We are happy to put you in touch with someone that has either hosted a group tour or has been a participant on one of our tours. Get in touch with us HERE. Just let us know.
We have paused our private group tours for the moment. Please visit Our Tours page to see tours currently available for registration
RTTF actively scouts 1-2 new destinations and/our new tours within existing destinations every year. Follow us on Social Media or sign up for our Newsletter for the latest updates.
Where do you dream of going?
Locate any email/newsletter from Rowan Tree Travel (not an email from WeTravel), look for "Update your preferences" at the bottom of the email, click, and follow the instructions.