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knitting the world together one trip at a time
Frequently asked questions
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Important Travel Advisory for all travelers:
PASSPORTS MUST 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 your tour leader and/or Vivienne right away. You will not 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 (which recommends passports be valid for at least 180 days/6 months from date of return or you may not be allowed to board your flight out of the country. You can also use the State Department link to check the specific requirements of the country you are traveling to. Why 180 days or 6 months? Isn't it 90 days or 3 months? 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.
If you have any questions or concerns then these can initially be addressed to Audrey at audrey@rowantreetravel.com or you can check specific requirements using the links below:
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US State Department: CLICK HERE
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To make an in-person appointment for a passport renewal/expedited processing you will need to go to one of the following:
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Regional Passport Agency: CLICK HERE to find yours;
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or call 1-877-487-2778; TDD/TTY: 1-888-874-7793 Monday through Friday, from 8 AM to 10 PM ET;
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Passport Acceptance Facility: CLICK HERE to find yours
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Expedited service costs an extra $60, plus any delivery costs. You can check current passport processing times HERE.
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Advisory
Do I have to be a knitter to go on one of your trips?
Absolutely not! About a quarter of the participants on our tours are non-knitters. Sometimes they are the spouses, friends or relatives of a trip participant. Sometimes they simply want to go where we’re going and enjoy the pacing, itinerary and camaraderie of our trips. You don’t have to be a “maker” to come along on one of our adventures.
Do I have to be a Knitter
What does the cost of a tour include?
Your tour cost covers all lodging, entry fees, transportation, workshops, educational experiences and studio visits. It also covers, on average, two meals per day. Breakfast is always included, then, on average, each day you will also have a lunch or dinner covered by the tour. Your transportation to and from the nearest airport is also included, unless the tour specifically notes differently due to special circumstances. What’s not covered by the cost of the tour? Airfare, alcohol, gratuities (though we’ll help you determine appropriate situations and amounts), activities you pursue during free time, gifts and of course, yarn!
Tour Cost
Why is there an additional charge for single travelers/those wanting a private room?
It's a common misconception that arranging for a single, private room is an "up-charge." We are not trying to make participation by solo travelers more expensive! 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. Rowan Tree Travel & Fibercraft does not make a profit on our single, private room supplemental fees. The pricing structure ensures each participant pays ONLY what it truly costs them for lodging during the trip. We do our best to keep the single, private room supplement as low as possible. Please do not think of it as a punitive fee... but perhaps 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 trip, please let us know. We will work to match you with another solo traveler with whom you can share accommodations.
Single Traveler Cost
What should I bring with me?
Take a look at our recommendations regarding packing, preparing for travel and specific destinations. You'll find information on a wide range of topics: how to choose clothes for the trip, cell phone usage, dealing with foreign currency, tipping customs at the destination and much 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. 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.
What to bring
Will there be someone available to help with luggage?
Rowan Tree Travel 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. We suggest you only bring the size and amount of luggage that you can comfortably move around yourself (i.e. through the airport, from the bus to your hotel room, etc.) Most of our travelers bring one suitcase and a smaller bag (backpack, tote or large purse) which they keep with them through the day.
Luggage
What is the activity level of Rowan Tree Travel’s trips?
In general, a tour does not require a great deal of walking – but does have a quick pace! We want to see and do as much as we can while in a given area, then move on to a new environment every 1 to 3 nights. Our days are full; our evenings are generally relaxed. Free/unscheduled time is offered every few days so individuals can pursue their own interests, enjoy some down time or simply catch up on sleep. We depend on individuals to monitor their own needs and let us know if they need to step out of an activity. A retreat has a much more relaxed pace than a tour. We generally stay in one place, whether it’s an inn, hotel, country home or retreat center. Daytime activities are scheduled such that individuals can opt in or out, depending upon their interest level. There is ample time for knitting, socializing and soaking in the atmosphere of our setting. We love to include hikes, yoga, local events and other impromptu activities during retreats – again, optional per your interest level and abilities. Walking trips include our most active tours and are classed as relaxed, moderate or active. On an Active Tour we walk every day or every other day, plus change hotels every 1 to 2 nights. Our hikes may average 5 – 8 miles per day, 15 miles at the most. If you have concerns about your mobility in relation to any of our trips, please do talk with us about it. We can advise you as to any potential concerns. Unlike in the US, accessibility is not legally mandated in many of the countries we visit. For the most part, we can get you fairly close to our activities, with walks of less than half a mile. Please note mobility concerns on your registration. Notice on the form allows us to pre-plan for any assistance you may need.
Activity Level
Can you accommodate a special diet?
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 tour guide at 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 us 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.
Diet
Can I string two tours together to extend my time traveling?
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.
How soon before traveling do I need to acquire or renew a passport?
ASAP! The moment you begin planning an international trip, we recommend you begin the passport application process. Same for renewals! We remind our travelers to check the expiration date on existing passports. Why? Not everyone is aware that a passport must be valid for three months past the date of return. If you do need to apply or renew, be aware that the process can take as long as three months. Unforeseen circumstances (like a pandemic…) could make the process take even longer. Don’t hesitate. Don’t procrastinate. Start the application or renewal process today.
Extension
Passport
Can I talk with someone who’s been on one of your trips?
We are happy to put you in touch with someone that has either hosted a group trip or has been a participant on one of our tours. Just let us know.
Should I get travel insurance?
There’s only one answer to this question: 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 trip insurance at a reasonable rate. Be sure to review insurance policies as to whether the coverage is for trip “interruption” or trip “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 trip costs. Ask questions of your provider. It is always better to review the offered coverage prior to the trip rather than to be surprised later.
You may purchase travel insurance through our recommended provider Arch RoamRight by clicking here or through your own provider.
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*Arch RoamRight is an affiliate of Rowan Tree Travel & Fibercraft and we will receive a small commission for policies bought through our link.
Referral
Travel Insurance
How do you suggest I book my flights? 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.
Flights
LYS
How can I get my LYS or fiber arts guild to organize a trip with you? Talk with your Local Yarn Shop owner or guild to see if there is interest. If so, please let us know a point person’s name and best means for contact. If your LYS owner feels inundated by the responsibilities of organizing such a trip, offer to assist! Whether for a yarn shop group or a fiber arts guild, or even a group of friends that craft together, it only takes one enthusiastic person to get a trip going! The yarn shop or guild (we call them the “tour host”) gets the word out; we organize and facilitate the tour. It’s a great partnership. Give us a call or send an email. We’re happy to talk with you about ways to get traveling!
I need to cancel my trip: how can I do that? We understand that sometimes plans can change. Please take a moment to review our Terms & Conditions (here) and then submit our Trip Cancellation Form (here).
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