Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Travel Tips

We want to provide you with as much information as possible so that you can plan your trip with ease and have a enjoyable vacation.

Before You Book:
Cass Tours offers vacation and fishing packages from every major airport in the U.S. We can book your entire package or any part of your package (land only, boat only, etc.).
Booking a vacation is easy. You can either phone us (800)593-6510 or (951)371-3511, email us at casstours@gmail.com or book your vacation with Apple Vacations.
Cass Tours offers competitive pricing with no hidden costs or fees.
When you book a fishing or vacation package with us, we now offer travel insurance and services to keep you and your family protected before, during and after your trip. Coverage includes travel cancellation, medical emergencies and loss, theft or damage to your baggage.

Before You Travel:
Documentation: For U.S. citizens - When traveling domestically, you only need to show picture identification. When traveling internationally, all citizens including children and infants, a valid U.S. passport is required. For information on getting a U.S. Passport, please visit the U.S. Department of State website, http://travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html. For Non-U.S. citizens traveling to Mexico, contact the Mexican consulate nearest you to determine what documents are needed to enter Mexico.
Special Requirements for Traveling with Minors: If a child under the age of 18 years on the day of departure is traveling to an international vacation destination with a parent whose last name differs from the last name of the child, proof of parentage is recommended. It is strongly suggested that all children under 18 on the day of departure, traveling with an adult other than a parent, have a notorized letter from the non-accompanying parent(s) stating that they have given consent for the child to leave the country. Additional requirements apply when traveling to specific countries. We regret that we cannot accept unaccompanied minors under 18 on any of our vacation packages. Anyone traveling who has not reached 18 on their departure day will be denied boarding if not accompanied by an adult.
Baggage Requirements: Due to recent changes with the airlines, each airline has there own set of rules regarding baggage allowance for domestic and internation travel. Please contact the airline or visit their website to find out current baggage allowances and for general information regarding your flight.
Carry On Items: The TSA has new regulations for carrying liquid on board planes. Air travelers may now carry liquids, gels and aerosols in their carry-on bag when going through security checkpoints. The TSA Rule is "3-1-1" for carry-ons. Passengers may carry any 3 ounce bottle or less, stored in a 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; and only 1 bag per passenger may be placed in screening bin. The one-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring; and the 3 oz. container size is a security measure. This information can change at at time. For more information on the most current carry on regulations, please visit www.tsa.gov.
What To Pack: Pack light. When traveling internationally, you will find the atmosphere and dress is casual with t-shirt and shorts being the uniform of the day. Although casual dress is the standard by day, many resorts have dress code requirements for dinner. In many cases, "casual yet elegant" dress is suggested for women. Men are required to wear long pants (excluding jeans), proper footwear and shirts with collars. Some gourmet restaurants may require men to wear a jacket. We recommend a light windbreaker or sweatshirt for cool mornings and evenings during winter months. We also suggest you bring sunscreen, hat, sunglasses, camera, film, toiletries, prescription medication, snack food, etc.
Fishing Tackle: The airlines normally allow fisherman to take 1 rod tube and a tackle box in place of 1 checked bag. Please check with the airline for their rules regarding fishing tackle and gear. You may carry on your reels (check www.tsa.gov for the current guidelines regarding fishing reels). We get asked a lot about what tackle our clients should bring, so Cass came up with a general tackle list for Mexico. To view it, click here. For those that don't want to take their own gear, you can rent if from the boat fleet if the tackle is not included in the price of the boat.

On Your Vacation:
Currency, Credit Cards and Traveler's Checks: MasterCard, Visa, American Express and travelers' checks are accepted in most destinations. Most local banks and hotels provide a currency exchange. Don't plan on bringing alot of cash, especially if you're staying at an all-inclusive resort. You may want to bring a small amount of $1 bills to use for tips to show your appreciation for great service.
Being Safe at Your Resort: Traveling to destinations, domestic or foreign is rewarding and exciting. Tourists must be aware, however that potential problems and risks to your personal safety could exist everywhere. Please use the same personal safety precautions and common sense on your vacation that you would at home. Example: apply sunscreen, don't swim alone, avoid display of cash, cameras and other valuables and be especially careful of low railings on hotel balconies. Avoid venturing out alone; beware of dark places and isloated areas...just as you would at home.
Getting From the Airport to Your Hotel/Resort: Most of your packages include prepaid roundtrip ground transporation. You may also rent a car. Taxis are also readily available at the airport.
Drinking the Water in Mexico: Most hotels have their own water purification system, but if in doubt, we recommend purchasing bottled water from the local market or take it down with you. Resorts in Loreto and East Cape do have excellent quality deep well drinking water.
Is English Spoken? Most hotels do have personnel who speak English. Most of the boat guides/captains at least understand some English. Should you need to make a special boat request, it’s recommended you let whoever is in charge of dispersing the boats know what your requests are so it can be translated to the crew.
Tipping: Most of your packages include a 10% hotel gratuity. Although you may leave additional tips if you would like. Boat gratuity is not included. We recommend 10%-20%, which is based on the price of chartering a boat. When fishing on a cruiser, give the captain the tip and he will share it with the deckhand. Tipping should not be based on how many fish you catch, but how hard your guide or crewmembers work to get you the fish and the service that they gave you.
Bringing Back Fish: We recommend a 48 to 60 quart size good quality ice chest. Most airlines have a 50 to 70 lb. weight limit. Take plastic bags with you for bringing your fish home and a roll of duct tape for sealing and securing your ice chest. No ice, frozen fish only.
Calling Home: First, you should check with your cell phone provider to see if they offer service to the area you are traveling. While in Mexico, be advised that collect calls are very expensive compared to the U.S. In most parts of Mexico, you can reach an AT&T English speaking operator by locating phones marked “LATADEL” and dial the access number 95-200-462-4240. Prepaid calling cards for the “LATADEL” phones can be purchased for $5.00 to $10.00 at most hotels or shops and dial 001+area code+number. It costs about $.35 per minute to phone home.