Full Bernina Express Through 5 Countries In The Alps V2

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS & IMPORTANT INFORMATION

PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENT

This tour is organized with a minimum participation requirement of 40 people. If sufficient participation is not achieved, the final cancellation notification date is 20 days prior to the tour start date. Tours cancelled due to insufficient participation will be notified to you through your travel agency.

VISA

Ordinary Passport: Visa required. Green Passport: No visa required. Service Passport: No visa required. You must have a passport valid for at least 6 months from the end date of the trip and issued no more than 10 years ago. In destinations requiring a visa, the visa application must be made using the documents specified in the "Documents Required for Visa" list provided by your travel agency. To avoid issues with customs police at the border of the country to be visited due to torn, worn, wet, or otherwise damaged passports, it is necessary to renew such passports. If the destination country requires a visa for Turkish citizens, the relevant visa must be affixed to the new passport. In case of non-compliance, the responsibility lies with the traveler. For guests under 18 years old traveling alone or with only one parent, there may be a request from the police officer responsible for entry/exit at the country's borders for a document showing joint parental consent. Therefore, we recommend that guests under 18 years of age and their parents pay special attention to this matter.

HEALTH

There is no mandatory vaccination requirement for entry into Switzerland. We do not expect any health-threatening issues with meals taken at good restaurants and hotels in the region. However, when you are not with the group, we advise you to be careful with food and drink consumption, strictly consume bottled water, avoid ice, milk, and dairy products, consume meat and fish products that you are sure are well-cooked, and eat fruits like bananas and pineapples whose peels can be removed.

FLIGHT DURATIONS

Istanbul Zurich 3 hours 25 minutes Basel Istanbul 3 hours 25 minutes

OPTIONAL TOURS & ACTIVITIES

Optional tours and activities are organized by the local agency providing services with a minimum participation requirement of 20 people, and participation is not mandatory. If the required number is not met, tours may not take place, or optional tour/activity prices, content, and vehicles used may vary depending on the number of participants. Additionally, the dates and times of optional tours/activities may be changed by the guide based on whether museums, historical sites, or venues in the destination are open/closed and weather conditions.

ACCOMMODATION

During periods such as fairs, congresses, concerts, events, sports tournaments, etc., hotels may be located at distances greater than the specified kilometers. Triple rooms are assigned according to hotel availability, and in such rooms, the bed provided for the 3rd person may be smaller than standard beds. Triple rooms consist of 1 large bed and 1 extra bed. Since extra beds are foldable or convertible (coach beds), participants who are the 3rd person and/or children booking are deemed to have accepted potential crowding in the room and the type of bed. Child discounts apply only for one child staying with 2 adults and falling within the age group specified in the pricing section. Breakfasts included in the tour program are served according to the breakfast culture of the country visited, generally as a continental breakfast consisting of butter, jam, bread, tea, or coffee, and may be served in a separate hall allocated for the group.

CURRENCY

The currency of Switzerland is the Swiss Franc (CHF). The European currency is the Euro (EUR). It is beneficial to carry Euros (EUR) with you.

TIME ZONE

Switzerland, France, and Italy are 1 hour behind Turkey during summer time and 2 hours behind during winter time. For example, in summer, when it is 18:30 in Turkey, it is 17:30 in Italy.

PHONE USAGE

Your mobile phone line can be used if it is enabled for international calls (roaming).

CLOTHING AND ESSENTIAL ITEMS

If traveling in summer, we recommend bringing easily wearable t-shirts, short and long-sleeved shirts, cotton pants, shorts, comfortable walking shoes, a light jacket, and a thin sweater for evenings. Additionally, you may bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, earplugs against possible noise, a camera, a video camera, and their chargers and spare memory cards. During the winter season, we recommend clothing that allows comfortable movement and keeps you warm.

FOOD CULTURE

Swiss cuisine is influenced not only by French, German, and Northern Italian cuisines but also primarily by Switzerland's history as an agricultural country. Many traditional Swiss dishes tend to be relatively simple and are made from basic ingredients like potatoes and Swiss cheese. French cuisine, with roots dating back to the Middle Ages, has a rich culture. Famous for its wines and various cheeses, French cuisine is known for meat dishes cooked with different sauces and famous desserts like crème brûlée, macarons, and soufflés. Italian cuisine varies by region and, with the contribution of Mediterranean influences, ranks among the world's richest cuisines. A wide range of options is offered, from snacks prepared with fresh tomatoes, greens, and country-specific cheeses, to delicious pizzas, pastas made with various sauces, and seafood.

ELECTRICITY

In France and Germany, sockets are the same as in Turkey. In Switzerland, Type J sockets are used, and in Italy, Type L sockets are used, so grounded plugs used in Turkey may not fit; we recommend carrying a travel adapter with you.

SHOPPING

Shopping opportunities are available in shopping centers located in city centers and small stalls selling souvenirs.

IMPORTANT NOTES

Having a valid passport and/or having obtained a visa (for destinations/passports where a visa is required) does not guarantee entry into the country. The passport police have the authority to deny you entry. Bin Rota is not responsible for this situation; the responsibility lies with the traveler. BinRota acts as an intermediary between the passenger and the airline and is subject to the Hague Protocol of 28.09.1955. There may be a risk of delays in scheduled and private flights, or flight times may change before the current tour and flight. BinRota is obligated to notify these changes as soon as possible. Our passengers purchase the tour knowing and accepting that flight details may change. Children aged 0-2 do not pay airport tax or airport service fees. Panoramic city tours included in the tour package are tours lasting a maximum of 2-3 hours, organized for general introduction to cities and conducted panoramically with guide commentary from inside the vehicle, excluding entrance to museums and historical sites. If panoramic tours, including other tours specified in the program, cannot be carried out because they are not permitted by local authorities on the corresponding day and time, or due to closed roads caused by any event, or if weather conditions make it impossible to conduct the tour, Bin Rota is not responsible for the inability to carry out said tours. Some tours may be conducted via public transport or on foot, depending on available facilities, at points where roads are closed or vehicle access is not permitted.