• Check in for most trips departing from London is at 6.30am and we usually return back to London between 6.30pm and 8.30pm. Please check your itinerary carefully for exact details.
• For EuroHotel Tours Only - Umi Hotel: 16 Leinster Square, Bayswater, London, W2 4PR. The closest London Underground stops: Bayswater or Queensway
• For EuroClub, EuroCamping and selected Explorer trips - Clink Hostel: 78 King's Cross Road, London, WC1X 9QG. The closest London Underground stop: King's Cross St Pancras.
• If it is more convenient, you can join your trip in Paris. You must inform us at the time of booking so we know when you will be joining the trip.
  
  

Coach transport, ferry crossings, accommodation, meals as specified, and activities and extras such as local city guides as specified depending on your trip. Services of a Trip Leader and Driver on all trips. On our EuroClub tours we also include the services of an "On Site Chef" in Lauterbrunnen, Venice and Rome. On our Russian, Scandinavian and EuroCamping trips there is also an "On Road Chef".

Your spending money, visas, personal travel insurance, medical fees, cost of optional activities & excursions, entrance fees to the various museums and sites visited and (unless specified in the 'What's Included' section), flights, departure taxes, port taxes for flotilla sailing. Also any meals that are not specified on your itinerary.

Group sizes vary. As a guideline, an average trip will have about 35 passengers on board. However, the coaches are often full - especially in high season. Minimum numbers would not normally be below 20 passengers. On our Explorer series, the average is 16.

Our travellers come from all over the world and are aged between 18 and 30 something. Like you, they will be up for a great travel experience and meeting like-minded travellers. Roughly half of our passengers travel on their own.

Obtaining correct visas is your own responsibility. Not having correct visas could mean you missing out on part or all of your trip. Please refer to the Visa section on our website - which should be used as a guide only. Then, double check with the individual Embassies before you depart, remembering that visa requirements can change at short notice. For most of the countries where visas are required, it is NOT possible to obtain the visa whilst on the trip and some visas take 3-4 weeks to obtain. For trips going to Russia, Topdeck will provide invitation letters that you MUST have, to obtain your visa.

Yes. Comprehensive Travel insurance is compulsory on all Topdeck trips. Global Journeys works with SureSave - a travel insurance that covers more than 300,000 travellers each year and is 100% Australian owned. As an agent for Suresave, Global Journeys are able to offer you a 20% premium discount for all policies booked online! Read more >

We request feedback from past clients who have travelled with Topdeck and booked with Global Journeys. You can read their Topdeck touring reviews here, and each of our tour itinerary pages displays past client reviews relating to that particular tour.

On our EuroHotel Tours you will be staying at a range of 2* & 3* hotels, on a twin share basis with a 5% reduction for triple share. We have tried to select hotels that display the local character of the countries we visit and have avoided multi-national chain hotels. We have also tried to select hotels as centrally located as possible. Please bear in mind also, that European hotel rooms may be smaller than you may be used to for similar standard hotels other countries.

On our EuroClub tours you will be sleeping in multi-share accommodation with 2 to 4 persons of the same sex sharing. The Rhine Valley castle however has a variety of room sizes accommodating from 4 to 10. In certain hostels during peak season, some rooms may be larger depending on availability. The accommodation ranges from hostels and gasthofs to bungalows in some of Europe's best campsites. There are also some hotel upgrades on a number of tours. You are required to bring a sleeping bag on your EuroClub tours only if your trip does Flotilla Sailing in Greece, bedding will be provided in all other EuroClub accommodations. Please note if you are on the Red Star Special, Northern Exposure, Russia Scandi, Scandi Express, Scenic Scandi you will need a sleeping bag also.

On our EuroCamping trips you will be sleeping in dome-style tents on a twin-share basis. In some parts of Europe you will receive a free hotel or hostel up-grade. Our tents are very roomy and easy to put up and your crew will demonstrate this at the start of your tour. Air mattresses are supplied but you will need to bring a sleeping bag. On all tours we carry our own spacious cook tent. All cutlery and eating utensils are supplied.

Our Explorer Tours concentrate on Regional Europe rather than "Round Europe Tours" and are so designed to give you an in depth insight into the countries visited. The group size is smaller, (average is 16) but group sizes will vary between 10 and 25. A mixture of coach and public transport is used and accommodation is generally in hotels or premium standard hostels.

This depends on the type of tour you choose. Sleeping bags are a necessity on ALL EuroCamping tours. Sleeping bags are required on EuroClub tours if your trip does Flotilla Sailing in Greece, bedding will be provided in all other EuroClub accommodations. A common problem is people bringing too many things! Please refer to our suggested clothing list in the pre-departure information which you can download from our website. Oh, and don't forget your camera, passport, visas and a positive attitude! If you suffer from any medical condition please bring extra supplies of medication as it could be difficult to find in Europe.

Each person is allowed 1 item of standard size luggage (backpacks only on a EuroCamping trip) plus a day pack (and sleeping bag if on EuroCamping trip or EuroClub trip that does Flotilla Sailing in Greece). The maximum weight of your main bag must not exceed 44lbs/20kgs. Size for all bags must not exceed 70cm x 45cm x 25cm. Due to strict weight regulations for coaches in Europe, passengers whose luggage exceeds 44lbs/20kgs will be asked to off load the excess on the departure morning.

Naturally everybody's spending varies. There are many souvenirs to be bought and a great social scene should you wish to join in! Many of your meals (including lunches on EuroClub & EuroCamping trips) are included, so this really just leaves the occasional meal and your personal spending to budget for. Throughout the trip, your Trip Leader will also inform you of optional activities which you can participate in, such as a gondola ride in Venice or an excursion up the Jungfrau Mountain in Switzerland. For a more detailed list and price guideline please refer to your personal itinerary. Most people budget on approximately €70 per day including optional activities and some souvenirs.

We recommend that you change approximately €100 in cash before departure and approximately €30 into Swiss Francs (if your trip goes through Switzerland). This will cover you for spending money until you have the chance to change more or find an ATM.

On all EuroClub and EuroCamping trips a compulsory Food Fund is shown separately on each trip page. This is paid at the time of booking. Unlike other companies, in addition to the listed breakfasts and dinners, Topdeck also includes many lunches on travelling days whilst on your trip (EuroClub & EuroCamping trips only. Not applicable for winter/spring trips. Please check the ’what’s included’ section of your itinerary). This means you don't have to buy lunch at expensive motorway service stations which means a massive saving and gives you more money to spend on other things. Your Food Fund includes many meals at local restaurants giving you the opportunity to sample the local cuisine as you explore Europe. Water is fine to drink in Europe, however bottled water should be purchased in Greece and Turkey.

If you have special dietary requirements e.g. vegetarian or vegan, we will make every endeavour to cater for your specific needs as long as you tell us or your agent when you book. Unfortunately in some places in Europe it is not possible to obtain certain special foods, and we cannot guarantee the variety of foods available when eating out. Our "On Road / Site Chefs" will put every effort into catering for your specific needs. There are some diets we are unable to cater for such as religious diets, so if you are unsure please call us or ask your agent to check.

As well as having regular access to internet cafés throughout Europe, if someone needs to contact you in the case of an emergency, the Topdeck Head Office in London will be able to get in touch with your Trip Leader.

Topdeck issues e-docs which will be sent to you eight weeks prior to departure and when you have paid in full, which includes your detailed day-to-day itinerary. These also include any vouchers you need for pre and post trip accommodation. In addition to this, you MUST read the detailed pre-departure information relevant to your tour. This can be downloaded at any time from the trip page on our website. If you would like a copy posted to you, please contact your local Topdeck office. The pre-departure document contains a number of important points that you should be aware of. Please take the time to download and read it.

We try to spend as little time on the coach as possible so that you have more time to enjoy the places you visit. Please remember though that Europe is a large place and it takes time to get around! On driving days between cities you will be on the coach during the day, stopping off to visit places of interest where possible. Strict driving rules apply in Europe that limits the maximum number of hours your Driver can drive each day. They also limit the maximum number of days that can be driven before a day off must be taken. We have worked hard to make sure this does not affect your trip, but in some cities it means we will use public transport. The cost for this is included in your trip price and your Trip Leader will show you how to get around.

An average group size in 2009 in Egypt was 25, 15 in Morocco and 10 in Jordan and Israel.

There is no issue if you are travelling alone as over 50% if our passengers start the trip on their own. There is no compulsory single supplement - we will match you up with a room mate of the same sex.

This is an amount paid locally on Day 1 of your trip and forms part of the total package price. It is used my our guides for cash payments that are made along the way and helps us and you to keep the cost of your trip down.

Check out the What's Included box on each trip page...normally includes accommodation, meals, sightseeing and modes of transport. Breakfast is included daily and will vary between cooked and continental. Lunches and dinners are included where listed on the trip itinerary.

In Morocco, Jordan and Syria we have included entrance fees in your trip price. We are able to offer this as entrance fees in these countries can be guaranteed and the group prices we can obtain are much better than any other discounts offered. In Egypt, the prices change regularly and discounts for groups or students varies. For this reason we cannot include entrance fees in an accurate manner and have therefore not included them in your trip price. Your Trip Leader will arrange the most cost-effective option on your trip.

For the majority of our itineraries, we stay in superior quality 3* & 4* hotels, all with air-conditioning of course! You also have the opportunity to stay in a tent in the stunning desert landscapes of Jordan or Morocco - a unique experience! We also offer trips for those working to a slightly lower budget where we stay in tourist class hotels. Perfect for leaving a bit more cash to spend on some of the great optionals available.

Because our passengers fly in from all over the world, and to give you the change to grab great flight deals locally, we do not include flights with our packages. You'll be able to source the best deals either from the internet or your travel agent. We include a meet & greet at the airport and transfers to your hotel at all our destinations, which means a stress free start of your holiday!

As well as being able to arrange pre and post trip accommodation for you, there are also bolt on packages that you can add to your holiday. Spend some more time in bustling Cairo, visit the Rose City of Petra and the stunning scenery of Wadi Rum or take an excursion to historic Alexandria. Or add on some hiking in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and visit the Berber villages.

Topdeck's 9 Day Learn to Dive in Egypt, is the perfect trip for people learning to dive. All equipment (with the exception of the dive manual) is included in the trip price. If you are an experienced diver and need a refresher course, these can be booked for an additional USD$30. Guided dives are also availbale for passedngers who already have an Open Water Licence and have been for a dive within the last six months (supplement applies).

From 1st class recliner seat trains to 4* luxury Nile cruise boats, to the latest model air-conditioned mini-buses. Please note that for operational reasons we sometime substitute private luxury coaches in place of overnight trains in Egypt.

It's mostly dry and varies between hot days and mild nights in the summer months to warm days and cool nights in the winter. Lightweight cottons and lines are recommended for the summer with some warmer clothing needed for winter. For trips that include a felucca sail, it is important that you bring a sleeping back with you. Be sure to bring a swimming costume with you for summer departures.

Local currency is easily available from the numerous cash machines but you should have some cash (US$ or GBP) with you on arrival. Tipping is expected for quite a few things (carrying luggage etc) but you only need to give a small amount and your Trip Leader will advise you.