Preparing for your trip
| Package: | Discover Poland |
Print this page and refer to it as you prepare for your trip!
Printed Jul 23, 2025. Please visit https://staging.friendlyplanet.com/before-you-go/?tourId=2093 for the latest updates.
Checklist
| Item | Due | |
|---|---|---|
| ☐ | Ensure you have a current passport valid for at least six months after your return date. | ASAP |
| ☐ | Passport Pages. Ensure you have enough empty pages in your passport as per the entry requirements at your destination | ASAP |
| ☐ | Complete your registration. You'll receive a link to the registration form after you complete your booking. | Within 5 days of booking |
| ☐ | Request any additions or changes you may still want to make to your trip. (Fees and/or additional charges may apply.) | 75 days prior to travel |
| ☐ | Make your final payment, if any balance is due. | See your invoice |
| ☐ | Obtain any necessary travel visas and review any requirements for entry. | See below |
| ☐ | Print your itinerary and other final documents, which we will send you via email by 14 days prior to travel. | Prior to travel |
| ☐ | Print your policy documents, if you purchased travel insurance, and carry them with you. | Prior to travel |
| ☐ | Enroll in The Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP), if you're a U.S. citizen or national, so the State Dept. can locate and assist you in case of an emergency. | Prior to travel |
In addition, if you booked flights with your package:
| Item | Due | |
|---|---|---|
| ☐ | Book connecting flights to your departure city, if necessary. (Please confirm your international flight schedule first!) | After receiving your e‑tickets |
| ☐ | Make advance seat reservations for your international flight, if you have a preference. | After receiving your e‑tickets |
| ☐ | Confirm your flight times and any special meal requests with the airline, and print and carry a copy of your e-ticket. | 72 hours prior to travel |
| ☐ | Check in for your flights online and download/print your boarding passes (if available). | 24 hours prior to travel |
| ☐ | Arrive at the airport, ready for the trip of a lifetime! | 3½ hours prior to departure |
Documents & Entry Requirements
Entry requirements are provided for your convenience. However, unless otherwise stated, it is your responsibility to determine the requirements that apply to you and your trip and to comply with them, including obtaining any necessary visas or other travel documents by the required deadlines and carrying them with you. Especially with COVID-19, requirements are subject to change, so check back for the latest before you depart.
Germany Entry Requirements
Advice from Friendly Planet
U.S. citizens must have a passport which is valid for at least six months after your return date. Germany for stays up to 90 days. See the U.S. Dept. of State website for more information.
Advice from our partner Sherpa
Poland Entry Requirements
Advice from Friendly Planet
To travel abroad, U.S. citizens must have a passport which should be valid for at least six months after your return date. Many countries also require a travel visa for entry. Some countries issue visas upon arrival, but in most cases, you need to obtain visas prior to travel.
Advice from our partner Sherpa
General Requirements & Guidelines
- In general, you must have a passport to travel abroad, which should be valid for at least six months after your return date. Passports expiring before then should be renewed as soon as possible. Passports contain at least 2 blank pages for each country visited. If your passport does not have this many pages, obtain a new passport as soon as possible.
- if your passport and visa are not in order, airlines and cruise ships may deny boarding, countries may deny entry, and your trip may be disrupted. Travel insurance may not cover such losses.
- Any changes in names or passport information should be reported to us immediately. Airlines and cruise ships may deny boarding if the name on your passport does not match your tickets.
- Minors (age 17 or younger) departing and/or returning to the U.S. without parents or with only one parent may be required by U.S. Customs & Border Protection (CBP) to present a notarized parental consent letter and/or unabridged birth certificate (more information). Many other countries have similar entry requirements, especially for minors traveling with a parent/guardian with a different surname; check with the consulates of all countries you'll be visiting to learn more.
Final Documents
Your final travel documents will be sent to you via email by 14 days prior to departure. These will include your daily itinerary, hotel and emergency contact information, and other relevant information. Please print your documents and take them with you. If you're departing in less than a week and haven't received your documents, let us know immediately!
Travel Insurance Documents
If you purchased travel insurance, please print and carry your policy documents, including contact information for emergency travel assistance and instructions on how to make a claim. If you purchased the travel protection plan we offer, we recommend you print the full policy.
Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP)
We encourage all U.S. citizens and nationals traveling abroad to enroll in the Department of State's Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP). This free service allows you to receive important updates about safety and security issues in your destination, and makes it easier for the U.S. Embassy, as well as family & friends, to contact you in case of an emergency. To enroll or get more information, please visit the STEP website or any U.S. Embassy or Consulate.
Flights, Transfers & Arrival
Questions about your flights before you depart? Read the information below first. If you still have questions, contact our air specialists at
Tour Only Option
If selecting Tour Only, you are responsible for booking your own flights into Kraków John Paul II International Airport (KRK) and out of Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW). The touring program will begin in Krakow on Day 2 and will end in Warsaw on Day 7. If taking the optional Berlin Post tour extension, the touring program ends at the hotel in Berlin on Day 10. Generally, hotel check-in time is 3pm and check-out time is 11am.
After you book your flights, please send us a copy of your flight itinerary for our records.
Find out what to do in case of arrival complications.
Flights & Tickets
If you selected flights with your package, we generally book your flights and issue tickets after your final payment due date.
If you requested flights from another city, our air specialists will research the best options and send you a tentative flight schedule and quote for your approval within 5 business days of your booking (or approximately 330 days prior to travel, if you booked further out than that).
Once we have issued your tickets, we'll send you an "e-ticket receipt" which contains all of your flight information, including times, carriers, an airline booking reference number, and an e-ticket number. If you have not received this, or have questions about the flights we booked for you, please contact our air department. You will not receive paper tickets. We recommend you print and carry a copy of your flight details, including the airline booking reference number and e-ticket number, as some airports require this to enter the terminal. You do not need to reconfirm your flights with the airline prior to your departure, as we will handle this for you.
Toll-free numbers for airline assistance
- LOT Polish Airlines (LO): 866-694-7290
- Lufthansa (LH): 800 645-3880
- United Airlines (UA): 800 864-8331
- Austrian Airlines (OS): 800 843-0002
Flight Schedule
If you selected flights with your package, you will receive your flight schedule by email once we issue your tickets.
If you requested flights from another city, our air specialists will research the best options and send you a tentative flight schedule for your approval, and a confirmed schedule once we issue your tickets.
Airlines may change schedules at any time, even after flights have been confirmed, and we are not responsible for such changes. Please check for updates to your flight schedule prior to booking any connecting flights and again 72 hours prior to departure.
Connecting Flights
If you need to fly from (and/or return to) a different U.S. or Canadian city, we suggest you request those flights from us. If feasible, we will try to book all your flights together with a single carrier or a partner network on a single ticket. This ensures that your luggage will be transferred between flights for you, and more importantly, that if there are any schedule changes, flight cancellations, or delays that affect your trip, the airline(s) will adjust your flights to ensure you have sufficient time to make your connections and/or make alternate arrangements to get you to your destination. Besides offering the most peace of mind, this often yields lower fares than purchasing separate connecting flights.
If you plan to purchase connecting flights to your departure city, we strongly suggest waiting until after your final payment due date and after you receive the e-tickets for your international flights, to reduce the chances that that your departure might be cancelled or rescheduled or that your international flight times might change. Before purchasing connecting flights, verify the times for your international flights. Leave at least 3½ hours connecting time between flights, and if you're traveling within a few weeks of Daylight Savings Time changes (in March and November, when flight schedules may change even more dramatically), allow 5–5½ hours between flights. Nobody likes waiting around the airport, but missing your flight is far worse!
Airport Transfers
Scheduled airport transfers at the destination are included with this package. When you exit customs, please look for our representative holding a sign with your name, who will escort you to your transfer vehicle and assist with your luggage.
If you purchased the tour without flights, arrival & departure transfers are included provided you arrive at Kraków John Paul II International Airport (KRK) and out of Warsaw Chopin Airport (WAW) and submitted your flight itinerary no later than 30 days before your departure date. If you did not submit your flight itinerary, or fly into alternate area airports, you’ll need to arrange your own ground transportation to the package start and end points or contact our sales team for airport transfer rates. Note that there is no discount for any unused included transfers. Please send us your independent flight itinerary no later than 30 days prior to your departure date from the U.S. so that we can arrange your arrival and departure transfers accordingly.
Arrival Complications
We make every effort to ensure our tours run smoothly and trouble-free. We don't expect any problems, and nor should you. But when things don't go as planned, here's what to do:
- You miss your flights, or your flights are cancelled: Please call us immediately. If it's outside our normal business hours, leave a message in our emergency mailbox, with a phone number at which to reach you, and we'll get right back to you.
- Your flights are delayed and you're worried about missing your included transfers: Please contact us to let us know about the delay, and we will notify our partners in destination. If you are arriving on one of our group flights, or booked your own flights and supplied us with the details, our partners will be tracking your arrival and will plan accordingly.
- Your package includes transfers, but you can't find our representative at your destination: Don't panic—they may have been unexpectedly delayed. Wait up to 30 minutes. Then contact our local partners in destination, listed on the emergency contact page of your final documents. If you can't reach them, call us. If it's outside our normal business hours, leave a message in our emergency mailbox. If all else fails, make your own way to the starting hotel (or cruise port), and we'll refund you the cost of your transfer.
Packing & Luggage
Baggage allowance: In general, our tours & packages allow per person: one checked bag, not to exceed 44 pounds; one personal item such as a purse or camera bag; and one carry-on bag, which should fit under your seat or in the overhead compartment. If your trip includes domestic flights within your destination and/or travel by motor coach, your carry-on should also fit should also fit under your seat or in the overhead bins on those flights or coaches.
Learn more about Baggage Allowances on your international flights. Note that our baggage allowances may be less than those for your international flights. If you exceed the baggage limits, you may be subject to excess baggage charges levied by the airlines and/or by Friendly Planet.
Regardless of the limits—we recommend a smaller size and weight for both your checked and carry-on bags. It's so much easier and faster for you to get around when you have fewer, lighter bags! For your carry-on, consider a soft-sided bag such as a duffel rather than a hard clamshell-type case, which may not fit as easily into overhead compartments or under your seat, especially on buses. For your protection, we suggest your checked luggage have a TSA-approved lock.
Luggage tags: For your safety, we are no longer mailing Friendly Planet luggage tags to you. We encourage you to use your own. Fill in the luggage tags with your name and contact information and attach to each bag, including carry-ons and camera cases, so that your luggage can be identified should it get misplaced during your trip.
What to pack: Check out our list of top 10 must-haves for international travel, as well as what not to pack. Pack smart: put your travel documents, medications, one change of clothing, and other essentials in your carry-on, in case your checked baggage is misplaced. And pack light, for your own comfort and convenience. For clothing, we suggest packing a variety of separates with climate and comfort in mind.
What not to pack: U.S. law forbids you to carry hazardous materials aboard aircraft in your checked or carry-on baggage or on your person, including explosives, compressed gases, flammable liquids & solids, loaded firearms, poisons, corrosives and radioactive materials. Common examples include paints, lighter fluid, fireworks, mace/tear gas and oxygen bottles. Restricted materials may vary by airline and destination. Some items, in quantities of no more than 70 ounces total, may be carried within baggage, including medicinal or toilet articles such as hairspray, perfume and certain medicines that are necessary during your journey. Please check with the airline and/or visit the FAA website prior to travel if you have any questions.
While on Tour
What to Expect
This moderately-paced, escorted tour includes a reasonable amount of walking or hiking and requires an average level of physical fitness.
This is a Value Vacation tour operated by our carefully selected partners. The group size may be slightly larger than our Small Group Tours and will be shared with other English-speaking passengers, ensuring guaranteed departures.
Your tour is operated in partnership with Kompas Holidays International, an established, well-respected tour operator with many years of experience operating travel programs in Europe. Kompas Holidays International operates this program under the name “The Soul of Poland.” Please be assured that all arrangements have been made to ensure a wonderful experience.
Remember that you're a guest in someone else's homeland, and that you're traveling to experience their country and culture. Be sensitive to local customs and manners, as many things may be done differently than what you're used to. And while we have made every effort to secure modern and comfortable accommodations and transportation, please note that the standards in other countries may be different from those you are accustomed to at home. Overall, you will find a polite, positive, patient, and open-minded approach generally yields the best travel experience!
Please keep in mind that you'll be traveling with a group. Sharing your explorations with like-minded folks can often be a source of joy, and some of our travelers become lifelong friends. But traveling with strangers can also sometimes be challenging, especially in a foreign country. We ask that you be patient and respectful with your fellow travelers, including their needs and preferences. Also remember that you have responsibilities to the group—please be prompt for group activities so you don't keep everyone else waiting. Lastly, please defer to your tour leader, guide or manager. They are there for your safety and wellbeing, and to ensure the journey goes smoothly for everyone. If you have a problem with one of our tour guides or managers, please let us know, either while you're on tour or after you return, and we'll make sure your concerns are addressed.
Accommodations
Hotels throughout the country are brand-name chains. They are clean and comfortable and offer modern amenities. The water in the hotel tap system is probably potable, but it is always prudent to drink bottled water to avoid any problems. Hotels will normally provide bottled water, but it may not be replenished daily. Remember that any water that you consume from the hotel minibar will be charged to your room, and you will be responsible for payment.
Eating & Drinking
The meals included with your package are listed in the itinerary.
Please see above for special meal requests.
Tipping
- Tour director: $10-15 per person per day
- Local guide: $3-5 per person per day
- Drivers: $5-8 per person per day
- Transfer drivers: $4 per person per way
- Restaurant and beverage staff per meal (for not-included meals): 10% of the total bill
- Housekeeping: $1 per person per day
- Hotel/lodge porters: $1 per bag per lift upon arrival and departure
Optional Excursions
Optional excursion in Poland can be purchased locally. To make your visit to Poland more memorable, your tour director will offer optional Chopin concert in Warsaw. Acceptable forms of payment are cash (in local currency) and major credit cards. Please note, card payments may be subject to a 3.5% card surcharge.
Independent Activities
You can leave the group and explore on your own at any time; however, should the group have planned activities for that day, please make sure to inform your Tour Guide in advance. There is no refund for unused group arrangements. We recommend that you ask the front desk for a business card of the hotel with the address and local phone number. Or take the name of the hotel and phone number with you so that you can communicate with taxi drivers. Your hotel staff will gladly assist you with these arrangements.
Special Needs & Requests
Please see above for special meal requests and seat requests. If you have any other special requests, including wheelchair or electric cart assistance, please mention your request when you book with an agent, or in the special requests section when you book online. We will do our best to accommodate them!
Country FAQs
Germany Fast Facts
| Overview | Capital: Berlin |
| Health Precautions & Vaccinations | There are no health precautions or requirements to enter Germany. |
| Weather | June-September are the best months to visit Germany when days are warm and nights are cool. It does rain during the summer, so take a jacket and an umbrella. If you like wildflowers, the months of April and May are gorgeous, but cool. Late fall and early winter can also be more moderate with southern winds keeping temps warmer in Bavaria. |
| Tipping | Round up bills in restaurants and taxis, and give the tip directly to the waiter or driver. |
| Money & Credit Cards | Always notify your bank prior to departure to avoid any problems using your credit or debit card abroad. |
| Shopping | In southern Germany, shop for cuckoo clocks, thermometers, Hummel figurines, wood carvings, cameras, china, porcelain, antiques, stainless steelware, toys and dolls, wines, cheese and local handcrafts. In eastern Germany, shop for Lauscha glass, wood carvings, Leipzig tiles, porcelain, Russian and eastern European phonograph records, pottery, and wooden nutcrackers. |
| Electricity & Power Adapters | 230 volts. C & F. You will need a voltage converter and plug adapter in order to use U.S. appliances. We recommend getting a universal adapter and converter kit. Learn more about electrical standards around the world. |
| Cell Phones & Internet | Want to take your cell phone, tablet or laptop, but not sure how to get cell service or wifi? Read up on using your cell phone abroad and the 5 ways to get Internet abroad. |
Poland Fast Facts
| Overview | Capital: Warsaw |
| Health Precautions & Vaccinations | There are no health requirements or precautions. |
| Weather | The best time to visit is May-September. Summer days can be hot, but take a sweater for evenings. Winters are wet, cold, dreary and not a great time to visit unless you're interested in skiing (December-April). In May and June, the fields are overrun by wildflowers: poppies, cornflowers and daisies. October is also a good time to go, because the weather is mild and there are no crowds. |
| Tipping | Tip 10% in cabs, restaurants and bars if the tip is not already included in the bill. Tip luggage handlers 5 Zl per bag. |
| Money & Credit Cards | Always notify your bank prior to departure to avoid any problems using your credit or debit card abroad. |
| Shopping | In Poland, shop for local arts and crafts including dolls, peasant rugs, embroidery, lace, glass and crystal, wood carvings, amber (only if you know what to look for), chessboards, woven items, wooden plates, silver, wooden eggs, religious paraphernalia, native costumes, and antiques since 1945 (anything before cannot be exported). |
| Electricity & Power Adapters | 230 volts. Plugs C & E. You will need a voltage converter and plug adapter in order to use U.S. appliances. We recommend getting a universal adapter and converter kit. Learn more about electrical standards around the world. |
| Cell Phones & Internet | Want to take your cell phone, tablet or laptop, but not sure how to get cell service or wifi? Read up on using your cell phone abroad and the 5 ways to get Internet abroad. |
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Fine Print
Terms & Conditions: Please review our terms & conditions for this package.
Cancellations: If something comes up and you need to cancel your trip, please let us know as soon as possible. All cancellations must be made in writing. Cancellation fees vary by package; please see the cancellation fees for this package.