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The trip starts and ends in Las Vegas. 

Joining point: 

Courtyard by Marriott Las Vegas Convention Center
3275 Paradise Rd, Nevada Las Vegas 89109 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Phone: +1 7027913600

Description: Courtyard by Marriott Las Vegas Convention Center is located near the Sphere and Fremont Street Experience, and just minutes from the Las Vegas Strip via Monorail. Spacious rooms feature premium bedding, free Wi-Fi, and workstations.

Instructions: The hotel is easily reached by taxi, LYFT, or Uber from Harry Reid International Airport (LAS). Rates will vary based on the time of day, but will typically takes 15-20 minutes and cost around $20.

If you are arriving in your own vehicle, please refer to the city of Las Vegas' Parking & Transportation website for information about where to park and leave your vehicle during the tour. https://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/Residents/Parking-Transportation

Finishing point

Courtyard by Marriott Las Vegas Convention Center
3275 Paradise Rd, Nevada
Las Vegas
89109
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
Phone: +1 7027913600

Description: Courtyard by Marriott Las Vegas Convention Center is located near the Sphere and Fremont Street Experience, and just minutes from the Las Vegas Strip via Monorail. Spacious rooms feature premium bedding, free Wi-Fi, and workstations.

Instructions: Harry Reid International Airport (LAS) is easily reached by taxi, LYFT, or Uber from the hotel. Rates will vary based on the time of day, but will typically takes 15-20 minutes and cost around $20.

PASSPORT
You’ll need a valid passport to travel internationally and most countries require your passport to have a minimum of 6 months validity, so remember to check the expiry date.

We need your passport information to get everything ready for your trip so it’s important that the information on your booking matches your passport exactly. Please take care to provide the correct details. We recommend carrying a copy of the photo page of your passport while travelling and leaving a copy at home with family or friends.

VISAS & ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
Many countries require a visa and obtaining the correct visa for your trip and any countries you may transit through is your responsibility. We recommend you check your visa requirements as soon as you have booked your trip. This will ensure you have time to prepare your documents and for your visa application to be processed. 

INSURANCE

Travel insurance is compulsory on all our trips for those travelling internationally. We require that, at a minimum, you are covered for medical expenses, including emergency repatriation. If you are travelling within your home country or region, please confirm before travel that you are entitled to access the public medical system easily should an accident occur. We strongly recommend all travellers have a policy that also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage or personal effects. For international trips, you will not be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24-hour emergency contact number has been sighted by your group leader or local representative.

If you have credit card insurance, your group leader or local representative will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number, and emergency contact number, rather than the bank's name and your credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country.

For travellers who reside within the European Union, Switzerland or the USA, the requirement to purchase travel insurance cannot be compulsory. However, the purchase of travel insurance is still highly recommended, and each country you visit may have its own specific entry requirements. For example, some mandate travel health insurance for all foreign travellers, regardless of their nationality. Travellers from the European Union, Switzerland or the USA who decline travel insurance when travelling outside their home region must sign a Travel Insurance Waiver Form at the Group Meeting, recognizing personal responsibility for emergency medical and repatriation costs should they arise.

AUSTRALIANS TRAVELLING DOMESTICALLY
Travel insurance will help ensure you’re protected in case of any unforeseen changes to your journey – such as flight cancellations or illness. For this reason, we recommend you purchase comprehensive domestic travel insurance for your trip. This may not be something you would have typically done in the past when travelling domestically in Australia, but it does offer you a number of benefits. While Australians and Australian Permanent Residents travelling within Australia are not required to be covered for hospital care due to being covered by Medicare, a comprehensive domestic travel insurance policy should cover you for expenses incurred. Domestic travel insurance plans may also include personal liability, cancellation, curtailment, loss of luggage and personal effects, and other benefits. It is also advisable that domestic travellers have current ambulance cover in the case of emergency evacuation or incidents requiring ambulance transportation. Please be sure to carefully check the policy’s inclusions with your preferred insurer.
 

1. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 8 am on Day 1 in Las Vegas. Please make your own way to the Joining Point Hotel listed in the Essential Trip Information for this itinerary.

2. There is no accommodation included in Las Vegas on this trip. If you wish to spend more time in Las Vegas, we'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). Speak to an Intrepid booking agent for more information.

3. On the final day, this trip finishes at approximately 6 pm on arrival in Las Vegas. You will be dropped at the same location as the joining point. If departing this day, please do not book any flights before 8 pm.

4. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights on your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.

5. We are not able to book airport shuttle service for North America trips. North America has convenient taxi and rideshare options from all airports, as well as public transport systems in major hub cities. Please check the joining and finishing point instructions listed in the Essential Trip Information.

6. Entrance to the National Parks visited on this trip are included in your trip price. Travellers who are not residents of the US and are aged 16 years or older will need to pay Nonresident fees to enter National Parks included in this trip. These fees range from USD 100 to USD 250 per person and will be payable locally and in addition to your trip price. Please see the Money Matters section of the Essential Trip Information for more details.

SPENDING MONEY
When it comes to spending money on the trip, every traveller is a little different. You know your spending habits better than we do, so please budget an appropriate amount for things like optional meals, drinks, shopping, optional activities, and laundry. Make sure you have read the itinerary and inclusions thoroughly so you know what is included in the trip price and what you may need to pay for while travelling.

USA
The most convenient way to access money is via ATMs, which are plentiful throughout the USA. Most optional activities can be paid for with a credit card.

TIPPING
Tipping can be an appropriate way to recognise great service when travelling. While it may not be customary in your home country, it is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry across many of our destinations and is greatly appreciated by the people who take care of you during your travels. It is always best to avoid tipping with coins, very small denomination notes, or dirty and ripped notes, as this can be regarded as an insult rather than the goodwill gesture it is intended to be.

During your trip you may have a local guide for an included or optional activity. We suggest USD 5 – 10 per traveller per local guide.

We suggest tipping 18% to 22% of your bill at restaurants and USD 1 per drink at bars.

State and federal taxes aren’t normally listed on menus but will appear on your bill. Keep this in mind when your bill comes out slightly higher than the listed prices.

We recommend budgeting approximately USD 20 per traveller to tip local service providers for activities included in this trip. This doesn’t include a tip for your leader.

YOUR LEADER
You may consider tipping your leader for outstanding service throughout your trip. The amount is entirely a personal preference; however, as a guideline USD 10 – 20 per traveller per day can be used. Of course you are free to tip more or less as you see fit, depending on your perception of service quality and the length and involvement of your leader on your trip. Tipping is always appreciated.

CONTINGENCY FUNDS
We try to plan for every eventuality, but there are still some things beyond our control. We reserve the right to change an itinerary after departure due to local circumstances or a Force Majeure Event. In such emergency circumstances, the additional cost of any necessary itinerary alterations will be covered by you. We are not responsible for any incidental expenses that may be incurred because of changes to itineraries, including but not limited to visas, vaccinations or non-refundable flights.

Make sure you have access to an extra USD 500 for emergencies (e.g. severe weather, natural disasters, civil unrest) or other events that result in unavoidable changes to the itinerary (e.g. transport strikes or cancellations, airport closures). Sometimes these things necessitate last-minute changes to enable our trips to continue to run, and as a result, there may be some extra costs involved.

The recommended amount is listed in USD for the relatability of all travellers; however, local currency may be needed once in the country to cover these costs. Please confirm with your leader on Day 1 if you need to carry this in cash, or whether access via card or electronically is sufficient.

NATIONAL PARK FEES FOR INTERNATIONAL VISITORS
Travellers who are not residents of the US and are aged 16 or older will need to pay additional Nonresident fees to enter National Parks included in this trip. These fees need to be paid locally (cash or credit card) and are in addition to your trip payment.
The fee is USD 100 per National Park, but in some instances an annual pass for USD 250, shared by up to four people, may be more cost effective. On Day 1, your leader will discuss the best value option for you and others in your group who need to pay these fees.
If your trip visits any of the following National Parks, additional fees will apply.

• Acadia
• Bryce Canyon
• Everglades
• Glacier
• Grand Canyon
• Grand Teton
• Rocky Mountain
• Sequoia & Kings Canyon
• Yellowstone
• Yosemite
• Zion

All luggage is carried in trailers or inside the vehicle so please don't bring more than one medium sized bag, backpack or suitcase (20kg/44lb maximum) per person. Your suitcase/rucksack may get some rough handling, so make sure it's a tough one. A small daypack with your water bottle and camera may be carried with you inside the vehicle.

ESSENTIAL:

• Reusable water bottle. We recommend at least a 1.5 litre capacity. The sale of bottled water contributes to an enormous environmental problem around the world. Tap water in the USA and Canada is safe to drink and there are many places to fill up along the way, so please save plastic by bringing your own water bottle.
• Sun protection - hat, sunscreen, sunglasses
• Lightweight, breathable clothing you can layer. No matter the season, you should be prepared for changing temperatures and weather conditions. Make sure to have a warm outer layer even in summer months as well as a waterproof jacket.
• Closed-in walking/hiking shoes. We highly recommend that you take a pair of comfortable, closed-in/closed-toe walking shoes. Closed-in shoes will help to protect your feet from cuts and scratches when walking through bush/grass-lands, and will also act as a barrier protection in rare cases against bites or stings from dangerous animals in this environment.
• Personal travel documents which may include a passport, visa, driver's license, travel insurance, flight tickets and your Essential Trip Information. Photocopies of these documents stored separately from the originals will be handy. While not valid, a photocopy of your identification makes it much easier to obtain replacements if necessary.

RECOMMENDED:

• Cell phone, camera with spare batteries, charger, and power/plug adaptor (Types A & B are used in the USA and Canada. Voltage is 120V)
• Insect repellent (insects are present intermittently all over the USA and Canada depending on recent rainfall.)
• A cotton bandana or scarf. Can be wetted and worn around the neck to facilitate evaporative cooling in high temperatures, used as sun protection, or used to protect your neck and head from cold/rain.
• Swimwear
• Comfortable sandals/Recovery shoes. To put on after a day of hiking or during a long ride in the van.
• Personal medical kit. Your guide will carry a large kit but we recommend you carry items such as mild pain killers, electrolytes, anti-diarrhoeal, antibacterial gel, wet wipes, bandaids/plasters etc.

OPTIONAL:

• Travel pillow if you like to sleep during long drives
• Lip balm and extra moisturizer if traveling to arid desert areas
• Ear plugs to guard against a snoring roommate
• A good book, a journal or headphones to listen to music with

WINTER:
If you are travelling on one of our winter trips in North America be prepared for temperatures to drop to well below zero (Celsius). We recommend you bring shoes for walking across snow or ice (good waterproof walking boots with a good grip), a warm wind and waterproof jacket and trousers, gloves or mittens, thermals and base layers, fleece, good head wear and sunglasses.

WEATHER IN NORTH AMERICA
Due to the size and topography of the US and Canada, there's a huge amount of variation in the climate. We recommend you consider both the season and the part of North America you intend to visit, so that you can best pack for your adventure. We recommend you check the weather in your destination 10 days prior to your arrival to help guide your packing choices.

SOUTHWESTERN USA (Arizona, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and parts of California)
The Southwestern USA is known for its desert and semi-arid climate. Some areas of the Southwest, like Bryce Canyon, are at high elevations so temperatures can be much lower than in surrounding areas. It is important to stay hydrated and come prepared for changing weather conditions.

Summers (June-August)
Summers in the Southwest are hot. You can expect high temperatures from 90°F to 110°F (32°C to 43°C) or higher, especially in desert areas. Low temperatures usually fall between 60°F to 80°F (15°C to 27°C) in lower elevations, cooler in higher elevations. Parts of the Southwest experience a monsoon season from July-September with the potential for heavy rain.

Fall (September-November)
In Fall you can expect high temperatures between 70°F to 90°F (21°C to 32°C) during the day and low temperatures from 50°F to 70°F (10°C to 21°C) during the night. Parts of the Southwest experience a monsoon season from July-September with the potential for heavy rain.

Winters (December-February)
Winters are mild in the daytime, but nights can get quite cold, especially in desert regions. High-elevation areas (like the Grand Canyon) experience snowfall. You can expect high temperatures from 50°F to 70°F (10°C to 21°C) during the day, cooler in desert regions. Winter low temperatures usually fall between 30°F to 50°F (-1°C to 10°C) in lower elevations, colder in higher elevations, and occasional freezing temperatures in the desert at night.

Spring (March-May)
Spring is a pleasant time to visit with milder temperatures and blooming desert wildflowers. You can expect high temperatures from 70°F to 90°F (21°C to 32°C) during the day and low temperatures from 50°F to 70°F (10°C to 21°C) at night.

USA NATIONAL HOLIDAYS
The following national holidays are observed in the US, which can affect our itinerary as traffic can be extreme, and shops, restaurants and attractions can be closed:

• New Year's Day (01 January)
• Martin Luther King Jr. Day (third Monday of January)
• Washington's Birthday (third Monday of February)
• Memorial Day (last Monday of May)
• Independence Day (4 July)
• Labor Day (first Monday in September)
• Columbus Day (second Monday of October)
• Veterans Day (11 November)
• Thanksgiving Day (fourth Thursday of November)
• Christmas Day (25 December)