Rome with Fr. Koutnik - FAQs
How much does it cost? $2,925 U.S. dollars per person until December 15, 2016. This price presupposes double occupancy. A single room supplement will increase the cost of the trip to $3,250. A triple room will likely consist of a double room with a pull out bed. The individual cost for a triple will be the same as the individual cost for a double occupancy trip. Single rooms may be located in a remote part of the hotel, and are subject to availability.
When is payment due? A deposit of $1,000 per person is due immediately with the final trip payment due by December 15, 2016. Please make checks payable to “Finis Terra Tours Ltd.” and send checks, or money orders, to PO Box 31551, Chicago IL, 60631-0551.
Can I pay with a credit card? Finis Terra Tours Ltd. does not have the ability to directly process a credit card payment over the phone or online. A pilgrim can, however, pay for the trip using a credit card by using Paypal. For those who want to use Paypal there will be a 2.9% surcharge to the $2,925 cost of the trip, making the total cost $3,010. The same Paypal surcharge will be added to the cost of the trip after November 1, 2016. Paypal also allows for payment to be made directly from a user’s bank account.
What does the cost include? Round trip flight, bus transfer to and from airport to hotel, coach bus to and from Assisi and per itinerary for trips inside Rome. All hotel costs, museum entrance fees, guides, tips, six breakfasts, four lunches, and two dinners per itinerary.
What does the cost not include? Items of a personal nature, laundry, meals not specified in the itinerary, taxi fare if you choose not to walk at certain times, museum visits not on the itinerary, and any personal gratuities you may wish to give. The cost does not include the carrying of luggage from the airport baggage claim to the bus, and to and from the bus to the hotel, which is approximately a five minute walk. If the exchange rate of the Eurodollar to the U.S. dollar increases by more than 20% from October 1, 2016 to February 10, 2017, a surcharge may be added to the cost of the trip. Such a drastic increase is unlikely and the surcharge would not be more than $75 per person.
What is the cancellation policy? The following penalties are applicable if you cancel:
From date of reservation until December 15, $500 is non-refundable, but transferable, per person.
From December 16 - January 15, 2017 $900 is non-refundable, but transferable, per person.
As of January 16, 2017 100% of the tour price is non-refundable and non-transferable per person.
What about flight insurance or travel? Finis Terra Tours Ltd. does not offer flight or travel insurance. But for the protection of our pilgrims we recommend they purchase travel insurance. Travel insurance brochures or internet links of third party insurance companies will be sent to pilgrims once they have made a deposit for the trip. Every pilgrim must either provide Finis Terra Tours Ltd. proof of the purchase of insurance or sign a waiver declining the purchase of insurance protection.
Why would I want flight or travel insurance? Insurance is a good idea for those who have an unpredictable medical condition. If that medical condition were to flare up in the weeks or days before the trip precluding going on the pilgrimage, the flight insurance would reimburse the cost of the airfare for the trip and perhaps the cost of the entire trip, depending on the type of insurance purchased.
Is there any chance the trip would be cancelled? In the unlikely event that the trip is cancelled due to a lack of sufficient numbers, the entire cost of the trip will be reimbursed. An extraordinary event such as an airline strike, weather event, or international incident will not necessarily cause the trip to be cancelled. Trip insurance would provide total protection against such unlikely eventualities.
I’d like to go, but I don’t have a roommate to share the cost. What can I do? You can either pay $3,250, the single occupancy cost, or be willing to be assigned a roommate. There may be other people looking for a roommate and you could be matched with them. That will depend, of course, on the number of single travelers of the same sex, but we will keep track of who needs roommates and let you know as people sign up.
Can I reserve a place even though I have not paid in full? You can reserve your place on the trip with a deposit of $1,000 due by Nov. 1, 2016. The balance is due by December 15, 2016.
Do I need a passport? Yes, you will need a passport to travel to Italy. The expiration date of the passport must be beyond six months after the date of re-entry into the U.S. - February 25, 2017. A copy of that passport needs to be sent to Finis Terra Tours Ltd. at PO Box 31551, Chicago IL, 60631-0551.You can also scan the passport and send it to finisterratoursltd@gmail.com. The copy of the passport and its information will be shared with absolutely no one. It is a precautionary measure. All documentary or digital traces of the copy of the passport will be destroyed at the conclusion of the tour.
Do I need to obtain a visa? No.
Can I use airline miles or points? Until November 1, 2016 only those pilgrims flying with the group can register for the trip. Those wishing to use airline miles must contact finisterratoursltd@gmail.com on November 1st or later to find out the cost of the ground portion of the trip. If some pilgrims do fly with miles, they may miss visiting St. Paul Outside the Walls, will be responsible for arriving at the hotel on their own, and must initiate contact with the group leaders on Saturday at the hotel.
Where can I exchange dollars for Eurodollars? Talk to your local bank to see if they offer that service. Otherwise you can change money at O’Hare airport or in Rome. ATM machines in Italy also accept Visa and Mastercard credit cards and dispense Eurodollars. To use a credit card at an ATM in Italy will require a PIN. ATM’s in Italy will normally not accept debit cards from local American banks.
How many people can go on this trip? Approximately 50 people.
Is there a registration form? There is no registration form. You will be officially registered for the trip on the day your check is deposited. If you would like to register for the trip send an e-mail to finisterratoursltd@gmail.com with the name, address, phone, and e-mail for each pilgrim who would like to go. When your payment is deposited you will be notified by e-mail.
Will there be a pre-trip meeting? There will be a non mandatory pre-trip meeting at St. Thomas Parish in Crystal Lake, IL. Please watch the St. Thomas website for the date and time.
What if I have more questions? Most questions about this pilgrimage can be answered through this information sheet or by contacting Fr. Jerome Koutnik at 815-455-5400 ext. 400. If Fr. Koutnik cannot answer your questions please e-mail finisterratoursltd@gmail.com.
(November 1, 2016)
When is payment due? A deposit of $1,000 per person is due immediately with the final trip payment due by December 15, 2016. Please make checks payable to “Finis Terra Tours Ltd.” and send checks, or money orders, to PO Box 31551, Chicago IL, 60631-0551.
Can I pay with a credit card? Finis Terra Tours Ltd. does not have the ability to directly process a credit card payment over the phone or online. A pilgrim can, however, pay for the trip using a credit card by using Paypal. For those who want to use Paypal there will be a 2.9% surcharge to the $2,925 cost of the trip, making the total cost $3,010. The same Paypal surcharge will be added to the cost of the trip after November 1, 2016. Paypal also allows for payment to be made directly from a user’s bank account.
What does the cost include? Round trip flight, bus transfer to and from airport to hotel, coach bus to and from Assisi and per itinerary for trips inside Rome. All hotel costs, museum entrance fees, guides, tips, six breakfasts, four lunches, and two dinners per itinerary.
What does the cost not include? Items of a personal nature, laundry, meals not specified in the itinerary, taxi fare if you choose not to walk at certain times, museum visits not on the itinerary, and any personal gratuities you may wish to give. The cost does not include the carrying of luggage from the airport baggage claim to the bus, and to and from the bus to the hotel, which is approximately a five minute walk. If the exchange rate of the Eurodollar to the U.S. dollar increases by more than 20% from October 1, 2016 to February 10, 2017, a surcharge may be added to the cost of the trip. Such a drastic increase is unlikely and the surcharge would not be more than $75 per person.
What is the cancellation policy? The following penalties are applicable if you cancel:
From date of reservation until December 15, $500 is non-refundable, but transferable, per person.
From December 16 - January 15, 2017 $900 is non-refundable, but transferable, per person.
As of January 16, 2017 100% of the tour price is non-refundable and non-transferable per person.
What about flight insurance or travel? Finis Terra Tours Ltd. does not offer flight or travel insurance. But for the protection of our pilgrims we recommend they purchase travel insurance. Travel insurance brochures or internet links of third party insurance companies will be sent to pilgrims once they have made a deposit for the trip. Every pilgrim must either provide Finis Terra Tours Ltd. proof of the purchase of insurance or sign a waiver declining the purchase of insurance protection.
Why would I want flight or travel insurance? Insurance is a good idea for those who have an unpredictable medical condition. If that medical condition were to flare up in the weeks or days before the trip precluding going on the pilgrimage, the flight insurance would reimburse the cost of the airfare for the trip and perhaps the cost of the entire trip, depending on the type of insurance purchased.
Is there any chance the trip would be cancelled? In the unlikely event that the trip is cancelled due to a lack of sufficient numbers, the entire cost of the trip will be reimbursed. An extraordinary event such as an airline strike, weather event, or international incident will not necessarily cause the trip to be cancelled. Trip insurance would provide total protection against such unlikely eventualities.
I’d like to go, but I don’t have a roommate to share the cost. What can I do? You can either pay $3,250, the single occupancy cost, or be willing to be assigned a roommate. There may be other people looking for a roommate and you could be matched with them. That will depend, of course, on the number of single travelers of the same sex, but we will keep track of who needs roommates and let you know as people sign up.
Can I reserve a place even though I have not paid in full? You can reserve your place on the trip with a deposit of $1,000 due by Nov. 1, 2016. The balance is due by December 15, 2016.
Do I need a passport? Yes, you will need a passport to travel to Italy. The expiration date of the passport must be beyond six months after the date of re-entry into the U.S. - February 25, 2017. A copy of that passport needs to be sent to Finis Terra Tours Ltd. at PO Box 31551, Chicago IL, 60631-0551.You can also scan the passport and send it to finisterratoursltd@gmail.com. The copy of the passport and its information will be shared with absolutely no one. It is a precautionary measure. All documentary or digital traces of the copy of the passport will be destroyed at the conclusion of the tour.
Do I need to obtain a visa? No.
Can I use airline miles or points? Until November 1, 2016 only those pilgrims flying with the group can register for the trip. Those wishing to use airline miles must contact finisterratoursltd@gmail.com on November 1st or later to find out the cost of the ground portion of the trip. If some pilgrims do fly with miles, they may miss visiting St. Paul Outside the Walls, will be responsible for arriving at the hotel on their own, and must initiate contact with the group leaders on Saturday at the hotel.
Where can I exchange dollars for Eurodollars? Talk to your local bank to see if they offer that service. Otherwise you can change money at O’Hare airport or in Rome. ATM machines in Italy also accept Visa and Mastercard credit cards and dispense Eurodollars. To use a credit card at an ATM in Italy will require a PIN. ATM’s in Italy will normally not accept debit cards from local American banks.
How many people can go on this trip? Approximately 50 people.
Is there a registration form? There is no registration form. You will be officially registered for the trip on the day your check is deposited. If you would like to register for the trip send an e-mail to finisterratoursltd@gmail.com with the name, address, phone, and e-mail for each pilgrim who would like to go. When your payment is deposited you will be notified by e-mail.
Will there be a pre-trip meeting? There will be a non mandatory pre-trip meeting at St. Thomas Parish in Crystal Lake, IL. Please watch the St. Thomas website for the date and time.
What if I have more questions? Most questions about this pilgrimage can be answered through this information sheet or by contacting Fr. Jerome Koutnik at 815-455-5400 ext. 400. If Fr. Koutnik cannot answer your questions please e-mail finisterratoursltd@gmail.com.
(November 1, 2016)
