Travel Details

The selection of air carrier is entirely up to you. We ask that YOU DO NOT BOOK YOUR FLIGHT UNTIL WE NOTIFY YOU THAT THE CLASS IS A GO. If you book too early and the class is cancelled for what ever reason, you’re sitting there holding a ticket to Honduras.

When you do book your flight, it will need to be for San Pedro Sula, Honduras. I will be flying American Airlines, which will be taking me into Miami and then from Miami to San Pedro Sula. So, for those flying American to Miami, we’ll probably hook up and go down together. PLEASE NOTE: Regardless of which airlines you choose, YOU MUST BE IN SAN PEDRO SULA ON SATURDAY, JULY 12, 2008…preferably in the early to mid afternoon. Our plan is to get your gear through customs as soon as possible and load up to head to Copan as a group. If you know that your flight is going to be later, please notify us at 1-800-483-6208 to let us know what to expect. Otherwise, you could find yourself getting onto a bus to Copan by yourself. (Not a big deal unless you don’t speak Spanish).

Your return flight should be scheduled for late morning or early afternoon from San Pedro Sula on Saturday, July 19, 2008. NOTE: If you opt to leave earlier than July 19th, you may be subject to an additional fee to take you to the airport AND the class fee WILL NOT BE PRORATED.

YOU WILL NEED a valid passport with at least six (6) months left on the passport on the day of departure for Honduras. If your passport expires less than six (6) months of July 12, 2008, You must get a new passport. Failure to have a valid passport will leave you back in the states. If this happens, YOU WILL NOT BE ENTITLED TO ANY REFUND OF ANY TYPE…PERIOD.

LUGGAGE You will be allowed two (2) checked pieces of luggage at fifty (50) pounds each. You will also be allowed one (1) carry on and one (1) personal item on board; i.e. your camera bag and your computer. Ladies, I would suggest combining your computer bag or camera bag with your purse. KEEP IT SMALL. Suzette has traveled out of the country and I’m sure she would be more than happy to advise you to this matter. You may contact her at suzette@suzetteallen.com. NOTE REGARDING CHECKED LUGGAGE: Any checked luggage over fifty (50) pounds will be charged an additional $100.00. Anyone checking more than two (2) pieces of luggage will be charged an additional $100.00 per piece per direction. Example, if you check 3 pieces of luggage and one is 51 lbs., it will cost you an additional $400.00. ($100.00 for the extra piece going down, $100.00 for the overweight going down and the same amount coming back…$400.00!)

When we go through customs, we will try to go through together but if that’s not possible, we will meet in the lobby. (We will discuss the rendezvous closer to time.)

You will need to hold back $30-$35 for your departure tax, as well as, $3.00 for Guatemala. Also, any other fund for snacks, drinks, souvenirs, etc.

We suggest that you keep your passport with you at ALL TIMES. It’s just better that way. We would hate to leave you at the border of Guatemala…we will pick you up on our way back through…

MONEY Although we’ll be in two different countries, keep in mind we will be in Guatemala a very short time so you will probably not need to exchange much money there. Here is the general information regarding their currency:

1. Honduras uses the Lempira (lem-pee-rah). The exchange rate has been just under 19 Lempira’s to 1 U.S. Dollar.

2. Guatemala uses the Quetsales (kweht-sa-less). The exchange rate was approximately 7 Quetsales to 1 U.S. Dollar.

If you want to go to your local bank and make the exchange through them, that is fine, but we would suggest you wait until you get down there and make the exchange. Just image with the exchange rate, the “wad” of bills you would have to del with during your travel, etc. …just a thought.

We would also suggest that you NOT exchange your money as soon as you get out of customs and into the lobby. During the hustle and confusion of your travels, it could be a very vulnerable time and you could be short changed during the exchange. It’s also not the best place, in our opinion; to make an open exchange…you have just announced how much money you have. We will go into a bank where we can discretely make the exchange and you won’t be under pressure. As for Guatemala, that exchange will take place at the border. We suggest you have in mind the amount you want to spend in U.S. Dollars and have ONY THAT AMOUNT out and ready to make the exchange. It’s not that these places are overly dangerous but we ask you to consider this…if you were outside a mall in the U.S. and you handed off $50.00 or $100.00 to someone for whatever reason…if that passing of money was seen by some unscrupulous person, you could be in danger…right here at home. We will make every effort to see that you will be able to exchange your monies is a safe and timely manner.

If you have further questions, you may call us at 800-483-6208.