MyAccount
Your adventure starts now. Log into MyAccount before you even have to think about packing. Start turning your dreams into memories by organising optional activities and excursions, viewing your hotels and itinerary, and easily updating your details.
It’s easy to set up with the six-digit booking number received from your travel agent or online booking system. Just another way our planning is carefully crafted to bring you so much more than you thought possible, right from the word ‘go’.
Travel Insurance
The real travel magic happens when you’re worry free. We hope you don’t lose a bag or need a doctor (that’s not in our travel plan either!) but if the worst happens it’s good to have backup. Travel insurance is an easy way to take the worry out of travelling, so you can live it up.
Visas & Passports
A ticket isn’t the only thing you need to travel. You’ll also need a passport (with at least six months validity) and visas. Those visas have different personalities – some are simple, some are complex. You may need multi-entry visas or ones with long validity time. Your Travel Agent or the Cosmos team can advise which visas you need and how to get them.
Vaccinations
It’s a small amount of pain for a lot of gain. Vaccines you may need range from general Tetanus, Hepatitis A and B, flu and rabies to more country specific typhoid and cholera. Your local GP can advise which jabs are best depending on your itinerary.
Travel Documents
We know travel dreams start to come to life well before you go anywhere. The day your travel documents arrive those dreams are becoming a reality. Three to four weeks prior to take off (once full payment and emergency contacts have been received and Terms & Conditions accepted) your documents will arrive.
Pre Packing List
You want more than just the basics in your holiday – but that doesn’t have to extend to the contents of your suitcase. Our trick is to keep packing simple: save the ‘special’ for the experiences that await.
Suitcases
Our coaches (and often your airline carrier) limit passengers to one 22kg suitcase per person.
Your airline may also have other restrictions relating to the size of luggage. A good rule of thumb is suitcases with a maximum size of 76 x 53 x 28cm and 30 x 28 x 14cm for hand luggage.
Don’t forget the tags – even on hand luggage – so they can always find their way home.
Dress
Mix and match pieces that come together in various ways will be your best travel friends. Think comfy but smart, easy-care and wrinkle free.
Here’s the low down:
- Casual, comfortable clothes for day, that don’t distract you from the incredible adventures you’re having.
- A dressier outfit, if you have special events planned.
- Enough underwear to avoid frequent laundry.
- Warm layers for evenings.
- Top tip: bring at least one pair of socks. Even on a summer day the weather can get chilly.
The Essentials – As long as you have the essentials - passport, visas, money cards and travel insurance, the most important things have been taken care of.
Money belt – For extra security, those essentials above are best kept inside your clothes. If you’re carrying a handbag, one with a cross body strap is harder for thieves to access. Top tip: carry cross body bags in front of you for extra security.
Sacred, Religious & Special sites – We encourage all our travellers to be respectful of local and traditional customs. For women - a multi-purpose scarf is a travellers’ best friend. In religious sites, it’s useful for covering your hair or bare shoulders. For men – you’ll likely need long pants (ones that that zip into shorts might be the perfect option).
Alpine areas
- Coat
- Beanie or hat
- Scarf
- Gloves
- Thick socks
- Boots
- Thermals
Summer
- Loose fitting clothing
- Sunglasses
- Hat
- Sunscreen
- Insect repellent.
Winter – No one likes being left out in the cold, but winter is great fun when you’re warm. Make sure you layer up with thermal underwear/socks, coat, scarf, gloves and hat.
Hot tip: keep a woolen hat in your jacket pocket – it can make all the difference.
Footwear – Two words: cobblestone streets. Exploring is wonderful but it can be hard on your feet. Choose footwear with plenty of cushion, and it’s probably best to avoid heels. Try to limit to two pairs – open toe and closed. Your feet will thank you later.
Toiletries – Mini, refillable, travel bottles make it easy to take your favorite toiletries on the road.
Top tip: cabin pressure and moving luggage around can cause spills. Keep liquids where they belong by keeping your bottles in zip lock bags.
Other tips: before you go, make sure to:
- Pack travel adaptors / converters
- Check your phone roaming plan
- Keep spare clothes in your carry-on in case of delays. Rolling your clothes will also keep them wrinkle-free.
- When it comes to precious jewellery or other items you couldn’t bear to lose, best leave them at home, just in case.
Pre & Post Accommodation
Every moment matters, and sometimes you want more of them. We get it. Why rush home if you don’t have to? Our team or your travel agent can help you extend your adventure for as long as you like.
What is an Optional Excursion?
Dial it up, or dial it down. The freedom and flexibility to choose the pace of the journey is yours. If not relaxing or solo exploring in your free time, add the cherry on top to your trip by taking an optional excursion. You might visit a cowboy ranch and hang with the gauchos at a BBQ in Argentina or take a rickshaw to a colourful night market in Thailand – we’ve found dozens of ways to take you that bit further.
Optional excursion availability may depend on seasonality, sufficient participation or general feasibility. When paying, excursions quoted in AUD can be booked direct via MyAccount. If the amount being displayed online is only in local currency, that means payment is made while on tour. Simple.
Can I book optional excursions before travel?
Sure can. You can lock away the options that jumps off the page and puts a shiver of excitement down your spine between 90 and 4 days prior to the Tour Start Date through your MyAccount. (The trip must have a Guaranteed Departure status).
Things to look for: some excursions and activities offer discounted pricing to children aged 13 and younger, while others have a minimum age limit (for example, a tour including a winery). Anyone under 18 needs to be accompanied by an adult.
Transfers
Hassle-free travel means that all the dots are connected, including getting there and away. Every moment matters when you leave home, so we make it easy to organise arrival and departure transfers directly with us. The scheduled daytime transfer times don’t suit? No problem – we can organise out of hours transfers to fit your schedule.
Emergency Contact Details
It’s unlikely we’ll need these, but we must have them just in case. Log these online in your MyAccount. We can’t send out your travel documents until they’re in there.
Passenger Info Forms
We’d like to get to know you before the trip even kicks off. That includes being aware of any allergies and special needs. Because we're in the know about how to make your trip as safe and comfortable as possible, you’ll be freer to live it up.
