Having enough information to assist in making your plans is a great asset to having an enjoyable time. We hope that the following information will answer some of your questions regarding our trip.

• What should I wear on the bus and while on the trip?
• How much luggage can I bring?
• What should I bring into the passenger seating area of the bus?
• If we have more that one bus, which one will I be on?
• Can I eat lunch with the Bethel Family?
• Can Non-Witness family members come on the tour?
• Do you ever do tours from other cities?
• I need a cane and/or wheelchair to get around, are there provisions for me?
• Do you go on any of the MET tours?
• What if I want to sign up for the tour but don't have a room mate?

What should I wear on the bus and while on the trip?

Something comfortable, but neat. You can feel free to dress casual on the trip to and from NYC. For the Bethel Tours, each congregation has a flyer from the Branch with pictures of appropriate dress examples. That flyer speaks well for our standards and we encourage all to plan accordingly.

During the shopping times, casual clothing is fine. Baggy pants and shirts that expose the waist? Please do not bring those along. In general you may wish to consider this principal. If what we are wearing appears to be trendy and exhibits attitudes of the world, consider leaving it behind. We are spectacles to angels and to the world. Let's show them our fine conduct in the way we dress and groom ourselves. 

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How much luggage can I bring?

A full sized suitcase and garment bag per person. Those items will be in the lower bays during the trip to and from NYC and will not be accessible during the drive.

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What should I bring into the passenger seating area of the bus?

In the passenger section please bring your Bible, Textbook, and Watchtower. (Most often in the form of an electronic device). Other reading materials and music is fine, but please be advised, do not bring any rap, heavy metal, or other questionable items. If we see this type of material, we will ask for it to be removed at the the next stop, or deleted from electronic devices immediately, so please don't put us in that position. All movies shown on the bus are pre-selected and approved. If the movie isn't on our list it will not be shown until such time that we can preview and approve it. For those carrying DVD players, iPods, and other devices, headphones are required, and at a low volume. You may also bring a SMALL cooler, the size that can fit under the seat, and please, bring drinks that have caps for resealing. Food items are fine, but try to find foods and snacks that are not "crunchy". Have you ever sat next to someone as they ate "loud" snacks? In addition, we highly recommend a blanket and pillow.

Prior to each tour, please tell family and friends that you will be gone for the week and will get back in touch with them when you return. Please refrain from making cell phone calls or texting while on ANY of the Bethel tours. During the week, we request you spend your time getting to know all the new friends you will be with during the week of activity. While on the buses, please refrain from phone calls or texting unless you are making plans with others on the tour. DO NOT posting anything about the tours on Social Media sites while on your tour. When you arrive home from the tours, please do not post pictures of others unless you have their permission to do so. (within reason of course.)

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If we have more that one bus, which one will I be on?

When we take trips with multiple buses, we try to keep passengers from a general geographic location together. However, this can depend on a number of factors. We try to keep an equitable variety on each bus. This could mean many things, but we try to have a good mix of Brothers and Sisters, various age groups, specific traveling companions, families, etc. It could also depend on who signs up and when and what requests are received at the time of signing up. So we do the best we can to satisfy everyone’s wishes, but in the end we sometimes have to make "judgement calls" based on our experience and all the listed factors. As the tour administrator, I reserve the right to assign each passenger to a bus as required by the circumstances of each group.

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Can I eat lunch with the Bethel Family?

If invited, you may feel free to accept invitations for Monday, Tuesday, or Wednesday. The schedule allows you to accept invitations if you know Bethel family members at Warwick World Headquarters (Monday), the Patterson Educational Center (Tuesday), or Wallkill Branch Office (Wednesday). If you accept invitations we will insure that you are available at the facility before lunch, and we will pick you up afterwards. If you would like to host a Bethelite for lunch any of these days, please feel free to contact us and we will let you know the details about the restaurant we will be at and what the price per meal is for that location. Our lunch break will be from 12:00 - 1:30 on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday. Each year a number of friends join us and we always have an enjoyable time with them.

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Can Non-Witness family members come on the tour?

Many individuals may have non-witness family members who are very familiar with our standards of conduct. Often there are husbands and wives who allow their mates (or children, etc.) to attend meetings, field service, gatherings, and so on without restriction, even being supportive of such. From time to time they may even attend meetings and gatherings, and at such they conduct themselves in a fine manner. We welcome such individuals on our trips.

Advanced Bible Students may also be invited once we have interviewed the Bible Students instructor and reviewed the progress of the Bible Student to determine their knowledge of our standards of conduct and how well they will follow the instructions of the tour arrangement.

It is important, however, for us to speak with each individual who may be invited so that I may have an opportunity to get to know them and visit with them about our tour arrangement.

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Do you ever do tours from other cities?

Yes we do. We have enjoyed the privilege of doing a tour for friends from Atlanta, GA, Toledo, OH, and Minneapolis, MN. In 2018 I will add additional cities to the list. In the past we limited our trips to those that can be accomplished by Coach Bus, however, we also enjoy having friends who fly to Newark Airport on Sunday and then join us for the tour when we arrive on Sunday. The friends who fly to Newark obtain their own airfare and flight arrangements. Some friends who fly have also chosen to arrive a day or two early so that they can enjoy additional sightseeing. We are willing to work with the friends who may wish to arrive early or leave later than the normal tour dates.

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I need a cane and/or wheelchair to get around, are there provisions for me?

For those who are limited in mobility, we require that you have a friend or family member who can assist you at all times with your needs. We do have young ones who are often willing to assist, however, they should not be depended on for primary care of those who need assistance. If after you have joined the tour you determine you would like to use a wheelchair during the tours, it will be your responsibility to arrange in advance to have a friend or traveling companion to assist you.

You may also wish to be aware that you are free to stay back on any tour and rest if needed. At each facility for the Bethel tours it is enjoyable to meet and talk to other visitors and the Bethel family members as they come and go. Whether you go on a pre-arranged tour or just sit in the lobby, you will find friends and you will enjoy your conversations with them! Please don't underestimate how much the Bethel Family members enjoy hearing the experiences that occur out in the congregations! Visitors are as enjoyable to the Bethel Family as Bethel Family Members are to us!

PLEASE NOTE: I reserve the right to determine if a person will be allowed to attend any tour when they may have limitations for medical or physical reasons.

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Do you go on any of the MET tours? Or any other tours?

Yes, we include the MET tour as part of the tour package and we will continue to do so. We request spots for both the "Woman and her Offspring" and "Integrity". For those who have never attended the MET tours, you will likely want to take the "Woman and her Offspring" first. For those who have been on the "Woman and her Offspring" tour, the next in order is the "Integrity" tour. Be sure to wear comfortable walking shoes! The tour is scheduled for the entire day.

We also now include the "Best of NYC" Circle Line Boat Cruise as part of the tour package. This 2.5 hour cruise circles the entire Manhattan Island, allowing you to enjoy many of the sights not normally seen from land based tours.

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What if I want to sign up but don't have a roommate?

It is "generally" expected that most guests will have a roommate, but that is not always the case. Even though it is always best if the person signing up can find/choose their own roommates, there are times that we can assist to some degree. We do keep a record of those who are looking for roommates, and we take some notes about personal preferences to assist in "matching" people together. However, we generally prefer guests to do the "matching" themselves.

First: Anyone who does not have a roommate and is looking for one MUST plan on the two per room rate. Anyone who signs up will be billed at the two per room rate unless more roommates are available at the time you sign up. In addition, if the two per room rate is requested, and no room mate can be found, the One per room rate will apply. We understand that this may be difficult financially, however, it is not always possible for us to fill requested rooming accommodations.

Second: Even though passengers may ASK for the four per room rate, I will not be able to search for other room mates, nor will I be able to "keep track of" all requests for such rooming arrangements. All passengers will be billed at the two per room rate unless YOU find additional roommates. If at ANY time one of the roommates cancel, then the room rate will be set at the number in the room AT TOUR TIME. All passengers MUST be aware of the possibility that the room rate can change if a room cancellation occurs, and this could also mean being adjusted to the ONE per room rate in the event someone cancels from a 2 per room arrangement.

If anyone has ANY questions regarding this policy, please feel free to give me a call and I will answer your questions regarding this matter.