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Frequently
Asked Questions
On this page you will find answers to commonly asked questions about Rolling Roads vacations, if you can't find an answer to a question please contact us at info@rollingroads.com and we will reply as soon as we can. Index General Questions Reservations & Travel Questions Cycling Specific FAQ Multi Sport – Hiking Specific Multi Sport – Canoe & Kayak Specific General Questions 1. Do you have family oriented vacations? Yes, we have vacation packages specifically designated as family vacations; these vacations are tailored to adults with children and/or adults who prefer less strenuous activities. Also, most Rolling Roads vacations are suitable for the whole family, if your family normally cycles or hikes together your family will be just fine. (See the next question regarding children for age specific information) 2. Are there age limitations for children? For non-specialty vacations the recommended age for a child to cycle and hike on their own is 14 but exceptions can be made in circumstances where a child has advanced abilities. The rule of thumb is that the child should be able to comfortably ride the daily distances of a particular tour. Please remember that young children not accustomed to cycling tours may get restless. Adults may bring small children along on family and custom vacations by using a trailer or trailabike for cycling and a papoose pack for hiking. Specialty vacations such as seniors, singles and special interest group vacations are designed specifically for adults. 3. Can you provide a kiddy trailer or a Trailabike? These items can be provided as a weekly rental with advance notice, Rolling Roads must rent these items from suppliers local to the touring area. When you make your reservation please inform the reservation agent of your needs and they will make the necessary arrangements for you. 4. Can I bring my own kiddy trailer or Trailabike? Absolutely, just make sure the unit is in good working order and all of the parts needed to connect the unit to a bicycle are present and we will set this up and break it down for you each day. We reserve the right to refuse usage of a trailer our tour guides deem to be unsafe or unfit to carry a child. Safety is always first at Rolling Roads! 5. Do you offer special couples vacations? Yes, We will have vacations specifically planned for groups of lovebirds. We will stay in romantic hotels and make sure you have plenty of opportunities to share intimate moments together. Additional activities in these vacations are tailored to provide romantic outdoor experiences. 6. Do you offer special singles vacations? Yes, We will be offering vacations specifically planned for singles to meet and mingle. These will be theme oriented to bring like-minded singles with common interests together. Some of the activities you can expect on these vacations are couples contests and cool games to play. 7. Do you offer seniors vacation? Yes, on occasion we will offer vacations specifically tailored to active senior citizens, these will be theme oriented as well and offer special activities just for seniors. Custom vacations can also be arranged for senior groups. 8. Do you offer custom vacations? Absolutely, we can arrange just about any outdoor dream vacation you might have. Call and speak to a Rolling Roads reservations staff member to discuss your plans, we’d be glad to answer any questions you might have and we will help you make your dream a reality. If we can’t provide what you need we will help you find someone who can. 9. What will the size of the tour group be? Our average tour size is between 14 and 16 people, specialty and custom vacation group sizes vary from 2 people to 22 people or more. 10. What kind of hotels will we be staying at? We lodge our guests in upscale mid range hotels, resorts and lodges. At Rolling Roads our vacations are designed for people who love the outdoors so we don’t focus on 5 Star hotels, we focus on 5 Star outdoor vacations. Room and suite upgrades may be possible where available. On certain tours and during certain sections of some tours that take place in more remote or rural area upscale or mid-range lodging may not be available, in these cases we make every attempt to stay in best of class lodging for that area. 11. What kind of food will we eat? Breakfast and Lunch meals are locally catered with a menu designed for people who lead a healthy and active life style. Breakfast will typically consist of cereals, bagels, muffins and fruit, this way your tummy won't be weighed down with heavy and hard to digest foods as you begin your day. Lunch will typically consist of healthy lunch meats on croissants or special breads with a side of vegetables, more fruit and a desert. Dinners will range from an outdoor group barbecue to a night out at a local steak house. During the ride Gatorade, water, fruit, snacks and energy bars will be available as you need them at each rest stop. 12. Can you accommodate a vegetarian diet? Absolutely, just let us know when you make your reservation and we will make arrangements to provide you with several vegetarian options during your vacation. 13. How much free time will I have? We will usually keep you busy during the day, you will have most evenings after dinner free and we also plan one optional free day during the trip for our guests to go shopping or to go sightseeing on their own, we also provide shuttle service to major local attractions on a first come first served basis. 14. What kind of additional activities will be available? Depending on which trip you take you could participate in many different activities, some of the things we will offer free of charge include; caving, candle light hikes, naturalist walks, marshmallow roasts, rock hounding, photography, cheese factory tours, fishing, tubing, visiting monuments, museums and memorials etc… There will usually be several local attractions that you may elect to visit on your own as well. 15. Do you offer group discounts? Yes, please contact Rolling Roads directly to discuss your group needs. Reservations & Travel Questions 1. How do I make a reservation? The easiest way to make your reservation is by filling out the online registration form, or you can also print the form and mail it to us with your deposit if you choose. 2. What is your deposit policy? Rolling Roads requires a deposit to hold your spot on one of our vacations, this amount will be stated on your registration form. Payment in full must be received no later than 90 days before the departure date of your trip. Your deposit is fully refundable if you cancel 90 days or more before the scheduled departure date of your selected vacation. Should you need to cancel your vacation you may elect to apply your deposit to a vacation at a later date, if it is within 45 days of your scheduled departure date we will apply the full value of your deposit to the new trip so long as you schedule this trip with 9 months of cancellation. 3. What is your cancellation policy? You may cancel your vacation at any time prior to your scheduled departure date, as stated in our Deposit Policy, your deposit will be fully refunded if you cancel 90 days or more before the scheduled departure date of your selected vacation. See our Deposit Policy for specific information on other options available to you should you need to cancel. 4. Trip Cancellation or Changes made by Rolling Roads Occasionally Rolling Roads may be forced to cancel a trip, if we are unable to provide you with another trip that is satisfactory will we give you a full. Please note that Rolling Roads will not be responsible for additional expenses such the advanced purchase of airline tickets or other personal travel expenses. Due to weather, road or other conditions that Rolling Roads determines may present a safety hazard to it's customers, trip itineraries are subject to change without notice. 5. How do I get to the start of the tour from the airport? Rolling Roads will designate one or more regional airports that Rolling Roads or a designated hotel will typically provide scheduled shuttle service to and from. Some trips may require that you arrange for your own transportation to our start point, we will make this clear to you during registration and help in any way that we can. When you make your reservations, we will ask if we can assist you in finding transportation to and from the airport. You can also drive to the start point or travel by rail or bus where service is available. Please note: Rolling Roads does not provide or arrange personal air travel unless specifically stated in the vacation brochure. 6. If I drive where do I leave my car? We can usually pre-arrange extended parking at the first hotel on our itinerary, on several trips we will use the same hotel for the entire trip. When you make your reservations let us know you'll be arriving by car and we will help you make arrangements. 7. Can you recommend a travel insurance provider? Yes, there are many to choose from, we recommend visiting the following web site to examine a comparison of travel insurance providers. http://www.insuremytrip.com/ Cycling Specific FAQ 1. How do I know if I’m in good enough shape/health to handle a Rolling Roads Cycling Vacation? Unless noted otherwise in the vacation brochure, all Rolling Roads Cycling vacations are geared to be relaxing and enjoyable. You may travel at your own pace. If you are an active person who cycles more than twice per week and can comfortably ride for 3 hours you'll have no problem. You can expect an average group pace of about 12mph with stops as often as you'd like, but feel free to travel at your own pace. We suggest stopping once every hour or so just to smell the daisies! We do recommend that 3 weeks prior to your vacation you ride at least 3 times per week, one of those days being a 25-30 mile ride, this will prepare you (your legs and posterior) to ensure an enjoyable vacation experience. 2. How many miles will we ride each day? On most trips our core route daily average will be approximately 35 miles with an average maximum of around 45 miles, on rides with considerable down hill sections maximum mileage may top 60 miles per day. We will also provide extended routes for cyclists who enjoy a longer or more challenging route. 3. How fast will we ride? You can ride as fast or as slow as you want. Your tour leader will set a comfortable pace for the group based on the groups ability, this is usually around 12mph but may be slower. Also the SAG van will leap frog from the rear of the pack to the next rest station through out the trip while keeping an eye on the end of the pack. (You won't get left behind!) A rest station will be available mid way for a lunch break and you can always flag down the SAG van (or your group leader during off road trips) to replenish snacks and fluids. 4. What kind of roads or trails will we be riding on? Road Ride Vacations - We will predominantly ride on lightly traveled 2 lane country roads and rural highways, these routes usually have good shoulders. On certain scenic rides with limited shoulders our SAG van will follow the group to warn approaching motorists that a bicycle tour is in progress. We will occasionally ride on hard pack trails which could consist of crushed limestone, dirt or other suitable materials. Details can be found in your vacation brochure. Mountain Biking Vacations - Vacations designated as a mountain bike vacations will feature trails (hard pack, single-track etc...) and secondary roads (logging roads, fire roads.) Rest Stops will be coordinated by the Tour Leader to allow proper refueling and rest. 5. Will the rides be hilly? Unless specifically stated in the vacation brochure we will travel on routes with gently rolling hills which rarely exceed a 4% grade. For riders seeking an opportunity to ride in the mountains (Ride the Redwood's Vacation for example) we can arrange special limited support rides during your scheduled off day. 6. What should I bring? See your vacation brochure for specific details regarding clothing and personal items. If you have them we recommend your bring the following items as well: a) Seat (Optional, some people prefer their own seat, Rolling Roads will install and adjust for you.) b) Pedal's & Cycling Shoes (Optional, Rolling Roads will install your pedal's if you elect to bring them.) c) Helmet (Required, we have a limited number in case you forget yours) d) Glasses (Required,) tinted and clear lens glasses are suggested e) Cycling Shorts (3) f) Cycling Jersey (3) g) A Camera 7. Can I bring my own bike? Absolutely! Just let us know when you make your reservation. 8. Can we bring a tandem bicycle? Absolutely! Please let us know in advance so we can properly transport your bicycle between hotels during the trip. 9. Do you provide rain gear? No, you must bring your own rain gear, we highly recommend cycling specific rain gear from makers such as Pearl Izumi or Cannondale. Cycling capes tend to billow in anything but the lightest rain and wind so we suggest rain pants and tops. 10. What kind of bikes do you provide and will I be comfortable on them? We generally provide touring style bicycles built for comfort on our tours. Bicycles will be touring, comfort or mountain bikes depending the vacation you choose. 11. Will we ride in bad weather? We will not ride in truly "bad" weather, we will provide alternate activities in circumstances where your tour guide determines it is unsafe to ride (I.E. lightning, high winds, considerable fog etc...) We will ride in the rain, as long as there is no threat of lightning, ice or extreme winds our rides will go on as scheduled, you may elect to pursue other activities should you decide not to ride on any given day (clear weather or rain.) 12. Will my bike fit correctly? When you make your reservation will ask for your inseam and height, this is done to provide you with a bicycle that's fits properly. Before each tour begins we will hold a fitting session where your bicycle will be adjusted to specifically fit your body and preferred riding position. At any time during your vacation feel free to ask your Tour Guide or our SAG Driver/Mechanic to make any adjustments you feel you might need. Again, if you believe you need an adjustment at any time during your ride please let our Tour Guide or SAG Driver/Mechanic know immediately! Your comfortable is our number two goal! (Safety is ALWAYS first!) 13. What kind of cyclist's go on your tours? We get people from all walks of life, auto-body mechanics, professors, bankers, business people, students, retired bakers... People in great shape and people who ride to get in shape, you name it. We all have one thing in common, we love to cycle! 14. Will there be snack's and beverages available during rides? Absolutely, we will provide cold water and 2 flavors of Gatorade. We will also have a variety of fresh fruit, granola, and energy bars and other snacks to choose from as well. 15. Will there be a support vehicle following us? On all Rolling Roads road rides a SAG vehicle will be accompanying us, when we take trails where the SAG van cannot follow the group the SAG van be waiting at the next rest stop where possible. When it is not possible for the SAG van to follow our group your tour leader will be carrying needed supplies to support the group. (Vacation brochures specify the level of SAG support for each vacation) 16.) Must I wear a helmet? Yes, for insurance and safety reasons you must wear a helmet whenever we are on our bikes, we are sorry but no exceptions can be made. Besides, we believe it is foolish and irresponsible to ride without a helmet, and sadly we have several friends who can explain to you first hand why you should wear a helmet, they wish they had! Multi Sport – Hiking Specific 1. How Difficult will the hikes be? Hiking routes are planned along easy to moderately strenuous routes with the primary goal being scenic value. Your vacation brochure will specify the difficulty of each days hike. Optional side trails of varying degrees of difficulty will be available to provide an opportunity to up the intensity for those who prefer a more challenging route. 2. How do I know I'm in shape for a hike? If you hike occasionally throughout the year and are accustomed to walks of moderate distance (4 - 8 miles) you should experience no problems. Rolling Roads chooses routes for their scenic beauty and the comfort of our guests is of great importance to us. You'll have to work a little and you'll definitely perspire, but the reward at the end of the trail will be well worth the effort! 3. What should I bring? See your vacation brochure for specific details regarding clothing and personal items. Below is a list of items that you will need to bring: a) Quality Hiking Boots (Strongly Recommended!) b) Quality Hiking Socks (Strongly Recommended!) c) Day Pack or Fanny Pack d) Walking Stick e) Canteen (the larger the better, a Camelback is recommended) f) Trail towel g) A Camera 4. Will there be snacks and beverages during hikes and other activities? Yes, At the start of each hike we will provide cold water and 2 flavors of Gatorade to choose from (pre-mixed and dry for later use.) We will also have a variety of fresh fruit, granola, and energy bars which you can stuff in your day pack. Stops are planned along each hiking route to allow hikers to refill water supplies. Multi Sport – Canoe & Kayak Specific 1. Must I know how to swim? Yes and No, We strongly recommend that your children and yourself know how to swim, your local YMCA offers swimming lessons at very reasonable rates and you can generally learn to swim in under a month. For safety reasons we require that all guests wear a PFD (personal flotation device) whenever we are on the water, so it may be possible to obtain a safety wavier allowing a non swimmer to attend but we strongly suggest against this practice. 2. Do I have to wear a personal flotation device during the trip? Yes, for insurance and safety reasons you must wear a PFD whenever we are on the water, we are sorry but no exceptions can be made. 3. How difficult will the trips be? Paddling routes are planned along easy to moderate routes on generally smooth water with limited mild white water, the primary goal being scenic value. Your vacation brochure will specify the difficulty of each days paddle. Optional side trips of varying degrees of difficulty will be available to provide an opportunity to up the intensity for those who prefer a more challenging route, safety waivers are required for those electing to travel on any route rated above moderate. On BWCA Specific trips daily portaging of canoes and packs weighing up to 50 lbs will be required, often over rocky and hilly ground, these trips are fairly strenuous but an active family will experience little discomfort. 4. How do I know I'm in shape for such a trip? If you paddle occasionally throughout the year and are accustomed to spending several hours covering a moderate distance (4 - 8 miles) you should experience no problems. Rolling Roads chooses routes for their scenic beauty and the comfort of our guests is of great importance to us. On BWCA Specific trips daily portaging of canoes and packs weighing up to 50 lbs will be required, often over rocky and hilly ground, these trips are fairly strenuous but an active family will experience little discomfort. 5. What should I bring? See your vacation brochure for specific details regarding clothing and personal items. Below is a list of items that you will need to bring: a) Well fitting tennis shoes (You will get wet and these work very well!) b) Quality Hiking Boots c) Quality Hiking Socks d) Day Pack or Fanny Pack e) Rain gear - (Ponchos are very dangerous and are not allowed! You must use a two piece rain suit.) f) Hat g) Canteen or Water Bottle (32 Oz is suggested Camelbacks are not recommended) h) Trail towel i) A Camera On BWCA Specific trips we will provide a specific list of required and suggested items. since you will be carrying everything from food and gear to personal clothing pack space will be very limited. 5. Will there be snacks and beverages during hikes and other activities? Yes, At the start of each paddle we will provide cold water and 2 flavors of Gatorade to choose from. Depending on the trip we will also generally have a variety of fresh fruit, granola, and energy bars which you can stuff in your day pack. Stops are planned along each route to allow paddlers to refill water supplies. Disclaimer - Items in this FAQ are subject to change and updates. Go to the Top of this Page |
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