FAQ

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

In the twenty years that we have organized these trips, we have noticed that some questions come up frequently.  Here are those frequently asked questions!  If you do not find an answer to your question here, contact us at 
litvaktrip@gmail.com
and we will do our best to answer.

Can I use my frequent flyer points?

Yes.  The group trip begins with the Welcome Dinner in Vilnius. You can travel to Vilnius in the way that works best for you.

 

I don’t live in the US. Can I go on your trip?

Yes. We have had guests from Australia, Canada, Israel, South Africa, and the United Kingdom. We do require payment in US dollars.  Please contact us for information about wiring your payment.

 

Will I get to go to my family’s shtetl?

YES! Everyone on the trip takes a two day individual Roots Trip to the towns of most interest to them.  Although this is a frequently asked question, we can’t give a detailed answer because we need to talk to you about the towns that you want to visit.  Sometimes, if you want to visit many places, we suggest that you extend your trip to have enough time to visit them all.   Sometimes, your family migrated thru several towns that are all on the major road, and you can see them all in two days. Please contact us to discuss your individual itinerary.

 

How much does the trip cost?

There are three parts to the cost of the trip.
1) Air fare
2) Group Land Costs
3) Roots Tour

Air fare depends on how you fly and where you are flying from.  Some travelers are able to use frequent flyer points.  From Atlanta to Vilnius is about $1500 to $2250 round trip.

The cost of the group land portion of the trip is $1,995 per person double occupancy.  There is a single supplement of $475.  Sometimes a pair of single people will room together to avoid the supplement, but that is an individual matter. The cost of the trip is based on $1.10 USD to equal one Euro. If the dollar is weaker than that in June, 2016 we may have to charge an additional 5%.

The cost of the Roots Tour really depends on the individual!  Every car requires a driver and a guide and hotel accommodations for the driver and guide if you are not staying in Kaunas or Vilnius. This usually costs about $350 to $400 per day per car.  However, if you go with a group of people, the fees are divided among the people in the group.  If you go a further distance, the cost of the car and driver is more.  In our experience, the cost of the roots trip has ranged from $100 to $1000, it depends on the traveler.

 

Will I be able to do genealogical research in the Archives while I am there?

We will visit the Lithuanian State Historical Archives in Vilnius and the Kaunas Regional Archives. We work closely with the archivists in Vilnius and Kaunas and will help you order records before you go on the trip.  If you order records in advance, you will get them while we are there.  In general, it is difficult to begin research while you are on the trip because the documents are held in storage and must be ordered in advance.  They are also in Cyrillic and not easy to read.

LitvakSIG is currently working on projects to transcribe most of the Jewish records in these archives.  We have found it much more effective to join with other researchers paying for translations of entire record groups than to spend time sitting with a translator looking for one record. Please contact us so that we can put you in touch with the research group that is translating your documents.

 

Will I be able to get kosher food?

Kosher meat is difficult to obtain in Lithuania.  On our previous trips, travelers who keep kosher accepted vegetarian and fish meals. Our guides will check with the chefs to be sure that the meal is really vegetarian.

 

I am Shabbos observant.  What will I do on Shabbat?

Our program on Saturday includes everyone.  We will walk to Synagogue in the morning and take a walking tour of the Vilnius Ghetto in the afternoon.

 

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