Top 10 Travel Tips for Your Encore Tour The more you know before you go— the more you will enjoy! Read up on your travel destinations before departure. You will get so much more out of the experience when you have a better understanding of what you are looking at. The Encore Tours/AClS Travel App can help. Practice Walking—yes, we’re serious! You are travelling to see the world and you will be out and about and walking miles a day—wear comfortable shoes! Be present! Take a break from your phone and avoid only experiencing your travels from behind a viewfinder. LOOK UP! Learn a few key phrases even if you are not studying the language. A “thank you/gracias/danke schon” and a smile will get you very far! Have a money plan. Bring some cash and make sure your bank is aware that you are traveling. Employ a ‘no news is good news’ policy with friends and family back home. If that won’t work, be sure to review communication options and come to a mutual understanding of if, how, and how much you will stay in touch. Remember, Wifi will not always be available. Check the weather before you go. Sandals in Paris in January? Not a good idea (no matter how chic)! Pack carry-on. Airlines can’t lose what’s not given to them. But regardless of whether or not you check a bag, be sure to keep all of your “must haves” on you, including your passport, medication, prescriptions, money. electronics and one extra set of clothing. Be flexible and open-minded. Things will be different than you are used to, but that’s part of the fun. Have fun! Your trip is sure to be educational, inspirational and life-changing, but also a whole lot of fun! For additional travel tips for musicians, read our article “Travel Tips for Musicians.”
February 4, 2026 David Solar ETIAS Explained: What U.S. Travelers Need to Know for Europe in 2026 If you’re planning a performance tour to Europe in 2026 or beyond, you may start hearing more about ETIAS. ETIAS for U.S. Backstage Blog Get Ready To Travel
February 3, 2026 David Solar Prelude 2026 in Rome: Inside Encore’s Signature Director Weekend Over MLK weekend, Encore welcomed music directors from across the country to Prelude 2026 in Rome. Backstage Blog
February 2, 2026 Encore Tours What an Encore Tour Proposal Includes (and How to Use It) Planning an international performance tour involves many moving parts. The proposal is where those pieces begin to come together. Backstage Blog Planning Your Tour