Q. When do your tours operate?
A. We don’t have scheduled departures. We go when you want to go.
Q. How many people are in a group?
A. There are no organized groups as you may think of. The only travelers are those you invite to join you and in general we like to keep that to no more than six.
Q. Do you handle the airfare?
A. We are not travel agents so do not have access to the airline reservation systems. We can, however refer you to a company that specializes in international
air. Once you are in the destination we do included flights within the destination in the overall itinerary plus rail travel if applicable.
Q. You say you are not a travel agent, how are you different?
A. Travel agents are retailers and sell other companies products whether that is an airline ticket, cruise or tour program. We are a tour operator in that we actually create and operate the programs we offer. Like Tesla that makes electric cars and sells them directly so we create travel programs ( in collaboration with our clients) and sell directly to the client.
Q. You have a lot of countries on your website. Are there any areas that you do not offer?
A. We basically do not offer programs in North America which would include the USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Q. Do you offer cruises?
A. We do not offer mass market cruises to the USA, Mexico, Caribbean, Europe etc. We do incorporate small boutique vessels as part of our itinerary in places like the Mekong River, the Amazon, the Nile, the Zambezi and the Galapagos.
Q. Most of the programs on your site are for one country suppose we want to visit two or three additional countries can you accommodate?
A. We can certainly handle that, in fact over 50% of our requests are multi-country. They are so varied however that it would take up too much room on the website to show all the possible combinations. Suffice it to day that we can combine any combination of countries offered on the website. We have actually created programs that lasted over 60 days and covered multiple countries from Portugal to Japan.
Q. Are all of your programs privately guided?
A. In general yes but it also depends on the budget of the client. Our airport transfers are always private as are the walking tours. In some cases we may use a small group tour in Europe provided that it offers hotel pick up and return and is limited to 8 guests. For larger groups of six persons we also provide ‘ whispers” which allows the guide to take you around museums and galleries speaking in a normal voice with all guests hearing through ear phones.
Q. Do you primarily use five star hotels?
A. We primarily use 4 star boutique hotels preferably family-owned. These hotels of 50 rooms or less are ideal for our limited room requirements in each city. Also their limited size precludes being used by motorcoah operators (even luxury operators) since they would need at least 25 rooms. Of course, if a client has a specific request we honor that request. We also have some special arrangements that allow a stay at a five star property but we only do that if the hotel has something unique to offer. In too many cases you are paying for a brand name not a better experience. On the other hand we rarely, if ever, use three star properties.
Q. Do you include meals in your programs
A. It depends on the wishes of the clients and the location of the hotel. We include breakfasts everyday usually buffet or Full English Breakfast or its equivalent in Ireland and Scotland . Lunches are included where they make sense on a travel day or full day of touring. We usually leave dinners open based on past client requests but we do provide a list of recommended restaurants close to the selected hotels. Again, unless specially requested by the client we do not recommend Michelin starred restaurants. Instead we recommend high quality restaurants based on our experience and those of our offices overseas. Obviously, on Safari, in the Amazon or sailing the Galapagos all meals tend to be included.
Q. How does the booking process work?
A. To make our program a success we need to know two things, the destination and the needs of the client. Only then can we create the perfect match. We have spent years building a presence in 70 countries which gives us the best of local knowledge. We ask you to fill out the Customer Profile to determine all the things you consider important in a vacation that includes age of all participants, type of hotel, activities, meals included and overall budget. This allows us to begin the process of creating the framework of the trip.
You will be matched up with a customer relations manager who will be your key contact before, during and after the trip. That manager will establish with you the best method of communication during the planning process.
We will submit to you a proposed program with an estimated cost and then fine tune the offering based on your input. As one client pointed out it is like purchasing a made-to-measure suit or a wedding dress. In other words it takes a few fittings to get it exactly right for you.
Q. What are the Payment Terms?
A. Once you have agreed to the proposed program we ask for a 30% deposit to secure the space. Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure. You can pay with a check or with a credit card through a secured online booking vehicle.
Q. What do we do if we have a problem overseas?
A. Prior to departure you will receive contact information both for our office and our offices in the countries you will be visiting. For the US it will be your customer relations manager plus an after-hours rollover. Overseas you will have the office number and an after-hours number. In some cases we are able to provide the cell phone of your guide prior ro arrival. In all cases the offices and guides will have a cell phone number that we ask you to provide before departure. Although we are always here to help, given the large time differences it is better that you contact our local office if, for example, you can’t find your driver on arrival. They will know who was sent and can talk to them in real-time.
Q. Do you recommend and offer Travel Insurance?
A. While we highly recommend travel insurance we do not include it in the price. We can, however recommend a very reliable supplier and assist with the application process. You would pay the premium to the insurer directly. You are, of course, welcome to choose your own provider.
A. We don’t have scheduled departures. We go when you want to go.
Q. How many people are in a group?
A. There are no organized groups as you may think of. The only travelers are those you invite to join you and in general we like to keep that to no more than six.
Q. Do you handle the airfare?
A. We are not travel agents so do not have access to the airline reservation systems. We can, however refer you to a company that specializes in international
air. Once you are in the destination we do included flights within the destination in the overall itinerary plus rail travel if applicable.
Q. You say you are not a travel agent, how are you different?
A. Travel agents are retailers and sell other companies products whether that is an airline ticket, cruise or tour program. We are a tour operator in that we actually create and operate the programs we offer. Like Tesla that makes electric cars and sells them directly so we create travel programs ( in collaboration with our clients) and sell directly to the client.
Q. You have a lot of countries on your website. Are there any areas that you do not offer?
A. We basically do not offer programs in North America which would include the USA, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean.
Q. Do you offer cruises?
A. We do not offer mass market cruises to the USA, Mexico, Caribbean, Europe etc. We do incorporate small boutique vessels as part of our itinerary in places like the Mekong River, the Amazon, the Nile, the Zambezi and the Galapagos.
Q. Most of the programs on your site are for one country suppose we want to visit two or three additional countries can you accommodate?
A. We can certainly handle that, in fact over 50% of our requests are multi-country. They are so varied however that it would take up too much room on the website to show all the possible combinations. Suffice it to day that we can combine any combination of countries offered on the website. We have actually created programs that lasted over 60 days and covered multiple countries from Portugal to Japan.
Q. Are all of your programs privately guided?
A. In general yes but it also depends on the budget of the client. Our airport transfers are always private as are the walking tours. In some cases we may use a small group tour in Europe provided that it offers hotel pick up and return and is limited to 8 guests. For larger groups of six persons we also provide ‘ whispers” which allows the guide to take you around museums and galleries speaking in a normal voice with all guests hearing through ear phones.
Q. Do you primarily use five star hotels?
A. We primarily use 4 star boutique hotels preferably family-owned. These hotels of 50 rooms or less are ideal for our limited room requirements in each city. Also their limited size precludes being used by motorcoah operators (even luxury operators) since they would need at least 25 rooms. Of course, if a client has a specific request we honor that request. We also have some special arrangements that allow a stay at a five star property but we only do that if the hotel has something unique to offer. In too many cases you are paying for a brand name not a better experience. On the other hand we rarely, if ever, use three star properties.
Q. Do you include meals in your programs
A. It depends on the wishes of the clients and the location of the hotel. We include breakfasts everyday usually buffet or Full English Breakfast or its equivalent in Ireland and Scotland . Lunches are included where they make sense on a travel day or full day of touring. We usually leave dinners open based on past client requests but we do provide a list of recommended restaurants close to the selected hotels. Again, unless specially requested by the client we do not recommend Michelin starred restaurants. Instead we recommend high quality restaurants based on our experience and those of our offices overseas. Obviously, on Safari, in the Amazon or sailing the Galapagos all meals tend to be included.
Q. How does the booking process work?
A. To make our program a success we need to know two things, the destination and the needs of the client. Only then can we create the perfect match. We have spent years building a presence in 70 countries which gives us the best of local knowledge. We ask you to fill out the Customer Profile to determine all the things you consider important in a vacation that includes age of all participants, type of hotel, activities, meals included and overall budget. This allows us to begin the process of creating the framework of the trip.
You will be matched up with a customer relations manager who will be your key contact before, during and after the trip. That manager will establish with you the best method of communication during the planning process.
We will submit to you a proposed program with an estimated cost and then fine tune the offering based on your input. As one client pointed out it is like purchasing a made-to-measure suit or a wedding dress. In other words it takes a few fittings to get it exactly right for you.
Q. What are the Payment Terms?
A. Once you have agreed to the proposed program we ask for a 30% deposit to secure the space. Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure. You can pay with a check or with a credit card through a secured online booking vehicle.
Q. What do we do if we have a problem overseas?
A. Prior to departure you will receive contact information both for our office and our offices in the countries you will be visiting. For the US it will be your customer relations manager plus an after-hours rollover. Overseas you will have the office number and an after-hours number. In some cases we are able to provide the cell phone of your guide prior ro arrival. In all cases the offices and guides will have a cell phone number that we ask you to provide before departure. Although we are always here to help, given the large time differences it is better that you contact our local office if, for example, you can’t find your driver on arrival. They will know who was sent and can talk to them in real-time.
Q. Do you recommend and offer Travel Insurance?
A. While we highly recommend travel insurance we do not include it in the price. We can, however recommend a very reliable supplier and assist with the application process. You would pay the premium to the insurer directly. You are, of course, welcome to choose your own provider.