Q. Are all the trips coach tours?
A. We are not a coach tour operator. Instead we try to use a mix of transport on our tours, so that you get a good feel for what travel is like in a particular country. This could mean privately chartered vehicles, public buses, trains, taxis, donkeys, camels – the list goes on!

Q. Bathroom Facilities - What should I prepare for?
A. Most of the accommodation used on Traveller style tours has en-suite bathrooms with toilet plus shower or bath. Facilities on Budget (Adventurer) tours can be more basic, as are facilities at homestays or other ethnic accommodation. You'll probably encounter both western and squat style toilets. Standards vary widely.

Q. Can I just do part of a tour?
A. We’ve got no problem with you leaving a trip early, if that’s what you want to do. However, we don’t allow people to join a trip that’s already started – we find that this tends to affect the existing group dynamics. Our trips are sold as a whole package, which means that if you leave the tour early, you wouldn’t be entitled to a refund.

Q. Couldn’t I do all this on my own?
A. Yes, you probably could. But it would certainly take a lot longer to sort out accommodation and transport, and it would be quite difficult to get to a lot of the places that we visit using public transport. We also include a lot of activities that you won’t find in any guidebook!

Q. Do i get my own compartment on the trains?
A. This differs from country to country, but in nearly all cases, don’t expect them to be like the ones at home! Sometimes they’ll be quite comfortable, and you’ll have your own lockable compartment, and at other times the whole carriage will be open, and full of beds, dormitory style. Train travel is an integral part of travelling through a country, and if you really want to experience your destination in the most comprehensive way possible, then it shouldn’t be missed.

Q. Do the hotels you use have swimming pools?
A. Sometimes the hotels will have swimming pools, but often they won’t. We figure that as you’re booking an adventure holiday, you’re more interested in getting out an exploring than lounging by a pool.

Q. Do you offer tailor made holidays and private tours for groups?
A. Yes ! We are happy to offer individuals and groups private departures. Please send details of the trip you'd like us to arrange to:our private groups department will then send a quotation to you.

Q. Does the price include international flights?
A. The prices shown in our brochures are for the tour only and do not include international flights.
In most cases, where a domestic or regional flight is an integral part of the itinerary that flight will be included in the trip price.

Q. Hotels - What standard to expect?
A. This depends on what sort of trip you're doing. Budget (Adventurer) style trips tend to use the equivalent of two star hotels, while Traveller style trips normally use three star hotels.

Q. How much Free Time is there?
A. This depends on your tour, and you should check your trip dossier for details. We do normally try to build some free time into tours, but on short tours where a lot is packed in, unfortunately this sometimes has to be sacrificed in order that you can see the maximum possible. As a rule, Budget (Adventurer) style trips tend to incorporate more free time that Traveller trips.
Q. I'm on my own, will I have to pay extra for a single room?
A. Generally speaking, not if you don’t want to. Solo travellers will be roomed with a tour member of the same sex, however if you really did want a room to yourself, single supplements are available on most Traveller tours. Please note that single supplements are obligatory on our Connoisseur tours. Please note that single supplements do not apply on any boat or train journeys (unless otherwise mentioned).

Q. If I book a tour, can I be guaranteed that it will run?
A. We need a minimum of four people to run most of our trips.As long as we get this minimum number booked, then your tour will go ahead. Occasionally, of course, political situations and other factors may mean that it’s not possible to run a trip but this is very rare.

Q. Is the destination that I’ll be visiting safe?
A. With all trips, whether it’s to Aylesbury or Afghanistan, we can never guarantee that an area is one hundred per cent safe. However, we take the safety of our travellers, and our tour leaders, extremely seriously, and would not operate in an area where we consider there to be a significant risk

Q. What about the weather?
A. Regrettably, we can never guarantee the weather. Our tours are scheduled to operate in the most favourable seasons.

Q. What’s the mix of single travellers and couples on your tours?
A. It’s always difficult to generalise, every tour is different. We do usually get a good balance of singles and couples on our tours.

Q. What’s the difference between Traveller and Budget (Adventurer) style trips?
A. Budget (Adventurer) style trips tend to be a bit more 'back to basics' – we use more local transport on these trips so that you really get a feel of what it's like to live in the country you're travelling through.

Q. When should I book by?
A. This isn't a question that we can give a concrete answer to. Some trips get booked up very quickly, while others have spaces available until quite close to the departure date. If you want to make sure you get a place on the tour of your choice on the date of your choice we recommend you book your place as soon as early as possible.

Q. What are the ages and nationalities of the other people booked on my tour?
A. Sorry, but due to reasons of client confidentiality, we can’t inform you of this. But what you can do is make a post on our travel forums, and try to meet some of your fellow travellers before the tour starts.

Q. What will the trains be like?
A. This differs from country to country, but in nearly all cases, don’t expect them to be like the ones at home! Sometimes they’ll be quite comfortable, and you’ll have your own lockable compartment, and at other times the whole carriage will be open, and full of beds, dormitory style. Train travel is an integral part of travelling through a country, and if you really want to experience your destination in the most comprehensive way possible, then it shouldn’t be missed.

Q. Are there any hidden extras?
A. We try and keep any extras to a minimum, but you should read your trip dossier carefully to make sure you’re aware of what entrance fees and meals are included. You will need to Budget (Adventurer) for border taxes, as these aren’t included in the price of our tours. You should also be aware that we operate a tipping kitty on our tours. This is typically between £8 and £15 per week per person, and is used by the tour leader to tip people who have provided the group with a service as part of the itinerary, such as guides, and bus drivers.

Q. Can I have a list of all the hotels used?
A. In short, no. The hotels that we use often aren’t finalised until quite close to departure, and so it’s not practical to give out a list of accommodation which might change.

Q. Can I leave luggage at the starting point hotel if we’re returning there later?
A. This isn’t usually a problem, although we can’t guarantee it. Your Tour Leader can assist you more on this. Any personal belongings you leave are at your own risk and The Imaginative Traveller cannot be held responsible for any articles lost or stolen.

Q. Do all the hotels have swimming pools?
A. Sometimes the hotels will have swimming pools, but often they won’t. We figure that as you’re booking an adventure holiday, you’re more interested in getting out and exploring than lounging by a pool.

Q. How do I choose the right trip?
A. The best way to focus in on the trip that will be best for you is to indentify the things that are most important to you. Basic criteria include: duration, standard, itinerary, inclusions. For example, should you choose Traveller or Budget (Adventurer) style?

Q. How should I take my money?
A. We’d recommend that you take a mixture of traveller’s cheques and cash. Traveller’s cheques are generally safer, and can be replaced if lost or stolen, but in some of the more out of the way destinations, you may not be able to change them into cash.

Q. If I'm travelling on my own, do I have to pay a single supplement?
A. Generally speaking, not if you don’t want to. Solo travellers will be roomed with a tour member of the same sex, however if you really did want a room to yourself, single supplements are available on most Traveller tours. Please note that single supplements are obligatory on our Connoisseur tours, for which details will be provided on the individual tour pages. Please note that single supplements do not apply on any boat or train journeys (unless otherwise mentioned).

Q. Is the hotel that I’ve booked for pre-tour accommodation going to be the same one that the tour starts at?
A. In nearly all cases, this will be the same hotel. Check the meeting point of any tour.

Q. I’m a vegetarian – will it be a problem?
A. Although in most places you won’t have a problem

Q. What sort of transport will we be using?
A. We try and use a mix of transport on our tours, so that you get a good feel for what it means to travel in a particular country. This could mean privately chartered vehicles, public buses, trains, taxis, donkeys, camels – the list goes on!

Q. What time should I arrive on Day 1?
A. Generally Day 1 is just an arrivals day, with no scheduled activities so that you can arrive at whatever time is suitable for you.

Q. What will the toilets be like?
A. Toilets vary depending upon where you are – some will be western style toilets, while others will be of the squat variety. Don’t expect standards to be the same as they are at home!

Q. What’s the age limit on tours?
A. There’s no upper age limit – we think that your age doesn’t really matter, as long as you’re willing to participate, experience new cultures, and enjoy yourself. As long as you’re fit enough to take part in the tour, then you’re more than welcome. We don’t however take children on our normal tours – we know that a lot of our travellers come on our trips to get away from the kids! Older teenagers may be allowed to join group tours provided they are accompanied by a parent or guardian who accepts full responsibility for them.

Q. What’s the maximum number of people on my tour?
A. This depends on what sort of tour you're doing. For our Budget (Adventurer) style trips it's normally eighteen (18), and for our Traveller style trips it's normally fifteen (15).

Q. What’s the role of my tour leader? Why do we sometimes have guides as well?
A. Your tour leader is someone who we’ve chosen for their personality, and ability to manage groups and situations effectively. They can be either a western or a local tour leader. While they will have a good knowledge of the areas that you’ll be visiting, they are not a guide as such – more a facilitator who takes all of the headaches out of travel for you. Sometimes you’ll need guides to help you get the most out of a sight, such as the Underground city in Cappadocia – they’re typically people who’ve grown up in the areas that you’re visiting, and so their knowledge will of course be better than a tour leader who’s visiting ten different sights every two weeks. But then again, their skill at getting you on and off buses and trains won’t be half as good as our tour leaders’!

Q. What’s the standard of accommodation like?
A. Again, this depends on what sort of trip you're doing. Budget (Adventurer) style trips tend to use the equivalent of two star hotels, while Traveller style trips normally use three star hotels.

Q. Will my tour leader be there to meet me when I get to the hotel?
A. Sometimes they will be, but busy schedules, and the fact that people will be arriving at different times of the day and night means that this isn’t always possible. In this case, there will be a notice up in the reception area, or a letter from your tour leader at reception, telling you all that you need to know until you do meet them.

 

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