Over the years, we've received a lot of questions on a wide range of subjects about our tours, the admin side of things as well as life on tour. Here's a summary of the most frequently asked questions.


If you have questions which aren't asnwered below, then feel free to reach out to our team. E-mail us on info@thetravelco.eu

Our Tours.

Who are your tours aimed at?

Do you want to travel and experience new places and cultures without the hassle of researching it all, putting it all together and still potentially not getting the most out of your hard earned holiday? Then our tours are for you!


With decades of travel experience between us, we ensure that the experiences are the best available and that you get the most out of your time away from home.

Why aren't flights included?

Over time, more and more of our clients stopped flying on tour dates, choosing rather to fly early or return later - thereby eliminating a lot of the benefits of a group ticket. Not only were airlines penalising these tour members with added admin charges and hefty fare adjustments, the airlines also began changing their pricing models and reducing the savings of group tickets. In fact, in 2019, group fares jumped to be higher than that of standard online fares.


As such, we made the decision to rather give our tour members the chance to fly on their preferred airline, from the airport of their choosing, and to benefit from frequent flyer programmes and other benefits associated with booking their own flights.


Don't worry, we still work closely with you on the flight bookings and assist with flight recommendations (including suggested routings, times, etc) and have an associate who is standing by to assist you with the booking process if you need help.

What should I expect on tour?

Each tour is different, but revolves around a similar philosophy of helping you get settled in and familiar with your destination as quickly as possible (often done through an orientation walk, and other similar excursions), a series of group excursions / activities, some optional activities, and free time.

The vibe is always light-hearted and fun, ensuring you have a proper vacation and make the most of the destination... hopefully coming away having made new friends, having learned some new things, and having experienced a new country / region.

Will I have free time to explore on my own?

Absolutely! While there are scheduled activities during every tour, we provide plenty of time for exploring on your own.

The booking process.

What information do you need from me in order to book?

Our entire tour booking process is online via secure and easy to follow forms, which includes the payment of the tour deposit via secure credit card payment. To complete this form you'll need your personal information: contact information, a photo of your passport, some medical information, next of kin information and obviously your credit card to pay the deposit. If you are travelling with a partner, spouse or friend, you'll also need the same information for them.

Do you apply for my visa for me?

No, we cannot apply for your visa on your behalf. We do, however, supply all the supporting documentation including requirements, checklists, travel itineraries & booking confirmations, invoices related to the tour, etc.


South African clients, you can get in touch with our associates at Visalogix who have handled the visa process for thousands of our clients over the years, and handle our personal visas too. They have offices in both Cape Town & Gauteng.

When will I receive confirmation of my booking?

Securing your place on a tour is instantaneous. By completing the form and making successful payment of the deposit, your place is automatically confirmed and you will receive an e-mail with confirmation along with a PDF of the completed booking form. You will also, as part of the process, receive a separate e-mail receipt from our payment provider (Stripe).

What happens after I submit my booking?

Once you have booked and paid your deposit, your Tour Director will process your booking and raise an invoice for the balance of the tour price and forward this to you along with other tour information & documentation.

Payments & security.

What is the tour deposit?

This is required in order to secure your place on the tour. The exact amount varies based on the tour, but is generally around 350 Euro.

When is the full payment due?

The final due date for invoices varies by tour, but European tours are generally 90-100 days before the commencement of the tour. While tours to other destinations are generally 45-60 days before the commencement of the tour.


The information for the specific tour will be shared on the booking form, the confirmation of booking as well as the invoice.

Do I have to wait for the due date in order to pay?

No, you can pay as and when you want. Our secure payment system allows you to pay any amount you want, when you want. You will receive reminders via e-mail as the Due Date approaches.

Is my credit card information safe?

Absolutely! All our payments are processed by Stripe, one of the world's leading digital payment processors and a Certified PCI Service Provider Level 1 (this is the most stringent level of certification available in the payments industry)We never see, handle or store your card information! Our accounting system purely receives a "key" which acts as a payment confirmation to update your account accordingly.



Is my personal information safe?

Safety, privacy & integrity of your personal data is of the utmost importance to us. Just like credit card / payment processing, we have partnered with industry leaders in secure hosting & cloud services... hosting our entire system and all your data in one of their military grade, ISO, SOC certified data centers.


Insurance.

Why do I need travel insurance?

While it is not a requirement in order to book with us, we do highly recommend taking out comprehensive cover for your travels.


Some countries (like those in the Schengen territory) require travel insurance as part of the visa application process.

Why isn't insurance included in the package?

Some people are covered by benefits of their bank / credit card, others have comprehensive cover through their short-term insurance & medical aid schemes, others have corporate cover already.

Which policy should I get?

The extent of cover needed varies from person to person (age and pre-existing conditions are major factors), and the amount of cover required varies tour to tour as well as region to region. We recommend a policy that covers the FULL tour and flight ticket value, as well as sufficient cover for your luggage and/or sporting equipment.


Remember to get cover that will handle your medical emergencies for you, and not one that expects you to pay first and then claim from them upon your return home.

How do I claim from insurance?

This will vary from one provider to the provider to the next, and will depend on the type of claim being made. Best chat to your policy provider, and then let us know if they require any additional paperwork from us.