How to Book with Us
Since 1998
Your holiday, step by step
How to book an Andean Trails holiday
We’re here to help you plan and book your holiday to South America.
Don’t worry about the practical steps, our guide here will walk you through the Andean Trails booking process.
1. Get in touch
It seems obvious but it’s always advisable to contact us by email or on +44 (0)7754442434 before making a booking online.
We may need to check for spaces for your chosen dates on your preferred Galapagos cruise boat, or that there are still Inca Trail permits available.
At any stage of the booking process you can get in touch to ask questions, make amendments to bookings or talk through the trip.
2. Plan your trip
We’re experts at tailor made and group holidays and we love talking to people about our trips, destination countries and hotel options.
Providing lots of options, prices and details to outline itineraries is our speciality and we’re more than happy to look at as many ideas as you wish. Most quotes come with a detailed itinerary so you can get a real feel for what you are booking.
This process – which can be complicate and lengthy, depending on numbers of countries and sites you wish to visit, group size etc – usually involves several emails, a phone call or two or face to face chats in our office.
Sometimes it’s a good idea to get hotels/flights/Galapagos boats on hold to make sure that availability doesn’t disappear.
3. Booking
Hoorah!
Through your ideas, dreams and work and our advice you’ve settled on the itinerary for your trip and are ready to book.
Flights will need to be paid for in full to issue them and we ask for a 30% non-refundable deposit as well as a completed booking form for all passengers.
We accept card payments in GBP sterling and in USD, plus bank transfers in many currencies from USD to Rand to AUSD and more (contact us for a full list).
4. Confirmation email
After the payment and booking form has been received, we reserve all services for you and send you a confirmation email.
This reconfirms all services included and not included and is accompanied by an invoice, detailed itinerary, kit list and extra information about the countries you’ll be visiting.
Bookings by UK customers with flights are ATOL protected and you will also receive an ATOL receipt.
5. Balance due
The final balance of your trip is due 8 to 12 weeks before departure depending on the tour you booked. You can pay it off earlier if you wish and we generally send a reminder near the payment deadline.
6. Travel Information document
Some 2-3 weeks before you travel we’ll email you a final word document full of important information to print off and take away with you.
Names, addresses and contact numbers for our representatives/hotels/guides are contained within these instructions, as well as timings, logistics and arrival advice for some countries.
Any who have booked flights will find their e-ticket numbers/locator codes and final flight times here too. Flight times can change in South America and it’s always worth double checking on departure day.
We recommend that you save a copy in your email account just in case you lose the paper copy while travelling.
Please contact us with any doubts or questions you may have once you’ve had a good read through the instructions.
7. HOLIDAY!
Check-in, fly off and enjoy!
8. Welcome back home
Once you’re back home we drop you a quick email to see how everything has gone.
We love to hear about your adventures and all feedback, good or bad, to help us to improve, as well as see any top snaps or videos of your dream trip to South America.
9. Go back to stage 1
We’re sure you’ll want to go back – so drop us a line!
Deposit and final payments
Your deposit and balance deadline depend on your trip. We will confirm both in your quote and booking documents.
A few useful answers
Can I enquire before I’ve decided on dates?
Yes. You don’t need a finished plan to get in touch. Tell us where you’d like to go, what interests you and roughly when you might travel. We can help you explore the options.
Should I book my flights first?
Can you tailor a trip to suit me?
Yes. We can help you plan a tailor-made holiday around your interests, time and budget. You can use one of our tours as a starting point or talk to us about your own ideas.
When do I pay for my trip?
Once you’re ready to book, we’ll explain the deposit and any other payments required. Your booking confirmation will show when your remaining balance is due, as payment schedules vary between trips.
When should I complete the booking form?
Complete the booking form once you’ve agreed your itinerary with us and we’ve asked you to confirm your booking. If you’re still exploring ideas, start with an enquiry.
What if I have questions before I book?
Ask us. Whether you’re unsure about the walking distances, accommodation, altitude or travelling alone, we’ll help you understand what to expect and choose a trip that suits you.
