General & Escorted Tours Frequently Asked Questions

. How far ahead of departure do I have to reserve my vacation?
Reservations are accepted up to 7 days prior to departure, subject to availability

. Are airport transfers included in the independent vacation or escorted tour price? Airport transfers are not included in independent or escorted vacation package prices. Inquire if an airport transfer is available when making your reservation

. Does Collette offer transfers?
Airport to hotel and hotel to airport transfers at the beginning and end of an escorted tour are available to purchase on most Collette vacations. Transfers can only be purchased for the first and last day of the actual vacation dates. However, on some escorted tours, transfers for pre/post night stays may be available, but only when purchasing Collette's air and hotel packages.

. How do I make my reservation?
Once you have decided which vacation you wish to take, Collette strongly recommends you use a professional travel agent. That's where atlastravelweb.com comes in. We are authorized representatives for Collette Vacations - call us at 1-800-942-3301.

. What does the vacation cost include?
The vacation cost includes motor coach transportation, hotel accommodations, all applicable sightseeing and admissions as per itinerary, services of a professional Collette Vacations tour manager and/or local host, all meals as shown in the itinerary, luggage handling, taxes and applicable gratuities for bellmen, doormen, housekeepers, and dining room waitstaff

. What is not included in the vacation price?
The land price does not include air travel, airline fees, airport or departure taxes, transfers, visas, customary end of trip gratuities for your tour manager, driver, local guides, cruise ship wait staff, and any incidental charges.

. Can I purchase hotel nights before the tour begins or after the vacation ends?
Collette Vacations offers pre and post hotel stays on many escorted tours. Most hotels offer Collette guests special rates, which are available upon request on a space-available basis. The services of a Collette tour manager are not included in pre and post stays. You can also add independent packages to escorted tours to extend your stay in a city.

. Can Collette Vacations book our airline reservations?
Collette Vacations is happy to assist you in accommodating your flight needs. Due to tour scheduling and limited availability you are strongly encouraged to take advantage of Collette's air packages. If you choose not to accept Collette Vacations air, we cannot be held responsible for other arrangements you have made. On occasion, it is necessary to change tour dates. In this case, we can only protect air reservations booked through Collette Vacations.

. Do you accept late bookings?
Tour sales normally close 7 days prior to departure. All late bookings are on request and must be guaranteed with a credit card if within 60 days of departure date. A late booking fee of $25.00 may be assessed to cover express mailing of documents and other expenses incurred

. Do you have a share program?
Initially, if you wish to share with another tour member you must advise Collette Vacations at the time of booking. The single price is charged. If, two weeks prior to the day of departure, we have another "share", the difference between the per person single and the twin price will be refunded. "Shares" cannot be guaranteed

. Do you sell supplemental insurance?
Yes, we offer our clients accident/baggage insurance. Details are included with your invoice. You can register for this on your own, prior to departure

. What happens if I change my reservation?
A handling fee of $25.00 per transaction will be charged for any alteration or revision made to a reservation. This includes name changes. (Revisions to air tickets are subject to the rules and regulations of the airline and fare type purchased. Revision rates vary.) A change of tour date or tour itinerary within the guidelines of the cancellation policy will be treated as a cancellation and regular cancellation fees may apply.

. What if my vacation date is changed?
Collette Vacations reserves the right to cancel any tour prior to departure for any reason. Should this happen, Collette Vacations will make every effort to protect you on another departure date and if an alternate cannot be found, a full refund will be made. Air booked through Collette Vacations will be protected. We cannot be held responsible for other air arrangements.

. What is Collette's cancellation waiver policy?
The land and air cancellation waivers are non-refundable and must be purchased at the time deposit is made. The air cancellation waiver can only be purchased by individuals who have purchased air through Collette Vacations and do not cover non-refundable airline tickets. Collette Vacations is not responsible for penalties imposed by airlines. The waivers should be purchased at time of deposit, however may be purchased with final payment if you are booking within 60 days before departure

. Are there documentation requirements for entry into any countries visited?
All clients should contact the appropriate consulate for entry requirements. In addition, passengers are advised to carry a photo I.D. on all domestic and international tours. Passports and visas are required for U.S. citizens for certain countries and are reflected on specific vacation pages. However, requirements do change, so we urge you to confirm these with the appropriate consulate.

. When will I receive my documents?
Documents will normally be mailed two weeks prior to departure (provided full payment has been received). The tour manager will carry documents for tours, which include cruise segments.

. Does Collette Vacations offer consumer protection plans?
Collette Vacations is a member of the following organizations: The National Tour Association, The United States Tour Operators Association, The Alliance of Canadian Travel Associations, the Travel Industry Council of Ontario, the Australian Federation of Travel Agents, and the Association of British Travel Agents. Some of these associations operate a consumer protection plan to cover deposits placed with any tour operator member. Collette Vacations shares the coverage available under the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA) $1 million Consumer Protection Plan with affiliates of Collette Vacations who, as an active member of USTOA, is required to post $1 million with USTOA to be used to reimburse, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Plan, the advance payments of Collette Vacations customers in the unlikely event of Collette Vacations' bankruptcy or insolvency. Call the USTOA at 212-599-6599 to obtain complete details of the USTOA Consumer Protection Plan and a list of affiliates.

Escorted Tour Frequently Asked Questions

. What is an Optional Tour?
These are activities that may enhance your trip experience; however, we leave that for you to decide. These are not included in the tour price and you will need to pay an additional cost if you choose to participate in an option. Your tour manager will have a list of available options and the associated costs

. What is a "hosted" tour?
Collette offers pre and post extensions on selected tours. These extensions and some of Collette's other tours may be "hosted" rather than escorted when there are 15 or fewer passengers. When hosted, a local representative or ground operator guide will greet passengers upon arrival; however, they will not be escorted to all activities and functions. The local guides will be available "on-call" for passengers should they have any questions during the tour.

. What is an independent city stay?
Depending on where your tour begins or ends, five 2-night independent city stays are available to purchase on our Australia/New Zealand tours. These stays are not hosted or escorted, allowing you the freedom to explore independently or simply relax and go at your own pace. The price includes accommodations for two nights and meals listed on the tour itinerary. Prices do not include airfare or transportation.

. Do you rotate seats on tours?
Seats are rotated on all Collette tours under the direction of the tour manager. So that we do not show partiality among passengers, exceptions cannot be made. Please Note: All Collette tours feature a NO SMOKING POLICY. Frequent stops are made for your convenience.

. Where do I meet my tour manager?
Your tour will begin at your first hotel. The tour manager will make contact with you upon arrival at the hotel and will make arrangements to meet and assist you. The hotel address and phone number will be included in your documents. If you have purchased an arrival airport transfer from Collette Vacations, your tour manager or a Collette Vacations representative will greet you outside the baggage claim area.

. How much luggage can be taken on tour?
Due to limited motorcoach capacity, one piece of luggage per person is allowed. If you wish to bring luggage in excess of the above limitation, your tour manager will collect a charge of $4.00 per bag per hotel. There is no charge for carry-on luggage. Important: Luggage restrictions vary by airline and destination. Please contact your scheduled airline of service for specific requirements regarding checked and carry-on luggage.

. What if I arrive late and miss a feature of the tour?
No refunds can be made for unused portions of any tour due to late arrivals or early departures.

. Do itinerary variations occur?
In the unlikely event that services included in the tour cannot be supplied, or there are changes in an itinerary for reasons beyond the control of the company, Collette Vacations will arrange for the provision of comparable services.

. Are triple accommodations available?
Triple accommodations are available at most hotels; however, the types of beds may vary. Some hotels may only have two double beds and a cot may be added to the room at an additional cost. Please check with your travel agent at time of booking