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
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