We have worked in the travel business for a shockingly long time (call us, we will share some stats)—as guides, researchers, photographers, planners, lackeys, you name it. We have been to the places we send guests, we have amassed our own trove of relationships and expertise, we have learned the ropes. We recognise that fun is a serious business and we have literally spent our lives figuring out how to help people have better travel experiences.
The main thing that differentiates iTravel from a classic travel agent/agency is that we create our own trips using ingredients (hotels, guides, experiences) that we have unearthed ourselves. We aren’t` dishing up travel as an impersonal commodity or selling someone else’s trip, we are carefully crafting unique itineraries based on first-hand experience. We develop our own supplier relationships, form our own opinions, and work with whomever we think does the best and safe job—be they part of a lauded boutique hotel group, or a 3-bedroom inn that no one’s ever heard of.
We have always said that in theory anyone can plan any trip, just as anyone can build their own house or fix their own car. The more relevant question is whether or not it makes sense to do so. It’s not neuroscience, but planning a brilliant trip takes know-how, experience, contacts, and a lot of time. Fitting the right pieces together in the right way is more challenging than it may seem. If you have the patience and gumption to tackle your own trip planning, by all means do it, can be very rewarding. But if you’re tight on time, short on expertise, or simply don’t want to risk blowing a day (as a guest once put it) then it makes a lot of sense to hire the right people for the job.
Yes. We always arrange hotels and typically arrange all transfers (by air, land and/or sea) from the moment you arrive at your destination until the moment you leave. Additionally, we coordinate local guides, activities, excursions, special events, restaurant reservations, and anything else you’d like our help with. Some trips are planned to the minute and involve a vast number of arrangements. Other trips are more flexible and free-flowing, with a moderate degree of support. It’s up to you.
iTravel does not directly book or issue flights to/from your destination. It’s simply not our area of deep expertise. However, we can usually advise you on the best way to get to the region. And in many cases we can steer you to flight agents or travel websites who can help.
Unfortunately No. In order for us to plan comprehensive, seamless trips we’ve learned that we need to be in control of all the key ingredients including hotels.
Yes we do have our yearly calendars with limited tours. These are all themed tours and small group departures and led by relevant experts. We generally recommend solo or couple travel on these. For families of 3 or 4 we would recommend our Bespoke Tours since they are private and built from scratch and absolutely unique to your own group needs.
It depends on a variety of factors (i.e. how far in advance of the trip you contact us, hotel availability, complexity of the itinerary, changes you may decide to make along the way). We have planned trips in as little as a week, while others have taken months to finalise. One thing you can be sure of is that we share your enthusiasm for finalising the details as quickly as possible. The more advance notice we have, the faster and easier it is to plan a trip. And the more likely it is that you’ll get exactly the trip you want. If you wait until the last minute, it’s invariably more difficult to secure hotel and flight availability. Last-minute requests require an extra degree of flexibility and the planning process gets compressed (this can be a little stressful for everyone involved). Some regions, such as Africa and the Galapagos Islands, should be planned way in advance (think 6-12 months prior to departure) due to limited availability at safari camps and on boats. And if you want to travel over the Diwali/Christmas/New Year holidays or during April/May Break, please give us plenty of notice.
Each custom itinerary has a single trip price, which includes all the ingredients (hotels, transfers, guides, activities, and so forth) on the trip. Excuse the drab language, but you are essentially buying a custom trip package. The trip price is fairly comprehensive and typically covers the bulk of what you will spend while on your trip. That being said, there are some things that are generally not included in your trip price, such as tipping, travel visas, shopping (sorry), some or most meals (this varies a lot by country, and we simply suggest whatever makes the most sense) and your flights to/from the destination.
We’ve learned that the silliest question we can ask you on day one is: “How much do you want to spend?” We recognise that it’s very hard to know as there are many factors involved. However, we would ask you to carefully consider overall price from the outset. Think about flight costs. Think about what elements of the trip are most important to you (length of trip? hotels?). And think about those little costs like shopping, meals and tips. The more specific you can be about your budget, the better we’ll be able to work to it. If you want more help outlining a budget for your travel, please ask us.
We do not provide line item breakdowns of your trip price. There are two reasons for this. One, we are often working with local suppliers who bundle hotels and services into package prices. This is standard practice in many countries. And two, it can get unreasonably complicated and confusing. Behind a single trip price is a rat’s nest of exchange rates, reservation details and micro costs. We aren’t out to be sneaky; we are out to keep things simple and clear. Having said all of this, if you want us to explain the general breakdown of costs we are happy to do so, and we will always engage with you to help you understand costs and how to maximise your trip spend. It’s important that you know you’re getting your money’s worth.
Unfortunately No. But we will make certain recommendations in most cases. There are some peculiarities and limitations to what we can provide depending on where you live and how much you want to insure, however the bottom line is that we can almost always help you find a travel insurance solution. Regardless of where you obtain insurance, the most important thing is that you’re covered.
It depends. Every country has different suggestions and requirements. These seem to change on a regular basis, so its always best to check with a travel health clinic.
It depends. Every country has different rules and requirements. These seem to change on a regular basis, so its always best to check with the relevant embassy or consulate. Be rest assured we will advise you on a case to case basis.
Tipping is not typically included in your trip price. Tips are a very individual thing, highly dependent on the situation. However, in your final travel document we will provide tipping guidelines if required to help you quantify appreciation in various situations.
No, we’ve got a bunch of other destinations up our sleeve. A city here, a region there – fresh or developing expertise in all sorts of random places. So if you wondering what else we know, just give us a call or send us an email and we’ll give you a straight answer. It’s worth adding that we are game to do research in a specific destination for you, if it’s appropriate.
We don’t offer typical group tours and our clients aren’t typical group travellers. People who travel with us want to really get to grips with the region they’re visiting, to immerse themselves and to truly understand and appreciate the cultures they experience. It’s all about authentic experiences in exotic cultures – a combination that serves up unforgettable memories. Our trips allow you to step off the tourist track and into local culture—from bustling marketplaces to hole in the wall hidden gems. This allows you to have a more authentic travel experience.
Every iTravel Experience is crafted to accommodate at least 30% of free time. During your trip you will have free time to pursue your own interests, relax and take it easy or explore. While your group leader will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your itinerary, and iTravel makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgment when selecting an activity in your free time.
No problem. A good variety of vegetarian food is available in most cities all over and is no longer a point of concern. It is important to realise that in some places your diet might be slightly limited, as meat often forms an integral part of the local diet but vegetarian options are always there.
