|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
|
|||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
||
|
|
||||||
Frequently Asked QuestionsHow Inntravel walking tours workQ: How do we find our way? Choosing the right tourQ: How do we know which tour is the right level for us? Tailor-making your tripQ: We want a longer vacation – can we extend our tour? Making a booking & other practicalitiesQ: What does the price include? How Inntravel walking tours workA: With the exception of our trips to Morocco, where we provide you with your own Berber guide, our tours are self-guided, meaning that, as well as including maps (usually 1:25,000), we provide very detailed route notes that are checked and updated regularly. What’s more, many of our routes follow waymarked trails, making navigation particularly easy. You should think of our route notes as your guide – not only do they describe your route, but they also contain information on local culture and places of interest along the way. If it’s worth making a short detour to a particularly breathtaking viewpoint or picnic spot, they mention this too. Q: Do we have to carry our luggage? A: No, included in the price of all our hikes are luggage transfers from hotel to hotel. On mornings that you are moving on, we ask that you leave your suitcases at the reception desk as you leave, and the hotelier will then make sure that they are ready waiting for you at your next base. This means that all you need carry with you is a small daypack with your picnic, a camera, waterproofs and sun cream. Q: We don’t walk very fast. Does this matter? A: Because you are never part of a group, you can choose the pace that is right for you, pausing whenever you like to take in the view, to visit a church or stop for refreshments. Breakfast is generally served between 07.30 and 09.30 hours, and dinner is never served earlier than 19.00 hours (and, indeed, is not served until about 21.00 hours or later in Spain), meaning that you really do have the entire day to get from A to B and that there is nothing to stop you pausing for a siesta in the heat of the midday sun. Q: Will we see any other Inntravel walkers? A: Because you can start most tours on any day of the week, it often happens that there are no other Inntravel clients starting their trip at the same time as you are. However, if you have chosen one of our more popular tours or are traveling at a busy time, your stays at some hotels may coincide with those of other Inntravel clients, particularly if you are adding extra nights along the route. It is up to you whether or not you make yourself known to them – some people prefer to keep themselves to themselves, but we know of other clients who have struck up lasting friendships with the people they have met while on vacation. Q: Do we need special equipment? A: Obviously you’ll need hiking boots (be sure to wear them in before your trip if they are new) and good waterproofs, but what you wear otherwise will depend on which region you are traveling to and when. We will provide you with more detailed information about what you need to take when you book. Some people like to walk with a pole or poles, and these are particularly useful if you have chosen one of our more challenging hikes or one with lots of descents. A compass and water bottle are essential, and you may like to take light-weight binoculars to watch birds and other wildlife. Q: Should we prepare for our walking tour? A: Enjoying the odd 8- or 9-mile walk every so often is not the same as covering 8 or 9 miles five or six days in a row. We therefore suggest that in the weeks leading up to your trip you try to go walking on a couple of consecutive days each week. Choosing the right tourQ: How do we know which tour is the right level for us? A: Our walking tours are graded as follows: • Grade 1 Easy, generally low-level walking with few ascents/descents, but can have occasional long days. In addition, the detailed descriptions of each tour give the distance of each day’s route. Q: We’re finding it very hard to choose – can you help? A: If you find you are spoiled for choice, or simply don’t know where to start, call us (or ask us to call you). Our expert reservations staff are used to tackling this sort of query, and will talk you through the decision-making process step by step, making suitable suggestions along the way. Q: We’ve never been on a walking tour – what if we’re not up to walking every day? A: If you choose the appropriate level of tour for you and prepare in the weeks leading up to your trip, then you should be fine. To be on the safe side, we would also recommend a tour which features two-night stays at most hotels – that way you can alternate days of walking with days of relaxation if need be. Another option is to choose one of our 'discovery' trips, vacations on which you stay at just one or two hotels and use them as a base for walking and/or sightseeing (we provide detailed route notes just as on our other walking tours). Q: We don’t want our vacation to just be about walking. What do you recommend? A: Many of our tours, particularly those on which you do not move on every day, allow plenty of time for other activities. If you would like to indulge in a spot of wine-tasting, choose a vineyard walk, if you would like to spend time by the beach, choose a coastal route. For those of you who are passionate about art, we recommend our tours in Tuscany and Umbria, and for history lovers we have fascinating walks in the Loire and Corbières. Alternatively, many tours (too many to mention here) take in some very charming towns and villages, often with a day to explore and soak up the atmosphere. Tailor-making your tripQ: We want a longer vacation – can we extend our tour? A: Our tours are entirely flexible and you can add extra nights wherever you choose, be it at a hotel at the start, middle or end of the itinerary. Alternatively, for an even longer trip, you can combine a walking tour with another walking tour, or even with a completely different type of tour – Inntravel offers cycling and horse riding trips, hotels in rural locations that make great bases for touring, plus city breaks. We will be happy to advise you on the best combinations and to arrange connecting travel by railroad for you. Get a feel for the options available to you by visiting our main site. Q: We have friends in France – can we combine an Inntravel walking tour with a stay with them? A: Yes, we are happy for you to make your own accommodation arrangements for part of your Inntravel trip. Q: Can we visit two countries as part of our trip? A: It is surprisingly easy to combine walking tours either side of two national borders – consider combining Provence with northern Italy, Italy with Austria, Austria with Switzerland, eastern France with Switzerland, western France with ‘Green’ Spain, or south-west France with Catalonia in north-east Spain. We will be happy to advise you on the feasibility of your plans and to organize connecting railroad travel. Simply make sure that you have all the necessary visas. Q: Can you organize my travel for me? A: Our clients tend to do one of two things: organize their own flights to London and then ask us to book the flights and onward travel to the start of their tour, or book flights from their country of origin to an appropriate airport for their tour, from where they ask us to organize the onward travel. As a British tour operator, we can only book flights that originate in the UK, though we can book most railroad routes in the countries in which we work. Q: We are traveling to Europe as a treat for our wedding anniversary, how can we make it extra special? A: Many of our hotels have a small number of superior rooms – be it a room with a balcony, more space or a great view – which we will be happy to book for you at a supplement. We can also arrange for flowers or wine to be in your room on arrival, and a variety of other special details, so please ask us for details and advice. Making a booking & other practicalitiesQ: What does the price include? A: The ‘walk price' includes accommodation for the number of nights stated on the detailed itinerary page, luggage transfers, route notes and maps*, breakfast every morning, plus picnics and dinners as described in the itinerary. If you would like us to book flights for you from the UK, we will quote for these separately. You will also need to add on the price of the connecting travel from the destination airport if you wish us to book this for you too (we give prices for the most common routes below the price panel). ‘By rail’ prices include return rail travel from London via the Channel Tunnel plus onward travel. Please note that all prices are shown in British pounds (£). A: We recommend you call us (or ask us to call you) to make a booking. This way we can talk you through all the options available to you and, most importantly, make sure you are getting the trip that is right for you. Once we have done this, we will then take all your details and make the requested reservations. A: We do have a secure online booking form which enables you to send us your details and pay a deposit. However, completing this does not guarantee a booking – given the complicated nature of our tours, we book each itinerary individually, and have to confirm the reservation with each hotel, which can take time. If you would prefer instant confirmation, visit our sister site www.youwalk.com, which has a selection of 6-night tours. Q: Can we pay in dollars/euros? A: We do not invoice our overseas clients in dollars or euros, but if you pay by credit card, then your holiday price will be converted into your currency by your credit card company, which determines the exchange rate applicable. As an indication of the current exchange rate, see the American Express website. Because we are charged for credit card payments, we levy a 1.25% fee for payment by credit card, and your credit card company may also charge a handling fee. Q: When will I get my documentation? A: We ask that you pay your balance 8 weeks before the start of your trip. (You can use our secure payment form to do this.) We will then send your route notes, maps and accommodation vouchers to you by post at least a month (but more usually 5-6 weeks) before your vacation. Please let us know if you are leaving your home address before the commencement of your Inntravel tour so that we can arrange for your documentation to be sent to you in time. A: It is a condition of booking with Inntravel that you are insured. Depending on where you live, you may already have medical insurance that covers you while abroad (and will repatriate you if necessary), in which case you will just need to cover yourself for other risks associated with traveling such as cancellation/curtailment, personal accident, travel delay, missed departure, loss of baggage and personal effects, passport indemnity and public liability/legal expenses. We regret that our own insurance policy is only open to EU residents. A: This depends very much on your nationality and which country or countries you are visiting. The best body with which to check is the embassy of the relevant country or countries (including any you are traveling through). It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct documentation.  |
|
||||||