FAQ: Frequently asked questions

THE EARTH TRIP

Why choose earth trip?

– Here for you 24/7: Personal service from Earth Trip, our in-house travel specialists.
– No hidden costs: See every rate available, with no booking fee.
– Hotels hand-picked by experts: Each hotel is inspected and chosen by us.

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How impartial is the advice given by your specialists?

The Earth Trip do not own any hotels or overseas ground suppliers. Therefore the advice you will receive when designing an itinerary is 100% impartial. Any properties or services that we suggest are being recommended purely on merit.

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Who are earth trip?

Earth Trip is a small, UK based independent tour operator who specialise in tailor-made holidays to Sri Lanka, Madagascar, Maldives, Seychelles and Mauritius. We are passionate experienced travellers and we inspect hundreds of hotels every year to ensure that our clients receive only the best standards.

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What is an earth trip tailor-made holiday?

A tailor-made holiday is a unique experience designed to suit your own personal requirements. Our specialists are on hand to guide you in choosing your itinerary, style of accommodation, mode of transport and those special touches you want to add to create your perfect holiday.
Whether you are looking for a family adventure, a holiday with a group of friends, or a romantic break for two, we can help design an ideal experience to suit your budget.

With the assistance of our travel consultant, your holiday will be perfect because we are designing your trip according to your personal interests and passions. It’s not a ‘ready-made holiday that suits all’ but it’s tailor-made especially for you.

From creating your itinerary before you depart, through to our 24-hour support, highly-rated tour guides and unique accommodation and transport while you’re away, we will ensure your tailor-made experience is one to remember. We will also personally follow up with each of our tailor-made customers on your return.

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What makes The Earth Trip different from other bespoke holiday companies?

When The Earth Trip was founded, the ethos was to provide holidays that travelled in a responsible manner and got beneath the surface of the destination, proving holidays could be thought-provoking and enjoyable. The aim to deliver authentic, enriching journeys remains with every tailor-made holiday we sell. Unlike other companies, we do not sell the whole world, we specialise in a handful of countries which we know very well. Our expertise knowledge about our destinations makes us different from the rest of the herd.

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When i am travelling overseas will i receive any support?

In every destination we offer, The Earth Trip has a support network of local contacts and suppliers who will ensure that your holiday goes as smoothly as possible. Typically you will be met on arrival at the airport and transferred to the accommodation of your choice. A local representative will provide you with an initial briefing about your holiday and will confirm that you have all of the necessary contact numbers. 24/7 backup will be available both in the country of travel and here in the UK (we are never more than a phone call away, 24 hours a day and every day of the year). Depending on your style of trip, you will then either be accompanied by an Earth Trip guide and/or driver for all or part of your journey or have all relevant support on a self-drive itinerary – the choice is yours, but we will be with you every step of the way. Travelling privately also offers flexibility during your holiday and so your driver or guide will discuss options with you each day to ensure you get the most out of your holiday.

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How familiar are your regional specialists with their areas?

We ensure that our specialists travel frequently to the countries they sell, so that they are able to tell you about all of the latest developments within a country, and their best up-to-date travel tips and hidden highlights.

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YOUR TRAVEL

What is included in the price?

Due to the complex nature of the itineraries we arrange, it can sometimes be difficult to present exactly all the items included or not included in the price. If you are at all unclear, please call us and we will be pleased to go through all the details and clarify any questions you may have.
Services included in the price:
• All flights listed on the itinerary in the class of travel shown.
• Taxes payable in London (some local airport taxes are payable locally at check-in)
• Accommodation in the room type shown on the itinerary, including local tax and service charge.
• Breakfast at all the accommodation listed unless otherwise stated.
• Meals as shown on the itinerary.
• Transfers listed, to and from airports with transport and an English speaking guide.
• Reconfirmation of your flights and help at check-in at the hotels and airports.
• Excursions with transport and an English speaking guide.
• Guides on all services listed, who speak English.
• Local entrance fees and permits where required.
• All transport arrangements listed with a driver who may not speak much English (although many do)
• Driver and guide’s meals, accommodation and their personal expenses.
• Contact information, services, support and the assistance of local based representatives.
• Contact information for all hotels.
• Your interests profiled and sent to our guides so that we can try to enhance your visits.
• Information on how to prepare for your journey including money, clothing, health and more.

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What is not included in the price?

Services NOT included in the price:
• Insurance – You must travel with adequate personal and medical insurance.
• Visas
• Expenses of a personal nature such as telephone calls, laundry, drinks, etc.
• Gratuities are optional items at your discretion.
• Any other item not listed on the itinerary.

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Travel insurance.

Travel insurance is compulsory for all The Earth Trip travellers and should be taken out at the time of booking. You must provide proof of your travel insurance on the first day of your trip; you will not be able to travel without it.

At a minimum, your travel insurance should be ‘comprehensive’, providing cover against personal accidents, death, medical expenses, emergency repatriation and personal liability, with a minimum coverage of US$200,000. We also strongly recommend it covers cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects

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VISA INFORMATION

While we do include information in your travel pack email about visa requirements, we always recommend that passengers check with their local embassy, as visa rules can change without warning. Embassy websites in your home country will always have information about requirements, visa costs and will provide the required forms.
Please contact the relevant local embassy, or contact us to assist you (for a fee), to organise your visa/s.

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How do I travel around a country?

You can travel whichever way you want. We will always tell you the most appropriate forms of transport for each area for the time you have available. We will also provide you with the chance to travel on the modes of transport appropriate to the country you are travelling in. Whether you choose to travel by road, rail, boat, aeroplane or even on foot, our aim is to ensure that you get the most from your travel experience. The journey is part of the fun and the experience.

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Can I choose which airport I depart from?

If there is a scheduled flight to your chosen destination departing from your preferred airport, then we will be able to book it for you at a competitive rate. Our rates include economy seats, upgrades to enhanced economy, business class and for those very special occasions, first class.

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How does the booking process work?

Once you have an idea of where you want to go, we would recommend that you have a look at some of the example itineraries on our destination pages for inspiration. Then contact us either by calling us on 02089355685 or using the contact form on the website, or direct email to info@theearthtrip.co.uk . At this stage, one of our regional specialists will discuss all of the options available to you and help you put together an itinerary that matches your requirements. We will then send you a detailed itinerary with a quote which we can work on together, in order to create your perfect itinerary. Once your itinerary has been perfected and finalised, we will ask for a booking form and deposit, and the arrangement of your holiday begins.

Get in touch with a Personal Travel Expert to book. By talking to an expert we can ensure we meet your holiday expectations – call us on 020 8935 5685 with your holiday requirements or email us on info@theearthtrip.co.uk or we can arrange meeting in person during one of major travel shows in UK:
Rutland, East Midlands 17 -19th August 2018 – Bird Fair
Harrogate, Yorkshire 29 & 30th September 2018 – Wildlife & Safari Travel Show
Complimentary tickets Code SC click here
London Olympia 1-4th November 2018 – Luxury Travel Fair
Manchester Event City 17-20th January 2019 – Destinations Show
London Olympia 31-03rd February 2019 – Destinations Show

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What happens to our driver / guide during our tour?

Our drivers/guides are there to look after you, therefore you do not need to worry as the price includes the driver and guide’s meals, accommodation and their personal expenses.

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FINANCIAL SECURITY

What happens to my money when I pay for my trip?

When Earth Trip receives your payments, the funds are deposited into a Travel Trust Account. The money stays in this account until the day of departure of your trip. Why? So that in the unlikely event of Earth Trip ever going broke, your money is still safe and you would get it back in full. Failure to meet financial criteria reflecting the financial viability of a travel agent results in revocation of the agent’s licence to trade. Earth Trip is licensed under these arrangements.

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Speak To Someone Who's Been

Unsure Where To Start?

Get in touch with us and one of our travel specialists will be able to talk you through our process and your options. Begin your journey today.

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