You do not pay us. Here is who does
There is no booking fee, no consultation fee and no charge for a quote. We are paid a commission by the airlines, hotels and operators you book through, and it is part of the price they already set rather than something added to what we quote you.
What you are never charged for
All of the work below is covered by the commission a supplier pays us, not by an invoice to you.
- The conversation about where you are going and what will actually suit you
- Researching and pricing two or three options, not just the first one that fits
- Checking fare rules, connection times, baggage and entry requirements
- Making the booking, issuing the tickets and sending the documents
- Changes, schedule moves and cancellations after the booking is made
- Being the person you contact when something goes wrong on the road
What you still pay for
- The travel itself, at the price the supplier sets
- Airline and supplier change fees or fare differences, which are theirs and not ours
- Visas, passports and entry permits
- Travel insurance premiums
When you actually pay
Every date below is set by the supplier and goes on your itinerary in writing at the time of booking.
The quote costs you nothing
We research and price the trip and send you options with the totals on them. There is no charge for this and no obligation to book any of them. If you take the quote and book it yourself, that is the risk we run.
Deposit when you accept
How much and when depends on what is being booked, and it is the supplier who sets it rather than us. Airfares often need ticketing within days, while a package can sit on a smaller deposit for months. We tell you which yours is before you commit, along with what happens if you cancel.
Balance before departure
Every supplier has a balance date, and missing it can cancel the booking rather than just delay it. Your balance dates go on the itinerary at the time of booking, not in an email you have to find later.
Changes are quoted before they are made
If you want to move a date, we come back with what the airline or hotel will charge before anything is changed. We add nothing to it.
Questions about cost
What do you charge?
Nothing. There is no booking fee, no consultation fee and no charge for preparing a quote, whether or not you go ahead. If a piece of work ever fell outside an ordinary booking, we would agree it with you in writing before starting rather than surprising you with it afterwards.
So how do you actually make money?
Suppliers pay us a commission. Airlines, hotels, tour operators and cruise lines pay travel agents a percentage on bookings made through them. It is part of the price the supplier already sets, not an amount added on top of your quote, which is why using us does not cost more than booking the same trip yourself.
Does the commission change what you recommend?
It could, which is exactly why we tell you it exists rather than leaving you to find out. Commission rates do differ between suppliers. What we will not do is put you somewhere that suits us better than it suits you, because a client who comes back is worth far more than the difference on a single booking. If you want to know whether a particular recommendation carries commission, ask and we will tell you.
Can I see what each part costs?
Yes, and you get it without asking. Quotes break out the fare, the taxes, the accommodation, the transfers and the tours on separate lines. If you want to bring the total down, that breakdown is what tells you where.
What if the price changes after I get the quote?
Airfares and hotel rates are live and can move before a booking is ticketed, so a quote holds until the fare changes rather than for a fixed number of days. If the price moves before you accept, we tell you what it moved to and why, and you decide from there.
Ask us what your trip would cost
Quoting costs you nothing and puts you under no obligation. If we are not the right fit, we will say so.