Where do I meet my tour manager?

Your tour will begin at your first hotel. The tour manager will make contact with you at the hotel and will provide details relating to your tour. The hotel address and phone number will be included in your documents.

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

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, passengers will be greeted upon arrival by a local representative or ground operator guide; 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.

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. We are not responsible for air arrangements you have made on your own. On occasion, it is necessary to change tour dates. In this case, we can only protect air reservations booked through Collette Vacations. For all air reservations, it is strongly recommended to reconfirm flights before departure, in the event that the airline has an unexpected schedule change. We cannot assume responsibility for schedule changes, routings or flight cancellations involving the airlines.

Would my tour date ever be 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.

Should you decide to change your tour date, a handling fee of $25 per transaction will be charged for any alteration 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. See Cancellation Policy.

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.

What is not included in the tour 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, hotel housekeepers, cruise ship wait staff, and any incidental charges.

The following are included in your tour package: transportation via motorcoach, accommodations, luggage handling, meals, sightseeing, admission charges (as outlined in your itinerary or on our website at www.collettevacations.com), and applicable gratuities for bellmen, doormen and dining room wait staff. (Customary gratuities for cruise ship personnel, overnight passenger train personnel, hotel housekeeping staff, local sightseeing guides, drivers and Collette tour managers have not been included.)

Special Note: Your travel dates may be during religious, state or local holidays. These holidays, with their associated closures, may disrupt museum/attraction visits and personal shopping time.

We make every effort to minimize disruptions during the tour, however, we cannot be held responsible for attractions being closed.

Should I bring my walking shoes?

At Collette, we pride ourselves on bringing travelers the very best experiences a destination offers. Our itineraries include many activities and may consist of walking on uneven terrain or significant walking at times. Some of the most unique sightseeing can mean accessing locations that restrict motorcoaches, especially in historic areas. For your comfort, we recommend bringing walking shoes.  

What is a home stay in New Zealand?

A Home Stay provides you with a unique opportunity to enjoy the hospitality of friendly New Zealanders in the comfort of their homes. You can meet people who are genuinely interested in sharing their country, their lifestyle, and themselves, with international visitors. You stay in a guest room within the home, and become part of the family for the evening.

We pride ourselves on the quality of our host families. Each host family is selected on the basis of the following criteria: overall presentation of the home (external/internal appearance, cleanliness, comfort) friendliness/hospitality of the host family genuine desire to meet people quality and availability of guest rooms

If participating in a home stay, it is suggested that you bring a small gift from home for your host family. If you do not wish to participate in a home stay and are traveling on these featured itineraries, please notify us at the time of reservation.

Are airport transfers included in the escorted tour price?

Complimentary airport to hotel, and hotel to airport transfers at the beginning and end of an escorted tour will be provided when you purchase an air-inclusive Collette vacation. Land-only clients can purchase round trip transfers at an additional cost (restrictions may apply).

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. In the case of USTOA, the consumer protection bond is $1 million. Full details are available from the organizations listed above or Collette Vacations by request.

What forms of payment are accepted?

Collette Vacations gladly accepts checks, money orders, American Express, Visa, MasterCard and Discover/Novus.

How do I make my reservation?

Once you have decided which vacation you wish to take, Collette strongly recommends you visit your professional travel agent. Your travel agent can assist you and make your reservation for you. Please call 1-800-942-3301 to speak to an agent.

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.  

What is your 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. Please contact us for details. 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.

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.

On most tours, final documentation will include a listing of optional tours which you may participate in while on vacation. These options have been added in order to enhance your vacation. All options have been selected because of their quality, customer service and value to our clients. Reservations for optional tours are made directly with the tour manager (unless otherwise indicated). We ask that payment be made to the tour manager in the form of a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover/Novus accepted), or personal check

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.

Seats are rotated for the benefit of our tour guests. Rotation fosters communication between travelers as well as with the tour manager and enables our guests to enjoy a variety of vantage points on the motorcoach. Guests will rotate seats at least once a day on all tours, as directed by the tour manager. In fairness to all, there will be no exceptions to this policy.

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.

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.

PACK LIGHT! Due to the limited motorcoach capacity, one carry-on (36 inches in length, height and width; not to exceed 11 lbs./5.2 kg.) and one checked luggage (62 inches in length, height and width; not to exceed 50 lbs./23 kg.) are allowed. Please consult with your scheduled airline as luggage restrictions vary by carrier and destination. If you exceed the limit of 2 bags, we cannot guarantee that your additional luggage will be able to fit in the vehicle. Storage or shipment of additional luggage will be at your own expense. If we are able to accommodate your additional luggage, we will assess a $4 per hotel per bag fee.

Heavy bags are costly and painful! 50 Lbs. is MAX! Additional weight is subject to airline surcharges.

On safari tours, soft duffel bag luggage is required rather than a suitcase as storage space on safari vans is limited.

Please remember to label your luggage and important items with your name, home address and telephone number. We recommend labeling your luggage on both outside and inside of the bag. Please attach the BLUE luggage tag and the plastic OVAL Collette Vacations tag to your luggage. We cannot assume liability or accept claims for loss or damage to luggage and personal effects due to breakage, theft or normal wear and tear that results from hotel, airline and group carrier handling. It is in your best interest to have adequate insurance (such as our comprehensive "No Worries Travel Protection") to cover these eventualities.  

Can I request a specific seat assignment on the airplane?

We will take requests for seating on all air flights, and try to honor them to the best of our ability. Sometimes airplane seat maps will not allow this and therefore you will receive your seat assignment at the airport. Please check with your travel agent/tour coordinator when making a reservation and we will do our best to honor your request.  

Do you take room requests?

We will take room requests and try to honor them to the best of our ability. Please check with your travel agent/tour coordinator when making a reservation and we will do our best to honor your request.

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PACKING MEDICATION

If you are taking prescription medication, please be sure to take an adequate supply for your tour and a few additional days, in original prescription containers. Medication should be packed in your carry-on baggage (never in checked luggage). You may want to carry an extra prescription in case medication is lost.  

SMOKING POLICY

There is a “No Smoking” policy on all tours. For the comfort and convenience of all tour guests, you may not smoke while on the motorcoach. During the tour, your motorcoach will make frequent stops for the convenience of both our smoking and nonsmoking patrons. Your tour manager will strictly enforce the No Smoking Policy. Many airlines and restaurants may also have “no smoking” policies in effect.  

TRAVELERS NEEDING SPECIAL ASSISTANCE

In compliance with the Americans With Disabilities Act, Collette Vacations will make reasonable efforts to accommodate the special needs of tour participants. Persons requiring individual assistance must be accompanied by a companion who is capable of, and totally responsible for, providing the necessary assistance. Neither Collette Vacations personnel nor its suppliers may physically lift or assist clients onto transportation vehicles.

Collette Vacations regrets that it cannot provide individual assistance to a tour member who has special mobility, dietary or other like needs.

In order that we may better serve you, please ask your booking agent for a Special Needs form if applicable. We ask that this form be filled out and submitted to us six weeks prior to your departure date so that we can make appropriate arrangements and inform your Collette tour manager.

NOTE: The Americans With Disabilities Act does not apply outside of the United States.  

MOTORCOACH EQUIPMENT/SAFARI VANS

Collette does not own or operate transportation vehicles, however, we charter the best coaches available worldwide. Whenever possible we use modern, temperature controlled vehicles that have many amenities. Coach size may vary based upon the number of tour patrons. In certain countries lavatory equipped motorcoaches are not available. If this is the case, frequent stops will be made en route.

In Africa, safari vans accommodate up to 7 passengers and their luggage. Unlike motorcoaches, vans are not equipped with lavatory facilities. Frequent stops are made en route.

Special Notes for Regional Motorcoach Tours: As a service to our New England motorcoach clients, we may utilize van, limousine, motorcoach or taxi service to transport our guests between the various departure locations. This allows us to provide optimum service from convenient departure points.

Please make the necessary transportation arrangements with friends and/or relatives to bring you to your departure location. Over-night parking is NOT ALLOWED at any of the designated departure locations. We cannot assume responsibility for vehicles that are towed and/or damaged by vandalism.

HOTELS

Every hotel on a Collette tour is carefully selected for quality, comfort and location. Hotel accommodations are as listed on your itinerary. Rooms include private facilities unless otherwise specified. On some programs, there are a limited number of single rooms. Triple rooms, normally a standard double room with a cot or rollaway bed added, are available on some programs. When triples are not available, appropriate charges for single and twin accommodations will be assessed.

Collette Vacations makes every effort to accommodate your specific requests. We forward all special requests to the properties. Unfortunately, these requests cannot be guaranteed as hotels may not always be able to honor them.

Check-in times are set by individual hotel properties and vary by hotel. Depending on your arrival time, there may be a delay in gaining access to your room as most hotels offer afternoon check-ins. Please prepare accordingly. We ask guests to observe check-out times at all properties as designated by the hotel.

Some hotels require a credit card imprint be taken upon check-in in order to activate telephones in the rooms and for potential incidental charges. Most hotels charge an access fee for using phones in hotel rooms. Please check with the front desk personnel at each hotel for specific policies.

NOTE: In certain countries, hotel rooms tend to be smaller than standard U.S. accommodations. Also, non-smoking rooms may be less readily available than in the United States. Please be assured that Collette Vacations uses high quality properties throughout each country.  

NAME BADGES

Collette Vacations provides name badges to our travelers in order to facilitate conversation among fellow travelers. The name badge also ensures that a Collette Vacations representative can easily recognize you, especially at airports upon arrival (applicable if you have purchased airport transfers through Collette Vacations). Please print your name clearly with permanent marker in the space provided.

PACKING TIPS AND HELPFUL HINTS FOR YOUR TOUR

Bring a camera, film, and batteries. Be sure to bring enough photography supplies for your entire trip. If you have a video camera, bring along an extra battery, plus proper recharging equipment. Due to new security screening, we recommend that you store your camera and extra film in your carry-on luggage.

Bring a notebook or trip diary and pen.

Remember sunglasses, tissues, aspirin, toiletries, cosmetics.

Bring a travel alarm clock, a sewing kit, travel iron and a hair dryer. (There are ironing facilities at many of the hotels. Many hotels also have hair dryers in the room.)

Remember any special medication you may need (enough for entire trip and a few additional days) and an extra prescription.

Pack items that may leak in plastic bags.

Do not pack jewelry, money, traveler’s checks, medications, or articles of value in your checked luggage.

In many cases, laundry services are available to you at the hotel, for an additional charge.

As a precaution, we suggest that you divide the contents of your suitcase with your traveling companion.

Don’t over pack. Leave room for souvenirs that you plan to take back home. Pack an extra carry-on bag.

Fly in comfortable clothing and shoes. Bringing a sweater on flights is advised since temperatures can vary when flying.

Drink plenty of water and juice on the long-haul segments of your trip. Bring a bottle of water. You may want to avoid alcoholic beverages during the flight, as they are dehydrating.

Exercise on board the aircraft.

Bring books, magazines and snacks for your flight(s).

Bring a copy of your passport/identification. Pack it separately from the original. Leave a copy at home with your emergency contact.

Leave a copy of your tour itinerary at home with your emergency contact.