I would like to offer a voucher/gift certificate that may be converted in one of your services. Is this possible?

Yes. You will be able to do it in two modalities: a) if you're aiming to give maximum liberty in the choice of the service, the voucher will have a value, defined by you, per example, 100 Euros and it will be valid for two years after the acquisition; b) if you want to offer a specific, predefined service, per example, a two nights stay in a specific Portuguese inn, the voucher will state just that (and not the cost) - in this case the validity varies case by case, but generally applicable for a specific season and subject to availability, which we will confirm when the person you offered the voucher to, contacts us to request the reservation.

In any of the cases, the payment of the voucher is due at the time of the purchase and not when the service is used.

Who should I contact if a problem arises during the trip?

In the travel documentation that you will receive before departure, you can find the telephone numbers that you can use at any time, clearly marked, and that include the local representative, the insurance company and TravelTailors. Whenever possible, you should first try to solve the situation through the local representative or directly with the hotel or respective service provider, since they will obviously have more possibility of acting in a timely manner and finding a better solution. In case this is not feasible for any reason, do contact us.

Which the language utilized by the local guides in the course of the journey?

In Latin America the guides speak Castilian; in the remainder of the world they speak English. In case you intend guides that speak another one language (namely Spanish, French or German), this is generally possible and it usually implies a supplement's charge. There are few destinations with available Portuguese speaking tour guides.

Why don't your programs refer specifically which hotels will be used?

Since we cannot guarantee the availability in specific hotels, the lodging can be booked in establishments of similar quality. Exceptionally, namely in case of reservations with short notice, it might be necessary to adjust the program using lower or upper category establishments, depending on availability, by means of the attribution of a discount or the application of a supplement. In any case, you just have to contact-us to know which hotels are planned for each location, and you may always request a specific hotel upon reservation, bearing in mind that in that case a supplement may apply if the tariff for that hotel are not within the price range of the program. Following the confirmation of the reservation and all services you'll be informed about the hotels booked.

Are the tour guides used in your travel arrangements Portuguese?

Generally, the programs that we propose include only local professional guides, the best experts on their region and on their culture. The guides in question are competent and reliable. In case it's necessary, the representative of the local operator will also be available. In some programs, properly identified and generally of a more adventurous kind, we propose set group departure dates and besides the local tour guides, you will have the accompaniment of a Portuguese (or other nationality depending on the group's nationalities) tour leader.

Is the programs' availability guaranteed?

No. You should contact-us in order to do a reservation; subsequently, we we'll check availability for the intended dates for all services involved (flights, hotels, guided tours, etc). We'll always look for similar alternatives or adjustments to the itinerary in case the service providers have no availability for a particular service, and we'll always keep you informed on the status. You should bear in mind that the sooner you make your reservation better are the odds of obtaining availability, especially in the flights.

I would like to travel to a specific country in a time of year that does not appear possible in your program. Does that mean that I cannot go?

Well, you can, and in some cases there are even some programs available in the market to that effect. But we prefer that you don't. If we did not include that trip in that month, is because normally the weather conditions are so adverse for the journey in question that we find that you will not come back satisfied. That might happen as a consequence of it coinciding with months of such intense rain that the roads may be affected and the journey depends on that mobility, or because the coldness is so severe that many hotels are closed and the services of mobility and guidance are limited, or because if your intention is going to the beach and in that month it's cold or raining cats and dogs all day... That does not necessarily mean that every month in which we've included that program the weather is going to be splendid!

Which is the best time of year for traveling to a specific destination?

In each program you can find the months during which we consider that it makes more sense to travel to the country or countries in question. Nevertheless, within that period, there is the possibility of existing a particular season specially recommended for climate reasons: ask us.

With how many people will I share the journey?

With exception of the programs specifically identified as group programs, the journeys that we suggest and organize are private, meaning, only with those with whom you chose to share the journey - being companion, family or friends. Eventually, some portions of the journey will have to be integrated in a group of others tourists, namely in transfers or some specific visits. In those cases that will be indicated in the description of the program. Some of our suggestions are planned for groups, with previously set dates, with the purpose of obtaining a more attractive price, especially if you are traveling alone or in a party of two, as well as a means of promoting the interaction with others travelers, Portuguese, or of the most diverse nationalities. In these cases the groups will have a maximum of 12-15 people.

The country that I would like to visit in my next trip does is not be included in the programs on your site. May I still rely on you to you organize it?

Of course you may! We keep on adding news suggestions whenever we are able to present the best and more diversified there is to offer for each country, including ours, after exhaustive analysis and always counting on trustworthy local operators. If we still haven't got to the country you are looking for, you can count on us, since we have the necessary tools, and nothing gives us more pleasure than planning journeys (besides doing them ourselves, that is!).

I like one of your programs but I would like to modify some things. Is it possible?

We are entirely available for adapting what are merely our suggestions, to your own personal taste, budget and available time, as long as it is attainable and that we consider that you will come back satisfied with the journey. That's why we are TravelTailors! You might want to shorten or lengthen a stay, eliminate activities or visits you are not interested in, add some others that are not included, request specific hotels - the effect of those alterations in regards to the initial proposed program will always be clear.

What are local airport taxes and why are they not included in the price of the flight?

Some airports opted to charge locally directly to the passenger the respective airport taxes, in these cases it is not possible to include it in the price of the airline ticket. When appropriate, we try to provide that information in the travel program, however, bear in mind that sudden alterations might occur without our knowledge.

Why do the prices of the flights vary so much?

An important part of the price of the flight corresponds to the tariff, which varies depending on demand: even inside the economy class, airlines attribute different classes of reservations with different prices, despite the service being exactly the same. The first seats to be sold are the ones with the price associated with the lower priced class, and when these run out, the price of the following class will apply, and this process goes on until, successively, all tariffs are sold. That's why it is fundamental to reserve with the maximum time in advance so you may access the most favorable tariffs: for some destinations, if in high season, the lower tariffs will cease to be available even with more than four months in advance. In most of the destinations that we suggest the flight has one stop in an European city, so you must bear in mind that not only Portuguese people will be looking for those flights.

Other price components are the fuel taxes (which vary according to the fuel prices), security and airport taxes.

Why do the prices of the flights vary so much?

An important part of the price of the flight corresponds to the tariff, which varies depending on demand: even inside the economy class, airlines attribute different classes of reservations with different prices, despite the service being exactly the same. The first seats to be sold are the ones with the price associated with the lower priced class, and when these run out, the price of the following class will apply, and this process goes on until, successively, all tariffs are sold. That's why it is fundamental to reserve with the maximum time in advance so you may access the most favorable tariffs: for some destinations, if in high season, the lower tariffs will cease to be available even with more than four months in advance. In most of the destinations that we suggest the flight has one stop in an European city, so you must bear in mind that not only Portuguese people will be looking for those flights.

Other price components are the fuel taxes (which vary according to the fuel prices), security and airport taxes.

Why don't your trips include the price of the international flight?

The price of the flights is really variable depending on the available tariffs at the time of reservation, the time of the year and the different applicable rates. This way, we believe that the information is more clear, given that you will be sure that do we do not inflate the prices in order to cover these likely variations. Additionally, there are travelers that opt for more economical flight solutions even if that implies several stops, while others only want to fly directly or just want to use specific airlines, being willing to pay for a more expensive flight. There are also some travelers that, for several reasons, might not want to leave from or return to Portugal but instead to a different destination. TravelTailors provides solutions to the different preferences and takes care of your flight reservations, informing you of the different available options. Nevertheless you have the option of acquiring just the land program.

Along with every program you can find information about the estimated value of the flight. When you chose to proceed with an actual reservation, we will give you the prices of the available flight(s), as well as schedules, estimated stops and airline(s). This price can vary, at times substantially, very quickly, and can be only be guaranteed after flight reservation, which is only is possible with the information of first and last name of the passengers.

In order to obtain to best tariff you should reserve the flight as soon as possible. We recommend at least three to four months before departure, especially if you are looking to travel in a high season (in Portugal or in the country of destination).

What can I carry in the hand luggage?

The passengers should know the current rules of security relatively to hand luggage, namely the prohibition transportation of any dangerous goods (it includes pocketknives, little scissors and nail-clippers!), as well as the limitations to the transportation of liquids and gels(to include, among others, water, perfumes, creams, deodorant, tooth paste, gel...) stored in packages of capacity not over 100ml, properly packed in a transparent closed bag, that cannot exceed the dimensions of 19cmx20cm (ex: freezing bag) and capacity of 1 liter by passenger. Rule of thumb, the hand luggage is limited to 6kg per passenger.

Should I reconfirm my flight with the airline?

The airlines might be forced to alter the schedules of departure at the last minute, therefore, flights should always be confirmed 24 hours before departure. Whenever the flights have been booked with us, TravelTailors and/or our local representatives will take care of that confirmation, except when specifically indicated in documentation provided to the client. Of any case you can always confirm the schedule phoning the airline, or accessing the Amadeus here using the reservation code stated in your electronic ticket.

May I depart from Porto or of any other European city? Or return to a city different from the one I departed?

Yes. Give us that indication upon booking the flights in order for us to determine the available flights, schedules that may fit in the program and price. 

http://www.travel-tailors.com/perguntas-frequentes/lang_en#d6

I am not sure about what trip I should book. How can I make the right decision?

Please read carefully the description on the programs that you might be interested in, as well as the files with helpful information associated with these countries that you may find on our site. If you still will have doubts, call us or come meet us or we'll meet you with an Atlas in our hands. Talking about your interests, what you already know, your budget, and the period in which you want to travel, will surely enable you to decide which will be your next trip.

http://www.travel-tailors.com/perguntas-frequentes/lang_en#d6

If I make a reservation on my own, in a group journey, will I have that pay individual supplement?

Not necessarily. If you don't mind sharing a room with a person of the same sex, we will group the people in the same situation by order of inscription. Only if your reservation happens to be the last one and we cannot pair you with a same sex person, we will charge you the value of the individual supplement.

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