Our Service
G’day,
Please make sure you read over this list very carefully. I know it is a long read, but I have put it together so you understand what you will get when you choose to work with us.
Please note that we are a Canadian Travel Company. All payments will be in Canadian Dollars.
Thanks,
Dianne.
Step 1: Initial Chat
You know you’d like to visit Australia, New Zealand, or the South Pacific Islands, but let’s ensure we can work together! You can give us an idea of what you’re dreaming of, and we will let you know if it will work for you – for example, the month you wish to visit a region may be during their cyclone season. If you don’t know where you want to go, we will brainstorm and discuss it together!
Please contact us to get started. Initial chats can be done via Phone, Skype, or even Email, and we can schedule a flexible time for you—none of this 9-5 business.
Step 2: Reserve Our Service With a Retainer
We charge a non-refundable retainer of (Canadian) $900.00 per couple if traveling for under two weeks in one country. If you travel for longer or multiple countries, there may be an additional charge for the extra time it takes to design.
We only work with clients with a budget of (Canadian) $15000.00 or more per couple for the land portion, i.e., your hire car, land transfers in the country, accommodation, and some touring. The land portion does not include airfares, food, fuel, or spending money. Please note that the budget above does not constitute how much a minimum trip will cost. It all depends on the level of accommodation, time of year, length of travel and touring, etc.
This retainer will be deducted from the cost of your trip when you make the final payment.
If you spend more than ten days in either country, you will quickly reach this amount.
Why do we charge a retainer?
An itinerary can often take around 80 or more hours of work, especially now with the extended duration due to the pandemic. This involves extensive communication with the client, offices Down Under, and suppliers.
We found that sometimes the public had their itinerary designed and then decided to go to Mexico instead!
We believe our clients who have paid us deserve our time and service.
By requiring a retainer, we can ensure that we dedicate real time to those serious about traveling, rather than dealing with inquiries from people who may not end up working with us.
Please note the following:
We do NOT book airfare-only trips.
We only work with four-star and above accommodation unless we have absolutely no choice (i.e., we need one night’s accommodation, and this is the only option in the area and available.) We work with Apartment stays, Hotels, Bed and Breakfasts, Boutique properties, and Luxury Lodges.
We do NOT work with Airbnb. All the accommodations we book have been inspected by myself, my support offices in each country, or someone else we trust, i.e., a Tourist Board contact. If you ask us to book somewhere we do not know of, we will not attach our name and reputation to it.
Step 3: The Excitement of Watching Your Trip Fall Into Place
After we learn your preferred travel style and interests, we will create an itinerary for you.
We work closely with our associate offices in all countries to ensure that the places we choose for your trip are perfectly suited to you—i.e., do you need a walk-in shower because of a back injury, or is the hotel undergoing renovations when you visit?
Because of the important ongoing relationships we have with our local operators, they prioritize working with our clients.
Once we have designed an itinerary, we will send it to you for review. Please note that our itineraries can be viewed online via a computer or a Travel App on your phone. This allows us to provide live updates, and you can access them even when you are on your trip.
After doing this for over 30 years, we generally know the right questions to ask our clients in our first itinerary to get what they want. If not, we will work with you until it’s right.
Your itinerary comes as one bulk package price. We receive special rates from our travel partners in the South Pacific, but our contracted rates include non-disclosure agreements. Therefore, there is no itemization on your land portion, but your flights will be quoted separately.
We have been doing this for so long that we can usually give you an idea of your expensive items and will always explain the benefits of why we have chosen a particular place for you. I.e., a central, secure location.
Then, it’s time to make all required payments and prepare this trip to roll!
Step 4: Have an Amazing Holiday
Besides answering questions during the designing process, we also support you with packing tips, how to get through airport tips, and anything else that we feel will be helpful to you for your trip down to our stomping ground.
We re-confirm everything before your trip to ensure it is as up-to-date as possible and that your flights, transfers, and tour times are still correct. We also confirm any special requests (e.g., a food allergy) with the tour supplier.
We will email you your final documents approximately seven days before you depart. We will then schedule a Zoom or Skype video chat with you to review the final document and your trip in detail.
Off you go on your trip of a lifetime—but remember, we and our support offices are still here for you! Before departing, you will receive the emergency contact details of our associate offices in the countries you visit, so you can call them 24/7 if you have any questions or issues. If an emergency happens, rest assured, we will all be working to assist you.