FAQ

The truth is that it means something different to every person and every property. Luxury might mean a style of hotel and service, or it might mean your own fully outfitted tent with running water and chandeliers on an African safari. For some people, taking extended time to experience remote destinations in the company of experts in their fields and with like-minded people is the ultimate in luxury. Going around the world without packing and unpacking may be your ultimate luxury if you have a bit of Jules Verne in your soul. See the world through the eyes of your grandchildren, or make a difference in the world of someone else by volunteering your time, skills and passions to those less fortunate. What are your passions? Food, wine, art, architecture, sports can all be the inspiration for trips of a lifetime! Whether you choose the silence and peace of hidden locations or the throbbing heart of the biggest cities, luxury is rarely about price, but the pricelessness of the experience.

Of all your life priorities, your leisure time is one asset you can’t earn back. People who spend their time wisely know that it pays dividends to collaborate with a seasoned industry professional when it comes to fulfilling travel dreams. Our travel specialists provide personal, completely customized service before, during, and after every trip. Whether you enjoy being involved in your vacation planning, or prefer that someone you trust takes the reins, P2P advisors are uniquely vested in ensuring your experiences exceed expectations.

• People feel that doing their own planning is empowering, and that giving it up will diminish their experience. Our clients decide the level of involvement that’s right for them, and this may even vary from trip to trip. If you enjoy research and planning, you’ll have a professional partner. If you prefer having your advisor handle all the details, they can do that, too. Either way, you’ll enjoy quality, customized service.
•  They believe the Internet provides all the answers they need. Our clients view their advisor as a trusted resource whose industry knowledge, global relationships, and personal experience add tremendous value, and makes travel planning more enjoyable. A great advisor can validate your own research and offer insightful recommendations to tailor each trip to your preferences, interests, and budget.
• They believe an advisor adds to the cost of the trip. Virtuoso clients know better. A P2P travel advisor has access to the same (and often better) pricing than available online, and can secure VIP benefits, amenities, access, and extras that you can’t get on your own. To quote Warren Buffet, “Price is what you pay; value is what you get.”
• They don’t understand the value of a travel advisor. Our clients rely on their advisors to make travel planning more efficient and enjoyable, to save time and money, and to lend expertise that makes a world of difference. A P2P advisor also works on your behalf before, during, and after every trip. That’s peace of mind you can bank on.

Benefits can vary by property and experience, but generally our travelers receive preferred rates at hotels, upgrades upon arrival (if available), Exclusive amenities (spa credits, shopping credits, etc.), daily breakfast for two, and early check-in/late checkout. Our affiliation with Travel Edge gives us additional negotiated perks and pricing. Our personal relationships built over decades, also gives us very unique and special relationships with the owners, managers and key staff members. After all, you can’t VIP yourself!

In short, it generally doesn’t cost you money to use a travel agent, and in fact, the agent can very often help you save money on your trip in ways that you could not imagine. The most common fee customers pay covers time spent researching and building a proprietary itinerary and adding in non- commissionable services and insider access.

From our professional experience, the answer is a resounding YES! Travelling without insurance is an open-ended risk that no one should take with their health or their finances. More and more countries are requiring proof of medical insurance for admittance to their country. As industry professionals, especially over the past few years and indeed months, we have seen situations arise with our clients and heard stories that no one ever expects could or would occur. Medical issues at home or in destination, family health issues, weather delays and missing and lost baggage are just some examples of things that can and do occur. If one of these things happens to you, that insurance is priceless in time, effort and your bank account will be happy that you are insured. In some cases, there is a change of mind insurance, which may not cover the entire cost of cancelling, but a significant percentage. This is usually a very expensive coverage, but well worth if for lawyers or others who face uncertainty in their plans.

We are including links for you to purchase insurance, and feel free to contact us for help or comparisons and ensure that the coverage you choose is the best for your age, conditions, length of trip and cost.

Government-issued identification is required for all air travel and cross border travel. A valid passport is required for all trips outside Canada and virtually everywhere else in the world, including EU and Schengen countries. All passengers should check with the appropriate foreign consulate for entry and validity requirements. We recommend that your passport has six months of validity, and at least 3 blank pages. Passports and visas are the responsibility of each client. Any child under age 16 (traveling without a parent or legal guardian) must have notarized, written permission from at least one or two parents or legal guardians. Please be advised that if you have been convicted of an offence or have committed a criminal act that is an offense under the laws where it occurred and would be an offense in Canada, you may be inadmissible into Canada or other countries. You will need to apply for a Minister’s Permit of Approval of Rehabilitation at a Canadian Consulate. All other travelers should contact the appropriate consulate for entry requirements in other international destinations. In South Africa, children are required to have a passport as well as additional documentation to travel with you into and out of the country. Please consult the South African Embassy for the current specific requirements related to your travel dates. If traveling internationally with a child under the age of 18, please check directly with the airline for the legal documentation that is required. It is the sole responsibility of the guest to procure the proper documentation to travel and many requirements vary by airline and destination and are aware that regulations change and should always be reconfirmed from time to time.

The IATA Travel Centre is the most accurate information source available for personalized passport, visa, and health requirement advice depending on your nationality and destination. Their immigration specialists constantly update this information. But rules and regulations change on a daily basis!

Possessing the correct documentation does not guarantee entry to a foreign country. Local immigration authorities have complete control of whether an individual is granted entry and under what conditions and airlines may also apply specific guidelines. Re-check requirements close to your departure.

Absolutely! The world is meant to discovered to the best of each person’s ability in a meaningful way with their families and caregivers. We partner with companies that can handle most of your mobility issues and most medical devices. We are aware of autism-friendly cruise lines, hotels, and amusement parks. We constantly are learning and researching the best companies for all of our client’s needs. We are very diligent in ensuring that you are buying the best insurance available for your needs and help you understand what might not be covered to help you make your own informed decisions. We also welcome being contacted by any suppliers who may have a unique product or service that we can offer to our clients.

Cancellation policies for the most part are guided by each individual supplier that is integrated into your full itinerary. Tours, hotels, and exclusive restaurants, events, or concerts may have completely non- refundable. This has gotten even more complicated in these days of COVID-19 regulations, restrictions, exclusions, and certain companies offering flexibility. Ultimately, we are bound by the conditions stipulated by the travel partner and know that we are in your corner and actively dispute and offer guidance when the company does not offer a refund. We are realistic given the past few months, and not all companies are offering Refunds, all offer rebooking. Often that comes with additional credits. For all new bookings, we will be sure to specify the terms and conditions of each supplier and seek alternate options if the terms are not acceptable to you.

We accept payment almost exclusively on behalf of our suppliers unless we are making special arrangements or for some groups. We are bound to accept the forms of payment that our suppliers allow us to provide to them for payment. Generally, that includes most credit cards, but there are several companies that will not accept American Express or some other specialty cards from smaller banks. There are some companies that will now accept bitcoin.

For almost every instance, the answer is PLEASE DO! And also be sure to bring extras and an extra prescription. Laws are very different across the world, and while cannabis and their derivatives are legal in many countries and across state and provincial borders, they are not approved for travel across any international borders at the time of writing these FAQs. Many people use these products for medicinal purposes, and even hemp with 0.00% THC is still not allowed across US and Canadian borders.

While we hope that we can accommodate any of your travel requests, sometimes this is possible with only certain suppliers and not others. If you have special requests like these as a priority, then please be flexible with the destination, provider and time of year and budget. Many companies will offer low or no single supplements in low seasons. Some ships have specially designated single cabins, but they tend to be booked very early, so if that is one of your priorities, then be sure to give yourself as much lead time as possible to snag those coveted rooms as it is always first come, first served. A triple room is generally the same size as a twin-bedded room. While they guarantee bedding to accommodate three people, we cannot guarantee that there will be three separate beds. If there are only two beds, a rollaway may be requested but cannot be guaranteed due to size of room and fire codes. Sometimes it could be a double bed plus a single or small cot. Please inquire at time of reservation.