How It Works

  • When you work with us, you’re benefitting from 75 years of collective knowledge and research into destinations around the world. We have met with the hoteliers, know the owners, walked the paths, experienced the adventures.  We know the guides and we work with local people on the ground who keep us up to date on any changes. It doesn’t cost you more to book with us … in fact, we can often provide extra benefits such as less expensive transfers; included meals; upgrades upon arrival or a free massage after a long flight. Most importantly, we save you time. We know that your most important resource is time – and ours is deep knowledge of the regions our clients are interested in. You do not have to troll the internet hoping to find the right lodge or hotel for your trip. We use our time to travel to the destinations, inspect the hotels and do all the ground work so when you call we can cut to the chase and give you clear, first-hand information.  In essence you are not just booking a trip you are getting a strategy and support network.

  • Many people assume advisors cost more. In reality prices are the same whether you book direct of through an advisor. Advisors are paid a commission by hotels, cruise lines and resorts after the trip has been completed – that is how it works. In many cases we are able to add perks at no extra cost - an extra night at a safari lodge, breakfast, airport transfers, spa credits and so on, most which are not offered on direct bookings. Plus in many instances someone from our team has actually been to the destination you are planning to visit so have clear ideas on how to add value and conquer expensive and complicated logistics.

  • Payment can be made by credit card, personal cheque or wire transfer to Askari Travel. Full payment details are provided at the back of every invoice and / or itinerary.

  • On confirmation of the itinerary you will need to make a deposit payment as required either by wire transfer or by credit card. Our invoice to you will have detailed information on all inclusions and exclusions and amounts due. 

    In some instances there is a 3.5% charge for payment by credit card but we will make you aware of this and you will have the choice to avoid this charge and pay by wire.  You can also pay by personal certified cheque.

  • Balance of payment is normally due at 60 days prior to the trip start date, unless otherwise agreed at the time of Deposit Payment.

  • We have an initial discussion to determine where you might want to go, what you’d like to see and do and who will be travelling. Sometimes, you may know exactly where you want to go but sometimes you need some guidance based on the type of trip you want. We are happy to bounce ideas and offer suggestions over a series of conversations.

    It is helpful for us to have a clear understanding of the following:

    • When do you want to travel?

    • How long do you want to be away?

    • Your estimated budget for the entire trip or per person?

    • Who is travelling with you – their age, their relationship to you, room allocations, disabilities if any.

    • Where do you want to go and what type of activities do you like, do you have any special interest i.e. hiking, photography, food, wildlife, snorkelling, etc.?

    • Food preferences, destination preferences i.e. you don’t like super hot weather, you love cooking classes, you don’t like steep hikes, etc.

    • Do you have any special interests?

    Sometimes telling us where else you have travelled and loved – and why you loved it is very helpful in our planning for you.

  • We carefully consider your trip criteria and once we have confirmed that you would like us to build a trip for you (with hotels & activity suggestions included), we will complete this step by gathering some personal information and collecting a non-refundable Trip Engagement Fee.

  • AI aggregates vast and powerful amounts of information at a scale and speed no human can match. However, what AI cannot offer is relationships, accountability and judgement based on a specific set of your needs.  Although we appreciate your initial research may bring forth itineraries and ideas from AI, we take responsibility for your actual plans.  Our destination knowledge garnered through multiple trips to the destinations we sell, and our live, human support in-country cannot be replicated.  So we welcome your AI research and we will build and improve on that.

  • This fee confirms our commitment to you to use all of our resources to build the best possible trip for you.  We leverage our strong relationships in each country, years of research and our personal knowledge from travel to the regions we sell. The Trip Engagement Fee is per family or per itinerary, not per person, and it is non-refundable. It is non-refundable as sometimes, for reasons beyond your control, after all the planning has been done you are unable to travel.  This fee means we are somewhat compensated for our time planning your trip and the preparation of itinerary documents for you.  There are two types:

    The Simple Trip - Fee #1 – $350.00 per trip. This is the fee charged when an itinerary is short and less complicated. Trips of this nature only require one or two hotel bookings, an air ticket and a transfer or two such as you might experience in the Caribbean or going to Paris for the weekend.

    The Complex Journey – Fee #2 – $500.00 per trip. This fee is charged when a trip has more than one stop – requiring more detailed, written itinerary – as you might encounter in Africa, Asia, South America or some European destinations. It often involves several hotel or lodge stops, private guides, transfers, activities, charter flights, etc.

  • After receipt of your Trip Engagement Fee, we will build and confirm your trip and finalize the details such as activities, guided options and one-of-a-kind experiences. We collaborate within the office to utilize Askari Travel’s collective intellectual capital – it is a team effort to extrapolate the best experiences, lodges, hotels and guides for you.

    Once you are happy with the itinerary we present, we will send you a deposit invoice and then send you a confirmation package with all of the necessary trip documents – detailed itinerary, invoice, cancellation terms, payment dates, any e-tickets for flights, information on visas you may need, advice on tipping and etiquette and reading lists to get you excited about the destination you are going to.

    • Final, detailed written itinerary

    • Invoice – showing full price and inclusions, any payments that may have been made and a balance owing with the due dates for future payments

    • Hotel Contact Details

    • Traveler Information Form with request for personal information such as dates of birth, passports, etc.

    • An Acknowledgement of Risk, Release and Indemnity

    • E-tickets – if we have booked these tickets for you

    • A quote for travel insurance should that be necessary

    • If applicable, a book to enjoy

  • We will request from you personal information such as dates of birth, passports, dietary restrictions, etc. for all travellers.

  • After your deposit payment has been made, we will collaborate with you and a reputable travel insurance company in either Canada or the US to get you a quote for travel insurance – which we very highly recommend.

  • After your deposit payment has been made, we will collaborate with you and a reputable travel insurance company in either Canada or the US to get you a quote for travel insurance – which we very highly recommend.

  • For Trips that take place within Canada there is an HST tax which is applied which  varies by province. We will alert you of these charges.

Banner photo by angela pham, Santorini, Greece, on Unsplash