Frequently Asked Questions

The first step in booking any TravelMaven tour is talking to TravelMaven staff. This can be done by sending us a message through the form on our contact page. We will explain the nature of the tour you're considering, and detail what you should expect. This is particularly important on tours that involve long flights, exotic locations, hiking or lots of walking. TravelMaven will also present flight options, so you can determine what's right for you.

Once you are ready to proceed with a reservation, the next step is to email Ursula at info@travelmaven.ca.  She will take your basic information, and explain what else may be necessary for the tour you've selected. She will also describe the overall booking process, including payment schedules, and lay out the travel cancellation and health insurance options available to you. Finally, she will take a 20% non-refundable deposit that will reserve your spot and guarantee the lowest  price for you.

In the travel industry, the term 'Land Package' refers to a tour package that does not include airfare to the destination.  For TravelMaven tours, our Land Package price typically includes accommodation with breakfast, some lunches & dinners, daily walking tours & programs, entrance fees to all included tours & activities, ground transportation including airport transfers, domestic flights within tours, usually a full-time Tour Concierge and all taxes and fees.

Our land package prices are based on double occupancy, meaning the cost of a hotel room is shared between two people. If you do not have a roommate, you will need to cover the full cost of the room yourself. This is called a single supplement. Single supplement prices are listed on each tour page just below the land package price.

If you are a solo traveler and prefer not to pay the single supplement, you can try to find a roommate to share with. If you've singed up for a TravelMaven tour solo and would want a roommate, let us know and we can try our best to link you with another solo traveller in want of a roommate but there are no guarntees we will find one. 

Our private tours (KRUGER SAFARI and SOUTH AFRICA Highlights) are priced based on a minimum of four guests. Groups with fewer than four people are still welcome to book a private tour; however, a small group supplement will apply.

This supplement helps cover shared costs such as the guide and driver, which are typically divided among more travelers. With a smaller group, each person takes on a larger share of these expenses.

Small group supplement prices are listed on each private tour page, just below the land package and single supplement prices.

Every TravelMaven tour is based on the timing of a  recommended flight plan, and this information is shared with clients during the booking process. However, these flights are not included in the Land Package price and must be booked separately. There are several reasons for this.

1. Some guests may wish to depart earlier or return later than the group. We are happy to facilitate arrangements for hotels and transportation.

2. Others may want to use loyalty plans (e.g. Aeroplan, AirMiles) or specific airlines to book or upgrade their flights. Once again, we are happy to help guests find what works best for them.

3. Some guests may prefer a different departure city, such as Ottawa, Montreal or Buffalo. TravelMaven is happy to discuss and coordinate plans whenever possible.

4. Some guests may wish to book their flights through their regular travel agent, someone who is familiar with their preferences and would be available if there was ever an issue. 

5. Prices for airline tickets fluctuate constantly, but as a rule of thumb, the earlier you book, the cheaper the fare. As such, those who book early usually get better fares than those who book later. 

PLEASE NOTE: Any flights during the tour are included. For example, on JAPAN and KOREA the flight from Seoul to Osaka is included.

TravelMaven includes lunches and dinners only when it makes sense. Breakfast is almost always included, but people’s food preferences vary widely. Imagine a “familiar to weird” scale from 1 to 10: some guests are picky 1s, others adventurous 10s, and most fall somewhere in between.

To suit everyone, we often use food courts or markets, especially for lunch, giving guests maximum choice in a comfortable setting. This works well in places like Japan or Korea, where local cuisine can be unfamiliar. It also prevents us from settling for bland meals just to please everyone, since many guests want to try authentic local dishes.

Our goal is to offer plenty of local flavor while accommodating those who prefer something lighter or more familiar. Many guests appreciate the flexibility to eat what they want, when and with whom they want. Each tour page notes how many breakfasts, lunches, and dinners are included in the Land Package.

Gratuities can be confusing when travelling. In North America, tipping is standard, while in many parts of Europe and elsewhere it is less common because servers are paid differently. In tourism, guides and instructors usually receive 10 to 20% of their fee, with higher tips for private experiences. On multi day tours, drivers and tour directors typically receive about four to five dollars per person per day, similar to cruise practices.

On TravelMaven tours, gratuities for group meals are included. Guests are responsible for tips on alcoholic drinks. Small tips for local guides are always appreciated, and gratuities for TravelMaven Tour Concierges are entirely at the guest’s discretion.

Registration for TravelMaven tours includes payment of a 20% non-refundable deposit, with the balance due 90 days prior to departure. In order to protect their deposit (and usually their airfare too), guests are strongly advised to acquire cancellation insurance when they book their tour. That way, if a guest has to cancel their tour for a legitimate reason more than 90 days before departure, they will be able to seek reimbursement from their cancellation insurance provider. 

Once the balance has been paid, if a guest must cancel 90-45 days prior to departure they will receive a 50% refund. If a cancellation is made within 45 days of departure or during the tour, there is no refund.

At the same time, if a tour is substantially changed by TravelMaven (e.g. date or destinations), clients will be offered the option of a full refund, including their deposit. In the unlikely event that a tour is cancelled, clients will receive a 100% refund, including their deposit.

Every Ontarian leaving the province should have adequate out-of-province medical insurance. Ultimately, it is up to each individual to make sure they have sufficient coverage. TravelMaven requires proof of medical insurance coverage before departure, but we do not assume any responsibility as to whether a client's coverage is appropriate or sufficient.

Some good news here is that many people already have out-of-province medical insurance through their employer, pension, association, credit card, or a policy purchased from a bank or insurance company. People should make themselves familiar with the coverage they already have, and not pay for additional coverage they do not need.

Clients wishing to purchase medical insurance coverage may do so through TravelMaven's booking agent.  She will explain the options available, and process the application.  Since November 2019, all TravelMaven tour bookings are handled by our affiliate, DeNureTours. As a result, TravelMaven clients benefit from DeNureTour's 60 years of experience and their buying power in the travel marketplace.

People buy travel insurance because unexpected things happen. Sometimes people have to cancel after booking and paying, other times the trips themselves are cancelled. Bags can also be lost or damaged.

Travel insurance can be complex and costly, with overlapping options for emergency medical and dental, trip interruption or cancellation, evacuation and repatriation, income protection, and lost luggage.

Many travellers already have some coverage through an employer, pension fund, credit card, or annual policy. It is important to read the fine print, as this coverage is rarely universal or unlimited.

Having said all that, those clients wishing to purchase comprehensive or cancellation-only insurance may do so through TravelMaven's booking agent.  She will explain the options available, and process the application.  Since November 2019, all TravelMaven tour bookings are handled by our affiliate, DeNureTours. As a result, TravelMaven clients benefit from DeNureTour's 60 years of experience and their buying power in the travel marketplace.

In terms of the tour itself, TravelMaven mostly offers 'walking tours', not hiking expeditions, bus tours or river cruises. This means that most days, we do a significant amount of walking. Guests should be regular walkers who are comfortable being on their feet several hours a day, and able to climb stairs.

As such, guests will need comfortable walking shoes, and may want to bring a small daypack, all weather jacket, umbrella and water bottle. In other words, think of our tours as easy urban hikes, rather than days on a bus or boat. While we aren't out to win any races, and will take lots of breaks, guests need to be able to keep up with their fellow travellers.

Having said that, one advantage of staying longer at fewer hotels is that it's easy for guests to take a day off, or return to the hotel early if they're fatigued or not feeling well. This is especially handy if a couple is travelling together, and one would prefer a less active pace. In this case, that person could skip an activity, and spend time in or near the hotel until the rest of the group returns.

Most TravelMaven tours are small groups and geared to active adults. Young children have different interests, and the dynamics between younger siblings can often be disruptive to others. As such, these tours are not suitable for families with young children.

However, our KRUGER SAFARIS are kid friendly, so we welcome families and inter-generational travel. We know from experience that a trip can be a great time for a parent or grandparent to spend quality time with a child or grandchild. In fact, we think intergenerational travel is a wonderful idea, and welcome it on this tour! Talk to TravelMaven staff about details. 

Not too big! That’s because our guests need to manage their own luggage. To this end, medium sized suitcases with good wheels are highly recommended.

As a general observation, the people who travel the most carry the smallest bags. (Next time you're in an airport, check out the frequent flyers - most of them go "carry on" only!) Another reason to avoid 'steamer trunk' luggage is that hotel rooms in most of the world are smaller than in North America. As such, there's often no place to conveniently store a large suitcase for a week in your hotel room.

The perfect hotel offers great location, endearing charm and sumptuous luxury - all at an affordable price. Whenever such a hotel can be found, TravelMaven books it. The Rio Vista Lodge at Kruger Park is a great example of a perfect hotel. 

However, when all these elements cannot be found together, our top priority is location. While it might be different with a coach tour or self-drive holiday, on a walking tour there is no point having a great hotel if it's not in the right place.

Making a choice between charm and luxury is more difficult. Obviously, our hotels must meet certain standards regarding comfort and amenities. We aren't going to book a youth hostel, even if it's perfectly located and oozing with charm! And so, in the end, decisions are made on a case by case basis. 

As you can imagine, on any tour with only one or two stops, the choice of hotel is critically important. That's why we spend so much time on this. We scout out several possibilities online, then visit each one in person before finally selecting the best property. Because in the end, no vacation is great if the accommodation isn't a positive feature.

TICO is the Travel Industry Council of Ontario. It is mandated by the Ontario government to administer legislation which governs 2,400 travel retailers and travel wholesalers in Ontario. 

TICO registered travel companies provide additional consumer protection unavailable with unregistered agencies based in other countries or provinces. Benefits include a compensation fund and travel complaint resolution process. TICO also sets education standards for members, and financial requirements for travel companies.

TICO adds value for Ontarians buying travel services by offering another layer of consumer protection, and ensures that anyone selling travel products in Ontario is aware of their responsibilities and liabilities.