| Frequently Asked Questions |
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What does "escorted tour" mean with Your Man in Europe?It means that someone who cares that you are having the time of your life is with you from the time you arrive in Europe until you return to the airport to fly back to the USA. For some tours, a Your Man in Europe guide will actually be with you on the Trans-Atlantic flight. It's like traveling with an old friend who happens to know all about the places you are visiting on your European adventure. You are guided (and transported) to each destination - be it a new town or a tucked-away restaurant - without anxiety or worry. What if I don't want to be "escorted" every where I go?No problem. Each trip is different - as each traveler is different. You can have as much or as little time to yourself as you wish. Every trip is adjusted to your needs as far as possible. If you want to get away for some shopping, or a quiet dinner or rendezvous, you can certainly do that. Your Man in Europe will even serve as your personal concierge to help you make arrangements. The only limitations are that opting out of group dinners, sight-seeing, etc. may incur some additional expense when you're "on your own"; and schedules for pre-set travel and overnight accommodations must be considered in order to keep the entire group on track. Wouldn't I save money if I just went on my own? Why are Your Man in Europe escorted trips a better choice than traveling independently?Save money? Not really. Unless you are an "old hand" at European travel you'll waste a lot of valuable time just trying to figure out the dozens of often-frustrating challenges traveling in Europe can pose. Time is money. A day lost while you're dazed and confused in Europe is a very expensive day, indeed! And there's also the angst factor: yes, you might actually escape London in your rental car, but you may regret your independence when you have to navigate and dodge all those cars coming at you on the wrong side of the road! Even the pre-trip arrangements, which usually involve countless hours on the internet, consume huge amounts of energy - and still might not turn out exactly the way you had expected. Another real shame is that many independent travelers pass right by so many charming little "secrets", never even realizing how close they were! "I guess if it ain't in the guidebook, it just doesn't exist." With Your Man in Europe, you'll just get a lot more bang for the buck - and with far less anxiety. What if I want to visit places you haven't mentioned on a planned itinerary?One benefit of traveling with small groups is that group consensus rules. As long as it doesn't cause a domino effect, spur-of-the-moment detours are just fine. Part of the fun is tracking down unplanned treats! If there is something of particular interest to you, but not to the whole group, our tours are flexible enough to allow guests to break away to enjoy independent detours. We can also set up a custom tour to cover just about any preference. Your Man in Europe specializes in travel in France, England, Scotland, Switzerland, Italy, The Netherlands and Belgium. We also specialize in trips to Prague and the Czech Republic. If you can dream it, we can make it happen! Just hand us your wish list. How much should I expect to spend?As a general rule of thumb, with Your Man in Europe you can expect your total trip costs to run from around $275 to $350 (USD) per day while IN Europe for a very comfortable standard of travel (NOT including airfare). Depending on your specific tour arrangements, trip costs may be higher or lower than this range. Your Man in Europe operates neither "budget" nor "luxury" tours; but as a rule, comfortably somewhere in the middle. There are always plenty of luxurious touches, as well as a good measure of rubbing shoulders with the locals. Specially-designed tours can cost more per day, but you'll know that during the planning stage; so there still won't be any unpleasant surprises sprung on you! The total cost for each trip is presented up front. Normally guests make their own flight arrangements; but some of our itineraries include airfare. (And the cost for that may be deducted if preferred). All trips include ground transportation (trains, taxis, vans, airport transfers, etc.); guide services; fees and admissions to attractions and entertainment venues; overnight accommodations (chosen very carefully); and most meals - from local gourmet experiences to on-the-go picnics. Each tour’s meal arrangements vary, but most guests enjoy the chance to have some meals without the entire group. With many tour companies, there are unpleasant unexpected costs, and you feel as if you are being "nickled-and-dimed to death". With Your Man in Europe, you don't have to worry about paying for anything extra except shopping, souvenirs, certain meals and dining add-ons; and any extras you just can't go on living without. If airfare is not included in the tour price, can you help me find a good airfare?Yes, we'll be glad to. Your Man in Europe is an independent travel agency, and a member of the Travel Retailers Universal Enumeration network; but we are not in business to book flights, hotels, or rental cars. Our complete focus is on conducting our own small group tours to Europe; and we feel that other areas of travel sales distract from that focus. We do, however, have access to many resources for locating competitive airfares, and will assist you in getting a good price for your air travel. Can I use Frequent Flyer miles for my air travel?Absolutely. We'll help coordinate your flight schedule with your selected trip. Our experience shows that getting the exact flight you want, however, is sometimes tricky. A good rule of thumb is book your flights as early as possible! We'll be sure you join up with your group as smoothly as possible. You may find that reward flights arrive earlier or depart later than you wanted. We can help you cover short layover stays in the destination city by giving you hotel, restaurant, and activities suggestions. What is your refund / cancellation policy?We strongly urge every one of our clients to purchase the TravelSafe insurance policy we offer to cover unforeseen developments before and during your trip. "Your Man in Europe/Magical Tours offers fair refund and cancellation policies. The specific terms vary slightly from tour to tour, and are affected by many factors. Each tour itinerary and "Travel Agreement" (contract) will detail the policies for that specific tour." How can I be sure my travel investment is safe?See above. The TravelSafe insurance policy protects your investment very well. It's a fair price for peace of mind! As an independent traveler, such protection is hard to come by. Your Man in Europe wants you to travel with us again and again. We're not a big company; so our best advertising is word of mouth. Travel with us, and you'll see that, if anything, you get more than you bargained for! Take just one Your Man in Europe trip, and you'll never have anxiety about trusting us with your travel dollars again. Is the weak US Dollar a big problem?It certainly has its effect. In recent years the US Dollar has been in steady decline against the Euro, the British Pound, the Swiss Franc, and many other currencies. Most costs in Europe roughly equate to similar currency unit prices, and that makes everything cost quite a bit more throughout Europe than in the US. For example, a soft drink in a convenience store in the US costs 99 cents; but that very same soft drink costs 99 Euro-cents in France, which works out to be about $1.50! When a simple lunch costs 12 Euros, it costs American tourists almost $18. Many economic experts predict that the Euro could climb another 20% within the next few years. Very complex economic factors determine these exchange rates; and the trend is not great for Americans traveling in Europe. Europeans who depend on tourism or exporting goods to the US are very unhappy about the trend; but to counteract the problem, they have done something uniquely European: they've increased many prices. Go figure... Our tours are priced at the exchange rate(s) at the time the trip is planned. Our contract permits a small surcharge when the currency on which the cost is based increases against the US Dollar 3% or more. We are a small company, and though we don't like to do it, we reserve the right to add the surcharge. In the event of such a price increase you will be advised as early as possible. For the record, we have never actually collected this surcharge. I thought Europeans hate Americans. Is that true?No! Absolutely not true. Europeans like Americans, even when they don't like certain of the policies of the US government. They DO NOT hate Americans! Travelers with Your Man in Europe are always relieved and gratified to find our hosts all over Europe to be consistently kind, thoughtful, and helpful. You find pretty much what you want to find there. As long as you are a good guest, Europeans are exceptional hosts, going out of their way to be accommodating. Might you encounter the occasional grump or rude ticket-taker? Maybe, but we've found that less in Europe than in Los Angeles or Dallas or anywhere in the 'States. How safe is Travel in Europe?Very! Europe is among the safest travel destinations on earth. Our clients feel quite comfortable and care-free wherever we go. The only nuisance is that many cities in Europe are pestered by pick-pockets - usually youngsters, and especially in Italy. Knowing how to protect yourself from these little thieves, and taking reasonable precautions will keep you from being an easy mark. In the unlikely event of trouble, it's comforting to have a knowledgeable guide with you to help get past unexpected difficulties. We know their little tricks! What if circumstances require changes in the tour plans after my group is in Europe?Our "Travel Agreement" (contract) addresses this possibility as follows: "ALTERATIONS OF TOUR: Subject to conditions and circumstances, certain aspects of the established tour itinerary may be changed before departure or during the tour. As nearly as possible, Your Man in Europe will adhere to the originally presented tour plan, but may, as required, substitute like-value alternatives. Examples of circumstances which could cause such changes include, but are not limited to the following:
How strenuous are these trips?As a rule Your Man in Europe tours are quite active, and can be strenuous at times. Hurrying to board trains, walking fairly long distances on sight-seeing tours, handling your own luggage, and enduring those long leisurely meals can be demanding. These are not athletic events aimed at the mountain-climbing crowd; but the truth is that getting around in Europe can be challenging. There are lots of stairs, steep hills and cobblestone streets, and plenty of the best places can only be reached on foot! We do the best we can to make it comfortable, but, for example, porters are few and far between in most European destinations, so your luggage is usually your own responsibility. We suggest that you prepare for the trip through a good, consistent exercise program long in advance. Step up your walking or jogging time or your visits to the health club. You'll feel better and have a lot more fun on your tour if you're fit and energetic. For those who need more help, we can work out assistance, but we need advance knowledge of what will be needed. Unfortunately we can't accommodate travel for the handicapped. What if someone needs to contact me while I'm traveling in Europe?No problem. We carry an easy-to-reach cell phone with us on all our trips. You'll get the telephone number for it before departure. Just leave the number with your contacts at home, and if they have to reach you they can direct dial your group anywhere. The phone is available for a reasonable number of outgoing calls, too. Everyone also receives a complete itinerary in advance listing all the telephone and e-mail addresses for every overnight stay. Important messages can be waiting for you when you arrive at each hotel. How will I know how to plan for the trip?Easy. From the time you pay your deposit for one of our trips until almost time to board your flight, you will receive all kinds of tips, planning details, and other helpful information by mail and e-mail. You may also call, write, or e-mail any time you have questions or concerns. How will I know what to pack?One of the first things you'll receive after signing up will be our famous "How to Pack" list and "travel light" tips. We ask that all our travelers actually do what is recommended - for their own sake and in consideration of fellow group members. Our tours are not for everyone. If you insist on bringing tons of luggage, you should understand that there are no porters around to carry your bags. There’s a reason they call it “luggage” – it’s because you have to LUG it around! We've learned that if all guests follow our tried-and-true guidelines, everyone in the group is a lot happier. We'll show you how to avoid being a "luggage slave". Do I need to speak foreign languages?Speaking a foreign language fluently can be very helpful; but it's less necessary these days than it used to be. Lucky for us English has become "the universal language", and is taught in most European schools as a second language from pre-school onward. We do encourage you to pick up some language learning tapes and try to master some basic phrases before you travel to Europe. It's a polite gesture, and our friends throughout Europe appreciate the effort you're making. Nowadays it's increasingly rare to find - even in small shops - that no one speaks English. You'll be fine. Do you allow kids on your trips?Yes, but it's good if they're at least 5 or 6 years old. Babes in arms and European travel are not a good match. We can even tailor trips to suit young travelers, and offer nice discounts for children 12 and under to boot. Teens and older pre-teens love Europe - if you know where to go. Our Magical Tours division offers unforgettable themed tours that are very kid-friendly, and are excellent for the whole family, too. Although most Magical Tours center on the books about Harry Potter, the famous boy wizard, they also provide a wonderful glimpse into often-overlooked corners of Britain anyone would appreciate. Your Man in Europe offers ideal solutions for families that would like to travel with their children or grandchildren. We have plenty of experience in planning and guiding specifically youth-oriented tours throughout Europe. |
| Last Updated on Wednesday, 07 October 2009 21:38 |