Going on a family holiday can be an exciting prospect, but to ensure that you enjoy the most while you reach the destination, it is important to prepare well. And, a part of the preparation is choosing the right travel company. Read to know the important questions you must ask to the travel agency.
With the summer holidays just around the corner, you may want to go on a holiday with your family and take time out from the daily routine. While the prospect of traveling to a new destination, and exploring new places can be exciting, you would know that planning a holiday can be tedious. There are so many things that you need to take care, right from doing the bookings to packing the right stuff for all.
And, although there are many travel agencies that help you take care of the logistics and make the necessary arrangements, the key to having a blissful holiday is choosing the right travel company. If you are planning to travel within India for a holiday, and wish to book a family holiday package with any travel agency, here are a few important questions you must ask them before your shortlist one.
What types of holiday packages the agency provides?
Typically, the travel agencies offer a wide range of holiday packages that are suitable for different types of travellers but they also specialise in one or two specific types of holiday packages. This could be a family vacation package, adventure and sports package for the youngsters, or honeymoon package for the couples. So, it is vital to understand the speciality package of the travel company you are working with and choose the one that offers the best family vacation plan.
Is there a specific time to travel to your preferred destination?
While planning a family summer holiday, you may want a specific destination like a hill station or a beach-side location. But, often the popular destination becomes expensive during the holiday season and depending on the time of the year you are travelling. For instance, if you are planning to travel to Goa between October to January, the prices tend to go up as many tourists from around the world travel there to celebrate Christmas, New Year and other festivals.
Also, depending on the destination you choose, it would be better to ask the travel agency about the weather condition and if all the major tourist spots are open for the visitors. The last thing you would want is to arrive at the holiday spot only to find you are forced to stay confined to your hotel rooms due to bad weather.
What does the package include?
This is perhaps the most important thing to ask the travel agency. You must ask if the travel company will take care of all your bookings, including hotels and flight tickets or do they take care only the sightseeing. You must also do domestic flights enquiry with the airlines or other travel company to compare the prices of the air tickets quoted by the agency. This will give you a fair idea about the overall cost of the holiday package.
What is the reimbursement policy?
While you may want to do everything in your control to go on a holiday, in the event of an uncertain event if you have to cancel the plan, you would want to ensure that you get full reimbursement from the travel company. Therefore, you must ask the agency about their cancellation and reimbursement policy.
Typically, the travel companies reimburse the full amount provided you cancel the plan within a specific number of days before the travel date. In the event of sudden cancelation, most travel companies reimburse 40-60% of the package cost. Being aware of the cancelation policy beforehand is vital to avoid any unnecessary hassles later.
Final Word
Now that you are aware of the important questions to ask, make sure that you ask them to all shortlisted travel agencies and based on the replies shortlist the best one.