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WOMEN ONLY TOURS
RESERVATIONS
ABOUT THE TOURS
HOTEL & ROOMMATES
DOCUMENTS
AIRFARE
GROUP TOURS
WOMEN ONLY TOURS Q: Why choose a women only tour? A: unique situation arises when men & children are removed from the equation and women are left to their own devices. Women let their guard come down, shake their hair loose and a natural feeling of relaxation ensues. A woman is allowed to focus on herself, her needs and desires as opposed to others. An environment is created in which a woman feels comfortable exploring, questioning and learning.
Another beautiful aspect of women-only tours is that there is an instant bond among the travelers and deep, lasting friendships often develop. In our current society, the importance of strong girlfriend relationships are often shoved to the wayside along with glamour. We are instructed in the importance of maintaining good relationships among husband/wife, mother/child, and colleague/colleague but the girlfriend to girlfriend relationship is often forgotten. Yet it is vital to our health and happiness. Women-only tours help us nourish this neglected part of ourselves.
Q: How are Glamour Getaways different from other women-only tours? Glamour Getaways believes in bringing back a time when travel was glamorous even for the average individual. Glamour is not only for the rich woman but for every woman. What do we mean by glamour? We want to make you feel like you are actually on vacation not a marathon race. We don’t believe in rushing through sites, jumping on and off buses, and packing and unpacking every day. We don’t believe in treating you like one of the masses or isolating you from the natives. We do believe in showing you all of the raved about tourist sites as other tours do, but we prefer to do it in a more glamorous manner. We do believe in spa trips after hours of touring. We do believe in taking you out at night to dinner in a limo or a fancy dress concert with the locals where glamour abounds. We do believe in giving you enough free time to do your own thing and time to linger at a café. We believe in living a glamorous life.
Q: What kinds of women go on your tours? Women who sign up for our tours come from all walks of life. The normal age range for our standard tours is 30—60 years of age, while our Glitz & Glam travel tours tend to have a younger age range of 18—30.
Despite the varying age numbers our women clock in at, they all tend to have several things in common that allow them to mix, mingle and integrate with ease. They are all women who are looking to add a little adventure and glamour into their lives. They are all women who are open minded, curious and mature enough to experience a new culture. They are all women who have lived and experienced enough good and bad in life to appreciate a vacation and take pleasure in it.
Q: Can I go alone? Absolutely. In fact, the majority of women who sign up for women-only tours do sign up alone.
Q: Will I have to pay a single room supplement? That is up to you. If you would like to have your own room—then yes. However, if you are willing to share we will do our best to match you with another roommate allowing you to avoid the single room supplement fee.
Q: Will I have to spend all my free time/meals alone? It’s up to you. If you are the type that values solitude and wants to break away from the pack from time to time you are more than welcome to. However, if venturing out on your own makes you feel a little uncomfortable you will find there will always be other like-minded women on the trip that would love to explore with you. Your Tour Director understands how nerve-racking it can be tackling a foreign country and also the worry many of us have about not being “liked” by the group and/or the feeling of being left out. Because of this, our Tour Directors work extra hard behind the scenes doing everything they can to make sure you feel confident in venturing out in your new surroundings and also by helping to break the ice among you and your other travelers. They take the time to really get to know you, introduce you to your fellow travelers and strive hard to create a warm relaxed atmosphere.
Q: How many women will there be on a tour? Normally, our tours have a minimum of 8 travelers and a maximum of 14 travelers. We believe it benefits the traveler to be a part of a smaller group. Not only are we able to take you to places that larger groups would not be able to get into, but you are also in an environment where friendships are able to develop and group bonding is felt. Often times in bigger groups, little cliques develop as people break off and the group feels segregated. It is our goal at Glamour Getaways to avoid this feeling. We also wish to provide you with personalized service. With a small group, the services of your Tour Director are not spread too thinly and instead she has plenty of time to help answer all of your questions, plan your free time and really get to know you.
RESERVATIONS Q: How far in advance do I have to book my reservation? You must book your reservation at a minimum of 75 days prior to the start of your trip. However, the earlier you book your tour the better—our tours sell out quickly!
Q: What is the latest I can book a reservation? Our normal cut off date for booking a tour is 75 days prior to the start of the trip. However occasionally we will accept tour participants up to 40 days prior to the start of your trip. If the 75-day cut-off date has passed, please contact us directly at: reservations@glamourgetaways.com and we will discuss accommodating you.
Q: What are acceptable forms of payment? We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card and American Express securely transmitted through PayPal. We will also accept a certified check ($75 Discount), money order ($75 Discount) or wire transfer ($25 Discount) for all final payments (deposits must be made via credit card and Paypal). If you choose to pay your final payment through a method other than credit card, please contact us at: reservations@glamourgetaways.com and we will provide you with further details.
Q: What happens after I sign up for the tour? Once we have successfully received your registration form and deposit we will email you your confirmation packet. Included in this confirmation package will be an invoice of your deposit payment and remaining balance due, a detailed itinerary of your selected tour, and tips on booking a flight.
Final Payment Due: Glamour Getaways must receive your entire remaining balance paid in full no later than 75 days prior to your departure date.
Receipt of Final Invoice & Flight Detail Information Packet: Upon receipt of your final payment we will mail to you a final invoice and a “Flight Details Information” form.
Book Your Flight: We recommend that you book your flight shortly following the tour reservation cut off date (75 days prior to travel).
In order for our tours to occur, we need a minimum of travelers to participate. We will notify you by email once your tour is confirmed and that there are the minimum number of people needed signed up. This email will usually come around 75 days prior to travel.
Glamour Getaways recommends you do not book any non- refundable tickets until it has been verified that you have been accepted into the tour and that the tour has the minimum number of people needed to insure departure.
Return Flight Detail Information Sheet: As soon as you have purchased your flight, email/mail back to Glamour Getaways your “Flight Details Information” sheet. Your flight details information sheet must be received at least 30 days prior to departure.
Receipt of Pre-Departure Packet: Approximately 2-3 weeks prior to your departure you will receive a Pre-Departure Packet in the mail. Included in this packet will be details about your hotels (including addresses and phone numbers), directions on how to get from the airport to the hotel, roommate assignment and contact information, free time sightseeing suggestions, suggestions on what to pack and other important information related to your impending trip.
Q: If a tour is full, is there a waiting list I can get on? Yes, please contact us at reservations@glamourgetaways.com with the following details:
Last Name: First Name: Date/Name of Requested Tour: Email Address: Phone Number:
And we will place you on your requested wait list. If a spot becomes available we will contact you ASAP. You then have 48 hours to decide if you would like to accept the available space and pay the deposit. After 48 hours the available spot offer will move on the next person on the waiting list.
ABOUT THE TOURS Q: Will the tour guide(s) speak English? Yes, all of the tour guides you will encounter on the tour will speak native level English.
Q: What is the policy on smoking? We welcome smokers, however please be advised that we do not allow smoking in our shared rooms or group activities indoors (i.e. dinner). Also be aware that many sights we will visit will not allow smoking on their premises.
Q: Do you have a minimum age? We require you to be at least 18 years of age to travel alone. Those aged 15-17 are allowed to travel with a legal guardian.
Q: What expenses are included in the tour? Your tour payment includes all accommodation, 2-3 meals a day, transportation to and from all group activities, all group activity entrance fees, and all tour guide, driver and hotel tips.
Q: What expenses are not included in the tour? A portion of your meals, beverages (except were otherwise noted), snacks, airport transportation, personal expenses (laundry, phone calls, etc.) shopping & souvenir purchases, free time sightseeing activities & transportation and tour director tips. We recommend you budget at least $50-$75 per day for these items, more if you intend to make a lot of purchases.
Q: How active are your tours? All of our tours do involve some degree of physical activity (walking tours of the cities and famous sites, low incline country hikes, etc.), and so, you must be fit enough to feel comfortable walking for long periods of time (it’s the best way to see a city!). However, we don’t maintain a strenuous pace (we give you time to stop and smell the roses!), and unless otherwise noted in the itinerary, a normal athletic ability is all that is required.
HOTEL & ROOMMATES Q: How do you match roommates? We do our best to match you with like-minded roommates. We take into account age, background, and other information we have learned in corresponding with you.
Q: I have a friend going on the same tour, can we be roommates? Yes, just make a note of it on your initial reservation form and we will make sure that you are roomed together.
Q: Will I know who my roommate will be before the tour starts? Yes, about 2-3 weeks before your departure you will receive your Pre-Departure Package in the mail. In this package will be information about your roommate, including their email address. We suggest you try and contact your roommate and at least say “Hi” prior to your departure.
Q: I am unsure about sharing a room with a stranger, do you recommend it? We absolutely recommend it. Often times roommates provide an instant “buddy” situation for you and a relationship that will continue to flourish once you are back in your home country. Many roommates choose to spend the allotted free time on each tour exploring the city together.
Q: What are the hotels like? We normally stay in 4-5 star hotels. However there are times when we stay in a 3 star bed and breakfast, or a hotel with remarkable amounts of charm. See your specific itinerary for details on your tour’s accommodation.
All rooms are en-suite. Most shared rooms are made up of 2-3 twin beds, while a single room is typically a Queen or King sized bed.
DOCUMENTS Q: Do I need a passport? All International Travel requires you to have a passport with at least 6 months of time (from the last day of your tour) left on it before it expires. If you do not yet have a passport, we recommend you get one ASAP. You are able to obtain one at most post offices.
Q: Do I need a visa to travel? Our current tour destinations do not require tourist visas for Americans, Canadians, Australians or United Kingdom citizens.
Q: Once I have paid my trip in full, when can I expect to receive all final details and documentation in regards to my trip? Approximately 3 business days after Glamour Getaways has received your full payment we will email you a Final Receipt & Flight Detail Information Packet.
Approximately 2-3 weeks prior to your departure you will receive a Pre-Departure Packet in the mail. Included in this packet will be details about your hotel, directions on how to get from the airport to the hotel, roommate assignment and contact information, free time sightseeing suggestions, suggestions on what to pack and other important information related to your impending trip.
AIRFARE Q: Why is airfare not included in the purchase price? We do not include your airfare in the tour purchase price because many of our travelers prefer to arrive to the tour site a couple of days earlier or stay a couple of days later than the scheduled tour dates. By not providing you with a specific flight we allow you the flexibility to do this.
Q: Can I book my flight through Glamour Getaways? Unfortunately we are unable to do this for you. We do suggest you check with a local travel agent or if you feel comfortable, book a flight over the Internet yourself.
Q: When should I book my flight? We recommend that you book your flight shortly following the tour reservation cut off date (about 75 days prior to travel).
In order for our tours to occur we need a minimum of travelers to participate. We will notify you by email once your tour is confirmed and that there are the minimum number of people needed signed up. This email will usually come around 75 days prior to travel.
Glamour Getaways recommends you do not book any non- refundable tickets until it has been verified that you have been accepted into the tour and that the tour has the minimum number of people needed to insure departure.
Q: At what time do I want to arrive on site? Each itinerary is slightly different, however the majority of our tours begin their program with a “welcome” meet and greet, dinner and special activity geared at getting you familiar with your new surroundings. Normally these activities start around 5-6:00 PM local time. In order to insure you don’t miss thing we recommend you take an overnight flight from the states, arriving late morning/early afternoon in your destination country. When figuring out your timeline, don’t forget to figure in clearing customs, baggage claim, and transportation to/from the airport and hotel check in.
Q: If I would like to arrive a day early or stay a day later, is it possible for Glamour Getaways to help me obtain a reservation at the same hotel the group will be staying in for those additional days? It all depends on the hotel. Glamour Getaways suggest you speak with a trusted travel agent to help you arrange your additional days’ accommodation. If that route is unsuccessful please contact us at reservations@glamourgetaways.com and we will do our best to help you. At the very least we will be able to provide you with a list of neighboring Glamour Getaway approved hotels.
Q: How will I get from the airport to the hotel? The majority of our tours do not include transportation arrangements to and from the airport. About 2-3 weeks prior to departure you will receive a Destination Package in the mail. Included in this package will be details about getting from the airport to the hotel (in an assortment of price and adventure seeking ranges). The fees associated with travel from the airport to the hotel are not included in your tour price.
GROUP TOURS Q: Can I arrange a group tour through Glamour Getaways? Yes, Glamour Getaways requires a minimum of 8 travelers for a private escorted tour. Please contact groups@glamourgetaways.com to discuss your tour further.
Q: Are there any group rate discounts? Please contact Glamour Getaways for further information.
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