Indian Travel Agents
Apr 2nd, 2007, 01:56 PM
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 1,110
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Indian Travel Agents
I am trying to arrange a trip to Kerala and have come across a problem. The agent in question has asked for 50% of the cost now by bank transfer. We are not going until November and as the cost is $2700 this means paying a lot of money to sit in someone's account for 7 months. More than that however is the absence of payment protection afforded by a credit card if the firm goes belly-up.
Is it common for this amount to be requested so far in advance and is it the norm that credit cards are not accepted in these circumstances.
If anyone knows of a reputable firm which overcomes these problems I'd be pleased to hear.
With thanks
Is it common for this amount to be requested so far in advance and is it the norm that credit cards are not accepted in these circumstances.
If anyone knows of a reputable firm which overcomes these problems I'd be pleased to hear.
With thanks
Apr 3rd, 2007, 02:57 AM
#2
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Heres a list of tour operators in kerala A to Y.
http://www.my-kerala.com/dir/Travel_...ism/Operators/
I feel that a 10% advance to book the tour seems reasonable.You can talk to them into it.Convince them that the rest will be paid on arrival or in installments.
It dose'nt make one bit sense to pay all the money upfront.Well, this is how I take packaged tours when ever I've used them.You also need to assess the credibility of the travel agent.Ask for a reference,if anyone who has used them, offlate, in your country.Call them up to verify.
I've never used a travel agent in Kerala.A good guide book ( lonely planet,Fodors) would give a fair deal of info on places of interest,list of hotels etc.
A lot of fodorites have rich experience & they could guide you on specific destinations in Kerala.You could work out a tour plan based on the info.
One could book direct with hotels,the hotels have their own travel desks which offer packages.
Kerala is a structured place & the tourism sector is reasonably well organised.This is Kerala tourism official website:
http://www.keralatourism.org/
http://www.keralatourism.com/
The best part of the holiday is planning.A tailor made tour springs pleasant in surprises.Go ahead, work out something for yourself,you'll realize how warm & friendly Kerala is.
http://www.my-kerala.com/dir/Travel_...ism/Operators/
I feel that a 10% advance to book the tour seems reasonable.You can talk to them into it.Convince them that the rest will be paid on arrival or in installments.
It dose'nt make one bit sense to pay all the money upfront.Well, this is how I take packaged tours when ever I've used them.You also need to assess the credibility of the travel agent.Ask for a reference,if anyone who has used them, offlate, in your country.Call them up to verify.
I've never used a travel agent in Kerala.A good guide book ( lonely planet,Fodors) would give a fair deal of info on places of interest,list of hotels etc.
A lot of fodorites have rich experience & they could guide you on specific destinations in Kerala.You could work out a tour plan based on the info.
One could book direct with hotels,the hotels have their own travel desks which offer packages.
Kerala is a structured place & the tourism sector is reasonably well organised.This is Kerala tourism official website:
http://www.keralatourism.org/
http://www.keralatourism.com/
The best part of the holiday is planning.A tailor made tour springs pleasant in surprises.Go ahead, work out something for yourself,you'll realize how warm & friendly Kerala is.
