booking confirmations?
 

I just booked my trip to Rwanda with R&N xplorers. Our trip is not until February, but we have already made our full payments. They have confirmed that they have received our wires so now im wondering whats next? Should they confirm with me that they did get the permits and our hotel etc, or do i have to ask that of them myself? Hopefully someone can help me with this. Its my first time to africa, so im not very aware of how the business stuff works. Thanks!

hi jenbertoni

get all the confirmations you can.
meanwhile, it is advisable to <u> contact the lodges </u> to ask if your reservations are OK
read some threads (even some discussed now) &amp; you'd understand that lots of things may happen, even rare mistakes, bur sometimes a chain (like Serena in a recent thread) cancels a booking made a year before...
<b> be active </b> don't wait for your agent's reply
my dad taught me an english saying (British Army WWII) &quot;you can't be too careful&quot; ... <font color="blue"> though chances are everything is OK </font>

aby

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...9&amp;start=50

read also

http://www.fodors.com/forums/pgMessa...33&amp;start=0

After receiving my request, my agent sends me an itinerary and an invoice, plus a request for a certain percentage deposit, then full payment 60 days before departure. I pay the deposit, then make full payment, and receive a confirmed itinerary (hard copy) and all airline tickets, plus a booklet of vouchers for all transfers, hotel and camp/lodge arrivals. All I need do from that moment on is the usual flight confirmations with the various airlines at the appropriate times e.g. 72 hours before departure for international flights. Some of these confirmations are handled by camp operators because sometimes, obviously, you don't get back to civilisation until the day of your flight out of Africa. I've never had problems with confirmations, which is why I'm a strong advocate of having a very good agent.

John

thanks for the replies. i have sent an email to the company asking for a formal confirmation of our payment, lodging, and permits. Ill also check with the lodge as well to be on the safe side. Hopefully all goes well!