CaliNurse

i agree with above.

It seems excessive and unnecessary that you had to pay IN FULL 2 months before your trip, 520.
i don't think the hotels are paid in advance. You turn in a voucher--which they will expect to receive when you first check in. It's only when the hotel turns in that voucher to your travel agent, that they paid by the travel agency. I could be wrong about htis, but i dont think so, and it explains why often, the first thing you are asked (hopefully, politely!) is for the voucher. If you like, you have every right to first check the room is up to par and what you requested.


I cant recall exact figures with the travel agency we twice used, but i think it was somethng like 1/3 (or less) upon booking, another 1/3 or so 30 days before arrival, and the final 1/3 upon arrival to india.

doug_stallings

I can't speak specifically to this tour company, but it's the norm to pay for an arranged tour in advance, and 60 days prior is not at all uncommon, nor is 90 days for that matter. In fact, I've never NOT paid for a tour or package in advance, even when I've purchased an air/hotel package through Expedia or Travelocity. The only time you would not pay in advance is if you were making all arrangements yourself.

So pay, but absolutely buy travel insurance to cover your trip in full in case something goes wrong. Especially if it's an expensive trip.

Rinda1

I am leaving on Jan 1 and going with Indian Panorama. I either had to send in my last payment by Dec. 25 or I could bring the last payment in cash to be paid on arrival. Bringing that much cash did not seem practical and paying the last payment 1 week before departure did not seem out of line.

indianapearl

pantherbob: I booked my own trip to Amritsar last November. It was great (if I do say so myself). We spent two nights there, flew through Delhi. Here's my trip report: fodors.com/community/asia/east-meets-west-indiana-to-india.cfm