BookLover’s Travel
- Who travels on your tours? Generally our tour members are women 35-85 years old. They may be first-time travelers or seasoned travel pros. Usually our tour members are inquisitive and open-minded, with a sense of humor, who desire in-depth exploration of a destination, and who prefer traveling with a like-minded group of women.
- What is the group size of your tours? In order to foster group camaraderie, we limit our tours to a maximum of 20 women. Each tour will also have a minimum number of participants, usually 12.
- How fit do I need to be to travel on your tours? Our tours contain a considerable amount of walking each day, with a few more strenuous excursions. You should be comfortable with daily walking, including steps and uneven surfaces, and be able to stand for periods of time while listening to guides.
- Do I have to read all of the books noted for each tour? Our tours are NOT classes: there are no quizzes, papers or presentations! Our booklists are suggested reading, and when possible, we’ve paired books with the appropriate locations we will be exploring. But these are just suggestions. Read the books that interest you or search out other books tied to the tour locale. These books are a way to prepare for your travel experience beyond reading guidebooks.
- What is included on the tour? As each of our tours is different, refer to the specific tour to see what is included. Generally, we include airport transfers, hotel accommodations based on two people sharing a room, transportation as needed for the sites listed in the tour, admission to group sightseeing excursions, guide services, some meals, and all tips to guides and drivers.
- Do I need travel insurance? We include group travel trip cancellation, interruption and medical insurance in the tour cost. Over the years that we’ve traveled, we’ve seen the unexpected happen – illnesses or accidents – both before and during even the shortest trip. With travel insurance, you can relax and not worry about the unexpected.
- Is airfare included in the price of your tours? We don’t include airfare because our participants come from all over the country. But we have a favorite travel agent we recommend who has 20 years experience arranging air travel.
- Are airport transfers included? Yes, we include airport transfers.
- What is your room-sharing policy? All tours are priced based on two people sharing a room. If you do not already have someone to share a room with you, we will arrange a room share based on a first-come, first-served basis, but we do not guarantee you a room share. Single rooms are available on request and will include a single supplement charge. There is a no-smoking policy for all room shares.
- Is smoking allowed? All BookLover’s Travel tours are non-smoking. Keep in mind that smoking is common in other countries, and we can’t isolate our tour members from locals who may smoke in public places, including restaurants, bars and pubs, or on the streets.
- How much luggage can I bring? Due to the limited size of our coach for ground transportation, you may bring one bag, preferably wheeled, and one small carry-on size bag.
- What should I pack? Each tour will have its own customized packing list that we will provide.
- How do I make a reservation? You may telephone us or email, fax, or mail your reservation form to us.
- How much is the deposit and when is it due? A $500 per person non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your space on the tour. The deposit must be received by BookLover’s Travel at least 90 days prior to departure. For reservations made within 60 days of departure, payment in full is required at the time of reservation.
- Is the price guaranteed? Tour prices are subject to change without notice due to the unpredictability of currency rates and trip costs. Your tour price is guaranteed on the day BookLover’s Travel receives your deposit.
- What form of payment does BookLover’s Travel accept? We accept checks only: personal, business or cashier. One option you may consider is to use a check provided by your credit card company. These checks work like regular checks, but the amount is charged to your credit card. Be sure to verify the details with your credit card company before using this option.
- When is final payment due? Payment in full must be received by BookLover’s Travel 60 days prior to departure.
- What is the cancellation policy? All cancellations must be advised in writing to BookLover’s Travel by fax or mail. Your cancellation will take effect on the day BookLover’s Travel receives your written cancellation. All payments are non-refundable and will be forfeited if you cancel your tour reservation. If you do cancel your tour, you may be eligible for some portion of refund due to qualifying medical or family emergencies as outlined in the Group Travel Assurance Plan.
- When do I receive my travel documents? You will receive your travel documents 21 days prior to departure. It is your responsibility to check the accuracy of your documents. You are responsible to ensure that your first and last name provided to us at the time of booking are exactly as they appear on your valid passport.