FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
WHY SHOULD I USE A TRAVEL AGENT TO BOOK A VACATION?
We offer Vacation Management Services. A Travel Consultant takes all of the headache out of planning a trip and handles virtually all aspects of your travel, at absolutely no cost to you. The combined experience of the team and the feedback from our thousands of travelers provides an invaluable resource to the traveler planning an important trip.
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In recent years, the top travel vendors have empowered and trained the agency community to be even more effective and efficient go-betweens.
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A Travel Consultant minimizes the stress associated with organizing and managing a trip so you can concentrate on what really matters—enjoying yourself.
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We help research and plan your trip by booking tickets to venues, assisting with flight, cruises, hotel, and rental car. We offer travel insurance. We assist with changes and cancelations and Provide digital copies of your Travel Documents. We can act as an Emergency Intermediary. Should you have an emergency while on vacation, we would be the intermediary between the you and the suppliers. we can track down lost luggage and ensure that it arrives at their location. We will reconfirm the Itinerary prior to your arrival and notify suppliers whether you will be early or late.
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ARE YOUR ITINIRARIES WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE?
We are an equal opportunity travel agency. Should you have a disability, please notify us so that we can work with our travel partners to ensure that your travel experience is filled with wonderful memories. Many destinations lack services. We research and give you the pros and cons of any area in the world before planning the trip, so you know what to expect while you are in that destination.
DO YOU ACCEPT LAST-MINUTE BOOKINGS?
All travel arrangements should be booked at least 48 hours in advance. For holiday packages and custom-made itineraries, we strongly recommend you book with a few weeks/months notice. For larger groups we recommend you book with a few months’ notice.
CAN YOU WORK WITHIN A CERTAIN BUDGET?
Yes, we work within any and all realistic budgets, and an honest sharing of ideas and goals helps us immensely when making recommendations and suggested edits to travel plans.
DOES IT COST MONEY TO GET A QUOTE?
We offer consultation services for which we charge a non-refundable fee of $125. Additionally, we charge a non-refundable fee of $200 for travel planning and expressing your intent to travel. In some cases, the travel vendors we work with recognize the value we bring and compensate us for our services. For more complex itineraries that require custom crafting and significant involvement from our partners, we may charge additional fees. These fees will be detailed in our fee schedule.
WHERE CAN I FIND MY ITINERARY ONCE MY TRIP IS BOOKED?
Your itinerary as booked by Octant Destinations is available on our View Trip website with your specific reservation code as the login. Since we are directly connected to vendors’ inventory systems (airlines, cruise lines, hotels, cars, rail, etc.), you will also be able to retrieve your information on their unique client sites, many of which offer a wealth of information to help you prepare for the trip ahead.
HOW DO I CANCEL A TRIP?
Call us right away. If it’s after normal business hours, please contact the next involved travel supplier (airline, hotel, tour operator, cruise line) to cancel any reservations you will not be able to use. We regret that we are unable to offer a full refund in the case of cancellation. The cancellation fee depends upon the length of notice and type of booking. If you purchased travel insurance, please contact the insurance company’s 24-hour line to start the cancellation process and ensure your maximum refund or to file a claim.
HOW DO I KNOW I CAN TRUST THIS TRAVEL VENDOR?
Octant Destinations is extremely cautious when it comes to choosing our business partners and vendors. This vetting of travel suppliers and support of the ‘good ones’ over the years has given us preferred access to the world’s top trusted suppliers. In turn, they trust us to represent and care for the reputations they have earned over the years and to deliver the same high standard of care to our mutual clients.
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As the trusted travel management provider for numerous travelers, we are dedicated to delivering top level service every time. We choose to work only with known, reliable providers in order to maintain a high standard of quality service.
WHAT ARE YOUR BUSINESS HOURS?
Octant Destinations is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern Standard Time ( GMT-5 ).
CAN I COME TO YOUR OFFICE?
Octant Destinations is a home-based office, where we strive to create the perfect balance between convenience and efficiency. If you're in our area, we'll come to you. If not, we'll schedule a virtual meeting that's sure to exceed your expectations. Our commitment to providing you with the best possible service is unwavering, no matter what challenges we may face. We can't wait to work with you and show you just how seamless and enjoyable the process can be.