Frequently Asked Questions

Following are answers to the most common questions our travelers have. If you can't find the question that you are looking for, feel free to email us. Someone will get back to you with an answer within one business day.

Is an Adventure Center trip the right one for me?
Who is Adventure Center?
Who joins these trips? Ages? Nationalities?
How large is the group?
Are the trip destinations safe?
What will the weather be like on my trip?
What visas do I need?
What inoculations do I need?
Do I have to take malaria tablets?
Do I have to carry my own luggage or backpack?
What should I pack?
Do I need a sleeping bag?
Why are Adventure Center trips so affordable?
What's the kitty for?
What's the local payment for?
How strenuous is the trip? Am I fit enough?
Is the water OK to drink? Do I need to bring purifying tablets/filter?
What's the food like? I'm a vegetarian, is that a problem?
Will I get sick?
What's included?
Why aren't all meals included on the hotel trips?
How much spending money should I bring?
What types of hotels do you use?
Can I have a single room/tent? Do I have to share?
What kind of toilet facilities are there?
Will I get a hot shower every day?
Can I join the trip late? Leave early? Can I just do "bits and pieces"?
Is someone going to meet me at the airport? Are transfers included?
What are the trip leaders like?
Can I use credit cards in the places visited?
I have elderly parents. How can they contact me?
If I arrive a day early, can you help with hotel accommodation?
Is it a guaranteed departure?
How many are booked so far?
Do you have any discounted flights?
How do I fly to my trip? Can I have a stopover?
How do I know if the trip I want is available?
Where is the booking form?
Do you ever have any last minute specials?
When should I book my trip?
Sounds like a great way to travel, how do I book?

Q: Is an Adventure Center trip the right one for me?
A: Adventure Center offers a wide range of affordable trips, ranging from rugged and challenging treks to cultural adventures that offer comfortable accommodations and can be undertaken by anyone with an open and flexible attitude. Travel involves encountering conditions and lifestyles that differ from your everyday life. Unusual situations, different customs and unpredictable events all add to the experience. Trip leaders are there to facilitate the logistics of running the trip but they are not necessarily experts on the region you are traveling in. Your traveling companions will be members of an international group whose different cultural values or lifestyles should enhance the experience.

Q: Who is Adventure Center?
A: Adventure Center is the US leader in small group adventure travel with over 30 years experience offering adventures throughout the world to stimulate and challenge! Adventure Center is a member of the TUI Travel PLC group of companies. California Seller of Travel Registration # 2071290-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California. Adventure Center (First Choice) Inc. is a Delaware Corporation.

Q: Who joins these trips? Ages? Nationalities?
A: Our small, international groups are composed of travelers of all ages, from people in their 20's to people in their 60's. Many participants are British, but other nationalities include Australians, New Zealanders, Canadians, Europeans, and of course Americans. All trips are conducted in English.

Q: How large is the group?
A: Usually from 8 to 24 travelers. See individual trip descriptions for more details.

Q: Are the trip destinations safe?
A: Security and safety are a high priority, however there are risks associated with adventure travel, and travel to overseas destinations, that you should consider before booking. Our trip operators constantly monitor their areas of operation and will cancel or re-route a trip if they feel a destination is unsafe. The decision to travel to a particular country or region is a personal one. We recommend you visit the U.S Department of State website at www.travel.state.gov for the latest travel advice.

Q: What will the weather be like on my trip?
A: It depends where and when you are traveling but most trips are planned to operate when we expect the weather conditions will be good for traveling. You can research the weather for your chosen destination by using Google or other search tools.

Q: What visas do I need?
A: We will advise if visas are needed, and if so which ones, in your pre-departure information packet which is mailed to you once you are confirmed on your trip. This information can also be found by following the More Details link on our trip description pages.

Q: What inoculations do I need?
A: We give you some recommendations in your pre-departure information packet which is mailed to you once you are confirmed on your trip. However we suggest you consult your physician for the latest information on health issues.

Q: Do I have to take malaria tablets?
A: Strongly advised in many countries. Check with your physician for the latest information on health issues.

Q: Do I have to carry my own luggage or backpack?
A: Most treks are supported. However on most trips you will need to carry your own baggage to buses, on trains etc.

Q: What should I pack?
A: Keep it light! Storage space on vehicles is limited and you will most likely need to carry your bag between vehicles and camps/hotels. We will supply a suggested packing list in your pre-departure information. Soft-sided luggage if preferable.

Q: Do I need a sleeping bag?
A: Generally only on camping trips, but check your pre-departure information or trip notes / dossier.

Q: Why are Adventure Center trips so affordable?
A: We do not own any vehicles, lodges or ground handling companies. Instead, we carefully select the operators and facilities with whom we want to work, and on whom we can rely, based on our 29 years of experience.

Q: What's the kitty for?
A: Some trips require a kitty contribution. This is for food, park fees and anything the group does together on camping trips.

Q: What's the local payment for?
A: The local payment is an integral part of the trip cost, paid to the trip leader at the beginning of the trip. It is usually used by the trip leader to pay for services that are difficult to prepay. It is not a kitty.

Q: How strenuous is the trip? Am I fit enough?
A: We have a wide variety of trips that offer different levels of active participation. In general the fitter you are the more likely you are to enjoy an active trip. Check the trip grading, anything listed as "strenuous" or "challenging" is just that. However we also have lots of trips that do not require you to be super fit.

Q: Is the water OK to drink? Do I need to bring purifying tablets/filter?
A: In most countries bottled water is readily available. On camping trips the water is purified with chemicals or boiled.

Q: What's the food like? I'm a vegetarian, is that a problem?
A: The food is one of the greatest experiences when you travel. Trip leaders enjoy sharing their local recommendations. When camping, crew and tour participants prepare meals. Accommodating special diets is not normally a problem. On some hotel trips when meals are taken in restaurants and cafes, food choice may be more limited for vegetarians.

Q: Will I get sick?
A: Minor stomach upsets are common due to changes in diet and climate but are usually brief.

Q: What's included?
A: Included is transportation within the itinerary, accommodation, sightseeing where specified, meals where specified, services of a trip leader and local guides where specified. Not included are international air, visas, insurance and most meals.

Q: Why aren't all meals included on the hotel trips?
A: Food is not always included, so that you can choose from a wide variety of local cafes and market stalls, to really experience the local cuisine and atmosphere.

Q: How much spending money should I bring?
A:.This will depend on the destination and your spending habits. However our trip notes / dossiers will give you an idea of how to budget for additional meals, optional excursions, and extra expenses you might incur on any specific trip.

Q: What types of hotels do you use?
A: A variety of local style accommodations are used including hotels, guesthouses, pensions, hostels, home-stays and of course camping. Most hotels are tourist class, offering clean secure accommodation but with few amenities.

Q: Can I have a single room/tent? Do I have to share?
A: Single supplements are only available on a few select trips and lodge/tented camp accommodated safaris. On most of our trips if you are traveling alone you will share a room or tent with another same sex solo traveler and will not be charged for, a single supplement.

Q: What kind of toilet facilities are there?
A: A variety of facilities exist depending on local conditions. Traveling in remote, developing countries means you will not always have a western style toilet. Adventure travelers always carry their own roll of toilet paper.

Q: Will I get a hot shower every day?
A: On some trips yes, but others, especially camping trips, no.

Q: Can I join the trip late? Leave early? Can I just do "bits and pieces"?
A: None of the above is advisable for a variety of reasons but mainly to preserve the group dynamic.

Q: Is someone going to meet me at the airport? Are transfers included?
A: As participants arrive from different countries on different flights the group usually meets at a centrally located hotel, details of which are provided with your final trip documents. Airport transfers are generally not included and in most cases participants take a taxi from the airport to the joining hotel. Detailed joining instructions are provided with your final trip documents.

Q: What are the trip leaders like?
A: Leaders are carefully selected for their personality, general travel experience and enthusiasm for our style of travel. They facilitate the smooth running of your trip and are there to help you get the most out of your adventure. They are recruited on the basis of their resourcefulness and people skills, rather than for expert knowledge of a destination.

Q: Can I use credit cards in the places visited?
A: In most major cities, yes, to some extent. However once you leave those cities behind, no. In some more remote, less developed destinations, you cannot use your credit card at all.

Q: I have elderly parents. How can they contact me?
A: The best way is to contact Adventure Center and have us try to get any urgent message to you. Prepare your family and friends that there will be some occasions when you will be unreachable for days.

Q: If I arrive a day early, can you help with hotel accommodation?
A: Yes, we can arrange additional accommodation at the joining hotel if you plan to arrive early.

Q: Is it a guaranteed departure?
A: Not all departures are guaranteed. However very few trips are cancelled.

Q: How many are booked so far?
A: Since travelers book from many different countries, exact numbers are not available. We know when the trip is almost full and when completely full.

Q: Do you have any discounted flights?
A: Absolutely, call us for a quote.

Q: How do I fly to my trip? Can I have a stopover?
A: We customize every itinerary to your needs and are often able to offer flights at significant discounts. In most cases stopovers are possible.

Q: How do I know if the trip I want is available?
A: Trip availability is displayed next to the dates and prices on each trip description page.

• Available ? This date is available and open for bookings. Go ahead and reserve your place.
  
• Guaranteed - Minimum numbers have been reached and this trip is guaranteed to depart. Confirmation subject to availability at time of booking. Go ahead and reserve your place.
  
• Limited - There are a very limited number of available places on this departure. In some cases trips with limited status include elements that cannot be confirmed immediately and extra time may be needed to inform you of the status of your request. Confirmation subject to availability at time of booking. Immediate booking is recommended.
  
• Closed - This trip is now closed.

Q: Where is the booking form?
A: In either the center section or last pages of the different brochures. Where trip descriptions have a 'Book Now' button, online booking is available, and PDF versions of booking forms are also available online (Press 'Book Now', then 'Click here' on next screen).

Q: Do you ever have any last minute specials?
A: Not usually. Our trips are priced to be as affordable as possible and further discounting is not usually offered. The groups are small and therefore space is limited. We actually have a $50 late booking fee, so book early! However you may wish to check our Specials page.

Q: When should I book my trip?
A: Because our trips book up months in advance, we recommend booking early to avoid disappointment. We will of course make every effort to accommodate last minute bookings.

Q: Sounds like a great way to travel, how do I book?
A: Please go to our How to Book section for complete details, or click the 'Book Now' button on the trip description page.