Categories: Adventure Travel, Outdoor Trips, Adventure Vacation

Selecting a travel provider to plan, book and reserve adventure travel is not as simple as researching a trip to bask in the sun. Because these adventure vacations are offered through boutique-like travel resources, sorting through scores of travel coordinators can be overwhelming. Assessing legitimate companies from the shysters is work within itself.

To help consumers choose the best adventure vacation, Alerts for consumers offers these travel shopping and surfing strategies.

Ask Specific Adventure Travel Questions
Here are a few questions to prospect potential

■ How long has company been running trips where you plan to book your itinerary?
■ What is the experience of the guides? (Are they licensed or certified?)
■ Inquire about the adventure travel guide’s equipment?
■ Have they had any casualties?
■ What languages are the tour guides fluent?
■ How does the company coordinate travel arrangements?
■ Is the adventure travel guide company bonded to protect travelers?
■ What is the cancellation policy?


Conduct a Background Check
Aside from the obvious ways to shop around for an adventure tour operator about the company’s history, research the affiliations the company and determine the adventure travel firm has won and awards. Then, conduct a Google search to investigate both positive and negative feedback.

Former adventure travelers of a touring company should be able to provide honest feedback. Reputable tour guide firms should be willing and able to provide references of recent clients. Four references should offer enough details to help you make an informed decision. Be sure to inquire about any unsatisfactory aspects of the adventure trip.

Look for Expertise and Professionalism
Good customer service is the first impression any touring guide company can showcase. If the representative on the other side of the phone is indifferent, unhelpful and unwilling to answer all of your questions or offer other resources for adventure gear or other travel arrangements – it may be the sign of an unprofessional company. Straightforward, honest answers without a hard sell coupled with a detailed adventure travel overview are signs of good customer service.

An experienced adventure company or guide should have the expertise to coordinate trips or direct you to an affiliate who can accommodate you. More importantly, a reputable adventure travel company can provide activity instruction.

Query the Adventure Travel Agent About Equipment
Due to the transportation technical and intricate transport details of adventure trips, inquiring about the details of their gear and transit details can provide a lucid overview of the vacation. Adventure travel tours are comprised of innumerous technical components. To evaluate a prospective tour guide, ask about their equipment (brand name, age of gear transportation logistics).

Ask About Contingencies
In case of an extenuating circumstance, determine what protections the adventure travel company offers for cancellation policies, deposits and payments. Make sure you will be refunded in case the family goes out of business. A legitimate travel entity should guarantee a refund in case the firm goes out of business. Make sure you know about deposits, payments, and cancellation policies so you know what to expect should you need to cut short or cancel your trip. A comprehensive overview of how the company manages contingencies will depict a clear picture about protecting their clients.

Evaluate the Company’s Credibility and Reputation

Review the adventure company's affiliations with other companies. For instance, the National Tour Association, the Adventure Travel Trade Association and the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA), are renowned organizations. Outdoor enthusiasts should contact the organizations of their adventure of choice. For instance, the United States USA Canoe and Kayak provides resources to other associations who coordinate trips.

After you have gathered all information, opt for the adventure guide that provides all the details, offers protection and makes you feel secure about their expertise and professionalism.

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