We know, like our customers, that our Treks distinguish from the others. Below are our strengths, see for yourself.
Points | Majority of Agencies | Minority of Agencies | Our Agency | Comments |
Minimum delay to make reservations | 10 days before the Trek | 6 days before the Trek | 4 days before the Trek | For everybody, the process is long which is uncertain, so every agency sets a minimum delay. |
Maximum delay to make reservations | 2 to 6 monthss before the Trek | 1 to 9 monthss before the Trek | 1 years before the Trek | Making reservations in advance means to set prices for a long period of time. Most agencies cannot afford this luxury. |
Time needed to request a reservation | 15 days | 7 days | 5 minutes | Almost all the agencies make reservations by email then the payment is wired. With our system, everything is made online, in real time. |
Time needed to have an effective reservation |
10 days | 6 days | 5 minutes | After the payment (immediate because it is made online), your Trek is immediately booked. |
Total duration between the request and the effective reservation | 25 days | 13 days | 5 minutes | We are the only ones offering such a short delay between your initial request and the effective reservation. |
Departures per week | 1 to 2 | 3 to 5 | Everyday | Since we sell a lot, we are among the few that offer a departure everyday of the week. |
Reservation online | No | Simple form, without payment | Yes | To be a part of few agencies offering online payments gives you the guarantee of a quick and secure payment. Only by having credit card issuers' authorization for accepting payments online, this guarantees our seriousness. |
Changes of the date of the Trek | Impossible | Additional cost | Free | Until 10 days before the Trek, without any fees and as many times as you wish, you can change the date of the Trek with a simple request. |
Written proof for discounts | Sending the copy by fax before the reservation | Sending the copy by fax before the reservation | Show the original documents directly the day of the Trek | Our system allows you to reserve directly and show the documentthe day of the Trek. |
Airport-hotel transfer | Additional cost | Free | Free, manageable | Permanently manageable to indicate us the date and time of arrival. |
Not included on the total price | Bus, last lunch and bank fees (5 to 8%) | Bus and/or last lunch and/or bank fees (5 to 8%) | Nothing | We are simply the only ones to include everything. You don't have any extra or hidden charge, from the beginning to the end. |
Meals | We are the only ones to give examples of proposed meals. Moreover, we are one of the rare to bring tables and chairs. Many porters prefer to have light weight and transform the Trek into a picnic. | |||
Vegetarian meals | No | Yes, without cost | Yes, without cost | The choice is made directly from our forms. Some make confusion between vegetarian meals and light meals. We show examples of proposed meals because we don't have anything to hide. |
Gear quality | Some agencies (not always small ones) have for example tents with holes or dubious sleeping bags. | |||
Tents | 2 persons tents, used dor 2 |
4 persons tents, used for 4 |
4 persons tents, used for 2 |
Provided tents are of high quality, roomy, made for 4 persons. We use them for 2 persons only. |
Geodesic Domes (New !!) | Simple tents | Double tents | Luxury Domes | For the first campsite, we have decided to offer this luxury option for the same price. |
Invoice for the customer | Simple informal receipt | Invoice on demand | Systematic invoice | Giving an invoice to the customer means having to pay taxes (18%). Not giving an invoice frees the agency of any responsibility, as in case of cancellation, robbery, insurance, accident, etc. |
Refund in case of cancellation | No | Up to 50%, manually, 1 week later | Up to 50%, directly to your account, within 48 hours | The refund request is made online and the amount is directly wired to your account, without discussion. |
Online customer service | No | No | Yes | We offer a full customer service online and in real time, for example, to have practical and personalized information, to have the possibility to cancel online, etc. |
Secure website | No | Yes, 128 bits | Yes, 256 bits | Our servers, located in Austin (Texas-USA), are highly secured, certifies as hacker safe (certificate required by credit card issuers since July 2006 to authorize online payments). |