Frequently Asked Questions
Group Travel
Q: Who can travel on your group experiences?
A: Most of our tours will be open to all! We may have a few select departures that are for women and non-binary travelers only, but if that's the case, it will be noted with the trip details.
Q: Do you have an age limit or typical age range?
A: Currently our group trips are limited to those 18 and older, or 21 and older if any of the included activities involve alcohol. In the future we may have some departures catered to those who'd like to travel with younger family members. We do not have a set age range or "generation niche" for our tours, because we feel that it limits who can travel together, learn from each other, and create community together.
Q: Why do use the YouLi booking platform?
A: YouLi is a great service for both Detailed Journeys & our participants. Once you've booked, you are able to access your invoice, the trip's detailed itinerary, and all of your pre-trip tasks to complete in one space! You can also download their app to use on your mobile device. If you have any trouble using YouLi, please let us know!
Q: Can I receive a discounted price if I don't plan on participating in all the included activities/meals/days?
A: Our group tours are package prices and have a set cost for all participants. If there are any optional tours that can be added to a package, you are not required to purchase them or participate on them if you so choose. Thank you for understanding!
Q: Do you include tips in your pricing?
A: Sometimes, but not always. Please refer to the bulleted list of what is included and what is not included on the pricing page for your departure. The reasons for this are varied, but include: what's included in our contracted rates with providers, ease of group versus individual tipping in a certain situation and cultural practices around tipping in a region. Tips that are not included are still recommended if culturally appropriate in the area you're visiting with us, as many people that work in the hospitality industry are not properly compensated for their hard work.
Q: Why are most of your rooms for two travelers?
A: A big part of our group travel experiences is about building community. We book rooms with two beds not only to help provide a better price point since you're sharing a room, but more importantly so you can get to know your fellow travelers even better!
Q: How do you pair roommates?
A: Roommates are matched based on gender, women with women, men with men, and non-binary travelers in whichever they feel most comfortable. The only time this may be different if we have two travelers of different genders who both say they prefer to matched with someone who is not the same gender as them, or simply don't care.
Q: If I have been assigned a roommate, can I talk to them before departure?
A: Yes! Once we have finalized the tour, closer to departure, we will introduce roommates who have been matched so you can get to know each other a bit, as well as discuss things like packing shared items (i.e. a hairdryer or snacks).
Q: What do you recommend I do if I'm worried about sharing a room?
A: First, remember that you're probably not the only one! Second, we suggest all travelers come prepared with items that help them around this, such as ear plugs, book lights, a lightweight towel or robe that you know fits you (because we all know how small those hotel towels are!), and an open mind. We're here to help you pre-trip and onsite around any worries you have, including this. But trust us, this is part of the group travel experience and you may end up with a life-long friend!
Q: Why do you charge a single supplement?
A: Most hotels base their room costs on the price of double occupancy. In addition, we are often reducing the number of people attending the trip to allow for a single occupancy room. In this case, we charge a single supplement to account for the total trip cost being spread across less participants. Whenever possible we try to not have single supplement charges because we enjoy solo traveling too! If you are in a shared room and there is no one available to pair you with, you will not be subject to a single supplement.
Q: May I invite guests to join our included activities or come to my room?
A: Our group tours are for paying participants only. You're more than welcome to visit with friends & family during your free time! Please do not invite any guests to your room, whether you are a solo traveler or sharing a room.
Q: If I have an issue while onsite, what should I do?
A: If it involves your roommate, please try to resolve it with them first. If you are concerned about speaking with them or have not been able to resolve it by talking to them, please speak up to your Trip Leader and/or Tour Guide so they can assist you. If you are experiencing an issue with your accommodations, rigors, pacing, etc., please let the Trip Leader and/or Tour Guide know right away so they can work to assist you. We will provide a post-trip survey as well and if you have any feedback or concerns to provide, please don't hesitate to include it on the survey and/or to send it to us via email.
General
Q: Where can I leave a review of my experience with Detailed Journeys?
A: We'd love if you would review us on our Google business profile! You can also leave a review on our Facebook page.
Q: Why do I need to accept the terms & conditions in order to fully register for a group tour or receive travel consulting services?
A: Our terms and conditions protect both you as the consumer and us as the provider. It's a no-brainer! You can review them at any time right here.
Q: I don't remember this charge I am seeing on my bank/credit card statement that I think is associated with Detailed Journeys, how can I check on this?
A: You can access your invoice on YouLi prior to departure and we recommend you save any receipts for payments made pre-trip or during the tour to Detailed Journeys. If you still have questions after reviewing invoices and/or receipts, please contact us via email so we can assist you in investigating any charges. We're happy to help!
Q: Why do you not have a physical address or phone number listed?
A: We are a fully remote business and do not want to publish our personal addresses. If you would ever like to discuss a trip or conduct a travel consultation over the phone, we are happy to call you!