FREQUENTLY ASKED
QUESTIONS
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Is my money safe when
I book with a travel agency?
If you book with a registered
travel agency, your funds are protected in
the event of default of a travel supplier.
(Ambassador Travel is a fully
registered travel agency - B.C. Reg.
#1925).
If I book something directly over the
phone or through the Internet, without using
a Travel Agency, am I protected?
No. If a supplier you book
directly goes into default then your funds
are NOT protected. Additionally, if you book
directly and have a problem, you are only
one person and will not have much clout to
get your problem resolved. By booking
through Ambassador Travel you are more than
a number. You are a valued client and
represent our livelihood. Ambassador Travel
is the top-producing agency for most of the
major travel suppliers, which guarantees you
the clout you need, in the event of a
problem.
Are all Travel
Agencies the same?
Definitely not. At
Ambassador Travel we pride ourselves on
having the most highly trained and
professional travel consultants in the
Valley. We provide on-going technical,
sales and customer service training to
ensure they are current and efficient. We
have invested in state-of-the-art
technology, which includes having desktop
email and Internet access for your
convenience of communication and
information. We have a voice mail system
that allows you to get directly to the
consultant you wish to speak to and leave
detailed messages after hours or if she/he
is busy - so that you don’t waste time
playing telephone tag.
Our reservation system is powered by
SABRE
What are some of the questions you can ask
to determine if you are dealing with a
professional, accredited agency?
T he
important questions to consider when
choosing a Travel Agency is the length of
time they have been in business
(Ambassador Travel over 30 years),
any awards they may have earned
(Ambassador Travel - Best Travel Agency in
Abbotsford for 8th year,
National TravelPlus Agency of the Year,
Top-Producer awards from WestJet, Air
Canada, SunQuest West, Signature Vacations,
Air Transat Holidays, Holland
America Line Cruises),
length of time travel consultants have been
in the business
(Ambassador Travel has over 150 years of
travel experience in the office).
Can I view my itinerary while I’m gone and
also leave one behind for my spouse?
Whenever you book a ticket with Ambassador
Travel we provide you with two copies of
your itinerary. This allows you to take one
with you and leave one behind.
Additionally, you may view your itinerary
on-line at any time. Simply go through the
“Itinerary Preview” link
and type in your
Record Locator (found on your itinerary) and
your last name. You will then be able to
instantly view your itinerary. This is
constantly updated so if you have Ambassador
Travel make any changes to your itinerary,
you will be able to view these immediately.
Do I need a passport to go into Mexico?
You don't
need a passport, however, we highly
recommend you travel with one at all times,
even when going to the States. If you are a
Canadian citizen to get into Mexico you need
BOTH a birth certificate (the original, not
a copy) AND valid picture ID such as a
current license. This is currently a big
problem at the Vancouver airport with an
average of three people per flight not
coming with proper identification. It is
still possible to get on the flight,
assuming you allowed yourself enough time,
but it costs $75.00 per person for a Notary
Public to be called in to notarize that you
are who you say you are. If you know prior
to going to the airport that you don't have
the right identification, and you don't have
enough time to get a passport, then go to
your local Notary Public and get the
necessary paperwork completed at a fraction
of the cost and hassle of having it done at
the airport.
I've heard it is really expensive to make
phone calls from Mexico. Is this true?
Phone calls from
Mexico are outrageously priced. If you are
calling from a hotel you usually are subject
to a hotel service fee in addition to the
very high long-distance rate. There is an
easy way to avoid these high costs,
however. Always use a Canadian operator for
your long distance calls. When you are in
destination inquire with your tour operator
representative (or at the front desk of the
hotel) for the phone number to a Canadian
operator. Purchase a Mexican phone card
(approximately 30 pesos/$5.00 Canadian).
These are usually available at your hotel or
at almost all stores in Mexico. Use this
prepaid cart to phone the Canadian
operator. You will get through quickly and
then you can use your calling card or call
collect and you will be charged your regular
long distance rate.
How
to Keep from Getting Lost
When you are traveling in a country
where you are not familiar with the
language, take a pack of matches or some
letterhead from the hotel you are
staying in to show a taxi driver in case
you get lost.
 When
Kids Ask About Turbulence . . ..
Most kids
are excited by plane trips and rarely
think about the fact that they're five
miles above safe solid ground. But some
children do have a fear of flying, and
if there is turbulence the fear will
most likely increase. So here's an
answer for when they ask . . .
Question:
If the plane is floating in air, why
does it bounce up and down when it
passes over clouds?
Answer:
Airplanes ride a layer of air, like
boats ride the surface of a river or
ocean. You see them float and bob up
and down with the waves. The air is
moving all the time too. We move with
it. If the air jumps up and down like
waves in the ocean, we do too! We call
it 'turbulence', a bumpy ride.
Suggestions for Jet Lag Survival
We have fabulous
holiday choices to Europe, South Pacific,
Caribbean, and much more! With these
fantastic destinations comes “jet lag”.
Most travelers try to make the most of their
limited time overseas and ignore the leap in
time zones they make in a matter of hours.
There's no sure-fire way to avoid jet lag,
but there are actions that you can take to
minimize the effects of air travel and help
enjoy your trip.
-
Start well rested.
Make sure you get plenty of sleep
for several nights before your
trip. Our natural inclination is to
run ourselves ragged trying to get
everything done before takeoff.
-
Adjust to your new schedule ASAP.
The minute you get
on the plane, set your watch to the
local time of your destination.
-
Sleep well on board. It's
all well and good to tell yourself
that you'll sleep on the plane, but
in reality it can be hard…so good
luck with this one!
-
Drink plenty of water.
Increase your water
intake a couple of days before your
trip. Bring a large bottle of
water, and once you are on board,
drink 8 to 12 ounces every hour.
-
Skip
coffee and booze.
Alcohol and caffeine not only
cause dehydration, they also
interfere with your body's natural
adjustment to the new time zone
-
Get
a little exercise.
We're not suggesting that you
run laps around the plane, but when
you're awake and the
fasten-seat-belts sign is off, get
up and walk up and down the aisles a
couple of times.
-
Don't nap. Once
you're at your destination, try not
to nap. Remember, your sleep cycle
has been severely disturbed. It's
generally best to stay awake until
the normal bedtime at your
destination.
-
Accept jet lag and schedule around
it. Even though
you've done everything you can to
get your body into the right time
zone, chances are you may still wake
up earlier than normal. Get up
early and start to experience your
destination!
Tips
for Check-in & Security
Checking in and going through security
can be easy or it can be a hassle. It
all depends on a few things. Here are
some tips.
-
Have a
proper government-issued photo ID
accessible as you will need it
several times (for check-in,
boarding, transfers/connections,
etc.). Along with your ID, keep
your boarding pass and ticket or
e-ticket itinerary handy.
-
Factor
in extra time for lines at security
checkpoints. There are often
backups during peak flying periods.
-
Play
it safe and don't bring anything
such as knives or scissors that
would call attention to your carry-ons.
-
Make sure your
carry-ons don't exceed the size
limitations set by the airline.
Check with your travel agent prior
to your trip so you don't have to
repack things at the airport.
-
Pack a
sturdy bag that is tagged inside and
out with your name and contact
information.
-
A coloured ribbon,
piece of yarn, or sticker on your
checked baggage can make
identification at the baggage claim
area much easier. A lot of luggage
looks the same.
-
Bring
snacks, water, and a Walkman or
something to read in case of major
delays.
-
Be
prepared for random security checks,
including manual searches of
carry-on bags.
-
Wrapped goodies are a security
no-no. Consider mailing gifts ahead
or wrapping them when you arrive.
How Can I Protect My Home While I'm Away?
Suggestions for a safe home:
Planning a holiday is so
exciting! Don't forget to make your home
safe and secure while you're away.
A burglar's three
worst enemies are light, time, and noise.
Here are some helpful tips to follow when
you leave for holidays:
-
Leave blinds open in
their usual position.
-
Have mail and
packages picked up, forwarded, or
held by the post office.
-
Stop newspaper
deliveries.
-
Lower the sound of
your telephone ringer and answering
machine so they can't be heard
outside. Never leave an outgoing
message saying you're away.
-
Arrange
to have your lawn mowed or your walk
shovelled.
-
Use
automatic timers to turn lights on and
off in your living room and bedrooms at
appropriate times. Consider connecting
a radio to a timer.
-
Tell
dependable neighbours when you plan to
be away so they can keep a watch on your
home.
-
Make sure
your heat stays on. Use an electronic
thermostat to automatically adjust it
during the day. You don't want your
pipes to freeze.
-
Always
inform your insurance broker if you are
going to be away on an extended
holiday. Your policy may have a
requirement that your insurance company
has to be notified on any extended
trips.
Most cities have professional
house sitters (check references and make
sure they are bonded) who can provide all
types of services while you're away. Check
the Yellow Pages under "House Sitters".
For any
question that you may have that is not
answered here, please send it to us at
info@ambassadortravel.ca.
We
look forward to being of service to you.
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