What to expect on our tours

It is an Imprint Tours’ foundational value to expect and strongly encourage independence in our travelers.

Flights and Transfers

Imprint Tours does not include the cost of flights nor flight arrangements to/from our tours in any of our packages. Nor do we make or assist with pre-tour airport transfer arrangements. This policy is driven by our philosophy of encouraging traveler independence and allowing tour members maximum flexibility to plan for things such as pre- or post-tour travel, time built in for jet lag, or using airline loyalty points.

Therefore, we have no knowledge, experience, or access to special deals to assist with, or advise regarding flight arrangements. Additionally, because our tour members come from points all across North America, we simply do not have the capacity nor expertise to provide this service. We recommend using an approved travel agent or your favorite online flight search engine. We have confidence in your ability to manage your own logistics.

Tour Member Expectations

After twenty-five years in the travel business we have learned that a successful travel experience depends almost entirely upon a traveler’s mindset. Perception is reality and expectations rule the day. The good news is, we as travelers have control over both. At Imprint we encourage our tour members to proactively manage their perceptions and expectations. We encourage them to be flexible, independent, personally responsible, and not expect “hand-holding”. 

Although we will always endeavor to provide a fair and complete description of the tour experience there will always be challenges and surprises that we have not anticipated. This is especially true in the less well-developed parts of the world where most of our tours are scheduled. In our experience these turn out to be the best part of the travel adventure.  We depend on positive, flexible tour members to create a great tour experience for all the participants of the tour. “Group think” instead of “me think” will always create a better tour experience for everyone. Whiners and grumblers will be actively encouraged to reconsider their perspective.

Hotels

Imprint Tours lacks the resources to assist travelers with pre- or post- tour hotel bookings other than the suggestions included in the Six Week Letter sent out for each tour. We understand that for many travelers, there is a desire to arrive early, stay in the first tour hotel, and even avoid changing rooms once there. It’s also common for hotels in many of our developing world destinations to respond in a slower or inconsistent manner than we are accustomed to in the U.S. and Europe. While we are sympathetic to these frustrations, Imprint Tours is unable to assist with these issues.

By way of explanation, Imprint Tours works with Intrepid Travel, a destination management company, to make its hotel bookings. Imprint does NOT work directly with the hotels so has no ‘inside’ communication channels, connections, or influence with them that would be of benefit to our travelers. Therefore, we respectfully ask that you research and arrange all non-tour accommodations on your own.

Hotel ‘class’ is determined by the tour and the specific destination. In general, Imprint prefers smaller, family-run establishments where the owner is present and is invested in our experience. We prioritize location, cleanliness, value, and friendliness over luxury and ostentation. On most tours, there will be one accommodation that reflects the surroundings and, therefore, will be rustic (safari camps, floating guest house Thailand, etc.}. On several tours we use overnight ‘sleeper’ trains to maximize sight-seeing opportunities.

Demanding and Adventurous

Imprint Tours can be physically demanding and somewhat adventurous. Many of our tours include a lot of walking, including hills, steps, and other uneven terrain, requiring a reasonable level of fitness and stamina. They sometimes include long travel days (bus, train, flight, or combo) and/or early morning starts. Some sights can only be accessed by steep climbs and/or many steps. Furthermore, some of our destinations are located in or near tropical zones where heat and humidity compound any enervating activities. Some involve high altitudes. We often use public transportation, which in many cases means being in crowded buses and/or subways. Our travelers are expected to carry their own bags and we cannot promise all hotels will have an elevator. The adventurous elements of our tours may include bicycle rides, overnight trains, riding camels, snorkeling, kayaking, visiting caves, or climbing in and out of boats and non-Western transportation. If you are unsure of your abilities, please inquire for further clarification at: info@imprinttours.com. Of course, one may always choose to forego participation in any tour activity as our philosophy is: “Nothing is required”.

Pre & Post–Tour Arrangements

In the 8 Week Letter, sent out for each Imprint tour, we always include pre-tour sightseeing suggestions. However, we do not have the resources to assist in making any pre- or post-tour sightseeing, transportation, or activity arrangements. Therefore, we respectfully request that you research and arrange any non-tour activities on your own.

Visas

Many of our destinations require advance acquisition of visas. The responsibility to acquire the correct visitor documentation rests solely and only with the traveler. Since Imprint does not provide this service, we have no special expertise, connections, or experience on which to draw. Therefore, we are unable to assist with difficulties.