FAQs

How do people who are used to traveling on their own enjoy the small groups?
Do single travelers feel comfortable traveling alone?
Can you create a custom tour for me?
What if I would like to book my own airfare?
Will my rooms have a private bath?
Can you handle dietary restrictions?
May I contact past travelers about their experiences with Olde Ipswich Tours?
How do I make a reservation?
Where can I find your terms and conditions?
How can I purchase insurance for my trip?

Q: How do people who are used to traveling on their own enjoy the small groups?
A: We travel with small groups of six to sixteen. This allows us the flexibility to customize each trip to your specific interests. Many have also found that it strikes the perfect balance between the planned activities and adventures of group travel and the flexibility of traveling alone. (After all, how many of us are acquainted with the owner of a winery in Umbria or know a friend eager to use his hot-air balloon in Rocamadour?) We plan the trip of a lifetime, so that you can make it your own.

Q: Do single travelers feel comfortable traveling alone?
A: That’s the beauty of small group travel—you never travel alone! In fact, on any given tour there is usually a representative mix of single travelers, friends, and couples. This nice mix almost inevitably becomes a small (intimate) group of friends with which to share your experiences. If you prefer having a room to yourself, we are happy to secure you a comparably sized room (not a cramped single), and will add a “single supplement” for the actual extra costs. So, you can be assured that you are getting, along with the peace and comfort of your own room, the very best value as well.

Q: Can you create a custom tour for me?
A: Absolutely! You can use one of our regular tours as a starting point or simply dream up your perfect trip and we’ll take care of the rest. Learn More about creating a custom tour with us.

Q: What if I would like to book my own airfare?
A: As part of our commitment to providing an exceptional value, all of our European tours include round-trip airfare. If you would prefer to make your own air arrangements, just let us know and we will deduct the airfare cost from the tour price. We will also make sure to give you all the information you need to book your tickets for the proper dates and times. Conversely, if you would like to book tickets on your own (perhaps with airline miles), but would like us to help you make the arrangements, we are more than happy to help in any way we can.

Q: Will my rooms have a private bath?
A: Yes. All rooms have private bathrooms.

Q: Can you handle dietary restrictions?
A: Absolutely. Simply inform us of your dietary requests and we will ensure that we pass the relevant information along ahead of time. This way when you arrive, your tour leader, hotels, and restaurants will already be aware of the situation and, in many cases, have something specially prepared just for you.

Q: May I contact past travelers about their experiences with Olde Ipswich Tours?
A: We are happy to say that we have a dedicated fan base, which we hope reflects well on the quality of the tours and service we provide. If you have questions about what our tours are like, the quality of our accommodation and food, our customer service, or anything else, we would be happy to put you in touch with someone who has traveled with us before and can speak honestly about her experiences. You may also be interested in reading customer testimonials including some published in International Travel News.

Q: How do I make a reservation?
A: It’s easy to reserve a place on one of our tours. A reservation form with our terms and conditions may be downloaded here. You may make a reservation by:

Web site: reservations
Phone (toll-free): 1-877-356-5163
Fax: 1-978-356-0382
Mail: Olde Ipswich Tours, 8 Herrick Drive, Ipswich, MA 01938

At the time of reservation, we collect some basic information about you and a deposit of $600 per person. We accept personal checks or credit cards, including Visa, MasterCard and American Express. Please make checks payable to Olde Ipswich Tours.

Q: Where can I find your terms and conditions?
A: You can download our terms and conditions here. They are attached to our reservation form for your convenience.

Q: How can I purchase insurance for my trip?
A: If you are interested in purchasing travel insurance, we can recommend the following companies. Details can be found on their websites or (what is sometimes easier) on the phone with one of their helpful agents. Keep in mind that you must purchase travel insurance within a relatively short period of time (typically about two weeks) from the date you make your reservation.
Travel Guard: www.travelguard.com | (800) 826-4919
Travelex: www.travelexinsurance.com | (800) 228-9792