Other travel companies

Re: Other travel companies

Hello

Thanks so much for getting in touch.

While I strongly believe that there are many key differences between 'The Imaginative Traveller' and other adventure travel operators, I would have to say the most important and beneficial are below.

Our never-ending dedication to Responsible Travel
The 'Imaginative Traveller' dedicates a great deal of our time, expertise and resources in minimising our mark on the world. While we believe it is crucial that the world continues to be explored, our final mission is for us to leave nothing but our own footprints and positive aid wherever it is needed.

Our choice to Innovate adventure travel, not Imitate
From day one, 'The Imaginative Traveller' sought out to add the experience of the world's leading leisure and adventure travel providers to our ever-growing team. This team stretches from Antarctica, across Africa and through China and Mongolia, encompassing most of the globe. We strive to include the smartest and most dynamic local guides to our select group to constantly help improve your cultural experience, making it as authentic and unique as possible.

Our desire for safety and security above all else
In this ever-changing world, we would never put any of our clients in harms way. This is why we keep constant watch on the ever-changing circumstances that the world can find itself in, and should their ever be local problems that cannot be avoided we are always on hand to do our very best to (when necessary) amend an itinerary in order to still offer incredible activities and experiences that everyone can enjoy.

We are not a 'bucket-and-spade' establishment
We are a committed team of Adventure Travel specialists, and do not claim (or wish) to be another extension of the 'Club 18-30'. This is the main quality which vastly separates us from GAP year travel agencies.

I hope that this helps you to understand what 'The Imaginative Traveller' stands for and where we see ourselves in the travel industry.

If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to call or email us.

Regards,
Tristan

Tristan Smith

Online Consultant

Re: Other travel companies

Hi Strawberry.

I have been on three trips throughout SE Asia and about to go on two more in the Middle East, all with Imtrav. I thoughout I might let you know why I chose them.

I like the fact that the group sizes are small. Some companies have groups over 30 and that would annoy me - we used to make fun of the groups we saw on our travels who would follow along behind their leader who would be holding a special umbrella or flag. (often they were all also wearing matching shirts). That is not a good way of really getting to know a country and the locals.
In Cambodia, there was only about 7 members of our group, and that was a perfect size.

I also like being able to choose what style of travel. In asia it was the adventurer style, where we stayed in 'cheaper' hotels and took a lot of public transport. (so therefore the price was lower). Believe me, their so called 'cheap' accommodation was by no means a poor standard. The places we stayed at were of a very high standard and walking distance to everything.

Also, although I am 27, I most definately want to avoid the 18-35 style travel companies. I am more interested in an early morning, and really getting out and experiencing the places and people of a country. I am not interested in spending hours [i]every[/i] night drinking (and therefore the following day recovering). On all of the tours I have taken I have met up with other people of all ages who have a heart for adventure. Of course, combined with the occassional evening enjoying the exceptionally cheap alcohol in asia.

Finally the thing that attracted me was the website. I like that the full itinery can be accessed online, great for when choosing which tour best suits where I want to go. Also this forum is great to ask questions before going.

I think that you will generally find that most companies are pretty good, however for me, I have had a pretty positive experience so far with Imtrav.

Hope that you enjoy your holiday. I am eying off that part of the world for the future.
Best wishes, Alison

Re: Other travel companies

Hi Strawberry,

To say I researched long and hard before choosing ImTrav for the Nile Safari in Nov 07 is no exaggeration (I started looking in 2004!)

Price was a consideration, but as Alison said, the main things for me were the detail of the tour on the web site, and the brilliant forum where past travellers like Debbie answer questions. For past travellers to come back online, says to me that they had a wonderful experience enough to give back their time and encourage others! (Certainly put my mind at rest having so many questions - big and little - answered before I left!)

Tour content: for me, ImTrav hit all the points on my MustSee list. I found the main difference between ImTrav and other company tours was whether or not there was a flight (maybe to or from Aswan or Luxor or Cairo). ImTrav didn't which was fine by me.

I know someone who went to Egypt with Contiki in the late 90s and didn't shake her dose of Pharoah's Curse for two years. That can be luck of the draw, and it was a long time ago, but she believes it was from practices on the boat. With ImTrav on the Melodie, I never had a moment's hesitation - top quality and clean.

I've only been to Egypt once, and that was with ImTrav, so I don't have a lot to compare to. But that's my take, for what it's worth!

Have a wonderful time, whenever and wherever you go!

Megan

Re: Other travel companies

I'm bothered by the way your staff answered this question. The original query was about a comparison between your company and GAP Adventures, a particular company, not about generic "gap year" trips. In fact, GAP the company is from Canada, where "gap years" are relatively uncommon.

I've been looking at Imaginative Traveller trips and have wondered the same thing- the trips look great, but are more expensive than similar offerings from other companies.

I've travelled with GAP several times, and found that my fellow travellers extend far beyond the "18-30" crowd (most have been over 35), and never felt that the company made any compromises in safety or quality of service. They also emphasize responsible travel, both on paper and in practice.

Re: Other travel companies

Hello Macha,

I can't make a response for Im Trav, as Im not an employee.

However I have been travelling with them for almost 10 years & have gotten to know the team in the Middle East pretty well.

My first tour with Im Trav was at the age of 40 & my first OS trip. I had read up a lot on Egypt & had a fairly good idea of the country & also of Im Trav.

I knew that they were one of the few companies that have a tour leader present 24/7. I knew that they were preaching & demonstrating responsible travel long before other companies were.

Im Trav also make every effort that each tour member gets to see & enjoy every possible expectation of their holiday, in fact Im Trav attempt to make it the holiday of a life time. With them you get to travel in areas many other tour companies don't take you & with smaller, much more intimate groups.

Their tour leaders are exceptional in their knowledge & the way they interact & treat each tour member. The tour leaders will go out of their way to ensure that each tour member is comfortable & see's/ does everything they hoped to do, if possible.

I know of an entire days itinerary change, that was brought about by the group, who wanted to see/ do something else on that day. This was brought about by one of the group members who had said they wanted to do an extra, was over heard by another group member & the ball went from there. I don't believe there are too many other companies that would do this!!

I have found that there is a mixture of age groups with Im Trav & have been on tours where the youngest age was around 20 & the eldest were in their 70's. However the goups always blend very well.

Finally how many other companies allow a forum like this one, where potential travellers can ask questions, put out feelers for other possible fellow travellers, etc? I bet there's not too many!

So in all I believe that Im Trav is a responsible travel company, who has their customers at the highest priority. I will certainly be travelling with them again!!

Hope this ramble helps somewhat..........Debbie

Re: Other travel companies

Thanks, Debbie.
Just to clarify- I didn't intend any criticism of ImTrav as a company. In fact, I'm looking seriously at two of their trips right now for my next holiday. They really do seem to offer some things that others don't.
I was just bothered by the fact that the first response to the original query in this thread seemed to unfairly criticize and characterize another company.
In fact, it was my good experiences with GAP Adventures that led me to look for other companies that offer similarly well-designed, locally responsible small group tours. And, for the record, GAP has a very active message board just like this one.

Re: Other travel companies

Hello Macha,

I didn't take your post as criticism. I was just attempting to voice some of my own experiences & thoughts!

I don't know the company that you mention, GAP. But am pleased to hear that they too, have a wonderful forum. That is a big plus for them! I do however wonder if there has been confusion over GAP, as opposed to gap year?

With each tour of Egypt I travel with, I always donate $$ to the Orphanage in Luxor, which is also sponsored by Im Trav.

Im Trav had a number of project's that they will meet each donation made by a tour member $ for $. Im not certain if this is still the case with all the recent changes. That is something I will have to check up on!! Sorry, for the ramble
again!

The only other suggestion would be to check the inclusions. By that I mean, how many of the entrance fees & how many meals are included in the cost of the tour. This makes a tour less expensive but can add up when you are actually wanting to enjoy your holiday & not wanting to worry about....have I got enough money left to do that???

Anyway, I do hope that you enjoy your tour with Im Trav as much as I have. Im always planning the next one!!

Kindest regards............Debbie

Re: Other travel companies

Hello Macha (and thanks to everyone else who posted!)

Thank you for your clarification of what you meant in your last post. I'd like to pass on my reassurances that our original reply wasn't intended as a criticism of our fellow tour operator GAP Adventures. We don't believe this would be an appropriate use of our forum, and do believe that it helps nobody to make negative remarks about other companies - even if they are our competitors!

I think that some misunderstanding took place in that our original reply was referring to other types or styles of holiday in the marketplace, and "gap year" experiences on offer (which are quite popular here in the UK). Tristan was in good faith highlighting great things about us as a company and didn't wish to criticise other operators in the process, so I'd like to rectify this if anyone interpreted it as such.

To return to your original question about the price differences, Imaginative Traveller also visits Paraguay and Curitiba (although not Montevideo or Salto). We probably both use different hotels as well, as ours are twin share but GAP's state they may be multi-share. Some of the price difference may simply come down to different operating costs of the two companies.

Once again many thanks everyone for all your posts and also those who have sent some lovely feedback on their experiences with us. Debbie I think you must have been writing your last post at the same time as me!

Best Wishes,