Travel Questions

Q: How do I book? 
A: Call your travel agent and have them contact Down Under Answers at 1-800-889-1464 or call us directly.


Q: When should I book my vacation? 
A: Because of the time difference and procedures required in order to ensure a seamless trip, we require at least two weeks to put together the perfect vacation experience.  It is of course favorable to book as far in advance as possible as often the properties book out 6 to 8 months during peak travel seasons.


Q: What documents will I receive and when are they sent? 
A: Where applicable you will receive a detailed air and land itinerary, e-ticket receipt, a list of necessary confirmation numbers, emergency contact details for our representatives in the respective country. If traveling to Australia you will receive receipt of your Electronic Travel Authority (if purchased). If traveling to Tahiti, Fiji, Cook Islands or Vanuatu you may receive your day to day itinerary and domestic airline tickets on arrival to the country. You should typically receive them two weeks prior to your travel.


Q: Do I have to provide a credit card at the time of booking? 
A:Yes, a valid credit card is required prior to a reservation being processed. No charges are applied to your credit card until the requested services are confirmed.  An authorization form must be completed and signed in order for us to begin the booking process.


Q: When is payment due? 
A: Deposit and payment terms vary according to the product. Please refer to our terms and conditions when completing a booking. In general though, a deposit of $300 per person (depending on product) is charged upon confirmation. If the booking is submitted within 45 days prior to departure (varies according to product) full payment will be charged. No charges will be applied to your credit card until air and hotel services are confirmed**.


Q: What forms of payment do you accept? 
A: We accept the following major credit cards: Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express. 


Q: Do your prices include airport taxes and fees? 
A: All airline tickets are subject to a variety of foreign and domestic government taxes which include security charges, the September 11th Security Fee, airport facility charges, customs and immigration fees, inspection fees and more. The total of these taxes may vary prior to airline tickets being issued. We reserve the right to amend the airport taxes & fees to reflect any changes prior to ticketing. 


Q: Can I change my reservation once it’s confirmed? 
A: Once a reservation is confirmed changes are permitted on certain products but penalties will apply. Please ensure that you have read & understood fully your itinerary prior to submitting a reservation to avoid any change penalties.


Q: Are there penalties if I cancel my reservation? 
A: Yes! Please refer to our terms and conditions when finalizing your booking. Certain products are nonrefundable once confirmed. We realize that situations do come up unexpectedly that necessitate the cancellation of a trip.


Q: Should we purchase Travel Protection?
A:  We recommend you purchase a Travel Protection Plan to help protect you and your trip investment. Please ask for details.


Q: What happens if the price changes after I have booked my vacation? 
A: Once you have booked and paid in full, the price is guaranteed. If our prices change, no price amendments will be made to existing bookings. 


Q: Do you offer child discounts? 
A: Most airlines do offer discounts for children under 12 years old. Certain hotels do offer discounts when one child 12 years old or younger shares a room with two full paying adults. Please ask for details..


Q: Can I submit special requests with my hotel reservation? 
A: All hotel rooms types are noted on your quotation / itinerary. Rooms are assigned by the hotel at the time of check-in. Requests for specific room types; non-smoking, specific locations; etc. can be requested at the time of reservation but not guaranteed until check-in.


Q: Can I request advanced seat assignments? 
A: Yes, there is a fee. Generally it is $20 per sector for coach class and $150 for premium economy and can be requested once the ticket is issued. 


Q: What extras will I have to pay for? 
A: Any items of a personal nature including but not limited to: phone calls, tips, laundry, beverages, meals not stated, items of a personal nature, passport and visa fees etc. and country departure taxes that are not included on your ticket.


Q: Could I be subject to baggage charges? 
A: Yes, airline-imposed baggage fees may apply and be due at the airport; please consult your airline prior to departure for the latest fees.  Please note that should you be flying to a remote location there may be stricter restrictions on size and weight. Please ask for details.


Q: Do I need a passport and visa? 
A:  It is the sole responsibility of each passenger to obtain the necessary documents for travel, not excluding passports. For U.S. citizens, a valid passport is required.  US passport holders require an Electronic Travel Authority (ETA) to enter Australia which we can issue for you for a fee of $25.


Q: Do I need a credit card to travel? 
A: Hotels and car rental companies require a credit card at the time of check-in/pick-up. In the event you do not have a valid credit card a cash deposit will be requested. The amount of this deposit varies depending on the hotel/car rental company however it can as much as $500. We strongly recommend that you travel with a valid credit card.