How far ahead to arrange tours?

[Richardus]

Once we finalize everything we want to do during our week stay in June, how far ahead is appropriate to contact the tour operators and book the day? Do they expect advance payment before the trip? What happens if they are paid in advance and the tour gets cancelled due to weather etc? How do you folks go about booking your tours from so far overseas?

[SuzyW]

Hello Richardus

I have been talking to Belle at Yes Tourism this week and she says you only need a week or two before you go to arrange a tour. I also understand that you can sign up at your hotel desk for them as well. Belle is arranging a tour for us at them moment and we are going in May 2011 but that is because she has to book the guide in Trinidad and book the airbridge.

Belle is very good, email her and I am sure she will help you, look at the Yes Tourism website, just Google it.

Hope this helps

Suzyw

[Richardus]

Thanks Sue, we actually have all of our tours and which guides worked out, just wondering when to call them. I think I will play it safe and begin our first calls about 30 days ahead.

[Paul Tallet]

If it is a simple boat trip or rainforest trip do it when you get there and when you have got to know the local services available to you.

If it is something special (like a trip to Trinidad/Grenadines) do it before you get there with Yes Tourism.

Regards

[Mr Jensen]

We have always booked all the excursions when we have been down there. And i guess we have been on almost everything possible thing to book on the island. (not trinidad trip)

Its very litle tourists on the island compared to the earlyer years so its easyer to book your excursions when you are there.

[Richardus]

I agree with you on that. People are more hesitant to travel out of the country nowadays with so much political turmoil and terrorism in the world today. It's not just about the money, it's just harder to travel abroad.

I can tell this because in my area (Midwestern Ontario, Canada) more and more people prefer to go camping within the province than leave the country. To reserve a campsite for a trailer you have to be online exactly 5 months to the day in advance to get the site. Otherwise the entire park instantly sells out within a few days. There are dozens and dozens of these parks in our local area too, accommodating thousands of sites. You may be able to get a small tenting site with no services after that but definitely nothing that accommodates a trailer. Just as an example.

[Richardus]

Is there an alternate email address for Belle at Yes Tourism? There hasnt been any response from the one on the website for two days.