Frequently Asked Questions

Below is a list of questions that you may have regarding Great Explorations Tours. In addition, our Policies and Procedures contain other details that may be of interest. If you still have any questions, please click here to contact us.

Q: Why should I choose Great Explorations Tours over one of the other companies that offer a similar product?

A: We feel that once you experience one of our tours you'll agree that our tours aren't that similar to the other companies, but are much better. For some of the reasons why, click here. If you want to read all about what we think travel should be and why we're right for you, visit our travel blog here.

Q: Are your tours only open to travelers from the United States?

A: No. We are located in the U.S. (Pennsylvania specifically), but our tours are open to anyone from anywhere. The only qualification is that our guides do the entire tour in English, so it would be beneficial if you were fluent in English.

Q: Where did all of the pictures on the website come from?

A: We took almost all of them ourselves on our various travels. The few we did not take are marked with the name of the owner. We love to take pictures, and we have many more beautiful photos that we took on our trips that are not on the website. We're sure you'll come back from our tours with many great pictures yourself.

Q: How do I book a tour?

A: You can book by calling us at (570) 687-5418 or by clicking the "Buy Now" button on any available tour page.

Q: Is a deposit required? When is the full payment due?

A: In order to reserve your spot on any tour, we require a $250 deposit per person. This is done to help cover the deposits that we have to pay to the hotels, et al. You may pay as much as you want at any time, with the full amount due 60 days prior to the starting date of your tour.

Q: What is your refund policy if I have to cancel?

A: Whatever you have paid towards your tour is 100% refundable up to 120 days prior to the starting date of your tour. If you cancel between 120 and 61 days, your $250 deposit will not be refunded; between 60 and 8 days, 50% of the tour cost will not be refunded; between 7 and 2 days, 80% of the tour cost will not be refunded; and 1 day or less, 100% will not be refunded.

Q: Will you cancel the tour if you don't get enough people? Will I get my money back?

A: We love doing these tours, and we will do everything we can to run all of our advertised trips. That being said, there is a point where it would not be fiscally possible to run the tour. We can assure you that as long as it is possible, the tour will go on, even if it's only for a few lucky people. When we have received a sufficient number of reservations, the tour will be marked as a "guaranteed departure." When you see that, it means that the tour will be running as scheduled.

In the unlikely event that we do cancel a tour any money paid toward that tour will be completely refunded.

Q: What payment methods do you accept?

A: We offer the ability to pay online through PayPal using your MasterCard, Visa, American Express, or Discover card. We also accept checks and money orders. Contact us to find out where to send a payment. Please be aware that any payments made within 14 days of the start of your tour cannot be made by check.

Q: Is PayPal safe?

A: Yes. PayPal has been accepting payments online since 1998 and handles over 70 million accounts. They use the most extensive security protocols available and have an exemplary track record.

Q: What is included in the tour price?

A: In general all of our tours include lodging, a knowledgeable guide, bus transportation, any meals listed in the itinerary, entrance to any attractions listed in the itinerary, airport transfers, and luggage tags. Some other things that the price includes that you won't find on other tours are tips for your driver and any guides used as part of the tour as well as some handy documents that will help you explore on your own such as maps or public transportation guides. Please check the itinerary for your tour or contact us for specifics.

Q: Is airfare included?

A: No, airfare is not included in the listed price and Great Explorations Tours does not sell airfare. Upon request, we will gladly help you find the cheapest airfare and assist you in booking for a convenience charge of $25 per ticket.

Q: Do you offer travel insurance?

A: No, we do not. We feel that it is a conflict of interest for a travel company to sell its customers insurance against itself. If you would like to find out more about travel insurance and see a list of companies that offer it, click here to visit the US Travel Insurance Association.

Q: What if I want to do something different than what is on the itinerary?

A: You are not bound to the itinerary and are free to do what you wish as long as you adhere to the following:

1) If the activity you wish to do is not in the same location as the tour, you are responsible for transportation to and from said location.

2) The bus will not wait for you, so you must be at the bus at the time of departure or you are responsible for any costs incurred in the act of catching up.

3) Money will not be refunded for attractions or meals that you may miss.

Great Explorations Tours will assist you in finding or planning any extra activities; please click here for details.

Q: Can I extend my hotel stay?

A: Yes, you are welcome to arrive before or stay after any tour. Great Explorations Tours will not be responsible for any arrangements made outside the scope of our tour, but if you contact us we happily assist you with such arrangements.

Q: Do you allow children on your tours?

A: Yes. If the child is under 18 years of age, we require that they are accompanied by a traveler over the age of 18. We also ask that you evaluate the suitability of our tours to your child. Most of our tours require a period of time each day on a bus as well as tours of historical attractions that may not be interesting to small children. If you feel like your child would enjoy the tour and behave in a manner that would not detract from the enjoyment of the other travelers, they are more than welcome on our tours.

Q: Are some tours more child-friendly than others?

A: We don't offer any child specific tours at this point, but if you contact us we will gladly consider any tour.

In general, tours of Europe tend to not be as child-friendly. Children do not always enjoy the cultural and historical aspects of our European tours. Our Yellowstone National Park tour, however, is very child-friendly. Children enjoy the geysers and wildlife almost as much as the adults do.

Q: How many people can sleep in one room?

A: The prices of our tours are based on a double/twin room with two people sharing the room. Bear in mind that European hotels are not the same as American ones. When a European hotel calls a room a double, that means that it sleeps two people and no more. Triple rooms are sometimes available, but cannot be guaranteed. You should also be aware that even a triple room may only contain two beds, with the third being a cot or rollaway bed.

Q: Can I make special requests regarding my hotel room?

A: You may make any request (e.g. non-smoking, certain view, etc.). All requests will be passed along to the hotel, but cannot be guaranteed. Individual rooms are chosen by the hotel upon check-in and assignments are based on availability. We will do our best to accommodate any special requests, but we cannot guarantee them.

Q: How early can I check into the hotel on the day I arrive?

A: We do our best to allow you to check in early, but most hotels will not start check-in until 1 or 2 p.m. We realize that your flight may arrive early in the morning, and we will attempt to accommodate you any way we can, but it may be necessary for you to leave your bags (securely) with the hotel and explore your surroundings for a short time until your room is prepared.

Q: What time will the bus be leaving each morning?

A: We realize that you do not always want to wake up early while on your vacation. We also realize that you want to see as much as possible on each tour. Most days, the bus will leave around 9:30 or 10 a.m., but certain days may require an earlier departure. Please check the itinerary for your tour or contact us for specifics.

Q: How much time will we spend on the bus each day?

A: It really depends on your tour, but keep in mind that we will be on the bus with you the whole time so we understand completely that you are not traveling so you can see the inside of a bus. We do our best to limit time in the bus as much as possible while still seeing all the sights. Any distant journey will be accompanied by several stops to stretch, eat, or whatever. Please check the itinerary for your tour or contact us for specifics.

Q: Is there a lot of walking on your tours?

A: Most European cities are best experienced on foot, so we love to offer walking tours that are thorough yet not strenuous. As a rule, we try to avoid long or difficult walks, but there will be some amount of walking on all of our tours, so we recommend that you wear comfortable shoes. Please be aware that some of the ancient sites that we visit have long, uneven paths and may contain many steps. It is always an option for you to omit any attractions that you feel uncomfortable doing. Please check the itinerary for your tour or contact us for specifics.

Q: Can I save a particular seat on the bus?

A: No. Great Explorations Tours wants everyone to have as great an experience as possible, and that includes the views. On certain driving tours where the scenery is predominantly on one side (i.e. a coastal route) we will ask people to switch sides of the bus so that everyone has a chance to see our beautiful surroundings. If you are unhappy with your seat on the bus at any time, we will do our best to accommodate you.