On The Road

Our 3-step approach to travel wellbeing protocol, gives you the peace of mind to enjoy your trip, knowing you are in good hands and being looked after.

Together with the World Tourism & Travel Council (WTTC), Costsaver has created global protocols and procedures that have been awarded the WTTC Safe stamp. Coupled with existing national and regional government authority regulations and the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, we have produced our enhanced, on-trip standards to make sure the health and happiness of our guests comes first.

Should you require a doctor’s visit or hospitalisation, your Travel Director will assist you. Costsaver has a dedicated Guest Support Department in Europe, or our Operations Department in the relevant country will contact you to offer help and advice, organise with your travel insurance company and stay in contact until you are able to re-join the tour or return home. This service is included in the cost of your trip; but it is not a replacement for travel insurance, which is required to travel with Costsaver.

Switching off from everyday concerns and relaxing is all part of the holiday experience and your Travel Director will be there every step of the way to make sure your trip runs seamlessly. That said, it is helpful to be aware of issues that might affect your holiday and it’s our job to remind you to take certain precautions when travelling. 

Take a look at the following advice, plus tune in to any other details given to you or put on display during your trip. That information may be provided by us, our Travel Directors or suppliers, either before you go, or when you arrive.

On arrival at your hotel, your Travel Director will provide you with their contact number to save to your mobile phone or write down and keep safe and accessible.

Personal belongings

Many of us carry the latest phones, cameras, tablets and technology. Be careful of showing these devices off in busy, crowded places and never leave them sitting on the table or bench in restaurants, bars, hotel lobbies and public places (breakfast rooms).

Bags

Keep your bags with you at all times and if possible wear the strap across your body. When touring crowded sites, make sure the bag is worn on the front of the body. Never keep money or valuables in your main suitcase.

Passport

Keep your passport safe at all times. Keep it on your person on travel days. Plenty of hotels have safety deposit boxes for your use on longer stays, but be sure to reclaim your items before checking out. It is important to make a photocopy of your passport and important documents before you travel. Keep them separate from the originals and note down any emergency numbers for credit/ bank cards too.

Cash

It is always useful to have cash. Hide a few banknotes on your person for emergency funds in case you lose your purse/wallet or bag. Avoid excessive displays of wealth when out (only carry sufficient cash for your daily needs).

Hotels

When leaving your room, be sure to secure all windows and lock the door as you exit. Stash your room key somewhere safe on you. When you arrive at a new hotel, familiarise yourself with escape routes and find the closest fire exit to your room. Always know how to raise the alarm.

Road safety

Take care when crossing roads as traffic may come from unexpected directions in new destinations. Before exiting the coach, check the traffic direction and take care with the drop from the last step to the ground. The drop might vary in depth at each stop and is especially important later in the day when light may be fading.

Situational awareness

Avoid confrontational situations and large gatherings if possible. At any time if a situation doesn’t feel right, simply walk away.

Hostile situations

In the extremely unlikely situation that you find yourself in a hostile incident, leave immediately and call the police. If you are unable to leave, find a place to hide, lock the door and stay as quiet as possible. Turn your phone to silent and contact the police.

You might be on holiday, but please stay as alert to current security issues when you are at home. Your Travel Director will keep you informed while travelling and provide gentle reminders and suggestions to keep you safe and consider your well-being every day.

We select our Costsaver hotels for their quality, impeccable service and comfort. The majority of them have air-conditioning.

Checking in to your arrival hotel

Check-in times vary at different hotels. If your flight arrives in the early morning at the destination where your trip begins, you might arrive at the hotel before noon and your room may not be ready for check-in until early afternoon (2pm/3pm). Hotels try to prevent this from happening, but check-in times cannot be guaranteed. The hotel will be able to offer suggestions on how to fill your time while your room is prepared.

When you first arrive at the hotel, check in at the main reception desk and let staff know your name and that you are travelling with Costsaver.

When your trip begins, check-in will be coordinated by the Travel Director, who will inform you about procedures and hotel features before arrival. They will secure the keys to your room.

Photocopies of documents

Due to government, country or local laws, some hotels are required to keep your passport at reception during your stay. Given this, we highly recommend you travel with an extra photocopy of your passport and any visas. A helpful travel tip is to also make a photocopy of your airline tickets, credit cards and your driver’s license etc. as if the originals get lost, the photocopies can help speed up the replacement process. You could also scan or photograph your documents and email them to yourself so you have access if needed.

Keys

Many hotels will issue you with magnetic key cards. The key cards may be needed to access the elevator. The first digit of your room number normally indicates the floor level to select. In lots of hotels, these key cards will also operate the lighting and air-conditioning. You just need to insert the card into a slot or box located by the hotel room door to activate the electricity. 

Checking out of your hotel

Before departing each hotel and returning your key, always make a last-minute check of safe deposit boxes, drawers, wardrobe and bathroom. You are responsible for incidental expenses, such as mini bar items to pay-TV, which need to be paid prior to departure.. We suggest settling any bills on your final evening to ensure a smooth departure the next morning

Most hotels will offer a laundry service, and in some cities public laundromats are also available. If your trip is shorter, try and pack enough clothing to avoid needing to do laundry. Doing laundry while travelling can sometimes be costly or inconvenient.

If you are travelling internationally, most likely yes. Electrical plugs and outlets change from country to country. We suggest packing a universal travel adaptor that’s suitable for the countries you are travelling to.

Costaver offers unbeatable value, and to offer a wonderful experience at a great price – we cover all the essentials, while added services such as porterage are not included. Your Travel Director and Driver will help unload and load luggage on and off the coach, but it is your responsibility to take your luggage from the coach to and from your room.

Europe tours:

If you have specific dietary requirements

Please advise us about any specific dietary needs (vegetarian, diabetic, gluten free, etc.) that you have and will try our best to accommodate them. When you complete your registration on My Costsaver, please take the time to tell us about any dietary requirements. Where possible, we will strive to make suitable arrangements with our suppliers.

At the beginning of the trip, please speak to your Travel Director about any special dietary requirements, as hotels and restaurants do need to be advised in advance. Our suppliers will do their utmost to provide an alternative to the menu if required, but requests cannot be guaranteed on every occasion.

Drinking water

At Costsaver, we care for our planet, and therefore we always suggest that you pack a reusable water bottle in your suitcase. Bringing your own reusable water bottle and requesting tap water at restaurants are two ways you can make a difference in reducing your holiday plastic waste. 

Across Europe the majority of countries have safe drinking water. In Western Europe, all water is safe to drink, and in Eastern Europe you may find alternative water options are recommended in some areas. Your Travel Director is there to advise you if the water is not safe to drink. 

Throughout each day on tour expect multiple rest stops giving you time for a bottle refill or to purchase a drink. There is a handy app called "Tap - Find Water Anywhere" that we recommend you download onto your phone. Thank you for helping us do our part for the planet when you travel. 

Rest of the world:

If you have specific dietary requirements

Please advise us about any specific dietary needs (vegetarian, diabetic, gluten free, etc.) that you have and will try our best to accommodate them. When you complete your registration on My Costsaver, please take the time to tell us about any dietary requirements. Where possible, we will strive to make suitable arrangements with our suppliers.

At the beginning of the trip, please speak to your Travel Director about any special dietary requirements, as hotels and restaurants do need to be advised in advance. Our suppliers will do their utmost to provide an alternative to the menu if required, but requests cannot be guaranteed on every occasion.

Drinking water

At Costsaver we do our best to care for our planet, and with that in mind we ask you to pack a reusable water bottle on your trips to Western Europe, Scandinavia, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. For other countries and destinations, your Travel Director will let you know if it’s okay.

Throughout each day on tour expect multiple rest stops giving you time for a bottle refill or to purchase a drink. There is a handy app called "Tap - Find Water Anywhere" that we recommend you download onto your phone. Thank you for helping us do our part for the planet when you travel. 

Europe, North & South America, Australia & New Zealand tours:

Here at Costsaver we know the human touch is what differentiates unforgettable travel experiences from those that are just ‘good’. Our beloved Travel Directors come from a variety of backgrounds, but they all share a passion for travel and their home countries. These experienced travel professionals have the skills and experience to show you what the guidebooks can’t – a real insider’s perspective of each destination you visit.

Each Travel Director has taken a bespoke training programme, and many of them have at least five years’ experience under their belt. Your experienced Travel Director will organise all of the logistical details of your holiday to make sure everything runs seamlessly during your trip, but they will also be your friend as you travel. With their support and care, we want you to feel relaxed and comfortable as you experience new places and cultures. Your Travel Director will skilfully navigate each day’s planned itinerary and help you to plan fun experiences for your free time. They will also be there to aid any problems or issues that you might come across along the way.

Our Travel Directors have plenty of stories to tell and are just as interested in hearing yours so that they can anticipate your needs and give personal touches to surprise and delight our guests whenever they travel with Costsaver.

Africa & Asia tours:

On our East Africa and Namibia tours you will be accompanied by the Costsaver Driver Guide, who is both a driver and a destination expert.

At Costsaver, we have so much to show you and always try to make the most of every day on tour. In order to make that happen, we thank you in advance for your punctuality as this gives all our guests the opportunity to enjoy their holiday with us to the fullest.

Departure time is the time when all guests are seated and the coach is leaving the hotel or rest stop. A smart traveller will always give themselves enough time for bathroom stops, settling bills and slow elevators to make it back to the coach in time. Your Travel Director will choreograph each day to best enhance the itinerary and go above and beyond to make sure that those all-important timings are clearly explained. Your Travel Director will also provide you with a phone number, in case you need assistance.

Sightseeing is included in your Costsaver itinerary and usually involves a fair amount of walking and standing (as well as sitting) as you explore a destination. There are a number of terms that Costsaver uses to describe sightseeing activities in the itinerary. Below we have outlined the slight differences in their meaning:

• A day to relax – This means no planned activities; your time for Choice Optional Experiences or other independent activities. Ask your Travel Director for ideas and suggestions to match your interests and to make the most out of the day.
• Orientation tour – Places of interest are pointed out, but you will need to explore them on your own.
• See – Observe sights while passing by on your coach, cruise or train.
• Sightseeing tour - One of our Local Specialists will join you to explore a city or site.
• Time to relax and discover – Free time on your own.
• View – A brief stop to take in the sights and snap photos.
• Visit – A stop with ample time to experience a specific site.
• “Why not see” or “perhaps enjoy” – These phrases refer to Choice Optional Experiences not included in the trip package but are available for an additional fee. Your Travel Director will gladly provide information regarding these, or other fun ways to spend your free time.

Optional Experiences

Optional Experiences are designed to complement the itinerary and personalise your Costsaver experience. These are designed to offer a deeper insight into the culture and character of the areas we visit and provide some wonderful highlights to your travels. The Optional Experiences program is designed to let you choose more of what interests you and to get the most from your holiday without replacing or overlapping with anything included in an itinerary.

Most Optional Experiences will be offered to you by your Travel Director at the beginning of your trip. Some may be subject to change, depending on the time you are travelling or local circumstances including weather and days of the week. More information will be offered by your Travel Director.

Most Optional Experiences are priced in the local currency, but please read through the details of each individual Optional Experience for specific information. Payment options will be advised locally by your Travel Director/Local Representative for each Optional Experience, but in many cases cash, Visa, MasterCard and American Express will be accepted. Don’t forget to advise your credit card provider that you will be travelling before you leave your home country.

We regret that no refunds can be made for absences from a trip, including experiences such as missed meals or sightseeing.

Complimentary Wi-Fi is available in many guestrooms and/or public areas of most hotels. On some occasions, it may require an access code from hotel staff. Your Travel Director will provide you with details when checking in to each hotel.

Europe tours:

Tipping etiquette varies by country, culture and the situation in Europe. Tipping is a gesture that shows appreciation for the quality of service that you received.

When travelling with Costsaver, we have pre-paid certain tips and gratuities for you such as service charges and tips for hotel wait staff for included meals. There are a few instances where individual tipping is welcome.

As a general rule, if you’re unsure about tipping, don’t tip more than 10% (unless of course you felt the service was so fantastic!). Try to tip in cash as servers may not receive tips left on a credit card.

Hotel Services

If the charge has not already been added to the bill, it is customary to tip hotel staff for room service delivery. Where ice machines are not available and you receive ice from the bar, a small tip to the bartender is always appreciated.

Local Specialists

It is custom to show appreciation for the insights, stories and know-how shared with you by the Local Specialists.

Your Travel Director and Driver

At the end of your trip you may wish to express appreciation to your Travel Director for their excellent service and the personal attention you received. For your convenience and ease, at the time of booking there is an option to prepay gratuities for the Travel Director and Driver.

North & South America, Australia & New Zealand tours:

We’ll check you in, guard your luggage and manage all hotel porterage, tips and gratuities – whether it is for restaurant staff, chambermaids or porters. Please note that Travel Director and Drivers gratuities are not included in the trip cost. There is no option to add pre-paid gratuities on booking.

Africa & Asia tours:

There is no option to prepay gratuities on our Asia and Africa tours. If you would like to thank your Costsaver destination expert, this can be done on tou