Frequently Asked Questions

General

Who is Off Beaten Vacays, LLC?

Off Beaten Vacays, LLC is an online travel agency that offers women all over the world Off the Beaten Path Curated Group Travel Events. Since 2012, our owner, Anitra Byers, has been taking ladies around the world on curated itineraries that leave the traveler wanting more. We attract women professionals ages 40 and up who welcome organized small group travel and are ready to explore destinations in the most authentic way. Off Beaten Vacays, LLC is TRUE-certified to sell travel. We are an accredited, licensed and insured Online Travel Agency.  You can read more about us here. 

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What are your business hours?

We've switched to an online travel agency and no longer have a physical location. Our website is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and we are available by phone, Facebook Messenger, and Whats App Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. est.

 

What is your Social Media handle?

We have a social media presence on Facebook and Instagram. Follow us @offbeatenvacays. 

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TRAVEL DURING COVID  

When do we have to take the COVID test for our outbound or departure flight?

You must complete testing within 72 hours of your scheduled departure flight for countries that still require U.S. passport holders to arrive with a negative COVID test. The United States no longer requires a negative COVID test within 72 hours of your scheduled return flight for entry.

 

Do I need to take a COVID test before departure and returning to the United States?

Many countries are starting to welcome back U.S. passport holders. As such, As travel begins to loosen up again, many countries including the United States has downgraded their COVID travel restrictions.  The United States no longer requires a negative COVID test for entry. 

 

 

What if my group has to reschedule due to COVID?

We will make every effort to accommodate your group, including rescheduling or canceling your group booking, if your group is forced to reschedule due to COVID. If this occurs, and the canceled booking is due to the country being forced to shut down, we will issue full refunds less the cost of any travel insurance purchased through us.

 

Currently, while some countries have mandated mandatory vaccination for entry, not every country has done so. We strongly advise you to follow the CDC for the most recent alerts.

 

Will our hotel or resort provide free COVID testing? 

Most hotels and resorts provide free COVID testing, but this varies by destination and hotel chain. We will always inform you whether the test is free or not and whether it is performed on-site or off-site.

 

What happens if someone in my group test positive for COVID prior to or during travel?

If you or anyone in your group tests positive for COVID within 72 hours of departure, you must notify us immediately by phone or email. We will not be aware of your situation unless you notify us immediately. To update your booking, we will follow the cancellation guidelines and terms and conditions established by our booking agreement and vendors. This may or may not result in a financial loss.

 

Do I have to wear a facemask during travel?

We advise you to always take precautions to protect yourself and those around you. While many top destinations are beginning to relax restrictions, such as the use of facemasks, staying safe is essential to having a good time on any trip. While wearing a facemask is no longer required in most destinations, including the United States, we recommend that you bring one with you just in case.

 

Travel Protection

Do I REALLY need to purchase Travel Protection?

Yes, according to our observations. While it is not required, we strongly advise you to purchase travel insurance for your trip regardless of whether or not it is purchased through us. As we like to say, having travel insurance and not needing it is preferable to needing travel insurance and not having it. Please keep this in mind when registering for our Travel Events. 

 

If I decline coverage at the time of booking will there be an option to add travel protection at a later date?

If you do not purchase travel coverage when you book, you will have until the final payment due date to do so. Please keep in mind that if you purchase your policy within 10 days of booking, you will receive the maximum of all coverage benefits because some coverage components do not fully cover you if purchased after 10 days.

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Can I purchase coverage on my own?

You certainly can. If you are purchasing on your own, you must decline coverage when completing your reservation on your booking form.

 

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GROUP BOOKINGS

Why does your travel agency charge a fee for group quotes? Is it refundable?

Like all travel operators and travel agencies, we collect a fee.

 

When is my group’s deposit due?

The initial deposit for your group is due 45 days after accepting our group booking offer. If your group's initial deposits are not received, your trip will have to be re-priced.. 

 

How long do we have until final payment? What happens if anyone in my group misses their final payment?

Final payment is collected 45 days before departure, and your invoice will show your final payment due date. If you discover that you will be unable to make your final payment by the due date, you must contact us immediately to avoid automatic cancellation. If the final payment due date does not work for you, we will do our best to accommodate you. Please be aware that we do not provide extensions.

 

Does everyone in my group have to book at the same time? 

Depends. You do not have to wait for others in your group to book if you book single occupancy. If you have a roommate, however, both travelers must book on the same date. Once booked, both travelers on the reservation can make additional and final payments at any time without the other traveler. 

Some travelers in my group do not have a passport yet. Will they be permitted to book their trip still?  

You can currently book international travel without a passport. However, we require that your passport information be provided to our agency at least 30 days before departure. Furthermore, all travelers booking international travel without a passport must fill out our Passport Liability Release Disclaimer. Note that a passport is required for all international travel and any traveler not traveling with a valid passport will be denied boarding. 

 

How can my group access our trip to view travel details, book, and make payments? 

Once your group leader has accepted our group offer, we will provide you with a link to your event to view online and share with your travel squad. Please allow up to 10 business days for your group’s event page to be published. You will also have the opportunity to access your group event via Facebook. 

 

PAYMENT PLAN AND PAYMENT OPTIONS 

What are your payment options? 

Stripe is our payment processor. In addition to Stripe, you can make online payments through our website's secure payment form. When making online payments, all major credit cards are accepted. We do NOT accept mail payments. 

 

Do you offer a Deposit and Payment Plan Program?

Absolutely. Unless otherwise specified, all of our group travel events offer clients the option of paying in full at the time of booking or making a low deposit and taking advantage of our flexible payment plan. The final payment is due 50 days before departure. We require full payment at the time of booking if the reservation is made within 50 days of travel.

 

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CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS

If I cancel my reservation will I be refunded?

Because we offer all of our travel packages at the lowest possible price at the time of booking, all deposits and payments are NON-REFUNDABLE AND NON-TRANSFERABLE. We strongly advise you to invest in your trip by purchasing Travel Insurance from our preferred Travel Insurance Provider, Travel Safe. You can also buy Travel Insurance on your own from any of your preferred providers.

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What happens if my roommate cancels and I still want to travel?

If your roommate cancels and you stay on the reservation, it will be converted to single occupancy and you will be invoiced at the new rate.

 

If your roommate cancels after you have paid in full or after the entire booking has been paid in full, you will be held responsible for any additional costs. Because there will only be one person in the room, your reservation must be changed to single occupancy. This is because your reservation was initially booked at double occupancy, which resulted in a lower room cost.

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How long will it take to process my refund? 

Refunds are processed at the time of the request. This procedure can take up to 21 business days to complete. However, in most cases, we process refunds within 14 business days or less.

 

What if I didn’t purchase Travel Protection and I need to cancel?

If you need to cancel your trip but did not purchase travel insurance, we will follow the cancellation policies outlined in your booking agreement and by our vendor (s). This can lead to financial loss in many cases.

 

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS AND RESTRICTIONS 

 

Are passports required for all international travel?

Yes. All international travel requires a valid passport that is valid for at least six months after the trip ends. Domestic travel (the United States and all U.S. territories) allows citizens of the United States to travel without a passport. Without a passport, you can visit Puerto Rico, the Hawaiian Islands, and the United States Virgin Islands. 

 

When Will I receive my Travel Itinerary?

Official Travel Documents are sent to each traveler via email within 30 days of departure as long as full payment has been received by the assigned due date.

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What if my passport doesn’t arrive in time?

If your passport doesn't arrive in time please contact us right away. 

 

Can I travel if my passport expires one month after my trip dates?

No, your passport must be valid for at least 6 months after your trip is over. Before leaving, you must renew your passport.

 

My middle name is on my passport but I didn’t record it on my booking form. How can I fix it?

We process ALL bookings according to the information provided by the traveler on their booking form. If you have not recorded your name correctly, please contact us via email anitra@offbeatenvacays.com RIGHT AWAY. We will update your name because it must match what is on your passport. Please be aware that there are change fees. These charges can range between $100 and $500 per name change. In some cases, name changes are not permitted.