FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

When you travel with Customized Journeys, we take you off the beaten path and away from the masses and motor coaches. We only work with small groups, and we travel to lesser-known places just a few times a year. Giant companies that organize frequent small groups aren't welcome in many villages because a large number of small groups still means an overwhelming volume of people. Spectacular local restaurants and little-known attractions, regardless of the country, do not welcome having lots of people or being listed on a tour itinerary. Our philosophy of limited group size allows for unique and refreshing itineraries.

We at Customized Journeys believe it is our duty to preserve the character of each and every destination that we introduce to our clients. It is our policy to use local guides, dine at local restaurants and find new ways for our friends in fragile locales to receive immediate economic benefits from tourism. We believe that properly managed tourism is a viable alternative to the exploitation of both human labor and natural resources.

We have fixed departure dates each year to destinations worldwide including Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Slovenia, Croatia, and Central America. BUT 80% of our travelers come with us on customized trips. If you want to go somewhere unusual, we have the knowledge and connections to take you there.

Customized Journeys has already been chosen by many social organizations and travel clubs across North America. Washington State's Boeing Travel Club, the prestigious Multnomah Athletic Club of Portland, San Francisco's Metropolitan Club, the Museo Italo-Americano, and the Commonwealth Club of California are just a few of the organizations that have traveled off the beaten path with Customized Journeys. The Sierra Club has chosen Customized Journeys to organize hiking trips all over Italy and Southern Europe since 2007, and four generations of one American family are going on an adventure in Chilean Patagonia.

Though you will always receive a thorough introduction to the most important attractions, it isn't just about what you will see when you travel with Customized Journeys. We will take you to off-the-beaten-path places so that you can meet interesting local people. This is the only way to become a true participant in a foreign culture.

Unless specified on your day-to-day itinerary, our tour prices do not include international airfare. Do call us if you would like us to recommend a trustworthy travel agent. We will also be more than happy to give you guidance with these travel arrangements.

Children under the age of twelve are not permitted except with private and pre-formed groups. Any individual under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult unless otherwise approved by Customized Journeys management. Customized Journeys expeditions are created for active travelers who are capable of walking unassisted at least four miles a day at a leisurely pace. All Customized Journeys travelers must also be able to handle their own luggage over short distances and climb staircases without railings.

You will be instructed by a Customized Journeys travel advisor before your trip about whether or not you will need a visa. For instance, American citizens do not need visas to visit Italy, but all Americans are required to have a single-entry visa for China.

All travelers must follow the entry requirements for the countries or locations they will visit. For example, you may need to provide proof of a negative Covid-19 test to visit Hawaii or proof of vaccination to visit some European countries. You will be instructed by a Customized Journeys travel advisor before your trip about the current entry requirements for your destination.

For privately formed groups, the group can decide if they wish to include additional requirements for their group.

We are pleased to offer all our tour participants a choice between two comprehensive Travel Insurance Plans to help protect you and your trip investment! For your convenience, we offer Travel Select or Travel Basic through Travelex Insurance Services. Both can include coverage for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Emergency Medical and Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation, Trip Delay, Baggage Loss, Baggage Delay and more. For more information on these plans please see our Travel Insurance Page.

The product descriptions provided here are only brief summaries. The full coverage terms and details, including limitations and exclusions, are contained in the insurance policy. Travelex Insurance Services, Inc CA Agency License 0D10209. All products listed are underwritten by, Berkshire Hathaway Specialty Insurance Company, NAIC 22276. 6SP

An initial non-refundable deposit of $700 per person is required to reserve space unless otherwise specified. Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure. Our cancellation penalties are industry standard (please see our terms and conditions for more info).

We encourage interested travelers to form their own private tour group. There are few things that are more rewarding than setting up a perfect holiday for your friends and family.

Customized Journeys’ fixed-date expeditions have an average group size of 14 travelers with a minimum of either 8, 10 or 12 - and a maximum of 20. Private groups can be as small as two and as large as 250 (in the case of a recent wedding held in Customized Journeys' Umbrian palace).

Customized Journeys accepts payment by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, check, money order and bank wire. There is no processing fee for credit card deposits; however, we add a processing fee of 2.5% for balance payments by credit card.

The type of vehicle depends on group size and tour geography. Customized Journeys' Central Italian outings travel in air-conditioned motor coaches and mini busses, but in the case of the Tibetan portion of Customized Journeys' China expedition and our African outings - four-wheel drive vehicles are used.

Customized Journeys believes that tour leaders can make or break a tour. For this reason, we seek the very best tour leaders in the business for all of our trips.

Although a fair amount of free time has been built into every Customized Journeys itinerary, there are always a few travelers who wish to have more time on their own. If this is you, just let your Customized Journeys guide know when you plan to break away and the exact time that you will return!

We encourage all of our travelers to explore a country on their own before and/or after a tour, and we are more than happy to make pre or post trip hotel arrangements at the same hotels used on any given tour.

We believe a comfortable and clean hotel is a vital element to a successful tour. For this reason, we put a great deal of effort into the hotel selection process. Many Customized Journeys properties used in Europe, such as ancient castles and country inns, are family-run, quaint establishments. All rooms have a private bath, but some may be smaller than what is usually found in North America. In Asia, Africa and South America, Customized Journeys always uses the best available accommodations.

You will enjoy the best food available in each country. No cutting corners and absolutely no tour food! We believe that dining out is a key to experiencing a foreign culture in the right way. We take great care in choosing cuisine that reflects the regions you visit.

Airport transfers are included in many countries where it is too complicated for our guests to easily travel from the airport to our selected hotel. Your itinerary should specify which airport transfers are included and which are not. If an airport transfer is not included, upon request one can be arranged by Customized Journeys staff upon request for a fee.

Tips are included for hotel/restaurant staff. Gratuities are not included for the Customized Journeys Tour Director or for the trip's main driver. Gratuities are at the traveler's discretion and should be based on the level of satisfaction with the service received. Recommended guidelines for each area visited are provided in Customized Journeys' pre-tour documentation.

You might be able to do a few of our tours on your own if you have a lot of time, patience, money, and good contacts, and you're willing to compromise on safety. However, will you be able to find that charming little restaurant in the hills of Liguria, the one that Alessandra's aunt recommended after calling a village-wide meeting to pick the best restaurant for Alessandra’s group? Will you be able to explore a private palace that is an historical landmark in a charming medieval village and learn about the people who have lived there for hundreds of years? Will you be able to treat Tibetan orphans to dinner, discuss Buddhism with a Senior Tibetan monk, or ask a Chinese dissident about how she is fighting for new environmental laws in her country? Will you be able to cross the Andes with a legendary Patagonian who is friends with the most important contemporary poets and writers in South America? We at Customized Journeys believe that travel is not just about hotels and transportation... it is about getting to know the real life and real people of a country.