Toll Free: 800.328.8368
Phone: 512.328.5221
Frequently Asked Questions
Have questions about our tours? We’ve got the answers!
Most fees quoted include all accommodations in double occupancy, meals, and ground transportation during the tour, as well as the guide services of the tour leaders. Fees are specified in the detailed itineraries available for each tour. All fees are based on tariffs and exchange rates in effect at the time of itinerary publication, and are subject to adjustment in the event of any change in these tariffs.
An important part of the value of a VENT tour is knowing that tips for local service providers at our destinations—restaurant staff, hotel staff, drivers, local guides, and various other support staff—are included in your tour fee. If you would like to offer any of your local guides an additional tip, $5 to $10 a day is a common amount. Tips for your VENT tour leader(s) are not included, but it is customary to tip one or both if you feel that you have received exceptional service. To assist in your planning, we recommend tipping your VENT tour leader(s) $15 to $20 per day, or the equivalent of approximately 2–4% of the tour fee. If you plan to give tips by cash, they should be given directly to your tour leader at the end of the tour and not sent to the VENT office. Some of our tour leaders use mobile payment applications such as Venmo, PayPal, and Wise. If you would like to use this method, please ask your tour leaders directly whether they can accept tips through such an application. We emphasize that tipping is optional and that these amounts are only recommendations. The amount you decide to tip is based entirely on your experience and at your discretion.
Tipping on cruises (allotments): For this program, VENT has reserved a block of rooms for its guests on a vessel that will also host non-VENT travelers. Tips are not included in the cruise fee, and VENT defers to the tipping policies of the cruise operator, most of whom recommend $13 to $17 per passenger per day. These tips go into a general fund and are distributed through a process that assures fairness. Just as on our land-based programs, if you feel you have received exceptional service from anyone—your local guides, cruise director, expedition leader, hotel manager, cabin attendants, VENT tour leaders—and would like to offer an additional tip, please give those tips directly to the individual, referring to the recommendations above for guidance.
Tipping on cruises (charters): For this program, VENT has reserved the entire vessel exclusively for our travelers. Your cruise fee includes tipping for all ship staff, crew, and local guides. At the end of the voyage, VENT will distribute tips on behalf of our guests to these people using a process that assures fair distribution. Just as on our land-based programs, if you feel you have received exceptional service from anyone—your local guides, cruise director, expedition leader, hotel manager, cabin attendants, VENT tour leaders—and would like to offer an additional tip, please give those tips directly to the individual, referring to the recommendations above for guidance.
Tipping on cruises (allotments): For this program, VENT has reserved a block of rooms for its guests on a vessel that will also host non-VENT travelers. Tips are not included in the cruise fee, and VENT defers to the tipping policies of the cruise operator, most of whom recommend $13 to $17 per passenger per day. These tips go into a general fund and are distributed through a process that assures fairness. Just as on our land-based programs, if you feel you have received exceptional service from anyone—your local guides, cruise director, expedition leader, hotel manager, cabin attendants, VENT tour leaders—and would like to offer an additional tip, please give those tips directly to the individual, referring to the recommendations above for guidance.
Yes, it is possible to have single accommodations on most of our tours. Please note that some of our departures utilize hotels or lodges with limited guest capacity in certain locations. In these cases we may not be able to guarantee single accommodation availability. The Financial Arrangements section of our tour itineraries includes information on single accommodations, including availability. If you would like a single room, you will be charged a single supplement.
Our tour fees are based on double occupancy accommodations, i.e. two people sharing a room. The single supplement is the fee that covers the actual additional cost of having only one person in a room as opposed to splitting the cost of that room between two persons. If you would like a single room or if we cannot place you with a roommate, you will be charged the single supplement. VENT does not mark up the price of the single supplement.
Tour members are asked to refrain from smoking in vehicles and when in close quarters with the rest of the group.
Schedules are determined up to two years in advance. While changes in dates and/or leaders are sometimes necessary, we will do everything possible to ensure that tours operate with the leaders noted and on the dates listed. Additional leaders will be added to tours according to group size, and will be specified in detailed tour itineraries.
United States and Canada tours are guaranteed to operate, regardless of the number of participants signed up. For more information visit our Guaranteed Departures page.
If you are interested in a tour that is full, contact our office and ask that your name be added to the waitlist. No deposit is necessary. If a participant cancels, you will be contacted and offered the option to join the tour. You are under no obligation to accept the space.
Depending on their travel schedules, VENT leaders may be available to speak to birding and nature clubs and organizations. Please call the VENT office for more information.
Every tour itinerary contains a Suggested Reading section toward the end of the document. Here, you can find a range of recommended reading materials including field guides and works of natural history, in addition to fiction and non-fiction titles (depending on the itinerary).
Yes, we strongly recommend trip cancellation insurance to cover your investment. For more information see the Preparation & Insurance page.
Air fare is not included in the tour fee unless indicated. VENT tours depart from the departure city or location listed in the tour itinerary, but we can also book your travel to the departure location. VENT's in-house, full-service travel agency was established in 1990 to offer VENT customers a complete range of travel-related services. For airline reservations and ticketing, we charge a service fee of $35 for domestic and $55 for international itineraries. This fee is assessed per-person so that if multiple tickets are required, as is sometimes the case, you will be charged this transaction fee only once. All your travel arrangements can be made with one easy call to 800.328.VENT (8368) or 512.328.5221. Just tell us which tour you wish to take and we'll do the rest!
VENT was founded in 1976 by Victor Emanuel. Read more in About Us.
With so many companies to choose from, and many going to the same destinations, two things make VENT stand out among the crowd: our team and our participants. VENT leaders and office staff have played a crucial role in making VENT the company it is today. All VENT tours are led by superbly qualified leaders with years of tour-leading experience. Our skilled office staff handles logistics seamlessly to ensure that you have a successful, enjoyable trip. On the typical VENT tour, many of the participants have traveled with us previously, sometimes as many as 80%. This high repeat ratio is a testament to our tours. In addition, our competitively priced/high quality tours, our Guaranteed Departures for the Unites States and Canada, and our unique diversity of tour offerings are all great reasons to choose VENT for your next adventure.
