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CUSTOM TOURS

What is a custom tour?

A custom tour is a private tour that we design together from scratch, based on your interests. The tour may be for you alone or with other individuals you invite. A custom tour is a great way to travel while taking into account your interests and traveling style. It is also a great way to travel with friends or acquaintances who share common interests and a similar traveling style.

Are your custom tours luxury-priced?
A custom tour can be very affordable. Or if you wish to pamper yourself, a custom tour can be luxuriously indulgent. Tell us your budget and we will work together on how to tailor a trip perfectly suited to your preferences.

In certain instances, the price of a custom tour may be comparable to – or even less than -- a group tour to a similar destination. Depending on the type of tour and destination, we charge a base amount per day for a custom tour. If you can gather several other travelers to join you, the cost of the tour can become very affordable. In addition, by choosing reasonably priced, yet very comfortable, accommodations, the price of a custom tour can be reduced even further. In this way, the custom tour is much like a small-group tour but with accommodations, dining experiences, places of interest, and activities chosen specifically to meet your group’s interests.

TOUR ITINERARY

Can I make changes to my itinerary if I am in a group tour?

The itinerary for a group tour has been created to meet the needs and interests of all passengers and cannot be altered. If you booked a custom tour, however, there is some limited flexibility in making minor changes to your itinerary. Changes made to a custom tour once it has been booked will incur additional costs due to cancellation of confirmed arrangements and to compensate JJA’s staff time to coordinate the changes.

I would like to extend my tour; can you help me make arrangements for additional travel?
Yes. We can help you organize extended travel following your tour.  How much we charge will depend on how long you wish to extend your stay and the complexity of the arrangements.

ACCOMMODATION

What kinds of accommodation can I expect?

In most instances, we have chosen smaller, family-run guesthouses or hotels that meet our high-quality standards of comfort, cleanliness and ambience with the goal of maximizing your cultural experience. Generally most accommodations will have a fan or an air-conditioner, private western-style bathroom, and hot water.

Can I have a single room?
Yes, if a single room is available. A single room supplement will apply. In order for us to provide you with a more intimate cultural experience and ample opportunity to interact on a more local level, the properties we have chosen are excellent, yet small, and therefore tend to have limited selection of rooms available. Unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that there will always be single rooms available at each of our destinations. We will, however, strive to accommodate your request whenever possible.
 
What happens if I do not like the person I am sharing a room with?
If you and your room partner are unable to work out a solution, then talk to your trip leader for other possible rooming options. We try our best to make your travel experience with us enjoyable, but may be limited to what solutions are available. If you request a single room during part of the tour, a single supplement will apply.

Will my room be air-conditioned?
Many of our accommodations are air-conditioned for your comfort, while others are not, such as remote or cool-weather locations.

What kinds of toilet or bathrooms should I expect in my room, and during the tour?
On our small-group tours, most of our accommodations will have western-style bathrooms and toilets with hot and cold running water. If you have booked on a custom tour, some remote locations may have “squat”-style toilets and only cold running water, as will some public restrooms en route between destinations on all  tours.

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DINING

Are the restaurants we will be dining in clean and safe? We have chosen restaurants and local food vendors throughout our tours that serve high-quality, flavorful dishes, prepared in healthy and sanitary conditions. Although many times the best foods can be found at sidewalk vendors, we have opted not to include them on a tour to avoid any possible risks due to questionable sanitary practices. On the other hand, our culinary tours that focus on street food include many small eateries and food vendors that have consistently provided healthy, flavorful dishes under sanitary conditions. Finally, keep in mind that for some people, a change in diet may also cause some intestinal discomfort.

I am a vegetarian, is that a problem?
A vegetarian diet is generally not a problem, although may limit some food options.  In Asia, curries and vegetable stir-fries commonly contain shrimp paste, fish sauce or oyster-sauce. If you have limited flexibility in your dietary preferences and restrictions, please consider a custom tour in which we can tailor a tour program to specifically meet your dietary requirements.

I have certain food allergies; what are my food options?
It is very important to inform us of any dietary restrictions at the time of booking. We can then advise you of your options. If you have seafood allergies, please be aware that many Asian dishes contain shrimp paste, crab paste, fish sauce or oyster sauce. Diabetic menus are also somewhat limited.  If you have very strict dietary requirements, please consider a custom tour. We can work together to create a vacation that will meet your requirements.

Can I drink the water in the place we are touring?
No. Tap water is not always safe to drink A water purifier is not necessary, as bottled water is available for purchase throughout SE Asia.

What meals are provided during the tour? You will receive a pre-tour packet upon booking confirmation with specific inclusions and exclusions listed.

  

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AIRLINES & LUGGAGE, AND OTHER TRANSPORTATION MODES

Can you help me book my airline tickets?

At this time, we do not offer air ticketing but will be happy to recommend travel agents who can book airfares at very reasonable prices.

How many pieces of luggage can I bring? Are there any baggage restrictions?

Most international airlines allow two pieces of luggage at 50 lbs each. However, please bear in mind that certain legs of your tour may involve domestic connecting flights. Domestic carriers generally allow one piece of luggage at no more than 50 lbs. It is always good idea to travel light, as we do not provide baggage-handling services while on tour and you will therefore be carrying your own luggage throughout most of the trip. Besides if you travel light, you’ll have lots of room for the wonderful handicrafts and keepsakes you’ll be purchasing along the way!

What kinds of transportation do we use during a tour?
The majority of the ground transportation will be private car or a small van. All of our ground transportation vehicles have air-conditioning. This is the most comfortable and efficient way to travel between destinations, especially on a fairly short vacation. If you like to experience traveling like the locals, we can help you design a custom tour that will incorporate such means, although we do not recommend it. In certain countries, local transportation may be as simple as a small pickup jammed with 30 or more people or riding on the roof of the truck. These options may prove quite precarious for those travelers not accustomed to hanging on to the side or riding on the roof of a pickup!

In addition to private car or van, we may also travel on inbound domestic flights between distant destinations in order to cut travel time and provide more free time at each destination.

PASSPORTS and VISAS

Can you help me obtain a visa?

At this time, we do not offer services to help you obtain a visa. 

My passport expires in 4 months. Is that OK?

No. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of arrival at the port of entry. Please renew your passport immediately.

My passport has only one empty page, is that a problem?

It may be adequate if you are visiting one country only. However, it would be wise to request additional passport pages from your country’s passport authority. These amendments may take up to 6 weeks or more, although expedited service is available for an additional fee.

How much are visa fees?
It depends on the country you are visiting. This information will be provided in the pre-tour packet provided upon confirmation of your booking.

Can I obtain a visa at the port of entry?
It depends on the country you are visiting. You are responsible for obtaining the appropriate visas when traveling with Jalan Jalan Asia, LLC. For some countries, such as Indonesia, Cambodia and Thailand, you can apply for a visa on arrival at their airport. For others, such as Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar, you may have to apply for a visa several weeks prior to your departure. For Malaysia, you are automatically given a 90-day visa on arrival at the immigration counter. We will advise you which situation applies to you when you have confirmed your booking with us.

HEALTH & SAFETY

Is it safe to travel in SE Asia? Is terrorism an issue?
The safety of our customers and our staff is always of utmost importance to us. We do not conduct tours in areas where we do not feel safe ourselves. Our tours also avoid the very crowded and very touristy areas in all of our destinations.

In light of the current world situation, with such high levels of mistrust, misunderstandings and misinformation, no place is guaranteed 100% safe. Even such traditional “safe havens” as the USA and Bali are not immune to the world’s current volatility, as witnessed by terrorist activity in both places during the past several years. On the other hand, much progress has been made at securing the safety of their citizens and visitors through a much greater awareness of potentially risky situations and resulting heightened security measures. These measures do not guarantee terrorist incidents do not happen again, but the vigilant actions of people and government will surely deter such incidents. As travelers, we should be aware of security around places where westerners gather, including landmark sites, and resorts popular with foreigners.

Please check the Department of State traveler’s advisory website at http://travel.state.gov. Make your own decisions about the risks that you wish to take on a vacation. We believe that you should be free to enjoy your vacation without being fraught with fear. If you have a high level of fear about joining our tours, then we would encourage you to reconsider traveling with us for now. Having each and every tour filled to capacity is not our primary concern – our primary concern is that you have an enjoyable, worry-free vacation with us.

What kinds of vaccinations do I need?
Please consut with your doctor or a medical practitioner specializing in travel medicine for advice on what kinds of vaccinations you may require.

What kinds of medications should I bring?
You should consult your medical doctor regarding what kinds of medications you need to bring on the trip. Apart from prescription medications, general first aid items are good to have with you. Such items may include bandaids and moleskins; medications that you may need for diarrhea, headaches, sore throat, colds, and motion sickness; anti-acid, antiseptic ointment/cream, insect repellent, anti-bacterial wipes, menstrual medication (if needed) and other regularly-used medications or health supplements (e.g. vitamins).

Should I worry about bird flu (H1N1 flu)?
Please check the websites of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control at http://www.cdc.gov/travel and the World Health Organization at http://www.who.int for the most current information about outbreaks of contagious and tropical diseases.

Will refrigeration be available for my medications?
Most accommodations have refrigeration available, although we cannot guarantee that it will be available throughout our tour. Nor will refrigeration always be availabe when traveling between destinations and in remote areas. Moreover, in some places, power failure is common and power may remain off for long periods of time.

COSTS, BILLS, PAYMENT & REFUNDS

How much is the reservation fee?
The reservation fee is USD500 (for small group) or USD750 (for custom tour) and is due at least 60 days prior to the date of commencement of tour. If you are booking a tour that is 60 days or less from the departure date, then full payment of the tour price will apply.

When must I pay the full tour cost?
The full cost of the tour will be due 60 days before the tour commencement date.

Do I have to pay online?
It facilitates the booking process if you register for the tour and pay your fees online.

Can I pay in Canadian dollars or Euros?
Yes. The exchange rate will be based on the most current published rates.

If something important comes up and I am unable to participate in the tour, will I get a refund?
If you cancel your booking 60 days or more prior to date of tour commencement, you will get a refund less your reservation fee of USD500 or USD750. Between 31 days and 59 days prior to date of tour commencement, a cancellation penalty of 50% of the total booking cost will apply. If you cancel your booking less than 30 days prior to date of tour commencement, all (100%) of total booking cost is non-refundable.

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CURRENCY & MONEY MATTERS

What is the exchange rate where we are going?
The exchange rate varies from country to country and changes daily. Please check with your bank or a money exhanger for the most current rates. There are also many websites on the internet that provide current exchange rates.

How much extra money should I bring for my tour?
That will depend on many factors, the most important of which is your spending style. Our tours include all ground and domestic air transportation, some meals, accommodation, admission fees, and guide fees. Please refer to your tour packet for a list of things included in, or excluded from your tour price.

ATM machines are the best way to get money during a tour and ATM machines are generally everywhere, except for the most remote villages or in the jungle. It is important that you make an ATM withdrawal upon arrival at the airport in order to have some local currency on hand.  Be sure to consult your bank regarding withdrawal fees, exchange rates and foreign transaction fees. Depend on your banking institution, the ATM use charges can be quite sizable. Travelers’ checks are no longer commonly used and in some smaller locations they are not accepted. Always carry a photocopy of your debit and credit cards in your luggage, apart from the cards themselves, in case of theft or loss.

CLOTHES, SHOES AND ESSENTIAL PERSONAL ITEMS

What types of clothes should I pack?
Please refer to your information sheet on “What to Bring” in your pre-tour packet. For tropical weather, lightweight natural fiber or synthetic clothing with wicking properties generally work best. When dressing, our motto is “Comfortable and casual.”

Is there laundry service?
Laundry service is available at all of our accommodations. Please keep in mind, however, that in many parts of Asia, especially at smaller hotels, clothes dryers are rare and line-drying is common. Please allow ample time for your clothes to line-dry and be returned to you prior to departure. Again, lightweight fabrics that dry quickly are optimal.

What types of shoes should I bring?
A sturdy, comfortable pair of walking shoes is essential. In addition, a pair of flip-flops or sandals is useful on casual days when we won’t be doing a lot of walking or hiking. Dress shoes are not necessary.

Shall I bring a rain jacket?
Yes. A very light and packable waterproof jacket or small umbrella will be useful. A dry season in Asia does not necessarily mean dry throughout the duration of the season. Downpours are common.

WEATHER

What is the weather like in where we are going?
Generally, tropical weather is warm or hot, humid and wet. Your pre-tour packet provided at booking confirmation will discuss specific details about what to expect and what to bring.

Does it rain much?
It depends on the location and the season. During the rainy season, it may rain everyday, usually for an hour or two. Sometimes it may rain most of the day. During the dry season, it may not rain for several days or even weeks, but when it does rain, it is a downpour! We generally schedule our tours during the best time of the year, weather-wise, to visit a certain destination, usually corresponding to the dry or cooler season.

INSURANCE

What kinds of insurance do I need?
Travel insurance is very important. Travel insurance is compulsory for all participants in Jalan Jalan Asia’s tours. Your travel insurance must, at minimum, cover against personal accident, medical expenses, emergency evacuation and personal liability. In addition, we strongly advise you to buy trip cancellation insurance which insures you against trip cancellation, trip interruption, and lost baggage.

Where can I purchase travel insurance?
There are many reputable firms that sell travel insurance. Information can easily be found through a quick internet search. We will gladly supply you with a list of insurance providers upon request.