Has anyone purchased a tour from a TA in a country other than your own. I just ask as it is a lot cheaper for me to buy from England than it is here in New Zealand. For example:

Grand tour of Britain & Ireland: Purchased here $5390NZ or in England 1775 GBP @ todays exchange rate $4651NZ. Saving $739NZ pp.

Cossack Explorer: Purchased here $4175NZ or in England 1399 GBP @ todays exchange rate $3666NZ. Saving $509NZ pp.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: NZ Nurse,

Yes we have - have a look at Affordable and work out the exchange rates as well.

Also Tangata has a good TA I believe in UK if you wish to go that way.

Let me know if you wish to discuss this more and I can fill you in on a few pros and cons - I have put these on the board before but can't remember which thread. Would you like me to find it for you?

That would be good if you could Cottontail. I have had a quick squizz but with so many pages it would take me longer to find them than to do the tours

Your ideas and the pros and cons would be appreciated too thanks.

It was just a thought I was running with at the moment. Anything to save a dollar but if it really is not worth the hassle I am ok about paying whatever it costs for our next trip. I also thought that if it was a Trafalgar Tour/s we wanted to do then using Trafalgar in the UK would be pretty safe.

Here's what I posted:
Quote:
Our experience of using 'off shore' TA's

We booked 2 x tours through Affordable, for our last trip, the airfares, and other bits through our usual, very efficient TA some 40min drive away (whom 99% of our contact is done by email also) We found due to paying in US dollars and the exchange rate at the time plus receiving the 10% dis our saving where significant. I dealt with one 'agent' at Aff. through email and obtained from him his work schedule, no odd shifts.... and no problems with contacting even with our time difference. The only time I phoned them was to give my credit card details. This we prearranged via emails so that he knew my call was comming, so no delays regarding 'holding'.

When things go wrong: they did.... the first tour was canceled : the service was still efficient as we both worked through the problem, which wasn't easy....

Would we do it again? probably on a case by case basis depending on savings involved.

We found the experience not really much different than dealing via email with our loverly TA who lives closer. An email is an email whether it be next door or the other side of the world.

Would we book our airfares this way? probably not due complexity of our flight arrangements we like our experienced TA for this.

Not sure if this experience is a help to anyone ? Quote:

Have a read and come back to me if you want specific questions answered. We can use the chat room or PM if you wish - don't know how to use PM yet but I guess I will learn

Yes that's the post I remember reading. It sounds like it was pretty good for you given the cancellation etc.

I too would get the airfares done here as it is, and you know, quite a mission getting from NZ "up there" to Europe.

Thanks for reposting your experience.

I still have Tangata's TA details (always keep important info ) I have just found them, presuming he is still using the same one.

I'll wait till you get back to me

Hubby has just called to say the news is about to start and that dinner is ready so I will pop into the chat room at 7pm and see if you are able to join me there. Thanks again for your help.

Dimpz, I was wondering (because of the considerable $ savings) if it was possible to contact a TA that deals in Trafalgar Tours in England via e-mail and purchase the tours we want to do through them as opposed to going to a TA here and doing it at a higher price. What we would save in $ would be the airfare for one of us to London.

Sorry Dimpz Didn't mean to confuse you

Yes there appears to be a considerable difference. Coincidentally I am visiting my TA tomorrow to make the final payment for our TT later this year & I will ask her to phone TT & ask why this should be so.

okey dokey, will do...

From my understanding it is all to do with the exchange rate that TT work with at time of publication which if calculated today for the same tour offered by a TA in say UK in pounds, then calculate into NZ $'s we pay quite a bit more for should we purchase that same tour through a TA in NZ.

Does that make sense ?

quote:

Originally posted by Cottontail:

Does that make sense ?

Ummmmmm kinda

Although it does seem somewhat unfair to pay at an exchange rate that was worked out, perhaps, 12 months ago.

So I wonder what will happen when I ask my TA why I should book with her, since it is considerably more expensive, & not book on-line with a T.A. in the U.K. as NZN has suggested?