FAQ
Travelling with Ormina
Here are indicative answers to frequently asked questions, however please refer to our terms and conditions. Please contact us at [email protected] if you have any queries.
General
What services do you provide?
Ormina Tours is a tour operator that provides land services in Europe. We offer Small Group Journeys with a maximum group size of 10 on set departure dates and we curate tailored private journeys for guests across Europe. We are also a wholesaler of hotels and have access to over 2000 properties in Italy alone. Essentially, if you need any service from when you land in Europe until you leave, except for flights, we can arrange it.
Do you provide services in all countries across Europe?
We cover most of Europe and we continue to expand our capability and expertise across new regions and countries. If you have an unusual destination, please contact us to confirm we have it covered.
Where is the company based?
Ormina Tours is an Australian company with a head office in Sydney and an office in Perth. We also have a team on the ground in Europe to guide you along your journey and ensure the best delivery of our services.
Do you offer your expertise and services only in Australia or worldwide?
While our head office is based in Australia and we are represented in over 250 travel agents across Australia, New Zealand and the USA, we offer our European services to guests worldwide.
Can we take your small group journeys as private journeys and is there any minimum booking for a tailored private journey?
We curate any type of private journey whether it is based on our popular small group itineraries, our range of recommended city breaks and regional discoveries or service such as an airport transfers and guided experiences. There are no minimums with private journeys – in guest numbers or number of services provided the total value is from AUD$1000. Our experience in Europe is unrivalled and we have been operating for over 25 years, so our team has the skills and experience to recommend a complete, wonderful and seamless journey across Europe from start to finish.
When is the best time to visit Europe?
It is always a great time to visit Europe but there is no planning for unexpected weather which varies by country, month to month. August is particularly busy for beach locations as many Europeans flock there during their summer holidays. Areas such as the Amalfi Coast typically become heavily booked 6 months prior and hotels in all locations generally increase their rates as their capacity reduces so it is always best to reach out to us as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. May and September are the most popular European months for Australians.
Do your tours operate all year?
Most of our set departure tours operate between April and October. Please refer to our brochure, website or contact us or your travel agent to confirm. Our tours can also be taken as a Private Journey on any date you choose.
Do I need travel insurance?
Yes, we require all clients travelling on our Small Group Journeys to have travel insurance. We highly recommend clients travelling on private journey’s to take out travel insurance. If you need assistance arranging insurance, just ask.
Do you cater to clients with mobility challenges?
We tailor all journeys to our client’s travel preferences and needs, including any mobility challenges whether it is special vehicles, travel scooters, hotel rooms with accessible showers and hoists. We also have expertise on most attractions and towns to know which are more accessible than others.
With our Small Group Journeys, any significant mobility challenge requires an accompanying minder/helper to attend on the tour as it is not always possible for our Tour Directors, drivers and guides to offer continuous care in a group environment. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us.
Small Group Journeys
How many people are on your set date departure tours?
Unless otherwise indicated, we guarantee to operate our tours with a minimum of 2 people to give you confidence it will not be cancelled. We operate the groups with a maximum group size of just 10 passengers, making for an intimate and seamless experience.
What is the style of your small group journeys?
Not every tour is right for every individual. Our tours typically involve stops of 2 or 3-nights to make for a leisurely pace and so you may take full benefit of experiencing our selection of exceptional 4 star and 5-star properties. While we host you, we balance structured sightseeing with ample leisure time for self-discovery where you maybe unaccompanied. We typically include special meals at wineries, hidden restaurants you need to know to find or popular restaurants where walk-ins are impossible. We also tailor our Small Group Journeys so if you would like more structure in your leisure time, we can pre-arrange scheduled activities that suit your interests.
Will there be a Tour Director?
Unless stated otherwise, Tour Directors are only used for tours where there are 7 or more guests to help provide a more fluid journey when there is a slightly larger group to coordinate. Instead, we use a mixture of local expert drivers and guides who are always able to help give you recommendations for things to do during your leisure time.
Do I need to tip on tour?
Tips on tours are not compulsory, however if you feel that services for guides, drivers or Tour Directors have been exceptional and you wish to leave a gratuity, these will be appreciated by the recipient.
What is included in the Small Group Journeys?
Our land journeys are fully inclusive as indicated in your itinerary. Your transportation is arranged including airport transfers at the start of the tour. Breakfast is always included with lunches and dinners as indicated. These are marked within the itinerary with either a B, L or D. Your hotels, transportation, admissions as indicated are prearranged so you can relax and enjoy the journey.
What is excluded in the Small Group Journeys?
Essentially, all items that are not stated as included. Our tours are land only so do not include flights to arrive at the start location. Certain city’s charge city tax on hotels which must be paid in person, on checkout and are therefore excluded. Obviously, meals including alcohol drinks that are not indicated are excluded as are any personal expenses.
Can I choose my room type?
All rooms included in the tour are standard level. If you would like to upgrade for more space or a better view, please advise at the time of booking to ensure your expectations are met. Additional costs will apply for room upgrades.
How much luggage can I bring?
While we travel in Mercedes vehicles, space is limited to one standard check-in luggage plus one standard carry-on item per person. If this is likely to be exceeded or you must travel with additional items, please discuss this with us at the time of booking.
What happens if the tour only has 2 people booked?
Ormina Tours guarantees departure on Small Group Journeys with just 2 people. However, if you and your travelling companion are the only party booked on the tour and you do not want to travel alone, please advise us at the time of booking and we may agree to allow you to cancel the booking by a certain date. When tours do proceed with 2 persons, it is essentially run as a private journey with the same inclusions as the tour.
PRIVATE JOURNEYS
Are private journeys tours?
No, our private itineraries, including Regional Discoveries and City Breaks, are not tours. These experiences are customised trips that are built to enable your own independent discovery with selected prearranged services. As part of your tailored itinerary, you may choose private guided tours of sites, or join a third-party group sightseeing tour.
Is it better to take a Private or Group tour on my Private itinerary?
This is dependent on your travel style and the location, which your Ormina representative can advise at the time of booking. Private touring means that you are the only people participating in the tour. Private guiding offers a more personable and tailored experience, with guides being flexible to suit your needs on the day. Alternatively, joining a group tour can be a cost-effective alternative, however, group sightseeing tours are run by third party operators not Ormina Tours. While we request that these tours are kept to a minimum number, we cannot confirm the number of people on tour or whether the tour is guaranteed to operate.
Do we have to use the recommended hotel on the itinerary?
While we highly recommend the hotels that we place in our Regional Discovery & City Break itineraries, we are completely flexible to work with any hotel you may choose.
Pricing/Payment
What currency are your tours priced in?
The tours are quoted in Australian Dollars (AUD) for Australian residents, New Zealand Dollars (NZD) for New Zealand residents and US Dollars (USD) for US residents. Price lists can be found below in these currencies. All other nationalities should pay in AUD, unless we agree a price in an alternate currency at time of booking. If you would like us to quote in another local currency please contact us.
You can find our 2023 prices here:
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Will your prices change with currency fluctuations?
We aim to keep our prices both competitive and stable. Once a tour price is paid in full, the price you have paid cannot change. There are exceptional circumstances where due to significant currency fluctuations we need to amend our price if you have not paid in full. If this occurs, we will contact you or your travel agent to advise you and you will have the option to either pay the full tour price by a certain date or accept the increase.
Do you accept credit cards?
We accept payment by credit card but charges we incur from credit card companies or payment intermediary’s may be passed on. Otherwise, we accept domestic wire transfers payable in your local currency for most countries and currencies.
What deposit is required at booking?
Our deposit amounts vary depending on the size of the booking, whether it is for a Small Group Journey or a private journey, the currency of the tour price and whether the booking includes tickets and admissions that maybe non-refundable or non-transferable after purchase.
In all cases, the total price must be paid at least 3 months before the date of the first service.
Can I change my booking after making a deposit?
Once your deposit has been received by Ormina Tours, any substantial change to the booking will incur a change fee of $100 per change.
Please note that booking additional services on a confirmed booking does not incur a change fee.
Once the booking has been confirmed, the booking will be considered cancelled if over 50% of the confirmed services are cancelled.
Is there a minimum spend for private journeys?
We only except bookings over $1,500 AUD per person or $5,000 total booking.
What happens if I cancel my trip?
Any cancellation made by you prior to your tour (including any changes to your departure date) will result in the following cancellation fee:
Days of notice from notification to first date of service:
- 91 days and over Loss of deposit
- 90 to 75 days Loss of 50% of Tour Price
- 75 days or less Loss of 100% of Tour Price
*Tour price includes booking deposit.
We always advise our clients to purchase comprehensive travel insurance to cover any unforeseen cancellations. Please contact us if you would like to get a quote on travel insurance or have any questions regarding your current policy coverage.
Travel COVID Safe
Even as regions reopen after the COVID-19 becomes manageable, all guests must monitor and follow all relevant local public health recommendations from the time of booking until the completion of your travels.
In addition to mandatory public health requirements, it is up to the discretion of each traveller to assess the risks that pandemics like COVID-19 pose, as all measures cannot eliminate all risks.
Travellers deemed to be in a high-risk category (e.g., elderly people, people with pre-existing medical conditions such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease) should consult their own medical practitioners to consider whether travel is advisable or whether extra precautions may be taken to reduce risks associated with a decision to travel.
Here are our generic guidelines to help address health and safety concerns.
Ormina Tours COVID-19 Safety Practices
1. Wear a mask and practice social distancing as and when required by local laws or guidelines
If you do not follow these requirements, you may be prevented from participating on the tour and you may not be eligible for a refund.
2. Don’t travel if you’ve recently been exposed to or have symptoms of COVID-19
To help protect the health and safety of our community, it is our policy that guests should not participate on a tour if any of the following are true:
- You are actively infected or have tested positive with COVID-19 in the past 30 days
- You suspect you are sick or have been exposed and are awaiting test results to confirm or deny a diagnosis of COVID-19
- You are showing symptoms or are concerned about possible infection of COVID-19
- You’ve had close, sustained contact with an individual confirmed or suspected to be infected with COVID-19, within the last 14 days
3. Ensure you comply with airline and country COVID-19 protocols
As the global situation continues to evolve so do the rules and regulations from countries, cruises and airlines. While we will assist you as much as we can, it is your responsibility to ensure you comply with the various rules. To this end:
- Ensure you have your vaccination papers on hand at all times. Ensure you check that your vaccination is approved by the visiting countries and has been administered at least 14 days from entry.
- If required, ensure you have proof of a negative COVID-19 test prior to arrival. Keep this documentation with you at all times.
- If you are travelling between countries, there may be a requirement for you to have a negative COVID-19 test during your trip and proof shown at entry to a new country. This will need to be arranged privately.
