Capt. Donald
R. Reid of the Andetur Brazilian Travel Club (Associação ABTC-Brasil), a certified
Brazilian Destination Specialist, works as an Independent Travel
Associate in the USA, and as such is fully bonded ARC/IATA/CLIA/ASTA. ABTC is also associated with other associations in Brazil, the USA,
and Europe and discount suppliers in order to provide the best all
around service for our clients.
Why use a travel
agency or specialist travel service such as Andetur?
Do you know that...
- Airfare
prices change daily?
- That
great deal you found on your own today may be old news tomorrow?
- A
difference of one day in departing or arriving dates, or even
the difference between morning and evening, can save you hundreds?
- Certified
travel agencies and destination specialists will often work for
you for FREE?
- Travel
agencies or desitination specialists often have first-hand experience
with the places they recommend?
- Certified
travel agencies have a lot more leverage than individuals when
settling disputes with airlines and travel suppliers?
In
order to get the maximum benefit from
the technology and speed available via the Internet,
you should note the following information:
Finding
the lowest available fares is not always easy. Discount
fares typically have restrictions
that can be difficult, sometimes frustrating, to interpret.
Most discount fare tickets are non-refundable,
and most do
not allow changes;
at least on the departure dates. If you change the return date,
there is usually a stiff surcharge.
At AndeTUR
we spend a lot of extra time with each clients inquiry trying
to fit a package together to accomplish exactly what he (she)
wants to do in the limited time that they have available. We
do standard package tours (for groups) also, but our expertise
is in creating individual packages for special people.
Decide
if you are looking for the cheapest price, or the best all around
package deal. Here are a few suggestions that will help, or
at least would not hurt.
Make
your reservation early.
Many
discount fares require that you make a reservation 7, 14,
or 21 day before your trip depending on the fare. The best
international fares often require a reservation 30 days in
advance. Making a reservation as soon as you know your travel
dates increases your chances of finding a fare you can live
with.
Flying
on a weekday usually costs less.
Flights
on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday usually offer the lowest
fares. Fares are sometimes (but not always) higher on Monday
and Friday than on other weekdays. Saturday flights occasionally
have discount fares, but as a rule, it’s more expensive
to fly on a weekend than a weekday.
Be as
flexible as you can with your travel request and plan ahead.
Stay
over a Saturday night.
Most
fares require that you stay over at least one Saturday night
before your return flight. However, some fares may only require
you to stay a minimum of 3 or 4 days.
One
airline is better than two.
It’s
usually less expensive to use only one airline for a trip
instead of two. Booking two airlines can, in some cases, cost
hundreds of dollars more.
Did
we mention that you should make your reservations early?
Airlines
sell only a limited number of seats at the lowest fares. When
those seats sell out, the price goes up.
If
at first you do not succeed, try an earlier or later flight.
To get
the lowest roundtrip fare, the fare must be available on both
the departing and return flights you select. If the fare is
sold out on either of these, the price you end up with will
be much higher. Try an earlier or later flight if you can’t
find the fare you want; or if possible, consider flying on
another day.
Looking
for the best fares to major cities?
You may
enjoy significant savings if you are willing to fly into nearby
airports.
Plan
to travel to multiple cities in Brazil?
Only
Varig airline in Brazil used to offer the AIR PASS, which
allows you to travel around the country at a much cheaper
rate. Now others are starting to offer the same deal. One
restriction that VARIG places on the use of their AIR PASS,
is that your international travel.. to and from, must be on
the airline that issues the pass. The
AIR PASS must be purchased at the same time as your ticket.
Check
our AIR PASS programs
Another
interesting deal that the airlines are offering is tickets
allowing multiple stops. They might offer two stops at no
extra charge, and allow you to make additional stops with
a surcharge from $30 through $60 per stop.
Hotel
packages.
Some
tour operators offer either FREE or DISCOUNTED hotel packages.
Some of these will sell to the public at the same price as
you can buy from an agent.
Andetur
also offers special discounts on hotels thru out Latin America
through our 'club plan', which are special contracts negociated
by our Brazil office called 'convenios'.
Doesn’t
it cost me more to use an agent?
Travel
agents generally make their commissions from the supplier,
the airline, the hotel, or the car rental agency, not from
the client. None of these will sell directly to the public
and discount the built-in commission structure. The agent
spends a lot of time working with each client’s itinerary
to try to get him or her the best package available. Many
times the agent can search out special discount packages that
don't show up when a passenger calls the airline direct.
Be
considerate if you plans change, or if you buy another package
from another agent. Inform our office please.. all inquiries
are considered 'open and active' until we are released.
Most
agents are working on quite a few itineraries at the same
time. If you decide do go ahead and buy another package, please
tell our agent so that his / or her time will be free to do
a better job for the other guy.
AndeTUR
communicates with most of their clients, or prospective clients,
via email. We do have telephone and fax service in order to
better serve our clients. Many times, we will send links to
Internet sites that might be of interest. We want to be of
service to you, and we want you to get the most out of your
travel experience. We also want to stay in touch after your
trip. Tell us your experiences, good or bad, so we know more
about the suppliers that we offer.
In
order to travel to Brazil or to the United States (and most
other countries) from Brazil, you will require a visa.
Contact the nearest consulate to find out exactly what
you require. Note the following:
Going
to Brazil:
In order
to enter Brazil, you must have a return ticket, or proof of
ongoing transportation out of Brazil.
Traveling
with minor children
Unless
both parents are traveling together with the children, you
will need a special letter or form from the non-present parent
stamped by the consulate. Discuss what is required with the
nearest consulate. We have these forms and can send to you
upon request.
If you
are delayed for any reason and feel that you must change your
dates, contact the airline as soon as possible.
IMPORTANT!
Consider
purchasing Travel Insurance for
protection against the unexpected. We offer CSA
Travel Protection underwritten by Commercial Union
Insurance Company , Travel Guard,
and ACCESS AMERICA!.
We
also have a new ONLINE TRAVEL INSURANCE available from Unicard
which covers residents of any country. < LINK >
… ALL CLIENTS SHOULD TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THIS VALUABLE BENEFIT…
Travel
Protection Plans include one or more of the following services
and coverage. Please refer to the appropriate Brochure for
more info.
Trip
Cancellation and Interruption
Baggage
Delay
Baggage
Loss
Medical
(and emergency dental) expense
Primary
rental car collision / loss damage
Medical
referral
Lost
ticket and passport service
Emergency
cash
Legal
assistance
Emergency
medical transportation
IMPORTANT
- The PLAN should be purchased within 7 days of initial trip
deposit in order to take advantage of the Pre-Existing Condition
Waiver option. At the very least, you should purchase the
plan before the time you are subject to cancellation charges.
Payment
by credit card (Visa or Master card), bank transfer, cashier’s
check or money order. All suppliers must be paid by Bank Tranfer.
Andetur is a representative of VIGO REMITTANCE CORPORATION which
allows us to transfer funds rapidly and securely.
Confirm acceptance
of discounted travel arrangements as soon as possible so that
AndeTUR can then officially
confirm
your reservations.
Advise how you plan to pay. At that time, we will send you complete
details of your confirmation, including all restrictions that
might apply.
BE
ADVISED THAT SOME SUPPLIERS REQUIRE A FEE WHEN PAYING BY CREDIT
CARD. (Usually about 3 - 5%)
ASK
FOR DETAILS OF THE TRAVEL INSURANCE PLAN.
GIVE
US YOUR COMPLETE MAILING ADDRESS
AT ANY TIME AND WE WILL MAIL YOU BROCHURES AND INFORMATION PACKETS
FOR YOUR TRIP.
ADVISE
DETAILS ON HOW YOU WANT YOUR TICKET DELIVERED. Delivery is free
within the USA unless we have to send a PTA.
NOTE
THAT ALL FARES AND PRICES QUOTED ARE SUBJECT
TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE AND ARE NOT GUARANTEED UNTIL
PAYMENT; OTHER RESTRICTIONS MAY APPLY.
BE
AWARE THAT SOME FARES REQUIRE PAYMENT AT LEAST 30 DAYS IN ADVANCE;
SOME 21 DAYS; SOME 10 DAYS. SOME TRAVEL "PACOTES" REQUIRE A DEPOSIT UPON ACCEPTANCE. BE SURE TO CONFIRM THESE
DETAILS. ALSO NOTE THAT MANY TIMES PORTIONS OF THE INITIAL DEPOSIT
ARE NON-REFUNDABLE.
Agency
details:
AndeTUR Brazilian Travel Club
Operated
by Donald R. and Edna Reid
USA
Contact the Brazil Office, 105 Oak Street
The USA office is closed because of damage from Hurricane LILI - In the process of moving! 70377
U.S.A.
Email:
dreid@andetur.com.br Website:
http://www.andetur.com.br
Phone
/ FAX: No USA phone at present
International
00 55 (84) 9414-9340
Other Information
required:
- If using
a credit card we need an exact
address verification
before card can be run. A SIGNED AUTHORIZATION MUST BE FIRST
FAXED, THEN MAILED TO ANDETUR.
- Complete
name and passport # of all travelers. The name submitted must
be exactly the same as on the passport.
- Drivers
license information for car rentals
- Your telephone
contact number
so airline can contact you.
- Frequent
flyer numbers if applicable
- Seating
preferences
- Exact
names and ages
of children
- AARP number
if applicable
Consumer
Disclosure Notice
PLEASE
READ THIS NOTICE.
IT
CONSTITUTES PART OF YOUR CONTRACT FOR TRAVEL AND RELATED SERVICES
Andetur Brazilian
Travel Club and the above named Agency ANDETUR
USA LLC is acting as a mere
agent
for SUPPLIERS (identified on the accompanying documents)
in selling travel related services, or in accepting reservations
or bookings for services that are not directly supplied by this
travel agency (such as air and ground transportation, hotel accommodations,
cruises, etc.). This agency, therefore, shall
not be responsible for breach of contract or any intentional or careless actions or omissions on part of
such suppliers, which result in any loss, damage, delay, or injury
to you or your companions or group members. Unless the term "Guaranteed"
is specifically stated in writing on your tickets, invoice, or
reservation itinerary, we do not guarantee any of such supplier’s
rates, bookings, reservations, connections, scheduling, or handling
of personal effects. Agent shall
not be responsible for any injuries, damages, or losses caused to any traveler in
connection with terrorist activities, social or labor unrest,
mechanical or construction failures or difficulties, diseases,
local laws, climatic conditions, abnormal conditions or developments,
or any other actions, omissions, or conditions outside of the
Agent’s control. Traveler
assumes complete and full responsibility
for, and
hereby releases the agent
from, any duty of checking and verifying any and all passport,
visa, vaccination, or other entry requirements of each destination,
and all safety and security conditions of such destinations during
the length of the proposed travel. For information concerning
dangers at international destinations, contact the travel advisory
section of the U.S.
State Department, (202) 647-5225.
For medical information, call the U.S.
Center for Disease Control (CDC), (404) 332-4559.
By embarking upon his/her travel, the travel voluntarily assumes
all risks involved in such travel, whether expected or unexpected.
Traveler is hereby
warned
of the above risks as well as possible travel industries bankruptcies
and medical and climatic disruption, and is advised to obtain
appropriate insurance coverage against
them, which is available at an extra cost through this travel
agency. Traveler’s retention of tickets, reservations, or
bookings after issuance shall constitute a consent to the above
and an agreement on his/her part to convey the contents hereto
to his/her travel companions or group members.
DISCLAIMER
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