FAQs

The honest answer? None at all! All you need to enjoy a holiday with Andante Travels is enthusiasm. People with a wide range of experience – from experts and amateurs, to the merely curious – come on tours with us. They are suited to all interest levels!

Absolutely! We have single places available on all of our tours and these are very popular – often being the first to fill. Many long-lasting friendships have been formed on our tours over the past 35 years and solo guests often return time and time again to travel alongside the new friends they’ve made with us.

Of course. We do our very best to give you everything a country has to offer because part of travelling is to delve into the local way of life. Where we can, we will take you to a local festival or market, or offer you an invitation to a working excavation site.

Certainly. If you wish to fly out early or stay on for a few days after your tour ends, we can help book your flights to suit your needs. We do charge an administration fee for this service and there may be a supplement for private transfers. To find out more, just call our friendly sales team who are happy to advise.

We understand that the thrill of travel can take hold at any moment so yes, of course we do! However, we always recommend booking as early as possible to ensure the best price for your trip (and to make sure you don’t miss out, of course). Our sales consultants are always happy to help with late availability.

We include as much as possible on our tours, so you shouldn’t need much extra money. However, if your departure includes free time or independent meals, you’ll need to consider currency to cover these. What’s more, there might also be optional excursions on offer and you may find a souvenir or two to buy!

Unfortunately not. However, should you require a letter of invitation from the country you are planning on visiting, we will organise this for you and provide instructions on how to apply for the visa. But, as most visa applications require either biometric data or personal information, it will be the guest’s responsibility to organise their own visa.

All of our holidays are fully bonded and protected via the Civil Aviation Authority's ATOL scheme (flight-based holidays) or through ABTOT (for holidays which do not include flights).

We have a duty of care for all of our guests and we must ensure that they are covered for any necessary medical issues or repatriation needs as unfortunately we will not be able cover these costs or access your personal funds. Your insurance will also cover you in the unfortunate event that you might have to cancel your holiday.

We can assure you that when you travel with us, you’ll be looked after round the clock. In the event of an emergency, Andante staff will be on hand to help you both on tour and from our office in the UK. We are experts in dealing with the unexpected – trust us – and we will provide you with a 24-hour emergency number when you head off on one of our tours.

All of our tours are physically active and they are carefully planned to minimise the amount of time spent on the road. If there are long journeys included as part of your itinerary, we ensure that rest-stops are visited en route to your next destination. It may come as no surprise to learn that archaeological sites are often in wonderful, off-the-beaten-track and out of the way places, so it’s best to make sure you have a stable level of mobility before joining our tours.

On an Andante Travels tour, the company is never dull! Our travellers are interesting, intelligent people who lead all kinds of lives. We aim to create an easy and informal atmosphere so that you feel comfortable – as if you’re travelling with friends. After all, if you like this sort of holiday, you’ll be relieved to know your fellow travellers do, too!

Local cuisine is something we aim to showcase on our tours as it can tell you a lot about the history and culture of your chosen destination. Wherever possible, we dine in local restaurants. On our European tours, wine will also tend to accompany dinner.

We have no strict dress codes for the majority of our dinners and we encourage guests to wear whatever they feel comfortable in. Should a specific dinner or event require a dress code, we will inform you of this in your final travel documents.

Should we visit a country where a religious dress code is required – for example, a head scarf in a mosque – we will inform you in your final documentation. In any event, it is always crucial to respect religious culture of the country visited.

As mentioned before, we try to include as much as possible so that all you need to do is turn up and enjoy the experience. Accommodation, tips, return flights and entry fees to all sites listed in each programme will be included as standard, as will most meals as per each itinerary.

We work hard to ensure that our visits have a positive impact on the ancient places we visit. We have consistently been awarded the top 5* rating by AITO in recognition of our excellence when it comes to sustainable travel.

For tours with over 15 guests, our expert Guide Lecturer will also be accompanied by a Tour Manager, due to the size of the group. Any tour with less than 15 guests will only include an expert Guide Lecturer.