Who is Tenacious Traveller?

Tenacious Traveller Tours & Adventures is a full service travel company located in Braintree, MA focused on providing unique and immersive trips around the globe.  Founded by Laura Kastner, an experienced travel and cultural exchange professional, we are committed to exceptional service and customized journeys. For more about the founder, visit our About Us page.

What is experiential travel?

By definition, experiential travel, also known as immersion travel, is a form of tourism in which people focus on experiencing a country, city or particular place by connecting to its history, people and culture (compliments of Wikipedia).  More specifically, experiential travel gives people the chance to experience the world from a different perspective, from the inside out; it is more about doing than seeing, about hands-on experiences rather than observation.  Traditionally cultural immersion, experiential travel can also include our natural world.  We offer these types of experiences through adventure travel.

Why use a travel agent?

Travel agents do more than just book travel; they serve as advisors, experts in their field, having access to the most up-to-date promotions and insider knowledge about the destinations they serve.  Your travel agent will guide you to make the most informed decisions about your travel and help you avoid the common mistakes made when booking on-line.  Travel agents have money-saving connections affording them unusual leverage when negotiating with suppliers. Using a travel agent saves you time, allowing you to focus on the more important day-to-day tasks that make up your life.  Travel agents are your go-to’s when things go wrong on the trip.  We are a call away when you lose your passport or a flight is cancelled.  Travel agents will take the time and effort to plan every little detail of your trip so all you have to do is enjoy yourself!

Are there any fees?

Fees charged are dependent on the type of travel planning needed.  Our initial consultation is free.  We will review your travel needs and describe our services at that time,  If you decide you would like us to assist with planning and booking your trip, we charge an initial fee of $50.  This fee covers our research and consultative time and should you change your mind about working with us, is non-refundable.  It can be paid by check or credit card and must be received before our services can begin.  If a larger customization fee is to be charged for our services, this initial deposit can be deducted from the total.  As mentioned, fees charged are dependent on the type of travel booked.  With traditional tours, cruises and packages, commission is paid by suppliers, and no fee is charged.  For customized itineraries, which are complex or take a large number of hours to plan, a flat fee will be assessed based on the itinerary.  Flights, which are non-commissionable, will incur a per-person fee of $30/person for domestic flights and $50/person for international flights.  For the very busy, we offer full-service travel planning (this would include all travel needs including hotels, flights, transportation, restaurant reservations, tours and more) which is billed at an hourly rate.  Contact us today for your free consultation!

What destinations do you offer?

We offer travel in Europe, Asia, South Pacific, Central, North, and South America.  For a full list of our offerings, check out our destinations page.  Don’t see your desired country?  Contact us and we will let you know if we can help!

Can you create a customized itinerary for me?

We specialize in customized itineraries and would be happy to design a trip based on your exact preferences and budget.  We do, of course, have access to plenty of packages, however, if that is your preference.

What form of payment do you accept?

Credit card payments are the preferred method.  However, if you prefer paying by check, we ask that you pay with a bank or cashier’s check; and if paying by this method for your final payment, please plan ahead.  You will need to leave at least two weeks for your payment to process.  Personal checks are not yet accepted.

Do you offer cruises?

Yes, we work with many top-line ocean and river cruise lines.  We suggest trying a small ship cruise for the ultimate in experiential water journeys!

Do I need travel insurance?

While Tenacious Traveller does not require trip insurance to participate on our itineraries, we do highly recommend it. Trip insurance provides protection for a variety of travel incidents including cancellation, trip interruption and delay, baggage delay, medical treatments and evacuation and more.  Should you opt out of trip insurance you will be asked to sign an insurance waiver.  For those who would like to book travel insurance directly on our site, check out our new Travel Insurance page. 

Will I need a visa for my trip?

Each international destination has different visa requirements for citizens from different countries. Visa requirements are waived for US citizens in many places, but it is essential you know the status before you go.  You should check with your destination country well in advance of your trip to determine your visa needs and apply as soon as possible if you do need one.  Some countries allow you to purchase the visa on entry into the country or on-line.  Others require you to send your passport to the embassy to process the visa.  As this can be an arduous process, Tenacious Traveller works with visa service suppliers and would be happy to assist you in obtaining the relevant visas. Let us know if you would like that service.  There is no extra charge!  For more information on visas, visit our Passport & Visa Tips page.