Frequently Asked Questions
Booking and Reservations:
Phone: Call 1-800-268-3492 with your credit card info to reserve your space.
Website: Click "Submit Booking Request" under the tour you are interested in booking. This will take you to an online request form which you will fill out with your contact details. When we receive this form we will contact you to complete your booking.
A deposit of $300 per person for regular tours, or $700 per person for tours including a cruise or train, is due upon booking. For those paying by cheque—please send your deposit to one of our offices within 7 days of making your booking. Once we have processed your deposit, we will send you an invoice that shows your remaining balance and due date, along with some general information about your tour. Balance of payment is due 60 days prior to departure for regular tours, or 90 days prior for tours including a cruise, train, or entry visa.
Please refer to bullet 5 in our Terms & Conditions for details on our Cancellation Insurance Policy. If you need to cancel your tour, you must notify us within 48 hours of learning that you are unable to travel, otherwise, the cancellation insurance policy is null and void.
There are occasions when we are forced to cancel a tour due to extenuating circumstances. In this case, you will be offered an option to transfer to a different tour, or alternatively you may choose to receive a full refund of all payments made to us.
You are welcome to arrange your own flights for any of our tours in which case the cost of the group air will be deducted from the price of your tour.
If you are using points, you will need to contact your loyalty travel program to book your flights with them directly. When doing your own air, you may wish to book the same flights as the group so you can take advantage of our transfers to and from the airport, otherwise, you will be responsible to make your own way to the first hotel or the pier in the case of a cruise.
If your flight home departs at a much different time from the rest of the group, you may have to make your way back to the airport at the end of the tour. When booking your own flights, please ensure that you protect yourself with cancellation insurance, as we cannot be held responsible for schedule changes or if the tour is cancelled for any reason.
In most cases our group contract with the airline do not permit advance seat selection under the terms and conditions. If you require a specific seat you may wish to do your own air in order to guarantee your seat selection. While our air staff makes every effort to meet all requests, it is often not possible.
In most cases we can extend your stay at the destination and provide you with a later return date. Because this would be a deviation from our “group block” there would usually be an additional charge imposed by the airline. You must request this deviation as early as possible. Obviously you will not be escorted during your extension. Please bear in mind that if you extend your stay you will be responsible for your own transportation to the airport for your return flight home.
General Tour Information:
Our tours are catered to mature travellers over the age of 55.
Yes, although our trips are tailored towards the mature traveller, adults of all ages are welcome to join our tours.
Yes, although our trips are tailored towards the mature traveller, adults of all ages are welcome to join our tours.
No! Once our brochure has been published, the prices quoted are guaranteed in Canadian funds regardless of fluctuation in currency, taxes or fuel surcharges.
On most of our tours, we offer a limited number of single accommodations. A single traveller can book a single room and pay the single supplement as indicated for that tour. If you prefer not to travel alone, you can sign up for our Roommate Matching Program, in which case we would contact you if another traveller is also looking to share a room. We provide you with their phone number so you can contact each other and decide if you would like to share accommodations. We do not arbitrarily match travellers up as roommates.
The single supplement is a charge which is levied by our suppliers (hotels and cruise lines) to cover the extra cost for one individual occupying the accommodations. It is not related to any other services such as meals, attractions, or transportation. The cost of the single supplement varies as indicated for each tour, with cruise supplements commonly much higher than land tours. It does not grant single passengers the right to occupy two seats on the tour bus while touring. Note, in many countries outside of North America, standard single rooms are smaller than twin/double rooms.
We can request a special meal for the flight portion of your tour (if a meal is included on that flight). Cruise lines can accommodate a great variety of special diets. For land tours, hotels and restaurants will be advised of any special dietary requests in advance, and will do their best to accommodate any requests; however, we cannot guarantee special meals based on religion, allergies, general dislikes, or lifestyle choices on a group tour.
You will need some money to cover the costs of any personal expenses such as shopping, laundry, telephone calls etc. and for any meals or beverages that are not included in the tour cost (please refer to the tour details in our brochure).
In addition to the tours included in your tour package, sometimes “optional excursions” may be offered during your free time. You are under absolutely no obligation to purchase these tours. Tipping for optional excursions is not included.
Our tours are designed with casual comfort in mind. Men will seldom if ever need a jacket and tie, and women will seldom if ever have to dress up – with the exception of formal nights on a cruise when dining in the formal dining room. Luggage restrictions will govern what you pack so remember to only take what you need. It is helpful to bring clothes that wash and dry easily as hotel laundry services can be very expensive.
Generally, you will receive your tour documents 7 to 10 days prior to departure unless we are held up by a supplier providing documentation, in which case you may not receive them until closer to departure.
For all tours outside of Canada, you must have a Canadian (or other) passport that is valid for a period of 6 months beyond your expected return date to Canada. In addition, some countries require that visitors obtain a Visa. Our tour consultants will advise you of any Visa requirements and provide you with the necessary forms to complete the process. Visa fees are included in the cost of our tours where required.
Currency will depend on your destination. Make sure that the bills are in good condition and they are not marked because in places like Asia and the Middle East, torn bills are not accepted. ATMs are accessible worldwide for the most part; however, we suggest that you contact your financial institution and verify the compatibility of your debit and credit card.
Typically, the tour size can be up to 45 passengers; however, group size is determined by the tour destination. Our more exotic tours or walking tours may be limited in group size due to the nature of the tour or size of available coaches at the destinations.
It is impossible to predict the weather with any certainty. We select our departure dates based on historical weather patterns so that the touring is comfortable. While we will provide you a Fact Sheet after paying your deposit, with an indication as to the likely weather for the travel dates at your destination, you should check the weather conditions before you depart.
Tour Details and Inclusions:
All of our tours are fully escorted and anyone that has travelled with us mentions the likeability of our Tour Managers. They are responsible for the well-being of the group and their primary purpose is to ensure that everything we have advertised and contracted on your behalf has been provided and delivered at the level of service expected. Although they are responsible for the daily operation of a tour, they are not tour guides. However, they will endeavor to get answers to your questions when there is no guide available. Our Tour Managers cannot assist the needs of individual group members if this interferes with them looking after the needs of the group. They are not responsible for pushing wheelchairs or pulling luggage from an airport carousel as this will distract them from their other group responsibilities.
We always provide comfortable, clean, safe accommodations. In some destinations we use Deluxe hotels, in some cases First Class and sometimes we use the best available hotels in certain locations. Please refer to our brochure.
Yes! We have 4 different activity levels so whether you’re looking for an energetic adventure or an experience with a slower pace, our tours offer plenty of options to suit your travel style. Check tour descriptions to find the activity level that’s right for you.
Our tours are designed for people who are physically fit and capable of walking fairly long distances at a reasonable pace. We suggest that those who are unable to walk at a reasonable pace for 4-5 city blocks, or climb stairs easily, look at our tours that are rated as activity level 1. View our tour activity levels for more details.
If you require assistance to get through airports, you always have the option to request additional assistance. Please call us and speak to one of our tour consultants if you have any questions or concerns.
Our tour members are generally limited to one checked suitcase, with further limitations based on airline restrictions. On tours that include local flights within a foreign country there may even be stricter weight limitations (perhaps a 33 lbs. limit instead of 50 lbs.). You will receive detailed information in your final documents.
We remain committed to being the best-in-class for your health and safety. Our team consults with health and security experts worldwide to ensure that your health, wellbeing, and enjoyment remain our top priority.
Senior Discovery Tours is proudly recognized by the World Travel & Tourism Council for excellence in safety and hygienic standards.
No, vaccination against COVID-19 is no longer required to participate in any Senior Discovery Tours.
While we no longer require all participants to wear masks while they are on board our tour buses, we do require that our passengers wear masks if they show symptoms of any respiratory illness.
As per the guidelines set forth by the relevant health authorities, COVID-19 regulations have significantly relaxed, placing greater emphasis on individual responsibility to minimize the risk of infection in case of illness. Passengers may be required to self isolate in accordance with local regulations, as well as our own mandated procedures if they test positive for covid.
These incidents will be treated as any other emergency illness or trip interruption, and guests will be responsible for paying any related expenses upfront for additional services that may be required, such as for hotels, meals or transportation. These costs can be claimed through insurance, so please ensure you retain all receipts and records to submit with your claim.
Insurance and Loyalty Programs:
Health, cancellation & trip interruption protection ... yes, we take care of that too! Our mission is to provide you with a carefree travel experience. For this reason, we include a Comprehensive Insurance Plan with health coverage (while outside of Canada), and insurance for cancellation & trip interruption—an all-in offering that’s truly unique in Canada!
If you already have a plan which covers you for out-of-country medical expenses and / or cancellation penalties we will deduct the cost of our insurance from your price. Please note that you must tell the agent as early as possible you are declining our coverage (before any penalties may come into effect). Please be sure that you are familiar with the terms and conditions of your insurance and that you have adequate coverage.
Senior Discovery Tours Insider Club Benefits is a loyalty program designed specifically to reward clubs/associations for travelling with us.
The program consists of a 4% commission paid to your club for all tour bookings made by your club/association members.
Below is an overview of our Club/Associations Program:
- To qualify, clubs/associations must register with their local Senior Discovery Tours office and have a virtual presentation or future in-person presentation made to your club/association members.
- A commission of 4% will be paid directly to the club/association. The commission is not paid to individual club/association members. There is no minimum number of bookings required to receive the commission.
- Commission requests must be submitted no later than December 31st of the same calendar year in which the travel was completed.
- Commission requests must include the traveller’s names and the applicable tour destination and date of travel.
- Travelling companions of club/association members do not qualify for the Rewards program.
- Clubs/Associations may be required to provide a list of club/association members at the beginning of every calendar year
Please call us at 1-800-268-3492 or email marketing@stc.ca and we will be happy to help set this up for you.