Question 1

How do I book a trip?

Accepted Answer

Choose a journey, pick a departure date, tell us who is travelling and pay a deposit or the full amount. The whole thing takes about ten minutes and you can stop and come back.

Nothing is charged until the final step, and you see the full price with everything included and excluded before you get there.

Question 2

Can I book without creating an account?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can book as a guest and manage everything afterwards through a secure link we send to your email. An account is optional and only makes it faster next time.

Guest bookings have exactly the same access — payments, documents, tickets and changes. Nothing is locked behind signing up.

Question 3

How do I know my booking is confirmed?

Accepted Answer

You get a confirmation email with a reference beginning GTT within a few minutes, and the booking appears immediately in your account. The reference is what to quote if you ever call us.

A confirmation means we have your booking. Where a departure still needs minimum numbers, that is stated separately as provisional, and we say so plainly rather than implying it is settled.

Question 4

Can I book for someone else?

Accepted Answer

Yes. You can book for family, friends or a group, and you stay the lead contact for payments and updates unless you tell us otherwise.

You will need each traveller's name exactly as it appears on their passport or ID, and their date of birth. For international trips we also need their passport details before ticketing.

Question 5

Can I book more than one traveller?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Add everyone in one booking and they travel under a single reference, which keeps rooms, pickup points and payments together.

Groups of ten or more are often better handled by our team directly, because we can hold seats and rooms in a way the website cannot.

Question 6

Is there a booking deadline?

Accepted Answer

Local trips usually close two days before departure. International trips close earlier — often four to six weeks — because of flight ticketing and visa timescales.

The exact deadline is shown on each departure. If you are close to it, call us before assuming it is too late; sometimes it is not.

Question 7

Can the team create a booking for me?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Call or message us and we will take the details, hold the places and send you a payment link. Nothing is charged over the phone.

We will still email you the full price breakdown and terms before you pay, so you have the same written record you would get online.

Question 8

What happens if I leave checkout before paying?

Accepted Answer

Nothing is charged and nothing is lost. Your progress is saved on that device, so you can come back and carry on where you stopped.

Seats are only held once a deposit reaches us. Leaving checkout releases them back to general availability.

Question 9

How long are seats held during payment?

Accepted Answer

Twenty minutes from the moment you reach the payment step. A countdown is shown so you are never guessing.

If the hold expires nothing is charged and the booking is not lost — you simply start the payment step again, and the places are usually still there.

Question 10

Can I save a trip for later?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Tap the heart on any journey and it is kept in your favourites with its live price, next departure and current availability.

Saving a trip does not hold a place or fix the price. Both can change, and we show you when they have.

Question 11

Which payment methods are accepted?

Accepted Answer

Debit and credit card, bank transfer, and payment in person at our office by appointment. Card is instant; a transfer takes a working day or two to reach us.

Card details are entered directly with our payment provider and never touch our systems. We hold the amount, the date and the method — nothing else.

Question 12

Can I pay a deposit?

Accepted Answer

Most departures allow a deposit instead of the full amount, usually twenty per cent. The exact deposit and the balance deadline are shown before you confirm anything.

Deposit availability varies by package and departure. Some late bookings and some suppliers require payment in full — where that applies, it is stated on the departure itself.

Question 13

When is the remaining balance due?

Accepted Answer

Usually eight weeks before departure for international journeys and two weeks for local ones. The date is on your booking from the day you book.

We send a reminder three weeks ahead and again a week before, by the channels you have chosen. Tickets are issued once the balance clears.

Question 14

Can I pay in instalments?

Accepted Answer

Often, yes. After the deposit, the balance can usually be split into agreed instalments up to the balance deadline.

This is arranged with our team rather than set up automatically, and it is not available on every departure. There is no interest and no fee — it is simply a schedule we agree with you.

Question 15

How do bank transfers work?

Accepted Answer

We send you our account details and a unique reference. Use that reference so we can match your payment quickly — we check transfers each weekday morning.

Your places are held while we wait. We email you the same day we match your transfer, and the booking status changes from held to confirmed.

Question 16

What happens if a payment fails?

Accepted Answer

Nothing is taken and your booking is not lost. We tell you what the bank reported and give you a way to try again with the same or a different card.

The most common reasons are a bank security check or an address that does not match the card. Neither means there is anything wrong with your booking.

Question 17

Will I be charged twice if I retry?

Accepted Answer

A declined payment takes nothing, so retrying after a decline cannot double-charge you.

If a payment timed out rather than declining, we cannot always tell straight away whether it went through. In that case we ask you to check your payment status rather than retry, and we will confirm before anything else is taken.

Question 18

Where can I download my receipt?

Accepted Answer

In your booking, under Documents. Every payment has its own receipt and they stay there for as long as you want them.

If you need a receipt addressed to an employer or made out differently, ask us and we will reissue it.

Question 19

How do I pay an outstanding balance?

Accepted Answer

Open your booking and choose Pay balance. You do not need an account — the secure link in your reminder email opens the same page.

You can pay part of a balance if that suits you better. The remainder stays due on the original date unless we agree otherwise.

Question 20

Is payment secure?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Card details go straight to our payment provider through their own hosted fields and are never seen or stored by us.

That also means we can never read your card number back to you, and nobody claiming to be from us should ever ask you to send one by email, WhatsApp or over the phone.

Question 21

What is included in a local trip?

Accepted Answer

Return coach travel from your chosen pickup point, a coordinator with the group, and any entry tickets listed on the trip page.

Meals are not included unless the trip says so. The inclusions and exclusions are listed in full on every departure before you book.

Question 22

Where do local trips depart from?

Accepted Answer

Most begin in east and north London, with additional pickup points in Croydon, Wembley, Ilford and sometimes the Midlands on longer journeys.

The available pickup points for your departure are shown when you book, with the exact address and time for each.

Question 23

What time should I arrive?

Accepted Answer

Ten minutes before the stated departure time. The coach leaves on time because a late departure affects everyone on it.

Your joining instructions, sent ten days before, repeat the time and describe exactly where the coach waits.

Question 24

When will the trip return?

Accepted Answer

An estimated return time is on every departure and in your joining instructions. Day trips are usually back at the first pickup point between six and eight in the evening.

It is an estimate, not a guarantee. Traffic can move it, and we would rather say so than have you plan a connection you cannot make.

Question 25

Are local trips suitable for children?

Accepted Answer

Most are, and many are planned with families in mind. Each trip page says how much walking is involved and how long the coach legs are.

A six-hour drive each way suits some children and not others. Tell us their ages when you enquire and we will say honestly whether it will work.

Question 26

Can I choose a pickup point?

Accepted Answer

Yes. All available points for your departure are shown when you book, and you pick one for everyone on the booking.

Different travellers on one booking normally need to join at the same point. If that is a problem, tell us — we can usually work around it.

Question 27

Is there a pickup surcharge?

Accepted Answer

Most pickup points cost nothing extra. A few outlying ones carry a small supplement, which is shown next to the point when you choose it.

You will never find a pickup charge added after booking. If it is not shown at the time, it does not apply.

Question 28

Are meals included on local trips?

Accepted Answer

Usually not. Day trips include a planned stop where food is available, and longer weekends sometimes include breakfast at the hotel.

Where a meal is included it is listed explicitly on the trip page. If it is not listed, assume it is not included.

Question 29

What happens if I miss the pickup?

Accepted Answer

Call the number on your joining instructions immediately. If the coach has not left the area, the coordinator will sometimes be able to wait or arrange a second point.

If the coach has gone, we cannot refund a missed departure — but we will always try to help you reach the group under your own steam if that is realistic.

Question 30

Can I bring luggage on a local trip?

Accepted Answer

One medium bag per person in the hold and one small bag with you. Day trips rarely need more than a rucksack.

Coach hold space is finite. If you need to bring something bulky — sports equipment, a large pushchair — tell us in advance rather than on the morning.

Question 31

Are flights included?

Accepted Answer

On most international journeys, yes — return flights from a stated UK airport are part of the package price.

A few journeys are sold land-only for travellers who want to arrange their own flights or are joining from another country. The trip page states which it is, at the top, before the price.

Question 32

Which airport does the trip depart from?

Accepted Answer

Most depart from Heathrow, with Gatwick and Manchester available on some journeys. The airport is chosen when you book and shown with any price difference.

Regional departures sometimes carry a supplement, which is shown before you select them, never afterwards.

Question 33

Is accommodation included?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Every night of the itinerary is included, with the hotel or category named on the trip page.

Occasionally a named property has to be substituted for one of the same standard. If that happens we tell the group before departure rather than on arrival.

Question 34

What room types are available?

Accepted Answer

Twin, double, triple and single, with family rooms on some journeys. You choose when you book and the price adjusts as you do.

Single rooms usually carry a supplement because hotels charge us the same for one person as for two. It is shown as a separate line, not hidden in the headline price.

Question 35

How much baggage can I bring?

Accepted Answer

Usually one checked bag of 20–23kg and one cabin bag, set by the airline rather than by us. Your exact allowance is in your joining instructions.

Airline allowances change. We confirm yours in writing before you travel, and extra baggage can normally be bought in advance more cheaply than at the airport.

Question 36

Are airport transfers included?

Accepted Answer

Yes, at the destination. You are met on arrival and taken to the hotel as a group, and returned to the airport at the end.

Getting to the UK airport is your own arrangement. We tell you the meeting point and time, and a coordinator is there with a Global Tamil Travel sign.

Question 37

Can I pay a deposit on an international trip?

Accepted Answer

Usually yes, with the balance due about eight weeks before departure. The deposit is normally twenty per cent.

Where an airline requires immediate ticketing — often on late bookings — full payment may be needed. This is always stated on the departure before you commit.

Question 38

When do I submit passport details?

Accepted Answer

As soon as the booking is confirmed, and at the latest six weeks before departure. Airlines will not issue tickets without them.

The name on the ticket must match the passport exactly. A shortened or misspelled name can be refused at the gate and costs money to correct.

Question 39

Is travel insurance required?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Comprehensive travel insurance is a condition of travelling internationally with us, and we check the certificate covers your dates and destinations.

We are not insurance advisers and cannot sell or recommend a policy. Buy it when you book rather than later — cancellation cover only works if it is in place before you need it.

Question 40

How are international trip updates shared?

Accepted Answer

By email always, and by text or WhatsApp too if you have asked for those. Everything also appears in your booking, so you can find it again.

Anything that affects your travel — a schedule change, a document request, a gate or meeting-point change — goes out by email regardless of your other preferences, so there is a written record.

Question 41

Where can I see the pickup address?

Accepted Answer

On your booking, from the moment you book, and again in the joining instructions sent ten days before you travel.

The address includes the exact spot — which side of the road, which entrance — because 'outside the station' is not enough at five in the morning.

Question 42

Can pickup times change?

Accepted Answer

Occasionally, usually by a few minutes and usually because of roadworks or a change of coach operator. We tell you as soon as we know.

A confirmed change always comes by email and, if you have asked for it, by text the day before. We never assume you have seen a website update.

Question 43

How early should I arrive at the pickup point?

Accepted Answer

Ten minutes before the stated time for a coach departure, and two and a half hours before the flight for an airport meeting point.

Arriving much earlier than that is rarely useful — the coordinator is often not there yet, and there may be nowhere to sit.

Question 44

Can I change my pickup point?

Accepted Answer

Usually yes, up to a week before departure, provided there is room on that leg of the route.

Request it through your booking rather than by telling the driver on the day. There is no charge unless the new point carries a supplement.

Question 45

Is parking available at the pickup point?

Accepted Answer

It varies by point, and we say what we know in the joining instructions — station car parks, nearby streets and whether they are free at that hour.

We cannot reserve parking or take responsibility for a vehicle left there. For long journeys most people arrange a lift or a taxi.

Question 46

What happens if I am late?

Accepted Answer

Call the coordinator's number on your joining instructions straight away. If the coach is still nearby they will sometimes be able to help.

A coach will not usually wait more than a few minutes, because everyone else on it has a connection or an entry time. A missed departure is not refundable.

Question 47

Are there pickup fees?

Accepted Answer

Most points are included in the price. A small number of outlying points carry a supplement, shown next to the point at the moment you choose it.

Nothing is ever added after booking. If it was not shown then, it does not apply.

Question 48

Where can I find the return time?

Accepted Answer

On your booking and in the joining instructions, as an estimated time back at each pickup point.

It is an estimate. We would rather give you an honest range than a precise time we cannot hold to in traffic.

Question 49

How will I recognise the coach or coordinator?

Accepted Answer

Your coordinator is named in the joining instructions and holds a Global Tamil Travel sign. The coach registration is included too.

If you cannot see either at the stated time, call the coordinator before you go looking — they may be a few metres away on the other side of the road.

Question 50

Can children join?

Accepted Answer

Yes, on almost every journey. Many of our departures are booked by families travelling across three generations.

A few itineraries involve long walking days or late finishes that suit older children better. Each trip page says so, and we will tell you honestly if we think it will not work.

Question 51

Is there child pricing?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Children under twelve usually pay a reduced fare, and infants under two travel at a nominal cost on most local trips.

Child pricing depends on the room they occupy as much as their age — a child sharing with two adults often costs less than one in their own room. The price updates as you add them.

Question 52

Are infants allowed?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Infants under two are welcome on local trips and on most international journeys.

On flights an infant normally travels on an adult's lap unless you buy them a seat. Tell us at the time of booking so the airline records it correctly.

Question 53

Do children need their own seat?

Accepted Answer

On a coach, every traveller aged two and over needs their own seat, and it is included in their fare.

Under-twos may travel on a lap on a coach but must be in a seat on a flight if you have bought them one. We will confirm which applies to your journey.

Question 54

Are child seats provided?

Accepted Answer

Coaches in the UK are not required to carry child car seats and we do not provide them. You are welcome to bring your own.

At destinations where local transport is used, tell us in advance if you need a car seat and we will ask the supplier. We will confirm whether it is possible rather than assume.

Question 55

Is the itinerary family-friendly?

Accepted Answer

Each trip page states the walking distance, the longest travel leg and the typical day length, so you can judge it against your own family.

If you tell us the ages of everyone travelling, we will say which of our journeys we would put our own families on — including when the answer is none of them.

Question 56

Can families request to sit together?

Accepted Answer

Yes, and on coaches we seat families together as a matter of course without being asked.

On flights, seating is the airline's to allocate. We request family seating at ticketing but cannot guarantee it, and we will not pretend otherwise.

Question 57

Are meals suitable for children?

Accepted Answer

Where meals are included, there is always something plain available. Tell us at booking if a child is a cautious eater and we will let the hotels know.

Allergies are a different matter and must be recorded as a dietary requirement on the booking, not mentioned on the day.

Question 58

What documents do children need?

Accepted Answer

For international journeys, their own valid passport and any visa the destination requires. Children cannot travel on a parent's passport.

Some countries require a child's passport to have longer remaining validity than an adult's. Check the official requirements for your destination, and start early.

Question 59

Can an adult travel with a child who is not their own?

Accepted Answer

Yes, but you will usually need a signed letter of consent from a parent or guardian, and sometimes proof of their relationship to the child.

Requirements vary by destination and by airline, and border officials apply them at their discretion. Tell us at booking so we can tell you exactly what to carry.

Question 60

Do I need a visa?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your nationality, your destination and how long you are staying. We tell you what typically applies to your journey when you book.

What we tell you is guidance, not an official determination. Entry requirements are set by the destination country and can change without notice — always confirm with the official source before you travel.

Question 61

Does Global Tamil Travel apply for visas?

Accepted Answer

No. We can tell you what is usually required and when to start, and we will supply any booking confirmation or itinerary the application needs.

Applying is yours to do. We are not immigration advisers and cannot submit, chase or influence an application on your behalf.

Question 62

Does visa assistance guarantee approval?

Accepted Answer

No. Nobody can guarantee a visa outcome — not us, not an agent, not anyone who tells you otherwise.

Decisions rest entirely with the destination country. Treat any promise of guaranteed approval as a reason to walk away from whoever is making it.

Question 63

Who is responsible for entry requirements?

Accepted Answer

Each traveller is responsible for holding the correct passport, visa and any health documentation for the countries on the itinerary.

We will flag what we know and remind you in good time, but being refused entry or boarding is not something we can refund. That is why we ask you to start early.

Question 64

When should I start the visa process?

Accepted Answer

As soon as your booking is confirmed. Eight to twelve weeks before departure is comfortable; four is tight.

Processing times lengthen without warning around holidays and during busy seasons. Starting early costs nothing and removes the most common reason people miss a departure.

A few answers before the journey begins.

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Questions travellers ask most often.

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Still need a person?

You do not need every answer before you start.