A departure listed as Call Us on the website is almost full. In this scenario, one of our Travel Experts will need to confirm if the tour is still available.

If you select a departure and then receive a message saying that the departure is On Request, this means availability is limited. You will still be able to complete your booking request but your place won't be confirmed immediately. General tour requests usually take 24 – 72 hours to get confirmation. Your place on an On Request tour will likely be confirmed.

If you have selected additional hotel nights and the hotel is listed as On Request, the time to confirm this can vary. We aim to get requests answered in 24 – 72 hours.

For bookings made through a Travel Agent, please contact the agent if you're unable to travel.

If you booked directly with Insight Vacations, please Contact Us.

For trips departing within 24 hours, please call us using the phone number on the website.

This will vary depending on the hotel.

When you receive your travel documents on the MyInsight portal, your hotel booking will show whether breakfast is included.

We highly recommend guests purchase travel insurance prior to your trip. You can either include Insight vacation's Travel Protection Plan in your booking or purchase insurance independently.

If you purchase your insurance independently, please ensure you add the details on the MyInsight portal. We suggest that your insurance covers the following:

• Cancellation or curtailment of your vacation due to medical or other reasons
• Loss or damage to your property and baggage
• Loss of cash, credit cards, etc
• Medical costs and personal accidents

 

Certain countries require visitors to have valid medical insurance on entry and in Europe, you may find that doctor's surgeries, dentists, and hospitals often require payment in cash prior to providing services. Whilst rare, medical evacuation can be exceptionally expensive.

 

Do remember to bring a copy of your policy, contact phone numbers, and details of how to claim.

 

Should you choose to travel on Insight Vacations without the required travel insurance, you will have full responsibility for all expenses (trip interruption, trip delay, medical expenses, quarantine expenses, and emergency evacuation/repatriation) that may arise while traveling with us.

Please make sure that your passport and the passport of anyone traveling with you are valid for at least 6 months.

 

You will likely need a visa. We recommend that you check your government’s travel advice website for up-to-date information to see what is required but this information can also be found at the country’s embassy or consulate. Check your itinerary carefully and remember that requirements vary based on passport place of issue and the process can take time. Please note that countries will likely require individual visas. It is also important to be aware that with some itineraries you may travel through a country without making an overnight stop, but will still require a visa to enter/exit.

Please ensure that you carry proper identification with you at all times as entry documents and passports will be required at border crossings. Usually crossing borders is a very straightforward process that is managed by your travel director, however, be advised that you may be required to open luggage and answer simple questions regarding the length of your stay, purpose of travel, etc.

Visit the VisaCentral website for more information.

 

United Kingdom and Northern Ireland trips incl transiting travelers 

From January 8, 2025 UK law requires travelers both entering and transiting through the UK and Northern Ireland to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) which must be obtained in advance of travel. It costs £10 and is valid for 2 years.  

This is a tiered approach, with application for passports including but not limited to US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, open from November 27, 2024. For a full list of passports requiring the ETA for entry from January 8, 2025 or to start your application, visit the UK Government website.  

  

For many other passport holders, you can still travel without an ETA until April 2, 2025 date but will require an ETA after this date. Applications for travel after this date will open on March 5, 2025. For full details please visit the UK Government website.  

For more information, read our helpful ETA page. For all other entry requirements please check with your nearest consulate. 

USA trips incl transiting travelers 

US law requires travelers both entering and transiting through the United States are required to obtain an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) which must be obtained in advance of travel. ESTA applications can be made at the U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection website. 

Please advise us of any dietary requirements by completing registration on MyInsight. We will  make arrangements with our suppliers where possible.

You will also need to talk to your Travel Director at the beginning of your tour and they will do their utmost to arrange an alternative menu at the hotels and restaurants.

All our guests share a passion for travel, fun, adventure, and discovery. Ages range from young to mature with an average of mid-50s, traveling either solo, as couples, with families, or with friends and join us from all over the world! Insight Vacations plays host to over 100,000 guests every year and has offices in the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Singapore, and the UK.

The company has also appointed specialist agents in Argentina, Brazil, Mauritius, India, Ireland, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Thailand, Philippines, Indonesia, Korea, Taiwan, and China. It is therefore quite typical to find many different nationalities on any one trip and discover people from halfway across the world who you only met yesterday will fast become friends.

The weather in Europe is very variable so we suggest that you pack layers of clothing that can be added or removed as necessary.

Pack a comfortable pair of flat shoes/trainers for walking. You will be visiting cities and sites with cobbled streets and uneven terrain.

Pack a light waterproof jacket. As the weather is changeable, you don’t want to be caught out by the rain and a lightweight waterproof is an excellent solution which won’t take up too much space in your suitcase.

Pack a sun hat during the summer months. Many European cities are hot during the summer and shade may not be readily available.

Pack a light scarf and at least 1 skirt/trousers which stops below the knee. Some excursions will take you to Cathedrals or other religious locations where more modest attire, covering the shoulders to below the knees, is appropriate for both men and women. A scarf applied across the shoulders is perfectly acceptable.

Pack a smart outfit. You may wish to bring a dressier outfit for visits to the cabaret, theatre, or an elegant restaurant. Smart casual clothes are usually acceptable attire for other evening activities.

Other useful items that you may wish to pack can include:

Porterage is included for each guest’s suitcase throughout the tour (one item per person) which means that you only have to bring your hand luggage on and off the coach each day. The porters will deliver all suitcases to the coach where the Travel Director will check them and the driver load them into the baggage compartment. Your Travel Director will provide a blue luggage tag which we advise you to use as this assists with identification and security.

On arrival at each hotel, suitcases will be delivered to your rooms by the hotel porters. We suggest that you may wish to pack toiletries and any personal items you may want immediately on arrival in your hand baggage where they are instantly available.

Information about border crossings and visas, entry requirements varies by destination. Please check the destination you're visiting below for more information:

Europe trips
Each guest must ensure that their passport is valid for at least six months beyond the conclusion of their trip and that they have acquired all necessary visas and permits. Multiple-entry visas may be required if you are entering a country more than once on your holiday.

Guests are advised that only the countries you plan to visit can provide up-to-date information about their specific visa requirements. Guests should contact the nearest embassy or consulate of the countries they plan to visit well in advance of travel. Please check your itinerary carefully. Remember that requirements vary based on a passport's place of issue and that the process can take time.

Check that multi-entry visas have the correct entry dates and destinations before you travel. Please be aware that with some itineraries, you may travel through a country without making an overnight stop. If this happens on your itinerary, you will still need a visa to enter/exit the country.

Please ensure that you always carry proper identification with you, as border crossings will need to see your entry documents and passports. Usually crossing borders is a very straightforward process that is managed by your Travel Director. However, be advised that you may be required to open your luggage and answer simple questions about the length of your stay, purpose of travel, etc.

United Kingdom and Northern Ireland trips incl transiting travelers

From January 8, 2025 UK law requires travelers both entering and transiting through the UK and Northern Ireland to obtain an Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA) which must be obtained in advance of travel. It costs £10 and is valid for 2 years.

This is a tiered approach, with application for passports including but not limited to US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and Singapore, open from November 27, 2024. For a full list of passports requiring the ETA for entry from January 8, 2025 or to start your application, visit the UK Government website.

For many other passport holders, you can still travel without an ETA until April 2, 2025 date but will require an ETA after this date. Applications for travel after this date will open on March 5, 2025. For full details please visit the UK Government website.

For more information, read our helpful ETA page. For all other entry requirements please check with your nearest consulate.

USA trips incl transiting travelers

US law requires travelers both entering and transiting through the United States are required to obtain an Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) which must be obtained in advance of travel. ESTA applications can be made at the U.S. Customs and Boarder Protection website.

Rest of the World trips

Each guest must ensure that their passport is valid for at least six months beyond the conclusion of their trip and that they have acquired all necessary visas and permits. You are responsible for obtaining all necessary visas before the departure of your guided holiday. Depending on your nationality, you may need visas to enter certain countries included on your trip. Please note that obtaining visas can take up to six weeks before your departure. It is strongly advised that you consult your Travel Agent (if applicable) and the local Consulate or Embassy of the country you are visiting well in advance to determine which visas they require and how to obtain them.

No, flights are not included in the price of your tour. However, you can add flights to your tour through Insight Vacations, subject to availability. To add flights, first find the tour you wish to travel on, select your departure date and press ‘Continue’.

Yes. Flights are not included in the trip price but you can add flights during the booking process. Select ‘Continue’ on your preferred departure on the tour page and add flights during the online booking process. Or, if using a travel agent, ask them to book flights through Insight Vacations as part of your booking.

Generally, check-in times require guests to arrive at the airport a minimum of two hours before a domestic flight and three hours for international flights. This allows you plenty of time to check in and pass through security to the boarding area. Online check-in means you can save time and fuss at the airport by checking in for your flight via the website prior to your arrival at the airport.

Please allow enough time to get to your flight - be aware that during busy travel periods or at airports with heightened security you may experience longer queues. Boarding usually starts 30-45 minutes before departure and the gate generally closes 20 minutes prior to departure. Check with your airline to see what time check-in counters open.

Most Insight Vacations guests benefit from complimentary arrival and departure transfers by shuttle coach on the arrival and departure day of their guided holiday. Times are specified on the individual itinerary pages. If your flight times do not coincide with the shuttle coach transfer timings you may choose to book and purchase a transfer.

 

In addition, guests who arrive before or leave after the scheduled holiday may also book a transfer through Insight Vacations providing they also purchase the additional pre- and/or post- holiday hotel night(s).

 

Insight Vacations provides complimentary airport transfers in the Latin America region at any time on the first and last day of the vacation or on other days in conjunction with pre-and / or post-trip accommodation booked through Insight Vacations. Flight times must be provided to Insight Vacations at least fifty days before flight departure in the case of Latin America trips.

 

You will find specific joining instructions as to where you will locate an Airport Host or Travel Director at the scheduled transfer times in your travel documents.

 

Note Exception: When you book your flights directly through Insight Vacations, you can take advantage of a complimentary transfer when flying into London Heathrow. If booking your Heathrow flights independently, or flying into London Gatwick, transfers to your Insight hotel are chargeable.

 

 

Airport Transfers for North America

Guests make their own arrangements for arrival transfers, and for departure transfers unless the last day is a travel day ending with an airport drop (see itinerary for airport arrival times). Insight Vacations offers the option to purchase private transfers for selected cities. Guests may check at the time of booking if those are offered for the selected itinerary. Otherwise, guests will be provided local transfer options after booking so they can make their own arrangements.

Guests arriving before or leaving after the scheduled itinerary day may choose to purchase a private transfer through Insight Vacations provided that they also purchase the additional pre- and post-trip hotel night(s) from Insight Vacations. When booking extra night(s) accommodations, guests will have the opportunity to book the relevant transfer service(s).

No. If your flights were booked through Insight Vacations then we will notify you or your Travel Agent of any schedule changes. Sometimes the airline will notify you at the same time they notify us. Rest assured, we will contact you if required.

Complimentary arrival and departure transfers are available on most Insight Vacations tours, but not all of them. 

If you've booked your flights independently and provided us with flight details for an airport transfer, please Contact Us to make us aware of the change.

Please ensure you have received a confirmation from us reconfirming your transfers, particularly if your departure is soon.

The ability to amend transfers may vary across destinations. We will do our best to make any adjustments, however, if we are unable to confirm please make your own way to the start hotel on Day 1 of your tour.

Please allow enough time to get to your flight - be aware that during busy travel periods or at airports with heightened security you may experience longer queues. Boarding usually starts 30-45 minutes before departure and the gate generally closes 20 minutes prior to departure. Check with your airline to see what time check-in counters open.

At Insight Vacations, our younger guests are just as important as our older ones, so we’ve taken care to craft action-packed itineraries that’ll impress children aged five years or older to travel on our guided vacations. All children and young people under eighteen years old must however be accompanied by an adult who will be responsible for their supervision and welfare.

Some countries have established practices to prevent international abductions of children and because of this, it is recommended that you secure a “Child Travel Consent” prior to departure if you are traveling with a minor who is under eighteen years of age. This documents that a minor has permission from his or her parent(s) or guardian(s) to travel and may be requested by authorities and officials when a child is traveling internationally:

• With one parent or guardian
• Without a parent
• Alone
• With an adult who is not a parent or guardian

If the traveling parent has sole custody, he or she will require a notarized true copy of a court order or equivalent proving custody. If both parents have custody, or the non-traveling parent has custody, the traveling parent will need notarised consent from the non-traveling parent. We recommend that you contact relevant consulates and airlines for additional information and guidance.

We offer a range of benefits and discounts when you book for a group of 9+ with Insight Vacations. For more information, please see our Groups on Set Departures page.

We offer a range of benefits and discounts when you book for a group of 9+ with Insight Vacations. You can join one of our set departures, or request a bespoke itinerary designed for your group. Find out more about our Groups on Set Departures and Custom Private Travel.

Please visit our Contact Us page to find out how you can get in touch.

Unfortunately, due to extremely high call volumes, our call wait times are currently longer than usual. You can still search and book a trip online and manage your booking via our MyInsight service.