Q.1 What type of a company is Aspinwall & CO.Tours Division?

Ans. Aspinwall & CO.Tours Division is a destination management company. We specialize in customized packages for individuals and groups into India. We cater to both foreign and domestic tourists.

We also cater to the corporate clients for their conference and incentive tours requirements.

We also hold specialized conferences (less than 2000 delegates). Our clientele includes doctors, Lions ( a world famous social organization), architects etc.viz. Medical conferences etc.

We also arrange health holidays

Please see About us and Services Offered in the website.

Q.2 Which are the regions you cover in India?

Ans. We can offer tours throughout India. However our speciality is South India, the land below the Vindhya Mountains. South India has a very distinct culture compared to North India. The South Indian region comprises the following five States and Two Union Territories.

States
a. Kerala
b. Karnataka
c. Tamil Nadu
d. Goa
e. Andhra Pradesh.

Union Territories
a. Lakshadweep
b. Pondicherry

You can check out the Sample Itineraries in the website.

Q.3 Which is the best time for travel into South India?

Ans. Throughout the year. However, the off season is from April 1st to 30 Sept in most places. So you will get the benefit of lower rates. Peak season charges apply in the first and last week of the year.(Dec/Jan).

Q4. How is the connectivity to South India?

Ans. South India has six international airports

Q 5 What infrastructure you have in place?

We are a division of the century old Aspinwall & CO.Tours Division with corporate office in Cochin, Kerala. This is where the Tours Divison, Paradise tours & travels, is also located. We have offices in all the major cities of South India including New Delhi and Mumbai. In each key destination we have authorized representatives who deliver unique customer experiences in line with our high standards and basic company philosophy. Please see About Us for more details.

Q6 How are you different from the numerous other tour operators?

We are based in South India hence in an advantageous position to offer services in South India compared to operators based in North India.

We are part of a company with a century old tradition of doing business with integrity and with a strong social conscience.

We offer you end to end experience incorporating unique experiences of the places you are visiting. As a company, we are into various businesses and own a coir factory, coffee and rubber estates and have full fledged offices in every key destination. Eg you will see the coir (a natural and eco friendly product) making process in a cooperative society run by women who have been helped to be independent by the inputs from our company. You can buy the coir products from our factory at factory prices. You can see the unique process of rubber tapping in the rubber plantation owned by our company. And you can experience the rich aroma of coffee in the coffee processing unit of ours for we also make the famed Monsooned Malabar Coffee. Which tour operator can offer so many unique experiences?

We have full fledged offices in every key destination. So we have the advantage of insider knowledge which will make your experience unique and your journey seamless. You can delegate all the arrangements to us and all that you need to do is relax and enjoy

Q 7 What is the procedure of booking with you?

The process involves the following stages:

Customer research.
We will need to know as much as possible about the customer. Interests, abilities, hobbies, hotel and room size preferences, etc. For this reason we request you fill in the travel-planning form and send us all further information you consider will help us in further understanding the specific characteristics of our guest.
Suggested itinerary
Based on your preferences, we will suggest an outline of an itinerary covering the key destinations based on the number of days and preferences indicated by you. You can visit our website to know more details of the places indicated by us. The website also indicates the activities and sightseeing places in each place. It also gives suggested itineraries. You can indicate to us the activities you would like to do .Based on your preferences, we shall make the detailed itinerary. Once that is Oked and you have indicated your budget and preferences of accommodation, we shall give you the offer with recommended places of stay. These places of stay have been personally visited by us and will be of good quality. We can provide the website details of these resorts/hotels, if requested. We will also include our terms and conditions in the offer.
Customer information
Once you confirm the offer, we will block rooms at these places. This blocking can be done only for a limited period. We will now need all the details regarding travel arrangements and other personal data you can forward us. We can also book any domestic tickets if you wish.
Payment schedule
We will now request the full payment as per our terms and conditions expressed within the itinerary. We cannot accept credit cards. Payment can be made through HSBC bank’s branches anywhere in the world to our HSBC account in India. For domestic customers, payment will be through HDFC Bank to our HDFC account in Cochin. Please note we can reconfirm the rooms with the resort only after we receive the payment from you.
Postal information
Once payment is received, we will make the payment to the resorts/hotels to reconfirm accommodation (this is very important during peak season).If time permits, we shall post you the package containing the detailed itinerary, and all the pre-trip documentation.
Then we are all ready … the passenger arrives to enjoy a guaranteed great experience!
On arrival
On arrival at the destination, you will be met at the airport/railway station by our representative holding a placard with your name. This will give you the assurance in a new place .The vehicle and driver will be with you throughout the trip so that your holiday will be without any hassles.

Q 10 What is your policy on cancellation?

We put in a lot of effort in making your itinerary, we also incur costs viz. long distance calls to resorts/hotels to block rooms for you, follow up calls just before your arrival, arrangements with various other service providers. So when you make changes in your plans we have to redo all the work. So we levy a cancellation/amendment charge to cover costs already incurred.
In case you cut short your stay at some place or resort, the refund depends on the hotel’s cancellation policy. Last minute cancellations are not eligible for refund. In case of refund, the amount will be given on receipt from hotel and hence you will get it only after your return.