Frequently Asked Questions
This is a selection of Frequently Asked Questions. Click on the question
to get its answer. If you're not finding the help you are looking
for, please contact us via at
e-mail or call us at 1-212-921-7100
| Question
1 |
How
do I book and purchase my vacation online through your website? |
| Question
2 |
How
do I register for your website? |
| Question
3 |
How
do I change my Password? |
| Question
4 |
What if I am going to a destination you do not
offer in the middle of my vacation plan? |
| Question
5 |
How competitive are the Air-Inclusive prices quoted on ctitravel.com? |
| Question
6 |
Does ctitravel.com accept bookings on a deposit basis? |
| Question
7 |
Why should I book online with ctitravel.com? |
| Question
8 |
How do I retrieve the vacation plans I created earlier on ctitravel.com? |
| Question
9 |
Can
I hold a booking? For how long? |
| Question
10 |
When
will I get my travel documents? |
| Question
11 |
What
should I do if I don't receive my travel documents? |
| Question
12 |
May
I have my travel documents sent to an address other than my own? |
|
Question 13 |
Do
you do electronic ticketing? |
|
Question 14 |
What if I need to change some of my plans after I confirmed
my booking? |
|
Question 15 |
What
are your policies for cancellations and refunds? |
|
|
How secure is it to enter my credit card on your Web site?
|
|
Question 17 |
In the middle of making a reservation I lost my
connection. Was the reservation made? |
|
Question 18 |
Will
ctitravel.com give access to my personal information to other
companies? |
| Question
19 |
Will
I receive frequent traveler mileage on my air ticket purchase? |
| Question
20 |
How should I decide on the mode of transportation
to use between cities? |
| Question
21 |
Which
hotel should I pick from the selection you are offering? |
| Question
22 |
Should
I purchase travel insurance with my trip? |
| Question
23 |
What
should I do if I lose my passport or my travel documents while
traveling? |
| Question
24 |
Will
US electrical appliances and cellular telephones work overseas? |
| Question
25 |
What
is the EURO currency and how do I use it? |
| Question
26 |
Where
can I connect to the Internet while I am traveling overseas? |
| Question
27 |
How
do I get cash while on vacation? |
| Question
28 |
What
is the usual check-in time while traveling abroad? |
top
How do I book and purchase
my vacation online through your website?
We have many options for you …
For a quick purchase of our air, hotel, car and rail products, try
our Express Search and Book option located on our
homepage.
Click on the appropriate button (flights-hotel-car-cruise) and you
will just need to enter the few pieces of information necessary to
check the availability and price of the products you are interested
in. We will offer you a selection of possible options and indicate
the option corresponding to our best price. You will then be able
either to book our recommended option or to adjust your selection
and request a new quote.
Our online travel experts will help you
select the vacation plan most suitable to your needs. Just give us
some clues as to where you would like to go and what you like to do,
and we'll have great suggestions for a trip you'll never forget. Here
we will help you select the vacation plan most suitable to your needs.
Once you have selected a Vacation Plan, use the interactive Vacation
Planner to customize it to your dream. You can add the destinations
you want to visit, lengthen your stay at each destination, add daily
activities, choose your mode of transportation between destinations,
select hotel categories, etc. Once your planning is completed, click
on the Check Availability and Prices button. We will provide you with
the "Best Price" quote for your trip based on the flights, accommodations
and other products that are available on your date of travel. We will
also provide you with some alternate options. Once you are satisfied
with a quote, click on the 24 hour Hold button to confirm your reservation.
If you would like to purchase your Vacation Plan then click on the
"Add Offer" link.
Feel free to take your time when you plan your Vacation and check
it our with your family and friends…If you are a registered user on
our site then everything you create is put in My Trip Folder where
it is safely stored until your next visit to the website.
When you log to My Account you will be taken to
My Trip Folder
where you can check all the Vacation plans you have
created on ctitravel.com. To purchase a Vacation Plan that you
created earlier, click on the name of the vacation plan you want and
then click Check Prices and Availability and then
Add to list button.
top
How do I register on the website?
Click
on the 'My Account" button located on the at the top right hand side of
the Homepage. A Sign Up Today page will appear. Complete this page
by entering your email address, your personal password, and secret
identifier. (If you cannot see the whole screen maximize the page)
Click Go and the Welcome to ctitravel.com page will appear. From
here you can either click on I'm Done, or begin exploring the web
site or click on Continue. If you click Continue you can set-up a
personal profile. Once your profile is complete, click I'm Done, and
you are now on your way to planning your own Dream Vacation! Remember
to log in as a return visitor when you visit the website so that each
time you create a new vacation it will be saved in your own file,
called My Trip Folder.
top
How do I change my password?
Click
on the "My Account" option located at the top right hand side of the
homepage. A screen titled 'My Trip Folder' will appear. Click on the
About You Option (located on the top right hand corner of the page)
There will be three underlined statements: Changing your password,
Updating your address and Joining our community. Click Changing your
password. Enter the new password and confirm that password by repeating
it in the second box. When you are done click GO.
top
How
do I design a vacation if I am going to a destination you do not offer
in the middle of my vacation plan?
If you
are planning to be on your own for a few days then you need to add
a destination as a placeholder. You can select an alternate destination
to fill in for the days you will be on your own. If you do not need
hotel or rail during that time then scroll down to the Daily Planner
Calendar, click on the icon for the component you wish to change and
click on the option "I will arrange my own accommodation"
or "I will arrange my own transportation".
By following
these steps you should be able to build a vacation plan that includes
destinations we offer as well as a few days in between for destinations
you plan to arrange on your own.
If you
are still having difficulties, do not hesitate to call us at 1-212-921-7100
or
e-mail our Customer Service Department.
top
How
competitive are the Air-Inclusive prices quoted on ctitravel.com?
We have
total confidence in our purchasing power, which allows us to offer
you the best price for your fully personalized air-inclusive vacation
experience.
top
Does ctitravel.com accept
bookings on a deposit basis?
Deposits of $200.00 per person are accepted on selected bookings
(in which there is no advance ticketing required). Bookings, which
qualify for a deposit payment will be clearly designated on the 'Offer
Page' (after passengers names, mailing address are completed.
top
Why should I book online
with ctitravel.com?
ctitravel.com is using state of the art technology to deliver
the leading products (air, hotel, car, rail) with preferred pricing
for everything you'll need for your vacation.
We have long-standing very competitive contracts with most major
providers of the US, Latin America and European travel industry to
provide you with value, choice and quality. We also have total confidence
in our purchasing power, which allows us to offer you the best prices.
We provide comprehensive in-depth information on all our destinations,
properties and products. We won't tease you with something we can't
deliver. We'll offer only what is available for the dates you've
chosen through our online connectivity to our inventories. If you
choose, you can plan your very own special itinerary with our user-friendly
interactive Vacation Planner.
top
How do I retrieve the Vacation
Plans I created earlier on ctitravel.com?
Just click on
My Trip Folder.
The My Trip Folder is a ctitravel.com is a virtual
place; dedicated to you, where we store all the Vacation Plans you
create on ctitravel.com. Name your Vacations so that you'll know
which one to look for when you need to retrieve it. Even after you've
returned from your vacation, My Trip Folder will hold your vacation
plans indefinitely so that you can refer to your past vacations and
even email your favorite itineraries to yourself, your family or your
friends.
top
Can I hold a booking? For how long?
Once you are ready to book your vacation, we will offer a courtesy
hold until midnight EST of the following day.
If you decide to use the courtesy hold, the fare is subject to change.
This is due to fluctuations in currency conversion for fares and taxes.
Therefore we encourage you to purchase your trip immediately after
getting our quote. If you don't finalize your booking within this
time frame, it will be automatically canceled. If you decide to purchase
immediately, you will be prompted for credit card information and
your tickets will be issued right away.
*For air only bookings, certain airfares require immediate ticketing
and therefore do not qualify for our courtesy hold. If an immediate
purchase is needed when checking airfares you will see an option to
purchase now only.
top
When will I get my travel
documents?
Once everything in your booking has been confirmed, ctitravel.com
offers delivery of your documents within 5 business days from our
door to yours (applies within US only). Your package will arrive via
UPS, and don't forget you'll have to sign for the package.
Should you need your documents sooner, we offer rushed delivery (within
3 business days) for a charge of USD 10.00, as long as the order is
placed by 5:00pm eastern standard time. This does not include Saturday/Sunday/Holidays
delivery.
top
What should I do if I don't
receive my travel documents?
You should contact our Customer Care number at 1-212-921-7100
and a Customer Care Representative will be happy to assist you.
You can also send an
e-mail to our Customer Service Department and indicate your booking
number, name, date of travel, and specific details of what you have
purchased (airline flight number, departure city, hotel name, car
rental pick up city, etc.). We will respond promptly.
top
May I have my travel documents
sent to an address other than my own?
Yes. But only if a Credit card is provided with a billing address that
matches the desired address of delivery.
top
Do you do electronic ticketing?
We'd love to, but not just yet. Currently there are issues which
prohibit electronic ticketing, such as the inability to issue an airline
ticket with more than four flight coupons or the fact that the various
railroads require specific ticket stock making the issuance
of electronic rail tickets not possible. Solutions are currently being
explored.
top
What should I do if I need
to change some of my plans after I confirmed my booking?
Call us at 1-212-921-7100 or
e-mail our Customer Service Department. You can also click on
Help at the bottom of the homepage and choose send us an
e-mail
Please clearly define what you need to change (specific dates, hotel
changes, upgrading to a larger car category, return date, etc.). We
will do our best to accommodate your request.
Please note that penalties and restrictions may apply.
top
What are your policies
for cancellations and refunds?
Rules and fees for canceling and revising airfares vary depending
upon the type of airfare purchased. Please see applicable rules when
booking airfare. A $100.00 per person fee, plus all non-refundable
arrangements, will be assessed for all cancellations made after payment
and more than 45-days prior to departure. For cancellations made within
45-days of departure and for more detailed information please refer
to our
Terms Of Use
located on the homepage.
top
I am nervous about entering
my credit card information on the Internet. How secure is your Web
site?
For your security, credit card numbers are not stored on our site.
For detailed information, please refer to our Privacy
Policy.
If you feel more comfortable to handle this live over the phone,
you can call our Customer Care Department at 1-212-921-7100
to provide our representative with your credit card details (hours
of availability apply).
top
I was in the middle of
making a reservation and I lost my Internet connection. Was the reservation
made?
Please log back on to ctitravel.com and look in My Trip Folder.
Here you will find the current status of your reservation. If it appears
with a confirmed status of quoted or purchased then you're all set
to go. If it says customize next to the name of your vacation then
you should book your trip again.
Should you have any doubt, please contact us via
e-mail or call us at 1-212-921-7100 and we'll make
sure nothing went through before you enter the request again.
top
Will ctitravel.com
give access to the personal information I provided to other companies?
We do not sell individual customer names or other private
profile information to third parties. However, when you reserve or
purchase travel services through ctitravel.com, it's necessary
for us to provide some information about you (such as your name) to
the airline, car rental agency, hotel, or other involved third party
to ensure the successful fulfillment of your vacation arrangements.
For more detailed explanation, please refer to our
Privacy
Policy.
top
Will I receive frequent
traveler mileage on my air ticket purchase?
Most of our airline carriers offer frequent traveler programs, depending
on the type of fare that was purchased. You will see this information
by clicking on Rules next to the airfare options that are listed.
top
I have never been to overseas.
How should I decide on the mode of transportation to use between cities?
When you use our interactive Vacation Planner, our online travel
experts will assist you in choosing the means of transportation appropriate
for the destinations you which to visit.
The recommended transportation mode between destinations will be
shown with an appropriate icon on the calendar view of your vacation
plan. You can still change our suggestion by clicking on that icon
and choosing an alternate mode of transportation.
top
Which hotel should I pick
from the selection you are offering?
When you want to purchase hotel accommodations either as a stand-alone
request or as part of a vacation Plan, we ask you for your preferences
in terms of hotel category. We provide you with a rating system, rating
all of our accommodations on a scale of 3 to 5 stars, with a 5 star
rating being "top of the line", so you know what to expect when you
arrive.
When you ask us to check the "Availability & Prices" for your request,
we will display a selection of properties available within the category
chosen during the selected dates at the selected destination. You
will then be able to look at detailed descriptions of the hotels suggested
including pictures of the properties by clicking on the hotel name.
Our "Best Price" offer will always be marked. If you decide to choose
a different hotel from the first property chosen, then we will provide
you with an updated quote and only proceed with the actual purchase
as soon as you are ready to do so.
top
Should I purchase travel
insurance with my trip?
Yes. We always recommend the purchase of a comprehensive travel
insurance policy, which will cover you in the event of most unforeseeable
circumstances:
It is the only way to protect yourself from almost any emergency
situation in which you need to change plans. If insurance is not purchased,
you will be subject to the normal rules and refunds policies.
For further information, please refer to our
Terms
and Conditions of Sale.
top
What should I do if I lose
my passport or my travel documents while traveling overseas?
Contact the nearest US Embassy to report the loss/theft of your passport,
then follow its instructions. Please refer to the
Directory
of US Embassies.
If you have purchased a trip insurance policy, additional expenses
associated with resulting delays will be covered to some extent.
It is always recommended that you keep your passport/travel documents
in a safe place (e.g. hotel safe).
Bring a photocopy of your passport with you and keep it separately
from the original document.
top
Will US electrical appliances
and cellular telephones work while on vacation?
To use Northern American appliances in Europe you will need a voltage
converter. The voltage in Europe is about 220 volts, and varies slightly
from country to country. European appliances always work from one
country to another.
The plugs and sockets in the UK and Ireland differ from those in
the rest of Europe. In the UK and Ireland a three-pin plug is used,
while in the rest of Europe they use a two-pin plug. Adapters are
available to accommodate these differences, so we recommend you to
purchase it before you leave the US.
The majority of cellular phones will not work in Europe. However,
there are some dual-band phones that do work in Europe. It is best
to check with your cellular phone company before leaving the US.
top
What is the EURO currency
and how do I use it?
The Euro is the unified currency, which will be used in countries
belonging to the European Monetary Union. There are 11 countries that
will join to offer one single currency as of January 1, 2002. Until
this time, local currency will still be used and traded. However,
prices may already be quoted in Euros as well as local currency. The
Euro symbol looks like this: €.
The 11 participating countries are:
Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,
Netherlands, Portugal, and Spain.
The following four countries will not be participating in the unified
currency:
Denmark, Sweden, Turkey, and the United Kingdom.
top
Where can I connect to
the Internet while I am abroad?
If you are traveling with your own laptop, you should be able to
connect from your hotel room. We have made our best efforts to make
sure that many of the rooms assigned to ctitravel.com clients
are equipped with a telephone line and plug where you can connect
your modem cable. If you do need a modem line in your room, you should
confirm with the hotel reception at check-in time that your room is
properly equipped. Prior to your departure, don't forget to download
to your laptop the list of the access numbers (usually available on
your ISP's website) in the destinations you are visiting.
Some hotels provide PCs which you can use. There are also cyber
cafés in many cities.
While you are surfing the Internet, don't forget to visit ctitravel.com
to provide some live feedback about your experiences while on vacation!
top
How to get cash overseas?
ATM machines are the easiest way to go. They work in the same fashion
as in the US, yet dispense cash in local currency and accept ATM cards
as well as major credit cards (you will need your PIN of course!).
Each country has slightly different practices.
top
What is the usual check-in
time for hotels?
Check-in times vary per carrier and airport. It is best to check
with your airline carrier before departure. International flights
departing from the USA require check-in times of up to two hours before
flight departure. Airports are busy, so allow enough time for traffic
and parking before the mandatory check-in time.
This is the same for International transatlantic flights departing
from Europe or Latin America to the USA.
Intra-European flights generally require check-in one hour prior
to flight departure time. Again, this varies per airport. It is best
to verify with your carrier before departure.
Hotel check-in is usually after 2:00 p.m. Normal checkout time is
11:00 a.m.
Most rail travel does not have a specific check-in time. However,
most trains are very punctual and will not wait for
you. Please be on the platform at the right track, ready to depart,
before the scheduled departure time.
Eurostar, the Channel Tunnel train, requires an advance check-in
of twenty minutes before the scheduled departure time.
Car rental companies do not offer 24-hour service in either
airports or train stations. However, in major airports you will find
rental companies match flight times to accommodate arriving and departing
passengers. If you have a concern about service availability at the
time of your pick-up or drop-off, please
e-mail us. We'll be happy to verify the opening hours for you.
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