FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Yes, we are accredited by (4) major travel associations. We also hold a $2M general liability insurance policy and Errors & Omissions Insurance. We also hold certifications with the travel Institute as a Certified Travel Agent (CTA). 

Each travel agent operates under their own hours of operation. However, ANSE is available M-F from 9am to 6pm and will have the first available agent contact you. Saturday and Sunday are by appointment only and are typically reserved for clients traveling.  You may reach us at 678-779-8544 or info@artnsoulescapes.com during those business hours. Anything outside of that will not be answered. An emergency number will be provided by each travel agent for clients to use outside of those hours. 

Yes we do. We have a team of agents who all specialize in different areas that can help your with your planning process. Are initial consultations are at no charge. However, our research and planning fees require a $50 deposit and go up depending on group size. 

An ANSE host will communicate with "the Squad" on the destination experience via an electronic messaging program such as Whatsapp or Email.  Each participant will be added to a group conversation 60 days or less prior to the trip, which will be used for text communications throughout the destination experience. All squad members agree to maintain the designated mobile application on their phone and remain a member of the group chat for the duration of the destination experience, as this will be the sole method of communication with the group.  There may be periods of silence, but please know we are working diligently behind the scenes. 

By becoming a member of our meetup groups, it’s similar to a VIP experience. You get early access to new trips, member discounts and more. You not only get the opportunity to attend exclusive trips not found on our website, you will also have opportunities to attend social events with other members, such as: Happy hours, Broadway shows, Tailgating experiences, Brunches, etc. As well as annual events such as our Annual Holiday Gift Exchange, Hat Brunch, and Annual Mystery Trip. For close to 15 years, the ANSE experience has been limited to meetup members only. However, due to the growing interest in our travel group, we’ve decided to make some of our trips public. However, since we are not a huge fan of overly crowded groups, we try to keep our trips limited to 24 travelers or less.
Once you start exceeding that number, the experience can get a bit watered down—not the intimate experience the ANSE members have grown to love. On rare occasions, we may host a trip with more travelers (which typically allow guests the opportunity to attend).
With the V.I.P experience, early access gives you at least a 72-hour head start to reserve your spot; somewhat like a pre-sale works for your favorite concert. 

 If a visa is required, you are responsible for obtaining the proper travel documents for the destinations on your itinerary, which includes having a passport valid for at least 6 months from the date of departure.
Check each trip for specific visa and passport details. We also recommend checking any current entry requirements due to the 2019 pandemic to confirm whether or not you need to be vaccinated and/or may be required to present a negative Covid-19 test. 

Trip insurance is not required, but highly recommended. Due to negotiated group rates, all payments are non-refundable. If insurance is purchased, you will be given the necessary tools to file a claim.  We highly recommend that you get your own travel insurance to protect your investment, even if you do not go through us. 

Simply put, overhead. We do not have the overhead that some of our peers have. You typically won't find videographers, photographers, or a bunch of staff. We offer a more intimate experience, geared towards the budget traveler.  Will you still get a memorable experience? Absolutely! We've been doing this for over 15 years without a single complaint (Amen), and we pride ourselves on being able to offer a great experience to our clients with a softer price tag. We do this "travel thing" because we love it! We are still going to give you a 5-star experience, but at a 4-star price. If you want the "luxury" travel experience (that you often see on social media), then that comes with a heftier price tag and may be more suitable for a private trip. We may sacrifice a 5* hotel with butler for a 4 or 4.5* with an on-site restaurant, or an economy seat instead of business class seat, but we never sacrifice the overall experience. Client feedback has told us that our customers would rather keep that extra change in their pockets! More change = more trips! You have to decide what style works best for you.  And besides, we don't like to compare. Each group you travel with serves a difference purpose. 

We are one of the few groups that include air on our trips (yay us!). And that is because air is tricky and is a huge hassle for groups--especially when everyone is not originating in the same area. 

In most instances, we will fly together. If travelers are coming from different cities, or they joined the group late, we will do our best to schedule their flights as close to everyone else’s as possible. There is no guarantee everyone will be on the same flights, but we do our best. Seat assignments are at the discretion of the airline and are not guaranteed. If airport transfers are included, it will be stated in the details of each group trip.
Check each trip description for details to see which departure location the trip is quoted from. 

One carry-on OR checked-luggage and a personal item is what we recommend. This means we are asking that you pack wisely. Please keep in mind that this is group travel. Outside of the space available on the plane, we need to be sure that we can accommodate our entire group's luggage on our transportation. Also, keep in mind that if there are inter-country flights, there are different baggage restrictions, so please be mindful when packing. Any additional fees will be the responsibility of the traveler. 

 Due to increased travel security around the world, it is now more important than ever that your airline ticket match your first and last name exactly as it reads on your passport (not the nicknames you may use in the group). Additionally, any changes to your air booking, which include spelling, could be subject to a change fee, penalties or cancellation. Any new fees will be the responsibility of the passenger.  A copy of your government issued identification may be requested by your agent when booking 

 We have several male members, as well as spouses in ANSE. Most of our vacations are opened to travelers 21+ and up. However, we do offer 1-2 family trips each year. As for your fur babies—sorry, unfortunately, we cannot accommodate them on any of our trips. But we can recommend some of our members who are pet sitters to assist you with boarding your animals.
Check each trip for details on whether or not guests are allowed. 

A deposit will be necessary to guarantee your reservation. Once the deposit is received, you will be expected to meet the terms of the specific vacation package (payment terms may differ). All final payments will be due within 60-75 days of departure; unless otherwise specific. There may be a period of silence during the overall payment terms. 

We are flexible when it comes to forms of payments. Credit card is our preferred form of payment. In most cases our prices are always below our competitors. Therefore, in order to keep our package prices low, we pass on any processing fees that may incur from credit card payments to the consumer. However, there are other forms of payments that due not incur a fee. Checks are also accepted, but must clear before payment will be applied. Return check fees will apply. Alternative methods may be available on a case-by-case basis. It is best to speak to your specific travel agent regarding accepted forms of payment(s). 

 Unfortunately, ONLY your deposit and timely payments will guarantee your space. Space is often very limited, as we like to keep are trips to a more intimate feel.
WE suggest NOT waiting for someone else before you register if you want to attend. Roommate matching is available. However, if you choose to wait, keep in mind that space availability and pricing are subject to change. If for some reason, you cannot find a roommate, you will be responsible for the single occupancy rate 

 Payments not made as per payment agreement may result in cancellation of your reservation and loss of all payments made. There will be a $25 late fee established for each payment made (5) or more days after the payment due date (up to 9 days). Payments that are (10) or more days late will incur a $25 late fee for each additional (10) days after the due date. After (60) days of non-payment, the individual's booking will be canceled, and all payments will be forfeited. There will be a $50 late fee established for any payments received (5) or more days after the Final payment deadline. Please make every effort to make payments as agreed upon at registration to avoid loss of funds and be sure to keep your ANSE travel manager up to speed on your plans. When traveling under group space, late payments can hold up the entire group when it comes to finalizing any supplier invoices. This may also lead to delays in processing final itineraries.

 Whenever you are traveling with someone that you may not know (or even if you do), you can never predict if life will throw you or your roommate a curve ball. In order to keep you prepared for having to potentially switch to a single rate (or changing roommates), we will let you know once your roommate is approaching 60 days without a payment. However, we will not be able to give you the details of their account. In the interim, we recommend that you stay in contact with whoever you are paired with, so that you are never caught off guard. We highly suggest purchasing insurance, and we can assist you with doing so. Any declinations of travel insurance will need to be in writing. 

Due to ever-changing circumstances and many moving parts, itineraries are sent to each client 30 days before the event via email (in the order of departure date). For airline suppliers, the final documents are typically sent 10-14 days prior to departure. We try to get itineraries finalized sooner and if we do you will receive it via email. Group space will be dependent on all travelers satisfying any payment arrangements and any additional add-ons in the event any contract modifications need to be made prior to any final paperwork being issued.