Planning Deposit

Explained!

Where Extraordinary Begins

Away&Co is NOT an average travel company, we don't offer cookie-cutter holidays.

We craft journeys that are as rare as the travellers who take them. Behind every Away&Co experience lies hours of meticulous planning, deep destination knowledge, and access to people and places that most travellers never encounter.

To maintain the quality, creativity, and dedication we bring to every journey, we charge a Planning Deposit before we begin the journey design process.

No one could have explained it better than Ruchi, our founder, & Chief of the Experience.

Watch the Video

Why a Planning Deposit?

Because planning an Away&Co journey is not the same as putting together an itinerary.

This requires a deep understanding of the destination and access to the best experts locally across the world who spend time working on the details of each individual journey we plan. This is the opposite of what most travel agents do, who put an 'itinerary' together, many using online resources available to the whole travel trade. These 'itineraries' do not have the depth of unique experiences or access to the exceptional authentic accommodation and experiences that make an Away&Co trip stand apart in the industry.

the deposit, simply...

Reserves our time, creativity, and expert resources to craft perfection

Unlocks our network of local insiders and unique experiences

Signals a shared commitment to creating something unforgettable

How it Works?

We love to hear from you; tell us your dream journey, and let us create the trip of your life. Specialist journey planners and destination experts at Away&Co will fix an appointment to understand what you're looking for and to learn about what you really love to experience. This call also ensures we are a perfect match and allows us to create the best trip plan possible. We aim to exceed your expectations, drawing on our extensive destination knowledge and access to exceptional experiences.

After this initial call, give us a few days, we will provide a brief initial suggestion based on the conversation with an indication of the costs of the trip, for you to review. We will not provide too many details of the experiences or the names of the hotels the trip is based on – only types and categories of hotels will be mentioned. Don’t worry, you we only work with the absolute best, and based on our call, we'll suggest exactly what we're looking for.

If you feel the direction of the conversation and the price aligns with what you're expecting, we will request a planning deposit, the amount of which will be advised based on the destination and complexity of the trip. This planning deposit is FULLY DEDUCTIBLE from the total price of your trip. Your agreeing to pay this deposit confirms that you would like us to proceed with planning the details of the trip and put in the time and resources required to provide you with a more comprehensive proposal and quotation.

From then on, sit back and enjoy the ride. Your dedicated journey planner team will gladly work on any changes you may want to the trip. We can then ensure that our team is able to commit the time required to provide the highest level of personalisation and care to your journey. Once we have received the planning deposit, your dedicated journey planner is available to work with you on the finer details and to provide you with all the attention you need to make your trip truly amazing.

Your dedicated journey planner will then work with you on the next steps, including the booking process and deposits required to hold accommodation and experiences etc. The initial Experience Planning deposit will be adjusted with the final payment made to us, depending on the stage of the booking process.

Did you know that your deposit is adjusted towards your final journey with Away&Co?

Do you still have some questions about how it works?

EXPLORE FAQS

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the planning deposit in addition to my trip costs? +
No, it is a deposit and is fully adjustable with the final price of the journey. Please compare this to an experienced lawyer who charges for an initial consultation before deciding on the legal work required.
Why am I paying this deposit before seeing what you can do for me? +
Because we plan every detail of every journey our guests travel on. Trip planning is NOT the same as putting an ‘itinerary’ together. This requires a deep understanding of the destination and access to the best local experts across the world who spend time working on each individual journey we plan. Putting the best trips together takes time and resources.
What do I get for this deposit? +
Once you have paid the deposit, you will have access to the Away&Co personalised and customised trip planning expertise, which includes a detailed proposal and the cost of your trip, continued consultation with a dedicated, experienced journey planner to work with you on every trip detail, including any adjustments you may wish to make during the planning process. This is professional time being spent on creating an amazing trip, just for you.
If I choose not to book immediately, how long is the planning deposit valid? +
Any trip needs to be confirmed within 60 days of the deposit being received, even if the actual travel dates are a few months away. If a trip is not confirmed within 60 days, any further planning will require another deposit to be paid for us to work on planning the trip. As you can understand, this can’t be held indefinitely. However, we are most flexible in discussing any genuine reason you may have to push this back, speak to us anytime.
Is there a minimum spend required on the trip to redeem the deposit? +
There is no minimum spend required. Everything Away&Co does is fully customised to create the perfect trip based on the personal dream you’ve had.

We work across budgets, which vary depending on the destination, time of the year, type of accommodations etc. An Away&Co trip does come at a premium as compared to an average agent, and because all our focus is on the highest quality. Each trip we create offers immersive and authentic experiences.
What happens if I don’t like what you’ve presented and don’t wish to travel with Away&Co? +
We are confident that is unlikely to happen because every Away&Co trip is planned to perfection, with every detail. Our partners across the world are considered the best in their respective destinations.

Even before you have paid the deposit, based on the very initial call, we will achieve a complete understanding of what you would like to experience and will be able to deliver suitable options to you with indicative costs. It is only when you have liked what we’ve presented in the very initial proposal we will ask for the planning deposit. Should you choose not to proceed with a booking after that, the planning deposit is non-refundable or not adjustable for future travel.
What happens if my travel plans are impacted by a force majeure? +
Of course, we understand if a circumstance is beyond your or our control. We have been in the business of selling experiential travel since 1977. We have been through everything from wars, natural disasters, civil unrest and pandemics. If you are unable to continue with the trip as planned due to any unforeseen situation that completely prevents you from travelling, we will gladly credit the planning deposit for your next journey, whenever that is. This doesn’t apply to any other refunds or costs paid for the actual trip, which will be resolved based on the nature of deposits paid after working with our hotel and experience partners in the destination.

Let's begin, together...

Your dream journey deserves more than a template. It deserves Away&Co.