On The Road

On a Costsaver trip, you'll unlock the best of the world's top destinations. Your tour includes:

• A knowledgeable Travel Director
• Quality hotels
• Many meals and must-see sightseeing as detailed in your itinerary
• Airport transfers in select destinations. See Airport Transfers for more information.

Above all, a Costsaver trip is about choice. That's why you'll find plenty of free time built into your itinerary. Our tours feature over 550 Choice Experiences allowing you to tailor your tour to your interests.

Regardless of where in the world your tour visits, we do our best to ensure your coach is as comfortable as it can be. However, there can be differences depending on where in the world you're visiting:

Europe, North & South America, Australia & New Zealand tours
We take great pride in having the finest fleet of fuel-efficient, fully air-conditioned coaches – all with reclining seats and on-board restrooms. The coach windows have a high vantage point perfect to take in all the glorious scenery, whether it’s a grand rural landscape or an urban city centre. We also have onboard Wi-Fi.

Please note, the coach WiFi uses the 3G mobile network, which means the connection can be slower than standard broadband

Africa & Asia tours:
We're proud to offer luxury air-conditioned coaches with Wi-Fi in most countries. Africa and Asia tour vehicles do not have Wi-Fi on board. On Asia tours, there are no onboard restrooms.

This information is included in the day-by-day itinerary for your trip.

Yes. At Costsaver we take care of the essentials and you tailor the rest. Each trip includes the must-see sights plus plenty of free time to fill with whatever you choose. With over 550 Choice Experiences across our tours, there's something for everyone.

If you would like to exclude yourself from an included experience please ensure you speak with your Travel Director, so they are aware of your plans. They will make sure you are aware of any necessary times or meeting points. Please note we cannot provide any compensation or refunds, if you decide to not take part in an included activity or meal.

Our itineraries are a well-balanced mix of walking and enjoying sites from the comfort of your coach.

The activity level and amount of walking can vary, so it is important that you bring adequate footwear to ensure your comfort and safety.

When walking there can be some uneven terrain or times when more walking is required than others.

How much coach travel there is depends on the itinerary but we rarely spend longer than a couple of hours on the coach without a photo stop or visit. Some journeys are much shorter.

Regardless of where in the world your tour visits, we do our best to ensure your coach is as comfortable as it can be. However, there can be differences depending on where in the world you're visiting:

Europe, North & South America, Australia & New Zealand tours
We take great pride in having the finest fleet of fuel-efficient, fully air-conditioned coaches – all with reclining seats and on-board restrooms. The coach windows have a high vantage point perfect to take in all the glorious scenery, whether it’s a grand rural landscape or an urban city centre. We also have onboard Wi-Fi.

Please note, the coach WiFi uses the 3G mobile network, which means the connection can be slower than standard broadband

Africa & Asia tours:
We're proud to offer luxury air-conditioned coaches with Wi-Fi in most countries. Africa and Asia tour vehicles do not have Wi-Fi on board. On Asia tours, there are no onboard restrooms.

In addition to your suitcase, which gets stored separately on the coach, you can bring one piece of carry-on luggage onto the coach with you. This must be small enough to either fit under your seat or in a small overhead compartment.

The specific dimensions vary by where your trip is:

Europe trips: 12"x11"x6" (30x28x14 cm)
North & South America, Australia & New Zealand trips: One small piece of hand luggage that does not have telescopic handles
Africa trips: Please note that East Africa safari vehicles cannot accommodate regular luggage dimensions and weights. We kindly ask our guests to travel with a soft-sided bag or medium-sized suitcase.

Please note that for safety reasons, small rolling suitcases are not permitted inside the coach.

There are a number of things you may wish to bring on the coach with you, including a travel pillow; something to read, sunglasses, your phone, headphones if you'd like to listen to music, etc.

To ensure fairness and to enhance your coach experience Costsaver practices a daily seat rotation system, which your Travel Director will facilitate. This enables guests to enjoy the panoramic views from a different seat and provides opportunities to get to know your fellow travellers and make new friends each day.

On a Costsaver trip, you'll unlock the best of the world's top destinations. Your tour includes:

• A knowledgeable Travel Director
• Quality hotels
• Many meals and must-see sightseeing as detailed in your itinerary
• Airport transfers in select destinations. See Airport Transfers for more information.

Above all, a Costsaver trip is about choice. That's why you'll find plenty of free time built into your itinerary. Our tours feature over 550 Choice Experiences allowing you to tailor your tour to your interests.

All our guests will have access to the personal service of a dedicated and knowledgeable Travel Director. They will be on hand to help guide & support you throughout your trip and are able to offer a true insider’s perspective of each destination.

Our Travel Directors come from a variety of backgrounds but they all share a passion for travel and their home countries. These experienced professionals show you what the guidebooks can’t – a true insider’s perspective of each destination. Each Travel Director has been through a bespoke training program and many have at least five years’ experience under their belt.

Europe, North & South America, Australia & New Zealand tours:
Here at Costsaver, we know the human touch is what differentiates unforgettable travel experiences from those that are just ‘good’. Our beloved Travel Directors come from a variety of backgrounds, but they all share a passion for travel and their home countries. These experienced travel professionals have the skills and experience to show you what the guidebooks can’t – a real insider’s perspective of each destination you visit.

Each Travel Director has taken a bespoke training programme, and many of them have at least five years of experience under their belt. They will also be there to offer support should any problems or issues arise.

Our Travel Directors have plenty of stories to tell and are just as interested in hearing yours so that they can anticipate your needs and give personal touches as part of your Costsaver tour. 

Africa & Asia tours:
On our East Africa and Namibia tours, you will be accompanied by the Costsaver Driver Guide, who is both a driver and a destination expert.

Your Travel Director isn’t just a guide but a treasure trove of knowledge and support throughout your journey. They’ll be with you every day, showing you the places you’ve always dreamed of, and things you’ve never even thought of. In addition, to keep you up to date, many Travel Directors often use WhatsApp Communities as an additional tool to keep in touch with guests throughout each tour when you’re out exploring, and share on-the-go updates, photos, and more. 

If your Travel Director is a WhatsApp user, upon joining the tour, they will add you to your tour Community. This will be an additional way for your Travel Director to share updates and reminders like where to meet, photos and more, directly to your device. 

If you don’t have the app, it’s best (and recommended) to download and set up the app before you leave home to start your tour. Simply open the Apple App Store or Google Play App Store on your device and search for WhatsApp. 

If you don’t use WhatsApp, don’t worry! There are plenty of other ways your Travel Director will share info with you in person throughout your tour. 

This information is included in the day-by-day itinerary for your trip.

Europe, North America and South America
On most of our trips to these regions, you have the option to pre-pay gratuities for your Travel Director and Driver at the time of booking. Alternatively, if you would like to show your appreciation to the team, gratuities may also be paid during your trip.

Rest of World
There is no option to pre-pay gratuities on our Asia, Africa, Australia & New Zealand trips. If you would like to thank your Costsaver destination expert, this can be done on tour.

Tipping etiquette varies by country, culture and situation and it is a gesture that shows appreciation for the quality of service that you received. When travelling with Costsaver we have pre-paid certain tips and gratuities for you. Baggage handling at hotels, service charges and tips for hotel wait staff (for included meals) will be taken care of by your Travel Director. There are however a few instances where individual tipping is welcome.

In general, if you’re unsure about tipping, don’t go any higher than 10% (unless of course that the service was so fantastic you feel you want to do so). Servers may not receive tips when left on a credit card, so always try to tip in cash whenever possible.

Hotel Services
It is customary to tip hotel staff for room service delivery if the charge has not already been added to the bill. Where ice machines are not available and you receive ice from the bar, a small tip to the bartender is always appreciated.

Local Specialists
It is customary to show appreciation for the insights, stories and know-how shared with you by the Local Specialists.

Eating and Drinking
Tips and gratuities will be taken care of by your Travel Director for all meals included in your itinerary. When you are exploring on your own, it's helpful to know regional norms around tipping.

At Costsaver, we plan to show you a great deal and always endeavour to make the most of every day of your holiday. In order to make that possible, we thank you in advance for your punctuality, which affords all our guests the opportunity to enjoy their time with us to the fullest.

Departure time is the time when everyone is seated comfortably and the coach is pulling away from the hotel or rest stop. The savvy traveller will always allow themselves enough time for bathroom visits, settling bills and slow elevators. Your Travel Director will choreograph the day to enhance the itinerary and go out of their way to ensure that those all-important timings are clearly explained. They will also provide you with a contact number should you be in need of assistance.

Sightseeing is included in your itinerary and will generally involve a fair amount of walking and standing (as well as sitting). There are a number of terms used to describe sightseeing activities in the itinerary and there are slight differences in their meaning:

A day to relax – No planned activities; time for Choice Experiences or other independent activities. Your Travel Director will be able to assist you with providing ideas and suggestions to match your interests and get the most out of the day.

Orientation tour – Places of interest are pointed out, allowing you to go and explore them on your own.

See – Observe sights while passing by on your coach, cruise or train.

Sightseeing trip - A Local Specialist will accompany you on a trip of a city or site.

Time to relax and discover – Free time on your own.

View – A brief stop to enjoy the sights and take some photos.

Visit – A stop with time to enjoy a specific site.

“Why not see” or “perhaps enjoy” – These phrases refer to Choice Experiences not included in the trip package but which are available for an additional fee. Your Travel Director will be happy to provide you with information regarding these, or other ways in which to spend your free time.

All the information you need to join your tour will be provided in your trip documents, which you can find on the My Costsaver portal. These will be available approximately 3 weeks prior to your departure.

Your Travel Director will also be in touch a few days before your trip to introduce themselves and re-confirm your meeting point.

Costsaver offers unbeatable value, and to offer a wonderful experience at a great price – we cover all the essentials, while added services such as porterage are not included.

Your Travel Director and Driver will help unload and load luggage on and off the coach, but it is your responsibility to take your luggage from the coach to and from your room.

Sharing your experiences with friends and family back home is an important part of your trip.

If you choose to bring a smart phone with you, ensure you contact your service provider to find out how much it will cost to use your phone internationally. You might consider disabling data roaming or purchasing a prepaid service or SIM to keep control of costs. Be mindful of other guests if you take a cell phone call on the coach.

Making telephone calls from your hotel room can be very expensive. A pre-paid calling card is an easy way to save money when making telephone calls. Calling cards are readily available for purchase in most stores - please ask your Travel Director for further information.

Complimentary WiFi is usually available on our coaches and your hotel will also provide complimentary WiFi access.

Sharing your trip highlights with friends, family, and fellow jetsetters on social media not only creates memories you’ll remember, but it’s also a great way to share your Costsaver experience and show future travellers what they could be getting up to! 

Whether it’s stunning views, fun characters you’ve met, and Choice Experiences you’ve chosen to experience on your tour, your stories inspire future travellers just like you. Head onto Facebook, or Instagram to show off your adventures as they happen and don’t forget to tag us—you might even see your content featured on our pages!  

Here’s a closer look at what each social platform offers for sharing your travel tales, and how you can connect with us to amplify your adventures: 

• Facebook: Share your updates, albums, and live moments. Tag @CostsaverTours and #csmyway as well as your tour hashtag in your posts and connect with fellow travelers. Your Travel Director can help you when you meet them. 

• Instagram: Capture picturesque snaps, cool videos and awesome and stories from your journey. Follow @CostsaverTours and tag us in your posts with #csmyway (and your tour hashtag). Your Travel Director can help you when you meet them. 

Food and drink is at the heart of every destination. Your trip itinerary contains information on included meals and your Travel Director will provide recommendations for places to eat in each new place.

Specific Dietary Requirements
We encourage guests to advise us of any specific dietary requirements during registration on the My Costsaver portal. Please also advise your Travel Director of your needs. Hotels and restaurants will be told in advance and suppliers will do their utmost to provide alternative options, although this cannot be guaranteed.

Drinking Water
We care about the planet. With that in mind, we recommend you pack a reusable water bottle for your trip to reduce your plastic waste.

The majority of countries in Europe have safe drinking water. In Eastern Europe, you may find alternative water options are recommended in some areas. Your Travel Director will advise when the use of bottled water is recommended.

There will be multiple rest stops throughout the day where you can refill your bottle with water or purchase a drink. We recommend the app Tap - Find Water Anywhere on your phone, which shows you the nearest refill station.

Find out more about how we MAKE TRAVEL MATTER®

This information is included in the day-by-day itinerary for your trip.

We can accommodate vegetarian guests and can assist with diabetic, gluten-free and other medically-recommended diets. Please advise us at the time of booking.

Unfortunately, we’re unable to supply meals in accordance with strict religious requirements. We can’t provide salt-free, Kosher, Halal, requests for specific dietary supplements such as soya milk, and high protein or low-carb meals.

You can inform us of any dietary requirements by logging into My Costsaver and selecting 'view trip details' for your trip. On the right-hand side, you will then have the option to 'personalise your trip'.

The number of guests on tour with you can vary depending on where your tour is going:

Europe trips: An average of 40 to 45 guests
United States and Canada trips: A maximum of 52 guests
Australia and New Zealand trips: A maximum of 50 guests
Asia trips: A maximum of 40 guests
Africa trips: A maximum of 40 guests
Latin America trips: A maximum of 40 to 45 guests

The beauty of taking a guided tour is that you'll get to know people from all over the globe as part of your group.

Costsaver hotels are handpicked to ensure they meet our high standards.

Checking in to your arrival hotel
Official check-in times vary from hotel to hotel. Should your flight arrive in the early morning into the city where your trip begins, you may find yourself arriving at the hotel before noon, and it could be early afternoon before your room is ready (2pm/3pm). Hotels try to prevent this from happening, but check-in times cannot be guaranteed. The hotel will be able to suggest how any spare time could be used to sightsee, relax or enjoy local restaurants while your room is being prepared.

When arriving at your first hotel, check in at the main reception desk. The reception staff will need to know your name and that you are travelling with Costsaver.

When your trip begins, check-in will be managed by the Travel Director, who will advise you on procedures and hotel features before arrival. They will secure keys and oversee the delivery of your luggage to your room.

Photocopies of documents
Some hotels are required to keep your passport at reception throughout your stay owing to government, country or local laws. You are therefore recommended to bring a photocopy of your passport and any visas with you when you travel.

A useful tip is to photocopy your airline tickets, credit cards and your driver’s license etc. as this can speed up replacements on those rare occasions that the originals are lost. Even easier is to scan your documents and send them to yourself as attachments to your email so that you have access to them if needed.

Keys
Many hotels use magnetic key cards. These may be required to use the elevator. In many hotels, key cards also operate the lighting and air-conditioning. The card is usually inserted into a slot or box located just inside the room in order for the electricity to function and it is a great way to save energy.

Checking out of your hotel
Always make a last-minute check of safe deposit boxes, drawers, wardrobe and bathroom before departing each hotel. If you've consumed any items from the mini bar or accessed pay-TV, etc., then you are responsible for paying incidental expenses before departure. We recommend settling any bills in the evening to ensure a smooth departure the following morning.

We select our hotels for their quality, impeccable service and comfort, and the majority of them have air-conditioning. A few hotels in the northern Alps of Europe do not have air conditioning due to the colder climate.

Most hotels offer a laundry service; in some cities, laundromats are also available. However, it’s sensible to try and pack enough clothing to avoid having to do laundry, as it can sometimes be costly or inconvenient.

Complimentary Wi-Fi is available in most hotel guestrooms and/or communal areas. On some occasions, the Wi-Fi may need an access code from hotel staff. Your Travel Director will provide you with details when checking in to each hotel.

Yes, hotels can change from those listed on the website or in your travel documents. This might be due to a variety of reasons and is often out of Costsaver's control. If this does happen, we will ensure the new hotel is in a similar location and meets our high standards.

All the information you need to join your trip, such as your first hotel and what time to get there, will be provided in your trip documents. You can access this by logging into the My Costsaver portal. These will be available approximately 3 weeks prior to your departure.

We regret that no refunds can be made for absences from a trip, including experiences such as missed meals or sightseeing.

Yes. At Costsaver we take care of the essentials and you tailor the rest. Each trip includes the must-see sights plus plenty of free time to fill with whatever you choose. With over 550 Choice Experiences across our tours, there's something for everyone.

If you would like to exclude yourself from an included experience please ensure you speak with your Travel Director, so they are aware of your plans. They will make sure you are aware of any necessary times or meeting points. Please note we cannot provide any compensation or refunds, if you decide to not take part in an included activity or meal.

At Costsaver, we take care of the essentials and you tailor the rest to your interests. On a Costsaver tour, we'll show you the big sights and then leave it up to you to build the rest of your tour. With over 550+ Choice Experiences to choose from, you get to experience a destination in your own way. That's why Costsaver is the ultimate unpackaged tour.