Oxalis Adventures

Home FAQ

These questions cover common booking and payments queries. For practical information about our trips please see the individual Japan and Armenia practical information pages. For background information on the history, culture and food see the Japan and Armenia resources pages.

What methods of payment do you accept?
Can I make last minute bookings?
What about flights to my destination?
How big are the groups?
What should I bring?
What type of luggage should I bring?
What type of trips do you offer?
Do you offer single occupancy rooms?
What is the standard of accommodation?
Can you help me with accommodation before or after my tour?
What is included and not included in the tour price?
Do I need to tip the guides?
Are there any local payments?
What happens if I need to cancel?
What financial security is there?
Do I need a visa?
Where do we meet?

What methods of payment do you accept?
We accept payment by:

Credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, JCB, American Express)
Debit cards (Visa debit, Visa Electron, UK issued Maestro & Solo)
Cheques drawn on a UK bank in Pounds Sterling only
Bank transfers (in which case we ask you pay the cost of the transfer)

Can I make last minute bookings?
Yes, we will do our best to accommodate last minute bookings for our scheduled trips subject to the availability of accommodation.

What about flights to my destination?
We do not currently hold an ATOL license and therefore cannot sell you flights to your destination from the UK. We will be happy to give you help and advice about the best flight options.

How big are the groups?
Our scheduled trips are kept to a maximum of 12 people, which keeps them small, friendly and personal.

What should I bring?
This depends on the trip. You will receive a trip dossier with a recommended gear list after booking. Baggage should be kept to a minimum where possible. Trips in Japan use a mixture of public transport and minibuses, and some carrying of your own bags is required.

What type of luggage should I bring?
In Japan, one backpack or suitcase with wheels. Many of our tours use public transport and you will be required to carry your own bagage through stations and onto trains or buses.Your tour guide will not be responsible for the loading or unloading of luggage. While the Japanese train system is highly efficient, stations and trains can be overcrowded. Please pack as lightly as possible. Accommodation in Japan will provide towels as well as shampoo and soap, and there is usually a hair dryer except in some minshuku and mountain huts. Dressing gowns (yukata) are also provided. Japanese trains and buses, as well as minibuses and vans used on our tours have limited space available for baggage.
In Armenia we use minibuses and vans for transportation which also have limited space for baggage, so please pack as lightly as possible.

What type of trips do you offer ?
We offer small-group tours led by a bilingual tour leader.Some of our trips involve walking. We are happy to organise tailor-made trips using cars or vans. (. Please fill out our quotation page so we can get an idea of your requirements.

Do you offer single occupancy rooms?
Single occupancy rooms are generally only available in hotels and involve a surcharge. Country inns (ryokan and minshuku in Japan) usually involve shared accommodation (same sex).
If you are a single person and book one of our trips then you are not obliged to pay the single supplement. However if you request a room to yourself then this should be requested at the time of booking and a supplement paid.

What is the standard of accommodation?
In Japan we use three types of accommodation. In large cities we normally use modern Western-style hotels with en-suite facilities. In the countryside we use traditional ryokan or minshuku, with futons laid-out on tatami-mat floors. Single travellers may be asked to share a room (same sex) and en suite facilities may not be available. On mountain treks we use mountain huts; some of these may only have basic washing facilities.

Can you help me with accommodation before or after my tour?
Yes. We will be happy to help book accommodation before or after your tour. We can help with accommodation, transportation, and with the planning of your extra time, either guided or unguided.

What is included and not included in the tour price?
Please see the tour page for more information. Generally, we include all accommodation, all transportation between tour destinations and most meals. Please note that while we include transportation in cities between spots we visit on the itinerary, any travel apart from this (for example in your free time) is not included.

Do I need to tip the guides?
In Japan tipping is not customary, and our guides do not expect to be tipped. If you want to reward what you feel is service is extra-special then our guides will be happy to accept, however there is no obligation.

Are there any local payments?
No, there are no hidden charges and no payments to be made locally. You will need some cash to cover expenses that are not included in the tour, such as lunch and a few evening meals. Please see the tour notes for each tour or ask us.

What happens if I need to cancel?
Please read our booking conditions page

What financial security is there?
We are a member of the Travel Trust Association, a trade association of Travel Agents, Tour Operators and Travel Organisers, that operate trust accounts. Every member puts customer funds into a designated trust account, supervised by an independent trustee. Your funds are held in this account and may not be released unless you receive your holiday. This means that your booking with us will be protected in the unlikely event of our being unable to provide your contracted arrangements due to our insolvency: in most cases your money will still be held within our Trust account, and will be available to pay for your holiday.

Do I need a visa?
Please see the practical information pages for Japan and Armenia.

Where do we meet?
For all our trips (except the Snow Country winter tour) we will come to meet you on your arrival at the airport.