Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know before you go. From booking and payments to passports, packing, and what to expect on tour, you'll find quick answers here to help you plan with confidence. Can't find what you're looking for? Our Tour Sales Consultants are happy to help at 1-888-867-2190.
| What sets Holiday Vacations apart from the rest? | Personalized guest service is and always has been the focal point of our company. This tradition of excellence dates back to our founding in 1973. Combined with our professional relationships with quality hotels, restaurants, attractions, and other suppliers, you can expect a carefree and memorable vacation. |
| Where is Holiday Vacations located? | Our main office is at 2727 Henry Ave. in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. Guests from across the country travel with us, with guaranteed departures available from 90+ airports. Our Tour Directors and team members also come from communities throughout the United States, bringing a wide range of knowledge and travel experience to our guests. |
| Who can travel with Holiday Vacations? |
Any adult is welcome to travel with us. Well-mannered and supervised minors age eight or older are also permitted on a variety of tours. Because policies vary by tour, please contact our Tour Sales Consultants to find out whether minors are permitted on the tour you're considering. Our travelers are generally between the ages of 60 and 80, although we welcome guests of all ages. Whether you're traveling solo, with a spouse or partner, with friends, or as part of a multigenerational family group, we offer tours to suit different travel styles and interests. |
| How many guests typically travel together on a tour? | Group sizes vary by tour, but most tours have approximately 23–45 guests. Maximum group sizes vary by departure, with most tours accommodating no more than 38–45 guests, in addition to your Tour Director. For a smaller-group experience, our Small Group Series has 24 guests or fewer, while Explore More Extensions are limited to 12 guests or fewer. |
| How can I reach you, and can I visit the office? |
Call us at 1-888-867-2190, Monday through Friday, 8 AM–5 PM CT. During business hours you'll talk with a friendly, professional Tour Sales Consultant for live, one-on-one assistance, with no series of recordings. Whether you have a question, want information, or are ready to book, we're happy to help. You're also welcome to stop by our office at 2727 Henry Ave., Eau Claire, WI 54701, during business hours to speak with our team, make a payment, book a tour, or get help with any questions. You can call ahead to schedule an appointment if you'd like to avoid potential wait times. |
| When should I make my reservation? | We recommend reserving well in advance of the final payment date, as most departures fill quickly. A low deposit of $200 per person confirms your reservation and is fully refundable before the final payment date. A knowledgeable Tour Sales Consultant is happy to take your reservation by phone and answer any questions. |
| Can I book a tour online, or do I need to call? | You can book most tours directly at holidayvacations.com, with online booking available 24/7. If you prefer to book by phone or have questions before booking, our Tour Sales Consultants are available Monday through Friday, 8 AM–5 PM CT. A $200-per-person refundable deposit secures your reservation, whether you book online or by phone. |
| Is there a waitlist for sold-out tours? | Yes. If a tour is sold out, you can join the waitlist by calling 1-888-867-2190. A $200 refundable deposit per guest is required, which allows us to move you to booked status immediately if an opening occurs. If we're unable to confirm a spot for you, or if you change your mind before the final payment date, your deposit is fully refunded. |
| Why is the solo rate higher than the double rate per person? |
A solo traveler is responsible for the full cost of certain trip expenses, most notably accommodations. With double occupancy, costs such as a hotel room are shared by two travelers, which lets us offer a lower price per person. If you're traveling solo but would like the double occupancy rate, call our Tour Sales Consultants and ask to be added to the "Solo Traveler Looking for Roommate" list for your specific tour. If another guest joins the list for the same tour, we'll connect you so you can talk and decide whether you'd be comfortable sharing a room. You'll then let us know whether to keep you booked as a single traveler or switch you to the double occupancy rate. |
| How do I find my booking number? | Your booking number appears on your booking confirmation email and on every invoice. You can also find it by logging in to the Guest Portal and viewing your trip details. |
| When is my final payment due? | Final payment is generally due 75–150 days before your tour’s departure date. Your exact final payment date is listed on your invoice and in the Guest Portal. Log in to the Guest Portal or contact our Tour Sales Consultants to confirm the specific due date for your trip. |
| Do I have to make payments after paying my deposit? | No. We don't require regularly scheduled payments after your deposit. The only requirement is that the remaining balance is paid in full by the final payment date. Until then you can pay at your own pace, all interest-free, through the Guest Portal, over the phone, or by mailing a check. |
| What payment methods do you accept? |
You can pay by credit or debit card online, by phone, or in person at our office. We do not charge a surcharge for credit card payments; we absorb the processing costs. You can also split a single payment between two credit cards, online or by phone. For security reasons, we do not accept payments using a bank account and routing number. You can mail a check instead (see below). |
| Can I mail a check for payment? |
Yes. Please mail your check to: Holiday Vacations PO Box 87 Eau Claire, WI 54702-0087 A few reminders:
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| How do I make a payment through the Guest Portal? | Log in to the Guest Portal, open your trip, and select My Invoice. From there you can make a deposit or balance payment by credit or debit card. Payments are reflected on your invoice, and you'll receive an email confirmation once the payment is processed. |
| Why isn't the "Pay Now" button working? | Try clearing your browser's cache and cookies, switching to a different browser, or updating your current browser. This issue has been reported most often with Safari or Firefox on Apple devices. If you're still unable to pay, call us and make your payment by phone with a Tour Sales Consultant. |
| Will I receive a confirmation after making a payment? | Yes. Once your payment is processed, you'll receive a confirmation email and an updated invoice, and the payment will appear in your Guest Portal. If you don't receive the confirmation within a day or two, check your spam folder or contact our Tour Sales Consultants to have it resent. |
| How much does travel insurance cost? | The cost of travel insurance varies by provider and plan. Travel Protection Plans through Redpoint, Holiday Vacations' trusted partner, are priced based on your total trip cost and the plan you choose. You can select your desired Travel Protection Plan when booking, either online or over the phone, or explore the available options in the Guest Portal after booking your trip. You may also contact a Tour Sales Consultant for an exact quote at any time. |
| Is travel insurance included in the price of my tour? | No, travel insurance is not included in the price of your tour. Holiday Vacations offers Travel Protection Plans through Redpoint, which are optional and priced separately. You can easily add Travel Protection when booking or any time before your final payment date. We recommend considering Travel Protection to help protect your trip investment from unexpected circumstances. |
| What happens if I cancel my reservation? Is my deposit refundable? | Holiday Vacations offers Travel Protection Plans through our partner, Redpoint. We offer two plans: a Base Plan that includes coverage for trip cancellation, trip delay, baggage delay, and medical emergencies, and an upgraded Cancel For Any Reason Plan that includes the Base Plan benefits plus the ability to cancel up to 48 hours before departure for a partial refund. View full details at holidayvacations.com/travel-protection-plan. You may also purchase travel insurance or protection from an outside provider. |
| What are the different types of Holiday Vacations credits? |
Holiday Vacations offers several types of credits that can be applied towards the cost of a future trip for maximum savings. All credit types can be combined and stacked on a booking, with the exception of only one Travel Show Credit per booking. You can view your available credits and their expiration dates at any time in your Guest Portal. Travel Show Credit: Received after watching an on-demand or interactive Holiday Vacations travel show. Travel Show Credits are valid for one year from the issue date. Loyalty Credit: Awarded after each completed trip, with the amount based on your Holiday Travelers Club loyalty level. Loyalty Credits do not expire. Refer-A-Friend Credit: Awarded to the referred guest upon booking their first trip, and to the referring traveler when the referred guest departs on their first trip. Refer-A-Friend Credits do not expire. Travel Credit: May be awarded for miscellaneous giveaways, contests, promotions, or other special circumstances. Expiration dates vary. |
| How does past travel credit work? | Travel credit earned from a previous trip, known as a Loyalty Credit, stays on your account and can be applied towards the cost of a future Holiday Vacations tour. It does not expire. Loyalty Credits have no cash value and cannot be refunded or transferred to a bank account. When you’re ready to book your next trip, let us know you have available credit, and we’ll apply it to your reservation. You may also apply your credit directly to your invoice through the Guest Portal. |
| How does the Holiday Vacations referral program work? | Holiday Vacations’ Refer-a-Friend Program rewards both you and the person you refer! Simply use the custom referral link under Tour Offers in the Holiday Traveler mobile app to share Holiday Vacations with family and friends. When they use your referral link or provide your full name and ZIP code upon booking, they receive $100 off their first tour. As a thank you, you’ll receive a $200 Refer-a-Friend credit once they depart on their tour. The credit is valid for two years and can be stacked with other Refer-a-Friend credits. Learn more at holidayvacations.com/refer-a-friend. |
| Can I get a credit for watching a Holiday Vacations travel show video? | Yes. As a thank you for watching a travel show, you’ll earn a $100 Travel Show Credit that can be applied towards any future Holiday Vacations tour. Please note that only one Travel Show Credit may be applied per booking and they expire one year from the issue date. Browse our full library of online travel shows anytime at holidayvacations.com/online-interactive-experiences. |
| What airports can I fly from? | Holiday Vacations offers guaranteed airport departure options from numerous cities across the United States, with airfare included in tour prices from the listed airports. View our Guaranteed Airport Departure Cities to find your departure airport and see available options. If your city is not listed, you can also request a departure from another city. Our air department will determine availability and whether an additional cost applies. |
| What airlines does Holiday Vacations use? | Holiday Vacations works with major U.S. airline carriers, such as Delta, American Airlines, and United Airlines. Your specific airline and flight details are confirmed after your booking is finalized. |
| Can I request a specific seat, like an aisle or window? | You can note your seating preference when you book and we’ll pass it along to the airline. Seat assignments are determined by the airline and cannot be guaranteed unless you choose to purchase an upgraded class of service. |
| Can I upgrade my seat on my included flight? | Seat upgrades depend on airline policy and availability. Once your ticket is issued, you can check available upgrade options directly with the airline, use frequent flyer miles if eligible, or ask a Tour Sales Consultant to help coordinate the upgrade. Upgrades requested after final payment may not be possible, depending on whether your flight has already been ticketed. |
| Are airport transfers included in the tour price? | Holiday Vacations does not provide transportation from your home or city to the airport, unless otherwise noted. Transportation from the airport to your hotel is included in the tour price. If you’re traveling with your local station or media host, we offer a variety of designated pickup points. For these specific tours, transportation is included from the designated pickup points to the airport. Please check the tour-specific page on our website or the brochure for pickup point information, or call our Tour Sales Consultants. |
| Do the names on my travel documents need to match my passport exactly? | Yes. The name on your booking, airline ticket, and travel documents must match your passport exactly. For domestic travel, your name should match the government-issued ID you’ll use for travel. This includes middle names. It is crucial that you contact our Tour Sales Consultants as soon as possible if you notice a name mismatch, as airline name-correction fees and deadlines apply. |
| How do I correct a misspelled name on my booking? | Call our Tour Sales Consultants as soon as you notice the error. Minor corrections can often be made directly, but once airline tickets are issued, name corrections may involve an airline fee or, in some cases, require rebooking. The sooner you report the error, the easier it may be to correct. |
| When do I need to apply for a passport for international tours? | Excellent question! According to the United States Department of State, currently it takes between four and six weeks to receive your passport after the application has been completed. This passport will be good for ten years. It is important if you already have a passport that it be valid at least six months after the return date of your international vacation, otherwise it would be a great idea to renew your passport so you can continue to travel the world care free! |
| What identification do I need to travel? |
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| Do I need a passport for a Hawaii tour? | No. Hawaii is part of the U.S., so you can enjoy the tropical scenery without a passport. Benefits of Hawaiian travel include using U.S. dollars, having medical records available if care is needed, and traveling in an English-speaking society. Domestic ID requirements above still apply. |
| How do I access the Holiday Vacations Guest Portal? | Access the Holiday Vacations Guest Portal at guestportal.holidayvacations.com, or select Guest Portal under Resources at the top of the website. Log in using the email address and password associated with your booking. If you haven’t yet created an account, select Create an Account on the login page. You’ll be asked to enter the email address associated with your booking, your name, and your booking number, which can be found in your booking confirmation email. |
| How do I reset my Guest Portal password? | Select Forgot Your Password? on the Guest Portal login screen and follow the password-reset link sent to your email. If you don’t receive the email, make sure you’re using the email address associated with your booking and check your spam or junk folder. If needed, clear your browser cache and request a new password-reset link. |
| Does each traveler need their own Guest Portal account? | Yes, each traveler should create and use their own Guest Portal account. This ensures that personal information, required forms, and emergency contact information are recorded correctly for each guest. |
| How do I complete the Guest Participation Agreement in the Guest Portal? | Log in to the Guest Portal and open your trip details. The Guest Participation Agreement will appear as a required form. Review the terms, check the acknowledgment box, and submit the form. This agreement must be completed before your final travel documents can be issued. |
| How do I update my emergency contact information? | Emergency contact information can be added or updated in the Guest Portal under your trip details. If the portal won't let you edit it — for example, because it's past your final payment date — call our Tour Consultants and we'll update it for you over the phone. |
| When will I receive my tour documents, and what's included? | Your tour documents will be mailed approximately two weeks to ten days prior to the tour’s departure date. Included within your nylon document holder will be flight departure & return information, TSA information to reference when packing, luggage tags, the daily tour itinerary, name badges with lanyards and a confidential emergency contact form which will be collected by your Tour Director at the start of your vacation. |
| Do I need the Holiday Traveler app before my trip? | The Holiday Traveler Mobile App is optional, but it’s a convenient way to access your itinerary, travel documents, and trip updates on your phone. You can also chat with your Tour Director, share digital postcards of your trip with loved ones back home, and take a post-tour survey. The app becomes available about 21 days before departure, and you’ll receive an email with download instructions. If you prefer not to use the app, you can use your paper travel documents instead. Learn more at holidayvacations.com/holiday-traveler. |
| How do I request a Holiday Vacations brochure or catalog? | You can request a Holiday Vacations catalog online at holidayvacations.com/request-a-catalog. Brochures can be requested directly from individual tour pages on our website. Digital copies can be emailed to you immediately, while printed catalogs and brochures are mailed and typically arrive within 14 business days. You can also call a Tour Sales Consultant to request a catalog or brochure. Please note that some brochures may not be available yet and will have a longer delivery window. |
| How active are the tours, and how will I know which level is right for me? | Our tour itineraries are designed to include the best a destination has to offer. Tour activity levels vary as sightseeing and attractions are unique to the area. The ability to perform each tour’s daily activities may differ from person-to-person. Should you have specific questions about one of our tours, please speak with any of our knowledgeable Tour Consultants. If you have questions about your ability to complete travel-related activity, please consult your doctor. |
| Can I still go on a trip if I use a cane, walker, or wheelchair? | If you have limited mobility or use a cane, wheelchair, walker, or other mobility device, Holiday Vacations offers a variety of tours that may be a good fit. Because accessibility and terrain vary by destination, some tours may not be suitable for travelers with limited mobility. For example, many international tours may include cobblestone streets, uneven terrain, or stairs, or lack accessibility accommodations. Our Tour Sales Consultants can help you determine which tour may be the best fit based on your mobility needs. Please note that Holiday Vacations does not provide personal attendant services. Travelers who are unable to independently perform the activities included in a tour should travel with a companion who is capable of and completely responsible for providing the necessary assistance. |
| How do I request wheelchair assistance at the airport? | When booking your tour, let us know if you need wheelchair assistance at the airport so we can note it on your reservation. If booking online, check “I have Accessibility Needs” under Accessibility Accommodations in the Travel Preferences section and indicate that you will have a wheelchair with you. Alternatively, you can call a Tour Sales Consultant after booking to provide this information. You should also contact the airline directly by phone, website, or chat to request wheelchair assistance for your flights. Requesting assistance as early as possible helps ensure it’s arranged smoothly. |
| How much free time will I have on tour? | Each Holiday Vacations itinerary designates leisure time for our guests to independently explore, shop or sightsee. Your Tour Director will assist you in taking full advantage of your free time by offering suggestions for local attractions or by coordinating optional activities. |
| What should I pack? |
While on tour, casual and comfortable clothing is most always appropriate. It is recommended that you pack good walking shoes; specifically, a pair that is ‘broken in’. Due to the uncertainty of weather and air conditioning at attractions and restaurants, you may want to dress in layers and bring a light sweater or jacket. |
| Are gratuities included in the tour price? | Gratuities are included for many tour activities. For example, Holiday Vacations tips restaurant staff at group meals and local guides on city tours. However, gratuities are not included for Tour Directors, Motorcoach Drivers, or Shipboard Staff. Gratuity amounts are an individual decision and are given directly to your Tour Director and Motorcoach Driver at the end of the tour. Shipboard gratuities are handled according to the cruise line’s guidelines. You can find gratuity guidelines on our Travel Planning Hub at holidayvacations.com/travel-planning. Additionally, you may call our Tour Sales Consultants or ask your dedicated Tour Director during the trip whether a gratuity is included. |
Additional Questions?
- Our team is available Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Central Time.
- Please call us at 800-826-2266 if you need any assistance.