| Travelers planning a trip must perform due | | | | Get an exhaustive list of clients so that the travel |
| diligence with the task of choosing a dependable | | | | agent will not know which ones you are going to |
| travel agent. This becomes crucial when the | | | | contact. If you are taking the contact address of |
| planned trip is to Antarctica. The harsh and | | | | a few clients then contact them right away so |
| unpredictable weather as well as remote and | | | | that the travel agent gets no time to tutor clients |
| inhospitable geographical conditions of the region | | | | and dress up testimonies. |
| demand that experienced and capable people | | | | Dependable Team |
| handle the affairs of an expedition be it by air or | | | | The competencies and expertise of the |
| sea. | | | | expedition team are crucial to an Antarctic |
| Choosing a dependable travel agent is a tricky job | | | | expedition. In the unending stretch of ice and cold |
| as there are a dismayingly large number of travel | | | | water you have only them to ensure your safety. |
| agencies out there. Anyone with a little knowledge | | | | A dependable team should comprise of at least |
| of Internet ticket booking and awareness of | | | | one veteran captain having several expedition |
| travel destinations can set up a travel agency. It | | | | experiences, expert sailors, environmentalists, |
| is hard to expect quality and dependable service | | | | geologists familiar with the topography of the |
| even from registered travel agencies as the | | | | continent and specializing in glaciology, |
| registration process is simple and doesn't require | | | | oceanographers, marine biologists, polar scientists, |
| much more than filling out a simple form and | | | | and polar educators. It's essential for all the above |
| paying some fees. Airliners and cruise liners | | | | people to have previous Antarctic expedition |
| affiliations are also meaningless. Let the lure of | | | | experience. Make sure that the team has all the |
| visiting the White Continent not make you | | | | qualification and experience to make your |
| overlook some basic factors in choosing a travel | | | | expedition a safe and enjoyable one. |
| agent. If I were traveling to Antarctica these are | | | | Sturdy Ship |
| the things I would be concentrating on for | | | | Special attention must be paid for the kind of ship |
| selecting a travel agent. | | | | the travel agent is going to put you on and the |
| Reputation | | | | team that will lead the expedition. The ship must |
| This is the prime consideration while choosing a | | | | be in top condition. It must have all the latest |
| travel agent. Usually, the more reputable a travel | | | | communication tools as well as expedition |
| agency the better is its service. Ascertain | | | | equipment. Find out how well the ship can cope |
| whether it's lower cost or quality service that | | | | with disaster? |
| makes a particular travel agent special. Your | | | | Ask the travel agent about which cruise liners are |
| target is clearly reputation based on the | | | | listed in their agency and how many voyages the |
| dependability of service. Cheap and best are not | | | | cruise liners have made to Antarctica? The more |
| applicable always. You don't drive the cheapest | | | | successful voyages made by a cruise liner the |
| car, don't wear the cheapest dress, and don't eat | | | | better - the rule is simple. Is your travel agency |
| out in the cheapest restaurant. So why choose a | | | | offering good ice breaking ships or ice |
| travel agent that specializes in providing cheap | | | | strengthening cruises? If you are more |
| services. You are going to Antarctica, remember. | | | | adventurous you should prefer the ice breaking |
| Everything should be top notch. You should | | | | cruises as they will take you to places that just |
| concentrate on getting that. Getting better rates | | | | ice strengthened ships cannot take. Ask the tour |
| becomes secondary to getting top equipment, | | | | operator what kind of logistics the ships offer |
| facilities, and services. | | | | (zodiacs and helicopters). What kind of gear and |
| People assume that the longer a travel agency is | | | | equipment do they make available on the ship? |
| in business the better will be the quality of their | | | | Will the ship have qualified guides, naturalists, |
| service. This is purely a common assumption and | | | | geologists, and sailors to make the expedition safe |
| there are no statistics to support this. Not how | | | | and successful? |
| long has the travel agency been in service, but | | | | Some More Questions to Ask the Tour |
| how well is it serving travelers now should be the | | | | Operators |
| question uppermost in your mind. The fact is that | | | | There are expeditions led by people that have |
| there are many old travel agencies on the verge | | | | explored the entire Antarctic. Your expedition can |
| of running out of business and there are many | | | | benefit immensely from the knowledge of such |
| new travel agencies offering better services with | | | | people. Find out whether the tour operators are |
| newer and appropriate policies. Reputed, | | | | members of International Association of Antarctic |
| experienced, and efficient should be the preferred | | | | Tour Operators (IAATO). IAATO is a private |
| criteria of your choice. Equally important is to | | | | body, which has laid down the rules to be followed |
| choose tour operators that specialize in | | | | by tour operators while going to Antarctica and |
| expeditions to ice covered lands like the Arctic | | | | about conduct on the continent. |
| and Antarctica. | | | | Ask the travel agent this precious question, "what |
| Check with Friends, Clients, and Suppliers | | | | service they offer which any other agents do not |
| The best opinions that you can get are from | | | | or cannot offer"? Compare the results and |
| trusted friends and associates that have traveled | | | | answers of the travel agents and go for the |
| to Antarctica. If you can tolerate a little | | | | most reliable one. |
| exaggeration or understatement you will get | | | | If you plan to fly over part of Antarctica then |
| honest opinions from them. However, don't take a | | | | find out from the tour operator whether the pilot |
| single emphatic recommendation as final. Check | | | | and crew members have previous flying |
| and verify with others about any | | | | experience to the continent. Some travel agencies |
| recommendation. Find from the recommended | | | | make sure that the captain of the airplane has |
| travel agent if they are giving any benefits to | | | | flown to Antarctica at least once before. |
| clients for bringing in referrals. Make sure that | | | | These are just five basic factors that you should |
| your friend has not referred you mainly to earn | | | | consider when selecting a travel agent for an |
| benefits for himself. | | | | expedition to Antarctica. There are more things |
| Get a list of existing clients and suppliers from the | | | | that you should take into account while doing the |
| travel agent to verify its claims. Find out how the | | | | due diligence in this regard. Look up on the |
| travel agency performs on a bad day. Be careful | | | | Internet and guidebooks to cover all the aspects |
| as it's natural on the part of a supplier to say only | | | | to make sure that you have taken utmost care |
| positive things about a travel agent if the latter is | | | | in selecting a travel agent. Do not always trust |
| the former's client. You should contact a reliable | | | | what is posted in forums without cross checking. |
| and reputable supplier to establish the truth | | | | For that matter trust advise or information only |
| whether or not the travel agent does business | | | | when they come from an authentic and reputed |
| with it. Clients can better testify about the | | | | source. Cross check them to be absolutely sure. |
| veracity of the claims made by a tour operator. | | | | Have a safe and happy voyage. |