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Partners & Travel Professionals

Partners & Travel Professionals

We understand the value of providing Travel Professionals with all the information and tools they need to sell our trips.

If you are a travel agent or represent an agency and you’re interested in promoting Austin Adventures to your clients, please don’t hesitate to reach out and start a relationship. We’d love to help you add award-winning adventure travel itineraries to your inventory.

The Difference
How to Book
Commission
What's Included
Cancellations
FAQs

The Austin Adventures Promise

Totally responsive and personal customer service
The most seasoned, best-trained, and friendliest guides in our industry – combined with a guest-to-guide ratio that never exceeds 6:1!
Exciting locations that are breathtaking and memorable
Carefully planned itineraries with scenic and safe routes that are educational and environmentally sensitive
Multisport activities that are challenging, diverse, flexible, and achievable
Excellent accommodations and food that reflect the best of the regions we visit
A concern for safety second to none among adventure travel tour companies
If we fail to deliver on our promise, your next Austin Adventures vacation is on us

Trips fill on a first-come-first-serve basis.

To expedite the reservation process, we’ve introduced an online reservation request form. This allows you to request a space for your client 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Once you submit your information, one of our travel consultants will call you to confirm space availability, review our cancellation and refund policy and collect your client’s deposit or payment in full. Deposit amounts are $500 per person per trip. A reservation made within 90 days of trip departure requires full payment at the time that space availability is confirmed.

Trip prices are guaranteed. We accept MasterCard, Visa, American Express and personal checks (US funds).

Travel Agent Commission Structure

We pay 12% commission base on our published trip price, on all agency bookings.

Our pre-departure booking service includes the following:

Address and phone number for each accommodation
Suggestions for pre- and post-trip accommodations
Suggested packing list
Host city information
Suggested reading
Comfort considerations and safety tips
Water bottle
Luggage tags
Austin Adventures 100% cotton t-shirt

Trip-specific, informative, and detailed itinerary of the particular adventure

Excellent accommodations and gourmet meals
The best tour guides in Adventure Travel. With their extensive knowledge, training and customer service experience, your clients will feel pampered, comfortable and well informed. Our guides are all certified and experienced in First Response and CPR, assuring your clients’ safety.
Membership in Austin Adventures’ alumni program, The Summit Club
The vacation of a lifetime where “The Toughest Part is Going Home”

See our Catalog for more details on trip amenities

The following cancellation policies and cancellation fees* are in effect:

Cancellation 91 days or more before trip departure*

Full trip payment less a $300 cancellation/administration fee i be refunded.

Cancellation 61 – 90 days before trip departure*

Full trip payment less 25% per person is refunded.

Cancellation 60 – 31 days before trip departure*

50% of the trip payment is refunded.

Cancellation 0 – 30 days before trip departure*

No refund is given.

Cancellation of a Trip by Austin Adventures

While Austin Adventures will make every attempt to operate a trip once confirmed, we do reserve the right to cancel a trip, at any time due to insufficient bookings and/or reasons beyond our control that might create unsafe or undesirable travel conditions for the participant. In such a case, a full and immediate refund will be issued. However, the financial liability of Austin Adventures shall be limited to the amount paid to Austin Adventures for the land tour portion only and shall not be extended to cover any other associated travel costs incurred (e.g. non-refundable air tickets, visa fees if applicable, clothing, equipment, miscellaneous transportation costs, medical expenses, travel insurance premiums, etc.).

*Please note that some international policies may vary. Inquire for details.

How much commission does AA pay to Travel Agents?

We pay 12% commission to travel agents with a 1% override for Signature Agents. Some trips are an exception to this so always be sure to ask your sales person for details.

Does AA offer FAM trips for Travel Agents?

AA will offer a 50% discount on a FAM trip for a Travel Agent and a 25% discount for their travel partner. If you are interested in a FAM trip, please contact us about the availability.

What’s the best way for me to book an Austin Adventures trip?

Please call one of our Adventure Consultants at 1-800-575-1540. They are eager to assist you with a sale by sending you or your client further materials and information, as well as by participating in conference calls with you and your client to answer everyone’s questions.

How large are your groups?

We promise an intimate experience with maximum personal attention. On our regular and adult trips, we take two guides and no more than 12 guests. That’s the best guest-to-guide ratio in the industry. For our family adventures, we maintain our guest-to-guide ratio, often taking three guides and a maximum of 18 guests. On these trips, we often provide an extra van for maximum flexibility.

How fit should my clients be to enjoy an Austin Adventures vacation?

Austin Adventures are designed for active individuals who love the outdoors. However, your clients don’t need to be fitness gurus to enjoy our trips. Our pre-trip planners, which guests receive prior to departure, suggest physical activities to get ready for their vacation. However, we make all trips flexible enough to respond to every fitness level.

How difficult are trip activities?

A typical day consists of a five to 10 mile hike, a 20 to 40 mile bike ride, a raft trip or sea kayaking. (If we combine activities on a single day, their duration and difficulty are reduced appropriately.) Because we limit our Austin Adventures to no more than 12 people and two guides per trip, we can be flexible in our activities. If the day’s bike ride isn’t enough, our guides can add more miles. If your client is not feeling up to the entire afternoon hike, we can shorten it. We strive to create a self-paced vacation for each participating guest.

Will families enjoy an Austin Adventures vacation?

Absolutely! Our Family Adventures are dedicated to families with children age 7 and older. Locations, itineraries and lodging have been selected to appeal to young families. We provide an extra guide and van, special equipment, such as tag-along bikes, and separate activities for kids so adults can have some time alone. For our family adventures, we take up to 18 guests, but maintain our 6:1 guest-to-guide ratio and often provide an extra van for maximum flexibility – and fun. Most of our other adventures are extremely family-friendly as well. We welcome families with children 12 and older on these trips.

What are the accommodations and food like?

We don’t rough it on Austin Adventures. In fact, we see to it that our guests stay in the best accommodations, historic inns, western ranches, world-class resorts and the best national park lodges. Each is picked to provide a distinct sense for the region visited. Our food features the finest dining available in the regions we visit – from five-star restaurants to chuck wagon dinners, beach parties, and candlelit meals in private wine cellars.

What should my clients pack for the trip?

Our trips are informal, so your clients will typically need items that make for comfortable hiking, biking and casual dining. Our pre-trip planner contains a detailed packing list. We’ll also advise if dressier clothes are needed for any of our evenings out.

What’s included in my client’s trip?

Just about everything they’ll need to enjoy their adventure! Lodging and all applicable taxes and hotel gratuities are included for every trip. We provide all necessary equipment including bikes and helmets, as well as proper instruction to use it. With a few exceptions, all snacks and meals are included. (On most trips, our guests have the opportunity to enjoy one dinner on their own.) Each traveler gets an Austin Adventures T-shirt and water bottle.

What age are most Austin Adventures travelers?

Our guests range from age 7 to 79 years! But most are in their late twenties to mid-fifties. We also try to arrange traveling groups that are similar in age and ability.

How do my clients get to a trip’s host city?

Our host cities and pick-up locations have been chosen because they are easy to get to and served by major airlines. We’ll provide you or your clients’ suggestions on pre- and post-trip accommodations, dining, and sights to see there. Remember, pre- and post-trip accommodations and air travel provide you an excellent opportunity for additional sales.

What type of equipment is used on Austin Adventures trips?

Our equipment is maintained to the highest standards, be it our vans or bicycles. When we use local contractors for such activities as horseback riding or kayaking, we select outfitters with the best-quality equipment, in-depth experience and impeccable safety records.

Will my clients have time to spend on their own?

As much or as little as they like. Though our days are busy, we schedule individual time to shop, relax in the hot tub, or just “chill.” But, if your clients feel like putting their feet up instead of in their hiking boots, that’s fine. This is their vacation.

My client is a vegetarian. Can her dietary needs be met?

Our restaurant choices can accommodate vegetarian diets. Our guides are also adept in preparing lunches and snacks that will meet your client’s dietary requests. Just remind them to mention their special needs when you sign them up for their trip.

What experience do your guides have?

Our guides are highly motivated people who choose guiding as a profession. They are passionate about the outdoors and love sharing that zeal with our guests. They’re geologists, photographers, teachers, and experienced travelers themselves. They’re also certified Emergency Medical Technicians, Emergency Responders or Wilderness First Responder, including CPR. We are fortunate to have experienced guides that return to Austin Adventures year after year.

What if my client wants to travel with a group of friends or business associates?

Custom or group trips are our specialty. We will help you plan a great custom trip for your clients and their families, friends or business associates. We can create special itineraries or provide one of our existing programs as a private trip.

What if my client gets sick and has to cancel their trip?

We strongly suggest travel insurance. As you know, under the right circumstances, the insurance not only covers the cost of the Austin Adventure vacation, but the pre- and post-trip arrangements and airfare. We can provide travel insurance for your clients, or you can recommend your preferred policy.

What’s the recommendation for tipping guides?

As with most service-oriented professions, gratuities represent a significant part of our guides’ income. A tip should reflect the guide’s performance and an amount your clients feel comfortable giving. We recommend a tip in the range of 5-10% of the retail value of each traveler’s trip, if our guides have made their trip among the best they have ever taken.

Can my client talk to someone who’s actually taken the trip which they are considering taking?

Absolutely. Our past guests are some of our best sources of information. Just give us a call, and we will provide references for a specific trip your client is interested in.

What about solo travelers?

Many of our guests are solo travelers. Our prices are based on double occupancy. But, single supplements do not apply for those travelers booking at least 90 days in advance who are willing to share a room, even if we are unable to find the guest a roommate. For those who prefer to have a room to themselves, a single supplement charge applies for that guest. Consult our Catalog for specific trip supplements.

How can I learn more about the Adventure Travel industry?

We are happy to answer your questions about adventure travel. In addition, we suggest you consider a one-day seminar led by Helen Nodland of Adventure & Exotic Travel offered throughout the country. Contact Helen through her website, www.adventureandexotictravel.com. Helen uses her 20 years of experience to help travel professionals research, evaluate, and successfully sell adventure travel.

Does Austin Adventures offer any co-marketing programs?

We have developed a comprehensive program for helping you reach your clients and educating them on adventure travel and Austin Adventures. Please call our Sales Team at 1-800-575-1540 to receive a full package about these programs.

Does Austin Adventures have a frequent traveler program?

Yes, we call it The Adventure Club. After your clients’ first trip with us, they qualify to join The Adventure Club. They will receive increased benefits based on the number of trips taken with us, including annual gifts, invitations to special alumni-only trips, and other added services, such as massages on trips, preferred room locations, and complimentary pre-trip accommodations. More information on The Adventure Club is available from our Adventure Consultants, our website, or in our Catalog.