Paying a Deposit when booking a trip to Nepal.

Lake District...
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Paying a Deposit when booking a trip to Nepal.
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This is an increasingly often-asked question so I thought I would write a few words about it to try and clarify things

1) Under normal circumstances there is No Need to pay a deposit and most Reputable TAAN Registered Agents don’t ask for one. Sending money to Nepal is difficult in any case and the charges incurred are often very high, so agents are only likely to ask for a deposit where they have had to pay a lot of money out in advance to organise things for you – These typically include things like

a) Being met at the airport with a private vehicle for onward transportation

b) Obtaining restricted area permits, these can be as much as $500 per person for areas like Upper Dolpa and Upper Mustang

However deposits should not be required for things like booking a trek with porters and guides, organising National Park Entrance fees in advance for the main teahouse trekking regions, organising TIMS in advance, reserving an internal flight, booking Chitwan packages and hotels.

2) I always advocate that trekkers should interview their trekking staff before handing over any money so that they are 100% sure that they are happy with them – If you have paid a deposit up front and tied yourself into a particular agent then you are in a difficult position if you are less than happy with the trekking staff provided. The same goes for hotels, if you have paid a deposit up front then you can often end up with a poor quality room and other than changing hotels and loosing your deposit, there is little you can do.

3) Tying yourself into one agent has many benefits for the agent but few (If any) for the client. So if an agent is asking for a hefty deposit ask WHY and if you don’t get a satisfactory answer then seriously consider trying a different (And preferably recommended) agent. There are still a handful of regular posters on the Nepal board will be happy to recommend the agents they have used in the past, so there is really no need to go in cold and risk either getting a second rate service or loosing money.

Good Luck and Happy Travels

Rob

Denmark
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1. Re: Paying a Deposit when booking a trip to Nepal.
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I totally agree with you, Rob.

And thanks for bringing the issue up here. For new travellers to Nepal, it is important information.

I would like to mention in addition, that after meeting the agent/guide and staff it is normal to pay the total amount for the trek up front. And it is nice to tip the guide and porter directly afterward the trek (in the area of one days extra pay for one week trekking. Guides are paid 25 USD per day, porters 15 USD).

I normally tell them, that if they provide good service, I will provide good tips.

Kathmandu, Nepal
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2. Re: Paying a Deposit when booking a trip to Nepal.
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Well, I work as a trekking guide and for me I would aspect a deposit after consulting a traveller so that I won't be waiting for them for nothing.

Yes you should be flexible but the person who want to travel and make sure every thing is managed in advance I won't until I receive the money.

A company gives the rates a head and explains everything what are included and what not. A good company looks for return business and I doubt if most of them are corrupted as mentioned.

You get what you pay for though for some, you might get in little cheaper but I am sure people looking for a good agent after doing some research and inquiring with them.

Everyone has great recommendation and they( who have had bad experience)would not recommend as some of them have.

I understand people who travel also knows some rules of the business. I don't mean to pay all in advance but some it should be done if you want things to be organized or want some body waiting for you.

I could recommend companies which are recognized all over the world and I have done, what do I get (I get satisfaction when I do) but(but) not all people do it in here? makes sense.

All the best

Sheffield, United...
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3. Re: Paying a Deposit when booking a trip to Nepal.
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Hello

Bhuwan - I can't see where the post mentions "corrupted"; please can you explain what you mean?

I have negotiated discussed treks with agents via email and been asked for full payment 6 months in advance. This was for a for a porter/guide, TIMS, park fee and bus journeys. When I asked why no explanation was given but then I was asked for a 50% deposit. Again I asked why because it was not as I needed to hit the ground running, I had 5 days in KTM.

Some other agents also asked for deposits of varying amounts but few would explain. One did, stating that I would not be able to hire any staff unless I booked there and then because it would be high season. I was trekking in August - go figure...

If an agent can explain the reason for money in advance to the client's satisfaction then at least that's a start. It then becomes a question of trust and I acknowledge that trust works both ways.

Having said that, I endorse into-thin-air's advice; in most circumstances there does not seem to be a need for a deposit and, mostly, trekkers can keep their options open.

scoodly

Lake District...
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4. Re: Paying a Deposit when booking a trip to Nepal.
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I find it strange that Guide_Bhuwan is still demanding a deposit if you decide to trek with him, especially when there are now 849 registered trekking agents on the TAAN site to choose from

The TAAN Registered agent that I have used for the last 18 years and 9 trips to Nepal is happy (In most circumstances) to organise a trek without the need to demand a deposit up front – He has been in business for almost 20 years so obviously this works for him – So why not you too Guide_Bhuwan ??

As scoodly says, it is all a matter of trust, and as you seem to have quoted more than double the prices for lodges on the EBC Trek on another forum

http://www.lonelyplanet.com/thorntree/thread.jspa?threadID=2201115&messageID=19867166#19867166

One wonders who much trust potential clients should put in you ??

Best Regards

Rob

Settle, United...
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5. Re: Paying a Deposit when booking a trip to Nepal.
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I can understand that some costs, internal air tickets for example, may possibly need to be paid in advance, and consequently the agent would lose out in the case of a 'no show' by the potential client, but beyond that I can see no justification for anything beyond a very minimal deposit.

As with Rob, the agent that I've used for years does not require any payment until I arrive in Kathmandu

Milan, Italy
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6. Re: Paying a Deposit when booking a trip to Nepal.
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My agent requests payment only for trekking permit for remote areas if i've lack of time there in Nepal, and also because these permits are really expensive. The first time I used his travel agency he asked me payment for internal flights, but after that time, he didn't ask me to pay in advance anymore.

Kathmandu, Nepal
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7. Re: Paying a Deposit when booking a trip to Nepal.
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I do agree with Alan and Rongpuk's point and that is what I have written, to organize the things that you need should be paid in advance not more than that. Did I mention travellers will have to pay full amount ??? I would request to read what I have written.

Well My mistake for writing corruption, or should I write cheaters(Is that what you mean?) because you are saying that!

What I wanted to say was, if you are going with a particular person or agencies than most of them would expect minimum deposit not the total payment.

thank you for the comments. It was interesting and always will be.

have a good day

Kathmandu, Nepal
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8. Re: Paying a Deposit when booking a trip to Nepal.
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Different people different opinion for sure!

into-thin-air: You don't need to make the deposit payment because you have been traveling to Nepal for 18 year and you already know the trip organizer 'Nirmal'. So, you don't deposit because you already have built the trust!!! How could 1st time visitor can build the same trust?

I think it is almost same for Alanyeti and Lisbeth_Friis and rongpuk.

When you contact any agency anywhere in the world they do ask for deposit payment because they don't know you. Let's say someone organize the trip for you without deposit; they book the hotel (even for one night), arrange pick up for you, schedule their guide/porter, book flight ticket (if any)..and when they are waiting at the airport, no one is there..what would happen then?....(i am sure not all the people will do same but there are bad people). When they don't show up, even though agency would lose small amount of money for this, but they do lose their reputation and trust that they have built with hotel/airlines/vehicles/guide/porter etc!!!

And if anyone don't want to deposit the payment, there is a way, it is better start planning the trip after you arrive!!!

France
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9. Re: Paying a Deposit when booking a trip to Nepal.
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I also think that it's about the trust that your agent will make on you. It also depends on the agencies, different agencies have different policies. Some agents won't give any services without paying booking amount to them. Some agencies even don't need booking advance and they would just required your confirmed flight tickets, passport copies etc.

But most of the agencies won't need booking amount if you are second time visitor to them.

Lake District...
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10. Re: Paying a Deposit when booking a trip to Nepal.
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Some interesting replies

Pseudonyms – Just to clarify one point – Nirmal doesn’t charge Anyone a deposit – So it isn’t a case that he knows and trusts me because I have used his services in the past.

Personally I think that asking for a deposit will soon become a thing of the past – If you are emailing two agents offering the same prices and same level of service and one is asking for a hefty deposit and one isn’t who will the client book with ??

With 849 agencies now being TAAN Registered – All of them having their contact details on the TAAN site it is now a simple enough affair to copy an email enquiry to as many agents as you wish – So why on earth would anyone want to tie themselves into an agency that they have never used before when there is no need to ??

Best Regards

Rob

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