+261 326727400
info@travel-operator-groupement.com
Travel is one of those things that naturally raises questions, about and concerns, so we’re here to put you at ease.
What is the right trip for me? What do I do with visas? How much should I tip? Where to eat ?
For frequently asked and non-frequently asked questions, this is the right page, and don’t hesitate to ask us questions if you don’t find what you are looking for in the Frequently Asked Questions.
Each tour or excursion has a set of essential travel information, accessible on our website, which provides you with in-depth information on all aspects of the typology.
To access your essential travel information, visit the specific tours / excursions webpage.
TOG offers a wide range of Family Adventures around the Madagascar.
The minimum age (for Family trips) varies depending on destination, and TOG has set minimum ages to ensure that the included activities suit each age range.
Additionally, you’ll notice that some of the more adventurous destinations have a higher minimum age.
TOG adventures are for traveller with a yearning to get off the beaten track. Whether you’re traveling solo, with a group of friends, or are aged 18 or 70, there is an adventure to suit your interests and comfort level. Each adventure has a physical and cultural grading to help you decide if the trip is right for you. No special skills are required for most adventures, just a sense of adventure and a curiosity about the world.
On most of our tours you will be able to leave as a couple or be part of a limited group of 08-10 people (Collective travel), although our groups are on average 4/6 people on private tours and in greater numbers during the season cruises.
On our tours we use private vehicles that can carry 2 to 24 travelers.
Group sizes are displayed on the overview page for each trip on our website.
This is the beauty of the TOG travel style – many of our travelers join because they travel alone and want to meet and share experiences with like-minded people.
As a single traveler, you will be matched with another passenger of the same sex according to the information in your passport.
If you are not comfortable sharing a room or some amenities with a person of the same sex, you can also choose to pay a one-time supplement (available on most of our trips).
If you do not identify yourself with the assigned gender on your passport, please let us know at the time of booking and we will arrange the room setup accordingly.
TOG is committed to making travel widely accessible, regardless of ability or disability. We ask you to carefully evaluate whether you are physically and mentally capable of completing the itinerary you have chosen, recognizing that on many trips you will be required to carry your luggage.
Where possible, we will make reasonable changes to the operation of our trips to facilitate the needs of travelers with disabilities, such as booking ground floor accommodation or asking our team to provide important written and verbal directions.
Many travelers with disabilities have been able to enjoy our travels by traveling with a friend or companion who can assist you with specific needs. If joining a group trip is not practical, we may be able to provide you with a private departure. Please contact our sales team for more information on any of our itineraries.
Depending on the travel style you choose, our trips are organized on a double, triple or multisharing basis.
Since our reservations are made at the time of your booking, requests for single rooms vary according to availability of the structure.
You can book pre and post accommodation on a single basis; paying the “single supplement” where and if required.
Check the travel page on our website, or their essential information, to see if a single supplement is mentioned.
In that case, please request it at the time of booking.
We will do our best to cater for all dietary needs, but in some out-of-the-way places it can be very difficult to guarantee. We will let you know if there are any places on your itinerary where this is the case.
Please let us know at the time of booking of any dietary requirements or allergies and we will pass the information on to our team who will look after you.
Food is one of the most exciting parts of the trip.
There may be familiar dishes, but you will often find yourself faced with the new, interesting and downright strange of the Malagasy culinary world, but we like to think of it as an adventure for all the senses. On top of that, our flexible itineraries often allow you to eat for any budget or desire.
In some destinations it may not be wise to drink the local water, we will only deliver sealed bottles to you during our travels.
Travel insurance is mandatory on all of our trips for those traveling abroad. We require that at least you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation.
We strongly advise all travelers to have a policy that also covers COVID-19, personal liability, cancellation, reduction and loss of baggage or personal effects.
For travel, your guide will ask you about travel insurance and the insurance company’s 24-hour emergency number.
We always advise passengers to check with their local embassy as visa rules can change without notice.
The websites of the embassies in your home country will always have information on visa requirements, costs and provide the required forms. If you are uncomfortable with the visa process, you can visit a travel agent who can arrange them for you at a cost.
Normally it is possible to pay the visa directly at the airport on arrival. Help with visas?
TOG cannot assist in the actual application for visas, but you can do so through the embassy or directly at the airport on arrival.
The safety of our passengers, staff and operators is a top priority for TOG. With this in mind, we monitor local and climate events very closely and TOG makes operational decisions based on information from a range of sources, notably the level.
We will take all possible precautions to make sure your belongings are safe.
Travel insurance is recommended and also a lockable bag / pouch / combination.
We recommend having access to money from a variety of sources – cash, cards, and travel cards are all commonly used. Check your essential travel information and related landing page on our website for more country-specific information.
Will refrigeration be available for medicines? for example. Insulin
The availability of refrigeration cannot be guaranteed. As a general rule, many of our city hotels provide access to small refrigerators; however, outside of this, especially on the tour, access to refrigeration cannot be relied upon. Be sure to advise TOG if you travel with any medications that require refrigeration.
In Madagascar, no vaccinations are required and as we are not doctors, we are unfortunately unable to advise on this issue. Please consult your GP or local health service for details and advice on current vaccination requirements.
Our team is trained to deal with these situations and we will try to help you as quickly as possible. If you have to leave your trip early due to illness, our local offices will help you find appropriate medical care and make sure you get in touch with your family members.
We will do everything we can to take you home or on your tour / excursion.
Your travel insurance, which is mandatory on all of our trips, should cover all costs incurred in the event of illness.
What is the currency in my destination? How much should I take in credit cards / cash? Can I use my credit card during my trip?
The Ariary is in force in Madagascar, but you can pay in euros or dollars.
So it’s a good idea to travel with a credit and debit card, or an “ATM card” to avoid running around with too much cash.
Having a couple of options will ensure you are covered if one method doesn’t work. At the ATM it is possible to withdraw 4à tickets at a time, which can be issued in denominations of 20,000, 10,000 Ariary. One day it will work, the next it won’t, but it will work for your friend … Visa and Mastercard are more widely accepted in almost all destinations.
Can I store excess baggage at the departure hotel?
Most departure point hotels can store your excess baggage for you.
What clothes and footwear should I bring on the tour?
On a more physical trip, comfortable shoes are definitely recommended.
Be sure to inquire about the climate and weather conditions at the time of year you will be taking your tour / excursion and pack your bags accordingly.
What essential documents do I need to bring?
It is important to always travel with your current passport, visas, travel insurance and TOG documentation.
We never want to cancel a tour / excursion, but sometimes things happen.
Find more information on cancellations, credits and refunds on our Travel Cancellations page.
Check-in times may vary from hotel to hotel and from region to region. Generally, they are between 11am and 2pm.
If you arrive earlier, you can leave your luggage at the hotel and leave for a city tour or other.
We cannot confirm an early check-in, but our sales team can assist you in booking a pre-accommodation night in the same hotel. If you don’t want to pay for the extra night, you can try your luck on the spot (they might let you in early if the room is free) or you can store your luggage.
Airport transfers are generally not included in the price of the trip unless you are traveling on an All inclusive style trip or included in the quotation received which includes an arrival transfer.
Normally an arrival and / or departure transfer is included in most of our trips, you can check when booking your trip (or by contacting us if you have already booked).
We often state the price you can expect to pay for a taxi from the airport to the hotel.
The cost of the transfer will inevitably be higher than a taxi, but it is important to remember that you are paying for a private service and a trusted driver who will offer the security travelers often want when arriving in a foreign country.
Absolutely. If there are any included or optional activities that you don’t want to participate in, you can do your own thing instead.
Except when we are trekking or traveling from one destination to another.
Please note that if you choose to opt out of an included activity, TOG will not be able to make any refunds.
TOG has several circuits ranging from relatively easy to extremely difficult.
The easiest way to determine if a hike or tour is right for you; is to check the “physical rating” of the trip (can be found on our website at the top of the individual tours / excursions page).
The great thing about traveling with TOG is that we encourage travelers to explore at their own pace.
When you arrive at a destination, your leader will offer options on what you can do.
Some people if traveling in a group will do an activity, others will opt for something completely different while others may simply choose to indulge in dolce far niente.
We can only provide information about your accommodation upon arrival and at the point of arrival, the details of which are listed in the web page.
As TOG likes to support numerous local businesses and the facilities are sometimes small, we have different hotels in each city where we can alternate our groups.
For this reason, we can give you a complete pre-trip list only at the time of booking
The standard of accommodation depends on the locations
We want our passengers to feel as comfortable as possible, so when you head into hot weather, chances are you have a fan or air conditioning.
Of course, if you are staying in remote areas or with families, you will have to expect the facilities to be a little simpler.
Some trips have regular access to western baths while others don’t – it just depends on the areas you are in. As a general rule, the more remote the place, the less likely you are to find western toilets.
Along the way there are usually possibilities to do laundry, using the services of the hotel (for a fee).
Your guide will be able to ask and will be able to let you know once you are on your way.
The type of transport used depends on the type of tour / excursion you have chosen.
Find out more or consult Essential Travel Information for the specific type of transportation used on the individual tour / excursion pages.
The communication structures are continuously improving on a global level. Many hotels have Wi-Fi, so you can usually stay in touch with home whenever you want if you want.
In remote locations or during tours or host families, you will not be able to communicate as readily as there is a lack of signal in some areas.
Phone cards are practical and easy; just make sure your phone is unlocked before traveling.
How can friends and family contact you?
If family and friends are unable to contact you in an emergency by email or phone, they can contact TOG directly. Emergency contact details (for your destination) are listed on the web pages of our site.
We can never guarantee that your phone will work as intended, as many of our destinations are out of the way and you may have limited coverage. Talk to your carrier before you leave about global roaming and the costs involved and ask them for advice on the coverage you will receive in the places you are traveling. Alternatively, we can usually provide you with a cheap local SIM card (if you have an extra phone, bring it, you can tether!).
Some places have Wi-Fi hotspots everywhere and other places won’t have any 3G / 4G coverage.
If you come across the latter, take the rare opportunity to relax and get to know your fellow travelers the old-fashioned way.
In most places you will be able to recharge your appliances in the hotel. We recommend that you bring a travel adapter with you.
On our land tours / excursions, most vehicles come with their own power and you should be able to recharge on board.
No, but in most places it is customary.
At your welcome meeting, ask your guide about local customs and advice.
At the end of the trip, if you are satisfied with the service received, it is advisable to tip the guide, even if not mandatory.
While it may not be customary for you, it is of great importance to the people who will look after you on your travels, inspires excellent service, and is an ingrained feature of the tourism industry in many TOG destinations.
