Frequently asked Questions (FAQs)

Generally speaking all travel over peak times (6-8 am or 4-6 pm weekdays) are more expensive, as is travelling over a weekend (Friday to Sunday). If you want to get cheaper fares or rates, be prepared to travel during off-peak times or in the week, instead of over the weekend when everyone else wants to travel, thereby pushing the price of the fares or rates up

Each individual traveller’s requirements are different, based on the passport you are travelling on and the destination you are travelling to, so check with us first before making any definite travelling plans

At TravelBuddy we want to be as open and transparent as possible, so whatever rates we quote you are the actual cost price / nett price of the fare or rates that we get for you. As such, and to cover our costs, we charge a service fee based on your individual requirements, per person and per booking or service in South African Rand (converted to your local currency if applicable). Please refer to your consultant for more details on this

If you haven’t requested an actual booking, all quotes are based on current availability at the time of the quote. As such and because we are not holding a booking for you, the final price, availability of airline seats, rooms or cars, can only be confirmed when a booking has been requested and made. Furthermore all quotes are subject to daily currency fluctuations between the South African Rand and your local currency, so send as a booking request as soon as possible after you have received your quote, in order to guarantee the price that you need to pay.

Booking or requesting a quote well in advance of your travel date is always a good idea, however that is no guarantee that you will get the cheapest fares or availability, especially if you are booking over peak times like school holidays, religious holidays, or the festive season. Early booking however does afford you a better chance in getting a good deal, so don’t delay and contact us today

We will always stipulate what is included in your quote. If we don’t directly stipulate that a meal / room / activity / transfer / drink is included, then it is not, so always check with us if you are not sure

We cannot process any booking or reservation of any kind until we have a scanned copy of your passport or national ID document, as your details have to match exactly what is in your proof of identification. For example, once your air ticket is issued, no changes under any circumstances will be allowed. You will have to purchase a new ticket and refund (if allowed under the fare rules applicable to your booking) your old ticket

Always read the fine print in your quote relating to change or cancellation penalties. You are ultimately responsible for this, as it is generally accepted that once you have paid for a service, you understand all the terms and conditions associated with your particular booking. Generally speaking it is never wise to pay for a travel booking if you are not sure you are not going to travel, so always be sure before you pay for a service that you understand the terms and conditions

Although we would love to be in control of every aspect of your journey, we cannot control unforeseen circumstances like for instance the weather. The onus is up to you to make sure that you have all the information pertinent to your booking to make an informed decision

Be very careful when booking online directly with an airline, website, hotel or car rental company. The price that they show as available is often not the price you end up having to pay. Always click through to the last payment page before making an informed decision whether you should go ahead or not, as there are often hidden charges or fees not included in the initial quote

TravelBuddy never keeps any of your personal details like payment card details beyond your booking, for security reasons. Never give your personal details to anyone if you don’t feel comfortable in doing so!

TravelBuddy operates within South Africa, GMT+2. Our office hours are Mondays to Fridays 09:00 to 17:00. If at any time you need assistance outside normal business hours in South Africa, we offer a 24/7 emergency assistance service, however please note that extra fees will be applicable when accessing this service. You can contact us at any time on +27 82 615 1787, and we will endeavour to assist you as best we can

Please give us your frequent flyer or frequent guest details upfront, or you may not be able to get the miles or points for your booking. Please keep in mind that your details need to match exactly your details when you completed your enrolment form, or no miles even when you have given us the details of the program will be credited to you. Always remember that the onus is on you to check and verify your frequent flyer or frequent program details when you check in, as you have signed a direct contract between the supplier of the service and yourself when you enrolled on the program

We will endeavour to respond to you within 24 hours during weekdays (Mondays to Fridays). During weekends or public holidays within South Africa, we will respond to you on the next working day.