Payment options and currency conversion.
OTS adventures are priced in US dollars, except Portugal and Morocco which are in EURO. OTS believes in complete transparency regarding any fees. Our OTS philosophy has always been to make trips as affordable as possible for everyone. We do not build in bank fees or credit card charges (2.9%), preferring to provide payment options suitable for each individual.
How to book and pay deposits
OTS uses the We-Travel platform, which gives our travellers a much-improved online account to manage your booking and future payments. We require you to book and pay the deposit using the We-Travel platform which has a 1% booking fee, ($5-10 on a deposit).
We-Travel enables you to:
Deposits are non-refundable, as we incur costs in arranging and confirming trip details with hotels and ground operators from when the deposit is made. Deposits are transferable to future tours, or can be converted into a goodwill credit as per the of the specific tour, or general T&C
How you pay the balance of your adventure
OTS provides alternative ways to pay the final balance (other than We-Travel), which can save you a few dollars.
If you are intending to pay via a credit card and happy with paying the higher fee, use We-Travel rather than WISE. WISE treats credit cards like cash advances, whereas We-Travel treats credit cards as a product purchase.
For the final balance payment, we will email you an OTS invoice 60 days prior to your tour commencing, and you will be offered the following ways to pay:
Payment Option 1: We-Travel – with a bank transfers or credit card option
Most travellers (e.g. Americans, Canadians, British, Europeans and Australians) find paying by WeTravel easy, safe, and convenient (for a 1% fee). On the WeTravel payment platform, conveniently pay the balance the same way you paid the deposit, in your OWN CURRENCY. WeTravel will send out a payment reminder, allowing you to log into your WeTravel account and pay using a bank transfer or, for an additional fee, a credit card.
The balance owing in WeTravel in USD should match the OTS invoice. You can choose to pay in your own currency (if different to USD) to avoid any hidden bank fees. WeTravel's 1% fee for bank transfers is generally cheaper than international wire transfers.
Payment Option 2: WISE App
OTS accepts payment from travellers using Wise (formerly TransferWise). OTS has its own Wise accounts, so payments into our account are really easy. Credit your Wise account with the correct number of US dollars (or Euro) converting from your own currency. If you put funds into your Wise, then the transfer to OTS is free.
Payment Option 3: Bank to Bank transfer
On request, Americans will be offered a USD-USD bank to bank international wire transfer option. American based travellers are familiar with this option although costs are involved. You can wire a bank-to-bank USD-USD international transfer into our OTS US dollar account for the invoiced amount. You need to add another US$15 for bank charges at our end. Your bank may charge you a fee at your end.
New Zealanders will be offered the option to pay into the NZ OTS bank account (in NZ dollars) using the WISE USD-NZD rate of exchange advertised on the date of the final invoice.
Funds on tour using a currency card
WISE is a banking and multi-currency card. You can access your Wise account online or from a phone app, so it is a very handy way to travel with funds. You can load up your card with your own currency and transfer it into multiple currencies (or not). It can be used like a debit card for retail, gift and food purchases, transfer money to fellow travellers, as well as cash withdrawals. It is FREE to set up, you can add a digital card to your phone wallet, or you can order a plastic card at a small charge, to use when you travel (recommended). If you choose to look into WISE and set up your own account, use this link below to set up. It helps OTS with a referral credit, and also gives you a FREE first $500 currency transfer. https://wise.com/invite/u/richardo169
Saving currency for the tour
As OTS tours are in USD or EURO, it makes sense to transfer local funds into USD or EURO in your WISE account. This may be when you have cash available, or when the exchange rate looks good. Currency can of course go either way, you may win, or you may lose, but the important thing is you can lock in funds for the holiday, at an exchange rate you are comfortable with, rather than be at the mercy of the exchange rate when the final balance is due.
Changes to the price of adventures
Due to the nature of adventure travel and the prices of the resources and services on which it depends, the published price of any trip is subject to change at any time, before or after booking confirmation, up to 30 days before the departure.
Travel insurance and cancellations
Before paying in final invoice please make sure you have read the Terms and Conditions which are there to protect both you, and OTS. Ensure you take out sufficient travel insurance cover to cover any non-refundable cancellation charges should the unexpected happen.
Important Note: If you cancel your reservation within 90 days of the commencement of the trip, this will result in no refund of any payments made.
OTS adventures are priced in US dollars, except Portugal and Morocco which are in EURO. OTS believes in complete transparency regarding any fees. Our OTS philosophy has always been to make trips as affordable as possible for everyone. We do not build in bank fees or credit card charges (2.9%), preferring to provide payment options suitable for each individual.
How to book and pay deposits
OTS uses the We-Travel platform, which gives our travellers a much-improved online account to manage your booking and future payments. We require you to book and pay the deposit using the We-Travel platform which has a 1% booking fee, ($5-10 on a deposit).
We-Travel enables you to:
- To confirm your place on an adventure immediately.
- Notifies you if a tour is full and gives you the option to “wait-list" (taking no deposit).
- Gives you multiple payment options; bank transfers (1% booking fee), credit cards (+2.9%) as well as payment plans and ability to add extras, all payable in your local currency.
- Choose to pay in your local currency to avoid any hidden banking fees.
Deposits are non-refundable, as we incur costs in arranging and confirming trip details with hotels and ground operators from when the deposit is made. Deposits are transferable to future tours, or can be converted into a goodwill credit as per the of the specific tour, or general T&C
How you pay the balance of your adventure
OTS provides alternative ways to pay the final balance (other than We-Travel), which can save you a few dollars.
If you are intending to pay via a credit card and happy with paying the higher fee, use We-Travel rather than WISE. WISE treats credit cards like cash advances, whereas We-Travel treats credit cards as a product purchase.
For the final balance payment, we will email you an OTS invoice 60 days prior to your tour commencing, and you will be offered the following ways to pay:
Payment Option 1: We-Travel – with a bank transfers or credit card option
Most travellers (e.g. Americans, Canadians, British, Europeans and Australians) find paying by WeTravel easy, safe, and convenient (for a 1% fee). On the WeTravel payment platform, conveniently pay the balance the same way you paid the deposit, in your OWN CURRENCY. WeTravel will send out a payment reminder, allowing you to log into your WeTravel account and pay using a bank transfer or, for an additional fee, a credit card.
The balance owing in WeTravel in USD should match the OTS invoice. You can choose to pay in your own currency (if different to USD) to avoid any hidden bank fees. WeTravel's 1% fee for bank transfers is generally cheaper than international wire transfers.
Payment Option 2: WISE App
OTS accepts payment from travellers using Wise (formerly TransferWise). OTS has its own Wise accounts, so payments into our account are really easy. Credit your Wise account with the correct number of US dollars (or Euro) converting from your own currency. If you put funds into your Wise, then the transfer to OTS is free.
Payment Option 3: Bank to Bank transfer
On request, Americans will be offered a USD-USD bank to bank international wire transfer option. American based travellers are familiar with this option although costs are involved. You can wire a bank-to-bank USD-USD international transfer into our OTS US dollar account for the invoiced amount. You need to add another US$15 for bank charges at our end. Your bank may charge you a fee at your end.
New Zealanders will be offered the option to pay into the NZ OTS bank account (in NZ dollars) using the WISE USD-NZD rate of exchange advertised on the date of the final invoice.
Funds on tour using a currency card
WISE is a banking and multi-currency card. You can access your Wise account online or from a phone app, so it is a very handy way to travel with funds. You can load up your card with your own currency and transfer it into multiple currencies (or not). It can be used like a debit card for retail, gift and food purchases, transfer money to fellow travellers, as well as cash withdrawals. It is FREE to set up, you can add a digital card to your phone wallet, or you can order a plastic card at a small charge, to use when you travel (recommended). If you choose to look into WISE and set up your own account, use this link below to set up. It helps OTS with a referral credit, and also gives you a FREE first $500 currency transfer. https://wise.com/invite/u/richardo169
Saving currency for the tour
As OTS tours are in USD or EURO, it makes sense to transfer local funds into USD or EURO in your WISE account. This may be when you have cash available, or when the exchange rate looks good. Currency can of course go either way, you may win, or you may lose, but the important thing is you can lock in funds for the holiday, at an exchange rate you are comfortable with, rather than be at the mercy of the exchange rate when the final balance is due.
Changes to the price of adventures
Due to the nature of adventure travel and the prices of the resources and services on which it depends, the published price of any trip is subject to change at any time, before or after booking confirmation, up to 30 days before the departure.
Travel insurance and cancellations
Before paying in final invoice please make sure you have read the Terms and Conditions which are there to protect both you, and OTS. Ensure you take out sufficient travel insurance cover to cover any non-refundable cancellation charges should the unexpected happen.
Important Note: If you cancel your reservation within 90 days of the commencement of the trip, this will result in no refund of any payments made.