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World's most popular community & resource for hunting in Africa since 2007
First timer…. Travel agent?
- Thread starter jstafng
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Doug Hamilton
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I used @TRAVEL EXPRESS on my last safari. I can't recommend them enough! Jennifer knew everything I wanted to know and asked questions about things I hadn't even thought of! Then made things happen! Top tier for sure!
I would suggest that you take a couple of days to see Victoria Falls and Chobe National Park. If you can do it before your safari it will help get your eyes used to seeing African game. At any rate your wife will love it. Mine did. She hadn't been to Africa before. Jennifer at Travel Express made the tour and hotel reservations. Easy.
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'68boy
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Jennifer @TRAVEL EXPRESS. Say no more.
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MAdcox
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Jennifer and Darrin with @TRAVEL EXPRESS. I never travel to Africa without them.
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I’d look up Elaine @ African Odyssey. She live in RSA part time…
ELAINE PORTEOUS, OWNER of
AFRICAN ODYSSEY COMPANY
'THE' Specialist in Travel to Africa, …& Beyond
8306 Mills Drive, # 624, Miami, FL 33183 USA
Toll free: +1 866 486 9351
Local: +1 305 271 1878
aodyssey@gate.net
African Odyssey is Registered as a Seller of Travel in the State of Florida Registration # ST- 24052
ELAINE PORTEOUS, OWNER of
AFRICAN ODYSSEY COMPANY
'THE' Specialist in Travel to Africa, …& Beyond
8306 Mills Drive, # 624, Miami, FL 33183 USA
Toll free: +1 866 486 9351
Local: +1 305 271 1878
aodyssey@gate.net
African Odyssey is Registered as a Seller of Travel in the State of Florida Registration # ST- 24052
You have already gotten recommendations for good agents. I would just add that I would suggest that you do use a travel agent recommended here and also using a rifle permit agency.
Overall when you come back you might feel a bit like you had to pay many different people for so many different services. But, a travel agent and a rifle permit company (in my opinion) are well worth it. Even better if you can book the rifle permit agent through the travel agency.
I have (so far) been happy that I can make one fairly short phone call and have domestic, international, and inter-country connecting flights booked. Same phone call, my hotel is booked, my rifle permit is applied for, my rifle permit agency is arranged, my layover hotel is booked, and if I desire, my meet and greet at the airport is arranged as well.
They are human, and I always double check things are correct. Sometimes they aren't. I have had some errors on a rifle permit, and I have had dates wrong on booked flights. So far, I have just called and pointed out the error and they fixed them promptly.
There are times where I wouldn't recommend it because it isn't necessary. Like if you are traveling to a country to hunt, but aren't bringing guns, and don't have many or any short connecting flights in other countries. Then book your own and save the money.
Guns complicate it, layovers at hotels with guns complicate it, and connecting flights in other countries with small airlines while bringing guns complicate it. You can do it all on your own, if you want. I don't have an interest in doing it.
Overall when you come back you might feel a bit like you had to pay many different people for so many different services. But, a travel agent and a rifle permit company (in my opinion) are well worth it. Even better if you can book the rifle permit agent through the travel agency.
I have (so far) been happy that I can make one fairly short phone call and have domestic, international, and inter-country connecting flights booked. Same phone call, my hotel is booked, my rifle permit is applied for, my rifle permit agency is arranged, my layover hotel is booked, and if I desire, my meet and greet at the airport is arranged as well.
They are human, and I always double check things are correct. Sometimes they aren't. I have had some errors on a rifle permit, and I have had dates wrong on booked flights. So far, I have just called and pointed out the error and they fixed them promptly.
There are times where I wouldn't recommend it because it isn't necessary. Like if you are traveling to a country to hunt, but aren't bringing guns, and don't have many or any short connecting flights in other countries. Then book your own and save the money.
Guns complicate it, layovers at hotels with guns complicate it, and connecting flights in other countries with small airlines while bringing guns complicate it. You can do it all on your own, if you want. I don't have an interest in doing it.
Doug Hamilton
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Oh yeah, one more thing. Africa Sky is a great place to spend your first night. They will meet you at the airport, walk your guns through Customs and SAPS and transport you to the hotel. They have a lot of artwork and things for sale and it is a high end "boutique" hotel. A lot of hunters stay there before and after their safaris so you can discuss your hunt and theirs.
Mother Plucker
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I went the first time on my own without any help. It was doable, but this lat trip (got back last Tuesday) and used Gracy Travel. I will say without a doubt the benifits of using Gracy, and having Bruce meet you and walk you through getting your rifles, and on the return helping you check in, is wortht he extra $300. Highly reccomended.
Yes, use an agent. If nothing happens during planning or travel there and back, great. It’s the cheapest travel insurance you can actually rely on. When global affairs re-route flights, shutdowns, wars, visas, or traveling with arms throw a curve, a great agent will sort it out. I’ve used Jennifer at Travel express several times and will again.
I have used Patrick at PWP for years (he was with TWG before starting his own agency).
His whole crew can't be beat for knowledge and the hiccups that can occur when traveling to remote places with guns. I've already used them twice for Africa just this year!
You can't go wrong with them.
His whole crew can't be beat for knowledge and the hiccups that can occur when traveling to remote places with guns. I've already used them twice for Africa just this year!
You can't go wrong with them.
steve white
AH ambassador
Gracy or others can help a lot before you even get to Africa! Just went through Frankfurt with no guns and it took 3 hrs. both ways just to transit. Spent 1 hr. 45 min. in just the line to check passports. Inexcusable, but it is pitiful that three hours was barely enough--and then we had to wait for a full 40 more passengers to arrive out of the same mess, so a late take-off. That is when you need help with re-routing, etc. when you are caused through no fault of your own to miss a connection.
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Darren or Jennifer at @TRAVEL EXPRESS!
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Huntforever wrote on dhoover's profile.
You’re the 2nd person on this thread from Arkansas. I live in Benton.
Do you hunt out of state much?
Do you hunt out of state much?