60+ countries · 180+ routes · operating since 2017
    Home ›  How it works
    How it works · 4 phases

    From "we should travel" to "that was a great trip" — in four phases.

    Every traveller passes through these four phases with us. Each phase is handled by a dedicated team — Destination Experts plan, the Visa Team handles paperwork, Operations manages bookings and ground services.

    Three teams, one trip.

    Each phase has specialists handling their part — so you always speak to someone who actually knows that thing.

    Team 01

    Destination Expert Team

    Country-specific specialists. They plan your itinerary, recommend hotels & experiences, handle revisions, and stay with you through the trip.

    Team 02

    Visa Team

    Specialists who handle visa applications — Schengen, Japan, UAE, etc. We file in the exact format each embassy expects. 94.5% approval rate for Europe, 99.2% for Japan.

    Team 03

    Operations Team

    Handles all bookings — hotels, transfers, activities, ground services. Coordinates with our direct supplier network in 60+ countries.

    Phase 01 · before any payment

    Planning & Quote.

    ↳ unlimited revisions, no commitmentYou start the AI Trip Planner or send a WhatsApp. The system auto-creates a lead and routes you to the best Destination Expert for your country. From there, it's a conversation.
    01
    ~2 minutes

    You start the conversation

    Two ways. Use the 5-step AI Trip Planner (dates → countries → travellers → contact → city options), or WhatsApp us. Either way, a lead is auto-created in our system and routed to the right specialist.

    We capture
    • Travel dates (flexible OK)
    • Destination preferences
    • Travellers (adults, kids, rooms)
    • Contact details
    • Any specific notes
    02
    Within hoursDestination Expert

    Auto-assigned to your country's Destination Expert

    The lead is automatically routed to one of our Destination Experts who specialises in your country. They reach out personally, understand your requirements, and start building the right plan for you.

    Why it matters
    • Country-specific knowledge
    • Knows local seasons + supplier rates
    • Real human, not a chatbot
    • Sticks with you through the trip
    03
    Soon after first callDestination Expert

    Itinerary & quote shared

    Your Destination Expert builds and shares an itinerary that fits your requirement — could be a custom-built private trip or a group tour. The quote is transparent: clearly stating what's included, what's not, what's private, what's sharing, and what's tickets-only.

    You receive
    • Day-by-day itinerary
    • Hotel options
    • Clear inclusions & exclusions
    • Private vs sharing vs tickets-only
    • Visa requirements (if applicable)
    04
    As long as it takesDestination Expert

    Revisions, until we're aligned

    Unlimited revisions during the planning stage — until you and your Destination Expert are on the same page on everything: itinerary, hotels, activities, transfers, and most importantly, price.

    Common revisions
    • Hotel category changes
    • Pace adjustments
    • Adding/removing cities
    • Date changes
    • Activity swaps
    05
    On finalisationDestination Expert

    Confirm with payment

    Once finalised, you make the trip payment to confirm. After finalisation, any further changes may affect pricing depending on dates and supplier availability.

    Payment methods
    • UPI / bank transfer
    • Credit / debit card
    • NEFT / RTGS
    • Invoice on payment

    Payment terms — how it works

    Payment structure depends on how soon your trip starts.

    Trip starts 20+ days away
    25% advance to confirm. Balance in instalments before departure.
    Trip starts within 20 days
    100% upfront — we pay ground suppliers in full immediately.

    Flight tickets require separate upfront payment — airline payments are real-time.

    Phase 02 · the team gets to work

    Booking & Pre-trip prep.

    ↳ visa, hotels, flights, app setupOnce payment is confirmed, three teams move in parallel. Operations locks in ground services. The Visa Team handles applications. Your Destination Expert prepares your DuringTrips.com login.
    06
    Immediately on paymentOperations

    Hotels & ground services locked

    Our Operations Team confirms each hotel, transfer, and activity with our direct ground supplier network. You receive booking confirmations as each one comes through.

    Locked in
    • Hotels per night
    • Inter-city transfers
    • Activity tickets
    • Local guide bookings
    07
    30–60 days before travelVisa Team

    Visa application filed

    For visa-required destinations, our Visa Team prepares your application in the exact format the embassy expects. We've maintained 94.5% approval for European visas and 99.2% for Japan visas.

    We handle
    • Application form filling
    • Document checklist
    • Appointment booking
    • Cover letter drafting
    08
    Post-visa or as requiredOperations

    Flight tickets booked

    We help research and book your flights at the best available fares. Flight ticket payments are upfront and separate from the trip payment — airlines need real-time payment at the moment of ticketing.

    What you receive
    • Flight options + fare comparison
    • E-tickets on confirmation
    • Web check-in reminders
    • Baggage info per airline
    09
    7–14 days before travelDestination Expert

    DuringTrips.com login & pre-trip briefing

    Your private DuringTrips.com account is created with all vouchers, daily schedule, restaurant suggestions, weather info, packing list, and the trip-specific AI chatbox trained on YOUR itinerary.

    In your app
    • All vouchers in one place
    • Day-by-day schedule
    • Nearby restaurant suggestions
    • Weather + packing list
    • Trip-specific AI chatbox
    Phase 03 · while you're travelling

    While you're there.

    DuringTrips.com is in your pocket 24/7. Our team is on WhatsApp during business hours. And for genuine emergencies, we're reachable any time.

    🤖

    Trip-specific AI · 24/7

    "How do I get from my hotel to tomorrow's attraction?" — your DuringTrips AI knows the answer because it's trained on YOUR itinerary, hotel, transport, and activities.

    via DuringTrips.com
    💬

    WhatsApp group

    A private WhatsApp group is created with you and your Destination Expert before your trip. Day-to-day questions, photo sharing, quick changes — happens here.

    via WhatsApp
    🛡️

    Travel insurance included

    Every trip includes travel insurance. Medical emergencies, lost baggage, trip cancellations — the insurance provider's customer care team handles claims directly.

    insurance customer care
    📍

    Itinerary adjustments

    Want to skip a day, swap an activity, change a meal plan? Message your Destination Expert. The Operations Team will reconfirm and update your DuringTrips.com app.

    live updates
    🆘

    Genuine emergency support

    For actual emergencies — medical, missed connections, document loss — we're reachable. We handle communication, alternatives, and getting you back on track.

    priority response

    An honest note on response times

    Our team works business hours. The DuringTrips.com AI is 24/7. For genuine emergencies, we're reachable any time — but a non-emergency question at 2 AM doesn't get answered until morning. We have families and lives too. Real emergencies are different — and we treat them that way.

    Phase 04 · post-trip

    After you return.

    ↳ honest feedback makes us betterOnce you're back home, your Destination Expert closes the loop with one honest conversation and asks for a public review if you feel we earned it.
    10
    After your returnDestination Expert

    Post-trip feedback call

    The Destination Expert who planned your trip calls you for an honest debrief. What worked, what didn't, where pacing was off, what we could have done better. This is the conversation that makes our next traveller's trip better.

    We listen for
    • Hotels — best & worst
    • Pacing feedback
    • Food experiences
    • Things to flag
    • Surprises (good or bad)
    11
    After feedback callDestination Expert

    Google review link shared

    If your trip was as good as we hope, we share a Google review link and ask if you'd be willing to leave one. Honest reviews — even the critical ones — are how future travellers find us.

    Why we ask
    • Helps future travellers
    • Builds public trust
    • Keeps us honest
    • Always optional

    Ready to start phase 01?

    Two minutes on the AI Trip Planner, or one WhatsApp. We'll route you to the right Destination Expert.

    We value your privacy

    We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, analyze site traffic, and personalize content. By clicking "Accept", you consent to our use of cookies. Read our Privacy Policy