Frequently Asked Questions
How does it work?
Tripbod offers personal online pre-trip planning from trusted locals in the places you want to go.
The one-to-one service includes unlimited pre-trip online contact with your Tripbod and a personalised day-by-day trip itinerary, complete with maps, to print at home and take-away with you. Imagine a bit of the guidebook written just for you by a wonderful local person and then plotted on a map - that's Tripbod!
Prices are based on length of trip, meaning the earlier you book, the more advice you get!
All contact with your Tripbod takes place online through your private online Trip planner
How do you decide on pricing?
We have structured our pricing so that it is fair for all involved - the traveller, the Tripbod and the company Tripbod.com. The service is great value for you, the traveller, and most of the money you pay goes directly to your local Tripbod, recognising the value of their local knowledge & ensuring they're fairly compensated for the time they take to help you plan your trip.
Our prices are based on the length of your trip NOT on the length of contact with your Tripbod.
Entering your trip dates gives us an accurate idea of the extent of advice you'll need and to charge you fairly, based on this - you'll need far less help planning a weekend break than a one month adventure after all!
If you only want advice for part of your trip, that's fine too, we trust you to choose the right number of days for you!
Your chosen time period will appear as the itinerary calendar on your personal trip planner page, through which you and your Tripbod will plan your trip together and store information, thoughts and recommendations.
How far in advance of my trip can I use the service?
You can start planning your trip as soon as you wish, it's never too early! You automatically get immediate access to your Tripbod from today and unlimited contact with them before your trip begin.
The start date you enter helps our Tripbods deliver all the local advice & information you need in time for your trip - if you haven't booked your trip yet, or only want advice for part of your trip, just enter an estimated start date.
We recommend you sign-up a minimum of 7 days in advance of your trip to ensure your Tripbod has time to deliver all the local advice &personal tips you need. Please contact us directly to discuss last-minute trip advice.
How do you select your Tripbods?
Our Tripbods go through a unique and thorough vetting process which ensures that they really are the best, trusted local travel experts. What does this mean?
Trusted: We personally interview all potential Tripbods on Skype, ask for a professional reference and require a signed agreement which guarantees a high level of service
Local: Tripbods must demonstrate a strong, ongoing connection with their local community and environment
Travel: Tripbods must be passionate about travel and inspiring other travellers from first-hand travel experience or a connection with the travel industry in some way
Expert: Tripbods must have a proven level of knowledge in a particular area of travel interest – either through study, qualification or experience
The final thing we ask our Tripbods is whether they understand the value of the service that we provide for travellers, both for themselves and for the traveller. It is important that we work with people who share our values and our mission. This means that as we spread our network all over the world, we stay true to the core ethos of our company.
Find out more in Are you a Tripbod?
Can I meet my Tripbod?
The Tripbod service is pre-departure only. As a Tripbod traveller you are entitled to unlimited pre-trip planning advice and help from your local Tripbod, starting the day you sign-up and ending the day you travel.
Meeting your Tripbod in person in your destination is not included in the service but private arrangements may be made at the discretion of both you and your Tripbod. (These often depend on timing, distance to meet and costs.)
Some local Tripbods also work as tour guides and might charge for their time as they would with any other customer, others may like to catch up with you for a beer! It's up to you to ask however, Tripbod cannot guarantee any contact in person.
What kind of information can I ask my Tripbod?
Your Tripbod is a local travel expert who lives and breathes your trip destination everyday - you can ask them anything - there are no silly questions!
Ask for travel tips and information about local life, new places to visit and how to get off the beaten track to find authentic experiences. You can ask about local events and festivities that may be happening while you’re there and find out about local customs and culture.
Tripbods have access to local sources of information, like newspapers, TV, magazines and online resources, so ask them what you shouldn't miss on your trip.
Remember, Tripbod's personal, one-to-one advice service means that you can find out everything you need to know to make your trip your own, not the travel agent's!
What do I do if my Tripbod doesn't respond?
Our Tripbods always respond as soon as possible but please contact us immediately if you experience any unexpected delays and we'll investigate. (Please bear in mind however the location of your Tripbod - those living in developed cities have much easier access to the internet than those in more remote regions.)
To make sure you have enough time to get all the personal advice you need for your trip, we recommend you sign-up a minimum of 7 days in advance of travelling.
How do I know I can trust my Tripbod?
All Tripbods are vetted during our thorough selection process. We personally interview all potential Tripbods on Skype, ask for a professional reference and require a signed agreement which guarantees a high level of service. We have a strict quality control system, provide ongoing guidance and carry out frequent checks to ensure the Tripbods we connect you to are going to make a genuinely positive difference to your trip.
That said, we ask also that you are considerate both with regard to your communication with the Tripbod and also how you use the information they provide. Please employ common sense when travelling and obey all local laws and customs.
We also strongly recommend that you register with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office LOCATE system before you leave, and that you check in with your local embassy when you arrive at your destination (if travelling overseas).
Can I use Tripbod if I am not from the UK and/or an English speaker?
Of course! Residents from all over the world are invited to use Tripbod with pleasure.
We currently only officially offer our service in English though some of our Tripbods do speak other languages. Please contact us directly for information about using Tripbod in other languages.
What happens if I don’t like my Tripbod?
We are in regular contact with our Tripbods to ensure that they're well and happy, and that our customers are also happy with the service they receive.
If you're unhappy with the standard of service you receive we will normally refund your payment.
Still got questions? Please Contact us