IOWA VOYAGERS
FAQ's
Do I have to be a graduate of the UI to travel with the Iowa Voyagers?
You need not be a UI graduate. About 70% of Iowa Voyagers are UI alumni with 30% being friends, relatives, colleagues or other travelers who enjoy the kind of high-quality educational programs we offer.
Do I need to join the UI Alumni Association to take an Iowa Voyagers trip?
Yes. Traveling with the Iowa Voyagers is a UI Alumni Association (UIAA) member privilege. We welcome all travelers, but require that all University of Iowa alumni become UIAA members in order to participate in the trips. If you are not a UI graduate, we require that one person in your traveling party become a UIAA member.
How do I join the UIAA?
For information about joining the UIAA or to check your membership status, please call 800/469-2586 or visit www.iowalum.com. If you join or renew, be sure to indicate you are traveling with the Iowa Voyagers.
Is part of my trip cost tax deductible?
Check with your tax attorney or CPA about the deductibility of any portion of your trip fees. A small percentage of the trip cost goes to the UIAA which in turn assists the greater mission of the University of Iowa.
Are the trips escorted?
Yes, there is always a tour director from our excellent travel companies who oversees our group and answers questions, trouble-shoots, guides and informs. However, a minimum number of participants (usually 15, 20 or 30) is required to secure the additional services of a University of Iowa social or faculty host on any given trip.
Are there any physical requirements?
To fully enjoy the travel experience, participants should be in good physical and mental health and be able to keep pace with the group. Extreme variations in altitude or temperature should be considered when traveling in certain parts of the world. Some excursions require walking on uneven terrain or climbing stairs. If you require extraordinary assistance with ambulation, diet or medical regimens, you must report this when you book your trip and must be accompanied by someone who can and will provide all required care. If you’re not sure about the activity level of a tour, please contact us at 800/469-2586 or email diane-baker@uiowa.edu.
What about single travelers?
All of our trips charge a single supplement for travelers who prefer single accommodations. The single supplement fee varies by trip type and availability. On most tours, a limited number of single rooms is available. Single travelers can request to be matched with a roommate. We have a Roommate Matching System (link to Roommate Matching System) that we can search and will strive to find a compatible, same-gender roommate to share the room. However, identifying a roommate is not guaranteed and if one cannot be found the single supplement fee will still apply.
Will my trip be exclusively for Iowa Voyagers or are the trips shared with other groups?
Most Iowa Voyagers trips are shared departures. This means there will be other universities, schools or affinity groups traveling on the same trip as part of the larger group, providing the added insurance that the trip will not be canceled due to low numbers of travelers. There is always a tour director who oversees the larger group and who also attends to the needs of each individual sub-group, such as arranging a special party for the Iowa Voyagers. A few of our trips, however, are exclusively UI departures. Please inquire about your particular trip when you book.
Who makes my air arrangements or can I make my own?
The tour operator managing your particular trip can book your air flights and often has air-inclusive prices listed in the trip brochure. When booking your trip, simply indicate your desired departure city on the reservation form. The tour operator will then be responsible for scheduling and booking your flights, and transferring you to and from the airport with the group. To get the best airfares, our operators have negotiated special rates with major airlines that may require non-direct flights. Please feel free to ask about “land-only” or “cruise-only” pricing if you wish to have a direct flight or if you want to make your own arrangements. If you make your own air arrangements, you will be responsible for meeting your group at the ship or hotel. In some cases, you can purchase group transfers from the tour operator even though you’ve made your own air arrangements.
Can I use frequent flyer miles?
To earn miles: If you book your air flights with our tour operators, they are happy to take your frequent flyer number and report your miles earned to the appropriate airline. Many operators use specific airlines as the group carrier. If your frequent flyer program is with another airline and you want the tour operator to book your flights with that carrier, the airfare quoted in the brochure may increase since you would be booked as “independent air” rather than “group air.”
To use miles: To use frequent flyer miles for part or all of your flights, you should choose the land-only or cruise-only option and book your flights directly with your preferred airline. Tour operators are not able to conduct frequent flyer mile usage transactions.
How long has the UIAA operated its travel program?
We’re one of the oldest alumni travel programs in the Big 10.
The UI alumni travel program was started in 1961 and has operated continuously
since then.
How do I get on your regular mail list? Email list?
Just call 800/469-2586, visit the web site, or email diane-baker@uiowa.edu
and give us your name, mailing address and/or email address. You’ll
be added the same day you notify us.
How can I learn more about the trips that interest me?
You may request information on specific trips by visiting our searchable
current schedule. You may also call us at 800/469-2586 or email:diane-baker@uiowa.edu.
Full-color, detailed brochures are usually mailed 6-9 months in advance
of the departure date.
I’m ready to book my trip. How do I accomplish this?
You may call the Iowa Voyagers at 800/469-2586, email us at diane-baker@uiowa.edu,
fax us at (319)335-1079, or simply mail in your reservation to: Iowa
Voyagers, 100 LCUA, One
West Park Rd., Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1797. You may secure your reservation
right away by making your deposit payment via credit card or send
a
personal check or money order.
Where can I find information about the tour companies that
provide the Iowa Voyagers trips?
To get a brief paragraph about our partnering companies, visit our travel company page. Each listing gives the company’s address and toll-free
phone number.
Where do I get information about travel insurance?
Upon receipt of your reservation and deposit payment, we
send you a letter of acknowledgment that includes travel insurance
information
and an application form. We offer Travel Insurance Select
products through our long-time insurance partner, Travel
Insurance Services (T.I.S.), based in Walnut Creek, CA. You may
reach T.I.S. directly by
calling 800/937-1387.
If I have more questions, how do I contact the Iowa Voyagers?
You can contact us several ways: call toll-free at 800/469-2586, direct
at 319/335-3294, email diane-baker@uiowa.edu,
visit our website www.iowalum.com/voyagers,
or send us a fax at 319/335-1079.
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