Frequently Asked Questions

From questions about opening hours to luggage allowance, our FAQs are here to help you!

This page is here to help you with all the answers to your questions. Everything you need to know can be found here. And if you’re still left with questions, contact us here.

General

  • Monday – Thursday: 10:00 – 19:00 h / 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
  • Friday: 10:00 – 18:00 h / 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Yes, of course. You can call us during our opening hours, write us an email, use the contact form on our website or come directly to our office.

Metro Station Plaza de España (line 3 and 10)

Trips & Events

Booking a trip is very simple, and there are different ways you can do it:

  • On our website (www.smartinsiders.com) you can choose which trip you’d like to go on and complete the simple payment process.
  • Register online and choose the option “Pay at our office”. Then you can come to our office any time during our opening hours and pay by cash or card.

If you want to attend any of our social events, complete the registration form found on our website. You will receive an email some days before the event which will confirm whether or not you have a spot to attend.

You can pay in our office or directly on our website.

 

You can either pay with cash or by card. However, if you are paying by card there is an additional fee of the bank of 3% on top of the final price.

You can pay with Visa, Mastercard, or Maestro.

For some trips it’s possible to reserve your spot with a deposit if you make your booking well in advance of the departure date. Please contact us for more information.

No, your spot is only reserved and confirmed once you have paid in full at our office. Without the payment, your spot is not reserved.

No, your spot is only reserved and confirmed once you have paid in full at our office. Without the payment, your spot is not reserved.

Yes, you can book trips for other(s) but you will have to provide us with all of the information about the person(s) you are paying for

It is possible to book a trip as far as there are spots available. As our trips are alway in very high demand, we recommend that you pay as soon as possible to make sure you have the spot.

It is possible to register for the events as far as there are spots available. As our events are alway in very high demand, we recommend that you register as soon as possible.

Once you have completed the payment you will receive a confirmation of your booking by email. Closer to the time, you will also receive an email containing important information about your trip. In case you can’t find the email, please check your Spam/Junkmail folder.

You will receive an email whether you have the spot for the event or not, some days before it takes place.

On each trip/event page you’ll find an ‘Included’ section that gives you an overview of what the trip contains. Inclusions vary with each trip/event though, so be sure to check out your trip/event page.

No, but you have the option to add insurance as an optional service.

Cancellation of your booking must be made in writing. We will not regard a booking as cancelled until we receive written notice via email (if you send it out of our office hours, we will answer the next working day). To see the charges which will be applied on cancellation, please check here.

Each traveller is limited to one item of standard size luggage, plus a day pack. Please note that small, hard suitcases can’t be taken on board the coach – so stick with a backpack or soft-shell bag.

All travellers, without exception (including children) must carry their personal documentation, whether passport or ID, according to the laws of the country or countries visited, as well as parental permits, visas, driver’s license and any corresponding health documentation. Travellers are responsible for processing visas. We do not assume any responsibility in case visas are not issued before departure or if you do not have the necessary documentation to enter the country.

From 4* hotels with double rooms, to very nice hostels with multiple rooms – we have a mixed bag of accommodation styles depending on the destination and trip.

It totally depends on the trip. Accommodation arrangements can be anything from multiple people sharing one room, to double rooms.

Before our trips we will ask you who you would like to share the room with. If you are a solo traveler, you can let us know if you would prefer to share with only your gender, or if you´re happy in a mixed room.

It depends on the trip and destination. All our trip prices are based on a twin, double or multi-share option (always depending on the trip) however, on certain trips we can offer single, twin or double room supplements.

Of course, you can always do things on your own, just let the tour leader know.

Throughout your trips we’ve arranged a variety of organized and ‘Optional activities’ that we know you’ll love. You can find a list of ‘Optional activities’ specific to your trip on the trip page. It’s always up to you to participate, so don’t worry, you´ll always have enough free time during our trips.

Group sizes vary from trip to trip. On average all the trips have around 55 passengers travelling together

During our trips we almost always travel by bus. Except for trips which require going by plane or ferry.

In this instance we can add you to a waiting list and we will let you know in case anyone cancels or we can open more spots. If you’d like to be added to the waiting list for a trip, please email us at trips@smarinsiders.com, or for an event, email us at activities@smartinsiders.com.

Our events are designed for the following groups:

  • Au Pairs
  • International Students
  • Erasmus
  • Doctoral students
  • Language assistants (Auxiliaries)
  • Students doing an internship
  • Other similar situations 
  • Family of the above mentioned

Participants are aged between 18 – 35 years (except for family members, who may be older, or except for master’s or PHD students who may be older, but who meet the prerequisites of being an exchange student or similar).

But the main age group normally is between 20 – 25 years.

Ages between 18 – 40 years (except for family members, who may be older, or except for master’s or PHD students who may be older, but who meet the characteristics of being an exchange student or similar).

Yes it is! So many people are solo travellers. In fact, over 50% of our travellers start the trip solo and finish the trip with friends for life from all over the world!

All our trips and events are in English & Spanish. In the case that the whole group is English or Spanish speaking, it will be in one language.

For all our trips & events you have to register in advance. It’s not possible to participate if you haven’t registered.