FAQs
How does it work?
From our global network of trusted local experts you select your preferred 'Tripbod'.
Through a private online 'Trip Planner' page you tell your Tripbod what you want from your trip and they can make suggestions of what to see (and what to avoid!) so you spend your time and money like a local, rather than a tourist
So your Tripbod infuses your itinerary with fantastic local knowledge and will also 'geo-tag' those travel tips on an interactive Google map. You can then print off your itinerary and your Google map to 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!
For a full description of how it works, please see How It Works.
How do you decide on pricing?
We have structured our pricing in a way that is suitable for all three parties - the traveller, the Tripbod and the company Tripbod.com. The service is inexpensive for the traveller, and the Tripbod retains the majority of the revenue ensuring a fair earning for the travel itineraries and holiday maps they provide.
Our prices take into consideration the great value of the local knowledge we provide, so different to the information provided by other travel planning services (such as guidebooks and tour guides), and also includes what we feel is fair for the individual Tripbod. Since our service offers travellers access to a Tripbod’s wealth of local travel expertise, and support in creating a tailored itinerary, we have varied the cost depending on the length of the traveller’s trip and the time period for which they require the Tripbod’s input.
In theory, the longer the travel itinerary that you wish to plan, the more time our Tripbod will spend helping and advising you via your interactive trip planner page.
So it doesn’t matter how long you are travelling for in total, you just pay for the part of the trip you would like us to help you with. This means you could be travelling for 4 weeks but only want advice for one of those weeks, in which case you would just buy the Tripbod service for one week.
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. You will end up with a completely tailored trip plan and annotated Google Map.
How far in advance of my trip can I use the service?
You can start planning your trip as soon as you wish. There is no limit. If you have a limited amount of time, let us know in the questionnaire before you connect with your Tripbod so that we can make sure you get the information you need in time.
(For further information about our Fair Usage policy please see Terms and Conditions.)
How do we select our 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 ask potential Tripbods to provide a professional reference and we conduct a 30 minute interview
Local: Tripbods must be able to prove an ongoing strong connection with the local community and environment.
Travel: Tripbods must be interested in travel and inspiring other travellers.
Expert: Tripbods must have a proven level of expertise in a particular area of 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 of our company.
Can I meet my Tripbod?
We leave this decision to the discretion of the Tripbod and the traveller. As a Tripbod traveller you are entitled to as much pre-trip planning advice as you require from our trusted local contact. This can include a Skype call and a personalised Google Map. However, any meeting in person is at the discretion of both you and your Tripbod, and often depends on timing, distance to meet and costs. So please do discuss this directly between yourselves. Some local experts charge for their time as a tour guide would, others just catch up for a beer!
What kind of information can I get?
Your Tripbod is a local travel expert and someone who can help plug current local information into your personalised travel itinerary. So feel free to ask for travel tips and information about local life, good 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 is going on. Its good to keep in mind that all of our Tripbods have an area of special interest, which they will be keen to share with you.
What if they do not respond?
Please let us know if there is any delay at all in response. We keep track of online activity to make sure that nothing has been forgotten but it would be a great help if you give us a nudge if anything is taking longer than you expected.
Also, do let us know how your trip is developing, it’s always great for us to hear your travel tales!
How do I know I can trust my Tripbod?
You can trust your Tripbod because we have gone through a long diligence process to ensure they are reliable and trustworthy in the advice they offer (please refer to the ‘How Do We Select Our Tripbods’ section of How It Works).
We go to the very furthest lengths to ensure the service we provide and the Tripbods we connect you to are going to make a really 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. The information we use to infuse your travel itinerary with personalised, authentic experiences and tailored local knowledge must still be treated with due care and attention. We ask that all our travellers 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 a British traveller and/or English speaker?
Yes. Non-British residents may still use the Tripbod service.
For travellers who do not have English as their first language we currently only officially offer our service in English. That said, some of our Tripbods do speak other languages including the local language where they are based, so kindly contact us for more information.
What happens if I don’t like my Tripbod?
We conduct regular checks to make sure that our Tripbods are happy with the payment they receive and our customers are happy with the service they receive.
If a traveller is unhappy with the service, or has not received the level of service we have promised, we will normally refund payment.
Hasn't answered your question? Please get in touch.