FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Here are some of our most common FAQs. If you still have any questions that aren’t covered below, please contact us here and we’ll be sure to help you out!

For any questions about flights, feel free to check out our 'Flights' page, which has answers to some of the most commonly asked questions.

  • Welcome!  You're not alone... you've got us to help you get ready for your big trip!

    Once you've decided to join us your first step will be to complete the intake form for the trip.  That snags your space, then from there, you'll have 7 days to complete your registration and make your first deposit payment of $500 USD.  Then it's time to start looking into flights, start packing and getting excited about your upcoming adventure!  90 days prior to your trip starting we'll email you an update which lets you know what's been happening with your trip and reminding you that your final trip payment is due that day, among other trip-specific stuff.  Approximately 45 days prior to your trip you'll be emailed the Trip Road Book that has all your final details including arrival instructions, confirmed accommodation, contact info, etc.  Finally, just get on your flight and be ready for the amazing experience in front of you!

  • There's nothing in the world that is ideal for everybody. If you're considering joining your first trip with us you'll want to know if it's going to be for you and that's why we like to make sure expectations are clearly set so there are no surprises.  We think our travelers say it best with their smiles so make sure to check out our Trip Gallery page where you'll find pics of our past travelers having a great time.

    Most of our travelers are in their 50's, and 60's although travelers of all ages are warmly welcomed. No matter what the difference in age everyone joining us will have cycling in common and be looking forward to having the most amazing experience of their life! If you're concerned about the level of experience or fitness, there is multiple daily groups to ride with.

    We left our budget backpacking days long ago too, so you won't be staying in a hostel.  Comfortable accommodations in a 4-star hotel is what you can expect, with more detailed accommodation info located on each trip's info page.

  • It's typical to have at least 20% of the group be single travelers, and then most of the other people come with 1 or 2 other friends or a partner. Everyone who is coming on a trip is excited, so it’s only a matter of time before the group has all become one big group of friends. From past experience, the people who were concerned about this were pleasantly surprised how quickly and easily they made friends with the other group members. We think that coming on your own can be an ideal way to do these trips because you will have the benefits of having many new friends to hang out with!

    All single travelers have the option of either upgrading to their own private room during the trip or having Parvilla Travel pair you up with another single traveler at no additional cost.  We don't collect much personal information about our travelers prior to the trip so our roommate matching tends to just match the most similar ages together.  There's a bunch of laws regarding privacy these days so we can't share your roommate's contact info with you, but we can share yours with your consent, then your roommate can connect with you from there.

    While choosing to be matched with a roommate can be a great way to make a great new friend there are some important considerations to keep in mind, as follows:

    • Remember the "golden rule": treat others how you'd like to be treated.  You should be prepared to show respect, thoughtfulness, and kindness. That care should apply to each other’s personal property, space, and time.

    • Have a chat about each other’s habits, such as sleep schedules, closet space, bed preferences, and snoring potential so that you can both be prepared for the most comfortable experience possible.

    • If something is concerning you with your roommate be open about it rather than letting it drag down your experience.  If discussing this with your roommate doesn't solve things, please bring it up discreetly with your trip leader who will try to assist.  Please note that roommate changing or switching to a private room mid-trip are often not possible.

  • Inclusions vary in each of our trips, with the detailed list available on that trip's info page.  All trips include all of your accommodation, shuttle to and from the airport, all breakfasts and dinners, and bike rental.  You'll be in charge of getting yourself to/from the destination country. Check the Flights page for more information on booking your airfare.

  • All of our guests are greeted by a trip leader in the lobby of our group hotel on Day 1 of the trip. We allow the entire day for guests to arrive. No cycling is planned for the first day. On the final day of the trip there is no cycling either. This allows you to head out any time that works for your flight.  If you've got a 6am flight that day, great.  If you end up having an 11pm flight, just as great.  Early check-ins at the start of the trip and late checkouts at the end of the trip are always at the discretion of the hotel at the time of arrival/departure. 

  • Yes, you need a valid passport to join any of our trips.  Many countries require that your passport is valid for up to 6 months beyond your date of arrival into the country so make sure to check your passport expiry date with plenty of time before the trip just in case you need to get a renewal before departure.

  • There are banking machines all over Mallorca which will dispense to you the local currency and your trip leader will be sure to direct you to them.  That said, you'll save on bank fees if you order some Euros from your bank at home before you go.  We advise not doing currency exchange at the airport kiosks as their rates are usually not very good.  Credit cards are accepted pretty much everywhere but we suggest bringing local cash with you for lunch stops.

    In Mallorca you will be using Euros. You'll want to have a debit card that is able to be used overseas and has a 4-digit PIN number. We suggest having at least one debit card and one credit card. Traveler’s cheques have become a thing of the past, so we do not suggest bringing travelers cheques along with you.

  • A shuttle to and from the hotel is included with your trip. There are some restrictions if you arrive early or extend your stay, so check with us before you book extra nights. The shuttle only picks up from the airport and group hotel. A shuttle schedule will be sent out via email in the final days before your departure.

  • If you can get yourself to the Palma de Mallorca airport, then you're absolutely welcome to join us!

  • Everyone traveling on a Parvilla Travel cycling trip absolutely needs some sort of medical travel insurance that will cover you for cycling while overseas. There are options on our Insurance page and in some cases, you will already be covered through an existing credit card, employer, work or school policy. Whatever the case is, you will need to provide proof that you have medical coverage before you are allowed to join your trip.  This is a very standard requirement of any international cycling tour operator.

  • Because we need to make non-refundable payments for services well in advance of your trip, the flexibility we can provide to you when you need to cancel a trip depends on how close that cancellation is to the trip's start date.  Here's our schedule:

    • Cancel/reschedule at least 6 months (180+ days) prior to trip start - deposit is 100% transferable to a future trip.

    • Cancel/reschedule at least 4 months (120-179 days) prior to trip start - deposit is 50% transferable to a future trip.

    • Cancel/reschedule at least 2 months (90-119 days) prior to trip start - deposit is not transferable to a future trip.

    • Cancel/reschedule less than 2 months (0-89 days) prior to trip start date - all payments non-refundable, non-transferable.

    It's optional, but we always suggest taking out comprehensive Travel Insurance which can include trip cancellation, baggage delay, etc.  Travel insurance can be purchased through our Insurance page.

    Why do we have cancellation fees?  Nobody likes them, we get it, and we don't either.  However, traveler’s payments are used to confirm flights, hotel bookings, and other services on their behalf in the destination country.  As the trip approaches, those payments are subject to increasing costs that must be passed along to our travelers.  This is why comprehensive travel insurance is the best way to protect your payments against many unpredictable life events that may get in the way of you joining the trip.