During a chat with a customer from Mexico, I got into a discussion about secure bookings.

I was entering his order into the system and all was going well, including me converting kilos to pounds (it's 2.2 pounds per kilo...don't ask me about currency conversions).

The we got to the part where we had to pay for it. He froze. Then asked what kind of "certificate" we had. I said SSL. That didn't appease him. Then I said "Verisign."

I thought that was good enough but it wasn't, so I sent him a link where he could book it himself. I figured it was all good. I called into reservations and no booking yet.

Hmmm...did he get spooked? Was he serious about taking a helicopter tour? I had no idea. I just knew that he was a tad on the paranoid side.

In chat again and I get a European client with the "certificate" question. I explain site security. She gets it and I happily take her booking.

But it's just recently that I've been having these types of conversations so I wanted to address it.

If I handle your booking, I enter it into my vendor's secure site for processing. Or, if I find you the tour you want and steer you to one of my partner sites, same story: max encryption, max security.

Understand that the majority of bookings these days happen online. If any of my approved vendors fail to offer a secure environment, business evaporates. In other words, your money and your private information is safe.

Furthermore, I'm on the frontline when it comes to booking online. If I catch even a whiff of something not working right, it's over and that tour operator is history. That's how serious I take this issue and I want all my readers/clients/customers to purchase their tour with confidence.

If you ever have questions relating to this issue, please contact me at grandcanyonkeith@gmail.com or call direct at 702-530-8687 and I will do my best to get you the answers you need.

Relatedly...

If you or I book your tour the next thing that happens is you getting an e-ticket. If you are purchasing your tour during U.S. working hours, you should get your e-ticket within 15 to 30 minutes. However, technology isn't perfect, so be patient. If you don't have anything in 12 hours, you need to contact me and I'll round up your e-ticket.

I recommend you read your e-ticket for detail. Specifically the pick up time and location. In fact, once you arrive in Las Vegas, for example, I strongly recommend you scout the pick up point the night before and make sure you put a reminder phone call in with the concierge/front desk. It's that important.

If you are happy with your e-ticket, congratulations. You're good to go. I, however, like to get my readers a PDF copy of their confirmation letter. It's much more detailed than the e-ticket. If you self-book, you will need to come into chat or email me your confirmation number. If I book it for you, I will personally walk your order through processing and have the PDF confirmation letter sent to you within 30 minutes.

Folks, please remember to print and pack your ticket. It includes all your tour's vitals. If you forget, call me and I'll run down the details for you. Either way, you're covered, but I prefer knowing you have the letter with you. Further, if you over the age of 18, please be sure to bring photo ID (driver's license, passport, etc.). Especially in the case of air tours, you will not be allowed to board the aircraft. I don't get a lot of calls for help on this matter because most travelers have to present their life story just to get through the airport.

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Travel on!

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