You’ll find answers to a range of frequently asked questions below, but if you can’t find what you’re looking for please don’t hesitate to contact us via email or give us a call.
Getting Prepared
Using an Industry accredited travel agent means you get qualified, expert advice from a trusted and reputable business.
Our industry knowledge and networks mean we have access to the best suppliers and first-to-market offers to ensure you get the best quality travel experiences.
Leisure Options is the only national award-winning, accredited travel agent in Australia specialising in the disability sector.
Our small group tours enable us to provide intimate and personalised travel experiences catering for individuals with different interests, skills, and abilities.
Our limited numbers, with high staffing ratios, allow us to customise every tour and itinerary.
We strive to deliver memorable experiences and embrace a family-style approach to our holidays.
Where possible, we stay under the one roof in large holiday houses with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms along with large shared common areas creating a comforting atmosphere and shared experiences.
We believe this approach actively assists in building lasting friendships and offers greater opportunities to form deep and lasting memories of your time away.
Leisure Options like to provide you with the maximum amount of time at your destination so you can spend your holiday enjoying all of the attractions and activities on offer.
To avoid extended travel times we fly to the majority of interstate destinations. Occasionally we’ll take the train or The Spirit of Tasmania to provide you with an alternative experience.
For all our local Victorian trips, we use the Leisure Options fleet of vehicles.
Leisure Options holiday guarantee ensures that we run every advertised holiday all year round.
Unique to our business, we don’t have minimum numbers, so all of our tours depart as promised.
We also guarantee the best price by matching any competitor offers, meaning you get your holiday at the best price.
Give us a call and we will work with you to create your dream holiday. Our travel experts will plan a personalised itinerary taking into account all the fun things you would like to do and see.
Booking my trip
Explore our website or holiday brochure and pick a holiday that appeals to you.
You can call or send us an email and let us know what holiday you would like to go on.
Alternatively, let us know what you like doing and we can recommend a fun-filled holiday or design your very own individual holiday.
Once the paperwork is completed and your deposit is received, your position on the holiday is confirmed.
We suggest you book as early as possible as our small group size means that tours often fill quickly.
Three to six months in advance is a good time frame for domestic travel, however, international and cruise holidays should be booked six to nine months in advance to avoid disappointment.
From the time you make your booking, we will hold your spot for 14 days. This gives you time to pay your deposit.
Once we receive your deposit your spot on the holiday is secure. If we do not receive your deposit your spot may be offered to other travellers.
Leisure Options tours are all-inclusive, the price includes your accommodation, all meals, entry to all activities and attractions, transport, staff support, and a souvenir photo album. Airfares may or may not be included in the tour price, this will always be specified in the holiday brochure.
Travel insurance is highly recommended for all holidays and will be an additional cost.
Your only job is to pack your bags then relax and enjoy every moment of your supported holiday!
One month before your holiday starts, we will send out detailed pre-departure information covering all sorts of practical information, including a tailored packing list, and any other special items you may need to bring.
We recommend that all travellers take out appropriate travel insurance for their holiday.
Leisure Options is an authorised agent for Cover-More travel insurance. We will send you a quote and some information when you make your booking.
Please read the Product Disclosure Statement before every holiday and consider any pre-existing medical conditions that may need additional cover.
We can help you with this, as well as to lodge and support you through any claims that may arise.
A little bit of spending money is great so you can buy souvenirs or gifts. Our tour leaders are happy to help you look after your money and when you want to buy something just let them know.
We keep receipts and reconcile all your purchases to give to your carers when you get home.
Bring whatever spending money you can afford, however as a guide, we recommend you bring $100 – $150 for local holidays, $250 for Interstate holidays, and $500 for international and cruise holidays.
You and your travel team
We try and accommodate every traveller who wishes to have a supported holiday.
When making a booking, you are required to complete a holiday application form. It is important that you provide all of the details relating to your care as this information helps us to understand your unique care requirements, advise you on suitable holiday options and match you with one of our experienced tour leaders.
If we need further information our friendly office team will give you a call.
Unfortunately, we are unable to accommodate travellers that exhibit violent or aggressive behaviour or those requiring restrictive medication.
We endeavour to offer you unparalleled holiday support, guidance, and care. To enable this, our holidays are always staffed with high support ratios. By offering ratios of 1:1, 1:2, 1:3 and 1:4 we ensure that you are able to actively participate in a holiday that will fulfill your aspirations and goals.
Leisure Options staffing ratios are the highest in the industry and provide peace of mind that you will receive the care and support you require.
We can arrange for you to meet your friendly tour leader prior to departure. There will be an additional cost for this to occur.
No! Many of our travellers come away knowing no one.
Holidays are a great way to meet new people and make new friends. Our holidays are tailored so you will travel with people who have similar interests and abilities as you.
NDIS
No, you don’t have to be registered with the NDIS to use our service. You can pay for your holiday using whatever funds you like.
If travel supports the goals in your NDIS plan, the NDIS will fund those supports related to your disability. This includes the cost of a support worker to accompany you while on holiday. The NDIS won’t fund everyday expenses like accommodation, meals, transport, flights, activities, travel insurance or spending money. These are items of travel that you need to pay for out of your own personal funds.
Yes, the goals in your plan should be aligned with what you hope to achieve through supported travel.
As an NDIS service provider our tours offer opportunities to develop new skills and capabilities in a safe and fun environment.
Our travellers have many opportunities whilst on tour to develop skills and outcomes that meet the objectives of their NDIS plan. These skills and experiences provide travellers with independence and confidence to live the life they want.
If you still have questions, please feel free to contact us.
The NDIS will fund support and services it deems reasonable and necessary. If you need support to live at home, engage in the community, attend work or a day program, then it’s not unreasonable to expect that you would need that same support to access a holiday.
Talk to your service coordinator, family members, plan manager and even an advocate to help support you in developing your plan that includes travel which supports the goals and skills you wish to further develop.
Short Term Accommodation (STA), including Respite, provides funding for both support and accommodation when you need a short stay away from your usual home. This type of funding can help you and your informal carers – such as family members, friends or close relatives who provide care and support on an unpaid basis. For more details, refer to our Respite Page
A holiday, on the other hand, is distinct from respite, though it may offer a break for your informal support. A holiday is about you choosing a destination to enjoy recreational activities, which the NDIS considers a leisure activity more aligned with a holiday. In this case, Leisure Options would claim the support hours for the carer who assists you during your trip. This differs fundamentally from the purpose of Respite.
