FAQs
General FAQs
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How long has Farm and Leisure Tours Ltd been operating?
We have been actively trading since 1992. In April 2021 the company changed the trading name from CR McPhail Ltd to Farm and Leisure Tours Ltd.
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Are you affiliated to any professional organisations?
The company is a financial member of Agricultural Tour Operators International.
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Are you licensed or bonded to any travel organisation?
No, there is no requirement to be licensed or bonded in New Zealand. We believe our reputation and history are more important.
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How safe is my money when I pay for a tour?
Farm and Leisure Tours Ltd is financially sound. Previously trading as CR McPhail Ltd, our track record for over 26 years and many repeat clients demonstrates that you can have complete confidence in our integrity and viability. When Covid-19 hit in March 2020, we cancelled our tours and fully refunded deposits held to our clients. All 2021 Tours were 'book now with no deposit required' and fully refundable if Covid-19 travel restrictions prevented a tour from departing.
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Where is your office located?
Due to Covid-19 we are currently working from home.
Inbound Tour FAQs
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Do you arrange tours for individual travellers as well as groups?
Yes we do. We specialise in groups but we can cater for any number.
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If I ask you for a tour itinerary how soon can I expect a response?
We will acknowledge your request right away and endeavour to get an itinerary outline to you within 48 hours.
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Can you arrange tours other than ones focused on agriculture?
Certainly. Agriculture is a specialty but we also organise leisure and other special interest tours.
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Do you arrange tours for people from countries who do not speak English?
Yes. We have clients from all around the world.
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Do you provide professional guides?
A feature of our business that sets us apart is the emphasis we place on providing knowledgeable guides that go out of their way to ensure visitors are looked after.
Outbound Tour FAQs
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What is special about your tours?
We work with business partners in overseas countries who know their country, provide local guides and help us to offer our clients tours which give you the opportunity to mix with the locals and experience the culture. You will also visit interesting farms. Over there years we have a lot of repeat clients.
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How many people do you take on your tours?
It depends on the destination and the nature of the tour. It can be as few as eight and up to forty five. Generally from fifteen to thirty. We do our best to get our tours away so usually as long as we get a minimum of ten we will go.
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Are your tours tax deductible?
We design most of our tours with the aim of maximising the opportunity for clients to offset the tour expenses against taxable income. Generally from 70% to 100%. We do run some add-ons to our tours that are not tax deductible.
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Do you get a ruling from IRD prior to the tour?
No. We believe this can be a disadvantage. Sometimes we add extra technical visits or clients may do additional business, which increases the business proportion of the tour. Following technical tours we send you a report. You can use this as a basis for discussion with your accountant as to what expenses you will claim.
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Why do your tours appear more expensive than some other tours on offer?
Our tours may look more expensive because we include almost everything to make your trip easy, convenient and affordable - included are entrance fees, meals and tips. If you compare the cost of a big 'mass people movers' tour with one of ours you will find we are very competitive when you add all the extras you have to pay for other tours and allow for the tax deductible nature of our tours. You get what you pay for. We offer high quality tours and our clients consider they get value for money.
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Are your tours escorted?
Our policy is that to maximize your enjoyment professional tour leaders representing our company lead our outbound tours. If we are working with a partner company they may provide the Tour Leader.