Le Chateau Frontenac in Quebec City.Arantxa Cedillo / Veras/The Globe and Mail
The question: Can you obtain a website for the Quebec equivalent of TICO, which lists travel agencies?
TRAVEL CONCIERGE: In Quebec, there isn't an organization exactly like the Travel Industry Council of Ontario, which regulates the industry, and allows you to seek out registered tour operators. Quebec does, however, cover the sector through its Consumer Protection Office ( opc.gouv.qc.ca).
You can search for Quebec-based companies through the Association of Canadian Travel Agencies' online directory ( ACTAdirectory.ca). Its 1,824 members range from tour operators to hotels, and adhere to a code of conduct, says Gary Ralph, ACTA's director of communications. The Canadian Association of Tour Operators ( cato.ca) also has a number of members that are large and reputable, he says.
Your best bet? Get a recommendation from a neighbourhood travel agent and check out the company with trusted sources before handing over your credit card.
"Agencies will know who are the good operators - especially if the agency is in Quebec, Ontario or B.C. where they and tour operators are regulated strictly and where consumers can recover their money," Ralph says. "ACTA members in the unregulated provinces will also know the good operators."
E-mail your travel questions to concierge@globeandmail.com.
Karan Smith is a former Globe Travel editor. Special to The Globe and Mail