Corona Virus UpdateTemporarily Flexible Policy
The significant global impact of the corona virus has caught everyone by surprise. We are now at uncharted territory. Beyond the risk of getting sick, some have to not only cancel their dream holiday but also make financial losses for the costs made. The local community here will have no income for weeks or even months as they’ll struggle to take care of their family. And tour operators will have to fight against bankruptcy.
We hope that these difficult times will bring the best out of us as human beings, that we show solidarity and understanding towards each other, help each other where possible, and make sure that our frustrations about the personal implications of this Corona crisis do not turn us against each other.
Therefore, in order to reduce the big issues that clients experience with regards to flights and travelling in general, we have temporarily eased our cancellation policy.
You can rebook your tour to a later date for free. You simply pay the price corresponding to the new date; the already paid deposit will apply to your new date. We realise you have not yet set a new date, and just trust that you will inform us whenever you do – this policy does not expire for you.
If you wish to make use of this option, please contact us by replying to your booking confirmation. If you cannot or do not want to make use of this option, our standard refund policy below applies.
Stay safe, stay healthy,
Local Guides Team
As a fair travel organization we do not only put energy in providing comfortable tours with local professionals, but we also have a fair cancellation policy so that you can be assured that for whatever reason you need to cancel your tour we will be here to help out.
So, how do we do that?
It starts with our confirmation policy. Clients only pay a fraction of the total tour price in advance (“deposit”) for the confirmation process. The vast majority of the tour price (“outstanding balance”) is only paid upon arrival.
In case clients would like to voluntarily pay also the outstanding balance in advance (usually so that they do not need to carry so much cash with them), this outstanding balance is fully refundable under any circumstances. Please do let us know timely so that we can reduce the costs on our side.
“The Outstanding Balance is Fully Refundable – No Questions Asked”
However, even if the client doesn’t show up without any announcement, we will fully refund the paid “outstanding balance” (no questions asked) as we understand that usually there are good reasons that the client has not been able to inform us about the cancellation.
The mandatory deposit payment is however not always refundable because of the costs made:
- Deposit is 100% refundable for cancellations more than 3 months prior to tour start
- Deposit is 50% refundable for cancellations more than 2 month prior to tour start
- Deposit is non-refundable for cancellations within 2 month prior to tour start
“The mandatory deposit payment is not always refundable”
The above holds for all cancellations that are beyond the control of Local Guides. This also includes force majeur events beyond the control of the clients e.g. flight cancellations, travel restrictions, natural disasters, etc.
So make always sure that you have a travel insurance!
In case you have any specific questions about our cancellation policy, please let us know.
