Cancellation & Refunds
Plans change. Here's exactly what happens when they do.
We know nobody books a trip planning to cancel it. But life happens, so here's how it works. The charges below reflect the money we've already committed to hotels, airlines, guides and parks for your seat. They aren't meant as a penalty. This policy is part of our Booking Terms.
How to cancel
Cancellations must be made in writing by the lead traveler, by email to [email protected]. The cancellation takes effect on the day we receive your email, and we'll confirm it in writing. The number of days is counted back from the trip's first day.
Road trips
| Days before departure | Cancellation charge |
|---|---|
| 61 days or more | $100 per person (the rest of your deposit is refunded) |
| 60 to 31 days | 50% of the trip price |
| 30 days or fewer, or no-show | 100% of the trip price |
Flight trips
| Days before departure | Cancellation charge |
|---|---|
| 121 days or more | $250 per person |
| 120 to 91 days | The full deposit |
| 90 to 46 days | 50% of the trip price, or the cost of non-refundable airfare already issued, whichever is greater |
| 45 days or fewer, or no-show | 100% of the trip price |
Airline tickets are usually issued 60 to 90 days before departure and are generally non-refundable once issued. If the airline gives a travel credit instead of a refund, we'll pass the credit on to you where the airline allows it.
Special-event trips
Some trips depend on hotels that require full, non-refundable payment many months ahead. Examples include Mardi Gras and the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta. For these trips, the deposit is non-refundable from the day you book, and the charges in the road trip table start 90 days before departure instead of 60. The booking form shows these terms clearly.
If we cancel
If we cancel a trip before departure, for example because it didn't reach the minimum group size, you'll receive a full refund of everything you've paid us, or you can choose to switch to another trip. If we cancel because of events beyond our control, we'll refund everything except non-recoverable supplier costs, as explained in section 5 of our Booking Terms. We're not responsible for other expenses you've arranged yourself, such as your own flights, visas or vaccinations. This is one more reason to buy travel insurance.
Unused services
There are no refunds for parts of a trip that you choose not to use once it has started, such as a missed meal, excursion or hotel night, or if you leave the trip early.
Refunds
Refunds are paid to the original payment method within 30 days of written confirmation of the cancellation. If you paid by card, the timing of when the money appears depends on your bank.
Travel insurance
A good travel insurance policy can cover these cancellation charges if you have to cancel for a covered reason, such as illness. Buy it soon after you pay your deposit, because many policies only cover pre-existing conditions if you buy within a set number of days of your first payment.