A Message from our Founder & CEO and recent updates to our cancelation policies regarding COVID-19 (Coronavirus 2019).
Updated April 20, 2021
Thank you to everyone who has trusted Green Edventures over the past 11 years!! It is hard to believe that a company I created with my last $1,000, and led our first trips to Alaska & Baja Mexico with 30 students combined, has grown to leading 300 travelers per year across 9 destinations! This year, we are also celebrating 11-years of Women’s Travel adventures in partnership with the International Becoming an Outdoors Woman program. None of this would have been possible without building strong relationships with our travelers, and the local guides who have helped our participants experience the extraordinary.
In March, when worldwide travel was grounded due to the COVID-19 pandemic, all of us were faced with a new set of challenges and uncertainty. The travel industry was hit especially hard. Thankfully, 75% of our Adventure Buddies postponed their trips to 2021. Green Edventures has the best Adventure Buddies and we appreciate that most of you chose to postpone your trip rather than cancel. Tourism dollars support local people and protect wildlife and wild places that we love. When this is all over, we want to be part of the solution that ensures those animals and parks are still when we are ready to visit — and for generations to come.
If you are reading this update, you are either a current traveler checking in on the status of your trip, or you are a considering an upcoming trip mid-summer 2020 through 2022. Either way, I hope that this update will bring you peace of mind with regards to traveling with Green Edventures next summer or beyond. Before you book a trip, a complete cancellation policy will be provided that is specific to your trip. It may differ slightly that what is written here.
What are COVID-19 related reasons that could cause my trip to be cancelled?
COVID-19-related reasons include
- The destination the participant is travelling to has entry restrictions in place that prohibit the participant from travelling, such as closed borders or extended quarantine requirements.
- Â International flights are cancelled without alternative routing available for participant’s to use to reach the destination(s) in the itinerary
What is the refund policy if my trip has to be cancelled due to COVID-19 related reasons?
In the case where the entire trip has to be cancelled due to a COVID-19 related reason, Green Edventures reserves the right to postpone the trip. If a trip is postponed, participants can choose from two options:
Option 1: Postpone don’t cancel. Participants will receive a 100% credit of all monies paid to the original booking for the postponed trip to be put toward rebooking the alternate dates.
Option 2: The participant can cancel and take a full refund less any non-refundable fees. Refunds may be subject to currency fluctuations for some destinations. Non-refundable fees include the initial deposit, payment processing fees (bank imposed fees, WeTravel, credit card merchant fees, PayPal fees), non-transferable permits, non-transferable airline tickets, and pre-paid deposits to our local partners.
Pre-Trip Preparations:
Under no circumstances is Green Edventures responsible for costs incurred for participant’s pre-trip preparations including but not limited to vaccinations, visas, travel insurance premiums, ect, or travel arrangements.
Should I use a travel agent to book my flight?
Solo Travelers:
Yes. Green Edventures highly recommends that participants use a travel agent to book their flights. For a nominal fee, the travel agent will monitor your flights and assist you with rebooking and refund requests. Our partners at Ridgebrook Travel have been helping our clients for over 8 years! When your trip is confirmed, you will receive travel parameters and the contact information Ridgebrook Travel.
Participants who choose to book their own flight should do so directly with the airline. Avoid 3rd party online booking platforms.
Student Groups:
All of our student group airline travel (unless an exception is made) is arranged by Ridgebrook Travel Agency.
What is the cancellation and refund policy if there is a State Department or CDC Travel Advisory level 3 or higher?
The nature of the type of travel Green Edventures offers is often remote, and outside and is less risky than a cruise ship or resort. We are monitoring travel advisories but will only cancel a trip due to advisories if we feel it is too dangerous to go. The COVID pandemic situation is ever changing and has forced us to look at what the picture is 45-30 days before travel. We use advisories, first-hand reports from our partners on the ground, and industry connections to evaluate departures.
With that in mind, to travel, is a personal one. If a participant does not feel comfortable traveling given the situation at the time please contact us to see what the option are. Cancellation do affect the whole group and individual refunds, postponement, or transfer may not be possible, but the only way to know is to take into account all of the variables at the time.
What are your updated COVID-19 prevention protocols?
Each destination has specific protocols and over the next few months it is likely that each trip will require proof of a negative PCR test in order to travel. Here is a link to our general COVID-19 prevention protocols.
Should I purchase travel insurance since COVID-19 related cancellations are not included in the policy?
Many people assume that COVID-19 is not covered under any travel insurance. This is not true. Fear of travel, and travel advisories, or flights cancelled due to government mandates are not covered under any policy that we know of. However, COVID-19 illness is being treated like any other illness, and if you do get sick before or during your trip, the right travel insurance will provide you with benefits that cover the cost of your trip if you can’t go, or if you become ill during the trip and need to quarantine. As destinations begin to open their borders, some countries are requiring proof of medical travel insurance that provides coverage for treatment, transportation, and quarantine if a person should become ill and/or test positive for COVID-19 while abroad.
Green Edventures does not provide travel insurance in the package price of trip, but our team will help you navigate the process. Green Edventures has been leading groups in the USA and internationally since August 2020 and have been helping our travelers get the right travel insurance for them.
If my trip is cancelled due to COVID-19 reason, can I transfer my travel funds to another trip to a different destination?
That may be possible on a case-by-base basis. There are factors to consider, including what type of trip you were on, the destination, how much of your travel funds were used to reserve your current trip, and what unused funds are available to put toward another destination.
If my trip is cancelled and I postpone, can I transfer my spot to someone else if I decide not to go?
You may be able to transfer your spot to someone of the same gender upon the discretion of Green Edventures, and for a fee. Excluded are non-transferable permits, airline tickets, ect.
Thank you so much for your support and consideration. if you have any more questions, please feel free to contact me directly.
Yours in Adventure,
Tara
Tara Short
Founder & CEO
Green Edventures Tours
1-888-622-4911
tara@3.17.200.177