TERMS AND CONDITIONS
The following terms and conditions constitute an agreement between you and Abroad Escape.
All our programmes accept applications for start dates up to 1 year in the future. Our programmes are very popular, especially in the summer, so we recommend that you start applying for your programme as soon as possible!
With Abroad Escape, you can easily, and at no extra cost, combine any of our projects in one place, so you can create your own tailor-made programme.
We recommend that you apply as early as possible, as some programmes are sometimes fully booked, but you can make last minute bookings up to 2 weeks before your start date, just check with us for availability!
Please read the terms and conditions carefully. Please read Abroad Escape’s terms and conditions of travel and service carefully before submitting your online application. Once you have submitted your online application, you confirm your acceptance, agree to be bound by the following terms and conditions of Abroad Escape and acknowledge that you have read all the information available in this document in full.
A contract comes into force as soon as Abroad Escape communicates with written confirmation. As soon as Abroad Escape communicates with an email confirming receipt of the applicable registration fee, we ask that you carefully review your confirmation email and notify us immediately of any incorrect or incomplete information.
Programme fee
The programme fee is due 6 weeks before the start of your programme. Failure to pay by this time may result in the loss of your placement. Your deposit is non-refundable under any circumstances. Programme fees and deposits are not transferable to other persons. Programme fees paid by bank transfer must cover the participant’s transaction costs.
As soon as we receive your application and deposit, we will start organising your programme. However, if you withdraw your application at any time because we have already incurred costs in processing your application, organising your programme, confirming your accommodation and finding a placement, we regret that we are unable to refund your deposit.
We reserve the right to cancel your programme due to unexpected circumstances, circumstances beyond our control, changes with the programme, our partners or charities, or any situation that requires us to do so. We are not responsible for any costs you incur in cancelling your flights or any other costs. In this case, your paid-up funds will be referred to a replacement programme for up to 12 months. Any refund will be made less the costs incurred in processing the refund, including a bank, transaction, bank, administration fee of 50 euros and bank charges of 50 euros.
Project and accommodation details are subject to change due to local circumstances, so projects are not available on local public holidays and you will have time off.Holidays may change at short notice, we are not responsible for this and no refund is available for this.
Our aim is to place you in your preferred project, but changes may occur with the project you have been placed in, in which case we may have to place you in another project.
Programmes run from Sunday on arrival until Saturday morning (morning departure). A one-week programme is 7 days/6 nights, a two-week programme is 14 days/13 nights, a three-week programme is 21 days/20 nights, a four-week programme is 28 days/27 nights, and so on.
The programme requires a criminal background check, the cost of which is paid by the participant.
Age requirements
You must have reached the age of 18 to make a reservation. You undertake to provide full, complete and accurate information at the time of booking with Abroad Escape.
If a participant is under the age of 18 on the date of travel, you are considered a minor. Therefore, parental consent is required and a signed letter of consent must be submitted and emailed to us in advance before arriving at your destination.
Participants under the age of 16 must be accompanied by an adult.
Abroad Escape will not be liable for any costs, damages or losses incurred as a result of failure to obtain the necessary consents, permits and approvals.
Each adult accompanying a minor or minors is fully responsible for the behaviour, welfare, supervision and control of that minor or minors, and accepts these conditions for and on behalf of the minor or minors, including all assumptions of risk and limitations of liability.
International travel and documentation
Airline tickets: We do not organise or pay for any type of travel to and from the destination(s). It is therefore your responsibility to organise your own travel to and from the destination(s). Abroad Escape cannot be held responsible for flight cancellations, missed flights, flight changes and/or delays.
Documentation: It will be the sole responsibility of the participant to obtain and carry with them all necessary travel documents, including visa, passport, insurance, vaccinations and any other documents required when travelling abroad. We can provide advice and guidance on the necessary travel documents, but we are not responsible for their accuracy and will not take responsibility for obtaining travel documents such as visas, passports, insurance, vaccinations and/or any other travel permits. It is therefore the sole responsibility of the participant to ensure and obtain the necessary travel documents well in advance of the date of travel.
Insurance and travel
You must have your own travel insurance during your programme. You must obtain your own travel insurance before leaving for your programme. Abroad Escape does not provide any insurance to the participant. The participant is solely responsible for assessing and determining the type, extent and levels of any insurance cover they require or desire for the period of travel planned.
All participants in all countries must have travel insurance, including health and liability cover. We and our partners are not responsible for any costs or damages claimed by participants.
The participant is solely responsible for organising and paying for their own travel, including in particular all air tickets or other transport costs to and from the host country as well as local transport costs. It is the responsibility of the volunteer to have all necessary documents when travelling abroad. Although we can advise the participant on the travel documents required, we are not responsible for supporting documents needed for the participant’s travel requirements or for any other purpose.
You are responsible for organising and paying for flights to and within the country of your choice. In addition to the welcome service on arrival, you are responsible for internal travel costs during your programme. In all cases, this includes daily transport to and from your placement. We cannot answer for, refund or otherwise be responsible for any flights, travel or other costs or expenses of any nature (including, for example, any changes made by airlines etc. to cancel, change or transfer flights or other arrangements) which are incurred or arise as a result of your placement not taking place or being cancelled, cut short, withdrawn or changed.
By participating in one of our overseas programmes, you acknowledge and accept the risks associated with living and working in developing countries.
We are not responsible for any loss or damage you may suffer, including, but not limited to, loss caused by delay, personal injury or death, emotional distress, damage to or loss of property, war or terrorism. We are not responsible for any errors or mistakes made by partner organisations, charities and projects.
Passport & Visa
You must ensure that you have a full passport, valid until at least 6 months after your planned return date. You are responsible for organising your own visa. Many countries do not issue visas specifically for volunteers. Work permits are often difficult to obtain. In most countries, Abroad Escape therefore advises participants to enter on tourist visas. Technically, you are not allowed to work on a tourist visa, but as you are not doing paid work, this is tolerated. At the time of writing, none of our participants, to our knowledge, had encountered any problems with the immigration authorities at the point of entry on this point. Abroad Escape only advises on visas but we are not responsible if visa conditions change or visas are not granted.
Use of photos and comments
By agreeing to these terms and conditions, you agree that we may use any photograph(s)/image(s) we or someone on our behalf takes of you or any comments (written or verbal) you make during or in connection with your placement for our promotional and marketing purposes (such as including them in our brochure/website) without obtaining your further specific permission or making any payment to you. Abroad Escape reserves the right to use comments and images provided by volunteers for website material such as testimonials.
Unusual circumstances
Your programme may be disrupted by an unusual event or circumstances that we could not reasonably have foreseen. We will not make any refunds in these situations and you will be responsible for any travel costs involved. We accept no responsibility for the effect of any unusual event or for any loss, damage, expense or claim of any kind suffered by you as a result.
The participant acknowledges and accepts the responsibilities and risks associated with their agreement to travel, live temporarily and provide voluntary services in a developing country. Such travel and volunteer work can often be hazardous and involves a degree of risk, inherently dangerous activities and personal perils for the volunteer, both foreseen and unforeseen, all of which are fully accepted and solely assumed by the volunteer. Accordingly, Abroad Escape, including all of its employees, officers, directors, shareholders, host families and host partner organisations, are not liable, to the maximum extent permitted by law, for any loss or injury that the volunteer or his/her associates may suffer, including but not limited to losses caused by: personal injury, emotional injury, death, illness or disease, damage to or loss of property.
Abroad Escape provides a service to connect participants with partner organisations and local charities/projects. You agree that Abroad Escape is not responsible for the actions or omissions of any partner organisation and local charities/projects. Abroad Escape shall have no liability for any lack of performance, unavailability or failure of the services or its website, or for any failure by Abroad Escape to comply with these terms and conditions, where this results from any cause beyond Abroad Escape’s reasonable control.
We aim to keep the information up to date and accurate, however, the nature of our projects and in particular the fact that they are constantly developing in response to changing needs means that project activities, timetables, tour itineraries and daily schedules may change overnight. and without notice.
Programme deposit
When you visit our website and wish to register for one of our travel products; you can register via the application form Once the application has been accepted; you will receive an acceptance email with a link to pay the deposit of 200 euros (non-refundable) to confirm your booking.
Once the registration payment has been made, all the required information will be sent to you and all the documentation and details will be collected by us.
The remainder of the fees for the travel programme booked must be paid no later than 6 weeks before the start date of the programme.
Price fluctuations
We reserve the right to change programme prices at any time. Please check our website from time to time. Once payment of the programme fee has been received, price increases will have no impact.
Cancellations
In the event that you wish to cancel a booking, our cancellation policy for Abroad Escape programmes is as follows:
We will only cancel your placement when we receive instructions from you. Cancellation is effective from the day we receive this notification. Refunds are not available for cancellations made less than 6 weeks before your start date. Any refund will be made less a cost, an administration fee of 50 euros and a bank charge of 50 euros (or the equivalent in another currency). Deposits are not refundable under any circumstances.
Refund policy
12 weeks or more before the start of your programme: loss of deposit
6 weeks or less before the start of your programme: 100% of the total cost of the programme (including your deposit)
No refund will be made if you voluntarily leave your programme or placement or volunteer programme for any reason after the start of the trip. No refunds will be made for unused accommodation, transport, sightseeing, meals or services.
Deposit and programme fees are not transferable to other persons.
Reservations and cancellations
Participants are responsible for finding out about the latest travel restrictions, health requirements, visa procedures, entry conditions and local government containment measures prior to arrival through the appropriate channels such as the official government websites for the travel destination.
We cannot be held responsible for the cancellation of a certain project as a result of containment measures imposed by the local authorities. However, we will always endeavour to provide the participant with a satisfactory alternative programme should such a situation arise.
Where participants have to leave their placement before the end of the programme, the remaining weeks of the booking (full weeks only) may be retained as a programme credit to rejoin the programme at a later date. This credit is not transferable to a third party and can only be claimed by the original booking holder.
Medical documents
Each participant is asked to be honest and truthful in providing the required medical information. We will not be responsible for any medical emergency caused by your failure to provide us with correct and accurate information. We reserve the right to accept or reject your application depending on your state of health.
Risk approval
Once confirmed on the programme, the participant acknowledges and accepts the responsibilities and risks associated with the type of travel chosen and with participation in the programme. The programme may involve a certain degree of risk and be inherently dangerous, both foreseen and unforeseen, all of which are fully accepted and solely assumed by the participant.
The participant agrees that Abroad Escape and its partners, subsidiaries and their respective employees, affiliates, officers, directors, successors, representatives and assigns shall not be liable for:
Any damage to or loss of property or injury or death of persons caused directly or indirectly by any act or omission of any other supplier, including but not limited to any defect in any aircraft, watercraft or vehicle operated or supplied by such other supplier.
Any loss or damage due to delay, cancellation or disruption in any way caused by the laws, regulations, acts or failures to act, demands, orders or interpositions of any government or any subdivision or agent thereof, or by acts of God, strikes, fire, flood, war, rebellion, terrorism, insurrection, disease, quarantine, epidemics, theft or any other cause beyond their control. You waive any claim against the organisation for any loss, damage, injury or death.
The use of illegal drugs is a punishable offence. The illegal use of drugs is strictly forbidden on the programme and you may be excluded from the programme by the local team. The consumption of alcohol must be strictly respected in accordance with the rules and regulations of the local team.
Child protection policy
By agreeing to take part in the programme, you are required to accept and sign the child protection policy. As a participant in our programme, you understand and agree to follow all procedures contained therein. If, at any time, a participant fails to comply with the guidelines established by the local team, the participant will be immediately excluded from the programme without refund and other appropriate action will be taken.
Privacy policy
Once you have received an email confirming your participation in the programme. Abroad Escape and the participant agree to the privacy policy found here.
Other clauses
By agreeing to take part in the programme, the participant will abide by the code of conduct and waiver established by the local team. Abroad Escape reserves the right to withdraw the participant from the programme at any time without refund in the event of the participant’s failure to follow the terms and conditions or Abroad Escape’s code of conduct.
Abroad Escape reserves the right to change these terms and conditions or the services it offers from time to time.
Force Majeure
Abroad Escape shall have no liability for any lack of performance, unavailability or failure of the services or its website, or for any failure by Abroad Escape to comply with these terms and conditions, where this is due to any cause beyond Abroad Escape’s reasonable control.
Complaints Procedure
You must send us an email detailing the precise nature of your complaint(s) within 30 days of the event giving rise to your complaint.
Code of conduct
All participants in our programmes must adhere to good conduct in their projects, good conduct with children and listen to the instructions of their coordinator or partner organisation and the charity’s code of conduct. This covers, but is not limited to, respecting the cultures and beliefs of others, working responsibly on your project, respecting accommodation and preventing drugs and illegal activities. In addition, there may be a curfew from the time you return to the accommodation and alcohol and all drugs are prohibited in the accommodation and projects. You will also be required to sign an agreement including these and other rules of the local project or partner on arrival. Participants will be removed from their programme without refund if they engage in illegal, violent or inappropriate behaviour.
It is understood that all participants in our programme will obey the laws of the host country. This prohibits the consumption of alcohol by minors and the use of illegal drugs. Volunteers must be courteous and respectful at all times and abusive behaviour will not be tolerated. Abroad Escape reserves the right to expel (without refund) any volunteer found to be behaving inappropriately.
