TERMS AND CONDITIONS
The following terms and conditions are an agreement between you and Abroad Escape.
All our programs are accepting applications for start dates up to 1 year in the future. Our programs are very popular, especially in summer, so we recommend to start applying for your program as soon as possible!
Our Free Changes Policy, Book Your Volunteer Trip With Confidence
Free changes up to 14 days before your start date!
As long as you reschedule at least 14 days before your start date, you can change your trip for free.
Bookings can be amended and canceled until 14 days before the program start date without any costs if there are restrictions in place at your destination. You can make free changes to your program start date, volunteer project, or destination up to 14 days before your start date. If you cancel your program then any fees you’ve paid can be used as credit towards a future trip.
With Abroad Escape, you can easily and without any extra costs, combine any of our projects in one location, so you can make your own unique tailor-made schedule.
We recommend applying as early as possible, as some programs 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!
So apply today, it’s totally free to apply, only it only takes 2 minutes, also there’s no commitment at this stage at all!
Please read the Terms and Conditions of Service carefully. We request you to read Abroad Escape’s Terms and Conditions of Travel & Service diligently before submitting your online application. Once you have submitted your application online, 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 to its fullest.
The following terms and conditions relate to the programs provided by Abroad Escape. In these terms and conditions, the following words have the following meanings:
“You”, ”Your”, “Individual”, “applicant”, ‘Participant’ refers to the customer of Abroad Escape who has willfully applied to participate in a program.
“Us”, “we”, and “our” refer to Abroad Escape
“Local Partner” refers to the local in-country team that facilitates and executes the program on the ground in the chosen country.
Program Booking Contract
A contract comes into force as soon as Abroad Escape communicates with a written confirmation. As soon as Abroad Escape communicates with a confirmation email of having received the applicable registration amount, we request you kindly review your confirmation email carefully and report any incorrect or incomplete information to us immediately.
Note: Please ensure that your name is spelled exactly as stated in the relevant passport.
Program Fees
Program fees are due 6 weeks prior to the start of your program. Failure to make payment by this time may result in the loss of your placement. Your deposit is non-refundable under any circumstances. Program fees and deposits are not transferable to other persons. Program fees paid with a bank transfer will need to have transaction costs covered by the participant.
Upon receipt of your application form and deposit, we will start to organize your program. However, if you withdraw your application at any stage, as we will have already incurred costs in processing your application, organizing your program, confirming your accommodation, and looking for a placement; we regret that we cannot refund your deposit.
We reserve the right to cancel your program due to unexpected situations, circumstances beyond our control, changes with the program, our partners, or the charities, or any situations that require us to do so. We are not responsible for any costs you have in canceling your flights or any other costs. In this case, your paid fund will be referred to a replacement program for up to 12 months. Any refunds will be made less the costs incurred in processing the refund including a bank, transaction, banking, an admin fee of 45 Euro en a bank fee of 50 Euro.
The project & accommodation details are subject to change according to local circumstances, also the projects are not available on local holidays and you will have time off. Holidays can change on short notice, we are not responsible for this and no refund is available for this. If any extra expenses are needed for the project or internship then then these are not included and need to be paid extra.
We aim to place you in your preferred project but changes can occur with the project you were placed within in which case we might have to place you in another project.
The programs run from Sunday when you arrive until Saturday morning (check out in the morning). A one-week program includes 7 days/6 nights, a two-week program includes 14 days/13 nights, a three-week program includes 21 days/20 nights, a four-week program includes 28 days/27 nights, and so on.
The program requires a criminal background check, the costs for this are at the expense of the participant. Also, other documents such as a negative Covid test, visa, or any other document might be required, this is on a case by case per each country.
Age Requirement
You must have attained 18 years of age to make a booking. You agree to provide full, complete, and accurate information at the time of the booking with Abroad Escape.
If a participant is below the age of 18 on the date of travel you are considered to be a minor. Hence, parental consent is mandatory and a signed consent letter should be submitted and emailed to us in advance before arriving at the destination.
Participants below the age of 16 years should and must be accompanied by an adult.
Abroad Escape will not be responsible for any fees, damages, or losses incurred as a result of any failure to secure necessary consents, permits, and approvals.
Each adult accompanying a minor or minor(s) is completely responsible for the behavior, well-being, supervision, and monitoring of such minor or minor(s), and accepts these Terms for and on behalf of minor or minor(s), including all assumptions of risk and limitations of liability.
International Travel and Documentation
Air Tickets: We do not arrange or pay for any type of travel to and from the destination/s. Thus it is your responsibility to arrange your travel to and from the destination/s. Abroad Escape cannot be held liable for flight cancellations, missed flights, changes of flights, and/or delays.
Documentation: It will be the sole responsibility of the participant to obtain and carry along with them all the necessary travel documentation which includes visa, passport, insurance, vaccinations, and any other documents required whilst traveling abroad. We may provide advice and guidance in regard to necessary travel documents, but we are not responsible or liable for their accuracy and will not support obtaining the travel document such as visas, passports, insurance, vaccinations, and/or any other travel permits. Thus, it is the participant’s full responsibility to ensure and obtain the necessary travel documents well in advance before the travel date.
Insurance and travel
You are required to have travel insurance during your program. You have to obtain your own travel insurance before you leave for your program. Abroad Escape does not provide the participant with insurance of any kind. The participant is solely responsible for evaluating and determining the type, extent, and levels of any insurance coverage they need or desire for their planned travel period.
All participants in all countries have to have travel insurance, including health and 3rd party liability coverage. We and our partners are not liable for any expenses or damages claimed by participants.
The participant is solely responsible for arranging and paying for their own travel, specifically including all airfares or other transport costs to and from the host country as well as any local transport costs. It is the responsibility of the volunteer to carry all necessary documents when traveling abroad. While we may advise the participant on required travel documentation, we are not responsible for any supporting documents necessary for the participant’s travel needs or other purposes.
You are responsible for arranging and paying for flights to and within your chosen country. Apart from the meet and greet service when you first arrive you are responsible for internal travel costs during your program. In all cases, this includes daily transport to and from your placement. We cannot meet, reimburse or otherwise be responsible for any flight, travel or other costs or expenses of any nature (including, for example, any changes made by airlines etc for canceling, changing or transferring flights or other arrangements) which are incurred or arise as a result of your placement not proceeding or being canceled, curtailed, withdrawn or changed.
By becoming a participant in one of our programs abroad, you acknowledge and accept the risks associated with living and working in developing countries.
We are not liable for any loss or harm you may suffer, including but not limited to loss caused by delays, bodily injury or death, emotional upset, damage to or loss of property, war, or terrorism. We are not liable for any errors or mistakes made by partner organizations, charities, and projects.
Passport & Visas
You must ensure that you have a full passport, valid until at least 6 months after your planned return date. You are responsible for organizing your own visa. Many countries do not issue visas specifically for volunteers. Work permits are often difficult to obtain. In most countries therefore Abroad Escape advises participants to enter on tourist visas. Technically, you are not permitted to work on tourist visas, but because you are not undertaking paid work, it is tolerated. At the time of writing none of our participants, to our knowledge, had encountered any problems with immigration authorities at port of entry on this point. Abroad Escape only gives advice on visas but we are not responsible if the visa requirements change or if visas are not granted.
Use of photos and comments
By agreeing to these terms and conditions you agree that we may use any photo(s)/image(s) we or someone on our behalf take 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 feedback and images provided by volunteers for website materials such as testimonials.
Unusual Circumstances
Your program may be disrupted by an unusual event or circumstances that we could not reasonably have foreseen. We do not make any refunds in these situations and you will be responsible for any travel costs involved. We cannot accept liability for the effect of any unusual event or for any loss, damage, expense, or claim of any description you suffer as a result.
The participant acknowledges and accepts the responsibilities and risks associated with their agreement to travel to, temporarily live in and provide volunteer services in a developing country. Such travel and volunteer work can be often hazardous and involves a certain degree of risk, inherently dangerous activities, and personal perils to the volunteer, both foreseen and unforeseen, all of which are fully accepted by and solely assumed by the volunteer. Therefore, Abroad Escape including any and all of its employees, managers, directors, shareholders, host families, and host partner organizations are not liable, to the maximum extent of the law, for any loss or harm the volunteer or associates may suffer, including but not limited to loss caused by: personal injury, emotional injury, death, illness or disease, damage to or loss of property.
Abroad Escape provides a service connecting participants to partner organizations and local charities/projects. You agree that Abroad Escape is not liable for any actions or omissions of any partner organization and local charities and projects. Abroad Escape has no liability for any lack of performance, unavailability, or failure of the services or its website, or for any failure of Abroad Escape to comply with these terms and conditions, where the same arises from any cause reasonably beyond the control of Abroad Escape.
Abroad Escape supports projects and partners in partnership with local NGOs, small community-based organizations, and conservation agencies. 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, schedules, tour itineraries, and daily timetables can change overnight and without notice.
Program Deposit
When you visit our website and are interested to sign up for one of our travel products; you can sign up through the application form. After the application is accepted; you will receive an acceptance email along with a link to pay the 200 Euro deposit (non-refundable) to confirm your booking/placement.
After the registration payment has been made all the required information will be sent to you as well as all the documentation and details will be collected by us.
The remainder of the fee for the booked travel program needs to be made at the latest 6 weeks before the program start date.
Price Fluctuations
We reserve the right to change the prices of the programs at any given time. Kindly check our website from time to time. Once the payment of the program fee is received, the rise in price will not affect.
Cancellations
In the event you wish to cancel a booking, our cancellation policy for Abroad Escape programs 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. In the event of your cancellation, refunds are not available when canceled less than 6 weeks before your start date. All refunds will be made less a cost an admin fee of 45 Euro and a bank cost of 50 Euro (or equivalent in another currency). Deposits are not refundable under any circumstances.
Refund Policy
12 weeks or more prior to the start of your program: Loss of deposit
6 weeks or less prior to the start of your program: 100% of the total program cost (including your deposit)
No refunds will be made if you voluntarily leave your program or volunteer placement or program for any reason after the trip has begun. No refunds will be made for any accommodation, transport, sightseeing, meals, or services not utilized.
Deposit and program fees are not transferrable to other persons.
Bookings and Cancellations
The participants are responsible to make themselves aware of the latest travel restrictions, health requirements, visa procedures, entry requirements, and local government containment measures before arrival through the proper channels such as official governmental websites for the travel destination.
Bookings can be amended and canceled until 14 days before the program start date without any costs if there are restrictions in place at your destination.
We can not be held accountable for the cancellation of a certain project as the result of containment measures imposed by the local authorities. However, we will always aim to provide the participant with a satisfying alternative program should such a situation occur.
When participants need to depart from their placement before the end of the program, the remaining weeks of the booking (only remaining full weeks) can be kept as program credit to join the program at a later time. This credit is not transferable to a third person and can only be claimed by the original booking holder.
Medical Documentation
Every participant is requested to be honest and truthful in providing the required medical information. We will not be responsible for any medical emergency due to your negligence in providing us with the correct and accurate information. We reserve the right to accept or reject your application based on your medical condition.
Endorsement of Risks
Upon being confirmed on the program, the participant acknowledges and accepts the responsibilities and risks involved in the chosen type of travel and involvement in the program. The program might involve a certain degree of risks and inherently dangerous both foreseen and unforeseen, all of which are totally accepted by and solely assumed by the participant.
The participant endorses that Abroad Escape and its partners, subsidiaries, and their respective employees, affiliates, officers, directors, successors, representatives, and assigns shall not be held liable for:
Any damage to, or loss of, property or injury to, or death of, persons occasioned directly or indirectly by an act or omission of any other provider, including but not limited to any defect in any aircraft, watercraft, or vehicle operated or provided by such other provider.
Any loss or damage due to delay, cancellation, or disruption in any manner 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, sickness, quarantine, epidemics, theft, or any other cause(s) beyond their control. You waive any claim against the organization for any such loss, damage, injury, or death.
The use of illegal drugs is a punishable offense., Illegal use of drugs is strictly prohibited on the program and you will be liable to be terminated from the program by the local team. Alcohol usage has to be strictly adhered to as per the local team’s rules and regulations.
Child Protection Policy
By accepting to be a part of the program you are bound to accept and sign the Child Protection Policy. As a participant in our program, you understand and agree to follow all procedures contained within it. If at any given time a participant fails to follow the guidelines set forth by the local team, the participant will be terminated from the program immediately without any refunds and further appropriate action will be taken.
Privacy Policy
Once you have received an email confirmation about your participation in the program. Abroad Escape and the participant agrees to the Privacy Policy found here.
Other Clauses
By accepting to be part of the program the participant will abide by the code of conduct and waiver set by the local team. The local team reserves the right to terminate the participant from the program at any point in time without refund, in the event of the participant’s negligence in following the Terms and Conditions, or the local team’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 has no liability for any lack of performance, unavailability, or failure of the services or its website, or for any failure of Abroad Escape to comply with these Terms and Conditions, where the same arises from any cause reasonably beyond the control of Abroad Escape.
Complaint Procedure
You should email us detailing the precise nature of your complaint(s) within 30 days of the event that gave rise to your complaint.
Code of conduct
All participants in our programs are expected to adhere to proper conduct at their projects, proper conduct with children and listen to the instructions of their coordinator or partner organization and the charity’s code of conduct. This covers but is not limited to, respecting others’ cultures and beliefs, working responsibly on your project, respecting the accommodation, and avoiding drugs and illegal activities. Also, there might be a curfew from when you need to be back to the accommodation and alcohol and any drugs are prohibited at the accommodation and projects. You will also need to sign an agreement that included these and other rules of the local project or partner on arrival. Participants will be removed from their program without a refund if they engage in illegal, violent or improper behavior.
It is understood that any participant in a our program will obey the laws of the host country. This forbids alcohol consumption by minors and the use of illegal drugs. Volunteers are expected to be courteous and respectful at all times, and abusive behavior will not be tolerated. Abroad Escape reserves the right to expel (without refund) any volunteer with improper behavior.