Before reserving your Backroads trip, please review these important answers to frequently asked questions about deposits and payments, our cancellation/transfer policy, travel insurance, passports and guest responsibilities.
How do I sign up for my Backroads trip? How much of a deposit is required?
How do I reserve my trip online?
When will I receive more detailed information about my trip so I can start planning?
What is Backroads' guarantee policy?
What if I need to cancel my trip?
What is Backroads' cancellation/transfer policy?
Does Backroads offer travel protection insurance?
Can I change my mind and transfer to another trip even after I've already made a reservation?
Will I need a passport or a visa if I'm traveling internationally?
How do I get to the start of the trip?
How will I get to the airport at the trip's end?
How can I arrange my travel before and after my Backroads trip?
What are standard accommodations on Backroads trips?
If I'm traveling alone, can I have a private room?
If I'm traveling alone, will you match me with a roommate?
Can children have their own room?
Does Backroads offer special youth rates?
What else do I need to know about traveling with children on a Backroads trip?
Do you have special rates for groups?
What responsibilities do I assume as a guest?
What are Backroads' limitations of liability?
Q. How do I sign up for my Backroads trip? How much of a deposit is required?
A. To sign up for a Backroads trip, call 800-GO-ACTIVE (462-2848) or 510-527-1555. You can also reserve your trip with our secure online reservation form, as explained below. The deposit for every trip is $600 per person. Deposits may be made by check or credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express). For most trips the balance of the trip cost is due 95 days prior to departure and may be paid by check or money order in U.S. dollars or by credit card. For special departures the balance of the trip cost is due 126 days prior to departure.
With your authorization, we can automatically bill your credit card when the balance is due. If final payment is not received when due, Backroads reserves the right to cancel the reservation.
Q. How do I reserve my trip online?
A. You can get to our secure online reservation form by clicking on the "Reserve This Trip!" button available on every trip page.
Q. When will I receive more detailed information about my trip so I can start planning?
A. After you make a reservation, you will receive a Travel Planner which includes a descriptive itinerary and detailed information about arrival and departure, pre- and post-trip hotels, public transportation, clothing and gear, passports and visa requirements and the travel protection plan.
Q. What is Backroads' guarantee policy?
A. Backroads guarantees the departure of every trip with confirmed guests, excepting only in case of force majeure, and special departures as indicated on our Web site, in which case all payments received to date will be refunded, which constitutes full settlement. Backroads is not responsible for expenses incurred in preparation for any cancelled trip, such as airline tickets, or for costs incurred due to travel days, flight cancellations or illness. Backroads cannot guarantee the size or make-up of your group. Once your trip is guaranteed, the cancellation policy applies.
Q. What if I need to cancel my trip? What is Backroads' cancellation/transfer/refund policy?
A. Cancellations
If you must cancel your reservation, your cancellation fee will be determined according to the policy outlined below:
|
Days before Departure: |
96+
|
61-95 |
31-60 |
0-30 |
|
|
Regular Inn |
$200 |
30% |
60% |
100% |
|
|
Days before Departure: |
126+ |
96+ |
61-95 |
31-60 |
0-30 |
|
Special departures* |
$600 |
30% |
50% |
75% |
100% |
*Special departures such as Holidays, Private, Boat-based (Croatia, Galapagos, Turkey), South Africa, Patagonia Walking, Vietnam Walking and others as noted on our trip pages.
Exceptions to our cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including weather, terrorism, civil unrest or personal, family or medical emergencies. There is no refund for arriving late or leaving a trip early. Single occupancy and internal air charges are considered part of the trip price and are subject to cancellation fees. Percentage charges are calculated on total trip cost.
Transfers: In most cases you may transfer from one trip to another up to 95 days before trip departure without penalty, after which time our cancellation policy applies. For special departures you may transfer up to 125 days before trip departure without penalty, after which time our cancellation policy applies. When transferring to a different date or trip, if the trip costs more than your original trip, you must pay the difference.
Q. Does Backroads offer travel protection insurance?
A. Backroads offers a guest protection plan that covers trip cancellation for medical reasons, trip delay, medical expenses, accidental death, lost baggage, medical evacuation and airline cancellation charges. Please call and speak with one of our Trip Consultants if you have specific coverage questions. Because so many guests purchase this plan, we have made it convenient for you to obtain by automatically adding the cost to your invoice. It's effective on the day your designated travel protection plan payment or final trip payment is received by our office. Please note that deposits may not be applied toward your travel protection plan premium. Should you not be interested in our travel protection plan, simply deduct its cost from the invoice total at time of final payment. You must be a citizen or resident of the United States or Canada to be eligible.
Q. Can I change my mind and transfer to another trip even after I've already made a reservation?
A. In most cases you may transfer from one trip to another up to 95 days before trip departure without penalty, after which time our cancellation policy applies. For special departures you may transfer up to 125 days before trip departure without penalty, after which time our cancellation policy applies. When transferring to a different date or trip, if the trip costs more than your original trip, you must pay the difference.
Q. Will I need a passport or a visa if I'm traveling internationally?
A. International travel requires a passport. This includes travel to Canada and Mexico. Visas are required for travel to Australia, Bali, Cambodia, China, Tibet and Vietnam and must be arranged far in advance of departure. Visas for Turkey may be purchased upon arrival in the country. Backroads will arrange group visas for Bhutan guests. Your Travel Planner contains details about required documents, and the consulate number, if applicable, for your particular trip. Guests from countries other than the United States should contact the closest consulate for the country to which they're planning to travel to determine if a visa is required for citizens of their country.
Q. How do I get to the start of the trip? How will I get to the airport at the trip's end?
A. Detailed information about starting and ending times and locations, airport and hotel van transfer locations and transportation options are included in the Travel Planner. If you wish to make airline reservations before receiving your Travel Planner, please contact your Trip Consultant for times and locations of your trip start and end.
Each trip begins and ends in or near a town accessible by plane, train, bus or Backroads shuttle as noted in individual trip descriptions. If you wish to drive to the trip start, please see the Travel Planner or ask a Trip Consultant about parking options.
Q. How can I arrange travel before and after my Backroads trip?
A. For help arranging air transportation, pre- and post-trip hotels, rental cars or rail tickets in conjunction with your Backroads trip, contact your travel agent. f you need an agency referral please visit our Travel Agent Referral page. Backroads does not recommend the purchase of nonrefundable advance-purchase airline tickets. If you wish to make airline reservations before receiving your Travel Planner, please contact your Trip Consultant for times and locations of your trip start and end.
Q. What are standard accommodations on Backroads trips?
A. On all Premiere Inn trips and Casual Inn trips, our typical accommodations are double occupancy with a private bath. (Rare exceptions are indicated in individual trip descriptions.)
Q. If I'm traveling alone, can I have a private room?
A. A limited number of single rooms are available on most trips for a supplemental fee. For many trips, requests for single rooms are confirmed at the time of reservation. However, your single room request may not be confirmed until 30 days before trip departure. Single supplement prices can be found in individual trip descriptions. Please note that in Europe, single rooms are often smaller than double rooms.
Q. If I'm traveling alone, will you match me with a roommate?
A.If you request a roommate, we can usually pair you with one (same gender) provided there is twin room availability on your trip. If no roommate is available, there is no additional charge if you sign up more than 30 days in advance of trip departure. If you sign up within 30 days and Backroads cannot pair you with a roommate, a single-occupency supplement will apply. On some occasions, twin rooms consist of one bed and one roll-away or fold-out sleeper. In the event there is no twin room availability on your chosen departure, the single supplement applies, regardless of how far in advance you make your reservation.
Q. Can children have their own room?
A. Children under 16 must share a room with an adult family member or adult family friend. When such a roommate is not available, children 15 and 16 years may have a single room and the single supplement will apply.
Q. Does Backroads offer special youth rates?
A. All minors (under 18 years) must be accompanied by at least one adult. Designated Family Trips: On Camping trips designated for families, youths receive the following tiered discounts:
- 75% off for children 2 and under (Note: Camping trips are restricted to children ages 2 and older, and Inn trips are restrcited to ages 1 and older)
- 40% off for ages 3-6
- 20% off for ages 7-10
- 10% off for ages 11-16
On Inn trips for families, if there are two people in a room, then either of them aged 16 or younger receives a 10% discount. The third and fourth youths in a room will receive the tiered discounts described above. When one youth is in a separate room, a 10% discount is applied to the trip price, but the full single supplement applies. Non-Family Trips: 10% off for children 16 and younger on Camping trips and on Inn trips. Up to two children between the ages of 12 and 16 are permitted on the Classic trips in most destinations. No children under the age of 18 are permitted on Singles and Solos trips. Please contact a Trip Consultant for exceptions and details.
Q. What else do I need to know about traveling with children on a Backroads trip?
A. Our Family Trips are packed with child- and adult-friendly features.
- On some trips, hotel age limitations and level of physical activity on the trip require children to be a minimum age to participate. Please call for details.
- Children under 8 must be accompanied by a parent in the van. Children under 4 years or 40 pounds are required to be in a child's car seat in the van. Backroads provides car/booster seats for children 3-8 years of age or 40-80 lbs. Parents with children below this age or weight are responsible for bringing their own.
- We strongly encourage families to join trips designed exclusively for families. Up to two children under 16 are permitted on non-Family Trips in most destinations. Please contact a Trip Consultant for exceptions and details.
- For more details, see Just for Families or Family FAQs.
Q. Do you have special rates for groups?
A. Please contact our Private Trips Coordinator to find out about price savings for groups who reserve a Private Trip.
Q. What responsibilities do I assume as a guest?
A. Guests are responsible for: choosing a trip that suits their abilities, fitness level and state of health (for assistance, refer to Activity Level Options); providing the Backroads office with a signed "Release of Liability, Assumption of All Risks and Arbitration Agreement" and Personal Information form prior to trip departure (guests will not be permitted to join a trip without this information on file); arriving at the trip start with the clothing and gear recommended in the Travel Planner; respecting the laws and customs of countries visited; following environmental guidelines and regulations while on the trip in accordance with leader direction; and respecting the rights and privacy of other trip members. An individual may be asked to leave a trip if the leader feels that the person's continuing participation may prove detrimental to the individual or to the well-being and enjoyment of other guests.
Q. What are Backroads' limitations of liability?
A.Backroads is not liable for bodily injury or property damage as a result of (but not limited to): physical exertion for which a guest is not prepared; forces of nature; travel by plane, train, auto, boat or other conveyance, or by bicycle, ski, horseback, foot or other form of active or adventure travel; consumption of alcoholic beverages; civil unrest; terrorism; breakdown of equipment; high altitude; lack of or limited access to medical attention in remote locations; and the adequacy of medical attention once provided. Backroads is also not liable for: expenses (e.g., meals, transportation or hotel costs) not specified as included in the trip cost but which may be required to get to or from a trip start or end. Backroads reserves the right to make route and hotel modifications as necessary to improve the trip's quality or to accommodate the comfort and well-being of guests. Guests grant Backroads express permission to take photographs or make film records of its trips for promotional and commercial use, as well as approving such use by third parties with whom Backroads may engage in joint marketing, without financial remuneration.
Q. How can I get more answers?
A. You can send us an e-mail using Backtalk, or please call 800-GO-ACTIVE (462-2848) daily between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m., Pacific time, and ask to speak to one of our expert Trip Consultants. Or you may want to review Frequently Asked Questions about Backroads.
THE PERFECT MATCH
Getting you on the perfect trip means everything to us. Give us a call at 800-462-2848 so that we can match you with the vacation that best meets your interests, expectations and ability.
