Refund Policy

1. Standard Cancellation and Refund Terms

1.1 Cancellation Timeline and Refund Amounts

The following standard cancellation fees apply to most of our tours and travel packages (unless otherwise specified in your booking confirmation):

• More than 60 days before departure: Loss of deposit only
• 59-30 days before departure: 50% of the total booking cost
• 29-15 days before departure: 75% of the total booking cost
• 14 days or less before departure: 100% of the total booking cost (no refund)

The date of cancellation is determined by the date on which Steady Channel receives written notification of your cancellation.

1.2 Deposits

Deposits are generally non-refundable, as they secure your place on a tour and allow us to make commitments to our suppliers on your behalf. The specific deposit amount is stated at the time of booking and typically ranges from 15% to 30% of the total booking cost, depending on the tour type and destination.

1.3 Tour-Specific Variations

Some tours and special offers may have different cancellation and refund terms due to the unique nature of the experience or stricter supplier policies. These specific terms will be clearly communicated during the booking process and will be documented in your booking confirmation.

2. Circumstances Eligible for Refunds

2.1 Cancellation by Steady Channel

If we need to cancel your tour or travel package for any reason (excluding force majeure circumstances), you will be offered the following options:

• A full refund of all monies paid
• An alternative tour of comparable standard, if available (with price adjustment if necessary)
• A credit voucher for the full amount paid, valid for 24 months for future bookings

2.2 Significant Changes by Steady Channel

If we make a significant change to your itinerary before departure (such as a change of destination or a substantial reduction in the quality of main accommodations), you will be offered the following options:

• Accepting the changes with any applicable price adjustment
• Cancelling your booking and receiving a full refund of all monies paid
• Accepting an alternative tour of comparable standard, if available (with price adjustment if necessary)

Minor changes (such as change in accommodation of the same standard or minor itinerary adjustments) do not qualify for cancellation without standard penalties.

2.3 Force Majeure

In cases of force majeure (including but not limited to war, threat of war, civil unrest, terrorist activity, natural disaster, technical problems with transportation, closure of airports or ports, pandemic or epidemic, industrial disputes, or governmental action), our obligation to provide refunds may be limited or modified. In such circumstances, we will:

• Make every effort to provide suitable alternative arrangements
• Where refunds are available from suppliers, pass these on to you less any reasonable administrative costs
• In some cases, offer credit vouchers in lieu of cash refunds, particularly if suppliers are only offering credits

3. Refund Process and Timeline

3.1 How to Request a Refund

To request a refund for a booking cancellation, you must:

1. Submit your cancellation request in writing via email to [email protected]
2. Include your booking reference number, full name, and the reason for cancellation
3. If claiming for reasons covered by travel insurance, provide relevant documentation

Verbal cancellations cannot be accepted.

3.2 Processing Timeline

We are committed to processing refund requests promptly:

• Acknowledgement of your cancellation request will be sent within 2 business days
• Assessment of the refund amount will be completed within 7 business days
• Approved refunds will be processed within 14 business days after assessment

Please note that while we process refunds within this timeframe, it may take an additional 5-10 business days for the funds to appear in your account, depending on your financial institution.

3.3 Refund Methods

Refunds will be issued using the same method of payment originally used for the booking:

• Credit card payments will be refunded to the same card
• Bank transfer payments will be refunded to the originating bank account
• If the original payment method is no longer available, we will work with you to determine an alternative refund method

4. Special Circumstances

4.1 Medical Emergencies

In cases of serious illness or injury preventing travel, we may consider a more flexible refund approach upon provision of appropriate medical documentation. This is assessed on a case-by-case basis and may include:

• Reduced cancellation penalties
• Option to postpone travel with the existing booking value
• Transferring the booking to another person (subject to supplier terms)

We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance to cover such circumstances.

4.2 Travel Advisories and Government Warnings

If an official government travel advisory warns against travel to your booked destination after your booking is confirmed, but before your departure date, we will work with you to:

• Postpone travel to a later date without additional fees, if possible
• Reroute your itinerary to avoid the affected region, if practical
• Provide a credit voucher valid for 24 months if travel is not possible

Full refunds in these circumstances depend on our suppliers' policies and may not always be possible.

4.3 Partially Used Services

No refunds will be made for unused services once travel has commenced. This includes:

• Missed tours or activities
• Unused hotel nights
• Meals or services not utilized
• Early departure from a tour

5. Non-Refundable Items

The following items are generally non-refundable under any circumstances:

• Travel insurance premiums
• Visa application fees and related costs
• Amendment fees for changes made to bookings
• Service fees and booking fees
• Credit card surcharges or bank transfer fees

6. Travel Insurance Recommendation

Given the substantial financial commitment involved in booking travel and the potential for unexpected circumstances, we strongly recommend that all clients purchase comprehensive travel insurance at the time of booking. A suitable travel insurance policy may cover you for cancellation penalties in the event that you need to cancel your trip due to covered reasons such as:

• Unexpected illness or injury to you or a traveling companion
• Death or serious illness in your immediate family
• Unexpected work commitments
• Home or business emergencies
• Other covered unexpected events

Steady Channel can recommend appropriate travel insurance options at the time of booking, or you can arrange your own coverage. Please carefully review the policy terms to ensure it meets your specific needs.

7. Group Bookings

Group bookings (typically defined as 10 or more travelers) are subject to special terms and conditions, including different cancellation and refund policies. These will be outlined in the group booking contract. Generally, group bookings involve:

• Higher deposit requirements
• Earlier final payment deadlines
• More stringent cancellation penalties
• Name change allowances in place of full cancellation in some cases

8. Amendments to This Policy

Steady Channel reserves the right to modify this refund policy at any time. Any changes will be effective immediately upon posting the revised policy on our website. The policy in effect at the time of your booking will be the one applied to your reservation. We recommend checking the current policy before making a booking.

9. Contact Information for Refund Inquiries

If you have questions about our refund policy or need to discuss a specific refund situation, please contact our customer service team:

Please include your booking reference number in all communications regarding refunds.