COVID-19 UPDATE
As a small, family-run company we have faced countless challenges since the COVID-19 pandemic began back in March 2020. Our absolute priority throughout has been to ensure the safety of our customers and to act as quickly as possible to make new arrangements for those affected or provide refunds where necessary.
Behind the scenes, our team continues to monitor the situation closely and are optimistic about travel in 2022. The desire for overseas adventure continues to be strong with many families longing for a change of scenery, a new horizon out of the window.
As a travel company we remain in a financially strong position, and are grateful to all of our customers who have decided to postpone their trips during this period. For families looking to book in the near future we understand that there are lots of questions so we have detailed some answers below. We hope you find this useful however if you have any other concerns please do not hesitate to contact us.
Thank you for your continued understanding and support during this time.
Sally Dodd, Director
✔ GUARANTEED REFUND OPTION
We'll offer you a refund if your trip is cancelled.
✔ COMPLETE FINANCIAL PROTECTION
Your trip is protected though our TTA & ATOL membership
Frequently asked questions
Why book now, isn’t it better to wait?
The advantage of booking now is that you can secure the best available accommodation and services and have a fabulous holiday to look forward to. You can also book safe in the knowledge that you could reschedule your holiday or get a full refund if your trip ends up being cancelled at a later date.
How will I know if my holiday is affected?
We continue to monitor local conditions, the FCDO and all relevant governmental advice and will review all trips as required. We will contact customers a minimum of 45 days prior to departure to discuss any likely disruptions to their trip.
Can I delay payment for my holiday?
Normally we require final payment 8 weeks before departure but we have introduced greater flexibility for 2022. Final balance payments will now be due 4 weeks before departure, by which time we should be confident of the likelihood of your trip going ahead.
Have you changed how you operate due to COVID-19?
Wandering Tribe has always offered private family tours, exclusive to your family, but we have now sourced new suppliers offering individual holiday homes and smaller properties. We have also renegotiated accommodation and car hire booking terms to be free cancellation until 31 days before departure. For the time being, we have taken the decision not to work with suppliers that we cannot book without a non-refundable deposit.
With regards to flights, a number of airlines (but not all) are now offering flexible booking terms for tour operators. This means that we may be able to book fully-refundable flights on your behalf. Terms and conditions will vary according to the airline but these flights are usually refundable until 8 weeks before departure. We will discuss your flight options with you when we provide your quotation.
Does any of this affect my financial protection?
Not at all. Any payments you make to Wandering Tribe are held in a trust account that is independently managed by the Travel Trust Association (TTA). This provides our customers with 100% financial protection.
I made a booking with you, but I no longer wish to travel. What are my options?
This will depend on when your booking was made, the specific terms relating to your holiday and flight booking and the period of time before you are due to depart.
Please be rest assured, we will do our very best to cancel or reschedule all elements of your trip where possible. If you don’t feel comfortable travelling, we don’t feel comfortable sending you. It’s as simple as that.
Depending on the reason you no longer wish to travel, you may also be able to claim on your travel insurance.
What happens if my trip is cancelled?
If we are forced to cancel your holiday, there will be several options available to you:
1 – Consider an alternative destination
As Wandering Tribe cover such a wide array of destinations, we will do everything we can to propose alternative holiday options for you to consider. We will transfer any money you have paid to a new booking and, will refund you the difference, if the new booking is cheaper. If it is more expensive you will be required to pay the difference.
2 – Postpone your trip to a later date
If you have your heart set on a particular destination, we don’t see why you should have to change. We will contact you to discuss possible new dates for your trip and provide an updated itinerary and quotation for you to consider. We will try and keep costs as close as possible to your original booking.
3 – A full refund
If you do not wish to consider an alternative destination or postpone your trip, we can submit refund requests on your behalf to our suppliers. These can take a few weeks to process but we are more than happy to refund in stages until we have recovered all of your funds.
Will I be covered by my travel insurance if I decide to cancel?
We strongly recommend that you take out travel insurance which includes COVID-19 cover at the time of booking your holiday. This policy should include cancellation and curtailment cover, which means that if you or any travelling family members are diagnosed with COVID-19 and are forced to self-isolate, you will be covered if you are unable to travel or have to cut your trip short. We cannot emphasize enough the importance of having insurance with this kind of cover at this time.
Where can I check for up-to-date travel & health information for my destination?
To find out further information here are some useful links:
FCO travel advice – https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice
Government guidance – https://www.gov.uk/coronavirus
National Health Service: NHS - https://www.nhs.uk/
