SHOULD YOU CHANGE YOUR MIND, WE WILL SAFEGUARD YOUR RETREAT. THIS IS BOOKING WITH CONFIDENCE DURING UNCERTAIN TIMES.
Welcome to our Book with Confidence portal, where you can find a range of information on travelling with Helios Retreats in these uncertain times.
We know that — now more than ever — you need to feel confident when deciding whether to book a holiday with us. You want guarantees that any travel plans you make will be flexible, secure and fully supported. That’s why we’ve introduced our ‘Book with Confidence’ policy, designed to give you total peace of mind.
For all new bookings and bookings for any of the 2022 retreats until further notice, we are offering our guests the flexibility to change or postpone up to 15 days before your travel date. Helios Retreats will not charge you should you choose to change to a new destination or move your travel dates and you can rebook to travel any time before 30 December 2022.
If you are unsure of your future travel plans when you wish to make your change, we can provide you with a travel credit to 100% of the value of your holiday, valid for travel through to 31 December 2022.
We’ve updated the entirety of our retreat T&Cs during this COVID era to make sure that it offers you real, meaningful protection, and that you can finally get that much-delayed suntan along your burpees by the pool and the unique vibes from the Helios Retreats escapes.
We’ve thought long and hard about how we can provide you, our Helios Family, with the reassurance to book your much-deserved retreat experience – replacing angst with excitement, and ensuring that you won’t miss out on those trips that are already being booked up during these times of uncertainty.
Our Booking with Confidence terms are designed to help you if you can’t travel, so you can postpone your trip without worrying about losing your money. Our terms provide a 100% transfer up to 15 days before departure on new bookings.
Ultimately, this is about giving you total peace of mind and absolute flexibility when you come with us. No catches, no complexity, no stress.
Terms and Conditions: For new bookings made up for travel until 30 December 2022, guests may change the booking up to 15 days prior to departure. We may need to adjust the cost of your trip to reflect the new dates, particularly if those you choose a different retreat in a different location or a higher season of travel.
All monies applied to a new booking are non-transferable. All other standard terms and conditions apply to the booking. Guest is responsible for all other related fees not booked through Helios Retreats, such as but not limited to, flights, insurance and visas. Special terms are subject to change and can be withdrawn at any time.
SO, HOW DOES IT WORK? EASY.
You pay a £500 deposit to secure your trip
You only have to pay the balance up to 45 days before travel
Should you cancel, for whatever reason, you can move your dates without incurring additional fees, just let us know up to 15 days before the retreat starts.
These options will change based on the specifics of your retreat, but we’ll always give you transparency around the terms of your retreat. What’s more, before you book, you’ll be clearly presented with terms and conditions to help design an inspiring retreat that you’re comfortable and secure with. We’ll be up-front with you throughout.
OUR ASSURANCES FOR ALL NEW AND EXISTING BOOKINGS.
Flexible changes
For all bookings, we’re dropping our trip transfer fee and reducing the number of days’ notice we ask for before your departure for you to make changes, down to 15 days. This means you can change your trip, for any reason, up to 15 days before your scheduled departure date. No hassle, no questions asked and no charge. If you choose to amend your booking, you can select any new destination or departure date.
Take a refund credit note
If you aren't sure what to do yet you can exchange your trip for a refund credit note which can be used on any Helios Retreats trip in the future. We have some incredible 2022 dates ready to be booked.
Trip postponement
As a travel company based in the UK, we follow The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO). If they advise against ‘all but essential travel’ or ‘all travel’ to a destination, we’ll postpone or amend itineraries in accordance with this advice. If your adventure is affected as a result of these changes, we will contact you directly. If we need to postpone your trip for any other reason, we’ll be in touch no less than 15 days before your departure date, although we’ll always endeavour to give as much notice as possible.
Please, rest assured, though – if your trip is postponed, for any reason, you will still get the adventure you paid for, on a date that suits you and this will remain 100% financially protected. Our team will allocate you a holding spot to another retreat of your choice. Once you’re ready and/or the COVID-19 pandemic allows for more clarity, you’ll have complete flexibility over how you transfer your booking – the freedom to move your balance to any Helios Retreats adventure on any future travel date.
COVID-19 FAQS
Everything you need to know about post-lockdown retreat with Helios Retreats
UPDATED 10/07/2022
Things are changing – fast. And while there’s still much uncertainty, we’re here to guide you through it. And there’s a lot of good reason for hope. Many of us have already begun to make plans.
Right now, we’re doing everything we can to ensure you can retreat with confidence. We’re keeping ahead of the changing situation. And we’re continually working closely with our local partners to ensure that they meet safety requirements that we’re happy with.
Ultimately, we want you to have peace of mind when you retreat with Helios Retreats.
If we haven’t answered your questions below, then please drop us a line at hello@helios-retreats.com which we are constantly monitoring and will be quick to respond.
FAQS
+ HOW DO I KNOW WHERE I CAN GO?
We’re here to advise on the particular destinations open to you based on your residency and passport; there are a variety of considerations to take into account, including the official advice of your home country (e.g., US State Department, UK Foreign Office), insurance considerations, flight availability, entry restrictions to your destination country. Beyond this, we can also advise on what the actual experience will be like when you get there – open status of restaurants, attractions, any restrictions in terms of curfews, crowds etc.
+ I’M KEEN TO BOOK A TRIP, WHAT IF THE FCO OR STATE DEPARTMENT TRAVEL ADVISORY ADVICE CHANGES?
We constantly monitor changes in travel advice to the destinations in which we operate – should this advice change in the lead-up to your trip we will communicate this to you immediately and at that time can discuss the right course of action, as detailed above.
+ I REALLY WANT TO PLAN A FUTURE RETREAT, BUT I’M WORRIED ABOUT THE UNCERTAINTY AROUND FOREIGN TRAVEL WHILE COVID-19 IS STILL AROUND. WHAT FLEXIBILITY CAN YOU OFFER ME IN CASE I WANT OR NEED TO CHANGE PLANS?
Feel free to read our full details on flexibility and Booking with Confidence [here][0].
+ HOW DO YOU GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT I’M LOOKING FOR?
We’re fully bespoke, so when you call or email us we’ll have a chat about what you’re comfortable with and how you want to travel.
We also understand everyone’s needs for flexibility are different – postponements are generally easy to arrange, but if you need to have your arrangements be fully cancellable that might limit your options. Our team of experts can work with you to find the right solution for your needs.
+ IF I DO CHOOSE TO TRAVEL, WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF GOING NOW?
Our clients and staff who are travelling at the moment all come back saying the same thing: ‘I felt incredibly safe’. ‘It was wonderful to experience the destination without the crowds’. ‘The COVID protocols and crowd restrictions actually improved my experience’. ‘Hospitality staff were so warm and welcoming.’
With the possibilities of second waves and further shut downs, many of our clients are also eager to seize the opportunity to travel now. Finally, with many of us currently working from home, travel can be an opportunity to continue working full time while enjoying a new place – we have clients taking two b2b retreats, working during their breaks and enjoying the evenings with the group.
+ I’M DUE TO TRAVEL WITH YOU, HOW CAN I UNDERSTAND BORDER RESTRICTIONS AND TRAVEL ADVICE?
The circumstances around Covid-19 are evolving on an daily basis; at this point, our recommendation would be to continue to monitor the situation in the hopeful expectation that your chosen destination will be safe for travel at that stage. Our retreat advisors are constantly reviewing official guidance and are on hand to advise you on everything from entry restrictions to testing protocols.
Given the current trends of the world reopening, we will usually aim to make a decision on whether or not your trip can go ahead 6-8 weeks prior to departure. During this time, we simply ask that you please review your travel insurance and ensure it remains valid for your intended trip. If however you would like to consider pre-emptively postponing your trip, we would be happy to review the possibilities with you.
+ WHAT HAPPENS IF I CHOOSE TO POSTPONE MY DATES TO A SEASON WHEN RATES ARE HIGHER OR LOWER?
If you wish to consider travelling in a season when rates are higher than you originally booked, we will calculate & communicate to you the increase in the price of the trip, which you would then need to pay as a supplement according to our normal payment terms. If you choose to travel in a season when rates are lower, we would be able to offer you a refund of the difference between your original booking and your new booking.
+ I NEED A NEGATIVE PCR TEST TO RETURN HOME – CAN YOU HELP WITH THAT WHILE I’M TRAVELLING?
Absolutely. We recognise that requirements are forever changing, both to travel away from home and to come back again, and are committed to helping you stay on top of any testing requirements. Across the world, we work with trusted partners and hotels who can help facilitate pre-departure testing in your destination. Some of our favourite properties are now offering on-property testing whilst elsewhere, we can arrange for healthcare professionals to come to you, ensuring you a safe and efficient journey home.
Useful links
Based in the UK? We strongly recommend that all clients monitor the FCO travel advice page. Sign up to receive email alerts for the country you’re visiting: GOV.UK Foreign Travel Advice..
Based in the US? Please check the latest Government travel advice: US State Dept travel advice.
Based elsewhere and have a question? See below or read more about Coronavirus: World Health Organisation (WHO).
How to contact us
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your travel arrangements, please contact us or send any question to hello@helios-retreats.com an inbox we are constantly monitoring.
Stay safe,
Hugo M Mensch
