This policy applies to all bookings made July 2, 2024 or after.

We have tried to find a policy that offers travelers flexibility and peace of mind while also being fair to our Local Experts.

Many of the large tour aggregators offer free cancellation even 24 hours before a tour start date. While this policy is great for clients, it is extremely challenging for guides and tour operators. When you book a tour, our experts block off their calendar and turn down requests from other travelers. Last minute cancellations leave them unable to fill that time and therefore without income. This leaves guides in a precarious financial situation.

We believe in sustainable travel and part of that is being fair to the locals who make our trips special. We hope that you find our policy reasonable.

Cancellation policy for guided tours:

Any person who books a guided tour on the Guides of Italia site (“You”) and any Guide who offers tours on the Guides of Italia site (referred to as "Guide" or "Local Expert") can cancel bookings and accept cancellations, refunds and/or reimbursements pursuant to the following terms and conditions.

Guides of Italia Tour prices include a 3% Processing Fee which is always nonrefundable.

For tours where entrance tickets, transportation tickets, or any other pre-purchase tickets are included in your tour package, the cost of those tickets is nonrefundable. In cases where your guide is able to get a refund for them, Guides of Italia will attempt to pass that refund on to you.

Standard Policy

You will receive a 100% refund of the Tour price (minus our 3% Processing Fee) if You cancel at least 15 days before the start date of the Tour. Cancellations made within 14 days of the start date of the Tour are non-refundable. Timing is calculated in accordance with the time zone of the Tour.

Unforeseeable Events

You may receive a 100% refund of the Tour price (minus our 3% Processing Fee) even within 15 days of your Tour date if You are prevented from taking the Tour because of an unforeseeable event that is out of your control and shows up after the booking (“Unforeseeable Events”). The determination of what constitutes Unforeseeable Events is at the discretion of Guides of Italia.

The following is a list of examples of what we consider as Unforeseeable Events: Impersonal events that make it dangerous or impossible to safely undertake a tour, such as: travel bans or lockdowns imposed by the government where the tour takes place that prevent you from being able to enter the country or partake in the tour, epidemic disease unusual to an area (excluding Covid), war, civil insurrection, strike, extreme weather, earthquake and natural disaster;

The following do not constitute Unforeseeable Events:
(a) Illness or injury of a tour participant;
(b) Poor weather;
(c) Change of plans;
(d) Oversleeping

We may require You to provide verification and/or documentation to confirm that You were unable to take your tour if You request a refund under this provision. You may check with Customer Support that the event is an Unforeseeable Event and that You can provide the required documentation before You cancel any booking.

How to Cancel a Tour

All Tour cancellations must be initiated by contacting Guides of Italia support via email at support@guidesofitalia.com

Amendments

Guides of Italia may modify and amend this Cancellation Policy from time to time in its sole discretion. Guides of Italia will provide notice to You by posting such changes on the site.

Please contact us if You have any questions about our Cancellation Policy.