Answer Brief
The Answer, Briefly
Pay only when you can see three things in writing: a complete itinerary, a contract that names the licensed company, and a payment and cancellation schedule. Make sure the account you are paying belongs to that company. If an operator cannot give you these before asking for money, that is your answer.
Before You Pay: Five Checks
- Who is the company? Get the registered legal name and confirm it matches the contract and payment details. Our guide to checking guides and operators explains how.
- What exactly is included? The proposal should list hotels, transport, tickets, meals and exclusions. See our proposal checklist.
- When is each payment due? Ask for the deposit, balance date and amounts.
- How can I pay? Ask which methods are accepted, which fees apply and how currency is handled.
- What happens if I cancel? The schedule should be explicit and in writing.
What A Clear Cancellation Schedule Looks Like
Cancellation terms vary a great deal between operators. As a reference, here is our standard schedule for private journeys; your proposal states any stricter supplier conditions before you pay, and the full terms are on our booking terms page.
| When you cancel | Charge |
|---|---|
| More than 60 days before departure | 10% |
| 46–60 days before departure | 30% |
| 31–45 days before departure | 50% |
| 15–30 days before departure | 75% |
| 14 days or fewer, or no-show | 100% |
Under our terms, undisputed refunds are paid to the original payment method within 14 calendar days. Whatever operator you choose, look for a stated refund method and timeline, not a promise to be flexible.
How Your Booking Becomes Binding
Your booking becomes binding only after the written travel contract and booking terms are accepted, the required initial payment is received in cleared funds, and we confirm the booking and relevant supplier arrangements in writing. A trustworthy operator explains its own sequence this clearly.
Red Flags
- Pressure to pay today to hold a price, before you have a written itinerary.
- A request to pay into a personal account rather than the company's.
- A discount only if you pay by a method with no dispute options.
- No registered company name or address.
- Terms that say a refund will be "considered" without a schedule.
Pair Payment With Insurance
A refund schedule limits what you can recover if you cancel for personal reasons, which is where insurance helps. Read our China travel insurance guide for what to cover.
