PAYMENTS & CANCELLATIONS
1. Terms of service
BALWYN RETREAT SANCTUARY lists what is included on the retreat page. Be sure to carefully look through what is listed as well as which items you need to take care of and purchase on your own.
2. Reservation
To reserve your place on one our trips please complete the booking form with the deposit to secure your spot. Links and info to book a retreat are available on the retreat page.
3. Payment
All prices are per/person. Your reservation is confirmed after submitting a deposit of 30% of the retreat price, per person.
40% of the retreat price is due 60 days before retreat start date, and the remaining 30% is due 30 days before the retreat start date. You can also choose to pay more than what is required or all of you remaining balance when you book or at any time after booking.
Monthly payment plans are available - simply select this option when booking. The details of your payment terms will be sent to you after your booking is complete.
Payment can be made by credit card.
4. Cancellation policy
If you wish to cancel your retreat you must notify BALWYN RETREAT SANCTUARY in writing to hello@balwynretreatsanctuary.com.au. Once we’ve received your notice, cancellation will take effect subject to the following:
If cancellation takes place more than 60 days prior to the retreat start date you will receive a full refund of your deposit.
If cancellation takes place between 59-45 days prior to retreat start date 30% of the trip price will be charged.
If cancellation takes place between 44-30 days prior to retreat start date 50% of the trip price will be charged.
If cancellation takes place less than 30 days prior to the retreat start date, 100% of the trip price will be forfeited.
Important: If you do not submit full payment 30 days before the retreat, and do not cancel your registration or respond to our communication, BALWYN RETREAT SANCTUARY retains the right to charge the remaining balance due to the credit card provided and release your spot. Any amount forfeited, which has not then been paid to BALWYN RETREAT SANCTUARY by you, will be recovered from you by BALWYN RETREAT SANCTUARY as a debt due and payable. We strongly recommend travel insurance to protect the costs of your trip in the case of injury, illness or inability to attend for other reasons.
5. Changes/Trip Cancellations
CHANGES: BALWYN RETREAT SANCTUARY reserves the right to make any changes deemed necessary by our team, trip leaders, teachers or partners. In the event that we need to make a last minute change to the venue, the teacher, the itinerary, or any aspect of the retreat due to unforeseen circumstances (natural disaster, illness, civil unrest, death, closure or any other unforeseen circumstance) we will offer the following to our guests that do not want to attend based on changes:
Transfer your deposit to a future retreat to be taken within a year from the date of the current retreat. All other payments will be forfeited and BALWYN RETREAT SANCTUARY will not be liable for refunding or reimbursing any amount beyond the transfer of the deposit.
If you choose to completely cancel the retreat based on the changes, normal cancellation policies apply (see above). BALWYN RETREAT SANCTUARY is not responsible for reimbursing you or refunding you for any amount paid if you decide to cancel based on these changes.
Please note that we strongly recommend travel insurance so that you can make a claim based on the changes and have some of your expenses reimbursed by the travel insurance in addition to other medical and travel complications that could potentially occur.
CANCELLATIONS: In the rare case of a cancellation on the part of BALWYN RETREAT SANCTUARY we will offer a transfer to another trip or a full refund of your funds. BALWYN RETREAT SANCTUARY is not responsible for any additional expenses or damages incurred as a result of trip cancellation including preparation costs, airline tickets, travel documents or other expenses. BALWYN RETREAT SANCTUARY reserves the right to cancel any trip prior to departure in the event that there are too few people booked in which case you will be given a full refund of any and all payments made to BALWYN RETREAT SANCTUARY. You will not be entitled to claim any additional amounts or seek any compensation for any injury, loss, expenses or damage (either direct or consequential) or for any loss of time or inconvenience which may result from such cancellation (including but not limited to visa, passport and vaccination charges, or departure, gear purchases, airport and airline taxes).
INSURANCE & DOCUMENTS
6. Travel Insurance
BALWYN RETREAT SANCTUARY strongly recommends each trip member purchase individual travel insurance for their trip for both international retreats and domestic retreats. We suggest that you include “cancel for any reason” with your policy. You should purchase travel insurance that includes medical coverage. We recommend you purchase insurance within 1-2 weeks after making your first trip payment (ie. flight or retreat reservation) to secure the best price and best coverage.
Here are some companies that offer affordable travel insurance:
https://worldnomads.com/travel-insurance/
https://www.insureandgo.com/travel-insurance
7. Travel Documents and Immunizations
It is the responsibility of each traveler to obtain all required travel documents including Visas and other travel documents unless otherwise noted. Information regarding necessary documentation is your own responsibility. Check with your local government offices regarding what is required for you to travel to the retreat country/destination. It is your responsibility to purchase correct immunizations. Please contact your nearest travel clinic for the latest requirements.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
8. Acknowledgment of Risks – Assumption of Responsibility
Although BALWYN RETREAT SANCTUARY has taken reasonable steps ensure safety, I acknowledge that this activity has risks, including certain risks which cannot be eliminated without destroying the unique character of this activity. The same elements that contribute to the unique character of this activity can cause loss or damage to the Participant including accidental injury, illness or in extreme cases, permanent trauma, disability or death and also can cause damage to or loss of property. The following describes some, but not all, of those risks.
Activities vary from trip to trip and may include but are not limited to: hiking, backpacking and climbing in a wide variety of environments including on rock, snow and ice; bicycling on trails and roads with a wide range of surface conditions and traffic volume; rock climbing, climbing on climbing apparatus and ropes courses, using zip-wires and rope swings; white-water rafting, river kayaking, sea-kayaking and canoeing; swimming, snorkeling and surfing; fishing.
BALWYN RETREAT SANCTUARY trips can involve travel to remote places, sometimes many hours from medical facilities. Transportation, evacuations and medical care can be significantly delayed; communication can be delayed, limited or not available.
Environmental risks and hazards include rapidly moving, deep or cold water; insects, snakes and predators, including large animals; falling and rolling rock; lightning, flash floods and unpredictable forces of nature, including weather which may change to extreme conditions without warning. Possible injuries and illnesses include hypothermia, frostbite, high altitude illnesses, sunburn, heatstroke, dehydration and other mild or serious conditions.
Throughout the trip, participants are responsible for their own safety.
By signing up for a trip you (the trip participant) acknowledge and understand that BALWYN RETREAT SANCTUARY trips include risks of injury or death to participants. You also understand the description above of these risks is not complete and that other unknown or unanticipated risks may result in property loss, injury or death. You agree to assume responsibility for the inherent risks identified herein and those inherent risks not specifically identified. You acknowledge that participation in this activity is purely voluntary, no one is forcing participation and participation is elected with full knowledge of the inherent risks.
You (the trip participant) assume and accept full responsibility for any injury, death, loss of personal property, and expenses suffered as a result of those inherent risks and dangers identified above, and those inherent risks and dangers not specifically identified and as a result of my negligence in participating in this activity.
WAIVER
9. Release and Waiver of Liability
DECLARATION OF HEALTH. By accepting this Agreement You (the trip participant) represent that you have no physical conditions or medical precautions which would adversely affect your ability to take part in the yoga program or other physical or cultural activities offered on BALWYN RETREAT SANCTUARY trips. You fully understand that your participation in the yoga program or other activities could be injurious to my health and I voluntarily assume all risks related to such activities.
PERSONAL RELEASE. By agreeing to the terms outlined here and elsewhere on the BALWYN RETREAT SANCTUARY and balwynretreatsanctuary.com.au website You hereby release and discharge your rights and claims for damages or liabilities that may occur as a result of participation on a BALWYN RETREAT SANCTUARY trip, including but not limited to damages as a result of unexpected occurrences including those from weather, local political situations, wildlife or uncontrollable acts of God, including the risk of death. You release BALWYN RETREAT SANCTUARY including its owners, directors, employees, guides, yoga teachers and partners from liability for personal injury, illness, emotional damage, incurred travel expenses or property damage you may incur as a result of participation on this trip.
For the benefit of everyone on your trip, BALWYN RETREAT SANCTUARY reserves the right to accept or reject any participant at any time without liability, and in the event it determines, in its sole and exclusive discretion, that a participant is disruptive to the harmony of the trip, it may without any obligation to pay a refund or any other amount whatsoever, expel such participant from the trip. BALWYN RETREAT SANCTUARY will carry no responsibility or liability for any participant who leaves the trip prior to its conclusion or for any activity undertaken by any participant which is not included on the trip itinerary.
QUESTIONS?
Please send us an email hello@balwynretreatsanctuary.com.au