CORONAVIRUS TRAVEL ADVICE AND POLICY

Updated: January 2022

At Gap Africa Projects, we pride ourselves on the service and transparency that we deliver to our clients. During these unprecedented times, we would like to thank you for your continued support and understanding.

The travel industry has suffered unparalleled disruption in the face of COVID-19 due to continued travel restrictions/advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) as well as the continuing uncertainty of the pandemic.

From 4 October ’21, the Amber and Green lists will merge into a single “Rest of World” category. The red list will still remain active for particular countries of concern.

From 11 February ’22, international travellers to the UK are no longer required to self isolate. However different rules apply depending on vaccination status.

Click Here for Latest Rules for Arrivals to the UK .

We are dealing with bookings based on departure date and if you are due to travel within 10 weeks, we will be in touch to advise the options available to you, should your project destination be on the red list. If you are due to travel beyond 10 weeks, we will continue with your booking as per normal until notified otherwise.

As always, our goal is to act in the best interest of our clients and, although we cannot relieve the disappointment of having trips cancelled, we have implemented the following Covid-19 policy in order for our clients to continue planning their overseas travel adventures with confidence and understanding.

If you cancel your booking

As per our Standard Booking Terms & Conditions; you, or any member of your party, may cancel your travel arrangements at any time (Full T&Cs here).  However, since we incur costs cancelling your travel arrangements as we have committed deposits to suppliers/airlines on your behalf, your cancellation will be processed at the loss of your initial deposit.  Any additional payment made over and above your deposit will be refunded in full unless cancellation is made after the balance due date.

In some instances, rather than cancel in full, there may be an opportunity to defer your placement to a later departure date; if this option is available, we will advise you at the time of cancellation.  If this option is taken, we will carry over your full deposit and all monies paid to the new booking and re-issue all travel documents.  Please note, deferrals must be made for departure within 12 months of the original departure date.

Payment deadlines and instalments

We are reviewing all bookings based on departure date and will be in contact with you within 10 weeks of your departure should your placement be located in a Red list country.  If your departure falls outside of 10 weeks we will continue with your booking as per normal until notified otherwise. It is therefore important that we can continue to meet the financial obligations to our host projects and airline partners on behalf of you and/or group.

Unfortunately, if for any reason, your payment schedule is not met, this will affect our ability to continue with your booking and we will have to cancel your travel arrangements.  In this case, should the instalment/balance not be paid on time; your booking will be cancelled and we will retain your initial deposit.  Any additional payments made over and above your deposit, will be refunded in full.

Bookings cancelled by your School, College or University

Should your trip be cancelled on your behalf by your school, college or university, you will have the following two options regarding your booking:

1. Receive a part refund; We will endeavour to refund you all monies paid, less any non-refundable supplier payments that have been committed on your behalf*. Any amount that cannot be refunded to you can be held as credit on account with us and used against a future booking.  Please note, this credit must be used for departure within 12 months of the original departure date.

1. Amend the original booking to a different date in the future; we strongly encourage you to consider postponing your trip to help support us and our project partners, plus ensuring you will still get to travel on the adventure of a lifetime.

Bookings cancelled by us as a direct result of Covid-19

If your booking is cancelled by us, as a direct result of the Covid-19 pandemic, you will have three options regarding your booking:

1. Receive a full refund, which will be paid once we have successfully claimed any funds paid to third party suppliers on your behalf.
2. Amend the original booking to a different date in the future; we strongly encourage you to consider postponing your trip to help support us and our project partners, plus ensuring you will still get to travel on the adventure of a lifetime.

Please note that departures will not be cancelled until advice is received by the FCDO confirming that all travel, in its entirety, is banned to your destination and that airline carriers are no longer operating flights. Please note that this may only be known within weeks of your planned departure date however, we will endeavour to keep you well informed about your departure.

Travel Insurance
When you book your trip with us, we strongly advise that you take out adequate travel insurance to cover for cancellation of a trip, including for Covid-19 related reasons. This will cover you should you have to cancel your trip and we will support you with whatever documentation is required to enable you to submit a claim.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (UK)

Please check the latest government advice using the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) website.