Naxos Creative
Terms & Conditions for Retreats
We want everyone who joins a Naxos Creative retreat to feel relaxed, welcomed and well looked after. These Terms & Conditions explain what is included in your booking, what we ask of you and what happens if plans need to change.
By making a booking with Naxos Creative Ltd, you agree to these Terms & Conditions.
Booking
All bookings are subject to availability.
If you make a booking request through the Naxos Creative website, you will receive confirmation that your request has been received. Your place is secured once we have confirmed your booking and received your deposit.
A deposit of £300 per person is required to secure your place.
The remaining balance must be paid 8 weeks before the retreat begins.
If you book within 8 weeks of the start date, the full retreat fee will normally be payable when your booking is confirmed.
As an additional Naxos Creative booking benefit, your £300 deposit will be fully refunded if you cancel in writing within 7 days of making your initial booking.
Cancellation by You
We understand that sometimes plans have to change. If you need to cancel, please let us know in writing as soon as possible.
Our standard cancellation charges are:
More than 8 weeks before the retreat: £300 deposit retained
4–8 weeks before the retreat: 40% of the total retreat fee
2–4 weeks before the retreat: 60% of the total retreat fee
1–2 weeks before the retreat: 75% of the total retreat fee
Less than 1 week before the retreat, or after arrival: 100% of the total retreat fee
These charges are intended to reflect the costs and commitments involved in arranging our small-group retreats and are subject to any greater rights you may have under applicable consumer or package travel law.
If we are able to fill your place and thereby reduce our loss, we will take this into account where required by law.
We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance that includes cancellation cover.
Transferring Your Booking
If you are unable to attend, please talk to us.
Subject to availability and any applicable legal requirements, we may be able to transfer your booking to another Naxos Creative retreat or course.
Any difference in price will need to be paid before the transfer is confirmed.
If Naxos Creative Has to Cancel
Very occasionally we may have to cancel a retreat.
If Naxos Creative cancels your retreat, you will be offered the options and refunds to which you are entitled under applicable law.
Where a refund is due, this will include payments made to Naxos Creative for the cancelled retreat.
We strongly recommend that flights and other independent travel arrangements are booked with appropriate cancellation or insurance protection, as these are separate from your Naxos Creative booking unless we have specifically included them.
Your statutory rights are not affected.
Changes to the Retreat Programme
We put a great deal of care into planning each retreat, but occasionally circumstances mean that something needs to change.
This may include changes caused by illness, weather, local conditions, transport disruption, maintenance, mechanical problems or circumstances outside our reasonable control.
We may make reasonable changes to timings, workshops, excursions, transfers, meals or facilitators where necessary.
We will always try to provide a suitable alternative and keep you informed.
If a significant change is made to your retreat before it begins, any rights you have to accept the change, choose an alternative where offered, or cancel and receive a refund will be respected in accordance with applicable law.
Package Travel Rights
Some Naxos Creative retreats may constitute a package under the Package Travel and Linked Travel Arrangements Regulations 2018.
Where those Regulations apply to your booking, you will have the rights and protections provided by them and nothing in these Terms & Conditions is intended to reduce or remove those rights.
Where there is any conflict between these Terms & Conditions and rights that cannot legally be excluded, your statutory rights will take precedence.
Travel, Flights & Ferries
Unless we specifically say otherwise, travel to and from the retreat destination is not included.
We are always happy to offer advice about flights, ferries and getting to us, but flights and other independently booked journeys remain your own travel arrangements.
We strongly recommend using reputable travel providers and ATOL-protected arrangements where appropriate.
If your flight or ferry is delayed or cancelled, please keep in touch with us. We will always do our best to help with your arrival arrangements.
Naxos Creative is not responsible for losses arising solely from independently booked flights, ferries or other transport that do not form part of your Naxos Creative booking, except where the law provides otherwise.
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend that everyone travelling with us has comprehensive travel insurance.
Your policy should ideally cover:
cancellation and curtailment
medical treatment
personal belongings
flight and ferry disruption
delays and missed connections
activities you intend to take part in
Please make sure your policy is suitable for your individual circumstances and your trip.
Arrival & Transfers
Where airport or port transfers are included in your retreat, this will be stated in your retreat information.
We will ask for your arrival details before the retreat.
If you change your travel arrangements or arrive at a substantially different time without letting us know, we may not always be able to provide the planned transfer. Any alternative taxi or transport required may then be at your own expense.
Free Time & Independent Activities
There will usually be plenty of free time during your retreat to relax, swim, walk, explore or simply find a quiet spot with a book.
Any trip, excursion or activity you arrange independently and which is not part of the Naxos Creative programme is undertaken at your own discretion and responsibility.
This may include independent swimming, hiking, boat trips, vehicle hire, visits to beaches or villages and other activities during your free time.
Please make sure your travel insurance covers the activities you choose to take part in.
If we recommend a local restaurant, beach, walk, shop or other business, this does not make it part of the organised Naxos Creative programme unless we specifically say that it is included.
Nothing in this section limits Naxos Creative's responsibility for activities that we organise or any liability that cannot lawfully be excluded.
Meals
Sharing food together is a lovely part of a Naxos Creative retreat.
The meals included in your particular retreat will be explained in the retreat information or itinerary.
You are, of course, free to make your own plans. However, if you choose not to join an included meal, we cannot normally offer a refund for it.
Any alternative restaurant, takeaway or other food you choose instead will be at your own expense.
Please tell us about allergies or dietary requirements before the retreat. We will make reasonable efforts to accommodate them, although we cannot guarantee a completely allergen-free environment.
Drinks
At organised meals where drinks are included, we provide a reasonable selection of wine, beer and soft drinks.
Additional drinks, cocktails, spirits, premium drinks or drinks purchased outside our organised meals are at your own expense.
Guests are responsible for deciding whether and how much alcohol they wish to consume.
Optional Extras
From time to time we may suggest additional activities, treatments, excursions, meals or experiences that are not included in your retreat fee.
We will always make any additional cost clear before you decide whether you would like to take part.
Personal spending such as shopping, additional food and drink, taxis, treatments and independently arranged excursions is not included unless specifically stated.
Accommodation
Our retreats take place in a variety of hotels, guesthouses and other carefully chosen locations.
Please respect the accommodation, its staff and its rules during your stay.
Personal extras charged by the accommodation, including minibar purchases, laundry, additional food or drink and room upgrades, are your responsibility unless they are specifically included in your retreat.
Participants may be asked to pay for damage they deliberately cause or which results from unreasonable behaviour.
Accessibility
Some of the places we use are traditional Greek hotels, village properties, rural locations or historic buildings.
There may be steps, hills, uneven ground or areas with limited accessibility.
If you have mobility or accessibility requirements, please contact us before booking. We will be very happy to discuss the particular location with you and consider what reasonable adjustments may be possible.
Health & Wellbeing
Naxos Creative retreats are creative, educational and wellbeing experiences. They are not a substitute for medical, psychological or therapeutic treatment.
Participants should consider whether they are physically and emotionally able to take part in the retreat and its activities.
If you have any concerns about your health or ability to participate, we recommend speaking to an appropriate healthcare professional before travelling.
Please let us know before the retreat about anything we reasonably need to know to make appropriate arrangements for your stay.
Our retreats are not designed to provide continuous medical, personal or supervisory care.
Nothing in these Terms & Conditions excludes or restricts liability for death or personal injury caused by negligence, or any other liability that cannot legally be excluded.
Looking After Each Other
Naxos Creative retreats are intentionally small and friendly, and the atmosphere within the group is very important to us.
We ask everyone to treat fellow guests, authors, tutors, facilitators, the Naxos Creative team, hotel staff and members of the local community with kindness and respect.
Very occasionally, where someone's behaviour is seriously disruptive, abusive, threatening or places themselves or others at risk, we reserve the right to ask them to leave the retreat.
In those circumstances, additional accommodation, travel or other costs will normally be the participant's responsibility and a refund will not normally be given, subject always to your statutory rights.
Changes to Your Own Plans
If you choose to arrive late, leave early or miss an included workshop, excursion, meal, transfer or other part of the retreat, we cannot normally offer a refund for the unused element.
Any additional accommodation, meals, taxis, transfers or travel resulting from a change to your personal plans will normally be at your own expense.
Personal Belongings
Please look after your passports, money, luggage, valuables and other personal belongings during your stay.
We recommend storing valuables securely where possible and making sure that your belongings are adequately covered by your travel insurance.
Photography & Video
We love capturing some of the atmosphere of our retreats and may take photographs or occasional video during the week for our website, social media and Naxos Creative promotional materials.
We will always aim to be respectful.
If you would prefer not to appear in photographs or video, simply let us know and we will respect your wishes.
Where specific consent is legally required for a particular use of your image, we will ask for it.
Circumstances Beyond Our Control
Occasionally events occur that neither you nor we could reasonably prevent.
These might include severe weather, natural disasters, war or threat of war, civil unrest, industrial action, government restrictions, significant transport disruption or airport or port closures.
If something of this nature affects your retreat, we will communicate with you as quickly as possible and do everything reasonably possible to find the best solution.
Any statutory rights you have in these circumstances, including rights arising under applicable package travel legislation, will continue to apply.
Privacy & Your Information
Naxos Creative Ltd is committed to looking after your personal information and complying with applicable data protection law.
We may collect information including your:
name
email address
telephone number
booking information
travel information
You may also choose to give us information about dietary requirements, allergies or accessibility needs so that we can make appropriate arrangements for your stay.
We will use your information to administer your booking, communicate with you about your retreat and make the arrangements necessary to provide it.
Where necessary, limited information may be shared with hotels, facilitators, transfer providers or other suppliers involved in providing your retreat.
Further details about how we use and protect personal information should be set out in our Privacy Policy.
Keeping in Touch
If you have booked or enquired about a Naxos Creative retreat, we may occasionally contact you about similar Naxos Creative retreats or events where data protection and electronic marketing law allows us to do so.
You will be given an appropriate opportunity to opt out of marketing and can unsubscribe at any time.
Testimonials
With your permission, we may use feedback or testimonials you have given us on our website, social media or other Naxos Creative promotional material.
We will not publish personal information beyond what you have agreed to.
Complaints
We hope you will have a wonderful time with us, but if something is not right during your retreat, please tell a member of the Naxos Creative team as soon as possible.
Giving us the opportunity to address a problem while you are with us will often allow us to resolve it quickly.
If you wish to make a formal complaint after your retreat, please contact Naxos Creative Ltd in writing.
Your Legal Rights
Nothing in these Terms & Conditions affects your statutory rights as a consumer.
If any part of these Terms & Conditions is found to be unlawful or unenforceable, the remainder will continue to apply.
These Terms & Conditions are governed by the laws of England and Wales, without depriving consumers of any mandatory protections that apply to them under the law.
Questions
If you have any questions about your booking, what is included or whether a particular retreat is right for you, please ask us before booking.
We would much rather you ask.
Naxos Creative Ltd