Refund Policy

We’re here to help guide you through the process with transparency and care.

Details

Effective 05/01/2025

At Guided Steps Travel, we act as a professional travel planning facilitator, connecting clients with travel services such as cruises, tours, accommodations, and transportation provided by third-party vendors. Our goal is to help you plan and book travel with confidence and transparency.

1. We Facilitate Payments But Do Not Hold Funds

In some cases, Guided Steps Travel may collect payments from clients as part of the trip planning process. All client funds collected are transferred directly to the travel vendors (such as cruise lines, airlines, tour companies, and hotels) for the purpose of securing reservations.

We do not hold, retain, or escrow client funds. As such, we are not authorized to issue refunds for vendor-related services once payment has been transferred.

2. Refunds Are Subject to Vendor Policies

All refund, cancellation, or credit decisions are governed by the terms and conditions of the individual vendor(s) with whom your travel services are booked.

These may include:

Cancellation deadlines and penalty tiers
Non-refundable deposits
Rebooking or future travel credit options
Processing timelines

We strongly encourage you to review each vendor’s policies before completing your booking.

3. Service Fees and Non-Refundable Charges

Guided Steps Travel may charge non-refundable service fees for professional planning, consultation, or itinerary management. These fees cover time, research, and administrative services, and are clearly stated on your invoice or agreement.

These service fees:

Are separate from the cost of travel services
Are not refundable even if your travel is canceled or refunded by the vendor
Will be itemized on your receipt or agreement

4. Processing Times and Assistance

While we cannot process refunds ourselves, we are happy to:

Assist you in submitting refund or cancellation requests to the vendor
Help you understand the vendor’s terms and options
Provide supporting documentation, if needed

Please allow 7–10 business days for us to assist with any documentation or follow-up communication.

5. Travel Insurance is Strongly Recommended

To protect your investment, we highly recommend purchasing travel insurance that covers cancellation, medical emergencies, and travel disruptions. We are happy to provide quotes or connect you with recommended providers.

6. Questions?

📧 mark@guidedstepstravel.com
📞 954-854-3363