Private Trip Terms & Conditions
Updated February 29, 2024
We’re excited to host you on a Private Trip! The following Private Trip terms, including important details regarding reservation and payment policies, are supplemental to our Standard Terms & Conditions.
*When you see “days” below, we’re referring to calendar days.
Private Trip Pricing
Pricing per person varies based on your destination, the time of year you travel, how early you book and how many people join you. The majority of our trips offer the most favorable per-person pricing starting with groups of 12. You may also benefit from select youth discounts for kids under 18 offered on our designated Family Trips.
Your Private Trip Itinerary
Our itineraries have been designed and honed over time to provide flexibility and the perfect balance of activities and downtime. Over 45 years, we’ve learned that making changes can increase the price, decrease the quality of your trip and are often just not feasible. For that reason, even minor adjustments are not recommended.
Booking Your Private Group
| BOOKING STEPS | TERMS TO NOTE |
|---|---|
| Request & Hold Your Date | Once your group selects a preferred date from thousands of scheduled Backroads departures, the Private Trip Organizer (PTO) submits a request. We’ll confirm availability over the phone or within 48 hours of receiving the request and then hold that departure for your group for 7 days with no obligation. (If no scheduled dates work for your group, give us a call—we'd love to help you find a great alternative.) |
| Private Trip Organizer Submits Deposit | Your group’s trip is officially reserved when the PTO submits a $1,000 deposit prior to the 7-day hold period ending. If no deposit is received, the date reopens to the public. |
| Book Your Trip | Your group has 21 days from our receipt of the PTO’s deposit to submit all $1,000 per-person deposits. We’ll officially confirm your reservation with the per-person price for the estimated guest count once we’ve received deposit payment from everyone. The per-person price will be determined by the number of guests booked at Final Payment (185 days prior to departure). |
| Add More Guests | You’re welcome to invite more guests to join the trip after Final Payment as long as hotel rooms are available. We’ll make a final price adjustment 95 days before departure based on your new group size. Guests added within 95 days of departure will pay that final adjusted price. |
| Meet Your Guest Services Team | Your dedicated Guest Services Team is available to answer any questions you have about your trip up until the day it starts. |
Private Trip Organizer Savings
Private Trip Organizers enjoy exclusive savings on their individual trip price when they take over a scheduled date:
| GROUP SIZE | ORGANIZER SAVINGS |
|---|---|
| 12-15 Guests | 25% Savings |
| 16-19 Guests | 50% Savings |
| 20-23 Guests | 75% Savings |
| 24+ Guests | 100% Savings - yes, the PTO's trip is free! |
Applicable savings will be applied to the PTO’s reservation at Final Payment (185 days prior to departure) and adjusted accordingly at 95 days prior to departure if your group size increases. Note that PTO savings do not apply to Private Trips for non-scheduled dates.
Still have questions? Give our experienced Guest Services team a call at 800-462-2848.
Note: We may update or revise our Private Terms & Conditions at our discretion without prior notice. Current Terms & Conditions are always available on our website.
When Your Booking Window Expires
If you aren’t able to get everyone to commit with deposit payments before the end of your 21-day booking period, we offer a few options:
- Keep your reservation but open the date back up to the public. (The best of both worlds!)
- Keep your trip private by paying the outstanding guest deposit amounts. We’ll refund the Private Trip Organizer if and when new guests book or we’ll reprice your trip based on the existing guest count.
- Cancel the trip and transfer your deposit or request a refund. (All deposits are refundable during the 21-day booking window or transferable until the Final Payment date (185 days prior to departure), when the full balance is due. See Private Trip Cancellation Policies below.
Booking within Final Payment
While we recommend booking as early as possible, you can book your Private Trip within the Final Payment window (185 days before your departure) if hotel rooms are available and your group is committed. To reserve the trip, the Private Trip Organizer submits their non-refundable $1,000 deposit. Each guest then has 21 days from the PTO’s deposit date to book their spot with a non-refundable $1,000 deposit. Final payment for all guests, based on the final guest count, is due at the end of the 21-day booking window.
Private Trip Cancellation Policies
Life happens, and if you or your guests must cancel your reservation before Final Payment but after the 21-day booking period, your non-refundable $1,000 deposit is transferable to your Backroads account or another trip unless someone else can fill the vacant spot(s). If you cancel your reservation after Final Payment, our Private Trip cancellation fees apply:
| DAYS PRIOR TO TRIP | PENALTY |
|---|---|
| 96-185 calendar days | 50% |
| 0-95 calendar days | 100% |
If your group books a regularly scheduled departure and later converts to a Private Trip, Private Trip cancellation terms and fees apply.