Questions to ask before booking a retreat

What dates and itinerary am I booking?

Confirm the arrival date, departure date and accommodation nights for the specific departure. Check the meeting point and whether the program changes location. If the overview, itinerary and checkout disagree, ask the organizer to resolve the difference before you reserve.

Ask: “Which itinerary applies to this departure, and what time should I arrive and leave?” For a cruise, ask about the embarkation port, ports of call and disembarkation arrangements.

What is the full price for my room?

Ask for the final quote in its named currency and the number of people it covers. A per-person shared-room rate, a whole-room price and a deposit answer different questions. Confirm the room type, occupancy, any single supplement, the payment schedule and charges outside the package.

Ask: “Is this the full price per person, which currency will I pay in, and does this rate require me to bring a roommate?” Use our full-cost comparison guide to organize the answer.

Which meals and activities are included?

Count meals and sessions separately. A mention of daily breakfast does not establish lunch or dinner, and a program description can include optional activities. Ask about drinks, equipment, excursions, entrance fees and transport where the listing does not say.

Ask: “Could you send the included meal and activity schedule, with optional extras marked and priced?” For culinary trips, distinguish hands-on classes from demonstrations and hosted meals. For surf trips, distinguish coaching from independent water time.

Is the program suitable for my experience?

Ask about the published prerequisites, activity demands, group structure and available adaptations. “All levels” still leaves practical questions about the daily schedule. For health or accessibility questions, discuss your requirements with the organizer and an appropriate professional where needed.

Ask: “What experience is expected, how are sessions grouped, and what happens if I skip an activity?” Stillwild does not assess medical suitability or promise an outcome from a retreat.

How do I get to the meeting point?

Confirm the airport or station, transfer route, pickup time and what happens if you arrive outside the included window. Keep flights and any extra nights separate from the retreat quote unless explicitly included.

Ask: “Which transfer is included, where exactly do we meet, and what should I arrange if my arrival is delayed?” Use official travel information for entry requirements relevant to your own circumstances.

What happens if plans change?

Request the organizer’s written cancellation, refund, transfer and itinerary-change terms for this booking. Read what happens both when you cancel and when the organizer changes the trip. This checklist helps you ask questions; it does not interpret a contract or recommend an insurance policy.

Ask: “Which payments are refundable, what deadlines apply, and what are my options if the organizer changes the dates or program?”

A checklist to keep with your quote

• Exact dates, accommodation nights and itinerary.
• Full amount, named currency, room type and occupancy.
• Deposit, balance deadline and additional charges.
• Included meals, sessions, excursions and equipment.
• Meeting point, transfer details and travel to arrange.
• Participation requirements and questions about your own needs.
• Written cancellation and change terms.
• Organizer contact and date of the quote.

See how the questions apply to current listings

The examples follow the current catalog and are not live quotes. Their source-check dates are separate from this guide’s publication date.

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