Traveler FAQ
Have questions about going on a trip? We’ve got you covered.
We get it. Travelers are curious types. Hey, us too! Luckily, we’ve got answers to all your questions about Trova travel. Get the deets on what’s included, payments, policies and more. Sorry, we still don’t know why airport bathroom stalls never seem big enough for suitcases.
Trips
Trips include accommodations, transportation between cities, listed meals and guided activities relevant to the theme of your trip. Each trip includes a certified Guide who speaks the language throughout the entire duration of your trip. Welcome to a better way to follow your passion while seeing the world!
Flights are not included. Most trips start and end in a major city with an international airport for your convenience. It’s up to you whether or not you want to continue your adventure after the trip ends!
Safety is our top priority. This starts with a rigorous vetting process for onboarding our Trip Operators. In fact, only 15% of the Trip Operators who apply to provide itineraries and host local tours are accepted by our safety and quality standards. This covers the baseline and beyond for Traveler safety with insurance requirements and processes for managing on-trip incidents, and ensures consistent quality experiences for all Travelers.
For keeping our Travelers safe before, during, and after the trip, we require everyone involved (Travelers, Hosts, and Operators) to abide by our community guidelines.
As we grow, we’re constantly sharpening and improving our safety best practices and will update this response with new processes and policies as we roll them out. If you have any additional thoughts or questions about safety when booking travel with TrovaTrip, we’d love to hear from you - hi@trovatrip.com.
Activities included vary from trip to trip and are based on the theme of the trip. Refer to the trip itinerary to see which activities are included in your trip!
A typical trip includes a welcome and farewell dinner, daily breakfast and some lunches. Check out the itinerary for more details on what’s included.
Dietary and allergy information will be collected leading up to the trip to ensure you’re taken care of. If you need tips on where to eat, ask your local Guide for recommendations!
Accommodations vary from trip to trip! From glamping to boutique hotels, it really varies depending on the theme. We strive to create an experience that’s not only authentic but also easily accessible and comfortable.
Typically trips cap at 20 travelers but it varies from trip to trip. Check out the trip page to learn how many spots are available on your trip.
We try to start and end all trips in a major city with an international airport for your convenience. It’s up to you whether or not you want to continue your adventure after the trip ends!
We will send a detailed itinerary with everything you need to know at least 2 weeks prior to your trip start date including hotel and airport transfer information. Before your trip, you’ll be invited to a group chat to meet the other Travelers and start exchanging information. You can expect each trip to kick off with a welcome dinner for you to meet everyone after settling into your room. Bon Appétit!
Unless you purchase a single supplement at booking for an additional cost, you’ll share a twin occupancy accommodation. We’ll match you with someone of the same gender identity unless you request a specific roommate. To request a roommate, make sure both you and your roommate add each other's names to the "Special Requests" section at booking or email at hi@trovatrip.com.
We’ll provide a finalized itinerary including hotel and transportation information at least 2 weeks prior to your trip including all necessary travel information.
You’ll receive a destination-specific packing list leading up to your trip. Please see the luggage restriction tab for specific information on how much to bring. If you’re leaving the country, you’ll need a valid passport that doesn't expire for at least 6 months from your return date. You may also need a Visa. Although we cannot provide Visas or guidance on Visas, you can visit your local consulate for more information. If you have specific questions about what to pack, email us at hi@trovatrip.com.
As we will be using shared transfers and spaces throughout our tour we recommend all travelers pack as lightly as possible. All Travelers are allowed to bring one large piece of luggage (not exceeding 50lbs (23kg) in weight, with the dimensions 30” x 18” x 10”), one small carry-on (12”x11”x6), and a personal item.
Absolutely! Don’t feel pressured to find someone to join you on a trip. Part of the TrovaTrip experience is meeting and traveling with new and exciting people from around the world.
Downtime will vary from trip to trip according to the itinerary theme. Read your itinerary for more details on what to expect.
Activity Level Ratings let you know exactly what to expect before you sign up for a trip. Each trip has a physical activity level rating clearly marked based on the amount of physical exertion it requires.
The rating process is simple—the higher the level (1-5), the more challenging the trip.
Flights are not included. Most trips start and end in a major city with an international airport for your convenience. It’s up to you whether or not you want to continue your adventure after the trip ends!
Looking for cheap flights? Check out kiwi.com.
Accommodations vary depending on the destination and itinerary. You can learn more about the accommodations available by visiting the trip page.
In order to foster a group dynamic, most of our trips are designed for twin-share. This means you'll have a roommate! We do our best to match you with another Traveler of similar interests, but if you prefer to room solo, single supplements are available on most trips.
Hotels will vary by star level which is displayed on your trip page. It's important to note that hotels, and their star levels, vary greatly by region. For instance, rooms in Europe will be smaller with twin beds, bidets and handheld showers while rooms in Bali may be more luxurious and feature more amenities—lookout though! You may spot a gecko friend climbing your hotel walls. It's all part of the experience and cultural emersion we strive to deliver!
Not at all, while you will be able to participate in all the activities listed on your trip, we understand sometimes you may want to do your own thing.
Some trips may require physical training prior to your trip. These trips will have all the hiking and/or trekking details included so you can gauge if it will be a good fit for you and your fitness level.
Yep! Our local Operators provide the essential gear needed for our backpacking and camping trips. Plus, your itinerary will have all the details on what's provided for your specific trip—just be sure to pack your favorite boots and clothes!
While TrovaTrip does not offer insurance for Travelers, we do strongly recommend purchasing protection before any trip. WorldNomads.com is our go-to recommendation for trip insurance. They offer coverage options on things like:
- Emergency medical, dental and transportation expenses
- Protection for your baggage
- Coverage for your gear
- Much more
Click here to learn more.
Things happen and flights get delayed! If you will not be joining the trip at the time you originally planned, reach out to the local Guide and they will provide the most up-to-date information on how to join the group.
Your down payment is fully refundable until your spot is confirmed. Once your spot is confirmed you can cancel or transfer to a different trip for a fee and receive a trip credit for your remaining down payment up until 90 days prior to departure.
The deadline to pay your trip balance is 90 days before the start date for trips booked on or after November 14th, 2022. Trips booked prior to November 14, 2022 are due 60 days before the trip start date.
Payments
A significant amount of work goes into planning a trip — before the trip is even available to book, Trip Operators and Hosts have already done work to design, schedule, and announce the trip. So when it’s time for you to book, we want to ensure you’re committed to joining for the (hopefully life-changing) journey with a 25% down payment.
We will refund the 25% down payment that you pay at time of booking until your spot (and the trip) has been confirmed. Once confirmed, the down payment is non-refundable. You can cancel at any time after that, but will forfeit a cash refund for 25% down payment — the good news is you will be issued a trip credit which can be applied to a future trip booked within the next year minus a $100 cancellation fee.
Travel is a big commitment — and so is planning, designing, and hosting a trip. So we’ve built a policy that can be flexible for our Travelers, while still protecting the work that our Hosts and Trip Operators do at each stage of the process. Here’s how cancellations and refunds work:
You book your spot on a trip and pay a 25% down payment: while your spot is pending, that 25% down payment is fully refundable.
Once your spot is confirmed: that 25% down payment is non-refundable.
If cancelling more than 90-days before your trip, your 25% down payment (minus a $100 cancellation fee) can be returned in the form of a trip credit towards any future travel booked in the next year.
If confirmed more than 90 days prior to departure (and outside of the 72 hour cancellation window), you will receive a trip credit in the amount of the down payment, minus a $100 cancellation fee for each spot canceled.
Your balance payment is due 90 days before the trip. 90 days before the trip, we cannot issue any refunds. At this point, funds have been applied towards the trip such as booking accommodations and local activities.
If you ever forget, our policy is easily located on any trip page and you can read more in our Terms & Conditions and our Covid-19 policy can be located here.
When you book your trip, your spot will enter a pending status. If the trip is confirmed, your spot will also typically be confirmed in 24-48 hours. If the trip is not confirmed, it can take anywhere from 2-3 months for your spot to be confirmed. While we typically notify much sooner, you’ll be notified at least 90 days prior to the trip start whether or not your spot is confirmed. Your down payment is refundable until your spot is confirmed. We recommend not booking a flight until your spot is confirmed.
Don’t be a stranger! Send us your questions at hi@trovatrip.com. We love hearing from you whether it’s a question, suggestion, request or anything else you might think of.
If the Trip Operator cancels a booking for any reason more than 30 days prior to the departure date, you can transfer your down payment and additional payments to another trip or receive a full refund.
If a Trip Operator has to reschedule a trip for any reason, travelers can accept the new trip dates, or receive a refund in the form of a trip credit for the full amount.
If you ever forget, our policy is easily located on any trip page and you can read more in our Terms & Conditions and our Covid-19 policy can be located here.
If Trova cancels a booking for any reason, you can transfer your down payment and additional payments to another trip or receive a full refund.
If you ever forget, our policy is easily located on any trip page and you can read more in our Terms & Conditions and our Covid-19 policy can be located here.
Safety
For safety and security, all community members — Hosts, Travelers, and Trip Operators — should communicate in formal channels. We provide a monitored Telegram chat that should be used leading up to and on the trip. Telegram allows everyone to protect their personal data, while forming connections and sharing information with their fellow Travelers.
Trova is not responsible for any communication or in-person meet-ups that occur outside of our platform, the Telegram chat, or scheduled itineraries.
Travelers will pay for their TrovaTrip directly via the Trova platform, and will not be asked to make payments directly to any other Traveler, Host, or Trip Operator. We do not recommend exchanging money or personal information with other members of the community.
Host identities are verified prior to their trips to help ensure Traveler safety and certainty. We encourage all Hosts to do their own due diligence with their Travelers prior to confirming their bookings.
TrovaTrip handles all logistics leading up to the trip. This includes pre-trip payments, connecting you to your fellow Travelers, and collecting all important information. Once you are on the trip the logistics are handled by our Trip Operator — our local experts who handle all logistics on the ground.
Local Trip Operators and their Guide are the authority while you are traveling and can assist with any issues you have while on the ground. Please alert your Guide immediately if you need logistical support or feel unsafe.
Your Host is the one bringing the community of like-minded individuals together. They may provide work-shops, classes, or just hang out and get to know you. They are not responsible for leading activities or handling logistical issues while on the trip.
Our Operator are the experts on the ground. They handle any issue that may pop-up, get you where you need to go, and ensure you and your fellow travelers have a great time.
For safety reasons, we recommend all communication and interaction stays within our formal channels before you travel. If you do wish to meet up prior to travel, we recommend following basic safety guidelines — tell someone where you are going and who you are meeting, meet in a public place, and be careful when sharing personal information like your address or workplace.
Before the trip, Trova sends out a Trip Preparation document to Hosts and Travelers with guidance for your chosen destination. The Trip Preparation document will give you high-level insights into what to expect and guidance on local norms. We recommend you save the local urgent response and embassy numbers from that document into your phone. Additionally, we encourage all Hosts and Travelers do their own research to ensure they feel safe while traveling.
All Hosts and Travelers should seek medical advice prior to departure to ensure they have adequate health and fitness for full participation, and consult with the embassy website for updates on safety in the destination.
In the event of a medical emergency, seek help immediately. Contact the local urgent response number (included in your Trip Preparation document), and your Guide. As appropriate, contact the closest embassy or consulate (included in your Trip Preparation document).
We recommend Travelers consider purchasing travel insurance prior to departure, with ample coverage for your specific itinerary for additional peace of mind.
Important numbers to have on hand can be found in your Trip Preparation document and include include:
- The local emergency response number- your destination's version of 911
- Local embassy or consulate phone number
- Your Guide's phone number
From other Travelers
“WOW! We had the very best trip to Costa Rica…My mom and I both said we definitely got more than we paid for and will have a lot of memories to tell our friends about.“
- Staci, Costa Rica with The Awkward Tourist, Mar 2023
“This trip was overall fantastic. The itinerary was packed and we saw so much, but there were also moments of free time and relaxation. This is definitely the way to see Morocco - I felt so safe with a group and a guide, and our guide really enhanced the experience with stories and history.”
- Lauren, Morocco with Laura Whaley, Sep 2022
“Genuinely one of the best weeks of my life! Everyone in the group, though a bunch of strangers from around the world, have now become lifelong friends. Experienced new things together and faced my fears by pushing myself out of my comfort zone, like repelling down waterfalls though I'm afraid of heights. So thankful that I decided to go on this trip.”
- Monika, Costa Rica with Ben Kielesinski, May 2022
So long as they don’t violate our community guidelines, we publish every traveler review we get (yes, even the ones that are less than 5 stars) on our website — you can read all of the feedback we receive on the Reviews page here.
We greatly value Traveler feedback — it helps us learn, grow, and provide a better experience for everyone. We are so proud to have consistently been rated above 4.5/5 stars for the last 3 years — and counting.