Reservation Policies
How to Reserve a Trip
Reservations are required, but reserving a trip is easy! Payment in full is normally asked for at the time of reservation for a day trip, unless other arrangements have been made. If it's more than one month prior to the trip we can usually do a deposit to secure the space and a remaining balance closer to the trip. See Payment Information below for details. To reserve a trip:
- Call us at 805.528.1080
- Submit a reservation 24 hours a day with our on-line reservation system.
Gift Certificates
We are happy to offer gift certificates. Buying a day trip for one or two people makes an excellent gift for that outdoors enthusiast on your list. Just call us up and we can do a gift certificate over the phone with a credit card. We'll mail you the gift certificate, as well as a brochure with a link to our website so your excited friend or family member can check out everything we have to offer. Call 805-528-1080.
Payment Information
For day trips we normally ask for payment in full at the time of reservation. If the day trip you are reserving is more than one month away, instead of payment in full you may request to pay a $15 per person deposit to secure the space and pay the remaining balance one week prior to the tour. If you wish to to utilize the deposit and remaining balance system, please phone us direct at 805.528.1080 as our online reservation system is only set up for payment in full at time of booking. For multi-day trips more than one month from the time of reservation we usually ask for a 20% deposit and have several options for final payment. We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express as well as check or cash.
Confirmation Packet
After the deposit is received a Confirmation Packet is sent to you. The packet includes more information about the trip, including meeting time and place, driving directions if relevant, a recommended clothing and gear list and a "Release of Liability, Assumption of All Risks, and Arbitration Agreement" that must be signed and in our possession prior to the trip start.
Release Form
Each participant must have a signed release form in order to come on a tour with us. Parents or legal guardians must sign for minors. Release forms are sent with confirmation packets and can also be viewed and downloaded via the link in the text above. We will also have plenty of blank release forms available at the tour start.
Cancellations by Us
Once you have received a confirmation of reservation from us, we make every effort to run the trip. However, occasionally we need to cancel a trip and we reserve the right to do so. If anyone has signed up for a trip that we cancel, we will notify them promptly and offer a full refund or the opportunity to transfer to another trip. Central Coast Outdoors is not responsible for any expenses incurred in preparation for any canceled trips, including air fare.
Cancellations by You
Read below for our cancellation policies for different trip types. For all trips there are no refunds for leaving a trip early or for not using any of the services that are part of the trip.
Regular Day Trip
If you have to cancel a regular day trip for any reason, the following refund schedule applies, except for bad weather on a day trip - see below.
| Days Prior to Trip Start | Cancel Fee |
|---|---|
| 8+ | None |
| 4-7 | $15 per person |
| 0-3 | Full cost of trip |
Large Group Day Trip
For groups of over 15 that have to cancel a day trip for any reason, the following refund schedule applies, except for bad weather on a day trip - see below.
| Days Prior to Trip Start | Cancel Fee |
|---|---|
| 8+ | $50 |
| 4-7 | $15 per person |
| 0-3 | Full cost of trip |
Multi-Day Trip - Self Guided Bike
If you have to cancel a multi-day self guided bike trip for any reason, the following refund schedule applies. There are no refunds for bad weather.
| Days Prior to Trip Start | Cancel Fee |
|---|---|
| 8+ | $50 |
| 4-7 | Deposit amount (usually 20%) |
| 0-3 | Full cost of trip |
Multi-Day Trip - Guided Bike (without accommodations)
If you have to cancel a small group (11 people or less) multi-day guided bike trip that includes just vehicle support, or vehicle support plus bikes and/or lunch (but no accommodations) for any reason, the following refund schedule applies. Please inquire for policy for larger groups (over 11 people) . There are no refunds for bad weather.
| Days Prior to Trip Start | Cancel Fee |
|---|---|
| 8+ | $50-100 (depending on trip length) |
| 4-7 | Deposit amount (usually 20%) |
| 0-3 | Full cost of trip |
Multi-Day Trip - Guided Bike (with accommodations)
For multi-day guided bike trips that include accommodations, the cancel fee varies, but is usually based on the cancel fee policy for multi-day bike trips that don't include accommodations PLUS any relevant hotel cancellation fees. Please inquire for details. There are no refunds for bad weather.
Cancellation Policy Due to Bad Weather (Day Trips Only)
If the weather is really bad on the morning of a day trip, you have three choices. First, continue with the planned activities (perhaps with alternate activities worked in). Second, transfer with no additional fees to the same trip in the future. Third, cancel entirely with a $15 per person cancellation fee. We always wait until the morning of the trip to make this decision because weather forecasts are not always 100% accurate. If the weather is so bad that it is a safety issue, the guide will cancel the trip and there will be a full refund.
Youth Discounts
On our regular day trips for booking parties of less than ten, the following youth discounts apply:
| Age | Discount |
|---|---|
| 11-16 | 10% |
| 7-10 | 20% |
| 3-6 | 40% |
| 0-2 | 75% |
Group Discounts
Any booking party of ten or more on a kayak trip receives a 20% discount off the regular adult rate. This does not compound with youth discounts and applies to kayak trip departures only. Our pricing for bike and hike trips is tiered by group size and includes a lower per person price for larger group sizes.
Trip Cancellation Insurance
We strongly recommend you purchase trip cancellation insurance to cover yourself in case a medical emergency or other unanticipated situation arises.
Responsibility
Clients are responsible for understanding that there are certain risks and dangers inherent in any form of outdoors activity. Central Coast Outdoors assumes no responsibility or liability for any claims or damages, for any reason, arising from these risks. Clients are responsible for choosing a trip that is within their abilities, fitness level and state of health. Clients are responsible for providing Central Coast Outdoors with a signed "Release of Liability, Assumption of All Risks, and Arbitration Agreement" form prior to the start of the trip. Clients are responsible for providing essential personal information prior to the trip start; arriving at the trip start with the clothing and gear recommended in the Confirmation Packet; respecting all applicable laws and regulations in the areas visited; and respecting the rights and privacy of other trip members. Any individual may be asked to leave the trip if the guide feels that person's continuing participation may be detrimental to the individual or to the well-being and enjoyment of the other clients.
