Deposits, balance payments, cancellations and changes, in plain English.
Quick answerBooking more than 60 days before departure, you pay a deposit of at least 30% when you confirm and the balance 60 days before you travel. Booking within 60 days, you pay in full when you confirm. If you cancel more than 90 days before departure you lose the deposit only; the charge then rises to 50%, 75% and finally 100% within 30 days of departure.
By the Thrill of Italy team · Updated October 2026
| When we receive your written cancellation | Cancellation charge per person |
|---|---|
| More than 90 days before departure | Deposit only |
| 61 to 90 days before departure | 50% of the quoted price |
| 31 to 60 days before departure | 75% of the quoted price |
| 30 days or less before departure | 100% of the quoted price |
We design a custom itinerary for you first. Your booking becomes a binding contract once we receive a payment for it, either the deposit or the full amount. At confirmation we send you a Confirmation Invoice.
If the balance has not arrived 60 days before departure, we may cancel the trip and apply the cancellation charges below.
Cancel in writing. The cancellation takes effect on the date we receive it. The deposit and any amendment charges are not refundable, and the charges in the table above apply. If your reason for cancelling is covered by your travel insurance, you may be able to reclaim these charges from your insurer.
Train tickets are the one exception: if we have issued them and you cancel, we refund the amount the train company returns to us.
Yes, we will do our best to make the changes you ask for in writing. A change made after payment carries a $100 fee, plus any extra transport, hotel or supplier costs, and the trip is re-priced at the rates in effect at the time of the change. Changing a traveller’s name counts as a cancellation.
Tell us before you confirm, with full details in writing, so we can check that the arrangements suit you.
For events we or our suppliers could not reasonably foresee or avoid, such as severe weather, strikes, epidemics or transport disruption, we are not able to refund payments, but we pass on any money we recover from suppliers. This is why we recommend travel insurance for every trip.
This page summarises our booking terms. The full Terms & Conditions are the contract, and they apply if anything here differs.
If anything in these terms is unclear, ask us before you pay. A member of the team replies personally.
Something else on your mind? A member of the team replies personally.
No. Once paid, the deposit is not refundable, though if we cancel your trip for a reason not covered by the force majeure terms, we return all money paid after the deposit or offer a comparable alternative.
Yes. Insurance may let you reclaim cancellation charges, and it protects you against events no one can control.
The person who makes the booking is responsible for full payment for everyone in the party.
If anything in these terms is unclear, ask us before you pay. A member of the team replies personally.
12-Day Best of Italy