Booking faqs
Important Notes & Updates
Chapter Payment & Cancellation Policy Changes Due to COVID
Chapter Payments:
- Booking requests will receive a link to finalize your booking to pay the full Chapter price payment
- The final full payment is due 6 weeks prior to the Chapter starting. (Note: this means you’ll have from the time of booking until 6 weeks out to submit the full Chapter payment)
- If your full payment is not received 6 weeks before the Chapter start date, your deposit will be forfeited and spot will be given to the next person on the waitlist
- Bookings made less than 6 weeks before the Chapter start date will pay the full Chapter price at booking
Cancellations:
Once the full Chapter payment is paid, the following cancellation policy applies:
- Cancelled 4-6 weeks before Chapter start date: 100% refund of full payment and the deposit is released to be used for a future Chapter
- Cancelled 2-4 weeks before Chapter start date: 50% refund of full payment and the deposit is released to be used for a future Chapter
- Cancelled less than 2 weeks before Chapter start date: No refund and the deposit is forfeited
Ensuite Room Bookings
If you've booked a private room, you can upgrade to an ensuite private bathroom for an additional $200 for some Chapters. Find all room upgrade options in each Chapter's booking form!
Free Gap Week
If you've booked two consecutive Chapters in the same city, you will get the gap week for free!
If you book just one Chapter, you can extend your stay by adding on the week before or after the chapter at the following rate:
Tier 1: $40/night
Tier 2: $45/night
If you have not booked either Chapter, we do not offer the option to join us solely for the gap week.
New Member Experience Guarantee
New members have the opportunity to purchase the 3 or 5 Chapter Plan and downgrade their plan after attending their first Chapter. In this case, we’ll retroactively adjust the price of the completed Chapter to the Pay As You Go or 3 Chapter Plan Chapter price. Then we’ll refund the remaining balance of unused deposits less the difference in Chapter prices. New members have up to two weeks after attending their first Chapter to downgrade their Chapter Plan.
This means new members can purchase a Chapter Plan without the risk of losing money if they later decide paying as you go better fits their travel lifestyle.
For example, you purchase a 5 Chapter Plan at $1,500, use one $300 Chapter deposit to book a Chapter in Medellin, and then attend the Chapter at the lower rate of $1,100. After two weeks, you’ve decided to downgrade your Chapter Plan and start paying as you go. In this case, we’ll adjust the Medellin Chapter price to $1,400 and refund you $900 ($1,500 - one $300 deposit - $300 difference in Chapter prices).
Chapter Plan Set Up FAQs
What is a Chapter Plan?
Once activating your annual membership, you'll then decide how many Chapters you'd like to join. We currently offer a pay-as-you-go option, a 3 Chapter Plan, and a 5 Chapter Plan. Buying a 3 or 5 Chapter Plan unlocks lower prices when booking a Chapter!
A Chapter Plan is made up of deposits, where each deposit represents the number of Chapters you want to join (1 deposit costs $300).
For example, to buy a 3 Chapter Plan you’d pay $900 for 3 deposits. We hold onto your 3 deposits and apply one to hold your spot when you’re ready to book a Chapter. You don’t need to decide on which Chapters to join immediately after purchasing a Chapter Plan. As Chapters are announced, you’ll fill out a booking form (found on the information page for each Chapter) and we’ll put 1 deposit towards that Chapter to save your spot.
You can choose to not purchase a Chapter Plan and pay for Chapters as you go. In this case, you’ll pay for a $300 deposit immediately after booking a Chapter in order to secure your spot.
What is the benefit of a Chapter Plan over paying as I go?
If you plan to travel a lot with WiFi Tribe, our Chapter Plans unlock our lowest Chapter prices.
Choosing the 5 Chapter Plan will save you a minimum of $1,500 and up to $2,500 over paying as you go. That's a free Chapter!
For how long is my Chapter Plan valid?
A Chapter Plan is valid as long as you have an active membership. For example, you can purchase the 5 Chapter Plan after paying your annual membership fee. The 5 deposits in the Chapter Plan will remain valid as long as you continue to renew your membership each year.
Can I upgrade my Chapter Plan?
No. After purchasing a Chapter Plan, you need to use all Chapter deposits before upgrading to a new Plan. If you’re looking for more flexibility and expect you’ll want to do lots of Chapters, the 5 Chapter Plan is the way to go.
When do I pay for the Chapter Plan and for a Chapter?
The Chapter Plan payment is due in full at the time of purchase.
Chapter payments when booking a Chapter are due 8 weeks before the Chapter’s start date.
What happens if I set up my Chapter Plan, but I can join a Chapter right away?
That’s not a problem! As long as you have an active membership, all Chapter deposits will remain valid and can be used at any time.
Do I need to book all of my Chapters immediately after purchasing a Chapter Plan?
No, you don’t need to decide which Chapters you want to book after purchasing a Chapter Plan. When Chapters are announced and you see one that interests you, you can book the Chapter and we’ll apply 1 deposit from your Chapter Plan to hold your spot.
If you’re paying as you go, you’ll submit the Chapter’s booking form and pay for a $300 deposit to hold your spot.
Are the Chapter Plan deposits refundable?
Chapter Plan deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable.
However, if you book a Chapter and decide to cancel your booking no more than 6 weeks before the Chapter’s start date, the deposit used to hold your spot will be released. The released deposit can be used to book a future Chapter. See additional cancellation policy FAQs below.
How is my Chapter Plan different from the annual membership?
The annual membership gives you access to the WiFi Tribe community, which includes access to traveling with us on Chapters. The Chapter plan is simply a package that allows you to unlock better prices for your Chapters.
Booking a Chapter FAQs
Do I need to pay the full Chapter payment upfront?
No, the full payment to book a Chapter is due 8 weeks before the Chapter’s start date. No Chapter payments are due when purchasing a Chapter Plan, only when you’re ready to book a specific Chapter.
Can I change between shared and private rooms when booking a Chapter?
Yes. We don’t lock anyone in to a shared or private room plan, so you can always choose what type of room you want at the time of booking each Chapter.
What's included in a Chapter booking?
A Chapter will always include:
- Accommodation
- Water, electric, and any other bills
- Basic cleaning
- WiFi
- Internet backups
- Space to work within your accommodation
- Awesome tribe of people!
Occasionally, like in our Bolivia Chapters, there may also be the optional add-on of having chef cooked meals for an additional fee.
What's not included in my Chapter booking?
Members are responsible for their own flights, food, and any activities they’d like to take part in while on Chapter.
We organize lots of trips and activities together as a group. But everyone has the freedom to choose what they would like to be part of and to shape their own experience.
How far in advance can I book a Chapter?
We try to announce new Chapters with as much advance notice as possible. You can book the Chapter as soon as they’re announced. See all of our latest Chapters and dates on our calendar.
Can I book a Chapter last minute?
Occasionally, there’s a last-minute spot available due to travel cancellations, so don’t hesitate to ask!
If you book last-minute on to a chapter that’s already started, it’s still possible to join, and we’ll prorate the days. Please note: standard prorating is only possible for last-minute bookings.
Can I join for half of a Chapter?
It’s possible, but it depends if there is another member who would like to take the other half of that Chapter. If there is, then we calculate partial stays like this:
- For 4-week Chapters, the price of a half-Chapter is 70% of the 4-week price.
- For 6-week Chapters, the 3-week price is 60% of the 6-week price.
- For last-minute bookings (less than 2 weeks until the start of the Chapter), if a spot is still available, it’s possible to book a partial Chapter at a prorated rate and without needing to have someone else to take the other half.
We decided to do this, because if there’s still a spot available, we want to make it as frictionless as possible for someone to join spontaneously.
Can I book the gap week between two consecutive Chapters in the same location?
Yes! If you've booked both Chapters in the same location, you will get the gap week for free!
If you book just one Chapter, you can extend your stay by adding on the week before or after the chapter at the following rate:
Tier 1: $40/night
Tier 2: $45/night
If you have not booked either Chapter, we do not offer the option to join us solely for the gap week.
Do I have to stay at the Chapter accommodations during the gap week between two consecutive Chapters?
No, members also get creative with gap weeks between two Chapters!
If you’re attending two consecutive Chapters in the same location, we recommend having an idea of what you’d like to do during the gap week. But don’t book anything just yet! Wait until you meet other members on the Chapter as we’ve found the bigger trips are often organized on the ground.
Some travel to other parts of the country and then return to complete the 2nd Chapter. Others plan bigger trips during the gap week like exploring the Galapagos Islands, sailing to the British Virgin Islands, and doing a yacht week with other members.
Where can I find the latest Chapters, dates, and locations?
Find all of the latest information for each Chapter on our Chapter Calendar.
How does the waitlist work if a Chapter is full?
If you request to book a Chapter but it’s full, we will put your name on the waitlist. If we receive a cancellation and you are next in line, we will notify you by email to let you know the spot has opened up! If you confirm you would like to join, we will apply a deposit from your Chapter Plan and send over the final payment link which is due 8 weeks prior to the Chapter starting.
Note: Once we reach the 6-week mark before the Chapter, it is unlikely we will have cancellations.
Can I be added to the waitlist without having a Chapter Plan?
Yes, you can be added to the Chapter’s waitlist if you haven't yet set up your Chapter Plan. Just keep in mind that the spots are first-come, first-serve. You'll need to be ready to either set up a Chapter Plan or pay for 1 deposit if you’re paying as you go in order to reserve your spot if one opens up.
Can Chapter dates and locations change?
Yes, but rarely.
Occasionally, we may have to cancel Chapters. In most cases, this will be due to political or natural disaster situations that make it dangerous to travel to that destination. In the case that we have to cancel a Chapter that has already been booked, we will fully refund the booking.
Can I attend a Chapter with my partner?
Of course! If your partner also works remotely and is a great fit for the Tribe, you'll both need to apply, interview, and be accepted to join us!
Once you are, and have each paid your annual membership fee, you will be able to book your Chapters. Couple bookings are priced as 2 shared bookings and you'll share a private room.
When available, we place couples in an ensuite room with a private bathroom. Keep in mind that not every chapter has ensuite rooms available.
Does WiFi Tribe help with visas?
While we do our best to assist our members with the visa process, it’s the member’s responsibility to research visa requirements based on where they’d like to travel. We’re happy to provide guidance and even a sponsor letter if needed though, so no member is left without support during a visa process.
Accommodations & Life on Chapter FAQs
Who from WiFi Tribe stays with the group while on Chapter?
We have an amazing team of Chapter Hosts who stay with the group while on Chapter. They’re members too and are there to resolve any issues with our accommodations or WiFi.
The Chapter Hosts are there to make sure our Chapters run smoothly, but they aren’t concierges or travel agents.
What types of accommodations will we be staying in?
Our accommodation types vary by Chapter - it's all part of the adventure! From villas in Bali to apartments in the heart of Medellin, our priority is to create a community space in the heart of our location, with good WiFi, comfortable rooms and living areas, and space for coworking.
How many people stay in a shared room?
For the vast majority of chapters, shared rooms house two members of the same gender.
On occasion, we will have shared rooms for 3 members of the same gender. You will always know if this is an option for your chapter, and we may offer a discount for this type of room. However, you will normally be sharing with just one other member.
How many people will I share a bathroom with?
While this varies by location, we generally have a 2-4 member per bathroom ratio for the houses and apartments. For many Chapters, you will have the option to upgrade to an ensuite bathroom for additional privacy.
Can I book an ensuite room (a private room with a private bathroom)?
Yes, for many Chapters we will have ensuite private rooms available with their own bathroom for an additional $200.
Where do people work from while on a Chapter?
Depending on the layout of our accommodation, multiple workspaces will often be set up.
For example, during our time in Ecuador, we had workspaces in our courtyard, kitchen, and rooftop terrace. Of course, some of us also love to work from cafés, restaurants, local libraries and hotel lobbies as a way to really get to know the city we're living in.
How much should I budget for while on a Chapter?
It depends. Think about your spending habits and the general cost of living in that country. If you’re looking to budget, you might spend as little as $800 for a month. People who decide to do several weekend trips and taste their way through lots of nice restaurants can spend twice that amount.
Of course, none of the activities or weekend trips that the group organizes are mandatory, so you can control the budget as suits you. The group is conscious and considerate of the fact that there are different budgets.
How does the group plan activities and trips while on a Chapter?
The group activities and trips while on a Chapter are driven by the community that’s there.
When we all arrive on a Chapter, the community spends time getting to know one another, and sharing our interests. We then start exploring local activities, locations, and areas of interest to find out what most people want to check out! The group discusses these areas of interest, as well as budgets, time constraints, and other factors, to decide when, where, and how they’ll visit a location or take part in an activity.
You'll have a designated Slack for your Chapter, with pre-organized channels to help your group organize plans, communication, and chit-chat while on Chapter!
Again, no activities or trips are mandatory and everything is organized by the community. You can fully choose your own adventure and activities while on Chapter.
How much luggage should I bring with me?
This really depends on what items you like to travel with, if you’re traveling before or after the Chapter, and which climates you’ll visit.
Can I have a guest come stay with me?
If you are staying in a private room, you may invite a non-member guest to stay with you for up to 3 nights. Beyond 3 nights, a guest needs to be an official member of the Tribe.
Other Tribe members may come stay as a guest for up to 2 weeks.
In this case, we require all Tribe members staying between 3 nights and 2 weeks to pay a prorated Chapter fee (at the pay as you go shared room price for that Chapter Tier.) The member will then be added to our Chapter Slack channels, and will be welcomed to join in for any of the Tribe activities.
What is a Make It Happen Chapter?
We wrote a blog post explaining our Make It Happen Chapters, which are a way to bring new, exciting Chapters to the Tribe based on your votes! You can read all about it here in our blog post!
I've been accepted as a new member and will be in the same location as an upcoming Chapter. Can I drop by to check it out?
We’d love for you to come say hi to see what life on a Chapter looks like and meet some members from the community. If you want to meet up with us to check things out, please contact hello@wifitribe.co and we'll put you in touch with the Chapter Host on the ground to connect with you.
Note: We do ask you to officially join the Chapter in order to take part in all the activities, trips, dinners, skillshares, and all-around awesomeness that's going down!
Payments & Cancellation Policies FAQs
When is the full Chapter payment due?
Your full Chapter payment is due 8 weeks in advance of the Chapter’s start date.
When you decide to book a Chapter, we’ll apply a deposit from your Chapter Plan or ask you to pay $300 to secure your spot. We will then send you a final payment link to complete the full balance. You can complete this payment anytime between the time of booking, and 8 weeks prior to the Chapter’s start date.
Can I cancel a Chapter after I've booked? What is your refund policy?
Yes, but make sure to cancel on time. Once full payment is made, the following cancellation policy will apply:
- Cancelled 6-8 weeks before Chapter start date: 70% refund of full payment and the deposit is released to be used for a future Chapter
- Cancelled 4-6 weeks before Chapter start date: 50% refund of full payment and the deposit is released to be used for a future Chapter
- Cancelled 0-4 weeks before Chapter start date: No refund and the deposit is forfeited
Can I put two deposits towards the payment of a Chapter?
No. Deposits are only used towards reserving your spot on a Chapter.
Are there any extra fees I should expect?
No, your Chapter payment covers the full cost of your accommodations while on Chapter.
The only additional payment you may have is the option to pay for a $200 upgrade for an ensuite room with a private bathroom if you choose.
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