Terms and Conditions

Terms and Conditions

Booking & Agreement

By paying a deposit or making any payment towards a retreat, you confirm that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms & Conditions. This constitutes a binding agreement between you and Ladies Who Lit.

Your booking is not confirmed until the required non-refundable deposit has been received (or, where applicable, a successful Klarna transaction has been completed).

As this booking relates to leisure services provided on specific dates, the statutory 14-day cooling-off period under the Consumer Contracts Regulations does not apply. 

Ladies Who Lit reserves the right to refuse or cancel a booking where, acting reasonably, we believe a participant’s behaviour, conduct, or previous interactions present a risk to the safety, wellbeing, or enjoyment of others or to the smooth running of the retreat, as per our Code of Conduct.

Deposits & Payments

Deposit

A non-refundable deposit is required to secure your place on a Reading Retreat. The deposit amount is retreat-specific and will be clearly stated at the time of booking.

Deposits contribute towards accommodation commitments, supplier contracts, planning, and administrative costs and represent a genuine pre-estimate of the costs and losses incurred by Ladies Who Lit and are therefore non-refundable under any circumstances.

Payment Schedule

The remaining balance must be paid in full no later than 60 days before the retreat start date, unless otherwise agreed in writing.

Failure to complete payment by the specified deadline may result in cancellation of your booking, with no refund of any monies paid.

All payments are processed via Stripe and are charged in British Pounds Sterling (GBP). Payments made in other currencies may be subject to currency conversion fees.

Payment Plans

Ladies Who Lit Payment Plans

For selected retreats only, Ladies Who Lit may offer a staged payment plan. Where available, this will be clearly outlined at the time of booking.

Any payment plan offered by Ladies Who Lit:

• Is a staged payment arrangement for a future service
  
• Does not constitute a credit agreement, loan, or regulated financial product
  
• Must be completed in full by the final balance due date
  

Failure to complete payments may result in cancellation of your booking with no refund of amounts paid in order to cover losses and administrative costs.

Klarna Payments

Klarna is available as a payment option for all retreats, allowing guests to split payments at checkout.

When selecting Klarna:

• Your booking is confirmed once the Klarna transaction is successfully completed
  
• No separate deposit payment to Ladies Who Lit is required
  

Any Klarna payment plan is a separate financial agreement between you and Klarna. Ladies Who Lit is not responsible for Klarna’s terms, fees, interest, or administration. Any missed payments or disputes must be resolved directly with Klarna.

In the event of cancellation, the applicable non-refundable deposit amount will be retained from the total amount paid, regardless of payment method.

Cancellation & Refund Policy

Cancellations made more than 60 days before the retreat start date:
A refund will be issued for any amounts paid above the non-refundable deposit, less any applicable transaction fees. The deposit remains non-refundable in all circumstances, including where the full retreat cost has been paid upfront.

Cancellations made 60 days or fewer before the retreat start date:
No refund will be issued, and the full retreat cost will be forfeited.

No refunds are available once a guest has attended, stayed at, or taken part in any portion of the retreat, including accommodation, activities, or meals.

Refunds (where applicable) will be processed within 10 working days of written cancellation.

Ladies Who Lit is not responsible for cancelled, delayed, or missed flights or other travel disruptions. Guests are strongly advised to obtain comprehensive travel insurance.

Deposit Non-Transferability

Deposits are non-transferable and cannot be moved to another retreat, date, or guest. If you wish to attend a different retreat, a new booking and deposit will be required.

Non-Payment & Non-Responsive Bookings

If a participant fails to respond to communications or make payment by the specified deadlines, Ladies Who Lit reserves the right to cancel the booking and retain all payments made. The space may then be offered to another guest.

Shared Room Booking Policy

When booking a shared room, both guests are jointly responsible for the total cost.

If one guest is unable to attend:

• The remaining guest may find a suitable replacement, subject to organiser approval, or
  
• Upgrade to solo occupancy by paying the applicable rate difference
  

Failure to do either may result in forfeiture of the booking in line with the standard cancellation policy.

Minimum Numbers & Cancellation by Us

All retreats are subject to minimum participation numbers.

Ladies Who Lit reserves the right to cancel a retreat due to:

• Insufficient participant numbers
  
• Force majeure events (as stated below)
  
• Supplier or venue issues
  
• Staff illness or unforeseen circumstances
  

If we cancel a retreat:

• You will receive a full refund of all payments made, or
  
• You may transfer your payment to a future retreat, subject to availability
  

We cannot be held liable for additional expenses such as flights, accommodation outside the retreat, or loss of income. Where practicable, we will provide at least 30 days’ notice of cancellation. Flexible travel arrangements and insurance are strongly recommended.

Force Majeure (Including War & Hostilities)

Neither party shall be liable for failure or delay in performing their obligations under this agreement where such failure or delay is caused by events beyond their reasonable control (“Force Majeure Events”).

Force Majeure Events include, but are not limited to:
war (declared or undeclared), armed conflict, hostilities, invasion, acts of foreign enemies, terrorism, civil unrest, rebellion, riots, or military action, as well as the direct consequences of such events, including but not limited to government restrictions, sanctions, border closures, travel bans, supply chain disruption, or venue or supplier unavailability.

To rely on a Force Majeure Event, the affected party must demonstrate that:

• Causation: The Force Majeure Event directly prevented performance of contractual obligations, not merely made performance more difficult or costly.
• Unforeseeability & Impossibility: The event was not reasonably foreseeable at the time of booking, and performance became impossible or commercially impracticable.
• Mitigation: Reasonable steps were taken to mitigate or overcome the effects of the event where possible.

Participant Responsibilities & Liability

Participants are responsible for:

• Booking and funding their own travel
• Booking flexible flights to cover cancellation due to force majeure events or cancellation incident by Ladies Who Lit
  
• Holding valid travel insurance
  
• Informing organisers of medical conditions or dietary requirements
  
• Respecting property, staff, and fellow guests
  

Any damage caused by a participant is their responsibility.

Participation is at your own risk. Ladies Who Lit is not liable for injury, illness, loss, or damage except where caused by our negligence.

Participants confirm they are medically and physically fit to take part in retreat activities.

Health & Safety

Participants must comply with all health and safety guidance provided by the organisers. Failure to do so may result in removal from the retreat without refund.

Changes to Itinerary

Ladies Who Lit reserves the right to make reasonable changes to the itinerary, activities, or accommodation due to circumstances beyond our control. Guests will be informed of any significant changes as soon as possible.

Photography & Media

By attending a retreat, participants consent to the use of photographs or video footage taken during the retreat for promotional purposes, unless they notify us otherwise in writing prior to the retreat. The participants reserve, at any time, the right to withdraw their consent.

Privacy Policy

• Participant information collected during the registration process will be used solely for the purpose of organising and administering the retreat.
• We are committed to protecting the privacy of our participants and will not disclose personal information to third parties without consent, except as required by law.
• More information here.

Governing Law

• These terms and conditions shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales.
• Any disputes arising from or related to the retreat shall be resolved through arbitration in England in accordance with the rules of the Central Arbitration Committee.

Dispute Resolution

We are committed to providing a positive and supportive experience for all participants. In the unlikely event that a dispute arises between you and Ladies Who Lit in connection with the retreat, we ask that you first contact us directly at help@ladieswholit.co.uk so we can work together to resolve the matter informally.

If we are unable to reach a satisfactory resolution within 30 days, both parties agree to resolve the dispute through binding arbitration rather than in court. The arbitration will be conducted in England in accordance with the rules of the Central Arbitration Committee or another mutually agreed upon arbitration service.

By registering for the retreat, you waive any right to participate in a class action or jury trial. Each party shall bear its own legal costs unless otherwise determined by the arbitrator.

This process helps us avoid lengthy legal proceedings and instead focus on reaching a fair and efficient outcome for everyone involved.

We reserve the right to amend these Terms and Conditions from time to time. Any changes will be posted on our website.

By registering for the retreat, participants acknowledge that they have read, understood, and agreed to abide by these terms and conditions.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding these terms and conditions, please contact us at help@ladieswholit.co.uk.

‍