TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. CANCELLATION POLICY FOR RETREATS, WORKSHOPS, COURSES AND BURSARY SPOT

1.1. Registration for workshops, courses, and regular retreats is binding when you receive a confirmation email. In case of cancellation more than 35 days before the start of the retreat, 100% of the price is refunded. In case of cancellation less than 35 days before the retreat/course start, there is no refund. Guests are asked to take out travel insurance to cover any cancellations costs and fees incurred.

1.2. Cancellations of coaching sessions by the Client must take place a minimum of 12 hrs before the beginning of that session. Any sessions scheduled before 9 am have a cancellation fee of 100% if canceled after 8 pm the night before. Exceptions can be made and are at the discretion of Bliss & Stars and depend on circumstances.

1.3. Workshops, courses, and retreats at discounted rates cannot be canceled.

1.4. Rescheduling is possible if done with at least 14 days of notice. Rescheduling is subject to availability. Rescheduled retreats are non-refundable and can’t be changed. We don’t allow rescheduling more than one time. Exceptions can be made and are at the discretion of Bliss & Stars and depend on circumstances. The rescheduled retreat must be completed within 6 months from the date of the retreat start. And price difference in the cost of the retreat must be covered by the guest.

1.5. Retreats booked at the last-minute discounted rate cannot be rescheduled.

1.5.1. Retreats already booked at the standard rate cannot be rescheduled to take advantage of a new discount offer. This policy ensures fairness to all participants and the integrity of our booking process.

1.6. While we strive to provide a great experience for all of our guests, we regret to inform you that we are unable to offer refunds for any unforeseen circumstances or dissatisfaction after your arrival.

1.7. Gift vouchers  are not refundable.

1.8. No refund will be given for no-show or days not used resulting from early check out or late check-in. The retreat cannot be held accountable for any flight delays or cancellations.

1.8.1. Late checking (on a second day) are allowed at the discretion of Bliss & Stars.

1.9. All cancellations are only valid if in writing and sent to: hello@blissandstars.com.

2.0. An admin fee 10% will be charged on any refunds.

2.1. Bursary Spot Cancellations and Rescheduling

2.1.1. Bursary spots for our retreats are not possible to reschedule. Once a bursary spot is allocated and confirmed, it cannot be transferred to a different date or retreat. We encourage participants to carefully consider their availability and commitment before applying for a bursary spot.

2.1.2.Any contributions made towards a bursary spot are refundable, subject to certain conditions. If a participant wishes to cancel their bursary spot, a refund will be provided if the cancellation request is received at least 30 days before the retreat’s scheduled start date. Such refunds will be processed promptly, and the amount refunded will be the total contribution made towards the bursary spot.

2.1.3.In cases where a cancellation request is received less than 30 days before the retreat start date, the contribution made towards the bursary spot becomes non-refundable. However, these non-refunded deposits will be utilized for a worthy cause. They will be placed into a dedicated bursary fund, which aims to support future participants who require financial assistance to attend our retreats.

2.1.4.By proceeding with the bursary spot application and acceptance, you acknowledge and agree to abide by the aforementioned terms and conditions regarding cancellations, rescheduling, and the refund policy. We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in adhering to these guidelines. Should you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us for further assistance.

3. PAYMENT TERMS & METHODS FOR RETREATS, WORKSHOPS, COURSES

3.1. For all retreats and dates, a 50% deposit is required to complete and secure your booking. You may book a retreat with a deposit (down payment) until 8 weeks prior to the retreat start date, after which full payment is required to secure your spot. The remaining balance of your retreat payment is due 6 weeks before the retreat begins. We will notify you of the balance due date after your deposit has been processed. If the final balance is not received by the due date, then your booking cannot be guaranteed and Bliss & Stars reserves the right to cancel your booking without refunding your deposit.

3.2. Please consult the pricing on the website for the most up-to-date prices.

3.3. Available payment methods:
cash (in-person coaching sessions only)
credit card (Visa or MasterCard) via Payfast
EFT (local or international), e.g. Payfast

3.4. The Client is solely responsible for the management of recurring payments.

4. Arrival Responsibilities

Guests are expected to carefully review and adhere to the pre-arrival instructions provided by Bliss & Stars. Due to our remote location, GPS and mobile signals can be unreliable. It is essential that all directions and advisories are followed to ensure your timely and safe arrival.

4.1. No-Show Policy
If a guest fails to arrive on the scheduled check-in date and does not provide notice, Bliss & Stars will retain the full deposit as a no-show fee. Rescheduling may be offered at our discretion, subject to availability and may incur an additional fee.

4.2. Pre-Arrival Communication
We encourage all guests to fully understand the arrival instructions before traveling. Should you have any questions or require further details, please contact us at least 24 hours prior to your arrival date.

4.3.Limitation of Liability
Bliss & Stars is not liable for any failure to arrive at the retreat on time or at all, due to missed or misunderstood arrival instructions or issues such as drained phone batteries. Any additional costs borne by the guest due to such issues are the sole responsibility of the guest.

4.4 Advice for Preparation
Please ensure all necessary travel gadgets, especially mobile phones and GPS devices, are fully charged before departure. We strongly recommend bringing portable chargers and downloading offline maps or printing out directions as a precaution.

5. DISCOUNTS

5.1. Discounted rates can be negotiated at Bliss & Stars’ discretion. Discounted rates have a separate cancellation policy (please see point 1.3.)

5.2. Discounted rates must be paid in advance for the retreats booked and are non-refundable unless canceled by Bliss & Stars without adequate provision of make-up classes or substitutes.

6. TRANSPORT TO BLISS & STARS

Transportation to the Bliss & Stars premises is the sole responsibility of the guests. While we may assist in connecting guests with fellow attendees to facilitate ride-sharing options, we expressly disclaim any liability or responsibility associated with transportation arrangements made by individuals. Guests are solely responsible for their own safety, comfort, and adherence to local transportation regulations. Bliss & Stars shall not be held accountable for any accidents, delays, damages, or losses incurred during the transportation process. It is the responsibility of each guest to arrange and ensure their transportation to and from the Bliss & Stars parking facilities.

7. PRIVATE RETREATS | EXCLUSIVE USE OF BLISS & STARS TERMS AND CONDITIONS

7.1. Bookings made within more than a 180-day (6 months) window. Bookings will be confirmed upon receipt of a 10% refundable deposit. A second 50% non-refundable payment is due no later than 150 days (5 months) prior to your proposed date of arrival at Bliss & Stars. The final 40% non-refundable payment is due no later than 90 days prior to your proposed date of arrival at Bliss & Stars. All deposits become non-refundable within 150 days of your arrival at Bliss & Stars.

7.2. Bookings made within a 180-day (6 months) window: Bookings will be confirmed upon receipt of a 20% non-refundable deposit. The final 80% non-refundable payment is due no later than 90 days prior to your proposed date of arrival at Bliss & Stars. All deposits become non-refundable within 90 days of your arrival at Bliss & Stars.

7.3. Bookings made within a 90-day (3 months) window: Bookings will be confirmed upon receipt of a 100% non-refundable payment.

7.4. Please note that if a payment is not received on time or in the correct amount we reserve the right to release your reservation, regardless of any payment(s) already received. We will use our best efforts to contact you prior to taking this course of action and will remind you of payments due.

7.5 Cancellation by the Client. We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance which gives full cancellation cover. All payments are non-refundable unless stated otherwise in these terms and conditions.

7.6. All cancellations must be received clearly in writing. This can be done via email using the following address: hello@blissandstars.com. Bliss & Stars will then confirm the cancellation back to the Client in writing with a cancellation number. The cancellation date shall be the date upon which the written notification of cancellation is received by Bliss & Stars from the Client.

7.7. Changes by the Client to the date or nature of the booking. All requests for amendments must be received by Bliss & Stars in writing from the Client. All requests shall be considered by Bliss & Stars at its sole discretion and additional charges may apply. Should the Client choose to leave Bliss & Stars early for any reason other than in circumstances outlined in paragraph 5.9 below, no refund will be made to the Client nor will alternative dates be arranged.
The Client also agrees that individual or group stays at Bliss & Stars cannot be sold, awarded as prizes, or otherwise transferred without our prior written authorization.

7.8. Changes and cancellations by Bliss & Stars.
Bliss & Stars will advise the Client of any changes or cancellations as soon as reasonably possible. Different terms will then apply depending on whether the proposed changes are, in the opinion of Bliss & Stars, minor or substantial.

If the proposed changes are, in the opinion of Bliss & Stars, minor, we will make alternative, comparable arrangements at no cost to the Client, who shall accept such alternative arrangements.

If the changes are, in the opinion of Bliss & Stars, substantial, then we may offer alternative arrangements to the Client, but the Client shall not be obliged to accept such alternative arrangements.

If no such alternative arrangements are offered in these circumstances, or the Client does not accept any such offered alternative arrangements, then the Client may reject the booking within 14 days of notification to the Client of the relevant change(s) and Bliss & Stars will cancel the booking.

If the Client rejects the booking in these circumstances, all money that has been paid by the Client to us by the date of cancellation will be repaid less Bliss & Stars’ reasonable expenses in respect of the booking. Under no circumstances will Bliss & Stars be liable to the Client for any financial recompense in the event of a change (whether material or otherwise) that does not lead to a cancellation.

In the event that a refund is provided to you, we shall not be responsible for any fluctuations in the exchange rate which may occur in the time between our receipt of the deposits and the time the refund is processed.

8. COPYRIGHTS

8.1. The Copyright of Bliss and Stars brand and trademark lie solely with Bliss & Stars. The Client may not use the trademark without written consent from Bliss and Stars management.

8.2. All materials, images, exercises, videos, and any other content or media provided as part of Bliss and Stars courses, workshops, and coaching sessions are entirely for your personal use. They may not be shared, copied, resold, or in any way sent to third parties, either for profit or for personal use. No other use of the materials or information is authorized. Any violation of this may result in civil and/or criminal liabilities.

9. CONFIDENTIALITY

9.1. All information shared by the Client during workshops, courses, retreats, and coaching sessions are confidential, but Bliss & Stars is legally obligated to inform emergency services and/or other authorities should we believe you are in danger of harm, may harm yourself, or others; or are in a potentially illegal situation or engaging in unlawful activity.

9.2. All your data, including personal information, contact details, and payment details are and will remain confidential unless I am legally required to divulge this information by request, or you give Bliss & Stars explicit permission in writing to share it on your behalf.

9.3. Participating in mindfulness programs means you permit Bliss & Stars to refer anonymously to any of our breakthroughs or experiences in promotional material – e.g., when appearing on Facebook, or Instagram posts, to help other people who may be in similar situations. It will ALWAYS be entirely anonymous, and will never refer to any identifying features, e.g., name, location, or related to a specific circumstance. You may, at any time, withdraw this permission.

10. GUARANTEES

Bliss & Stars do not make any guarantees about your results and cannot guarantee a specific outcome, e.g. a new, perfect partner by X date or a ‘no stress by the date we agreed.’ Personal results may vary depending on individual efforts, and an infinite number of external factors. Bliss & Stars will aim to provide you high level of service, helping you to get the most out of any program, but Bliss & Stars is not liable for any loss, damage, or other expense you may incur as a direct or indirect result of coaching or other services used, especially where/if you have not followed the course as directed.

A Note on Mindfulness or Breath Coaching & Workshops. It is not therapy, counseling, or psychiatry. In a very brief summary, coaching can be a fantastic personal growth tool, but it is about now, being present, looking inside and ahead to better understand how to replace reactivity with responsiveness to everyday life events, rather than rehashing past and curing any traumas. Mindfulness programs may include some evaluations of the past and can produce positive results. However, mindfulness isn’t designed to evaluate or fix, past events or trauma. Bliss & Stars reserves the right, at any time, to stop any mindfulness-related process with the Client if we believe mindfulness is not suitable for the issues at hand. We may be able to suggest other treatments but take no responsibility for any other service or recommendations after that. None of my methods, advice, or systems should be taken to replace, or in any way officially support, any guidance or treatment plan set out by a qualified physician, psychotherapist, psychiatrist, therapist, or counselor.

11. LIABILITY

The Client certifies that they are physically and mentally fit, and have not been advised to not participate by a qualified medical professional. They confirm that there are no physical and mental health-related reasons or problems, which preclude their participation in this activity. The Client acknowledges that Bliss & Stars will use this Release of Liability Form and that it will govern their actions and responsibilities at all activities with Bliss & Stars.
By confirming the reservation of the activity, the Client hereby certifies that they are over 18 years old, they have read this document and fully understand its content, they are aware that this is a release of liability and a contract, and accept it of their own free will.

12. FORCE MAJEURE

If you have to cancel your booking due to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances (including, but not limited to, government measures prohibiting travel, air traffic control strikes, serious adverse weather conditions making it impossible to fly, pandemic, epidemic, other serious health risks, warfare, other serious security problems such as terrorism, or natural disasters), the cancellation terms apply. In such circumstances, we may (acting in our sole discretion) provide you with a voucher in the value of your booking which can be used to make a booking with us at a future date.

If we are unable to fulfill your booking due to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances (as described in the paragraph above), or we conclude that such circumstances mean that it is not commercially viable for us to do so, we may cancel your booking and provide you with a voucher in the value of your booking which can be used to make a booking with us at a future date. We will use all reasonable efforts to notify you of the cancellation of your booking for the reasons set out in this paragraph as far in advance of your booking as possible.

For general questions arising out of these Terms & Conditions, please contact us.