Terms and conditions
Families
Families
1. Enrolment & confirmation
By enrolling, you accept the contract and travel terms and conditions of ESL Edu- cation SA (ESL – Language studies abroad). Once we have received your enrolment via our website, we will confirm your language stay within 7 working days. We’ll inform you quickly and propose an alternative course if the one you have chosen is full. We recommend that you to book your flight/train ticket once you have received your booking confirmation from our admissions centre. In the case of a late enrolment, 2 weeks (or less) prior to your departure, a last-minute fee of EUR/USD/CAD/GBP 30 is invoiced. The total amount of your language travel stay, is converted into EUR/USD/CAD/GBP (approx. 6 weeks prior to your departure). The choice of payment in foreign currency needs to be specified at the time of the initial booking. International banking fees amounting to EUR/USD/CAD/GBP 10 will be added to the invoice to cover the bank transfer made by ESL – Language Studies Abroad to its partner schools.
2. Payment
For a family booking of two participants we invoice one enrolment fee of EUR 140/USD 100 /CAD 100/GBP 150. For each additional participant we invoice a supplement of EUR 35/USD 30/CAD 30 /GBP 45 to the original enrolment fee. The deposit amount of EUR/GBP 300, USD/CAD 500 as well as the insurance fee (if booked, see point 6) must be paid by credit card at the time of enrolment. Any flights booked by ESL must be paid for upon confirmation. An invoice will be sent to you for the remaining total balance, which must be paid 4 weeks prior to the course start at the latest. The remaining balance can be paid by credit card or bank transfer. ESL – Language studies abroad may cancel your booking in the case of non-payment of the deposit or the remaining balance (according to the cancellation conditions mentioned in point 4). Your file will be sent to you after we have received your payment in full (usually from 10 to 7 days prior to your departure).
3. Changes to booking
Prior to your departure
For every change requested prior to the start of the course, there will be an administration charge of EUR/USD/CAD/GBP 30 to be paid on top of any price difference from the original booking dates to the new ones.
A change of school is considered as a cancellation in accordance with the conditions specified in point 4.
Following your departure
Following your departure, if you decide to shorten or change the course initially booked, you will not be entitled to a refund. If you would like to change your type of accommodation or do any other change, please contact our admissions department. Please note that extra fees may apply to any changes made to the original booking.
4. Cancellation
Concerning language studies abroad
a) An eventual cancellation needs to be notified by email. If the cancellation occurs more than 30 days prior to your departure, a fee of EUR/GBP 300, USD/CAD 500 is invoiced to you. Insurance fees will be also invoiced.
b) If your cancellation occurs less than 30 days prior to your departure, you will be charged cancellation fees of a minimum of EUR/GBP 300, USD/CAD 500 or the following fees:
- From 29 to 15 days prior to the departure: 20% of the program will be invoiced.
- From 14 to 8 days prior to the departure: 40% of the program will be invoiced.
- From 7 to 1 days prior to the departure: 80% of the program will be invoiced.
- From the rest day of your stay or in the case of an early return, no refund will be granted.
Insurance fees will be always be invoiced and therefore are not refundable.
Concerning flights
In the case of a change in booking after the ticket confirmation, tour operators’ or airline companies’ change fees will be invoiced to you in full, except if you have an insurance which partly covers cancellation fees (cf. point 6).
Concerning accommodation
The residences/apartments/studios/hotel rooms are subject to the terms and conditions of cancellation of the various local service providers and the cancellation fees are generally higher than for host families. Detailed terms and conditions of cancellation on request.
5. Travel guarantee
ESL – Language studies abroad is a member of the Guarantee Fund of the Swiss travel industry. This Guarantee Fund refunds you the package costs of your language study stay, in the case of failure or insolvency of the service provider prior to your departure. If the insolvency were to occur following your departure, the Guarantee Fund would take charge of the return travel fees, insofar as the service provider does not fulfil its obligations.
6. Insurance
All students taking a language stay with ESL – Language studies abroad should be covered by an insurance policy during their time abroad. If you are interested in purchasing insurance through our trusted provider, who offers all types of insurance (cancellation and accident-health insurance) please tell us at the time of enrolment. In the case of inability to travel prior to your departure (illness, accident, death of a relative, employment or loss of a job, stolen passport, etc.), fees will be charged as usual but the client will be responsible of seeking reimbursement from the insurance provider; assistance insurance (early return, hospital transport, repatriation, etc.); and accident and health insurance. It is also necessary to announce your departure abroad to your health insurance/social security provider (or additional mutual insurance company).
Free ESL exam cancellation insurance
If you have to sit an exam for which a negative result would influence your departure, it is possible to take out our free exam cancellation insurance. Should the case arise, we request that you produce an official document as proof of the above-mentioned situation. You will get a full refund. We ask you to please note that the plane ticket is separate and is not part of this cancellation insurance. This insurance is valid only if we are notified at least 10 days prior to departure.
7. Conditions of admission into destination country
You are responsible of obtaining the information about the country's entry requirements, the documentation and visas needed to travel, the security situation of the country, healthcare, vaccinations, local laws and customs, etc. You are responsible for respecting all the major instructions concerning your journey.
If you fail to do so, the fees, in particular the cancellation fees, will be at your charge, except if it is due to incorrect information from ESL – Language studies abroad.
ESL will not be held responsible in case the student is denied a visa or is not allowed to enter the country.
Please note minor students travelling alone or with an adult who is not their legal guardian may be required an extra (official) document signed by their parents, second parent or legal guardian(s) authorizing them to travel.
Each country decides if it requires the child to have an official authorization from their parent(s) or guardian. It’s the parents /legal guardian’s responsibility to check, before the child travels, the requirements of the country the minor student is travelling both to and from
8. Reserved rights of the organizer
ESL – Language studies abroad and our partner schools reserve the right to refuse an enrolment or to expel a participant if their behavior detracts from the smooth running of the program, if it contradicts the rules of the establishment or if it breaks the law of the host country. All fees, including the return journey, fines, etc. are at the expense of the participant or of the parents. The participants, or their legal guardians, are also responsible for any damages or losses caused during their stay.
Changes to programme by partner school
The student acknowledges and agrees that the partner school may change the structure and content of an advertised programme in order to comply with local rules around health and safety and in order to protect the health, safety and well-being of students. These changes may include, but are not limited to:
- Changes in how a particular programme is delivered, for example moving from classroom-based teaching to online teaching;
- Reducing class sizes; or
- Cancellation or substitution of specific activities
ESL- Language Travel will not be liable for any changes made by a partner school.
9. Responsibility of the organizer
ESL – Language studies abroad is responsible as a Language travel agent for the authenticity of its brochure, the accuracy of its content, the conscientious choice of the service providers as well as the passing on of travel documents to the point of sale/client. ESL – Language studies abroad can in no case be held responsible in the case of an accident in the place of the stay or during the journey. ESL – Language studies abroad assumes no responsibility for compensation requests linked to airline agreements. The passenger is notified that ESL – Language studies abroad does not organize airline journeys and only intervenes in the matter as an intermediary. In this regard, we attract your attention to the terms and conditions of the partner travel agency.
ESL – Language studies abroad shall not be in breach of this agreement nor liable for delay in performing, or failure to perform, any of its obligations under this agreement if such delay or failure result from events, circumstances or causes beyond its reasonable control including but not limited to: fire; natural disaster; acts of government; failure of partner schools, suppliers or sub-contractors; labour disputes or civil unrest; criminal, terrorist or threatened terrorist activities of any kind; pandemics and other public health emergencies; any negligent or wilful act or failure to act by any third party; or any other cause beyond the direct control of ESL – Language studies abroad (each a “Force Majeure Event”).
Where any programme is cancelled by the organiser or partner school as a result of a Force Majeure Event, it is acknowledged that:
- ESL – Language Travel or the organiser (as applicable) has the right to retain a pro-rated amount of any fees paid where services have been partially provided. Any fees retained will be proportionate to the services provided;
- ESL – Language Travel shall be entitled to deduct any irrecoverable fees it suffers from the amount of any refund, for example cancellation fees or similar;
- the organiser or partner school shall have the right to provide the cancelled programme through alternative means, including online and virtual programmes.
- Any third party services procured by ESL – Language Travel on behalf of the participant, including but not limited to flights or insurance shall remain subject to the terms of the respective provider’s terms and ESL – Language Travel shall not be liable for such third party services or any act or omission of such third party.
10. Cancellation of a program
The organizer may cancel a program in the case of unforeseeable circumstances, the authorities’ order, a strike, unrest or other restrictive reasons. The total amount paid for the course is immediately returned, however, in all cases, the organizer may keep a compensation for the services partially provided.
11. Price changes
ESL – Language studies abroad reserves the right to modify the prices in the case of unpredictable changes, such as monetary fluctuations, an increase in transport costs, the introduction or increase of State taxes like airport taxes or VAT. If the increase is more than 10% of the rate confirmed by ESL – Language studies abroad, you have the right to terminate your contract with ESL – Language studies abroad, without paying any charge, by registered post, within the 10 days following our confirmation.
12. Course material
The course material is not systematically included in the price of the stay. In this case, it is to be paid on-site and varies depending on the development of your language level (duration of stay), according to the chosen program (specific courses, exam preparation courses), or according to the personal needs of the students (support, one-to-one classes).
13. Bank holidays
If teaching does not take place on bank holidays and if the classes are not made up for by our partner schools, the missed hours are not reimbursed.
14. Course changes
According to the number of participants, their language level or the season, our partner schools are sometimes obliged to replace booked group courses by one-to-one classes (of fewer lessons). These changes do not give way to any refund.
15. Promotional material
ESL – Language studies abroad reserves the right to keep and/or use, for promotional purposes, the images and photographs which were taken within its partner schools or within the framework of a language study trip abroad in agreement with the participants. In return, ESL – Language studies abroad commits itself to confidentiality and discretion, in order to preserve the rights and goods of its clients, in accordance with the legislation in force.
16. Lowest price guarantee
If, within the 30 days following the payment of your invoice, you find exactly the same program including the same benefits for the same dates (identical school and accommodation) offered by another language travel organization in your country and at a published rate in an official brochure and in the currency of the concerned country which is at a lower price than that paid to ESL – Language studies abroad, we commit ourselves to refunding you the difference. This guarantee excludes promotional offers or personalized price quotes of other language travel organizations as well as the following services: plane tickets, insurance policies, hotels, etc.
17. Responsible organizations
Organizations of our respective partner schools.
18. Place of jurisdiction
Only the rulings of Swiss law are applicable in subsequent relations between you and ESL – Language studies abroad. The place of jurisdiction is Lausanne
ESL Education SA
Escaliers du Grand-Pont 7
1003 Lausanne
Switzerland
T: +41 (0) 21 962 88 80
F: +41 (0) 21 962 88 81
E: [email protected]
By enrolling, you accept the contract and travel terms and conditions of ESL Edu- cation SA (ESL – Language studies abroad). Once we have received your enrolment via our website, we will confirm your language stay within 7 working days. We’ll inform you quickly and propose an alternative course if the one you have chosen is full. We recommend that you to book your flight/train ticket once you have received your booking confirmation from our admissions centre. In the case of a late enrolment, 2 weeks (or less) prior to your departure, a last-minute fee of EUR/USD/CAD/GBP 30 is invoiced. The total amount of your language travel stay, is converted into EUR/USD/CAD/GBP (approx. 6 weeks prior to your departure). The choice of payment in foreign currency needs to be specified at the time of the initial booking. International banking fees amounting to EUR/USD/CAD/GBP 10 will be added to the invoice to cover the bank transfer made by ESL – Language Studies Abroad to its partner schools.
2. Payment
For a family booking of two participants we invoice one enrolment fee of EUR 140/USD 100 /CAD 100/GBP 150. For each additional participant we invoice a supplement of EUR 35/USD 30/CAD 30 /GBP 45 to the original enrolment fee. The deposit amount of EUR/GBP 300, USD/CAD 500 as well as the insurance fee (if booked, see point 6) must be paid by credit card at the time of enrolment. Any flights booked by ESL must be paid for upon confirmation. An invoice will be sent to you for the remaining total balance, which must be paid 4 weeks prior to the course start at the latest. The remaining balance can be paid by credit card or bank transfer. ESL – Language studies abroad may cancel your booking in the case of non-payment of the deposit or the remaining balance (according to the cancellation conditions mentioned in point 4). Your file will be sent to you after we have received your payment in full (usually from 10 to 7 days prior to your departure).
3. Changes to booking
Prior to your departure
For every change requested prior to the start of the course, there will be an administration charge of EUR/USD/CAD/GBP 30 to be paid on top of any price difference from the original booking dates to the new ones.
A change of school is considered as a cancellation in accordance with the conditions specified in point 4.
Following your departure
Following your departure, if you decide to shorten or change the course initially booked, you will not be entitled to a refund. If you would like to change your type of accommodation or do any other change, please contact our admissions department. Please note that extra fees may apply to any changes made to the original booking.
4. Cancellation
Concerning language studies abroad
a) An eventual cancellation needs to be notified by email. If the cancellation occurs more than 30 days prior to your departure, a fee of EUR/GBP 300, USD/CAD 500 is invoiced to you. Insurance fees will be also invoiced.
b) If your cancellation occurs less than 30 days prior to your departure, you will be charged cancellation fees of a minimum of EUR/GBP 300, USD/CAD 500 or the following fees:
- From 29 to 15 days prior to the departure: 20% of the program will be invoiced.
- From 14 to 8 days prior to the departure: 40% of the program will be invoiced.
- From 7 to 1 days prior to the departure: 80% of the program will be invoiced.
- From the rest day of your stay or in the case of an early return, no refund will be granted.
Insurance fees will be always be invoiced and therefore are not refundable.
Concerning flights
In the case of a change in booking after the ticket confirmation, tour operators’ or airline companies’ change fees will be invoiced to you in full, except if you have an insurance which partly covers cancellation fees (cf. point 6).
Concerning accommodation
The residences/apartments/studios/hotel rooms are subject to the terms and conditions of cancellation of the various local service providers and the cancellation fees are generally higher than for host families. Detailed terms and conditions of cancellation on request.
5. Travel guarantee
ESL – Language studies abroad is a member of the Guarantee Fund of the Swiss travel industry. This Guarantee Fund refunds you the package costs of your language study stay, in the case of failure or insolvency of the service provider prior to your departure. If the insolvency were to occur following your departure, the Guarantee Fund would take charge of the return travel fees, insofar as the service provider does not fulfil its obligations.
6. Insurance
All students taking a language stay with ESL – Language studies abroad should be covered by an insurance policy during their time abroad. If you are interested in purchasing insurance through our trusted provider, who offers all types of insurance (cancellation and accident-health insurance) please tell us at the time of enrolment. In the case of inability to travel prior to your departure (illness, accident, death of a relative, employment or loss of a job, stolen passport, etc.), fees will be charged as usual but the client will be responsible of seeking reimbursement from the insurance provider; assistance insurance (early return, hospital transport, repatriation, etc.); and accident and health insurance. It is also necessary to announce your departure abroad to your health insurance/social security provider (or additional mutual insurance company).
Free ESL exam cancellation insurance
If you have to sit an exam for which a negative result would influence your departure, it is possible to take out our free exam cancellation insurance. Should the case arise, we request that you produce an official document as proof of the above-mentioned situation. You will get a full refund. We ask you to please note that the plane ticket is separate and is not part of this cancellation insurance. This insurance is valid only if we are notified at least 10 days prior to departure.
7. Conditions of admission into destination country
You are responsible of obtaining the information about the country's entry requirements, the documentation and visas needed to travel, the security situation of the country, healthcare, vaccinations, local laws and customs, etc. You are responsible for respecting all the major instructions concerning your journey.
If you fail to do so, the fees, in particular the cancellation fees, will be at your charge, except if it is due to incorrect information from ESL – Language studies abroad.
ESL will not be held responsible in case the student is denied a visa or is not allowed to enter the country.
Please note minor students travelling alone or with an adult who is not their legal guardian may be required an extra (official) document signed by their parents, second parent or legal guardian(s) authorizing them to travel.
Each country decides if it requires the child to have an official authorization from their parent(s) or guardian. It’s the parents /legal guardian’s responsibility to check, before the child travels, the requirements of the country the minor student is travelling both to and from
8. Reserved rights of the organizer
ESL – Language studies abroad and our partner schools reserve the right to refuse an enrolment or to expel a participant if their behavior detracts from the smooth running of the program, if it contradicts the rules of the establishment or if it breaks the law of the host country. All fees, including the return journey, fines, etc. are at the expense of the participant or of the parents. The participants, or their legal guardians, are also responsible for any damages or losses caused during their stay.
Changes to programme by partner school
The student acknowledges and agrees that the partner school may change the structure and content of an advertised programme in order to comply with local rules around health and safety and in order to protect the health, safety and well-being of students. These changes may include, but are not limited to:
- Changes in how a particular programme is delivered, for example moving from classroom-based teaching to online teaching;
- Reducing class sizes; or
- Cancellation or substitution of specific activities
ESL- Language Travel will not be liable for any changes made by a partner school.
9. Responsibility of the organizer
ESL – Language studies abroad is responsible as a Language travel agent for the authenticity of its brochure, the accuracy of its content, the conscientious choice of the service providers as well as the passing on of travel documents to the point of sale/client. ESL – Language studies abroad can in no case be held responsible in the case of an accident in the place of the stay or during the journey. ESL – Language studies abroad assumes no responsibility for compensation requests linked to airline agreements. The passenger is notified that ESL – Language studies abroad does not organize airline journeys and only intervenes in the matter as an intermediary. In this regard, we attract your attention to the terms and conditions of the partner travel agency.
ESL – Language studies abroad shall not be in breach of this agreement nor liable for delay in performing, or failure to perform, any of its obligations under this agreement if such delay or failure result from events, circumstances or causes beyond its reasonable control including but not limited to: fire; natural disaster; acts of government; failure of partner schools, suppliers or sub-contractors; labour disputes or civil unrest; criminal, terrorist or threatened terrorist activities of any kind; pandemics and other public health emergencies; any negligent or wilful act or failure to act by any third party; or any other cause beyond the direct control of ESL – Language studies abroad (each a “Force Majeure Event”).
Where any programme is cancelled by the organiser or partner school as a result of a Force Majeure Event, it is acknowledged that:
- ESL – Language Travel or the organiser (as applicable) has the right to retain a pro-rated amount of any fees paid where services have been partially provided. Any fees retained will be proportionate to the services provided;
- ESL – Language Travel shall be entitled to deduct any irrecoverable fees it suffers from the amount of any refund, for example cancellation fees or similar;
- the organiser or partner school shall have the right to provide the cancelled programme through alternative means, including online and virtual programmes.
- Any third party services procured by ESL – Language Travel on behalf of the participant, including but not limited to flights or insurance shall remain subject to the terms of the respective provider’s terms and ESL – Language Travel shall not be liable for such third party services or any act or omission of such third party.
10. Cancellation of a program
The organizer may cancel a program in the case of unforeseeable circumstances, the authorities’ order, a strike, unrest or other restrictive reasons. The total amount paid for the course is immediately returned, however, in all cases, the organizer may keep a compensation for the services partially provided.
11. Price changes
ESL – Language studies abroad reserves the right to modify the prices in the case of unpredictable changes, such as monetary fluctuations, an increase in transport costs, the introduction or increase of State taxes like airport taxes or VAT. If the increase is more than 10% of the rate confirmed by ESL – Language studies abroad, you have the right to terminate your contract with ESL – Language studies abroad, without paying any charge, by registered post, within the 10 days following our confirmation.
12. Course material
The course material is not systematically included in the price of the stay. In this case, it is to be paid on-site and varies depending on the development of your language level (duration of stay), according to the chosen program (specific courses, exam preparation courses), or according to the personal needs of the students (support, one-to-one classes).
13. Bank holidays
If teaching does not take place on bank holidays and if the classes are not made up for by our partner schools, the missed hours are not reimbursed.
14. Course changes
According to the number of participants, their language level or the season, our partner schools are sometimes obliged to replace booked group courses by one-to-one classes (of fewer lessons). These changes do not give way to any refund.
15. Promotional material
ESL – Language studies abroad reserves the right to keep and/or use, for promotional purposes, the images and photographs which were taken within its partner schools or within the framework of a language study trip abroad in agreement with the participants. In return, ESL – Language studies abroad commits itself to confidentiality and discretion, in order to preserve the rights and goods of its clients, in accordance with the legislation in force.
16. Lowest price guarantee
If, within the 30 days following the payment of your invoice, you find exactly the same program including the same benefits for the same dates (identical school and accommodation) offered by another language travel organization in your country and at a published rate in an official brochure and in the currency of the concerned country which is at a lower price than that paid to ESL – Language studies abroad, we commit ourselves to refunding you the difference. This guarantee excludes promotional offers or personalized price quotes of other language travel organizations as well as the following services: plane tickets, insurance policies, hotels, etc.
17. Responsible organizations
Organizations of our respective partner schools.
18. Place of jurisdiction
Only the rulings of Swiss law are applicable in subsequent relations between you and ESL – Language studies abroad. The place of jurisdiction is Lausanne
ESL Education SA
Escaliers du Grand-Pont 7
1003 Lausanne
Switzerland
T: +41 (0) 21 962 88 80
F: +41 (0) 21 962 88 81
E: [email protected]