How Deposits and Balance Payments Work

A deposit confirms the services that can be confirmed and is not automatically refundable. The exact deposit, the balance due date and the cancellation scale must appear on your booking confirmation. For current TourRadar bookings, the standard deposit is 30% and non-refundable.

Paying for a trip abroad usually happens in two steps: a deposit when you book, then the balance before you travel. It is a simple idea, but the details matter, because they decide what you have committed to, when the rest is due and what happens if your plans change.

This guide explains how deposits and balance payments work on a Nourbelle trip, what to look for on your booking confirmation and the questions worth asking before you pay. The binding terms for your trip are always the ones shown on your own booking confirmation; this article explains how to read them, not replace them.

What the deposit does

The deposit is the trigger for committing the booked services. Once it is paid, the services that can be confirmed for your trip, such as hotel rooms, cruise cabins, guides or transfers, are confirmed on your behalf.

Its amount and refundability come from the booking terms for your trip, not from a general article like this one. For current TourRadar bookings, the terms use a 30% non-refundable deposit.

Why deposits are often non-refundable

Across the travel industry, deposits are commonly non-refundable because, once a booking is confirmed, the operator starts committing to suppliers. Hotels, Nile cruise boats and other partners often have their own deposit and cancellation rules, and space that is held for you may be turned away from other travelers. A non-refundable deposit reflects that commitment.

That is also why it is worth being sure of your dates, the number of travelers and the names on the booking before you pay.

What to check before paying the deposit

• The total trip price and the currency it is quoted in.
• The deposit amount and whether it is refundable.
• The balance amount and its due date.
• The cancellation scale that applies to your booking.
• The names of all travelers, spelled exactly as in their passports.
• The services included and excluded.

If any of these is missing or unclear, ask before you pay.

The balance payment

The balance is the remaining amount of the trip price after the deposit. The balance due date is shown on your confirmation.

Your outstanding balance is calculated from the payment records for your booking. Whatever you see, and whatever our team sees, should be the same figure, based on the same recorded payments. If the amount you expect differs from the amount requested, ask us to check before paying, and keep your receipts.

Tips for paying the balance

• Note the due date in your calendar when you receive the confirmation.
• Pay a few days early if your bank needs time to process international payments.
• Keep the payment receipt or reference until after you travel.
• Check that the balance reflects any changes you agreed to after booking.

Payment methods and currency

Use the secure payment method shown on your payment request or booking confirmation. The payment options available can differ by booking channel, so follow the method given for your booking rather than one you have seen elsewhere.

Prices should state the booking currency clearly. If you pay in a different currency from the one your trip is priced in, your bank or card provider may convert the amount and may apply its own exchange rate or fees. Those charges come from your provider, so check with them if you want to know the exact cost in your home currency.

Keeping your payment safe

Never send card details through ordinary email, chat or messaging apps. A legitimate request will direct you to a secure payment method. If you receive a payment request that looks unusual, for example with different bank details or an unexpected link, contact us through a channel you already know before paying.

Price changes after booking

The accepted booking price should be frozen for the confirmed services. In other words, the price you accepted for the services on your confirmation is the price you pay for those services.

If you request a change, the situation is different. Changing dates, adding nights, upgrading a cabin or changing flights may create a new quoted amount, because of season, supplier or flight differences. In that case you receive a new quote before the change is accepted, so you can decide whether to go ahead.

Examples of changes that may affect the price

• Moving your trip to a different season, when hotel and cruise rates can differ.
• Changing a hotel, cruise or room category.
• Adding travelers, nights or excursions.
• Changing domestic or international flights, where fares depend on availability.

Cancellation and the deposit

For current TourRadar bookings, the 30% deposit is non-refundable. Cancellations 29 to 15 days before departure are charged at 50%, and cancellations 14 to 0 days before departure are charged at 100%. Add-ons are non-refundable.

Other booking channels must show the cancellation scale attached to that booking. If you booked through a different channel, the scale on your own confirmation is the one that applies.

How to read a cancellation scale

A cancellation scale links the date you cancel to the amount charged. The closer to departure, the higher the charge usually is, because suppliers have fewer chances to resell the services. When you read the scale on your confirmation, look for:

• How the days are counted, for example days before the departure date.
• What percentage or amount is charged in each period.
• Whether any items, such as add-ons, are treated separately.
• How to submit a cancellation so that the date is recorded.

If anything is unclear, ask us to explain it in writing before you book.

Protecting your trip

Many travelers choose travel insurance that covers cancellation for reasons such as illness, and it can help when a non-refundable deposit or late cancellation charge applies. Policies differ widely, so read what is covered, when cover starts and what evidence is required. Buying cover soon after you pay the deposit is common practice, because many policies only cover cancellation reasons that arise after the policy starts.

Insurance is arranged separately with an insurer of your choice; it does not change the terms of your booking.

Keeping track of your payments

A little organization makes the whole process easier, especially if several people are sharing the cost of one trip or paying from different cards or accounts.

• Keep one folder for the trip. Save the booking confirmation, every payment request, each receipt and any written changes together.
• Quote your booking reference. Include it whenever you pay or write to us, so each payment is matched to the right booking.
• Ask for confirmation of receipt. After paying, it is reasonable to ask for written confirmation that the payment has been recorded.
• Agree changes in writing. If you change dates, travelers or services, keep the written quote and acceptance with your records.
• Decide who pays what. In a shared booking, agree in advance how deposits and balances are split, so nothing is missed close to the due date.

Questions worth asking before you book

If you are comparing trips or booking channels, these questions help you understand what you are agreeing to: Which cancellation scale applies to this booking? Which services are confirmed when the deposit is paid? When exactly is the balance due? Which payment methods are available for this booking, and in which currency? Clear written answers to these questions, matched by your booking confirmation, are a strong protection.

Frequently asked questions

Is the deposit refundable?

Not under the current TourRadar standard, where the 30% deposit is non-refundable. Other booking channels must show their own applicable terms on the booking confirmation, and those are the terms that apply to your trip.

How do I pay for my trip?

Use the secure payment method provided for your booking, as shown on your payment request or booking confirmation. Never send card details through ordinary email.

When is the balance due?

The balance due date is shown on your booking confirmation. Note it when you book, and allow time for international payments to clear.

Do prices change after I book?

The accepted price for confirmed services should remain fixed. Changes you request can create new supplier, season or flight costs, and you receive a new quote before any change is accepted.

What happens to add-ons if I cancel?

For current TourRadar bookings, add-ons are non-refundable. For other booking channels, check the terms shown on your booking confirmation.

What should I do if my balance looks wrong?

Contact us before paying and share your booking reference and receipts. The balance should be calculated from the payments recorded for your booking, so any difference can be checked against those records.

Plan it with Nourbelle

If you have a question about a deposit, a balance or your terms, contact a Nourbelle specialist before you pay, and we will go through your booking confirmation with you.