Terms of Booking

Effective date: 1 January 2026 · Last updated:

These terms govern your booking of the LAGAI Welcome Experience. By submitting a booking inquiry, you confirm you have read and accept these terms.

1. The inquiry

Submitting the booking form creates an inquiry, not a confirmed booking. No payment is taken at the inquiry stage. We respond within 2–3 working days with availability, partner-hotel options, and a clear all-inclusive price.

2. Confirmation and payment

A booking is confirmed only once you have:

Received our written confirmation by email,
Confirmed in writing that you accept the quoted price and the partner hotel offered, and
Paid the deposit (or full amount) as specified in the confirmation email.

Until all three steps are complete, no place is reserved for you.

3. What’s included

The Welcome Experience package includes:

Airport pickup at Praia Nelson Mandela International Airport on arrival
Transfer to your confirmed partner hotel
An informal cultural orientation talk on the LAGAI campus
A short live cultural performance on the LAGAI campus
Introduction to a vetted local guide for your onward island travel
A printed island map and contextual information for onward travel
A Certificate of Cultural Participation at the end of the visit

Hotel accommodation, meals, internal flights, ferries, and onward guide services are charged separately and billed by the respective partners.

4. Cancellation

Before confirmation

You may cancel an inquiry at any time, free of charge, by replying to our confirmation correspondence. Since no payment is taken at inquiry stage, no refund is needed.

After confirmation

If you cancel…	Refund
30+ days before arrival	Full refund (less any non-refundable hotel deposits)
15–29 days before arrival	50% refund
7–14 days before arrival	25% refund
Less than 7 days, or no-show	No refund

Partner hotels may have separate cancellation policies that override the above for the accommodation portion of your booking. These are always made clear in your confirmation email.

5. Force majeure

If circumstances beyond either party’s reasonable control (severe weather, natural disasters, pandemics, government restrictions, airport closures) prevent the experience from taking place, we will offer you a full refund of LAGAI fees or the option to reschedule, at your choice. Partner-hotel refund terms in such cases are governed by the hotel’s own policy.

6. Your responsibilities

You are responsible for:

Holding a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond your visit
Securing any required visa for entry to Cape Verde
Travel insurance covering medical care, cancellation, and personal liability
Informing us of any accessibility, dietary, medical, or other relevant needs at the inquiry stage
Behaving respectfully toward staff, partner hotels, guides, and the communities you visit

LAGAI reserves the right to terminate the Welcome Experience without refund if a participant behaves abusively or unlawfully.

7. The Certificate

The Certificate of Cultural Participation recognises your participation in the Welcome Experience. It is publicly verifiable at /verify-certificate/ using its reference code. It does not carry academic credit, ECTS points, or CPD hours, and is not represented as a degree, diploma, or accredited qualification.

8. Research participation

The Welcome Experience is hosted by LAGAI’s Cultural Research and Tourism Department. With your separate, explicit, in-person consent, your visit may contribute to ongoing research into intercultural reception. Participation is entirely optional and has no effect on your booking, hotel, transport, or guide arrangements.

9. Liability

LAGAI’s liability is limited to the value of the Welcome Experience fees paid to LAGAI. We are not liable for losses caused by partner hotels, local guides, transport providers, or other third parties — though we will assist you in raising any issues with them. Nothing in these terms limits our liability for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, or for fraud.

10. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of the Republic of Cabo Verde. Any dispute arising under them is subject to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Praia.

Plain-English summary: Sending the form costs you nothing and commits you to nothing. A booking is only confirmed when we’ve emailed you back and you’ve agreed and paid. You can cancel for a full refund up to 30 days before arrival; less notice means partial or no refund. Hotels set their own cancellation terms. The certificate is a participation record, not an academic qualification. Be respectful and bring insurance.

Questions

Email info@laga-institute.org before you book if anything here is unclear.