Terms and Conditions

(a) Introduction

These terms and conditions (the “Terms”) govern your access to and use of all websites, social media accounts, applications and programs owned or operated by TravelBud LLC (a limited liability company incorporated in the State of Wyoming, United States of America, formerly TravelBud Holdings (Pty) Ltd), with its registered address at 525 Randall Ave Ste 100, Cheyenne, WY, US, 82001 (“TravelBud”, “we”, “us” or “our”).
By accessing our website, submitting an application, or enrolling in any program, you acknowledge that you have read, understood and agree to be bound by these Terms. If you do not agree to these Terms, you must not access our website or enrol in any program.
In these Terms, “you”, “your”, “applicant” or “participant” refers to any person who applies for, enrols in, or takes part in a program. Contact details for TravelBud are available on our website.

(b) Programs offered by TravelBud

TravelBud offers a range of travel programs worldwide, including educational, volunteering and teach-abroad programs, which are delivered in conjunction with selected partner organisations.
Certain programs are subject to the separate terms and conditions of our partner organisations. Where applicable, you must review and accept those partner terms prior to enrolment, and they apply in addition to these Terms.
Program availability cannot be guaranteed and is subject to change. We will provide updates on availability on a best-efforts basis.
Eligibility for teach-abroad programs depends on factors including your nationality and/or your level of education or academic qualification. A guaranteed placement is conditional on the applicant meeting all of the applicable requirements.
You must disclose all information relevant to your application and eligibility, including (without limitation) any chronic medications, criminal record, or accompanying dependents. Failure to disclose disqualifying or material information at the time of application forfeits any right to a refund and any placement guarantee.
“Guaranteed Placement” means that TravelBud and its in-country partners will actively work to secure interview opportunities on your behalf. Final hiring decisions rest solely with the host schools or employers.
For non-degree programs in Japan, applicants who are ultimately denied employment will be offered alternative placement options or a refund of their enrolment fee.
Travel insurance is a mandatory requirement for all programs. You must provide proof of comprehensive travel insurance meeting our specified coverage guidelines no later than 14 days prior to departure.

(c) Lifetime Placement Guarantee

The Lifetime Placement Guarantee does not apply, and TravelBud shall have no obligation under it, in any of the following circumstances:

where the participant departs their placement without giving proper notice, or fails to fulfil the agreed notice period;
where the host school or employer terminates the participant’s employment for any reason; or
where the participant is bound by the Future Placements Guideline applicable to XploreAsia partners.

(d) Code of Conduct

TravelBud is committed to providing a safe, respectful and professional experience for all applicants, participants, staff, partner organisations, host schools, employers and communities. This Code of Conduct sets the standard of behaviour and communication expected of every applicant and participant. It applies from the moment you submit an application, throughout all pre-departure communications, for the full duration of your program while in-country, and to every channel of interaction — including email, telephone, messaging platforms, video calls, social media, and in-person conduct.

Expected standards of behaviour

You must treat all TravelBud staff, partner organisations, host schools, employers, fellow participants and members of host communities with courtesy, respect and consideration at all times.
You must conduct yourself lawfully and comply with the laws of your host country, the reasonable rules and instructions of TravelBud, our partners, and your host school or employer, and the cultural norms and customs of the communities in which you live and work.
You must not engage in any conduct that is illegal, dishonest, violent, threatening, harassing, bullying, intimidating, or discriminatory, or that endangers the health, safety or wellbeing of yourself or others.
You must not engage in any conduct that brings, or is reasonably likely to bring, TravelBud, its partners, or your host school or employer into disrepute, including on social media and other public platforms.
You must provide honest, accurate and complete information at all stages, and must not misrepresent your qualifications, background, health, or eligibility.
You must respect the confidentiality and privacy of others and must not share personal, sensitive or proprietary information without authorisation.

Expected standards of communication

All communication with TravelBud staff, partners, host schools and employers must be respectful, courteous and professional in tone, whether written or verbal.
Abusive, aggressive, threatening, profane, defamatory, discriminatory or sexually inappropriate language or content is not acceptable in any communication and will not be tolerated.
You must communicate honestly and in good faith, respond to reasonable requests within a reasonable time, and keep TravelBud informed of any information relevant to your application or placement.
You must not send repeated, excessive or harassing communications, spam, or contact any staff member outside of appropriate channels or reasonable hours where alternative channels have been provided.
Disagreements or concerns must be raised through the appropriate support channels and addressed in a constructive and courteous manner.

Consequences of breach

A breach of this Code of Conduct may result in a formal warning, suspension of your application or placement, or removal from the program, at TravelBud’s discretion and depending on the nature and severity of the breach.
In accordance with section (g) (Refunds), a participant who is removed from a program on the grounds of a breach of this Code of Conduct is not eligible for a refund.
Serious breaches — including unlawful conduct, or conduct that endangers others — may result in immediate removal without prior warning. Removal by a host school, employer or partner for conduct reasons is treated as a breach of this Code of Conduct.
Suspected breaches may be reported to TravelBud through the support channels published on our website. TravelBud will consider reports fairly and reserves the right to take the action it considers appropriate in the circumstances.

(e) Pricing and payment

All program pricing is displayed in United States Dollars (USD), which is the primary and governing currency. For reference only, our website may display approximate exchange rates to British Pounds, Euros, Canadian Dollars, Australian Dollars, New Zealand Dollars and South African Rand. These rates fluctuate and are not guaranteed.
Upon registration for a program, you will receive an invoice reflecting the total amount due in USD.
Unless otherwise stated, the fees payable for programs do not cover any other associated costs, including but not limited to flights, insurance, accommodation, transport, food, medical or entertainment costs. You are responsible for all such costs independently.
Some programs require an initial deposit followed by one or more subsequent instalment payments prior to the program start date, which together constitute the full program fee.
Additional fees may be charged should you wish to change your intake date and/or program 12 weeks or less prior to your intake date.
The “bring a friend” discount applies only where all referred parties have completed their final payment obligations.
Accepted payment methods are Visa, Mastercard and American Express (credit or debit card), or electronic bank transfer using the account details on your invoice.
Credit and debit card transactions are processed on our behalf by Stripe. TravelBud does not store any of your credit or debit card details; certain personal information is retained in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Promotional offers and discounts cannot be combined. Only the single highest available discount will be applied to your program fee.

(f) Credit Scheme – Returning Applicants

This section sets out the terms of TravelBud’s credit scheme for returning applicants — applicants who have previously paid towards a program and who have been marked “On-hold” at the support stage, and who subsequently wish to restart and continue their program journey with us.

How the credit works

A returning applicant will receive a credit equal to the USD value they have already paid towards their program (the “Credit”). The Credit is applied against the updated final program fee.
The updated final program fee, and any outstanding balance, is based on the program fees current at the time the applicant returns — not the fees applicable in the year the applicant originally enrolled.
To restart the process, the returning applicant must pay 50% of the updated final program fee upfront. The remaining balance is then due in accordance with our regular payment schedule.
The Credit endures for a period of two (2) years from the date the applicant is notified that they have been marked “On-hold” at the support stage. If not applied within that period, the Credit lapses, subject to any Price Lock in place. This is applicable to anyone who goes on hold from September 2026. All previously enrolled applicants are on an evergreen credit scheme.
For a nominal fee, an applicant may purchase a “Price Lock” option, which extends the lifespan of the Credit and preserves the applicable program fee for the extended period, on the terms notified at the time of purchase.
Credit cannot be applied to the standalone Online TEFL course.

Terms of the Credit

The Credit may be transferred to another applicant, subject to that applicant meeting the applicable eligibility criteria and to TravelBud’s prior written confirmation of the transfer. Transfer of credit will require the original applicant to introduce, in writing, the new applicant to whom the credit is being transferred.
The Credit cannot be redeemed for cash, except to the extent (if any) expressly permitted under our Refunds policy in section (g).
The Credit may be applied to new and existing programs, provided that the applicable eligibility criteria for the chosen program are met.
The Credit is only applicable based on the eligibility requirements current at the time it is redeemed. The applicant must disclose any changes to their circumstances or eligibility (including, without limitation, health, criminal record, qualifications, nationality or dependents) that have arisen since their initial acceptance. Undisclosed changes may affect eligibility and the availability of the Credit.
You can choose to donate your credit to TravelBud's Pay It Forward scheme.

(g) Refunds

Travel insurance is your financial protection mechanism. You must obtain and maintain comprehensive travel insurance covering cancellations from all causes, including COVID-19 and similar pandemics.
All program fees, including enrolment payments, for all TESOL/TEFL courses and programs, are non-refundable, save as expressly set out in these Terms.
You are responsible for all costs associated with preparing for your program, including visas, travel documents, flights, vaccinations, travel insurance and related expenses. TravelBud will not provide any reimbursements or refunds for these expenses.
TravelBud reserves the right to remove a participant from the program if the participant does not adhere to the Code of Conduct set out in section (d), whether during pre-departure communications or once in-country. Participants who are removed on the grounds of conduct are not eligible for a refund.

(h) Cancellation, deferral and changes

You may request to cancel, defer or change your program by notifying TravelBud in writing through the support channels published on our website. A request is only effective once acknowledged by TravelBud.
Cancellation by you does not entitle you to a refund of any program fees or enrolment payments, which remain non-refundable in accordance with section (g), except where a specific written arrangement (such as the credit scheme in section (f)) applies.
Requests to change your intake date and/or program made 12 weeks or less prior to your intake date may attract additional fees in accordance with section (e).
TravelBud may, in its reasonable discretion, cancel, postpone, reschedule or modify a program — including where minimum participant numbers are not met, where a partner, host school or employer withdraws or changes its offering, or where required for safety, legal or operational reasons. Where TravelBud cancels a program before departure and no alternative or credit is accepted by you, we will discuss available options with you in good faith.
Where a program is affected by an event of Force Majeure, the provisions of section (i) apply.

(i) Force majeure

“Force Majeure Event” means any event or circumstance beyond the reasonable control of TravelBud, including (without limitation) acts of God, natural disasters, extreme weather, fire, flood, earthquake; epidemics, pandemics, public health emergencies, quarantine or travel restrictions; war, terrorism, civil unrest, riot or insurrection; strikes or labour disputes; government action, sanctions, border closures, visa or immigration decisions; failure of transport, utilities or telecommunications networks; and the withdrawal, closure or default of a partner organisation, host school or employer for reasons beyond our reasonable control.
TravelBud is not liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations, and is not in breach of these Terms, to the extent that such failure or delay is caused by a Force Majeure Event.
Where a Force Majeure Event affects a program, TravelBud will use reasonable efforts to notify affected participants and may (at its discretion) postpone, reschedule, relocate or modify the program, offer an alternative program, or issue a credit in accordance with section (f).
Program fees and enrolment payments remain non-refundable in the event of a Force Majeure Event, in accordance with section (g). You acknowledge that comprehensive travel insurance covering cancellation (including for pandemic-related causes) is a mandatory requirement and is your primary means of financial protection against such events.
If a Force Majeure Event continues for a prolonged period, TravelBud and the participant will discuss appropriate options in good faith, which may include a credit under section (f).

(j) Privacy policy

TravelBud’s collection, use and protection of your personal information is governed by our separate Privacy Policy, available on our website (as updated from time to time, and updated as at 30 May 2025 in accordance with the EU General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”)). By accepting these Terms, you acknowledge that you have read and understood our Privacy Policy.

(k) No liability

To the maximum extent permitted by law, TravelBud accepts no liability whatsoever for any losses of any kind which may be sustained by any person participating in any of the programs offered by it. Such excluded losses include, without limitation, loss of or damage to personal property; losses relating to personal injury or death; losses arising from the cancellation or amendment of travel; and losses arising from visa denials or delays. Nothing in these Terms excludes or limits any liability that cannot be excluded or limited under applicable law.

(l) Governing law and jurisdiction

These Terms, and any dispute or claim (including non-contractual disputes or claims) arising out of or in connection with them, their subject matter or formation, are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Wyoming, United States of America, without regard to its conflict-of-laws principles.
Subject to section (m) (Dispute resolution), you and TravelBud submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the State of Wyoming to settle any dispute or claim arising out of or in connection with these Terms.

(m) Dispute resolution

If a dispute arises out of or in connection with these Terms, the parties will first attempt in good faith to resolve the dispute through direct, good-faith negotiation, using the support channels published on our website.
If the dispute is not resolved through negotiation within thirty (30) days of written notice of the dispute, the parties will attempt to resolve it through mediation administered by a mutually agreed mediator before commencing any court proceedings.
If the dispute is not resolved by mediation, either party may refer the dispute to the courts identified in section (l). Nothing in this section prevents either party from seeking urgent interim or injunctive relief from a court at any time.

(n) General

Variation. TravelBud may, in its sole discretion, vary any of these Terms. We will publish the updated Terms on our website, and the version in force at the time of your application or enrolment (as updated) applies to you. Your continued use of our website or programs after changes are published constitutes acceptance of the updated Terms.
Entire agreement. These Terms, together with any applicable partner terms, our Privacy Policy, and the invoice and enrolment documentation issued to you, constitute the entire agreement between you and TravelBud in relation to their subject matter, and supersede all prior discussions, representations and agreements.
Severability. If any provision of these Terms is found to be invalid, unlawful or unenforceable, that provision will be severed to the minimum extent necessary, and the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.
Waiver. No failure or delay by TravelBud in exercising any right under these Terms operates as a waiver of that right, and no single or partial exercise of any right prevents its further exercise.
Assignment. You may not assign or transfer your rights or obligations under these Terms without our prior written consent (save as expressly permitted in respect of the Credit under section (f)). TravelBud may assign or transfer its rights and obligations under these Terms.
Third parties. Save where expressly stated, these Terms do not confer any rights on any person who is not a party to them.
Notices. Any notice to TravelBud under these Terms must be given in writing through the contact or support channels published on our website.