FAQ

FAQ

Do you have additional questions?
We are happy to help!

As we are all passionate travelers ourselves, we know that organizing a trip from abroad can be quite a struggle sometimes! In this section, we have gathered the questions we are frequently asked by other travelers like you!

If you still didn't find the right answer to your issue, feel free to shoot us a message with your question to booking@impactrip.com!

Am I old enough to take part in a volunteer program?

You need to be at least 16 years old to volunteer with ImpacTrip, unless you volunteer with your parents or legal representative!

But some programs require a minimum age of 18 years old. In Portugal, that is the case for the Wolf Conservation program in Mafra.

 

At which locations can I go volunteer with ImpacTrip?

We have partnered up with hundreds of social organizations in Europe, allowing you to discover some of the best bits of our country whilst having a strong social or environmental impact!

In Portugal, you can volunteer with us in and around our capital, Lisbon, or in the second-biggest city of Portugal, Porto. If a city stay isn't exactly what you are looking for, why don't you check out our Wolf Conservation program, where you'll be accommodated in a wooden house right in the Natural Park in Mafra or our Wild Conservation program in the middle of Lousã mountain?

Recently, we have also expanded our network of NGOs to Barcelona in Spain, Split in Croatia, and Rome in Italy, where lots of exciting volunteer opportunities with great impact on the local community are waiting for you as well! 

 

Do I need to speak the local language?

No, you don't need to have any previous skills in the local language! All of our programs are run entirely in English and our guides and staff are all comfortable speaking English as well! But we always encourage our participants to get acquainted with some of the most basic terms and expressions, as even just a simple "Good morning" in the local language can be a great icebreaker to start interacting with the locals! 

There are also local language lessons available for volunteers. The language lessons can be booked before your arrival or when you get to your volunteer destination. Lessons are taught by a professional teacher and tailored to each volunteer’s current language level.

 

What do I need to pack for my trip?

Are you already excited for your stay with us? We prepared a little list of essentials which can assist you with your packing:

  • Plug adapters and power converters
  • Unlocked mobile phone – we will give you a SIM card that you can charge according to your needs
  • Laptop, tablet or smartphone so you have access to Wi-Fi almost everywhere
  • Camera
  • Basics (toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner…)
  • Medication contact lenses, glasses
  • Clothes according to the local weather and the project you applied for

What is ImpacTrip? I would like to know more about your organization.

ImpacTrip is a social enterprise that promotes Responsible Travel Experiences and Volunteer Programs in Europe. Founded in 2015, ImpacTrip has provided thousands of short-term Responsible Experiences and long-term Volunteer Programs to people from all over the world that contributed with their volunteer work to help non-profits organizations to fight for their causes. Get to know us better at facebook.com/impactrip/ or instagram.com/impactrip/

What is ImpacTrip’s Cancellation and Refund Policy?

Impactrip deposit fees are designed to be as affordable as possible to allow everyone to join our programs. Therefore, considering its limited capacity and the expectations of everyone involved, ImpacTrip is unable to provide a total refund policy.

Deposit Fee

The payment of the deposit fees confirms a volunteer’s acceptance onto one of ImpacTrip's volunteer programs. Deposit fees are not transferable to other people but may be transferable to another program.

The deposit fee is refundable until sixty days before the start date of the volunteer’s chosen program. Requests for deposit fee refunds must be made via an email to your ImpacTrip Program Manager, clearly detailing the reasons for cancellation.

Cancellations are subject to the following policies:

  • The notice period is based on the earliest start date the volunteer has ever been registered for.
  • If a volunteer cancels sixty days or more before their earliest program start date, they can request a refund of the deposit fee, which will be provided minus the transaction costs of the refund. Alternatively, they may ask for a deposit fee credit to be held in their name for future use on any ImpacTrip program, subject to availability, for a period of twelve months from their earliest registered start date. This credit may be issued minus the value of any change fees the volunteer has incurred.
  • If a volunteer cancels between fifty-nine and thirty days before their program’s start date, no refund of the deposit fee is available. A deposit fee credit may be held in their name for a period of twelve months from their earliest registered start date, for future use on another ImpacTrip program, subject to program availability and at the discretion of the Impactrip Program Manager.
  • If a volunteer cancels less than thirty days before their programs start date, no refund of any fees is available. A deposit fee credit may be held in their name for twelve months from their earliest registered start date, subject to availability, provided deposit fees have been paid in full by their due date.

Where a group of ten or more people is volunteering with ImpacTrip, the group leader must register ahead of other group members in order to secure the group’s dates and plans. Group members must then register no less than sixty days before the program starts. Group members who register less than sixty days before the program start date may be excluded from the program unless approved by ImpacTrip.

ImpacTrip reserves the right to revise its program fees at any time. All program fees revisions will be made via the ImpacTrip website. Program fee revisions are not applicable to volunteers who have already submitted their payment before the revisions are due to take effect. A volunteer’s placement on a program is not confirmed until the deposit fee has been paid in full and the availability has been confirmed by their ImpacTrip Program Manager.

What is like staying at Impact House in Lisbon?

Freshly opened in 2018, Impact House is our very own accommodation facility and the most Sustainable Hostel in Portugal! Located in the typical Lisbon neighborhood Estrela, it is just 20 minutes away from the downtown area and has the capacity to accommodate up to 41 conscious travelers in both dormitories and private rooms. 

There are various common areas such as our spacious dining and living room, a fully-equipped kitchen, two balconies and a big sun-facing terrace to relax or participate in our super some of our interesting and thought-provoking events.
At Impact House we developed innovative projects based on the circular economy and in partnership with local non-profit partners, which are integrated into the very basis of the way the hostel works.

 

When should I go ahead and book my flights?

We highly recommend you to wait with booking your flights to your destination until you have received our official email confirming your stay with us! Once your booking is confirmed, it is in most cases advisable to get your tickets early to catch the cheapest fares! 

Where is ImpacTrip’s headoffice?

ImpacTrip was founded in Portugal's capital Lisbon, and this is as well where we have our office and most of our team. But some of our team members are located in Porto, Barcelona, Split and Rome as well, to provide you with a warm welcome, help you with anything you need and to make sure that you'll have a fantastic experience volunteering with us. 

Which plugs and adapters are used in Europe?

The most commonly found socket type is the typical European rounded two-prong plug (Type F: This socket also works with plug C and E). The voltage is 220-240V and the frequency is 50Hz.

Who can I contact if I have a problem?

If you have any problem or pressing questions, feel free to shoot us an email to info@impactrip.com or call us directly at +351 919 279 188 (Rita Marques) or +351 919 466 603 (Diogo Areosa).

Will I need a visa or passport?

As a general rule of thumb, citizens of countries that are part of the European Union and Schengen area can move freely within its boundaries without needing a passport or visa document, whilst non-EU citizens will need to present a valid passport document at the border. Whether you need to obtain a Schengen Tourist Visa in advance or will be able to obtain your entry permission at the point of your arrival differs from home country to home country outside of the European and Schengen Area. 

Please keep in mind that it is your responsibility to ensure that you meet all the visa requirements at the location of your stay with us. Therefore, we strongly recommend you to look into this matter as early as possible and, if necessary, apply for your passport and/or Schengen Visa well in advance to ensure you will meet all necessary requirements at the point of your arrival! We're happy to provide you with an invitation letter if you need to provide one for getting your visa processed!