Frequently Asked Questions
- So who’s the average Urban Escaper?
- Do people sign up alone on trips, or does everyone come with friends?
- What kind of shape do I need to be in for these trips?
- I’ve never even slept in a cabin, much less a tent. What do I do?
- What if it rains? What’s the weather policy?
- I don’t have any gear.
- What if I miss the van?
- What if I have to cancel?
- Is there anything else I need to know before signing up? (i.e., The Fine Print)
- How do I redeem a credit or gift certificate?
- How far in advance should I book?
- Do you run private group trips?
Our trips are designed to get young professionals out of the bubble and into the great outdoors, all the while fostering and developing their social network. Whether you’re an outdoor enthusiast or just looking for a weekend outside of the city, we’ve got the trip for you. Urban Escapes caters to anyone with an open mind who is looking to try something a little different. Our guests come from all walks of life—lawyers, artists, students, and everything in between. Some people come with a friend and some sign up solo. There really is no formula for the average guest! The common ingredients are the itch to get away from the concrete jungle for a weekend and the desire to meet new and interesting people. We cater to the 20s and 30s crowd but we’ve had people of all ages come and have a blast. *Note: due to insurance restrictions, we have a strict over 18 policy.
If you’ve ended up on this site, chances are you’re exactly the kind of person who will have a blast on one of our trips.
Absolutely! Our trips are full of folks who want to meet new friends. Some people come alone, some with a friend and some with a group. We totally know what it’s like to want to do something on weekends and not have any of your friends want to go. That’s why we’ve tailored our trips to be conducive to meeting new people, so you can feel totally comfortable signing up alone.
We promise you are not the first person to ask this! Our trips are definitely designed to be challenging and push you, but if you’re in generally decent shape you’ll be totally fine! It’s not a race—we take plenty of breaks (and trust us, you’ll want to so you can take in the views). If you have serious concerns please, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Relax, it’s okay! Camping is a lot easier than most people think. We take plenty of people who have never been before and they all have a great time. Our experienced guides will ensure that you have a comfortable and fun first time!
Have you heard the saying, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad planning”? It’s a good one. While we regularly pay homage to the rain gods, we can’t guarantee sunny days for every trip. Not to worry though, our experienced guides and top-of-the-line gear will ensure that you have a phenomenal trip, rain or shine. In the case of truly inclement weather where we feel the quality of the trip will be compromised, we will the cancel the trip and offer you a refund or a spot on a future trip. You will be informed of such cancellations at least 12 hours prior to your trip departure.
Neither do most people—that’s why companies like ours exist. We offer great rental packages with top-of-the-line gear and can refer you to places in the city that rent as well.
This one hurts, because we know how frustrating it is to oversleep and whatnot, but unfortunately there are no refunds or credits offered if you miss the bus. Sorry, but there are no exceptions.
We understand that things come up and we want to be as accommodating as possible. For most trips, we will happily refund your money if you cancel up to fourteen (14) days in advance. If you cancel with seven (7) days’ notice, we can offer you 50% of your payment as credit on a future trip. Unfortunately, any cancellations made within seven (7) days of the departure date are not entitled to any refunds or credit.
For a full refund for ski trips and any trips that involve air travel, you must cancel at least thirty (30) days in advance. Unfortunately, due to hotel policies, cancellations made within thirty (30) days of the departure date are not entitled to any refunds or credit.
There are no refunds or credits available for cancellations on any international trips.
Yes! Three more things actually. First, all participants are required to sign a waiver prior to their trip departure. If you have any questions about this, please feel free to contact us. Second, for your safety, trip itineraries are subject to change at the discretion of our guides. And finally, we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone based on reasons deemed appropriate by the guides and/or management.
Trip credits and certificates are good for one year from the issue date, provided there is room on the trip. Simply Contact us to redeem your trip. To ensure a spot, be sure to reserve early.
Well, our biased answer is book a month in advance so we can plan accordingly! But realistically, it’s best to book about two weeks before the trip to ensure you get a spot. We’re more than happy to take last-minute bookings, so long as there is room.
Whether you’re a company, college group or just a bunch of friends, we can organize a private version of our listed trips, or we can put together a customized adventure specifically tailored to what your group wants to do. Organize a group of 12 and you can go for free! Check out our custom trips page for more information.