Sweet Retreats COVID and Infectious Disease Policy

Last edited Jan 2023
You can read our overall terms and conditions here.

 It is our first priority to make our programs safe, fun and sustainable for all participants.

At Sweet Retreats programs, we co-habitate in a close community setting and share personal space.  For this reason, we are committed to transparency and clear, proactive communication!  We realize that this may not be comfortable for everyone.  Therefore we will always be respectful and mindful in our communication.  

Any participants in Sweet Retreats programs must agree to all aspects of the following policy. You can also read a complete list of terms and conditions here. Please read both pages carefully before you register for one of our programs.

Remember that if you are sick, we will work together to take care of you!  Our goal is to facilitate an environment that builds trust and increases social support, without stigma or blame. Each case of sickness, COVID or not, will be considered case by case.

COVID and Illness Policy

All of our programs follow safety guidelines with regard to COVID, cold, and flu illnesses. This means that if someone is sick, they will be expected to take precautionary measures to keep others safe, including fellow retreat attendees, staff, and the local community. Our gym and community areas are open air, so we have plenty of air flow, space and sunshine which is helpful in preventing the spread of any illnesses that arise.

If a participant begins to experience symptoms of COVID (or any virus including the cold and flu) before or during their stay, they are required to put on a mask, inform management immediately, and get tested (see below for more details). If this occurs, extra financial investment may incur at the participant’s expense for isolation housing, medical, and/or transportation expenses. Sweet Retreats is not financially responsible for paying for alternative housing or medical expenses. We recommend you do diligent research on travel and health insurance to help cover costs if that becomes necessary. Sweet Retreats staff and residents will do everything in our power to take care of the participant. See below for more info!

Dorms or Shared Rooms
Some of our accommodations are dorms with up to 4 people or a shared room with another person. Each participant can choose a private room or shared room when registering for the program. Please know that if you book a dorm or shared room it is at your own risk, knowing that your roommates may at some point be exposed to COVID or any other contagious illnesses and may be contagious.

Before traveling to Casa Chango

  • Please be as careful as possible at least 1 week before your trip to Mexico. This will help lessen the chances of getting COVID or any other infectious illness before your trip and/or bringing COVID on the airplane and to our community in Mexico and at Sweet Retreats.
    • Take extra care of your health before you travel. Boost your vitamin C, B, zinc and immune support such as garlic, herbs, and mushroom supplements. Eat healthy foods and refrain from drinking and smoking. Focus instead on hydration and electrolytes.
    • We take this seriously and don’t have a COVID exception to our cancellation policy. If a COVID infection prevents you from coming to your retreat, your registration will be cancelled in accordance with our current cancellation policy as explained on our terms and conditions page.
  • Each participant is required to bring at least 2 home antigen tests. These help us identify whether or not a participant has covid if they show any symptoms of covid or if someone in the program tests positive. Home COVID tests are NOT AVAILABLE IN MEXICO, so please remember to bring them from home.
  • Put some money away as a buffer in case you get sick during your trip. We suggest having an emergency fund of about $800-$3000 USD. If you do get sick while here and are staying in a shared space you may be asked to book a private accommodation either at Casa Chango (if available) or somewhere else. Be prepared to accept this financial cost. We encourage all participants to be prepared with funds, research, and a back up plan just in case they get delayed and/or sick after the retreat is over.
  • We highly recommend that you purchase travel and/or health insurance that covers COVID related issues including testing, medical attention, emergency travel, and trip cancellation.
  • These rules will update according to scientific evidence of the state of the pandemic at any given time.

During travel:

  • Wear an N95 mask AT ALL TIMES while traveling including in the airport, on the plane, in a taxi, bus, etc.
  • Bring hand sanitizer and sanitize regularly during travel.
  • Stay hydrated.
  • If you have a long layover, stay safe and keep your mask on.

When you arrive:

  • Once again, boost your immune system with supplements – Vitamin C, B, zinc, garlic, herbs and other immune supplements will help your immune system fight the virus if you are exposed during travel.
  • Hydrate!

All participants in Sweet Retreats programs MUST AGREE TO ALL OF THE ABOVE RULES. Anyone who breaks the above policy rules, may be required to leave the program without credit or refunds. This policy is subject to changes at any time.

During our residency programs, we will have classes for local children on 2 days per week taught by our resident teachers. If you are sick we ask that you not be in the gym at that time.

Mask Positive Culture

We have adopted a Mask Positive Culture at Sweet Retreats.  This means that if you are feeling unwell for any reason (COVID related or not), you promise to put on a mask.  Even if it is a common cold, it is kind and respectful to wear a mask in order to prevent our community from catching our cold.  Please be respectful of this during your stay at Casa Chango Mexico.

Approved Masks – N95, KN95, KF94.  Mask must fit tightly over and around your nose and mouth.  Floppy masks are not acceptable.  It is up to each participant to bring their own mask.

When do you wear a mask?

  • If you have symptoms of any sickness, or have tested positive for COVID, influenza, RSV, or another infectious disease.
  • If you living in a room with someone who is actively sick and are at the lunch buffet.
  • Any other time that the group feels it necessary for comfort and safety of other participants.

When in doubt, MASK.

Anyone who experiences any cold/flu/allergy symptoms including runny nose, sore throat, cough, fever, body aches, etc must let the group know and wear a mask until symptoms go away.  This helps prevent the spread of many viruses including colds, flu or covid.  If symptoms seem covid related, the person must do an antigen test.  They can do one of their at home tests, or schedule a test at the local clinic.
Even if your symptoms are familiar and you think it is allergies or hay fever, please mask up until you know for sure.  

If you get sick while at Casa Chango

Although it sucks to get COVID (or any illness), know that we are here to support you. Upon request, we will help you book a taxi to receive medical attention, bring you healthy foods, teas, etc. When you are sick it is important that you ask for what you want and need from your host teacher and management. We know that being sick while in a group community environment can feel very isolating and unfair. Please do your best to breathe through it and know that you are loved from a distance. We will never shame you, or make you feel bad, but do expect you to prioritize the health and safety of the community, which can mean isolating, wearing a mask, and not participating in group activities.

Sweet Retreats is not financially responsible for administering or paying for medicine, medical care or alternative housing and/or food. In addition, if you need or choose to leave property for any reason while you are COVID positive and/or showing symptoms (with a group activity or on an errand or to the doctor), we will help you organize but all taxi/transport services are at your expense. No refunds or credit for missed classes, meals, and activities will be given.
Prevention is key.

If you are staying in a shared room or dorm and get sick, we will do our best to offer you a change of room to a private room based on availability for a fee of up to $500 USD per week. If there is no other room available, you will have to navigate the situation with your roommates, and may be asked to wear a mask at all times in the room. If you book a shared room and someone in your room gets sick, know that you may have to continue to share the room with them if we do not have another room available. It is between you and your roommates to establish dorm rules and expectations that make everyone feel comfortable and supported. If you are staying in a room with someone who is sick, you will be asked to wear a mask while in close contact with Casa Chango staff (such as at the buffet at meal times) to prevent the potential spread of illness.

What to do if you feel sick…

All Casa Chango guests/participants must agree to this policy before confirming registration. Any participant who breaks these agreements will be asked to leave or find alternative housing.

  • If you are feeling sick, whether it is cold, flu, covid, or other symptoms, immediately notify teachers and management and isolate yourself from the rest of the group. We will help assess the symptoms, and take care of you in the best way we can.
  • Stay distanced and/or wear a mask when you are around other people to protect them from getting sick.  This will help prevent spreading the virus.
  • If someone begins to experience symptoms that may be COVID before or during their stay at Casa Chango, they will be required to immediately isolate and get tested. If they did not bring a home antigen test, they can ask another participant to use theirs or they will have to go to a local lab to get tested at their own expense. They may be required to take more than one test.
  • Whether or not it is COVID, Casa Chango staff will take care of you, bring you food, liquids and medicines as needed.
  • You will be required to isolate or stay masked and/or distanced from the group for the period of time that you are sick. When it is time to come out of isolation, you may be required to continue keeping distance and wearing a mask.
  • If you are in shared dorms, you may have to pay for a private accommodation for the duration of the time you are isolating.
  • Casa Chango staff will do everything we can to support anyone who is sick during their stay here at Casa Chango as long as you tell us what you need. However, no refunds or credit for missed classes, meals and activities will be given.

If you test positive for COVID:

  • Notify management and/or your teacher immediately. Management will notify the group and others outside of our group that live/work on-site. We appreciate and want to foster proactive communication!
  • You will be required to isolate from the group for a period of time until one of the following occurs:
    1. You test negative.
    2. You experience no symptoms for 24 hours or more.
  • Upon your request, meals, water, items from the pharmacy, etc. will be brought to you. Please just send the a text to your Host Teacher and/or Casa Chango management stating your needs clearly.
  • If you are in shared housing, you must move to private accommodation. If we have a room available on site you will have the option to book for a fee of up to $500 USD. If there are no rooms available, we will help you search for an accommodation for isolation, but the price of the accommodation will be at your own expense.
  • Extra financial investment may incur at your expense for medical and/or transportation expenses. Sweet Retreats is not financially responsible for paying for any illness related issues.
  • When it is time to come out of isolation, you may be required to continue keeping distance and wearing a mask.
  • Once the program you are registered for is over, all Casa Chango services will end and participants will be on their own. If someone tests positive and cannot travel, they can book accommodations locally. We will provide them with contacts for doctors and food services, but we will not be able to continue caring for the individual. We encourage all participants to be prepared with funds, research, and a back up plan just in case they get delayed and/or sick after the retreat is over.
  • We recommend you do diligent research on travel and health insurance to help cover costs if that becomes necessary. Put some money away as a buffer in case you get sick during your trip. We suggest having an emergency fund of about $800-$3000 USD.

Symptoms of COVID may include any of the following:

  • Fever
  • Cough
  • Runny nose and/or nasal congestion
  • Malaise
  • Muscle / back pain
  • Fatigue
  • Loss of sense of smell and/or taste
  • Headache
  • Conjunctivitis
  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • Chest pain or pressure
  • Nausea

All participants in Sweet Retreats programs MUST AGREE TO ALL OF THE ABOVE RULES AND GUIDELINES. This policy is subject to changes at any time.

Anyone who breaks the above policy rules, may be required to leave the program without credit or refunds.

CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancellations due to covid will be treated the same as any other cancellation.

Please note that because Sweet Retreats are limited to a small number of attendees, to allow for a more personable, intimate experience, our cancellation policy is in place to help guests and us alike work together sharing expenses that may arise from unexpected cancellations.

All retreat purchases and reservations are non-refundable. No exceptions to this policy can be made for any reason, therefore holiday insurance with a cancellation policy to cover any such rare occurrence is strongly recommended.

You may cancel your Sweet Retreat provided that the cancellation is made by the person submitting the registration form and is communicated to us in writing.  Cancellation will take effect from the day that the written request is received by Sweet Retreats.

Once registration is confirmed, no refunds will be issued if you cancel.  

  • Deposits are non-refundable and non-transferrable.
  • Cancel more than 60 days before 1st day of retreat:  60% of your tuition paid (not including deposit) can transfer toward a future Sweet Retreat within 18 months of cancellation.
  • Cancel  30-60 days before the 1st day of retreat:  40% of your tuition paid (not including deposit) can transfer toward a future Sweet Retreat within 18 months of cancellation.
  • Cancel up to 30 days before the 1st day of the retreat:  20% of your tuition paid (not including deposit) can transfer toward a future Sweet Retreat within 18 months of cancellation.

Once you apply your credit to another retreat, there will be no more credits if you cancel. In other words, if you cancel your registration for a retreat that you paid for with credit from a previous retreat, you will forfeit the credit entirely.

If you cancel, and cannot attend a future retreat, you may gift the amount of tuition paid to someone else toward a future Sweet Retreat within 18 months of cancellation.   

Sweet Retreats holds no responsibility for missed and delayed flights or missed transfers. No refunds or alternatives will be made for any part of the Retreat not attended as a result.

Once your Sweet Retreat has commenced, no unused portion of your retreat will be credited or repaid in the event of cancellation by you.

Sweet Retreats reserves the right to cancel retreats with inadequate participant interest, in which case all money paid to Sweet Retreats will be refunded minus any service fees. Refunds will be made with either Venmo, Zelle, bank transfer or transferwise for non-US accounts/clients not including any service fees paid when the initial payment was made. In addition recipient of refund is responsible for any service fee charged by the 3rd party provider when refund is issued.  
Sweet Retreats cannot be held responsible for any personal expenses, such as airline tickets due to changes in itineraries or retreat cancellations.

Note about COVID cancellations

COVID infections are not exempt from this cancellation policy. Once registration is confirmed, NO refunds or will be made for confirmed registrants who are unable to or decide not to come due to COVID or any other infectious illness. Once a program begins, NO refunds or credits will be offered to participants who test positive with covid or any other illness or injury.
Exceptions may be made only if the Mexico border officially closes at the time of the retreat/program, airports close, and ALL flights to and from Mexico are cancelled.

EVERYONE who signs up for and/or attends any Sweet Retreats programs
MUST AGREE TO ALL OF THE ABOVE RULES, AGREEMEMNTS AND POLICY.
Anyone who breaks the above policy rules/agreements, may be required to leave the program without credit or refunds.

This policy is subject to changes at any time.

In addition to our COVID Policy, click here to see our cancellation policy and full list of terms and conditions.