FAQ
We know you have questions about our adventures. That’s why we’ve rounded up the most popular ones and answered them in detail.
About New Meaning
New Meaning is an innovative & unique travel brand for 55+ travelers.
It was founded by GoEco, a professional and highly-rated ecotourism company, that was established in 2006.
GoEco is a company that believes in responsible tourism and leaving the places we travel to in a better condition than when we arrived. In order to achieve this goal, GoEco partners with organizations around the world which are dedicated to providing humanitarian aid in local communities, wildlife rehabilitation and ecological conservation within local parks and reserves. We send like-minded and philanthropic volunteers to contribute to the aims of these projects and gain meaningful experiences that enrich their lives much more than typical commercial travel.
To learn more about New Meaning and about how GoEco began and expanded to what we are today, take a glance through our About Us sections.
Yes, GoEco is a well-known leader in the volunteer tourism industry. We currently send over 2,500 volunteers to placements worldwide each year. If you have any doubts, please see our Recommended By page to read articles about GoEco which have been published on top news websites including US News & World Report, Goodnet, The Guardian and more. Don’t miss our great video clip from the Today Show!
Also, check out what past volunteers had to say about their GoEco volunteer trips via our Volunteer Blog or through volunteer reviews at GoOverseas.com and GoAbroad.com. Feel free to join our Facebook Fan page and post to hear about the experiences of past volunteers.
Arranging an adventure such as the ones we offer is very hard work, sometimes too hard. The challenges of planning such a trip might feel overwhelming and without help, one might miss out on a meaningful experience. GoEco has been operating since 2006 and has placed more than 10,000 volunteers at projects around the world.
We offer excellent customer service from start to finish. We are available by phone and email and maintain a response time of two days or less. GoEco also has a 24-hour emergency phone number for volunteers to use if they need support while traveling.
Our Placement Coordinators are knowledgeable about all of our projects and will of course, help you choose the best project(s) if you are undecided.
We continually update the GoEco and New Meaning websites in an effort to ensure that all of the available information is easily accessible and accurate. We are constantly looking for new projects that our volunteers will find interesting.
Once you register, we will make sure you have all the information you need before your trip and will check in with you during your travels. That means should a problem arise, GoEco and New Meaning is there for you and will help find a solution. Our representatives have been to each of the projects in our portfolio in order to ensure that we only offer projects that value our volunteers and offer an excellent experience.
Payments
We partner with numerous, admirable organizations around the world which are dedicated to supporting the needs of their local community, whether it is through humanitarian aid, wildlife rehabilitation or ecological conservation efforts. Taking on volunteers to help with such efforts incurs a variety of expenses which the projects and communities themselves cannot support. Therefore, a participation fee is required from volunteers to fund these initiatives.
This participation fee covers the cost of food and housing for volunteers, training, supervision and safety precautions, as well as certain costs required to run the projects successfully. Know that without your physical and financial support, these organizations would not have the means to continue their fabulous and worthwhile missions. The participation fee varies depending on the location and needs of each specific program.
Lastly, participation in the project is only one pillar of the adventures under the New Meaning umbrella. We ensure that excursions are also top-notch. Your participation helps us secure that we give the best, by working with the best.
Please note that all prices listed on the website are in USD.
The deposit is simply used to hold your spot at the project for your preferred dates and the first step in the application process. If for any reason, you are not accepted to the project, we will refund 100% of your deposit or apply your deposit to another adventure of your choice, provided there is availability. Please note that the deposit amount is deducted from the total cost of your adventure.
You may cancel your registration within seven days of making your deposit for a full refund. You must cancel in writing, as stated in our Terms and Conditions.
The fee for most New Meaning adventures covers the following, but may vary by project.
- Accommodations for the duration of your stay
- Food
- Airport pickup upon arrival
- In-country orientation and training to familiarize participants with their surroundings and the work they will be doing
- Sightseeing tours
To find out exactly what is included for your preferred project, read through the “What’s Included” section on the adventure site page.
The balance payment is due 61 days before your adventure start date.
Registration and Flights
If you are interested in participating in one of our adventures you just need to follow a few simple steps:
1. Once you have decided on your preferred adventure, pick an available date from the pull down menu. The project costs will automatically update. Next, click on the green “Apply Now” button and fill out the form. Once completed, press the “Submit Application” button.
2. At this stage your request will be sent automatically to a placement coordinator who will contact you and answer any questions you may have about New Meaning, GoEco and the particular adventure. If you do not have any questions for a placement coordinator, you may follow the on-screen prompt and proceed to make your deposit online. This will automatically send your request to the operations team, who will then proceed to secure your placement.
3. Usually, your placement can be confirmed in less than 10 days, following these steps:
- Within 48 hours you will be sent a link to your online application- submit this right away please.
- If your project starts within 60 days of your registration, we must receive your balance payment in full before moving forward with your trip planning.
- Upon receipt of your completed application, we will communicate with the local field team to confirm your placement.
- Once confirmed, the operations team will send you a confirmation email with all of the details about your project and the next steps required to plan for your trip.
We know that you are excited to start your adventure, but please do not book your flights until you have received your confirmation email. Once you have that, you may go ahead and book your tickets according to the project’s requirements. For more information on getting the best flights, please read GoEco’s Flights page.
In the event of a cancellation within seven days of submitting your deposit, GoEco will refund the deposit.
The following information explains our cancellation policy for the remaining balance of the participation fee, based on the number of days before your program arrival date:
- 61+ days – Participant forfeits deposit sum.
- 60 – 31 days – Participant forfeits 50% of the placement fee or the deposit sum (the higher of these two values will be applied).
- 0 – 30 days or no-show – Participant forfeits 100% of the placement fee.
The reason for the reducing scale of refunds is to allow New Meaning to refer only committed participants to its partner organizations and thus maintain a good working relationship. In the event that you do cancel, New Meaning will try to find a suitable replacement participant to carry out your placement, and the less time before the placement is due to start, the more expense and difficulty we will have in recruiting this person. Please note that in cases where you have already changed the start date of your placement, cancellation fees will be determined based on the original start date of your placement.
Requirements
New meaning adventure participants should be physically fit, enthusiastic about making the world a better place, independent and determined to work hard, a team player and open-minded about new cultures and experiences.
Note: most participants will be 55 years old and up.
The earlier you apply, the more time you will have to plan your adventure and the less likely it is to fill up before you register.
Yes there is. Our adventures require a minimum of four participants per adventure.
This is another reason in favor of an early registration; it increases your chances of realizing your wished-for adventure.
You do not need to know any language other than English in order to participate in our adventures.
An important aspect of many of our volunteer projects is introducing remote communities to English-speakers and giving them a chance to learn and practice the language themselves. Therefore, your English skills are utilized and appreciated as a benefit of the project itself, regardless of the type of volunteer work you will be doing.
It is the sole responsibility of the participant to ensure that he/she has a valid passport and the appropriate visa for travel. For more information, click here.
Health and Safety
We fully understand the concerns that participants may have regarding international travel. We are here to assure you that your safety while on one of our adventures is our top priority. We offer 24-hour emergency support in every country where we send participants. Additionally, each of our adventures have local coordinators located either on-site or nearby the project whom participants may contact if they need any assistance or have questions while on the project.
Note: most participants will be 55 years old and up.
New Meaning considers the safety and security of each of our participants as our top priority, and insurance is important to have in the event that something unexpected happens such as a personal injury, a flight issue or related scenario. For this reason, travel medical coverage, including third party liabilty insurance, is mandatory for the duration of your placement abroad. Please choose the insurance provider that best suits your needs. For your convenience, we have compiled a list of reputable insurance providers which offer various policies including travel medical, trip cancellation and/or third party liability coverage: https://www.squaremouth.com While New Meaning partners with the two companies listed above, you should make a free and fully informed decision to select any insurance provider that best suits your needs.
(*If we have any affiliate programs with the companies listed, add this phrase: While New Meanng partners with the two companies listed above,) you should make a free and fully informed decision to select any insurance provider that best suits your needs.
Requirements vary by country. It is best to consult your physician and review the CDC website prior to departure to ensure that you are protected while abroad.
Of course! The essence of our adventures is the combination of participation in meaningful projects (ecological, humanitarian and wildlife), culture & nature absorption, and pure, relaxed fun. Moreover, most of our volunteer projects offerample free time for just this purpose within the timeframe of the project itself. We understand that you want to explore your surroundings, as well as the diversity of the country you have traveled to; our adventures are built upon this philosophy. Additionally, the on-site coordinators are often happy to help you plan any activities or excursions you want to enjoy during your stay.
Special Requests
Yes, we will gladly accommodate groups or families on many of our adventures. Contact one of our placement coordinators to discuss your options.
We fully acknowledge our participants preference for comfort & convenience with regard to accommodations. We have built each adventure with this point in mind. Having said that, the accommodations vary from adventure to adventure, and sometimes within the individual placements. Accommodations can range from a room in a furnished volunteer house near the volunteer site to homestays with local families; in comfortable hotels to luxury hotels (eco-friendly, of course)with an ecological orientation). Regardless, all of our volunteer accommodations are sure to meet the needs of our participants. The specific details regarding the accommodations on each project can be found on the project page under “Full Details.”
Private rooms can often be arranged for a single participant or a couple, if notified in advance . These arrangements can be made following registration and may incur an additional fee.
Yes, we would be happy to arrange a customized itinerary including multiple volunteer projects for a well-rounded and thrilling adventure! This arrangement is great for anyone wanting to take a longer period time off from the routine of daily life and experience new cultures and work environments.
Contact Us
We are always available to help you. Whether it’s a support issue, a question about a product of ours, or any other query, we are here to respond to your request.