When will I hear back?

We have rolling applications; depending on the nature of the scholarship applications, you may hear by a certain date (see the individual retreat page for details). For partial scholarships, you may not hear until after the payment process has begun and registration has closed for all. 

I need a scholarship to be able to attend. Is assistance available?

We are working hard to raise money to make our retreats more accessible and inclusive to all. Limited partial scholarships may be available. If a full scholarship is offered, there will be a space to make it clear that you won’t be able to afford the retreat without the scholarship. In the meantime, please look for grants and other forms of support from outside organizations as well.

I want to bring a friend/plus one. Do they have to apply?

It depends on whether they will participate as writers or are just tagging along. Both are fine! If also a writer, they should apply separately. For partners, friends, etc., please let us know when you apply that you will have someone else along with you. We have some flexibility around this, but just keep us updated.

I’m worried about trip details because I want to know if this is right for me. What should I do?

If you have questions after reading the FAQ, please reach out to us using our contact form. We want to make sure this is a good fit for you and are happy to talk it through. We can also connect you to former participants.

How do you price your retreats and what do I get?

Aside from factoring in local travel costs, for included meals, excursions, and accommodations, we try to keep our prices reasonable and to state exactly what participants will get with their registration fee on each individual trip on the trip-specific page. We understand that travel, especially international travel, can be prohibitive and that planning and anticipating expenses is helpful for the process.

I’d like to set up a payment plan. How can I do that?

While you can select options when registering, you may also reach out to us if something changes.

What is the refund policy?

Per New York law, deposits are fully refundable for three days after payment. After that point, no refunds can be issued. You may wish to purchase trip insurance. If something catastrophic occurs which makes it impossible to travel, all writing activities will be delivered in the hours listed via online format. 

What is your cancellation policy?

Per above, if you cancel within three days after deposit, a full refund is issued. Later cancellations may be credited towards a future retreat, but are handled on a case-by-case basis. No refunds can be issued after the three-day window for participant-initiated cancellations. If CR finds it impossible to hold the retreat, we will issue full refunds.

I’ve never been to a retreat/workshop before. Can I attend?

We would be honored to be your first workshop/retreat experience and work to make all participants comfortable during the trip.

What kind of people will I be with?

In one word: amazing! Our retreats have spawned writing groups, publications, and lifelong friends. We’re looking for people who, even if they don’t feel like they are writers, are serious about writing and improving in a group of other amazing people. The range of experiences that our groups have brought is something that everyone enjoys and that our retreats benefit from. We encourage you not to self-reject if you are interested in attending.

How big are groups? How will groups be divided?

While this depends on the retreat, generally we have two facilitators and divide writers (a maximum of 12-15) into two small groups. There will be whole-group activities and discussions as well as time to mingle and converse with others. Writers have been divided by genre in the past depending on interests and/or experience.

Will I have time to write?

Absolutely! Each trip has ample free time to explore and/or write, or just have downtime.

Who are the facilitators?

Our retreats are led by our own staff, sometimes with an additional guest facilitator we know and trust. You can see specific leaders on the retreat page.

Who is in charge during the trip?

At least one CR staff member will be on hand with you in each location to provide constant support and help if needed, along with (sometimes) an administrative assistant.

What is your covid policy?

In addition to conforming to local and national guidelines, we have contingency plans in place depending on the level of severity and the current strains of covid. We reserve the right to adjust policies as needed to ensure the best experience for the majority of our participants.

Do I need to know the local language?

No 😊. While as language teachers we strongly support learning languages, we choose accessible locations and prefer places that are user-friendly. Generally, at least one person on the trip will be fluent in the local area’s language. You will find, though, that even a dozen words may ease your way, but by all means you can get along quite well as a monolingual tourist. We often offer a crash-course survival language session sometime at the beginning of the trip for interested participants.

Can rooms be shared?

Yes! We do need each person to state that they will share with another, and we will confirm by email before booking two writers together. Writers sharing a room receive a discounted rate;

I have dietary restrictions. Can I participate?

Most definitely. We will take into account any restrictions you have and work with you to keep you fed and healthy on the trip. There may be extra expenses depending on what you require. After you register, you will be able to fill out a form with dietary restrictions and any health issues you feel comfortable disclosing.

Can I plan my own activities?

Absolutely! You’ll receive the weekly schedule at our virtual orientation before the trip and can make arrangements of your own for unscheduled times. We usually set up one or two more “official” optional activities per trip, and we’ve found that participants often befriend each other and band together to save money on things like taxis and tours.

Can I stay at the designated accommodations after the retreat?

We place no restrictions on early arrival or late stays. These arrangements, however, are your own responsibility.

What if I have mobility issues?

Each retreat is different; however we will state any concerns to you privately. Note, however, that excursions may be difficult for those with mobility issues, so you should consult with us as soon as possible. We are happy to make alternative arrangements; however, those that incur costs must be covered by the participant (e.g. extra taxi time).