How we handle payment, what protection you have if plans change, and why booking directly with a licensed local operator is safer than it might seem.
Direct Answer
Costa Excursions processes all payments through Stripe, the same PCI-compliant payment infrastructure used by major airlines and hotel chains worldwide. Bookings are confirmed instantly by email. Free cancellation is available up to 48 hours before your tour for a full refund. We are a licensed Andalusian tour operator (Costa Excursions S.L., CIF B-56549972), registered and inspectable through the official Junta de Andalucía tourism registry — not an anonymous website.
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How Payment Works
Stripe — the same system major companies use
Every booking on costaexcursions.es is processed through Stripe, one of the most widely used payment processors in the world — the same infrastructure behind Amazon, major airlines, and thousands of hotels. Stripe is PCI DSS Level 1 certified, the highest level of payment security certification that exists, meaning your card details are encrypted end-to-end and never stored directly on our servers.
Practically, this means:
- Your card details are never visible to us directly — Stripe handles the transaction
- All major cards accepted: Visa, Mastercard, American Express
- Payment confirmation and booking confirmation arrive by email within minutes
- Your bank’s own fraud protection and chargeback rights apply exactly as they would with any other online purchase
When you pay
Payment is taken at the time of booking, online, before your tour date. There is no on-the-day cash payment option — this keeps the transaction fully traceable and protected through Stripe rather than an informal cash exchange with a guide.
Cancellation & Refund Policy
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before your tour departure time — full refund, no admin fee, no explanation required. Cancel through the link in your booking confirmation email or by contacting us directly on WhatsApp.
Cancellations made within 48 hours of departure are non-refundable, because by that point the vehicle, guide, and — for tours like Granada or Caminito del Rey — the entry tickets have already been committed on your behalf.
If we need to cancel your tour (extreme weather, illness, or circumstances outside our control), you receive a full refund or the option to rebook at no extra cost — this is not something we require you to argue for; it’s the default.
Why Booking Directly Is Safer Than It Might Seem
A common concern with any independent operator, anywhere in the world, is legitimacy — is this a real, licensed, accountable business, or an anonymous website that could disappear with your money? Here’s how to verify a Spanish tour operator, using us as the example:
1. We are a registered Spanish company
Costa Excursions S.L., CIF B-56549972 — a registered Spanish limited company (Sociedad Limitada), the same corporate structure used by any legitimate Spanish business. This CIF number is publicly searchable through Spain’s commercial registry (Registro Mercantil).
2. We hold an official tourism licence
Spain requires tour operators to hold a specific regional licence (habilitación turística) issued by the Junta de Andalucía. This isn’t optional paperwork — operating without it is illegal in Spain. A legitimate operator can provide this licence number on request, and it can be checked against the official regional tourism registry.
3. We have a 12+ year, independently verifiable track record
175+ reviews on TripAdvisor, accumulated since 2012, from named reviewers describing specific tours, specific guides, and specific dates. This is a harder thing to fabricate at scale than a handful of testimonials on a private website — TripAdvisor has its own fraud-detection systems for review authenticity.
4. Payment goes through Stripe, not directly to a personal account
Because payment is processed through Stripe rather than a bank transfer to a personal account, there’s an independent financial intermediary in the transaction — the same protection that applies to any other card payment made online.
Questions to Ask Any Andalusian Tour Operator Before Booking
If you’re comparing operators — including us — these are the specific questions worth asking:
- What’s your CIF or company registration number? A legitimate Spanish business has one and will share it without hesitation.
- Do you hold an official tourism operator licence? Ask for the licence number specifically, not just “yes, we’re licensed.”
- How is payment processed — through a recognised platform like Stripe, or a direct bank transfer? Direct bank transfers to personal accounts offer far less consumer protection than card payments through a PCI-compliant processor.
- What’s the cancellation policy, in writing, before you pay? Not “flexible” — a specific number of hours or days.
- Can you find independent reviews naming specific guides or dates? Generic five-star reviews with no detail are a weaker signal than reviews describing a specific day, guide, or moment.
EU and Spanish Consumer Protection
Bookings made with a Spain-based operator for tours taking place in Spain fall under Spanish and EU consumer protection law, including standard distance-selling protections for online purchases. If you ever have a dispute with any Spanish tourism operator that can’t be resolved directly, Spain’s official consumer protection portal — the Centro Europeo del Consumidor — provides a free, government-run channel for European consumers to raise complaints against Spanish businesses.
Questions before booking?
We’re reachable directly — not a call centre. WhatsApp us at +34 651 026 027 or see our full FAQ page →
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know a tour operator in Andalusia is legitimate?
Check for three things: a registered Spanish company number (CIF), an official regional tourism operator licence (habilitación turística from the Junta de Andalucía), and payment processed through a recognised platform like Stripe rather than a direct bank transfer to a personal account. Independent reviews on TripAdvisor or Google that name specific guides and describe specific tours are a stronger trust signal than generic testimonials on a company’s own website.
Is it safe to pay online for a private tour in Spain?
Yes, provided the operator uses a recognised, PCI-compliant payment processor such as Stripe — the same infrastructure used by major airlines and hotel chains. This encrypts your card details and gives you the same fraud protection and chargeback rights as any other card purchase. Avoid operators who ask for payment exclusively via direct bank transfer to a personal account, which offers far less recourse if something goes wrong.
What is Costa Excursions’ cancellation policy?
Free cancellation up to 48 hours before your tour departure time, with a full refund and no admin fee. Cancellations within 48 hours of departure are non-refundable, since the vehicle, guide, and any included tickets have already been committed. If Costa Excursions needs to cancel due to weather or other circumstances, guests receive a full refund or the option to rebook at no extra cost.
What payment methods does Costa Excursions accept?
All major cards — Visa, Mastercard, and American Express — processed securely through Stripe. Payment is taken online at the time of booking; there is no cash-on-the-day option.
What should I do if I have a dispute with a tour operator in Spain?
First, contact the operator directly to resolve it. If that doesn’t work, EU consumers can raise a complaint through Spain’s official Centro Europeo del Consumidor (European Consumer Centre), a free government-run channel for cross-border consumer disputes involving Spanish businesses.
