Frequently Asked Questions

Here at AAA Hiking, we are often asked questions, and while we love talking to fellow hikers, we cannot always give an immediate reply.

The questions and answers below and the details on the event page will address most people's immediate needs. If not, then please contact us.  But remember, we are passionate about the outdoors and not always indoors, so we may not reply immediately.

How do I book an event?

  • If booking direct via www.aaahiking.co.uk, you select the event you wish to book, add your details, and then pay the deposit. As confirmation, you will be sent a balance invoice, including ways to pay and by when.

  • If booking via www.Meetup.com, you RSVP for the event you wish to attend. Most people will make the payment shortly after this time to secure their place. RSVPS alone do not guarantee a place; only payment does.

How do I pay for my booked trip?

  • Once you have booked and paid the deposit via www.aaahiking.co.uk, you will be sent a balance invoice, including ways to pay and by when, as confirmation. Pay by your chosen method by the required deadline.  If payment is not made by the due date, we reserve the right to cancel your place.

  • If you book via www.Meetup.com, we recommend you complete the payment shortly after this time to secure your place. RSVPS alone do not guarantee a place; only payment does.

I have RSVPed for a place on Meetup but haven't received any pre-trip information.

  • Most of the key information for a trip is detailed on the event page. If you have further questions, please get in touch with your host via Meetup Message or info@aaahiking.co.uk

  • Upon payment, you will receive an email confirming your payment has been received.

  • Full details regarding the trip are sent to your email before the event.

I have booked and paid a deposit via www.aaahiking.co.uk website, but I haven't received any pre-trip information.

  • Most of the key information for a trip is detailed on the event page.

  • If you have further questions, please get in touch with your host via info@aaahiking.co.uk

  • Full details regarding a trip are sent to all attendees via the email you provided before the event.

How do I make the final trip payment, and when should I pay?

  • The standard payment deadline is 10 weeks before the departure date. Before the deadline, we will email you a payment request detailing the amount owed and the AAA bank details.

  • Only full payment confirms your place on the trip. Many members who book via Meetup pay in full to secure their place when they confirm attendance. Our popular trips usually sell out well ahead of the 8-week deadline. 

  • At this point, any unpaid RSVPS will be removed from the event.

What happens if my guest or I can't attend a Weekend or Overseas event?

  • If you have just paid the deposit and not the remaining balance for the trip, no refund will be due if you decide not to attend or miss the final payment deadline.

  • If you have paid full trip payment, can no longer attend, and want to sell your spot, please check with the event organiser first. You can only sell and advertise your place (to the same gender only) when the event has sold out.

  • Once the trip is sold out, you can advertise your space on the trip page and try to sell it to somebody else directly. Please include your email address or phone number so people can contact you and read the FAQ section on selling places.

  • AAA will not get involved in private selling and buying transactions.

  • You can only sell your space to someone of the same gender, as we have single-sex rooms, and please let us know once you have sold your space.

  • If you become unwell at short notice, we can happily supply you with a confirmation and receipt of your payment if you have travel insurance and wish to claim.

I need to CANCEL. How do I SELL my place?

For One-Day Events when booked via Meetup.com

  • If you can no longer attend a One-Day Event, you should change your RSVP to No so that others can take your place.

  • After the event, please message the event host to request a refund, assuming your cancelled place has sold.

  • Refunds for all One-Day Events will be processed the week following the event. Sometimes, this can be delayed if the account holder is away on a trip. Please be patient; we will refund you quickly when it meets the above conditions.

  • Refunds are only processed when requests are received with your PayPal email address.

  • Refunds have any non-refundable fees from Meetup, PayPal, etc. deducted.

For Weekend and Overseas trips booked via Meetup.com

  • Places can only be sold once the event is complete.

  • The Seller can only sell their place if they have paid the full amount for the trip.

  • The Seller can only sell a place to a Buyer of the same sex, as rooms are single-sex, and rooms are allocated to guests according to gender when they pay for a trip.

  • To sell a place, the Seller should post a message on the event page offering the place for sale to a male or female, as applicable.

  • We recommend that the Seller provide their mobile number or email address so the Buyer can contact the Seller directly.

  • The Seller can also offer the place for sale via Facebook, and we recommend including a link to the event page.

  • The Seller and Buyer should agree on an amicable payment service (PayPal or Bank Transfer) and exchange details.

  • Once the Buyer has paid, the Seller must email the event organiser (info@aaahiking.co.uk) to confirm that the place has been sold and paid for.

  • The Seller should include a link to the Buyer Meetup Profile, as not all members have a profile name that matches their actual name, and there might be other similar-named profiles, making it difficult to change the correct name.

  • The event organiser will then change the name on the Meetup event page. It's always best to contact the Seller immediately and swiftly follow up with payment.

For Weekend and Overseas trips booked via www.aaahiking.com

  • MISHA TO ADVISE HOW THIS SHOULD OCCUR

What do I have to do if I want to BUY someone else's place?

For One-Day Events

  • If someone can no longer attend a One Day Event, they should change their RSVP to No (they will be refunded after the event if their place has been sold)

  • The member wishing to buy a place can only RSVP once a place is available for the event. You must act quickly once a place is available, as it will be visible to the entire group. ll

For Weekend and Overseas trips

  • To see if the place is still available, contact the person selling it (Seller) using Meetup Messaging or the contact details the Seller has provided.

  • The Buyer can only buy a place from a Seller of the same sex, as rooms are single-sex. This is because members are allocated to rooms according to gender when they pay for a trip.

  • It is sensible for the Buyer to contact the organiser to check that the Seller you are buying from has fully paid for the event before paying them. The event organiser can be contacted via email (info@aaahiking.com).

  • Once the event organiser has confirmed that the place is fully paid for, you should arrange to pay the Seller through an amicable payment service (PayPal or Bank Transfer).

  • Once the Buyer has made the payment, the Seller should notify the event organiser via email (info@aaalondongroup.com ).

  • The Seller must include a link to the Buyer's Meetup Profile, as not all members have profiles with names that match their actual names, and there might be other similar-named profiles.

  • The event organiser will change the name on the Meetup event page once he has received confirmation of payment from the Seller.

I can not attend an event. Can I get a refund?

Can I get a refund for One-Day Events when booked via Meetup.com

  • Refunds are only possible once an event is full and your place has been sold.

  • Refunds are potentially possible in extenuating circumstances, at the discretion of the event host, and subject to any costs they may have incurred.

Can I get a refund for a Weekend and Overseas trips booked via Meetup.com

  • Refunds can only be made once the event is full and a place is sold to another attendee

Can I get a refund for a Weekend and Overseas trips booked via www.aaahiking.com

  • MISHA TO ADVISE HOW THIS SHOULD OCCUR

I want to attend an event that appears full.

  • If the event is complete, we recommend you RSVP and join the Waitlist if one is available.

  • Meetup does not permit a waitlist if the payment is for an RSVP event with a limited number of RSVPs.

  • When a place becomes available, you will automatically be notified.

  • You can add a note in the comments below asking if anyone of your gender is selling a place. Often, people might be on the fence about not going when something has changed in their schedule since the original booking.

I want to attend a Day Hike. I live near the hike's start point and don't need a train ticket.

  • I want to attend a Day Hike, and live close to the hike's start point, so I don't need a train ticket?

  • AAA restricts the number of participants on our day hikes to avoid huge, unmanageable groups. 

  • Typically, we restrict the size to 28 people, as we have found this to be the optimum number—not too slow, but enough social variety.

  • If you live close to the start or prefer to drive to the start, you are still very welcome to join us.

  • We ask that you still RSVP. If you pay via PayPal, you can enter the Discount Code shown in the text for “Day Hike—No Train Ticket.” This will amend the amount to £10 per person. This way, we can ensure the group size doesn't exceed the limit.

What happens if I can't get to the start because a transport, such as an airline, is cancelled?

  • If AAA needs to cancel an event due to safety, access or any other reason, then it will be up to AAA to provide you with a refund for the cost of the trip.

  • Should the failure of services provided by an airline or other means of transportation result in you being unable to attend, and AAA can still provide the services we have offered, will AAA not be liable to provide a refund? 

  • In cases like those of an airline going into liquidation, AAA will do its utmost to accommodate guests arriving before and after the event. Where possible, refunds are achieved from AAA's suppliers, and we will do our utmost to pass these on.

  • In such instances, we always recommend that guests have travel insurance.

  • AAA Hiking can always provide you with an invoice for your insurance company in such instances

I don't have transport, how can I get to the destination?

  • I don't have transport, how can I get to the destination?

  • If you are unsure how to get to a weekend destination, check out the Transport links for the event.

  • Lift shares and lift wants are posted here, so do leave a comment with your contact details.

  • You can also contact the event organiser, who may know of other vehicles with spaces.

Can I bring my dog on the hike or the weekend?

  • A well-behaved dog on a day hike is always welcome. 

  • We ask that ALL dogs be on a lead when livestock is nearby to avoid any issues.

  • If you wish to bring a dog on a weekend, it is best to check with the event organiser. Some hostels permit dogs at an extra charge. 

  • We recommend booking your room rather than sleeping in a dorm.

Who leads the hike and activities?

  • Your safety and the group's safety are always paramount!

  • We have many highly trained hike leaders who have gained extensive experience in the hills and rugged terrain in the British Army. 

  • We also have new and experienced hike leaders who have completed navigation, leadership, and wilderness first aid courses. 

  • Our hike leaders will only ever lead hikes in conditions that are within their ability and experience.

  • All our principal hike leaders have undertaken training at Plas Y Brenin (The National Mountain Centre) and Wilderness First Aid training.

  • AAA offers several other activities throughout the year, such as Canoeing, Kayaking, Canyoning, Coasteering, Yoga, and Caving. In all instances, we use volunteers and employ instructors and organisations that are professionals in these areas.

Why does AAA charge so much for Day Hikes?

  • AAA has been hosting day hikes for many years. Initially, we hosted events and set a limit of 30 people who would meet at a railway station, pay £5 to the hike leader, and then go to the ticket office queue to buy group saver tickets.

  • Some groups are still implementing this practice. However, we have found that if it looks like poor weather, the 30 RSVPS become a handful of attendees, and others who could have come but couldn't RSVP in time miss out.

  • There were also many occasions when people would turn up at the station without RSVP and expect to join the hike. On one sunny summer day, 45 people showed up for a hike. This was simply unmanageable.

  • We also found that people would typically arrive late, and we would not have enough time for everyone to queue and buy tickets, resulting in the group missing the proposed train. 

  • We charge upfront so we can pre-buy rail tickets and depart promptly. This ensures that people who have RSVP'ed are more likely to attend after paying a reasonable amount.

  • Any profits go directly to the hike leaders to cover their costs, including ML and first Aid training and materials such as maps and First Aid kits.

  • AAA LG Ltd does not profit from the day hikes other than to cover the PayPal Fees.

What are the sleeping arrangements?

  • We use hostels on most UK weekend trips, and members are accommodated in single-sex dorms. There can be 4-8 people per dorm, but usually, there are 4-6. 

  • Some hostels have single, double, and twin rooms, available upon request at an additional charge.

  • Our overseas and multiday trips usually use hotels with twin-bedded rooms. In such accommodation, you will be twined with someone of he same sex.

  • The details for the specific accommodation are detailed on the event page.

  • Can I share with someone of the opposite sex? Yes, so long as this is a mutually agreeable

How does AAA accommodate special dietary needs?

  • AAA always accommodates vegetarians' dietary needs at all our events. To do this, we rely on members attending an event to notify us, either by answering the event questions or by messaging the event organisers directly. 

  • We can only accommodate special diets if notified at least four days before the event. Given the location of many of our destinations, it's almost impossible to source special foods if we are advised when we arrive.

  • We regularly cater to Halal diets, Vegans, and many other diet types, which are notified four days in advance of the event.

  • AAA is renowned for the high quality of the cuisine, and we consistently cater to vegetarians.

What is the difference if I book via the www.aaahiking.co.uk website or RSVP via Meetup.com

  • No matter how you book—through Meetup or directly via www.aaahiking.co.uk, your event experience will be the same. The only difference is in the booking process.

  • The principal difference is in the booking experience. People who book via Meetup have the advantage of being able to identify who has joined the event before arrival.

  • Bookings made by Meetup.com have the advantage of being able to sell their place at an event should they need to cancel.

  • This possibility does not exist if you have booked via www.aaahiking.co.uk. There is nothing to prevent people who booked via www.aaahiking.co.uk from joining Meetup via a Free account and advertising their place should this happen.

  • Please see Misha's advice text here.

What kit or equipment should I bring with me/pack for my trip?

  • Trip kit lists vary considerably, so we have a full list of kit lists that can assist you with your preparation before attending.

  • If you are attending an overnight event, you will receive an email before the event that identifies specific items to pack in your hiking rucksack and overnight bag.

  • In addition, we have prepared some Kit Lists detailing the kit to bring based on the event type, which include Essential Items to Luxury Items. Please check out the Kit List Page.

Why is AAA called AAA?

  • First, it has no connection with the American Automobile Association, Battery types or Alcoholics Anonymous!

  • AAA originally stood for Active Alcoholic Adventure, and given our long history within the Meetup World, this meant we would appear at the top of the Group Listings. Sadly, this is no longer the case.

  • Misha's advice text for here, please.