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If you have any questions about the Booking Terms & Conditions
please contact our UK Sales & Reservations Office.
Download
Booking Conditions as pdf acrobat file
The Adventure Challenge
Before booking with us, take a moment to consider the challenging
nature of adventure travel! Trips of this kind often require a substantial
amount of
flexibility from you. The itineraries outlined in this brochure
must be seen as an indication of our intention, rather than a contractual
obligation on our part. Unforeseen local conditions or events may
sometimes necessitate changes to the itinerary, accommodation or
means of transport. We accept your booking on the understanding
that you realise the potential hazards involved with this kind of
trip, including injury or loss / damage to personal property, inconvenience
and discomfort. Refunds will not be given for unused services or
changes to
itineraries.
The accommodation we use is by no means luxurious- but we think
it represents good value. On many of our tours we stay in hostels
or on others your evening
might be spent sleeping in a tent or on the ground in a swag. Do
not expect the same facilities as a hotel - be prepared to rough
it a bit - after all, its all part of
the adventure!
Booking Terms & Conditions
All trips in this brochure are operated by Trek America Travel
Ltd. (hereinafter called the Company, we
or us), registered office First Choice House, London
Road, Crawley, West Sussex, RH10 9GX, a member of the First Choicegroup
of companies.
Please read and consider these Booking Conditions
carefully. They set out your agreement with the Company inrespect
of your trip and contain important information. The Booking Conditions
constitute a legally binding contract between you and the Company
for the services provided by us and set out the basis of your legal
relationship with the Company.
By booking with us and paying the non-refundable
deposit, you acknowledge that you have read and understood and that
you agree to be legally bound by these Booking Conditions. Acceptance
of your booking will be confirmed in writing to you or your travel
agent and a contract comes into existence on the date shown on your
confirmation letter or email.
If you have any queries regarding these Booking
Conditions or do not understand them, please raise a query with
a member of our staff.
1) To make a booking you must send us a
signed, completed booking form (Booking Form) and a
nonrefundable deposit of UK£ 100 /US$175/ Euros150 /AUS$225/CAD$300.
We will then invoice you for the remainder of the cost, which you
must pay not later than 8 weeks (70 days in Canada) before departure.
If you book less than 8 weeks (70 days in Canada) before departure,
full payment must be made on booking. The booking is not accepted
and no contract shall exist between us until the date shown on the
confirmation issued by the Company. Notification of cancellation
must be made to the Company in writing and will be effective on
receipt.
2) Bookings made direct over the telephone, by
email/website, or by credit card more than 8 weeks (70 days in Canada)
before departure will not be deemed accepted
until we have received a signed Booking Form in our office and we
have issued a confirmation. If a signed Booking Form is not received
within 10 days of the direct booking being made, the booking will
be cancelled, the deposit will be forfeit and the place will be
released for resale. Direct bookings made less than 8 weeks (70
days in Canada) before departure (i.e. when full payment is due
on booking) will be subject to the cancellation conditions in clause
5 below regardless of whether a Booking Form has been received in
our office.
3) If you cancel your booking more than 8 weeks (70 days in Canada)
before departure you may transfer your deposit and travel insurance
to another trip in our current programme (provided you are not already
booked on it) on payment of a transfer fee of UK£40/ Euro60/
US$60/ AUS$90/ CAD$150, subject to you notifying us in writing within
two weeks of your cancellation, telling us which trip you wish to
transfer to and paying the transfer fee. If the trip you transfer
to is more expensive than the one you originally booked, a further
deposit will also be payable. If you subsequently cancel the trip
to which you have transferred, we will retain your full original
deposit and transfer fee.
4) Reservations for pre and post tour accommodation must be made
at least one month before the departure date of the tour. If you
cancel your trip, these vouchers are nonrefundable.
5) If you cancel your booking after you have paid
in full, the following cancellation charges will be made:
between 43 and 56 days before departure: ........40%
of the trip cost
between 29 and 42 days before departure: ........60% of the trip
cost
between 15 and 28 days before departure: ........ 80% of the trip
cost
14 days or less before departure (or fail to join the trip): .......100%
of the trip cost
(in Canada if you cancel between 70 and 57 days
before departure: ........Loss of deposit only)
These dates refer to the date we receive written
notification of your cancellation. We strongly advise you to take
out insurance against irrecoverable cancellation costs. No refunds
will be made if you leave a trip for any reason after the trip has
begun.
6) If you are prevented from travelling you may
transfer your booking to another person provided they meet all the
requirements relating to that trip. A transfer fee of
US$60/ UK£40/ Euro60/ AUS$90/ CAD$150 will be payable, or
US$120/ UK£80/ Euro120/ AUS$180/ CAD$200, if the transfer
is less than four weeks before departure. Additional costs such
as airline tickets and permit fees may also be payable. Should you
transfer your booking to another person, you will both be jointly
and severally liable for payment of the trip price and other associated
expenses.
7) If you do not pay the balance of your trip
cost within 8 weeks (70 days in Canada) of departure your booking
will be terminated and you will lose your deposit.
8) We will let you know as soon as we can if we
are forced to significantly alter or cancel your trip. In these
circumstances you can choose one of the following options:
a) accept our offer of a replacement trip of lower
quality (if available) and we will refund the difference in cost;
or
b) accept our offer of a replacement trip of equivalent
or higher quality (if available); or
c) ask us for a refund of the money you have paid.
Your decision about which alternative you accept
must be made as soon as possible after we notify you. We will inform
you at least 8 weeks prior to departure if
there is an alteration or cancellation because there are insufficient
numbers to run the trip.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, we will
not be liable to you under any circumstances whatsoever for any
claims made by you for any additional costs incurred by you. We
strongly advise you not to incur any non-refundable incidental expenses,
e.g. for visas or flights, before we confirm your tour (8 weeks
before departure). This is because scheduled airlines regularly
vary their timetables and in some cases, we may need to cancel your
departure due to insufficient numbers.
9) Before booking and not less than 30 days prior
to departure the prices featured may change. We reserve the right
to impose surcharges once you have booked but no surcharges will
be imposed within 30 days of departure and any downward revision
in the price will be refunded to you. Surcharges will only be imposed
for variations in:
a) transport costs, including the cost of fuel;
b) dues, taxes or fees chargeable for services
such as landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports
and airports; or
c) the exchange rates applied to the booking.
Price increases and surcharges will be calculated
according to the full extra cost compared to the costs obtained
when this brochure was produced and using an exchange rate of [£1=AUS$2.4].
In any event we shall absorb the first 2% of any such surcharge.
Any increase to the price that exceeds 10% of the total trip cost
will entitle you to the options outlined in clause 8 above.
10) A general indication is provided in this brochure
of the itinerary for each trip, the type of accommodation used,
what is included in the price, passport and visa requirements, and
health formalities. Changes in all of these items may be made at
any time.
11) Any information or advice provided by the
Company on matters such as permits, visas, vaccinations, climate,
clothing, baggage, special equipment, etc. is given without responsibility
on the part of the Company, and the passenger accepts full responsibility
for obtaining any necessary visas and travel documents required
for the trip.
12) If any significant changes to the trip have
to be made before departure, we undertake to inform you, and you
are entitled to the options detailed in clause 8 above. A significant
change is a change of more than 24 hours (12 hours for trips
of 10 days duration or less) in departure or return timings
or other such change to itinerary and services that would reasonably
be considered significant.
13) The Company operates trips in regions where
standards of accommodation, transport, safety, hygiene, medical
facilities and other infrastructure may, at times, be lower than
those you would normally expect. Please bear this in mind when making
your booking.
Participation in all trips involves inherent risks
that may not be present in the case of conventional or less demanding
holidays. These risks include the possibility of injury or death,
being a victim of criminal activity, psychological trauma, disease,
loss or damage to property, inconvenience and discomfort, lack of
access to suitable health care, kidnapping, terrorism, war or civil
unrest, and food and beverage contamination. The possibility of
experiencing all or some of these risks is likely to be higher if
participation in a trip involves visiting remote or unstable regions,
or regions where there is dangerous wildlife.
By booking with us you acknowledge that you are
aware of and have carefully considered the inherent risks and dangers
associated with, or that may arise from your participation in the
trip. To the fullest extent permitted by law, by booking with us
you also voluntarily agree to assume all risks that are in any way
associated with the trip and any related injury, death or property
damage or loss.
When assessing whether trips will operate the
Company uses information from its local offices in conjunction with
advice from the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade,
the British Foreign Office, and the US Department of State. It is
your responsibility to acquaint yourself with the travel advice
provided by these government bodies before commencing the trip and
wherever practicable, to check all new or amended travel advice
which may be provided during your trip. The Company recommends that
you comply with all relevant recommendations contained in any such
travel advice. Non-compliance with any such recommendations will
be at your own risk. By booking with us you acknowledge your decision
to travel on a trip is made after due consideration of relevant
travel information that may be made available at any time.
14) The whole philosophy of this type of travel
is one that allows alternatives and a substantial degree of on-trip
flexibility. The outline itineraries given for each trip must
therefore be taken as an indication of what each group should accomplish,
and not as a contractual obligation on the part of the Company.
Changes in itinerary may be caused by local political conditions,
flight cancellations, mechanical breakdown, weather, border restrictions,
sickness, or other unforeseeable circumstances. No
refunds will be given for services not utilised. It is a fundamental
condition of joining any of the trips described in this brochure
that you accept this flexibility, and acknowledge that delays and
alterations and their results, such as inconvenience, discomfort,
or disappointment, are possible. If we are unable to complete the
proposed itinerary owing to the reasons stated above, we will either
transport you to the end point of the itinerary, or return you to
the starting point, or provide an agreed alternative itinerary.
If a passenger is unable, or does not choose, to complete an itinerary
outlined for a trip, the Company is not liable to supply alternative
itineraries, excursions, accommodations, services or staff for the
period when that person is not present with the group.
15) Except where stated otherwise, the Company
acts as agent for service providers when making arrangements for
your trip.
Where the Company provides services it will do
so with due care and skill. We are not responsible for the acts
and omissions of others, including tour guides, airlines and accommodation
providers or for any loss, damage or expense (including loss of
money paid in advance) which you may incur as a consequence of the
acts and omissions of others.
You warrant that you have not relied on any representation,
statement or warranty made by us which has not been stated expressly
in this brochure.
We will not accept responsibility or liability
if you contravene any law or regulation of any country or region
visited. Any independent arrangements that you make that are not
part of the trip are entirely at your own risk and we cannot and
do not give you any assurance, representation or warranty in connection
with any such arrangements.
To the fullest extent permitted by law and subject
to the exception set out in clause 16, the Company does not accept
liability for any loss or damage, however caused
(including through negligence), which you may directly or indirectly
suffer in connection with or arising from this contract or your
participation in a trip, or in respect of a failure or omission
on the part of the Company to comply with its obligations under
this contract, or in respect of any other conduct that the Company
undertakes in connection with a trip. To the fullest extent permitted
by law and subject to the exception set out below, you also agree
to release the Company and its officers, employees, agents and representatives
(Representatives) from all costs, liability, loss and
damage incurred by you in connection with your participation in
any trip, and waive any associated claims that you may have against
the Company or its Representatives as a result of your participation
in any trip. For these purposes, the Company enters into these Booking
Conditions as trustee or agent for its Representatives.
To the fullest extent permitted by law and subject
to the exception set out in clause 16, any condition or warranty
which would otherwise be implied into these Booking Conditions is
excluded. Where legislation implies any condition or warranty, and
that legislation prohibits us from excluding or modifying the application
of, or our liability
under, any such condition or warranty, that condition or warranty
will be deemed included but our liability will be limited for a
breach of that condition or warranty to one or more of the following:
(a) if the breach relates to goods, (i) the replacement of the goods
or the supply of equivalent goods, (ii) the repair of such goods,
(iii) the payment of the cost of replacing the goods or of acquiring
equivalent goods or (iv) the payment of the cost of having the goods
repaired; and (b) if the breach relates to services, (i) the supplying
of the services again or (ii) the payment of the cost of having
the services supplied again.
16) Clause 15 and any other provision of these
Booking Conditions do not attempt or purport to exclude, restrict
or modify liability arising under, or remedies that may be available
to you, pursuant to legislation where the exclusion, restriction
or modification of liability or remedies is not permitted. This
includes legislation in part of the Trade Practices Act 1974 (Cth),
and any state or territory Fair Trading Act (or its equivalent),
or where applicable, The Package Travel, Package Holidays and Package
Tours Regulations 1992 (UK).
17) On an active group trip if you participate
in the activities it is necessary that you abide by the authority
of the leader, who represents the Company. At all times the decision
of the leader will be final on all matters likely to affect the
safety and well-being of the trip. This includes any decision that
the leader makes about your on-going participation in the trip or
certain activities that comprise part of the trip.
Signing our Booking Form signifies your agreement to this, and if
you commit any illegal act when on the trip or if in the opinion
of the leader your behaviour is causing or likely tocause danger,
distress or annoyance to others we may terminate your travel arrangements
without any liability on our part (including any right of refund).
18) Before you come on the trip you must be covered
by insurance, which must be effective from the date of departure
(or earlier) and cover accidents, injury, illness, death, loss of
baggage and personal effects, medical expenses (including any related
to pre-existing medical conditions), emergency repatriation (including
helicopter rescue and air ambulance), and personal liability, and
be suitable for the type of trip you are taking and the regions
that will be visited. You are also strongly advised to ensure that
you have sufficient insurance in respect of dependent
relatives.
You should carefully read the relevant terms and
conditions of any insurance policy (including any exclusions) before
you take the policy out to ensure that the cover offered is suitable.
You must carry proof of insurance with you and produce it if reasonably
requested by the Companys employees and suppliers. We reserve
the right to cancel or suspend your participation in a trip, or
your participation in certain activities that comprise part of a
trip at any time, including after the commencement of your trip,
with no right of refund, if you are unable to provide proof of insurance
when requested.
We have an insurance scheme specifically designed
for this kind of travel, and we strongly recommend you to use it.
Any claims concerning matters for which you are insured must be
directed to your insurers.
19) If you have any complaint about the trip,
you must make it known at the earliest opportunity to the leader
and/or our local representative, who will normally be able to take
appropriate action. If you are not satisfied with their response
and you feel your enjoyment of the trip is likely to be significantly
affected, you should notify our head
operations office in Sydney on phone number 0411 603 886 and we
will do our best to resolve the problem. If at the end of the trip,
you feel your complaint has not been properly dealt with, you must
notify us of your complaint in writing within 30 days after your
trips completion.
20) Passengers travelling on vehicles owned by
the company are covered by passenger liability insurance up to a
maximum of £3 million per group per incident, and by completing
our Booking Form you acknowledge that the Company has taken all
reasonable steps to safeguard its liability in this respect.
21) Trek America Travel Ltd is a bonded trip operator
licensed by the CAA, ATOL no. 6576. In the unlikely event of our
insolvency, the CAA will ensure that you are not
stranded abroad and will arrange to refund any money you have paid
to us for advance booking. Please note that ATOL bonding only applies
to bookings made within the UK that include international flights
from the UK. For further information visit the ATOL website at www.atol.org.uk
.
22) Bookings cannot be accepted from persons under
the age of eighteen years at the date of the departure unless prior
written consent is granted by the Company to the applicant for inclusion
on the trip. The Company reserves the right to refuse an application
made by a minor without the written consent of a parent or legal
guardian having first been obtained, and the Company further reserves
the right to refuse bookings from minors solely on account of their
age.
23) We expect you to be in good mental and physical
health at the time you book your trip, and by booking with us, you
acknowledge and warrant that you are. We strongly
recommend a visit to your doctor before your trip. You must ask
your doctor about current inoculation requirements for the type
of regions that you will be visiting.
If you are affected by any condition, medical
or otherwise, that might affect your or other peoples enjoyment
of the trip, you must advise us of this at the time of booking.
We reserve the right, at our discretion, to cancel your booking
and refund the money paid by you, less any unrecoverable costs,
if we are not satisfied that you are in good mental and physical
health before you depart on the trip.
We also reserve the right to cancel your participation
in a trip at any time, including after the commencement of your
trip, with no right of refund if your medical condition could be
reasonably expected to affect the normal conduct of the trip, or
the enjoyment of other trip members.
24) Any likeness or image of you secured or taken
on any of our trips may be used by the company without charge in
all media (whether now existing or in the future invented) for bona
fide promotional or marketing purposes, including promotional materials
of any kind, such as brochures, slides, video shows and the internet.
25) To ensure that your holiday runs smoothly,
we need to use information such as your name and address, special
needs, dietary requirements etc. We will apply appropriate security
measures to protect this data. However, we must pass it to suppliers
of your travel arrangements including airlines, hotels and transport
companies. We may also supply it to security or credit checking
companies, and to
public authorities such as customs and immigration. If your holiday
is outside the European Economic Area (EEA), controls on data protection
in your destination may not be as strict as in the UK. We will only
pass data, including sensitive information regarding disabilities
or dietary and religious requirements, to people responsible for
your holiday arrangements. If we cannot pass this information to
the relevant suppliers, whether in the EEA or not, we cannot provide
your booking. When you make this booking, you consent to this information
being passed to the relevant
people. We can supply a copy of your information held by us; there
is a small charge for providing this.
Trek America Travel Limited, trading as TrekAmerica,
Footloose & OzXposure is part of the First Choice Holidays PLC
Group of companies. We may wish to contact you to get your feedback
or to provide details of other products and offers from Trek America
Travel Limited and our sister companies. If you would prefer not
to be contacted, please write to:
Data Management Officer, Trek America Travel Limited,
Grange Mills, Weir Road, LONDON, SW12 0NE or e-mail us at contact@trekamerica.co.uk.
26) The Booking Conditions may only be waived
or amended by written mutual consent. When you complete the Booking
Form you agree to accept all these conditions, and when we accept
your booking we agree to carry out our obligations to you as defined
in this brochure and other information provided to you. This contract
and all matters arising from it are governed by and must be construed
in
accordance with the law in New South Wales, Australia. Each party
irrevocably and unconditionally submits to the exclusive jurisdiction
of the courts of New South Wales and any courts which have jurisdiction
to hear appeals from those courts, and waives any right to object
to any proceedings being brought in those courts.
27) A reference in these Booking Conditions to
includes or including means includes or
including without limitation.
28) If any provision of these Booking Conditions
is invalid or unenforceable in any relevant jurisdiction, it is
to be read down for the purposes of that jurisdiction, if possible,
so as to be valid and enforceable and shall otherwise be capable
of being severed to the extent of the invalidity or unenforceability
without affecting the enforceability of the other provisions of
these Booking Conditions or affecting the validity or enforceability
of that provision in any other jurisdiction.
Trek America Travel Ltd.,
Grange Mills, Weir Road, London, SW12 0NE, UK
Tel: (44) 0870 444 8735
Fax: (44) 0870 444 8728
E-mail: info@trekamerica.co.uk
Date of publication: August 2007
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