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Tour Terms and Conditions

Please take the time to read and understand the Tour Terms & Conditions set out below prior to booking a trip with us.

JE Circle, Inc. (the “Company”), operators of the Website TripCompanion.com (the “Website”), markets and distributes travel products and arranges for the tours offered on the Website (the “Tour”).  Your reservation to purchase any travel services offered on the Website or thru the TripCompanion call center results in creation of a formal agreement between you and the Company, and represents your acceptance of these terms and conditions set out herein (the “Terms and Conditions”).  Please ensure that you read carefully and understand these Terms and Conditions prior to booking.

These Terms and Conditions are subject to change and you are advised to check the Website or to request the latest version of the Terms and Conditions from the Company prior to booking.  No change in the Terms and Conditions will be effective as to any Tour you have booked prior to the effective date of the change in Terms and Conditions.

TRAVEL INSURANCE IS REQUIRED.  IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PURCHASE TRAVEL AND MEDICAL INSURANCE, AND NO REFUNDS WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR ANY PAYMENTS YOU HAVE MADE REGARDING A TOUR EXCEPT AS SPECIFICALLY SET FORTH IN THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS.  ALL ISSUES REGARDING TRAVEL AND MEDICAL INSURANCE MUST BE ADDRESSED DIRECTLY WITH THE ENTITY PROVIDING SUCH INSURANCE.

TOUR, PRIVATE TRANSPORT SERVICE AND HOTEL RESERVATIONS:

For the Tour and Tour Add-Ons a deposit (see Tour details) is required to hold the reservation for bookings made more than seventy (70) days before departure.  Final payment is due no later than 70 days prior to departure of the Tour. For reservations made within seventy (70) days of departure, full payment is required upon booking. If your final payment is not received by the due date, we reserve the right to consider your inaction as a cancellation, and cancellation fees will apply.

Please note that pre-Tour and post-Tour hotel reservations are on a request basis and may take seven (7) days to confirm. When the requested component is confirmed you will receive a confirmation notice. At this time, the booking is considered confirmed. If the requested hotel cannot be confirmed, a comparable (in price and standard) alternate hotel will be confirmed. At this time, you will be notified via email or telephone with the alternate hotel details.

Please review your Tour and any add-on reservations immediately, if you are unsatisfied with the alternate hotel you have 24 hours from the date you reserve the Tour to cancel or change the booking without penalty. After 24-hours, your booking becomes subject to our normal cancellation policy.

PRICES:

The Company reserves the right to adjust prices for a Tour you have booked without notice as a result of exchange rate fluctuations, airline surcharges or any increase in vendor rates prior to payment in full, or other items outside of our control. The following are not included in the Tour price and will be required to be paid by you: port taxes; passports; visas and vaccinations; tips to your Tour leader, host, driver, local guides, and/or ships’ crew; gratuities on ferries, trains, and cruise ships; laundry; telephone; mini-bar; alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted the Company menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel or restaurant); optional excursions; airport transfers on non-qualifying flights; porterage at airports and train stations; travel insurance premiums; carrier baggage fees; and all other items of a personal nature.

AIR TICKET AND ADD-ON SERVICE RESERVATIONS:

The Company requires full payment to confirm a booking for air tickets and/or add-on service reservations. When the requested component is confirmed you will receive a confirmation notice. At this time, the booking becomes confirmed and non-refundable.

PAYMENTS:

The Company accepts most major credit cards as form of payment. A confirmation notice will be emailed upon processing your card. Please review this notice thoroughly and contact the Company immediately if it appears to be incorrect or incomplete. When paying by credit card, an authorization form must be completed and sent to the Company prior to the confirmation of the reservation. Any other person or entity (including a travel agent) that receives monies from the guest does so strictly as an agent of the guest. Your payment is not deemed made until it is received by the Company.  If the Company is unable to charge the required payment to the credit card provided, the reservation will be automatically canceled and we reserve the right to retain any monies received with respect to your reservation. You agree to waive any charge back rights in connection with any of your payments to the Company.

CANCELLATION POLICY AND FEES:

Regardless of the reason, cancellations results in costly charges from our vendors. If you choose to cancel, you will incur cancellation penalties which vary depending on the Tour. All cancellation requests must be received in writing and the effective date of the cancellation will be the day your cancellation notice is received by mail or email. Tour cancellation charges are based on when the cancellation notification is received.

Cancellations received 70 days or more before departure will be charged the non-refundable deposits listed under DEPOSIT in your Tour details,  a $50 cancellation processing fee and also any non refundable components. Non refundable components include but not limited to Attraction Admission Fees, Train Tickets, Tour Guide Fee during Peak Season, Add-on Service Fees.

Cancellations received 31 to 69 days before departure will be charged the non-refundable deposit plus 20% of the entire Tour price,  a $50 cancellation processing fee and also any non refundable components. Non refundable components include but not limited to Attraction Admission Fees, Train Tickets, Tour Guide Fee during Peak Season, Add-on Service Fees.

Cancellations received 30 days or less before departure – no refunds will be made.

Air Ticket Cancellation: Please check the air ticket cancellation policies of the air travel vendor from which your air ticket is purchased.  The Company will not be responsible for the refund of any airline tickets.

Third party partner deposits may be required to hold the reservations. Third party cancellation penalties may apply for certain services. Attraction Admission Fees, Safari Reservation Fee and Tour Add-on Fees are completely non-refundable.

We will make every effort to operate all Tours as advertised.  We reserve the right to alter or cancel the Tour or make reasonable substitutions as deemed necessary in the exercise of our sole discretion. Any savings resulting from these changes will be refunded to you, while added expenses will be covered by us.  In the event of cancellation, our liability, if any, shall be limited to and liquidated by a refund or credit to each guest. If a Tour is canceled prior to the start date, we will provide you with a refund of your payment. If cancellation is due to a significant event that makes it infeasible to operate the Tour as planned (including, but not limited to, natural or man-made disasters or insufficient reservations), in which case we will provide you with a refund. If we cancel a Tour that is in progress, you will receive a prorated refund based on the number of days not completed. While not anticipated, prices on our Website may be modified due to unexpected or significant events not forecast at the time of publication.

CHANGE FEES:

For tours that depart Jan 01, 2022 onwards; an administrative fee of $200 per person plus any applicable supplier fees will be charged for any alteration or revision made to a reservation for a Tour. Airline, hotel, rail, and car rental penalties may apply and may be up to 100% of the full price. Any revisions to a booking may result in the loss of a confirmed airline reservation and/or result in an increased airfare which will be payable by the guest. No changes are permitted within 14 days of the departure date.

TERMS RELATED TO COVID-19:

All travelers should have travel insurance that covers any necessary arrangements and expenses related to COVID-19.

Due to Coronavirus, the availability of all attractions and restaurants is subject to change, depending on the official restrictions in place. All elements of the itinerary have been included on the basis that they will be open. Unfortunately, new restrictions may occur at any time.

TripCompanion is not responsible for traveler’s failure to comply with local regulations in regards to arrival or departure at the destination (for example: negative COVID tests requested either on departure or arrival).

While at the destination it’s the Tour Leader’s or Tour Guide’s duty to ensure passengers are fully informed with the local regulations (for example: social distancing, face mask wearing, etc). TripCompanion is not responsible for traveler’s failure to comply with any local regulations.

If any traveler contracts COVID-19 during the tour, local regulations will apply and we assume that, similar to any medical emergencies on the road, the Tour Leader or Tour Guide will be responsible for assisting the traveler in obtaining medical aid.

Prices are based on the current conditions. However, should new laws or regulations be introduced at the destination then supplementary charges will apply and/or appropriate measures will be taken to comply.

TOUR PRICE INCLUSIONS AND EXCLUSIONS:

Our Website lists the price and inclusions for each individual itinerary. Prices are based on single room, double occupancy and additional fees may be required for single occupancy.  Both prices and inclusions are subject to reasonable changes. The Tour price does not include: Expenses not listed on the itinerary, airfare, trip insurance, airport taxes, government fees, or other items such as incidentals, passport/visa fees, gratuities, meals other than specified in the Tour description, sightseeing not included in the itinerary, or items of a personal nature.

ITINERARY VARIATIONS:

We will make every effort to operate all Tours as advertised. Situations may arise, voluntarily or involuntarily, that require changes or exceptions that include but are not limited to the airport of departure, airlines, the itinerary, changes caused by weather conditions, hotels or ports of call. On these occasions, we reserve the right to make such modifications and substitutions as deemed necessary.

BOOKING:

You are responsible to ensure that your name and full details are provided to us at the time of booking, exactly as it appears on your valid passport. If the Tour includes airfare, any ticket purchased using the wrong details will not be valid for travel. The airline or airport may deny boarding if your airline ticket details do not match your passport. A new ticket at current pricing will have to be purchased.

AIR ARRANGEMENTS:

The Company may refer you to third party companies responsible for booking any airline tickets for your Tour.  The Company is not responsible for any other matter concerning air travel, and all arrangements, rights, and obligations pertaining to arranging air travel is between you and the entity you have chosen to assist you with your air travel needs.  The Company is not responsible if an airline cancels, reschedules, or delays a flight for any reason. It is your responsibility to work with the airline on which you are ticketed to reach your destination. The Company is not responsible for and will not provide any refund for portions of Tours missed due to canceled, rescheduled, or delayed flights. Air flight routings are subject to availability. Routings are not guaranteed and are subject to change at any time. You are responsible for your own flight arrangements, and the Company will not be responsible for any loss resulting from cancellation or changes in international gateways or travel dates.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS:

Travel documents including, without limitation, itineraries, are sent to you by electronic mail whenever possible. Paper documents may be sometimes necessary in which case the documents will be sent by priority mail. The guest may request paper documents instead of electronic documentation, in which case the passenger will pay the additional applicable charges.

PARTICIPATION:

For the benefit of everyone on your Tour, the Company reserves the right to accept or reject any Tour participant and to remove from the Tour any participant whose conduct is deemed unacceptable to the Company in the exercise of its sole discretion. the Company will not refund nor cover any cost or expenses you incur if we have to terminate you or your Tour arrangements due to your behavior.

TRAVELERS WHO NEED SPECIAL ASSISTANCE ON TOURS:

You must report any disability requiring special attention to the Company at the time the reservation is made.  The Company invites inquiries to assist you to determine if you will be physically suitable for any Tour, but is not responsible for any determination made regarding suitability of the Tour in light of any disability.  The Company will make reasonable attempts to accommodate the special needs of disabled travelers, but is not responsible in the event it is unable to do so nor is it responsible for any denial of services by air carriers, hotels, restaurants, or other independent suppliers. The Americans with Disabilities Act is only applicable within the United States and facilities for disabled individuals are limited outside its borders. We regret that we cannot provide individual assistance to any Tour participant for walking, dining, getting on and off motor coaches or other vehicles, entrance or exit from hotels or other buildings, or meet other personal needs. A qualified and physically capable companion must accompany guests who need such assistance and the companion must assume full responsibility for their well-being. The guest assumes the full risk of use and of any prohibitions imposed by vendors.  The Company reserves the right to refuse service or booking to any person it determines will be unable to participate in any Tour or portion thereof as a result of any such disability.

HOTELS:

The accommodations listed or displayed on the Website are intended to be used for your trip; however, if a change becomes necessary for any reason the accommodations substituted will be reasonably equivalent ones as determined in good faith by the Company. Hotel classifications are based on the Company’s assessment and may not reflect opinions of other sources. Space is subject to availability and rooms are assigned by hotel management upon check-in. Single rooms are usually smaller in size than twin-bedded room or double-bedded rooms, and have one small bed. Triple-bedded rooms usually include a standard twin or double bed plus a rollaway or sofa bed. Any service issues affecting the quality of a guest’s hotel stay must be addressed directly with hotel management. For example, while a hotel normally may offer a particular feature such as air conditioning, the Company cannot guarantee that the service will be in operation at any given time and cannot be held responsible for any such lack of operation at the time of stay. Please note that accommodation check-in and check-out times vary worldwide.

VISAS & PASSPORTS:

You are responsible for obtaining and paying for all passport, visa and entry documents, and for meeting all health and other requirements, and for any documents required by the laws, regulations, orders, and/or requirements of the countries you will visit. Non-USA citizens must consult with their appropriate consulates to determine if any visas are needed and are responsible for obtaining all visas and entry documents independently. The Company is not responsible for providing you with specific visa and passport information or documentation (But can assist in directing you to the right place to obtain necessary visas) and the Company cannot accept liability for any guest refused entry onto any transport or into any country due to failure of the guest to carry correct documentation. All guests traveling internationally are required to have a passport. Most countries require that the passport be valid for at least six (6) months beyond the conclusion of your trip. It is recommended you have a minimum of three blank pages in your passport when traveling, as many countries require blank pages. Multiple-entry visas are required for some Tours. It is your responsibility to verify all visa and passport requirements.

BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE:

Size and weight limitations for carry-on and checked baggage vary from airline to airline and even according to destination, and are becoming more restrictive. Some airlines also charge fees for checked baggage, including the first checked bag, and these fees are not included in the Tour package. Please check with your airline directly for baggage information and regulations. The Company is not responsible for any additional fees imposed by air carriers regarding baggage. Regulations within most airports require that travelers handle their own luggage through customs. No responsibility is accepted for loss of or damage to baggage or any of the traveler’s belongings throughout the duration of the Tour.

SERVICE ISSUES:

Notice of service problems that could not be resolved with the hotel or other supplier during the trip must be forwarded to the Company no later than 30 days after completion of the Tour. All unused tickets and relevant documents should be sent to the Company with the request for review. Please allow 4-6 weeks for resolution of service issues.

FORCE MAJEURE AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK:

The Company assumes no responsibility for any personal injury, property damage or other loss, accident, delay, or inconvenience arising out of or related to any matter beyond the exclusive control of the Company including, without limitation, a strike, lockout, or other labor dispute; death or disability of a party; fire, earthquake, flood, act of God, or other natural disaster; civil commotion, war, riot, criminal act of a third party; casualty or accident; shortage of transportation facilities, vehicles, or schedules; detention of goods by custom authorities, or loss of goods in public or private warehouse; delay in the delivery of energy; telephone, internet or other communications failure.  Further, the Company is not responsible for any damage or delay due to sickness, pilferage, labor disputes, machinery breakdown, quarantine, government restraints, weather or other causes beyond Company’s control.  No responsibility is accepted for any additional expense, omissions, delays, re-routing or acts of any government or authority.

You also understand that risks may arise as a part of your participation in a Tour or any activities including, without limitation, risk of accidents in remote locations without access to medical facilities, transportation or means of evacuation, risk of civil disturbances, war, extortion, kidnapping and terrorist activities; danger and risks inherent in activities in underdeveloped countries, and dangers of local law enforcement.  You expressly assume all of these risks and dangers and you release the Company and its agents, independent contractors, and representatives from and against any liability, actions, suits, claims or obligation of any kind arising out of or relating to your participation in the Tour.

RELEASE OF LIABILITY:

In consideration of the services and arrangements provided by the Company, you, for yourself and for your heirs, personal representatives or assigns, do hereby release, waive, discharge, hold harmless and agree to indemnify the Company, and its owners, officers, directors, agents and employees from any and all claims, actions, or losses for bodily injury, property damage, wrongful death, loss of services, lost profits, consequential, exemplary, indirect or punitive damages or otherwise which may arise out of or occur during your travel and any activities conducted in conjunction therewith. IN ADDITION, IF THE COMPANY BREACHES THIS AGREEMENT, THE COMPANY’S SOLE LIABILITY SHALL BE TO REFUND YOU ANY AMOUNTS PAID BY YOU FOR THE TOUR TO WHICH THE BREACH RELATES.  YOU SPECIFICALLY UNDERSTAND THAT YOU ARE RELEASING, DISCHARGING AND WAIVING ANY CLAIMS OR ACTIONS THAT YOU MAY HAVE PRESENTLY OR IN THE FUTURE FOR THE ACTS OR CONDUCT OF THE OWNERS, DIRECTORS, OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES OR AGENTS OF THE COMPANY EXCEPT TO THE EXTENT THE COMPANY IS IN BREACH OF THIS AGREEMENT.

ACCURACY OF INFORMATION:

The information contained on our Website is correct to the best of our belief, but we accept no liability for any inaccuracies contained therein.  Any information or advice provided by us on matters such as permits, visas, vaccinations, climate, clothing, baggage, special equipment, etc. is given in good faith but without responsibility on our part.

ARBITRATION:

Any dispute concerning, relating or referring to these Terms and Conditions, your Tour or any claim for damages due to injury or death which occurs during or in connection with your Tour shall be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration according to the then existing rules of the American Arbitration Association in an arbitration conducted in Santa Clara County, California, U.S.A. Substantive California law will govern such proceedings. The dispute will be resolved by a single arbitrator who must be a lawyer admitted to practice in the courts of at least one state in the United States and have a minimum of fifteen years of experience in civil litigation. The American Arbitration Association will select the arbitrator so described. Each party to the dispute shall have the right on a single occasion to veto the designation of an arbitrator so selected. There will be judicial review of the arbitrator’s decision if either side can show plain error in the application of law or be able to show an abuse of discretion with respect to factual findings. The parties waive the right to rely on any state law or statute, which creates an exception to enforcement of the requirement that disputes be resolved pursuant to arbitration in the manner set forth herein. Arbitration against the Company must be commenced within one year following the date of Tour completion.

EXCLUSIVE GOVERNING LAW AND JURISDICTION:

These Terms and Conditions shall be governed by the laws of the State of California without regard to conflicts of laws principles. If the right to seek arbitration is for any reason waived by both parties, or if judicial review of any arbitration is sought, any action or legal proceeding arising out of these Terms and Conditions shall be brought exclusively in the courts of the State of California, or, if it has or can acquire jurisdiction, in the United States District Court California or the appropriate appellate courts and the parties hereby waive any objection to venue or jurisdiction in connection therewith.

RESPONSIBILITY:

The Company is an independent company licensed to market and distribute travel products under the “the Company” brand name, and arrange for the Tour services offered on the Website, including transportation, sightseeing, and accommodations through independent contracts. The air carriers, accommodations, and other suppliers (including but not limited to trains, cruises, ferries, motor coaches, hotels, and restaurants) providing services are independent contractors and are not agents, employees, servants, or joint ventures of the Company or its affiliates. the Company and its affiliates are not responsible for any acts or omissions of suppliers, their employees, agents or representatives.

All certificates and other travel documents for services issued by the Company are subject to the Terms and Conditions specified by the supplier, which are available upon request, and to the laws of the countries in which the services are supplied. the Company, its agents, officers and/or suppliers of services pursuant to, or in connection with these itineraries, is acting only as agent for the companies, corporations or person providing or offering travel services of any means, or in making arrangements for hotels, transportation, restaurants, or any other service, and does not assume any liability whatsoever for any injury, damage, death, loss, accident or delay to person or property due to an act of negligence or default of others, including any hotel, carrier, restaurant, company or person rendering any of the services included in the Tour, or by act of God.

The right is reserved to withdraw any Tour advertised on the Website and/or make such changes in the Tour(s) as may be found desirable for the convenience of the parties and the proper carrying out of Tour(s).

ENTIRE AGREEMENT

The booking confirmation and these Terms and Conditions represent the entire agreement between the Company and all guests. You confirm that you have not entered into these Terms and Conditions with the Company on the basis of any representation not expressly incorporated into these Terms and Conditions.

SAFETY:

Please be aware that during your participation in Tours operated by the Company, certain risks and dangers may arise beyond our control, including but not limited to: the hazards of traveling in undeveloped areas; travel by boat, train, automobile, aircraft, or other means of transportation; the forces of nature; political unrest; acts of lawlessness or terrorism; and accident or illness in remote regions without means of rapid evacuation or medical facilities. The Company will not have liability regarding provision of medical care or the adequacy of any care that may be rendered.

RISKS AND WARNINGS:

For information regarding possible dangers at international destinations, contact the Travel Advisory Section of the US State Department, (202) 647-5225, Travel Advisory Section. For medical information, contact the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, (404) 332-4559, www.cdc.gov/travel.