TERMS AND CONDITIONS

WHAT IS INCLUDED IN THE TOUR COST

Accommodations in first class hotels based on double occupancy; meals as indicated in the tour itinerary by B, L, R, and D; all special visits and excursions; all transportation and sightseeing with expert guides as set forth in the itinerary; all on-tour transportation, including group transfers to/from the airport; baggage handling for one bag, plus one carry-on bag per person; pre-trip notes and guidelines; service charges, taxes and basic gratuities.

WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED

Airfare to and from your home; passport photos and fees; visa photos and fees as required; meals other than specified; personal items such as wines, liquors, a-la-carte orders, room service, and valet/laundry charges; expenses incurred by Academic Travel Abroad in making individual travel arrangements in conjunction with the tour; other items not specifically mentioned as included. Due to fluctuations in oil prices, a fuel surcharge may be added to your tour fee. Details and costs will be advised prior to departure.

SINGLE/SHARED ROOMS

A limited number of single rooms are available at extra cost on a first-come, first-served basis, but availability cannot be guaranteed. Academic Travel Abroad will assist persons requesting a roommate. However, neither a single room nor a share can be guaranteed. Participants will be notified if we are unsuccessful in finding a suitable roommate. In this case, the single supplement will be charged.

PAYMENT SCHEDULE

$500 deposit due upon application. If you register within 90 days of departure, full payment is required at that time.  Acceptable forms of payment are personal check, Visa, MasterCard, or American Express. If final payment is not received by 90 days prior to departure, your space is subject to cancellation.

CANCELLATION AND REFUNDS

All cancellations must be submitted in writing Academic Travel Abroad, Inc. (ATA). After confirmation on the tour, a nonrefundable processing fee of $300 per person will be charged upon written cancellation. Written cancellation between 90-61 days of departure: full refund, minus your deposit (including nonrefundable processing fee). Written cancellation between 60 and 31 days prior to departure: 50% refund of the tour price. Written cancellation within 30 days prior to departure: no refund. Reservations are not transferable without the explicit approval of ATA.

Cancellation on day of departure or after tour departs: no refund. No refund for unused portions of tour, including, but not limited to, missed meals, hotel nights and sightseeing. Cancellation of program by ATA: full refund. Cancellation of the program after departure by ATA: full refund of all land fees, less the cost of service up to the time of the group’s return. NOTE: Neither the client nor ATA accepts liability for any airline cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a nonrefundable airline ticket to the tour departure city and return. We strongly urge applicants to consider purchasing trip cancellation insurance.

A NOTE ABOUT THE ITINERARY

While every effort will be made to carry out the program as planned, the itinerary as described is subject to modification and change by the client and ATA. The program cost is based upon current airfares, tariffs, and currency values in effect, and assumes that a minimum of 15 participants will join the program. While we will do everything possible to maintain the listed price, it is subject to change. If it is necessary to levy a surcharge, notification will be given before time of invoicing (approximately 90 days prior to departure). In the event of cancellation due to a surcharge, all monies are fully refundable except for processing fee.

INSURANCE

We strongly recommend the purchase of trip cancellation insurance, which is available for coverage of expenses in conjunction with cancellation due to illness or accident. Baggage insurance is also recommended. In the event that you must cancel your participation in a travel program, trip cancellation insurance may be the only source of reimbursement. The Insurance has been added to your account, in the event you wich to decline the coverage, please complete the insurance waiver and return to ATA within 30 days of receipt of your first program statement. A copy of the Travel Insurance Services will be included with your first statement.

HEALTH RECOMMENDATIONS

To enjoy your travels to the fullest you should be in good physical and mental health. Any physical condition requiring special attention, diets, or treatment must be reported in writing when the reservation is made. We reserve the right to decline to accept or retain any person as a tour member should such a person’s health, mental condition, physical infirmity, or attitude jeopardize the operation of the tour or the enjoyment of other participants.

RESPONSIBILITY

Read Carefully: Responsibility Statement and Liability Disclaimer
(Client organization)’s tours are managed by Academic Travel Abroad (ATA), a professional tour operator, hired as independent contractors. ATA acts only as an agent for the respective suppliers by making arrangements for transportation, accommodations, and other services. Neither (client organization) nor ATA shall be held liable for personal injury, death, property damage or accident, delay or irregularity arising out of any act or omission of these suppliers. (Client organization) and ATA reserve the right, without penalty, to make changes in the published itinerary whenever, in their judgment, conditions warrant, or if they deem it necessary for the comfort, convenience, or safety of tour participants. (Client organization) and ATA also reserve the right, without penalty, to withdraw the tour announced, to decline to accept any person as a participant in a tour, or to require any participant to withdraw from the tour at any time, when such action is determined by tour staff to be in the best interests of the health, safety or general welfare of the tour group or the individual participant, subject only to the requirement that the recoverable portion of the total amount paid that corresponds to the cost of unused services and accommodations be refunded, if any. Participants are encouraged to purchase airline tickets no sooner than 60 days before the tour begins to avoid airline cancellation penalties if a tour is canceled or otherwise modified subsequent to the participant’s purchase of those tickets. (Client organization) and ATA accept no liability for the purchase of non-refundable airline tickets to the tour departure city and return. Baggage and personal effects are at all times the sole responsibility of the participant. Dates, schedules, program details, and costs, although provided in good faith based on information available at the time of publication of the brochure or catalog, are subject to change and revision.

AS A CONDITION OF ACCEPTANCE OF ANY APPLICATION, EACH APPLICANT MUST AGREE TO THE STATEMENT SET FORTH BELOW:

The undersigned has read carefully the Responsibility Statement and Liability Disclaimer set forth above, the schedule of activities for this tour, as well as the terms and conditions of application and participation as set forth in the tour literature, and recognizes and accepts any risk associated with the tour and the conditions, including the refund policy, set forth in the tour brochure(s). The undersigned further acknowledges that there are many risks and uncertainties inherent in any travel tour, including but not limited to the hazards of various modes of transportation, forces of nature, acts or omissions of foreign governments, terrorism, war or insurrection, theft, illness, and damage to person or property due to the negligent acts or omissions of tour staff or others. In consideration of, and as part payment for, the right to participate in the tour, the undersigned, on behalf of himself, his dependents, heirs, executors, administrators and assigns, agrees to release (Client organization), its Regents, officers, employees, representatives or agents, the United States, and ATA and its officers, employees and agents, from liability for personal injury, death, property damage or loss suffered by any person in connection with this tour, even if caused by the negligence (but not the reckless, willful, or fraudulent conduct) of tour staff or other related persons or entities. In addition, by registering for this tour, the applicant certifies that he or she is mentally and physically capable of full participation in this tour.

BY REGISTERING FOR A TOUR SPONSORED BY (CLIENT ORGANIZATION) THE PARTICIPANT AGREES TO THE RESPONSIBILITY STATEMENT AND LIABILITY DISCLAIMER AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS HEREIN.