BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS
1. Booking your trip
a) Your contract in respect of your trip is made with Naturally Smart Travel (‘the Company‘), registered in Port Monmouth, New Jersey, and all bookings are subject to these terms and conditions.
b) All communications by the Company in relation to your trip will be sent to the email address stated to process deposit, payment, or on the booking form.
c) All bookings must be made through an authorized representative of the Company. At the time of booking the Company, a minimum payment of the deposit stated in the respective invoice must be received.
d) Following receipt of deposit or payment, a booking form must be completed and submitted to the fullest extent with all relevant traveler details
e) Receipt of the deposit and booking form by the Company does neither guarantee nor imply confirmation of the booking. No booking shall be confirmed until the Company issues a written notice. The Company reserves the right to refuse a booking without giving any reason and shall in that event return any deposit received.
f) Your trip must be paid in full at least 30 days before the departure date. If payment is not received by the due date, the Company reserves the right to cancel the booking and retain the deposit. The person who signs the booking form guarantees payment of the total amount shown on the booking form in accordance with these conditions. It is the responsibility of the signatory to ensure the Company receives payment in full by the due date. Reminders will be sent.
g) If you book within 30 days of your departure date payment must be made in full at the time of booking.
h) All special requests, such as dietary requirements, should be noted on the booking form.
i) The Company will provide the service as set out and confirmed in writing.
2. Price Policy
a) The Company is under no obligation to furnish a breakdown of the costs involved in a holiday.
b) The Company reserves the right to notify you of any increase in price before accepting your booking.
c) After a Confirmation Invoice has been issued, unless you choose to pay for your trip in full at the time of booking, the price of your trip is subject to the possibility of surcharges in certain limited circumstances. However, a surcharge will only be levied to allow for variations in transportation cost, including the cost of fuel, taxes or fees chargeable for services such as landing taxes at airports, the exchange rate applied to the particular package, or if the government or regulatory body introduce an increase of taxes. Surcharges will be notified by a revised Confirmation Invoice sent to you.
d) If a surcharge would increase the total trip price shown on your original Confirmation Invoice by 10% or more, you may cancel your booking within 14 days of the date of issue of the revised Invoice and obtain a full refund of all payments made to the Company and any amendment charges previously incurred.
e) Optionally, you may choose to pay for your trip in full at the time of booking, in which case your trip price will be fixed at the cost quoted by the Company at the time. To qualify for this benefit you should return the Confirmation Invoice to the Company with full payment to reach the Company within 7 days of the date printed on the Confirmation Invoice.
f) The financial commitments offered above by the Company mean that the Company is not able to reduce the trip prices should the value of the local currency strengthen.
3. Cancellation and Changes by the Company
a) Occasionally it may be deemed necessary to make changes to your trip and the Company reserves the right to do so at any time, and you will be notified of any changes at the earliest possible opportunity. If a major change to your tour is necessary, providing it does not arise from circumstances beyond the Company’s control, you may choose (i) to accept the change of arrangements (ii) to purchase another trip from us, or (iii) to cancel your trip. Compensation may be payable in cases of major change as detailed below.
b) No compensation will be payable for minor changes. Minor changes include changes to a comparable or superior standard of accommodations, transit, and dining. As travel is coordinated in the developing world, some itinerary adjustments may be made last minute to accommodate governmental, social, or environmental needs.
c) Major changes include cancellation, changes to the locations showcased in the itinerary, delays in departure or return by more than 12 hours, and accommodation changes to an inferior standard of accommodation.
d) Compensation will not be paid for changes or cancellations caused by Acts of God (Force Majeure), war, the threat of war, riot, civil strike, industrial dispute, terrorist activity, natural or man-made disaster, fire, technical problems to transport, closure or congestion of airports, strikes or other industrial action, adverse weather conditions or any other event beyond the Company’s control. It is essential that you take out adequate travel insurance.
e) The Company reserve the right to cancel your travel at any time before the date of departure, even after a confirmation notice has been sent. If your holiday is canceled the Company will refund the money you have already paid. No compensation will be payable.
f) Transportation is subject to the conditions of carriage of the carrier, some of which may limit or exclude liability. These conditions are often the subject of an international agreement between countries.
g) If you fail to pay the balance of the holiday price at least 30 days before departure, the Company will treat the booking as canceled and levy the cancellation charges set out below
h) The company also has the right to refuse any person as a member of the tour if in their opinion that person could endanger the health, safety, and enjoyment of others on the tour. In any of the events mentioned above, the company’s sole liability and the client’s sole remedy will be limited to a refund of any monies paid, less the amount for services already utilized, non-refundable deposit, plus administrative fees.
4. Cancellation and Changes by You
a) You may cancel your holiday at any time providing you notify the Company in writing. The following charges will be levied on any cancellation:
30 days or more 50% of the payment received minus deposit
15 – 30 days 100% of the payment received minus deposit
8 – 15 days 80% of Tour Cost
1 – 7 days 100% of Tour Cost
b) After the itinerary is confirmed, the client is permitted free of administration charges for one set of amendments, though will be liable for any added cost this may add to the tour, including transportation charges, hotels, etc. Any further modifications, which are instigated by the client, may incur a charge due to communication and administration expenses that may have been incurred.
5. Our Responsibilities
a) The Company does not own or manage the transport, accommodation, restaurants, and other facilities used in conjunction with the tours arranged. While the Company has exercised care in selecting providers of travel, accommodation, restaurants, and other facilities, the Company has not had the opportunity to inspect and does not represent that such transport, accommodation, restaurants, and other facilities and services have been inspected.
b) The Company is not responsible if you or any member of your party suffer death, illness, or injury as a result of any failure to perform or improper performance of any part of our contract with you where such failure is attributable to (i) the acts and/or omissions of any member of the party, or (ii) those of a third party not connected with the provision of your trip, or (iii) an event which neither the Company nor the service provider could have foreseen or prevented even with due care.
c) Should any member of your party suffer an illness, injury, or death through misadventure arising out of an activity, which does not form part of the trip the Company has arranged for you the Company cannot accept liability. The Company will offer general assistance where appropriate.
d) The Company regrets that no refund will be made on unused tickets where travel, sporting event, or other types of ticket unless a refund can be obtained from the carrier or provider.
6. Your Responsibilities
a) You are responsible for arranging your own travel insurance and airfare. Details of all insurance policies held by each member of your party must be provided on the booking form. No booking forms can be accepted without sufficient proof that personal policies have been arranged. Please ensure that your insurance cover applies to the specific activities you are booking and which are confirmed on the Confirmation Invoice.
b) Each member of the party must have a valid passport, visas, and all necessary documentation for the countries they are touring. The Company accepts no responsibility for any delay or expense should your documents be out of date or not be in order.
c) By booking a holiday with the Company you undertake to behave in an orderly manner and not disrupt the enjoyment of others on holiday with you nor do anything to bring the reputation of the Company into disrepute. If you breach this clause your trip will be terminated with immediate effect and the Company will have no further contractual obligation to you. The Company will be entitled to recover from the offending party and/or the person who signed the booking form compensation for any damage caused.
d) It is the responsibility of the person who signs the Booking Form to disclose any pre-existing medical conditions that members of their party may have.
e) All equipment and personal effects shall be at all times and in all circumstances at the owner’s risk. The Company cannot accept responsibility for any loss or damage or delay to your luggage or effects unless directly caused by the negligence of one of our representatives.
7. Smoking
The Company forbids smoking in any vehicle operated by the Company. Frequent stops can be arranged for those who desire to smoke. All accommodation will be reserved with non-smoking rooms unless the client specifically requires a smoking room. Confirmation is depending on hotel availability.
8. Waiver
The Company will undertake to ensure the safety of the client throughout the tour, however, aspects of each particular tour may not be without an element of danger. Clients should be prepared to sign a “Waiver of Responsibility” form before they begin their tour. This form is an understanding that all clients need to exercise judgment and care at all times to ensure their own safety and that of their fellow tourists.
9. Disclaimer
The Company has made all reasonable efforts to check the accuracy of the information contained on our website. The Company cannot however accept any responsibility for any errors or omissions that may appear on this site.
10. Complaints
a) If you have a problem during your trip, please inform the relevant hotel or local agent of other suppliers immediately so that they can endeavor to put things right. If you cannot resolve the problems, you must contact the Company office so that they are given an opportunity to help. The Company will not hold itself responsible for the non-performance of an itinerary through causes beyond its control or when they are not notified of a problem at the point where remedial action can be taken. In the unlikely event that a complaint cannot be resolved at the time, you should write to the Company within 28 days of returning home, giving your original booking reference number and all other relevant information. If you fail to take any of these steps you will hinder the Company’s ability to put any problem right and/or investigate it fully and any right you have to receive compensation will be reduced or completely invalidated.
b) Any dispute that may arise will be governed by the law of the State of New Jersey (USA) and both parties shall submit to the jurisdiction thereof.
c) All information given by the Company whether in writing or orally is to the best of the Company’s knowledge and believed correct at the time given and is given in good faith. The booking conditions shall take precedence over any other warranty or condition that may have been given.
11. Data Protection Act
It may be necessary for the Company to ask you for certain personal information. Examples of this would be dietary requirements, disability/medical or religious information, etc. This information will be kept confidential by the Company and is available to you to inspect during the Company’s normal working hours. It will be passed to the suppliers if it is necessary for them to know this information in order to fulfill the Company’s contract with you.