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Terms & Conditions:
These booking conditions were published in
December 2009 and apply to all bookings made thereafter. They form
the basis of your contract and you should therefore read them
carefully. For bookings of tours and vacations (please see below),
your contract will be with Elite Travel Consulting.com. For all
other bookings your contract will be with the supplier of the
vacation, tour, or service rendered (e.g. the airline) for whom we
act as an agent only. Where your contract is with the supplier of
the vacation, tour, or service(s) rendered, we cannot accept any
liability in relation to those vacations, tours, or services which
rest solely with the supplier concerned. The booking conditions of
the supplier(s) we use will apply to your booking and these will be
provided to you. Where we refer to packages, we are referring to a
combination of at least two of the following types of services when
booked at the same time providing the accommodation lasts at least
24 hours or includes overnight accommodation.
(a) Transport
(b) Accommodation
(c) Other tourist services forming a
significant part of the booking.
1. Securing your reservation:
Bookings can be made in person, by phone,
letter, fax, mail or over the internet.
When securing your reservation, you must
complete the reservation form which must be signed by the lead
passenger on behalf of your whole party accepting these terms and
conditions. The lead passenger will be responsible for all payments
in respect of the booking to include initial consulting fee. When
reservation is made, a deposit of 15% or $200.00 per person which
ever is the greater is payable or full payment if within forty five
(45) days of departure, in addition all applicable insurance
policies must be paid at the time of booking. If we are in a
position to do so we will confirm arrangements immediately upon
receipt of the signed reservation form and the appropriate
deposit/payment so that your holiday is secured. Once your
consulting fee and deposit payment has been received by Elite Travel
Consulting.com, you have entered into a booking contract
irrespective of whether a booking form has been received or not. If
you have booked a package and your contract is with Elite Travel
Consulting.com, the contract does not come into existence until we
have issued our confirmation invoice. Your contract and all matters
arising out of it are governed by laws established in the United
States, and its respective states. However, we shall consider and
respect the laws of your respective country if you do not reside in
the United States. When you have secured your package through one of
our suppliers, we will issue a receipt to you once we have received
the confirmation invoice from the supplier. There will be occasions
where we are unable to confirm certain arrangements immediately
(e.g. when a hotel is only available on request). In this case, a
contract for the vacation, tour, or services concerned will only
come into existence once we have specifically confirmed those
services which has been reserved even if we have issued a temporary
confirmation invoice to you. Please ensure you check all the details
of your confirmation invoice and inform us immediately of any
discrepancies (e.g. mis-spelled names).
2.Your retainer fees (for
Elite Travel
Consulting.com only):
After our first conversation or e-mail
exchange we will require an initial non-refundable fee of $250.00.
You may elect to pay by check or major credit card.
For private consulting for individuals, we
will apply $150.00 towards the deposit of the first booking you
secure with us. Your $250.00 retainer fee is nonrefundable. The
annual fee for businesses and associations are also nonrefundable.
3. Payments:
Your final payment must be paid at least
forty five (45) days prior to departure, if the balance is not paid
in time we reserve the right to cancel your travel arrangements and
retain your deposit.
4. The cost of your travel
arrangements:
Elite Travel Consulting.com and its preferred
suppliers have the right to increase or decrease the prices of
unsold holiday and travel arrangements at any time. The current
price will be confirmed at the time if booking, although we reserve
the right to correct errors thereafter. After confirmation, the
following provisions apply.
(A) Packages:
The price of your travel arrangements may
vary due to changes in transportation costs such as fuel, scheduled
airfares and any other airline cost changes which are part of the
contract between airlines (and their agents), travel suppliers, and
the tour operator. Also government action such as changes in
passenger facility charges, airport taxes, 9/11 security charges,
VAT (For European destinations), or any other government imposed
changes. In the case of any small variation, an amount equivalent to
2% of the price of your travel arrangements, which excludes
insurance premiums and any amendment charges, will be absorbed or
retained. For larger variations this 2% will still be absorbed for
increases but not retained from refunds. In either case there will
be an administration charge of $4.00 per person together with an
amount to cover agents’ commission. If this means that you have to
pay an increase of more than 10% of the price of your travel
arrangements, you may elect to cancel your travel arrangements and
receive a full refund of all monies paid, except for any
cancellation fees or amendment charges. Should you decide to cancel
for these reasons, you must exercise your right to do so within 14
days from the issue date printed on your final confirmation invoice.
Whether you cancel or not you will also be entitled, on the terms
set out in respect of major changes in paragraph 7 below, to accept
an offer of alternative travel arrangements from us if we are able
to do so and compensation as set out below. Please note that travel
arrangements are not always purchased in local currency and some
apparent changes have no impact on the price of your travel due to
contractual and other protection in place.
(B) All other arrangements:
Prices can be increased by our preferred
suppliers. We will notify you of any increases as soon as we become
aware of them. You may then have the option to pay in full
immediately to secure the rate applicable at the time of booking or
pay the increased fare by making payments on the original balance
due date. Where any surcharge has to be paid, it will be payable
with the balance of the cost of the arrangements in question or
specified on the surcharge invoice, whichever is the later. Please
note, if your travel arrangement is paid in full at time of booking
we will not pass on any increase in cost to you due to currency
surcharges.
(C) Airline Ticket Deadlines:
Many airlines now enforce ticket payment
deadlines of 2 to 7 days after booking. Check with your consultant
for relevant ticketing and payment deadlines.
5. Amendments by you:
If after booking you wish to make changes to
your travel arrangements we will do our best to meet your new
requirements. You will need to confirm your request in writing from
the person who signed the booking from. There will be a $100.00 per
person administration fee and you will also be asked to pay any
costs we incur in making the changes. Please note that no credit or
refund will be due for any unused services provided in the cost of
your travel arrangements. While abroad; if you make any alterations
to your confirmed holiday arrangements for example weather changes,
illness or disinclination to travel, we regret that no credit or
refund is possible. If you decide to alter your travel arrangements
while abroad, this is your own responsibility and Elite Travel
Consulting.com or its preferred suppliers are not responsible for
any extras or difficulties that may arise with onward travel as
result of such alterations. Elite Travel Consulting.com and its
preferred suppliers recommend the purchase of a viable travel
protection plan to help protect your travel arrangements.
6. Cancellation by you:
You, or a member of your party, may cancel
your travel arrangements at any time. A written notification from
the person who signed the reservation form must be received at our
office prior to us canceling your travel arrangement. Applicable
cancellation charges up to the maximum amount is assessed as
follows:
Period before departure within which written
cancellation is received Amount of cancellation charge shown as a %
of holiday price:
More than 90 Days - $100.00 plus other
applicable fees
Between 46- 89 Days - The amount of the
deposit
Between 30-45 Days - 25% of the total cost of
the travel arrangement
Between 15-29 Days - 50% of the total cost of
the travel arrangement
Less than 14 Days - 100% of the total cost of
the travel arrangement
For certain hotels, flights, cruises and
tours etc., the cancellation may be higher, please contact us for
details. Depending on the reason for cancellation, you may be able
to reclaim these cancellation fees less any excesses under the terms
of your insurance policy. Cancellation charges must however be paid
before they can be claimed from insurers. Please note that some
airline tickets have a 100% nonrefundable fee.
7. Changes made by Elite Travel
Consulting.com or its preferred suppliers:
(A) Packages, customized travel, and
other bookings where Elite Travel Consulting.com is the principal to
the contract.
On occasion changes may be made to your
travel arrangement. In these cases, we reserve the right to do so at
any time. Most of these changes are minor and we will advise you at
the earliest possible date. Flight schedules and carriers that we
prefer to use are also subject to change due to airline procedures.
These details are given as guidance only final details will be shown
on your tickets.
If a major change becomes necessary, we will
inform you as soon as possible provided that there is ample time
available before your departure. Changes to aircraft type or airline
are deemed to be minor changes. When a major change occurs such as
the alteration on your outward/return flights by more than 12 hours,
or your departure airport to one which is more inconvenient to you,
a change of accommodation area or reduction in the standard of
accommodation, in case of tours a significant change of itinerary,
you will have the choice of either:
(1) Accepting the change of
arrangements as notified to you or
(2) Purchasing alternative
arrangements of a comparable standard if available and paying or
receiving a price refund in respect of any price difference.
(3) Canceling your travel
arrangements and receiving a full and prompt refund of all monies
paid to us. In all cases, except where the changes arise due to
reasons of force majeure.
(B) All other arrangements including
where Elite Travel Consulting.com acts as an agent.
Our generally reserve the right to change
arrangements both before and after a booking has been confirmed. We
will notify you of any changes as soon as we are notified of them
but we cannot accept any liability in relation to any change.
8. Cancellation by us / Service
Provider:
(A) Packages and other bookings where
Elite Travel Consulting.com acts as a principal to the contract.
Occasionally it may be necessary to cancel confirmed arrangements.
We must reserve the right to do so. However, we will not cancel less
than six weeks before departure unless you have failed to make
payment in full or we are forced to as a result of circumstances
beyond our control. If we are unable to provide the booked travel
arrangements, you can either have a refund of all monies paid or
accept an offer of alternative travel arrangements of comparable
standard from us, if available. If it is necessary to cancel your
travel arrangements, compensation will be payable in accordance with
clause 7. Force Majeure: Compensation will not be payable if we are
forced to cancel or change your travel arrangements in any way for
reasons of war, threat of war, riot, civil strike, industrial
dispute, terrorist activity, natural or nuclear disaster, fire,
adverse weather conditions or other circumstances amounting to force
majeure.
(B) All other arrangements including
where Elite Travelonline.com act as an agent. our preferred
suppliers generally reserve the right to cancel arrangements at any
time. We will notify you of any cancellation as soon as we are
notified of it but we cannot accept any liability in relation to any
cancellation. We will not be held responsible if the rare occasion
should arise, where a service provider goes into liquidation and/or
receivership.
9. Complaints:
If you have a problem during your holiday,
please inform the relevant supplier (e.g. your hotelier) or our
representative/agent (where there is one) within 24 hours to put
things right. If your complaint cannot be completely resolved
locally, you must fax your complaint to Elite Travel Consulting.com
at 757-240-6642, or submit your complaint by E-mail to
assistance@elitetravelconsulting.com for a quick response to your
complaint. It is imperative that you, or another member of your
party contact us within 24 hours in order for us to be able to
assist in rectifying the matter. Failure to notify us and our
preferred suppliers of any difficulties may seriously affect your
legal rights. It may even result loss in any refunds or compensation
to which you may be entitled to. If the problem cannot be resolved
in the above manner, please contact us in writing at the registered
address within 28 days of your return, quoting your booking
reference and all other relevant information and documentation.
10. Our liability to you:
(please note sub-clause (1) and (2) below
only apply to packages):
(1) We accept responsibility for
ensuring that the Travel arrangements which you book with us are
supplied as described in your itinerary. If any part of your travel
arrangements is not provided as promised, due to the fault of our
employees, agents or suppliers, we will pay you appropriate
compensation if this has affected the enjoyment of your holiday. We
accept responsibility for the acts and/or omissions of our
employees, agents However, we do not accept liability for the acts
and/or omissions on the part of our preferred suppliers and their
agents/representatives acting in the scope of, or in the course of,
their employment in the provision of your travel arrangements. Our
liability in all cases shall be limited to a maximum of the price of
the travel arrangement (excluding insurance policy’s and amendment
charges) of the person (s) affected in total. This clause is also
subject to force majeure and other terms of these booking
conditions.
(2) The amount of compensation to
which you are entitled will be limited by the contractual terms of
the companies that provide the transportation for your travel
arrangements. These terms are incorporated into this contract.
11. Personal injury unconnected
with your Booked Travel Arrangements:
If you, or any member of your party suffer
personal illness, injury or death by accident arising out of an
activity which does not form part of your package travel
arrangements nor an excursion arranged through us, we shall at our
discretion, offer advice, guidance and assistance to help you in
resolving any claim you may have against a third party, provided we
are advised of the incident within 30 days of its occurrence. Where
legal action is contemplated our written consent must be obtained
prior to commencement of proceedings and our consent is subject to
your undertaking to assign any costs received or any benefits
received under any relevant insurance policy to ourselves.
12. Flights and other transport
services:
(A) Please note that all scheduled
flight, cruise and rail departures provided to you in your proposals
are estimates only and are subject to change. All schedules will be
shown on your confirmation/invoice. All schedules may be effected by
operational difficulties, weather conditions, passengers failing to
check in on time, and other factors outside of our control. The
actual flight times will be shown on your final itinerary. You must
check your tickets carefully to ensure you have the latest
schedules. In addition, you must read and observe the instructions
sent with your tickets for reconfirming your return flight at least
3 days prior to your departure where possible.
(B) Conditions of Service Providers -
When you travel with a carrier, the conditions of that carrier will
apply, some of which may limit liability. The conditions of that
carrier is incorporated in your travel confirmation invoice. You may
ask for copies of the relevant conditions of carriage from our
offices.
13. Insurance:
We strongly recommend that you purchase a
comprehensive travel protection plan both for protection against
emergencies which may occur, and for your own peace of mind. We can
offer excellent travel protection plans, details of which are
available on request.
14. Tickets and Travel Documents:
Tickets and Travel documents unless collected
from us are normally shipped to you via second-day air, priority
mail, or next day air within 3 to 4 weeks prior to your departure.
You will be required to sign for the travel documents upon arrival
unless you notify us of alternate arrangements.
15. Passports, visas and health
requirements:
Details of the passport, visa and health
requirements as applicable to United States Citizens are shown on
the confirmation/invoice. Non U.S. citizens, Canadian citizens, and
British citizens not holding a full passport must consult their
respective Embassy for assistance.
Requirements may change and you should check
the up to date position in good time before departure, it is your
responsibility to obtain proper and detailed medical advice and to
ensure you have the correct visa and passport requirements to gain
access or pass through any country or region included in the travel
arrangements which you have purchased. If you fail to do either we
have no liability to you, for any cost, loss or damage which you
suffer as a result and nor we will refund the cost of any unused
portion of your travel arrangements. Please note that your Elite
Travel Consultant will assist you in every step of the way. Please
click here to obtain additional passport information.
16. Refunds:
If you return any unused flight ticket(s) to
us for refund, we will submit them to the relevant airline for
refund. If we receive the refund from the airline we will forward it
to you less any applicable cancellation or administration charges in
accordance with our cancellation booking conditions. Refunds usually
take between 8 and 12 weeks but in some cases may take longer.
17. Special Requests and medical
problems:
(A) Special requests - If you have
any special requests, please inform us as soon as possible in
writing, and preferably at the time of booking. Although we will
make every effort to meet any such request, we regret that we cannot
guarantee our preferred suppliers will honor the request. Failure to
meet such special requests will not be a breach of contract on our
part.
(B) Medical Problems - If you have
any medical problem or disability which may effect your chosen
travel arrangements you must provide us with full details at the
time of booking. We will pass those details on to the relevant
suppliers/service providers. However, if we or the service provider
feels unable to properly accommodate your particular needs, we/the
relevant supplier reserve the right to decline/cancel the booking.
18. Hotels prices and ratings:
All prices quoted are in United States
dollars, and are per person per night unless otherwise stated based
on 2 people sharing a room. The hotel ratings shown in our web
site/s are not necessarily the official ratings, but have been set
by us to offer you a guideline of the standard only.
19. Accommodation:
(A) Accommodation in the tropics. In
many hotels, especially beach resorts, ‘insects’ in the rooms are
almost inevitable. It should by no means be taken as a sign of
dirtiness, simply as a fact of life at this destination.
(B) Triple/Quad Rooms. A third or
fourth person in the room either shares existing beds or has extra
beds placed in a double/twin room, and conditions may be cramped.
20. Data Protection Act:
Please be aware that we must pass the
information you provide such as name, address, any special
needs/dietary requirements etc. on to the relevant suppliers of your
arrangements such as airlines, hotels etc. The information may also
be provided to public authorities such as cruise lines for customs
or immigration purposes if required by them, or as required by law.
We thank you for considering Find Me a
Hotel.com and Elite Travel Consulting.com for your travel needs.
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