HOW TO BOOK: Fill out and sign the enclosed reservation form and send it, along with the deposit, to: Classic Escapes, 191 W Poplar Street, Floral Park, NY 11001. Upon receipt of your signed reservation form and deposit, we will, subject to availability, reserve your spot on the tour. You may consider your booking confirmed when you receive a confirmation notice and invoice from us.
PAYMENTS
DEPOSIT: A 20% of tour cost deposit, per person, for the main trip and for the extension must be submitted at the time of booking. Deposits may be paid by check or charged to American Express, MasterCard, Visa or Discover.
FINAL PAYMENT: Final payment is due 95 days before departure – you will receive a final invoice. Final payment is payable by check, e-check, money order, and bank transfer or charged to American Express, MasterCard, Visa or Discover. For bank transfers, please contact us.
RATES: Rates are based on the minimum number of guests outlined in the individual itinerary, plus airfare costs, currency exchange rates and other factors and are subject to change. Though it is rare for Classic Escapes to make a price adjustment after promotion of an itinerary, we do reserve the right to assess a surcharge if the minimum is not met, or if increases are forced upon us by airlines or other partners or because of changes in currency exchange rates.
NOT INCLUDED: Cost of passport and visa fees, and service charges for obtaining visa fees; excess baggage charges levied by airlines; laundry and other items of a personal nature; optional travel insurance policy; cost for anything not specifically included in listing above.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: The quoted rate is valid for the first two single rooms booked and on a first-come, first-served basis. If more than two single rooms are needed, an additional supplement will apply. Single accommodations are not guaranteed, but will be provided at additional cost if available (see reservation form for cost.) The single room supplement pays for privacy, not better accommodations. For passengers who are traveling alone and wish to share a room with another tour member, we will do our best to provide a roommate. However, if this is not possible, you will be required to pay the single room supplement prior to your departure from the USA.
GRATUITIES AND TAXES: Gratuities for baggage handling, service charges and taxes imposed by hotels, and entrance fees to all points of interest as outlined in the itinerary are included. U.S. and foreign airport taxes are included in air costs. Tips to drivers and naturalist are not usually included.
CANCELLATIONS, DEVIATIONS & CHANGES
TRAVEL INSURANCE: We recommend travel insurance. Travel insurance can provide financial reimbursement should the unexpected occur. Please find more information on purchasing travel insurance below.
CANCELLATION POLICY: Cancellations are only effective on receipt of written notification. The following per person fees are usually applicable; however, depending on the specific itinerary we may require a non-refundable deposit:
- Up to 95 days prior to departure, less $300 per person handling fee, plus any non-refundable deposit given to overseas suppliers.
- 94-75 days prior to departure, deposit is forfeited.
- 74-60 days prior to departure, less 75% of tour cost.
- Less than 60 days prior to departure, 100% of tour cost.
These cancellation fees are also in addition to any fees imposed by airlines.
CHANGE FEES: Once you reserve your tour, changes are possible subject to availability of air or land space at the time of request. Should there be any change fees imposed by airlines or ground operators, or additional costs incurred due to availability of any space, this cost will be invoiced to you.
SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTS: We would be happy to make additional travel plans for you, including specially arranged pre- or post-tour extensions different than those that may be offered in conjunction with this tour. A service charge of $150 per person (over and above the cost of the services required) will be assessed.
DOCUMENTS
PASSPORT & VISAS: The onus is upon the guest to ensure that passports and visas are valid for the countries visited and for the applicable time period, as outlined by the U.S. Department of State (travel.state.gov) or by the passport holder’s country. Classic Escapes, their staff and their agents cannot be held liable for any visas, etc. not held by the guests, nor for the cost of obtaining visas.
PRE-DEPARTURE INFORMATION: Upon receipt of your registration and deposit, we will send a pre-departure packet to you. This packet contains all the information you need to prepare for your tour, including the complete itinerary, packing checklist, required documents, etc.
FINAL DOCUMENTS: Final documents and tickets will be sent to you approximately two weeks prior to departure, provided all monies have been paid in full.
TRANSPORTATION
AIR TRANSPORTATION: With most of our tours, we offer airfare separately from specific gateways. Clients are welcome to make their own air arrangements. We will be more than happy to assist, if such assistance is required. Contact Classic Escapes to work out the details.
TRANSFERS: Roundtrip airport transfers are included in the tour for guests arriving on group flights. If travelers make their own air arrangements, they will be subject to extra transfer fees.
TRIP DETAILS
ACCOMMODATIONS: You will marvel at the wonderful accommodations provided throughout your tour. All rooms have private bathroom facilities and usually air conditioning and/or fans. All rates are based on double occupancy. Most rooms are twin-bedded, but king-size beds are occasionally available and should be requested in advance. Accommodations listed in your itinerary are correct at time of writing, but on rare occasions may be substituted for a different property of comparable quality.
MEALS: All meals as specified in the itinerary. Please notify us if you have special dietary needs or requests, and we will do our best to accommodate.
INOCULATIONS: When it comes to vaccination and disease prevention, we suggest that travelers first review information provided by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (www.cdc.gov/travel) and then review those details with their personal physicians.
WATER: It is always advisable to drink bottled and/or filtered water when traveling overseas. Safe drinking water will be provided to travelers free of charge in the vehicles and during meals.
BAGGAGE: On average, international flights from the USA allow two pieces of checked luggage, each not exceeding 50 pounds; however we always recommend that you check your airline’s policy just before departure, as luggage limitations are always subject to change. Despite this weight allowance, we always suggest guests travel light. Also soft-sided duffel bags are ideal for most tours, as they stow best in vehicles and airplanes with limited space.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
RESPONSIBIITIES: Neither Classic Escapes (the Company) nor any person or agent acting for, through or on behalf of the Company shall be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever arising from any cause whatsoever and without restricting the generality of the aforegoing shall particularly not be responsible for loss or damage arising from any errors or omissions contained in its brochure or other literature, loss or damage caused by delays, sickness, theft, injury or death. In addition, the Company shall have the right at any time at its discretion to cancel any trip or the remainder thereof or make any alteration in route, accommodation, price or other details and, in the event of any trip being rendered impossible, illegal or inadvisable by weather, strike, war, government or interference or any other cause whatsoever, the extra expenses incurred as a result thereof shall be the responsibility of the passenger. The Company may at its discretion and without liability or cost to itself at any time cancel or terminate the guest’s booking and in particular without limiting the generality of the aforegoing it shall be entitled to do so in the event of the illness or the illegal or incompatible behavior of the guest, who shall in such circumstances not be entitled to any refund. The person making any booking will, by the making of such booking, warrant that he or she has authority to enter into a contract on behalf of the other person included in such a booking and in the event of the failure of any or all of the other persons so included to make payment, the person making the booking shall by his/her signature thereof assume personal liability for the total price of all bookings made by him/her.
PHOTOGRAPHY: The Company reserves the right without further notice to make use of any photograph or film taken on the tour by our photographers without payment or permission. We guarantee that no photographs of a compromising nature will be used.
CHANGES TO SCHEDULES: Although every effort is made to adhere to schedules it should be borne in mind that the Company reserves the right and in fact is obliged to occasionally change routes and hotels as dictated by changing conditions.
REFUNDS: While the Company uses its best endeavors to ensure that all anticipated accommodation is available as planned, there shall be no claim of any nature whatsoever against the Company for a refund either in the whole or part, if any accommodation or excursion is unavailable and a reasonable alternative is not found. If the guest is unable to use any service provided in the itinerary, then there are no refunds due.
AIRLINE CLAUSE: The airlines concerned are not to be held liable for any act, omission or event during the time the passengers are not on board their planes or conveyance. The passengers’ tickets in use by the airline or by other carriers concerned when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the airlines and the purchaser of these tickets and/or passengers.
DELAYS: We cannot be held liable for any delays or additional costs incurred as a result of airlines not running to schedule. If one of our guides is unable to take a trip due to illness, etc. we reserve the right to substitute with another guide. This agreement is made subject to and shall be governed by and construed according to the laws of the country in which the trip takes place. Classic Escapes act merely as an agent for the operating companies. To the best of our knowledge the itinerary is correct at the time of printing. We cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies or changes that may occur after printing.
CONSENT: The payment of the deposit OR any other partial payment for a reservation on a trip constitutes consent by all guests covered by that payment to all provisions of the conditions and general information contained in this brochure whether the guest has signed the booking form or not. The terms, under which you agree to take this trip, cannot be changed or amended except in writing signed by an authorized director of the Company.
INSURANCE: It is a condition of booking, that the sole responsibility lies with the guest to ensure that they carry the correct comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover themselves, as well as any dependents/traveling companions for the duration of their trip. Classic Escapes, including their representatives, employees and agents will take no responsibility for any costs, losses incurred or suffered by the guest, or guest’s dependents or traveling companions.
Please visit the website to enroll – http://www.travelguard.com/classicescapes/. For any questions, you may have on insurance, contact Travel Guard at 1-866-385-4839 and refer to ARC #71298.
INCLUDED EMERGENCY EVACUATION COVERAGE: For the convenience of our travelers, Classic Escapes provides a complimentary Medical Insurance Plan, during this trip through, Travel Guard Group, Inc. This includes:
- Emergency evacuation insurance up to $100,000
- Up to $25,000 medical expense and up to $500 dental expense coverage subject to the terms and limitations of the insurance policy.
- 24 hour worldwide travel and medical assistance