LEGAL
Click here to view the Airfare Privacy and Security
It is the passenger’s responsibility to understand the following terms and conditions. By booking travel with Vacations In Paradise, herewith referred to as the “Tour Operator”, the passenger agrees to adhere to and accept all terms and conditions. (For group reservations, refer to the Group Policy.)
IMPORTANT AIR AND LAND PACKAGE INFORMATION
All payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. Air Seats are limited and prices may be restricted to specific flights, class of service, travel dates, or length of stay. Holiday periods, flights and dates outside of specified travel period are available at additional costs. Accommodations include applicable taxes. Optional Trip Cancellation Protection will be offered during the booking process and if purchased, you will be allowed to cancel subject to the below terms. If you have not purchased our Trip Cancellation Protection, all bookings are Non-Refundable. Offers apply to North American-originating passengers only.
Traveling to Ireland - Stated prices exclude government taxes/fees/facility charges of up to $180 per person and the September 11th Security Fee of $2.50 for US enplanements.
Traveling to Italy - Stated prices exclude government taxes/fees/facility charges up to $155 per person and the September 11th Security Fee of $2.50 for US enplanements.
Traveling to The UK - Stated prices exclude government taxes/fees/facility charges of up to $227 and the September 11th Security Fee of $2.50 for US enplanements.
Taxes and Fees are subject to change without notice and will be confirmed at time of booking. Flight restrictions/terms & conditions apply. Frequent flyer mileage/points may not apply. Tickets are non-refundable. Stopovers are not permitted. Offers cannot be combined with any other discounts/promotions. Child/infant discounts not available. Substantial restrictions apply for cancellation/changes. Visit website and click on the legal tab on bottom of home page / or call our call center for updated pricing and full details on change/cancellation policy and detailed land offering. See documents for any additional terms and conditions.
DEPOSIT AND FINAL PAYMENT
Full payment, including insurance payment, must be made at time of booking. We accept agency check or the following Credit Cards: American Express, MasterCard, Visa, and Discover. Unless otherwise advised, the credit card selected for initial payment will also be charged for final balance of the reservation. For group reservations, refer to the Group Policy, which will be provided to you by Tour Operator upon request. Purchaser's credit card will be charged by GCS and will appear as follows on credit card statement: "GCS Travel Services”
TRIP PROTECTION PLAN
We offer two types of trip protection plans to all of our clients depending on the type of travel being purchased. The first plan is available for travelers choosing Independent Travel plans. The second plan is available for clients choosing Escorted Motorcoach Tours, Itineraries including three or more rounds of golf, or Rivercruises. A summary of inclusions is listed below; please contact the Tour Operator’s call center for additional information regarding protection plans. Clients may only purchase and cancel using trip protection a maximum of two times for the same booking.
INDEPENDENT TRAVEL TRIP PROTECTION (excluding Escorted Motorcoach/Golf/Rivercruise Bookings): - Click Here to download
The following coverage and services are provided per person during the course of your trip. The cost of this protection is 7% of the total cost of your trip and must be purchased at time of booking. Amounts listed are the maximum reimbursements provided:
PRE-DEPARTURE PROTECTION
Trip Cancellation: Trip Cost (Full credit waiver)
The Trip Cancellation Waiver is designed to protect your investment on all featured self-drive and customized bookings. You may cancel/change your trip up to 3 business days prior to departure for any reason and you will receive a voucher for future travel equaling the full amount of all payments made, less travel protection cost, concierge fees, and shipping expenses. Coverage goes into effect on the day the premium is received. Trip Cancellation Waiver must be paid in full at the time of the booking. The cost of this protection is 7% of the total cost of your trip. Passengers who originally booked airfare must rebook air on original air carrier at time of cancellation/change. No cancellation/changes will be accepted without new dates of travel.
POST-DEPARTURE PROTECTION (provided by Travel Insured International, Inc.®)
TRIP DELAY: A covered delay of 12 or more hours: $300 ($100/day)
MEDICAL PROTECTION: Emergency Accident and Sickness Medical Expense: $10,000
BAGGAGE PROTECTION: Baggage and Personal Effects: $500, Baggage Delay: $100
TRAVEL ACCIDENT PROTECTION: Accidental Death and Dismemberment: $25,000
WORLDWIDE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE SERVICE: A variety of assistance services are offered
Further details on coverage options are available upon request. All claims for post-departure coverage are to be made with Travel Insured International, Inc.®.
ESCORTED MOTORCOACH/GOLF/RIVERCRUISE TRAVEL INSURANCE - Click Here to download
For travelers on offered Escorted Tours Trip Cancellation Protection provided is by Travel Insured International, Inc.®. This coverage is designed to protect your travel investment with a full cash refund less the cost of the insurance and cancellation fees determined by the cancellation policy below for the following reasons: sickness, injury, death, home made uninhabitable by fire, traffic accident, employment termination, or natural disaster. The cost of this protection is 7% of the total cost of your trip and must be purchased at time of booking. In addition to the cancellation protection, the following coverage and services are provided per person during the course of your trip. All claims are to be made to Travel Insured International, Inc.® at 800 242 2440 or PO Box 280568, East Hartford, CT 06128-0568. www.travelinsured.com. Amounts listed are the maximum reimbursements provided:
TRAVEL PROTECTION-Limits are per person
Trip Cancellation: Trip Cost*
Trip Interruption: Trip Cost*
Trip Delay: $500 ($150/day)
*Up to tour cost paid to a maximum of $8,000
MEDICAL PROTECTION: Emergency Accident and Sickness Medical Expense: $5,000(Increased by $45,000 for those traveling to Czech Republic), Emergency Evacuation and Repatriation of Remains:$50,000
BAGGAGE PROTECTION: Baggage and Personal Effects: $1,000, Baggage Delay: $200
WORLDWIDE EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE SERVICES: A variety of assistance services are offered
CANCELLATION AND CHANGE POLICIES
INDEPENDENT TRAVEL CHANGE AND CANCELLATION POLICY (excluding Escorted Motorcoach Tours):
All Payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. All featured self drive and independent package payments and customized booking payments are non-refundable and non-transferable whether bookings made through call center or website. We offer a cancellation waiver insurance plan that can cover cancellation for any reason up to 3 business days prior to departure. All land itinerary changes are discretionary and incur a minimum fee of $50 per change plus any additional costs incurred. For certain special promotional packages, deviations are not allowed. For air changes penalties vary. Minimum fee for changes to airline reservations is $100 per person per segment. Spelling corrections to clients’ names after tickets have been issued are subject to airline change fees. If documents have been issued a processing fee will apply to send revised travel documents. Fees are subject to adjustment at any time at the Tour Operator’s discretion.
ESCORTED MOTORCOACH CHANGE AND CANCELLATION POLICY
All Payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. All tours will incur a $50 fee per change to any land components plus any additional incurred costs. For air changes penalties vary. Minimum fee for changes to airline reservations is $100 per person per segment. Spelling corrections to clients’ names after tickets have been issued are subject to airline change fees. If documents have been issued a shipping fee will apply to send revised travel documents. Changes made inside of 45 days are considered a cancellation. Fees are subject to adjustment at any time at the Tour Operator’s discretion. If you are booked in a double or twin room and your roommate cancels, you will be responsible for the single supplement. Name changes and transfers of reservations are not permitted.
Cancellation penalties for Escorted Motorcoach Bookings:
45-22 days prior to departure: 20% of total price
21-8 days prior to departure: 30% of total price
7-1 day(s) prior to departure: 50% of total price
On departure day or later: 100% of total price
-SEE ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDTIONS ENCLOSED WITHIN YOUR DOCUMENT PACKAGE FOR SPECIFIC DETAILS
RIVERCRUISE CHANGE AND CANCELLATION POLICY
All Payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. All tours will incur a $50 fee per change to any components plus any additional incurred costs. For air changes penalties vary. Minimum fee for changes to airline reservations is $100 per person per segment. Spelling corrections to clients’ names after tickets have been issued are subject to airline change fees. If documents have been issued a shipping fee will apply to send revised travel documents. Changes made inside of 45 days are considered a cancellation. Fees are subject to adjustment at any time at the Tour Operator’s discretion. If you are booked in a double or twin room and your roommate cancels, you will be responsible for the single supplement. Name changes and transfers of reservations are not permitted.
Cancellation penalties for Rivercruise Bookings:
· 90-60 days prior to commencement of services: 35% of total price plus Travel Protection premiums
· 59-30 days prior to commencement of services: 50% of total price plus Travel Protection premiums
· 29-1 days prior to commencement of services: 80% of total price plus Travel Protection premiums
· On departure day and later: 100% of total price plus Travel Protection premiums.
-SEE ADDITIONAL TERMS AND CONDTIONS ENCLOSED WITHIN YOUR DOCUMENT PACKAGE FOR SPECIFIC RIVERCRUISE DETAILS
TRAVEL OPERATIONS
Escorted Motorcoach/Rivercruise Tours are co-shared with Globus and/or Brendan Tours. You benefit considerably from this collaboration through considerably lower tour prices and greater choice of itineraries and departure dates. Independent travel products/packages are operated by Global Consolidated Services USA,Inc., Lynbrook, NY.
IF THE TOUR OPERATOR CANCELS THE TOUR
In the event the Tour Operator, for any reason, cancels your escorted tour we will rebook clients on the same tour with the next available departure date or a similar tour. If there is no acceptable substitute the Tour Operator will issue a refund to the client of the amount paid only; there is no additional liability. Please note the Tour Operator cannot be held responsible for any air and other travel arrangements not booked with the Tour Operator.
REFUNDS FOR UNUSED SERVICES
No refunds will be made for unused services or vouchers once travel arrangements have commenced.
AIR ARRANGEMENTS
Tour Operator is not responsible if an airline cancels, reschedules, or delays a flight for any reason. If you miss your departure flight, it is your responsibility to work with the airline on which you are ticketed to reach your destination. Tour Operator is not responsible for any additional expenses you may incur prior to joining your trip. Tour Operator is not responsible for and will not provide any refund for portions of trips missed due to canceled, rescheduled, or delayed flights.
For air purchased through Tour Operator, if any air schedule requires an overnight stay in a gateway city, it is the client’s responsibility to secure accommodations is at client’s expense. Air routings are subject to availability. Routings are not guaranteed and are subject to change at any time.
If you make your own flight arrangements, Tour Operator will not be responsible for any loss resulting from cancellation or changes in international gateways or travel dates. We recommend that you do not purchase airline tickets with high penalty charges for changes.
PARTICIPATION
For the benefit of everyone on your vacation, Tour Operator reserves the right to accept or reject any vacation participant and to remove any participant whose conduct is deemed incompatible with the interests of the other participants. We will not refund nor cover any cost or expenses you incur if we have to terminate your vacation arrangements due to your unacceptable behavior.
TRAVELLERS WHO NEED SPECIAL ASSISTANCE
You must report any disability requiring special attention while on tour or on cruise to Tour Operator at the time the reservation is made. Tour Operator 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. Most transportation services, including the touring motorcoach, are not equipped with wheelchair ramps. We regret that we cannot provide individual assistance to a vacation participant for walking, dining, getting on and off motorcoaches and other vehicles, or other personal needs. A qualified and physically able companion must accompany travelers who need such assistance and must assume full responsibility for their well-being.
Although some of our ships have elevators, many of our small ships (e.g. river cruise vessels) do not. Passengers requiring ship elevators should inquire before making reservations. Additionally, most stateroom doors and restrooms are not wide enough to allow access by standard wheelchairs, and bathrooms and other doorways may be fitted with coamings. For safety reasons, passengers in wheelchairs cannot be carried on ramps in ports where the ship is at anchor. Motorized scooters are not typically suitable on international tours or river cruises.
YOUNG TRAVELLERS
Travelers who are less than 18 years old on the departure date must be accompanied by an adult and share an adult’s accommodations throughout the duration of the vacation. There are no young traveler discounts however we do accept children ages 8-17. We do not accept children less than 8 years old on Tour Operator vacations. For any special requirements regarding airline tickets for children, contact your airline directly.
Due to heightened security, many countries have adopted practices to prevent international abductions of children. If a child will be traveling with adults other than the parents or with only one parent, it is recommended that a notarized letter be written by the parents or non-traveling parent granting authorization to travel, including the dates of travel. We suggest that you also contact the appropriate consulate and airlines because they may have additional requirements or recommendations.
SMOKING
Smoking is not allowed on transportation that is exclusively provided by Tour Operator
PRICES
All package prices listed herein are per person and are based on double occupancy unless otherwise noted. . Prices are subject to change. Brochure prices are Land/Tour only. Prices exclude airfare. Contact call center to acquire up to the minute air rates.
PLEASE NOTE: All rates are shown in U.S. dollars and do not include future government taxes or surcharges, or additional future service charges. These rates are based on exchange rates, tariffs and tax rates in effect as of October 1st 2008 and may be subject to change without notice. Each individual tour price includes charges for research, itinerary preparation and planning, currency transfer and booking procedures. In each case, the quoted price represents a complete package price and an itemization of individual component prices will not be rendered under any circumstances. Rates may not apply to Christmas, and New Years season. Supplements may be required for St. Patrick’s week, Easter week, and other holidays.
VISAS & PASSPORTS
You are responsible for obtaining and paying for all visas and entry documents, 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-U.S. citizens must consult with appropriate consulates to determine if any visas are needed and are responsible for obtaining all visas and entry documents independently. Tour Operator is not responsible for providing you with specific visa and passport information or documentation and Tour Operator cannot accept liability for any passenger refused entry onto any transport or into any country due to failure of the passenger to carry correct documentation. All passengers 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 vacations. It is your responsibility to verify all visa and passport requirements.
ACCOMODATIONS
The accommodations listed on the Website/brochure are intended to be used on all departures; however, if a change becomes necessary for any reason, including additional departures on the same date, the accommodations substituted will be equivalent to those shown. All accommodations are arranged as stated herein. We reserve the right to substitute hotels, car models, golf and sightseeing listed herein for similar product categories as conditions may require. Hotel rooms in Europe are typically smaller and less standardized than those in the United States and do not always offer air conditioning. Please note that a “twin room” generally includes 2 twin beds placed side by side. Single rooms often only include one twin bed and are smaller than twin sized rooms. Please note that accommodation check-in times vary worldwide. It is standard hotel policy that hotel check in is generally not possible before 2:00 p.m.
PRIVATE BATH AND SINGLE ROOMS
In exceptional cases where private baths or single rooms reserved by us are not available, refunds will be made by the Tour Director or Local Host. Claims made in this respect cannot be accepted after the vacation is completed.
OPEN B&B VOUCHERS
Acceptance of B&B vouchers by hotels is at the sole discretion of the proprietor, as is any supplement charged. No refunds will be issued for unused vouchers or of vouchers presented as payment to B&Bs of a lesser price category. It is the client’s responsibility to secure their own reservations with the individual B&Bs under the open voucher program. The Tour Operator can, in certain circumstances, pre-book a B&B on the clients’ behalf for an additional fee. Clients must consult the written instructions, terms and conditions listed in any B&B literature provided after booking. Supplements per room per night may apply during peak months and are payable direct to homeowners.
CAR RENTAL INFORMATION
A valid U.S. driver’s license is required to hire a car in Europe. All car hire in Ireland and UK include unlimited mileage, local taxes, and third party insurance. Rental prices reflect the cost of only one driver per car, although the price of the rental may be split between multiple travelers. Additional drivers may be added to the reservation at time of pick-up and will carry an additional fee determined by the rental company. Your voucher does not constitute the rental agreement. When you pick up the vehicle, you must sign a rental agreement provided by the rental company and subject to local laws. Additional fees may apply for rental service beyond hours of operation. All car rates are guaranteed in US Dollars, all local fees are billed in local currency directly to client.
Ireland Car Rentals
Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) on car rentals is available to be booked prior to departure at a discounted rate. For bookings made prior to January 2010 Basic CDW insurance will have an excess deductible of 1000 euros. For booking made January 2010 and therafter VIP Express CDW is available for sale. VIP Express CDW insurance offer clients the safty of walk away coverage (Zero deductibles). We strongly recommend purchasing CDW at time of booking. If you choose not to take the CDW, you will be held fully responsible for any damage to the vehicle.
Driver Supplements are as follows and must be paid to the Rental Company at the time of the car pickup in Ireland:
Minimum Age: 21years through 23 years €25 per day plus tax
Maximum Age: 71years through 75 years €10 per day plus tax
Additional Driver charge €8 per day plus tax
FEE DISCLOSURE
A non-refundable location surcharge of €25 is assessed by the rental company at the time pick-up. A gasoline charge for a full tank of gas is assessed at the time of pick-up and refunded in full if the car is returned with a full tank. Any non-covered liability of the car is held on the client’s credit card during the course of the rental and released after the car is returned in its original condition.
UK Car Rentals(May vary dependent upon vendor)
Driver Supplements are as follows and must be paid to car Rental Company at the time of the car pickup in UK:
Minimum Age: 21 years through 22 years £14 per day plus tax
23 years through 24 years £7 per day plus tax
Vehicle License fee - £1.07 per day plus tax
Additional Driver fee - £2.50 per day plus tax
Location Surcharge of 13% of rental plus tax
FEE DISCLOSURE
The Rental Company at the time pick-up assesses a non-refundable location surcharge equal to 13% of the base rental fare. A gasoline charge for a full tank of gas is assessed at the time of pick-up at standard gas rates. Any non-covered liability of the car is held on the client’s credit card during the course of the rental and released after the car is returned in its original condition.
