TERMS & CONDITIONS/CONSUMER DISCLOSURE NOTICE & Release of Liability, Waiver, Assumption of Risks, and Arbitration Agreement
PLEASE READ THIS NOTICE. IT CONSTITUTES PART OF YOUR CONTRACT FOR TRAVEL RELATED SERVICES. PLEASE CHECK YOUR DOCUMENTS WHEN YOU RECEIVE THEM. CALL THE WANDERLUST TRAVEL DESIGNS IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. MOST DISCOUNT FARES INVOLVE RESTRICTIONS. CHANGING CARRIERS OR FLIGHTS COULD RESULT IN THE AIRLINE DEMANDING AN INCREASED FARE. CHECK WITH THE AIRLINE OR THE WANDERLUST TRAVEL DESIGNS BEFORE MAKING ANY CHANGES.
- Scope
Wanderlust Travel Designs is acting as a mere agent for SUPPLIERS (identified on the final travel documents) in selling travel-related accepting services, or in accepting reservations or bookings for services that are not directly supplied by this Wanderlust Travel Designs (such as air and ground transportation, hotel accommodations, meals, tours, cruises, etc.). Wanderlust Travel Designs, therefore, shall not be responsible for breach of contract, failure to comply with any laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), or any intentional or negligent actions or omissions on the part of such suppliers, which result in any loss, damage, delay, inconvenience or injury, or death to travelers or travelers’ companions or group members. Unless the term “guaranteed” is specifically stated in writing on your tickets, invoice, or reservation itinerary, Wanderlust Travel Designs does not guarantee any of such supplier’s rates, bookings, reservations, connections, scheduling, or handling of baggage or other personal effects. Travelers have done due diligence, are aware of the quality of the hotel accommodations chosen, and agree that Wanderlust Travel Designs will not be responsible if they are not satisfied.
- Risks, Cancellation, and Insurance
Traveler assumes complete and full responsibility for, and hereby releases Wanderlust Travel Designs from, any duty of checking and verifying any and all passport, visa, vaccination, or other entry requirements of each destination, and all safety and security conditions of such destinations, during the length of the proposed travel. However, we specifically recommend that U. S. Citizens traveling internationally, including travel to Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean, do so with a valid U. S. Passport. For information concerning possible dangers at international destinations, contact the Travel Advisory Section of the U.S. State Department, (202) 647-5335 http://travel.state.gov/travel/warnings.html. For medical information, please refer to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC), (404) 332-4559 or use their fax information service at www.cdc.gov/travel (404) 332-4565.
Wanderlust Travel Designs shall not be responsible for any injuries, losses or damages in connection with terrorist activities, social or labor unrest, mechanical or structural integrity of air, sea, and ground transportation and accommodations, diseases, local laws, terrorist acts, climatic conditions, Acts of God, delays, changes or cancellation of travel due to weather conditions, hotel services, accidents or health related problems before or while in-transit to (e.g., an accident on the way to a tour), during, and after a tour, or any other actions, omissions, or conditions outside of Wanderlust Travel Designs control.
If travel plans are delayed or cancelled for any reason there will be no refunds issued by Wanderlust Travel Designs, except in those circumstances where Wanderlust Travel Designs has issued its own schedule of cancellation, applicable to all or a portion of a booking (whenever such a schedule is issued, it will specifically indicate which trip component(s) it is issued for and it will apply ONLY to the specific trip component(s) indicated). Please note that a ‘trip’ or ‘booking’ often consists of multiple components, each of which may carry its own cancellation penalties (example: an airline ticket, a pre-trip hotel night, a multi-day adventure vacation by a tour operator, a post-trip extension designed by Wanderlust Travel Designs, all of which may be subject to a different set of cancellation policies). You will be provided with the individual cancellation policies to the extent that these are available in a distributable format, for your records, but Wanderlust Travel Designs is not responsible for this policy distribution. Clients are responsible for obtaining the applicable policies, either by contacting Wanderlust Travel Designs and requesting a copy (if available, otherwise it will be verbal delivery) or by consulting the individual suppliers and/or their catalogs. No refund(s) will be issued for cancellations due to actual or threatened terrorist events. Furthermore, there will be no refunds due to fear of travel from actual or threatened terrorist, health, political or other similar events.
It is the traveler’s responsibility to protect their purchases and Travel Insurance is strongly recommended. Traveler is advised to obtain appropriate insurance coverage against these risks; information is available through this Wanderlust Travel Designs regarding travel insurance. Traveler’s retention of tickets, reservations, or bookings after issuance shall constitute consent to the above and an agreement on his/her part to convey the contents hereto to his/her travel companions or group members.
By embarking upon his/her travel, the traveler voluntarily assumes all risks involved in such travel, whether expected or unexpected. Traveler is hereby warned of the above risks as well as possible travel industry bankruptcies and medical and climatic disruptions, and the possibility traveler may be unable to travel as scheduled because of personal emergency.
I acknowledge that I have been made aware of the benefits of travel insurance and authorize the purchase thereof by signing this form and/or all credit card authorization forms issued to me which include the purchase of travel insurance. I also hereby agree to sign the Travel Insurance Refusal form (available from Wanderlust Travel Design on request) should I for some reason wish to not to purchase travel insurance.
- ALTERNATIVE DISPUTE RESOLUTION
Wanderlust Travel Designs desires to maintain friendly relationships with its clients (agents, sellers, buyers, etc.). In order to provide for a mutually beneficial relationship, Wanderlust Travel Designs has established an alternative mediation program in the event of a misunderstanding or dispute between Wanderlust Travel Designs and it clients.”
If a dispute arises out of or relates to this contract, or breach thereof, and if the dispute cannot be settled through negotiation, the parties agree first to try in good faith to settle the dispute by mediation administered by the World Travel Dispute Center under the applicable guidelines as established by International Forum for Travel and Tourism (IFTTA) before resorting to arbitration, litigation, or some other dispute resolution procedure. If mediation is not successful, the parties will settle by binding arbitration administered by the World Travel Dispute Center under the applicable guidelines as established by IFTTA. Judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator(s), or written agreements of the parties, may be entered in any court having jurisdiction thereof or written agreements of the parties. If litigation is necessary to enforce this agreement, the prevailing party(s) shall receive costs and attorney’s fees. In the event that an IFTTA qualified mediator or arbitrator is unavailable, both parties agree to the submission of the dispute to a mutually acceptable dispute resolution service.
The issuance of any tickets, reservations, or bookings by Wanderlust Travel Designs is done on the express condition that: 1. Wanderlust Travel Designs shall not be responsible for any changes in fares, rates, charges, or prices initiated by the carrier(s) or supplier(s) of services, and 2. Wanderlust Travel Designs shall not be responsible for any damages resulting from cancellations, changes, or disruption of any services and/or for refunds of monies already paid or transmitted to any carrier or supplier of services.
Customer’s initial retention of tickets, reservations, or bookings after issuance shall constitute a consent by customer, on his/her behalf and on behalf of his/her companions, to the above.
Nothing agreed to herein by the customer is meant to interfere with customer’s legal rights against any carrier(s) or supplier(s) of services.
The payment of the required deposit or any partial or full payment for a reservation on the chosen tour/package shall constitute consent to all provisions of this Terms & Conditions statement as well as the provisions listed in the ‘General — Trip Reservations and Details’ document, as well as in the ‘Trip-specific — Policy on Payments, Cancellations & Refunds’ document, as well as all provisions contained in any brochures, trip descriptions, and/or itineraries, or other forms of collateral provided to the client in conjunction with a booking. These provisions are hereby incorporated by reference in this Disclosure Notice, and clients are advised to take note of them.
Wanderlust Travel Designs is acting as a mere agent for suppliers as stated above and its agents, servants, and employees, shall not be responsible for personal injury or property damage, loss or delay, or change of itinerary incurred by any person or tour participant arising out of the act of negligence of any direct or supplemental air carrier or other person or entity engaged in transporting the passenger, hotel or other person rendering any of these services, or accommodations being offered in these tours; nor shall Wanderlust Travel Designs be responsible for any injuries, death, damages, loss, or delay in any means of transportation or by reason of any event beyond the actual control of Wanderlust Travel Designs or of any agent or supplier or due to force majeure. Wanderlust Travel Designs is not responsible should an escort or replacement escort from accompanying the trip for whatever reason; or to cancel a trip outright due to low passenger sign-up numbers, illness of a service provider, supplier default, or any other circumstances beyond the control of Wanderlust Travel Designs.
If the contract between Wanderlust Travel Designs and the passenger, on the one hand, and/or the contract between Client and the designated carrier, on the other hand, is cancelled by the tour operator for any reason whatsoever, all partial or full payments made for the trip will be refunded in their entirety, without any further obligation on the part of the tour operator.The right is reserved to substitute hotels of similar category (if available) or change schedules without prior notice should circumstances so demand. In the event of a change in the itinerary necessitated by factors or conditions beyond the actual control of Wanderlust Travel Designs no refund can be made nor will credit be allowed or refund given for any services provided in the itinerary should any such services not be utilized by tour members. We reserve the right to alter any itinerary, arrangement(s), or date(s), if it becomes necessary or advisable, and each trip participant/ agrees to pay additional expenses required by such alternative(s), if any. All prices are subject to change without notice. Availability of refunds for air transportation included in a tour and additional transportation costs for a person who does not utilize an air transportation part of the tour will vary with the type of transportation and the point at which transportation is not used, and shall be made at the sole discretion of — .All rates quoted in the description(s)/itinerary(ies)/brochure(s) are based on the current carrier tariffs and current international exchange rates, and are subject to adjustment without prior notification in the event of changes therein, and any increase resulting from such adjustment shall not modify the cancellation provisions in the tour description/itinerary/brochure or the Trip Reservations and Details from accompanying this disclosure notice.
