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Terms & Conditions:
These booking conditions were published in December 2005 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:
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
Elite Travel Consulting.com for your travel needs.
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