Women Travel Tour: Booking Conditions. Getaways For Girls, Womens Travel Specialists

Please carefully consider the following booking conditions prior to making a reservation as they incorporate the basis upon which bookings are accepted.

DEPOSIT AND BALANCE OF PAYMENT

A non refundable deposit of $500.00 is required. You are required to fill out the tour registration form which is to be sent to our office together with the deposit for the tour within 7 days of receiving our confirmation. Full payment is required 60 days before the departure date. Failure to pay the full amount by the due date may result in a late payment fee or cancellation.

Credit card payments will be subject to applicable merchant charges.

Meridian World Travel & Tours is a fully licensed travel agent and a member of the Travel Compensation Fund.

NOT INCLUDED

The tour price does not include beverages with meals and any meals and sightseeing tours not specified. It is your responsibility to ensure settlement of any charges made by a hotel or provider of any service, for extra services ordered directly by you such as room service, mini bar, laundry, post, telephone charges, items of a personal nature or tips (hotels require validation of a credit card upon check in). Visa (if applicable), travel insurance and excess baggage fees are not included in our prices.

TIPPING

Tipping is expected in most of the countries we visit (for guides, drivers, waiters etc). We will advise the amount for tipping (if required) per person and this amount is to be paid before departure. The nominated tip amount will be given to the national tour guide at the beginning of the tour and he/she will take care of all necessary tipping throughout the tour. Tips for hotel porters for baggage delivered to or from your room will be your own responsibility.

PRICING

All prices quoted are in Australian dollars. In the event of a fluctuation in charges including exchange rates, airfares, fuel surcharges, taxes and other land arrangement costs, Meridian World Travel & Tours reserves the right to adjust tour prices accordingly. You are required to pay any such increase before departure.

CHANGES TO THE ITINERARY

Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy. If we are forced to change your booking or part of it for reasons beyond our control prior to or during actual travel, we bear no responsibility for this and reserve the right to vary your holiday itinerary and give you prompt notice thereof. In the event that any one change or series of changes to your holiday itinerary means that your holiday has become materially different from that contemplated prior to the change or changes, you have the right to withdraw from the tour and all monies already paid will be refunded less any charges imposed by suppliers.

If a substitute tour, or part of the tour is accepted in replacement of the original tour, or part of the tour (that cannot be provided), a surcharge may apply if the substitute tour or part of the tour is more expensive. If variations in the itinerary are accepted (which are permitted in these conditions) then no claim shall be made for compensation, refund or loss on that account.

Meridian World Travel & Tours also reserves the right to change the daily itinerary on tour due to weather conditions or circumstances beyond its control. These decisions are final and may not be disputed during or after the tour.

CANCELLATION CHARGES

All cancellations must be made in writing to Meridian World Travel & Tours and will be subject to the following cancellation charges from the date the written cancellation is received.

Cancellations received more than 60 days prior to departure will incur a loss of deposit. Cancellations received within 60 days of departure will incur a loss of 100% of total tour cost. However, this could be recoverable through your travel insurance.

LATE BOOKING AND AMENDMENT FEES

Bookings made within 60 days of departure will only be accepted if full payment is made at the time of confirmation. Late booking fees may also apply. A fee of $50.00 per amendment to confirmed bookings will be charged in addition to any charges levied by hotels, ground/cruise operators or airlines. If an amendment is requested within 60 days of the scheduled departure date, a cancellation fee may apply.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

It is a condition of joining this tour that all participants take out full comprehensive travel insurance. Your insurance policy details will need to be provided to us prior to departure, failure to do so will mean exclusion from the trip.

MINIMUM GROUP NUMBER

The tour is subject to a minimum number of participants. If the minimum number of participants is not reached, the tour will be cancelled with all monies refunded. If we re-cost the tour and you decide not to proceed, all monies will be refunded. You are strongly advised against making any flight arrangements until you have received confirmation the tour is proceeding. Any cancellation fees as a result of such arrangements will be your responsibility.

PASSPORTS AND VISAS

It is your responsibility to ensure that your passport is current. All international passengers require a current passport with at least 6 months validity. You may need a re-entry permit to Australia, if you are not travelling on an Australian passport. Passport and visa requirements are not our responsibility. We are not liable for any loss or expense due to a passenger's failure to have a valid passport or visa. We will advise procedures for obtaining a visa (if applicable) and provide assistance if required.

For security reasons, airlines require your name exactly as it appears in your passport. It remains your responsibility to advise these details. If you do not provide the correct information and we have to re-issue airline tickets or other documentation, we will be compelled to pass on any additional costs to participants requiring document re-issue.

SINGLE PARTICIPANT

If you are travelling alone and wish to share a room, we will endeavour to match you with another single participant. We accept no responsibility for the suitability of the rooming partner. If at any time during the tour you consider the rooming partner to be unsuitable, we will arrange single accommodation (if available) the additional cost of which will be borne by you. If we are unable to find a rooming partner prior to departure, you will be required to pay the applicable single supplement to undertake the tour.

REFUNDS

No refund will be given for any pre-booked accommodation, coach tours or other pre-booked services or other travel which is not utilised. Participants who do not conform to the itinerary will not be entitled to refunds for any parts of the tour missed and no variations are allowed. No allowances or refunds will be made for lost or unused tickets or hotel coupons.

ACCOMMODATION

Whilst every effort is made to ensure hotel accommodation is on a twin share basis with private facilities, no responsibilities are accepted should the hotels change rooming arrangements. If by choice or circumstance a single room is required, the single supplement will apply. Requests for smoking /non smoking rooms will be passed onto hotels, but cannot be guaranteed. In heritage hotels, room size and layout can vary from room to room.

BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE

Porterage for 1 suitcase per person on tour is included in the tour price. Baggage allowance is a maximum of 20 kilograms per person. We recommend no more than 1 small suitcase (preferably with wheels) plus a large handbag per person (you can always shop locally for anything you need!). Excess baggage fees for international and any domestic flights will be your responsibility.

PARTICIPATION

All participants warrant that they have the physical capacity to participate fully in the tour without any assistance from the tour escort or other participants. Any important health, disability (physical or mental) issues must be made known to us verbally and written on the booking form. We reserve the right to ask for a doctor's clearance if necessary. You are advised to check your travel insurance policy to make sure these issues are covered. Meridian World Travel & Tours reserves the right to decline any person as a tour participant if it believes that it is not possible to guarantee the welfare of that person during the tour. A booking may be refused or cancelled after payment. It also reserves the right to remove from the tour any person whose conduct is deemed incompatible with the interests of the other passengers. In such event, Meridian World Travel & Tours and the tour escort are not liable for any direct or indirect costs, losses or expenses incurred by the participant.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS

You are requested to familiarise yourself with any health requirements specific to the countries being visited. It is highly recommended that you get advice from a medical practitioner.

CONSULAR ADVICE

We recommend that you review information issued by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade by calling 1300 555 135 or by visiting their website at www.smarttraveller.com.au

RESPONSIBILITY

Meridian World Travel & Tours acts as coordinator for all persons taking these tours in the making of all arrangements for transportation, sightseeing and hotel accommodation. These services are not provided by Meridian World Travel & Tours but by airlines, hoteliers, transportation companies and other service providers which are not under its control. While we take all reasonable care to select such service providers, Meridian World Travel & Tours, its tour escort and associated agents accept no responsibility for any accident, injury, death, sickness, damage, loss, cancellation, delay, failure to deliver or partial or inadequate delivery of services, additional expenses or other unforeseen events caused in connection with those service providers, their employees, agents, servants or representatives. All coupons, vouchers, receipts and tickets issued by the airlines, hoteliers and transportation companies and other service providers are issued subject to the terms and conditions of liability contained in those documents, which may limit or exclude liability for death, personal injury, delay, and loss of or damage to baggage and are subject to the laws of the country where the services are provided. We do not accept any liability caused directly or indirectly by force majure or other events beyond our control, including but without limitation to war or threat of war, acts of government, acts of terrorism, fire, strikes, civil disturbances, quarantines, floods, weather conditions, natural disasters, incidents at sea, accidents or failure of machinery or equipment, theft, or other disturbances of any kind which cancel, interfere with, or add cost to the services requested.

WAIVER

While on tour there may be instances where you may wish to join the tour escort for activities in free time outside the tour programme which may involve catching taxis or using public transport to shopping/dinner locations or other destinations chosen at the time. The tour escort and Meridian World Travel & Tours will not be liable for any accident, injury, death, property damage or loss in relation to such activities. By signing the booking form, you agree to take part at your own risk. This waiver also covers participation in any "optional tours".

COMPLAINTS

If you have any complaint about your trip, you must make it known at the earliest opportunity to the tour escort or national tour guide who will endeavour to resolve the issue at the time. If at the end of the trip you feel your complaint has not been properly dealt with, you must notify Meridian World Travel & Tours in writing within 30 days of the end of your trip.

LAW OF CONTRACT

This contract is governed in all respects by the law of the State of Queensland and any legal action arising under the contract shall be litigated only in the appropriate court having jurisdiction in that state.