Your contract with Laurus Travel Inc. (hereafter referred to as we, us, our, Laurus, Laurus Travel, the company) is subject to the following terms and conditions.
1. RESERVATION & DEPOSIT
Your tour booking requires completion of the online reservation form and a deposit of $400 per person. A booking made within 90 days of departure date must be paid in full as soon as the booking is confirmed. A photocopy of each traveller’s passport is required at the time of tour booking. The accepted forms of payment for deposit are electronic transfer, cash, cheque, money order, bank draft, wire transfer or credit card (Visa and MasterCard only).
2. FINAL PAYMENT
Final payment is due 90 days prior to departure date. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in automatic cancellation of reservation and forfeiture of deposit. In the event that a reservation is made within 90 days of departure, full payment must be made immediately upon confirmation. The accepted forms of payment are electronic transfer, cash, cheque, money order, bank draft, wire transfer and credit card (Visa & Mastercard only). Credit card payment is subject to a 3.50% surcharge.
3. PRICE & CURRENCY
The tour prices are published in Canadian and U.S. currencies. All prices are per person based on double occupancy. We reserve the right to adjust the price if it has been quoted in error or if the currency of the destination country has appreciated by more than 5% against the currency of payment. If you refuse to accept the adjusted price, a full refund of your payment without penalty shall constitute the final settlement and we shall not be held liable for any loss you might have incurred.
4. WHAT THE TOUR PRICE INCLUDES:
- Hotel accommodations.
- Local economy class air and ground transportation.
- Second class or Ordinary Class seat on high-speed train wherever applicable.
- Airport transfers on arrival and exit unless noted otherwise in the itinerary.
- Guided sightseeing and entrance fees per itinerary.
- Cultural shows as listed.
- Daily meals as specified.
- English-speaking guides throughout tour.
- Service of a tour leader for groups with 10 or more participants.
5. WHAT THE TOUR PRICE EXCLUDES:
- International airfare unless noted otherwise.
- Passport and visa charges.
- Travel insurance.
- Gratuities unless noted otherwise.
- Any item or service not specified as included per itinerary.
6. TIPPING
Unless noted otherwise, tips for local guides, drivers and the tour leader are not included in the tour price.
7. TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
It is the client’s responsibility to obtain a passport and travel visa. We require a photocopy of each tour participant’s passport at the time of tour booking. The visa must be secured before the trip and a copy of it must be submitted to us prior to departure unless the visa is obtained through us. Clients wishing to obtain their visa through us should make the request on the tour reservation form and forward the application to us within our required time frame. It is the client’s responsibility to ensure that they meet the visa application requirements set by the pertinent authorities and that they verify the visa for accuracy upon its receipt.
8. AIRFARES
The tour prices do not include international airfares. Local air flights included in the tour packages are discounted economy class. The carriers are chosen at the sole discretion of Laurus to keep the tour prices affordable. We do not accept requests for specific seating arrangements such as bulkhead or emergency exit row. Frequent flyer reward points may not be available with discounted fares. International airfares arranged by us are not eligible for upgrade.
9. HOTEL ROOM & UPGRADE
We book hotels with the assumption that our customers are all non-smokers. When a hotel is unable to accommodate our request for non-smoking rooms, we make sure the hotel does its best to minimize the odour of cigarette smoke. Rooms for tour groups are assigned by a run-of-the-house system. Consequently, requests for specific floors or room types cannot be accommodated. Rooms booked under discounted group rates do not qualify for reward points or free upgrades even if the client enjoys elite status with the hotels. The hotels are not able to favour any individual over other guests on our list. Contacting the hotels before arrival with the hope of upgrading will be a waste of time.
10. FOOD & BEVERAGE
Breakfast, when included, is buffet served in the hotel. Exceptions may apply when we stay at boutique hotels.
Lunch and dinner when included would be served in quality restaurants outside the hotels. Guests must use serving utensils (spoon/fork/chopsticks) to pick food from shared dishes. Water or tea is complimentary. Soda, premium bottled water, juice and alcoholic beverages are extra.
Vegetarians and clients allergic to certain food items such as nuts, MSG or sesame oil must disclose this information prior to signing up with us. Depending on the tour and destination, clients with such dietary needs may be accepted. In that case, every effort will be made on our part to satisfy the client’s needs. However, we must not be held liable for any dish that may contain allergy-inducing ingredients. Our tours are not suitable for clients with strict dietary needs due to medical or religious reasons.
11. CLIENTS BOOKING AIRFARES ON THEIR OWN
Clients who choose to make the international air arrangements on their own should hold off their airfare purchase and visa application until the tour is confirmed as guaranteed. Failure to heed this advice may result in irrecoverable losses for the client.
12. TRAVEL INSURANCE
Travel medical and evacuation insurance is strongly recommended. Lack of proper coverage may cause difficulty at the time of visa application. We also recommend trip cancellation & interruption coverage for the protection of your investment. We offer competitively priced insurance plans from multiple providers. We hold no responsibility for any insurance claims. We need proof of medical and evacuation insurance if the coverage is obtained elsewhere.
13. BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE
Each client is restricted to one piece of checked luggage during the tour. We do not accept exceptions even if the client is willing to pay extra. The maximum dimensions of your checked luggage must not exceed 100x60x40 in centimetres (39.5×23.5×15.75 in inches). Local airlines limit each passenger to one piece of checked luggage. The weight allowance is 20kg (44 lbs) but in some cases it is as low as 15kg. In general, one carry-on bag weighing no more than 10kg is allowed. Since we do not provide luggage service, the client must be able to lift and comfortably transport their own luggage. Space for luggage storage on trains can be tight; it is imperative for the client to travel light.
14. CHANGES AFTER TOUR BOOKING
Once a booking is confirmed, change of departure date or name of traveller is not permitted. It is important to note that certain arrangements, such as discounted airfares, cannot be changed after the paperwork is completed. Any change will incur a 100% cancellation charge. Any change initiated by the client after departure is subject to availability and extra costs which must be paid on the spot and in cash only.
15. CANCELLATION
If you wish to cancel a confirmed booking, you must notify us by email or postal mail. The cancellation penalty will be assessed as follows on receipt of your written notice:
– 90 days prior to departure: forfeiture of deposit
– 89-52 days prior to departure: 50% of total payment
– 51-31 days prior to departure: 75% of total payment
– 30 days or less: 100% of total payment
Once issued, air tickets are 100% non-refundable. If you have to cancel for a reason that is covered by your insurance, you should contact the insurance company. We will do as much as we can to assist you, but it is up to the insurer whether your claim is payable.
If a tour is cancelled by Laurus Travel, our return of your full payment shall constitute the final settlement. We shall not be held liable for any loss you might have incurred such as airline penalty.
16. CHANGES BY LAURUS TRAVEL
We reserve the right to change any of the tour details and correct any errors at any time. The right is also reserved to change airlines, aircraft types, hotels and vessels scheduled for any specific departure. Even after we have confirmed your booking, we may have to make alterations to your arrangements. Most alterations will be minor and of little effect on your overall arrangements and while we will do our best to notify you of any such minor change before your departure, we will have no other liability to you.
17. UNUSED SERVICES
Regardless of the reason, unused services during the tour including but not limited to transportation, hotel accommodations, meals and sightseeing are neither refundable nor exchangeable.
18. OUR RESPONSIBILITY
We act only as an agent for our suppliers and contractors who provide transportation, accommodation and other related travel services. We assume no responsibility or liability for any injury, death, damage, loss, accident with any services resulting directly or indirectly from acts of God, strikes, government regulations, thefts, cancellations, errors, omissions, failure of any means, discrepancies or changes over which we have no control. We apply all reasonable checks and measures in utmost good faith to ensure that details in the itinerary are carried out exactly as specified. However, changes, including, but not limited to, substitution of hotels or vessels of equal or similar quality and air carriers, may be made out of necessity.
Clients must be aware that there may be different living standards and practices outside of their home country including but not limited to provision of utilities such as water, electricity, accommodation, food preparations and services of all kinds. Under no circumstances shall we be responsible for any inconvenience, loss, damage or injury resulting from these conditions.
The passenger contract issued together with the air ticket by the air carrier shall constitute the sole contract between the airline and the passenger; we shall not be responsible for any delays, substitutions of equipment or any act of omission whatsoever by the carrier, its agent, employees and contractors.
19. YOUR RESPONSIBILITY
You are responsible for providing us with correct, complete and accurate information regarding personal details. Failure to comply with this requirement may result in irrecoverable loss.
If you have made independent travel arrangements, you accept responsibility for joining our tour on time. We are not able to refund monies paid to us, or any third party acting on our or your behalf, or make compensation where, for whatever reason, you miss any part of our tour or fail to use any other travel arrangements made by us.
When you book arrangements with us, you accept responsibility for the proper conduct of yourself and your party. If your actions or omissions cause damage to any property in the provision of the contracted arrangements, or cause delay or diversion to any flight or other means of transportation, you agree to pay any charges incurred. You agree to abide by the authority of the tour leader, local guides and our local agents. Conduct or behavior causing danger, distress or annoyance to others may lead to the client’s removal from our tour with all expenses to be borne by the client.
20. OUR RIGHTS
We reserve the right to decline, accept or retain any person as a tour member at any time. We reserve the right to alter the itinerary, including substitution of accommodations and modes of transportation.
21. YOUR PRIVACY
We operate in full compliance with federal and provincial privacy laws. We reserve the right to photograph and film group activities and use the resulting materials for promotional purposes. However, we will not identify the participants. If you prefer not to have your image used for such purposes, please mention this on your reservation form and also remind the tour leader and local guides on arrival.
22. HEALTH & FITNESS REQUIREMENTS
We are unable to accommodate participants with physical or mental disabilities that require special attention. Our tours involve frequent and strenuous walking and stair climbing. A client who is deemed unreasonably impeding the progress of the tour due to physical or mental disability will be removed from the tour at the client’s expense. Anyone over the age of 79 is required to submit a completed questionnaire for us to assess their ability to travel.
23. MINIMUM AGE
The minimum age acceptable for our tours is 12.
24. MISPRINTS & ERRORS
In the event of misprints or errors, we have the right to re-quote or offer a full refund of any monies paid without further liability.
25. COMPLAINT PROCEDURE & LITIGATION
If you have a complaint during the tour concerning any service provided as part of the arrangements we have confirmed, you must inform the tour leader or our local representative (local agent, local guide or hotel manager) immediately to enable them to try to resolve the matter. If you are not satisfied with their solution, you must notify our office by email or telephone without delay. Claims for a refund or compensation must be filed with our office by email or postal mail within 15 days of the tour’s completion.
It is agreed between you and Laurus that all disputes and matters whatever arising under, in connection with or incident to this agreement shall be litigated, if at all, in and before a court located in Vancouver, the Province of British Columbia, Canada to the exclusion of courts of any other city, province/state or country.
26. ACCEPTANCE OF TERMS & CONDITIONS
Your payment to us or through us indicates that you have read and understood each and all of the above terms and conditions and you agree to be bound by them. The same document in PDF format will also be provided to you when your invoice is issued.
Rev. 2024-Jan-09