Tours and Vacations for Women

SIGHTS AND SOUL TRAVELS' TERMS AND CONDITIONS

This document outlines what Sights and Soul Travels, LLC ("SST") agrees to provide when you sign up for a tour, and what you agree to do in return. This information is very important, please read it carefully. 

Current tour prices are listed on the page corresponding to each tour. Due to currencies flactuation, tour prices may change without notice at any time. Tour participants who already registered for a tour will not be affected by any price changes.

Included in the price of the tour: 
- all accommodations: small boutique hotels centrally located near main attractions in the city and resort luxury hotels in the countryside. Specific hotels for each tour are listed on each tour's accommodation page. SST reserves the right to substitute accommodations of similar standard when necessary. 
- all transportation during included group activities as per itinerary: transportation between cities will be in vans or small buses, depending on the group size;
- transfers between the airport and the hotel on arrival and between the hotel and the airport on departure on selected tours, please check the detailed itinerary to see if the airport transfer is included on the tour you selected;
- all meals as per itinerary: breakfast at the hotel, dinner and/or lunch at either the hotel restaurant or at a fine restaurant, lunch or picnic lunch, as per itinerary;
- massage or an equivalent spa treatment as per itinerary on selected tours;
- all included group activities and side excursions, as per itinerary;
- all sightseeing, fees, and admissions, as per itinerary;
- full time SST tour escort, professional in-cuntry guides, bi-lingual local guides.

All prices quoted include the cost of the tour operator planning, and operation. Tour prices DO NOT INCLUDE: airfares and airport taxes, other transportation to the tour location, laundry charges, telephone calls, room service charges, mini-bar charges, all items of personal nature, travel, accident, baggage, health, or life insurance, tips for guides and drivers not included in the itinerary, private excursions, recreational activities not mentioned in the itinerary, optional activities, passport and/or visa when applicable. In the case of computer or human billing error we reserve the right to re-invoice Participants with correct billing.

ADDITIONAL EXPENSES INCURRED AS A RESULT OF DELAY, CHANGE OF SCHEDULES, ILLNESS, WEATHER, STRIKES, HOSTILITIES, QUARANTINE, GOVERNMENT REQUISITION OF HOTEL SPACE, OR ANY OTHER REASONS BEYOND THE CONTROL OF SST, SHALL BE BORNE BY THE PARTICIPANT. 

Prices do not include airfare. 

Single supplements are available on a limited basis at additional cost. The actual cost of a single supplement for each tour is listed on the overview page for each tour.

Roommates: If any Tour Participant wants to pay for the tour at the shared-room price, yet does not have a specific roommate, the Tour Organizers will attempt to match that Tour Participant with a roommate. If the Tour Organizers match the Participant with a roommate whom the Tour Participant deems unsuitable, then the Tour Participant must pay for the single supplement for herself and also for the unsuitable roommate. There will be no refunds for complaints about roommates, and if any Tour Participant cancels the tour because of a roommate, there will be no refund.

Baggage: We recommend that Tour Participants take along one bag/suitcase per person, plus a small carry-on bag. Due to a limited van capacity, we request that only one bag per person be carried on vans. Baggage is carried at owner's risk and baggage insurance is strongly recommended.

Health: SST Tours include a lot of walking, stairs, hiking, and standing while sightseeing. All Tour Participants should be prepared to walk at least three miles a day on uneven surfaces, including steps, during days on which excursions are scheduled. If you have any concerns regarding your physical ability to participate in the tour, we strongly recommend that you consult your physician before signing up. Any pre-existing physical, mental, or emotional disability that may require attention or treatment must be reported in writing prior to the beginning of a tour. Tour Participants who require any form of assistance must be accompanied by a helper who is capable of and totally responsible for providing such assistance. The group's itinerary will not be adjusted for people who are not able to keep up with the rest of the group. All Tour Participants are required to complete and sign a Medical Release and Waiver Agreement. On the day the tour begins, or any day thereafter, if you leave the tour for a qualifying, unforeseen medical or family emergency, SST will refund to you $50 per person for each missed day. The minimum age for tour participants is 14. There is no maximum age, however you must be able to keep up with the pace of the group. Children under age 18 must room with and be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Smokers may smoke only outdoors and downwind from the group - never in hotel rooms or during group meals or activities. Smokers will stay in a single room, unless they share a room with another smoker.

Travel insurance is not included in the tour price. SST highly recommends obtaining individual travel insurance for the duration of the tour. For an overview of different options in travel insurance coverage, you may check QuoteWright's Travel Insurance.

Travel documents and visas: Tour Participants are required to have a valid passport and a visa, if necessary. Incomplete documentation will result in the airline and airport authorities refusing permission to enter the country. The Tour Organizers will not arrange for passports or visas and will not be held liable for any irregularities caused due to improper documentation. Each Participant is responsible for determining specific passport and visa requirements in the Participant's country of origin and for obtaining the necessary documents prior to departure. Passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the anticipated tour date. It is suggested that all Participants check with the appropriate Consulate regarding their visa requirements.

Tour itineraries are subject to change: Due to unexpected circumstances, we reserve the right to cancel, change or substitute an activity or a service. During local or national holidays abroad, certain facilities such as museums, sightseeing tours, and shopping may be limited. Uncompleted portions of the tour itinerary are not cause for refund.

Waiver of responsibility: Sights and Soul Travels and its representatives ("Tour Organizers") are making all ground arrangements pertaining to the Tour, including, but not limited to, hotel and restaurant reservations, sightseeing and side trips, subject to the condition that the Tour Organizers will not be held liable to injury, death, delay, theft, damage, or irregularities, however caused. Tour Organizers will take no responsibility or liability for: 1. injury, loss, or damage to persons or property, including luggage. 2. additional expenses resulting from changes in exchange rates, tariffs, or schedule. 3. the act or default of any company or person engaged in conveying the Tour Participants, or in carrying out the arrangements of the Tour, or otherwise. 4. additional expenses incurred or due to sudden sickness, weather conditions, strikes, or other causes or acts of God. 5. losses due to cancellations.

Travel: Participants are responsible for their own travel arrangements to and from the tour location. Please note that some tours start and end in different cities and an "open jaw" air ticket is required. All Sights and Soul Travels' destinations in Europe have several daily connections with most cities in Europe and several have direct connections from selected cities in the USA and Canada.

Tour Payments: To reserve space on any SST tour, a deposit of $500 per person per tour is required at the time of booking. No reservation is considered confirmed until the deposit is received by SST. The deposit is part of the final payment which must reach SST no later than 60 days prior to the start of the tour. Returned checks will incur a fee of $25. For all deposits and tour payments, we accept personal checks, Visa, Master Card, money orders and bank drafts. We cannot accept debit cards for any tour payments. Missing the final payment deadline may result in being removed from the tour.

Cancellations and refunds: The tour deposits are not refundable, but if you cancel the tour 60 or more days before the beginning of the tour, the entire amount, minus $50 administrative fee may be transfered to another person or applied to another tour starting within the next 12 months. The final tour payments are due 60 days prior to the beginning of the tour and are not refundable. All cancellations must be sent to Sights and Soul Travels, LLC in writing: via fax to 301-916-9664, or via mail to Sights and Soul Travels, 13610 Chrisbar Ct., Germantown, MD 20874, and will be effective on the date they are received by SST.

Tour Cancellation: Although we do our best to avoid this, it may occasionally become necessary for Sights and Soul Travels to cancel any tour due to insufficient sign-up or any other cause. If a tour is cancelled due to low enrollment, you will be notified at least 45 days in advance. In this case, your entire payment will be refunded to you within fourteen days after the tour cancellation, as required by the state of Maryland. Refund of payments made constitutes full settlement, and releases Sights and Soul Travels from any further liability. SST is not responsible for any additional expenses incurred by tour members preparing for a canceled tour, such as nonrefundable airline tickets or passport fees. In the unlikely event of the tour cancellation, you will receive a $100 gift certificate valid towards another tour within 18 months of the tour cancellation. If a tour is cancelled due to a natural disaster, strike, or other event outside our control, we cannot guarantee the 45 days notice, but you will receive a full refund of all payments made.

SST strongly encourages all tour Participants to purchase Travel Insurance to cover additional costs (airline tickets, loss of luggage, trip delay or tour cancellation, personal accident, medical evacuation, etc.). SST assumes no liability for the safety of any Participant while in transit or during the tour. Prior to participating in the travel activities, all Participants will be required to sign a Medical Release and Release of Liability for Sights and Soul Travels. SST is not responsible or liable for loss, damage or theft of luggage or personal injury, accidents or illness while on tour nor is SST responsible for any type of trip interruption.

Photographs: Representatives of the Tour Organizers may be photographing the Tour. The Tour Organizers reserve the right to publish any such photographs without obtaining further consent from any Participant. Each Participant releases the Tour Organizers and its representatives from any liability in connection with any such use of such photographs.

Leaving the tour: The Tour Organizers reserve the right to accept, decline, or retain any person as a Participant at the Tour at any time without liability and without any obligation to pay a refund or any other amount whatsoever. The Tour Organizers take no responsibility or liability for any Participant who leaves the Tour prior to its conclusion or for any activity undertaken by any Participant that is not included on the Tour itinerary. There will be no discounts or refunds for any Tour Participant who temporarily leaves the Tour and then returns to the Tour later.

Special Requests: We will advise hotels of any special requests of Tour Participants, provided we receive the request at the time of booking. However, we cannot guarantee all requests.

Payment of deposit or full payment shall be deemed as consent by the Tour Participant to the above Terms and Conditions.

PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY: I am entirely responsible for my own personal safety, health, and mental, physical, emotional, and general well-being during and after the Tour. I release Sights and Soul Travels, LLC and its representatives and any of their employees, assistants, and affiliates of any liability for any injuries or damages mentally or physically I or any of my family members might incur during or after the Tour. I understand that no health insurance or travel insurance will be provided by the Tour Organizers, and, if I wish to be insured, I must do this myself.

Valid through December 31, 2008.

I have read, understood, and fully agree to the foregoing TERMS AND CONDITIONS. I release Sights and Soul Travels, LLC and its representatives from all responsibility and liability.