BOOKING CONDITIONS
RESPONSIBILITIES
I. YOUR HOLIDAY Reservation With Discovery Bhutan Inc
On
receipt of your full payment deposit, subject to availability and at
our discretion, Discovery Bhutan Inc will reserve your place on your
selected holiday. A contract is made between you and Discovery Bhutan
Inc only upon your booking being confirmed and accepted by us and our
communication thereof to either you or your travel agent.
II. YOUR FINANCIAL PROTECTION
Your
protection is 100% as the payment will go directly to the account of
Tourism Council of Bhutan, Royal Government of Bhutan. Upon you
departure from Bhutan only the Tourism Council of Bhutan will release
the tour payment after dedicating 35% royalty and 2% taxes to us.
III. PRICE GUARANTEE IV. HOLIDAY CHANGE AND/OR CANCELLATION
a.
Discovery Bhutan Inc reserves the right to change or cancel your
booking in accordance with operating requirements or circumstances
beyond its control.
b. Should change or cancellation prove
necessary we will give you reasonable notice thereof, in the
circumstances, and where available, offer you a comparable
alternative.Where cancellation is necessary, a minimum period of 45
days notice will be given by us unless the circumstances leading to the
cancellation were beyond our reasonable control.
c. If an
alternative is not available or acceptable you will be entitled to
either a full refund of monies paid by you to us or transfer to another
Bhutan holiday without payment of any transfer fee.
d. If the
change or cancellation is due to force major (i.e. circumstances like
political unrest, war or threat of war, riots, civil strife, closure of
airports or ports, industrial disputes, terrorist activity, natural and
nuclear disasters, fire, epidemic or health risk, Acts of God, adverse
weather conditions or other similar events beyond Discovery Bhutan
control) we will give a full refund of any monies paid to us less
reasonable expenses incurred by us in respect of your booking.
e.
Discovery Bhutan Inc is not responsible for the costs of any other
travel arrangements affected due to our cancellations or rescheduling
of any tour departure.
V. HOLIDAY DETAILS AND CONDITIONS
a.
With respect to our touring program Discovery Bhutan Inc will do their
best, at their discretion, to select accommodation, sightseeing tours
and transportation to give you good value for money.
b.
Discovery Bhutan Inc constantly strives to improve tour itineraries and
features. If such improvements can be made, or unforeseen circumstances
beyond our control make changes necessary, we reserve the right to vary
itineraries and to substitute hotels. Discovery Bhutan Inc is not
responsible for any other travel arrangements affected due to our
cancellations.
6. LIABILITY
A. Your travel agent
shall, on the receipt of any monies, hold such monies for you until the
booking is confirmed at which time those monies shall be remitted
promptly by your travel agent to us. All such monies received by us
will be deposited as required by law. Any money paid to a travel agent
where land arrangements and a flight are booked together is held by the
travel agent on behalf of Discovery Bhutan Inc at all times.
B. We will be entitled to keep for our account any interest earned on such monies.
C.
All monies paid by you to us through your travel agent or otherwise,
whether in respect of the deposit or full payment, may be disbursed by
us as and when we see fit, in respect of the services to be provided
and/or fees payable under your selected holiday. The payment of a
deposit or any other monies in respect of your holiday shall be deemed
to be an authorization it for disbursement thereof as aforesaid.
YOUR RESPONSIBILITIES
I. BOOKING YOUR HOLIDAY
A.
In order to reserve your holiday, a deposit of the full amount payable
if booking is made within 45 days of departure from your home country,
must be submitted to Discovery Bhutan Inc within 7 days in respect of
that holiday. This payment is in addition to any deposit required by
your travel agent. The deposit is accepted as a first installment of
the holiday price by Discovery Bhutan,Inc only once the booking has
been confirmed in writing by Discovery Bhutan, Inc or your travel agent.
B.
Your land reservation will be confirmed on receipt of a non refundable
deposit of US$100 per person, per tour which must be within 7 days of
booking or the reservation will automatically be cancelled (Apply for
Indian Tourist)only.
C.Any special meal requirements will be
made on a request basis only. Discovery Bhutan Inc cannot guarantee
special meal requests nor will it assume any responsibility or
liability if client's special meal requirements are not fulfilled.
II. PAYING THE BALANCE
A.The
balance of the holiday must be paid by no later than 45 days before the
scheduled departure date which shall be by the due date stated on the
confirmation issued to you by Discovery Bhutan Inc. When making
multi-tour bookings, full payment is due no later than 45 days before
scheduled departure date of the first departing tour.
B.
If payment isn't made by the due date, Discovery Bhutan Inc may assume
that you have cancelled and cancellation charges in accordance with
clause 3 below will be levied by Discovery Bhutan Inc.
C. Tickets and other documents wont be forwarded until full payment has been received by us.
D.
In the case of Late Bookings made within 45 days of your departure from
tour departure, the full cost of the holiday will be payable
immediately on booking and we reserve the right to provide all travel
documents at the holiday departure point.
E. Discovery Bhutan
Inc reserves the right to cancel the booking and apply cancellation
charges should payments not be received within the above specified
periods.
III. IF YOU CANCEL
A. Notice of cancellation must be made in writing to Discovery Bhutan Inc.
B. Your deposit is non-refundable upon cancellation by you.
C.
Upon cancellation you will be liable to pay a fee to cover the estimate
of cost and expenses incurred by us in the terms of the schedule set
out hereunder. This is expressed as a percentage of the holiday price
and is calculated as follows:
PERIOD OF NOTICE CANCELLATION FEE
More than 45 days notice: Deposit is forfeited
45-22 days 25% of tour fare
21-8 days: 30% of tour fare
7-1 days: 50% of tour fare
Day
of departure: 100% of tour fare Where the percentage cancellation fee
is less than the tour deposit, the cancellation fee will equal loss of
deposit. If the reason for cancellation falls within the terms of any
holiday insurance policy which you hold, then any such charges may,
subject to the terms of your insurance policy, be refunded to you by
the insurance company.
D. Any cancellation of additional
services booked prior to and after your tour or resort booking, such as
pre and post accommodation and transfers, that are cancelled before one
month during the peak season and 15 days during off season of the tour
departure incur a 100% cancellation fee.
E. These cancellation fees are in addition to any cancellation fees that may be levied by your Travel Agent.
F.
If flight changes are requested after the deposit has been received, or
if flights are cancelled after tickets are issued, revision fees,
change fees or Airline cancellation fees will be applicable and maybe
in addition to the above cancellation charges.
IV. IF YOU CHANGE YOUR BOOKING
A.
If after your booking has been confirmed, you wish to change to
alternate departure date or you wish to change to a different Discovery
Bhutan, Inc tours, you may do so subject to availability and providing
the new holiday date.
B. A fee of US$50 per person will be
charged for any revision or alteration made to a reservation after the
booking is confirmed unless the change increases the value of the
booking. A change of tour date, tour itinerary within 30 days of
departure will be treated as a cancellation, and normal cancellation
fees will apply (as detailed in section 3) except when the change is to
an earlier departure date of equivalent or greater value, in which case
a US$50 per person amendment fee will be charged.
C. A name change to a different person will be treated as a cancellation.
V. HOLIDAY DETAILS AND CONDITIONS
A.
Please read the tour itinerary carefully for those items included in
the price. No allowance or refund can be made for meals, accommodation,
excursions, etc. that you elect not to take, or when museums, shops,
etc are closed. Hotel facilities may vary from place to place. Meals
may vary in style.
B.Discovery Bhutan, Inc holidays are
specifically planned for those in the 18 through 80 years of the age
group. Consequently the facilities and activities on a Bhutan holiday
are not appropriate to persons outside this age bracket. If you have a
question regarding the age groups, you are welcome to discuss this with
a Discovery Bhutan, Inc staff member.
C. Discovery Bhutan Inc
must be advised of any medical conditions or physical disability
requiring special attention before you book your holiday. If you do not
advise us at this stage, we may refuse to accept your booking. We may
also refuse you if we feel that the holiday chosen is not suitable
without a suitably qualified companion. Discovery Bhutan, Inc will try
to help you with your requirements but cannot guarantee to do so,
either on our own or our suppliers (such as hotels, restaurants and
excursions) behalf. Many of our holidays involve getting on and off
coaches, walking tours and other physical activities. Some holidays may
not be suitable for you if you rely on a wheelchair or have certain
other disabilities. Should your disability require you to have special
assistance, it is a condition of Discovery Bhutan accepting your
booking that you provide evidence satisfactory to us that an
able-bodied person will accompany you and is able to provide any
special needs or services that you may require. Discovery Bhutan will
not be responsible for the failure of this person to provide these
services.
D.You are responsible for all travel arrangements and costs to/from the point of commencement/conclusion of the holiday.
E.There
may be times when the Discovery Bhutan Inc Representative has to make a
decision in your best interests or the best interests of their group.
You agree to comply with the authority and decisions of the appointed
Discovery Bhutan Inc Representative and the laws of the country in
which you are travelling. If you do not so comply or if, in the
Discovery Bhutan Inc Representatives opinion, you are not compatible
with the general enjoyment and well being of other members on the
holiday or smooth operation of the holiday itself, we reserve the right
to refuse to let you continue with the holiday. Furthermore, you agree
that your fellow travelers and any Discovery Bhutan, Inc Representative
have the right to travel/work in a safe environment. Any threats to
their safety, well being or inappropriate behavior by you, whether
verbal or physical, will be taken extremely seriously and may result in
the immediate termination of your holiday. In such event, you will be
responsible for your own repatriation and related costs and have no
claims against us.
F.You are responsible for any costs incurred
as a result of damage or excess cleaning fees related to your
accommodation. You are advised to immediately report any pre-existing
damage in your room to hotel/Discovery Bhutan Inc Representative or the
hotel Manager as soon as it is discovered.
G. It is your
responsibility to have a valid passport and all visas, permits and
certificates required for your selected holiday as well as any
necessary vaccinations and to comply with all applicable laws.
H.You
agree that our Discovery Bhutan, Inc Representatives may take
photographs and films of you while you are on holiday and that these
may be used in our Group brochures and/or advertising or publicity
material without obtaining any further consent or payment in respect of
such photographs and/or films.
I. Should you have a complaint in
respect of the holiday, you should inform the Discovery Bhutan, Inc
Representative during the course of the holiday and if the matter
cannot be resolved after the representatives best Endeavors to do so
during the holiday, your complaint should be made in writing to
Discovery Bhutan, Inc as soon as is reasonably possible after the
holiday but within 42 days thereof so that your complaint can be
investigated. Any claims made after the 42 day period will not be
considered by Discovery Bhutan, Inc. If you choose to write to
Discovery Bhutan, Inc via the Internet, please provide your home
address so that we are able to reply to you in writing.
J. The contract and all matters arising in respect hereof shall be subject to Bhutan Law, unless we agree otherwise in writing.
K.
If any provision of this contract is held invalid or unenforceable by
any court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be deemed to
be re-written to give effect to the same purpose within the permitted
limits of the law. The validity and enforceability of the other
provisions shall not be affected.
L. If you are unsuccessful in
any legal action instituted against us, you agree to pay all our costs,
including but not limited to, attorney/client costs.
VI. INSURANCE
Discovery
Bhutan, Inc very strongly recommend that you take out comprehensive
insurance cover for cancellation, medical expenses, personal accident,
personal baggage, money and public liability before joining a Discovery
Bhutan Inc holiday. This should be arranged at the time of payment of
the deposit and will, in certain circumstances, cover you against loss
of deposit or cancellation fees from the date of confirmation of your
booking, as shown in the insurance policy. You also agree to indemnify
us against all third-party claims, actions, damages and remedies which
may be brought against us in respect of your participation in the
holiday.
VII. ILLNESS OR ABSENTEEISM
In the event
of your withdrawal from a holiday after the commencement as a result of
illness, you must obtain a medical certificate in support of any
insurance claim. Unfortunately no refunds can be made for absences from
a tour, including but not limited to missed meals or sightseeing.
VIII. WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN THE HOLIDAY PRICE
Airfares
to and from your holiday destination (unless you have booked a tour and
a fly package), airport taxes, passport and visa fees, insurance,
laundry, phone calls, beverages, meals not detailed in the itinerary,
tips to tour managers, representatives, drivers and local guides, items
of a personal nature, excess baggage, optional excursions.
IX. WEATHER CONDITIONS
Under
no circumstances can we be held responsible for snow or weather
conditions, nor can any holiday be cancelled or amended by you at any
time on the basis of snow or weather conditions.
GENERAL
1. CONTRACTING PARTIES
A.The
Booking Conditions detailed herein contain the entire contract between
you and Discovery Bhutan Inc. No representation, term, warranty or
condition can be expressed or implied by reference to any other
writing, advertisement or conversation. This contract may only be
varied in writing by a duly authorised officer or director of Discovery
Bhutan, Inc.
B. Your contract is with us as the tour operating
company. At any time and at our complete discretion we may nominate to
you in writing any other company or person to have the benefit of some
or all of those provisions of this contract, which we may then specify,
as if you had agreed the provisions concerned directly with that
company or person in the first place as well as agreeing them with us.
We may at our complete discretion assign all or any rights and
liabilities arising under or by virtue of this or any other contract
with you.
C. Transportation companies, airlines etc. are not to
be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time
passengers are not on board planes, transportation or conveyances. We
rely on international convention which may apply to the services
provided by us, our suppliers or agents with respect to any claim of
any nature brought by you against us as a result of the provision of
those services.
D. Discovery Bhutan Inc is not a carrier or
hotelier nor does it own aircraft, hotels or coaches. All bookings with
carriers, hoteliers and other service providers are subject to the
terms and conditions and limitations of liability imposed by those
carriers, hoteliers, and other service providers. Please note that some
of these limit or exclude liability in respect of death, personal
injury, delay and loss or damage to baggage. Whilst we cannot accept
any responsibility for any loss as a result of such actions or as a
result of any act or omission of any such third parties, we will give
every reasonable assistance in helping to resolve any reasonable
dispute. Please also note that Discovery Bhutan, Inc cannot be held
responsible for the failure of any of these parties to provide
facilities or services for handicapped clients (see also V&C under
Holiday Details & Conditions).
E. Please note that no
airline or carrier depicted or recommended in this tour by virtue of
their endorsement of this tour itinerary represent themselves either as
contracting with any purchaser of a holiday from Discovery Bhutan Inc
or as having any other legal relationship with any such purchaser.
DATA PROTECTION STATEMENT
Please
be assured that we have measures in place to protect the personal
booking information held by us. This information will be passed on to
the principal and to the relevant suppliers of your travel
arrangements. The information may also be provided to public
authorities such as customs or immigration if required by them, or as
required by law. Certain information may also be passed on to security
or credit checking companies.If you travel outside the Bhutan, controls
on data protection may not be as strong as the legal requirements in
this country. We will only pass your information on to persons
responsible for your travel arrangements. This applies to any sensitive
information that you give to us such as details of any disabilities, or
dietary/religious requirements. (If we cannot pass this information to
the relevant suppliers, whether in the Bhutan or not, we will be unable
to provide your booking. In making this booking, you consent to this
information being passed on to the relevant persons.)