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Please find here our payment and cancellation terms
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For the purposes of this document reference to “you” or “your” includes all guests in the party. Your agreement is with The Travel Corporation UK Limited (‘Insight’, ‘Luxury Gold’, or the ‘Provider’), Company Number 58915, a company registered in Guernsey whose registered office address is Travel House, Rue du Manoir, St Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands, GY1 2JH. A contract will come into existence between us when you make a reservation with us. Enrolment in and payment for a guided holiday shall constitute acceptance by the guest of the terms and conditions in this brochure. These cannot be varied except in writing by an officer of the Company.
All contracts with Insight are made subject to the terms of these booking conditions and are governed by English law and the jurisdiction of the English Courts. You may however, choose the jurisdiction of Scotland or Northern Ireland if you wish to do so.
We reserve the right to change these booking conditions at any time prior to you making a booking.
The invalidity of any provisions herein shall not affect the validity of any other provisions. The agreement shall be construed as though the invalid provision was not contained herein and was replaced with an enforceable provision as similar as possible to the original provision. Should any conflict arise between these booking conditions and those contained within our brochures, these booking conditions shall prevail.
Departure Date
The departure date is the date indicated on the booking confirmation.
Security
Security is a major concern to all of us and the situation globally is constantly changing. Events around the world, coupled with the “Travel Advisories” put out by various governments, may at times necessitate changes to the accommodations and itinerary or even trip cancellation. You must accept these risks involved in travel to any country that may experience security difficulties and accept responsibility for your own travel decisions.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is highly recommended for all guests covering all applicable dates of travel with the Provider. This insurance should cover: trip interruption, personal injury, medical expenses, evacuation and repatriation cover including during pandemic events. The choice of insurer is yours.
The availability of travel insurance and extent of cover is constantly changing, please refer to the Luxury Gold FAQs for most up to date information or talk to your reservation agent. The Provider may receive a commission for introducing you to a travel insurance provider.
The Provider cannot be held responsible for your failure to obtain insurance which is appropriate, and we recommend you purchase your insurance at or soon after booking your trip. The Provider will not be held liable for any costs incurred by the guest resulting from their failure to obtain adequate travel insurance.
COVID-19
COVID 19 means coronavirus disease, an infectious disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and all variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. COVID-19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. The Provider may require proof of vaccination or negative COVID tests, with the situation changing rapidly please refer to the Luxury Gold FAQs for current requirements and further information relating to COVID-19. Please also familiarise yourself with the advice from your national authority for overseas travel before departing.
COVID-19 requirements vary from country to country and region to region and circumstances may requires us to ask all travellers to be vaccinated and provide evidence of vaccination, irrespective of the destinations’ vaccine requirements. Definition of fully vaccinated may include booster doses and/or time elapsed since last dose received. Evidence of negative COVID tests may also be required. Airlines and other transport providers may also have separate requirements. It is your responsibility to ensure that you comply at all times with these requirements. No refunds will be given if you are unable to undertake some or all of your holiday due to your failure to comply with these requirements. You will be responsible for any resulting additional costs including travel and accommodation.
We ask that you please take personal responsibility for your wellbeing. This begins with packing any personal protective equipment and sanitisers you require. Please adopt physical distancing and hygiene practices throughout your pre-trip travel arrangements and follow all health instructions whether physical signage, or requests from our professional staff once you are holidaying with us. To travel with the Provider, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID-19. Full details of hygiene protocols can be found on our website.
If, within 14 days of your departure, you or anyone in your booking party:
you must notify us immediately. In the event that you are unable to travel with us our cancellation charges may apply in accordance with our cancellation procedure.
If this happens whilst you are on your holiday, please notify us without delay and we will provide such reasonable assistance as we can in the circumstances. However, we will not be responsible for covering the cost of any curtailment of your holiday, missed transport arrangements, additional accommodation required, or other associated costs incurred by you. You must ensure you have travel insurance which covers these costs.
Force Majeure
Force Majeure Event means any event or circumstance beyond the control of the Provider, including but not limited to: (a) an act of god (such as earthquake, flood, fire, explosion, landslide, lightning, action of the elements, force of nature, washout, typhoon, hurricane, cyclone, tsunami, storm or storm warning or natural disaster); (b) industrial disputes, work ban or other labour dispute or difficulty; (c) acts of terrorism, political unrest, war or threat of war, riots or civil strife; (d) failure or delays to scheduled transportation and the closure of airports or ports; (e) pandemic, epidemic or health risk; (f) governmental and administrative actions (including closure of borders and travel warnings and restrictions).
Reservations & Payments
Booking Changes
Name Changes
The Provider does not charge for name corrections, however where third party costs are incurred these will be passed on to the guest. Not all airlines allow name changes or name corrections, and a new airfare may need to be purchased which will be passed onto the guest.
Other Booking Changes
The Provider does not charge for minor booking changes however where third party costs are incurred these will be passed on to the guest. Costs and charges may increase the closer to the departure date that changes are made. We will try to make your requested change, but it may on occasion not be possible.
A change of trip date or itinerary after final payment is due (see Table) will be treated as a cancellation. Cancellation fees will apply except when the change is to an alternative departure and the trip price is equivalent or greater, in which case any amendment costs incurred including airline charges and fees will be charged.
Cancellation and Refunds
Cancellation by Traveller
Travel arrangements for any member of the party may be cancelled at any time by written notice by the person who made the booking.
If notice of cancellation is received by the Provider before final payment is due (see Table), the deposit will be retained. If cancellation is made after final payment is due cancellation fees will apply (see Table). Please also refer to Air Changes or Cancellation Section where applicable.
Notice of cancellation must be made in writing directly to the Provider or through your Travel Agent.
If a person in a party cancels and there is a room change caused by this cancellation (such as a twin share to Single, or Triple to twin share), charges for the new room type will be the responsibility of the remaining party.
If a guest fails to join the trip on the day of departure, cancellation fees will be 100% (unless the guest notifies us of the delay and joins the trip later at their own expense).
Cancellation fees as per the Table apply to additional accommodation and/or chargeable transfers prior to and after the trip, itinerary extensions or cruise reserved through the Provider.
Cancellation fees and charges will include any amounts that we have paid or have contractually committed to pay to third parties to deliver your travel arrangements which we cannot reasonably recover (for example payments made or due to airlines and hotels). Any payments we have made to third parties will only be refunded to you once we have deducted the above cancellation fees and charges and once we have actually recovered the amounts from the third parties.
All cancellation fees as per the Table are additional to any cancellation fees or other charges that may be levied by your Travel Agent.
If the reason for your cancellation is covered under your insurance, you may be able to reclaim these charges from your insurer. You are responsible to make the claim to your insurer.
Cancellation by the Provider
The Provider reserves the right, to modify or cancel any trip, accommodation, in-destination activity or arrangement, (definite or not), at any time.
Cancellation due to Failure to Pay
If full payment is not received by the due date (see Table), The Provider has the right to cancel your reservation and no refund will be made. The Provider will not be responsible for lost reservations.
Cancellation due to Force Majeure Events
If the Provider cancels a trip as a result of a Force Majeure Event, a future travel credit (FTC) to the value of funds paid to date less any third-party costs incurred will be provided. All Future Travel Credits (FTCs) is available for you to book and travel before 31 December 2024. Discounts of up to 15% from your original reservation will only be carried forward if a new tour is booked before December 31, 2022.
Where a trip is terminated mid-trip due to a Force Majeure event, if we provide you with any alternative services or assistance (such as hotels or travel) then you agree to pay for these costs.
Cancellation due to Events other than Force Majeure Events
If the cancellation by the Provider is not as a result of a Force Majeure Event, the Provider will provide an alternative comparable trip (if available), if an alternative is not available then a refund will be made. The Provider is not liable for any cancellation or change cost or penalties incurred on other travel arrangements, including air travel, that may be affected thereby.
Compensation may also be paid as follows:
No. of days prior to departure date |
Compensation payable (per person) |
46 days and over | £0 |
45 – 22 days | £10 |
21 – 8 days | £20 |
7 – 1 days | £30 |
Day of departure | £40 |
The Provider is not responsible for other travel arrangements that you or your party have made outside the Provider and which are affected by our cancellations.
Early Return, Illness or Absence
Early return expenses are the guest’s responsibility. There is no refund for absence or early departure from a tour, including but not limited to missed hotels, transfers, meals or sightseeing cruises or optional extensions. Luxury Gold urges you to purchase travel insurance which covers such circumstances. Luxury Gold makes no representation or guarantees concerning reimbursement, scope of coverage, or other aspects of any travel insurance policy or claim.
Flight Reservations, Deposits & Cancellations
Reservations/Ticketing
Air-inclusive bookings and some intra-trip flights require an additional non-refundable deposit at time of booking which may be up to 100% of the flight cost.
If an air reservation is made by the Provider, full payment may be required for your airfare at the time of booking. This will be regardless of future price fluctuations up or down. When booking a trip including flights, you will be required, at the time of booking, to provide us the full name as detailed on the passport, passport number, nationality, date and place of issue for each guest.
The Provider does not hold an allocation of air seats and all flight reservations are made on request and are subject to the terms and conditions of the airline. Changes to flight itineraries and name changes and/or corrections may either not be allowed or may result in penalties charged by the airline. These are the guest’s responsibility along with the fees charged as described above.
Airlines (and other travel providers including the Provider) change prices and routes from time to time. All air routings are in the sole control of the airline and are subject to change at any time.
Air Changes or Cancellation
After deposit has been received any changes, including incur a service fee, plus any airline penalties. Airline imposed penalties may be up to 100% of the air ticket price. Published Fares, Priced Match Fares, Promo Fares and some other airfares booked are non-refundable.
Not showing up for your outbound flight as booked and ticketed will be considered a no-show, and all the connecting flights associated with this one, even a return flight will be cancelled and no refund will apply.
Financial Protection
We provide full financial protection for our package holidays.
When you buy an ATOL protected air holiday package, flight and/or “flight plus” holiday from Insight you will receive an ATOL certificate from us (or via our authorised agent through which you booked), confirming your protection under our Air Travel Organiser’s License number 10975. This lists what is financially protected, where you can get information on what this means for you and who to contact if things go wrong.
We, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL Certificate, will provide you with the services listed on the ATOL Certificate (or a suitable alternative). In some cases, where neither we nor the supplier are able to do so for reasons of insolvency, an alternative ATOL holder may provide you with the services you have bought or a suitable alternative (at no extra cost to you). You agree to accept that in those circumstances the alternative ATOL holder will perform those obligations and you agree to pay any money outstanding to be paid by you under your contract to that alternative ATOL holder. However, you also agree that in some cases it will not be possible to appoint an alternative ATOL holder, in which case you will be entitled to make a claim under the ATOL scheme (or your credit card issuer where applicable).
If we, or the suppliers identified on your ATOL certificate, are unable to provide the services listed (or a suitable alternative, through an alternative ATOL holder or otherwise) for reasons of insolvency, the Trustees of the Air Travel Trust may make a payment to (or confer a benefit on) you under the ATOL scheme. You agree that in return for such a payment or benefit you assign absolutely to those Trustees any claims which you have or may have arising out of or relating to the non-provision of the services, including any claim against us, the Travel Agent (or your credit card issuer where applicable). You also agree that any such claims may be re-assigned to another body, if that other body has paid sums you have claimed under the ATOL scheme.
When you buy a package holiday that does not include a flight, protection is provided by way of a bond held by ABTA.
ABTA Statement
We are a Member of ABTA, membership number Y6200. We are obliged to maintain a high standard of service to you by ABTA’s Code of Conduct. We can also offer you ABTA’s scheme for the resolution of disputes which is approved by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute. If we can’t resolve your complaint, go to www.abta.com to use ABTA’s simple procedure. Further information on the Code and ABTA’s assistance in resolving disputes can be found on www.abta.com.http://www.abta.com/
For the latest travel advice from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office including security, local laws, passport and visa information, visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice or call 0203 117 0500 (calls are charged at local rate).
OPERATORS:
Insight Vacations Limited, Travel House, Rue du Manoir, St Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 2JH
Destination America Inc, 5551 Katella Avenue, Cypress, California 90630, USA
AAT Kings Tours Pty Limited, 82 – 86 Bourke Road, Alexandria NSW 2015, Australia
Travel Corporation NZ Limited, 131 New North Road, Eden Terrace, Auckland 1021, New Zealand
A quick reference guide to all the details you need to know before booking your holiday
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VIP Door to Door
This service is offered to guests purchasing a holiday from Luxury Gold. It is valid from one address per booking in the mainland UK only and covers the distance from the point of collection to the local departure airport. For guests exceeding the 50-mile limit, additional mileage will be charged at £5.00 per mile. At the time of booking, the guest pick-up address and contact details are required. Please note that for bookings for more than 3 guests, larger vehicles may be used for transfers and additional supplementary charges may apply. Please contact us or your local travel agent for further details. This exclusive service is applicable to Luxury Gold trips to North America, South America, Africa, Asia, India and some European tours. Please contact us or your local travel agent for further details.
Guided Holiday
By private motorcoach, trains, cruises and ferries (see itineraries). Rail travel is standard class unless otherwise stated. Luxury Gold’s motorcoaches feature air conditioning, reclining seats, on board washroom and are configured with between 40 and 45 seats for just 40 guests. However, the following exceptions apply:
If, due to circumstances beyond our control, motorcoaches are used otherwise than as advertised, a refund of £7 per person will be made.
Toilets may be affected by higher altitude or extreme weather conditions such as freezing temperatures and for the comfort of those on board the motorcoach the toilets may have to be closed. In these circumstances, additional rest breaks will be incorporated into the itinerary.
Accommodation
Prices are per person, based on two persons sharing a room with private bath or shower. Triple rooms may be available on selected holiday in limited numbers. Triple or quad occupancy rooms may utilise rollaway beds and three adults may find these rooms small. This can be confirmed with your local sales agent or online reservation agent.
Every effort has been made to reserve two-bed rooms; however, on some occasions, rooms with one double bed may be the only option available. These rooms will be allocated to solo travellers and couples first; other rooms may feature a single bed and rollaway bed, murphy bed or sleeper sofa.
Special room requests (adjacent, connecting or lower-floor rooms, as examples) must be made at time of booking. Special room requests are not guaranteed and are based on availability at time of check-in. Many hotels, lodges and luxury tented camps are 100% smoke-free, including all guest rooms, restaurants, lounges, meeting rooms and public spaces. Smoking in a non-smoking room will result in a fine.
Substitute accommodation may be used sometimes. We try to use those of similar standard. Hotel Frequent Traveller program points are not earned with hotels on Luxury Gold trips. Please note that hotel room sizes, standards, facilities and services provided may vary from country to country and region to region and are often local in style and may not have air-conditioning.
Cruises
Per person prices are based on two persons sharing a cabin with two berths, private shower and toilet. A limited number of single cabins or triple cabins may be available at an extra cost. Availability can be confirmed with your local sales agent or online reservation agent.
Air Transportation
Not included unless otherwise outlined in each trip’s itinerary.
Wi-Fi
Complimentary Wi-Fi service is available in the rooms and public areas of most accommodation. In many countries complimentary Wi-Fi is also provided on-board the motorcoaches, however this is not available in all locations. The Wi-Fi on the motorcoaches uses the mobile phone network and as a result the connection will be slower than standard broadband and at times may not be available. Audio and Video streaming is not available using motorcoach Wi-Fi. Please note that it may not be available on train trips, cruises, safari lodges, tented camps or when the main motorcoach is not being used, such as on transfer motorcoaches and other local services. For further information on which countries Wi-Fi is offered in as well as daily data allowances please refer to the website.
Travel Director
Guided holidays are conducted in English by a professional Travel Director or Driver Guide. Mini-stays, Explorers or itinerary extensions are normally not accompanied by a Travel Director and are operated on a locally hosted basis using English-speaking Local Host services unless otherwise described.
In the unlikely event that there are fifteen guests or less travelling on a departure, Luxury Gold reserves the right to operate this departure on an individual basis with private transfers and individual arrangements. Please refer to the individual guided holiday itinerary.
Meals
Some meals are included as detailed on trip itineraries.
Sightseeing
Experiences, entrance fees and an English-speaking Local Specialist (when required) are included as detailed in the itinerary pages. Some included activities (marked on the day-by-day itinerary descriptions) require a signed liability waiver; participation in those included activities is at your own risk.
Transfers
Complimentary VIP arrival and departure transfers are available on the first/last day of the itinerary or with pre/post accommodation. They are VIP in that they are timed to meet guest flights. They are not private and transfers may be scheduled to transfer a number of guests at the same time should they be arriving at a similar time.
Other transfers between airports, hotels, railway stations and piers are only included as indicated on each guided holiday itinerary. There will be no refund for missed or unused transfers. If you did not purchase your flights from Luxury Gold, you will need to provide your arrival and departure flight information to Luxury Gold no less than 21 days before flight departure. It is your responsibility to update Luxury Gold with any changes to your flight schedule to ensure that you receive your transfers. Failure to do so may result in missing these services and no refund shall be due for missed arrival transfers resulting from missing or outdated flight information.
Porterage
Luggage handling of one suitcase per person, at each guided holiday hotel and porter service at airports for intra-air inclusive guided holidays, is included in the price except in Australia and New Zealand where no porter services are provided at airports.
Luggage Allowances
Due to limited motorcoach capacity, a single bag is allowed with dimensions no more than 77.5cm (30.5in) x 56cm (22in) x 32cm (12.5in) and weight not exceeding 50 lbs. (23kg). Carry-on/hand luggage is restricted to one piece per person, not exceeding 30cm (12in) x 28cm (11in) x 14cm (6in) to fit under your coach seat or in the small overhead compartment. Carry-ons with telescopic handles and wheels will not fit in the overhead compartments or under seats and therefore, cannot be accepted as carry-on luggage. Carry-on/hand luggage handling is the responsibility of each guest and must be taken on and off the coach by you each day of the guided holiday.
If you wish to bring a second item of luggage, please request this at time of booking. A charge of US$6 or local currency equivalent per travelling day will be collected by the Travel Director if a second piece of luggage is permitted to be carried, or if luggage exceeds weight or size limits. This is not assurance that luggage in excess of limits on size, weight and number of pieces will be permitted on the coach.
Please be advised that stricter luggage allowances may be in place for other methods of transportation such as safari vehicles, flights and cruises. Please confirm with your local sales representative or online reservation agent.
Luxury Gold and Luxury Gold’s affiliated entities shall not be liable for loss or damage to luggage or any guest’s belongings. Guests should immediately report lost items to the Travel Director who will assist in completing a lost property form that can be used for an insurance claim. Luxury Gold cannot assist in locating lost items after the guest disembarks or completes the Luxury Gold holiday.
Tips
Tips for cruises and train journeys are subject to other arrangements which may be confirmed with your local sales agent or online reservation agent.
Optional Prepaid Tips
are included for services on your guided holiday, except to your Motorcoach Driver and Travel Director (and outside of the Americas, to your Local Host and Local Specialists) whose tips/gratuities should be extended on a voluntary, individual basis at the end of your holiday. Included tips cover all services provided by dining-room waiters, housekeeping staff and porters at hotels.
Tips for cruises and train journeys are subject to other arrangements which may be confirmed with your local sales agent or online reservation agent.
What's Not Included in the Trip Price
General
Any items and matters not referred to above, including, airfares to and from your destination, air-related taxes and fees (except where specified); additional fees charged by airlines such as checked and/or excess baggage, seat selections and any other services; passport and visa fees; insurances of all kinds; tips to Traveling Concierge, Local Specialists, Motorcoach Drivers and other; laundry; phone calls; minibar; beverages and meals not detailed in the itinerary; and all items of a personal nature.
Additional taxes and surcharges may be collected by foreign governmental and non-governmental entities. This list is illustrative and not a complete list of every item not included.
Optional Experiences General
Additional/optional experiences are available on your trip and can be purchased for an extra charge during your trip.
Leaving the trip early
The price does not cover costs and expenses, including your return home, if you leave the trip whether of your own volition, our decision based on behaviour that disrupts the trip, due to illness, action by any government or other reason.
Travel Documents
Myluxurygold
Guests are required to register for their trip at myluxurygold.luxurygold.com. This only takes a few minutes and means we’ll have:
Provided full payment has been received on time and registration is completed, travel documents will be available to download in electronic format no later than 21 days prior to travel. You’ll also find out where your Luxury Gold trip will start and exactly what accommodation you’ll be staying in – plus the answers to a host of FAQs. We don’t print paper documents, and all guests will receive e-docs.
Passports, Visas and other Entry/Exit Requirements
All guests must be in possession of a machine-readable passport valid for 6 months after their trip return date along with applicable visas. Due to government imposed security/ immigration measures, passport and emergency contact information is required for all guests prior to the release of travel documents.
It is the guest’s sole responsibility to secure and/or pay for any and all visas, or Electronic Travel Authorizations (ETAs), affidavits, vaccinations, etc. that are required in order to be permitted entry into each destination. In some countries you may be subject to entry (reciprocity) fees and/or departure taxes/exit fees which will be collected at the airports upon entry/departure by local government authorities.
You should check with your Travel Agent or Consular Service for information regarding necessary visa and travel documentation for your entire trip. Where possible we strongly recommend obtaining any required visa or documentation prior to departure. Obtaining documentation while travelling can be a time-consuming process and some countries will not issue documentation at the border. For some countries an invitation letter is required from the Ground Handler to send along with the visa application.
Please note that entry to any country may be refused even if the required information and travel documents are complete. The Provider will require full passport information (full name, date of birth, passport number, Nationality, issue and expiry dates) prior to final payment.
The Provider bears no responsibility for such information and will not be responsible for advising and/or obtaining required travel documentation for any guest, or for any delays, damages, and/or losses including missed portions of your holiday related to improper documentation or government decisions about entry.
Flight Arrangements
Airline Seating
Seats are limited in our contracted class of service and may not be available on every flight. The Provider does not hold block space on any airline and does not assure seat availability for every single trip departure date. Not all airlines offer pre-assigned seats. Some may charge for pre-assigned seats. Seat assignments are not guaranteed and are subject to change without notice due to a schedule change, equipment change or other unforeseen circumstances. Seating is solely under the airline’s control. Any additional charge imposed by airlines will be at guests’ expense. Where pre-assigned seats are not offered or different seats are desired, guests must contact the airline(s) directly to arrange seating assignments as well as special meal requests. The Provider does not assure that these requests will be granted.
Airline Schedule Changes
Itinerary changes due to flight delays and schedule changes is solely under the airline’s control. The Provider reserves the right to offer alternative schedules for itineraries affected by airline schedule changes and equipment. Flight delays, flight cancellations and schedule changes are the responsibility of the airline. The Provider will not be responsible or liable for such delays or rescheduling and extra charges.
Airline Frequent Flyer Programs
Frequent Flyer miles can be accrued on most air carriers. Upgrades using mileage are not permitted. Many airlines do not automatically add frequent flyer numbers to records for flights booked and ticketed by the Provider. It is the guest’s responsibility to request frequent flyer credit from the airline. The Provider shall not be responsible for matters concerning frequent flyer miles.
Sailing and Cruising Arrangements
Sailing/Cruise Accommodations
Cruise accommodation is priced on two guests sharing a twin cabin. A limited number of single cabins are available at an extra cost. On Nile cruises triple rooms may not be available.
Sailing/Cruise Fees & Taxes
Your twin share Sailing/Cruise price normally includes an amount covering Cruise Fees & Taxes, and all gratuities to on board cruise personnel. This can be confirmed with your Travel Agent or Online Sales Representative. Cruise Fees, or “Non-Discountable Amount” as referred to by the cruise line, is a mandatory fee charged by the cruise line. That portion of the price is not subject to reduction in a discount promotion, nor commissionable to Travel Agents. Cruise Taxes, as used by the cruise line, refers to certain taxes, fees and charges imposed by governments or quasi-government authorities, relating to any aspect of your cruise, for example, customs fees, head taxes, inspection fees, immigration and naturalization fees, harbour maintenance fees and taxes. Government fees and taxes are subject to change without notice and will apply regardless of your booking’s payment status. The cruise line reserves the right to impose or pass through fuel surcharges, security surcharges or other incidental surcharges. No right of cancellation exists in these circumstances.
These additional Cruise Fees, Taxes and gratuities are available online.
Cruise Line Immigration Questionnaire
Some cruise lines require guests to complete mandatory forms 30 days prior to the cruise departure. These are available online from the cruise company.
Shore Excursions
To make your holiday even more memorable, cruise lines offer an extensive program of optional shore excursions. Some cruise lines may allow you to book these online direct with the cruise operator in advance of sailing.
Cabin Assignment
Cabin assignment is strictly controlled by the cruise lines. Please confirm the available options with your Travel Agent.
Cruise Cancellation
The cruise operator has reserved the right to cancel any departure due to insufficient reservations up to eight weeks before the date of departure. Passengers may be offered alternative cruise dates. The cruise operator also reserves the right to cancel any departure up until the date of that departure due to force majeure or other circumstances beyond the control of the operator that prevents the operation of the tour including governmental and administrative decisions. Neither the cruise operator nor its agents are responsible for any costs or penalties relating to air transport or other services that are cancelled. The cruise operator is not liable for failure to provide the services or accommodations offered to the extent that such services of accommodations cannot be provided due to force majeure or other circumstances beyond its control.
General Information and Conditions
Trip Prices
Prices are in Pound Sterling, per person, and based on costs, tariffs, rates, taxes, charges, levies and exchange rates. Should these change, the price of your holiday may increase. No surcharges regarding cost or currency fluctuations will be made to the land element only price once the final balance is received.
We will not increase the price of your holiday after we receive your final balance except for where there are increases in transportation costs (due to fuel surcharges), taxes, dues, charges, fees or levies imposed by any government or its agencies, any changes to airport taxes or fees or any changes to exchange rates affecting the costs of the holiday. There will be no change to the price within 20 days of your departure date.
Where holiday prices are surcharged, we will absorb an amount equivalent to 2% of the holiday price which excludes insurance premiums and any amendment charges. Only amounts in excess of this 2% will be surcharged, but where a surcharge is payable, there will be an administration charge of £1 per person, together with an amount to cover the agent’s commission. If this means paying more than 8% on the holiday price, you will be entitled to cancel your holiday with a full refund of all money paid, except for any premium paid to us for holiday insurance and amendment charges, provided that you do so within 14 days of notification of the surcharge. Alternatively, you may accept a change to another holiday if we are able to offer you one. If it is of equivalent or higher price you will not have to pay more, but if it is of lower quality you will be refunded the difference in price. Should the price of your holiday go down due to the changes mentioned above, by more than 2% of your holiday cost, then any refund due will be paid to you. However, 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.
Other Fees and Taxes
Taxes and fees are subject to change without notice and will be confirmed at time of booking. Any additional fees charged by the airlines/ cruise lines such as baggage handling, seat selections, and/or any other services are the sole responsibility of the guest(s). Additional air-related restrictions apply. Any additional government taxes and fees charged by the cruise lines are the sole responsibility of the guest.
Services
We commence providing services to you as soon as we accept your booking and a deposit is paid. This includes work undertaken prior to travel to arrange and coordinate the delivery of your travel arrangements.
Minimum Numbers
Some trips are based on a minimum number of persons travelling. If a trip fails to satisfy minimum numbers, the trip may be cancelled or rescheduled.
Booking with a Travel Agent
If you book your holiday through a travel agent then you acknowledge and agree that for your booking to be confirmed and maintained, we must have received all payments from you or your travel agent as detailed in the Table. You also agree that your travel agent is independent of the Provider and our control; and that unless expressly authorised by us in writing, we are not bound by or liable for anything affecting us that the agent may or may not do.
Overlapping / Modular Trips
To offer our Travellers more flexibility around when they start and how long they travel for, some of our trips are sections (or modules) of larger itineraries. This means that some of them overlap – for example, some of your group may have already been travelling before you join them, and may continue travelling after your adventure has come to an end.
Age Restrictions
On all guided holidays young traveller s under 5 years of age are not eligible to travel. Young traveller s under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult, who will be responsible for their welfare and supervision. Alcoholic beverages will not be served to guests under the legal age for alcohol consumption in the country being visited. Minors under age 18 travelling to certain foreign countries must be accompanied by both parents or have a notarized letter of consent signed by the parent(s) not travelling. Luxury Gold is not responsible for any losses if you fail to have appropriate documentation. If the other parent is deceased or the child has only one legal parent, a notarized statement must be obtained as proof. Countries have different age limits for the consumption of alcohol and other activities. You must ensure you satisfy the age limits before participating in any activity with age limits (such as the consumption of alcohol) and you release us from all liability and claims arising from your inability to participate in such activities.
Health, reduced mobility, medical conditions/disabilities and assistance when travelling
Luxury Gold welcomes guests with special needs or disabilities. Please note the following:
Luxury Gold may, in its sole discretion, decline booking any guest or remove any guest who cannot comply or refuses to comply with Luxury Gold’s terms and conditions. If this occurs, you are responsible for the cost of travel back to your hometown and Luxury Gold shall not be liable for your losses and no refund shall be provided.
Travel times on our trips vary from day to day depending on the destination. For your comfort we make regular stops and try to keep each section no longer than 3 hours. However, depending on your medical history, some people may be at risk of discomfort or deep vein thrombosis (DVT) if they remain immobile for a long period on a journey. If you have had DVT, pulmonary embolism, a family history of clotting conditions, cancer, or treatment for cancer, stroke, heart or lung disease, or if you have had major surgery in the past three months, we recommend you consult your doctor before travelling.
Special Requests
Any dietary requests, special meal requirements including allergies or any other special request, must be provided at the time of booking and are received on a request basis only. The Provider cannot assure that special meal requests will be fulfilled and does not assume responsibility or liability if requests are not fulfilled. Although we will endeavour to pass any reasonable requests on to the relevant supplier, this is not confirmation that the request will be met. All requests are subject to availability. It is also your responsibility to double check and reconfirm any requirements with all holiday suppliers.
Trip Participation
You agree to accept the authority and decisions of our employees, Traveling Concierge and agents whilst on trip with us. If in the opinion of any such person(s) or any other person in a position of authority (such as, for example, a local supplier or hotel manager), your health (including impact of an epidemic or pandemic), level of fitness or conduct at any time before or during a trip is endangering or appears likely to endanger your health or wellbeing or any third party (including any of our other guests) or the safe, comfortable or happy progress of the trip, you may be excluded from all or part of the trip without refund or recompense. Where you are excluded, we will have no further responsibility towards you (including any return travel arrangements) and we will not meet any expenses or costs incurred as a result of the exclusion. In the case of ill health, we may make such arrangements we see fit and recover the costs thereof from you.
Many Optional Experiences are operated by independent third-party suppliers, not the Provider. These are not part of the holiday package provided by us. Your contract will be with the operator of the experience. We are not responsible for providing the experience, or anything that happens during the experience. Some experiences involve outdoor activities and/or can be physically demanding and may require signature of a waiver. You must make your own decisions about experiences and participate only in activities that suit your physical ability: we suggest that you speak with your medical provider if you have questions about your abilities. We recommend you check whether any insurance you have also includes your participation in adventure activities you may undertake.
Behaviour
The Provider is here to provide the best services possible but in doing so we will not tolerate abusive or aggressive behaviour from our guests. We will refuse to deal with and may terminate the holiday of guests who assault our staff, suppliers or fellow guests or who are abusive or aggressive to them and are generally affecting the enjoyment of others with their behaviour and you may be barred from future trips with the Provider and The Travel Corporation family of brands. This may include (but is not limited to):
When you make a booking, you accept responsibility for the proper conduct of all members of your party during your travels with the Provider. We reserve the right at any time and at our discretion to terminate the travel arrangements and/or cease to deal with any party member(s) whose behaviour, in the reasonable opinion of us or our suppliers, may cause danger, upset, disruption or distress to anyone else or damage to property. Full cancellation charges will apply and no refund will be made. We shall have no obligation to pay compensation or meet any costs or expenses (including but not limited to alternative accommodation and return transportation arrangements) guest may incur as a result of the travel arrangements being terminated.
You must immediately report any pre-existing damage in your room to accommodation staff and/or a Traveling Concierge. If you damage the accommodation in which you are staying or any property, you must reimburse the accommodation provider or property owner concerned for the cost of the damage before the end of your stay if the cost has been established by then or as soon as it has been established if later. You must indemnify us for the full amount of any claim (also including legal costs) made against us. Criminal proceedings may be instigated. The Provider is not responsible for any costs incurred concerning a guest removed from a trip or aircraft, ship or train. Guests agree not to hold the Provider or any of its related entities liable for any actions taken under these terms and conditions.
Itinerary Variations
The Provider strives to improve trip itineraries, services and features. If improvements can be made, or if circumstances beyond our control make changes necessary, we reserve the right to vary itineraries and to substitute hotels. At certain peak periods multiple departures may operate, sometimes in reverse order; accommodation may vary from those stated on the itinerary pages. On trips which include cruises, the ship may be changed for operational reasons. Departures in early and late season are potentially operated in cool weather conditions. As a result, itinerary variations may occur. Certain activities may not be precisely as described or may not be available due to seasonality or weather conditions or other circumstances beyond our control including COVID-19 restrictions and precautions. This may include specific requirements regarding personal protective equipment, such as use of face-masks by staff (and you may be required to wear a face-mask as well), social distancing, maximum number restrictions on the use of certain facilities, designated alternative entrance and exit routes, mandatory hand sanitisation, limited entertainment and leisure options and limited food/drink availability. If your enjoyment may be diminished by such limitations, please check with us or your Travel Agent before making a reservation. Please take this risk into consideration when booking your trip.
In the event that we make a major change to your holiday (which does not include, for example, changes to aircraft type, change of accommodation to another of the same standard, or alteration of your outward/return flights by less than 12 hours) or increase the costs of your holiday by more than 8% we will inform you or your Travel Agent as soon as reasonably possible if there is time before your departure date. You will either have the choice of accepting the change of arrangements, accepting an offer of alternative travel arrangements of comparable standard from us if available (we will refund any price difference if the alternative is of a lower value, but these booking terms and conditions will continue to apply to any alternative booking), or cancelling your booked holiday and receiving a full refund of all monies paid.
Where we make a major change to your holiday, you will also be entitled to compensation unless the change arises for unusual or unforeseeable reasons outside of our control (also referred to as reasons of "force majeure", and includes war (and threat of war), riot, industrial dispute, actual or threatened terrorist activity and its consequences, civil disturbances, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, adverse weather conditions, epidemics, pandemics including COVID-19, unavoidable technical problems with transportation and any other similar events). The level of compensation will depend on when we inform you of the major change, although this does not exclude you from claiming more if you are entitled to do so:
Changes due to National/Public Holidays
During local or national holidays, certain facilities such as museums, sightseeing trips and shopping may be limited or unavailable. In such instances itinerary changes are made by the Provider seeking to reduce inconvenience to guests. Such changes are deemed not to be a major change to the itinerary, and no compensation will be payable to guests. Holidays, closing days and other circumstances may necessitate a change of the day of the week for scheduled regional meals, sightseeing or other activities. If you feel your enjoyment might be diminished by any of these circumstances, please check with the respective national tourist office before selecting a specific departure date.
Pre & Post-Trip Accommodation
If you arranged with us to remain at a destination before or after your trip, your stay will be at your sole expense as is the transfer to either the hotel or airport. Please speak to your Travel Agent or our reservations team about our pre and post-trip accommodation. Availability is limited. Breakfast and luggage handling is not included unless otherwise noted. The Provider does not provide complimentary transfers for guests booking pre and post-trip accommodations unless otherwise stated. However, airport transfers can often be purchased from the Provider. If your extra night accommodation is not the hotel where your trip begins or ends, you will be responsible for your transfer arrangements at your own expense.
For Your Comfort
The Provider enforces a strict no smoking (including e-cigarettes) and no alcohol policy on board motorcoaches. Regular comfort stops are made on travelling days. Many hotels, restaurants, trains, cruises and other venues are 100% smoke free. The Provider operates a daily seat rotation system.
Disclaimer of Warranties
The Operator warrants only that the services shall be generally, though in view of the vagaries of travel, not necessarily precisely, as described, and subject to changes and the other terms and conditions herein. To the maximum extent permitted by law, all other warranties, express and implied, including warranties of fitness for a specific purpose and merchantability are expressly excluded. There is no warranty that extends beyond the description of the face hereof.
Responsibility
Disclaimer of Liability
The Provider shall be responsible to for supplying the services and accommodation described in the relevant itinerary with reasonable skill and care. Where the contract is not performed, or is performed improperly by us or our agents, suppliers or other co-operating organisations we will provide alternative arrangements, and, if of a lower quality, pay you appropriate compensation unless this failure is due to i) you; ii) a third party unconnected with the provision of these services where this failure is unforeseeable or unavoidable; iii) unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all due care had been exercised; or iv) an event which neither we nor our suppliers nor our agents or other co-operating organisations could have foreseen or forestalled, even with all due care. In such circumstances, we will do their best to supply comparable services, accommodations and itineraries and in any event we shall offer you such prompt assistance as is reasonable in the circumstances, but there shall be no refund in this connection. Our liability for claims which do not involve death, injury or illness shall be limited to twice the price of the holiday.
If in the event of a substantial failure by us to perform the contract, and where we are unable to provide alternative arrangements, you may terminate the contract and we will repatriate you and provide a price reduction/compensation if appropriate. In the event that the contract cannot be performed for unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances and we cannot repatriate you in a timely manner, we will bear the cost of any necessary accommodation for up to three nights. If you have disabilities you should alert us at least 48 hours prior to the holiday so that appropriate measures can be taken to accommodate you in these circumstances.
All baggage and personal effects are at all times and in all circumstances at the risk of the trip participant. The Provider recommends that each guest obtains baggage insurance. After return at the end of the trip, if lost articles are found and returned to the owner, a service fee will be charged. The Travel Directors, carriers, hotels and other suppliers who provide services on trip are independent contractors; they are not agents, employees or servants of the Operator or its associated companies. All certificates and other travel documents for services issued by the Operator are subject to the terms and conditions specified by the carriers and suppliers and to the laws of the countries in which the services are supplied. Carriage by sea is subject to the Carrier’s Conditions of Carriage which are expressly incorporated into this contract, copies of which are available upon request. The released parties are not responsible for any criminal or other conduct by third parties, whether criminal, intentional, grossly negligent, negligent or otherwise.
Under EU law (Regulation 261/2004) you have rights in some circumstances to refunds and/or compensation from your airline in cases of denied boarding, cancellation or delay to flights. Full details of these rights will be publicised at EU airports and will also be available from airlines. However, reimbursement in such cases will not automatically entitle you to a refund of your holiday cost from us. If any payments are due from us, any payments made to you by the airline will be deducted from this amount.
All baggage and personal effects are at all times and in all circumstances at the risk of the trip participant. Baggage insurance is recommended. Upon return at the end of the trip, if lost articles are found and returned to the owner, a service fee will be charged.
All certificates and other travel documents for services issued by the Provider's agents, suppliers or other co-operating organisations are subject to the terms and conditions specified by the carriers and suppliers and to the laws of the countries in which the services are supplied some of which may limit or exclude liability. You are responsible for ensuring that you keep all of your travel documents safe and that they are available for inspection.
Additional Risks
Additional risks may arise including, but not limited to, hazards of travelling in undeveloped areas, hazards of travel by boat, train, bus, car, truck, aircraft and other means, animals, forces of nature, unrest, differing levels of sanitation, differing safety standards, risks associated with water, drinks, food, plants, insects and animals, diseases and transmission of disease to you or members of your family or party, accident or illness in areas of difficult evacuation or poor medical facilities, acts of governments; all occurring during the trip or while coming to or returning from the trip. You are voluntarily participating, knowing there are risks. You agree to accept any and all risks. You release and discharge the Provider, its related companies and personnel from, and agree not to make a claim against any of them for, any and all claims, known or unknown, arising from contracting for, travelling to or from, or travelling during, and in any and every way participating in a trip, even where caused by negligence of any of these released and discharged persons and entities. This release and discharge of liability, assumption of risk and agreement not to make a claim is entered into on behalf of you and all members of your family and party, also including minors. This agreement also binds your heirs, legal representatives and assigns.
Safety
Where the guest occupies a motorcoach seat fitted with a safety belt, neither the Provider nor the Operator nor its agents or co-operating organisations or service providers will be liable for any injury, illness or death or for any loss or damages or claims whatsoever arising from any accident or incident, if the safety belt is not being worn at the time of such an accident or incident. This exclusion and limitation of liability shall not be used to imply that the Operator or its agents or affiliated entities are liable in other circumstances.
International Treaties
Transportation companies, airlines etc. are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time guests 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. International conventions which apply may include: Warsaw Convention 1929, (as amended by Hague Protocol and Montreal Protocol) in relation to air travel, or Montreal Convention; the Berne Convention for rail travel; Athens Convention 1974 for carriage by sea; the Geneva Convention for carriage by road and the Paris Convention 1962 for Hotels. We are to be regarded as having all the benefits of these conventions on limiting our liability in relation to any claim for death, injury, loss, damage and delay to guests and luggage.
Errors and Omissions
In the case of computer or human billing errors, we reserve the right to re-invoice guests and their Travel Agents with correct billing.
Every effort is made to accuracy of our brochures and website; however, the Provider cannot be held responsible for printing or typographical errors, or errors arising from unforeseen circumstances. Moreover, photographs and descriptions of locations or attractions are merely representative of conditions that existed at time of brochure printing and conditions may not be the same at the time of your journey.
The airline(s) featured or nominated in our brochures or website do not by virtue of their endorsement commit or represent themselves either as contracting with any purchaser of a holiday from the Provider or as having any other legal relationship with them.
All bookings made with any provider of any transport, facilities, meals, other goods or of any services are subject to terms and conditions and exclusions and/or limitations of liability imposed by them in relation to matters not covered particularly and expressly by your agreement with the Provider.
If you decide that you do not want to visit a country or part of a country you intended to visit because of any law, condition or requirement of any government or governmental authority, official, servant or agent, you are responsible for any costs, expenses, charges, fees, losses or damage incurred as a consequence and any cancellation or amendment fees. None of the companies in the Travel Corporation group of companies, or any of their staff or agents, accept any responsibility or liability for your acts, omissions, defaults, conduct, state of health, condition or circumstances.
Complaint Procedures and Consumer Protection
Complaint Procedure
In the case of computer or human billing errors, we reserve the right to re-invoice guests and their Travel Agents with correct billing.
Every effort is made to accuracy of our brochures and website; however, the Provider cannot be held responsible for printing or typographical errors, or errors arising from unforeseen circumstances. Moreover, photographs and descriptions of locations or attractions are merely representative of conditions that existed at time of brochure printing and conditions may not be the same at the time of your journey.
The airline(s) featured or nominated in our brochures or website do not by virtue of their endorsement commit or represent themselves either as contracting with any purchaser of a holiday from the Provider or as having any other legal relationship with them.
All bookings made with any provider of any transport, facilities, meals, other goods or of any services are subject to terms and conditions and exclusions and/or limitations of liability imposed by them in relation to matters not covered particularly and expressly by your agreement with the Provider.
If you decide that you do not want to visit a country or part of a country you intended to visit because of any law, condition or requirement of any government or governmental authority, official, servant or agent, you are responsible for any costs, expenses, charges, fees, losses or damage incurred as a consequence and any cancellation or amendment fees. None of the companies in the Travel Corporation group of companies, or any of their staff or agents, accept any responsibility or liability for your acts, omissions, defaults, conduct, state of health, condition or circumstances.
Data Protection
To process your trip booking, the Provider will need to use personal information for you and guests in your booking. Personal information may include each guest’s name, address, phone number, email address, passport number, and sensitive information such as health, medical, dietary, mobility, religious or other special requirements. This personal information may be passed on to other suppliers of your travel arrangements in addition to public authorities (such as customs and immigration), security and credit checking organisations, and otherwise as required by law. The Provider will process your personal data in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR). You can find out more about the Provider’s Privacy Policy and the safeguards available on our website.
We may also use the personal information you provide us to review and improve the guided holidays and services that we offer, and to contact you (by mail, email and/or telephone) about other guided holidays and services offered by the Provider that you may be interested in. If you don’t want to receive this information, or if you want a copy of the personal information we hold about you, write to us at the address contained in your Essential Information document. The Provider may charge a fee for supplying you with this information as permitted by law. Please note: Due to the Transportation Security Administration’s (TSA) SECURE FLIGHT rules, airlines are now REQUIRED to collect more specific data on their guests prior to travel documents being issued.
Group Photos
We take the data privacy of our Travellers and guests very seriously and are committed to abiding by the associated governing laws. Please be notified that from time to time our Traveling Concierge may organize group photo opportunities as part of trip experiences. Such photos may be shared to our company social media channels such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or LinkedIn. We will not share the image with anyone for any use other than for Company promotion. Please remove yourself from the group photos organized by the Traveling Concierge if you choose not to participate.
Other Conditions
Each guest is required to comply with the terms, conditions, requirements, laws, rules and/or regulations of any service provider, or any country or governmental authority, and shall be liable for any such non-compliance.
Booking Arrangements
Your booking arrangements can be made through your Travel Agent, an online booking agent or with the Provider directly. When you make a booking, you must be at least 18 years of age at the time of booking. You are guaranteeing that you understand and have the authority to accept and do accept on behalf of yourself and all members of your party the terms of these booking conditions. We will deal only with the lead booking name in all subsequent correspondence and dealings. You are responsible for making all payments due, ensuring the accuracy of all personal details and other information supplied in respect of yourself and your party, notifying us of any changes or cancellations and for receiving correspondence and keeping your party informed.
Additional Optional Experiences
With the Provider, you will enjoy many famous highlights as included features on your trip, at no extra cost. An exciting array of additional optional experiences and activities may be made available to further enhance your experience. These experiences and activities are optional and are offered at special preferential prices. In some locations they can be pre-booked before your trip otherwise they can be booked during the trip. A detailed list and cost of these will be included in your travel documentation as well as available on the Provider website once they have been confirmed for your itinerary. You can book and pay for them through your Traveling Concierge. Optional experiences and activities may vary due to seasonal conditions and often require minimum guest participation. Prices are subject to change without notice. Please also see the relevant section of "Trip Participation" regarding limitation (exclusion) of our liability for optional experiences and activities operated by independent third-party suppliers.
Important Note
It is the guest’s responsibility to ensure all necessary visas are obtained prior to departure and their passport is valid as per the laws of the country that they are travelling in or through. We do not accept any responsibility and will not make any refunds if you cannot travel because you have not complied with any passport, visa or immigration requirements or if you have lost or mislaid any necessary documents (including travel documentation). The Provider will also not be liable in circumstances where entry is refused to another country for any reason. You should also contact your GP or a specialist vaccination centre for details of any measures you may need to take prior to departure. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) may have issued information on the FCDO’s website at www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice. For travel information, you can also visit ABTA’s website on www.abta.com or phone them on 020 3117 0599.
Important Notice
Unfortunately it is inevitable that some of the prices or details contained within this brochure or on our website may have changed since the brochure was printed, and we reserve the right to alter the prices of any of our holidays before you book. You will be informed about any changes to any of the relevant details within this brochure before you book either with your Travel Agent or with ourselves as part of our commitment to high quality customer service.
Last Updated: 9 May 2022
GB - PAYMENT AND CANCELLATION TABLE (THE "TABLE")