Booking Terms and Conditions
These are the binding Terms and Conditions that will apply to your booking.
These Terms and Conditions govern the relationship between you and Visit
Beyond, Co. Ltd. By booking a trip, you agree to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. They affect your rights and designate the governing law and forum for the resolution of any and all disputes.
1. THE CONTRACT
Hereafter “customers” or “client” shall refer to the person or persons named in
the booking including minors, and “agent” or “supplier” as any person,
organization or company that sells Visit Beyond’s tours through an agreement
with Visit Beyond. All clients wishing to make a booking have carefully read
and understand the Terms and Conditions that follow. By making a booking the client accepts to be bound by these Terms and Conditions. Visit Beyond and all agents reserve the right to decline any booking. The service to be provided is/are the tour(s) referred to in the booking confirmation.
2. DIVING MEDICAL FORM
All customers participating in dives are obligated to complete a medical form.
If customers depart for a dive tour from New Road Guest House in Bangkok then customers are obligated to fill out a medical form from our licensed dive
operators before departure. Otherwise, the customer will fill out such a form
at the dive operator’s offices at the dive site.
3. MEDICAL CONDITIONS
If any customers suffer from any conditions, physical, mental or otherwise,
they are obligated to notify Visit Beyond in writing prior to booking. Visit
Beyond reserves the right to decline a booking if said conditions pose a danger to any customer. Likewise, failure to notify Visit Beyond of any such condition may result in the customer’s denial of travel. Many countries in which Visit Beyond operates are poorly equipped to serve the disabled and Visit Beyond is under no obligation to provide facilities to enable the disabled to travel.
Similarly, customers should be aware that these countries have medical
standards and facilities that may vary greatly from what the customer is used
to in their home country. Women who are or think they may be pregnant must
consult a physician before engaging in any activity with Visit Beyond or before
booking any trips. Any customer who is concerned about their ability to travel
should contact Visit Beyond. The company will endeavor to recommend a trip
suitable for their needs.
4. TRAVELING WITH CHILDREN
The minimum age for clients traveling on tours varies according to each trip.
It is the client’s responsibility to determine the minimum age requirements
according to each trip before requesting a booking from Visit Beyond. Clients
should consult the trip dossiers on www.visitbeyond.com for the Children Rules
of each trip. Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult. An adult is
defined as anyone over 18. All enquiries with respect to children are subject
to review and approval by Visit Beyond. Visit Beyond reserves the right to
restrict the number of travelers under the age of 18 on tours.
5. CURRENCY
Visit Beyond sells in many global currencies. Visit Beyond is most likely to
charge customers in the currency of the destination country. However, Visit
Beyond reserves the right to apply the currency of their choosing to the
booking.
6. QUOTE FEES AND ADMINISTRATIVE FEES
Visit Beyond will provide quotes for Tailored Trips. All quotes are subject to
a non-refundable quote fee that varies according to the destination country.
Should the booking be confirmed, this amount will be deducted off the final
payment amount. Visit Beyond also reserves the right to apply other Administrative Fees at its discretion.
7. BOOKING AND PAYMENT
Visit Beyond must confirm the client’s booking in writing, email or voucher.
Please refer to the confirmation invoice and/or confirmation email for details
regarding final payment. Payment of the balance is due upon booking
confirmation. If full payment is not received upon confirmation, then Visit
Beyond will consider the client’s booking cancelled. Visit Beyond reserves the
right to levy supplemental charges to Tailored Trips.
8. CUSTOMER DETAILS
Customers must provide all the names and ages of all travelers when making a booking or when requesting a quote. All necessary details are specified in the Visit Beyond booking template, which the customer receives when making a booking.
9. CREDIT CARD CHARGES
Visit Beyond charges fees on credit cards according to the country of operation
or destination country.
Visit Beyond is not responsible for any charges applied to credit card
transactions and will not refund or return any fees charged by third parties
and incurred during the transaction of the tour cost.
10. CANCELLATION OF A TOUR BY THE CLIENT
Customers and booking agents must notify Visit Beyond of any cancellations.
Visit Beyond will not provide discounts or refunds for missed or unused
services, whether voluntary or involuntary.
The following cancellation and no-show fees are expressed as a percentage of the total tour or hotel price:
* 100% refund if cancellation is received one month prior to arrival
* 50% refund if cancellation is received 15 to 29 days prior to arrival
* No refund if cancellation is received less than 15 days prior to arrival.
Visit Beyond Tailored Trips may vary in cancellation policy from that detailed
in this clause. The cancellation policy for Tailored Trips will be made clear
upon booking confirmation if the refund policy is more strict than outlined
above. Customers can locate the most recent and updated cancellation terms on www.visitbeyond.com/
11. CANCELLATION OF A TOUR BY VISIT BEYOND
Visit Beyond reserves the right to cancel any trip or hotel for any reason, but will
only cancel a tour or hotel less than 30 days before departure for unusual or unforeseen circumstances outside Visit Beyond’s control (Force Majeure) or if there are too few people to operate the trip. When Visit Beyond cancels a tour, the client may choose between a full refund of all monies paid or any alternative tour or hotel offered by Visit Beyond. If the alternative trip or hotel is less costly than the original then Visit Beyond will refund the difference. Similarly, if the alternative is more costly then the customer is obligated to pay the difference. Visit Beyond is not responsible for any incidental expenses or consequential losses that the client may have incurred as a result of the booking such as visas, vaccinations, non-refundable flights or rail, etc. Where a significant alteration or cancellation occurs which is not due to Force Majeure or other circumstances beyond Visit Beyond’s control, Visit Beyond will in some circumstances offer compensation. Visit Beyond will compensate on a case-by-case basis.
12. CHANGES
(a) Changes made by Visit Beyond: Visit Beyond endeavors to operate all tours
as advertised in the itineraries. The provided itineraries are accurate
accounts of your trip. Please note, however, that Visit Beyond regularly
updates each trip according to customer recommendations and changes on the ground. Varying conditions and unforeseen circumstances may alter the
itinerary, which does not represent a contract between Visit Beyond and its
customers. The itinerary is subject to change before and during the trip. As
your trip approaches, Visit Beyond recommends you check www.visitbeyond.com for the most accurate and up-to-date itinerary. We reserve the right to make changes without prior notice. Customers should remain flexible and accept that adventurous travel with Visit Beyond occasionally necessitates changes in the itinerary.
(b) Changes made by the Client: Clients must notify Visit Beyond in writing if
they wish to change a booking. In some circumstances we can waive the
cancellation fee. Otherwise, the customer must cancel the old trip and make a
new booking. The customer must be aware of the cost differences according to season and must be prepared to pay the difference if the trip is changed to a new and more expensive season. Customers can change the name on a booking or change the trips to a third party at any time.
13. PRICE VALIDITY
The prices in this document are in effect at time of printing. Visit Beyond
reserves the right to alter prices at any time. Customers should go to
www.visitbeyond.com for the most recent prices and itineraries.
14. AIRFARE
Visit Beyond assists customers in booking air travel. Visit Beyond will quote
the best price available at the time for the travel dates requested. Visit
Beyond reserves the right to levy a surcharge for booking airfare. Tickets are
not confirmed until payment has been received. The customer is responsible for
checking online reservations within 72 hours of flight departure. If the
customer books a trip with Visit Beyond that includes the price of an airline
ticket then said ticket is non-refundable. Section 10 (Cancellation of a Tour
by the Client) will not apply to the cost of an air ticket.
15. RESPONSIBILITY AND AUTHORITY
Visit Beyond tour leaders’ and representatives’ decisions are final on all
matters. Visit Beyond does not tolerate illegal drugs nor do we tolerate
visiting prostitutes. Both of these may be common among certain communities we visit but they are illegal nonetheless. Engaging in such activities puts you
and your group at serious risk. Possession of illegal drugs is a crime
punishable by death in some countries where Visit Beyond operates. Visit Beyond and group leaders reserve the right to immediately expel from the group anyone engaging in these activities. Any financial loss on behalf of the customer is not to be reimbursed by Visit Beyond.
16. TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
The customer must have a passport valid at least six months after returning
from the trip. Customers are responsible for obtaining visas. Customers should consult their embassy’s website in the destination country or the destination’s embassy website in their country for the latest visa requirements. Make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 months after your return date. We endeavor to keep visa information updated, but rules can change suddenly and Visit Beyond cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions.
17. FACTORS OUTSIDE VISIT BEYOND’S CONTROL (FORCE MAJEURE)
Visit Beyond endeavors to conduct its operations safely. The company is aware of the risks of flooding, landslides and other natural disasters, especially during the annual rainy season; the company makes efforts to inform customers of any risky political situation that may arise in a destination country. Such information can be found at www.visitbeyond.com. However, Visit Beyond is not liable to customers in the event of injury, death, financial loss or any other damages incurred as a result of Force Majeure, e.g., political turmoil, riots, war, landslides, flooding, etc. Visit Beyond requires customers to carry insurance that covers such unforeseeable circumstances.
18. INSURANCE
Customers traveling with Visit Beyond are required to carry travel insurance
that covers medical expenses, personal injury, repatriation and evacuation.
Further amendments to your policy, such as trip cancellation, and loss of
luggage and personal effect are not required, but are strongly encouraged.
Visit Beyond will not be held liable for lost or stolen luggage. Customers must
be able to provide proof of insurance if requested by Visit Beyond or any of
its representatives.
19. LIMIATION OF LIABILITY
Visit Beyond organizes services and holds contracts with a network of companies
and organizations to make trips possible. Customers release Visit Beyond and
its third party contractors from any liability resulting from pain, injury,
death, damage or loss of pleasure suffered directly or indirectly as a result
of participation in trips or as a result of Visit Beyond’s or its contractors’
actions or facilities. Implied warranty is excluded from these Terms and
Conditions. See the Claims and Complaints clause regarding compensation for
dissatisfied customers.
20. DISCOUNTS AND PROMOTIONS
Visit Beyond occasionally provides discounts and promotions for its trips and
services. The dates of discounted and promotional trips and services are
expressly indicated on the Visit Beyond website. Discounts and promotions are
applicable only for new bookings and are not retroactive. These dates are the
travel dates—not the booking dates—during which discounts and promotions are
valid unless expressly indicated on www.visitbeyond.com.
21. CLAIMS AND COMPLAINTS
In the event that a customer has a complaint against Visit Beyond, the customer must first file a complaint to the Tour Leader at the time the complaint arises. The customer waives any complaints if they cannot reasonably demonstrate that the complaint was lodged immediately. The Tour Leader is best suited to address customer complaints. If necessary, the guide will contact their manager. If the customer is still unsatisfied then the customer must file a written complaint to Visit Beyond at ‘customerservice@visitbeyond.com’ (or the appropriate address listed in section 33) within 15 days of the end of the tour. Visit Beyond will not accept any liability for claims received after this
period.
22. SUPPLIERS’ TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Visit Beyond organizes trips and has contracts with agents and suppliers.
Customers will be bound by agents’ and suppliers’ own terms and conditions.
Visit Beyond may supply copies of third-party conditions but makes no guarantee of doing so. The customer may not make the same claim and seek the same recovery against both Visit Beyond and its suppliers.
23. ACCEPTANCE OF RISK
Visit Beyond’s mission is to bring customers farther from the tourist trail
than its competition. Visit Beyond trips are likely to offer circumstances that
involve risks to the customer. By booking a tour with Visit Beyond, the
customer acknowledges and accepts any and all risk associated with travel. The customer is strongly encouraged to contact and detail their travel plans to
their embassy. The customer must purchase travel insurance (see section 18) and will not hold Visit Beyond liable for damages, injuries or death. Visit Beyond may require customers to sign a participation and waiver form as follows: “I understand that travel with Visit Beyond entails risks to my belongings and my person. I understand that this trip will take me to places with standards of hygiene and health care unlike those I am used to at home. I understand that the destination presents certain perils to my safety and wellbeing. I understand that I may be at considerable distance from health care facilities. I accept these risks and waive my right to hold Visit Beyond liable for any damages, injuries or death.”
24. OPTIONAL ACTIVITES
Any activity not included in the tour or in the tour price is considered an
optional activity. Optional activities do not form a part of this contract.
Visit Beyond is not responsible for anything that may arise from a customer
taking part in optional activities. Optional activities are undertaken at the
cost of the customer.
25. SEVERABILITY
In the event that any term or condition in this document is illegal or
otherwise unenforceable for any reason then such term or condition shall be
deemed to be severed from this contract or amended accordingly such that the remainder of the contract will still apply and continue as binding.
26. MARKETING
Visit Beyond encourages customers and the client to distribute their photos
through Visit Beyond. Visit Beyond occasionally hosts photo contests for its
customers. All such images or video are provided with a perpetual, royaltyfree, worldwide, irrevocable license to Visit Beyond to use in any medium for any purpose.
27. APPLICABLE LAW
The Terms and Conditions including all matters arising from it are subject to
the law and the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts in the destination
country.
28. ERRORS AND OMISSIONS
These Terms and Conditions have been written in good faith and every effort has been made to accurately reflect Visit Beyond policies. Visit Beyond cannot be held responsible for any error, omission or unintentional misrepresentation
that may appear in this document or on its website.
29. PRIVACY POLICY
Visit Beyond may provide personal information to suppliers for the operation of tours and services. Visit Beyond will not reveal customers’ personal
information to other customers or clients.
30. ONLINE BOOKINGS
All online reservations shall be deemed as booked in the destination country
and shall be subject to said country’s laws and jurisdiction.
31. COMFORT AND PHYSICAL RATINGS
The following are the standards that Visit Beyond uses to rank the relative
comfort levels and physical demands of each trip. Customers can locate the
ratings for each trip in the trip dossiers. (See the Trip Dossiers clause.)
These standards are created in good faith and every effort has been made to
accurately reflect the circumstances of each Visit Beyond trip. Customers
acknowledge that these ratings are subject to change and the trip itself may
stray from the stated ratings due to Force Majeure (section 17) or for other
reasons (see section 12).
(a) Comfort Ratings
I: This is as comfortable as it gets with Visit Beyond. You can expect to be
taken care of in furnished and comfortable surroundings both day and night.
Transportation is cozy and western food is almost always an option.
II. This rating represents a gentle step toward roughing it. Some
accommodations and transportation are a bit rough and tumble, but comfortable
nonetheless. There is often a choice of western food.
III. You will sleep in relatively comfortable home stays and guesthouses.
Transportation is generally local and you will almost always be provided local
food. You may have to take a cold shower and use a squat toilet from time to
time.
IV. Expect few creature comforts. You will crash in basic accommodations and
sometimes in tents. Transportation will be basic, local, and sometimes rough,
and you will use squat toilets more often. Cold showers might be a regular
feature of this trip. Expect to eat only local and basic foodstuffs.
V. You will be very far from developed areas. Expect to camp in tents in rough conditions that include bad weather and/or high altitudes. Transportation will be local and bumpy. You may have to help prepare food or dig your own toilet!
You should be physically fit and prepared to rough these conditions.
(b) Physical Ratings
I. If you want to kick back and keep your shoes clean, this is the trip for
you. Expect only to carry your bags around and even then, not too much.
II. The exercise required on these trips barely even classify as “exercise”.
Expect to carry your pack and short walks or bike rides that are not physically taxing.
III. These trips likely entail longish day treks, bike rides, rafting or other
physical activities. Those with a decent level of fitness can enjoy these
trips.
IV. We’ve definitely entered “exercise” territory now! These trips may involve
treks lasting several consecutive days, biking on steep or uneven terrain that
requires body and head protection, or a variety of other demanding tasks.
V. These trips all require a high level of physical fitness and mental
preparation. Be prepared to trek at altitude in unfavorable weather conditions
for days on end, to go on long, physically demanding treks through wild and/or challenging terrain, and more.
32. TRIP DOSSIERS
Customers should consult the trip dossiers located under “Trip Notes” in trip
pages on www.visitbeyond.com. The trip dossiers provide important information
and advice relevant to each trip including some information provided in these
terms and conditions. Crucially, the trip dossiers explicitly state what is
included and what is excluded in each trip and in the cost of each trip.
Customers are expected to familiarize themselves with the information contained
in the trip dossiers.
33. ADDRESSES
THAILAND
New Road Guest House
1216/1 Charoen Krung Road (between soi 34 & 36)
Bangkok 10500
Thailand
CHINA
152 Gulou Dong Da Jie
Dongcheng district Beijing
China
NEPAL
Visit Beyond Service Center
Highlander, Post Box 10987, Thamel, Kathmandu
Nepal
VIETNAM
Jysk Guesthouse
29 Hang Hom Str.,
Hoan Kiem, Hanoi,
Vietnam
INDIA
Visit Beyond Service Center, Delhi
7875, Arakashan Road,
Pahar GanjDelhi – 110055India
34. UPDATES TO TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Visit Beyond reserves the right to update and/or alter these terms and
conditions at any time. The client must remain updated with any such changes.
The current version of terms and conditions can be found on the website
www.visitbeyond.com and will be the terms referred to in any dispute.
Updated 28 September, 2012
