Terms and Conditions
IDENTIFICATION: Guests are required to make reservations in the full name that is listed on his/her government document they will use for travel. If you need to make any changes to a name after travel documents have been issued, clients will be responsible for all name change fees, if applicable.
PAYMENTS: Our merchant account is with PayPal. This will allow our clients to make payments through PayPal or major credit cards. Payments must be received in full 60 days before travel. We also accept payments by phone with a major credit or debit card.
REFUNDS: All payments to Sophisticated Vacations, LLP are non-refundable and non-transferable. This is because Sophisticated Vacations, LLP has contractual agreements with hotels, airlines and other vendors that will not allow us to obtain any refunds. This way we can keep our package prices competitive and allow you to make monthly payments on your vacation.
PASSPORTS AND VISAS: Passengers are responsible for ensuring that they have the proper travel documents and MUST CHECK with the respective consulate(s) or visa agency to determine whether any visas or passports are required. Passports are required to be valid for at least 6 months after the date of travel. Some countries require a full blank “VISA” page in the passport for stamping purposes. Any information provided on travel description pertains to US citizens only. Non-US citizens should check with the respective consulate of the country(s) to be visited for current entry requirements. We strongly suggest all cruise passengers to have a valid passport in their possession while cruising.
TRAVEL PROTECTION: Missing a vacation is bad enough. Losing the money you paid for your vacation is even worse. Therefore, we highly recommend Travel Protection that helps provide coverage for Trip Cancellation, Interruption, Baggage Loss or Delay, Medical Expenses and more. You are required to select and purchase travel insurance yourself for domestic and international tours. For Caribbean, Mexico and Cruise Tours, we can add travel insurance to your package when making your reservations.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Provided full payment is received no later than your Final Payment Due date, travel documents and travel instructions will be sent via email and/or mail 30 days or earlier prior to travel.
PRICES: All prices listed are per person based upon shared twin room occupancy unless otherwise clearly specified. Prices do not include items of a personal nature such as laundry, wines, water, beverages, food (other than at all-inclusive resorts or where clearly specified), passport and visa fees, insurance, and foreign port taxes unless specifically indicated in the package inclusions. Prices are correct at time of publication; however, as airfares continually fluctuate and classes of service may have limited capacity, tour package prices and availability will change accordingly. In case of human or computer error, Sophisticated Vacations, LLP reserves the right to re-invoice for the correct price or service. A full refund will be made to passengers who choose not to pay an increase, provided Sophisticated Vacations, LLP receives a written cancellation within 5 days of the price increase notification.
PAYMENTS & CANCELLATION
Deposit: A deposit is due at the time of reservation. All deposits are non-refundable and non-transferrable.
All reservations (except where specified) will require a deposit and will be clearly noted the amount due and monthly payment plan.
Full Payment: All reservations can be paid in full at time of booking as long as the tour still has available space.
Late Payment: If there is any outstanding balance by the Final Payment Due date listed on your invoice, a late fee will automatically be added to your invoice one day after your final payment date. Late fees vary. Please see each individual tour description for late fee cost.
Reinstatement of Reservations: If your travel reservations have been cancelled, and you notify us within 14 days that you want to reinstate your reservations, a service reinstatement fee of $50 ($200 for international tours) will be added to your invoice and must be paid in advance in order to apply for reconfirmation of services.
Last Minute Reservations: All reservations must be made no later than 30 days prior to departure. If requested services cannot be confirmed, payment will be refunded. If services are confirmed, final payment is due within 24 hours and all applicable cancellation penalties will apply.
Form of Payment: US dollar, bank check, money order, major credit cards or debit cards. All payments made within 30 days of departure must be made by credit or debit card only. Credit card charges will be accepted by phone or online to fulfill non-refundable deposit requirement. There is a $50 fee for all returned checks.
Refunds: If you purchased Travel Insurance through a Sophisticated Vacations, LLP travel package, refunds will be processed to the credit card(s) originally used for payment, up to the total amount paid minus the cost of travel insurance, or through company check if payment cannot be reversed to your credit card(s). After a final payment date and there is a request for a refund, there will be a cancellation fee from the vendor because after the final payment date your reservation and accommodation will be confirmed.
Cancellation: Once reservations have been made, cancellations will only be accepted in writing. Email your cancellation request to [email protected] with your invoice number, full name, and date of travel. If you do not receive an acknowledgement within 48 hours, please call 443 826-0118 to ensure your
Information was received.
Reservation Changes: Changes to an existing reservation, whatever the cause, will incur a $50 per person charge plus any additional supplier fees. This includes name changes* and removal of any services such as optional tours and transfers. *Please note that name changes to airline reservations are subject to full cancellation and rebooking. Replacing a traveling passenger with another traveling passenger constitutes a cancellation, subject to cancellation penalties, and is not covered by this Reservation Changes policy. Changes or additions after departure are subject to local rates at the time of amendment and must be paid directly by the passenger to the service provider. There are no refunds for unused services.
TRAVELERS WITH DISABILITIES
In order to fully enjoy your Sophisticated Vacations, LLP tour, we recommend that you select a trip that is suitable to your physical capabilities. Tour participants requiring any form of assistance, including travelers with physical disabilities, sight or hearing impairments, are required to notify Sophisticated Vacations, LLP prior to reservation for review and our agreement. Additionally, the tour participant must be accompanied by an individual responsible for providing those services. Tour managers, guides, drivers or other tour, hotel, ship personnel are not able to provide such assistance. In order to participate in escorted tours, passengers must be able to understand and follow instructions given by the Tour Director at all times, both for the successful operation of the tour as well as for their personal safety. Sophisticated Vacations, LLP reserves the right to reject participation or remove any individual from a tour if notification was not provided and/or when, in our sole judgment, continued participation would significantly hinder the services to be provided to all guests. Expenses, including cancellation fees and/or costs for alternate travel plans or to return home, will be the sole responsibility of the passenger. Escorted tours are fast-paced, often requiring lengthy walks over uneven terrain. In the interests of group harmony, clients should be able to maintain the pace of the tour. Clients with special needs may be better served independently. Sophisticated Vacations, LLP can suggest touring options based upon specific requirements. Wheelchairs & Walkers: USA Tours: Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA), Sophisticated Vacations, LLP seeks to accommodate disabled travelers to the extent possible and consistent with the specific tour itinerary. Nevertheless, you may find that certain tour features may not be accessible to the extent that you require a wheelchair, scooter, or other special equipment to participate. We cannot provide individual assistance to travelers with wheelchairs or other mobility devices. We regret that some itineraries cannot accommodate wheelchairs or motorized scooters. Passengers are required to advise Sophisticated Vacations, LLP of their accessibility requirements prior to booking in order for Sophisticated Vacations, LLP to determine if reasonable accommodations are available. Sophisticated Vacations, LLP will endeavor to accommodate special access needs, but does not guarantee that it will be able to do so in all cases.
International Tours: Hotels, sea and river cruises outside of the United States are not required to comply with ADA requirements and therefore may not have ramps, wide entryways or elevators to accommodate disabled passengers or devices such as wheelchairs, walkers and motorized scooters. Due to physical constraints and space limitations, wheelchairs, walkers and motorized scooters may not be taken aboard
Motor coaches and river cruises.
Service Animals: Service animals cannot be accommodated on international escorted tours. Passengers on USA escorted tours who require a service dog because of a disability should check with Sophisticated Vacations, LLP prior to booking a tour.
Hotel Accommodations: All rooms requested are standard twin-bedded (two single beds) rooms with private facilities, unless you have specifically requested a king/double size bed. Please understand although we will make a bed type request on your behalf, bed types are subject to availability. Room selection in all cases is strictly at the discretion of the hotel's management on a run-of-house basis. Triple and quad occupancy rooms consist of two beds for cruises, where triple and quad rooms will consist a twin bed for each person. Some single rooms are smaller than a standard room size. The number of persons accommodated does not dictate the room size. Although available at most 4 and 5 star hotels, use of air-conditioning abroad differs greatly from the United States. Many European hotels were built before central air-conditioning was introduced. Air-conditioning is often shut down at night and from the end until the start of the summer months. All hotel rates are based on Sophisticated Vacations, LLP agreements with its suppliers and are not negotiable. Hotel check-in time is generally not before 3:00 p.m. and check-out time is prior to noon. Please be sure that adequate arrangements for accommodations have been taken into consideration when a late-night flight is being used. If a day room is included in the itinerary, check-out will normally be 6:00 p.m. We reserve the right to make substitutions with hotels of equal standard. There will be no refunds for any difference in the cost of those accommodations.
Hotel & Cruise Profiles: Sophisticated Vacations, LLP hotel and cruise ship profiles are based upon information provided to Sophisticated Vacations, LLP by hotel and cruise ship partners and their representatives, including images and descriptions of individual properties. Star-ratings may differ from country to country. Sophisticated Vacations, LLP does its best to maintain current information, however is not responsible for any inaccuracies, changes in description details or amenities, or images provided by third parties.
Meals: As specified in each itinerary. Meals are based on the hotel's or restaurant's buffet or set menu. In general, beverages are not included, unless specifically stated. Although Sophisticated Vacations, LLP cannot make guarantees, every effort will be made to honor special dietary requests submitted in writing at least 4 weeks prior to departure at mailto:[email protected].
Transfers: Transfers are provided as indicated for each tour by car, minibus, or motor coach provided airfare is purchased from Premier Travel One d/b/a Travel Divas. If you purchase a land-only tour, or if you deviate from the arrival and/or departure dates as stated in the itinerary, you will have the responsibility to purchase your own transfer to the hotel. Your arrival transfer is guaranteed for up to one hour from your scheduled arrival time in order to compensate for minor delays. Sophisticated Vacations, LLP or the transfer company will not be responsible for flight delays, for any reason, beyond one hour from your originally scheduled arrival time. In case of a delay, whether due to flight delay, immigration and customs, or time spent reporting baggage damage or loss, it will be your responsibility to make other transfer arrangements such as a taxi, transfer costs are not refundable and any additional expenses will be your responsibility. The cost of a transfer is more expensive than hiring a taxi, as a Sophisticated-Vacations, LLP transfer necessarily includes round trip service, or 'dead-leg', meaning that our driver must come to the airport, hotel or pier only to pick you up and necessarily loses a one-way fare. Often the places of call (airports, seaports, hotels) demand entrance and parking fees, where drivers may have to wait for up to an hour. Sophisticated Vacations, LLP transfer drivers, while not employees of Sophisticated Vacations, LLP, are reliable. They provide you with a full welcome service, transfer you to the correct location and are prepared to answer your questions along your ride. Passengers comfortable hiring a taxi on their own and do not require assistance will save money.
Sightseeing & Itinerary: Will be operated by motor-vehicle, its size dictated by the number of participants. Sophisticated Vacations, LLP tours have been designed to accommodate individuals as well as groups. Times listed in itineraries are approximate and meant only as guidelines. Some itineraries may have early morning start times for sightseeing in order to complete the touring during daylight hours or avoid afternoon heat in tropical and desert climates. It is your responsibility to arrive on time for all scheduled flights, cruises, and package components. Arriving late may be considered a "no-show", in which case you will not be eligible for refund for the unused service(s). We cannot guarantee the number of passengers who will be on any given tour. You may find that you are traveling with a sizeable group or only with your own companions. Services, however, will remain constant no matter the number of tour participants. Persons requiring any assistance or who have any form of disability should refer to section "Travelers With Disabilities". On dates including, but not limited to religious holidays and national celebrations, some monuments and sites may be closed. On these occasions, touring itineraries may be amended to reflect these closures. Occasionally, during holidays and certain periods, and/or due to unforeseen circumstances including weather conditions there may be last-minute changes, sometimes after arrival, in affecting the sequence of the tour, locations visited and/or hotels. Therefore, we reserve the right to adjust the sequence and/or substitute any hotels with others of similar category. In such cases there will be no cost adjustment. National monuments and tourist sites regularly undergo renovations, which can obscure the monument's view. No tour will be canceled due to renovations, however Sophisticated Vacations, LLP will decide based on the conditions whether to amend an itinerary. Sophisticated Vacations, LLP itineraries may contain suggestions for activities for your leisure time; these suggestions do not constitute an endorsement of any specific service provider and the decision to participate in any such activities should be made independently and with due consideration.
Group Harmony: To ensure the desired group synergy, Sophisticated Vacations, LLP reserves the right to accept, reject or expel any individual who is deemed disruptive or incompatible with the interests of the group, including, but not limited to, individuals who are intoxicated and/or under the influence of drugs leading to a negative experience for the remainder of the group. Expenses, including cancellation fees
and/or costs for alternate travel plans or to return home, will necessarily be borne by the passenger. All unused services are non-refundable.
CRUISES:
Ship & Itinerary Changes: Cruise itineraries and ships are subject to change without notice. Furthermore, cruise ships may be chartered and/or departure dates canceled, in which case all monies will be refunded. Sophisticated Vacations, LLP takes no responsibility for ship substitutions or itinerary changes imposed by a cruise line and is not responsible for any losses you may incur including the issuance and/or cancellation of airline tickets or visa fees.
Medical Services: Many ships do not carry a doctor or nurse onboard. Should medical attention be required, local services will be contacted. Resulting charges will be the responsibility of the passenger. Sophisticated Vacations, LLP and the cruise ship operator are not responsible for the services provided.
Health Requirements: Check with your healthcare provider for up-to-date requirements. You may also check the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) and/or the World Health Organization (http://www.who.int/en/) for their recommendations. Required inoculations, if any, must be recorded by clients' health practitioner on a valid vaccination certificate which the client must carry for proof of inoculation where required. Individuals with heart disease, chronic illness, physical handicap, advanced pregnancy, or mental illness should not participate in these rigorous travel programs. Any person who arrives to the destination ill with apparent fever or becomes ill during the tour, will be removed from the group and directed to a local medical facility for diagnosis. Only upon clearance by an accredited medical facility will that individual be allowed to resume group travel. All costs associated with medical treatment and related expenses such as additional hotel nights or transportation not included in the original itinerary, will necessarily be borne by the passenger. Please note that some countries may require aircraft cabin insecticide treatment for in-bound foreign flights. A list of such countries is available at: http://www.dot.gov/…/avi…/aircraft-disinsection-requirements.
RELEASE FROM LIABILITY: Sophisticated Vacations, LLP, its shareholders, directors, officers, employees do not own or operate any entity which is to or does provide goods or services for your trip including, for example, ownership or control over hotels or other lodging facilities, airline, vessel, bus, van or other transportation companies, local ground operators, providers or organizers of optional excursions or equipment used thereon, food service or entertainment providers, etc. All such persons and entities are independent contractors. As a result, Sophisticated Vacations, LLP is not liable for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such person or entity, or of any other third party. Without limitation, Sophisticated Vacations, LLP is not responsible for any injury, loss, or damage to person or property, death, delay or inconvenience in connection with the provision of any goods or services occasioned by or resulting from, but not limited to, acts of God, acts of government, force majeure, acts of war or civil unrest, insurrection or revolt, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind, or the threat thereof, overbooking or downgrading of accommodations, structural or other defective conditions in hotels or other lodging facilities, mechanical or other failure of airplanes or other means of transportation or for any failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart timely or safely, dangers associated with or bites from animals, pests or insects, marine life or vegetation of any sort, dangers incident to recreational activities such as swimming, kayaking, sailing, canoeing, rafting, hiking, walking, bicycling, etc., sanitation problems, food poisoning, lack of access to or quality of medical care, difficulty in evacuation in case of a medical or other emergency, illness, epidemics or the threat thereof or for any other cause beyond the direct control of Sophisticated Vacations, LLP. In addition, I release Sophisticated Vacations, LLP from its own negligence and assume all risk thereof.
ASSUMPTION OF RISK: I am aware that travel such as that I am undertaking involves hazardous activities, with a risk of illness, injury or death which may be caused by forces of nature, animals, insects or flora, the negligence of Sophisticated Vacations, LLP, or other persons and companies known or unknown, or of willful or criminal conduct of third parties. I am aware that weather conditions may be severe, adverse and/or unpleasant. I am also aware that medical services or facilities may not be readily available or accessible during some or all of the time during which I am participating on the trip. In order to partake of the enjoyment and excitement of this trip I am willing to accept the risks and uncertainty involved as being an integral part of my adventure. I hereby accept and assume full responsibility for any and all risks of illness, injury or death and of the negligence of Sophisticated Vacations, LLP and agree to hold harmless and release Sophisticated Vacations, LLP from claims of third-party negligence. I understand the physical requirements of the activity in which I will be participating, and I currently have no known physical, medical or mental condition which would impair my ability to participate in this tour or my safety in this activity, and I am willing to assume all risks that may be created, directly or indirectly, by any such condition. I hereby authorize Sophisticated Vacations, LLP or my local ground handler or others to arrange for any emergency medical treatment and hospitalization as may be necessary for me because of participation in this activity without my further consent.
VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION: I acknowledge that I have voluntarily applied to participate on the trip designated on this application (or a trip which I may change to) and that I have read the description of the trip as it appears in the current Sophisticated Vacations, LLP website relating to the trip, together with all information contained in this application. I am voluntarily participating in this trip with knowledge of the hazards involved.
KNOWING AND VOLUNTARY EXECUTION: I have carefully read these Terms and Conditions and the booking information sections of this document, and fully understand its contents. I am aware that this is a release of liability and a contract between myself and Sophisticated Vacations, LLP and agree of my own free will. By signing, I agree to these Travel Terms & Conditions and Sophisticated Vacations, LLP release from liability, Assumption of Risk and Binding Arbitration Clause for myself, each member of my traveling party and any minor children accompanying me.
PHOTOGRAPHIC RELEASE: Sophisticated Vacations, LLP may take photographs or video of its trips and trip participants grant Sophisticated Vacations, LLP permission to do so and for it to use same for promotional or commercial use without payment of any compensation to participant.
USE OF WEB SITE: WWW.SOPHISTICATED-VACATIONS.COM
Agreement between Customer and Sophisticated Vacations, LLP: www.sophisticated-vacations.com is offered to you, the customer, conditioned on your acceptance without modification of the terms, conditions, and notices contained herein. Your use of www.sophisticated-vacations.com constitutes your agreement to all such terms, conditions, and notices.
Liability Disclaimer: The information, products, and services published on this web site may include inaccuracies or typographical errors. Changes are periodically made to the information which appears here. The content of this site is not guaranteed to be complete, accurate, or available and may be changed at any time without notice. Sophisticated Vacations, LLP may make improvements or changes on this web site at any time. In no event shall Sophisticated Vacations, LLP be liable for any direct, indirect, punitive, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising our of, or in any way connected with, the use of this web site, or for any information, products, and services obtained through this web site, or otherwise arising out of the use of this web site.
Links to Other Web Sites: www.thetraveldivas.com may contain hyperlinks to web sites operated by parties other than Sophisticated Vacations, LLP. Such hyperlinks are provided for your reference only. Sophisticated Vacations, LLP does not control such web sites and is not responsible for their contents.
PRIVACY POLICY:
Sophisticated Vacations, LLP operates www.sophisticated-vacations.com (the "Site"). This page informs you of our policies regarding the collection, use and disclosure of Personal Information we receive from users of the Site. We use your Personal Information only for providing and improving the Site. By using the Site, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.
Information Collection and Use
While using our Site, we may ask you to provide us with certain personally identifiable information that can be used to contact or identify you (“Personal Information.”). Personal identifiable information may include, but is not limited to your name, address, and email address. When you provide us with personal information to complete a transaction, verify your credit card, place an order, arrange for a delivery or return a purchase, we imply that you consent to our collecting it and using it for that specific reason only. If we ask for your personal information for a secondary reason, like marketing, we will either ask you directly for your expressed consent, or provide you with an opportunity to say no.
Communications
With your permission, we may use your Personal Information to contact you with newsletters, marketing or promotional materials and other relevant information about our store, products, or partners that we feel may be of interest to you. You may withdraw your consent for us to contact you, for the continued collection, use or disclosure of your information, at any time, by contacting us at [email protected].
Security
The security of your Personal Information is important to us but remember that no method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage, is 100% secure. To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry best practices to make sure it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.
Third Parties
In general, the third-party providers used by us will only collect, use and disclose your
Information to the extent necessary to allow them to perform the services they provide to us. However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies in respect to the information we are required to provide to them for your purchase-related transactions.
For these providers, we recommend that you read their privacy policies, so you can understand the manner in which your personal information will be handled by these providers. In particular, remember that certain providers may be located in or have facilities that are located a different jurisdiction than either you or us. So, if you elect to proceed with a transaction that involves the services of a third-party service provider, then your information may become subject to the laws of the jurisdiction(s) in which that service provider or its facilities are located. Once you leave our store’s website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or our website’s Terms of Service.
PAYMENTS: Our merchant account is with PayPal. This will allow our clients to make payments through PayPal or major credit cards. Payments must be received in full 60 days before travel. We also accept payments by phone with a major credit or debit card.
REFUNDS: All payments to Sophisticated Vacations, LLP are non-refundable and non-transferable. This is because Sophisticated Vacations, LLP has contractual agreements with hotels, airlines and other vendors that will not allow us to obtain any refunds. This way we can keep our package prices competitive and allow you to make monthly payments on your vacation.
PASSPORTS AND VISAS: Passengers are responsible for ensuring that they have the proper travel documents and MUST CHECK with the respective consulate(s) or visa agency to determine whether any visas or passports are required. Passports are required to be valid for at least 6 months after the date of travel. Some countries require a full blank “VISA” page in the passport for stamping purposes. Any information provided on travel description pertains to US citizens only. Non-US citizens should check with the respective consulate of the country(s) to be visited for current entry requirements. We strongly suggest all cruise passengers to have a valid passport in their possession while cruising.
TRAVEL PROTECTION: Missing a vacation is bad enough. Losing the money you paid for your vacation is even worse. Therefore, we highly recommend Travel Protection that helps provide coverage for Trip Cancellation, Interruption, Baggage Loss or Delay, Medical Expenses and more. You are required to select and purchase travel insurance yourself for domestic and international tours. For Caribbean, Mexico and Cruise Tours, we can add travel insurance to your package when making your reservations.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Provided full payment is received no later than your Final Payment Due date, travel documents and travel instructions will be sent via email and/or mail 30 days or earlier prior to travel.
PRICES: All prices listed are per person based upon shared twin room occupancy unless otherwise clearly specified. Prices do not include items of a personal nature such as laundry, wines, water, beverages, food (other than at all-inclusive resorts or where clearly specified), passport and visa fees, insurance, and foreign port taxes unless specifically indicated in the package inclusions. Prices are correct at time of publication; however, as airfares continually fluctuate and classes of service may have limited capacity, tour package prices and availability will change accordingly. In case of human or computer error, Sophisticated Vacations, LLP reserves the right to re-invoice for the correct price or service. A full refund will be made to passengers who choose not to pay an increase, provided Sophisticated Vacations, LLP receives a written cancellation within 5 days of the price increase notification.
PAYMENTS & CANCELLATION
Deposit: A deposit is due at the time of reservation. All deposits are non-refundable and non-transferrable.
All reservations (except where specified) will require a deposit and will be clearly noted the amount due and monthly payment plan.
Full Payment: All reservations can be paid in full at time of booking as long as the tour still has available space.
Late Payment: If there is any outstanding balance by the Final Payment Due date listed on your invoice, a late fee will automatically be added to your invoice one day after your final payment date. Late fees vary. Please see each individual tour description for late fee cost.
Reinstatement of Reservations: If your travel reservations have been cancelled, and you notify us within 14 days that you want to reinstate your reservations, a service reinstatement fee of $50 ($200 for international tours) will be added to your invoice and must be paid in advance in order to apply for reconfirmation of services.
Last Minute Reservations: All reservations must be made no later than 30 days prior to departure. If requested services cannot be confirmed, payment will be refunded. If services are confirmed, final payment is due within 24 hours and all applicable cancellation penalties will apply.
Form of Payment: US dollar, bank check, money order, major credit cards or debit cards. All payments made within 30 days of departure must be made by credit or debit card only. Credit card charges will be accepted by phone or online to fulfill non-refundable deposit requirement. There is a $50 fee for all returned checks.
Refunds: If you purchased Travel Insurance through a Sophisticated Vacations, LLP travel package, refunds will be processed to the credit card(s) originally used for payment, up to the total amount paid minus the cost of travel insurance, or through company check if payment cannot be reversed to your credit card(s). After a final payment date and there is a request for a refund, there will be a cancellation fee from the vendor because after the final payment date your reservation and accommodation will be confirmed.
Cancellation: Once reservations have been made, cancellations will only be accepted in writing. Email your cancellation request to [email protected] with your invoice number, full name, and date of travel. If you do not receive an acknowledgement within 48 hours, please call 443 826-0118 to ensure your
Information was received.
Reservation Changes: Changes to an existing reservation, whatever the cause, will incur a $50 per person charge plus any additional supplier fees. This includes name changes* and removal of any services such as optional tours and transfers. *Please note that name changes to airline reservations are subject to full cancellation and rebooking. Replacing a traveling passenger with another traveling passenger constitutes a cancellation, subject to cancellation penalties, and is not covered by this Reservation Changes policy. Changes or additions after departure are subject to local rates at the time of amendment and must be paid directly by the passenger to the service provider. There are no refunds for unused services.
TRAVELERS WITH DISABILITIES
In order to fully enjoy your Sophisticated Vacations, LLP tour, we recommend that you select a trip that is suitable to your physical capabilities. Tour participants requiring any form of assistance, including travelers with physical disabilities, sight or hearing impairments, are required to notify Sophisticated Vacations, LLP prior to reservation for review and our agreement. Additionally, the tour participant must be accompanied by an individual responsible for providing those services. Tour managers, guides, drivers or other tour, hotel, ship personnel are not able to provide such assistance. In order to participate in escorted tours, passengers must be able to understand and follow instructions given by the Tour Director at all times, both for the successful operation of the tour as well as for their personal safety. Sophisticated Vacations, LLP reserves the right to reject participation or remove any individual from a tour if notification was not provided and/or when, in our sole judgment, continued participation would significantly hinder the services to be provided to all guests. Expenses, including cancellation fees and/or costs for alternate travel plans or to return home, will be the sole responsibility of the passenger. Escorted tours are fast-paced, often requiring lengthy walks over uneven terrain. In the interests of group harmony, clients should be able to maintain the pace of the tour. Clients with special needs may be better served independently. Sophisticated Vacations, LLP can suggest touring options based upon specific requirements. Wheelchairs & Walkers: USA Tours: Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act (the ADA), Sophisticated Vacations, LLP seeks to accommodate disabled travelers to the extent possible and consistent with the specific tour itinerary. Nevertheless, you may find that certain tour features may not be accessible to the extent that you require a wheelchair, scooter, or other special equipment to participate. We cannot provide individual assistance to travelers with wheelchairs or other mobility devices. We regret that some itineraries cannot accommodate wheelchairs or motorized scooters. Passengers are required to advise Sophisticated Vacations, LLP of their accessibility requirements prior to booking in order for Sophisticated Vacations, LLP to determine if reasonable accommodations are available. Sophisticated Vacations, LLP will endeavor to accommodate special access needs, but does not guarantee that it will be able to do so in all cases.
International Tours: Hotels, sea and river cruises outside of the United States are not required to comply with ADA requirements and therefore may not have ramps, wide entryways or elevators to accommodate disabled passengers or devices such as wheelchairs, walkers and motorized scooters. Due to physical constraints and space limitations, wheelchairs, walkers and motorized scooters may not be taken aboard
Motor coaches and river cruises.
Service Animals: Service animals cannot be accommodated on international escorted tours. Passengers on USA escorted tours who require a service dog because of a disability should check with Sophisticated Vacations, LLP prior to booking a tour.
Hotel Accommodations: All rooms requested are standard twin-bedded (two single beds) rooms with private facilities, unless you have specifically requested a king/double size bed. Please understand although we will make a bed type request on your behalf, bed types are subject to availability. Room selection in all cases is strictly at the discretion of the hotel's management on a run-of-house basis. Triple and quad occupancy rooms consist of two beds for cruises, where triple and quad rooms will consist a twin bed for each person. Some single rooms are smaller than a standard room size. The number of persons accommodated does not dictate the room size. Although available at most 4 and 5 star hotels, use of air-conditioning abroad differs greatly from the United States. Many European hotels were built before central air-conditioning was introduced. Air-conditioning is often shut down at night and from the end until the start of the summer months. All hotel rates are based on Sophisticated Vacations, LLP agreements with its suppliers and are not negotiable. Hotel check-in time is generally not before 3:00 p.m. and check-out time is prior to noon. Please be sure that adequate arrangements for accommodations have been taken into consideration when a late-night flight is being used. If a day room is included in the itinerary, check-out will normally be 6:00 p.m. We reserve the right to make substitutions with hotels of equal standard. There will be no refunds for any difference in the cost of those accommodations.
Hotel & Cruise Profiles: Sophisticated Vacations, LLP hotel and cruise ship profiles are based upon information provided to Sophisticated Vacations, LLP by hotel and cruise ship partners and their representatives, including images and descriptions of individual properties. Star-ratings may differ from country to country. Sophisticated Vacations, LLP does its best to maintain current information, however is not responsible for any inaccuracies, changes in description details or amenities, or images provided by third parties.
Meals: As specified in each itinerary. Meals are based on the hotel's or restaurant's buffet or set menu. In general, beverages are not included, unless specifically stated. Although Sophisticated Vacations, LLP cannot make guarantees, every effort will be made to honor special dietary requests submitted in writing at least 4 weeks prior to departure at mailto:[email protected].
Transfers: Transfers are provided as indicated for each tour by car, minibus, or motor coach provided airfare is purchased from Premier Travel One d/b/a Travel Divas. If you purchase a land-only tour, or if you deviate from the arrival and/or departure dates as stated in the itinerary, you will have the responsibility to purchase your own transfer to the hotel. Your arrival transfer is guaranteed for up to one hour from your scheduled arrival time in order to compensate for minor delays. Sophisticated Vacations, LLP or the transfer company will not be responsible for flight delays, for any reason, beyond one hour from your originally scheduled arrival time. In case of a delay, whether due to flight delay, immigration and customs, or time spent reporting baggage damage or loss, it will be your responsibility to make other transfer arrangements such as a taxi, transfer costs are not refundable and any additional expenses will be your responsibility. The cost of a transfer is more expensive than hiring a taxi, as a Sophisticated-Vacations, LLP transfer necessarily includes round trip service, or 'dead-leg', meaning that our driver must come to the airport, hotel or pier only to pick you up and necessarily loses a one-way fare. Often the places of call (airports, seaports, hotels) demand entrance and parking fees, where drivers may have to wait for up to an hour. Sophisticated Vacations, LLP transfer drivers, while not employees of Sophisticated Vacations, LLP, are reliable. They provide you with a full welcome service, transfer you to the correct location and are prepared to answer your questions along your ride. Passengers comfortable hiring a taxi on their own and do not require assistance will save money.
Sightseeing & Itinerary: Will be operated by motor-vehicle, its size dictated by the number of participants. Sophisticated Vacations, LLP tours have been designed to accommodate individuals as well as groups. Times listed in itineraries are approximate and meant only as guidelines. Some itineraries may have early morning start times for sightseeing in order to complete the touring during daylight hours or avoid afternoon heat in tropical and desert climates. It is your responsibility to arrive on time for all scheduled flights, cruises, and package components. Arriving late may be considered a "no-show", in which case you will not be eligible for refund for the unused service(s). We cannot guarantee the number of passengers who will be on any given tour. You may find that you are traveling with a sizeable group or only with your own companions. Services, however, will remain constant no matter the number of tour participants. Persons requiring any assistance or who have any form of disability should refer to section "Travelers With Disabilities". On dates including, but not limited to religious holidays and national celebrations, some monuments and sites may be closed. On these occasions, touring itineraries may be amended to reflect these closures. Occasionally, during holidays and certain periods, and/or due to unforeseen circumstances including weather conditions there may be last-minute changes, sometimes after arrival, in affecting the sequence of the tour, locations visited and/or hotels. Therefore, we reserve the right to adjust the sequence and/or substitute any hotels with others of similar category. In such cases there will be no cost adjustment. National monuments and tourist sites regularly undergo renovations, which can obscure the monument's view. No tour will be canceled due to renovations, however Sophisticated Vacations, LLP will decide based on the conditions whether to amend an itinerary. Sophisticated Vacations, LLP itineraries may contain suggestions for activities for your leisure time; these suggestions do not constitute an endorsement of any specific service provider and the decision to participate in any such activities should be made independently and with due consideration.
Group Harmony: To ensure the desired group synergy, Sophisticated Vacations, LLP reserves the right to accept, reject or expel any individual who is deemed disruptive or incompatible with the interests of the group, including, but not limited to, individuals who are intoxicated and/or under the influence of drugs leading to a negative experience for the remainder of the group. Expenses, including cancellation fees
and/or costs for alternate travel plans or to return home, will necessarily be borne by the passenger. All unused services are non-refundable.
CRUISES:
Ship & Itinerary Changes: Cruise itineraries and ships are subject to change without notice. Furthermore, cruise ships may be chartered and/or departure dates canceled, in which case all monies will be refunded. Sophisticated Vacations, LLP takes no responsibility for ship substitutions or itinerary changes imposed by a cruise line and is not responsible for any losses you may incur including the issuance and/or cancellation of airline tickets or visa fees.
Medical Services: Many ships do not carry a doctor or nurse onboard. Should medical attention be required, local services will be contacted. Resulting charges will be the responsibility of the passenger. Sophisticated Vacations, LLP and the cruise ship operator are not responsible for the services provided.
Health Requirements: Check with your healthcare provider for up-to-date requirements. You may also check the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) and/or the World Health Organization (http://www.who.int/en/) for their recommendations. Required inoculations, if any, must be recorded by clients' health practitioner on a valid vaccination certificate which the client must carry for proof of inoculation where required. Individuals with heart disease, chronic illness, physical handicap, advanced pregnancy, or mental illness should not participate in these rigorous travel programs. Any person who arrives to the destination ill with apparent fever or becomes ill during the tour, will be removed from the group and directed to a local medical facility for diagnosis. Only upon clearance by an accredited medical facility will that individual be allowed to resume group travel. All costs associated with medical treatment and related expenses such as additional hotel nights or transportation not included in the original itinerary, will necessarily be borne by the passenger. Please note that some countries may require aircraft cabin insecticide treatment for in-bound foreign flights. A list of such countries is available at: http://www.dot.gov/…/avi…/aircraft-disinsection-requirements.
RELEASE FROM LIABILITY: Sophisticated Vacations, LLP, its shareholders, directors, officers, employees do not own or operate any entity which is to or does provide goods or services for your trip including, for example, ownership or control over hotels or other lodging facilities, airline, vessel, bus, van or other transportation companies, local ground operators, providers or organizers of optional excursions or equipment used thereon, food service or entertainment providers, etc. All such persons and entities are independent contractors. As a result, Sophisticated Vacations, LLP is not liable for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such person or entity, or of any other third party. Without limitation, Sophisticated Vacations, LLP is not responsible for any injury, loss, or damage to person or property, death, delay or inconvenience in connection with the provision of any goods or services occasioned by or resulting from, but not limited to, acts of God, acts of government, force majeure, acts of war or civil unrest, insurrection or revolt, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind, or the threat thereof, overbooking or downgrading of accommodations, structural or other defective conditions in hotels or other lodging facilities, mechanical or other failure of airplanes or other means of transportation or for any failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart timely or safely, dangers associated with or bites from animals, pests or insects, marine life or vegetation of any sort, dangers incident to recreational activities such as swimming, kayaking, sailing, canoeing, rafting, hiking, walking, bicycling, etc., sanitation problems, food poisoning, lack of access to or quality of medical care, difficulty in evacuation in case of a medical or other emergency, illness, epidemics or the threat thereof or for any other cause beyond the direct control of Sophisticated Vacations, LLP. In addition, I release Sophisticated Vacations, LLP from its own negligence and assume all risk thereof.
ASSUMPTION OF RISK: I am aware that travel such as that I am undertaking involves hazardous activities, with a risk of illness, injury or death which may be caused by forces of nature, animals, insects or flora, the negligence of Sophisticated Vacations, LLP, or other persons and companies known or unknown, or of willful or criminal conduct of third parties. I am aware that weather conditions may be severe, adverse and/or unpleasant. I am also aware that medical services or facilities may not be readily available or accessible during some or all of the time during which I am participating on the trip. In order to partake of the enjoyment and excitement of this trip I am willing to accept the risks and uncertainty involved as being an integral part of my adventure. I hereby accept and assume full responsibility for any and all risks of illness, injury or death and of the negligence of Sophisticated Vacations, LLP and agree to hold harmless and release Sophisticated Vacations, LLP from claims of third-party negligence. I understand the physical requirements of the activity in which I will be participating, and I currently have no known physical, medical or mental condition which would impair my ability to participate in this tour or my safety in this activity, and I am willing to assume all risks that may be created, directly or indirectly, by any such condition. I hereby authorize Sophisticated Vacations, LLP or my local ground handler or others to arrange for any emergency medical treatment and hospitalization as may be necessary for me because of participation in this activity without my further consent.
VOLUNTARY PARTICIPATION: I acknowledge that I have voluntarily applied to participate on the trip designated on this application (or a trip which I may change to) and that I have read the description of the trip as it appears in the current Sophisticated Vacations, LLP website relating to the trip, together with all information contained in this application. I am voluntarily participating in this trip with knowledge of the hazards involved.
KNOWING AND VOLUNTARY EXECUTION: I have carefully read these Terms and Conditions and the booking information sections of this document, and fully understand its contents. I am aware that this is a release of liability and a contract between myself and Sophisticated Vacations, LLP and agree of my own free will. By signing, I agree to these Travel Terms & Conditions and Sophisticated Vacations, LLP release from liability, Assumption of Risk and Binding Arbitration Clause for myself, each member of my traveling party and any minor children accompanying me.
PHOTOGRAPHIC RELEASE: Sophisticated Vacations, LLP may take photographs or video of its trips and trip participants grant Sophisticated Vacations, LLP permission to do so and for it to use same for promotional or commercial use without payment of any compensation to participant.
USE OF WEB SITE: WWW.SOPHISTICATED-VACATIONS.COM
Agreement between Customer and Sophisticated Vacations, LLP: www.sophisticated-vacations.com is offered to you, the customer, conditioned on your acceptance without modification of the terms, conditions, and notices contained herein. Your use of www.sophisticated-vacations.com constitutes your agreement to all such terms, conditions, and notices.
Liability Disclaimer: The information, products, and services published on this web site may include inaccuracies or typographical errors. Changes are periodically made to the information which appears here. The content of this site is not guaranteed to be complete, accurate, or available and may be changed at any time without notice. Sophisticated Vacations, LLP may make improvements or changes on this web site at any time. In no event shall Sophisticated Vacations, LLP be liable for any direct, indirect, punitive, incidental, special, or consequential damages arising our of, or in any way connected with, the use of this web site, or for any information, products, and services obtained through this web site, or otherwise arising out of the use of this web site.
Links to Other Web Sites: www.thetraveldivas.com may contain hyperlinks to web sites operated by parties other than Sophisticated Vacations, LLP. Such hyperlinks are provided for your reference only. Sophisticated Vacations, LLP does not control such web sites and is not responsible for their contents.
PRIVACY POLICY:
Sophisticated Vacations, LLP operates www.sophisticated-vacations.com (the "Site"). This page informs you of our policies regarding the collection, use and disclosure of Personal Information we receive from users of the Site. We use your Personal Information only for providing and improving the Site. By using the Site, you agree to the collection and use of information in accordance with this policy.
Information Collection and Use
While using our Site, we may ask you to provide us with certain personally identifiable information that can be used to contact or identify you (“Personal Information.”). Personal identifiable information may include, but is not limited to your name, address, and email address. When you provide us with personal information to complete a transaction, verify your credit card, place an order, arrange for a delivery or return a purchase, we imply that you consent to our collecting it and using it for that specific reason only. If we ask for your personal information for a secondary reason, like marketing, we will either ask you directly for your expressed consent, or provide you with an opportunity to say no.
Communications
With your permission, we may use your Personal Information to contact you with newsletters, marketing or promotional materials and other relevant information about our store, products, or partners that we feel may be of interest to you. You may withdraw your consent for us to contact you, for the continued collection, use or disclosure of your information, at any time, by contacting us at [email protected].
Security
The security of your Personal Information is important to us but remember that no method of transmission over the Internet, or method of electronic storage, is 100% secure. To protect your personal information, we take reasonable precautions and follow industry best practices to make sure it is not inappropriately lost, misused, accessed, disclosed, altered or destroyed.
Third Parties
In general, the third-party providers used by us will only collect, use and disclose your
Information to the extent necessary to allow them to perform the services they provide to us. However, certain third-party service providers, such as payment gateways and other payment transaction processors, have their own privacy policies in respect to the information we are required to provide to them for your purchase-related transactions.
For these providers, we recommend that you read their privacy policies, so you can understand the manner in which your personal information will be handled by these providers. In particular, remember that certain providers may be located in or have facilities that are located a different jurisdiction than either you or us. So, if you elect to proceed with a transaction that involves the services of a third-party service provider, then your information may become subject to the laws of the jurisdiction(s) in which that service provider or its facilities are located. Once you leave our store’s website or are redirected to a third-party website or application, you are no longer governed by this Privacy Policy or our website’s Terms of Service.