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GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS
PAYMENTS SHOULD BE MADE PAYABLE TO:
THE CATHOLIC TOUR COMPANY
21625 Chagrin Blvd., Suite #210
Beachwood, OH 44122FOR INFORMATION OR TO MAKE RESERVATIONS CALL:
(216) 751-8301PAYMENT INFORMATION:
(Deposits, Second payments, and Final payments)*A deposit of $439 is required to secure a reservation. This payment includes the cost (NON-REFUNDABLE) of optional TRIP MATE trip cancellation protection and travel insurance ($139). This coverage is highly recommended by The Catholic Tour Company. If you wish to decline this insurance, you must do so in writing and deduct $139 or the applicable amount from your deposit payment. FULL payment is due no later than 65 days prior to departure. Late payments can be assessed a $100 late fee. Reservations may be cancelled and we reserve the right to levy full cancellation charges as set forth in these conditions if full payment is not received 65 days prior to the departure date of the tour. In the event of billing error, we reserve the right to reinvoice with correct pricing. Final documents and tickets will be issued after final payment has been processed, and normally will be sent 1 – 2 weeks prior to departure.
General:
*Deposit, including appropriate travel insurance premium, is necessary to secure a reservation.
*For late bookings (within 60 days of departure), full payment is due immediately by bank check or money order. No reservations will be accepted 45 days or less before departure.
*Late bookings (within 60 days of departure) are subject to a $100.00 late booking fee plus any increase in quoted airfare.
*All payments, except late bookings, can be made by personal check, bank check or money order. Visa and MasterCard will be accepted for all payments except late bookings. Credit cards will not be accepted for reservations made by travel agents.
* No personal checks or credit cards will be accepted with payments 45 days or less before departure date. Only money orders or cashier’s checks will be accepted.
CANCELLATION INFORMATION:
All Cancellations must be in writing to us and must be signed by the person who made the original reservation. Cancellations are only effective from the day they are actually received by The Catholic Tour Company. US Postmark prevails. No refunds are issued for cancellations received after the departure date of the tour. Penalties will apply. If you cancel your tour, cancellation fees and penalties will be deducted from your refund. Cancellation fees do apply to deposit checks. Cancellation fees apply to each person.
61 or more days $250
31-60 days 50% of tour cost
15-30 days 75% of tour cost
Less than 15 days 100% of tour cost No refund,
There may be additional airline, cruise line and land operator penalties applicable.
Special events and Custom Groups: Based on contract.
There will be a $100 administrative rebooking fee and a $100 late booking fee and a $100 late booking fee(for booking within 60 days of departure).
ROOMS: Prices are based on double occupancy. Single rooms are available at a supplementary cost as stated on individual itineraries. A limited number of single rooms are available. On those very rare occasions when we are not able to get a roommate for you, you will be required to pay the single supplement. We will attempt to give sufficient prior notice to any room changes regarding double occupancy versus single supplement. Triple rooms may not be available in all countries.
TAXES: Add Airport Departure Tax and airline fuel surcharges to the price of all tours. Please see individual itineraries for prices. Both of these may increase subsequent to the printing of the brochure or flyer up until the time the group seats are purchased, typically 45-30 days prior to departure.
TIPPING: The price of the tour does not include tips and gratuities. Tipping is recommended to the Tour Escort and Motor Coach Driver approximately €4 / $5 and €2 / $3 per person, respectively, per day to each; local step-on guides 1-2 Euros per day. Hotel tips are not included in tours to France or the Middle East (Israel, Jordan, Egypt).
SIGHTSEEING & ITINERARIES: Sightseeing is included as per the itinerary and is under the direction of licensed local guides where required. During holidays some sights such as museums may be closed or unavailable for visits. The Catholic Tour Company reserves the right to vary the sequence of sightseeing and / or to re-route the order of cities should circumstances demand it. In either case, the itinerary content will be maintained, however, the order may change. Considerable amount of walking may be necessary while sightseeing. Please understand that not all museums and attractions are open every day of the year. The Papal Audience takes place on Wednesdays, and the Papal Blessing is on Sundays. Both are only available in accordance with His Holiness’ schedule, and may not take place when He is out of the country. There are no refunds for any unused portion of these excursions. Optional side trips and optional extensions need a minimum number of pilgrims to operate.
MEDICAL CONDITION: We endeavor to provide the highest level of service to all our passengers. Handicapped participants who require special assistance must be accompanied by a qualified helper who assumes total responsibility for the handicapped participants’ well being. The Catholic Tour Company is not responsible for any medical conditions that occur prior, during or after the tour.
BAGGAGE: The passenger is allowed to bring one (1) checked bag, which may have a maximum weight of 50 lbs., and maximum combined dimensions of 62 inches. Also, one (1) “carry-on” with maximum dimensions of 8"x12"x20" is permitted. Luggage is the passenger’s responsibility and that of the airlines. For lost luggage, the passenger is responsible for notifying the airline directly. Check with your carrier regarding carry-on luggage rules and regulations.
AIRLINE TICKETS AND ITINERARY LENGTH: Air transportation to/from your destination will be economy class aboard carriers utilizing non-refundable, non-amenable tickets for groups flying together for the entire itinerary. Preliminary international flight schedules are available 60 days prior to departure and may change before they are finalized. Therefore, if you book the domestic flight on your own, you will be responsible for changing your domestic flights and incurring any change fees that would be generated by this adjustment. We are not responsible for changes and delays in airline schedules and do not reimburse passengers for expenses resulting from same. Travelers making their own flight arrangements should not purchase non-refundable, non-changeable tickets. We cannot guarantee the most direct routing to your final destination. If flight schedules change, we reserve the right to lengthen or shorten the itinerary accordingly, and if changes or flight schedules necessitate extra overnights, you will be charged at normal hotel rates. Land Only packages do not include airport-hotel transfers.
SEAT ASSIGNMENT: There is no advance seat selection for tour departures. Early check-in is necessary to secure seats with travel companion. Three hours advance arrival to departing airport is required.
PASSPORTS AND VISAS:
ALL PASSENGERS MUST HAVE A VALID PASSPORT with an expiration date more than six months after the date of your return to the U.S. (Including travel to Mexico and Canada.) Passports should be in your possession before a reservation is made. Some countries require Visas. The Catholic Tour Company assumes no responsibility or liability for Visa procurement. Foreign Nationals must have a valid Passport and their green Alien Registration Card. Foreign nationals must also check with their Embassies and of the destination countries as to all visa requirements to foreign countries, and U.S.A. requirements for returning, and with The Internal Revenue Service for any tax liabilities.
TRIP MATE TRIP CANCELLATION PROTECTION AND TRAVEL INSURANCE
Valuable Insurance Protection
The easy, affordable way to protect your vacation investment is with The Catholic Tour Company Travel Protection Plan. It gives you peace of mind while traveling! This Travel Protection Plan offered and administered by Trip Mate (In CA, dba Trip Mate Insurance Agency) is available with all The Catholic Tour Company travel arrangements. This high-quality Travel Protection Plan covers your vacation investment, your belongings, and most importantly, you.
This Travel Protection Plan covers you even if you must cancel or interrupt your Trip due to a pre-existing medical condition - if you purchase the insurance within 7 days of your initial deposit/payment for your Trip and you are not disabled from travel at the time your premium is received.
A “Travel Insurance Certificate” which provides complete details of the plan, including conditions, exclusions and limitations will be included with your travel documents and is also available to you, upon request, at any time prior to your purchase of the plan.
Emergencies happen. Plans change. For peace of mind, The Catholic Tour Company highly recommends the program administered by Trip Mate. For further information go to www.tripmate.com/wp363c. Plan becomes effective upon receipt of the premium by The Catholic Tour Company. The cost of this travel insurance is $139 for a tour cost of $3000 or under, and $169 for a tour cost of $3001 and up, and is nonrefundable. If you do not wish to purchase this insurance, you MUST decline in writing.
CONSUMER DISCLOSURE NOTICE
Please read the Terms & Conditions carefully, as your deposit and payment for a trip constitutes consent to all conditions and general information contained in this brochure. Responsibility: These trips are arranged by The Catholic Tour Company (“Operator”). It has made the travel arrangements as agent for the transportation carriers and other suppliers of services connected with the tour (“suppliers”), all of which are independent contractors. Operator in no way owns or operates the vehicles or facilities to be used during the trip, and does not guarantee or assume responsibility for the acts and / or omissions of suppliers, their employees, agents, etc. All bookings are accepted subject to the conditions imposed by suppliers and Operator, including airline, cruise line, rail, coach, hotel, restaurants, insurance and other companies, firms or persons concerned with the trip, and Operator will make no refund in the event of their delay, cancellation, over booking, strike, force majeure or for elements of the package not used by customer.
If there is a difference between Operator’s Conditions and those published by the supplier, the conditions of the suppliers shall apply. Price quoted is per person, double occupancy and, unless specifically stated otherwise on the itinerary, does not include departure tax, fuel surcharges, port dues or travel insurance. Operator reserves the right to cancel a trip, change the itinerary or adjust rates/prices whenever in its sole judgment conditions warrant, or if Operator deems it necessary for your comfort, convenience or safety. Trips outside the USA require a valid passport or other acceptable forms of citizenship proof. You are responsible for, and release Operator from passport, visa, vaccination requirements, if applicable, and safety conditions in travel destinations. Operator strongly recommends you purchase appropriate cancellation / medical / baggage insurance for the trip, which is available from Operator. For medical information, call the U.S. Public Health Service at 301-443-2403 and for U.S. State Department travel advisories, 202-647-5225. Operator reserves the right to decline to accept any person as a member of the tour, or to require any participant to withdraw from the trip at any time who presents a significant risk to the health or safety of himself or others which can not be eliminated or reduced to an acceptable level by Operator’s reasonable accommodation. Operator reserves the right to correct an error in the brochure presentation or advertised price prior to your departure. All rates are based on tariffs and exchange rates in effect at the time of the initial quotation, and are subject to change.
A contract is made when your reservation and payments are accepted by Operator at its office, and any dispute shall be governed by Ohio law and subject to the jurisdiction of Cuyahoga County, Ohio. In calculating the cost of your trip, Operator has relied on your consent to these terms and in the absence of this release, the trip cost would have been higher. Operator reserves the right to substitute hotels of similar quality at any time or to make changes in itinerary of similar quality. Operator will not be responsible to any person for expense, loss of time, money or other circumstance resulting from a change in itinerary or change of tour arrangements. Operator also reserves the right to cancel a tour prior to departure, and in such cases all payments made to date will be refunded and shall constitute full settlement. If you purchase an airline ticket separately, ensure that your travel agent explains the conditions under which the ticket is issued, as Operator assumes no responsibility for such airline ticket cancellation fees
The Catholic Tour Company 21625 Chagrin Blvd. # 210 Beachwood, Ohio 44122
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