Sign-ups or payments within 21 days of departure must be by
cashier's check or bank-guaranteed check. We do not accept payment by credit card for trip
deposit or for reservations made within 21 days of departure.
Terms, Conditions & Liability Limitations
Cancellation: Half of your deposit is refundable
up to 60 DAYS PRIOR TO DEPARTURE (PTD). Cancellation less than 60 days PTD is subject to
considerable surcharge or forfeiture, in proportion to expenses incurred. Cancellation
must be received in writing in our office on the days required. All refunds are subject to
a minimum $50.00 handling and/or communications charge. We strongly recommend that you
take cancellation insurance (forms for cancellation, health, luggage insurance are
available through our office).
Liability & Responsibility: Forum Travel International,
Inc. ("FTI"), its agents, assignees, or suppliers, act solely as agents for
participants for all trips. FTI arranges accommodations, transportation, meals, and other
services upon the express condition that FTI, its agents, and assignees shall not be held
liable for any injury, loss, damage, delay, or any other expenses arising from strikes,
war, weather, quarantine, sickness, government regulation, pilferage, or from any other
act or omission by any of its employees or agents and/or suppliers of services. In
addition, FTI, its agents, and assignees cannot be held responsible for any disruption of
travel and/or related services in "trouble areas" due to monetary crisis,
political or social unrest, labor problems, mechanical or construction difficulties,
climatic aberrations, local laws, disease, or novel conditions, including terrorist
activities.
FTI acts as agent for any passenger in regard to travel by whatever means and
assumes no liability for injury, damage, loss by accident, delay, or irregularity which
may be occasioned by reason of defect in any vehicle, or for any reason whatsoever. They
can accept no responsibility for additional expense due to delay or changes in air
schedules or other services. All such losses or expenses for which FTI, its agents,
assignees, and/or suppliers of service cannot make provision will be borne by the
participants. The airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission,
or event during the time the passengers are not on board their planes or conveyances. The
passenger contract in use by the airlines concerned when issued will constitute the sole
contract between the airlines and the passengers on these tours and trips.
The right is reserved the alter the itinerary or reverse the places to be
visited due to unforeseen conditions and to substitute accommodations of similar quality.
Our group and/or individual travel arrangements are offered as packages, and we do not
break down costs into individual components. No refund can be made for any feature of the
program(s) not used by the passenger. Changes or revision of travel arrangements (land
and/or air) requested by the passenger after itinerary confirmation are subject to a
minimum $50 per person revision fee, as such changes involve a high cost to FTI. If
sign-ups are insufficient, we reserve the right to increase the price with the consent of
those reserving space: in this sense, our departures are guaranteed. If, in spite of all
our efforts or due to force majeure, we are obliged to cancel a departure, full refund of
monies paid by the passenger will be the maximum settlement. FTI is not responsible for
additional expenses incurred by participants in preparing for a trip, i.e. non-refundable
advance purchase air tickets, visa fees where applicable, equipment, medical expenses, or
other costs. We also reserve the right to refuse participation to anyone and/or expel from
any program, at any time and for any reason whatsoever, any participant whose conduct is
incompatible with the interests of the tour, without compensation or refunds. Any addition
accommodation, transportation, and/or other expenses will be borne by the participant.
Land and/or air costs for a tour are subject to increase without prior notice,
even after you have signed up for a trip. We publish our prices in advance of a trip
departure, but between that time and the time of the trip's actual departure, there may be
significant cost increases that we cannot absorb, i.e. international currency fluctuations
or increases in costs of overseas services or airfares. We regret this situation and do
everything we can to refrain from raising prices, but sometimes this cannot be avoided.
Proof of identity is required for international travel. Without a passport and
necessary visas, you will not be permitted to depart. Participants are responsible for
their own passport, visa, and inoculation arrangements. If you have any questions, please
contact your nearest passport office, visa service, or local health department.
Air Travel: Passengers are responsible for verifying their own
departure times. Please remember to telephone the air carrier's local office. Reconfirm
your continuing or returning reservations on arrival at each destination. Reconfirmation
of all foreign flights must be made 72 hours in advance of departure and, in some cases,
reconfirmed again 24 hours in advance. Domestic flights must be reconfirmed at least 24
hours in advance of departure. Failure to use any reservation may result in automatic
cancellation of all continuing and return reservations. Please allow ample time for
check-in at the airport before your flight. When advising family or friends of your
arrival, be sure to give them your flight number and carrier's name.
Excursion & Promotional Fares: most discount fares involve
certain restrictions. Any change in carrier(s), flight(s), time(s), or routing(s) could
result in a carrier demanding full fare. Obtain agency or airline assistance before making
changes. If your plans change en route, try to apply the value of your tickets to a
reissued one, and remember to obtain a receipt from the airline. Cancelled or unused
tickets must be returned to the airline for proper credit to your account. Stolen, lost,
or destroyed tickets must be paid for until refund is received from the issuing carrier,
subject to an airline-imposed service charge. Some tickets are non-refundable or non-
changeable. FTI does not accept the liability for any airline cancellation penalty
incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable airline ticket. We strongly recommend that
you purchase cancellation insurance to cover any non-recoverable costs. All flight times
and fares are based on current tariffs that are subject to change without notice.
Important -- If you arrive at an airline ticket or passenger check-in counter and find
that the airline shows no reservation for you, do not leave the counter. Check your
ticket. If the status box shows "OK" for the flight in question, the airline
must accommodate you on that flight, or, if that is not possible, they must either find
you a substitute flight or pay you denied boarding compensation. If necessary, ask to
speak to a supervisor.
Possibility of airline bankruptcies: We hope that there will
not be any more of these, but you need to be aware that they can occur. You need to know
how they can affect you. 1. If an airline declares bankruptcy, it is not obligated to
carry you or to refund tickets issued before the bankruptcy. 2. FTI is not allowed to
refund tickets on airlines which have declared bankruptcy. Money given to FTI immediately
becomes the property of the airlines, and we are required by law to comply with the
airlines' orders. 3. If an airline declares bankruptcy, it might continue service, limit
service, or stop service completely. Other airlines might accept passengers under limited
circumstances or may refuse to accept any passengers from the defaulted carrier.
FTI reserves the right to increase the land cost of some of its trips if the air
transportation is not arranged through us. We are fully appointed IATAN agents and can
make air arrangements all over the world, on any airline of the passenger's choice,
including charter, with any pre- or post-trip extensions, as appropriate or possible.
Please advise us as early as possible if you have any special air transportation needs: we
may be able to find advantageous flights for you. All refunds are subject to
administrative and handling charges, in addition to whatever airline, hotel, and operator
charges we may have to pay for. We recommend that you make a copy of this registration
form for your records.
