ITALIAN AND FRENCH EXCURSIONS TERMS & CONDITIONS
ITALIAN AND FRENCH EXCURSIONS cc (Herein after referred to as ITALEX)
The client/passenger hereby indemnifies and holds ITALEX harmless for any and all damage, loss or injury, which may be sustained by the passenger in the course of the tour.
The client/passenger acknowledges that ITALEX is not a carrier or keeper of inns, hotels, refreshments, boarding or lodging houses. ITALEX will arrange tickets, bookings and reservations, only as agent for its clients, who accept the same subject to these Terms and Conditions and those of each of the concerns with whom ITALEX may make arrangements for its clients.
HOTELS
Once hotel reservations have been confirmed, ITALEX reserves the right to substitute hotels listed with others of a similar or higher category at no additional cost to the client/passenger, at any time prior to or after the passenger’s departure from South Africa.
TOUR LEADER
The tours specified in this brochure do not include the services of a tour leader from South Africa.
SPECIAL REQUESTS
Should the client/passenger have any special requests in respect of the tour, such requests must be reduced to writing on the standard ITALEX booking form. ITALEX will endeavour to comply with the special requests. However, it cannot guarantee that they will be met.
NOT INCLUDED IN PRICES
Prices quoted do not include airport or departure taxes, city taxes (charged per person per night by hotels), costs of obtaining visas and passports, telephone calls, laundry, entertainment arrangements not shown in itinerary, meals and beverages unless specified, or any other items of a personal nature.
RESERVATIONS
ITALEX will negotiate for tickets, bookings and reservations only on receipt of a written request to do so. This request constitutes a guarantee by the client/ passenger that a non-refundable deposit of 30% will be paid within 5 days of the booking being confirmed. A booking will be deemed to have been confirmed by ITALEX once the client/passenger receives a written confirmation from ITALEX. However, in the case of ferry, rail, theatre or any tickets related to entertainment, issuance of tickets is concurrent with a request for a booking and the client is liable for full payment. Cancellations or amendments are not possible as refunds are not granted by the issuers. ITALEX will provide an invoice upon confirmation of availability. Within 24 hours of confirmation of availability, the attached booking form should be sent back to Italian Excursions for confirmation purposes. In event that this is not received, Italian Excursions cannot guarantee the reservation after the option date has lapsed. The balance owing on the invoice must be paid no later than 8 (eight) weeks prior to the date of departure. ITALEX reserves the right to cancel any reservation for which the total price has not been paid by the due date in which event the deposit will be forfeited to ITALEX. ITALEX guarantees the price of land arrangements once full payment is timeously received, except where subsequent increases are beyond the control of ITALEX.
BANK CHARGES
Bank charges of R 350. per booking are levied per Forex transaction.
LATE BOOKING
In the event of any reservation being completed less than 8 (eight) weeks prior to departure, the total price is due immediately upon confirmation, is non-refundable.
CANCELLATION & CURTAILMENT
Any cancellation made by the client/passenger for any reason whatsoever must be in writing and the client/passenger shall be liable for all costs, bank charges, damages and expenses incurred by ITALEX in respect of making the of bookings and reservations and cancelling same and for all payments which ITALEX may lawfully require by reason of the cancellation. ITALEX shall be under no obligation to repay to the client/passenger any monies held by ITALEX until such time as ITALEX has computed all the costs, bank charges, damages, expenses and deductions, which it is entitled to make in terms of this hereof. The client/passenger irrevocably and specifically agrees that ITALEX shall be entitled to deduct any commissions and/or profit which ITALEX would have earned had the client/passenger not cancelled the booking and/or reservation. This includes cancellations or postponements made due to any unforeseen event or circumstances of whatsoever nature and shall include, but not limited to, force majeure and pandemics such as Covid 19.
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From the time of booking and /or reservation up to 8 weeks prior to departure, the deposit is forfeited. Subject to the above, the following amounts, or such greater charge as levied by ITALEX’S Suppliers, will be charged:
6 weeks prior: 40 % of total tour price
4 weeks prior: 50 % of total tour price
3 weeks prior: 80 % of total tour price
2 weeks prior: 100% of total tour price
In the event that the Supplier cancellation and/or postponement charges, as may be applicable and levied by the specific Supplier, should differ from the above the client/passenger shall be informed thereof.
AMENDMENTS
Amendments to confirmed reservations will be processed at a fee (including VAT) for each alteration made to the booking after the initial reservation. Administration charges will be levied on all documentation / vouchers submitted for reissue or refund.
REFUNDS & UNUSED SERVICES
No refunds will be made for no-shows or any unused services irrespective of whether they form part of the basic inclusive tour price, or whether they are in respect of pre-booked optional arrangements.
DELAYS
ITALEX does not hold itself responsible nor can it be held responsible for any delays prior to departure or, during the course of any tour mentioned in the itinerary whether brought about by technical difficulties, strikes, weather conditions or any other circumstances whatsoever, whether foreseen or unforeseen. It is understood that any expenses relating to these unscheduled extensions (e.g. hotels, meals, airfares, telephone calls, etc.) will be for the client/ passenger’s account.
TRAVEL DOCUMENTS
Documentation is only prepared on receipt of full and final payment and completed booking form, signed conditions of this contract and ticket copies (if requested). All clients/passengers will be personally responsible for ensuring that they are in the possession of the correct documentation prior to their departure. ITALEX does not accept responsibility for any consequences whatsoever from a client/passenger failing to ensure that he or she has complied with the necessary health, passport and visa requirements.
ITINERARY ALTERATIONS
ITALEX reserves the right to cancel the tour prior to departure, in which event the entire tour price paid by the client/passenger, will be refunded without prejudice and any further obligation on the part of ITALEX. While every effort is made to keep to all itineraries, ITALEX reserves the right to make any changes for your convenience. The duration of the tour may have to be extended or curtailed owing to unforeseen changes in transport schedules. Any resultant expenses will be borne by the client/passenger, and any savings refunded. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, ITALEX reserves the right to modify any arrangements required by or made on behalf of the client/passenger and to cancel same without notice.
PASSPORT, VISAS, VACCINATIONS, INOCULATIONS AND RE-ENTRY PERMITS
The responsibility to obtain correct, current and valid passports, visas, vaccinations, inoculations and re-entry permits where required is that of the client/passenger alone. ITALEX will not be held responsible or liable for any consequence of any nature arising from the client/passenger failing to ensure that he/she has complied with all such requirements. Note: Visas are not issued on temporary passports.
INSURANCE
We strongly advise clients/passengers to take out insurance against cancellation, curtailment, illness, loss of baggage and default at the time of booking. Please ask your ASATA travel agent for details.
FOLLOWING DEPARTURE
Amendments and all cancellations en route must be made with our overseas operators directly. Please note that en route cancellations and amendments may incur additional fees as determined by our overseas operators.
LIABILITIES
ITALEX makes every effort to ensure that all arrangements and services connected with your tour will be carried out as specified in the most efficient and effective way possible. However we do not have direct control over the provisions of services by suppliers and, whilst they are in all cases selected with the utmost care, we do not accept liability for error and omissions of such suppliers. ITALEX is not liable for the cancellation of journeys, deviations, delays or failure to provide seats, berths, or facilities for carrying or storing luggage, or for failure to provide accommodation, howsoever the same may arise. ITALEX (both for itself and on behalf of its servants and agents) does not accept any liability of whatsoever nature, howsoever arising, for any act, omission, default or neglect of suppliers or their servants or agents for any injury,
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damage or loss to persons or goods whatsoever and howsoever the same may be caused and ITALEX does not warrant, and is in no way responsible for the accuracy of any information given or statement made by ITALEX servants and agents or given or made by the suppliers or their servants and agents.
RESPONSIBILITY
ITALEX acts as an agent only in producing and operating the tours and arrangements featured in the brochure, and on condition that it shall not be liable for any loss, damage, injury, accident, delay or any other irregularity that may be occasioned by any defect in any vehicle, or other form of conveyance, or by error or default or any company or person engaged in conveying passengers, carrying out the arrangements of the tour, or otherwise in connection therewith.
AIRLINE RESPONSIBILITY
The airline concerned is not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time the passengers are aboard their aircraft. The passenger ticket in use by the airline, when used shall constitute the sale contract between the airline and purchaser of these tickets and/or passenger. The passengers specifically acknowledge that the Warsaw Convention including but not limited to Article 19 thereof, provides that an air carrier is liable for damage caused by delay in the carriage by air of passengers, baggage or cargo. The client/passenger acknowledges and agrees unconditionally that ITALEX will not be liable for any loss, damage or injury arising from air travel whether or not the carrier took all reasonable measures to avoid damage, loss or injury.
BAGGAGE
When flying from South Africa to Europe, economy class passengers are restricted to 20kg of luggage with specific maximum dimensions. Please ask your travel agent for details.
GENERAL INFORMATION
ITALEX cannot be held responsible for any charges that appear on a passenger’s credit card, nor accept responsibility for having any of these charges reversed or corrected upon the passenger’s return to South Africa. If passengers intend to drive in a rented car, they should obtain an international driving permit from their local AA office in South Africa. Please ensure that you are in possession of your local driving licence, as you will be asked to produce it at the car rental check in counter.
TRAVEL DECLARATIONS
ITALEX requires that all foreign payments made on behalf of the passenger must be deducted from the passenger’s foreign exchange allowance. A currency declaration to this effect must be lodged before final documentation can be released.
GENERAL
ITALEX shall not be bound by any representation, warranty, promise or the like not recorded herein.
No addition to, variation, or agreed cancellation of these Terms and Conditions shall be of any force or effect unless reduced to writing and signed by or on behalf of ITALEX.
No indulgence, which ITALEX may grant to the client/passenger, shall constitute a waiver of any of the rights of ITALEX, who shall not thereby be precluded from exercising any rights against the passenger which may have arisen in the past or which might arise in the future.
In the event of ITALEX having to institute legal action against the client/passenger for any amount outstanding by the client/passenger to ITALEX, the client/passenger shall be liable for ITALEX’S legal fees on the scale as between attorney and client, including collection commission and tracing fees.