Important Reservation Information
Click on any of the links below for IMPORTANT RESERVATION INFORMATION, relevant disclaimers and our Reservations and cancellation policies.
PAYMENTS:
Within 5 days of booking a tour, a non-refundable deposit of $250 must be sent.
The balance is due 60 days before departure on all tours, except cruises. The balance is due 90 days before departure for cruises.
Payment may be made by charging to clients' Mastercard, Visa, American Express or Discover/Novus (card imprint and signature required) or by sending a check or money order. All rates are guaranteed upon deposit.
PLEASE SEND PAYMENTS TO:
Collette Vacations
162 Middle Street
Pawtucket, RI 02860
Attn: Accounts Receivable
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REVISION FEES:
A handling fee of $25.00 per transaction will be assessed for any change or revision made to a reservation. A change of departure date within 90 days of departure will be treated as a cancellation and cancellation charges will apply.
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TRANSFER AND CANCELLATION CHARGES:
Cancellations of confirmed bookings and transfers to new travel dates both result in penalties and fees assessed by travel suppliers. If you have not purchased waivers, and you need to transfer or cancel for any reason prior to tour departure, the following cancellation fees will be assessed (*see cancellation and unused services waiver fees):
- More than 60 days prior to departure: a non-refundable deposit will be retained
- 60 - 16 days prior to departure: 20% of total price
- 15 - 1 day prior to departure: 40% of total price
- Day of departure and after: 100% of total price
Exceptions:
Ocean Cruise Tours (including Alaska, Hawaii, Greece, Caribbean, New England, and California)
- 90 - 61 days prior to departure: 25% of total price
- 60 - 31 days prior to departure: 50% of total price
- 30 - 0 days prior to departure: 100% of total price
River Cruises (including Rhine River, Douro River, Russia, Egypt and China)
- 90 - 61 days prior to departure: 40% of total price
- 60 - 31 days prior to departure: 75% of total price
- 30 - 0 days prior to departure: 100% of total price
Galapagos and Antarctica
- More than 120 days prior to departure: a non-refundable deposit will be retained
- 120 - 90 days prior to departure: 50% of total price
- 89 - 0 days prior to departure: 100% of total price
Upon cancellation of transportation or travel services where you, the customer, are not at fault and have not cancelled in violation of the terms and conditions above, you will be refunded 100%.
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CANCELLATION WAIVER & INSURANCE PLAN
Payment of a Per Person Waiver Fee guarantees a full refund of all payments (including deposit), except the Waiver Fee itself, made to Collette Vacations for travel arrangements in case of cancellation of your travel plans for any reason prior to the day of departure. The Waiver Fee With Air only covers airline tickets you have purchased from Collette Vacations and does not cover return transportation costs unless your original airline tickets were purchased from Collette Vacations.
Once on tour or cruise, if a passenger has to return home early due to personal illness, illness or death of a member of the immediate family, (physician’s statement required), payment of the Waiver Fee to Collette Vacations guarantees a full refund for any unused land/cruise services after departure from the tour/cruise. If you purchased your airline tickets from Collette Vacations, the Waiver Fee With Air guarantees your return transportation, with no additional supplement, utilizing your original airline tickets.
Exception: If you originally purchased non-refundable airline tickets, the Waiver does not provide a refund for the airline tickets in the event of a cancellation or a return transportation benefit if you must return home early. The air waiver does not cover medical evacuation or additional expenses associated with a medical emergency.
If you choose to cancel your cruise with Collette Vacations and you do travel on the cruise originally booked, no refund will be made by Collette Vacations for your cancellation.
The Waiver Fee does not cover any single supplement charges which arise from an individual’s traveling companion electing to cancel for any reason prior to departure. In this case, the single supplement will be deducted from the refund of the person who cancels. Division of this charge between the two passengers involved is solely their responsibility. If insufficient funds are deducted from the canceling client, the traveling client will be charged the remaining portion of the single supplement.
Payment of the Waiver Fee (if chosen) must be received by Collette Vacations with your Deposit. The Waiver is non-transferable and valid for each applicant only.
Collette Vacations can assume no responsibility for and cannot be held liable for any wrongful, negligent or unauthorized acts or omissions of any travel agent or travel agency other than that of Collette Travel Service, Inc. itself, and its own employees.
SCHEDULE OF COVERAGES |
MAXIMUM BENEFIT AMOUNT |
PART A – Benefits Provided By Collette Vacations |
Pre-Departure Cancellation Fee & Unused Services Waiver |
Up to Trip Cost |
|
PART B – Benefits Provided by the Insurance Company Listed Below |
Accidental Death & Dismemberment |
$25,000 |
Accident & Sickness Medical Expense |
$25,000 |
Emergency Evacuation & Repatriation |
$50,000 |
Travel Delay (Maximum of $100 per Day) |
$1,500 |
Baggage and Personal Effects |
$2,000 |
Baggage Delay |
$200 |
|
PART B CONDITIONS & LIMITATIONS
Certain exclusions and limitations apply and are detailed in the Certificate of Coverage. For example, coverage does not apply to: any sickness or condition of you, a Traveling Companion or an Immediate Family Member traveling with you that existed during the 60 days prior to the effective date of the coverages (this exclusion is waived if your plan payment is received by Collette Vacations within 7 days of your initial deposit/payment for your trip and you are not disabled from travel at the time your plan payment is received), suicide, normal pregnancy, war or any act of war, mental or nervous disorders. A Traveling Companion is defined as a person booked to share accommodations in the same room with you during your trip. Sickness or injury must require care by a Physician and must commence while the Travel Protection Plan is in effect for you. This plan does not cover a loss that results from an illness, disease, or other condition (of you, an Immediate Family Member, Traveling Companion or Business Partner), event or circumstance which occurs at a time when this plan is not in effect for you.
Part B of this plan is underwritten by: Stonebridge Casualty Insurance Company, Columbus, Ohio 464-03
Where to Present Part A Claims
To request a refund under the Cancellation Fee and Unused Services Waiver, please send any unused airlines tickets (only if purchased from Collette Vacations), a doctor’s note or medical documentation and a written request to:
Collette Vacations
ATTN: Customer Service Department
162 Middle Street
Pawtucket, RI 02860
If cancellation occurs prior to departure, contact the Collette Vacations Reservations Department.
When a client cancels prior to departure any due refunds are processed through the booking agent. Agent commissions are not protected if cancellation occurs prior to departure.
All Inquiries and Claims under Part B should be reported to the Plan Administrator:
Trip Mate*
9225 Ward Parkway, Suite 200
Kansas City, MO 64114
Tel: 800-888-7292
*In CA, dba Trip Mate Insurance Agency
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CANCELLATION WAIVER & INSURANCE PLAN PRICING (Per Person)
Land Only Clients
- $30 for all domestic escorted tours under 6 days
- $90 for all domestic escorted tours of 6 days or more
- $90 for all international tours 9 days or under (except cruises, Australia, New Zealand & South America)
- $170 for international tours 10days or more (except cruises, Australia, New Zealand & South America)
- $195 for all Australia, New Zealand & South America
- $205 for all cruises
When purchasing pre and post night accommodations, including optional extensions, the number of days will be added to the total number of tour days, and may subsequently alter your waiver fees. Please confirm with your reservation agent at time of booking.
Air Inclusive Clients (air is purchased through Collette Vacations)
- $60 for all domestic escorted tours under 6 days
- $120 for all domestic escorted tours of 6 days or more
- $120 for all international tours 9 days or under (except cruises, Australia, New Zealand & South America)
- $200 for all international tours 10 days or more (except cruises, Australia, New Zealand & South America)
- $225 for all Australia, New Zealand & South America
- $235 for all cruises
The Cancellation Waiver fee with air can only be purchased by individuals who have purchased air through Collette Vacations.
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CONSUMER PROTECTION PLANS
Collette Vacations is a member of the following organizations: The National Tour Association, The United States Tour Operators Association, The Alliance of Canadian Travel Associations, the Travel Industry Council of Ontario, and the Association of British Travel Agents. Some of these associations operate a consumer protection plan to cover deposits placed with any tour operator member. In the case of USTOA, the consumer protection bond is $1 million. Full details are available from the organizations or Collette Vacations. Collette is pleased to give this additional protection to our clients.
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PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP
Please note: ALL non-US citizens, MUST contact the appropriate consulate for entry requirements before traveling.
Proof of citizenship is required for all 2005 Collette trips outside the U.S.A. Beginning in 2006, a vaild passport will be required for all trips outside the U.S.A. All passengers should check with the appropriate foreign consulate for entry requirements. Passports and Visas are the responsibility of each client. Government issued identification is required for air travel.
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AIR INCLUSIVE RATES
Sample Air Inclusive rates are per person, double, during certain seasons and for specific gateways. Rates are subject to availability and may vary by airline, flight number or routing. Air is available from most major gateways.
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DEPARTURE/SECURITY TAXES & FEES
When purchasing air transportation from Collette, various international departure and arrival fees are not included in the airfare. We will add to your invoice charges for air departure taxes and security fees. Other taxes/fees are to be paid upon exiting the country in local currencies. Please refer to the appropriate tour itinerary for details. Rates are subject to change and are approximate at the time of printing.
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EXPLANATION OF RESPONSIBILITIES AND TOUR CONDITIONS
FOR COLLETTE VACATIONS
Any person reserving or purchasing any Collette Vacations product published in this brochure accepts the condition that Collette reserves to itself the exclusive right to change or cancel itineraries, hotels, and other tour components whenever it is deemed necessary. If this occurs, every effort will be made to offer alternate dates and/or programs.
Published times on itineraries are as accurate as possible but subject to change due to traffic, weather, mechanical and any other conditions beyond Collette’s control that prevent Collette Vacations from operating as scheduled. Collette Vacations expressly disclaims any liability for any damages that may be incurred for any changes, cancellations or delays on any itinerary on any Collette tour.
All rates on foreign tours are subject to fluctuations of currency and may be changed when necessary without advance notice prior to deposit.
All rates published are per person as indicated and are based on double occupancy when only one rate is shown. Reservations will be accepted subject to availability at the time of a request and will be considered confirmed only upon receipt of a minimum deposit. Child rates are available upon request. Please call for details.
Collette Vacations does not accept liability in the case of any passenger being denied boarding by any airline carrier due to the carrier’s over-booking of a flight.
All cancellation charges, fees and refunds for any tour within this brochure are in effect as of June 6, 2005 and supersede any other previously printed policies relating to these same charges.
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TRAVELERS NEEDING SPECIAL ASSISTANCE
Collette will make reasonable efforts to accommodate the special needs of tour participants. Such participants, however, should be aware that the Americans with Disabilities Act is inapplicable outside of the United States and facilities outside the United States for disabled individuals are sharply limited.
It is strongly recommended that persons requiring assistance be accompanied by a companion who is capable of and totally responsible for providing the assistance. Neither Collette nor its personnel, nor its suppliers, may physically lift or assist clients into transportation vehicles. If a traveler thinks he or she might need assistance during a trip, he or she should call Collette to determine what assistance might reasonably be given. Collette cannot provide special individual assistance to tour members with special needs for walking, dining or other routine activities.
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BAGGAGE DISCLAIMER
Although every effort is made to handle passengers’ luggage as carefully as possible, Collette Vacations is not responsible for and does not assume liability or accept claims for loss of or damage to luggage due to breakage, theft or wear and tear through hotel and group carrier handling.
It is recommended for your own self interest and protection that you have adequate insurance to cover these eventualities. Check with your sales agent for low cost insurance to cover these risks.
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MAPS AND PHOTOS
Maps shown on tour pages are current at the time of printing and may not reflect actual tour routing should the tour change.
Photos shown on tour pages are reflective of the area(s) visited, but may not be included in the actual tour itinerary.
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GENERAL DISCLAIMER
Neither Collette Travel Services, Inc., its affiliated entities and its and their employees, shareholders, officers, directors, successors, agents, and assigns (collectively “Collette”), own or operate any person or entity which is to or does provide goods or services for these trips. Because neither maintains any control over the personnel, equipment, or operations of these suppliers, Collette assumes no responsibility for and cannot be held liable for any personal injury, death, property damage or other loss, accident, delay, inconvenience, or irregularity which may be occasioned by reason of (1) any wrongful, negligent, willful or unauthorized acts or omissions on the part of any of the suppliers or other employees or agents, (2) any defect in or failure of any vehicle, equipment, or instrument owned, operated or otherwise used by any of these suppliers, or (3) any wrongful, willful or negligent act or omission on the part of any other party not under the supervision and control of Collette.
Additionally, responsibility is not accepted for losses or expenses due to sickness, lack of appropriate medical facilities or practitioners, weather, strikes, theft or other criminal acts, war, terrorism, computer problems, or other such causes. All services and accommodations are subject to the laws of the country in which they are provided. Collette reserves the right to make changes in the published itinerary whenever, in their sole judgment, conditions warrant, or if they deem it necessary for the comfort, convenience, or safety of the tour. They reserve the right to withdraw any tour announced. Both parties reserve the right to decline to accept any person as a member of the tour, or to require any participant to withdraw from the tour at any time, when such action is determined by the tour manager to be in the best interests of the health, safety, and general welfare of the tour group or of the individual participant. Neither does Collette accept liability for any carrier’s cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable airline or other ticket to the tour departure city and return or otherwise. Baggage and personal effects are the sole responsibility of the owner at all times.
Participants may be photographed for the promotional purposes of Collette. Payment of the deposit to Collette constitutes acceptance of these terms and conditions.
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ARBITRATION
I agree that any dispute concerning, relating, or referring to this contract, the brochure or any other literature concerning my trip, or the trip itself, shall be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration according to the then existing rules of the American Arbitration Association in Rhode Island. Such proceedings will be governed by substantive Rhode Island law.
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