PRICE INCLUDES
Hotel accommodations, airport transfers, all land transportation, tour assistant when indicated, meals where indicated, all interstate taxes & permits, parking, toll taxes and driver allowances, all meet and assist services, daily breakfasts and service charges. The prices at times also include (when applicable).
The above is an “overview & general idea” and you should always refer to your TOUR ITINERARY INCLUSIONS which is specifically for your tour plan.
PRICE DOES NOT INCLUDE:
International airport taxes, entrance fees to monuments and parks (if not mentioned otherwise in your tour itinerary), camera charges at monuments and national parks, any items of a personal nature, additional expenses resulting from the delay or extension of a trip due to weather, flight cancellations, political disputes, sickness or other causes beyond our reasonable control. Lunches and dinners are usually not included in the tours. (At some places like the National parks or remote areas the same is included)
SPECIAL REQUESTS
Specific requests such as adjacent or connecting rooms, bedding request, smoking or non smoking rooms and special dietary needs should be advised at time of booking. Please note that every effort will be made to secure your special request; however, they cannot be guaranteed.
IMMEDIATE OCCUPANCY
On program where immediate check-in has not been included in the program price, Company does request that hotels do their utmost to facilitate this service; however it is not guaranteed. Most hotels allow check-in to take place during the mid-afternoon. Should you wish to have your room ready for immediate check-in on arrival, Company can arrange this for an additional charges. Please ask for details and prices.
AIR TRANSPORTATION
International airfares are usually not included in the tour price. Please ask your tour consultant for airfares quotes if you so require. Local airfare when shown separately is separate and not part of the tour cost. All international and local airfares are subject to change and can attract penalties and surcharges until final payment has been received by Travel Astu. Travel Astu will not be in position to confirm air reservations until a passport copy is received for each traveller. These programs may use the services of any IATA carrier. International carriers are subject to international air conventions limiting their liability. The limitations of liability are contained on the reverse side of the airlines ticket or e-ticket received, or on the carrier’s website and form part of the terms and condition of this package. The passage contract in use by these companies, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the companies and the purchaser of these travel programs and / or passage.
COSTS
Costs are based on double occupancy or single occupancy as may be the case and in most cases on per person basis. At times for small families we do offer “family prices” and whatever will be the case is always clearly mentioned at the end of the tour plan where pricing is mentioned. If you are traveling alone, a single supplement fee or a single occupancy tour price will be applicable.
PRICES & ARRANGEMENTS
Quoted program prices include planning, handling and operational charges, and are based on current rate of exchange, tariffs and taxes as (June 2010). Tour quotations are usually in USD (US$), GBP (£). One can pay us by their local currency too (if the arrangement is payment on arrival by cash) but at all times the exchange rate charged will be as per the US$ conversion since our contracts and prices are based on that currency. They include planning, handling and operational charges, and are based on the current rate of exchange and tariffs. These are subject to change depending on international currency fluctuation, fuel surcharges, and/or inflation by the time one confirms the tour. However once a tour price is finalized and tour confirmed (even if tour deposit is not made) there is no change in price whatever be the reason. Note that even for NON RESIDENT INDIAN TOURISTS we always quote in foreign currencies as our special rates and tariffs are in foreign currency. Travel Astu is under no obligation to give breakdown costs involved in any program.
For a group, modification of program content to accommodate a smaller group size will not affect published program price.
Deposits/Booking
For all tours there is a minimum deposit of 30% of the total tour value (it is calculated on the basis of hotels used, flights reserved, train tickets blocked, etc. and depends on the type of tour booked and at the discretion of the company) at the time of booking and the balance is payable 30 days prior to the first day of the tour.
PAYMENTS
• All payments are to be SWIFT TRANSFERS or MASTER / VISA / AMERICAN EXPRESS CARD payments (refer payment methods document for the formats for each method) and all payments after arrival in India (if any) could be also by cash and Travellers’ Cheques in addition to the methods mentioned above excepting bank transfer. We DO NOT ACCEPT bank drafts and personal cheques
PASSPORTS AND VISAS
Valid passports are required for travel to the destinations in this brochure. Check with your travel agent or company for the latest visa requirements. Please note that non-U.S passport holders are responsible for obtaining the required documentation applicable for entry. Please note also that passports must be valid for six months after the return of your journey and should also have sufficient blank pages for visas and immigrations stamps. Company cannot be held responsible should you be denied entry to a country due to non-compliance with these requirements. A copy of your valid passport must be submitted to Company in order to confirm air reservations.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
Travel Astu, its employees, shareholder, officers, owners, directors, successors, agents and assigns, doesn’t own or operate any entity which is to or does provide goods or services for your trip. It purchases transportation (by aircraft, coach, train, vessel or otherwise), hotel and other lodging accommodations, restaurant, ground handling and other services from various independent suppliers (including from time to time other Travel Astu affiliated companies). All such persons and entities are independent contractors. As a result Travel Astu is not liable for any negligent or willful act of any such person or entity or of any third person.
Travel Astu and its operators and agents will assume no liability for injury, damage, financial or physical loss, accident, death, delay or damage to personal property in connection with the provision of any goods or services whether resulting from but not limited to act of God or force majeure, illness, disease, inconvenience, irregularity or additional costs resulting directly or indirectly from any of the following causes: weather, quarantines, acts of war, civil disturbances, theft, government regulations, insurrection or revolt, animals, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities of anykind, overbooking or downgrading of services, food poisoning, mechanical or other failure of aircraft or other means of transportation or failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart on time. Travel Astu reserves the right to change any itinerary at any time when it is deemed advisory for thesafety of the guest or the group or to comply with government restrictions.
There are many inherent risks in adventure travel of the type involved here, which can lead to illness, injury or even death. These risks are increased by the fact that these trips take place in remote locations, far from medical facilities. Passengers assume all such risks associated with participating in this trip.
ASSUMPTION OF RISK & RELEASE OF LIABILITY
By booking the tour with Travel Astu, you acknowledge the risk and hazards of travel in India. You also accept the responsibility for your own welfare and waive future claims against Travel Astu for liability to the maximum extent permitted by law. You understand that Travel Astu contracts with a network of operators in India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Tibet, Bhutan & Nepal through affiliate tour operators. These third party service providers are deemed qualified and experienced to the best of company’s (Travel Astu) knowledge. Therefore, you fully release and hold harmless Travel Astu from any and all liability for all their acts or omissions. You agree that this Assumption of Risk and Release of Liability statement shall be legally binding upon yourself, all minors under the age of 21 traveling with you, your heirs, successors, and legal representatives. You further agree to fully indemnify Travel Astu from all and any liabilities to the maximum extent permitted by law and for all its costs, expenses, damages, etc (including attorney’s fees) arising from or attributable to any claims or actions arising from your travel with Travel Astu and which claims or actions are specifically released by you in this document.
TRAVEL ADVISORIES AND WARNINGS
It is the responsibility of the traveller to stay informed about the most current travel advisories and warnings by referring to the relevant State Department’s travel website. In the event of an active State Department Travel warnings against travel to the specific destination locations of the trip, should the traveller still choose to travel, notwithstanding any travel advisory or warning, The Traveller assumes all risk of personal injury, death or property damage that may arise out of the events like those advised or warned against.
TRAVELLER'S REPRESENTATIONS
The Traveller represents that neither he nor she nor anyone travelling with him or her has any physical or other condition or disability that could create a hazard to himself or herself or other members of the program. Company reserves the right to decline to accept anyone on a trip. Company reserves the right to remove from the trip, at his or her sole expense, anyone whose condition is such that he or she could create a hazard to himself or others, or otherwise impact the enjoyment of other passengers on the trip.
ANY PAYMENT TO COMPANY CONSTITUTES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN AND IN MORE SPECIFIC PREDEPARTURE PASSENGER DOCUMENTATION, INCLUDING TRAVEL ASTU TOUR BOOKING FORM.
Gratuities: Gratuities are not included in the program price and are entirely at the discretion of the traveller and should be based on the level of satisfaction with the service received. Recommended guidelines are sent to you along with your pre-tour documentation.
PHOTOGRAPHY DURING TRAVEL
Travel Astu reserves the right to take photographs during the operation of any program or part thereof and to use them for promotional purposes. By booking a program with company, program members agree to allow their images to be used in such photographs. Program members who prefer that their images not used are asked to identify themselves to their Tour Director at the beginning of their program.
FOOTNOTE
Booking a tour with us suggests that all of us understand and accept the above. This document has been well researched and most of the inputs have come from our past guests and even the language and final editing has been done by some of our good friends who travelled with us as clients from all over the world. Still if the language is too harsh or the conditions at times seem biased and in favor of the company kindly accept our apologies for the same as it is unintended. At the same time the hotels, flights, trains, etc. have stringent cancellation rules that we need to follow to be in business with them and maintain a sound track record. We always try to be very fair and are known for our “Service First” & “At Your Service” attitude.