To maintain our intimate group size, all fees are fully non-refundable after 90 days prior to departure, or 120 days prior to departure for peak holiday weeks, except as noted. If you must cancel your trip, partial refund or credit may be available less the non-refundable registration fee of $250. No refunds are possible after 90 days prior to departure.
CUSTOMER AGREEMENT
THIS DOCUMENT CREATES A CONTRACTUAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN WILD PLANET ADVENTURES AND YOU, THE CUSTOMER. AFTER READING THIS ENTIRE CUSTOMER AGREEMENT, IN ORDER FOR YOUR TRAVEL OR VACATION PACKAGE RESERVATION TO BE COMPLETED, YOU MUST INDICATE YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS FOUND IN THIS AGREEMENT BY CLICKING I ACCEPT AT THE END OF THIS DOCUMENT.
1. The cost of our travel programs includes:
- Services of Wild Planet Adventures for complete pre-departure information to help you get the most out of your trip.
- All scheduled transportation during the expedition except flights, unless otherwise specified.
- The services of experienced English-speaking local naturalist or biologist guides, and/or expert wildlife trackers.
- All accommodations.
- Meals as specified in your itinerary.
- Activities as indicated in your itinerary, including exclusive Wild Planet Adventures wildlife activities where noted.
- Park admissions as indicated in your itinerary.
2. Items not included in our travel programs:
- All airfares, including in-country airfares, unless otherwise specified.
- Transfers & luggage handling unless otherwise specified.
- Travel Insurance.
- Fees for passports and visas.
- U.S. and foreign airport departure taxes.
- GST taxes and security tax, any value added taxes (VAT) or GST taxes added to program costs by foreign governments.
- Tips to drivers, guides and ship's crew, unless otherwise specified.
- Items of a personal nature, such as internet, phone, laundry, souvenirs, equipment rental (i.e. snorkeling), alcoholic beverages, camera fees, etc.
- Drinks except where indicated.
- Ticketing fees for air tickets.
- Ship or air fuel surcharges, if required.
- Any costs due to delays, cancellations, weather, or other mishaps.
3. Pricing and Payments:
A $600.00 deposit is required at booking except Africa, India, Borneo, Brazil, Alaska, Peru and Galapagos which require a non-refundable deposit of 1/3 of trip cost. Additional deposits may be required for some trips, especially in peak seasons, when yachts have been chartered, or if permits to visit sites have been purchased in advance. It may be necessary to adjust prices up or down 30 days before departure to allow for changes in group size, rooming status or currency fluctuations. Payment for all flights is due at time of booking. Bookings made within 90 days prior to departure require payment in full at time of booking. Balance is due 90 days prior to departure except for Alaska, Africa, India, Borneo, Brazil, Peru, Galapagos, and peak holiday weeks (all destinations), which are due 120 days prior to departure. All fees are based on exchange rates estimated annually at the time our catalog goes to print, and updated on our website when needed. In the event of fluctuations in exchange rates, currency adjustment fees will be added if required. All listed and quoted prices have been pre-discounted for payment by check. You may pay by credit card, however, all credit card payments will be subject to an additional credit card fee of 3.5%. Wild Planet Adventures will waive this 3.5% fee for the first $600 of your deposit only. All balance payments made by credit card will be subject to credit card fees. If you would like to avoid these fees, please pay by check. Credit card payments originating outside the USA will be subject to an additional 1.5% as well. Wild Planet Adventures reserves the right to raise the trip fee at any time if there are additional costs beyond our control, or make changes in the itinerary or substitute hotels, modes of transport, or guides. All Itineraries, conditions and prices are subject to change without notice.
4. Cancellations:
If you must cancel more than 90 days prior to departure, partial refund or credit may be available, except for non-refundable payments. No refunds are possible within 90 days of departure (120 days for Africa, India, Borneo, Brazil, Alaska, Peru and Galapagos.) All cancellations must be in writing. Wild Planet Adventures cannot accept responsibility for any other expenses incurred for preparing for your trip, including non-refundable airline tickets.
5. Guaranteed Departures/Minimum Group Size:
If we do not meet our minimum number of participants for a scheduled group departure rate, Wild Planet Adventures will guarantee the departure at private departure rates with a minimum of 2 travelers. Additional fees will likely be required to run the trip as a private departure. These fees can be found on our website for each trip or requested by contacting our office.
6. Flights
Flights are not included in the price but are available through a special relationship with our consolidator. All flight quotes are subject to change until issued and will include all fees as part of your total quote, although at times these fees may be charged separately. For airline tickets to be issued in conformity with the requirements of Secure Flight which has been mandated by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Transportation Security Administration and implemented by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA), guests must provide their full name exactly as it appears on their government issued passport, date of birth and gender when making airline reservations. If this information is incorrect, guests may experience delays or denial when trying to board an air carrier and may also be subject to penalties. To comply with this mandate, Wild Planet Adventures will require a copy of the picture page from the guest's valid passport prior to issuing any tickets. Any penalties imposed upon the guest or Wild Planet Adventures resulting from incorrect information will be the sole responsibility of the guest. Likewise, any additional costs incurred due to delays or denial of travel resulting from incorrect information will also be the sole responsibility of the guest. The aforementioned mandated changes are set forth in the Secure Flight Final Rule, published in the Federal Register Volume 73, Number 209. To learn more visit www.tsa.gov/SecureFlight.
7. Single Travelers:
All our trip fees are based on double occupancy. Single accommodations may be available at extra cost. Upon request, we can help single travelers find a roommate, otherwise a single supplement fee will apply. If a single room is requested, or we are unable to find a suitable roommate, you will be required to pay the single supplement. Single accommodations are not available on all trips.
8. Travel Insurance.
Travel insurance is available through our office. It is mandatory on all trips trips to protect you from loss of non-refundable air and trip costs in case of emergency or if you must cancel your trip. In addition, travel insurance can provide coverage for trip interruption, trip delay and protection for emergency evacuation, accident, sickness and medical expense. Wild Planet Adventures is not responsible or liable for loss, damage or theft of personal luggage and belongings, or personal injury, accident or illness. In most foreign countries, insurance coverage of personal injury, accident or illness is not available on the basis of U.S. standards. Details on how to procure travel insurance is included in your pre-departure information packet, along with a special number to contact the travel insurance company directly concerning coverage, limitations, provisions, exclusions and pre-existing conditions. In most cases travel insurance must be purchased within 21 days of making your reservation in order to cover pre-existing medical conditions.
9. Travel Documents/Vaccinations:
Customers must be in possession of valid passports and any visas, permits and certificates required for the whole of their journey or expedition and shall arrange such vaccinations as are normally recommended for the countries through which they intend to travel. Information as to these matters and as to climate, clothing, baggage, gear, and similar matters is given in good faith but without responsibility on the part of Wild Planet Adventures. We strongly suggest all guests to check with the State Department regarding any issues of safety and security, as well as the Center for Disease Control for up-to-date health alerts. Additional sources of information are provided in our pre-departure information packets.
10. Limits on Wild Planet Adventures' Responsibilities:
Wild Planet Adventures and our affiliates, owners, officers, agents, employees, contractors and subcontractors purchase transportation, hotel accommodations, restaurant services and other services from various independent suppliers that are not subject to our control. Neither Wild Planet Adventures, nor any associate organization, agent, employee, contractor or subcontractor shall be held liable for any act, default, injury (including death), loss, expense, damage, deviation, delay, curtailment or inconvenience caused to or suffered by any person or their property, howsoever arising, which may occur or be incurred by any organization or person, even though such act, default, injury, loss, expense, damage, deviation, delay, curtailment or inconvenience may have been caused or contributed to: (a) by the act, neglect or default of Wild Planet Adventures' owner, agents, employees, contractors and subcontractors, or of any persons for whose acts it would otherwise be responsible, or (b) defects or failures of any aircraft, vessel, automotive vehicle or other equipment or instrumentality under the control of independent suppliers. In addition, Wild Planet Adventures will not be liable for delays in departure or interruption of your vacation arrangements caused by weather conditions, technical problems of any aircraft, vessel, automotive vehicle or other equipment or instrumentality, strikes, war, terrorist activity, civil commotion or any causes beyond the control of Wild Planet Adventures. The right is reserved to substitute accommodations or modes of transportation and to make any changes in the itinerary where deemed necessary or caused by changes in air schedules. On expeditions of this type it is not possible to accommodate persons with severe health problems or physical disabilities. It is the guest's responsibility to judge the appropriateness of these travel activities to his or her physical capabilities. Wild Planet Adventures takes no responsibility for special arrangements or problems incurred by guests physically unable to participate in the planned activities. No refund can be made for absence from the tour unless arrangements are made at the time of booking. The right is reserved to decline to accept or retain any person as a tour member for any reason, which affects the operation of the tour or the rights and welfare or enjoyment of the other tour members. Wild Planet Adventures will not discriminate against any individual because of race, sex, creed or nationality. In no event will Wild Planet Adventures be responsible for incidental, consequential or special damage or loss suffered by any person. Wild Planet Adventures' maximum liability, for any reason whatsoever, will be limited to the amount paid to Wild Planet Adventures for its services. In coordinating and arranging tickets for transportation of the purchaser by any means and making arrangements for hotel or other accommodation, Wild Planet Adventures is not acting as principal but only as agent for the companies, corporations or persons providing or offering the means of transportation and accommodation. To the extent Wild Planet Adventures shall not be acting as an agent, as stated above, it shall be deemed to be acting as an agent of the purchasers in arranging or booking transportation and accommodation. Wild Planet Adventures reserves the right to take photographic or film records of any trip or guest, and may use any record for promotional and/or commercial purposes.
11. California Seller of Travel Program: CST #2088070-40
Wild Planet Adventures is a Registered California Seller of Travel #2088070-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California. Your transaction may be covered by the California Travel Consumer Restitution Fund (TCRF) if the seller of travel was registered and participating in the TCRF at the time of sale and the passenger is located in California at the time of payment. Eligible passengers may file a claim with TCRF if the passenger is owed a refund of more than $50 for transportation or travel services which the seller of travel failed to forward to a proper provider or such money was not refunded to you when required. The maximum amount which may be paid by the TCRF to any one passenger is the total amount paid on behalf of the passenger to the seller of travel, not to exceed $15,000. A claim must be submitted to the TCRF within 12 months after the scheduled completion date of the travel. A claim must include sufficient documentation to prove your claim and a $35 processing fee. Claimants must agree to waive their right to other civil remedies against a registered participating seller of travel for matters arising out of a sale for which you file a TCRF claim. You may request a claim form by writing to: Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation; P.O. Box 6001; Larkspur, CA 94977-6001; or by visiting TCRC's website at: www.tcrcinfo.org.
12. Compulsory Arbitration:
The parties agree to resolve any disputes concerning this Release, Assumption of Risk, and Compulsory Arbitration Agreement, the literature for this trip, or the trip itself, by binding arbitration pursuant to the then existent commercial rules of the American Arbitration Association in San Francisco, California. In any such arbitration the substantive, but not procedural, law of the State of California shall apply without any consideration or regard to the California Arbitration Act. The arbitrator and not any federal, state, or local court or agency shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability, conscionability, or formation of this contract, including but not limited to any claim that all or any part of this contract is void or voidable.
13. Severability:
The invalidity or unenforceability of any part of this Agreement, or the invalidity of its application to a specific situation or circumstance, shall not affect the validity of the remainder of this Agreement, or its application to other situations or circumstances. Any provision of this Agreement held invalid or unenforceable only in part or degree will remain in full force and effect to the extent not held invalid or unenforceable.
14. Waiver:
Any failure by either party at any time, or from time to time, to enforce or to require the strict keeping and performance of any of the terms or conditions of this Agreement shall not constitute a waiver of any such terms or conditions and shall not affect or impair such terms and conditions in any way or the right of such party at any time to avail itself of such remedies as it has for the breach or breaches of such terms and conditions.
15. Exclusivity:
Except as otherwise expressly provided to the contrary, the rights herein granted and this Agreement are for the benefit of the parties hereto. The terms and conditions of this Agreement shall be exclusive of any advertising, marketing or other sales literature or activities of Wild Planet Adventures and nothing contained in any of such materials shall be construed to create any rights as a result of or in connection with this Agreement.
16. Acknowledgment of Risk:
You understand and acknowledge that your travel in connection with and participation in the travel package arranged at your request by Wild Planet Adventures may involve risk and potential exposure to injury and possibly death. You also realize and acknowledge that risk and dangers may be caused by the negligence of the owners, directors, employees, contractors, subcontractors, officers or agents of Wild Planet Adventures or the negligence or participation of other participants, contractors and/or subcontractors to Wild Planet Adventures. You also recognize and acknowledge that risk and dangers may arise from foreseeable and unforeseeable causes, including weather and other acts of nature. You fully understand and acknowledge that the aforementioned risks, dangers and hazards are a potential in connection with recreational activities which may take place during your journey.
17. Express assumption of risk and responsibility:
In recognition of the inherent risk of the travels and related activities in which you are intending to engage, you confirm that you are physically and mentally capable of participating in the activity, that you are willingly and knowingly electing to participate in this vacation package in spite of the potential risk of danger, and you willingly and voluntarily assume full responsibility for any injury, loss or damage suffered by you or caused by you, whether caused in whole or in part by the negligence of the owners, directors, agents, officers, employees, contractors or subcontractors of Wild Planet Adventures.
18. Release of liability:
In consideration of the services and arrangements provided by Wild Planet Adventures, you, for yourself and for your heirs, personal representatives or assigns, do hereby release, waive, discharge, hold harmless and agree to indemnify Wild Planet Adventures, and its owners, officers, directors, agents, contractors, subcontractors and employees from any and all claims, actions, or losses for bodily injury, property damage, wrongful death, loss of services, lost profits, consequential, exemplary, indirect or punitive damages or otherwise which may arise out of or occur during your travel in connection with the scheduled travel package and any activities conducted in conjunction therewith. You specifically understand that you are releasing, discharging and waiving any claims or actions that you may have presently or in the future for the negligent acts or conduct of the owners, directors, officers, employees, agents, contractors or subcontractors of wild planet adventures.
19. Express waiver of any right to seek consequential, punitive or exemplary damages:
Regardless of the situation or circumstances giving rise to a claim, you waive any right to seek consequential, punitive or exemplary damages against Wild Planet Adventures, their owners, officers, directors, agents, contractors, subcontractors and employees, for any reason whatsoever. In consideration of participating in my expedition, my clicking approve on this webpage indicates that I have, on the date shown, read and understood this document and I acknowledge that it affects my legal rights and agree to be bound by its terms. My signature also signifies my intention to relieve and indemnify Wild Planet Adventures, their owner, employees, agents, contractors and subcontractors from any liability for personal injury, property damage or wrongful death which I might suffer during my participation in the scheduled expedition.
20. Exchange Rates & Currency Equalization Fees:
All prices are based on exchange rates published in our catalog or on our website under “Pricing Details” on each trip page. Exchange rates are subject to change without notice, and additional currency equalization fees may be required at the time Wild Planet pays for local services, which may occur up until 30 days prior to departure – even if you have already made your final payment.
