General Tour Terms and Conditions
The following General Tour Terms and Conditions apply to all pilgrimages and tours; however, please see the specific pilgrimage or tour terms and conditions published in the applicable pilgrimage or tour brochure.
PRICES: The tour price includes the air package (round-trip airfare from the designated airport, group transportation to/from U.S. departure airport and airport/hotel transfers in destination country) and ground package in the destination country as outlined in the tour brochure and itinerary. All rates are stated in U.S. dollars (unless otherwise stated) and are based on tariffs, taxes and currency exchange rates in effect at the time of publication. Your price is subject to increase prior to the time you make full payment. Your price is not subject to increase after you make full payment, except for charges resulting from increases in government-imposed taxes and fees or airline fuel surcharges and fees. In the event of a billing error, we reserve the right to re-invoice with correct prices. Tour documents and airline tickets will be issued after full payment has been received and processed, normally during a pre-departure group meeting held 1-3 weeks prior to departure.
A deposit of $350 is required to secure a reservation. Late reservations (within 60 days of departure) accepted, if space is available, with full payment due immediately by bank check or money order, and may be subject to a $100 late reservation fee plus any increase in quoted airfare.
Payment by cash, check or money order made payable to FJ Tours, LLC or credit card. Returned checks are subject to a $25 fee.
GROUP SIZE: All tour prices are per person and based on a minimum of number of passengers as published in the respective tour brochure, except for optional tours which require a minimum of 10 passengers.
AIR TRANSPORTATION: Regularly scheduled economy class service on any International Air Transportation Association (IATA) or Airlines Reporting Corporation (ARC) (i.e., commercial) carrier. Transatlantic air transportation is based on special, non-refundable economy class contracted fares for this tour group. The air taxes and fees (domestic and foreign government-imposed taxes, which include security fees (including the September 11th security fee), airport facility charges, customs, immigration and inspection fees, etc.) and airline fuel surcharges and fees, as of the date published in the respective tour brochure, are included in the tour cost, and are subject to change until tickets are issued. If final government-imposed air taxes and fees or airline fuel surcharges and fees are greater than estimated, the additional amount will be billed on a final tour invoice. There is no advance seat selection for group departures. Early check-in is required to secure seats with a travel companion. International flights require arriving at the departure airport at least three (3) hours prior to departure. The passenger is solely responsible for getting to departure airports, check-in and boarding for all flights within the airline's published times. The Tour Operator assumes no liability or responsibility for missed flights or connections. Land Only packages do not include airport-hotel transfers in destination countries.
PASSENGER NAME: Passenger is responsible for ensuring that the passenger name printed on the tour invoice matches EXACTLY the name as it appears on their passport. Due to security requirements, any name change including minor spelling corrections are subject to airline change fees, and may require airline reservations to be cancelled and rebooked. Airline reservations are subject to availability at the time of rebooking and may result in an increased airfare. Any airline change fees or increased airfare are the passenger’s responsibility. Airline tickets once issued are nonrefundable. The Tour Operator assumes no liability or responsibility for denial of services by any carrier due to any name discrepancy.
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS: Double occupancy, standard twin bedded rooms with private bath throughout. Single rooms are available at an additional cost as stated in the tour brochure. Single rooms, although assuring privacy, may be small in size and may be located in remote parts of the hotel away from the rest of the group. A limited number of single rooms are available. Special requests such as bed types, smoking preferences, and connecting rooms are subject to availability. On those rare occasions when we are not able to find a roommate for you, you will be required to pay the single supplement. Every effort will be made to give you sufficient prior notice if we cannot find you a roommate. Triple rooms may not be available in all countries and usually have limited availability.
PASSPORTS AND VISAS: Passports are required of all passengers. A valid U.S. passport that does not expire for at least six months after the scheduled return date is required for all U.S. citizens. U.S. citizens do not need a visa to enter European Union member countries. Non-U.S. citizens must check entry requirements with their respective Embassy or Consulate, and are responsible for obtaining their own visas and any other required travel documents at their own expense. The Tour Operator assumes no liability or responsibility for passport or visa procurement or for denial of services by any carrier due to lack of required passports and visas, or denial of services by any carrier due to lack of proper travel documentation.
LUGGAGE: Each passenger is limited to ONE (1) checked bag, that may have a maximum weight of 50 pounds and not exceed 62 linear inches (L+W+D), plus one (1) carry-on. Any bag exceeding these rules is subject to the airline's excess baggage fees and are the passenger’s responsibility. Please visit the airline’s web site for complete baggage rules and restrictions. Hotel porterage services of one (1) bag per person are usually offered, please see the specific tour brochure for details. The Tour Operator accepts no liability or responsibility for loss or damage of luggage, although maximum care will be taken to ensure safe handling of your luggage.
CANCELLATION POLICY & PENALTIES: All cancellations must be received in writing and signed by the person who made the original reservation. Cancellations are only effective from the day they are actually received, either by fax, email or U.S. Mail, by FJ Tours, LLC. No refunds are issued for cancellations received after the tour departure date. If you cancel your tour, cancellation penalties will apply and will be deducted from any refund. Cancellation penalties apply to each passenger and the amount of the penalties assessed is based on the date the cancellation is effective, as follows. Up to 91 days prior to departure: $50 Administration fee; 90 to 61 days prior to departure: $350.00; 60 to 46 days prior to departure: 50% of total tour cost; 45 to 31 days prior to departure: 75% of total tour cost; Less than 30 days: 100% of total tour cost - No Refund. Any unused tour portions are non-refundable. A travel protection plan with trip cancellation coverage is highly suggested.
TRAVEL PROTECTION: The Tour Operator offers OPTIONAL travel protection plans for its tours. Please see the Group Travel Protection Plan flyer/application for complete details and costs and the Group Travel Protection Plan Document for complete terms and conditions. Both the Tour Operator and Tour Sponsor strongly encourage all passengers to protect their travel investment with a travel protection plan.
MEDICAL CONDITION: The Tour Operator makes every effort to provide a high level of service to all passengers. A passenger who require special assistance must be accompanied by a qualified helper who assumes total responsibility for the disabled passenger’s well being. The Tour Operator is not responsible for any medical condition that occurs prior to, during or after the tour.
RESPONSIBILITY: The responsibility of FJ Tours, LLC, 15 Peach Orchard Road, PO Box 7177, Prospect, CT 06712-0177; Telephone: 203.805.5035; Fax: 203.916.5800; email: [email protected]; www.fj-tours.com, herein after called the “Tour Operator”, and/or their agent (agents) is (are) limited. We (they) act only as agent for the passenger in regard to all matters connected with the making and securing of reservations with transportation carriers and other suppliers of services (“suppliers”), all of which are independent contractors, for accommodations, tours and travel, whether by railroad, motor coach, private car, boat, aircraft or any other conveyance; and assume no liability or responsibility for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity which may be occasioned by either reason of defect, through the acts or default of any company or supplier or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the tour, or as a direct or indirect result of acts of God, dangers incident to the sea, fire, breakdown in machinery or equipment, acts of governments or other authorities, de jure or de facto, wars, whether declared or not, hostilities, civil disturbance, strikes, riots, theft, pilferage, epidemics, quarantines, medical or customs regulations, or from any causes beyond the Tour Operator’s control, or from any loss or damage resulting from improper passports, visas or other documents.
You are responsible for, and release the Tour Operator from: passport, visa, vaccination requirements, if applicable, and safety conditions in tour destination countries.
The airlines concerned are not responsible for any act, omission or event during the time you are not aboard their aircraft. The passenger contract in use by the airline, when issued, constitutes the sole contract between the passenger and airline. The passenger is solely responsible for getting to departure airports, check-in and boarding for all flights within the airline's published times. The Tour Operator assumes no liability or responsibility for missed flights or connections.
Anyone not utilizing the included air package (i.e., Ground Only package) is responsible for all subsequent transportation.
No changes in the itinerary are expected but we reserve the right to make them if necessary. Because of unforeseen changes in transportation schedules, the land portion of your tour may be occasionally extended or curtailed. The Tour Operator cannot be responsible for changes of itinerary. The number of days indicated for each itinerary begin with the scheduled day of departure and end with the scheduled return arrival day, irrespective of the hour of departure or return, and may vary due to transportation schedule changes.
The Tour Operator reserves the right to accept or decline any person as a member the tour, or to require any passenger to withdraw from the tour at any time who presents a significant risk to the health or safety of him/herself or of others which can not be eliminated or reduced to an acceptable level by the Tour Operator’s reasonable accommodation.
The Tour Operator reserves the right to cancel a tour in the event that the minimum number of passengers are not secured, and after refunding all partial and full payments, the Tour Operator has no further obligation to passengers on a cancelled tour. Unused portions of the tour itinerary are not refundable. Any deposit, partial or full payment for a tour reservation constitutes agreement by the passenger to all the provisions of the tour brochure, itinerary, and terms and conditions.
HOLD HARMLESS: Tour Sponsors select FJ Tours, LLC to offer travel arrangements for their pilgrimages and tours. The tour passenger hereby acknowledges and agrees that: (a) the Tour Sponsor is not in the business of providing travel services, and (b) the Tour Sponsor disclaims any liability or responsibility with respect to such travel services. Consequently, in engaging FJ Tours, LLC for this tour, the tour passenger expressly agrees to hold the Tour Sponsor harmless from and against any and all claims, losses, damages, liabilities or judgments, at law or in equity, related to, arising from, or in connection, with respect to the travel, accommodation and tour services procured by the tour passenger. “Claims” include, without limitation: claims for personal injury, disability or death, directly or indirectly related to, arising from or in connection with, any negligence or breach by FJ Tours, LLC or by others.