Terms and Conditions
TCA TRAVEL CLUB
HOW TO MAKE A RESERVATION: Please email: tca@tcatravelclub.com or email: gregt371@hotmail.com/ (see website http://www.tcatravelclub.com)
DEPOSIT REQUIRED: $100 per person non-refundable deposit is due at the time of reservation. For programs including sea or river cruises, deposit is $200 per person
non-refundable. Instant purchase packages require full payment at the time of booking. (See tour rates, deposits and deadlines as they differ for each tour).
FULL PAYMENT: Final payment is due 60 days prior to departure. Some special events (such as Rio de Janeiro New Year's and Carnival, and all packages featuring Ecuador) may require earlier payment. You will be advised at the time of reservation. Payments made within 30 days of departure must be in the form of a direct deposit to our account or cashier's check. Instant purchase packages require full payment at the time of booking.
PRICES: Prices are per person and based upon shared twin room occupancy. In case of human or computer error, TCA Travel Club reserves the right to re-invoice for the correct price or service. A full refund will be made to passengers who choose not to pay an increase, provided TCA Travel Club receives a written cancellation within five days of the price increase notification.
MINIMUM PURCHASE: A minimum 5 nights hotel reservation or 2 nights hotel reservation with round trip flights is required. Any invoice less than $500 will be subject to a $50 processing fee.
CREDIT CARDS: Credit card charges will be accepted by phone to fulfill final payments only. Final payment will be processed only upon submission of a completed Credit Card Form. Third-party credit cards are not acceptable.
RETURNED CHECKS: $30 fee for any checks returned for any reason.
CHANGES AFTER DEPOSIT: $50 per revision plus any expenses imposed by suppliers. A revision is defined as any item in a booking which requires an amendment. For example, one hotel revision would equal $50; two hotel revisions on the same booking would equal $100 plus supplier fees. Airline amendments are subject to $50 revision fees plus airline re-booking fees of up to $250 per ticket. A change of destination constitutes a cancellation, and will be subject to full cancellation fees.
LAST-MINUTE RESERVATIONS: Bookings received 30 days or less, prior to departure will include a $50 last-minute booking fee. If requested services cannot be confirmed, deposit and booking fee will be refunded. If services are confirmed, final payment is due within 24 hours and all applicable cancellation penalties will apply thereafter. Acceptable forms of payment include credit card or certified check.
PASSENGER INFORMATION: Passengers are responsible to ensure that information on all tickets are correctly entered: name, address, e-mail and fax data for all passengers. Names printed on the invoice must exactly match the first and last name written in their passport (middle names or initials are not needed). TCA Travel Club will not be responsible for passengers who do not receive an invoice or documents due to inaccurate information.
DOCUMENTS: Will be sent electronically unless TCA Travel Club and/or the airline deem paper tickets necessary. Passengers may request paper documents for a service fee of $30 per person. Will be sent via e-mail or mailed 30 days prior to departure for delivery approximately 14 days prior to departure, provided that full payment is received at least 45 days prior to departure. Post Office Box numbers cannot be used for delivery of travel documents. Please provide a complete street address. For shipping by 2nd Day Air, a $12 fee will apply; for Next Day Air, a $20 fee will apply. One set of documents will be mailed per reservation. Documents may be sent to additional addresses for a $20 fee per address. Should final payment be received fewer than 45 days prior to departure, $12 will necessarily be applied to your final invoice for 2nd Day Air delivery. This amount must be paid in full before documents can be released.
AMENDMENTS AFTER DEPARTURE: The cost of any changes or additions will be at the local rate at the time of the amendment and must be borne by the passenger.
AIRLINES: Once issued, tickets are non-refundable. Airline schedules and flights are subject to change without notice. TCA Travel Club is not responsible for penalties incurred for tickets, international or domestic due to schedule and/or flight changes. Airlines reserve the right to demand immediate issuance of tickets whenever they determine that specific flights are heavily booked even when normal ticketing rules do not require tickets to be issued until a later date. In this instance, TCA Travel Club will require immediate and full payment of the airfare and airport taxes and fees as itemized on the invoice.
This situation overrides invoice terms and conditions and payment due dates. If full payment is not received, seats will be cancelled by the airline and may not be available to be rebooked on the same flights or at the same airfare. Any replacement air arrangements and airfare will be the sole responsibility of the passenger. Passengers are responsible to reconfirm their flights 72 hours prior to departure for all flights.
NAME CHANGES: Due to newly introduced security measures, any name change including minor spelling corrections may require airline reservations to be canceled and rebooked. Reservations are subject to availability at the time of rebooking. Once full payment is received, airline tickets will be issued. Subsequent name corrections will be subject to an airline rebooking fee of up to $250 per ticket plus $50 revision fee per change. TCA Travel Club will not be held responsible for the denial of services by a carrier due to any name discrepancy. Name changes must be advised in writing.
AIRPORT TAXES & FEES: All airline tickets are subject to a variety of foreign and domestic government taxes which include security charges, the September 11th Security Fee, airport facility charges, customs and immigration fees, inspection fees, fuel surcharges and more. The total of these taxes may vary and will be approximately anywhere between $50 and $200 per passenger. Airport taxes & fees which appear on the invoice reflect the taxes and fees that are applicable when the original reservation is completed. These taxes and fees may vary prior to airline tickets being issued. We reserve the right to amend the airport taxes & fees to reflect any changes prior to ticketing.
RAIL: Rail tickets are valid for the dates and times specified and once issued are
non-refundable. The possibility of date and/or time changes once issued is strictly subject to availability and may by accompanied by rate increases.
HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS: Will be provided in accordance with the itinerary or similar. We reserve the right to make substitutions with hotels of equal standard. There will be no refunds for any difference in the cost of those accommodations. All rooms are twin-bedded rooms with private facilities, unless you have specifically requested and paid for an upgraded room category. Special requests such as bed types, smoking preference and connecting rooms are subject to availability. Room selection in all cases, unless otherwise reserved, is strictly at the discretion of the hotel's management on a run-of-house basis. Triple rooms consist of standard twin beds plus a sofa/folding bed or cot for third person. The number of persons accommodated does not dictate the room size. All hotel rates are based on agreements with its suppliers and are not negotiable. Hotel check-in time is generally not before 4:00 p.m. and check-out time is prior to noon. Please be sure that adequate arrangements for accommodations have been taken into consideration when a late night flight is being used. If a day room is included in the itinerary, check-out will normally be 6:00 p.m.
HOTEL & CRUISE PROFILES: Hotel and cruise ship profiles are based upon information provided by hotel and cruise ship partners and their representatives, including images and descriptions of individual properties. Star-ratings may differ from country to country. TCA Travel club does its best to maintain current information, however is not responsible for any inaccuracies, changes in description details or amenities, or images provided by third parties.
AIR-CONDITIONING: Although available at most 4 and 5 star hotels, conditions and use of air-conditioning abroad differs greatly from the United States. Many European hotels were built before central air-conditioning was introduced. Air-conditioning is often shut down at night.
CRUISES: In general, passengers may board ships not earlier than three hours and not later than one hour prior to departure. It is the passenger's responsibility to ensure a timely arrival at the port. Cabins are assigned within a general cabin category on run-of-ship basis. TCA Travel Club cannot guarantee a specific assignment. Cabin assignments will be made available within 30 days of departure. Requests for dining room seating will be accepted by the maître d' hotel on sailing day. TCA Travel Club will accept requests for dining time preference, but cannot guarantee confirmation prior to embarkation. European river cruises (except in Russia) are single seating. Shore excursions may only be purchased aboard ship. Cruise itineraries and ships are subject to change without notice. Furthermore, cruise ships may be chartered and/or departure dates cancelled after the publication of this information, in which case all monies will be refunded. TCA Travel Club takes no responsibility for ship substitutions or itinerary changes imposed by a cruise line.
MEALS ON TOUR: As specified in each itinerary. Meals are based on the hotel's or restaurant's buffet or set menu. In general, beverages are not included, unless specifically stated. Many hotels offer meal plans that may be purchased at the time of reservation. Meal plans, generally, incur a mandatory gratuity (usually 15% based on the actual prices of food and beverages consumed) that is payable directly to the hotel at the time of checkout.
TRANSFERS: As indicated for each tour, provided by car, minibus, or motor coach, and only on tour arrival and departure dates, provided airfare is purchased from TCA Travel Club. If you purchase a land-only tour, or if you deviate from the arrival and/or departure dates as stated in the itinerary, you will automatically be billed for the transfer service, which you may advise us to cancel at any time prior to your final tour payment date.
SIGHTSEEING: Will be operated by motor-vehicle, its size dictated by the number of participants, at the sole discretion of the company. TCA Travel Club tours have been designed to accommodate individuals as well as groups. Please refer to each tour package for a complete listing of tour services included. The number of participants may vary during the tour, as TCA Travel Club accommodates travelers arriving on different airlines and on different days of the week. Times listed in itineraries are approximate and meant only as guidelines. It is your responsibility to arrive on time for all scheduled flights, cruises, and package components. Arriving late may be considered a "no-show", in which case you will not be eligible for refund for the unused service(s). We cannot guarantee the number of passengers who will be on any given tour. You may find that you are traveling with a sizeable group or only with your own companions. Services, however, will remain constant no matter the number of tour participants.
OPTIONAL TOURS: Optional tours may be purchased at the time of your initial deposit or with your final payment. Once final payment has been made, optional tours cannot be added. If you purchase an escorted or guided program, optional tours will be available for purchase locally. Some optional tours require a minimum number of participants and may not be operated.
SPECIAL EVENTS: Optional special events tickets may be purchased at the time of your initial deposit or with your final payment. These event tickets are non-refundable or exchangeable. Once final payment has been made, optional special events cannot be added. TCA Travel Club is not responsible for lost, stolen or damage tickets to such events.
PUBLIC HOLIDAYS: On dates including, but not limited to religious holidays and national celebrations, some monuments and sites may be closed. On these occasions, touring itineraries may be amended to reflect these closures.
LUGGAGE: All tour packages allow one piece of luggage per person and one carry-on bag. Excess luggage will be subject to charge of up to $100 per piece. For flights to/from the USA, most airlines permit two pieces of checked luggage each weighing up to about 50 lbs. However, airline policies vary and may change at any time. TCA Travel Club is not responsible for any excess luggage/weight charges levied by an airline. TCA Travel Club shall not be held responsible for any damage to or loss of luggage/personal items. All damage/loss must be reported at time of incident and documented in writing by local authorities for submission to the insurance company.
For all travelers on TCA Travel Club tours, cancellation and travel insurance is highly recommended as TCA Travel Club is not responsible for airline strike and other situations which require changes in dates or days of travel as well as cancellation of travel by the airlines.
ITINERARY AND HOTEL VARIATIONS: Occasionally, during holidays and certain periods, due to unforeseen circumstances, the local Tour Operator may have to make last-minute changes, sometimes after arrival, in the sequence of the tour and/or hotels. Therefore, we reserve the right to substitute any of the hotels with no cost adjustment.
NON-OPERATION OF ESCORTED TOUR: Escorted tour packages are based upon a minimum number of participants. Cancellation of any tour for lack of participation will be advised at least 30 days prior to the tour's departure, and all money will be refunded. TCA Travel Club will not be held responsible for any costs relating to the issuance and/or cancellation of airline tickets or visa fees. On International escorted tours, a minimum of 10 passengers is required. Whenever there are less than 10 passengers, tours will be locally hosted. Southeast Asia tours are guaranteed to depart with a minimum of two passengers. Voluntary cancellations due to political instability, acts of terrorism, government intervention or US State Department warning will be subject to the above fees, provided the program is deemed (by TCA Travel Club) able to continue. Should TCA Travel Club elect to cancel a departure for any of these reasons, every effort will be made to obtain refunds from suppliers, however no guarantees can be provided.
TRAVELERS WITH DISABILITIES: Tour participants requiring any form of assistance are required to notify TCA Travel Club in writing at the time of reservation, and must be accompanied by an individual responsible for providing those services. Tour managers, guides, drivers or other tour, hotel, ship personnel are not able to provide such assistance. Due to space limitations, wheelchairs and walkers cannot be taken aboard motor coaches and/or ships. TCA Travel Club reserves the right to remove any person from a tour who has not provided the required notification and has not received written confirmation from TCA Travel Club. All related expenses, including those to return home, will be borne by the passenger.
GROUP HARMONY: To ensure the desired group synergy, TCA Travel Club reserves the right to accept, reject or expel any individual who is deemed disruptive or incompatible with the interests of the group. All expenses to do so will be borne by the passenger.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS: Please check with your healthcare provider for up-to-date requirements. Required inoculations, if any, must be recorded by clients' health practitioner on a valid vaccination certificate which the client must carry for proof of inoculation where required. Individuals with heart disease, chronic illness, physical handicap, advanced pregnancy, or mental illness should not participate in these rigorous travel programs.
PASSPORTS AND VISAS: Passengers are responsible for ensuring that they have the proper travel documents and MUST CHECK with the respective consulate(s) or visa agency to determine whether any visas are required. Any information provided pertains to U.S. citizens only. Passports are required.
TRAVEL PROTECTION & INSURANCE: The cost of your trip may increase, due to any incidents of air, land or personal emergencies that may affect your travel plans. Comprehensive trip insurance is therefore highly recommended. Your premium is related to your trip cost, so you don't have to worry about being over-insured.
CANCELLATION: Tour packages without cruise:
Up to 46 days prior to departure: $100 p.p.
45 to 31 days prior to departure: Min. $100 p.p. or 10% of tour cost
30 to 15 days prior to departure: 35% of tour cost
14 to 01 days prior to departure: 50% of tour cost
Day of departure/no-show: 90% of tour cost
CANCELLATION: Packages with sea or river cruise (except European River Cruises )
Up to 66 days prior to departure: $200 p.p.
65 to 31 days prior to departure: 25% of tour cost
30 to 15 days prior to departure:50% of tour cost
14 to 0 days prior to departure/no-show: 90% of tour cost
CANCELLATION: Instant Purchase Packages
Instant Purchase Packages are fully nonrefundable.CANCELLATION: Air
Once issued, tickets are non-refundable.CANCELLATION: Special Events
Cancellation penalties may differ for special events (such as New Year and Carnival) and will be advised at time of booking.
REFUNDS, AFTER DEPARTURE: All requests for refunds must be made in writing and received no later than 30 days after the return of the tour. Refunds are subject to a processing fee of $50 plus any hotel and/or supplier charges incurred. Claims for unused services should be substantiated in writing by local representatives. Processing will take from six to eight weeks from the date TCA Travel Club receives relevant documents. There will be no refunds for unused package tour services or features, including missed transfers due to airline changes and/or missed flights, unused meals, missed sightseeing tours, unused entrance fees, and accommodations. No terms set forth in these terms and conditions may be changed by anyone other than an authorized representative of TCA Travel Club and must be documented in writing. TCA Travel Club is not obliged to guarantee promises (written or verbal) made by local hotel staff, tour guides, or any other persons not under direct employ of TCA Travel Club.
RESPONSIBILITY: TCA Travel Club and its representatives abroad act only as independent contractors acting on behalf of neither the customer nor the suppliers and principals. All exchange orders, coupons, and tickets are issued subject to the terms and conditions under which such means of transportation, accommodations, and other services are offered or provided. The issuance and acceptance of such documents shall be deemed to be consent to the further conditions. TCA Travel Club does not own nor operate the hotels, motor coaches, airlines, cruise lines, or any other service providers which compose their tours, and will not be held responsible for changes and/or cancellations for any reason by airlines, hotels or cruise ships.
A) The Travel Agent and/or Tour Operator, TCA Travel Club, shall not be in any way liable for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or irregularity in any vehicle, or through the act of default of any company, or person engaged in conveying passengers, or of any hotel proprietor, personnel, servant or any other person otherwise in connection therewith.
B) TCA Travel Club shall not be held responsible for potential risks and hazards associated with travel to destinations included in this site, where injury, delay, or unanticipated events may occur. TCA Travel Club shall not assume responsibility for standards of quality, hygiene, political stability, cuisine, sanitation facilities, cleanliness, telecommunications facilities, methods of conducting business, emergency medical evacuation, treatment, or medical services found in these destinations. Travel to these areas may entail risks including but not limited to the hazards of traveling in politically unstable areas, civil disturbances, war, and arbitrary changes mandated by government authorities or private concerns. It is the responsibility of the passenger(s) to check with the U.S. State Department, Consular Information, http://travel.state.gov/travel/warnings.html for any current advisories and updates to the destinations on their itinerary. TCA Travel Club shall be held harmless from any and all liability in connection with the foregoing.
C) TCA Travel Club cannot accept responsibility for loss or expense due to delay or changes in transportation schedule or other causes.
D) Each exchange voucher and ticket is to be regarded as one contracted by or on behalf of the particular company or person named on it.
E) Arbitration. Any and all disputes concerning this contract, the brochure or web site, or your trip shall be resolved solely and exclusively by binding arbitration according to the then current rules of the American Arbitration Association in Pennsylvania, and any such arbitration must take place in Glenside, Pennsylvania. In any such arbitration, the substantive law of Pennsylvania will apply.
F) The Steamship companies and the Airlines concerned are not to be held responsible for any omission or events during the time passengers are not aboard their ship, plane, or conveyance. The passage contract in use by the Steamship company and the Airline concerned, when issued, shall constitute the whole contract between the Steamship companies, the Airlines, and the Purchaser of these tours and/or the passengers. The Travel Agent and/or Tour Operator and TCA Travel Club do not assume responsibility for airlines, cruises, or hotels overbooking, cancellations, or delays.
NOT INCLUDED: Items of personal nature such as laundry, wines, mineral water, beverages, coffee, tea, food other than the table d' hote menu, passport and visa fees, insurance, and foreign port taxes.
VALIDITY: All prices quoted are based on current exchange rates and are subject to change without notice. If the U.S. dollar devalues by 5% from the local currency or more, TCA Travel Club reserves the right to increase prices accordingly.