Trip Deposit on Tours:
A trip deposit is required on all trips in order for a space to be held. A deposit of $150.00 ($300 for international travel, including the Carribean) per person is required upon initial registration. All deposits are non refundable.
*Deposits are accepted via Paypal, Money order or Cashier’s check .
Final Payment on Tours:
A final payment for all trips is due in full on or before 60 days prior to the first day of the tour. If the final payment is not received within this time frame, the deposit and any additional payments already placed towards the tour may be forfeited. All final payments are non refundable after the reservation deadline (typically 60 days prior to the first day of the tour).
*Final payments are accepted via Paypal, Money order or cashier’s check.
Last Minute Reservations:
Last minute reservations MAY be accepted up to 30 days prior to departure date, SPACE PERMITTING ; however there are no guarantees. In the event of a last minute reservation a $80 last minute processing fee will be assessed along with the standard $150 ($300 international) deposit. Once confirmation of placement has been given, the remaining full payment of the tour is due within 48 hours and all cancellation fees and policies will apply. If the full payment is not received within 48 hours the tour reservation & deposit may be forfeited.
Tour Inclusions:
Here is a basic list of what is generally included in all standard tours:
*4-5 Star Luxury accommodations for the length of your itinerary
*Breakfast every morning (depending on itinerary)
*Full time services of your tour director
*Transportation to all group activities (per itinerary)
*Sightseeing as described in your trip itinerary
*Private guided tours with expert guides (per intinerary)
*Some meals (see specific itinerary for details)
*Tips for all hotel, local guides and drivers
*A photograph portfolio of the trip to help remember your adventure for years to come (portfolio will be provided online)
*Locked in tour price, even if the dollar verses the local currency gets worse or a local guide increases their fees, your tour price is locked in immediately upon receipt of your deposit.
What is not included:
Items of a personal nature are not included in the quoted tour package rates. This includes items such as beverages (besides those that are stated as being provided in the included meals), porter fees, souvenirs, meals not mentioned in your itinerary, passport/visa fees, free time activities, tour director tips, laundry, phone calls made from the hotel, etc.
The cost of transportation to and from the airport in the arrival/departure city may or may not be included in the tour price—see specific tour listing for details.
Currency Rate & Quoted Tour Prices:
Due to the fluctuation in the dollar against the various currencies of visited countries, quoted tour prices are subject to change. Once a reservation has been made and a deposit paid the quoted tour price at the time of reservation is locked in at that price. Once a price is locked in even if the dollar becomes weaker against the local currency your fees will not increase.
All quoted prices are based upon shared occupancy.
TRIP POLICIES (PLS MAKE THIS IN A SCROLL THRU FORMAT, THAT CAN BE INITIALED AT THE BOTTOM, BEFORE GOING TO BOOKING PAGE)
Cancellation By Traveler:
Travelers whose cancellations are received in writing prior to the registration cut off date of the tour (60 days before the first day of the tour) will receive a full refund of all monies paid aside from the non-refundable deposit. Refunds will typically be processed within 6 weeks of cancellation.
No refund will be given for the cancellations received after the registration cut off date (60 days prior to departure).
Departure From a Tour In Progress:
In the event that a traveler voluntarily chooses to leave mid tour, Sistah Sojourn requires a written signed statement of intent to leave by the traveler.
Whether the reason to leave is due to personal, health or governmental decree, Sistah Sojourn cannot issue any form of refund for unused portions of the tour.
Any expenses incurred in the transportation home and/or airline surcharges/fees for alternation in travel are the Traveler’s responsibility.
Changes Made By Sistah Sojourn:
Sistah Sojourn reserves the right to change the order of our scheduled activities, and/or replace a scheduled activity with a comparable activity. In the event that there is a change in itinerary, comparable lodging, activities or entertainment will be provided.
Changes in itinerary may result from unforeseen incidences such as a last minute closure and/or schedule change of an intended destination or activity.
Cancellation Made by Sistah Sojourn :
Generally a minimum of six travelers (excluding tour personnel) is required for each tour. If the minimum number of travelers has not signed up by the registration date, Sistah Sojurn reserves the right to cancel the scheduled tour. If a cancellation occurs due to lack of travelers, all registered participants will receive notification within the week following cancellation and a full refund (including deposit) shortly thereafter.
Sistah Sojourn reserves the right to cancel any scheduled tour up until the day prior to departure for any reason that leads to the determination that it is not safe for the tour to transpire (including political and climate changes, threats of violence and war). In the event that a tour is cancelled, all paid monies will be refunded.
Sistah Sojourn is not responsible for any change in itinerary and/or cancellation in full of the remaining tour once the said tour is underway due to weather or circumstances beyond our immediate control. In the event a specific activity is cancelled for the reasons listed above, no refund shall be made.
Eviction From a Tour :
We don’t anticipate this happening, however, Sistah Sojourn reserves the right to remove any Traveler from the Tour that Sistah Sojourn deems disruptive, dangerous or is in any way negatively affecting the overall dynamic of the group at large.
In the event that a traveler is removed from an in-progress tour, Sistah Sojourn will not issue any refund of paid monies.
Any expenses incurred in the transportation home and/or airline surcharges/fees for alternation in travel are the Traveler’s responsibility.
Public Holidays:
In the event a tour falls on a date of a local holiday, some tourist sites might be closed. If this is the case Sistah Sojourn reserves the right to alter the itinerary to reflect these closures.
Transportation
Air Travel:
Travelers are responsible for getting themselves to the city of their tour in time for the start of the tour. It is the traveler’s responsibility to factor in and allow sufficient time for debarking, customs & immigration, the collection of luggage and travel to the designated meeting place in which they are to join the tour.
Sistah Sojourn is not responsible for delayed or cancelled flights and will not delay, cancel, nor issue a partial refund on a tour for any traveler that is delayed. Any delayed traveler must notify Sistah Sojourn of their situation and communicate regularly with Sistah Sojourn in regards to their anticipated arrival. It is the Traveler’s responsibility to join up with the tour as soon as possible and at their own expense.
Health & Safety
Assumed Risk:
Sistah Sojourn will take all reasonable precautions to protect the health and safety of the travelers. However the traveler must acknowledge that travel comes with its own inherent risks, including death, and must take their own precautions and full responsibility in safeguarding their own health.
Sistah Sojourn is not liable for any injury, illness, accident or death incurred by the Traveler in the course of the tour. By traveling with us, you agree not to hold Sistah Sojourn or its agents liable for any harms or losses incurred.
Sistah Sojourn s not liable for any injury, illness, accident or death incurred by the Traveler as the result of the usage of any hotels, restaurants, tour providers, activities or services included in our Tours.
Medical Insurance:
Sistah Sojourn suggests all Travelers check with their insurance providers prior to departure on the details of their out-of-country coverage. Sistah Sojourn does not provide any form of travel medical insurance nor any form of accidental/injury insurance.
Sistah Sojourn can provide suggestion or link to traveler’s insurance providers.
Medication:
It is the Traveler’s responsibility to have adequate supplies of all medication for the duration of their journey. Sistah Sojourn is not responsible for dispensing nor obtaining any medications throughout the duration of the tour.
Medical Conditions:
All Travelers must report existing medical conditions in their initial registration process. All Travelers must also notify Sistah Sojourn of any conditions that are diagnosed after the initial registration process or run the risk of possible removal from the tour.
Specialty Needs Travelers
Some Sistah Sojourn trips sometimes include a great deal of walking and other various forms of physical exertion. Our tours are not suitable for those who have difficulty walking or not in physical condition for extended walks.
Dietary
Oftentimes, if there is a kitchen available, food will be provided and travelers can prepare food at their leisure.
Meals are typically local fare and arranged ahead of time. If a Traveler has specific dietary needs (vegetarian, gluten free, etc.), Sistah Sojourn will do our best to accommodate the Traveler if given at least 60 days written notice. However there is no guarantee of provision and no refunds will be given for meals that are not consumed.
Smoking:
Sistah Sojourn is a non-smoking group. We do not allow smoking in our shared rooms or in our group events .
Accommodation
Hotel Rooms:
Sistah Sojourn reserves the right to make changes and or substitutions with hotels of equal standards as listed on the itinerary on all tours. There will be no refund given nor supplemental fees assessed for any difference in the cost of accommodation.
Roommate Assignment:
Sistah Sojourn attempts to accommodate all requests for a room share but cannot always guarantee a roommate for all travelers requesting one. Roommate assignment is based on believed compatibility factors—age, background, etc. If there are an odd number of roommate requests (and a triple room is unavailable), travelers will be assigned on a first come first served basis.
Solo travelers who request a roommate are normally lodged in a double room with two beds. Sistah Sojourn cannot guarantee the compatibility of the assigned roommates. Any traveler who wishes to do so may room alone, however they must pay the single supplement fee to do so.
Check In/Check Out
Typical check in time for hotels is 2:00 PM, if required all attempts at obtaining an early check in will be made, however there is no guarantee and depends completely on the decision of the hotel. Normal check out time is 12:00 noon. If you will be arriving earlier or departing later than normal many hotels provide an area to store your luggage. Any fees associated with the storing of luggage are the responsibility of the traveler.
Air Conditioning
For international travel, the use of air conditioning abroad is often different than it is within the United States. The majority of European hotels were built before the prevalence of central air conditioning and due to this many hotels do not have it. Also, the usage of air conditioning varies greatly abroad, often times the air conditioning will be turned off at night when it is cooler outside and then resume again in the late morning. All efforts are made to secure accommodations with air conditioning during the summer months; however this is not always possible.
Contracted Operators
Use of Third Party Operators
Occasionally a service or activity in a tour will be scheduled with other travel companies or tour operators who sell their tours to the general public. In such cases, the traveler acknowledges that other groups and/or individuals may be a part of the same tour.
Independent Contractors
Sistah Sojourn does not own or operate the hotels, transportation or activity centered destinations that compromise the tours. Sistah Sojourn will do its best to work around and compensate for any last minute changes made by the contracted service providers, but will not be held responsible for their changes and/or cancellations.
Sistah Sojourn will not be held liable for any injuries, damage or losses incurred by the traveler as the result of usage of the contracted services (vehicles, hotel rooms, etc.)
Passports
It is the traveler’s responsibility to insure that she has a passport that is valid for at least 6 months beyond her tour travel dates.
Promotional Materials
By participating in a tour, the traveler consents to the use of her image in Sistah Sojourn promotional materials, photographs and/or videos.
All such materials and images are the property of Sistah Sojourn and may be used in its sole discretion for promotional material. Any traveler who does not wish to have her photograph or video image used in promotional material must notify Sistah Sojourn in writing prior to the departure date. It is your responsibility to notify photographers on site of your preference, not to be photographed.
Liability Disclaimer:
The published content of this site might contain typos, misspellings, or inaccuracies of information and services provided. Sistah Sojourn reserves the right to update and/or make changes to the content of this website at any time without prior notice given.
Any links to other websites provided on our website are strictly informationa. Sistah Sojourn does not control the content or services of such websites and is no way responsible for their listed subject matter.
Dispute Resolution
In the event litigation arises over disagreements in payments, refunds, policies or liability of the traveler or Sistah Sojourn and a court of law is required, the traveler agrees that the sole and exclusive location for any such lawsuit is in a court of competent jurisdiction in Cook County, in the state of Illinois, unless an applicable law makes venue mandatory in another location.
Binding Contract
All travel policies listed have the power and effect of a binding contract between the traveler and Sistah Sojourn , and by proceeding with a reservation and paying a deposit, the traveler signifies her agreement to be bound by these policies.
