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Terms & Conditions
Once Highland Explorer Tours, a trading name of Radical Travel Group Limited, hereinafter referred to as “the Operator”, confirms your booking a contract is made between the Operator and you upon the terms and conditions set out below. Your statutory rights are not a ected. In a booking with more than one passenger the ‘lead passenger’ will be deemed to have accepted the terms and conditions on behalf of all passengers within the booking. The ‘lead passenger’ is the passenger who makes the booking on behalf of all passengers in a multi-passenger booking and is named in the ‘lead passenger’ field within the booking. Within these Booking Conditions, “you” and “your” means all persons named on the booking (including anyone who is added at a later date). 1. Booking/Acceptance 1.1 The Operator accepts a booking on the understanding that a deposit or full payment has been collected and held either by the Operator directly, or by an authorised travel agent on the Operator’s behalf. Bookings made via the Operator’s own website are considered as made with the Operator directly. 1.2 On confirmation of your booking, subject to availability and at the Operator’s discretion, the Operator will reserve your place(s) on your selected products (“tours”). It is your (or on bookings involving more than one person, the lead passenger’s) responsibility, as the customer, to check the accuracy of your booking and travel dates. A contract is only made between you and the Operator upon your booking being confirmed and accepted and communication thereof to either you or your authorised travel agent (hereinafter referred to as “confirmation”). 1.3 On confirmation of your booking, a Booking Statement indicating the amount paid and an e-ticket will be sent to either you or your travel agent 1.4 In order to reserve your tour: 1.4a) Tours costing 200 GBP, 400 AUD, 360 CAD, 240 EUR, 500 NZD, 340 USD, 2,000 ZAR or less: full payment must be made at time of booking. No deposit option available. 1.5 The Operator reserves the right to cancel the booking and apply cancellation charges should full payment not be received within the above specified periods. 1.6 If you wish to book to travel at student prices, you must have an ISIC, ITIC or ISE student card or a Student Flights ID Card, valid at the time of and for the duration of your travel with the operator. Please note the minimum age for children on our tours is 5 years old. Children (aged 5-16 inclusive and must be accompanied by an adult), Seniors (aged 60+). 2. Cancellations & Changes 2.1 Cancellation of your booking must be in writing to either the Operator (for direct or website bookings) or the authorised Agent through which your booking was made. If your booking was made through an authorised Agent, all amendments and cancellations must be made directly through the Agent and not with the Operator (the Agent may also levy cancellation charges in addition to those noted below - please check with the Agent at time of booking). When written notification has been received by the Operator, a fee will be levied to cover the costs incurred. The amount of the cancellation fee will be dependent on the number of days prior to the departure date of the tour (not including the day of departure or the day of notification). 2.2 Cancellation of individual passengers from a multiple booking where a group discount applies (‘4 or more’ discount) may mean that the discount applied on booking will be forfeited, due to the qualifying criteria no longer being met. If the cancellation results in the qualifying criteria no longer being met then the total price payable for the remaining passengers on the booking will be adjusted, and any forfeited discount will be reclaimed through deduction in calculating any refund due to the cancelling passengers. The following cancellation policies apply: HIGHLAND EXPLORER TOURS. 2.3 Product Cancellations Cancellations from 45 days Full fee outside 45 days until full fee threshold threshold
Highland Explorer No Fee No Fee 24 hrs or less
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Tours - Day Tours 100% fee
* Upgrades and Add Ons do not qualify for a deposit payment and attract a 0% fee if cancelled with their connected product outside 45 days. 2.4 Private Group / Bespoke Tours – specific cancellation fees apply to each tour, the Operator will inform you of these prior to payment. A non-refundable deposit will be required at time of booking to cover any accommodation, third party supplier, meals and attraction costs. Where bookings include entrance fees to attractions, accommodation, involve accommodation upgrades or specific accommodation requests any cancellation fees incurred by the Operator will be passed on to you in addition to the standard Private Group / Bespoke Tour refund policy. 2.5 Any changes of departure date or tour within 45 days of departure but prior to the full fee threshold (as defined in clause 2) will incur an administration fee of 25 GBP, 45 AUD, 45 CAD, 30 EUR, 45 NZD, 45 USD, 400 ZAR per person per tour, subject to availability and charges in lieu of clauses 2.7 or 2.8 where the new departure date / tour must be immediately nominated. These changes may result in the loss of any special discounts applied to the originally booked Tours and are in addition to any fees that may be levied by your Travel Agent. 2.6 Tour changes to one of a lower value or seasonality will result in the loss of any special discounts applied to the originally booked tour and will be subject to an administration fee equivalent to the cancellation fee on the original tour booked. 2.7 Tour changes to one of higher value or seasonality will require the di erence in price to be paid. This may also result in the loss of any special discounts applied to the originally booked tours. 2.8 If the reason for your cancellation is covered under your insurance policy, you may be able to make a claim under that policy. 2.9 No name changes are permitted. 2.10 The Company reserves the right to cancel tours where the minimum number of passengers is not reached. Minimum number of passengers required for tour departure. In such cases, the Company’s liability to the Customer is either the full return of monies paid for the tour or provision of a suitable alternative tour as agreed with the Customer. Highland Explorer Tours is not liable for any cancellation or change cost or penalties incurred on other travel arrangements, including air travel, that may be a ected thereby. Highland Explorer Tours is not responsible for other travel arrangements that you or your party have made outside Highland Explorer Tours and which are a ected by our cancellations. Cancellation due to Force Majeure Events. 2.11 If Highland Explorer Tours cancels a trip as a result of a Force Majeure Event, Highland Explorer Tours will provide an alternative comparable trip (if available). If an alternative is not available you will be o ered a future travel credit or a refund. No compensation is payable in these circumstances. Where a trip is terminated mid-trip due to a Force Majeure event, if we provide you with any alternative services or assistance (such as hotels or travel) then you agree to pay for these costs. 3. Local Tours & Excursions 3.1 You may have the opportunity to purchase local tours or excursions from your Guide or Check-in Sta . These tours and excursions are run by local operators and will be subject to their terms and conditions. 3.2 Local tours and excursions purchased via Guides/Check-In sta are non-refundable. It is your responsibility to meet the tour at the designated departure point and time. Travel on local tours and excursions will only be permitted on presentation of the issued voucher to the named operator. 3.3 Local tour and excursion vouchers that are lost or stolen cannot be replaced. 3.4 Please note that prices printed in brochures are correct at the time of print and maybe subject to change. 4. Changes by The Operator 4.1 Prices in this brochure are based on costs and exchange rates at December 2020. Should these costs change it may be necessary to make a surcharge on the price of your tour. Should the total tour price increase by more than 10% you will have the right to cancel within 7 days of notification without penalty. 4.2 No surcharge in respect of costs or currency fluctuations will be made once payment of the deposit for your tour has been received. This guarantee excludes fuel surcharges and does not apply to any taxes, charges or levies imposed by any government or their agencies. In exchange for these guarantees, no refund will be made if costs are reduced. The surcharge will only be made where the increase in cost will a ect the price of the tour by more than 2%. 4.3 The Operator reserves the right to vary, modify or cancel any itinerary, either part or wholly. If this is necessary, they will substitute alternative arrangements of comparable value, or at the Operator’s discretion provide a full or partial refund. 4.4 If access to any country or area is prohibited for reasons of force majeure (i.e. circumstances such as political unrest, war or threat of war, riots, civil strife, closure of airports or ports, industrial disputes, terrorist activity, natural and nuclear disasters, fire, epidemic or health risk, Acts of God, adverse weather conditions or other similar events beyond the Operator’s control) the Operator reserves the right to amend or alter the product, or fully or partially withdraw the programme. If the Operator cannot o er suitable substitute services, you will be entitled to a refund (less reasonable expenses incurred by the Operator in respect of your booking). The amount of the refund will be calculated pro-rata based on used portion of the tour. 4.5 The Operator reserves the right to alter or substitute the type of vehicle mentioned in the brochure or websites. 5. Dispute Procedures 5.1 If you have a complaint in respect of any Operator, you should inform the Operator’s Representative at the time. Any complaint that cannot be resolved by the Representative should be submitted in writing within 28 days of the incident to The Customer Services Manager, Highland Explorer Tours, 60 High Street, Edinburgh, EH1 1TB, Scotland, United Kingdom so that your complaint can be passed to and then investigated by the Operator. The Operators will not consider complaints after the 28 day period from the end of your tour. 5.2 The contract and all matters arising in respect hereof shall be subject to Scots Law unless the Operator agrees otherwise in writing. 5.3 If any provision of this contract is held invalid or unenforceable by any court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be deemed to be rewritten to give e ect to the same purpose within the permitted limits of the law. The validity and enforceability of the other provisions shall not be a ected. 5.4 If you are unsuccessful in any legal action instituted against the Operator, you agree to pay all the Operator’s costs, including but not limited to attorney / client costs. 5.5 Our Guarantee Policy. Any Issues need to be raised whilst on tour to info@ highlandexplorertours.com or 0131 558 3738. If these issues are not resolved to your satisfaction a full refund will be awarded. 6. Contracting Parties 6.1 The booking conditions detailed herein contain the entire contract between you and the Operator. No representation, term, warranty or condition can be expressed or implied by reference to any other writing, advertisement or conversation. This contract may only be varied by a duly authorised o cer or Director of the Operator in writing. 6.2 Your contract is with the Operator. At any time, and at the Operator’s complete discretion, the Operator may nominate to you in writing any other company or person to have the benefit of some or all of those provisions of this contract, which the Operator may then specify, as if you had agreed the provisions concerned directly with that company or person in the first place as well as agreeing them with the Operator. The Operator may at its complete discretion assign all or any rights and liabilities arising under or by virtue of this or any other contract with you. 6.3 All bookings with carriers and other service providers are subject to their terms and conditions and limitations of liability. Please note that some of these limit or exclude liability in respect of death, personal injury, delay and loss or damage to baggage. Whilst the Operator cannot accept any responsibility for any loss as a result of such actions or as a result of any act or omission of any such third parties, the Operator will give reasonable assistance in helping to resolve any reasonable dispute. 6.4 Every e ort is made to ensure brochure accuracy at the time of going to print, however the Operator cannot be held responsible for printing and typographical errors, or errors arising from unforeseen circumstances. 7. Minimum Numbers The Company reserves the right to cancel extended (multi-day) and day tours where the minimum number of passengers is not reached. The minimum number of passengers required for tour departure is 6. In such cases, the Company’s liability to the Customer is either the full return of monies paid for the tour or provision of a suitable alternative tour as agreed with the Customer. 8. Validity The programmes, products and tours advertised on the website and brochure are valid from the operating season pertaining to each Operator as specified in the brochure and the Operator’s website, unless stated to the contrary. These Terms and Conditions supersede all previous Terms and Conditions issued and are valid for all reservations made on or after 21 December 2020, until replaced. 9. Your Responsibilities 9.1 COVID-19. An inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 exists in any public place where people are present. COVID19 is an extremely contagious disease that can lead to severe illness and death. We ask that you please take personal responsibility for your wellbeing. This begins with packing any personal protective equipment and sanitisers you require. Please adopt physical distancing and hygiene practices throughout your pre-trip travel arrangements and follow all health instructions whether physical signage, or requests from our professional sta , once you are holidaying with us. To travel with Highland Explorer Tours, you voluntarily assume all risks related to exposure to COVID19. Full details of hygiene protocols can be found on our website. 9.2 The tour products o ered are forms of transportation. For this reason the Operator’s representative cannot o er constant special attention or assistance should you have any physical disability requiring such attention. 9.3 Passengers must be aged 5 or over and be accompanied by a person 18 years or over. There is no upper age restriction. 9.4 Passengers with specific physical or medical requirements. We will try to accommodate any passenger on tour but due to the nature of the product, we are required to consider specific physical or medical requirements on a case by case basis. We also ask that all passengers familiarise themselves with our Accessibility Statement. We will do our best to accommodate any passenger who may have specific assistance requirements provided they are accompanied by a companion capable of providing such necessary assistance and do not require special assistance from the Operator’s personnel. Any medical or physical condition requiring third party attention or treatment must be advised in writing to our Reservations Team when the booking is made. We ask that any special requests or requirements concerning travel arrangements or accommodation also be made at time of booking to ensure we can provide the best service possible. If submitting such notification, it is your responsibility to ensure it is acknowledged with your booking confirmation. The Operator cannot guarantee travel in the absence of such an acknowledgement. We will pass on any reasonable requests to the relevant suppliers but cannot guarantee that your requests will be met. The fact that a special request has been noted on your confirmation invoice or on any other acknowledgement is not confirmation that the request will be met. Failure to meet any special requests will not be a breach of contract on our part unless the request has been specifically acknowledged and confirmed as guaranteed by our Operations Team. The Operator reserves the right to refuse to carry anyone if it is felt that the individual cannot cope with the requirements of the tour and who may require services and facilities that the Operator cannot guarantee will be available. The nature of the tours means that not every type of disability can be accommodated despite reasonable endeavour’s of the operator. Most tours involve getting on and o coaches, trains, boats or ferries, sitting for long periods on coaches without toilet facilities, walking and other physical activities which may involve steps and stairs at sightseeing stops, visitor attractions and accommodation units. Coaches are not adapted to carry wheelchairs and do not have ramps, lift or low floor access. Collapsible wheelchairs can generally be carried in the luggage hold but you must check in advance with our Reservations Team to ensure that this is the case for your tour. The Operator cannot carry any motorised wheelchairs under any circumstances. You agree not to hold the Operator responsible for any decision made by them or by any service provider to refuse to carry you, provide any facilities or accommodation to you, or to provide any service to you in the absence of written acknowledgement and acceptance of your special request or of your specific assistance needs from our Reservations Team. Please note that 100% cancellation charges would apply in these circumstances. 9.5 It is your responsibility to have a valid passport and all necessary visas, permits and certificates on your person for your selected itinerary, to have all necessary vaccinations and to comply with applicable laws. Schengen Visas – it is your responsibility to have your passport stamped on entry to the European Union. The Operator will not allow you to travel if you do not have a valid visa for your destination. The Operator will not allow you to travel without a valid passport. 9.6 You agree to comply with the authority of the Operator’s representative and the laws and regulations of the countries visited, including customs and foreign exchange restrictions. If you do not do so, you may, at the discretion of the Operator’s representative, be asked to leave the tour. No refunds will be issued in such circumstances. 9.7 You agree that the Operators’ representatives may take photographs and video recordings of you while you are a passenger. These may be used in the Operator’s brochures and/or advertising and publicity material (including social media) without obtaining any further consent or payment in respect of such photographs and/or films. 9.8 You agree that the Operator may use any text written in comments books, recorded in customer surveys or input to online forums, in brochures, websites and/or advertising and publicity material without obtaining any further consent or payment in respect of comments. 9.9 There may be times when the Operator’s personnel and/or representatives have to make a decision in the interests of safety. It is a condition of booking that you comply with the authority and decisions of the appointed representative of the Operator. If you do not comply with the said representative or are not compatible with the general enjoyment and well-being of members of the tour, the Operator reserves the right to refuse to allow you to continue the tour. In such a case the Operator will not be liable for any refund, compensation or any additional costs incurred by you. The Operator cannot accept liability for the behaviour of others on your tour nor if any facilities are curtailed as a result of their actions. 9.10 The Operators do not tolerate any form of abuse, verbal or otherwise, of its personnel. Any person abusing or threatening the Operator’s personnel or associated representatives will automatically forfeit their right to onward travel. 9.11 You are responsible for looking after your personal belongings whilst travelling. The Operator cannot be held responsible for any personal belongings left behind or damaged on any tour irrespective of the circumstances. 9.12 It is the responsibility of the individual passenger and authorised Travel Agent on the passenger’s behalf, to check the accuracy of dates booked upon receipt of their Booking Statement confirming ‘Full Payment’. 9.13 If you paid a Student price on booking, you will be required to prove this entitlement at check-in for each departure by exhibiting a valid ISIC, ISE or ITIC student card or Student Flights ID Card. Should you not be able to do this, you will be charged the di erence between the full tour price and the student discounted price in addition to an administration fee of 25 GBP / 45 AUD / 45 CAD / 45 NZD /45 USD /30 EUR /400ZAR. 9.14 The Operator has a zero tolerance policy on possession of illegal drugs or substances. Any passenger deemed to have breached this condition by the Operator will automatically forfeit their right to onward travel and any associated refund. 9.15 By booking a trip that includes Multi-share accommodation, you acknowledge that the Operator and / or its representatives is unable to confirm if the room allocation is single gender. 9.16 Safety. Where the guest occupies a motor coach seat fitted with a safety belt, neither Highland Explorer Tours or the Operator nor its agents or co-operating organisations or service providers will be liable for any injury, illness or death or for any loss or damages or claims whatsoever arising from any accident or incident, if the safety belt is not being worn at the time of such an accident or incident. This exclusion and limitation of liability shall not be used to imply that the Operator or its agents or a liated entities are liable in other circumstances 10. Highland Explorer Tours - Operating Company All Highland Explorer Tours are operated by: - Radical Travel Group Limited Atholl Exchange, 6 Canning Street, Edinburgh EH3 8EG. Registered in Scotland No 136334. 10.1 A selection of local Operators provide additional services across tours advertised in this brochure. For a full set of details and their respective terms and conditions please refer to HighlandExplorerTours.com. 11. Data Protection Statement Please be assured that we have measures in place to protect the personal booking information held by us. This information will be passed on to the principal and to the relevant suppliers of your travel arrangements. The information may also be provided to public authorities such as customs or immigration if required by them, or as required by law. Certain information may also be passed on to security or credit checking companies. We will only pass your information on to persons responsible for your travel arrangements. This applies to any sensitive information that you give to us such as details of any disabilities, or dietary/religious requirements. (If we cannot pass this information to the relevant suppliers we will be unable to provide your booking. In making this booking, you consent to this information being passed on to the relevant persons). Where the data might be passed on for marketing purposes, you have the right to opt out of future marketing. You also have a right of access to data held which can be obtained by writing to Radical Travel Group Limited, Atholl Exchange, 6 Canning Street, Edinburgh EH3 8EG. Further detail and our full Privacy Policy can be found on our website. Please see HighlandExplorerTours.com 12. Terms and Conditions For a full expanded list of our Terms and Conditions please see HighlandExplorerTours.com