GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The tour participant(s) acknowledge receiving, reading and agreeing to the terms and conditions set forth below, covering the tour packages operated by Tourcom International Inc., the Operator, 53 Condict St., Jersey City, NJ, Phone (201) 395 9401.

TOUR PRICES: Prices may include land-only or air and land packages based on the tour selected. The validity periods of land prices are indicated with each tour. After the indicated validity period, the Operator reserves the right to adjust the rates accordingly. Also, the Operator reserves the right to pass on any increases received from hotels, ground transportation companies, government taxes, local guides, escorts, or other similar services. Air fares are subject to change but can be guaranteed when paid in full. Please note that, in case of a human or computer billing error, we reserve the right to re-invoice for the correct amount. A full refund will be made to passengers not wishing to pay increases provided that the passenger's written cancellation is received by Tourcom within 5 days after price increase notification.

CRUISE FARES: Include cruise accommodation from point of embarkation plus meals and entertainment on board as indicated for each cruise line. Not included are port charges, shore excursions, gratuities and personal expenditures such as laundry, beverages, mineral water (unless explicitly indicated in the cruise program), medical expenses, expenditures incurred on shore and other personal items. Because no lifeguard is provided, swimming off the vessels is at the passengers' own risk.

RESERVATIONS AND PAYMENTS: For package tours a deposit of $300 per person and for cruises and cruise-tours 25% of the fare is due within 5 working days from time of booking. Full and final payment is due 90 days prior to departure. For reservations made within 90 days of departure date, full payment must be made within 24 hours. No request will be put into action until a deposit is received. If full payment is not received within the specified time, Tourcom has the right to cancel the booking. Payments received less than 30 days prior to departure must be made by certified check or wire transfer.

HOTELS: Hotels are classified by the Operator using government ratings. The Operator reserves the right to make substitutions with hotels of similar or higher ratings. Accommodations are based on two persons sharing a twin bedded room with private bath or shower at the hotel selected or similar. A single room may be provided at an additional supplement. Rooms are assigned upon arrival based on current availability and may vary in size and location. Generally triple rooms consist of two beds with a rollaway set up for a third person. This may not be comfortable for some travelers. In the event a hotel substitution becomes necessary a comparable class of hotel will be provided, however amenities may not be the same. Air conditioning is available at most 4 star or higher hotels. However, foreign air conditioning
does not necessarily conform to US standards.

MEALS: Continental or buffet breakfast daily at your hotel are always included. Lunch and/or dinner at selected popular restaurants or hotels, are only included as specified in the itinerary.

TOUR PARTICIPANTS: On Group Package Tours we do not accept children under 8 years because we have found that they are too young to enjoy touring. On Independent Tours there is no age limit. Land arrangements for infants under 2 years are free of charge, providing parents pay directly to hotels for food, crib, etc. Handicapped participants who require special assistance must be accompanied by a qualified helper who assumes total responsibility for the handicapped participant's well being. To assure congenial membership, Tourcom reserves the right to accept or reject any person as a tour participant and to expel from the tour any participant whose conduct is deemed incompatible with the interest of the touring group.

TOUR DOCUMENTS: Tour documents, including airline tickets, are sent out one to two weeks prior to departure date, provided payment in full has been received.

SIGHTSEEING AND ITINERARIES: Sightseeing is included as per the itinerary and is under the direction of licensed local guides where required. Entrance fees to all places visited are included, where indicated. During holidays some sightseeing places such as museums may be closed or unavailable for visits. Tourcom reserves the right to vary the sequence of sightseeing and/or to re-route the order of cities should circumstances demand it. In either case, all sightseeing and cities will be included as per the itinerary, only the order would change. If there are any optional excursions that are offered during the tour, your tour guide will advise you about them. They must be purchased locally (cannot be charged on credit cards). There are no refunds for any unused portion of these excursions.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS FOR CRUISES: Although cruise itinerary is almost always followed as indicated, respective cruise lines reserve the right to alter the itinerary of any cruise, if, for any reason, this becomes necessary or desirable. Times of arrival and departure at the various ports of call are given as a guide and it cannot be guaranteed that they will be strictly adhered to. Omitting a port of call or making required changes in itinerary does not entitle passengers to any claims or refunds. Cruise lines reserve the right to cancel any cruise, with or without notice, in which case the full fare will be refunded. If necessary, itinerary may be changed and vessel substituted, before or after commencement of cruise. In both of these cases, no refund is due to the passenger unless justified by the type of new accommodation offered. Fares are established in accordance with the exchange rate and fuel prices at the time of printing, and they are subject to change without notice.

TOUR SERVICES: If the services included in the tour cannot be supplied, or there are changes in an itinerary for reasons beyond our control, Operator will arrange for the provision of comparable services. Any resulting additional expense will be payable by tour participants; likewise, any resulting savings will be refunded to the tour participants by Operator.

 

GROUND TRANSPORTATION: Is provided by private, air-conditioned motorcoach or other conveyance as specified in the itinerary.

TRANSFERS: On Group Package Tours including air, round-trip transfers are included where specified, from airports, piers and railroad stations to hotels. For other land-only and Group Package Tour passengers extending pre- and post-tour dates, or deviating from set schedule, transfers are included only if stated so in the itinerary. But if not included, may be provided at a supplement. Likewise for passengers not arriving on designated flights, transfers between airport and hotels are at passenger's own expense.

BAGGAGE HANDLING: Is included at hotels only on Group Package Tours, and includes handling of one normal size suitcase per person. We strongly recommend that you purchase insurance.

PASSPORT/VISA: US citizens require a valid US passport. Visa is required for US citizens visiting Turkey, and this can be obtained either from Turkish Consulates or upon arrival at the airport. Non- citizens should consult their travel agent or consulate of the destination country.

INSURANCE: Health, accident, luggage and trip cancellation/interruption insurance is strongly recommended.

CLAIMS: Typewritten claims must be received within 30 days after scheduled return date.

CANCELLATION POLICY: Group Package Tours (not including cruise-tours): refunds will be made in full up to 60 days prior to departure, less a $50 per person handling fee. Cancellations received less than 60 days prior to departure are subject to the following scale of charges per person: 60-45 days before departure: $200. 44-21 days before departure: $100 plus 15% of total costs. 20-7 days before departure: $100 plus 50% of total costs. 6 days or less before departure: No Refund. No refunds will be made on any unused portion of the tour package. Air and land packages are based on non-refundable airfares. Once the air ticket has been issued its full value will be added to all the preceding penalty charges. Cruises and Cruise Tours: refunds will be made in full up to 60 days prior to departure, less a $50 per person handling fee. Cancellations received less than 60 days prior to departure are subject to the following scale of charges per person: 59-40 days before departure: $100 plus 25% of total costs. 39-15 days before departure: $100 plus 50% of total costs. 14 days or less before departure: No Refund. No refunds will be made on any unused portion of the cruise.
Air Tickets: In addition to the air fare non-refundability indicated in the previous paragraph, other air fares used in conjunction with Tourcom ground services may result in penalties for cancellation. Consult your travel agent or the airline for the applicable penalties and/or restrictions.
To avoid incurring these various charges, the purchase of insurance is strongly recommended. Should Operator cancel a departure for any reason whatsoever, including insufficient number of participants, full refund will be made.

RESERVATION CHANGES: Due to the expenses incurred in making changes, a $25 fee will be assessed for each change made up to 30 days before departure on deposited bookings. Additional fees will be charged for each change made less than 30 days before departure. This includes changes made to passenger name, hotel, and air or ground transportation. A change of tour date within 30 days of departure is treated as a cancellation. Also, changes to air portion may be subject to additional charges.

NOT INCLUDED: Arrival and departure transfers for land-only passengers if not indicated in the itinerary, transportation between home city and airport or porterage at US gateways, air transportation (except for air and land packages), airport taxes, custom fees, immigration fees, agricultural fees, and any other charges/fees imposed at airports, passport and visa fees, tips to tour guides and motorcoach drivers are not included. Phone calls, laundry service and items of a personal nature, or sightseeing, services or meals other than those specifically mentioned in the respective itinerary page are also not included. For exclusions during cruises please see the above paragraph on cruise fares.

PROMOTION: Tourcom reserves the right to take photographs or videos during the operation of any tour or part thereof, and to use the resulting photography for promotional purposes. By booking a reservation with Tourcom, tour members agree to allow their image to be used in such photography, unless they withdraw their consent in written form during booking.

AIRLINE RESPONSIBILITY: The carriers concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time passengers are not on board their conveyances. The airline passenger tickets, when issued, shall be the sole contract between airline and buyer/passenger of these tickets.

RESPONSIBILITY: This program is arranged by Tourcom International, your tour operator. It has made the travel arrangements as intermediary or agent for the transportation carrier and other suppliers of services connected with the tour, all of which are independent contractors. Tourcom in no way owns, or operates or maintains control over the vehicles or facilities to be used during the tour and assumes no responsibility for the negligent acts and or omissions of these independent contractors, their employees, agents or representatives. The tour participant agrees that the Operator shall not be liable for any damage, loss including personal injury, death, and property loss or expense occasioned by any act or omission of any supplier providing tour services or of any other person. All bookings are accepted subject to the conditions imposed by these independent contractors and Tourcom will make no refund in the event of delay, cancellation, overbooking, strike or force majeure. Tourcom International is not responsible for Any typographical or printing errors found in this brochure.

FORUM SELECTION CLAUSE: Legal proceedings concerning the trip, including accommodations or any other services booked through Tourcom, may be instituted only within the State of New Jersey and only within one year of tour completion. New Jersey law will be applicable to any and all such proceeding.