HOTELS
Twin and/or double bedded, run-of-house rooms (unless specific room category is indicated) with private facilities. Tour Operator reserves the right to substitute hotels of similar category. Standard check-out time from hotels is 12:00 Noon. Guests checking out later are charged a full night?s rate. Standard check-in time is 2:00pm?3:00pm.
Meals
Meals are provided, as indicated on each itinerary. When at hotels, meals are table d?hote and limited to specific dining rooms. All meals are included on Yangtze River Cruise.
Yangtze River Cruises
All accommodations are standard cabins aboard the Victoria Cruises. In the event that the cruise boat is not available due to reasons beyond our control, the right is reserved to substitute with another vessel.
Tours & Transfers
Sightseeing
By comfortable car, minibus or motorcoach including the services of English- speaking guides. Groups of minimum 15 air and land paying passengers, traveling on the same itinerary, will be escorted by an OFPT Tour Manager throughout their tour. On tours that are ?guaranteed,? if the group size falls below 15 participants, tour will be locally hosted in each city.
Please Note: Tours that are “guaranteed” may, during certain seasons, operate with fewer passengers than what would normally constitute a “group.” While many passengers consider this a definite advantage, there are others who do prefer to travel in larger groups. We will be happy to advise you of the approximate number of passengers booked on your tour, if you contact us 30 days in advance of your departure. However, please bear in mind that often the passenger count may fluctuate up until arrival date in each destination.
Sequence of Tour Programs
During periods of conventions, congresses, holidays, special events and any unforeseen circumstances, the Tour Operator may have to make last minute changes (subsequent to issuance of “final itinerary”) in the sequence of the tour.
Transfers and Porterage
Transfers to/from airports, hotels, trains/ports and border crossings are included as specified in the published itinerary, provided passengers? days of arrival and departure coincide with their published tours. Alterations to the itineraries are subject to supplements for private taxi services, or airport shuttle bus transportation. Due to government and international regulations, porters may not be allowed inside the customs and security areas of the airport.
Deviations
Any deviations (when possible) from the scheduled tours are subject to additional surcharges.
General Air Information
Air Transportation
Orient Flexi-Pax Tours will provide air transportation in conjunction with all land tours, based on the lowest applicable airfares on all IATA and participating carriers, subject to the rules and regulations of the class, fare and service of the individual airline. Tours that are published inclusive of air utilize contracted net fares in effect at time of printing (Jan 2010) and are subject to change. Any additional fuel surcharge by airlines must be borne by the passengers. Due to these special contracted net agreements, supplements or credits for air deviations may not be equal to published airfare differentials. “Land Only” is available. Should airline schedule changes result in a necessity to alter the land arrangements, any additional expenses must be borne by the passenger.
Domestic Transportation
Some arrangements for domestic air, railroad or steamship transportation are made by the ground operator and may necessitate last minute changes for reasons beyond our control. Airline tickets for domestic flights along with final flight schedules will be given to passengers locally by our ground operator.
Air Ticket Re-issuance
Any changes to an air reservation resulting in the re-issue of airline tickets will be subject to a $300 & up re-issuance fee, plus special delivery charges.
Airport Taxes
Most foreign airports impose an embarkation or departure tax which cannot be prepaid and is not included in our rates. This tax, when applicable, is payable in U.S. Dollars or local currency upon checking in for the departure flight.
Baggage
Due to changing airline regulations with regard to checked baggage, we suggest that you check with the airlines (both domestic and international) for the latest up-to-date baggage allowance. Excess baggage charges are the sole responsibility of the passenger. Touring vehicles allow for one standard size suitcase plus one carry-on per person
Baggage insurance is highly recommended, as we cannot be held responsible for lost or damaged luggage or personal items. Only 1 suitcase per person plus a carry-on bag is permitted on all tours.
Deposits: All Tours & Cruise/Train Programs
A deposit of $350 per person together with optional insurance (see page 107) must be received within 10 days of booking date. The balance is due not later than 60 days prior to departure. Late payments may result in higher airfares and additional charges. Photocopies of valid passport must be sent with deposit. During heavily booked periods, suppliers may require additional or full payment in advance of the normal due date in order to guarantee materialization of the room/cabins. Cancellation and/or penalty conditions may also be revised at such time. You will be individually advised should such circumstances arise which is beyond our control.
Important: Reservations are not considered firm until deposit is received or they will be automatically cancelled.
Travel documents will be sent 2 weeks prior to departure. Late payments may necessitate overnight delivery of documents, an expense that must be borne by the passenger.
Credit Card Payments
Major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, Discover Card and American Express) are accepted for all tours. Credit card charges will not be processed without a signed authorization form and credit card copy.
Change Fee
Subsequent to initial reservation, a $25 change fee will be imposed, per booking for each revision. Once final documents have been issued, a $50 processing fee will apply per booking.
Cancellation Penalties
Per Person, Per Person, Prior to Departure
ALL TOURS (Except “Elite Travel Collection”)
ELITE TRAVEL COLLECTION
Additional penalties and/or specific despoit requirements may be imposed by hotels during Christmas & New Year period. Additional penalties for airline tickets/train tickets and cruises may be incurred.
We recommend the purchase of Trip Cancellation Insurance to cover Cancellation Fees.
Unused Services
Once travel has commenced, no refunds will be made for any unused services on any tour. Should a medical emergency interrupt your tour, any refund secured on your behalf will be subject to a $45 processing fee in addition to any applicable charges imposed by the suppliers. Refund requests in such cases must be approved, documented and submitted not later than 30 days after trip returns.
Visa/Passports
Every participant on our tours must be in possession of a passport valid for at least six months AFTER date of return.
All passengers must be in possession of visas for China, Myanmar, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Indonesia, Bhutan, Dubai and Oman. Nationals of countries other than the U.S.A. must check with the respective consulates of the countries they are planning to visit for the necessary visa requirements. In order to simplify the issuance of visas, OFPT will provide a visa information kit, utilizing a visa service company that your travel agent may contact directly. All fees for visas are not included in the cost of your tour and must be paid directly to the visa service company.
The Tour Operator is not responsible for the refusal of visas by Consular offices and normal cancellation charges will apply.
Currently, none of the countries included in our itineraries require a certification of vaccination if originating from North America. However, as this is subject to change, please contact the Center for Disease Control at (404) 639-3534, or their website at www.cdc.gov/travel.
For tours including Tibet and Bhutan (due to the high elevation) please confirm with your physician that you are in good health and able to tolerate the extremely high altitude before reserving this tour. Passengers with history of high blood pressure or heart conditions cannot participate.
Passengers with Special Needs:
Tour programs listed in this brochure require participants to be in stable and good physical and mental health, confident in their ability to undertake all activities on the tour chosen, in order to thoroughly enjoy the travel experience.
Due to safety issues, it is requested that physical disabilities of any kind be advised at time of reservation. It is understood that passengers requiring special attention or treatment will be traveling with a companion. As most tours visit areas with high temperatures during several months of the traveling season and often involve walking on unleveled terrain, wheelchair participants or those with physical limitations would not benefit from these programs due to the special pace required to complete the activities set for each day.
Our travel experts will be very helpful in determining alternative travel arrangements by Private Car suitable to your special needs. A traveling companion is always required for wheelchair passengers in private cars. A supplement for wheelchair rental applies. Guide in Private car will not be able to handle the wheelchair during the tour, except with the loading and unloading into the vehicle.
On all Orient Flexi-Pax Tour programs, we reserve the right to terminate the tour of any persons who we find are disruptive to the rest of the participants or to the smooth operation of the tour.
Our Prices Do Not Include:
Tips
Tipping information will be outlined in our final documents.
Airport Taxes, Customs & Immigration Fees
These are not included.
Passports
Passports, visas, travel insurance, beverages, after-dinner coffees and teas and all other items of a personal nature are not included.
Insurance
We recommend that you purchase adequate and comprehensive travel insurance before departure. Neither Orient Flexi-Pax Tours nor your travel agent is responsible for loss or damage to luggage, accidents en route or ill health that may require you to miss part of your trip or your return to the U.S.A. with the group.
Note: The Travel Protection Plan may not be purchased after final payment is made. Insurance premiums are non-refundable.
Responsibility
The Travel Agent and/or Tour Operators, Orient Flexi-Pax Tours and its representatives abroad, act only as agents for the various companies, owners or contractors providing the means of transportation, accommodation and other services. Orient Flexi-Pax Tours, does not own, manage, control, promote, run or operate any transportation or recreational vehicle, motel, hotel, restaurant, or any supplier of services. All exchange orders, coupons and tickets are offered subject to the General Information under which such services are offered or provided. Orient Flexi-Pax Tours and its representatives assume no liability with respect to any negligence or malfeasances by third-party service providers, whether during the course of the provision of transportation, hotel, and other accommodation services, or otherwise, and are not responsible for any personal injury, illness, or property damage or any other loss or expense whatsoever arising directly or indirectly from the actions of third-party service providers or their individual agents in connection with a tour. Further, by participating in an Orient Flexi-Pax Tours tour, you are bound by our rules and you participate in the activities of the tour at your own risk. Orient Flexi-Pax Tours assumes no responsibility at all and no liability at all for any death, injury, illness, quarantine, sickness, diseases, natural disaster, damage, loss, delay, accident, expense, defect or any other abnormality which may result from your participation in any activity during the tour. The aforesaid Orient Flexi-Pax Tours and/or their agents can accept no responsibility for losses or accidental expenses due, as well, to delays or changes in schedules or departures, hotel overbookings, sickness, weather, strikes, war, quarantines, riots or insurrections or criminal acts committed by third parties, defaults, political disorders of any type, or other such similar causes. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger. Each exchange coupon, order and ticket is to be regarded as one contracted on or in behalf of the particular company or person named in it. The passenger contract in use by the airline or steamship company concerned, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract of air or steamship passage with the purchases of these tours and/or the Passenger. The airline companies concerned are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not on board their planes or conveyances. The right is reserved to withdraw any tour announced in this Program and to make such alterations to the itineraries as may be found desirable for the proper carrying out of the tours. In the event it becomes necessary or advisable in the Tour Operator’s discretion to alter the arrangements or itineraries for the passenger’s comfort or welfare for any reason whatsoever, such alterations may be made without penalty to the Operator. Additional expenses, if any, shall be borne by the Passengers. The right is reserved to decline, to accept, or retain any person as a member of any group at any time. This program is issued on the sole responsibility of the Tour Operator. It is not issued on behalf of and does not commit any Airline whose services are used in the course of the tours.
It is agreed by and between the passenger(s) and Orient Flexi-Pax Tours that all disputes and matters whatever arising under, in connection with or incident to this agreement shall be litigated, if at all, in and before a court located in The City of New York, New York State, U.S.A., to the exclusion of the courts of any other city, state or country. The issuance and acceptance of tickets and/or other documents in connection with a tour is considered acceptance of the above terms.
Special Notice: Delays, cancellations and overbookings may occur on air flights, cruises, and land reservations by the participating carriers and hotels. While Orient Flexi-Pax Tours will do everything possible to avoid these inconveniences, it cannot and will not assume responsibility for the respective carriers and hotels. While every attempt is made to provide for accuracy in the inclusions and pricing of the programs featured, Orient Flexi-Pax Tours reserves the right to correct any misprints or price updates in its publications with written notice to the traveler. Any correction shall be made at least 30 days prior to the day of departure. In the event that a correction entails additional cost or curtailed services, the traveler will be offered the opportunity to cancel the travel.
Prices presented in this brochure are based on currency exchange rates in effect October 2009. All suppliers of services reserve the right to increase rates due to currency fluctuations which may necessitate a change to the price of your services.
ISRAMWORLD ©2010 All Rights Reserved. The Itineraries and Programs described herein are unique and proprietary to ISRAMWORLD and any misappropriation of same is strictly forbidden.
How to Book: Orient Flexi-Pax Tours believes that your travel needs can best be served by booking your arrangements through a professional travel agent. Have your travel agent call weekdays between 9am–7pm (Eastern Time) for reservations and/or information: (800) 545-5540.
Validity Dates: Apr 1, 2010–Mar 31, 2011