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.
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 U.S. Tour Escort throughout their tour. For other tours, please see appropriate notes at the bottom of each itinerary. Note: Late evening departures are counted as a night in the publication of our tours when hotel check-out is after 12:00 Noon.
Sequence of Tour Programs
During periods of conventions, congresses, holidays (Dec 20–Jan 10), 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. Tours that operate during holiday periods may necessitate changes in hotels and sightseeing. As museum schedules change, other visits may be substituted on days museums are closed.Transfers and Porterage
Transfers to/from airports and hotels, trains are included as specified in the published itinerary, provided passengers’ days of arrival and departure coincide with their published tours. Due to government and international regulations, porters may not be allowed inside the customs and security areas of the airport. Luggage carts will be available for passengers to proceed to the awaiting vehicle.
General Air Information
Air Transportation
Orient Flexi-Pax Tours will provide air transportation in conjunction with 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 and are subject to change and availability until such time that the ticket is booked and paid for. Due to these special contracted net agreements, supplements or credits for air deviations may not be equal to published airfare differentials. “Land Only” packages are available. Should airline schedule changes result in a necessity to alter the land arrangements, any additional expense must be borne by the passenger.
Domestic Transportation in India, Nepal, Dubai & Bhutan
Arrangements for domestic air, railroad or boat 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 Reissuance
Any changes to an air reservation resulting in the reissue of airline tickets will be subject to a reissuance 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
Most trans-Pacific/Atlantic flights allow two checked bags per person with neither to exceed 62 inches. Total dimensions of both bags not to exceed 102 inches, plus one carry-on bag not to exceed 39”. As these allow-ances may vary according to the carrier and particularly for flights within India, Nepal, Dubai & Bhutan, we strongly recommend that passengers limit themselves to one suitcase (44 pounds) plus a carry-on. Any excess is at the passenger’s own expense. Baggage insurance is highly recommended, as we cannot be held responsible for lost or damaged luggage or personal items.
Booking Procedures
Deposits
All Tours: A deposit of $350 per person together with optional insurance (see right side of page) 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.
Important: Reservations are not considered firm until deposit is received or they will be automatically canceled. 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 payments for all tours. Credit card charges will not be processed without a signed universal credit form and credit card imprint.
Change Fee
Subsequent to initial reservation, a $25 change fee will be imposed, per booking for each revision.
Cancellation Penalties Per Person, Prior to Departure
All Tours (Except "Elite" Series):
Elite Series:
Additional penalties may be imposed by hotels during Christmas & New Year period.
Additional penalties for airline tickets may be incurred per individual carrier’s rules and regulations. We recommend the purchase of Trip Cancellation Insurance to cover Cancellation Fees. Insurance premiums are nonrefundable. 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 leisure traveler 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 India, Nepal, Dubai & Bhutan. Nationals of countries other than the USA 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 which 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. (Restrictions vary for Business Travelers; please ask for updated information from the visa service company.)
Health Requirements
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 (C.D.C.) at 404-639-3534 or at their website www.cdc.gov.travel for updated information.
Our Prices Do Not Include:
Tips
Tipping information will be outlined in our final documents.
Airport Taxes, Customs & Immigration Fees
These are not included.
Personal Items
Passports, visas, travel insurance, beverages, after-dinner coffees and teas and all other items of a personal nature are not included.
Responsibility
The Travel Agent and Tour Operators, Orient Flexi-Pax Tours/Isram Travel Ltd., act as agents for the companies they represent, and in consequence accept no responsibility for accidents, damages, baggage losses, and/or delays due to strikes, weather, acts of God, acts of governments or authorities, wars (declared or undeclared), criminal acts committed by third parties, hostilities, civil disturbances, riots, theft, pilferage or to faults or defaults of any company used for carrying out these tours. In the event it becomes necessary or advisable, for the comfort or well-being of the passengers, or for any reason whatsoever, to alter the itinerary or arrangements, such alterations may be made without penalty to the Operator. Additional expenses, if any, shall be borne by the passengers. No refund can be made for the absence from the tour unless arrangements are made at the time of booking. The right is also reserved for the Tour Operator, at its absolute discretion, to refuse or cancel any person or persons at any time, without being under obligation to assign a reason therefore. In the event of exercise of this right, the Tour Operator shall be under no liability to that person or persons save to refund such amount as the Tour Operator, in its un-controlled discretion, thinks reasonable to attribute to the uncompleted portion. The airlines, rail and steamship companies concerned are not to be held responsible for any acts, omissions, or events during the time passengers are not on board their aircraft and/or vessels. The passage contract in use by the companies concerned, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the company and the purchase of these tours, and/or the passengers. Any dispute arising out of these tours will be settled in the courts of the City of New York.
Responsibility: Neither Air India nor any other ARC or IATA carrier shall be liable for any loss, damage, injury, accident, delay or irregularities which may be occasioned by reason of defect or through the act or omissions of any person or company performing or rendering the services other than carriage by air, described in this tour brochure. By utilizing the services of the suppliers, you agree that neither OFPT nor any subsidiary or affiliate of OFPT shall be liable for any injury, damage, loss, accident or delay incurred by you or those traveling with you in connection with any accommodations, transportation or other services resulting directly or indirectly from any acts or default of the suppliers or from any occurrence or condition beyond the control of OFPT, including defects in vehicles or breakdown in equipment. Nor shall OFPT be liable for any injury, damage, loss, accident or delay resulting directly or indirectly from delays, cancellations or changes in flights, itineraries, schedules, ships or other services, strikes, theft, sickness, weather, quarantine, acts of war or other causes.
Prices presented in this brochure are based on currency exchange rates in effect May 2008. 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.
EFFECTIVE OCTOBER 2008 - SEPTEMBER 2009
VALUABLE TRAVEL INSURANCE FOR ONLY $165 PER PERSON
Schedule of Coverages
THIS IS A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PLAN. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION ASK FOR THE TRAVEL INSURANCE CERTIFICATE WHICH FULLY DETAILS THE COVERAGES, PROVISIONS, LIMITATIONS AND EXCLUSIONS OF THE INSURANCE OFFERED AND IS AVAILABLE TO YOU, UPON REQUEST, AT ANY TIME PRIOR TO YOUR PURCHASE OF THE PLAN.
COVERAGE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
Certain exclusions and limitations apply and are detailed in the Travel Insurance Certificate. For example, coverage does not apply to: any Sickness or condition of you, a Traveling Companion or an Immediate Family Member traveling with you that existed during the 60 days prior to the effective date of the coverages; (this exclusion is waived if your premium is received within 7 days of your initial deposit/payment for your Trip and you are not disabled from travel at the time your premium is received) suicide; normal pregnancy; war or any act of war; mental or nervous disorders. Other Covered Events, as defined, includes the following events or their consequences: 1) Post-Departure Trip Interruption due to cancellation of arrangements by an airline, cruise line, or tour operator due to strike, mechanical breakdown or bad weather (maximum of $100 per day/$500 total) or 2) cancellation or interruption of your Trip due to: a documented traffic accident while en route to departure; jury duty; destruction of your residence by a natural disaster; a documented theft of passports or visas; or a Terrorist Act which occurs in your departure city or in a city which is a scheduled destination for your Trip provided the Terrorist Act occurs within 30 days of the Scheduled Departure Date and your premium is received within 7 days of the initial deposit/payment for your Trip. A Traveling Companion is defined as a person booked to share accommodations in the same room with you during your Trip. Sickness or Injury must commence while the Travel Protection Plan is in effect for you. This plan does not cover a loss that results from an illness, disease, or other condition (of you, an Immediate Family Member, Traveling Companion or Business Partner), event or circumstance which occurs at a time when this policy is not in effect for you.
This plan is underwritten by: Stonebridge Casualty Insurance Company, Columbus, OH. This policy is administered by: Trip Mate*, 9225 Ward Parkway, Suite 200, Kansas City, MO 64114, 800-888-7292 (*In CA, dba Trip Mate Insurance Agency). 464-03