TERMS AND CONDITIONS - Taormina Tours
Updated April 10th, 2020
Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Terms and Conditions
Given the recent outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19), we realize that across the world we are experiencing unprecedented times at the moment and although that probably feels like an overused sentence, right now it doesn’t make it any less true.
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In order to help travel agencies and tour operators in one of the most serious crises, the Italian government gives them ample flexibility on how to deal with cancelations and refund requests with Law Decree No. 9/2020 on March 2nd, 2020.
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TourofSicily/Chat & Tour srl is offering a credit voucher for 100% of the value spent that can be used until December 2022.
We will always encourage you to keep traveling and keep exploring the world. We understand the uncertainty that coronavirus (COVID-19) brings for your travel plans and we want to be as flexible as we can in order to help you out.
Coronavirus (COVID-19) – Booking Safe Policy
Day Tours / Transfer Tours / Shore excursions (private or shared)
Change my Plans
Put your trip with TourofSicily/Chat & Tour srl on hold. By doing so, you can leave the start date of your adventure open, to be set at a later date of your choice once travel restrictions due to the coronavirus have been lifted. Receive travel credit for 100% of the amount you have paid so far, to be used towards any TourofSicily product. Travel must start before Dec 2022.
An extra 5% of the amount you have already paid, will be discounted if the amount of the new Booking will be equivalent or higher compare the one cancelled
Multi Day Tours
Change My Plans – customers with already existing reservations
Put your trip with TourofSicily on hold. By doing so, you can leave the start date of your adventure open, to be set at a later date of your choice once travel restrictions due to the coronavirus have been lifted. We will be offering 100% travel credit based on the amount you have already paid, to be used until 31 December 2022 on any TourofSicily travel experience.
An extra 10% of the amount you have already paid, will be discounted if the amount of the new Booking will be equivalent or higher compare the one cancelled
Flexible Deposit – new customers
Book now and pay the rest later! By paying a fully refundable 20% deposit upfront, you can secure your spot at this year’s pricing and lock in your travel dates for any of our Vacation Packages. Then, simply pay off the remaining balance at least 60 days prior to the start of your trip.
Passengers who make a new booking under this flexible policy will be permitted to change the start dates of their booked adventure free of charge if done at least 60 days before the start date of your departure subject to availability. This policy can be used once per passenger. Further tour or date changes after the first rebooking are subject to standard terms and conditions.
This policy does not entitle the passenger to a full refund. This policy does not apply to Airfare. Admission fees or Insurance. Any airline change or cancellation fees are solely the responsibility of the traveler and are subject to airline policies. No refunds will be provided in respect of any visas, travel insurance, or vaccines, which are solely the responsibility of the traveler,as well as for Admission fee to the Historical and archaeological sites.
TourofSicily/CHAT AND TOUR SRL reserves the right to withdraw this policy at any time without prior notice and to correct any errors, inaccuracies or omissions at any time without prior notice or liability. We reserves the right to cancel any booking due to unauthorized, altered, ineligible, or fraudulent use of the policy. Other terms and conditions may apply. We are not responsible for technical or system errors that may interfere with or otherwise prohibit the use of the promotion.
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Regular Terms & Conditions:
Deposit Requirements
Regular Multi Day Tours:
Upon acceptance of the quotation, to place the program into operation, a Eur 300 deposit is required per person prior to confirmation of any reservations. This deposit is refundable, minus an administrative fee per person, for cancellations received up to 61 days prior to departure.
For cancellations received less than 60 days before departure, this deposit is non-refundable.
Private/Customized Multi Day Tours:
Upon acceptance of the quotation, to place the program into operation, a deposit is required per person prior to confirmation of any reservations. The amount of Deposit will be advised from our Office at time of the Offer.
This deposit is refundable, minus an administrative fee per person, for cancellations received up to 61 days prior to departure.
Shore Excursions, Private Day Tours & Transfer Tours:
Upon acceptance of the quotation, to place the program into operation, a 100 Eur deposit of the total balance is required prior to confirmation of any reservations.
In the case of non-refundable services (flight tickets, trains, cruises, ferry tickets, etc), which will be advised in advance, we must receive full payment for these services at time of booking. These deposits may or may not be refundable based on the suppliers (hotels, cruise lines or airlines) and their conditions.
Final payment:
All Multi Day Tours:
Final payment must be received 60 days prior to client’s departure.
Shore Excursions, Private Day Tours & Transfer Tours:
Balance will be charged automatically 15 days before the tours starts on the same card used for the Deposit:
Regular Cancellation policy:
A different cancellation policy will be applied depending the Type of Tours
Multi Day Tours
From time of reservation until 60 days before your arrival our Not Refundable Fees as follow:
* Euro 100 per person (considering a total tour amount of euro 1499)
* Euro 300 per person (considering a total tour amount between euro 1500 and euro 3499)
* Euro 500 per person (considering a total tour amount of more than euro 3500)
from 59 to 45 days before your arrival 25% of total amount of the reservation will not be refunded
from 44 to 30 days before your arrival 50% of total amount of the reservation will not be refunded
from 29 to 15 days before your arrival 75% of total amount of the reservation will not be refunded
No refund will be provided for No Show or cancellation made from 14 to 0 days before your arrival
Day Tours (Regular or Private) & Transfer Tours
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Cancellation more than 15 calendar days before the services begin: no cancellation fee.
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Cancellation between 14 and 10 calendar days before the services begin: You will be charged a 25% cancellation fee.
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Cancellation within 9 and 5 calendar days before the services begin: You will be charged a 50% cancellation fee.
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Cancellation between 4 and the day of the services or after: You will be charged a 100% cancellation fee (no refund)
IMPORTANT: It is considered a Multi Day Tours the combination of more day Tours bought through our Company with the assistance of the Booking Department. If tours will be booked online independently will be valid the Day Tours cancellation policy.
Shore Excursions
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Cancellation more than 15 calendar days before the services begin: no cancellation fee.
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Cancellation between 14 and 10 calendar days before the services begin: You will be charged a 25% cancellation fee.
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Cancellation within 9 and 5 calendar days before the services begin: You will be charged a 50% cancellation fee.
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Cancellation between 4 and the day of the services or after: You will be charged a 100% cancellation fee (no refund)
***In the event that the ship will skip to dock at the scheduled port advised at time of booking (for weather or other conditions), all services will be completely refunded only if our Company will be allerted at least 12 hours before the tour departure was planned ***
Incentive, Group Tours
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We will send all the details in case of request
Airport Transfers
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Cancellation more than 72 hours before the services begin: no cancellation fee.
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Cancellation between 72 hours and the time of the services or after: You will be charged a 100% cancellation fee (no refund).
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When you arrive at the airport please proceed through the Passport Control and collect your luggage inside the customs area. Out of Customs Area you will find the driver who has the sign showing your name.
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If you Miss your Connection:
It is your responsibility to contact the Local Emergency Number indicated to reschedule your transfer service. Failure to do so will result in a loss of transfer without any refund. -
In case of Flight Delay / Lost or Missing Luggage:
Please be so kind as to inform us calling our Emergency Number immediately about your flight delay. So we will be able to call the driver to change you transfer pick up time.
Please take note that the driver is waiting for you outside the customs area. He has no way of knowing if you missed your flight or if you are tracking down your luggage. It is not possible for the driver to go through the customs area to locate you. PLEASE be so kind as to find a solution through the Police Office to advise the driver that you are inside the customs area and notify the driver that you have arrived at the Palermo Airport. After landing time, the driver will wait for you for a maximum of 45 minutes. Without any advise from you, the driver will leave the airport without any refund for the missed transfer, as this will be considered a no show for us. Differently calling us and asking the Driver to wait for you after 45 minutes, the surcharge to pay is Eur 30,00 per hour. -
Prices are considered for Services operated between 7.00am and 10.00pm. Night surcharge will be required for different timing. Night and Bank holidays surcharge is 10%.
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IMPORTANT: It is considered a Multi Day Tours the combination of airport transfer more day Tours or other services bought through our Company with the assistance of the Booking Department. If airport transfers will be booked online independently will be valid the airport transfers cancellation policy.
Tour Prices:
Tour prices are per person, based on double occupancy. A single room may be provided, if available, at an additional supplement.
Accommodations are classified by using Italian government ratings when available. In addition, rooms are assigned upon arrival based on current availability and may vary in size, amenities and location.
All tour prices are in Euros and payment will be charged in Euro.
Taxes and fees are subject to change without notice in the event that a new law will be introduced during the operation period (for examples: city taxes, additional Vat surcharge etc…).
Airfares:
Usually Our Company doesn’t provide air tickets. However, in case of airfare quotations from our Company, the airfares are subject to change without notice and are not guaranteed until paid in full.
Reservation Changes:
A handling fee of Eur 50 per transaction will be charged for any alteration or revision made to a reservation from the time of booking. A change of tour date or tour itinerary 30 days or less before services commence, requiring a cancellation of arranged services and re-booking of new services, will acrue the applicable cancellation fees in addition to the costs of the new services.
Passports & Visas:
A valid passport is required of all tour participants. Each passenger is responsible for acquiring and bringing their appropriate travel documents required for travel in Italy.
Non-European citizens must consult with the Italian consulate to determine if any visa is required. Securing any required visas is the responsibility of the tour participant.
Sightseeing:
During holidays some sights, such as museums and churches and archaeological sights, may be closed or unavailable for visits. When possible, optional excursions will be offered in their place. Your local host/hostess/Tour Guide will advise you of the optional excursions available, all of which must be purchased locally or will be offered free of charge if it is considered a substitution.
Travellers who need special assistance/dietary restrictions:
Any disability or dietary restriction requiring special attention must be reported to Our Company at the time reservation is made. Chat & Tour will make reasonable attempts to accommodate the special needs of disabled tour participants or dietary restrictions, but it is not responsible in the event it is unable to do so, nor is it responsible for any denial of services by carriers, hotels, restaurants, or other independent suppliers. Motor coaches are not equipped with wheelchair ramps. We regret that we cannot provide individual assistance to a tour member for walking, dining, and getting on and off motor coaches and other transportation vehicles, or other personal needs. A qualified companion must accompany travellers who need such assistance.
Any disabilities or dietary restrictions not communicated at time of booking are the strict responsibility of the client and Chat & Tour and all of its suppliers are not responsible for addressing these special needs.
Baggage allowance:
Porterage is not included in any of the tour programs unless specifically stated. If a tour program provides for porterage, it is restricted to one suitcase only at the hotel. (no porterage will be provide in Sicilian Airports).
Due to limited coach capacity, this single bag should have dimensions not exceeding 30″X18″X10″ inches (76x46x25 cm) and weight not exceeding 60 lbs. (27 kg). An additional charge will be required per travelling day for a second piece of baggage or if the suitcase exceeds the established weight and/or dimensions. One personal travel bag, not exceeding 17″x14″x8″ inches (43x36x20 cm), is permitted and is the responsibility of the owner. No responsibility is accepted for loss of or damage to baggage or any of the passenger’s belongings. International air carriers may also impose fees or require you to remove articles and put them in another bag if weight or size limits on checked or carry-on luggage is exceeded. Baggage insurance is recommended. Chat & Tour is not responsible for any luggage delays or problems regarding airline services.
Refund Claims:
Our Company is insured with Allianz for services provided by us, our suppliers and booked through our company. If you feel you should be refunded because services guaranteed were not provided, you, the client, (not the Travel Agent or Agency through which you booked services) must send by registered mail a typewritten claim which must be received within 14 days after the date of scheduled services.
We will then forward this request to our Insurance Company for investigation to verify the validity and responsible parties involved in the claim. In the event that a claim is justified, the Insurance company will process the request for refund and make payment.
Chat & Tour is responsible only for services provided by its suppliers. Chat & Tour is not responsible for any communications between clients and their Travel Agents in their country of residence or miscommunication of services on the part of the client’s Travel Agent.
Insurance:
Health, accident, luggage and trip cancellation interruption insurance is strongly recommended and available through your travel agent or directly from an Insurance Company. Our Company does not provide any Insurance Packages or solutions.
A Travel Insurance is suggested from our Company, available at following page: Travel-Insurance
Travel documents
Travel documents consist of Vouchers for services booked. All vouchers will be sent by Email to your regular Email address supplied by you at time of booking. These are usually emailed about 10 days before services commence.
You must bring vouchers with you and present them to suppliers in order to redeem services.
Not included in the tour price:
Federal Inspection Fees for U.S. Customs and Immigration; International Air Transportation Tax; Agricultural Tax; Security Fee; airport taxes and fees; fuel surcharges; passports; visas and vaccinations; tips to your tour director, drivers, and in some cases, local guides; laundry; beverages and food not included in the program (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel or restaurant). Supplements levied by hotels and Tour Service Providers for travel during certain periods of the year, Christmas, New Year, Easter, Carnival and for Trade Fairs occurring in certain cities, Optional excursions, porterage, all other items of a personal nature.
Responsibility:
TourofSicily Tour Operator by Chat & Tour , Via Stefano Turr 38, 90145 Palermo- Sicily, (hereinafter referred to as “the Company”) is responsible to you in making arrangements for the tour services offered, including transportation, sightseeing, and hotel accommodations. The carriers, hotels, and other suppliers providing tour services are independent contractors and are not agents, employees, or servants of, or joint ventures with the Company or its affiliates. All certificates and other travel documents for tour services issued by the Company are subject to the terms and conditions specified by the supplier and to the laws of the countries in which the services are supplied (Italy & Malta).
Our Company reserves the right to accept or reject any person as a tour participant, to expel any tour participant from the tour, to make changes in the itinerary and to cancel a tour at any time whenever the Company deems it necessary for the comfort, convenience, or safety of the participants. The tour participant agrees that neither the Company nor its affiliates shall be liable for any damage, loss (including personal injury, death, and property loss) or expense occured by any act or omission of any supplier providing the tour services or any other person.
Reliability:
TourofSicily by Chat and Tour Srl provides the highest professional standards and travel security. We are members of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), National Tour Association (NTA), International Airlines Travel Association (IATA), Italian Travel Agency Association (FIAVET), Licence Nr. 996/VII/Tur Registration as Travel Agency/Tour Operator at Assessorato Turismo Regione Siciliana (Sicilian Tourist Board) and authorized by Italian Tourist Board (ENIT).