 Liability Release (HTML Version) | Liability Release (Adobe Acrobat Version) Prices, reservations and payment All published trip prices are quoted in US dollars and they are subject to change. As we publish our prices in advance, we may occasionally be faced with significant cost increases due to international currency fluctuations, increased hotel rates, higher costs of services, and/or other factors over which we have no control. We regret this situation and will do everything reasonable to avoid raising prices but give notice that it is sometimes unavoidable. Early reservation is recommended, since our group size is limited to 16 persons and they fill up quickly. To reserve your trip, we require a deposit of $500 per person. Payments can be made by money order, personal check, VISA, MasterCard or American Express. To confirm your reservation, you must complete the Reservation Form and return it to our office at least 60 days prior to your trip departure. The balance of your payment is also due 60 days prior to departure. If your balance or Reservation Form is not received 60 days prior to your trip departure, your reservation will be cancelled and the cancellation terms below will apply. As part of the reservation process, you will be required to sign a Liability Release to confirm that you have read the Limitation of Liability and agree to those terms. Brazil Adventures reserves the right to decline to accept or retain any person(s) for any reason whatsoever, and local guides or trip leaders are authorized to disqualify any member from the trip, at any time, if he or she determines it necessary of the safety and/or well being of the group, or if the participant in question is physically unfit for the rigors of the program. Refunds for unused services will not be given under such circumstances nor are any expenses required to leave the trip covered in your Land Cost. Late Bookings Full payment is due at the time of booking for reservations made less than 60 days before the departure date. Groups are finalized 45 days in advance, and Brazil Adventures will release blocked hotel and air space at that time. Providing space is available, reservations can be accepted up to 21 days before departure and confirmation will be made once in-country services are secured. A $150 per person Late Sign-up Fee is payable for any reservation made 45 days or less before the departure. Reservations will not be accepted less than 21 days before a trip's departure. Cancellation and Switching Trips If, for some unfortunate reason, you find you have to cancel your trip, our policy for refunds is based on the number of days prior to departure that we receive written notice of your cancellation:
To avoid any inconvenience, we strongly recommend cancellation insurance at the time of sign-up. Coverage is automatically added to each reservation and will appear on your invoice. To accept the insurance, you must pay the premium at least 60 days before departure or it is assumed that you have declined. For reservations within the 60-day period, the premium must be included with your full trip payment. If you decide to switch to a different trip until 45 days prior to your original departure date, you will be charged a fee of US$ 100 per person. After this time, the cancellation policy will apply for such changes. You can only switch trips within the same calendar year. Brazil Adventures reserves the right to cancel any trip at any time for any reason if the quality of the trip or the safety of travelers is judged to be compromised. In such a case, refund of any payments received shall constitute full settlement. We do not recommend non-refundable, advance-purchase air tickets, as Brazil Adventures cannot assume responsibility for any loss incurred on account of such tickets. If, as occasionally happens, we must cancel a trip because there are too few participants, we will attempt to notify you at least 60 days before your trip departure and may suggest that you switch to another trip. Land Cost The stated land cost includes all services as specified in the Trip Notes (detailed itinerary). This will always include all lodging, ground transportation, transfers, park or monument fees, meals as stated, guide fees, porters, equipment for activities and taxes. In addition, you are entitled to free pre-departure telephone or e-mail support from our staff. You will receive a detailed pre-departure packet including language guide, a health guide, checklists, equipment catalog, reading lists, suggested insurance policy, luggage tags, T-Shirt, documents case, U.S. customs information, map and cultural information. We are at your service for customizing extensions, forwarding emergency communications during your trip and assisting with any travel contingencies from illness to lost luggage to delayed transportation. In most cases our land costs do not include gratuities, airport taxes, visas, liquor, laundry, or personal expenses. The land cost does not include: En route accommodations at stopover cities at the beginning and end of your trip (a standard routing that minimizes travel time is recommended in each itinerary; trip lengths include travel days); international airfare except as noted; domestic airfare on certain trips, excess baggage fees, passport, visas, airport departure fees; most meals in some countries (to allow for individual choice of restaurants); alcoholic beverages, end-of-tour gratuities which are not compulsory but customary, laundry and other items of a personal nature; medical, hospital, and evacuation expenses not covered in the land cost; expenses resulting in delays due to bad weather, trail, river, and road conditions, sickness, government action, and flight delays. Air Transportation Brazil Adventures has a full-service, in-house, air-ticketing department to help you complete your travel planning. We recommend arranging your airline booking as soon as you book your Brazil Adventures trip. Early reservations ensure the most desired airlines, routings, and departure times. If you are not using us for your air travel, it is your responsibility to give us your air schedule at least 60 days prior to departure, so that we may confirm your arrival and departure hotels. For those individuals not arriving or departing on the group schedule, airport transfers are not included in the land cost. A note of caution regarding discount air brokers, consolidators, and bucket shops: You should not expect the same level of service from a discount company that you receive if you book your air travel through Brazil Adventures or your travel agent. Discount agencies sell a large volume of tickets and typically do not offer professional travel planning consultation. Additionally, a number of our clients have reported substantial accuracy and credibility problems in dealing with some budget travel companies. Clients have been informed they were confirmed on flights and had air tickets issued, only to discover upon arrival at the airport that they were in fact wait-listed for their flight. In other cases, clients have found it impossible to obtain frequent flyer credits on tickets issued by certain companies. In the long run, you get what you pay for and if you choose the budget alternative, be extremely careful which company you select and reconfirm all reservations directly with each airline. Custom Trips If our trip departures do not fit your schedule, or should you prefer the privacy of your own group, or wish to get extra services such as private flights, extra activities, extended itineraries, we can prepare a Custom Expedition for you. You should understand that the creation of custom itineraries is very time-consuming and these trips are typically more expensive than our published departures. Brazil Adventures charges an initial development fee upon the mutual agreement on the trip concept. This fee will be credited toward the final payment of your trip, and is not refundable should you decide to cancel your trip more than 60 days in advance. For cancellations less than 60 days prior to departure, our regular cancellation fees would apply. The development fee for Custom Expeditions is US$ 500 for trips up to 14 days, and US$ 1000 for trips 15 days or more. Single Travelers Our trips are priced based on double or shared occupancy for hotels, most lodges and tents, and we reserve the right to substitute hotels of an equal category or similar price for those mentioned in the Trip Notes. Single accommodations can often be arranged for an extra cost but may be limited on some trips according to the availability of rooms and/or camping space. Single travelers are subject to Single Supplement Fee, if they prefer to have their own private room or tent. On trips with limited availability, singles are allotted on a first come first serve basis. If you prefer to share a room, we will pair you up with a same sex traveler. If you sign up more than 90 days in advance of trip departure, we won't charge you for the single supplement in case we cannot find somebody to stay with you. Age & Health Eligibility We recommend that travelers be at least 18 years of age on all trips, unless they are traveling with older family members. The children who are traveling with a family must be at least 8 years of age. By sending a deposit toward your trip purchase, you certify that you do not have any physical condition or disability that would create a hazard for you or other travelers. Some of our trips require vaccinations. Please consult your doctor. Insurance We highly recommend that you buy hospital and medical insurance to supplement your existing health insurance. Please review the limited amount of such coverage included in our insurance offer and confirm with your insurer that you are adequately covered for any eventuality. Risks Brazil Adventures trips are intentionally designed to take clients "off the beaten path," sometimes to very remote places in underdeveloped regions. These trips offer the opportunity for physical activity that can be demanding, depending on the condition of the traveler, and involve risk of serious personal injury, including permanent disability and death from accident, illness or the negligence of other persons, including Brazil Adventures personnel, agents or independent contractors whose services are provided in connection with the trip. Medical facilities may not be easily accessible and may not be sophisticated. There are other risks associated with the trips, such as theft or loss of or damage to property. You are required to sign a Liability Release before going to any of our trips.
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