Terms & Conditions
The following are the general terms and conditions of our tours and, while expansive, are not intended to be all encompassing as each tour has its own unique circumstances and characteristics.
PAYMENT SCHEDULE & ACTION ITEMS
American Pride Events essentially offers two types of tours: one for individuals to join and one for intact teams. Please see below for a description of the general T&Cs for each.
TOURS FOR INDIVIDUALS
Price and Payments
Unless otherwise stated, individuals claim their place on one of our tours by submitting a non-refundable deposit of USD $750 per person. Six month prior to their departure date, another payment of USD $1500 per person must be made. Final payment is then due four months prior to their departure date. Payments in larger amounts and at earlier intervals are, of course, welcome. Amounts and dates quoted may vary according to the airlines and other travel suppliers used. Payments are by check in US dollars, PayPal, or wire transfer only. Missing payment deadlines may result in loss of reservations. In that case, we would have to book new reservations with airlines, hotels, etc., which may result in much higher trip costs, especially in the case of a missed final payment in the run-up to departure. Tour price is based on the current US dollar currency exchange rate. Price may vary if the exchange rate were to change significantly prior to your final booking. Air taxes & fees are determined by the various governments and airlines involved and are those currently in effect. By government regulation, actual air taxes & fees collected will be those in effect at time ticketing, approximately 45 days before departure. Airlines may add a fuel surcharge if the price of fuel increases significantly. Final fuel surcharge is determined 30 days prior to departure and can impact your final tour cost.
Documentation
Three months prior to their departure date, individuals must submit their full name as is it appears on their passport, their gender, date of birth, nationality, passport number, and passport expiration date.
Refunds
Since your payments claim a roster spot that could have gone to someone else, all payments are non-refundable. However, should extraordinary circumstances arise causing cancellation, we will endeavor to recover on your behalf whatever we can from the airlines and other travel suppliers; to be clear, though, the original deposit of $750 is indeed non-refundable. In this hopefully unlikely scenario, finding a person to replace you could very well result in us being able to offer a full refund; no guarantee, mind you, but certainly helpful.
Should a tour participant cancel the rest of his/her trip and return early at some point after departure, any unused travel services would be entirely non-refundable. Any additional costs resulting from the early return would be the sole responsibility of the traveler.
Cancellation fees may be reduced or waived at the discretion of service suppliers, such as the airlines, hotels, and other companies providing services for your tour. Generally, this would include only extreme or unusual situations such as hospitalization and cannot be guaranteed in advance.
Insurance
While not included in the tour price, insurance coverage against cancellation is recommended. We do not sell such insurance, nor do we receive a commission from a third party for doing so, but we can provide you group with information on how to obtain travel insurance.
Inclusions
The itinerary text in the proposal outlines what is anticipated for both included services and suggested free time activities. What is definitively included in the tour price will be published once the final bookings for the tour are made. These can be subject to change. Your ground transportation is typically in a private deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach or other means of transportation such as city tram & light rail systems. No smoking is allowed.
Our hotels are what the Australians call apartment hotels. In a North American frame of reference, imagine a mix between a hotel and a condominium with bedrooms, living room area, and a well-equipped kitchenette. While there will usually be two people per bedroom, each person gets his/her own bed. In the event of an odd number of people, the use of a roll-away bed may be necessary but they would be of the highest quality and standard.
Unless otherwise listed in the itinerary, meals are not included. Our years of experience has taught us that not everyone has the same likes and preferences; hence our use of the apartment style hotel rooms. Each person can stock up the kitchenette as they wish and eat what they prefer; or simply eat out.
Luggage travels are at the risk of the passenger and American Pride Events and our travel suppliers are not responsible for any delay of, loss or damage to it or its contents. Participants are urged to carry appropriate insurance. Porterage is not included on & off the bus or at hotels.
Not included is anything not specifically listed on the itinerary, in particular: passport, visa, excess or additional baggage beyond a travel supplier’s stated allowance, laundry, dry-cleaning & valet services, room service and any other incidentals, all items & expenses of purely personal nature, accident and any other travel insurance.
Any extensions to the main tour must be requested well in advance and will be arranged on an individual basis; they are not escorted. A special charge applies to cover the cost of administration and organization of such extensions. When you depart on an arrangement on an individual basis away from the main group, you will not only be responsible for all the added costs, but your own transportation to and from the airport or station as well. At such point of departure, you will no longer be considered to be on a tour with American Pride Events.
Team Tours
Upon reaching agreement for us to arrange your team tour, a contract will be sent for your review and approval. Said contract will outline many of the same items listed heretofore.
GENERAL CONDITIONS
1. Responsibility
The operator, its affiliates, directors, officers, employees, including any person or entity employed or utilized by American Pride Events in any country cannot be responsible for events beyond their control such as injury, loss, damage, accident, delay or expense including without limitation, standards of quality, hygiene, sanitation facilities, medical treatment, cuisine, acts of God, war, strikes, incidents of politically-motivated violence, pandemic, sickness or quarantine, government restrictions or regulations and, in the absence of their own gross negligence, arising from the use or selection of or from any act or omission by any bus or car rental agency, steamship, airline, railroad, taxi or tour service, hotel, restaurant or other firm, agency, company or individual. The operator reserves the right to decline, to accept or retain any person as a member of any tour at any time, and a refund for the unused portion of the tour is the limit of its liability in such an instance. American Pride Events cannot accept the responsibility for hotel overbooking, loss or additional expense due to delay or changes in transportation schedule or other causes. American Pride Events reserves the right to make alterations to the itineraries as found necessary. All legal matters related to these terms and conditions shall be directed to and litigated only through the legal system in the state of New York. American Pride Events is not responsible for typographical or printing errors.
2. Travelers with Disabilities
As vehicles hired by American Pride Events may not be equipped to handle wheelchairs, we have no allowance for passengers requiring special assistance (e.g. wheelchairs or walkers) on scheduled tours. Travelers who require special assistance are asked to consider the accompaniment of responsible individuals who can provide this help along the tour.
3. Insurance
We highly recommend that you purchase adequate and comprehensive travel insurance before departure.
4. Passport and Visa
Passengers are solely responsible for ensuring that they have the proper travel documents (passport, visa, etc.). Failure to obtain the required travel documentation will not be cause for a refund.
5. Medical Requirements
While Australia no longer requires a COVID test or vaccination for entry, if the situation should change, it is incumbent upon the traveler to meet the new requirements. Again, failure to do so will not be cause for a refund.