General Conditions – LSP-2019-05 – KTH Family Visit
Making any payments (cash, credit card or otherwise) toward this tour constitutes your unconditional acceptance of all the terms and conditions stated below. Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation, Inc., shall be referred to as HCEF within this document.
Registration and Deposits
A deposit of $750.00 per person is required upon registration along with a signed copy of the registration form or completing registration on line. Registrations are processed in the order received by HCEF. Balance of payment is due by May 31, 2019. Late payment is subject to a non-refundable $150 late fee. Late registrations (fewer than 90 days) must be accompanied by full payment by cashier’s check only plus a non-refundable $150 late fee and are subject to availability. HCEF reserves the right to cancel reservations that are not paid in full prior to departure and to charge cancellation fees/penalties indicated below. A non-refundable fee of $25 will be charged on all checks and online payments returned by our bank.
Prices are based on minimum group size as quoted. If group does not reach minimum number, the price and/or programming will be adjusted accordingly. Pricing is based on exchange rates and fares applicable at the time of quotation and is therefore subject to change.
Cancellation Fees and Refunds
All cancellations must be in writing to HCEF and must be signed by the person who made the original reservation.
Cancellation penalties will apply if you cancel your tour. Cancellation penalties apply for each person, to payments received by HCEF.
Cancellation Penalties – Land Cost:
Land cost is non-refundable after 60 days before departure date. In case of earlier cancellation, a non-refundable management fee of $150 will be deducted from the land tour refund.
Air Transportation
Participants in the KTH Family Visit to Palestine are responsible for their own air transportation to and from Amman, Jordan. The package offered is land only and does not include air transportation. Tour participants should schedule flights to arrive in Amman on Thursday, April 18, 2019 so that participants arrive at the Amman hotel by 4:00 p.m. that day for check-in and the start of the tour program.
Tour Operation & Cancellation
Please note that the tour itinerary is subject to change without notice. HCEF expressly reserves the right to cancel all or any part of the tour or to make changes to the itinerary, for any reason or whenever it deems necessary for the comfort, convenience, or safety of the tour. In the event of any alteration to the itinerary, every effort will be made to substitute the altered activity with a comparable replacement. If the tour is cancelled in its entirety by HCEF, full refunds will be issued within three weeks of such cancellation. This will constitute, in full, HCEF’s obligation to you, and HCEF bears no further responsibility beyond the full refund. HCEF shall not be held liable and hereby expressly disclaims liability for any loss, expense, damage or inconvenience caused as a result of any cancellation or changes made to the itinerary. Furthermore, HCEF is not responsible for any additional costs or fees relating to the issuance and/or cancellation of air tickets or other travel arrangements not made through HCEF.
Cancellation Beyond HCEF’s Control
HCEF expressly disclaims any responsibility for any losses or expenses incurred due to cancellation or alteration of the tour resulting from, but not limited to: cancellations due to travel advisories issued by the U.S. State Department or any other relevant authority, acts of war, terrorism, acts of God or natural disasters, or any other circumstance beyond HCEF’s control. In such case, HCEF will assist you in requesting refunds for all services prepaid but not rendered, less a non-refundable $200 per person administrative fee. HCEF shall not be held responsible for any non-recoverable amounts disbursed to carriers or other service providers on your behalf.
Accommodations
The land tour includes ground transportation and double occupancy accommodations in twin-bedded rooms. Single room occupancy is available for a supplemental cost of $_550.00. If you do not register with a pre-identified roommate, every effort will be made to identify a roommate for you. If you are notified that a roommate is not available, you will need to pay the single supplement with your final payment.
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included daily.
Sightseeing
Full sightseeing with entrance fees is included for items on itinerary unless otherwise indicated. A licensed, multilingual guide will accompany the tour for scheduled sightseeing.
Taxes
Taxes, as imposed by the local authorities, are included in standard services, if applicable.
Tips
Standard tips are not included in the price. Tip total per person will be collected prior to departure to cover standard tipping for the whole group.
Daily tips are essential to the livelihoods of the servers, guides, drivers, etc. who make the Tour convenient and enjoyable. Participants will be notified of the tip amount per person. Tip amount will be collected in advance and checks should be mailed to HCEF 6935 Wisconsin Ave, Bethesda MD 20815. Tips for the complete group must be received by the deadline for full payment.
Not Included
Standard tips and items of a personal nature such as drinks at meals, bottled water, laundry, shopping, and offerings in churches, travel insurance, and any service not specifically mentioned are not included.. Honorariums for meetings or speakers are not included. Tour participants may wish to purchase souvenirs of their visit. Each traveler should consider their personal shopping budget for the trip.
Travel Insurance
HCEF strongly recommends the purchase of travel insurance. Trip cancellation and overseas medical coverage are two important considerations. There are a number of options for such insurance – your own insurance agent may have a recommendation. It is the sole responsibility of the pilgrim to consult with their health insurance provider to determine what international coverage is provided and if supplemental health coverage should be purchased.
Health
Good overall health is necessary to enjoy this experience. Distances walked are moderate, but stair-climbing and being on one’s feet can all be tiring. Most international sites are not handicapped or wheel chair accessible. Please consult your doctor if you have any concerns. Please inform HCEF if any member of the group has allergies, special dietary requirements, or any health conditions we must be aware of.
While HCEF cannot accept responsibility for providing access to all sites and facilities included in your tour, HCEF will make every effort to assist in providing mobility aides to the extent feasible, and with applicable costs borne by the pilgrim. HCEF assumes no responsibility for any tour participant’s inability to fully participate in the tour, nor can HCEF provide any refund for non-participation in any part of the program.
Passports & Visas
A US passport valid for at least 6 months from the pilgrimage return date, as recommended by the U.S. authorities, is required. If you do not have a US passport, contact HCEF as soon as possible. Visas are not necessary for US passport holders to enter Israel/Palestine. Holders of non-US passports must contact the nearest Israeli Embassy/Consulate to determine whether or not they must obtain a visa before departure.
Photography
The photos shown in your itinerary and other promotional materials are intended only as representative samples of those sites. Unless specifically mentioned in your itinerary, no implication is made that these sites will be visited or seen.
HCEF reserves the right to take photographs and video during your pilgrimage and to use such photographs and video for promotional purposes. Any tour participant who prefers that their image not be used is asked to notify HCEF in writing prior to departure.
Policy Against Discrimination
HCEF does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical or mental disability, medical condition, marital status, sex, age, sexual orientation or status as a veteran of the United States Armed Forces in the provision of its pilgrimage services.
Responsibility Clause/ Liability Disclaimer
Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation, Inc. (HCEF) is a tour coordinator and cannot be responsible for the suppliers providing transportation, sightseeing arrangements and hotel accommodations for HCEF. Throughout the Tour, participants will interact with and be serviced by the third party suppliers, who are independent contractors and are not agents or employees of HCEF. All coupons, receipts and tickets issued are subject to the terms and conditions specified by suppliers. By utilizing the service of the suppliers, you agree that HCEF will not be liable for any change in schedule, strikes, delay, acts of government, acts of war, acts of terrorism, fires, riots, theft, pilferage, epidemics, quarantine, medical or customs regulations, accident, loss, injury, or damage to you or to those traveling with you in connection with any accommodations, transportation or any other services or resulting directly or indirectly from any occurrence or conditions beyond its control, including defects in vehicles, breakdown in equipment, thefts, delay or cancellation of or changes in an itinerary for any act, omission, or event during the pilgrimage.
Neither HCEF and/or agents of the airlines concerned are to be held responsible for the late arrival of passengers at airports or hotels due to inclement weather, nor are they to be held liable for payment or any refund for unused hotel accommodations or meals occasioned by such late arrivals at the hotels holding rooms as confirmed itineraries. HCEF and suppliers contracted for services reserve the right to refuse to accept or retain any person whose behavior is deemed likely to affect the smooth operation of a tour, or adversely affect the enjoyment and safety of other participants. HCEF, its agents and suppliers shall be under no liability to any such person for refund, compensation, repatriation or any other matters arising.
HCEF further disclaims any liability for statements, actions or inactions of any intermediary agents such as group administrators, spiritual directors or tour leaders, travel agents or any other intermediary involved with the selling, promotion or operation of this tour. To the fullest extent permitted by law, HCEF disclaims any liability for damages or injuries, or other losses whatsoever, sustained or incurred as a result of the negligence of HCEF. Group administrators and tour leaders likewise expressly disclaim any liability for the acts and/or omissions of any of the above entities and/or individuals not directly under their supervision or control. Please be advised that the liability of carriers as well of providers of hotel and lodging accommodations is limited by law. HCEF strongly recommends the purchase of travel insurance. In no event shall HCEF’s liability exceed the amounts paid by you for participation in the tour, and subject to the provisions and cancellation fees as set forth in these Conditions. HCEF is not responsible for any misprints contained in these Conditions or other accompanying documentation, and the contents therein may be changed at any time and at HCEF’s sole discretion.
The statements made herein and the contract entered into between tour participants and HCEF are deemed to be made and entered into in the State of Maryland. Tour participants and HCEF hereby agree and stipulate that any controversy or claim arising out of or in any way related to these Conditions or the tour itself which cannot be amicably settled, shall be resolved by way of arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association. The Arbitration shall take place in the County of Montgomery, Maryland before a single arbitrator and shall be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland. Each party shall bear its own costs and an equal share of the arbitrator’s and administrative fees of arbitration.