|
|
|
| Terms
& Conditions |
|
Accuracy Assurance
Baggage Allowance
Booking a Reservation
Cancellations and Refunds
Cancellation Waiver Protection
Credit Card Acceptance
Deposit Required
Disabled Travelers
Final Payment
|
Not Included in the Price
Passenger Agreement
Passport and Documentation
Payment Types Accepted
Price Changes
Reservation, How to Make
Responsibility
Returned Checks
Revisions Requested by Client |
Rights Reserved
Substitutions, Changes
and Participation
Tipping Suggestions
Transfers
Travel Insurance
Travelers with Disabilities
Unused Services
Worry-free Waiver |
|
 How to Make a Reservation:
Complete our Booking
Form online, call toll-free 1-866-345-7755, or e-mail us
at info@sterlingvacations.com
with your complete contact information, all travelers names as on their passports, trip, date and category you wish to reserve. We will e-mail your confirmation within 24-hours during business days. The confirmation will include all information along with an online link for payments by credit card or you can mail a check. You usually have 7 days in which to submit the payment. |
Deposit
Required:
For Tours or Cruises a deposit of $450
per person or 20% of the total tour/cruise cost is required within
seven (7) days of booking. |
Final
Payment:
Final payment must be received no later than 60 days prior to
departure or reservations will be cancelled and $100 per person admistration fee retained.
Since the final payment date and link is included in your electronic confirmation, it is your responsibility to make the final payment on time. |
Payment
Types Accepted:
We accept all credit cards, e-checks, debit card or bank transfers through the global leader of secure online payments,  . No account with PayPal is necessary. With our electronic confirmation, you will receive an online invoice link for the appropriate payment amount. To input the online information, click on the link and follow the instructions. Note: be sure to follow the appropriate instructions for either having or NOT having, a verified PayPal account. We also accept checks. If you have difficulty with paying via our online link, we will also accept Visa or Mastercard directly with submission of a signed Sterling Vacations Credit Card Authorization Form. |
Client-Requested
Revisions After Payment is Made:
Any changes requested by the client after
payment is made, other than to add additional services, are subject
to a $50 per room revision fee. |
Returned
Checks:
A $50 fee will be charged for each returned
check. |
|
Cancellations
and Refunds:
Cancellations can only be made in writing and may be transmitted by mail/courier delivery, fax or e-mail and becomes effective the date upon which the notice is received by the Sterling Vacations. We are not responsible for failed transmissions. It is the client's responsibility to ensure that we received appropriate notification. Cancellation fees are as follows:
Tours/Land Packages and Cruises:
• more than 60 days prior to departure, full refund less a
$59 per person "any reason" cancellation waiver fee;
• 60-45 days prior to departure, $450 per person;
• 44-30 days prior to departure, 50% of the total cost;
• 29-22 day prior to departure, 75% of the total cost; and
• 21-0 days prior to departure or a "no-show", no
refund.
Independent or Personalized Travel (other than cruises):
• more than 45 days prior to departure, full refund less a
$59 per person "any reason" cancellation waiver fee;
• 45-21 days prior to departure, 50% of the total cost;
• 20-4 days prior to departure, 75% of the total cost; and
• 3-0 days prior to departure or a during the trip, no refund.
|
"Any Reason" Cancellation Waiver:
We include in all individual client bookings (not groups), our worry-free Cancellation Waiver Protection. This waiver allows you or your clients to cancel for ANY REASON, if you notify us in writing more than 30 days prior to departure. With such verification, you will receive a full refund less the $59 per person waiver fee which is deducted from the refund. Cancellation in the last 30 days is subject to a 100% penalty. This waiver does not replace full third-party Travel Insurance, which usually includes other coverages such as: trip interruption, baggage coverage, medical and death benefits, and cancellation protection due to illness. |
Travel
Insurance:
Travel Insurance can cover a plethora of concerns. Obviously you
can include injury or death benefits and can add medical expense
coverage. Always check with your own medical insurance provider
as to whether your personal policy covers you when outside your
home country. If you are covered under Medicare, be advised: it
does NOT cover you outside the United States. Emergency Assistance
is part of the Medical Coverage and pays the expense of an emergency
medical evacuation from remote locations, which can be extremely
costly. Baggage Insurance covers loss or damage to your belongings
during the entire trip, no matter where or how it occurs. Trip Cancellation
protects payments you have made, which may be lost if you are forced
to cancel your trip within the penalty period for a covered reason.
It also covers loss of funds if a supplier becomes financially insolvent
and unable to perform its duties. Obviously, there are certain exclusions
and a possible exemption for pre-existing conditions. We advise
you to read the policy carefully and call the insurance company
with any questions. Even with these issues, WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND
THE PURCHASE OF COMPREHENSIVE TRAVEL INSURANCE.
Click on this link to access TravelSafe Insurance online rate quotes, read about coverages and any exclusions, or purchase coverage that will take effect immediately, giving you complete peace of mind and protecting your financial investment. |
Baggage
Allowance:
On land or tour/cruise packages, porterage is provided for one checked baggage and one hand-carry bag per person. Additional charges may apply for an oversized, overweight or additional pieces of baggage. |
Transfers:
In order to take advantage of arrival and/or
departure transfers which may be included in your package, we must
be advised, in advance, of your arrival and departure flights and
times. If you change or deviate from your original schedule, you must
inform us at least 48 hours prior to your previously scheduled arrival, in order for us to accommodate such a change. If participant fails to notify us of such change or omits any arrival information, they will be responsible for managing their own transportation to the hotel or start of the arrangement and will not be due a refund for such services. |
Price
Changes:
All rates quoted are based on current exchange
rates and are subject to change without notice if the U.S. dollar
is devalued by more than 5% against any foreign currency used in determining
our package rates. If such a price increase is necessary, the passenger
has the right to cancel the trip, without penalty, if we are advised
in writing within 48 hours of notification of rate change. |
Substitutions,
Changes and Participation:
We reserve the right to substitute services, transportation
or accommodations from those listed here, to others of same or similar
category at no refund to the traveler. The cruise lines used in our
offerings may also substitute ships or deviate from the published itinerary
when deemed necessary. Sterling Vacations has no control over such
changes. We further reserve the right to refuse to accept, reject,
or not retain any person as a tour or cruise participant if we believe their
inclusion impedes the enjoyment of other passengers. The refund of
unused services is the total limit of Sterling Vacations' liability
if a person is required to leave the tour or cruise. |
Not
Included in the Price:
Optional tours, shore excursions, port
taxes, meals not specified, wine, mineral water, coffee or tea if
such items are not specified as included. Items of a personal nature
such as laundry, phone calls and gratuities. Additionally, passport, visa fees,
insurance or cancellation waiver fees are not included. |
Unused
Services:
There will be no refund for any packaged
inclusions the client chooses not to use.
|
Tipping
Suggestions:
Tour package: Local sightseeing
guide: $3 per person, per half-day tour; driver: $1.50 per person, per
day; tour escort (tour manager who may or may not act as a guide):
$5 per person, per day; driver: $3 per person, per day; private car
tours: $12-$16 per person for each full day of sightseeing. Hotels:
Porter: $1.00 per bag; waitperson: $2 per person for dinner; chambermaid:
$1 per person, per day.
Cruises: When tips are pooled: $12-$16 per person, per day. When tips
are given to individuals: Waiter/bus staff: $4 per person, per day;
stateroom steward: $3 per person, per day; maitre d' and head waiter:
$1 per person, per day. |
Passports
and Documentation:
A valid passport is required for all travel
outside your country of residence. Some countries require at least six months of validity be left on a traveler's passport. It is the passenger's responsibility
to ensure they have proper documentation by checking with the respective
consulate(s) regarding requirements for your legal status. Visas are
additional legal documents used to track arriving and departing visitors,
which some countries require in addition to a passport. Any information
we provide pertains only to U.S. citizens. |
Travelers
with Disabilities:
Tour participants requiring any form of
assistance are required to notify Sterling Vacations in writing at
the time of reservation, and must be accompanied by an individual
responsible for providing those services. Tour managers, guides, drivers
or other tour, hotel, ship personnel are not able to provide such
assistance. Only the United States is obliged to comply with the Americans
with Disabilities Act and though sensitive to the needs of disabled
persons, most countries are unable to provide services and provisions
that are commonplace in the United States. Due to space limitations,
wheelchairs and walkers cannot be taken aboard motor coaches and/or
many ships. We reserve the right to remove any person from a tour
who has not provided the required notification and has not received
written confirmation from us. All related expenses, including those
to return home, will be borne by the passenger. |
Responsibility:
Sterling Vacations and its principals act
as agents for you in making all arrangements, but they do not own
control, take responsiblity, or be deemed negligent in any claims,
losses, or expenses from injury, accidents, death, delays or inconveniences
resulting from acts of omission by suppliers/providers, delays, strikes,
government action, acts of terrorism, mechanical breakdown or acts
of God. We neither take responsibility for factors beyond our control
or from the passengers' failure to follow instructions. Any dispute
concerning this contract, our website or performance of our duties
as agents for the suppliers shall be resolved exclusively by arbitration
according to the then current laws of the American Arbitration Association
of Texas and must take place in Austin, Texas under the then substantive
law of Texas. |
All
Rights Reserved:
All rights are reserved in the use or reproduction
of all or part of this website. |
Accuracy
Assurance:
Though every attempt has been made to
assure the accuracy of fares, dates, itineraries, inclusions and offerings,
we reserve the right to correct any accidental errors and are not
obligated to provide the erroneous offer. |
|
Passenger
Agreement:
Payment of the deposit or final payment of any product offered on this website constitutes an agreement by traveler and/or agent to these Terms & Conditions, especially with respect to the sections known
as: Payment, Revisions, Cancellation, Substitution, Documentation
and Responsibility. |
|
 |
|
