GENERAL INFORMATION AND TERMS & CONDITIONS - Australia & New Zealand
For travel to other countries please refer to the Reservations office for details.
Please ensure you are aware of our terms and conditions.
Deposits
To confirm your reservation a deposit of US$200 per person, per tour, is required 7 days after booking date.
Final Payment
Balance of payment is due 6 weeks prior to departure. For reservations made less than 45 days prior to departure, full and final payment is due at the time of making the reservation. Payment of money constitutes acceptance of all Terms and Conditions as described herein by the purchaser and passenger.
Air Prices: Although prices are current at time of printing or listing, airlines frequently change their prices as a result of fare increases and/or fuel surcharges. Therefore, prices may differ when you book your travel and are not guaranteed until full payment is received. Please call for our most current prices.
Fares Guarantee (Land)
Land fares in this publication are quoted in US dollars. All prices have been based on rates of exchange as of the time of printing. All fares are subject to change without notice and may be affected by currency exchange rate fluctuations, hotel surcharges and legislative changes that may impact taxes charged. The current fare will be confirmed to your travel agent at the time you book your tour; once we have accepted your deposit, the fare is guaranteed.
All fares in this brochure include a 3% discount for cash/cheque payments only. No discount is available for payment by credit card. Twin Share fares are per person unless otherwise stated. Triple share and child discounts are available on request.
Amendment Fees
A charge of US$25 per person will apply to any revision or modification after your land booking has been confirmed.
Insurance
APT strongly recommends the purchase of comprehensive travel insurance. Please ask your Travel Agent or your APT agent for details.
Fully Escorted Series - International Air Service
Qantas is the preferred carrier for international air travel and all fares reflect Qantas as the international air carrier. APT has special fares for international air on specific flights with Qantas. When these specific flights are booked a complimentary arrival transfer will be provided at destination. Please ask at time of booking
Fully Escorted Series - Air within Australia & New Zealand
The land price for the Fully Escorted series includes all domestic flights in Australia and New Zealand. This price may change if Qantas is not the international carrier used
Fully Escorted Series - Cancellation charges
Prior to Airline Ticketing service – fee of $50 per person
After Airline Ticketing service – fee of $75 per person plus any airline imposed penalties which may be up to 100% of the air ticket value.
Air Arrangements
For all other vacations, air fares are not included, and are an additional cost (except when stipulated in the itinerary as being included). Airfares and airline taxes are subject to change without notice. APT guarantees the airfare in effect on the day full payment is received and air ticket is issued. After ticket is issued there will be a charge of US$150 for changes that require ticket re-issuance (such as name change, change of date or routing) plus any airline charges imposed. If promotional, internet or non-refundable air tickets are purchased please refer to airline for specific terms and conditions. APT is not responsible for costs incurred when such airfares are purchased should tour be cancelled by either client or APT.
Cancellations - Land:
Land cancellation fees will be applied relative to the amount of notice given, as follows,
(minimum per person US$200):
Days of Notice 43 or More = Loss of Deposit
Days of Notice 42–15 = 20% of Tour Fare
Days of Notice 14–4 = 35% of Tour Fare
Days of Notice Under 4 = 60% of Tour Fare
Once tour has commenced, no refund of fare or unused portion.
APT reserves the right to cancel or re-schedule any vacation departure. If cancellation is made prior to departure, APT will endeavour to offer the nearest possible alternative vacation. If alternative is not acceptable, APT will refund all monies paid for the land portion only. APT is not responsible for the cost of any other travel arrangements (including air) affected due to the cancellation or rescheduling of any tour departure.
Refunds
Refunds will not be made for unused services. We guarantee to refund in full any service which has not been delivered.
Passports & Visas
Each passenger is responsible for ensuring that all travel documents are current and correct. Passengers require a valid passport, and in most instances visas. APT accepts no responsibility if you do not have correct documentation for your vacations.
What is not included
Passport or visa fares; most airport departure taxes; other airline taxes, items of a personal nature such as laundry, drinks, telephone charges; gratuities to tour directors and drivers; any new government taxes.
Tour participation
Children under 7 years of age are not accepted on escorted vacations. Children between 8-18 years must be accompanied by an adult. Children under 15 years of age are entitled to 15% child discount on the land tour. Travelers who need special attention or assistance must advise APT at the time of booking. Passengers with disabilities are welcome, provided they are accompanied by a companion capable of providing all assistance required, and do not require special assistance from APT personnel. If any participant requires special assistance, due to his or her mental or physical condition, suitable written notice must be given so as to enable APT to determine if such person can be accommodated. Requests for handicapped accessible rooms will be passed on to hotels, but cannot be guaranteed and do not always exist.
Luggage
Escorted tour passengers are entitled to take one piece of luggage. For all escorted vacations of 3 days or more, a travel bag is issued upon boarding the coach. For passengers on the Fully Escorted Series, a travel bag will be sent prior to departure from North America.
Strict luggage limitations apply with the airlines and differ for international and domestic sectors. It is suggested you check with your travel agent regarding luggage size and other current airline restrictions that may be in effect at time of travelling. APT is not responsible for additional fees imposed by air carriers regarding baggage.
Due to limited coach capacity each person is allowed a single suitcase, not exceeding 44lbs. Baggage is at “owner’s risk” throughout the tour.
Accommodation
Twin share accommodations are based on two single beds or one double bed as provided by the hotel. Single rooms are available and may be requested at the time of booking and prepaid at the cost specified. Where a single client is willing to share accommodation with another single client, APT will endeavour to find another traveler of the same gender. APT does not accept any responsibility for the suitability of the room partner. Should at any time the client determine the room partner to be unsuitable, APT will, subject to availability and at additional cost to the client, arrange single accommodation .
Pre-registration. Check-in time at most hotels is 3:00 pm. If you are arriving early into a city, you may wish to pre-register your hotel room, so as to allow for immediate check-in. An extra night’s charge will apply.
Freedom of Choice Touring"
Freedom of Choice Touring, Freedom of Choice Dining and Dine Around Dinners™ are booked by your Tour Director while on tour. They are subject to availability, seasonal and operational factors, public holidays and the like. Where Freedom of Choice Touring occurs on Day 1 of tour, it must be pre-booked prior to arrival at destination.
Smoking
Smoking is not allowed on motorcoaches, aircrafts or other modes of transport.
Seat Allocation on ESCORTED Tours
To ensure all passengers enjoy forward and window seating, we have incorporated a daily seat rotation system during the tour.
Holidays
During local or national holidays, certain attractions and facilities may be limited or closed. Alternatives will be offered where possible.
Clothing
You will find that casual clothing of all types is the most comfortable. Lightweight drip-dry clothing is ideal, although some warmer clothing for evenings will be handy. Most hotels provide washing and drying facilities.
Validity of Fares
All fares in the 2008-09 brochures are effective from 1 January 2008 though to 31 March 2009. Fares in the 2009-10 brochure are effective from 1 January 2009 to March 31 2010. Fares are subject to change without notice. Please note surcharges and minimum night stays may apply and itineraries may vary due to special events, including, but not limited to New Year's Eve, Christmas, Melbourne Cup. APT will advise at time of booking.
ITINERARIES
Itineraries in the 2008-09 brochure (except where noted) are effective from 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009. Itineraries in the 2009-10 brochures (except where noted) are effective from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010.
Escorts
Escorted tours are conducted by a professional Tour Director. Subject to a minimum number of passengers, APT reserves the right to utilize a smaller vehicle, or operate the tour on an individual basis with private transfers and individual arrangements.
RESPONSIBILITY
Australian Pacific Touring (U.S.A.) Ltd., its employees, shareholders, officers and directors (collectively “APT”) does not own or operate any entity which is to or does provide goods or services for your trip, including, for example, lodging facilities, transportation companies, local ground operators, including, without limitation, various entities which may utilize the APT name, guides, entertainment, food or drink service providers, equipment suppliers, etc. As a result, APT is not responsible for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such person or entity. In addition, APT is not responsible for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any person or entity it does not own or control, nor for any act or inaction of any other third party not under its control. You may see the name APT affixed to motor vehicles, on signs around the hotel or elsewhere. This use of our name is purely for reasons of identification and does not denote ownership, supervision, or control by APT in any way.
Without limitation APT is not liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damage, injury, death, loss, accident, delay, inconvenience or irregularity of any kind which may be occasioned by reason of its own negligence, or of any act or omission beyond its control, including, without limitation any willful or negligent act, failure to act, breach of contract or violation of local law or regulation of any third party such as an airline, train, hotel, bus, taxi, van or local groundhandler or guide, whether or not it uses the APT name, financial default or insolvency of any supplier which is to, or does supply any goods or services for this trip. APT is not responsible for any loss, injury, death or inconvenience due to delay or changes in schedule, overbooking of accommodation, default of any third party, attacks by animals, injury or death while on activities sponsored by lodging facilities or by other third parties, sickness, the lack of appropriate medical care, evacuation to same, if necessary, weather, strikes, acts of God or government, acts of terrorism, or the threat thereof, force majeure, war, quarantine, epidemics, or the threat thereof, criminal activity, or any other cause beyond its control.
The right is reserved to alter the itinerary, at APT’s or the local groundhandler’s sole discretion, as it may deem necessary or advisable. Any additional expenses incurred as a result of any such alteration will be the responsibility of the traveler. APT may take photographs or film of its trips and trip participants, and participant grants APT express permission to do so and for APT to use such for promotional or commercial use.
APT reserves the right to decline to accept or retain any participant on any of its tours if, in its sole discretion, it deems accepting or retaining any such participant as being detrimental to the tour. In the event any participant is removed from a trip, APT’s only obligation is to refund to that person that portion of the payment allocable to unused services. Changes in these Terms & Conditions can be made only in writing signed by an officer of APT.
ARBITRATION
Any and all disputes concerning this contract, the brochure or other material for your trip or the trip itself shall be resolved solely and exclusively by binding arbitration according to the then current commercial rules of the American Arbitration Association. Any such arbitration will take place in Los Angeles, California. In any such arbitration, the substantive (but not procedural) law of California will apply without regard to the California Arbitration Act.
REGISTRATION
APT is registered under the California Seller of Travel Act [CST #2002540-20]. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California. California has established a Travel Consumer Restitution Fund (TCRF) under the California Seller of Travel Act. The TCRF is not applicable to these trips. The TCRF, in any event, does not cover non-California residents and, even in the case of California residents, it does not cover any foreign travel where the foreign “providers of transportation or travel services” are not in compliance with the Seller of Travel Act (compliance being defined as registered as a Seller of Travel in California and a participant in the TCRF). Thus, none of APT’s trips qualify. The law requires all tour operators to advise each of their clients that they would not be eligible to make any claim from the TCRF in the unlikely event of any default by APT or any of our foreign suppliers. California law also requires certain sellers of travel to have a trust account or bond. APT has such a trust account.
Australian Pacific Touring (U.S.A.) Ltd., as an Active Member of the United States Tour Operators Association (‘USTOA’), is required to post $1 Million with USTOA to be used to reimburse, in accordance with the terms and conditions of the USTOA Travelers Assistance Program, the advance payments of Australian Pacific Touring (U.S.A.) Ltd. customers in the unlikely event of Australian Pacific Touring (U.S.A.) Ltd. bankruptcy or insolvency or cessation of business. Further, you should understand that the $1 Million posted by Australian Pacific Touring (U.S.A.) Ltd. may be sufficient to provide only a partial recovery of the advance payments received by Australian Pacific Touring (U.S.A.) Ltd. Complete details of the USTOA Travelers Assistance Program may be obtained by writing to 275 Madison Avenue, Suite 2014, New York, New York 10016 or by email to information@ustoa.com or by visiting their website at www.USTOA.com
North America
Reservations National Toll Free 1 800 290 8687
Facsimile: (818) 755 6396
Email: reservations@aptouring.com
www.aptouring.com
Australian Pacific Touring (USA) Ltd.,
4605 Lankershim Blvd, Suite 712,
North Hollywood, California, 91602, USA
Administration Telephone: (818) 755 6392
CA Registration No. 2002540-20
The APT group of companies has offices in Auckland (New Zealand) • London (England) • USA • Canada and throughout Australia: Melbourne • Sydney • Alice Springs • Brisbane • Cairns • Darwin