Tour Contract
General: Upon full payment of the tour price by the participant, Sterling Silver Tours agrees to secure the services specified in this brochure, subject to the terms, conditions and limitations contained in this contract. The participant agrees that if there are any corrections or changes, the correct information will prevail.
Not Included: All costs not included in tour brochure, for example: fees and charges for laundry, beverages (except coffee, tea or milk with breakfast or when expressly specified), travel protection plans/insurance, optional excursions, passports, visas, inoculations, postage, phone calls, any items of a personal nature, or any other items or services the inclusion of which has not been expressly specified in this brochure. Also not included are any fees associated with (or in connection with) air transportation, including but not limited to seat assignment fees and baggage fees.
Airlines, Tour Managers, Drivers, Accommodations: Sterling Silver Tours strives to coordinate a pleasurable and memorable trip for all of its customers, but it must be remembered that all aspects of the tour, including but not limited to travel, accommodations and services, are furnished by independent companies which are not under the direct control of Image Tours.
Driver/Tour Manager: As a general rule, Sterling Silver Tours secures both a driver and a tour manager for each tour. Sterling Silver Tours may have the driver double as the tour manager.
Itinerary Deviations: A $150 flight deviation fee plus any difference in fees will be charged to those wishing to fly outside of the trip date. Due to special circumstances (including but not limited to holidays, special events, seasonal schedule changes, weather, safety considerations, traffic delays and itinerary adjustments), some sights and stores may have reduced hours or may not be available. Under such circumstances or toward the improvement of the tour experience, Sterling Silver Tours and the tour manager reserve the right to make changes in the itinerary or sights, at their sole discretion.
Physical Condition Guidelines: These tours are a good fit for persons who can comfortably walk a mile in less than 30 minutes without shortness of breath or other physical discomfort.
Reservations: Sterling Silver Tours requires a reservation application and deposit for each participant within two weeks from the date the participant receives their reservation invoice. Full payment is required for new reservations made within 100 days prior to departure
Final Payment: Final payment must be received by Sterling Silver Tours at least 90 days prior to departure.
Cancellations: Sterling Silver tours must receive written notification of cancellation. Only 50% of the deposit is eligible for refund. Six weeks after the deposit, none of it is refundable. If a tour participant cancels and/or is unable to participate in the tour because of a medical emergency after additional payments have been received, he/she would be given credit for any funds that Sterling Silver Tours is able to recuperate up to 30 days prior to trip. We strongly urge the purchase of travel insurance. Refunds are given in the form of a travel credit for a future trip only.
Note: In case of cancellation by one of two persons sharing a room, a change to a single room for the remaining participant is subject to availability and confirmation. To request a single room, the remaining participant must pay the applicable single supplement and complete the required forms.
Travel Protection Plans: For coverage of cancellation penalties or missed days of the tour due to covered reasons, Sterling Silver Tours highly recommends purchasing a travel protection plan. Please note that many health insurance providers do not cover customers while traveling outside the USA. Look for travel protection plans that include coverage for travel accident and sickness, as well as luggage.
Medical Statement Requirements: To be eligible for the refund provision it is your responsibility that Sterling Silver Tours receives a valid medical statement, within six weeks of the date you were scheduled to leave.
A valid medical statement must meet all the following criteria:
1) A legible medical statement on the letterhead (including the address and phone number) of an attending licensed physician M.D., or a copy of the completed Attending Physician Statement required by the insurance provider.
2) Signed by the physician.
3) State specific dates the passenger is unable to travel. These dates must include the entire duration of the scheduled travel dates.
4) State a specific medical reason why the passenger was unable to travel, due to the illness of the participant or participant’s travel companion.
'Baggage Allowances:
1) Suitcase - Bus Allowance: Each participant is entitled to one suitcase during the tour. The suitcase cannot exceed 62 total linear inches (length + height + width, excluding wheels and handles), cannot exceed 12 inches on the shortest of the three measurements, and cannot exceed 50 lbs. (23 kgs.) in weight. This applies throughout the tour (please be considerate of the drivers and porters) and on your return trip as well (plan for shopping by packing lighter before you leave home). The following are a few examples of common luggage sizes currently on the market that fit the luggage allowances:
28" x 18.25" x 11.25" (57.5" linear)
28" x 21" x 10.5" (59.5" linear)
29" x 20" x 10" (59" linear)
29" x 20.5" x 12" (61.5" linear)
29" x 21" x 11" (61" linear)
29.5” x 22.5" x 10" (62" linear)
Baggage space on the bus is limited, and we cannot comfortably accommodate more baggage. In fairness to all passengers, our tour managers are instructed to direct any participant with a suitcase exceeding the allowance to purchase a replacement bag on Day 2 of the tour and to leave the oversized bag behind or ask the hotel to ship it back home, entirely at the participant’s own expense. If there is room on the bus, the tour manager may allow the oversized luggage in which case the tour participant must pay the foreign currency equivalent of USD $10.00 per day for excess storage fees to the tour manager at the beginning of the tour. If luggage weighs more than 50 lbs., the tour participant will be required to carry his/her own luggage between the motor coach and hotel room.
2) Suitcase - Airline Allowance: Airline baggage allowances may differ from the bus allowance. Airline baggage fee policies are changing frequently and are inconsistent between carriers. Airline baggage fees are not included and, if charged, the passenger is responsible to pay any applicable baggage fees directly to the airline at time of check in. To minimize (and possibly avoid) baggage fees, Sterling Silver Tours recommends you follow the same checked baggage allowance for air travel as outlined for the bus, namely one suitcase not to exceed 50 lbs. and 62 linear inches.
3) Carry-on - Motor Coach/ Airline Allowance: Each passenger is entitled to one carry-on. The carry-on may not exceed 15 lbs. and must fit in the space under your seat on the motor coach. This space measures 15” x 12” x 7”. In addition, each participant may carry a coat over their arm, a camera or small purse over their shoulder, and a magazine or book in their hand. For safety and storage allowance considerations, wheeled carry-on bags are not suitable. You will not be able to store your carry-on in the suitcase compartment under the bus, during the tour.
Baggage Loss or Damage: Baggage loss or damage sustained while in the custody of an airline, hotel, bus company, or transfer company is not the responsibility of Sterling Silver Tours.
What to do in case of damage or loss by an airline: The participant must report the loss or damage immediately (while still at the airport) to the airline in question for two reasons:
a) Most airlines require immediate claims or they will not accept them.
b) Insurance companies have the right to void any claim that is not reported immediately.
Responsibility of the Airlines: The airlines are not held responsible for any acts, omissions, or events during the time the passengers are not on board their aircraft or conveyances. The passenger’s contract in use by the airlines, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the airline and the passenger. Any and/or all transportation companies shall have or incur no responsibility for liability to any traveler aside from their liability as common carriers. Services performed and tickets issued by the air carrier are subject to rules and regulations relating to liabilities established by the Warsaw and Montreal Conventions and the terms and conditions of the airline contract.
Hazardous Materials Notice: Federal law forbids the carriage of hazardous materials aboard aircraft in your luggage or on your person. A violation can result in five years’ imprisonment and penalties of $250,000 or more (49 U.S.C. 5124). Hazardous materials include explosives, compressed gases, flammable liquids and solids, oxidizers, poisons, corrosives and radioactive materials. Examples: paints, lighter fluid, fireworks, tear gases, oxygen bottles and radiopharmaceuticals. There are special exceptions for small quantities (up to 70 ounces total) of medicinal and toilet articles carried in your luggage and certain smoking materials carried on your person. For further information, review the prohibited items webpage on the TSA website: www.tsa.gov.
Cancellation by Sterling Silver Tours: Sterling Silver Tours reserves the right to cancel a tour at any time for any reason, and its liability shall be limited to a refund the form of a credit for a future trip in the amount of those moneys it has received from or on behalf of the participant. If the air ticket is purchased through any source other than Sterling Silver Tours, it is the purchaser’s responsibility to become familiar with the penalties and restrictions. In the event of a cancellation or date change, Sterling Silver Tours shall not be held liable for any penalties incurred from the cancellation or change of the air ticket.
Responsibility: Sterling Silver Tours, its employees, shareholders, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers and directors does not own or operate any entity which is to provide or does provide goods or services for your trip,including, for example, lodging facilities, transportation companies, local ground handlers, tour operators, food service or entertainment providers, etc. As a result, Sterling Silver Tours is not liable for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such person, or of any other third party not under its control. Without limiting the foregoing, Sterling Silver Tours accepts no responsibility for any risk or resulting injury, delay, inconvenience, damage, or death which results from criminal activity, accidents, disease, epidemics or the threat thereof, illness, the provision of inappropriate or no medical attention or the lack of access to same, the demands of indoor or outdoor activities, strikes, political or civil unrest, overbooking, structural or other defective conditions in hotels or other lodging facilities, acts of terrorism or the threat thereof, insurrection or revolt, weather, acts of God or any other events or circumstances beyond its control. In addition, Sterling Silver Tours is not responsible for typographical or substantive errors in descriptions of hotels or programs.
Travel Advisories and Warnings and Health Alerts: It is the responsibility of the traveler to become informed about current travel advisories and warnings. Refer to the U.S. State Department's travel website at www.travel.state.gov or call 1-888-407-4747. For health alerts, refer to the Centers for Disease Control website at www.cdc.gov or call 1-800-232-4636.
Traveler's Representation: The traveler represents that neither he nor she nor anyone traveling with him or her has any physical or other condition or disability that could create a hazard to himself or herself or other members of the tour. Sterling Silver Tours reserves the right to decline, to accept or retain any person as a member of the tour at any time prior to departure, or in the course of the tour, should such participant’s health, mental condition, physical infirmity or general deportment impede, in Sterling Silver Tours’ judgment, the operation of the tour or the rights, welfare or enjoyment of other tour participants, and all resulting costs will be the responsibility of the participant.
Entire Agreement: Participant warrants that no promises or inducements have been offered for this agreement other than as set forth herein and that this agreement is executed without reliance upon any other promises or representations. No modification, termination or attempted waiver of this contract shall be valid unless in writing and signed by the participant and an officer of Sterling Silver Tours.
Payment to Sterling Silver Tours constitutes your acceptance of the Tour Contract as set out here.