Guided Tour Booking Terms & Conditions

Reservation & Cancellations

The purchase of any travel services offered by Signature Travel & Tours constitutes a contractual agreement between you and Signature Travel & Tours and represents your acceptance of Signature Travel & Tours’ Terms and Conditions prior to booking.

Deposit

A non-refundable deposit of $300/person per tour is required at the time of reservation. The only acceptable form of deposit is by check. Your payment is not deemed made until it is received by Signature Travel & Tours. Signature Travel & Tours reserves the right to issue any airline tickets immediately upon receipt of your tour deposit.

Final Payment

Final payment is due 45 days prior to departure. Should you reserve your tour less than 60 days prior to the departure date, full payment will be due at the time of reservation. If full payment is not received 45 days prior to departure, the Airlines and Cruise company have the right to cancel your air and cruise reservations. Regrettably, if payment is not received by Signature Travel & Tours 45 days prior to departure, we will not be responsible for lost reservations and any subsequent charges by the Airlines and Cruise companies. Signature Travel & Tours reserves the right to cancel your reservation and impose cancellation charges should payments not be received within the above specified periods.

Revision Fee

An administrative fee of $35 per person will be charged for any alterations or revisions made to your reservation after your initial deposit and prior to full payment. Spelling corrections of clients’ names after air tickets have been issued will be subjected to airline revision fees in addition to Signature Travel & Tours’ administrative fee. A change of traveler name, vacation dates, or itineraries within the final payment period will be treated as a cancellation and standard cancellation fees apply.

Cancellation

Written notice of cancellation must be received by Signature Travel & Tours either by mail or fax. Oral cancellation by phone is not acceptable. The following fees will be assessed per person accordingly when you cancel your reservation.

• $300USD 60 days or more prior to departure
• $500USD 59 – 30 days prior to departure
• $1,000USD 29 -15 days prior to departure
• 100% within 14 days prior to departure (including no shows on day of departure)

In addition to the above stated cancellation charges, if airline tickets have already been issued (regardless of the number of days prior to departure date), the traveler will be assessed an additional airline cancellation penalty and service charge pursuant to the airline rules and regulations.

When a traveler cannot complete the tour for any reason, any unused portion of the tour is non- refundable, exchangeable, nor transferable.

Tour Fare Includes

Hotel Accommodations: Prices are per person based on two people sharing a twin-bedded room with a private bath or shower. A traveler who travels alone is required to pay a single supplement surcharge.Signature Travel & Tours is not responsible to arrange sharing room with another tour member for any single traveler. A single room is subject to availability based on prior request at an additional cost. When the hotel listed in the brochure is not available, a similar category will be substituted without prior notice. Triple room is based on existing bed(s) in one room, any charge for additional bed is on the traveler’s own expense.

Meals: In-flight meals and snacks are served accordingly to airline policies. Continental or buffet breakfasts are included with your hotel stays. Other meals are included as indicated in the itinerary. All meals are included on cruises in the main dining room. Meals in the restaurants onboard are at an additional cost and paid directly to the cruise company upon completion of each meal.

Air Transportation: Domestic economy class air is included as indicated in each tour itinerary. Air carriers and routings used are at the discretion of Signature Travel & Tours for all tour programs in this brochure. Should you wish to make your own air arrangements, you will be given an air credit to be deducted from your tour cost. Clients purchasing their own domestic air do so at their own risk. Taxes and fuel surcharge are correct at the time of this printing and are included in the final Land Tour Cost. It is the Client’s responsibility to verify if the tax or fuel surcharge has increased prior to reservation and are responsible for any additional charges due to an increase.

Sightseeing: Admission/entrance fees are included in your tour program as specified in the itinerary. Those not mentioned will be at an additional expense. Optional excursions and/or tours will be at an additional expense to the traveler. While sightseeing program is specified in the itinerary, its final arrangement will be determined by the Tour Manager, based on circumstances which are beyond the control of Signature Travel & Tours, such as weather, acts of God, dangers, breakdown in machinery or equipment, acts of government or authorities and arrival time under local condition.

Domestic Transportation: Air-conditioned ground transportation is included in your tour fare. Domestic flights are included in your tour fare, unless otherwise indicated. Taxes and fuel surcharge are correct at the time of this printing. It is the Client’s responsibility to verify if the tax or fuel surcharge has increased prior to reservation and are responsible for any additional charges due to an increase.

Tour Fare Does Not Include

Domestic air add-on from your hometown to the gateway city of Los Angeles or San Francisco, airport and airline taxes and fees, fuel surcharge and any charges levied by local, state, federal or national government agencies or airlines.

General Conditions

The minimum tour participants required is 10 travelers for a tour to be guaranteed. Should the tour minimum not be met, the tour participants may choose to pay a supplemental surcharge based on the number of actual travelers, or Signature Travel & Tours will re-book the travelers on the same tour with a different departure date or a similar tour. All re-bookings are subject to availability. If that tour is unacceptable, Signature Travel & Tours will refund all monies paid to you by a company check, if the original form of payment was by cash or check and a credit to your credit card if a credit card was used. There is no additional liability on the part of Signature Travel & Tours. Signature Travel & Tours cannot assume responsibility for any additional costs or fees relating to the issuance and/or cancellation of air tickets or other travel arrangements not made through Signature Travel & Tours.

Passports & Visas

It is the responsibility of the Traveler to have a valid passport, with a validity of at least six (6) months after your tour end date. Your travel consultant or Signature Travel & Tours can assist you in obtaining the necessary application forms to obtain your passport. Non-US citizens must consult with the appropriate consulates to determine if any additional visas are required. It is suggested that all travelers, regardless of the passport they hold, check with the appropriate consulates of the countries being visited to determine if any visas are required. Should you wish for Signature Travel & Tours to process your China visa, the fee is $300USD for a ten year, multiple entry visa for US citizens, valid from the issue date and good for a stay of up to 30 days in China per visit. The processing time is 30 working days. You must submit your original passport, one (2x2) color photo with a white background, and a completed China visa application to our office. The visa fee is non-refundable for any reason and is subject to change without prior notice. If you require expedited return service, please enclose an additional $25 to your total deposit and it will be sent back immediately upon return from the consulate. If you are applying for your own China visa, a copy of your passport should be sent to Signature Travel & Tours along with a copy of your China visa. All documents and air tickets will be issued under your passport name. Signature Travel & Tours is not responsible should you be denied a visa or entrance for any reason into a foreign country, regardless if you have a valid passport and visa, in which case, the visa fee and land reservations will not be refunded. Any additional costs incurred for your return flight is at the traveler’s own expense and responsibility.

Health & Mobility

Signature Travel & Tour’s tour programs are exciting, relatively active vacations. While there is plenty of time to relax, there will be much to see and do. Your included excursions may require an extensive amount of walking. Any issues regarding your health or mobility must be brought to the attention of Signature Travel & Tours’ or your travel consultant at the time of reservation. Should this information be withheld, any subsequent occurrences relating to this will not be the responsibility of Signature Travel & Tours. It is the traveler’s responsibility to consult with their doctor before participating in any of our tour programs. Accommodations in China may not have the same standards as those in theUS in regards to providing rooms with wheelchair access. If you are disabled, you must travel with a companion who will be solely responsible for providing any required assistance during the entire length of the trip as the Tour Manager is unable to provide individual assistance. Notwithstanding, the supplier has the sole discretion to decline a booking of any passenger whose condition may affect their own health, safety or enjoyment of other passengers. Additionally, the Supplier reserves the right to require a current traveler to end their trip for the reasons stated above.

Tour Enrollment

To ensure congenial membership, Signature Travel & Tours reserves the right to accept or reject any person as a tour member, whose conduct is deemed incompatible with the interest of the tour group. When a participant’s action affects the group negatively, the Tour Manager has the right to bar that traveler from continuing the tour. Any unused portion is non-refundable for any reason. Any cost incurred as a result of being expelled from the tour is the sole responsibility of the traveler.

Charges for Young Traveler

Young travelers under the age of 11 at the time of tour completion must be accompanied by an adult and share a twin-bedded room with the existing bedding. They will be charged at the listed child fare of 75% of the regular adult price. If an extra bed is needed in the same room with two (2) adults, the cost will be 90% of the regular adult price. Children age 12 and above will be charged at the regular adult price.

Holidays

During local or national holidays, certain facilities, such as museums and restaurants, sightseeing tours and shopping may be limited or not available. Alternatives will be offered whenever possible.

Baggage Allowance

Size and weight limitations for carry-on and checked baggage vary by airlines in each destination. Free baggage allowance may vary by airlines and is subject to change at any time without prior notice. Travelers are required to check the airline’s website before departure. Signature Travel & Tours is not responsible for any additional fees imposed by air carriers regarding overweight baggage. Regulations within most airports require that travelers handle their own baggage through customs. No responsibility is accepted for lost or damaged baggage for any of the traveler’s belongings. Baggage insurance is highly recommended. For the traveler’s own convenience and bus capacity, we suggest one check-in baggage and one carry-on per person. A $5USD fee will be charged for each transfer between the airport and hotel for each excess baggage.

Shopping

Our tour programs will allow you time to discover the city on your own. While our Tour Managers will be happy to assist you with any shopping requirements, they do not take any responsibility for any items you purchase that will require shipping them back to your hometown.

Client Privacy

Signature Travel & Tours will not discuss or disclose any details of our clients’ trip with any third party other than the client’s authorized agent, airlines, hotels, land and cruise operators. Should you require the release of travel information to any family members, the written request must be made to Signature Travel & Tours prior to your departure.

Travel Insurance

Trip Cancellation Insurance is an important travel investment. Signature Travel & Tours is not responsible or liable for loss, damage, theft of luggage and/or personal belongings, or for personal injury accidents, and/or illness. For your protection, it is important that you have, or purchase adequate insurance to cover these possibilities. Details about Travel insurance will be provided with your reservation confirmation.