Terms & Conditions
It is important that you read and understand the following conditions before making your booking.
The following Terms and Conditions form the basis of your contract with ROUTE INDIA TOURS. It is important that you read and understand the following conditions before making your booking. By asking us to confirm your booking, we are entitled to assume that you have had the opportunity to read these Terms and Conditions and that you agree to them and that you agree to them applying to your holiday arrangements booked with us and which we agree to make, provide or perform (as applicable) as part of our contract with you.
Tour Packages – Services Included
Our tour packages include airport transfers, provision of a tour escort, accommodation and breakfast, transport, internal flights, and entrance fees to attractions. The Tour Operator will customise your chosen tour to your requirements and send a quotation. Prices, additional fees, itineraries, and availability of our tours are subject to change at any time.
Tour Packages – Services Not Included
Our tour packages do not include international flights, visa and passport costs, vaccination and medical expenses, any type of insurance, excess baggage, extra meals, mini bar, room service, additional excursions, laundry, beverages, souvenirs, tipping, camera fees, postage, phone calls, internet, none collectable taxes, items of a personal nature and anything not mentioned in the Includes column of your tour quote.
Unused Services While Travelling
Unused services cannot be refunded once the trip has begun. No refund can be made for absence by travellers from any part of the itinerary.
Booking - Deposit
At the time of booking, a non-refundable deposit in the amount of 50% of the total tour cost is due to the Tour Operator. If the booking is made 60 days or less prior to departure, full payment is due at the time of booking. Deposits paid by tour participants indicate acceptance of the terms and conditions.
Booking - Final Payment
The confirmation sent by the Tour Operator will contain details of final payment required for any booking. Payment of the balance of the price for any tours booked is due 60 days before the departure date. If full payment is not received by the applicable due date, the Tour Operator may, at its sole discretion, change the rate payable for the booking, or treat the booking as cancelled and retain 100% of the deposit paid on booking as a cancellation fee. If a booking is made less than 60 days before the departure date of the tour, then the full amount must be paid at the time of booking. If, for any tour, payment terms differ from those outlined in this section, the applicable terms will be communicated to you prior to booking and will also be detailed on the applicable invoice.
Local Flights
All local flights are included in the cost of your tour unless otherwise noted. It is important that we have your passport information at the time of booking in order to process these tickets. Internal flight
tickets are issued locally and will be given to you prior to the flight departure.
Holiday Insurance
This is a vital part of any holiday so please ensure you take out adequate travel insurance with full cancellation cover. If you fail to take out insurance and have to cancel your booking, you will be charged in accordance with our normal terms and conditions – see Cancelling Your Tour. Furthermore, if you require medical/any other form of assistance whilst on holiday you will not be covered and you in turn may incur significant costs. Please read your policy details carefully and take them with you on holiday.
Passports & Visas
Please remember that every traveller (including all children from birth) will need a valid passport to travel. If your passport is endorsed in any way, requirements should be checked with the relevant embassy. British passport holders should ensure a valid ten year passport is held for adults and a valid 5 year passport is held for children under 16. As many countries require passport expiry dates to fall a considerable time beyond the dates of travel, we would recommend that all passports are valid for a minimum of 6 months after your scheduled return to the UK. It can take at least six weeks to get an adult passport, although renewal of an existing passport can be quicker. Requirements may change and you must check the up to date position in good time before departure. Please visit www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india for advice. If you are travelling on a non-British passport, you must check your requirements with the appropriate embassy, high commission or consulate.
All foreign nationals entering India are required to apply for a visa in advance of travel. Visa information can change at short notice. If you are a British passport holder, please check www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/india for the latest information. There may be specific entry requirements for under 18s. If you are travelling on a non-British passport, you must check any visa requirements with the appropriate embassy, high commission or consulate.
It is your responsibility to ensure you are in possession of all necessary travel and health documents before departure. Any costs incurred in obtaining such documentation must be paid by you. We regret we cannot accept any liability if you are refused entry onto any transport, into any country or city due to failure on your part to carry all required documentation. If failure to have any necessary travel or other documents results in fines, surcharges or other financial penalty or expenses being imposed on or incurred by us, you will be responsible for reimbursing us accordingly.
Health & Vaccinations
Health facilities, hygiene and disease risk vary worldwide. You should take health advice about your specific needs as early as possible and ensure that vaccinations or preventative measures such as malaria tablets are taken early enough (which may be a month or more prior to departure) to be fully effective by the date of travel. It is your responsibility to ensure you are aware of all recommended and required vaccination and health precautions in good time before departure. Details are available from your GP surgery and from the National Travel Health Network and Centre www.nathnac.org.
Group Transfers
Our tour packages include group transfers from airports/hotels and vice versa unless otherwise stated. A group transfer is generally a shared transfer and the type of vehicle used will normally be dependent upon the size of the group, with stops being made en-route to drop off/pick up other clients. The duration of your transfer will be dependent upon the individual arrangements required. Alternatively, we offer the choice of upgrading to your own private transfer at the appropriate cost.
Smoking Policy
Smoking is allowed in the designated area only and not permitted inside hotel, coaches, car, trains, cruise, restaurants etc.
Weather
World weather is becoming more erratic and unpredictable and we cannot be held responsible for disappointment or disruption to your holiday due to bad or unusual weather conditions.
Holiday Seasons
Most of the destinations we feature are available all year round. Some do have quieter 'off peak' periods when you can take advantage of uncrowded beaches and a more personal attention from hotel staff at excellent prices. At this time it may be necessary for hotels to scale down the size of some of their facilities, such as restaurants, to match demand. Similarly, during peak periods hotels experience full occupancy which may result in a livelier atmosphere and slower service in busier facilities.
Other Hotel Guests
Many hotels, especially in cities and major resorts, accommodate weddings, conventions and conferences. Also, some destinations may have an influx of groups such as students, associations or clubs. The hotels we feature are shared with guests from many countries with different cultures and customs. We have no control over the acceptance of bookings at the hotels that we feature. We are therefore unable to accept responsibility for any inconvenience caused by such groups or their activities.
Special Requests
Where a special request (e.g. diet, room location, twin or double bedded room, a particular facility at a hotel, flight seat requests and/or particular meals) is an important factor in your choice of holiday, you must advise us when your booking is made. ROUTE INDIA TOURS will pass your request on to the hotel, airline or other supplier but cannot guarantee that it will be accommodated. The provision of any special request does not constitute a term of your contract with us. Confirmation that a special request has been noted or passed on to the supplier or the inclusion of the special request on your confirmation invoice or any other documentation is not confirmation that the request will be met. Unless and until specifically confirmed, all special requests are subject to availability.
Meals
Tour packages include breakfast at the hotel or resort. Upgrade to include lunch and/or dinner is available at an additional cost. Please note lunch is not served at the hotel. No refunds on meals not taken can be given. Payment for any meals/snacks/drinks that are not included in your tour package must be made direct to the hotel. Complimentary bottled water will be provided during the day whilst travelling.
Luggage Limits
Although we do not have any luggage limits on our tour, we highly recommend carrying 1 piece up to 25kg per person which is easy to transport while travelling by coach or car. When a flight is a part of your tour, standard luggage allowance may vary. We recommend you check the correct luggage allowance of your international and domestic flights at the time of booking. In some case, you can pre-purchase but since airlines are frequently changing their policy it is impossible for us to confirm luggage allowance until the flight is ticketed and paid. It’s the passenger responsibility to familiarise airline’s luggage policies before departure. If not comply with the rules, airlines may impose excess baggage fees at the time of check-in and ROUTE INDIA TOURS take no responsibility. All luggage is at “owner’s risk”.
Tips/Gratuities
Tipping has always been difficult as it might not be a part of your culture or country, however, it is highly expected where we operate tours and is often the way some people supplement their earnings. As a general rule we recommend the following tipping guidelines, per couple:
- Tour Managers, INR 1300-1600 per person, per day
- Coach drivers, INR 700-900 per person, per day
- Helpers, INR 300-500 per person
- Porters and wait staff, INR 50-100 per person
- Rickshaw drivers, safari drivers and mahouts, INR 100-200 per person
- Washroom attendants, INR 20-30 per person
- Restaurant tipping, 10% of your bill if there is no service charge added
You are welcome to pay more if you wish as these guidelines are prepared to cover a reasonable amount. Our Tour Manager will guide you and we recommend you keep the small denomination of local currency if you wish to pay porter, waiter, rickshaw driver etc.
Local Purchases
We cannot accept responsibility for any items you may purchase locally e.g. jewellery/furniture etc. and the quality and value of such cannot be guaranteed. We recommend that you check whether or not any extra charges will be payable for import duty or freight as we are unable to assist with any costs you may incur in this respect.
Local Laws
All participants in tours operated by ROUTE INDIA TOURS are expected to obey the laws and regulations of the country visited and any failure to do so will relieve ROUTE INDIA TOURS of all obligations that it may otherwise have under this contract.
Behaviour
Most people go on holiday for rest and relaxation, so if in our reasonable opinion or in the opinion of any airline pilot, hotel manager, tour leader or other person in authority, your behaviour is causing or is likely to cause danger, upset or damage to property or is persistently affecting the enjoyment of others, we reserve the right to terminate your tour. Should this happen no refund or compensation would be paid and we will have no further responsibility for your holiday arrangements.
Personal Belongings and Lost Items
For security reasons, valuables should be kept to a minimum and packed in your hand luggage along with any medicines and some basic essentials, such as a change of clothing and toiletries. It can be easy to lose items but it is your responsibility to look after your property at all times and you must ensure you are adequately covered by comprehensive insurance. If you lose any personal items whilst on holiday, please obtain a written report from a local representative and the police, where appropriate, as these may be required if you wish to make an insurance claim upon your return.
Travellers Needing Special Assistance
We welcome travellers with disabilities or special needs, however some group journeys may not be suitable for traveller with a special need. It is imperative you advise the Tour Operator of the tour you prefer and your interest with all the important information relating to your health, mobility and fitness, so we can create a tailor-made tour accordingly. This information is crucial and required at the time of booking and any changes to health, mobility and fitness must also be reported as soon as possible and prior to departure. If you require special assistance or care of any type including pushing a wheelchair, assistance with walking or assistance with dressing, you must travel with a companion capable of providing the required assistance or care. ROUTE INDIA TOURS will make reasonable efforts to accommodate the special needs of disabled travellers, it is not responsible for any denial of services by any third party entities it has travel arrangements with, such as carriers, hotels, trains, restaurants or other independent suppliers unless extra support person is available at the destination or tour and charges are paid in advance. Please note some coaches, minibuses and trains are not equipped with wheelchair ramps. We reserve the right to deny services from the start till the end of the tour and our terms and conditions will be enforced.
Changes Or Additions To Your Tour
If you want to change any part of your tour arrangements after the invoice has been issued, we will do our best to assist but it may not be possible. Any request for changes must be made in writing, preferably by email, by the person who made the original booking. If it is possible to make the change, it will be subject to an administration charge of £50 per booking and payment of any further costs incurred by us as a result of the change. You should be aware that any such costs are likely to increase, the closer to the departure date the changes are made. Please note special airfares that require early ticketing may be non-refundable and non-changeable.
Cancelling Your Tour
If you or anyone on your booking decides to cancel the tour, the lead name must notify us of the decision in writing, preferably by email, as soon as possible. Any notification by telephone must also be confirmed in writing or by email. Cancellation will take effect from the day written confirmation is received by us. A cancellation invoice will be sent within 7 days. Since we incur costs in cancelling your travel arrangements, the following scale of charges will be payable:
- 60 days or more before departure 100% of the Deposit
- 30 days or more before departure 75% of the Total Tour Cost
- Less than 30 days before departure 100% of the Total Tour Cost
If We Cancel Your Tour
We reserve rights to cancel any tour due to any unforeseen circumstances and will advise you as soon as possible. We stress that this rarely occurs; however, in such an eventuality, we will make every endeavour to offer substitute arrangements of a similar nature, standard and cost. If the arrangements offered are not acceptable to you, a full amount, except any penalty charged by airlines and any third party, will be refunded. ROUTE INDIA TOURS take no responsibility for any loss incurred due to the tour cancellation.
If We Change Your Tour Accommodation
We do not control the day to day management of your accommodation, and in exceptional cases it is possible that we may be advised that the reserved accommodation has been overbooked or your accommodation may have to be changed for other reasons. If this happens before your departure or on arrival, we will endeavour to provide accommodation of at least the same standard in the same area. If only accommodation of a lower standard is available we will refund the difference between the accommodation booked and that available.
If You Have A Complaint While You Are On Holiday
If you have cause for complaint whilst on holiday, you must bring it to the attention of our local representative or tour escort and the hotel immediately and they will do their best to rectify the situation. If matters remain unresolved, your concerns must be brought to the attention of Customer Services at ROUTE INDIA TOURS, without undue delay. It is unreasonable to take no action whilst on holiday, but then to complain upon your return. If you do not raise concerns promptly, this may affect our ability to investigate and take remedial action and it may impact on the way your complaint is dealt with.
Curtailment
If you cut short your holiday and return home early in circumstances where you have no reasonable cause for complaint about the standard of accommodation and services provided, we will not offer you any refund for the remainder of your holiday not completed, or assist with any associated costs you may incur. Depending on the circumstances, your travel insurance may offer cover for curtailment and we suggest that any claim is made directly with them.
Liability Disclaimer
ROUTE INDIA TOURS act only as agents for the suppliers of transportation, accommodation, food and other goods and services provided to the tour participant. All arrangements for transport, accommodation and services are made upon the express condition that ROUTE INDIA TOURS shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential or incidental damage, injury, loss, accident, delay or irregularity of any kind occasioned by reason of any act or omission beyond its control, including, without limitation, any act of negligence or breach of contract of any third party such as an airline, cruise line, train, hotel, restaurant, ground handler, etc., who is to or does supply any goods or services for the tour. Without limiting the foregoing, ROUTE INDIA TOURS is not responsible for any losses or expenses due to delay or changes in schedule, overbooking of accommodation, default of any third parties, sickness, weather, strikes, acts of God, acts of terrorism, force majeure, war, quarantine, criminal activity, or for any other cause beyond its control.
Itinerary Disclaimer
The information in these itineraries have been compiled with care and is provided in good faith. However it is subject to change, and does not form part of the contract between the client and the operator. Occasionally our itineraries change as we make improvements that stem from past travellers, comments and our own research. Sometimes it can be a small change like adding an extra meal along the itinerary. Sometimes the change may result in us altering the tour for the coming year. Ultimately, our goal is to provide you with the most rewarding experience. While it is our intention to adhere to the route described, there is a certain amount of flexibility built into the itinerary and on occasion it may be necessary, or desirable to make alterations. The itinerary is brief, as we never know exactly where our journey will take us. Due to our style of travel and the regions we visit, travel can be unpredictable. The itinerary is a general guide to the tour and region and any mention of specific destinations or wildlife is by no means a guarantee that they will be visited or encountered. Aboard expedition trips visits to research stations depend on final permission. Additionally, any travel times listed are approximations only and subject to vary due to local circumstances.
Privacy And Consent
Personal information is collected to process your booking and also to keep you up to date with other ROUTE INDIA TOURS product and information which may be of interest to you. You give us permission to use your tour picture and video in the brochure, advertising material or website to support the authenticity of the tours and services. You can email us not to use your image by advising us at the time of booking and also can opt-out of receiving information at any time if you choose to do so. Any personal information you provide will be managed in accordance with ROUTE INDIA TOURS privacy policy which can be viewed at our website.