Terms & Conditions
Following are the Terms & Conditions that appear in the current Beachcomber brochure and website. Travellers should ensure they have read and understand all Terms & Conditions set out in the brochure/website. Terms & Conditions "the Company" means Holiday Marketing Pty Ltd trading as Beachcomber Tours (Lic: TAG1291) and "the Client" means the person/s in whose name or on whose behalf the reservation is made.
1. HOLIDAY PRICE - The Company expressly reserves the right to adjust the prices in the brochure, quote or booking in accordance with airfare increases, fuel surcharges, tax and tariff adjustments which may occur during the validity of the brochure, quote and booking. The Company will guarantee the price if full payment has been received and airline tickets have been issued.
2. SPECIALS - From time to time the company will release specials that may come out after you have paid a deposit for your holiday. Specials are offered by the company to stimulate the market and increase sales in low selling periods. They have various time limits and booking conditions. Should you wish to rebook using a special that has been released after you have made the deposit for your original booking, but prior to your departure, you will be liable for cancellation charges as described in point 5 below. You will also be required to adhere to all terms and conditions of any special being booked.
3. RESERVATIONS - A minimum deposit of 10% of the total package price must be paid by the Client at the time of making a reservation. Deposit is non refundable. Higher deposits may be required in some circumstances. The balance of the price must be paid no later than 8 weeks prior to departure. Bookings made less than 8 weeks prior to departure must be accompanied by full payment. The Company reserves the right to cancel reservations where the total price has not been paid by the due date. In this case, the Client's deposit will be forfeited to the Company. The Company reserves the right to apply a late booking fee for bookings made with 14 days of departure and an amendment fee for each alteration after the initial reservation. The Company recommends Travel Insurance taken should cover the loss of non-refundable deposit.
4. DELAYS - The Company will not be liable for any delays prior to departure or during the course of any holiday booked, whether brought about by technical difficulties, strikes, weather conditions, force majeure or any other circumstances whatsoever. Any expenses relating to these delays (eg: hotels, meals, phone calls, airline costs etc) must be paid by the Client. Travel Insurance is strongly recommended, however this may not cover schedule changes or delays. Any costs incurred due to schedule changes or delays are payable by the Client.
5. TO CANCEL A RESERVATION - Cancellation of reservation must be made in writing. Cancellation charges as follows:
* More than 8 weeks notice = deposit forfeited or 10% of quoted gross selling price, whichever is the greater
* Less than 8 weeks notice = 25% of total holiday package
* Less than 5 weeks notice = 50% of total holiday package
* Less than 3 weeks notice = 100% of total holiday package
The above is an indication of normal cancellation fees, however, fees may vary between operators. Cancellation charges are made to cover the cost of professional services supplied for work already completed. The Client is liable for all cancellation fees charged (additional cancellation fees may be charged by airlines and other operators). If the Client misses their departure flight, or fails to leave as planned, no portion of the holiday price will be refunded by the Company. If the client cancels to rebook using a special offer, cancellation charges will apply. The non-issuance of an invoice, or the non- payment and/or non-receipt of a security deposit will not exempt passengers from these cancellation and administration charges.
6. TRAVEL & MEDICAL INSURANCE - The Client must take out Travel Insurance including medical insurance to cover personal accident, medical expenses, loss of baggage and personal effects, loss of deposits or tour fare through delays, cancellations and other unforeseen events. Insurance may not cover schedule changes or delays.
7. SPECIAL DEPOSIT REQUIREMENTS - Some tours may require an extra amount for deposit, or full payment may be required earlier than 8 weeks prior to departure. It is the Client's responsibility to pay these amounts as requested by the Company. The Company accepts no responsibility for cancellations by ground handlers, hotels, lodges or airlines where the Client has failed to forward deposits or final payments on time.
8. HOTELS - The Company reserves the right to change the hotel requested by the Client to a hotel of a similar or better grade, even after departure from Australia. Some airlines, hotels or game lodges may place restrictions on length of stay. Restrictions may also be placed on eligibility of children to stay at their establishments or participate in their programs. Guests should be aware that some Hotel facilities, restaurants, bars and/or room categories may be closed for refurbishment or may not be available during low season or slow business periods. This does not constitute any basis for a refund.
9. SPECIAL REQUESTS - The Company will accept special requests on the understanding that, whilst every effort will be made to comply with the requests, under no circumstances will the Company guarantee the request. The Company will not be liable for any loss, damage or consequential expense incurred by the Client due to the failure of the Company to meet the Client's special request.
10. PASSPORTS, VISAS AND HEALTH - All passports and visas must be obtained by the Client before departure. The Company is not responsible for obtaining the Client's passport or visas, and will not be liable for any consequences arising from the Client failing to ensure they have complied with all necessary requirements for travel, such as health, and accepts no liability for incorrect or invalid passports or visas.
11. BOOKING FEE - A fee of $50 per booking may be charged for any booking of less than three nights.
12. GOODS & SERVICES TAX (GST) - Currently GST is not payable on international travel arrangements. GST is payable on cancellation fees and will be charged to the Client in addition to the cancellation fee.
13. GROUPS - Group Terms and Conditions, deposit and cancellation fees may vary from those indicated here.
14. ITINERARY VARIATION - While every effort is made to comply with all published itineraries and Client requested itineraries, the Company reserves the right to make changes to itineraries for your convenience. In some cases, weather conditions and other unforeseen circumstances can necessitate an alteration in the tour itinerary. This will not constitute any basis for a refund.
15. LIABILITY - Nothing in these conditions shall be read or applied so as to exclude, restrict or modify any condition, warranty, guarantee, right or remedy implied by law (including the Trade Practices Act 1974) and which by law cannot be excluded, restricted or modified. The Company acts as an agent only in producing and operating the tours and arrangements featured in this brochure. The Company shall not be liable to the Client for:
(a) Any death, personal injury, sickness, damage, accident, delay, consequential loss or other irregularity.
(b) Any act, omission or default of any hotel company, game lodge, air carrier, supplier or other person, or by any servant or agent of the same name.
(c) Any changes, omissions or delays, before or during the course of any published holiday.
(d) Loss or damage to baggage and other personal effects, whether temporary or permanent, however caused and whether due to negligence of any person or not.
Any liability of the Company to the Client will be limited to the total amount paid or agreed to be paid by the Client to the Company for the holiday. Any claim which the Client may have must be notified within 14 days of return from the holiday.
16. UNUSED SERVICES - The Company will not be liable to give the Client a refund for any unused services, irrespective of whether they form part of the basic inclusive holiday price, or whether they are in respect of pre-booked optional arrangements.
17. PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE - Prices quoted in this brochure do not include: costs of obtaining visas or passports; telephone calls; laundry; entertainment arrangements not shown in the itinerary; meals and beverages unless actually specified; medical claims; travel and/or medical insurance; any other items of a personal nature. Prices do not include taxes other than those required by Australian law.
18. GOVERNING LAW OF CONTRACT - Any contract for these tours is deemed to be made in Queensland and any disputes shall be dealt with in Queensland and heard in the Brisbane Law Courts or in Brisbane Consumer Affairs Tribunal.
19. GENERAL INFORMATION
(a) Travel & Medical Insurance - Clients must take out travel and medical insurance to cover personal accident, medical expenses, loss of baggage and personal effects, loss of deposit or tour fare through delays, cancellations and other unforeseen events.
NB. Insurance may not cover schedule changes or delays. Any costs incurred due to schedule changes or delays are payable by the Client.
(b) Baggage - An allowance of 20 kg per person is permitted on international flights (subject to airline conditions). Inter-island flights or flights within Africa may impose baggage restrictions.
(c) Reconfirmation - Clients are responsible for reconfirmation of flights - please refer to airline tickets for details of conditions. Failure to reconfirm may result in the cancellation of a flight reserved with an airline.
(d) Brochure/Website Information and Validity - The information and prices in brochures and websites were, to the best of our knowledge, correct at the time of printing. Changes that are beyond our control may have occurred with respect to itineraries, prices, tour schedules and/or content, standard of services, hotel renovations or refurbishments, airline schedules, fares, taxes and fuel costs. Contact Beachcomber or your Travel Agent before you book to determine if any changes to your selection have occurred.
20. WATER SAFETY - Clients should consider that pools at our destinations are not fenced and there are no lifeguards on duty either at pools or on beaches. Each client is responsible for their own safety, and for the safety of their children.
21. INFANTS/CHILDREN - Where hotels have been requested to supply cots, parents must satisfy themselves with the safety features of the individual cot prior to use. Particular caution should also be exercised with regard to each room's facilities.
22. PRIVACY POLICY - Your Privacy is protected by the National Privacy Principles under the Privacy Act 1988 (as amended by the Privacy Amendment (Private Sector) Act 2000, as implemented from 21 December 2001.
Beachcomber's Privacy Policy covers all relevant aspects of the Privacy Act. A copy of this policy can be downloaded from www.beachcomber.com.au/privacy or we will be pleased to fax, mail or email a copy to you upon request.
23. AIRLINE RESPONSIBILITY - The ticket issued by the airline to the Client will constitute the sole contract between the airline and the Client.
24. AIRLINE "CONDITIONS OF CONTRACT" - Clients are responsible for reading and understanding, prior to departure, the "Conditions of Contract" of the airline issuing their ticket. Copies of these conditions appear on the ticket or can be forwarded to the Client on request.
25. CLIENT RESPONSIBILITY - Clients must complete and sign a Booking Form acknowledging that they have read, understood and agreed to the Terms and Conditions set out above. Documents will not be issued until a completed booking form has been received.
The Client acknowledges that they will provide the agent / Company from time to time with information about the Client of a personal nature ("Personal Information").
The Client consents to the agent / Company using any Personal Information for purposes of marketing and completing airline bookings and travel related arrangements on behalf of the Client.