RESERVATIONS, DEPOSITS & FINAL PAYMENTS: The programs featured on this web site tend to sell out fast. As such, early reservations are essential to ensure availability of space. A deposit of $500 per person is due at the time of reservation. A higher deposit may be required for some tours. If a deposit is not received within 7 days from the date of reservations, the booking is subject to cancellation. After receipt of deposit, any changes made to the reservation will incur a processing fee of $25 per change (see also cancellation clause). Final payment is due 60 days prior to the departure date. If the reservation is made within the last 60 days of departure (and if space is still available), the entire tour price must be paid at the time of reservation.

PRICES, RATES & FARES: Unless otherwise indicated, all prices shown are in U.S. dollars and are per person sharing a double-bedded hotel room. These prices are in effect at time of printing and are subject to change at any time prior to departure. Quoted tour prices are based on current rates of exchange, tariffs and taxes as of the print date. SITA reserves the right to increase tour prices to cover increased costs of tariffs, taxes and fluctuations in foreign exchange markets. Airfares (if shown) are from the gateways of JFK or LAX and should be used as a guideline only. Best available airfares will be quoted, applicable at time of departure, based on individual gateways for the complete air itinerary.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: All participants must be in possession of a valid passport; its validity must be for 6 months beyond the re-entry date into the United States. A visa or visas may be required for some or all of the countries visited on the tour selected. Please check your visa requirements at time of booking. SITA will provide visa information and application forms. A reliable visa service that will assist in obtaining visas for nominal fees is recommended. Non U.S. Citizens may have different requirements. It is the passenger’s responsibility to ensure that all his or her visa and passport requirements are met.

TOUR INFORMATION: Acknowledgement of booking will be sent upon initiation of a reservation. Appropriate visa applications (if needed) and general information such as reading and clothing suggestions, customs information, anticipated weather conditions, etc. will be forwarded to you upon receipt of deposit. Final tour documents consisting of detailed tour itinerary, vouchers, hotel list, travel bags, baggage tags, etc., are dispatched approximately 21–30 days prior to departure. If documents are requested for earlier delivery, a handling fee of $50 will apply to cover extra handling and processing.

CANCELLATIONS & CHANGES: Because of the special nature of the programs featured, suppliers impose rigid cancellation fees; please be aware that SITA has no control over such fees and cannot make any exceptions to these charges. Note: All cancellations must be received in writing; cancellations will be effective when the written notice is received at SITA’s offices in Encino, CA.

If a cancellation is received after SITA is in possession of the initial deposit, but more than 60 days prior to departure, the cancellation fee incurred will be $250 per person. A higher cancellation fee may apply to some tours. If cancellation is received between 59 and 45 days prior to departure the fee incurred will be 25% of the entire tour price. Or, if final payment has been received before 60 days prior to departure, and cancellation occurs, the fee incurred will be 25% of the entire tour price. Cancellation/s received between 44 days and 30 days prior to departure will be charged a fee of 50% of the entire tour price. No refunds whatsoever will be made for cancellations received within the last 30 days prior to departure.

Airfares are subject to different rules and cancellation fees; some may be non-refundable. Details will be provided upon request.

To protect against cancellation charges, purchasing Cancellation Protection and Travel Interruption Insurance (see Insurance clause) is strongly recommended.

UNUSED TOUR ITEMS: No refund will be made for any unused accommodations, missed meals, transportation segments, cruise portions, sightseeing tours or any other service. Such unused items are neither refundable nor exchangeable (no exceptions).

INSURANCE: The Travel Protection Program, which is designed exclusively for guests on SITA tours, cruises and holidays and underwritten by Travel Insurance International, is strongly recommended. The plan protects you and your investment in the event of a sudden emergency before or during your trip and offers coverage for trip cancellation or interruption, illness, injury, and damage, loss or theft of baggage, as well as emergency assistance.

HEALTH REQUIREMENTS: Health regulations for some countries visited on featured tours in this web site may require proof of inoculation and/or vaccination certificate; such certificates should be in your possession throughout the entire tour. It is strongly recommended that you consult with your personal physician in regards to your itinerary and required inoculations.

REVISION FEES: A handling fee of $30 per transaction is charged for any alteration or revision made to a reservation. Spelling corrections to names after tickets have been issued will be subject to airline revision fees. Courier delivery costs apply if any changes are made within five weeks prior to departure. A change of date or itinerary within 95 days of departure will be treated as a cancellation and new booking; in this case regular cancellation fees apply.

CRUISE ITINERARIES: Deviations to the planned cruise itineraries are possible, although every effort will be made to keep them as they are shown. All cruise routes are subject to change without notice. Should conditions render cruise routes unsafe for navigation, alternative services may apply, including but not limited to, accommodation on the docked ship and/or substitute ground arrangements.

YOUR TOUR PRICE INCLUDES:

ACCOMMODATIONS: Accommodations on a double-occupancy basis, will be provided at property noted or similar. Rooms will be assigned by the respective suppliers on a run-of-the-house basis, in category as specified in the itinerary. In the rare cases where deluxe properties do not exist, best available (this term may be defined by the hospitality industry in the region providing such accommodation or by trade custom) accommodation will be used exclusively. All per person rates are based on double occupancy of the respective accommodation units as described above. A tour member occupying a single room, either by choice or by circumstance, will pay the single room supplement. Quoted single room rate does not necessarily mean single occupancy of a double room, as some of the establishments used have designed single occupancy units.

MEALS: Meals for each tour are included as stated on itinerary. Buffet meals or table d’hôte are offered. Special meals and entertainment are included as shown in the itinerary. In some rare instances, a meal may not be of a standard expected under the term of “deluxe,” particularly in remote areas.

SIGHTSEEING & LAND TOUR SERVICES: The following services are included in your tour price: transportation between the airports and hotels, baggage handling, sightseeing with English-speaking guides as mentioned in the itinerary and all entrance fees to attractions visited as described in the itinerary. Sightseeing will be via motor coach, private car and other modes of transportation (air conditioned where necessary and available), as determined by the nature of the terrain and as outlined in the itinerary. Transfers are not included when arriving or departing at the first destination gateway by means other than the scheduled tour flights, but can be arranged at additional cost.

SPECIAL ENTERTAINMENT: Cultural entertainment events, gala evenings or festivals are included as per the itinerary.

AIRLINE CLAUSE: The airlines used in conjunction with tours and holidays featured are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time passengers are not onboard their aircraft. The passenger tickets in use by the airline, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the airline and passengers. Airfares, where used, are current at the time of printing of the SITA brochure and are subject to change without notice.

LATE BOOKING CHARGE: Bookings made within 30 days of departure incur a $50 handling fee.

NON REFUNDABLE AIR TICKETS: For departures that are not guaranteed: If you are purchasing a non-refundable air ticket, please understand the difficulties associated with these airfares. SITA cannot be held responsible for any change or cancellation penalties associated with non-refundable airfares.

LUGGAGE: Arrangements include transportation and transfer of two standard-sized suitcases per person.

AIRLINE BAGGAGE REGULATIONS: Economy-class allowance per tour participant permits two checked pieces of luggage per person, and subject to a total combined measurement of 106 inches (width + depth + height). No dimension of any single bag is to exceed 62 inches. The regional requirements for non-intercontinental flights are determined by weight, usually 44 lbs. per person in economy class (charter flights, if and when used, allow only 22 pounds, soft-sided luggage; limitations are strictly enforced). Carry-on baggage is not to exceed 45 inches and must conform to underseat size requirements of 9x14x22 inches. Baggage and personal effects are at owner’s risk throughout the tour and baggage insurance is strongly recommended (see insurance clause). Carrier liability for tour members’ baggage is clearly stated on the passenger contract printed on all tickets; description can also be found for inspection at the airport or city offices of the carrier. Liability for checked and unchecked baggage shall in no event exceed the actual loss incurred by the passenger, subject to proof of the amount of loss. Please read all of the conditions of your ticket. Federal law and treaties limits the amount of recovery for loss of or damage to your luggage or its contents. To protect against such limitations, it is strongly recommend that you purchase insurance (see insurance clause).

TOUR PRICE EXCLUSIONS: Your tour price does not include: Air transportation (unless specifically stated as included); costs and fees to obtain or extend your passports; visa fees and processing fees; inoculations and vaccinations (if required); health certificate; airport taxes and country departure taxes (if applicable); all items of a personal nature including alcoholic beverages (except on certain occasions): meals not specified, tips to tour guides; excess baggage charges; cancellation, health, accident and baggage insurance; private, non-group transfers; and any items not specifically listed as included.

PHOTOGRAPHY: SITA reserves the right to take photographs during the operation of any program and to use resulting photographs for promotional purposes. Any passengers who prefer that their images not be used are asked to notify their tour escort at the beginning of the program.

RESPONSIBILITY–LIMITATION OF LIABILITY: SITA World Travel, Inc. (dba SITA World Tours) of Encino, California and all affiliates (herein referred to as “SITA”) act only in the capacity as an agent for the hotels, airlines, bus companies, railroads, ship lines, and/or contractors providing accommodations, transportation or other services to the client. The client is advised that SITA purchases such transportation, hotel accommodations, restaurant and other services from various independent suppliers who are not affiliated with SITA. SITA makes every effort to select the best suppliers of the aforementioned services, however, SITA does not control the operations of these agents and as a result, cannot be held liable for any personal injury, property damage or other claim which may occur as the result of any and/or all of the following: (1) the wrongful, negligent or arbitrary acts or omissions on the part of the independent supplier, agent, its employees or others who are not under the direct control or supervision of SITA; (2) defects or failures of any vessel, aircraft, vehicle or other instrumentality which is under the control of an independent supplier; or (3) loss, injury or damage to person, property or otherwise, resulting directly or indirectly from any Acts of God, dangers incident to the sea, fire, breakdown in machinery or equipment, or wars (whether declared or not), hostilities, civil disturbances, strikes, riots, thefts, pilferage, medical epidemics, quarantines, or customs regulation, defaults, delays or cancellations or alterations in itinerary due to schedule changes, or from any causes beyond SITA’s control. Further, SITA is not liable for any loss or damage resulting from insufficient or improperly issued passports, visas or other legal documents. All coupons, exchange orders, receipts, contracts and tickets issued by SITA are issued subject to any and all tariffs, terms, and conditions under which any services are provided by such hotels, airlines, bus companies, railroads, ship lines or owners or contractors or by their person in employ.

RESERVATION OF RIGHTS: SITA (when deemed necessary) reserves the right to: (1) cancel any itinerary or any part of it; (2) make any alterations to the itinerary (including, but not limited to, alterations to substitution of hotels); and (3) decline to accept or to retain any person as a tour passenger should such person’s health, mental or physical condition, in the sole opinion of SITA, impede the operation of the tour of the other passengers. Tour members are held responsible for being in sufficient good health to undertake the tour. If a passenger is asked to leave while the tour is in progress, that person will be responsible for charges incurred on account of such departure from the tour and/or their return to the U.S.A. In such a case, SITA will refund any monies that can be recovered for the unused portion of the tour, taking into account additional charges incurred by SITA. Other than to refund such sum, SITA will accept no further liability or obligation toward that person or third party.

HOW TO BOOK: Contact your Vacations To Go travel counselor for more information and further assistance with reservations on any tour.