Terms and Conditions
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These terms and conditions (the "Agreement") describe what the clients are legally entitled to expect from us when a trip is booked through us. The terms "we", "us" and "our" “Operator” and “Sceptre” refer to Sceptre. The term "you", “participant”, “passengers” and “client” refers to the purchaser or client for whom the booking is made. The term “Supplier” refers to the service provider of specific travel related services.
It is the agent’s responsibility to provide the following terms and conditions to the client. By booking travel with Sceptre, the client agrees to adhere to and accept all the terms and conditions of the Agreement and any additional terms and conditions of any Supplier that are applicable to your booking arrangements. If you do not agree with any of these terms and conditions, you must not make a booking with us.
You agree to be financially responsible for all bookings you make. You are responsible for any bookings and travel reservations made by persons under your direction or control. You also warrant that all information supplied by you or on your behalf, or by you agent is true, current, complete and accurate.
You agree that any violation of any such terms and conditions may result in (a) the cancellation of your reservation or purchase, (b) your forfeiture of any monies paid for your reservation or purchase, (c) you being denied access to the applicable travel related product or service, and (d) our right to debit your account for any costs we incur as a result of such violation.
You acknowledge and agree that we may change these terms and conditions from time to time and that those changes become effective immediately. You agree to be bound by the terms and conditions that are in effect at the time of your travel or at the time of cancellation, if applicable. You agree that is your responsibility to be familiar with these terms and conditions and to check back from time to time for any changes.
IMPORTANT AIR AND LAND PACKAGE INFORMATION
All payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. Air seats are limited and prices may be restricted to specific flights, class of service, travel dates, or length of stay. Holiday periods, flights and dates outside of specified travel period are available at additional costs. Accommodations include applicable taxes. An optional Travel Protection Plan will be offered during the booking process and if purchased, you will be allowed to cancel subject to the below terms. If you have not purchased our Travel Protection Plan, all bookings are Non-Refundable. Offers apply to North American-originating passengers and Fees are subject to change without notice and will be confirmed at time of booking. Flight restrictions/terms & conditions apply. Frequent flyer mileage/points may not apply. Tickets are non-refundable For some flights from the United States, you may cancel the ticketed reservation without penalty and receive a refund provided that you cancel the reservation within 24-hours after making it, if the reservation is made one week or more prior to a flight's departure. This is subject to the terms of the specific carrier. It is your responsibility to be aware of your carrier’s cancellation terms. Stopovers are not permitted unless specified. Hot Deal offers cannot be combined with any other discounts/promotions. Child/infant discounts not available. Substantial restrictions apply for cancellation/changes. Visit website and click on the Terms & Conditions tab on bottom of home page / or call our call center for updated pricing and full details on change/cancellation policy and corresponding details. See documents for any additional terms and condition.
FINAL PAYMENT
Full payment, including insurance payment, must be made at time of booking. We accept the following Credit Cards: MasterCard, Visa, and Discover. Unless otherwise advised, the credit card selected will be charged for entire balance of the reservation. Purchaser's credit card will be charged by Global Consolidated Services (GCS) and will appear as follows on credit card statement: "Sceptre”
While we do accept major credit cards you must provide a signed charge authorization agreement for every transaction for the trip. Your authorization is a binding agreement for us to charge the card and as such you waive any right to chargeback in the case of cancellation for any cause (excepting fraud), including a Force Majeure event, as defined herein, and agree to refund policies and procedures as outlined in these Terms and Conditions. In the event you attempt to chargeback, reverse, or recollect a trip payment already made without the authorization of Sceptre, we reserve the right to collect from you all additional costs, fees and expenses associated with such chargeback, reversal or recollection, including, without limitation, attorney fees.
TRIP PROTECTION
We strongly advise the purchase of a Travel Protection Plan. The applicable Travel Protection Plan options below will be available with your purchase. Additional details will be provided on your Itinerary and Travel Protection Plan Voucher travel documents upon purchase.
Declining trip protection could result in the loss of your travel cost and/or require more money to correct the situation. You also acknowledge that without travel protection, there may be no way to recoup any losses, costs or expenses incurred. If you choose to travel without adequate coverage, we will not be liable for any of your losses howsoever arising, for which travel protection coverage would otherwise have been available.
Travel Protection Plan 1 (excludes Escorted, Golf, Cruise, Rail and/or Group Vacations)
This coverage is designed to protect your investment on all featured self-drive and customized bookings. You may cancel your trip up to 72 hours prior to departure for any reason and you will receive a credit for future travel equaling the full amount of all payments made, less any Travel Protection Plan Cost and fees. Passengers must rebook their vacation using original air carrier at least 72 hours prior to originally scheduled departure and complete travel at least 1 year from original booking date. Coverage goes into effect on the day the premium plan payment is received. This coverage must be purchased within 48 hours after booking. Full description of coverage can be found by visiting http://www.tripmate.com/wpF421K. Pre-Departure notice of cancellation must be made during normal business hours (9AM to 5:30PM, Monday - Friday, Eastern Time) by calling (800) 221-0924. Note: Inside 72 hours prior to travel, full cancellation penalties will apply. Plan fees are not refundable at any time.
Please be advised should you cancel your booking and your package has shared accommodations or services you will receive a credit for your airfare (less cost of Trip Protection Plan). Since the shared services are still being used by other members in your traveling party there will be no credit available for those shared services.
Claims for travel insurance protection plan related benefits (post departure benefits) should be made to Trip Mate Inc. 1-800-888-7292 or 9225 Ward Parkway, Suite 200, Kansas City, Missouri 64114 Plan #: F421K
For residents of New York, Minnesota, Missouri and Washington: The Pre-Departure Cancellation Waiver Benefit may be purchased separately without purchase of the Travel Protection Plan.
Travel Protection Plan 2 (applies to Escorted, Golf, Cruise, Rail and/or Group Vacations)
For travelers on offered Escorted Vacations, Golf, or Cruise Vacations, travel protection is provided by Trip Mate Inc. This coverage is designed to protect your travel investment with a full cash refund less the cost of the insurance Travel Protection Plan and cancellation fees for the following covered reasons such as death, sickness, injury or certain other covered reasons. Full description of coverage can be found by visiting http://tripmate.com/wpF421S. This coverage must be purchased within 48 hours after booking.
Please be advised should you cancel your booking and your package has shared accommodations or services you will be refunded your airfare (less cost of Trip Protection Plan) plus the pro-rated portion of the shared services.
All claims are to be made to Trip Mate Inc. 1-800-888-7292 or 9225 Ward Parkway, Suite 200, Kansas City, Missouri 64114 Plan #: F421S
Flexible Change Plan
The Flexible Change Plan allows you to cancel your trip for any reason up to 14 days prior to your scheduled departure. You will receive the full value of your trip in the form of a future travel credit which can be used on any package. You must rebook using the original air carrier at least 14 days prior to your originally scheduled departure and complete travel at least 1 year from original booking date. Additional fees may apply. Future travel credit is non-transferable, non-refundable, and may not be redeemed for cash.
CANCELLATION AND CHANGE POLICIES
CHANGE AND CANCELLATION POLICY:
All payments are non-transferable and non-refundable. For some flights from the United States, you may cancel the ticketed reservation without penalty and receive a refund provided that you cancel the reservation within 24-hours after making it, if the reservation is made one week or more prior to a flight's departure. This is subject to the terms of the specific carrier. It is your responsibility to be aware of your carrier’s cancellation terms. All featured self-drive and independent package payments and customized booking payments are non-refundable and non-transferable whether bookings made through call center or website. We offer a cancellation waiver insurance plan that can cover cancellation for any reason up to 3 business days prior to departure. All land itinerary changes are discretionary and incur a minimum fee of $50 per change plus any additional costs incurred. For certain special promotional packages, deviations are not allowed. For air changes penalties vary. Minimum fee for changes to airline reservations is $100 per person per segment. Spelling corrections to clients’ names after tickets have been issued are subject to airline change fees. If documents have been issued a processing fee will apply to send revised travel documents. Fees are subject to adjustment at any time at the Operator’s discretion.
CLIENTS WITH TRIP PROTECTION PLAN AND SHARED ACCOMMODATIONS PACKAGES
Please be advised should you cancel your booking and your package has shared accommodations in a Villa or Apartment you will be refunded your airfare (less cost of Trip Protection Plan). Since your accommodations are still be used by other members in your traveling party there will be no refunds on the apartment/villas or car components.
REFUNDS FOR UNUSED SERVICES
No refunds will be made for unused services or vouchers once travel arrangements have commenced.
AIR ARRANGEMENTS
Operator is not responsible if an airline cancels, reschedules, or delays a flight for any reason. If you miss your departure flight, it is your responsibility to work with the airline on which you are ticketed to reach your destination. Operator is not responsible for any additional expenses you may incur prior to joining your trip. Operator is not responsible for and will not provide any refund for portions of trips missed due to canceled, rescheduled, or delayed flights.
For air purchased through Operator, if any air schedule requires an overnight stay in a gateway city, it is the client’s responsibility to secure accommodations is at client’s expense. Air routings are subject to availability. Routings are not guaranteed and are subject to change at any time.
If you make your own flight arrangements, Operator will not be responsible for any loss resulting from cancellation or changes in international gateways or travel dates. We recommend that you do not purchase airline tickets with high penalty charges for changes.
PARTICIPATION
For the benefit of everyone on your vacation, Operator reserves the right to accept or reject any vacation participant and to remove any participant whose conduct is deemed incompatible with the interests of the other participants. We will not refund nor cover any cost or expenses you incur if we have to terminate your vacation arrangements due to your unacceptable behavior.
When you book with us, you accept responsibility for any damage or loss caused by you. Full payment for any such damage or loss (reasonably estimated if not precisely known) must be paid direct at the time to the accommodation owner or manager or other supplier. You must indemnify us for the full amount of any claim (also including legal costs) made against us. Operator is not responsible for any costs incurred concerning a participant removed from a vacation/holiday. Participants agree not to hold Operator or any of its related entities liable for any actions taken under these terms and conditions.
Baggage and personal effects are at all times the sole responsibility of the participant.
TRAVELERS WHO NEED SPECIAL ASSISTANCE
You must report any disability requiring special attention while on tour or on cruise to your agent at the time the reservation is made. Operator will make reasonable attempts to accommodate the special needs of disabled travelers, but is not responsible in the event it is unable to do so nor is it responsible for any denial of services by air carriers, hotels, restaurants, or other independent suppliers. The Americans with Disabilities Act is only applicable within the United States and facilities for disabled individuals are limited outside its borders. Most transportation services, including the touring motorcoach, are not equipped with wheelchair ramps. We regret that we cannot provide individual assistance to a vacation participant for walking, dining, getting on and off motorcoaches and other vehicles, or other personal needs. A qualified and physically able companion must accompany travelers who need such assistance and must assume full responsibility for their well-being.
Although some of our supplier's ships have elevators, many of our supplier's small ships (e.g. river cruise vessels) do not. Passengers requiring ship elevators should inquire before making reservations. Additionally, most stateroom doors and restrooms are not wide enough to allow access by standard wheelchairs, and bathrooms and other doorways may be fitted with coamings. For safety reasons, passengers in wheelchairs cannot be carried on ramps in ports where the ship is at anchor. Motorized scooters are not typically suitable on international tours or river cruises.
YOUNG TRAVELERS
Travelers who are less than 18 years old on the departure date must be accompanied by an adult and share an adult’s accommodations throughout the duration of the vacation. There are no young traveler discounts however we do accept children ages 8-17. Some of our Suppliers have restrictions for children under 8 years old. We will tell you if this applies at the time of booking. For any special requirements regarding airline tickets for children, contact your airline directly.
Due to heightened security, many countries have adopted practices to prevent international abductions of children. If a child will be traveling with adults other than the parents or with only one parent, it is recommended that a notarized letter be written by the parents or non-traveling parent granting authorization to travel, including the dates of travel. We suggest that you also contact the appropriate consulate and airlines because they may have additional requirements or recommendations.
SMOKING
Smoking is not allowed on transportation that is exclusively provided by Operator. Passengers should check the smoking policies at individual hotels, airlines, cruise lines etc., for more specific information.
PRICES
All package prices listed herein are per person and are based on double occupancy unless otherwise noted. Prices are subject to change. Prices include airfare to and from your destination as outlined in your vacation package. Connecting airfare and flights within certain destinations may not be included. Contact one of our Vacation Consultants to acquire up to the minute air rates.
PLEASE NOTE: All rates are shown in U.S. dollars include all carrier and government-imposed taxes/fees/facility charges and the September 11th Security Fee of $5.60 for US enplanements. Airline-imposed baggage or service fees may apply and be due at the airport; please consult your airline prior to departure for the latest fees. These rates are based on exchange rates, tariffs and tax rates in and may be subject to change without notice. Each individual vacation package price includes charges for research, itinerary preparation and planning, currency transfer and booking procedures. In each case, the quoted price represents a complete package price and an itemization of individual component prices will not be rendered under any circumstances. Rates may not apply to Christmas, and New Year’s season. Supplements may be required for other holidays and may vary by destination.
VISAS & PASSPORTS
You are responsible for obtaining and paying for all visas and entry documents, for meeting all health and other requirements, and for any documents required by the laws, regulations, orders, and/or requirements of the countries you will visit. Non-U.S. citizens must consult with appropriate consulates to determine if any visas are needed and are responsible for obtaining all visas and entry documents independently. Operator is not responsible for providing you with specific visa and passport information or documentation and Operator cannot accept liability for any passenger refused entry onto any transport or into any country due to failure of the passenger to carry correct documentation. All passengers traveling internationally are required to have a passport. Most countries require that the passport be valid for at least six (6) months beyond the conclusion of your trip. It is recommended you have a minimum of three blank pages in your passport when traveling, as many countries require blank pages. Multiple-entry visas are required for some vacations. It is your responsibility to verify all visa and passport requirements.
Non-U.S. Passport holders may require an eTA (Electronic Travel Authorization) if their flight connects through Canada. Please visit http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/eta.asp for more information.
COVID-19 Testing Requirement - CDC Order
On January 12, 2021, CDC issued an Order requiring all air passengers arriving to the US from a foreign country to get tested no more than 3 days before their flight departs and to present the negative result or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 to the airline before boarding the flight. This Order will go into effect at 12:01am EST (5:01am GMT) on January 26, 2021.
It is the responsibility of each travel to comply with this requirement.
Information on where to obtain local COVID-19 test including proof of negative results can be found at the US Embassy website of the various countries. A list of these web sites can be found here.
ACCOMMODATIONS
The accommodations listed on the website are intended to be used on all departures; however, if a change becomes necessary for any reason, including additional departures on the same date, the accommodations substituted will be equivalent to those shown. All accommodations are arranged as stated herein. We reserve the right to substitute hotels, car models, golf and sightseeing listed herein for similar product categories as conditions may require. Hotel rooms in some international countries are typically smaller and less standardized than those in the United States and do not always offer air conditioning and other amenities. Please note that a “twin room” generally includes 2 twin beds placed side by side. Single rooms often only include one twin bed and are smaller than twin sized rooms. Please note that accommodation check-in times vary worldwide. It is standard hotel policy that hotel check-in is generally not possible before 2:00 p.m. local time.
PRIVATE BATH AND SINGLE ROOMS
In exceptional cases where private baths or single rooms reserved by us are not available, refunds will be made by the Supplier. Claims made in this respect cannot be accepted after the vacation is completed.
OPEN B&B VOUCHERS
Acceptance of B&B vouchers by hotels is at the sole discretion of the proprietor, as is any supplement charged. No refunds will be issued for unused vouchers or of vouchers presented as payment to B&Bs of a lesser price category. It is the client’s responsibility to secure their own reservations with the individual B&Bs under the open voucher program. The Operator can, in certain circumstances, pre-book a B&B on the clients’ behalf for an additional fee. Clients must consult the written instructions, terms and conditions listed in any B&B literature provided after booking. Supplements per room per night may apply during peak months and are payable direct to homeowners.
CAR RENTAL INFORMATION
Ireland Car Rentals
VIP Express Insurance on car rentals is available to be booked prior to departure at a discounted rate. This coverage will confirm a "zero" deductible, walk-away policy covering any damage to the vehicle.
We strongly recommend purchasing VIP Express Insurance at time of booking. If you choose not to take the VIP Express Insurance you will be held fully responsible for any damage to the rental vehicle.
You will have unlimited third-party insurance as part of the package but this will not cover any damage to your rental vehicle should you decline to purchase the VIP Express insurance.
VIP Express insurance is comprehensive in nature; however, it does not cover damage to the vehicle due to gross negligence. Gross negligence is defined as a conscious and voluntary disregard of the need to use reasonable care, which is likely to cause foreseeable grave injury or harm to persons, property, or both. If you are in any doubt as to your ability (or any of your approved additional drivers' ability) to drive a manual/stick shift vehicle you should seriously consider rental of an automatic transmission vehicle. This will eliminate the potential to damage a clutch.
Driver Supplements are as follows and must be paid to car rental company at the time of the car pickup in Ireland:
Minimum age: 21 years through 24 years - There is an insurance surcharge of €30 per day plus tax.
Maximum age: There is no maximum age for drivers in Ireland; however, all drivers aged 71 years or more must rent an "automatic transmission" vehicle. They must also produce their insurance policy which states they have coverage in their home country
Additional driver charge - approximately €10 per day plus tax
CREDIT CARD HOLD FOR LIABILITY
Any non-covered liability of the car is held on the client's credit card during the course of the rental and released after the car is returned in its original condition.
FUEL POLICY
All customers will be offered a full tank of fuel at a discounted rate and be requested to return the vehicle empty to eliminate any potential delays at check-in. The customer has the option to return the car full and in this case a refund for fuel charged at time of pick up will be provided.
(If you normally drive in the US please ensure you are putting the proper fuel in the car. In the US a green handle denoted diesel fuel but in Ireland a green handle denotes non-leaded fuel). Please always read the label.
UK Car Rentals (May vary dependent upon vendor)
Driver Supplements are as follows and must be paid to car Rental Company at the time of the car pickup in UK:
Minimum Age: 21 years through 22 years ÂŁ14 per day plus tax
23 years through 24 years ÂŁ7 per day plus tax
Vehicle License fee - ÂŁ1.07 per day plus tax
Additional Driver fee - ÂŁ2.50 per day plus tax
Location Surcharge of 13% of rental plus tax
SURCHARGES AND FUEL FEES
The Rental Company at the time pick-up assesses a non-refundable location surcharge equal to 13% of the base rental fare. A gasoline charge for a full tank of gas is assessed at the time of pick-up at standard gas rates. Any non-covered liability of the car is held on the client’s credit card during the course of the rental and released after the car is returned in its original condition.
Italy Car Rentals (May vary dependent upon vendor)
Driver Supplements are as follows and must be paid to car Rental Company at the time of the car pickup in ITALY:
Minimum Age: 18 at time of rental, no maximum with D