Booking Conditions

Travel Answers Group®, facilitates the purchase by customers (“Customers”) of travel related services, accommodations, transportation, entertainment, recreation, and travel packages (collectively, “Travel Related Services”), which Travel Related Services are provided by third party providers (“Service Providers”) unrelated to and having no connection to Travel Answers Group.  Down Under Answers DBA Travel Answers, here forth referred to as “Travel Answers Group” is comprised of the following brands: Down Under Answers, Africa Answers, Asia Answers, Travel2 and Islands in the Sun.

In utilizing the services of any of said brands of Travel Answers Group to book, reserve and pay for Travel Related Services, you, the Customer, agree to be bound by these terms and conditions (“Terms & Conditions”) which describe by which Travel Answers Group will agree to provide its services to the Customer.

AGREEMENT

Acceptance: A deposit for a booking constitutes Customer’s acceptance of these Terms & Conditions.

Land Deposit*:

Australia/New Zealand/Islands:                 US$500/person
Africa/Asia:                                              30% of booking
Groups:                                                     US$1,000/group

Bookings require a land deposit as noted above as well as full payment on air (if applicable) to hold reservations for land services. At the time of quoting, *the Customer will be notified if a larger deposit is required should a Service Provider require additional monies above the specified amount. Deposits are disbursed to suppliers upon receipt and cannot be recovered from Travel Answers Group. Deposits are 100% non-refundable, no exceptions. Travel Protection will cover deposits in most instances and Travel Answers Group recommends Customers purchase Travel Protection.

For group bookings, a second deposit of $500/person non-refundable deposit is required within 30 days of confirmation.

Group Reservations: Groups are defined as reservations for 10 or more guests.

Air Payment: In addition to the land services deposit, airline reservations (where requested) must be paid for in full and ticketed to confirm space and guarantee airfare rate. Airfare payment due dates and ticketing due dates are separate, and in addition to the initial deposit and final payment for land services. Airline regulations require the full name, date of birth and gender for all passengers as it appears on their passports. Customers must provide a copy of each passenger’s passport photo page.

A US$250 per ticket change fee, plus any applicable airline fees, will apply for incorrect information should the Customer fail to provide a copy of the passport photo page. Airfares are not guaranteed until full payment has been received and processed by Travel Answers Group. Airfares have different terms and conditions, and you will be advised of these at time of booking.

Airline Seats: Seats will be assigned at airport check-in at no charge. Check-in for international flights starts approximately 3 hours prior to departure, for domestic flights about 2 hours prior to departure. Most airlines charge an additional fee for seat requests ranging from US$10 & up per flight. Travel Answers Group can help with pre-assigned chargeable seats or Customers may book direct via Airline’s website once tickets are issued.

Itinerary Changes: Once a deposit has been received, a US$50 per booking change fee will apply. Other fees are at the discretion of the hotels, tour operators, rental car agencies and other Service Providers. Additional fees will be advised at the time of booking as applicable.

Payment: Before final payment, you will receive a final invoice that has been updated to reflect any currency fluctuations, as well as additions or changes to the booking. Prices are not guaranteed until full payment has been made. In some cases, prices may be adjusted as described elsewhere in these Terms and Conditions.

Final Payment: Final payment for all destinations, including individual and group bookings, is due 90 days prior to departure unless early booking discounts or advance purchase rules apply. For reservations made within 90 days of departure, full and final payment is due at the time of booking. Failure to make final payment when due will result in the booking being automatically cancelled and the Customer will be responsible for the cancellation fees.

Cancellations: Cancellation penalties may vary depending on the products booked. Cancellation fees are as follows:

Individual Reservation Cancellations:

• Prior to final payment: loss of deposit
• After final payment: 100% of total booking cost

Group Cancellations:

• 180 days or more prior to departure: loss of deposit
• 91-179 days prior to departure: 50%
• From 90 days prior to group departure: 100%

Hotels and services arranged by Travel Answers Group may have their own cancellation fees. Such fees are in addition to any cancellation fees imposed by Travel Answers Group and may not always be disclosed by the hotel or service provider until the time of cancellation. All cancellation fees are the sole responsibility of the Customer. Prior to final payment, there may be additional fees imposed by suppliers that will be indicated to the customer.

Final payments are disbursed to Service Providers upon receipt and cannot be recovered from Travel Answers Group. Final payment is non-refundable under any circumstance and travel protection is recommended to cover cancellation due to unforeseen circumstances.

Air Cancellation/Change Penalties: Airline tickets are non-refundable once issued. Changes may be made depending on the fare purchased and fees will apply. Any fees will be advised when the changes are requested and can vary by Airline. It is the passenger’s responsibility to provide Travel Answers Group with the correct passport name for airline tickets. Some fares may permit changes yet levy change fees, penalties, and possible additional fare collection. In addition to these fees, Travel Answers Group reserves the right to assess a US$250 ticket re-issue for changes such as, but not limited to, name change, date or flight change and cancellation.

Cruise Cancellations: Cancellation policies for cruises vary by cruise line and fees may be in addition to those charged by Travel Answers Group. You will be notified of the cancellation penalties at the time of booking. Note that most cruises are non-refundable.

Rail Cancellations: Once payment is received for full rail passes and tickets, if the price of the ticket increases, Travel Answers Group will contact the Customer for approval to charge the new price and issue the tickets. Rail pricing is subject to change until ticketed and all rail is non-refundable once the ticket is issued.

Hotels/Accommodations: Hotel rates may not include local taxes in some cities and resorts and shall be paid locally by the Customer. Travel Answers Group does not guarantee specific bed types, air conditioning standards or availability, the absence of unexpected hotel repair or construction activity, or assignment of rooms which are the choice of the hotel management.

Mobility Requirements: Requests for special accommodations and services to meet specific physical requirements must be made at the time of booking specifying the limits of mobility and description of mobility assistance equipment. Such accommodations are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed.

Car Rental: Car rental rules apply, including the requirement that drivers are at least 25 years of age (which may vary from country to country).  In addition, most rental rates are exclusive of tolls, gas, overtime, or VAT.

Travel Protection: We recommend that you purchase a travel protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. Unforeseen events such as flight delays, baggage loss or even a sudden sickness or injury could impact your travel plans. For your convenience, we offer a Travel Protection Plan provided by United States Fire Insurance Company and administered by Trip Mate, Inc; in UT and CA DBA Trip Mate Insurance. To review full plan details online, go to: https://www.tripmate.com/wpUF3530G

There are certain restrictions, exclusions and limitations that apply to all insurance coverages. Plan benefits, limits and provisions may vary by state/jurisdiction and not all coverage is available in all states/jurisdictions. The cost charged is for the Travel Protection Plan, which includes insurance benefits underwritten by United States Fire Insurance Company, as well as non-insurance assistance services provided by Generali Global Assistance and FootprintID®.

If you purchased the Travelex travel protection plan prior to April 1, 2022, click here for your state specific policy.

Late Bookings: Any bookings made within 30 days of departure, regardless of value, will incur a $100 Late Booking Fee. This fee is to cover the cost of expediting the confirmation of your booking and processing final edocuments.

Documents: Provided booking is paid in full 90 days prior to departure, documents will be sent electronically and expected to arrive via email within 3 weeks of departure. Customer is responsible to ensure that all arrangements are booked as requested and that the itinerary contains no errors. Travel Answers Group, its agents, and representatives act as agents only for the purchaser of the packages in making arrangements for transportation, hotels and other services. The itinerary delivered is based solely on the information provided by the Customer to Travel Answers Group.

Prices: Travel Answers Group quotes prices in US currency based on the exchange rates for the respective foreign currency as of the date of the quote. Customer’s exchange rate is only guaranteed when full payment is made, unless otherwise noted on Customer’s itinerary. Any price that Travel Answers Group quotes is subject to change without notice until full payment is made.

Children: Please note that some travel products do not allow children below a certain age. If Customer plans to travel with children, Customer must notify Travel Answers Group when booking and provide a clear copy of the passport photo page for each traveling child so Travel Answers Group can verify ages.

Passports/Visas:  It is the Customer’s sole responsibility to obtain and have available, when necessary, the appropriate valid travel documents. All Customers are advised to check with the appropriate government authority to determine the necessary documents required for their travel. A valid passport is required for U.S. and Canadian citizens travelling to all international destinations. Passports must be valid for six (6) months after completion of travel and should also have sufficient blank visa pages for entry and exit stamps. Many destinations also require a visa for U.S. and Canadian citizens and customers should contact the appropriate consular office for entry requirements pertaining to their destination in the itinerary. You may be refused boarding or disembarked from a plane, vessel or train without liability for refund, payment, compensation, or credit of any kind if you do not have proper documentation, and you will be subject to any fine or other costs incurred by Travel Answers Group that result from improper documentation or noncompliance with applicable regulations. Travel Answers Group shall not be responsible should any customer be denied entry to a country due to noncompliance with these requirements. Travel Answers Group is not responsible for lost or stolen documents, and reissuance of documents may be assessed at their full-face value with a possible of increase in cost.

Limitation of Liability: Travel Answers Group shall not be liable for any claims, losses, damages, costs, expenses, delays, sickness, injury, or loss of enjoyment, of any nature or kind whatsoever, resulting from events beyond Travel Answers Group’s or a Service Provider’s reasonable control. In no event will Travel Answers Group’s liability exceed the total amounts Customer paid Travel Answers Group for Customer’s travel. Travel Answers Group assumes no responsibility for lost tickets, documents, passes, or coupons. Further, Travel Answers Group shall not be liable for any injury, loss, claim, damage, or any special, punitive, indirect, consequential, incidental damages of any kind, whether based on contract, tort, strict liability or otherwise, which may arise as a result of the use of Travel Answer Group’s Travel Related Services and those of its Service Providers.

Force Majeure is defined as an event beyond the control of the Customer and Service Provider, including:

a. Act of God (including, but not limited to, fires, explosions, earthquakes, drought, tidal waves, and floods, riots, war, civil disturbance, strikes including strikes by Service Providers);

b. Plague, epidemic, pandemic, outbreaks of infectious disease or any other public health crisis, including quarantine or other employee restrictions; or

c. Government acts such as quarantine restrictions, travel bans, denial of entry, or personal history (e.g., court records or travel restrictions).

Acting with the laws governing the travel industry in the state of Washington, in the case of a Force Majeure, Travel Answers Group shall not be liable for any claims nor be responsible for retrieving funds from the Service Provider on behalf of the Customer. Travel Answers Group may, in its sole discretion, advocate on behalf of the Customer for the return of amounts paid and reserves the right to take any action that Travel Answers Group deems appropriate under the circumstances.

In a Force Majeure event, if the Service Provider is prevented from carrying out its obligations, Travel Answers Group will not be held accountable for retrieving funds and is entitled to keep no less than the deposit. In no circumstance will Travel Answers Group’s liability exceed the total amount the Customer paid.

Travel Answers Group is deemed an independent contractor for all purposes under these Terms & Conditions. Travel Answers Group acts solely for the facilitation and reservation of travel services and is not responsible for any fees held by the Supplier. If cancellation of travel falls within the non-refundable dates, Travel Answers Group may not be held responsible to retrieve those funds.

Travel Answers Group quotes in US currency. In the event of a refund due to a Force Majeure, the Customer will be responsible for any difference in rates due to currency fluctuations.

Travel Answers Group is, and has always been, committed to providing the best and most transparent services to our agents and Customers. Our perseverance and dedication to our travelers and agents during the global pandemic reflects our commitment to be one of the strongest client advocates within the travel industry. All current and future relationships with Travel Answers Group should be undertaken with the utmost confidence that we will continuously work on behalf of our agents and travelers to provide the most fulfilling experiences within the industry.

Relationship of the Parties: Travel Answers Group shall be deemed to be an independent contractor for all purposes under these Terms & Conditions. Travel Answers Group is acting solely to facilitate the reservation and purchase of Travel Related Services and is not acting in any other capacity with either the Customers or the Service Providers, including, but not limited to, any partnership, joint venture, co-ownership, travel service provider or agency relationship of any kind with any Customer or Service Provider. Travel Answers Group does not have any control over the quality, timing, safety, or legality of any Travel Related Service reserved or purchased by or for a Customer. Travel Answers Group does not and cannot control whether a Service Provider represents its products accurately or fulfills any agreement or obligation with any Customer.

Disputes and Indemnity: As Travel Answers Group is not involved in providing the Travel Related Services for the Customer, any and all disputes between a Customer and Service Provider are solely between that Customer and Service Provider, and the Customer and Service Provider should handle all such disputes directly. If the Service Provider or Customer contacts Travel Answers Group relating to any dispute between the Customer or Service Provider, Travel Answers Group may, in its sole discretion, facilitate dispute resolution and reserves the right to take any action that Travel Answers Group deems appropriate under the circumstances. Customer agrees to release Travel Answers Group and its agents and employees from claims, demands and damages (actual and consequential) of every kind and nature, known and unknown, suspected, and unsuspected, disclosed and undisclosed, arising out of or in any way connected with such disputes. Furthermore, Customer agrees to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Travel Answers Group from any liability, loss, claim and expense, including reasonable attorney’s fees, arising out of or in any way connected with such disputes including on any appeal. Any dispute or claim shall be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration before a single arbitrator using the rules of the Judicial Arbitration & Mediation Service (JAMS) sitting in King County, WA. The laws of Washington shall apply to these Terms and Conditions. The prevailing party in any such arbitration or legal suit shall be entitled to all costs and reasonable attorneys’ fees.

USTOA: Travel Answers Group is an Active Member of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA). Complete details of the USTOA Travelers Assistance Program may be obtained by visiting www.USTOA.com.

Validity: These Terms & Conditions are valid until further notice in writing from Travel Answers Group. June 1, 2023.

Travel Answers Group
2265 116th Ave NE, Suite 110
Bellevue WA 98004

CST#: CST#2001136-20