Spiekermann Policies...

Reservation: Deposit required at the time of booking is $500 per person. Balance is due 60 days before departure. We do not guarantee availability of the requested cabin category, hotel room, or any other accommodations unless deposit is made. We reserve the right to cancel any reservation if full payment is not received by the due date and cancellation penalties will apply -as per our scheduled cancellation chart below.

Air Schedule and Transfers: Your transfers are included only if you purchase the Air & Land as a package, otherwise you are responsible for your own transfers. Air allowances will be made for those choosing not to use our air arrangements. Amount of allowance depends upon tour; please call for details. Spiekermann Travel Service, Inc. (STS) has complete control over the choice of airlines used and we will do our best to book you the most convenient schedule from your hometown.

Insurance: Spiekermann Travel Service (STS) strongly recommends purchasing insurance against cancellations, trip interruption, luggage loss or damage, personal injury or hospitalization. By accepting to join the tour without insurance, clients hold STS completely harmless of any conditions that will result in cancellation, interruption or injury.

Not Included: Gratuities to guides, drivers, hotel staff, passport handling fees or visa fees, insurances, custom duties, beverages with meals, items of personal nature such as phone calls, laundry, room service or excess luggage. Also excluded are flights from anywhere other than the gateway city unless specified in particular trip brochure.

Travel Documents: Valid US passport is required (validity of at least 6 months from departure date). The passport must include a minimum of 2 empty pages. If your destination requires a visa, we will advise you regarding procedures for obtaining the visa after we receive your deposit.

Unused Services: There will be no refund for any unused portions of the program and it is understood that refunds will not be made to passengers who miss on any part of the tour for any cause whatsoever.

Itinerary: Although STS and its agents and representatives will make every effort to adhere to the printed program and itinerary, on rare occasions it may be necessary to adjust arrangements due to unforeseen circumstances beyond our control (weather, airline schedule change, hotel requisitions, political disturbances or transportation mechanical problems). Should such adjustment be necessary, substitution will be made to the best of our abilities and no refund will be made. Any additional costs necessitated by such changes are the full responsibility of the passenger.

Final Documents: Final documents including vouchers for non-escorted tours, airline tickets when applicable, local contact information, and final reminders will be sent to the address provided on your Reservation Form 2-3 weeks prior to date of departure, provided your final payment is received. Usually we use Airborne Express that requires a signature. Please notify us if you wish the package to be sent elsewhere or if you have a post office box.

Cancellations & Refunds: Cancellations must be received in writing, and will be processed according to the date the written noticed is received. Although a verbal cancellation is appreciated, it will not be accepted as final notice. Money will be refunded minus the following cancellation fees per person:

Release of Responsibility: STS acts only as an agent for the passenger with respect to transportation, hotels, cruise and all matters of reservations and operation of the tour. STS and its agents and representatives do not accept responsibility for loss, damage, injury, accident, delay, irregularity, expense or liability caused by negligence or default of any of their subcontracting organizations, their employees, their agents or representatives. Any such losses or expenses shall be borne by the participant. We reserve the right to cancel the tour prior to departure in which case the full payment will be refunded to the participant without any further obligations on our part. It is understood that air or ship tickets when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the passenger and the carrier concerned. The airlines, cruise, STS and all other transportation companies involved in this tour are not to be held responsible for any act, omission or event during the time the passenger is not on board. Any sickness, injury, accidents, dismemberment or death of a passenger is not the responsibility of STS, its agents and representatives, or the airlines involved as clients have been advised of the option of purchasing individual insurance against such happenings.

Upon acceptance of my reservation application this agreement shall be deemed to have been entered into and performed in St. Clair Shores, Michigan and shall be construed according to the laws of Michigan only. In the unlikely event a legal dispute should arise involving any subject matter whatever, I agree that the dispute shall be settled by binding arbitration through the American Arbitration Association in Michigan. Should the arbitration provision prove to be unenforceable, I agree that any legal action shall be brought before the appropriate court in Macomb County, Michigan, or Federal Court in Michigan and that claims will not exceed $500. I further agree that should the plaintiff fail to prevail in any legal dispute before a court said plaintiff hereby agrees to pay all reasonable attorney's fees for the defendant in the dispute.

With regard to credit card sales for services related to any of our tours, the client will hold STS and its agents and representatives harmless for all charge-backs exercised by them or their credit card companies, originating from any complaints, or from requesting deposit refunds when an insurance was not purchased, or for any reason for which the client did not use part of the prepaid tour or for any reasons whatsoever.

Delays, cancellations & overbookings may occur on air flights, cruises and hotel reservations by the participating carriers and suppliers. While STS will do everything possible to avoid these inconveniences, it cannot and will not assume responsibility for the respective carriers and suppliers and the clients themselves will bear all financial responsibilities.

By joining any of the tours offered by STS, the client acknowledges that he/she is aware of pertinent State Department notices related to the visited nations and voluntarily accepts any repercussions of the visit without holding STS liable or responsible.

STS reserves the right to decline to accept or reject any participant if their health or behavior impedes the operation of the tour. By forwarding the signed reservation form and the deposit, the participant certifies that he/she does not have any mental, physical or other condition of disability that would create a hazard for him/herself or other passengers.