General Terms and Conditions

 

Tour touring and itinerary:

Touring is included as per the brochure itinerary and is under the direction of licensed guides/escorts/hosts or tour directors where required. All entrance fees to all places visited are included wherever indicated/listed. Some destinations/sights, such as museums, may be closed or unavailable for a visit during holidays. Quest Voyager reserves the right to vary the sequence of touring and/or to re-route the order of cities should circumstances demand it. In either case, the itinerary content will be maintained, even though the order may change. Optional day tours are offered on most tours. We request that you sign-up for all optional day tours no later than at final payment. There are no refunds for any unused portion of these tours. Quest Voyager arranges optional post-trip or pre-trip extensions that must be reserved at the time of initial reservation and deposit, as different air schedules from the base tour are required. If the services included in the tour cannot be supplied, or there are changes in an itinerary for reasons beyond our control, we will arrange for comparable services.

 

Ground transportation:

It is provided by a private, air-conditioned motor coach, van, car or other transport as specified in the itinerary.

 

Transfers:

For all escorted/hosted tours and other tour packages, unless specified differently, transfers are included in the price of the tour. Transfers are determined as to/from the arrival and departure city airports to the first and from the last hotel. If flights are not booked by Quest Voyager; airport transfers are not included. On some occasions, transfers can be purchased with advanced notice for an extra cost. Group leaders/travel agents/travelers are wholly responsible for conveying any flight, time and routing schedule change via email to Quest Voyager. No refund or credit shall be issued for any missed transfers resulting from incorrect flight information and/or delays beyond the standard waiting period (one hour). Transfers are not included for any passenger organizing a pre/post extension package not planned by Quest Voyager.

 

Baggage:

Virtually all international airlines allow one bag per person to be checked in, plus a small carry-on. Excess baggage charges are the sole responsibility of the passenger. Please check with the respective airline for baggage allowance size, weight, and excess baggage fees. Porterage is included at hotels only on escorted/hosted tours and other tour packages, unless specified differently, and includes handling of one normal-sized suitcase per person. In addition, Quest Voyager is not liable if luggage or tour participants' belongings become damaged or lost. NOTE: We strongly recommend that you purchase our cancel for any reason travel protection insurance.

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Extending your tour:

The airfare used in association with our escorted/hosted tours and other tour packages, unless specified differently, permits a total stay of 30 to 60 days, depending on the airline. There is a $150 per person "deviation charge" to break away from our group fare, plus any fare increase if applicable. Should a passenger extend their stay before or after your Quest Voyager tour, all arrangements and costs incurred therein shall be the passenger's responsibility (extra days at the hotel, transfers to the airport, weekend surcharges, etc.). Any air deviation, gateway change, or own air arrangement must be submitted to the Quest Voyager reservations department in writing (email/letter/reservation form) at the time of reservation. Any passenger requesting a different gateway (gateway change) from the group will be subject to any air rate increases or reductions per the Quest Voyager pricing.

 

Tour director/host:

Tour features indicate that a professional English-speaking tour director or host will be incorporated into each tour. Local guides and step on step off guides may be used for specialized visits. Other restrictions may apply.

 

Holiday and museum closures:

Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances, or many religious, state, and local holidays observed worldwide. We apologize in advance if that happens.

 

Motorcoach washrooms:

Most motorcoaches used on our tours are equipped with washrooms; however, it is up to local rules and regulations whether they are available for use or not. If available, they are typically for emergency use only. In either case, we make plenty of comfort stops, allowing you to use public restrooms and/or stretch your legs. 

 

Smoking on a tour:

For the convenience of most travelers, Quest Voyager has a no-smoking policy (including e-cigarettes and vaping) on all tour buses. We will arrange sufficient rest stops so those who wish to smoke may do so. Whenever possible, Quest Voyager contracts nonsmoking rooms at hotels. 

 

Not included:

Unless otherwise stated in writing in your tour package purchase, transfers for international airport arrivals and departures for land only, land/cruise or cruise only; transportation between home city and airport; port taxes, porterage at U.S. gateways, and local land taxes. Also: excess baggage fees, travel insurance, passport fees, vaccinations, visa fees, tips to tour directors, local hosts, city guides, drivers, and cruise personnel, phone calls, laundry service, items of a personal nature and touring, services or meals other than those specifically mentioned as included in your group brochure.

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Health, medical issues and tour eligibility:

We welcome all travelers but request that you be in good health to participate in a Quest Voyager tour. All our tours involve a reasonable amount of walking, often uphill or on uneven or cobblestone streets. You must be able to get on and off motorcoaches on your own. We regret that we cannot provide ­individual assistance; in such cases, you must be accompanied by a companion who will assist you. Please note that many of our tour itineraries, for reasons beyond our control, do not accommodate wheelchairs. Most transportation services (including motor coaches), visited sites, and hotels may not be equipped with wheelchair ramps. Quest Voyager cannot be held responsible if ramps are not available. Likewise, restrictions may apply for river cruises where there are no elevators and where wheelchairs cannot access cabin doors and restrooms. Ocean cruise passengers cannot be carried on ramps when ships are at tender. We reserve the right to remove anyone whose physical condition or behavior, in our opinion, compromises the operation of the tour or detracts from the enjoyment or safety of the other tour members. In that event, Quest Voyager assumes no financial responsibility for any unused tour portion.

 

Tour activity level:

We try to set physical expectations regarding our tours. Below is a key to the activity levels contained within our group brochures. We do our utmost to assess each tour and destination, but the criteria below should be used as a guide, not a precise measurement.

 

Level and criteria

1. Leisurely tour: On and off coach/boat, easy walking; there are some stairs and uneven surfaces at a minimum.

2. Light tour: There is easy walking throughout the day. Plan to get on and off the coach/boat, with light walking tours, some stairs and uneven surfaces, through cities and sights such as museums.

3. Moderate tour: On and off coach/boat, a traveler needs to be a proficient walker on all terrains and in relatively good physical shape. Walking tours, standing for 30 minutes or longer in one spot, on slopes, city streets, or village cobblestones.

4. Active tour: On and off coach/boat, a traveler needs to be in good physical condition. Walking tours could be up to 2-3 hours a day, on slopes, city streets, or village cobblestones.

 

Reservations:

Reservations are only considered and confirmed once Quest Voyager receives a deposit. A deposit is required at the time of booking, and reservations/requests will only be acted upon once a deposit is received. If payments are not received within 7 days, Quest Voyager has the right to cancel a reservation without any liability. Payments can be submitted by check to Quest Voyager at PO Box 131163, Carlsbad, CA, 92013, USA or by email: Info@questvoyager.com  Paying by any major credit card can be made online or over the phone in some limited circumstances. The deposit amount will be indicated within your brochure. Other restrictions may apply.

 

Late booking:

Reservations made within 60 days of the departure date are subject to space available and possible price adjustment. Payments must be made in full within 24 hours of booking by certified check, wire transfer, or credit card and may be subject to a $25 late-booking fee plus any costs incurred to ensure timely document delivery.

 

Tour pricing land or cruise:

All our tours are based on per-person, double occupancy. We welcome single travelers and offer a limited number of single accommodations on each tour. Because hotel and cruise rates are priced by room or cabin, the per-person cost for accommodations occupied by one person is higher than that shared by two people. We will endeavor to keep single supplements at a reasonable cost. Please note that single rooms in many hotels/boats may be smaller than those to which you are accustomed. Triple room reductions are listed or available where applicable. Air transportation is included (unless otherwise stated in the brochure). Land taxes and fees may or may not be included in the advertised price. Please refer to specific tour inclusion. Fuel surcharges, airport taxes, and fees are provided at the time of deposit and are subject to change until paid in full and the ticket is issued. Some airfares may require instant purchase. Note: In case of errors, we reserve the right to re-invoice for the correct amount. 

 

Included meals:

Meals, if included, are indicated under "Tour Features." Breakfast (B), lunches (L), and dinners (D) are at hotels and/or popular local restaurants.

 

Hotels:

Hotels are graded according to local or government ratings, which may vary by country. Such grades may have no corresponding value from one destination to the next and may not always reflect the expectations of U.S. travelers. However, Quest Voyager will do its best to contract quality accommodations. Quest Voyager reserves the right to substitute any hotel. If a hotel substitution becomes necessary, a comparable class of hotel will be provided. However, amenities may be different. Air conditioning is available at most 1st class or higher hotels. However, foreign air conditioning and heating may not be measured to the same intensity as U.S. standards.

 

Passport and visas:

A valid passport is required to travel on Quest Voyager international tours. Most countries require that passports be valid for at least six months beyond the conclusion of the trip. If your tour requires a visa(s), we strongly recommend having at least six blank visa pages available; for tours not requiring a visa(s), we recommend that your passport have at least three blank visa pages. It is the traveler's responsibility to obtain all visa(s) and entry documents. For all domestic tours, where we fly into a U.S. city to begin the tour or out of a U.S. city at the end, you must present a valid U.S. government-issued photo identification. Starting in 2025, your government-issued photo ID must be REAL ID-compliant (or you can present an alternate form of ID, such as a passport). Visit www.dhs.gov/real-id or contact your local DMV for more information.

 

Airfares:

Airfares on all our escorted/hosted tours and other tour packages, unless specified differently, are based on round-trip contracted fares or published fares, including applicable government taxes, fees and fuel surcharges. A weekend surcharge will be included where applicable. There is a $150 per person "deviation charge" to break away from our group airfare, plus any fare increase if applicable. Because of the limited seats available in our contracted airfares, we strongly recommend booking early. If the contracted class of service is unavailable at the time of booking, another class of service may be offered at a higher price. Air upgrades are available but must be requested at the time of initial reservation. All such additional charges will be billed to you. However, you will not be subject to change once a ticket is paid in full and already issued. It is your responsibility to reconfirm all flights 72 hours before the flight date/time. Should the airline request, for any reason whatsoever, an unexpected issuance of air tickets, they must be immediately paid in full, regardless of any previous notification to the passenger. Since international and domestic air schedules are subject to change at any time, we recommend that if you choose to make your own airline reservations (land only), you do not purchase non refundable tickets or those with high penalties for changes. In addition, we recommend that you wait to purchase your tickets until the final payment is due. Quest Voyager shall not be liable for any loss resulting from tour cancellations or changes in international gateways, travel dates, or airline schedule changes.

 

Air tickets:

Quest Voyager contracted airfares are nonrefundable. In all instances, regardless of the airfare used, "no-shows" are nonrefundable, including fuel surcharges and any airport or government taxes and fees. Quest Voyager's optional travel insurance is highly recommended. Quest Voyager cannot be held responsible for the cancellation fees of air ticket/s issued by companies other than Quest Voyager, even when Quest Voyager may cancel a departure for any reason whatsoever. Air deviations and upgrades and their associated taxes, fees, and surcharges are 100% nonrefundable at the time of reservation. Note: if using Quest Voyager credits on a tour, the tickets are nonrefundable and subject to airline-imposed rules, regulations, and possible fare surcharges.

 

Air seating and special requests:

Requests for seat assignments, meal requirements, special services, and frequent flyer miles (subject to specific airline rules and availability) are at the airline's sole discretion. Quest Voyager cannot be held responsible for specific seat assignments, meal requirements, and special services. Economy plus/comfort class/enhanced economy seating may not be available to reserve via the Quest Voyager air contracts. Seat assignments are not guaranteed even after they are assigned, and Quest Voyager has no control over airline seat assignments. Airlines and Quest Voyager reserve the right to change seat assignments at any time without notice for any reason. Most airlines charge a fee to pre-book a seat (some do not allow pre-booking of a seat at all). Seats assignments for passengers traveling on contracted airfares are assigned at the airport upon check-in on a first-come, first-served basis. For any passengers requiring specific flights, routing, etc., Quest Voyager strongly recommends a passenger reserving the trip, “Land Only.”

 

Boarding passes:

As Quest Voyager creates air travel via group contracts and space, all boarding passes will be issued upon arrival at the airport. Sometimes, boarding passes may not be issued at the first airport for an ongoing flight. This is the responsibility of the airline(s) to produce the boarding passes unless otherwise stated.

 

Airline schedule changes:

Quest Voyager is not responsible or liable for airline cancellations, schedule changes, or delays. Prior to check-in, Quest Voyager may assist if you are rescheduled, delayed, or canceled off airfare purchased through Quest Voyager. After check-in, Quest Voyager can no longer help, and you must work with the airline directly to arrive at your destination. Quest Voyager will only be able to assist in the form of advice as the flight will be under airport control. Quest Voyager is not liable for expenses incurred if you miss your flight or flight connection, which could mean additional land transfers outside the group's arrangements. For this reason, we encourage the purchase of travel insurance. Any amendments you make voluntarily to your air or air schedule may incur change fees or additional charges up to the full ticket price. These are your responsibility to pay.

 

Airline responsibility:

The carriers concerned will not be held responsible for any act, omission, or event while passengers are not on board their conveyances. When issued, airline passenger tickets shall be the sole contract between the airline and the passenger of these tickets.

 

Reservation cancelation and/or modification notification to Quest Voyager:

All cancellations and/or modifications must be submitted to Quest Voyager in writing via mail or email. You are subject to the cancelation fees noted on the trip brochure/registration form. The date of cancellation is the date Quest Voyager’s main office receives such written notification. Quest Voyager strongly recommends Cancel for Any Reason (CFAR) travel insurance. Note: if using Quest Voyager credits, they are nonrefundable and are not part of the Quest Voyager cancellation policy below.

 

General cancelation policy and refunds:

Unless stated differently in the brochure/supplemental document/online booking engine, the following applies:

• Cancellations with 131 days or more before a departure-full refund, the cost of travel insurance/travel protection insurance is retained.

• Between 130 and 101 days before departure: $800 per person is retained.

• 100 and 81 days before departure: 50% is retained.

• 80 and 31 days before departure: 85% is retained.

• 30 days before departure or less, or no show 100% of the package price is retained.

  

River, ocean, and barge cruise cancelation policy and refunds:

Unless stated differently in the brochure/supplemental document/online booking engine, the following applies:

• Up to 131 days prior to departure: $600 per person plus the cost of travel insurance/travel protection insurance is retained

• Between 130 to 91 days before departure: 50% per person is retained

• 90 to 61 days before departure: 60% is retained

• 60 to 31 days before departure: 85% is retained

• 30 days or less before departure: 100% is retained

 

A person becoming single due to a roommate's cancellation must pay the single supplement. Quest Voyager reserves the right to adjust pricing based on currency fluctuations, gas increases, port/air taxes, and government/airline-imposed charges.

 

Please note: that there are no refunds for any unused portion of your tour package. If, because of low participation Quest Voyager cancels your tour, you will receive a complete refund of all payments you have made to us. Travel Insurance may not be refundable in some cases.

 

Travel insurance/travel protection plan:

Quest Voyager strongly recommends protecting your investment with one of our optional travel insurance options. Quest Voyager offers optional travel insurance, which you must pay with your initial deposit or within 15 days of your initial deposit/payment for your trip. However, if you want "Cancel for Any Reason" (CFAR) insurance, you must pay for this with the trip's initial deposit/payment. In all cases, the insurance premiums are nonrefundable To view/buy the policy please click here.

 

Final tour documentation:

To ensure the timely delivery of travel documents (via e-documents), they will be delivered to the group leader or sponsoring organization for collection. Tour documents include travel tips, destination information, destination regulations, airline/flight e-ticket information, and a final day-to-day plan. Generally, these documents are sent out 3 to 5 weeks before the departure date, provided payment in full has been received. 

 

Inquiries and claims:

If you do not file a written complaint within 30 days after the scheduled return date, Quest Voyager will consider you having waived any claims you may have had against Quest Voyager regarding your trip.

U.S. Department of State advise:

From time to time, the U.S. Travel Department (www.travel.state.gov) issues Travel Advisory Notices advising against travel to a particular destination, which you should consult. The decision to travel or not will be yours, and our standard cancellation conditions may apply. You should also check your travel insurance to confirm how a travel notice affects your policy, as this varies between insurers.

 

Passengers' comments and suggestions:

At the end of each tour, you will have the opportunity to complete a questionnaire about your tour. This form will be mailed to you with your documents or distributed locally at your destination. We value your input, so please take this opportunity to comment on all aspects of your trip. We review all comments but may not have the chance to respond.

 

No guarantees/limited responsibility:

Quest Voyager and all those related to it (collectively, "Quest Voyager ") do not own or operate any entity which is to or does provide goods or services for your trip. Accordingly, Quest Voyager is not responsible for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such person or entity nor for any action or inaction of any other third party. Without limitation, Quest Voyager is not liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damage, injury, death, loss, accident, delay, inconvenience, or irregularity of any kind which may be occasioned because of any act or omission beyond its control. Further, it is not liable for  any willful or negligent act, failure to act, or breach of contract of any third party such as an airline, train, hotel, restaurant or food supplier, bus, taxi, van operator, local guide, whether or not it uses the Quest Voyager name, which is, to, or does supply any goods or services for this trip. Quest Voyager is not responsible for any loss, injury, death, or inconvenience due to delay or changes in schedule, overbooking or downgrading of accommodations, insolvency or default of any third party, attacks by animals, sickness, the lack of appropriate medical care, evacuation to same, if necessary, weather, strikes, acts of God or government, acts of terrorism or the threat thereof, force majeure, war, quarantine, pandemics or the threat thereof, criminal activity, or any other cause beyond its control.

 

Agreement Formation and Terms:

By reserving a tour package and making payments of deposit/interim/final payment shall be deemed your consent to the terms and conditions herein. Each participant understands that Quest Voyager will accept that the participant's booking relies upon the participant's acceptance of the terms and conditions outlined herein. The terms and conditions listed are those in effect at the time of printing and will remain until replaced. Any new or re-issue of terms and conditions will supersede all previous versions. No person other than an officer of Quest Voyager is permitted to vary, add or waive any term or condition in any document, including any term or condition outlined in the preceding provisions. Quest Voyager is not responsible for any typographical or printing errors found within our materials.

 

Dispute Resolution:

We are confident there will not be any disputes between us.  In the unlikely event a dispute does arise, we agree to first try to resolve it through a face-to-face negotiation.  If we are unsuccessful in resolving the matter within 30 days after one party requests a meeting with the other party, then either party may demand arbitration.  Specifically, any controversy or claim arising out of or relating in any way to these terms and conditions, to a tour agreement, to the brochure, or any other information relating in any way to the trip or to the trip itself shall be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration in San Diego, California, with the arbitrator being someone the Parties mutually select from Judicate West and if they cannot agree on an arbitrator then selected by following the Judicate West rules for selecting an arbitrator. In any such arbitration, California's substantive law will apply. The arbitrator shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability, conscionably, or formation of this contract, including but not limited to any claim that all or any part of this contract is void or voidable.