The following is your Agreement for tour services with Homeschool Travel Adventures, LLC (hereinafter “Us,” “We,” “Our,” “Homeschool Travel Adventures,” and “HTA”). Please read these Terms and Conditions for Tour and Participation (hereinafter Terms and Conditions) carefully before registering for the tour detailed on HomeschoolTravelAdventures.com website. By completing your Homeschool Travel Adventure registration, paying the non-refundable registration fee, participating in the HTA tour, or your continued use of this website, you, as the Participant or Parent/Legal Guardian of Participant (the “Participant”), hereby accept the following Terms and Conditions and agree to be bound by them.
You represent that you are 19 years of age or older. These Terms and Conditions, together with any other documentation we provide you with, form the basis of your contract with us (hereinafter The Agreement). By booking a tour with us, you are accepting and consenting to The Agreement. If you do not agree to the Terms and Conditions, you must not make any booking with us. Homeschool Travel Adventure is not responsible for any participant’s unawareness of the Terms and Conditions.
If the Participant chooses to pay online, the Participant shall pay to HTA, via the payment portal or electronic invoice, all payments by the associated due dates listed in your respective tour invoice.
While we do accept major credit cards, participants must provide to us either by mail or digital submission the Homeschool Travel Adventure Consent and Acknowledgement for every transaction for your trip. This authorization is a binding agreement for us to charge your card, and as such, you waive any right to charge-back 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 a Participant attempts to chargeback, reverse, or recollect a tour payment already made without the authorization of Homeschool Travel Adventure, we reserve the right to collect all additional costs, fees, and expenses associated with such charge-back, reversal, or recollection, including, without limitation, attorney fees. All credit card payments are subject to an additional 3.5% service fee. The service charge for returned checks is $50.00.
If we do not receive any payment due in full and on time, we reserve the right to treat your booking as canceled by you, in which case the cancellation charges set out below will become payable. We reserve the right to refuse a booking without giving any reason and shall, in that event only, return any payments received less the non-refundable registration fee. Reservations are transferable at the sole discretion of Homeschool Travel Adventure.
CANCELLATION AND REFUND:
Due to unrecoverable costs incurred by HTA long before our tour departs, cancellations will be processed per the following policy.
Should a cancellation become necessary, please inform HTA immediately in writing and request written confirmation of your cancellation. ALL REQUESTS FOR CANCELLATION/REFUND MUST BE MADE AND SUBMITTED TO HTA IN WRITING. The date that such request is received shall be the date applicable to cancellation.
If you notify us prior to the “no changes allowed after this date,” your right to receive a refund is limited to the amount of the payments received less the non-refundable registration fee of $250 per family; plus, other non-refundable items, including but are not limited to: air ticket deposits or penalties; ground transportation deposits or penalties; hotel deposits or penalties; show, attraction, activity, and event ticket deposits or penalties. Any cancellation after the “no changes allowed after this date” will result in a forfeiture of all payments. We strongly encourage you to get trip insurance for this reason.
HTA reserves the right to decline, accept, or retain any tour member as a tour participant at any time. Participants agree to comply with any and all federal, state, local or venue mandates or restrictions in effect at the time of travel, even if such mandates or restrictions were not known in advance. In the event HTA, or a Group Leader assigned by HTA, cancels a tour participant prior to or during the tour, or a participant becomes unable to continue on the tour due to illness, failure to comply with applicable mandates or restrictions, or any other reason, any and all costs associated with termination of tour participation shall be borne by the participant, and due to the prepaid nature of the tour, no refunds will be available, even for unused tour components or services. Your right to receive a refund is limited to terms as detailed above.
In the event a participant fails to make timely payments, HTA reserves the right to deny participation. Should this occur after the “no changes allowed after this date,” please reference the policy above.
CANCELLATION BY HTA:
If HTA deems it necessary to cancel a trip due to safety concerns, the Force Majeure policy will be in effect. Please always purchase travel insurance for HTA tours. Note, HTA does have a minimum number of families required per trip. Should the minimum not be met and the tour is canceled, all funds paid will be refunded in this circumstance, including the non-refundable registration fee.
CHANGES TO THE ITINERARY:
HTA reserves the right to adjust the itinerary for the comfort, convenience, or safety of our group.
HOMESCHOOL TRAVEL ADVENTURES LIMITED LIABILITY:
The trip is arranged by Homeschool Travel Adventures, LLC. (HTA), a TN limited liability corporation. HTA has made the travel arrangements at the direction of the participant and acts as an agent for the transportation carriers and other third-party suppliers of services connected with the trip, all of which are independent contractors (“Third Parties”). HTA in no way owns or operates the vehicles or facilities to be used during the trip, and does not guarantee performance by, or assume responsibility for the acts and/or omissions of Third Parties, their employees, agents, etc. All bookings are accepted subject to the conditions, including cancellation terms, imposed by Third Parties, including, but not limited to, the airline, cruise line, rail, coach, hotel, restaurants, insurance, and other companies, firms, or persons concerned with the trip. HTA and its owners, officers, employees, and agents are hereby released from all claims arising out of such events, acts, or omissions, including claims for personal injury, damage, loss, accident, or irregularity. HTA is not responsible for the acts or omissions of travel suppliers or their failure to adhere to their own schedules, provide services or refunds, financial default, or failure to honor future trip credits. We have no special knowledge regarding the financial condition of the suppliers.
The Participant and his/her parent/guardian: a) accept responsibility for all property or monetary damages caused by the Participant to the hotels, bus, or other property while on the trip; and b) release and forever hold harmless HTA, its owners, officers and agents from any and all claims, losses, damages, causes of action, suits and liability of every kind, for any property damage, personal injuries, death or financial losses associated with the trip.
FORCE MAJEURE:
HTA shall not be responsible for and shall make no refund for, failure to perform any of its obligations under this Agreement during any period in which such performance is prevented or delayed due to Force Majeure, nor for changes to or terminations of your trip due to Force Majeure. “Force Majeure” refers to any event beyond HTA’s reasonable control, including, but not limited to, severe weather, fire, flood, mudslides, earthquakes, war or acts of war, acts of God, labor disputes, strikes, epidemics, physical injury, quarantine, medical or customs or immigration regulation, delay, or cancellation, World Health Organization’s advisories and/or alerts, disease, pandemic, virus, illness, Center for Disease Control’s advisories and or alerts, U.S. State Department’s advisories and/or alerts, any order of any local, provincial or federal government authority, changes of schedules or operational decisions of air carriers, terrorist activity or the threat thereof, industrial action, natural or nuclear activity, interruption of power services, terrorism or for acts or omission of Third Parties or other parties not under the control of HTA and all similar events outside our control.
ADDITIONAL RISKS:
Additional risks and dangers may arise, including, but not limited to, hazards of travel by train, automobile, motor coach, aircraft, and other means of conveyance, animal interactions, swimming, forces of nature, political unrest, other unrest, risks associated with water, food, plants, insects and differing animal regulation, and acts of national and local governments and unrest and acts of others against governments. These risks are not an exhaustive list but are examples of many kinds of risks. You are voluntarily participating in these activities with the knowledge that there could be dangers involved, and you hereby agree to accept any and all risks. As lawful consideration for the agreement with HTA to participate in such trips and activities, you agree you will not make a claim against HTA, its related companies, its personnel, or group leaders and chaperones/counselors, or sue for bodily injury, emotional trauma, death, property loss or damage or other loss, cost or expense, however caused, as a result of or related to your contracting for, traveling to or from, or in any and every other way participating in the trip. You release HTA, its related companies, its personnel, group leaders, and chaperones/counselors from any and all claims, known or unknown, arising from contracting for, traveling to or from, and in any and every way participating in a trip. This release of liability and assumption of risk agreement is entered into on behalf of you and all members of your family and party, also including minors. This agreement also binds your heirs, legal representatives, and assigns.
By participating in any HTA tour, you voluntarily assume any risks associated with exposure to or contracting COVID-19 or any other illness or virus. All destinations and suppliers have their own rules related to COVID-19. For example, you may be required to quarantine upon arrival in some locations. Some locations may require masks or social distancing; they may require you to provide proof of vaccination or negative testing. Stopover countries’ requirements will also apply. On your return home, additional testing, requirements, or documentation may be required. While we will try to assist you in understanding these requirements, you are responsible for understanding these requirements and must not rely on any representations made by HTA. Should you be denied entry to any destination, we shall not be responsible for any such denial, or any cost associated therewith.
Where the participant occupies a motor coach seat fitted with a safety belt, neither HTA nor the Operator nor its agents or cooperating organizations or service providers will be liable for any injury, illness, or death or for any loss or damages or claims whatsoever arising from any accident or incident, if the safety belt is or is not being worn at the time of such an accident or incident. This exclusion and limitation of liability shall not be used to imply that HTA, the Operator, or its agents or affiliated entities are liable in other circumstances.
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL:
Prior to booking international travel, we recommend that you review any U.S. Government prohibitions, warnings, and advisories applicable to your destinations. By offering travel to any particular destination, we do not represent that travel to such destination is safe or without risk. It is the responsibility of the Participant to become informed about the most current travel information, advisories, and warnings by referring both to the U. S. State Department’s travel website at www.travel.state.gov/ and by accessing the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website at www.cdc.gov/travel/notices. If the Participant still chooses to travel to the locale of a warning, the traveler assumes all risk of personal injury, death, or property damage that may arise out of or which relates to the type of events warned against. Trips outside the USA require a valid U.S. passport or other acceptable forms of citizenship proof.
Passports must be up to date with an expiry at least 6 months after the trip return date. Many countries also require that your passport have at least two completely blank pages. For up-to-date visa requirements, US citizens should visit www.travel.state.gov. It is your sole responsibility to secure and/or pay for any and all visas, reciprocity fees, affidavits, immunizations, etc., that are required to be permitted entry into each destination. In some countries, you may be subject to entry (reciprocity) fees and/or departure taxes/ exit fees which will be collected at the airports upon entry/departure by local government authorities. Please note that entry to any country may be refused even if the required information and travel documents are complete. You are responsible for, and release HTA from passport, visa, vaccination requirements, and safety conditions in travel destinations. It is the Participant’s responsibility to ensure that all the details on your travel documents are correct and to bring to our attention any errors or discrepancies immediately and at least 45 days prior to travel. Your travel documents are valuable and should be safeguarded as if they were cash. It is not always possible to replace travel documents in the case of loss, theft, damage, etc. We recommend that you keep a copy of your scanned passport (photograph page) in your email while traveling. We will not be responsible for the loss of any travel documents.
TRAVEL PROTECTION:
HTA strongly recommends you purchase travel/medical/baggage insurance for the trip. Such a plan, at a minimum, should cover Trip Cancellation or Interruption, Cancellation for Any Reason, Medical Expenses, Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation, and Baggage. Travel protection plans can help protect you in the event of loss of non-refundable trip fees and payments that result from cancellation or trip interruption (due to a covered reason such as injury or illness before or during the trip). It also helps with reimbursement for medical emergency costs (including very costly medical evacuation costs), missed connections, and baggage loss.
HTA provides no such insurance or indemnity. HTA will provide information about optional travel insurance offered through a third party at an additional cost, or you may contact third-party insurers. Information will be provided in participants “Welcome Packet.” HTA is not qualified to answer technical questions about the benefits, exclusions, and conditions of travel protection plans. HTA cannot evaluate the adequacy of the prospective insured’s existing insurance coverage. If you have any questions about your travel protection, call your insurer or insurance agent, or broker.
Certain countries have a requirement for foreign visitors to have valid medical insurance on entry. HTA cannot be held responsible for denied entry if a guest is unable to provide details to authorities of insurance or denial of entry for any reason. Declining travel protection plan coverage could result in the loss of your travel cost and/or require more money to correct the situation. You also acknowledge that without this coverage, there may be no way to recoup any losses, costs, or expenses incurred. If you choose to travel without adequate coverage, HTA will not be liable for any of your losses, howsoever arising, for which trip protection plan coverage would otherwise have been available.
DISABILITIES:
Participants with disabilities are welcome to join HTA and should always be accompanied by a companion capable of providing all required and needed assistance and must not require special assistance from HTA or its suppliers. Participants must notify HTA of any disabilities in writing when booking the tour and of the identity of the participant’s non-discounted, paid travel companion, who will be responsible for providing all necessary assistance. Participants should notify HTA if ADA-accessible accommodations are needed. HTA will make all reasonable efforts to accommodate this request, but cannot be responsible if ADA accommodations are not available. Any accommodation provided will be at the sole expense of the participant requiring the accommodation.
FOOD ALLERGIES:
For safety and liability reasons, HTA and its representatives cannot be responsible for directly accommodating any food allergies, or dietary requirements and restrictions, and are not responsible for any issues or problems associated with the same. All scenarios and special dietary requests regarding food and drink, including allergies, or dietary requirements and restrictions, are the sole responsibility of the participant. HTA will pass along any and all dietary requests to the restaurants and caterers; however, HTA cannot guarantee that options will be available, nor can I guarantee the establishment’s fulfillment of them. Just in case, we recommend packing extra food/snacks if accommodation cannot be met and bringing all necessary medical supplies should there be an allergic reaction. Should a participant have special dietary requirements, that participant shall be solely responsible for any additional expenses associated with their meals if there is an additional expense.
HEALTH AND SAFETY:
For the safety of our guests, HTA reserves the right to request health information prior to travel and to exclude any participants it deems unfit for travel at its sole discretion.
PHOTOGRAPHS:
Participant hereby gives consent to HTA to publish any photographs of the trip or Participant in printed or electronic media without obtaining further consent and without compensation. Each Participant releases HTA and its representatives from any liability in connection with any use of such photographs.
CODE OF CONDUCT:
Each participant is expected to act responsibly and adhere to all behavior guidelines established by the Tour Guide and/or Tour Manager. Any failure to respond to the guidance of the Tour Guide and/or Tour Manager can result in the immediate dismissal of the offending participant and their family. Any participant dismissed for behavior or disciplinary issues will be responsible for any and all expenses associated with their family’s dismissal, and no refund will be available for any portion of the trip.
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 directly at the time to the accommodation owner, manager, or other supplier. You must indemnify us for the full amount of any claim (also including legal costs) made against us. HTA is not responsible for any costs incurred concerning a guest removed from a tour. Guests agree not to hold HTA 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.
NOTIFICATIONS:
Notifications to HTA can be made in writing via email to: [email protected] or via postal mail to: Homeschool Travel Adventures LLC, PO Box 39, LaGrange, TN 38046
SEVERABILITY:
If any provision of these terms and conditions shall be held unenforceable, such provision shall be struck, and the remainder shall remain enforceable.
JURISDICTION AND APPLICABLE LAW:
The laws of the State of Tennessee shall govern the jurisdiction, venue, interpretation, and construction of these Terms and Conditions, without regard to conflict of law. Any disputes arising hereunder shall be litigated in State or Federal Court in the State of Tennessee. All guest claims must be submitted in writing and received by HTA no later than thirty (30) days after the completion of the Tour. Guest claims not submitted and received within this time shall be deemed waived and barred.
FLORIDA LAW:
Florida law requires certain sellers of travel to have a trust account or bond. This business has a bond.
FST: M23000009984