Terms and Conditions
PAYMENT SCHEDULE
The payment schedule varies by trip. Please refer to the schedules published on the Payment Schedules page of this website. We accept all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover). Price reductions are available for those who choose to pay via PayPal or check. Contact us for details. Prices are in US Dollars, and all payments must be made in US Dollars. After we receive your Initial Deposit, we will provide you with detailed pre-trip information including a packing list, visa information, statement of account, and travel protection information. We will also send you a link to access and complete the required forms including a Waiver and Release from Liability form which is required for participation on any trip. We will provide you with rendezvous instructions and final trip details approximately three weeks prior to trip departure.
WHAT YOUR TRIP PRICE INCLUDES
Every trip is a little bit different so for the full specifics regarding each particular trip, please see that trip's page on our website. In general, however, all Open Door Travel trips include: Expert leadership, guaranteed departures with 4 guests minimum (5 guest minimum for Magical Vietnam tour), maximum of 8 guests on any tour (10 guests on Magical Vietnam), accommodations as noted in the itinerary, all breakfasts, select lunch and dinners as noted on each trip page, airport transfers, ground transportation, in-country flights, local guides and support staff, entrance fees and permits, gratuities for all bellmen, hotel staff, local tour guides.
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR TRIP PRICE
International airfare, optional gratuities for tour leader (and van driver for North Vietnam Tribal Culture Tour), personal items and travel insurance are not included.
SOLO TRAVELERS
All trip prices are based on double occupancy in accommodations (hotels and cruise cabins). If you prefer guaranteed single accommodations, you must pay a single supplement fee, which is listed on each trip page. If you are traveling alone and wish to share accommodations, please let us know. We will assign you a roommate of the same gender if one is available or to an opposite gender roommate if you are both in agreement. If no roommate is available for you, you must pay the single supplement fee.
CANCELLATIONS & REFUNDS
Your Initial Deposit and Second Trip Payments are non-refundable (unless the trip does not make due to inadequate enrollment in which case 100% of your payments will be refunded to you). Because we guarantee departures with so few participants and limit our trips to a maximum of 8 guests (10 on the Magical Vietnam Trip), this is the only way we can guarantee that the expenses budgeted to be shared among the group are covered. We understand that circumstances may come up that would cause you to need to cancel your trip. For this reason, we strongly suggest that you purchase travel insurance coverage so that you might be reimbursed by the insurance company should you need to cancel. Travel insurance is very affordable and can offer financial protection for trip cancellation and interruption, as well as assistance should you encounter travel delays, baggage loss, or require medical treatment while traveling.
If you have to cancel your trip 76 days or more prior to departure, we will be happy to refund 100% of your trip payments less the non-refundable Initial Deposit and Second Trip Payment. If you must cancel your trip 75 days or less prior to departure, we are unable to provide any refund.
TRAVEL PROTECTION
For your protection, we strongly suggest the purchase of a Travel Protection Plan. Travel insurance can offer financial protection for trip cancellation and interruption, as well as assistance should you encounter delays, baggage loss, or require medical treatment while traveling. We recommend Roam Right and AIG/TravelGuard. We suggest plans which combine trip cancellation and interruption coverage, baggage loss protection, and medical coverage along with additional medical evacuation coverage.
CANCELLED TRIPS
Open Door Travel reserves the right to cancel any trip due to inadequate enrollment or other cause that make the trip unfeasible for us to operate, but will inform you at least 90 days prior to departure. In such a case, a full refund of your tour price is given, but Open Door Travel is not responsible for additional expenses incurred by trip members preparing for the trip (e.g. non-refundable Advance Purchase air tickets, visa fees if applicable, clothing, equipment, or medical expenses). Do not purchase your air tickets before receiving confirmation from your Tour Curator that the trip is confirmed.
BAGGAGE
Open Door Travel assumes no liability for loss or damage to baggage in transit to and from an Open Door Travel trip or while on an Open Door Travel trip. We recommend purchasing a supplemental travel protection plan referenced above in the Travel Protection paragraph.
DELAYS & COST INCREASES
The cost of delays is not included if any trip is delayed due to bad weather, river levels, road conditions, transportation delays, government intervention, sickness, or other contingency for which Open Door Travel or its third party operators cannot make provision.
AIRLINES
Open Door Travel is not liable for incidents involving airline safety, risk, delays, etc., or incidents that result in injury, delay, or death. Please read the conditions on the back of your airline ticket.
MEDICAL & HEALTH
It is vital that persons with medical problems make them known to us well before departure. The trip leader has the right to disqualify anyone at any time during the trip if he or she feels the trip member is physically or mentally incapable or if a trip member’s continued participation will jeopardize the individual involved or the group. Refunds are not given under such circumstances if notification of the medical problem is given 75 days or less prior to departure. Hospital facilities are often unavailable in some of the more remote areas we travel to and evacuation can be prolonged, difficult, and expensive. Open Door Travel assumes no liability regarding provision of medical care. You will need to provide us with your medical history and any dietary restrictions as requested in the required documentation. Once you have been confirmed on a trip, normal cancellation fees apply. The State Department and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention periodically issue statements, advisories, and warnings about risks to travelers. These statements are country specific and contain important information. Open Door Travel urges all participants to review these sites.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Open Door Travel may take photographs and/or video of its trips and trip participants grant Open Door Travel permission to do so and for it to use same for promotional or commercial use without payment of any compensation to participant.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRIP MEMBERS
Trip members have certain responsibilities to Open Door Travel and to other trip members. Trip members are responsible for being on time to all departures and events so as not to impair the experience of other trip members. Trip members are responsible for understanding the conditions stated in the Trip Itinerary and selecting a trip in consultation with Open Door Travel that is appropriate to their interests and abilities and for preparing for the trip by studying the Trip Itinerary and supplemental trip information sent by Open Door Travel. At the trip leader’s discretion, a member may be asked to leave the trip at his/her expense and without right of refund if the leader feels that the person’s further participation may be detrimental to the individual or to other trip members.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
Open Door Travel does not own or operate any entity which provides goods or services for your trip including, for example, ownership or control over hotels or other lodging facilities, airline, vessel, bus, van or other transportation companies, local ground operators, providers or organizers of optional or included excursions or equipment used thereon, food service or entertainment providers, etc. All such persons and entities are independent contractors. As a result, Open Door Travel is not liable for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such person or entity, or of any other third party.
Without limitation, Open Door Travel is not responsible for any injury, loss, or damage to person or property, death, delay or inconvenience in connection with the provision of any goods or services occasioned by or resulting from, but not limited to, acts of God, acts of government, force majeure, acts of war or civil unrest, insurrection or revolt, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind, or the threat thereof, overbooking or downgrading of accommodations, structural or other defective conditions in hotels or other lodging facilities, mechanical or other failure of airplanes or other means of transportation or for any failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart timely or safely, dangers associated with or bites from animals, pests or insects, marine life or vegetation of any sort, dangers incident to recreational activities such as scuba diving, zip lining, snorkeling, paddle boarding, surfing, swimming, kayaking, sailing, canoeing, rafting, hiking, bicycling, canyoning, fishing, snowshoeing, cruising, camping, rock climbing, etc., sanitation problems, food poisoning, lack of access to or quality of medical care, difficulty in evacuation in case of a medical or other emergency, illness, epidemics or the threat thereof or for any other cause beyond the direct control of Open Door Travel. In addition, I release Open Door Travel from its own negligence and assume all risk thereof. On advancement of deposit to Open Door Travel, the depositor therefore agrees to be bound by these terms and conditions, as well as the Binding clause below. Additionally, some independent contractors may require participants to sign their liability release or indemnity form.
BINDING ARBITRATION
Any dispute concerning, relating or referring to this Agreement, the brochure or any other literature concerning my trip, or the trip itself, shall be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C.1-16, either according to the then existing Commercial Rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) or pursuant to the Comprehensive Arbitration Rules & Procedures of the Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (JAMS). Such proceedings will be governed by substantive (but not procedural) Tennessee law without consideration of the Tennessee Arbitration Act and will take place in Chattanooga, TN. The arbitrator and not any federal, state, or local court or agency shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability, conscionability, or formation of this contract, including but not limited to any claim that all or any part of this contract is void or voidable. Please understand that by agreeing to these terms and conditions, you (and we) are waiving our right to a trial by jury.
The payment schedule varies by trip. Please refer to the schedules published on the Payment Schedules page of this website. We accept all major credit cards (Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover). Price reductions are available for those who choose to pay via PayPal or check. Contact us for details. Prices are in US Dollars, and all payments must be made in US Dollars. After we receive your Initial Deposit, we will provide you with detailed pre-trip information including a packing list, visa information, statement of account, and travel protection information. We will also send you a link to access and complete the required forms including a Waiver and Release from Liability form which is required for participation on any trip. We will provide you with rendezvous instructions and final trip details approximately three weeks prior to trip departure.
WHAT YOUR TRIP PRICE INCLUDES
Every trip is a little bit different so for the full specifics regarding each particular trip, please see that trip's page on our website. In general, however, all Open Door Travel trips include: Expert leadership, guaranteed departures with 4 guests minimum (5 guest minimum for Magical Vietnam tour), maximum of 8 guests on any tour (10 guests on Magical Vietnam), accommodations as noted in the itinerary, all breakfasts, select lunch and dinners as noted on each trip page, airport transfers, ground transportation, in-country flights, local guides and support staff, entrance fees and permits, gratuities for all bellmen, hotel staff, local tour guides.
WHAT'S NOT INCLUDED IN YOUR TRIP PRICE
International airfare, optional gratuities for tour leader (and van driver for North Vietnam Tribal Culture Tour), personal items and travel insurance are not included.
SOLO TRAVELERS
All trip prices are based on double occupancy in accommodations (hotels and cruise cabins). If you prefer guaranteed single accommodations, you must pay a single supplement fee, which is listed on each trip page. If you are traveling alone and wish to share accommodations, please let us know. We will assign you a roommate of the same gender if one is available or to an opposite gender roommate if you are both in agreement. If no roommate is available for you, you must pay the single supplement fee.
CANCELLATIONS & REFUNDS
Your Initial Deposit and Second Trip Payments are non-refundable (unless the trip does not make due to inadequate enrollment in which case 100% of your payments will be refunded to you). Because we guarantee departures with so few participants and limit our trips to a maximum of 8 guests (10 on the Magical Vietnam Trip), this is the only way we can guarantee that the expenses budgeted to be shared among the group are covered. We understand that circumstances may come up that would cause you to need to cancel your trip. For this reason, we strongly suggest that you purchase travel insurance coverage so that you might be reimbursed by the insurance company should you need to cancel. Travel insurance is very affordable and can offer financial protection for trip cancellation and interruption, as well as assistance should you encounter travel delays, baggage loss, or require medical treatment while traveling.
If you have to cancel your trip 76 days or more prior to departure, we will be happy to refund 100% of your trip payments less the non-refundable Initial Deposit and Second Trip Payment. If you must cancel your trip 75 days or less prior to departure, we are unable to provide any refund.
TRAVEL PROTECTION
For your protection, we strongly suggest the purchase of a Travel Protection Plan. Travel insurance can offer financial protection for trip cancellation and interruption, as well as assistance should you encounter delays, baggage loss, or require medical treatment while traveling. We recommend Roam Right and AIG/TravelGuard. We suggest plans which combine trip cancellation and interruption coverage, baggage loss protection, and medical coverage along with additional medical evacuation coverage.
CANCELLED TRIPS
Open Door Travel reserves the right to cancel any trip due to inadequate enrollment or other cause that make the trip unfeasible for us to operate, but will inform you at least 90 days prior to departure. In such a case, a full refund of your tour price is given, but Open Door Travel is not responsible for additional expenses incurred by trip members preparing for the trip (e.g. non-refundable Advance Purchase air tickets, visa fees if applicable, clothing, equipment, or medical expenses). Do not purchase your air tickets before receiving confirmation from your Tour Curator that the trip is confirmed.
BAGGAGE
Open Door Travel assumes no liability for loss or damage to baggage in transit to and from an Open Door Travel trip or while on an Open Door Travel trip. We recommend purchasing a supplemental travel protection plan referenced above in the Travel Protection paragraph.
DELAYS & COST INCREASES
The cost of delays is not included if any trip is delayed due to bad weather, river levels, road conditions, transportation delays, government intervention, sickness, or other contingency for which Open Door Travel or its third party operators cannot make provision.
AIRLINES
Open Door Travel is not liable for incidents involving airline safety, risk, delays, etc., or incidents that result in injury, delay, or death. Please read the conditions on the back of your airline ticket.
MEDICAL & HEALTH
It is vital that persons with medical problems make them known to us well before departure. The trip leader has the right to disqualify anyone at any time during the trip if he or she feels the trip member is physically or mentally incapable or if a trip member’s continued participation will jeopardize the individual involved or the group. Refunds are not given under such circumstances if notification of the medical problem is given 75 days or less prior to departure. Hospital facilities are often unavailable in some of the more remote areas we travel to and evacuation can be prolonged, difficult, and expensive. Open Door Travel assumes no liability regarding provision of medical care. You will need to provide us with your medical history and any dietary restrictions as requested in the required documentation. Once you have been confirmed on a trip, normal cancellation fees apply. The State Department and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention periodically issue statements, advisories, and warnings about risks to travelers. These statements are country specific and contain important information. Open Door Travel urges all participants to review these sites.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Open Door Travel may take photographs and/or video of its trips and trip participants grant Open Door Travel permission to do so and for it to use same for promotional or commercial use without payment of any compensation to participant.
RESPONSIBILITIES OF TRIP MEMBERS
Trip members have certain responsibilities to Open Door Travel and to other trip members. Trip members are responsible for being on time to all departures and events so as not to impair the experience of other trip members. Trip members are responsible for understanding the conditions stated in the Trip Itinerary and selecting a trip in consultation with Open Door Travel that is appropriate to their interests and abilities and for preparing for the trip by studying the Trip Itinerary and supplemental trip information sent by Open Door Travel. At the trip leader’s discretion, a member may be asked to leave the trip at his/her expense and without right of refund if the leader feels that the person’s further participation may be detrimental to the individual or to other trip members.
LIMITATION OF LIABILITY
Open Door Travel does not own or operate any entity which provides goods or services for your trip including, for example, ownership or control over hotels or other lodging facilities, airline, vessel, bus, van or other transportation companies, local ground operators, providers or organizers of optional or included excursions or equipment used thereon, food service or entertainment providers, etc. All such persons and entities are independent contractors. As a result, Open Door Travel is not liable for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such person or entity, or of any other third party.
Without limitation, Open Door Travel is not responsible for any injury, loss, or damage to person or property, death, delay or inconvenience in connection with the provision of any goods or services occasioned by or resulting from, but not limited to, acts of God, acts of government, force majeure, acts of war or civil unrest, insurrection or revolt, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind, or the threat thereof, overbooking or downgrading of accommodations, structural or other defective conditions in hotels or other lodging facilities, mechanical or other failure of airplanes or other means of transportation or for any failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart timely or safely, dangers associated with or bites from animals, pests or insects, marine life or vegetation of any sort, dangers incident to recreational activities such as scuba diving, zip lining, snorkeling, paddle boarding, surfing, swimming, kayaking, sailing, canoeing, rafting, hiking, bicycling, canyoning, fishing, snowshoeing, cruising, camping, rock climbing, etc., sanitation problems, food poisoning, lack of access to or quality of medical care, difficulty in evacuation in case of a medical or other emergency, illness, epidemics or the threat thereof or for any other cause beyond the direct control of Open Door Travel. In addition, I release Open Door Travel from its own negligence and assume all risk thereof. On advancement of deposit to Open Door Travel, the depositor therefore agrees to be bound by these terms and conditions, as well as the Binding clause below. Additionally, some independent contractors may require participants to sign their liability release or indemnity form.
BINDING ARBITRATION
Any dispute concerning, relating or referring to this Agreement, the brochure or any other literature concerning my trip, or the trip itself, shall be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration pursuant to the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C.1-16, either according to the then existing Commercial Rules of the American Arbitration Association (AAA) or pursuant to the Comprehensive Arbitration Rules & Procedures of the Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. (JAMS). Such proceedings will be governed by substantive (but not procedural) Tennessee law without consideration of the Tennessee Arbitration Act and will take place in Chattanooga, TN. The arbitrator and not any federal, state, or local court or agency shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability, conscionability, or formation of this contract, including but not limited to any claim that all or any part of this contract is void or voidable. Please understand that by agreeing to these terms and conditions, you (and we) are waiving our right to a trial by jury.
