Effective April 16, 2024.

 

All travel booked with or through Smart Travel International ("smarTTravel") is conditioned upon your acceptance, without modification, of all the terms, conditions, and notices set forth below (“Terms”). Please read these Terms carefully. By booking any reservation for any Tour or other package offered by smarTTravel, you agree that these Terms shall apply. These Terms, in its entirety, supersede any partial Terms that may be specified for any smarTTtravel product or service listed or purchased on our website. smarTTravel reserves the right to modify, revise, add or remove portions of these Terms, including any pricing, deposit, payment, and cancellation terms, at any time. Any such revisions will apply to Tours confirmed after the revised Terms are made available on the smarTTravel website. Certain Tours may be subject to additional or different terms, as set forth in the applicable invoice.  All prices on our website, proposals, quotes, invoices or referenced herein, are stated in USD unless indicated otherwise.

General Terms of Service Applicable to All Tours and Packages

 

RESERVATIONS & RATES

 

RESERVATIONS

 

Reservations for Tours are accepted online via our website. In order to make a reservation, you must be at least 18 years of age and have legal authority to enter into a binding agreement under the Terms presented herein. Reservations are confirmed upon receipt of the applicable non-refundable deposit, which must be paid at the time of your reservation for all travelers on the booking unless expressly waived by smarTTravel in writing. 

If you are making a booking for anyone other than yourself, regardless of whether or not you are traveling on the reservation with them, you are considered the primary contact on the booking and representative for the other travelers. You represent and warrant that you have permission to make this booking on behalf of the other travelers, and you agree that you are responsible for (a) making all payments due for your booking, (b) providing to smarTTravel all required traveler information as described below, about all travelers on the booking, (c) notifying smarTTravel if any changes or cancellations are required, and (d) keeping the other travelers on the booking informed of all information relevant to your trip.

REQUIRED TRAVELER INFORMATION

To make a booking, we require that you supply certain information for each traveler, including the full legal name, gender, birthdate, and passport information, as required by law and/or reasonably required to enable us and our Providers to provide your purchased services. We also require contact information, including address, phone number, and email address, from the person making the booking. We request a phone number and email address for all other travelers, so that we may reach each traveler in case of last minute itinerary changes, emergencies, or for communication of important information during the Tour. For each traveler, we also require the name and contact information of a designated emergency contact person who is not traveling on the Tour. You are responsible for verifying that any information you provide for yourself and on behalf of other travelers on your booking is complete and accurate. Under no circumstances will we be liable for any errors or omissions in the information you have provided to us, or any fees or damages related to such errors or omissions. After you complete your booking, we’ll send you an email containing a link to provide additional information prior to the final payment due date, or your booking may be subject to cancellation.

 

TOUR RATES AND AVAILABILITY

Tour reservations are subject to availability. Tour rates may change without prior notice. Excluding Extraordinary Circumstances, as defined below, once your deposit has been received, your price is guaranteed and is no longer subject to change. Tour rates include only those items specifically identified in the Tour itinerary and may not include passport and visa fees, excess baggage charges, baggage and personal insurance, gratuities, optional tour activities, optional upgrades, other personal items, and expenses. Food, alcohol and other beverages are also not included unless indicated otherwise. Certain foreign taxes and fees are not pre-collected and must be paid overseas by the customer.

 

PROMOTIONS & SPECIAL PRICING

Promotion codes, special pricing/discounts, and offers are valid within the specified time period for new bookings only, and may not be combined with other discounts or offers unless offered by smarTTravel as a stackable credit. Any Tour booked using a promotion code, special pricing/discount, or offer will be subject to smarTTravel’s standard change, cancellation, payment, credit and refund terms, and applicable cancellation fees.

 

CHANGE, CANCELLATION & PAYMENT TERMS

 

STANDARD CHANGE TERMS

 

Requested changes to tour dates, destination or traveler information will incur an automatic Reservation Change Fee of US $100 per person per change. No changes are permitted after the final payment due date. In addition to the smarTTravel Reservation Change Fee, you will be responsible for paying any fees and/or fare differences assessed by smarTTravel’s Providers, such as airlines or hotel partners impacted by the change requested.

 

Note that when rebooking, if you choose a trip that is more expensive than your original booking, you are responsible for the difference in price. If the trip or departure is less expensive than your original booking, the balance due for the new booking will be adjusted accordingly, and any overages already paid will be issued as a future travel Credit or a refund if applicable.

 

You may not cancel and rebook the same tour and departure date in order to take advantage of a new or different promotion offered by smarTTravel. In these cases, standard cancellation terms will apply to the original booking, and therefore the non-refundable deposit is forfeited and may not be transferred to the new booking.

 

SUMMARY OF CHANGE FEES

 

1)  Reservation Change Fee = $100 + any fees and/or fare differences assessed by smarTTravel’s Providers

includes changing tours or travel dates, and removing services prior to the final payment due date. No reservation changes may be made after the final payment due date.

 

2)  Passenger Change Fee = $100 + any fees and/or fare differences assessed by smarTTravel’s Providers

includes changing passengers on a reservation prior to the final payment due date. No passenger changes may be made after the final payment due date.

​

3)  Name Change Fee = $200 + any fees and/or fare differences assessed by smarTTravel’s Providers

includes correcting names on any international or internal flights after the final payment date.

​

CANCELLATIONS REQUESTED BY YOU

All Tour reservations are subject to the applicable payment and cancellation terms set forth below. All cancellations must be submitted via email to service@smarttravelinternational.com. In order to complete your cancellation request, we will require confirmation of identity, a copy of all invoices paid to date, and the full name/s of all guests to be canceled.

 

When you cancel your tour for any reason, any refunds, if due, are issued in accordance with the Payment Terms outlined below. Note that some refunds will be subject to the terms and policies of specific hotels and airlines and may be forfeited or issued in the form of future travel credit. Credits and refunds will be reduced by the applicable cancellation charges noted in the Payment Terms sections below, based upon the Payment Terms for your Tour and the timing of your cancellation. Credits and refunds may be further reduced by the cost of any issued flight tickets or hotel reservations if non-refundable, or any cancellation fee required by the airline or hotel if refundable. Once a Tour has commenced, no future travel credit or refund can be issued for any unused portion of the Tour. 

 

PAYMENTS & PAYMENT TERMS

 

A deposit is due at the time of booking to secure your spot with the airline and hotel usually based on their lowest available non-refundable rates. All deposits are therefore non-refundable and final payment is due a specified number of days prior to departure, depending upon your Tour, so that smarTTravel may secure your reservation and make all necessary arrangements for your trip. Failure to make the final payment on time may result in automatic cancellation of your reservation and loss of deposit.

 

Specific Payment Term plans and their associated cancellation fees are presented below. The Payment Terms applicable for each Tour can be found on your invoice, or by visiting the applicable Tour checkout page on the smarTTravel website. 

Months specified in the following payment terms are based on the same calendar date as the day of departure e.g. 6 months before the  departure date of May 25th 2025, is November 25th 2024. 

 

• All deposits are non-refundable regardless of the reason for or timing of your trip cancellation.

• Final Payment is due 1 month before departure date or as specified. Failure to pay in full by this date may result in automatic trip cancellation and forfeiture of all payments to date.

• Refunds for trip cancellation:

- Up to 6 months before departure date: 100% refund of any payments in excess of the deposit per person (less any penalty stipulated by the airline and/or hotel if applicable, and fees collected by online payment processors, credit card companies or banks).
- Less than 6 months but more than 4 months before departure date: 75% refund of payments in excess of the deposit per person (less any penalty stipulated by the airline and/or hotel if applicable, and fees collected by online payment processors, credit card companies or banks).
- Less than 4 months but more than 2 months before departure date: 50% refund of payments in excess of the deposit per person (less any penalty stipulated by the airline and/or hotel if applicable, and fees collected by online payment processors, credit card companies or banks).
- Less than 2 months before departure date: No refund is available.

 

TOUR SUSPENSION OR CANCELLATION BY SMARTTRAVEL

 

smarTTravel reserves the right to cancel, suspend or reschedule any Tour, for any reason, including, but not limited to, insufficient demand, unsafe conditions, or travel restrictions introduced by the destination. In the event that smarTTravel must cancel, suspend or reschedule a Tour, we will notify you prior to the Final Payment Due Date, unless cancellation or suspension is due to an unforeseen circumstance that arises after the Final Payment Date. 

 

If your Tour is canceled, suspended, or rescheduled, smarTTravel will first attempt to issue you a full a refund however, this will be contingent on the specific airline and/or hotel cancellation policy. Alternatively, smarTTravel may issue future tour Credit for the full amount paid to smarTTravel through the date of such cancellation, suspension, or rescheduling, less any non-refundable Provider fees and penalties, including, but not limited to, hotel and airline cancellation fees, and fees collected by online payment processors, credit card companies or banks. smarTTravel will assist with rebooking your trip for a future date or a different Tour. If you prefer not to re-book immediately, your future travel Credit will remain in your account for future use before its applicable expiration date.

smarTTravel shall not be responsible for any Liabilities, as defined below, arising as a result of any cancellation, suspension or rescheduling, including, but not limited to, the cost of any connecting flights, accommodations, airport transportation, visas, document fees, vaccinations, or other services you may purchase that are dependent upon the operation of your trip. smarTTravel is not responsible for any incidental expenses or consequential losses that you incur as a result of a canceled booking. Where possible, we recommend that you wait until after your final payment due date to purchase any such services ancillary to your Tour.

​

TRAVEL CREDITS

Future Travel Credits must be redeemed within the time period specified by smarTTravel at the time your credit voucher is issued up to a maximum of 18 consecutive calendar months from the original travel date. Any Tour booked using a Credit will be subject to the terms and conditions applicable at the time the Credit is used, which may differ from these Terms or the terms and conditions applicable at the time of your original booking. 

 

Unless otherwise specified, future travel Credits may not be transferred to any other person.

 

If you cancel a Tour booked using a Credit, your Credit will be reissued to you, less the applicable cancellation fees outlined in the Payment Terms above. Furthermore, any remaining Credit balance must be used within the specified time period of the original Credit. If, for any reason, smarTTravel cancels, suspends or reschedules a Tour that was booked using a Credit, the Credit will be re-issued to you, less any non-refundable Provider fees and penalties, including, but not limited to, hotel and airline cancellation fees and fees collected by online payment processors, credit card companies or banks. 

 

TOUR SERVICES

 

INCLUDED SERVICES

 

Included services vary by package and are summarized on the Tour page for each trip. Any excursion, meal, transportation, product or service listed as optional and not expressly included in the itinerary or base price of the Tour package may optionally be purchased either from smarTTravel directly prior to travel, or from a 3rd party provider in destination. smarTTravel cannot guarantee availability of optional services, and for those purchased in destination, we cannot guarantee the price. 

 

MEALS

 

Meals will only be provided and included in the Tour price as specifically indicated in the itinerary. Beverages are also not included unless the Tour itinerary expressly indicates otherwise.

 

HOTELS/CRUISE SHIPS

 

Hotel room and cruise ship stateroom accommodations are provided on a “run-of-the-house” basis. smarTTravel cannot guarantee the availability of single rooms. smarTTravel reserves the right to substitute hotels of similar or better category due to Extraordinary Circumstances, as defined below.

 

TOUR ITINERARY AND IN-TOUR TRANSPORTATION

 

Arrangements for the Tour itineraries, domestic transportation and intra-tour flights are solely at the discretion of the local smarTTravel Provider and are subject to change without prior notice. Where appropriate, at the discretion of smarTTravel and/or the local smarTTravel Provider, a mandatory seat rotation or seat assignment may be implemented. Once any such seat rotation policy is implemented, there will be no exceptions.

 

TOUR-ONLY BOOKINGS

 

Some smarTTravel Tours may be booked without flights, also known as tour-only or land-only bookings. If you choose to book one of our tour-only options, you are responsible for arranging your own arrival in and departure from the destination, including airport transfer and other local transportation to the Tour starting location at the time appointed. The Tour itinerary will not be modified or delayed as a result of late arrivals for any reason.

 

AIR TRANSPORTATION

 

Round-trip economy class airfare, from designated airports in the United States, or from other airports as specified, are included in the Tour price. Air schedules are subject to change by the applicable Provider without advance notice. smarTTravel is not responsible for any Liabilities of any kind caused by any such changes or resulting delays. smarTTravel cannot guarantee the choice of domestic airline or the most direct routing. Any costs associated with an overnight layover will be communicated in advance and are the responsibility of the traveler. 

 

smarTTravel is not involved in, or responsible for, crediting Frequent Flier Miles. To receive Frequent Flier Miles or other credit for the Tour, you must follow the rules of the applicable Provider and deal with them directly.

 

AIR BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE

 

Travelers booking their international flight through smarTTravel are typically allowed one piece of checked luggage. smarTTravel will not be responsible for any lost or damaged luggage. Excess baggage charges may apply to the extent that any checked or carry-on luggage exceeds the limits applied by the airline or ticket category, and are the responsibility of the traveler.

 

TRAVEL INSURANCE

 

smarTTravel strongly recommends the purchase of Travel Insurance from a reputable supplier based on each traveler’s unique needs such as your home country, destination country, age, cost of your trip and other factors. Unless specifically mandated by entry requirements of the destination country, Travel Insurance is optional, and although we may recommend insurance suppliers from time to time, we do not require that travelers purchase insurance through smarTTravel or any of our recommended Providers. smarTTravel will not be responsible for submissions, processing or other administration related to Travel Insurance purchase or claims. It will be the responsibility of the traveler to liaise directly with any Insurance Provider of your choosing. 

 

VISAS & PASSPORTS

 

Some Tours may require travelers to obtain a Visa depending on the country indicated by your passport (regardless of your country of birth or current residence) and Visa fees are not included in the quoted Tour price. smarTTravel is not responsible for Visa applications or approvals required to participate in any Tour, or for trip cancellations resulting from expired passports or denied Visas, entry or boarding. We will provide as much information as possible to help travelers meet Visa and passport requirements for each destination country on any booked Tour, but it is ultimately the traveler’s responsibility to keep abreast of these requirements and ensure that they are fully met at the time of travel. Any cancellation resulting from failure to meet Visa or passport requirements before or during a booked Tour, will be subject to cancellation fees outlined in the Payment Terms above, or costs associated with prematurely returning home or extending your stay at your own expense.

 

TOUR PARTICIPATION

 

SMARTTRAVEL CODE OF CONDUCT

 

Traveling in a group requires travelers to be respectful not only of the Tour Director and local people at the destination, but also of fellow travelers in their group. To ensure the safety, well-being and enjoyment of everyone in the group, smarTTravel reserves the right to reject or remove any traveler whose behavior is determined to be disruptive or incompatible with the group. This includes (a) failure to comply with decisions or rules made by your Tour Director, smarTTravel or its representatives, (b) failure to comply with destination-specific laws, regulations, mandates, rules or recommendations set forth by any governmental authority, or (c) behaving or threatening to behave in a way that is judged to be dangerous to yourself or others, or to adversely affect the safety, comfort, well-being or enjoyment of yourself or other individuals, including but not limited to behavior that puts you or other passengers at risk of physical injury, or is disruptive, verbally or physically abusive, harassing, discriminatory or obscene. If smarTTravel removes you from the group for one of the above reasons, we will not refund any portion of the package cost paid by you. All unused services are non-refundable, and all expenses, including cancellations and return expenses, will be the responsibility of the traveler. smarTTravel shall be entitled to recover from you any costs or expenses incurred by smarTTravel or its representatives in connection with your removal from the tour. 

COVID-19 & OTHER VACCINATIONS 

 

As at April 2023, COVID-19 vaccinations are no longer required for travel to most destinations. However, in line with CDC guidance, smarTTravel still strongly recommends that all travelers be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, including keeping current with boosters as advised by your doctor and local health authorities. 

 

Some destinations may have stricter requirements for entry and in these cases, the requirements of the destination prevail. It is your responsibility to be aware of and comply with any destination entry requirements and, where required, to bring proof of vaccination with you on the trip and be ready to present it upon request. Failure to comply with any destination entry requirements, including those for COVID-19, may result in you being asked to leave the tour and in such instances, smarTTravel will not credit or refund any portion of the Tour cost paid by you. All unused services are non-refundable, and all expenses, including cancellations and return expenses, will be the responsibility of the traveler.

 

AGE REQUIREMENTS

 

In general, our Tours require a minimum age of 12 years old. Please contact us if you have reason to request an exception to this rule. Any person under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult at all times. Please note that select tours may have a higher minimum age requirement.

 

ACCESSIBILITY

 

There are physical demands inherent to all Tours, and smarTTravel strongly recommends that you select a tour suitable to your physical capabilities. Most Tours require considerable walking and may pose challenges for travelers with limited mobility. Travelers and prospective travelers should be aware that the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) is inapplicable outside of the United States, and services, accommodations, and facilities outside of the United States for disabled individuals may be limited.

 

You are required to report any special needs or other health concerns requiring special attention, including the use of any special equipment, to smarTTravel at the time of reservation. smarTTravel will make all reasonable efforts to accommodate the special needs of travelers, but reserves the right to assess and decide to accept bookings on a case-by-case basis.

 

In order to participate in a group tour, you must be able to step on and off of a motorcoach which may have steep steps, unassisted, multiple times per day. You must also be able to step on and off of other modes of transportation as specified in your tour (such as boats, trains, or specialty vehicles), navigate stairs, and step in and out of bathtub-shower combinations as walk-in showers are not guaranteed at hotels. You must also be able to stand or walk on hard, uneven surfaces during guided visits for up to 2 hours, or more, per day depending on your tour. In the event that the motorcoach cannot reach the hotel, you must be able to carry your own bags for distances of up to 300 yards.

 

If you have a condition that requires any special equipment or treatment, you must bring, and be responsible for all necessary items related to your condition. We cannot accommodate wheelchairs, walkers, and motorized scooters in international destinations, nor can we accommodate service animals.

 

Neither smarTTravel personnel, nor the personnel of any smarTTravel Provider, may physically lift or assist travelers into or out of transportation vehicles. smarTTravel cannot provide special individual assistance with walking, dining, or other routine activities or personal services to participants with special needs. Travelers needing assistance must be accompanied by an able companion who can be entirely responsible for providing the assistance needed at all times.

 

If you have any medical or other disabling condition, then you travel at your own risk. smarTTravel is not liable for any injury or damages you may suffer relating to any such condition, including as a result of any loss of medical equipment, lack of assistance with, or accommodation of, special needs and limited availability, or complete lack of availability of necessary medical assistance or treatment.

 

ADDITIONAL DEFINITIONS AND DISCLOSURES

 

EXTRAORDINARY CIRCUMSTANCES

 

“Extraordinary Circumstances” are any mechanical, technical, operational, climatic, sociopolitical or any other conditions beyond the control of smarTTravel, which necessitate any change in the Tour itinerary, including, but not limited to, any change in vendor, location, transportation or schedule. Extraordinary Circumstances may include, without limitation, acts of God, strikes, national or international political or social events or occurrences (including acts of war or terrorism), or the material worsening or escalation thereof, earthquakes, hurricanes, tornados, or other natural disasters, or infectious diseases, epidemics or pandemics and related quarantines. 

 

USE OF CONTENT

 

All content, images, logos, photos, and descriptions on smarTTravel’ website and other materials are the property of smarTTravel and any re-use, distribution or licensing of such content without smarTTravel’s advanced written consent is prohibited. smarTTravel shall have the right and permission to use any photograph and/or video that is taken while on a smarTTravel Tour by smarTTravel personnel or any of its Providers, or shared with smarTTravel by a Tour participant, including images in which any Tour participant may be included, to copyright the same, in the name of smarTTravel or otherwise, to use, re-use, publish, and republish the same in whole or in part, individually or in conjunction with other photographs and video, and in conjunction with any printed matter, in any and all media now or hereafter known, and for any purpose whatsoever.

 

CONSUMER DISCLOSURE AND RESPONSIBILITY

 

smarTTravel is not an agent or employer/ee for the companies it represents, including, but not limited to, any travel agent, tour sponsor, tour operator, tour guide, transportation provider, land operator, airline, cruise line, railroad, common carrier, hotel, resort, restaurant or any other provider of transportation, lodging or services on any package or Tour (each, a “Provider”). Such Providers are independent contractors subject to their own Terms and Conditions. You understand and acknowledge that the Tour and related travel to and around each destination involves inherent risks and dangers. By utilizing the services of smarTTravel and its Providers, you agree that smarTTravel shall not be responsible for any property or personal loss or damage (including, without limitation, illness, bodily injury or death), losses, claims, demands, rights, actions, costs (including attorneys’ fees and court costs) and liabilities, of whatever kind or nature (collectively, “Liabilities”).  

 

For the avoidance of doubt and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, smarTTravel shall not be responsible, directly or indirectly, for any Liabilities attributable to (a) any Extraordinary Circumstances, as defined above, and any related travel restrictions, (b) any equipment failure or defect, (c) any fault or default of any Provider or (d) any delays, cancellation or changes in flights, hotels or itineraries. In the event that it becomes necessary or advisable or for any reason whatsoever, including for the comfort or wellbeing of Tour participants, to alter any Tour itinerary or arrangements, such alterations may be made without penalty to smarTTravel or the applicable Providers, and any additional expenses shall be borne by the travelers. 

 

You will not be eligible for any refund or credit based on any voluntary or involuntary absence from any part of a Tour. smarTTravel and each Provider reserves the right, in its absolute discretion, for any reason, to refuse to allow any person to participate in any part of any Tour at any time and shall have no obligation to any such person for any Liability related to the exercise of such right. No transportation Provider shall be responsible for any act, omission, or event during the time participants are not aboard their aircraft and/or vessels. The passage contract in use by such Provider shall constitute the sole contract between the Provider and the traveler.

 

Air transportation Providers shall not be liable for any Liabilities that may result by reason of defect or through the act or omissions of any person or company performing or rendering services other than carriage by air, as described in the Tour brochure/website. The services described in the Tour brochure/website, other than carriage by the identified air transportation Providers, are furnished by independent contractors who are not servants of or joint venture or partners with the air transportation Providers concerned.

 

DISPUTE RESOLUTION

 

Any dispute arising from any Tour, itinerary, product or service provided by smarTTravel, as well as any dispute arising under these terms and conditions will be governed by the laws of the State of Connecticut, USA, or Trinidad & Tobago, without regard to conflicts of laws principles, and will be resolved by binding arbitration, rather than in court, except that you may assert claims in small claims court if your claims qualify. Arbitration will be conducted by a mutually agreed upon mediator under the applicable rules of the applicable Arbitration Association. Any dispute resolution proceedings will be conducted only on an individual basis and not in a class, consolidated or representative action. If, for any reason, a claim proceeds in court rather than in arbitration, then such claim shall be brought before the state or federal court located in Connecticut, USA or in Trinidad & Tobago as appropriate, and you waive any right to a jury trial.
If any of these Terms are deemed invalid, void or unenforceable for any reason, the unenforceable portions of the revised provision shall be severable and shall not affect the validity and enforceability of any remaining provision.