NOTE: BY SENDING US YOUR INITIAL DEPOSIT (OR ANY SUBSEQUENT PAYMENT) TOWARD YOUR TRIP PRICE, YOU ARE CONFIRMING YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERMS & CONDITIONS BELOW.
Pricing & Payment—We require a non-refundable Initial Deposit of $500 to begin planning your trip. To confirm an itinerary we collect a confirmation deposit of approximately 35% of the total trip price, or more if there are larger non-refundable supplier amounts due (since in some circumstances such as yacht or plane charter or villa/apartment rental a larger non-refundable deposit may be required; in this case, you will be notified at the time of making payment). Please note that until we have received your Confirmation Deposit, all arrangements may be subject to availability and/or price change. Full Payment of the final balance is due 90 days prior to the trip start date.
The Payment and Confirmation Schedule is as follows:
- Initial phone calls and Trip Sketch: no Payment required
- To proceed from Sketch to detailed, specific Itinerary for your trip: Trufflepig asks for a non-refundable $500 Initial Deposit against the eventual Trip Price.
- To confirm the Trip as described in your itinerary at the Trip Price quoted: Trufflepig asks for a Confirmation Deposit of 35% of Trip Price, less the $500 already paid.
- Final Payment: at 90 days, Trufflepig will invoice for the full outstanding amount of the Trip Price.
- The Confirmation Deposit and Final Payment are subject to the Cancellation Penalties described below in “Cancellation By You”.
Trufflepig trips are priced in US dollars or Canadian dollars. The pricing currency is determined on a trip-by-trip basis. Our approach is to price the trip in the currency that minimizes exposure to exchange rate fluctuations and maximizes client convenience. Pricing is calculated on current exchange rates. Trufflepig reserves the right to reprice if any significant currency fluctuations take place between the time we receive your Confirmation Deposit and the time we receive your final Full Payment. Therefore, if you prefer to pay in full at the time of confirmation, Trufflepig is able to fix the Trip Price at the rate offered. Payment can be made by personal cheque, bank transfer, bank draft or credit card (Visa, MasterCard or American Express); payment by transfer, draft or cheque incurs no additional costs; payment by credit card incurs an additional charge levied by the credit card processing company (external to Trufflepig). If Full Payment is not received at time of invoicing, Trufflepig reserves the right to release your reservations and assume that the trip has been cancelled by you. In this instance, our Cancellation Penalties described below would apply.
Cancellation by you—If you cancel your trip after you have paid the Confirmation Deposit, Cancellation Penalties will apply, and will depend on how late you notify us. For this reason we strongly recommend you take out Cancellation & Interruption Insurance. If you choose to cancel your trip after the Confirmation Deposit is paid, the following penalties will apply:
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- 91+ days prior to trip start: 35% of your trip price is non-refundable, i.e. the entirety of the Trip Confirmation deposit.
- From 90 to 61 days prior to trip start date: 50% of the Trip Price is non-refundable.
- From 60 to 45 days prior to trip start date: 75% ofthe Trip Price is non-refundable.
- Any time from 44 days prior to trip start date: 100% ofthe Trip Price is non-refundable.
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Cancellation by Trufflepig – Trufflepig retains the right to change or cancel your trip entirely in extreme circumstances, for example if your safety or the quality of the trip, in our sole opinion, is deemed to be compromised. If we cancel your trip, we will refund what you have paid us, but we cannot be held responsible for losses you may incur with third parties, such as airlines or hotels. For this reason we strongly recommend Cancellation & Interruption Insurance.
Travel Insurance—We strongly recommend that you purchase comprehensive Travel Insurance. The Cancellation Penalties described above are not negotiable. Trufflepig is an licensed retailer of Travel Insurance products offered by Manulife Insurance and other providers. We will be able to provide you with a custom quote upon request.
Unforeseeable Changes to Your Trip—It is sometimes necessary (or recommended) that changes be made to your itinerary after it has been confirmed with your Confirmation Deposit. This is most common when a third party (i.e. airline, hotel) makes changes that are beyond our control, such as a flight cancellation or schedule change. In other instances, changes may be necessary due to extreme weather or events in the region. We will always do our best to rework the itinerary in a way that minimizes changes to the flow and pricing of your trip. However, if the itinerary changes require us to re-price your trip, you will be responsible for the difference in cost.
When You Make Changes to Your Trip—Clients are allowed to make minor changes to the itinerary once the trip is confirmed, within reason as determined by Trufflepig and with sufficient advance notice. We will try our best to accommodate your requests. However, major changes will incur additional costs and/or non-refundable deposit payments in addition to the amount initially quoted. See the “Cancellation By You” section above for our Penalties should you need to cancel your trip entirely.
Our Responsibilities—Trufflepig recognizes the faith and trust you put in us to plan your travel. We will do our utmost to create and deliver the perfect trip for you. Our aim is to provide you with reliable and personalized service. We will respond to your messages promptly and will keep you informed as your itinerary evolves. If at any time you have questions or concerns we ask that you let us know immediately so we can address them.
Your Responsibilities—Trufflepig is committed to making your trip as rewarding and fun as possible. But we require your help to do so. For example, we rely on you to provide us with necessary personal information (age, passport & flight details, allergies, etc.) and travel preferences (type of bed, dietary needs, special interests, etc.) so we can craft the right trip for you. We also ask that you respond to our questions in a timely manner so as not to delay the planning process. It is your responsibility to ensure your travel documentation (eg. passports) are in good standing for the destinations and dates of your trip (see “Travel Documents and Passports” below). It is your responsibility to become informed about travel advisories and warnings for countries of travel. We will do our best to keep you informed of major developments but you must contact your relevant government agency to be aware of any travel advisories and warnings. Should you choose to ignore such travel advisories and warnings, you assume all risk of personal injury, death or property damage that may arise out of events advised or warned against.
Travel Documents and Passports—It is your responsibility to ensure that you and everyone in your party has a valid passport and meet all necessary entry requirements of the country or countries you will be visiting and for the dates of your trip. These requirements vary by country and nationality and can change from time to time. Trufflepig will do its best to inform you of these general requirements, but we require that you contact the appropriate embassy(ies)/consulate(s) in your country of residence. Trufflepig is not responsible for delays, changes or costs of any kind due to incomplete, expired or inaccurate travel documentation.
Health—By sending us your Initial Deposit you certify that you nor to your knowledge anyone travelling with you, if applicable, has any physical or other condition or disability that would make travelling unsafe for you or other Travellers. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have received all appropriate vaccinations. Please consult your doctor before travelling with us and take all necessary precautions.
Privacy—Your privacy is important to us. Trufflepig is required to collect personal information (such as passport details) in order to plan your trip. We appreciate the sensitive nature of this information and will never share it with third parties other than as required for booking air, hotel or other reservations as a part of your trip. By sending us your initial deposit, you are consenting to Trufflepig collecting and using your personal information as required to plan your trip and provide you with proper services.
Services Provided by Third Parties—At your request, we may recommend travel and other services of third parties outside the scope of your Trufflepig trip. Although we try to recommend only companies that provide the highest quality of service, we cannot guarantee the services provided by these third party service providers.
Risks—Travel involves risks. Our trips are often off the beaten path and in developing countries with transportation, communication and healthcare standards that are different from what you may expect at home. Our trips may be physically demanding and there is a risk of serious personal injury, including permanent disability and death from accident, illness or the actions of negligence of other persons. Medical facilities and services may not be readily accessible and may not be sophisticated. As mentioned above, we also work with independent suppliers and third party service providers (hotels, local guides, transportation companies, airlines, tour operators) and cannot be held responsible for their actions or their failure to act. Trufflepig has no right or ability to control their operations and therefore makes travel arrangements for the trips on the condition that Trufflepig will not be liable for any act or omission of any independent supplier or any unrelated third party. The services provided by independent suppliers are subject to the laws of the place where the services are provided, and any conditions imposed by those suppliers. The liability of the independent suppliers may be limited by their tariffs, conditions of carriage, tickets and vouchers, and international conventions and agreements.
Limitation of Liability, Release and Indemnity—To be eligible to take a Trufflepig trip, Travellers must accept the risks of travel, including those set out in “Risks” and otherwise set out in these Terms & Conditions, and assume full responsibility for any loss, injury, death or damage to them, their family or their dependants or property arising in connection with their participation, or the participation of their family, in the trip. Travellers must have their own insurance appropriate to their needs and the needs of their family or dependants in respect of such loss, injury, death or damage.
The cost of all Trufflepig trips is based on Travellers agreeing to these Terms & Conditions and in particular this Limitation of Liability, Release and Indemnity. As Trufflepig is acting solely as an agent of you with respect to all transportation, accommodations, meals and other arrangements, in consideration for participating in the trips, Travellers agree not to sue Trufflepig, its employees, directors, successors, agents and assigns in respect of, and forever release them from, all liability for economic loss and physical or mental injury, direct or indirect, arising in connection with the trip and the actions of any third party service providers—including, without limitation, permanent disability and death; any emotional distress; any loss of services, financial support, aid, consortium or companionship; and any damage to or loss of property—in each case even if caused in whole or in part by the conduct, including the negligence, of Trufflepig, except where such loss, injury or damage is caused by reckless or fraudulent conduct on the part of Trufflepig or their employees, guides, shareholders, officers or directors, in which case the Traveller retains the right to sue only Trufflepig in respect of that conduct. Travellers further agree that they will indemnify and hold Trufflepig harmless in respect of any claims arising in connection with the trip made by: i) third parties, which arise from the misconduct of the Travellers; ii) the Traveller’s family members, dependants or heirs; iii) third parties, which the Traveller, their estate, their family members, dependants or heirs have sued, if damages are recovered from such third parties, to the extent the third party obtains any indemnification from Trufflepig; except where the loss, injury, death or damage is caused by the reckless or fraudulent conduct on the part of Trufflepig, or their employees, shareholders, officers or directors. Trufflepig reserves the right to decline accepting any Traveller whose health or actions in Trufflepig’s sole judgement impede the operation of a trip or the welfare or enjoyment of fellow Travellers.
In addition and without limitation, Trufflepig is not responsible for any injury, loss, or death, or damage to property in connection with the provision of any goods or services whether resulting from, without limitation, to acts of God or force majeure, weather, quarantines, illness, disease, acts of war, civil unrest, insurrection/revolt, animals, labor unrest including strikes, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind, overbooking or downgrading of services, food poisoning, mechanical or other failure of means of transportation or travel delays, travel advisories or warnings.
General—The term “Trufflepig”, “us” and “we” refers to Trufflepig Travel Inc., a company incorporated under the laws of the Province of Ontario. Trufflepig is a registered member (50013825) of the Travel Industry Council of Ontario. Trufflepig is a registered trademark of Trufflepig Travel Inc.