Terms and Conditions
HOW TO BOOK: Contact Classic Escapes for a reservation form for the tour you want to sign up for. Complete the reservation form and send it to Classic Escapes, 31-08 30th Avenue, Astoria, NY 11102, together with the deposit specified on the form, as well as your insurance payment if you wish to take advantage of the pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver. On receipt of your signed reservation form and deposit, we will, subject to availability, reserve your place on your journey. When we send off your confirmation invoice, your booking is confirmed and accepted by us. Final payment is due not later than 75 days prior to departure (in some cases 95 days and is specified on the form.) Final documents will be sent to you approximately two weeks prior to departure.
AIR TRANSPORTATION: Roundtrip economy-class jet transportation from the USA. Rates based on special promotional fares and cancellation fees apply once tickets are issued. Departures from various cities in the USA are possible. Kindly inquire at the time of reservation.
DEPARTURE TAXES: Please note the amount of departure tax reflected on the Reservation Form is subject to change, at the discretion of governments and airlines, and with no advance notice. Should this occur, you will be invoiced prior to departure for any additional taxes imposed.
AIRLINE SEATING: We request seats together for the group. All planes are non-smoking. We can request a seating preference on your behalf, however this is only a request and not guaranteed. Requests should be made in writing no later than 60 days prior to departure. Bulkhead and/or emergency row seats can only be requested at airport check-in on the day of departure. Boarding passes will only be issued at the airport on the day of departure. You may inquire during check-in to have a seating change made, however this change is based on availability and is at the sole discretion of airport staff.
FREQUENT FLYER MILEAGE: Please check the airline website on your program for their partners. You may obtain frequent flyer mileage on any of their carriers. Present your frequent flyer card for all flight check-ins and keep the boarding passes until you receive a statement with the mileage credit.
South African Airways Partners
BAGGAGE: International flights from the U.S. allow two pieces of checked luggage, each not exceeding 70 lbs. However we recommend you travel as light as you can manage. The baggage limit on domestic flights in many countries is one piece at 33 lbs. per person (plus a carry-on bag.) Also, the size and the structure of the bag is limited. Soft duffel bags are ideal. Large suitcases are virtually impossible to stow on smaller aircraft and vehicles and therefore should not be used. WE HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU OBTAIN THE OPTIONAL INSURANCE POLICY.
ACCOMMODATIONS: You will marvel at the wonderful accommodations provided throughout your journey. All rooms have private facilities, and all rates are based on double occupancy. Most rooms are twin-bedded, but kingsize beds are occasionally available and should be requested in advance. Accommodations listed in your itinerary are correct at time of writing, but on rare occasions can change for similar lodging.
SINGLE SUPPLEMENT: Single accommodations are not guaranteed, but will be provided at additional cost if available (see reservation form for cost on your program.) The single room supplement pays for privacy, not better accommodations. On occasion, in smaller lodges and camps, you may be required to share with other members of your tour group if single rooms are not available upon check-in. If this is the situation, appropriate per diem refunds are made to passengers in the event they paid for a single room but had to share during any portion of their trip. For passengers who are traveling alone and wish to share a room with another tour member, we will do our best to provide a roommate. However, if this is not possible, you will be required to pay the single room supplement prior to your departure from the USA.
MEALS: Meals specific to your tour are listed in your itinerary. Generally, breakfast is included, all meals while on safari, lunches on full day tours and some dinners.
WILDLIFE VIEWING: Your tour will be conducted in minibuses, in landrovers or in air-conditioned motorcoaches.
TRANSFERS: Roundtrip transfer of passengers between airports and hotels and piers are included in the tour.
TIPS AND TAXES: Gratuities for baggage handling, service charges and taxes imposed by hotels, lodges and tented camps, and entrance fees to all game reserves as outlined in the itinerary are included. U.S. and foreign airport taxes are not included and will be billed prior to your departure. Tips to driver/guides and naturalists are not included and are at the discretion of the tour members. A suggested tipping chart will be forwarded with the final documents.
INOCULATIONS: We would suggest you contact your personal physician or local health department for their recommendations as to inoculations. Information specific to your itinerary will be forwarded upon receipt of your reservation.
RATES: All rates quoted are based on tariffs and value of foreign currencies in relation to the U.S. dollar in effect as of the date listed in your itinerary, and are subject to change. Rates are based on minimums and the right is reserved to levy a surcharge if minimum is not met, but that is rarely done. We will do our utmost to keep to the prices as published. Should increases be forced on us by airlines, exchange rates, etc., we reserve the right to surcharge, up to a maximum of 10% of the tour fare.
ESCORT: Some of the groups will be accompanied by an organization escort based on minimums specified on itinerary.
TRIP INFORMATION: Upon receipt of your application, instructions will be sent to you concerning all aspects of your trip, such as itinerary, photographic equipment, documents, clothing, insurance, etc.
INVOICING: Final invoicing of your trip will be done approximately four months prior to departure. Final payment is due 75 days prior to departure, with some departures requiring final payment 95 days prior to departure.
FINAL DOCUMENTS: Final documents and tickets will be sent to you approximately two weeks prior to departure. We regret to advise that no documents can be released if final payments are not received.
PAYMENT SCHEDULE: A deposit as specified on reservation form must be submitted with each application, as well as your insurance payment if you wish to take advantage of the pre-existing medical condition exclusion waiver. Deposits may be paid by check or charged to American Express, Mastercard, Visa or Discover. Final payment is payable by check or money order ONLY and is due no later than 75 days prior to departure (in some cases 95 days.)
CANCELLATIONS: Cancellations are only effective on receipt of written notification and are specific to each tour. Generally (in some cases there are non-refundable deposits paid to overseas suppliers also):
- Up to 90 days prior to departure, less $200.00 handling fee.
- 89-60 days prior to departure, less initial deposit.
- 59-45 days prior to departure, less 50% of tour cost.
- Less than 45 days prior to departure, up to 100% - refund is dependent on amount recoverable from overseas suppliers.
These cancellation fees are also in addition to any imposed by airlines. WE STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU OBTAIN THE OPTIONAL INSURANCE POLICY. INFORMATION WILL BE SENT TO YOU UPON RECEIPT OF RESERVATION FORM.
DEVIATIONS: Should additional reservations be required, including extensions overseas, we will be happy to make all the arrangements. However, there will be an extra charge of $150 per person for such deviations, over and above the cost of the services required.
CHANGE FEES: Once you reserve your tour, changes are possible subject to availability of air or land space at the time of request. Should there be any change fees imposed by airlines or ground operators, or additional costs incurred due to availability of any space, this cost will be invoiced to you.
LATE BOOKING FEE: Classic Escapes reserves the right to impose a late booking fee to offset additional administrative costs for any reservations received 60 days (or closer) to the program’s departure date. This fee is $250 per person, over and above any costs incurred by airlines and suppliers.
NOT INCLUDED: Cost of passport and visa fees, and service charges for obtaining visa fees; excess baggage charges levied by airlines; meals other than specified; beverages and meals not specified in itinerary; gratuities to driver/guides and other conveyance attendants; laundry and other items of a personal nature; gratuities not imposed by hotels and/or restaurants for included services; optional personal, baggage and tour cancellation insurance policy; U.S. and foreign airport taxes; cost for anything not specifically included in listing of your itinerary.
WILD ANIMALS: Please be aware that most of our journeys may take you into close contact with wild animals. Attacks by wild animals are rare, but no safari into the wilderness can guarantee that this will not occur. Neither the company, nor their employees, nor agents can be held responsible for any injury or incident on the journey.
PASSPORT & VISAS: The onus is upon the guest to ensure that passports and visas are valid for the countries visited. The company, their staff and their agents cannot be held liable for any visas, etc. not held by the guests, nor the cost of visas. Visa information will be forwarded upon receipt of reservation.
RESPONSIBILITY: Neither Classic Escapes (the Company) nor any person or agent acting for, through or on behalf of the Company shall be liable for any loss or damage whatsoever arising from any cause whatsoever and without restricting the generality of the aforegoing shall particularly not be responsible for loss or damage arising from any errors or omissions contained in its brochure or other literature, loss or damage caused by delays, sickness, theft, injury or death. In addition the Company shall have the right at any time at its discretion to cancel any safari or the remainder thereof or make any alteration in route, accommodation, price or other details and, in the event of any safari being rendered impossible, illegal or inadvisable by weather, strike, war, government or interference or any other cause whatsoever, the extra expenses incurred as a result thereof shall be the responsibility of the passenger. The Company may at its discretion and without liability or cost to itself at any time cancel or terminate the guest’s booking and in particular without limiting the generality of the aforegoing it shall be entitled to do so in the event of the illness or the illegal or incompatible behavior of the guest, who shall in such circumstances not be entitled to any refund. The person making any booking will, by the making of such booking, warrant that he or she has authority to enter into a contract on behalf of the other person included in such a booking and in the event of the failure of any or all of the other persons so included to make payment, the person making the booking shall by his/her signature thereof assume personal liability for the total price of all bookings made by him/her.
PHOTOGRAPHY: The Company reserves the right without further notice to make use of any photograph or film taken on the journey by our photographers without payment or permission. We guarantee that no photographs of a compromising nature will be used.
CHANGES TO SCHEDULES: Although every effort is made to adhere to schedules it should be borne in mind that the Company reserves the right and in fact is obliged to occasionally change routes and camps on journeys as dictated by changing conditions. Such conditions may be brought about by seasonal rainfall on bush tracks, airfields and in wildlife areas, by wildlife migrations from one region to another, or airline or other booking problems, etc.
REFUNDS: While the company uses its best endeavors to ensure that all anticipated accommodation is available as planned, there shall be no claim of any nature whatsoever against the Company for a refund either in the whole or part, if any accommodation or excursion is unavailable and a reasonable alternative is found. If the guest is unable to use any service provided in the itinerary, then there are no refunds due.
AIRLINE CLAUSE: The airlines concerned are not to be held liable for any act, omission or event during the time the passengers are not on board their planes or conveyance. The passengers’ tickets in use by the airline or by other carriers concerned when issued shall constitute the sole contract between the airlines and the purchaser of these tickets and/or passengers.
DELAYS: We cannot be held liable for any delays or additional costs incurred as a result of airlines not running to schedule.
If one of our guides is unable to take a journey due to illness, etc. we reserve the right to substitute with another guide.
This agreement is made subject to and shall be governed by and construed according to the laws of the country in which the journey takes place. Classic Escapes act merely as an agent for the operating companies.
To the best of our knowledge the itinerary is correct at the time of printing. We cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies or changes that may occur after printing.
CONSENT: The payment of the deposit OR any other partial payment for a reservation on a journey constitutes consent by all guests covered by that payment to all provisions of the conditions and general information contained in the individual itinerary whether the guest has signed the booking form or not. The terms, under which you agree to take this journey, cannot be changed or amended except in writing signed by an authorized director of the Company.
INSURANCE: It is a condition of booking, that the sole responsibility lies with the guest to ensure that they carry the correct comprehensive travel and medical insurance to cover themselves, as well as any dependants/traveling companions for the duration of their trip. This insurance should include cover in respect of, but not limited to, the following eventualities: cancellation or curtailment of the tour, emergency evacuation expenses, medical expenses, repatriation expenses, damage/theft/loss of personal baggage, money and goods. Classic Escapes, including their representatives, employees and agents will take no responsibility for any costs, losses incurred or suffered by the guest, or guest’s dependants or traveling companions, with regards to, but not limited to, any of the above mentioned eventualities. Guests will be charged directly by the relevant service providers for any emergency services they may require, and may find themselves in a position unable to access such services should they not be carrying the relevant insurance cover. Classic Escapes offers a comprehensive travel insurance plan available through AIG Travel Guard. See plan cost schedule below, or call us for the exact amount and information on the policy. If insurance is purchased within SEVEN DAYS of the initial trip payment, the Pre-Existing Condition Exclusion will be waived. This is applicable to all coverages contained in the policy. You must be medically able to travel when you pay your premium. In the event that a claim is filed, the injury or illness must be substantiated to the Claims Department.
INSURANCE PLAN COST: The cost of your insurance is based on the TOTAL cost of your trip including: the main itinerary, airfare, airline taxes, single supplements, optional excursions and optional extensions. The plan cost for your tour will be calculated as follows:
Total Tour Cost |
Plan Cost Per Person |
$0 - $500 |
$45 |
$501- $1,000 |
$74 |
$1,001 - $1,500 |
$93 |
$1,501 - $2,000 |
$129 |
$2,001 - $2,500 |
$164 |
$2,501 - $3,000 |
$200 |
$3,001 - $3,500 |
$235 |
$3,501 - $4,000 |
$270 |
$4,001 - $4,500 |
$305 |
$4,501 - $5,000 |
$340 |
$5,001 - $5,500 |
$407 |
$5,501 - $6,000 |
$445 |
$6,001 - $6,500 |
$483 |
$6,501 - $7,000 |
$517 |
$7,001 - $8,000 |
$579 |
$8,001 - $9,000 |
$655 |
$9,001 - $10,000 |
$731 |
$10,001 - $11,000 |
$805 |
$11,001 - $12,000 |
$884 |
$12,001 - $13,000 |
$960 |
$13,001 - $14,000 |
$1,037 |
$14,001 - $15,000 |
$1,114 |
Over $15,000 |
Contact Classic Escapes for calculation of plan cost – determined on cost of tour and age of traveler |
Please contact Classic Escapes if you have any questions or need assistance calculating your premium.
You will find a complete explanation of coverage on the attached PDF.
