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1. Contracting Party
1.1
The customer is a traveller/s, booking contracting in his/her/its personal capacity, with SA Places (as defined in Clause 1.2).
1.2
Southern Africa Places cc (hereafter referred to as SA Places) is a closed corporation duly incorporated in accordance with the Company Laws of South Africa, Registration Number 1997/051881/23. The business is a registered member of the Southern Africa Tourism Services Association (SATSA).
1.3
SA Places possesses all licenses and permits necessary to conduct business.
1.4
The customer chooses as its/his/her domicile et executandi for all purposes under this Agreement, whether in respect of court process, notices or other documents or communications of whatsoever nature, arising from any transaction or claim, which is governed by these terms and conditions, the physical address and facsimile number set out in the customer particulars schedule. Any notice given by any party to any other, which is transmitted by facsimile copy to the addressee at the addressee's facsimile address for the time shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved by the addressee, to have been received by the addressee on the date of successful transmission thereof.
2. Exclusion of Liability, Suppliers Terms & Risk
2.1
SA Places acts as an agent/broker in packaging the tours, accommodations and travel arrangements, utilising the products of various travel suppliers ("the Tour").
2.2
While SA Places makes every effort:
2.2.1
to engage quality suppliers among the airlines, hotels, tour operators and other service providers to provide the travel products making up the Tour featured in this web site; and
2.2.2
to ensure that the various services making up the Tour will be carried out efficiently and as specified, it does not have direct control over the provision of services by suppliers and shall not be liable for any loss, damage, injury, additional cost, accident, delay, irregularity that may be occasioned by any error or default, act or omission of any supplier in carrying out the arrangements of the Tour, or otherwise in connection therewith.
2.3
SA Places accepts no liability for:
2.3.1
changes, omissions or delays before or during the course of the Tour occasioned by technical difficulties, weather conditions, communication breakdowns or events beyond the control of SA Places;
2.3.2
any cancellation or curtailment of the Tour as a result of the customer's personal circumstances, e.g. death or illness.
All expenses occasioned by the Changed Circumstances Event/s, including but not limited to unscheduled extensions or curtailment of accommodation, changes to scheduled flights, additional airfares, telephone and meal costs, etc, will be for the customer's account.
2.4
If in the opinion of SA Places the fulfilment of the Tour is considered impossible, illegal or inadvisable because of weather conditions, unrest, strikes, war and/or any other adverse factors beyond SA Places' control, SA Places may at any time cancel the Tour or what remains of it or make alterations to the route, accommodation, price and/or any other aspect thereof as it deems fit, and any losses and expenses resulting from such cancellation or alteration shall be for the account of the customer.
2.5
All bookings are subject to the terms and conditions specified by the supplier of the services which make up the Tour. SA Places will provide on request, the identity of the supplier and such supplier's terms and conditions may include, but are not limited to, provisions regarding the cancellation fees or amendment fees applicable to confirmed reservations, refunds/no refunds for no-shows/ unused services; late booking fees; baggage allowances; confirmation of flights, etc. In the case of airlines, the general cancellation fee applicable to tickets issued, is 25% (twenty five per centum); the typical baggage allowance 20kg; extension of ticket validity is not permitted and the customer must reconfirm his/her flight within 72 hours prior to
departure.
2.6
Save in the event of willful misconduct or gross negligence by SA Places, neither SA Places or representatives shall be liable for any loss, injury, death or damages, arising from the Tour.
2.7
SA Places will not be responsible for any charges that appear on a traveler's credit card not levied/effected directly by SA Places (e.g. a credit card charge by a hotel), nor accept responsibility for having any of these charges reversed or corrected upon the traveler's return to his/her country of departure/final destination.
2.8
Where the customer books on behalf of travelers who are members of the customer's group, including but not limited to family members or minor children, the customer in question, in booking, indemnifies and holds SA Places harmless against all claims for damages, loss, injury or expense, which any such member of the group may claim against SA Places in the event that such claim is excluded under the terms and conditions set out herein. This indemnity shall be binding on the estate of the customer who so indemnifies SA Places.
3. Quoted Prices & Price Variations
3.1
Prices quoted:
3.1.1
in the most current release of SA Places price schedule;
3.1.2
in any of SA Places' scheduled escorted tour price schedules;
3.1.3
in any specific FIT or group quote issued by SA Places, are:
a) subject to adjustment in accordance with Clause 3.1(b), valid and guarantee by SA Places, only for the period of validity as stated on the price schedule/quote in question;
b) subject to increase, forthwith on notice by SA Places, in respect of any fuel surcharge and/or increase in entrance fees and/or government and/or regional levies and/or taxes.
3.2
SA Places reserves the right to adjust prices, on expiry of any period of validity of a price schedule/quote issued by SA Places, by way of a revised price schedule/quote, in accordance with, e.g. increases in airfares, hotel rates, transport costs and currency fluctuations.
3.3
Airfares are subject to the prices and conditions quoted by the airlines and cannot be guaranteed by SA Places.
3.4
All information contained in SA Places' itinerary and price schedules are to the best of SA Places' knowledge and belief true and correct, but SA Places accepts no liability for any errors/inaccuracies contained therein.
3.5
Terms and conditions, including any exclusion of bookings, or discounts applicable to minor children, are as set out in the specific price schedule, or quote.
3.6
Prices set out in the price schedule/quote, do not include any items or services not specified therein (and/or the brochure and/or SA Places confirmation of booking). Typical items not included may be: a tour guide, airport taxes, costs of obtaining visas and passports, telephone calls, laundry, entertainment arrangements, gratuities and portage, meals and beverages, airfares or any other item of a personal nature not specified.
3.7
In the event of any conflict between these terms and conditions and the brochure terms and/or SA Places booking confirmation, the provisions of the web site terms and/or SA Places booking confirmation shall prevail.
4. Reservations
4.1
SA Places does not accept any legal or contractual obligations in relation to conditional booking requests.
4.2
Once the customer makes an unconditional booking request, whether telephonically or by facsimile or email or on any web enabled booking system to SA Places, SA Places shall forward a written confirmation of booking by facsimile or email.
4.3
On transmission of SA Places confirmation of booking:
4.3.1
a binding contract between the customer shall result on the terms and conditions set out herein, read together with the relevant pricing schedule and/or quote and/or web site itinerary and/or SA Places confirmation of the booking; and
4.3.2
the customer shall be liable to pay the tour price as set out in SA Places confirmation of booking (alternatively, the price schedule/quote applicable to such reservation).
5. Payment and Penalty Fees
5.1
Payment shall be due and payable by the customer on or before the time periods set out in the specific SA Places booking confirmation.
5.2
Unless the booking confirmation specifies otherwise, the customer shall be liable to effect payment to SA Places of:
5.2.1
a deposit of 50% of the total price.
5.2.2
the balance owing of the total price on the booking no later than 4 (four) weeks prior to departure,
on presentation of SA Places' invoice in respect thereof.
5.3
In the event of any reservation within 30 (thirty) days prior to departure, the total price shall be immediately due and payable on confirmation and is non-refundable.
5.4
In relation to all time periods stipulated for payment in the specific SA Places booking confirmation, time shall be of the essence and SA Places shall be entitled to cancel any reservation where payment (including deposits) has not been made by due date.
5.5
Where a deposit has been paid and the reservation is subsequently cancelled by SA Places, for failure to pay the balance outstanding, the deposit paid will be forfeited to SA Places.
5.6
Documentation and vouchers will only be delivered to the customer on receipt of payment in full and completed booking forms and travel declarations (if applicable) by SA Places.
5.7
SA Places will accept payment for all land arrangements in cash only. Payment by TT or EFT will constitute a cash payment. Acceptance of cheque or Credit Card payments are in the SA Places sole discretion and may be declined without explanation.
5.8
When payment is made in a different currency to the currency quoted in the quote, then acceptance of payment in a foreign currency must first be approved by SA Places, and will be subject to the rate of exchange, applied by SA Places' bankers at the time of receipt of payment. The customer shall be liable to effect payment to SA Places of any shortfall (and SA Places shall be responsible to reimburse the customer for any overpayment), resulting from exchange rate fluctuations.
5.9
SA Places reserves the right to charge a booking fee and/or a handling fee which will be included in the total price.
6. Cancellation & Amended Booking Fees
6.1
In the event of the customers cancelling their reservation for any reason, such cancellation must be made in writing (or if made telephonically, confirmed forthwith in writing), in which event the customer shall be liable for:
6.1.1
SA Places cancellation charges are as follows:
More than 60 days before departure - 25% of tour price.
Between 31 and 59 days before departure - 50% of tour
price.
Thirty (30) days or less before departure - 100% of tour
price.
6.1.2
Any further special cancellation charges that, e.g. may apply for peak periods, as is set out in SA Places quotation or booking confirmation (which shall take precedence and substitute the cancellation charges due in terms of Clause 6.1.1);
6.1.3
All cancellation charges of the supplier/s of the products and services, to which the booking relates, save that the liability of the customer shall be in respect of the greater of either the cancellation charges in respect of this Clause 6.1.3, or the cancellation charges due in terms of Clause 6.1.1 or 6.1.2 (as the case may be).
6.2
Amendments and all cancellations en route must be made with SA Places directly. The customer shall be liable for all costs (including repatriation and the administrative fees of SA Places incurred as a result of any en route cancellations, by the customer including but not limited to cancellation because of ill health or injury.
6.3
SA Places have the right to charge for amendments to reservations at a change fee of:
6.3.1
Amendments received 30 (thirty) days or more prior to departure: R 100 (excl. VAT) for each alteration made to the booking after the initial reservation plus SA Places and/or suppliers published administration charges (from time to time), will be levied on all documentation or vouchers submitted for re-issue or refund.
6.3.2
Amendments received within 30 (thirty) days prior to departure: The applicable cancellation charge, as set out in Clause 6.1.1 or 6.1.2 (as the case may be), will be levied as the change fee.
6.4
No refunds will be made for no-shows, or any unused services irrespective of whether they form part of the basic inclusive tour price, or whether they are in respect of pre-booked or optional arrangements.
7. Changes to Hotels, Coaches, Vehicles & Other Services
7.1
The products and services included on all booking itineraries are subject to availability. SA Places reserves the right to substitute hotels or coach operators or other services listed with others of the same or next available higher or lower category, at no additional cost to the traveller, even after commencement of the tour.
7.2
SA Places reserves the right to use smaller or larger vehicles on scheduled escorted tours should final traveller numbers justify such change.
8. Accommodation
Unless specifically stated otherwise in the brochure itinerary, pricing schedule or quote, all accommodation is based on 2 (two) people sharing a twin-bedded room. Restrictions on the number of adults and/or children per room, are as stated in the specific quotation or supplier's terms and conditions, which restrictions are available on request. Specific room/bed requests are subject to availability and additional costs at the time of enquiry.
9. Special Requests
Special requests must be made at the time of booking. SA Places will endeavour to comply with the special requests, which will be for the cost of the traveller, but cannot guarantee that such requests will be met.
10. Travel Documents, Passports, Visas, Vaccinations, Inoculations and Re-entry Permits and International Driver's Licenses
10.1
All travellers will be personally responsible for ensuring that they are in the possession of and have complied with:
10.1.1
the correct travel documentation, including passports valid for the minimum period after the tour, required by law in each country the traveller will visit;
10.1.2
the correct visas/re-entry permits, valid for the countries visited - the visa costs incurred are for the passenger's own account; and
10.1.3
health, foreign exchange and other legal requirements
10.2
SA Places shall not be responsible for any consequences whatsoever should the traveller fail to ensure that he/she has complied with the necessary health, passport, visa, re-entry permits, or other legal requirements. Due to the constantly changing requirements of each country, SA Places shall not be responsible or liable for any information, which it or its representative may furnish to the traveller in relation to the above. The onus shall remain on the passenger at all times to ensure that he/she has complied with such requirements.
10.3
If a traveller intends to drive a rental car, he/she should obtain an international driving permit from his/her local transport authority. The traveller must also be in possession of his/her local driving license and produce same at the car rental check-in counter.
11. Insurance
11.1
All travellers are advised to and are solely responsible to take out comprehensive travel insurance and to familiarise themselves with any exceptions and conditions as may be imposed by the insurer or underwriters issuing the policy of insurance which they select.
SA Places shall not be responsible or liable:
11.2
for any information which it or its representatives furnish in relation to travel insurance; or
11.3
for filing/prosecuting a claim on the traveller's behalf against any insurer/underwriter who has issued a policy to the traveller;
11.4
for any claim disputed/rejected by the insurers.
12. Jurisdiction
12.1
All matters arising from or in connection with these terms and conditions and any contract concluded by the customer with the Business/es, their validity, existence and termination shall be determined in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa.
12.2
Should any dispute of any nature whatever arise from or in connection with these terms and conditions and any contract concluded by the customer with SA Places, then at the election of any party, such dispute shall be finally resolved in accordance with the rules of the Arbitration Foundation of Southern Africa ("AFSA") by an arbitrator or arbitrators appointed by AFSA. The customer by its/his/her signature hereto expressly consent to any arbitration in terms of the aforesaid rules being conducted as a matter of urgency and irrevocably authorises SA Places to apply, on behalf of all parties to such dispute, in writing, to the secretariat of AFSA in terms of Article 23(1) of the aforesaid rules for any such arbitration to be conducted on an urgent basis.
12.3
Either party may appeal the decision of the arbitrator or arbitrators in terms of the AFSA rules for commercial arbitration.
12.4
Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to prevent or prohibit either party from applying to the appropriate court for urgent relief or for judgment in relation to a liquidated claim.
12.5
Any arbitration in terms of this Paragraph 13 shall be conducted in camera and the parties shall treat as confidential and not disclose to any third party details of the dispute submitted to arbitration, the conduct of the arbitration proceedings or the outcome of the arbitration, without the written consent of the other party.
12.6The provisions of this Paragraph 12 will continue to be binding on the parties notwithstanding any termination or cancellation of any contract concluded by the customer with the Business/es.
13. General Terms
13.1
SA Places shall not be bound by any representation, warranty, promise or the like not recorded herein or agreed to by it in writing. No representation, term, warranty or condition express or implied shall be considered to be or have been made or agreed or implied by reference to any other writing, advertisement or conversation.
13.2
No indulgence, which SA Places may grant to any party, shall constitute a waiver of any of the rights of SA Places who shall not thereby be precluded from exercising any rights against the customer and/or the
13.3
traveller which may have arisen in the past or which might arise in the future.
13.4
Each term or condition of these terms and conditions shall be separate and separately enforceable from the other terms and conditions herein, and shall in no way be limited or restricted by reference to or inference from any other terms or conditions. If any term or condition herein, shall be found to be illegal or unenforceable then the remaining terms and conditions hereof shall be and remain binding.
13.5
Should SA Places appoint a tour guide in respect of any tour, then the traveler shall be obliged to comply with all reasonable instructions of such tour guide. SA Places reserves the right to terminate the tour of any traveller who wrongfully or unlawfully fails to adhere to the reasonable instructions of an appointed tour guide, and/or causes any wrongful disruption, disturbance or nuisance to any other traveller, tour group or service provider.
13.6
All travellers shall comply with general Codes of Conduct as issued by SA Places from time to time, including any prohibition on smoking imposed on any coaches and at any hotels/venues on any tour.
13.7
The customer shall be solely responsible for ensuring that he/she is physically and mentally capable of undertaking the journey and participating in the activities that constitute the tour itinerary.