Terms and Conditions
Choice Travel Agency, Inc. is a, a corporation organized under the laws of the state of Missouri (hereinafter “Choice Travel”, “we”, “us”, “our”), is a travel agency specializing in arranging unique, custom-tailored travel itineraries that will give you the once-of-a-kind experience of a lifetime. We are excited to serve our clients (hereinafter “traveler”, “you”, “participant") and make your next trip as memorable and stress free as possible!
1. General
We draw your attention to the terms and conditions of travel herein (“Terms and Conditions” or “Terms”), and such Terms and Conditions, as well as all brochures, documents, correspondence, and the terms and conditions of our Suppliers (as herein defined), form the basis of the contract with you. Before making a booking with us you must ensure that you have read and understood these Terms and Conditions (and ask any questions you may have). Please be aware that these Terms and Conditions contain waivers of liability as well as waiver of class action and venue selection and notice clauses. By asking us to confirm your booking or by your utilization of our website or travel services in any way constitutes your acknowledgment, understanding and agreement to the Terms and Conditions contained herein.
Choice Travel reserves the right, in our sole and absolute discretion, to change or revise these Terms and Conditions at any time, without notice to you. The then-effective Terms at the time of your booking will apply to your booking, and thus you must be familiar with the Terms in effect at the time you book. Your continued use of our services or website, including continuing to use or maintain any bookings after any changes to the terms and conditions, constitutes your consent to the changes.
If you booked through a third-party travel agent and not through Choice Travel, all communications before departure, including questions about changes, cancellation, payments, and refunds, must be exclusively through your travel agent. Some travel agents charge service fees and/or additional cancellation fees, and standard policies, payments, and penalties outlined below may be more restrictive during holidays and special events. No refunds will be made for special events, shows, or attraction passes. Choice Travel shall not be responsible for any issues, claims, losses, etc. that may arise in connection with your use of a third-party travel agent unaffiliated with Choice Travel.
Choice Travel can be contacted by visiting our website at https://choicetravelagency.com, calling (314) 943-6555, or contacting us at our Corporate Headquarters at 217 South Kirkwood Road, Kirkwood, MO 63122.
2. Bookings & Payments
Transportation Security Administration (TSA) regulations require you to provide your full name as it appears on your travel documents, date of birth, and gender at the time of booking for the purpose of watch-list screening. Failure to provide this information will result in you not being allowed to travel. For details, visit https://www.tsa.gov. To reserve your vacation, provide the required booking information and pay the applicable deposit per person (which includes, if applicable, full payment of the travel protection insurance (as hereinafter defined). We reserve the right to treat the booking as canceled by you if the balance is not paid when due. Full payment of your entire vacation package by credit/debit card is required at the time of booking for all vacations booked directly on our website, http://www.choicetravelagency.com. If you decline travel protection insurance and cancel your booking, you agree and acknowledge that any refund due for air-inclusive vacations (after applicable fees and penalties) will solely be in the form of a future travel credit as detailed below.
Please be advised that Choice Travel will be implementing an administration fee per ticket for booking air travel (“Administration Fee”). The Administration Fee is non-refundable regardless of the type of fare booked on the reservation, and is subject to increase depending on the type of package selected. Please inquire with Choice Travel for more details.
Choice Travel accepts payment by a variety of credit and debit cards. When booking with an airline-sponsored credit card, benefits such as free baggage fees that may apply when booking with the airline directly WILL NOT apply when using such airline-sponsored card with Choice Travel.
2.1 Late Bookings
Prospective customers are advised to reserve early to avoid disappointment and additional late booking fees.
3. Travel Protection
It is the traveler’s responsibility to protect their purchases. For this reason, travel protection coverage including additional cancel for any reason coverage is strongly recommended. Such plans should cover trip cancellation or interruption, medical expense, emergency evacuation/repatriation, and baggage insurance. Travel protection plans can help protect you in the event of loss of non-refundable trip deposits and payments that result from cancellation or trip interruption (due to a covered reason such as injury or illness before or during the trip). It also helps with reimbursement for medical emergency costs (including very costly medical evacuation costs), missed connections and baggage loss. Travel protection plans including cancel for any reason coverage should be purchased in close conjunction with your travel purchase. Choice Travel is not qualified to answer technical questions about the benefits, exclusions, and conditions of travel insurance plans. Choice Travel cannot evaluate the adequacy of the prospective insured's existing insurance coverage. If you have any questions about your travel protection, call your insurer or insurance agent or broker.
Certain countries have a requirement for foreign visitors to have valid medical insurance on entry. Choice Travel cannot be held responsible for denied entry if a traveler is unable to provide such details to authorities of insurance or denial of entry for any reason. Declining to purchase an adequate travel protection plan could result in the loss of your travel cost and/or require more money to correct the situation. You also acknowledge that without this coverage, there may be no way to recoup any losses, costs or expenses incurred. If you choose to travel without adequate coverage, we will not be liable for any of your losses howsoever arising, for which trip protection plan coverage would otherwise have been available.
4. Changes, Cancellations & Refunds
You must immediately notify your travel agent to cancel or make changes to your vacation package. If you booked on Choice Travel's website, contact Choice Travel directly. If your plans change, your right to a refund is limited and subject to penalties and fees as noted herein.
Final payment is due prior to the trip departure or usage according to the supplier's terms and conditions, whether for airline, hotel, cruise line, or other travel vendors. Reservations are subject to cancellation fees, and deposits may be forfeited if full payment is not received by the due date. Third-party supplier's cancellation fees will apply as detailed on your itinerary.
All refunds must be requested within sixty (60) days of the date of cancellation, and are at all times subject to the terms and conditions of the specific supplier. If you did NOT purchase travel protection coverage, any refund due for air-inclusive vacations (after applicable penalties) would be in the form of a future travel credit (land-only and contracted group bookings will be refunded in the original form of payment). If you purchased travel protection coverage and are eligible for a partial or full refund in the original form of payment, the full refund due will automatically become a future travel credit if not requested at sixty (60) days from the date of cancellation. Future travel credits are valid for twelve (12) months from the date of issue and must be used for travel commencing prior to the expiration date, non-transferable and non-refundable, have no cash value are issued in the name of the passengers on the original reservation. Standard change and cancellation policies apply to bookings made with future travel credits. Future travel credits will be held on the original booking.
If between planning time and/or during actual travel, circumstances require changes, Choice Travel and its Suppliers reserve the right to cancel or vary any itinerary and substitute components of any trip, including but not limited to hotels and accommodations of comparable quality, if air schedule or surface transportation charges, security matters, and/or other events make such alterations necessary. Suppliers may substitute transportation equipment depending on any variety of factors, including the volume of passengers on a trip. During local or national holidays or special events, peak seasons, on certain days of the week, and during religious occasions, certain facilities such as museums, churches, restaurants, sightseeing tours, hotels, and shopping may be limited or not available. Alternatives will be offered whenever possible. Choice Travel cannot be held responsible for any closures, necessary itinerary changes, or curtails for any reason. These changes will not be considered material changes and will not be considered cause for cancellation by the traveler. Normal cancellation penalties still apply to the trip that has been changed.
All changes and cancellations are subject to availability, limitations, restrictions, and fees imposed by Choice Travel and its airline, hotel, and feature/excursion suppliers. Certain suppliers only allow a refund if canceled upon notice to them. Contact the applicable supplier for the applicable notice provision and to arrange a refund. Many airfares and hotel reservations are non-refundable and non-transferable, and you may be charged 100% cancellation/change penalties. Changes to, or cancellation of, a basic economy flight will result in forfeiture of tickets. Passengers who do not travel are subject to a 100% cancellation penalty.
If you cancel your vacation or change your departure date, flight, duration, class of service, name, departure city, or destination, the cancellation charges shown below become due and payable by you to Choice Travel immediately. Significant additional penalties (including, without limitation, non-refundable airline tickets and fees, non-refundable or non-transferable hotel promotions) may apply, depending on the terms and conditions of the supplier. If you are entitled to a refund, please note that the supplier is solely responsible for this refund, not Choice Travel. Suppliers may choose to provide a travel voucher or credit in lieu of refund. Choice Travel is not responsible under any circumstances for a supplier’s failure to pay a refund, or for supplier bankruptcy or insolvency. If the number of individuals occupying a room changes due to a cancellation or booking change, the remaining traveler(s) will be responsible for any additional costs incurred due to a change in the per-person occupancy rate. If all travelers change, it is considered a new booking, and cancellation fees will apply. Non-refundable hotels incur penalties upon deposit. Once travel has begun, there will be no refunds for any unused or partially used travel component for any reason. Standard change and cancellation policies apply to bookings made with future travel credits. Contracted Group Bookings follow alternative change and cancellation policies according to the group's Contract.
Cancellation charges are expressed at a percentage of quoted price as follows:
More than 90 days prior to departure = 10% cancellation charge;
90-30 days prior to departure = 50% cancellation charge; and
30 days or less prior to departure = 100% cancellation charge.
5. Credit Card Transactions & Chargebacks
While we do accept major credit cards including Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover, travelers must provide to us an authorization for every transaction for your trip. Your authorization is an agreement for us and/or the supplier to charge your card and an acknowledgement and agreement to these terms and conditions, including without limitation the cancellation terms. As such you agree not to make any improper chargebacks. In certain cases, you can dispute charges with credit card companies (“chargebacks”). Before initiating a chargeback, we ask you first to call us to discuss any questions or concerns about our charges. We will work with you in attempting to resolve your concerns. By using our service to make a reservation, you accept and agree to our cancellation policy. Choice Travel retains the right to dispute any chargeback that is improper and recover any costs, including attorney’s fees related to improper chargebacks. Additionally, in the event of an improper chargeback, we retain the right to cancel any travel reservation related to that improper chargeback. The following chargeback scenarios are improper, and we retain the right to investigate and rebut any such chargeback claims:
6. Travel Documents
Your travel documents will be emailed to you once full payment is received. Please check them carefully to ensure that all the information is correct and passenger names exactly match your Proof of Citizenship. Names provided to secure reservations must match travelers’ respective passports. Middle names are not required to appear on airline tickets. Date of birth and complete passport details are required. Any minor name corrections advised after airline tickets have been issued will incur fees. Not all name corrections will be permitted by airlines and may require the purchase of a new ticket. Travelers voluntarily assume full and sole responsibility for any and all risks and/or costs involved with failure to report any errors and/or omissions to documentation. If you discover an error, you must contact your travel agent immediately or contact Choice Travel.
7. Required Entry/ Re-entry Documentation
Proper travel documentation is YOUR responsibility. The following information is based on current requirements for U.S. citizens at the time of publication. This information may change- see your travel agent or contact your destination consulate for the most current requirements on your travel date.
Passengers returning to the U.S. by air from any international destination must have a valid passport and may be denied boarding by the airline if the passport is damaged, mutilated, or has excessive wear. A "passport card" is not acceptable for air travel. If your name on your passport (or for non-U.S. citizens, "valid travel documents") does not match your name on your travel documentation, you will not be allowed to travel. A passport valid for up to six (6) months past the date of completed travel is required when traveling internationally. Married or divorced women traveling under names other than what is printed on their travel documents must supply a marriage license and/or divorce decree. If you are not a U.S. citizen, contact your destination's consulate or embassy to determine the required entry documents.
Passports are NOT required for travel within the continental U.S., Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. However, travel to these U.S. destinations/ U.S. territories requires a valid state/government-issued picture I.D. or a valid state-issued driver's license that is compliant with the Real ID ACT. Passed by Congress in 2005, the REAL ID Act established minimum ID security standards and prohibited federal agencies, like TSA, from accepting licenses and identification cards for official purposes from states that do not meet these standards. Passengers traveling domestically with a driver's license issued by a state that is not compliant with the REAL ID ACT (and has not been granted an extension) will need to show an alternative form of acceptable identification for domestic air travel to board their flight. To check whether your state is compliant or has an extension, visit https://www.dhs.gov/real-id. If your state-issued ID or driver's license is not compliant, visit https://www.tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification for alternate forms of acceptable ID. Travelers voluntarily assume full and sole responsibility for any and all risks and/or costs involved with failure to report any errors and/or omissions to travel documentation
8. Traveling Minors
We cannot accept unaccompanied minors under eighteen (18) for any travel. For certain countries, a notarized consent from both parents or legal guardian(s) is required for children younger than eighteen (18) years old traveling with one parent, or in someone else's custody; or a notarized birth certificate showing only one parent, a parent's death certificate, or a court order of child custody MAY also be permissible. In general, minors traveling with one parent, and/or without both parents, may be stopped and not admitted, unless authenticated and verified consent forms are provided to the authorities. Be sure to check with your travel agent, inquire with your destination's consulate, or visit websites such as https://travel.state.gov/, https://www.dhs.gov/ or https://www.iatatravelcentre.com. Some airlines may require documentation for children traveling without their legal guardian beyond what is mandated by the destination country. Contact your airline directly for details.
9. Denial of Entry
Certain countries may deny entry to travelers with even a minor criminal record, and if not a U.S. citizen, entry back into the U.S. Check with the U.S. Embassy and the embassy or consulate of the country being visited to ensure you can travel as planned. Choice Travel does not accept responsibility if you are denied entry, and cancellation penalties apply. You acknowledge any failure to strictly comply with the documentation and entry/exit requirements of certain countries or jurisdictions may result in denied boarding or an undue delay at an airport security checkpoint causing traveler to miss flight(s), and subsequent scheduled travel bookings trips. Choice Travel bears no responsibility for advising and/or obtaining required travel documentation for you, or for any delays, damages, and/or losses including missed portions of your vacation related to improper documentation or government decisions about entry.
10. Flights & Airport Check-in
Your flight information will appear on the booking confirmation issued when you make your deposit and on your electronic travel documents issued upon full payment. All flight times are subject to change without notice. We strongly suggest that you reconfirm exact flight times with the carrier twenty-four (24) hours before departure and again before departing for the airport. Please be advised that we may provide your name, phone number, and/or email address to third party suppliers such as air carriers to be used to advise passengers of irregular flight operations and disruptions.
We recommend arriving at the airport for international flights at least three (3) hours prior to your scheduled departure time to allow time to check-in and get through security. We recommend that you arrive two (2) hours prior to travel for domestic flights but no later than one (1) hour prior to travel. If you do not have pre-assigned seats and have seat preferences, we recommend that you arrive early as seats will be assigned upon check-in based on availability. Pre-assigned seat selection is at the air carrier's discretion and may require payment of an additional fee.
If you do not check-in at the airport or gate at the required time or do not possess the proper documentation, you will be denied boarding and will not be eligible for a refund. Additionally, if you fail to check-in for your flight without prior cancellation, you are considered a no-show and will not be eligible for a refund. Travel protection does not cover the instances noted above. Choice Travel assumes no responsibility for any passengers making independent connections to flights booked through Choice Travel.
Some airlines do not charge for infants under two years of age, but the infant must sit on an adult's lap. Other airlines do charge for infants or infant air-related taxes. Please check with your air carrier. If an infant reaches the age of two at any time during the vacation, federal law requires the purchase of a separate seat for any remaining portions of the flight. Some countries charge infant departure taxes.
11. Package Pricing - Exclusions
If you have not paid for your vacation in full, you will be responsible for any increases in the price of any and all components of the vacation package. Choice Travel reserves the right to re-invoice your reservation should an error be made in computing your vacation price. You may incur additional expenses that are not included in the package price, including but not limited to (unless otherwise noted): gratuities, meals, and beverages; passport/visa fees; airline seat assignments and baggage fees; departure taxes, environmental levies, and hotel energy surcharges; resort fees, car seats; rental cars; transfers, optional excursions; and items of a personal nature. Rates for packages including a rental car do not include state/local taxes, gasoline, optional insurance, collision damage waiver (CDW), under-age driver charges if under the age of 25, or airport charges are payable directly to the rental car company. Minimum age requirements may apply; contact your travel agent or the rental car company for specific information. A valid driver's license and major credit card in the driver's name are required.
12. Airline, Hotel, and Feature Taxes
Choice Travel may split the merchant of record payment between Choice Travel and the air carrier booked. Choice Travel’s portion of the payment will be processed immediately. The airline will process payment at the time the air tickets are issued. Choice Travel markets hotels under a "prepaid/merchant" model, where Choice Travel collects the full amount of the hotel room from you in advance and manages the payments to the hotel/feature on your behalf. The booking is made by Choice Travel on the customer's behalf and includes two components to the reservation, amounts being paid by Choice Travel to the hotel/feature on the customer's behalf, as well as compensation for services retained by Choice Travel. In connection with facilitating your hotel/feature arrangement, the amount you are charged will include tax recovery charges and service fees. This amount includes an estimate to recover the amount we pay to the hotel/feature related to your reservation for taxes owed by the hotel/feature, including, without limitation, sales and use tax, occupancy tax, room, tax, excise tax, value-added tax, good and services tax, and/or similar taxes. The amount Choice Travel pays to the hotel/feature connected with your reservation for taxes may vary from the amount we estimate and include in the amount charged to you. Choice Travel is not the supplier collecting and remitting taxes to the applicable taxing authorities. Hotel/feature suppliers include all applicable taxes in the amount billed to Choice Travel, and Choice Travel pays over such amounts directly to the supplier. Choice Travel is not a co-supplier, agent, representative or affiliate associated with the supplier with whom Choice Travel books or reserves customer's travel arrangements. Taxability and the appropriate tax rate, and the type of applicable taxes vary greatly by location.
13. Special Requests and Handicapped Services
It is essential that you advise us before booking if you do have any disability or pre-existing medical condition which may affect your trip, or if you have any special requirements as a result of any disability or medical condition (including any which affect the booking process, such as requests for adjoining rooms/room locations, bedding requests, specific assistance, or special meals) so that we can assist you in considering the suitability of the arrangements and/or in making the booking. Choice Travel will communicate requests to Suppliers but cannot be responsible if ADA accommodations are not available. Any accommodations provided will be at the sole expense of the traveler requiring the accommodation.
Our Suppliers are, unfortunately, unable to guarantee additional assistance to travelers with limited mobility and all such assistance will need to be provided by whoever the traveler is traveling with. Travelers with disabilities must notify Choice Travel at the time of booking of status and of the identity of their non-discounted, paid travel companion who will be responsible for providing all necessary assistance. We may request that you provide a letter from your doctor confirming your fitness to travel.
14. Non-Responsibility, Assumption of Risk/Waiver, and Indemnification
Non-Responsibility
If you booked through a third-party travel agent and not through Choice Travel, your travel agent is responsible for providing any and all travel information to you, examining and verifying all information, and ensuring that you understand all of the terms, conditions, policies, fees, and requirements to which you are subject. Any travel agent who makes a reservation on your behalf acknowledges this responsibility and Choice Travel shall not be responsible for any issues, claims, losses, etc. that may arise in connection with your use of a third-party travel agent unaffiliated with Choice Travel.
Choice Travel, its employees, shareholders, agents, and representatives use third party Suppliers to arrange tours, transportation, sightseeing, accommodations, lodging, and all other services related to this trip. Choice Travel is an independent contractor and is not an employee, agent, or representative of any of these Suppliers. Choice Travel does not own, manage, operate, supervise, or control any transportation, vehicle, airplane, hotel or restaurants, or any other entity that supplies services related to your trip. All Suppliers are independent contractors and are not agents or employees or representatives of Choice Travel. All tickets, receipts, coupons, and vouchers are issued subject to the terms and conditions specified by each supplier, and by accepting the coupons, vouchers, and tickets, or utilizing the services, all travelers agree that neither Choice Travel, nor its employees, agents, or representatives are or may be liable for any loss, injury, or damage to any trip traveler or their belongings, or otherwise, in connection with any service supplied or not supplied resulting directly or indirectly from any occurrence beyond the control of Choice Travel. Choice Travel assumes no responsibility or liability for any delay, change in schedule, loss, injury or damage or loss of any traveler that may result from any act or omission on the part of others; Choice Travel assumes no responsibility or liability for personal property; and Choice Travel shall be relieved of any obligations under these terms and conditions in the event of any strike, labor dispute, act of God, or of government, fire, war, whether declared or not, terrorism, insurrection, riot, theft, pilferage, epidemic, pandemic, illness, physical injury, quarantine, medical or customs or immigration regulation, delay, or cancellation. Choice Travel accepts no responsibility for lost or stolen items. Choice Travel reserves the right to refuse any traveler or potential traveler at its sole discretion.
Under no circumstances will Choice Travel be liable for any special, incidental, or consequential damages arising from the provision of our travel services or vacation packages. Some hotel room images on our promotional materials and our website do not depict the standard room category—maps not to scale. Our hotel rating system is provided for your reference and may differ from other rating systems. We do not guarantee the accuracy of these ratings or that they are equal to other rating systems that you may be familiar with. We reserve the right to change a rating at any time with or without notice. Choice Travel is not responsible for omissions or errors.
Assumption of Risk/Waiver
Traveler is aware that travel to such area as traveler is undertaking on the trip may involve inherent risks, some in remote areas of the world. Inherent risks include, but are not limited to, risk of injury or death from: motor vehicles collisions, animals, roadway hazards, slips, and falls, criminal or terrorist acts, government actions, consumption of alcoholic beverages, tainted food, or non-potable water; exposure to the elements, including heat, cold, sun, water, and wind; your own negligence and/or the negligence of others, including tour guides, other travelers, Choice Travel and its employees, agents and/or representatives; attack by or encounter with insects, reptiles, and/or animals; accidents or illness occurring in remote places where there are no available medical services; fatigue, chill, overheating, and/or dizziness,; known or unknown medical conditions, physical excursion for which you are not prepared or other such accidents; the negligence or lack of adequate training of any third-party providers who seek to assist with medical or other help either before or after injuries have occurred; accident or illness without access to means of rapid evacuation or availability of medical supplies or services; and the adequacy of medical attention once provided.
Traveler understands the description of these risks is not complete and that unknown or unanticipated risks may result in injury, illness, or death. In order to partake of the enjoyment and excitement of this trip, traveler is willing to accept the risks and uncertainty involved as being an integral part of travel, including the risk of infection, illness, and death. Traveler hereby accepts and assumes full responsibility for any and all risks of illness, injury or death and of the negligence of Choice Travel and agrees to and shall hold harmless and fully release Choice Travel, and its employees, shareholders, agents, and representatives (“Representatives”) from any and all claims associated with the trip, including any claims of third party negligence and/or the negligence of Choice Travel and/or its Representatives, and traveler hereby covenants not to sue Choice Travel and/or its Representatives for any such claims or join any lawsuit or action that is suing Choice Travel. This agreement also binds your heirs, legal representatives, and assigns. The terms of this HOLD HARMLESS AND RELEASE OF ALL LIABILITY paragraph, shall survive any termination or cancellation of this Contract, whether by operation of law or otherwise.
Indemnification
Each traveler is expected to act responsibly and adhere to all behavior guidelines established by Choice Travel, its Representatives, and our local Suppliers. Our Representatives and local Suppliers reserve the right to remove you from any trip if you endanger yourself or others or disrupt others. In any such case, there will be no refund. Traveler agrees to and shall indemnify, defend and hold harmless Choice Travel and its Representatives from any expenses, losses, liabilities, damages, judgments, settlements and costs (collectively, “damages”) involved with or incurred by Choice Travel or its Representatives (including, without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and the advancement of same) with respect to any claims, lawsuits, arbitrations, or other causes of action, which result, directly or indirectly, from: (i) traveler’s breach or violation, or threatened breach or violation, of these terms and conditions; (ii) any damage, costs or expenses caused or incurred by traveler while participating in the trip; (iii) traveler’s breach of any law or rights of any third party; (iv) any defect, negligence, or other wrongful act or omission or any failure of performance of any kind by any airline, hotel, ground transportation, or other supplier or travel provider;(v) any claim for inconvenience, loss of enjoyment, mental distress, or other similar claims; (vi) any delayed departure, missed connection, substitute accommodation, termination of service or change in fares or rates; (vii) overbooking, flight cancellation, lost or misconnected baggage, or any claim arising out of any vacation package's air transportation portion; and (viii) your use of Choice Travel’s website or any travel documentation provided to you by Choice Travel.
Important Notice: Choice Travel Agency enters into contracts with hotels and air, land, or water transportation companies, but all such entities are owned and operated by independent contractors. Choice Travel Agency is not responsible for any negligent or willful act, omission, or failure to act on the part of any such entity or its employees or of any other third party beyond its direct control. The Choice Travel Agency name and logo may appear on posted or hand-held signs at the airport of your departure or destination, in vans, buses, coaches, hotels, or elsewhere during your vacation. This use of the Choice Travel Agency name and logo is solely intended to help you identify persons or entities who might provide services to you during your trip, but does not indicate, and should not be understood by you to indicate that Choice Travel Agency owns, controls or operates any entity displaying such, a sign, or that Choice Travel Agency employs or controls any person holding or displaying such a sign. Choice Travel Agency sells leisure vacations. If this vacation is used for any reason other than leisure travel, the hotel may directly assess an additional surcharge or refuse service during holiday, convention, or special event periods.
Certain exclusions may not apply in some jurisdictions. If you have a claim or dispute with any of the travel or excursion providers, we will provide you with as much assistance as reasonably possible.
15. Luggage & Personal Property
Many airlines charge fees for checked and/or carry-on bags. Fees vary and are set by each air carrier. Information on carrier baggage policy and fees, liability for lost, misconnected, and damaged baggage or other personal property can be obtained through your travel agent by contacting the air carrier directly or requesting them at the airport. Excess/oversized baggage may be denied at check-in or subject to additional charges. Choice Travel accepts no liability for loss or damage to luggage and recommends a TSA-approved lock. All lost or damaged luggage must be reported to an airline representative at the passenger's destination airport before you leave the airport. Some airlines do not cover damage to soft-sided luggage.
16. International Travel; Destinations
Travel to certain destinations may involve greater risk than others. Choice Travel urges travelers to remain informed daily as to current news, as well as to review travel prohibitions, warnings, announcements, and advisories issued by the United States Government prior to booking travel to international destinations. Information on conditions in various countries and the level of risk associated with travel to destinations can be found at http://www.state.gov, and http://www.cdc.gov. In addition, you should consult with government websites to ensure that you are following all requirements for admittance into that country, including COVID- 19 requirements, as well as understanding local laws that govern travel within a country, such as medical tests and tracking. Should you choose to travel to a country that has been issued a travel warning or advisory, Choice Travel will not be liable for damages or losses that result from travel to such destinations.
Before booking travel and before your travel dates, we strongly recommend that you visit the U.S. Department of State website travel.state.gov, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, cdc.gov, which include essential information on foreign travel such as travel advisories, warnings and restrictions issued by the U.S. government. You are responsible for complying with the health requirements of the countries you intend to visit. If you make a booking, you confirm that you have followed our recommendations above and forever waive any argument that we should have done anything further for warnings or alerts. Check with your physician regarding any immunizations that may be recommended or required. Use common sense while vacationing abroad. For example, if you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. In addition, be cognizant of the effects of mixing alcohol and certain medications. Should someone in your party become ill, alert the resort front desk for immediate medical attention or call the emergency number provided by the resort. Also, advise your Resort Representative as soon as possible, who may be able to assist. If you have medical issues or concerns about medical services, we urge you to contact your resort with specific questions. Please be aware that medical standards and training of emergency responders and resort medical facilities vary greatly, and health care abroad may not be the same as you might expect at home. It may be standard policy for hospitals and medical providers abroad to require cash payment upfront for services. Check with your insurance provider regarding claims for reimbursement.
Sports and marine equipment, especially scuba gear, may not meet U.S. safety standards, and many resort pools and beaches may lack lifeguards. Balcony railing heights in certain destinations, such as Mexico, are lower than the mandated heights in the United States and may be lower in other countries. Low balcony railings create a risk of falls, which may result in severe injury or death. Bottled drinking water is recommended. WE DO NOT REPRESENT OR WARRANT USE OF TRAVEL PRODUCTS OR ANY PRODUCT OR SERVICE PROVIDED BY SUPPLIERS, AND/OR ANY PRODUCT OR SERVICE PROVIDED AT YOUR DESTINATION. TRAVEL TO CERTAIN AREAS MAY NOT BE ADVISABLE OR WITHOUT RISK, AND WE ARE NOT LIABLE FOR DAMAGES OR LOSSES THAT MAY RESULT FROM TRAVEL TO ANY DESTINATION. No destination is 100% safe. By embarking upon your travel, you voluntarily assume all risks involved in such travel, whether expected or unexpected.
Recommended inoculations and vaccinations for travel may change and you should consult your practitioner for current recommendations before you depart. It is your responsibility to ensure that you meet all health entry requirements, obtain the recommended inoculations and vaccinations, take all recommended medication, and follow all medical advice in relation to your trip. Inoculation requirements can be found on the Center for Disease Control website at https://www.cdc.gov/.
17. Air Carriers
We may make arrangements for air transportation to your vacation destination via regularly scheduled certificated air carriers or other air carriers who have duly filed with and are authorized to operate air transportation and public charter transportation by the U.S. Department of Transportation. We reserve the right to substitute alternate air carriers if necessary. All air travel is subject to the terms and conditions of the operating air carrier. When you fly to and from your destination, the Conditions of Carriage apply, some of which limit or exclude liability. The Conditions of Carriage are available by requesting them in writing from the carrier or by request at the airport. Choice Travel will not be liable for any change fees or cancellation fees or other additional cost or refund you incur (or in the case of refunds, request) with the air carrier.
18. Hazardous Materials Restrictions and Insecticide Notice
Federal law forbids the carriage of hazardous materials aboard aircraft in your luggage or on your person. A violation can result in five years' imprisonment and penalties of $250,000 or more (49 U.S.C. 5124). Hazardous materials include explosives, compressed gases, flammable liquids and solids, oxidizers, poisons, corrosives, and radioactive materials—examples: Paints, lighter fluid, fireworks, tear gases, oxygen bottles, and radio-pharmaceuticals. There are notable exceptions for small quantities (up to 70 ounces total) of medicinal and toilet articles carried in your luggage and certain smoking materials carried on your person. Special restrictions and limitations for transporting Hazardous Materials and specifically Lithium-Ion batteries, refer to https://www.faa.gov/hazmat/packsafe for more information. In the event a carry-on bag cannot be accommodated in the passenger cabin and has to be placed below in a cargo bin for any reason, any electronic device or spare Lithium-ion or any other type of battery permitted in carry-on baggage MUST be removed from the carry-on bag and remain in possession of the passenger in the passenger cabin. For further information, contact your airline representative. Some countries may require aircraft cabin insecticide treatment for in-bound foreign flights. A list of such countries is available at https://www.transportation.gov/airconsumer/spray.
19. Complaints
If you have a complaint or refund request while on vacation, you must provide Choice Travel Agency with a reasonable opportunity to rectify the issue during your vacation by promptly notifying your Resort Representative, who will make every effort to assist you. If the matter cannot be settled promptly, you must write to our Customer Service Department within twenty-eight (28) days of completing your vacation at . Please understand that we cannot consider any complaints, refund requests, issues with your travel or other post-vacation submissions if you did not provide Choice Travel Agency with a reasonable opportunity to assist you during your trip. We reserve the right to give any refunds or compensation in the form of future travel credits.
20. COVID-19 Release of Liability
By booking a trip at this time, you acknowledge the highly contagious nature of COVID-19 or any other diseases, viruses, etc. (collectively, “Diseases”) and voluntarily assume the risk for yourself and any minors traveling with you, that you or they may be exposed to or infected by COVID-19 or other Diseases by traveling and that such exposure or infection may result in personal injury, illness, permanent disability, and death even if such injuries or losses occur in a manner that is not foreseeable at the time you book your trip. You acknowledge that exposure to such viruses or disease is an inherent risk of traveling, that cannot be controlled or eliminated by Choice Travel. You further acknowledge that due to the uncertainty of travel at this time, your trip may be postponed or cancelled, or changes may be made to itineraries due to closures of certain sites or activities, for which there may be no refund. You may also be required to quarantine upon arrival in some locations. Some locations may require you to have a vaccination or proof of negative testing. Stopover countries requirements will also apply. On your return home, additional testing, requirements, or documentation may be required. You are responsible for understanding these requirements and must not rely on Choice Travel to provide these details. You understand that you may become sick before, during, or after the trip and may not be able to travel and such cancellation or interruption will be subject to our cancellation terms below, for which we will not be liable. You agree that due to uncertainty caused by COVID 19 or other Diseases, Choice Travel has strongly encouraged the purchase of travel protection coverage including cancel for any reason coverage if and when available, and that should you fail to purchase travel protection coverage, Choice Travel shall not be liable for any losses howsoever arising.
You, for yourself, and any minors traveling with you, and on behalf of your and their heirs, assigns, personal representatives and next of kin (collectively, the “Releasors”), HEREBY RELEASE, DEFEND, INDEMNIFY AND HOLD HARMLESS Choice Travel, its owners, members, agents, and/or employees, and Suppliers (collectively, the “Releasees”), of from and against any and all claims, damages, demands, losses, and liability arising out of or related in any way, in whole or in part to any POSTPONEMENT, CANCELLATION, CHANGES, INJURY, DISABILITY, DEATH OR ANY OTHER LOSS WHATSOEVER you may suffer due to exposure, infection, spread, closure, and travel restrictions related to COVID- 19 or other Diseases, WHETHER ARISING FROM THE NEGLIGENCE OF THE RELEASEES OR OTHERWISE, to the fullest extent permitted by law. The terms of this HOLD HARMLESS, INDEMNITY AND RELEASE OF ALL LIABILITY paragraph, shall survive any termination or cancellation of this Agreement, whether by operation of law or otherwise.
21. Force Majeure
Choice Travel assumes no liability for, any loss, damage, delay, or cancellation resulting in whole or in part from an Act of God or any other force majeure condition, including, without limitation: fire, volcanic eruption, hurricane, environmental pollution or contamination, inclement weather, earthquake, low or high water levels, flood, water or power shortages or failures, tropical storms or hurricanes, riots or civil commissions or disturbances, and any other acts of a similar nature, sabotage, arrests, strikes or labor disruptions, restraint of rulers or peoples, expropriations, acts of terrorism, war, insurrection, quarantine restrictions, government health advisories, epidemics, pandemics, or warnings or alerts of any kind of nature, government seizures, refusal or cancellation or suspension or delay of any government authority or any license, permit or authorization, damages to its facilities or the travel supplier and its facilities, or any other unforeseen circumstances or any other factors unforeseen by Choice Travel that impacts negatively on, or hampers, its ability to fulfill any of its contractual conditions (“Force Majeure”). In the circumstances amounting to Force Majeure, we will not be required to refund any money to you, although if (and only if) we can recover any monies from our Suppliers, we will refund these to you without any charge by Choice Travel. Our planning and administration fee, if any, is always non-refundable.
22. Governing Law & Dispute Resolution
The laws of Missouri shall govern this Contract. Should a dispute or controversy arise concerning the terms and conditions of this Contract or involving a claim for loss, injury, or other damage arising out of or relating to your trip, any legal action against Choice Travel shall be brought exclusively in Saint Louis County. If any term or provision of this Contract is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable, such holding will not affect the remaining terms and provisions' validity or enforceability. We each agree that any dispute resolution proceedings will be conducted only individually and not in a class, consolidated or representative action.
✉: ales@choicetravelagency.com | ✆: 314.943.6555
217 S. Kirkwood Road
St. Louis, MO 63122
Monday - Friday 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
We accept the following forms of payment:
