Renee Doyle Photography – Workshops and Tours

ABN: 13 685 096 398

Workshop/Tour Policies and General Information

REGISTRATION AND PAYMENT

For all tours (the word “tour” in this document refers to both workshops and tours) a deposit and completed Registration Form is required. Renee Doyle Photography will be referred to as RDP. Please refer to individual tour page for deposit requirements and balances due by date. If you are registering within 120 days of departure, the full amount is due at registration.

Deposits and balances can be paid via bank transfer only. If you fail to pay the balance of a trip by the due date, RDP reserves the right to treat your trip as cancelled.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS

Losing money is not fun. For that reason, if you have to cancel for any reason, you will get refunded 100% (less applicable bank/transfer fees) of the total amount paid (including deposit unless non-refundable deposit was required) in the following two cases ONLY:

1. If you cancel a trip in writing 180 days or more before the departure date, you will get refunded 100% of your payment (unless a non-refundable deposit had been required) less any applicable bank/transfer fees.

2. If you cancel a trip in writing less than 180 days prior to the trip all endeavours will be made to fill your spot. However, selling the tour out is definitely not a guarantee, especially when you cancel closer to the departure date. Should RDP fill your spot, a refund of payments will be made (unless a non-refundable deposit had been required) less any bank/transfer fees.

Additionally, if you find someone else (a friend or family member, for example) not yet registered who would like to take your spot, you can transfer your deposit and payments to that person’s registration, provided they qualify for the trip and sign the registration form.

 

  • For cancellations 90 days or fewer before departure date there is no refund applicable
  • No partial refunds are made for unused portions or services of a trip for any reason.
  • Deferments are not available unless your spot is filled

RDP can cancel a trip for any reason, including too few participants.   RDP is not responsible for any costs incurred by you, such as airline tickets and other costs. (See Travel Insurance section below).  RDP can alter tour dates as necessary.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

RDP HIGHLY recommends that you purchase a trip insurance policy that covers you in the event of a cancellation. Insurance is always something that we don’t want, until we need it.  Things can pop up only days before your planned trip and if you do not have the relevant trip cancellation insurance you could find yourself losing your entire investment in the photo tour. This is why RDP strongly recommends that you have trip cancellation insurance in place to protect your investment and it is good to know that you have that safety net to protect yourself against the unknown.

Please note on individual tours the medical insurance and emergency evacuation policy requirements. Where required a copy of these insurances must be forwarded to RDP before departure date. If a participant fails to provide a copy of the medical insurance and evacuation policy where required, they may not join the tour, and the participant will forfeit all trip fees.

HEALTH CONSIDERATIONS

RDP tours are generally within the capabilities of an “average person” in good health. Examples of tour activities include hiking and walking a mile or more, stepping off a boat onto a dock, all while carrying your camera gear.
For some tours (Coastal Brown Bears of Alaska for example), more physical exertion is required. See the website tour page for tour-specific considerations.

Please contact me with any questions about a specific tour or concerns you have about creating risk for yourself or other participants.
Please read the Registration Form carefully for additional details on health considerations, limits of liability and the tour operator making the ultimate determination of an individual’s ability to start or continue on a trip.

TOUR COSTS

See the website tour page for details on what is included in each tour. Generally, these include lodging in double room occupancy (single rooms usually available for an additional fee), meals as noted in the itinerary (note that usually not all meals are included), local transportation, entrance fees as noted, and all photo instruction.

See the website tour page for excluded costs, which typically include airfare, some meals, alcohol and tips and all other costs not listed as included.

LOGISTICS

All tours are conducted in English.

When available, participants stay in clean, modern hotels. In some cases, these are best available. However, in order to keep the tour costs reasonably priced, high priced hotels, such as more expensive internationally recognized hotel chains, are avoided. In some cases, proximity to photographic locations takes precedent over hotel quality.

We plan to follow the itinerary as closely as possible. However, the tour operator reserves the right to adjust the itinerary for any reason, including weather conditions.

RESPONSIBILITY

A Registration Form including the Acknowledgement of Risk, Waiver and Release of Liability Agreement must be signed by each member at registration, prior to the trip. See the Registration Form for additional details on policy and limitation of liability not included here.

RDP and its Agents act only as agents for the passenger in regard to travel including, but not limited to, sightseeing, meals, lodging, transportation, and all other services whether by railroad, motorcar, motor coach, boat, ship or aircraft and they assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity which may be occasioned either by reason of defect in any vehicle or for any reason whatsoever, or through the acts or default of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the trip.

RDP accept no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, volcanic eruption, terrorist acts, political unrest, quarantine or other causes. All such losses or expenses will have to be borne by the passenger, as trip fees provide for arrangements only for the times and locations stated. Baggage is at the owner’s risk entirely.

Terms and Conditions:-
Registration and Deposits and Payments:-

All prices are quoted in U.S. dollars and must be paid in U.S. dollars. For all tours (the word “tour” in this document refers to both workshops and tours)

 Prices at the lodge have increased but an early booking will secure the 2018 rate for 2019.  As the lodge only accommodates 28 people at capacity a 25% non-refundable deposit is required to secure your position.  To protect your deposit money as well as the balance of the tour cost when you make that payment, you should definitely plan on buying trip insurance.

The attached Registration Form must be signed, completed and returned to confirm your spot on the tour.

The balance is due 120 days prior to the departure date. Deposits can be paid via personal or business check or bank transfer. The balance can be paid via personal or business check or bank transfer. If you fail to pay the balance of a trip by the due date, we reserve the right to treat your trip as cancelled.

CURRENCY FLUCTUATION

RDP endeavours to keep tour rates as low as possible and does not build into the tour cost an allowance to cover currency fluctuations. RDP reserves the right to raise the tour cost before final payment is due, if exceptional currency fluctuations occur from the time of tour release date to actual tour commencement date. An increase in the tour price due to these circumstances will not be sufficient grounds for any refund of fees already paid for the tour.

GOVERNMENT TAXES

Any increases in government taxes that affect costs already included in the tour price will be passed on and paid for by participants. Any increase in tour price due to an increase in Government Taxes will not be sufficient grounds for any refund of fees already paid for the tour.

Losing money is not fun. For that reason, we strongly recommend travel insurance to cover for this unfortunate situation.

if you have to cancel for any reason, listed below is the cancellation policy :-

Now to 120 days         –           Loss of deposit

119-31 days                 –            50% cancellation fee

30 days or less            –          100% cancellation fee

Additionally, if you find someone else (a friend or family member, for example) not yet registered who would like to take your spot, you can transfer your deposit and payments to that person’s registration, provided they qualify for the trip and sign the registration form. Because I incur costs up-front, such as deposits (many non-refundable) for blocks of hotel rooms and local tour operators and transportation, if you have to cancel for any reason (medical or other… any reason) you will receive refunds based on the above sliding scale (all cancellations must be in writing):

No partial refunds are made for unused portions or services of a trip for any reason.

Renee Doyle Photography ABN 13 685 096 398 can cancel a trip for any reason, including too few participants. If this happens, you will receive a 100% refund of your deposit and payments. However, I am not responsible for any costs incurred by you, such as airline tickets and other costs.

TOUR POLICIES :

RESPONSIBILITY:
A Registration Form including the Acknowledgement of Risk, Waiver and Release of Liability Agreement must be signed by each member at registration, prior to the trip. See the Registration Form for additional details on policy and limitation of liability not included here. Renee Doyle Photography and its Agents act only as agents for the passenger in regard to travel including, but not limited to, sightseeing, meals, lodging, transportation, and all other services whether by railroad, motorcar, motor coach, boat, ship or aircraft and they assume no liability for injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity which may be occasioned either by reason of defect in any vehicle or for any reason whatsoever, or through the acts or default of any company or person engaged in conveying the passenger or in carrying out the arrangements of the trip. They can accept no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay or changes in air or other services, sickness, weather, strike, war, volcanic eruption, terrorist acts, political unrest, quarantine or other causes. All such losses or expenses must be borne by the passenger, as trip fees provide for arrangements only for the times and locations stated. Baggage is at the owner’s risk entirely.