Terms and Conditions

 

Reservations and Deposits

Early reservations are encouraged to guarantee your space on a Sweet Life Tours journey. A deposit of $500 per person, per tour is needed to confirm your reservation. Payments may be made by credit or debit card using our secure online PayPal system, or by personal check or money order. If you are making your reservation less than 75 days before departure, the entire amount of the trip must be paid in full with your reservation.  

 

Confirmation Package

Once we receive your reservation and deposit, we will send you a pre-departure information packet with pertinent tour information.

 

Balance Payment

The non-refundable balance payment is due at least 75 days prior to departure, payable by personal check, money order or by credit or debit card using our secure online system. This is to pay for accommodations and transportation that we must pay for 75 days in advance. Save $75 by paying your final balance by personal check or money order! It is the responsibility of each traveler to make sure we receive your payment on time. If the final payment is not received by the due date, Sweet Life Tours reserves the right to regard the reservation as canceled by default and it is subject to cancellation charges.

 

Cancellations and Refunds

All cancellations must be made in writing to Sweet Life Tours by email info@sweetlifetours.com, postal mail at PO Box 99816, Seattle, WA 98139, or fax 206-281-1717. Your cancellation will be in effect on the date it is received by Sweet Life Tours. No exceptions can be made to this policy.

Deposits are fully refundable for 60 days from the receipt date by Sweet Life Tours or until 75 days prior to departure, whichever comes first. Deposits made less than 75 days prior to tour departure are not refundable. A $40 per person processing fee applies to all cancellations.

No refunds are made for cancellations after the non-refundable deposit date due to our fixed and pre-paid costs. No partial refunds are possible for any unused portion of your trip. It is for these reasons we strongly recommend the purchase of travel insurance at the time you reserve your tour with us.

 

Although unlikely, unforeseen circumstances may require a change to the trip itinerary. If this happens, Sweet Life Tours will make every effort to select alternative accommodations of the same standard and to keep modifications to a minimum. Sweet Life Tours reserves the right to cancel a trip for any reason. In such an occurrence, we will refund all payments received, which will constitute full settlement.

 

NSF Check Fees: If a payment is returned due to non-sufficient funds (NSF), Sweet Life Tours will assess a $25 fee per occurrence. The fee(s) will be added to the applicable tour balance, and be required to be paid in full prior to your tour departure.

 

Travel Insurance

Sweet Life Tours strongly encourages purchasing travel insurance for your upcoming tour to cover possible additional costs such as airline tickets, trip delay, loss of luggage, emergency medical transportation or services and/or trip cancellations for any reason. Travel insurance often has to be purchased at the time of or within days of booking airline tickets and/or a tour. We recommend you check with different insurers to understand the importance of travel insurance, when to purchase, what is covered, and how it may benefit you. You can compare several travel insurance companies at Insure My Trip. Or below are a few options to review. This does not imply that Sweet Life Tours recommends any travel insurance company over another.

• Travelex Insurance Services
• Travel Guard
• Access America

 

We recommend contacting your medical insurance provider to understand your medical benefits and coverage while traveling.

 

Medical and Physical Requirements

Our tours are for the active traveler. To enjoy your journey, you must be physically and mentally fit and in good health. It is each tour member’s responsibility to be aware of their physical abilities and limitations. Good physical conditioning is recommended as preparation for all tours. On any of our tours, be prepared to; walk 3-8 miles per day, often over uneven surfaces; stand during guided sightseeing, and climb stairs, steep slopes and hillsides unassisted. Some of our planned group activities may involve walking or standing for up to two to three hours at a time. See detailed itineraries for specifics.

 

You will need to carry your own luggage without complaint, sometimes over uneven surfaces and up flights of stairs to reach your accommodations. Any preexisting physical, mental, or emotional disability that may require attention must be reported in writing prior to the beginning of your journey. Please call us if you have any questions regarding this.

 

Smokers may smoke only outdoors and downwind from the group. Smoking is prohibited on group transportation, in hotel rooms and during group meals.

 

Accommodations

Our trip prices are based on double occupancy rooms. If you are traveling solo, we will assign you a roommate of the same gender, or you can choose to room alone, paying the single supplement fee. Single rooms are limited on each tour and based on availability. If none are available for a specific itinerary, solo travelers will be assigned a roommate and will not pay a single supplement fee. Single supplement fees are listed with each tour itinerary.

 

Documentation

U.S. Citizens traveling outside the United States are required to carry documentation of U.S. citizenship, such as a passport, valid for six months after your reentry to the U.S.; in some cases, you may need visas. If you need to apply for a new passport or renew your current passport, we recommend that you apply for one at least 3 months prior to your trip departure. This is to allow adequate time for it to arrive prior to your tour. Please visit US Travel and Passport Information for more information. If you are not a U.S. Citizen, contact the embassy, consulate or national airline of the country you are traveling to for entry requirements. It is your responsibility to obtain proper documentation.

 

Arrival & Departure

Each detailed tour itinerary provides you with the trip meeting and ending locations. All locations are in a town accessible by plane, train, boat or bus.

 

Group Size, Luggage, Tipping

• Group size - Your small-group journey will include just 10-25 people which varies by tour. As a small group, we can maneuver easily from place to place discovering hidden gems along the way, without overwhelming the local character.
• Luggage – Packing light makes for happy travelers! That’s been our experience and our goal is for you to travel as comfortably as possible. This is why we recommend you bring one piece of luggage, preferably measuring 9” x 22” x 14”. Don’t worry if your bag is a bit larger than this, but do keep in mind that each traveler is required to carry her or his own luggage throughout the tour. This may mean carrying it for several minutes from the bus to the hotel and up lots of stairs. Wheeled bags are fine, but be prepared to carry yours up stairs and over uneven surfaces. We suggest you bring a small day bag or backpack, too.
• Tipping - All tips for guides, driver and hotel staff are included. Your guide will give you advice on local tipping customs for non-group activities.

 

Pricing

We understand that value is an important part of your travel experience. When you go on one of our small group adventures, you can be assured that we have researched each itinerary to bring you the most rewarding sightseeing experiences for the best price. Many tour companies charge extra fees for optional excursions during a tour. We don’t. All group sightseeing listed in our itineraries is included in the tour price.

Although we don’t foresee any changes in the price of a tour, due to unpredictability in currency rates and trip costs, overall tour prices may change throughout the year. However, your tour price is guaranteed at the time you make your deposit on a Sweet Life tour and will not change.

 

Included in the Price of Each tour

• A small group of travelers to maximize your trip enjoyment
• Full-time services of a professional Sweet Life Tours guide
• Sightseeing tours led by a Sweet Life Tours guide, and local guides and experts, when appropriate
• Admissions to group sightseeing and activities
• Accommodations each night in comfortable, well-located hotels
• Meals: see specific itineraries for details
• All transportation required for group sightseeing and activities from the first hotel to the last hotel of the tour
• All tips for guides, driver and hotel staff assisting you while participating in group activities
• Country map
• Upon completion of your tour, a travel credit of $100 off the price of your next Sweet Life Tours adventure

 

What’s Not Included in Price of Each Tour

• Airline tickets, taxes and fees from your city of departure to the tour and from the tour departure city
• Transportation and fees for independent activities and sightseeing
• All beverages
• Meals and activities not indicated
• Personal expenses (telephone call, laundry, etc.)
• Room service
• Travel insurance

 

Discounts

We appreciate your choosing to travel with us on our small-group adventure. We want to thank you by offering you two great ways to save!

1. Save $75 Per Person when you pay your final balance by check or money order; thus eliminating credit card processing fees - savings we pass on to you.
2. Sweet Life Tours Alumni Adventurer
   If you have traveled with us before, we will deduct $100 off the price of your next tour!
3. If we offer multiple discounts, you may choose the greatest available discount (except, you may combine the $75 discount for paying your final balance by check or money order with other discounts).
4. Group Tour Organizer
   Call us at 425.885.3277 to find out the details and possible discounts available when you organize a group tour!