This agreement sets forth the terms under which we, Epic Paths LLC, agrees to provide you with the services and accommodations for your consulting experience or your escorted tour.
Reservations and Payment
Consulting: Receipt of the total consulting deposit cost is due at time of consultation. 50% of the consulting fee is non-refundable.
Tours: Receipt of a deposit per person, and signed contract is required to hold your reservation. Payments will be made in increments that vary according to the tour cost. These payments are to be made within 5 business days of the due date. There will be a $50 late fee charged for those payments made after the 5 business days.
Prices
All prices of the organized tours are subject to increase up to the receipt of final payment due to any increase in our costs, such as, but not limited to: increases in air, land or sea fares, fuel cost, and currency fluctuations. All taxes, fuel surcharges, security charges and any other taxes or charges imposed by airlines, airports, cruise lines, governments, etc. are not included in the price. After final payment the only price increase can be for newly imposed governmental taxes. Gratuities not specifically mentioned are excluded.
Final Document Review
While Epic Paths takes the utmost care in making sure the information on your itinerary and travel vouchers is completely accurate, it is your responsibility to carefully read and review the final documents upon receipt. Failure to contact us in time to allow for the correction and re-sending of the final documents could result in the loss or cancellation of your reservation, tickets or services listed on the documents for which Epic Paths will not be responsible. In such a case, no refunds will be possible.
Names Must Match Passport
The name given on your Epic Paths booking must match the name on your passport, and in-turn, the name on your air ticket. Any variation between the spelling of your name on your air ticket and passport will require re-ticketing, often at the cost of a completely new ticket in which payment would fall on the travelers expense.
Unused Tour Elements
No refund will be given for any unused tour feature, whether because of customer’s choice, operational reasons, because of bad weather or any other reason.
Errors
In case of printing, typographical error, computer error, verbal or human billing error, we reserve the right to invoice or re-invoice participants with corrected billing.
Baggage
Each escorted and independent tour member is limited to one large suitcase and one small carry on due to limited baggage area on buses. For some airlines and taxi/coach transfers, extra luggage may be subject to an extra charge due on the spot.
Fees For Air Ticketing Name Changes/Revisions/Cancellations
Name corrections before ticketing will incur a minimum fee of $50 per passenger and are subject to fare, and or flight schedule changes. Once air tickets are issued, a minimum $300 revision/cancellation fee will apply to each ticket, plus fare, and or flight changes if applicable.
Fees for Customized Itinerary Changes
After your final payment (90 days prior to start of services), a $100 fee will be imposed for each change of service within your itinerary. These services include, but are not limited to changes or cancellations of transfers, hotels, villas, train tickets, day tours, and reservations or services of any kind.
Fees For Cancelled Services
If you cancel your complete reservation, the cancellation charges shown below will apply. Cancellation charges are based on the number of days from the time Epic Paths is notified of your cancellation, to the start of the services provided.
Covid-19 / Coronavirus / Pandemics
Due to the uncertainty of our world at this time, Epic Paths is willing to work with all clients to provide the best services. There is a lot of unknown in what the future holds. The 2020 Coronavirus Pandemic completely devastated the travel industry in many ways. Moving forward Epic Paths will do its best to issue refunds when possible. Many times there may not be the possibility of a refund depending on the vendor, country, etc. This is applied to all types of travel booked through Epic Paths (i.e. group travel, individual travel, etc). Vouchers will be issued instead of refunds if refunds cannot be obtained from vendors (i.e. airfare, hotels, transportation, etc). Postponement of travel will be encouraged and may often be required. If you are given the option to postpone your trip, you have the option to be refunded what can be refunded at the time of cancellation and forfeit all remaining money paid to Epic Paths. Please be aware that no refund/voucher will be made in cases where vendors do not allow postponement.
Days Prior to Start of Services Cancellation Charges
Tour Services:
Loss of cost of flight - applies when Epic Paths has purchased airfare in full before the date of cancellation + a cancellation fee when applies (dates vary).
100 days or more - per person at 10% of the cost of the trip
99 to 70 days before - 25% of total travel services (after loss of airfare cost)
69 to 45 days before - 50% of total travel services (after loss of airfare cost)
44 days or less - 100% of total travel services
Consulting Services:
Non-refundable 50% deposit.
Travel Protection Plan
Epic Paths highly recommends that you purchase a travel protection plan to protect your trip from the unexpected. Travel protection plans can include a variety of coverage for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption, Emergency Medical and Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation, Trip Delay, Baggage Delay and more. There is no guarantee that they will cover the entire cost of any trip and Epic Paths does not agree to refund what the insurance company refuses to protect.
Fees for train tickets revisions/cancellations
Train tickets are not changeable and not refundable at any time. Any change to a train date, schedule or route will require the purchase of a completely new ticket at your expense.
Villa Rentals in Italy
Very rarely, a villa Epic Paths has reserved for you will be canceled by the owner. In this case, a similar will be offered to you. Your villa rental payment includes the base rental cost plus the VAT tax. All extra charges, mentioned in each villa description, are not included in the rental price and are to be paid to the owner of the property or to their representative upon departure. These extra charges can include, security deposit, final cleaning service, heating/air conditioning or electricity. The description of the properties are made in good faith. Epic Pths cannot be held responsible for changes carried out by the owner of the property without notifying Epic Paths.
Hotel Overbookings on Travel
In very rare cases, and through no fault of Epic Paths, your reserved hotel may be overbooked upon your arrival. Epic Paths cannot be held responsible if this happens. Epic Paths will work diligently to find a hotel of equal quality to provide as accommodation during your stay.
Refunds and Complaints
Epic Paths works around the clock to insure your vacation goes smoothly and according to plan. But unexpected problems, often out of our control, can still arise. We urge you to work with us in correcting the problem on the spot instead of dealing with it after you return home.
On the Epic Tours, work with your tour guide to resolve concerns. For independent travel, speak to your hotel front desk manager, your local guide, driver, etc.
If a refund is warranted, it is under the express condition that you release us from all further liability and you thereby waive all additional rights and remedies under this contract or any applicable state, federal or foreign law.
Guests Needing Special Assistance
We regret that we cannot provide individual assistance to a tour member for walking, dining, getting on and off motor coaches and other transportation vehicles, or other personal needs. Travelers who need such assistance must be accompanied by a qualified companion.
Escorted Tour Itinerary Changes
Epic Paths reserves the right to change the scheduled escorted tour itinerary or trip features at any time and for any reason, with or without notice and/or to substitute airlines, hotels or features of a similar category for those listed. Epic Paths shall not be liable for any such changes.
Miscellaneous
Foreign air-conditioning systems in public places, hotels and motor coaches are not up to U.S. standards. If due to weather, flight schedules or other uncontrollable factors, you are required to spend an additional night(s), you will be responsible for your own hotel, transfers and meal costs. The right is reserved to decline, to accept or retain any person as a member of these trips at any time. Travelers certify not to have any mental, physical or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for himself/herself or other passengers.
Responsibility
Epic Paths LLC does not own or operate any entity which is to or does provide goods or services for your trip, including, for example, lodging facilities, transportation companies, guides, food service providers, equipment suppliers, ground operators, etc., including, without limitation, various entities which may utilize the Epic Paths name. Epic Paths is not responsible for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such person or entity, nor for any act or inaction of any other third party not under its control.
Without limitation Epic Paths is not liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, or incidental damage, injury, death, loss, accident, delay, inconvenience, or irregularity of any kind which may be occasioned by reason of any act or omission beyond its control including, without limitation, any willful or negligent act, failure to act, breach of contract of any third party, such as an airline, train, hotel, restaurant, or food supplier, bus taxi, van, or local ground handler, local guide which is, to, or does supply any goods or service for this trip.
Binding Arbitration
I agree that any dispute concerning, relating, or referring to these Terms and Conditions, this release, the catalog, or any other literature concerning my trip, or the trip itself shall be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration according to the then existing commercial rules of the American Arbitration Association in New Jersey. Such proceedings will be governed by substantive New Jersey Law. the arbitrator and not any federal, state, or local court or agency shall have exclusive authority to resolve any dispute relating to the interpretation, applicability, enforceability, conscionability, or formation of this contract, including but not limited to any claim that all or part of this contract is void or voidable. Upon payment of a deposit, tour participant indicates acceptance of the above Terms and Conditions and of the Arbitration Agreement.
