Terms and Conditions

Contact Explore Tours Reservations

For reservations, please call our toll free number 1-800-523-7405 or send your request to: info@exploretours.com. For International callers, you may dial our main office direct at: 1-907-786-0192.

 

Welcome 2010 Season Travelers!

Don't hesitate to contact us for trip planning assistance and reservations for your trip this summer or fall of 2010. There is still plenty of availability and we're happy to recommend an itinerary!  

 

Please note: All new quote requests will be processed in the order of receipt. Depending on complexity and amount of research involved, occasionally special itineraries may take up to 3-5 business days. If you have any questions or would like to check the status of your quote, please do not hesitate to contact our office. Your patience during this busy time is appreciated! 

 

Pricing Information

All prices are quoted in US dollars (USD). All rates are retail rates and include applicable taxes except when noted otherwise. Online prices are typically quoted on a "starting at" basis in order to provide you with an estimated cost during peak travel season. Please note that rates may be flexible according to your targeted budget when using your preferred departure dates, accommodations. Availability often plays a factor in pricing, so please contact an Explore Tours agent for a personalized quote and more advice. 

 

Deposits and Payments 

To confirm a reservation, 50% of the individual package price is required; the remaining balance is due in full 60 days prior to tour departure. Bookings made within 60 days and up to 46 business days before departure require payment in full and must be guaranteed by credit card at the time of request. Late bookings made between 45 and 15 days prior to tour departure will be subject to availability and will incur a non-refundable $125 custom quotation fee, which would be applied to invoice total. In addition and Express Booking Fee of $50 may apply. Reservations with a balance of $300.00 or less require full payment. Reservations made during peak season, select holidays and special event periods, packages may require a surcharge, be completely non-refundable and/or require payment in full upon booking. 

 

Forms of Payment

Travel agency checks, cash and credit cards (Discover, American Express, Visa and MasterCard) are accepted. Agency commission is paid 30 days after travel is complete and reservations are paid in full.

 

Changes

Once a package has been invoiced, changes to the reservation will incur a change fee of $25.00 per person, plus any additional supplier charges.

 

Cancellations & Refunds

Notice of cancellation must be made in writing to Explore Tours and must be received by Explore Tours prior to the scheduled tour departure. A $50.00 per person cancellation fee will be charged by Explore Tours, in addition to any fees charged by the supplier(s). Reservations cancelled 60-46 days prior to scheduled departure will also incur a charge equal to 50% of the invoice, plus any additional fees charged by the supplier. Reservations cancelled within 45 days prior to scheduled departure are 100% non-refundable. Refund requests must be made in writing and received by Explore Tours within 14 days of trip completion. No refunds will be made on unused portions of any itinerary omitted by the passenger while traveling. Air ticket cancellations will require additional charges. No refunds will be considered until all travel documents are returned to Explore Tours.

 

Meet and Assist Services

If not already included automatically in your selected package, Meet and Assist services are available upon request at the rate of $50.00 per person. Parties of three or more will be charged a total fee of $125.00. Group rates will depend on number of participants. Meet and assist services are available at the Anchorage International Airport upon arrival or at the clients' first hotel in Anchorage. Language assistance may be provided for all clients upon receipt of correct arrival and language information. An Alaska Milepost guidebook is also provided. 

 

Transportation

Alaska Railroad, Alaska Marine Highway and other transportation options are available upon request. Clients are responsible for meeting all supplier requirements and adhering to all supplier rules and regulations while travelling.

 

Emergency Contact

Our goal at Explore Tours is complete satisfaction and comfort of the traveler. We do everything possible within our power to ensure clients experience an enjoyable trip, however circumstances may occur that are beyond our control. If a client ever finds him/herself in a situation where emergency assistance is required, a 24-hour emergency telephone number is available to provide help. Emergency contact numbers are listed in the client's documentation.

 

AVT Arctic Tours 

Arctic tour packages to Barrow and Nome are non-refundable once booked and subject to special terms and conditions.  Please inquire with your reservationist for more detail. 

 

Special Custom Tour Itineraries

Explore Tours is pleased to offer custom tour itineraries. A $125.00 non-refundable deposit may be required, and will be applied in full to the confirmed itinerary.

 

Documentation:

Documentation will be scheduled for release electronically at approximately 2 weeks prior to clients' arrival and only after the full payment is received. Other arrangements can be made with advance notice. Please speak to your reservation agent with any special requests. If split vouchers or multiple document packages are requested, an additional documentation processing fee of $30 per occurrence will be charged. Originals will be provided on arrival in Anchorage and delivered in person (if meet & greet service is included with your package) or delivered by courier to your first hotel. Some exceptions may apply depending on services purchased. If you are not arriving into Anchorage, please let us know and we will make other arrangements for delivery.

 

For late bookings (requested after May 1, 2010 for the same summer season) or under 30 days prior to travel: Documentation will only be available electronically within approximately 7 days of travel and originals by courier delivery to first hotel in Anchorage. If alternate delivery is required (due to non-Anchorage arrival location) an expediting and mailing fee will apply accordingly.

 

Weather

Weather can occasionally affect scheduled and nonscheduled flights. If additional services are required by the traveler due to weather or other conditions beyond the control of the operator, travelers will be responsible for their own lodging and meal expenses. Neither Explore Tours, the participating air carrier(s), lodge and/or service will assume additional expenses caused by adverse weather conditions or other acts of God. Under no circumstances can Explore Tours be held responsible for weather conditions or other "Acts of God".

 

Responsibility, Liability, Extra Costs and Vendor Rate Adjustments

As the tour operator, Explore Tours LLC contracts with carriers, hoteliers and other independent suppliers to provide the travel services you purchase. These parties are independent suppliers; Explore Tours LLC has no direct control of the supplier or their products, nor changes to the pricing these vendors offer for their service. We are responsible for effectively reserving and coordinating the itinerary only. Explore Tours LLC is not responsible with respect to any claims, losses, damages, additional costs, expenses or vendor price reductions after the point of proposal acceptance and/or purchase through Explore Tours. Acceptance is confirmed once a credit card is given as approval to move forward with booking services and all rates are locked in at the purchase price valid at that time. Explore Tours will offer the best available contracted rates to our clients, however any special online discounts, last-minute promotions or unanticipated changes to vendor rates cannot be provided once confirmed. All packages are sold under the business management of Explore Tours LLC. Explore Tours LLC is in no way to be considered as the principal or operator of the subject services. Explore Tours LLC reserves the right to cancel or alter any package as conditions require.

 

Rates are current at the time of printing and are subject to change without notice. Explore Tours LLC is not responsible for any expenses due to delays or cancellation of transportation within these packages. The client's payment of tour costs constitutes the client's acceptance of the TERMS AND CONDITIONS set out herein and in more specific, pre-tour passenger documentation, including Explore Tours confirmation and invoice forms.

 

The listed tour price does not include the following: insurance of all kinds, laundry, phone calls, beverages, meals not detailed in the itinerary, tips, personal sundries, excess baggage fees, optional excursions, etc. The tour price does not cover costs and expenses including the return to your home, if you leave the tour at your own volition or due to illness, or as a consequence of official action by the government of any country visited. Special terms and conditions may apply to group bookings.

 

Vendor Rate Increases and Fuel Surcharges 

Due to the volatility of air prices, please be advised that all air prices are subject to change and not guaranteed until full payment. Extra baggage fees and other charges may be directly assessed by airlines or airports. Once you are notified of your flight details, please contact your airline with any questions regarding their current policies as these are changing regularly.  

 

Many cruise lines are advising that they may have to implement fuel surcharges dependent on how severely oil prices fluctuate with the coming season. Specifically including Princess Cruises, who reserves the right to impose a fuel supplement of up to $9 per person per day on all passengers if the NYMEX oil price exceeds $70 per barrel, even if the fare has already been paid in full. Holland America Line also reserves the right to impose a fuel supplement of up to $9 per person per day on all passengers if the NYMEX oil price exceeds $70 per barrel. These surcharges are not limited to the cruise lines mentioned above and may be subject to change at any time. 

 

TSA Airline Secure Flight Program
Please be aware that we are now requiring new pre-flight information for all major air carrier services. For tickets purchased on or after August 12, 2009, passengers will need to provide the following: Full legal name (as it appears on passenger's government issued ID used when traveling), Birth dates, Genders and if you will be using your Passport as ID, you will also need to provide your passport number in advance.

 

Airfare
All airfare quotes are subject to change without notice until held or purchased. If your package includes airfare, your flights will be listed and costs will be reflected in your total quoted purchase price. However, Explore Tours cannot guarantee schedules or rates until airfare is ticketed as flight costs and availability are continually changing and may result in slight or occasionally substantial differences until time of acceptance.

 

Our expert air consultants will always find the lowest possible price according to your preferred routing at the time of quote and can often hold seats for 24 hours with your instruction, but we cannot guarantee rates or availability until acceptance with full payment of airfare in order to complete ticketing. The customer is responsible for providing Explore Tours staff with any schedule requests prior to acceptance of quote. If a time preference is not made for flights included within program proposals, the schedule will be auto-selected according to the logical order and coordination with surrounding components. The client will be responsible for any cost differences or change fees incurred if schedule preferences are not given until after ticketing is complete.

 

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please review your itinerary carefully for accuracy and ensure that all passenger names are complete and match government issued ID along with verifying flight schedules. Once services are confirmed, Explore Tours will not be responsible for penalties for name changes, corrections or program adjustments. 

 

Contact Explore Tours Reservations
For reservations, please call our toll free number 1-800-523-7405 or send your request to: info@exploretours.com. For International callers, you may dial our main office direct at: 1-907-786-0192.