Terms & Conditions
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Booking conditions
Please take the time to read and understand the conditions of booking set out below prior to booking a Retreat with Australian Yoga Retreats. We strongly recommend that you also read the Retreat descriptions relating to each Retreat prior to booking to ensure that you understand the itinerary and style of the Retreat you are undertaking.
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Our contract
All bookings are made with Little Lotus Ltd t/a Australian Yoga Retreats (us/we). By booking a retreat with us you are deemed to have agreed to these Booking Conditions (which constitutes the entire agreement between you and us) and your booking will be accepted by us on this basis. The services to be provided are those referred to in your booking confirmation invoice.
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Validity
Dates, itineraries and prices are valid from 01 July 2010 until 31 December 2010. Beyond 31 December 2010 dates, itineraries and prices are indicative only.
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Deposit requirement
You are required to pay a non-refundable deposit of AUD$250 for your booking to be confirmed (please note that special deposit requirements apply for some trips). If your booking is made within 60 days of the departure date then the full amount is payable at the time of booking.
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Acceptance of booking and final payments
Acceptance of your Retreat booking will be confirmed by us in writing. Please refer to your booking confirmation invoice for details regarding final payments. Payment of the balance of the retreat price is due 60 days before the departure date. If this balance is not paid on or before the due date we reserve the right to treat your booking as cancelled.
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Your details
In order for us to confirm your Retreat arrangements you must provide all requested details with the balance of the Retreat price. Necessary details include full name as per passport, date of birth, nationality, passport number and passport issue and expiry date (if you are an International visitor to Australia) and any pre-existing medical conditions you have which may affect your ability to complete the Retreat and travel arrangements. If you are 70 years of age or over we also require you to complete and forward a Self-Assessment form, available on request. Your booking cannot be confirmed without provision of these details.
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Late bookings
For any bookings or additional services accepted within 15 days of departure we reserve the right to charge an AUD$50 late fee to cover our additional administration costs.
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Cancellation by you, the traveler
If you cancel a Retreat after making a booking you will lose some or all of the money you have paid for the Retreat. A cancellation will only be effective when we receive written confirmation of the cancellation. If you cancel a trip:
- 60 days or more prior to departure, we will retain the deposit;
- between 30 and 59 days prior to departure, we will retain the deposit or 50% of the total booking cost; whichever is greater, and
- less than 30 days prior to departure, we will retain 100% paid by you in connection with the booking.
Different fees may apply to airline tickets, if included in the retreat package, depending on the carrier being used. You are strongly advised to take out cancellation insurance at the time of booking which will cover cancellation penalties in certain circumstances. If you leave a trip for any reason after it has commenced we are not obliged to make any refunds for unused services.
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Cancellation by us
We may cancel a Retreat at any time prior to departure, subject to clause 15. We may cancel a trip at any time prior to departure if, due to terrorism, natural disasters, political instability or other external events it is not viable for us to operate the planned itinerary. If we cancel a retreat you may choose between us applying the amounts paid toward an alternative trip or receiving a full refund. We are not responsible for any incidental expenses that you may have incurred as a result of your booking such as accommodation arrangements or non-refundable flights.
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Booking amendments
If you wish to transfer from one Retreat to another you must notify us at least 60 days prior to the proposed departure date of your original Retreat booking. A fee of AUD$125 per person per change will apply (in addition to any charges levied by hotels, ground operators or airlines). If you notify us less than 60 days prior to the proposed departure date the refund policy applicable to cancellations will apply. Amendments to any other arrangements made in conjunction with your trip will incur an AUD$50 administration fee per booking per change. This fee is in addition to any charges levied by hotels, ground operators or airlines. No amendments are permitted to your booking within 10 days of departure.
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Inclusions
The land price of your retreat includes:
- all accommodation as listed in the 'What's Included' notes;
- all transport listed in the 'What's Included' notes;
- sightseeing and meals as listed in the 'What's Included' notes;
- the services of a group leader as described in the 'What's Included' notes;
- Be sure to read the 'What to bring' notes in the Retreat Details to understand which essentials are not included in the land price of your retreat and recommended for you to supply for yourself.
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Exclusions
The land price of your retreat does not include:
- international or internal flights unless specified;
- airport transfers, taxes and excess baggage charges unless specified;
- meals other than those specified in the 'What's Included' notes;
- visa and passport fees if required;
- travel insurance;
- optional activities and sightseeing and all personal expenses.
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Early bird discount
Early Bird discounts are available until the listed Early Bird date or until minimum retreat numbers are reached, whichever comes first; not available in conjunction with any further discounts.
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Age
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Minimum:
- General Policy: For the majority of our retreats the minimum age for participants is 16. All participants under the age of 18 must be accompanied by an adult who is responsible for the child's day-to-day care. Please note we cannot guarantee triple or joining rooms for families; accompanying adults may be required to share with others in the group on a twin share basis.
- Variations: A minimum age of 18 applies to many of our trekking/bushwalking Retreats.
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Maximum:
- General Policy: For the majority of our trips we have no upper age limit though we remind you that our Retreats can be physically demanding and a Self-Assessment form is required for all participants 70 years and over.
- Variations: On some of our trekking/bushwalking Retreats a maximum age of 70 applies and will be advised at time of booking.
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Small groups
Our trips are guaranteed to depart once they have five fully paid travelers (unless minimum group size specifically states otherwise); this means at times we can have very small groups. If you would like to know how many people are booked on your retreat please ask prior to making your booking.
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Passport and visas
If you are retreating with us as an International guest while visiting Australia you must carry a valid passport and have obtained all of the appropriate visas, permits and certificates for your stay in Australia. Your passport must be valid for at least 1 month beyond the duration of the retreat. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of the correct visas, permits and certificates for your stay in Australia. We are not responsible if you are refused entry to Australia because you lack the correct passport, visa or other travel documentation.
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Travel insurance
Travel insurance is highly recommended for all Australian Yoga Retreats Retreat participants and should be taken out at the time of booking. Your travel insurance should provide cover against personal accident, death, medical expenses and emergency repatriation with a recommended minimum coverage of AUD$200,000 for each of the heads of cover. We also strongly recommend your travel insurance covers cancellation, curtailment, personal liability and loss of luggage and personal effects.
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Flexibility
You appreciate and acknowledge that in some instances the nature of this type of Retreat includes adventure travel that requires considerable flexibility and you should allow for alternatives. The itinerary provided for each Retreat is representative of the types of activities contemplated, but it is understood that the route, schedules, itineraries, amenities and mode of transport may be subject to alteration without prior notice due to local circumstances or events.
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Change of itinerary
While we endeavor to operate all Retreats as described we reserve the right to change the Retreat itinerary. Please refer to our website before departure for the most recent updates to your itinerary. Before departure: If we make a major change we will inform you as soon as reasonably possible if there is time before departure. The definition of a major change is deemed to be a change affecting at least one day in five of the itinerary. When a major change is made you may choose between accepting the change, obtaining a refund of money paid on the land portion of the Retreat only or accepting an alternative retreat offered.After departure: We reserve the right to change an itinerary after departure due to local circumstances or events outside of our control. In such emergency circumstances the additional cost of any necessary itinerary alterations will be covered by you.Please note we are not responsible for any incidental expenses that may be incurred as a result of the change of itinerary such as accommodation arrangements or non-refundable flights.
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Authority on tour
An Australian Yoga Retreats Leader runs our group retreats. The decision of the Retreat Leader is final on all matters likely to affect the safety or well being of any person participating in the Retreat. If you fail to comply with a decision made by a Retreat Leader, or interfere with the well being of the group, the Retreat Leader may order you to leave the Retreat immediately, with no right of refund. You must at all times comply with the laws and regulations of Australia, and behave in a manner conducive to the overall safety and well being of the retreat group.
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Acceptance of risk
You acknowledge that the nature of the Retreat is adventurous and participation involves a degree of personal risk. You will be visiting places where the geographical attributes present dangers and physical challenges greater than those present in our daily lives, and you will be participating in yoga activities that may challenge the body physically and mentally. It is your own responsibility to acquaint yourself with all possible relevant travel information and the nature of your itinerary; and you take responsibility for any injuries you may incur through the practice of yoga while on Retreat, under our direct instruction or independently. You acknowledge that your decision to participate in a yoga Retreat is made in light of consideration of this information and you accept that you assume the personal risks attendant upon such participation.
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Limitation of liability
We contract with a network of companies, government agencies and individuals to assist in the running of our retreats as agent for these third parties. We are not responsible for the acts and omissions of these third parties.
To the fullest extent permitted by law:
- any liability for any loss, death, injury or damage which you may suffer (directly or indirectly) in connection with or arising out of your participation in a Retreat, or any breach of the Booking Conditions, is excluded;
- you release us and our officers, employees, agents and representatives from any liability and expressly waive any claims you may have against us arising out of or in connection with your participation in a Retreat;
- and any condition or warranty which would otherwise be implied by law into these Booking Conditions (Implied Warranty), is excluded;
- To the extent an Implied Warranty cannot be excluded, our liability in respect of the Implied Warranty is limited to (in our absolute discretion):
- the provision of a similar trip to an equivalent value; or
- a refund of the total amount received by us from you in connection with your booking. Any claim by you is excluded to the extent that it is for indirect or consequential loss, loss of profits or economic loss, however it arises, or for indirect, special, punitive or exemplary damages.
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Optional activities
Optional activities not included in the Retreat price do not form part of the Retreat or this contract. You accept that any assistance given by your Retreat leader or local representative in arranging optional activities does not render us liable for them.
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Errors & omissions
Although we have made a concerted attempt to verify the accuracy of statements made in our Retreat documentation including brochure, website and individual Retreat details we cannot be held responsible for any error, omission or unintentional misrepresentation that may occur.
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Complaints
If you have a complaint about your Retreat please inform your Retreat leader or our local representative at the time in order that they can attempt to rectify the matter. If satisfaction is not reached through these means then any further complaint should be put in writing to us within 30 days of the end of the tour.
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Severability
In the event that any term or condition contained in these Booking Conditions is unenforceable or void by operation of law or as being against public policy or for any other reason then such term or condition shall be deemed to be severed from this contract or amended accordingly only to such extent necessary to allow all remaining terms and conditions to survive and continue as binding.
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Photos and marketing
You consent to us using images of you taken during the Retreat for advertising and promotional purposes in any medium we choose. You grant us a perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide, irrevocable license to use such images for publicity and promotional purposes.
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Privacy policy
Any personal information that we collect about you may be used for any purpose associated with the operation of a Retreat or to send you marketing material in relation to our events and special offers. The information may be disclosed to our agents, service providers or other suppliers to enable us to operate the Retreat. We will otherwise treat your details in accordance with our privacy policy (available for viewing on our Website).
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Applicable law
The laws of the Victoria, Australia govern these Booking Conditions and any disputes in connection with a trip or these Booking Conditions must be initiated in the courts of Victoria, Australia.
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Principal place of business address
Australian Yoga Retreats is located at 5 Hall St Newport Victoria 3015 Australia
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Contact us
You are welcome to contact Australian Yoga Retreats if you have any questions about the terms of business offered by us, or your dealings with us. We are committed to being of service to you and resolving any issues that may arise amicably.