Terms and Conditions

Terms and Conditions of JourneyTime

a division of Castlehill Trading 33 cc
(Hereinafter referred to as “JourneyTime”)

A. About us

JourneyTime operates as a brokerage for accommodation, transfers and many other travel services both in South Africa as well as internationally.

Our focus is to make the travel agent’s day to day dealings with their clients effortless by providing a quick turnaround time on quotations and bookings.

As the booking agent for the suppliers of the tour packages we organise, bookings for their services will form a direct contract between you and the relevant supplier, and will be subject to that supplier’s standard terms and conditions.

Please read the following booking conditions carefully, as they set out the terms and conditions of the contract between you and JourneyTime.

B. Processing of Bookings

Quotations

  1. Quoted availability and rates are always “Best rate of the day” and calculated on the day’s exchange rate if applicable.
  2. Rates quoted will always detail inclusions. Any item not shown in the inclusions should be deemed as excluded in the rate quoted and therefore additional and for the traveller’s account.
  3. All availability and rates are re-checked on acceptance of the quotation and should any variations occur, you will be notified immediately.

Bookings

  1. Availability of accommodation and travel services cannot be guaranteed until full payment is received. Full payment must be reflected in our account before a reservation can be finalised and confirmed. Prices and availabilities can only be guaranteed once full payment has been received. Should we not be able to confirm your reservation after receipt of payment, a refund will be made to you or a credit held against your next booking.
  2. Cancellation conditions are as per the terms and conditions of the hotel and the respective service providers.

Deposits

  1. For certain travel packages, bookings can be secured on payment of a deposit. You will be advised at the time of booking what deposit payment is required for your particular travel arrangements.
  2. The balance of the cost of your travel arrangements must be paid no less than eight weeks prior to departure. If your booking is made within 8 weeks of departure, the total cost of your travel arrangements must be paid at the time of booking.
  3. FAILURE TO PAY ON TIME COULD RESULT IN THE AUTOMATIC CANCELLATION OF YOUR BOOKING.

Late and Last Minute Bookings

  1. In the event of a booking being made less than 7 days prior to the date of departure, JourneyTime reserves the right to charge for any additional expenses to rush the booking through.
  2. Full payment is due immediately on presentation of invoice and is non-refundable on all late bookings. Some bookings require full payment at the time of booking i.e. prior to confirmation.

Price Changes

  1. The costs associated with travel arrangements are not stable, and currency movements can fluctuate sharply. It is impossible to predict these movements in advance. When you book a package through us, we reserve the right to pass on any surcharges to you. Surcharges may be imposed to cover increases in transportation costs, including the costs of fuel and security charges, taxes or fees chargeable for services such as landing taxes or embarkation or disembarkation fees at ports and airports, or exchange rates applied to the particular package.
  2. Any variations or price changes will be communicated to you immediately JourneyTime is aware of them.
  3. JourneyTime guarantees the price of land arrangements only once full payment is received.
  4. Quoted rates in any form from JourneyTime is/are always subject to confirmation with the advertised establishment/service provider and availability, their seasonal and peak season rates and any other unforeseen influence is out of the control of JourneyTime.

Agency Commission

Agency commission is included in rates as quoted and invoiced. Agency commission is forfeit should it not be claimed within 90 days from date of invoice.

Unscheduled Extensions

In the unlikely event of there being an unscheduled extension to the travel arrangements / tour caused by flight delays, bad weather, strikes, or any other cause which is beyond the control of JourneyTime, it is understood that the expenses relating to these unscheduled extensions, (hotel accommodation etc.), will be for the account of the passenger. JourneyTime accepts no liability for changes, omissions or delays before or during the course of any holiday occasioned by technical difficulties, weather conditions, strikes or communication breakdowns or the like.

Changes by You

  1. If you wish to make a change to your booking we will endeavour to assist you to make the change wherever this is possible. You will have to pay all charges, whatever kind, imposed by the suppliers providing that component part of your travel arrangements when amending a booking any time prior to departure. Rates will be re-quoted at the time of amendment.
  2. An administration fee of 10% will be charged for each amendment and / or cancellation.
  3. After departure it is understood that extra expenses incurred as a result of any change will be for the passenger’s account, and any unused service will not be refunded.
  4. Amendments and cancellations en route must be made with our operators directly.

Cancellation by You

  1. If you wish to cancel your booking, JourneyTime must be notified immediately.
  2. You will be responsible for all cancellation charges imposed by the suppliers providing the component parts of such travel arrangements. In some circumstances this may be 100% of the total rate, regardless of when cancellation is effected.
  3. JourneyTime charges a cancellation fee equal to 10% of the package price on any finalised booking. However, JourneyTime reserves the right to charge a cancellation fee of up to 100% of the total package, in its sole discretion, in particular circumstances. Any monies, which you have already paid to us, will be taken by us as payment or part payment of any cancellation charges.

Our Right To Change Your Travel Arrangements

  1. Every effort is made by JourneyTime to adhere to confirmed itineraries; however, we reserve the right to make changes to your travel arrangements when it becomes necessary to do so. Travel arrangements are made in advance but due to the fact that JourneyTime is reliant upon suppliers such as airlines, hotels and/or other supply companies, changes to travel arrangements and cancellations thereof may occasionally become necessary.
  2. Should any travel component be confirmed by JourneyTime and this component is cancelled by the supplier for whatsoever reason, then in such instances JourneyTime will accept no liability for the cancellation thereof.

C. Methods of Payment

  1. All transactions will be processed in South African Rand (ZAR).
  2. We do accept credit cards at this time.
  3. Please note we require a minimum of 14 working days to clear all cheques before a booking can be made, confirmed and documents can be issued.
  4. We accept EFT transfers into one of our bank accounts, subject to condition that the EFT transmission report is provided to ourselves and such payment has been confirmed as received by ourselves.
  5. Please note that foreign EFT / SWIFT transfers attract bank charges in the sender and receiving bank – these charges are for the payer’s account.
  6. Please note that cash deposits attract cash deposit fees, which will be for the payer’s account.
  7. Please use your unique booking number as the reference. This should ensure speedy processing of your booking.

D. Insurance

We consider adequate travel insurance to be essential and will not be liable if anyone should fail to take adequate insurance cover.

E. Travel Timings

Travel timings as provided by operators, agents, airlines, etc and are subject to restrictions at times, to weather conditions, the need for constant maintenance, and the ability of passengers to check-in on time. There is no guarantee that flights, ferries, ships, trains, transfers, motor vehicles or coaches will depart at the times stated on any itinerary or tickets which you receive. All timings are estimates only, and we do not accept any liability for any delay, however arising, or for any schedule alterations.

F. Reconfirmation

It is your responsibility to ensure that you reconfirm the dates and times of all your travel services at least 48 hours prior to departure. This is particularly important in respect of subsequent journeys once leaving South Africa and JourneyTime hereby specifically excludes any liability for any delay and /or loss as a result of your failure to reconfirm any travel plans.

G. Documents

  1. Documents: (vouchers, itineraries, etc.) are only prepared on receipt of full payment of the journey price.
  2. Should you require your documents to be forwarded to either yourself or the departure airport this may be arranged by your agent with us. However, any costs in respect thereof will be for your own account.
  3. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU CHECK ALL DETAILS OF YOUR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS BEFORE LEAVING YOUR COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE. IF THERE ARE ANY INACCURACIES ON ANY OF YOUR TRAVEL DOCUMENTS, OR SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY FURTHER QUERIES, YOU SHOULD CONTACT YOUR TRAVEL AGENT IMMEDIATELY. JOURNEYTIME WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DELAY AND/OR LOSS OCCASIONED AS A RESULT OF ANY INACCURACIES ON ANY TRAVEL DOCUMENTS ONCE YOU ARE IN RECEIPT THEREOF AND YOU HAVE LEFT YOUR COUNTRY OF RESIDENCE.

H. Complaints

  1. In the event that you have any reason to complain, or experience any problems with your travel plans whilst away, you must immediately inform the supplier of the services in question. Any verbal notification must be put in writing and given to the supplier as soon as possible.
  2. If you are still dissatisfied, you must notify us at the earliest opportunity – until we know about a problem or complaint, we cannot begin to resolve it. Failure to give us the opportunity to resolve any problem at the time it occurs will result in either a reduction, or complete extinction, of any rights which you may have, to claim compensation from us.
  3. If you remain dissatisfied, you must write to our Customer Service Manager within 28 days of the end of the journey which you arranged through JourneyTime, giving your booking reference and full details of your complaint on info@journeytime.com.
  4. Whilst every effort will be made by JourneyTime to resolve your complaint to your satisfaction it is specifically recorded that JourneyTime in no way accepts liability for any claim that you may have in respect of your complaint.

I. Passports, Visas, Vaccinations and Inoculations

  1. It is your responsibility to ensure that you and all those travelling with you have a valid passport and any necessary visas, and that you have obtained any necessary inoculations to gain entry to any country you are visiting and to re-enter South Africa.
  2. JourneyTime accepts no liability whatsoever should you, or any member of your party, travel without the correct passport, visas or necessary vaccinations. As a guideline, passports should be valid for 6 months after your scheduled return to South Africa and have 2 clean facing pages. The name on your travel documents must be identical to the name in your passport.

J. General Information

Taxes

We will advise you of all mandatory taxes, which you must pay before departure. However, many countries charge departure taxes that can only be paid locally. It is therefore recommended that you retain sufficient local currency to meet such charges. Details of departure taxes can be obtained from the relevant airline when you reconfirm your flight details.

Special requests

We can pass on any special requests that you may wish to make at the time of booking, but acceptance of such requests is at the discretion of the travel supplier and in no circumstances are special requests guaranteed. Confirmation that a special request has been noted or passed on to the supplier, or the inclusion of the special request on your confirmation invoice or any other documentation, is not confirmation that the request will be met.

Medical Problems

If you or any member of your party have any medical problem or disability which may affect your holiday, you need to give us full details in writing at the time of booking. If we reasonably feel unable to properly accommodate the particular needs of the person concerned, we reserve the right to decline their reservation or, if full details are not given at the time of booking, cancel when we become aware of these details

Renovations

Please be aware that hotels undergo renovations from time to time. Hotels take all possible steps to limit disruption to their guests. We will not entertain complaints or requests for refunds if a hotel is carrying out renovations whilst a guest is resident. If we are specifically advised of renovation work, dates may be provided, but it is important to remember that these are subject to change and we are not always notified.

Refunds and Unused Services

No refunds will be made for any unused services.

Charges to your credit card

Any charges made to your credit card whilst away are your responsibility. JourneyTime will not be responsible, nor accept responsibility for having these charges reversed or corrected upon return to South Africa.

K. Force Majeure

Except where otherwise expressly stated in these booking conditions, we regret we cannot accept liability or pay any compensation where the performance or prompt performance of our contractual obligations is prevented or affected, or you otherwise suffer any damage or loss, as a result of “force majeure”. In these Booking Conditions, “force majeure” means any event which we or the supplier of the service(s) in question could not, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Such events may include war or threat of war, riot, civil strife, terrorist activity or actual threatened terrorist activity, industrial dispute, natural or nuclear disaster, adverse weather conditions, fire and all similar events outside our control.

L. Responsibility And Liability

JourneyTime act as agents only for local and international tour operators and accordingly accepts no liability whatsoever for any loss, damage, injury, accident, delay, or any other irregularity howsoever arising. JourneyTime makes every effort to ensure that all the arrangements and services connected with a passenger’s itinerary will be carried out as specified in the most efficient and effective way possible. However, we do not have direct control over the provision of services by suppliers and, whilst they are in all cases selected with the utmost care, we do not accept liability for error and omissions of such suppliers. The contract in use by third party suppliers shall constitute the sole contract between the Supplier and the Client and any recourse the Client may have, will be solely against the Supplier. It’s the Client’s responsibility to familiarise him/herself with the terms and conditions of any supplier.

M. Legal

This document together with JourneyTime’s invoice and/or itinerary constitutes the sole record of the agreement between the parties. No party shall be bound by any representation, warranty, and promise of the like not recorded herein. No addition to the JourneyTime’s standard booking conditions shall be of any force or effect unless in writing and signed by or on behalf of the parties. No indulgence which JourneyTime, (“the grantor”), may grant to the passenger (“the grantee”), shall constitute a waiver of any of the rights of the grantor, who shall not thereby be precluded from exercising any rights against the grantee which may have arisen in the past or which might arise in the future. All costs and disbursements, including legal costs on the attorney and client scale incurred by JourneyTime in recovering any damages and payments payable by the passenger to JourneyTime shall be for the passengers’ account. This agreement shall in all respects be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the Republic of South Africa.

The passenger hereby consents to the jurisdiction of the Magistrates Court having jurisdiction over its person in respect of all proceedings in connection with this agreement. The parties hereby respectively choose domicilium citandi et executandi for all notices and processes to be given and served in pursuance of this agreement at their respective addresses as given on JourneyTime’s standard documentation. Either party may change its domicilium by written notice delivered by hand or sent by prepaid registered post to the other party. In this agreement an expression which denotes a gender includes the other genders, a natural person includes an artificial person and vice versa, the singular includes the plural and vice versa.

N. Updating of these Terms and Conditions

We reserve the right to change, modify, add to or remove from portions or the whole of these Terms and Conditions from time to time. Changes to these Terms and Conditions will become effective upon such changes being posted to this Website. It is the User’s obligation to periodically check these Terms and Conditions at the Website for changes or updates. The User’s continued use of this Website following the posting of changes or updates will be considered notice of the User’s acceptance to abide by and be bound by these Terms and Conditions, including such changes or updates.

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