1. GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS: By booking with Tropical Travel Inc., you agree to the terms and conditions contained herein. Any payment constitutes acceptance of the terms herein. All policies, procedure and terms contained herein are subject to change at any time without notice. Group vacations have special terms and conditions- please refer to your group contract. Tropical Travel is acting as the booking agent for the client in acquiring transportation, hotel accommodations, sightseeing and other privilege's for the clients' benefit and on the express condition that Tropical Travel shall not be responsible for any loss, accident, injury, delay, defect, omission or irregularity which may occur or be occasioned, whether by reason of any act, negligence or default of any company or person engaged in or responsible for carrying out any of the arrangements, or otherwise in connection therewith. Tropical Travel and the tour operator have taken reasonable steps to ensure that proper arrangements have been made for your vacation. Tropical Travel is not an agent of independent travel providers, and expressly disclaim any liability for their actions or omissions.
2. BOOKINGS, DEPOSITS AND PAYMENTS: TSA regulations require you to provide your full name as it appears on your travel documents, date of birth, and gender at the time of booking for the purpose of watch-list screening. Failure to provide this information will result in your not being allowed to travel. For details visit www.tsa.gov. To reserve your vacation, provide the required booking information and pay applicable deposit per person, including full payment of Travel Insurance. We reserve the right to treat the booking as canceled by you if the balance is not paid when due. You are responsible for any change fees to correct names. If traveling Internationally the document will be your passport. If Domestic, will be your valid driver’s license or state ID. If you decline Travel Insurance and cancel your booking, any refund due will be given after applicable penalties. If you have elected to make payments on your trip, you are expressly giving Tropical Travel permission to charge your credit card each month per the payment schedule. The schedule and amount can change should you make changes or additions to the trip.
3. REQUIRED ENTRY/ REENTRY DOCUMENTATION: Proper documentation is YOUR responsibility. The following information is based on current requirements for U.S. citizens at time of publication. This information may change- see your travel agent or contact your destination consulate for the most current requirements on your travel date.
Passengers returning to the U.S. by air from any international destination must have a valid passport, and may be denied boarding by the airline if the passport is damaged, mutilated, or has excessive wear. A “Passport Card” is not acceptable. If your name on your passport (or for non-U.S. citizens, “valid travel documents”) does not match your name on your travel documentation, you will not be allowed to travel. A passport valid for up to 6 months past the date of completed travel is required when traveling internationally. Married or divorced women traveling under names other than what is printed on their travel documents must supply a marriage license and/or divorce decree. If you are not a U.S. citizen, contact your destination’s consulate or embassy to determine required entry documents.
Passports are NOT required for travel within the continental U.S., Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. However, travel to these U.S. destinations/ U.S. territories requires a valid state/government-issued picture I.D. or valid state-issued driver’s license. Beginning May 3, 2023, your valid state/government-issued picture I.D. or valid state-issued driver’s license must be compliant with the Real ID ACT. Visit dhs.gov/real-id for more information. If it is not compliant, visit tsa.gov/travel/security-screening/identification for alternate forms of acceptable ID.
Any passenger who is denied boarding due to lack of proper documentation will have their vacation cancelled. Failure to comply with the above requirements will result in you not being allowed to travel and no refund will be given.
4. CANCELLATIONS, CHANGE FEES & REFUNDS- Your right to any refunds if you change your plans, is limited. Cancellations and changes to any booking are subject to both Tropical Travel Administrative fees and fees imposed by tour operators, airlines, hotels, and other suppliers. Changes or revisions after deposit start at $100 per change. All changes and cancellations are subject to availability, limitations, restrictions, and fees imposed by Tropical Travel and the Tour Operator (“brand fees”) and its third-party suppliers (“supplier penalties’’ assessed directly by the airline, hotel, and/or feature providers, such as excursion operators). Certain excursion operators only allow a refund if canceled upon notice to them.
If you cancel your vacation or change your travel dates, flight, duration, class of service, name, departure city, or destination, the charges shown below become payable by you. Significant additional penalties (i.e. nonrefundable airline tickets and fees, nonrefundable or nontransferable hotel promotions) may apply. If the number of individuals occupying a room changes, the remaining traveler(s) will be responsible for any additional costs incurred as a result of a change in the per person occupancy rate. If all travelers change, it is considered a new booking and cancellation fees may apply. Nonrefundable hotels incur penalties upon deposit. Once travel has begun, there will be no refunds for any unused or partially used travel component for any reason. Contracted group bookings follow alternative change and cancellation policies according to the group’s contract. Many airfares and hotel reservations are nonrefundable and nontransferable, and you may be charged 100% cancellation/change penalties. Changes to, or cancellation of, a Basic Economy flight will result in forfeiture of tickets. During Travel changes are billed at $150 each by Tropical Travel in additional to change fees charged by Tour Operators.
Standard change and cancellation policies apply to bookings made with future travel credits. Cancellation penalties for cancellations within 45-30 days of departure start at $400 per person, 30 days or less, no refund without travel insurance. Administrative penalties for cancellation are $750.00 per person and payable upon cancellation. Administrative penalties are covered by Travel Insurance when cancelling for a covered reason. Cancel for any Reason Insurance does not cover $250 per person Administrative Penalties paid at the time of cancellation.
5. LUGGAGE AND PERSONAL PROPERTY-Many airlines charge fees for checked and/or carry-on bags. Fees vary and are set by each air carrier. Information on carrier baggage policy and fees, liability for lost, misconnected and damaged baggage or other personal property can be obtained through your travel agent, by contacting the air carrier directly, by requesting them at the airport. Carry-on luggage is limited to one bag per person and must be small enough to fit beneath the seat in front of you. Excess/oversized baggage may be denied at check-in or subject to additional charges. Tropical Travel accepts no liability for loss or damage to luggage and recommends a TSA approved lock. All lost or damaged luggage must be reported to an airline representative at the destination airport by the passenger before you leave the airport. Some airlines do not cover damage to soft-sided luggage.
6. FLIGHT INFORMATION- All flight times are subject to change. It is your responsibility to reconfirm your flight times prior to departing for the airport. If you fail to check in for your flight at the required time, you may be denied boarding and may not be eligible for a refund. Tropical Travel assumes no responsibility for any passengers making independent connections to flights not booked with Tropical Travel. Pre-assigned seat selection is at the discretion of the air carrier and may require payment of an additional fee. We have made arrangements for air transportation to your vacation destination via regularly scheduled certificated air carriers or other air carriers who have duly filed with and are authorized to operate air transportation and public charter transportation by the U.S. Department of Transportation. We reserve the right to substitute alternate air carriers if necessary. All air travel is subject to the terms and conditions of the operating air carrier. When you fly to and from your destination the Conditions of Carriage apply, some of which limit or exclude liability. The Conditions of Carriage are available by requesting them in writing from the carrier or by request at the airport.
7. FLIGHTS AND AIRPORT CHECK-IN- Your flight information will appear on the booking confirmation issued when you make your deposit, and on your electronic travel documents issued upon full payment. All flight times are subject to change without notice. We strongly suggest that you reconfirm exact flight times with the carrier 24 hours prior to departure and again before departing for the airport. Please be advised that we may provide your name, phone number and/or email address to third party suppliers such as air carriers to be used to advise passengers of irregular flight operations and disruptions, where available.
For international flights, we recommend arriving at the airport at least three hours prior to your scheduled departure time to allow time to check in and get through security. For domestic flights, we recommend that you arrive two hours prior to travel but absolutely no later than one hour prior to travel. If you do not have pre-assigned seats and have seat preferences, we recommend that you arrive early as seats will be assigned upon check in based on availability. Pre-assigned seat selection is at the discretion of the air carrier and may require payment of an additional fee.
If you do not check in at the airport or gate at the required time, or do not possess proper documentation, you will be denied boarding and will not be eligible for a refund. Additionally, if you fail to check in for your flight without prior cancellation, you are considered a no-show and will not be eligible for a refund. Travel Protection Plus does not cover the instances noted above. Apple Vacations assumes no responsibility for any passengers making independent connections to flights booked through Apple Vacations. Some airlines do not charge for infants under two years of age, but the infant must sit on an adult’s lap. Other airlines do charge for infants or infant air-related taxes. Please check with your air carrier. If an infant reaches the age of two at any time during the vacation, federal law requires the purchase of a separate seat for any remaining portions of the flight. Some countries charge infant departure taxes.
8. TRAVEL DOCUMENTS- Your travel documents will be emailed to you once full payment is received and approximately 2 weeks before travel. Please check them carefully to ensure that all the information is correct and passenger names exactly match your Proof of Citizenship. If you discover an error, please contact your travel agent immediately.
9. TRAVELING MINORS- We cannot accept unaccompanied minors under 18 for any travel. For certain countries, a notarized consent from both parents or legal guardian(s) is required for children younger than 18 years old traveling with one parent, or in someone else's custody; or a notarized birth certificate showing only one parent, a parent's death certificate, or a court order of child custody MAY also be permissible. Be sure to check with your travel agent, inquire with your destination‘s consulate, or visit websites such as travel.state.gov, dhs.gov or iatatravelcentre.com. Mexican-born minors under 18 years of age traveling alone or with someone other than a parent or legal guardian, require special documentation to depart Mexico, even if the Minor is a Dual Mexican Citizen. For details, contact the Mexican embassy or click here. Some airlines may require documentation for children traveling without their legal guardian beyond what is mandated by the destination country- contact your airline directly for details.
10. DENIAL OF ENTRY- Certain countries may deny entry to travelers with even a minor criminal record, and if not a U.S. citizen, entry back into the U.S. Check with the U.S. Embassy and the embassy or consulate of the country being visited to ensure you can travel as planned. Tropical Travel does not accept responsibility if you are denied entry and cancellation penalties apply.
11. GOVERNING LAW AND DISPUTE RESOLUTION- This Contract shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Texas. Should a dispute or controversy arise concerning the terms and conditions of this Contract or involving a claim for loss, injury or other damage arising out of or relating to your trip, any legal action against Tropical Travel shall be brought exclusively in the Ellis Court of Common Pleas of Ellis County. You agree to present any claims against us within 30 days after your trip end and to file suit within one year of the incident, and you acknowledge that this expressly limits the applicable status of limitations to one year. If any term or provision of this Contract is determined by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable, such holding will not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining terms and provisions. We each agree that any dispute resolution proceedings will be conducted only on an individual basis and not in a class, consolidated or representative action.
12. CREDIT CARD TRANSACTIONS AND CHARGEBACKS- If for any reason, any travel service provider is unable to provide the services for which you have contracted, your remedy lies against the provider, and not against Tropical Travel or the Tour Operator. In the event that payment has been made by Tropical Travel to the Tour Operator by credit card, you agree that you will not seek to charge back your payment to Tropical Travel or the Tour Operator. If Tropical Travel or the Tour Operator incurs any costs, including but not limited to attorneys’ fees, to recover any payments charged back by your credit card company, you agree that you will be liable for these costs. If the credit card is declined, you guarantee that you will settle any amounts owed to Tour Operator and Tropical Travel via secondary credit card immediately.
13. HEALTH AND SAFETY TIPS FOR TRAVELERS- As travel opens up around the world, all destinations, airports, air carriers, hotels, restaurants, transfer companies, car rental companies, shops and excursions have established COVID-19 safety measures and precautions which may change from day to day. These safety measures may include but are not limited to curfews, attraction closings and reduced hours, size of group gatherings, social distancing requirements, health screenings and self-quarantine requirements. In addition, you must follow CDC guidelines and the recommendations of health officials. Please note that any public location where people have been or are present provides an inherent risk of exposure to COVID-19 and Tropical Travel cannot guarantee that you will not be exposed during your vacation. By traveling, you agree that you assume these inherent risks associated with your vacation. Any and all additional costs will be your sole responsibility.
Before booking travel and before your travel dates, we strongly recommend that you visit the U.S. Department of State website travel.state.gov, as well as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, cdc.gov, which include important information on foreign travel such as travel advisories, warnings and restrictions issued by the U.S. government. You are responsible for complying with the health requirements of the countries you intend to visit. If you make a booking, you are confirming that you have followed our recommendations above and forever waive any argument that we should have done anything further with respect to warnings or alerts. Check with your physician regarding any immunizations that may be recommended or required. Use common sense while vacationing abroad. For example, if you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. In addition, be cognizant of the effects of mixing alcohol and certain medications. Should someone in your party become ill, alert the resort front desk for immediate medical attention or call the emergency number provided by the resort. Also advise your Resort Representative as soon as possible, who may be able to provide assistance. If you have medical issues or concerns about medical services, we urge you to contact your resort with specific questions. Please be aware that medical standards and training of emergency responders and resort medical facilities vary greatly, and health care abroad may not be the same as you might expect at home. It may be standard policy for hospitals and medical providers abroad to require cash payment upfront for services. Check with your insurance provider regarding claims for reimbursement. Sports and aquatic equipment, especially scuba gear, may not meet U.S. safety standards and many resort pools and beaches may lack lifeguards. Balcony railing heights in Mexico are lower than the mandated heights in the United States, and also may be lower in other countries. Low balcony railings create a risk of falls, which may result in serious injury or death. Bottled drinking water is recommended. BY OFFERING TRAVEL PRODUCTS IN PARTICULAR DESTINATIONS AND INTERNATIONAL DESTINATIONS, WE DO NOT REPRESENT OR WARRANT THAT TRAVEL TO SUCH AREAS IS ADVISABLE OR WITHOUT RISK, AND ARE NOT LIABLE FOR DAMAGES OR LOSSES THAT MAY RESULT FROM TRAVEL TO SUCH DESTINATIONS. No destination is 100% safe. By embarking upon your travel, you voluntarily assume all risks involved in such travel, whether expected or unexpected.
14. LIMITS OF LIABILITY- Tropical Travel acts as a sales agent for any airline, hotel, car-rental company, tour operator, cruise line, or other service provider named in your itinerary or confirmation (“Suppliers”). We are not responsible for the acts or omissions of the Suppliers or their failure to adhere to their own schedules, provide services or refunds, financial default, or failure to honor future trip credits. We have no special knowledge regarding the financial condition of the Suppliers and no liability for recommending a trip credit in lieu of a refund. If Tropical Travel is found liable for the damage suffered by traveler, it's maximum liability shall be limited to commission earned on the trip. Risks of travel or activities may include venturing into remote areas with lack of access to medical facilities. You understand and voluntarily assume the risks, both known and unknown.
15. TRIP EXCLUSIONS- You may incur additional expenses that are not included in the package price, including but not limited to (unless otherwise noted): gratuities, meals and beverages; passport/visa fees; airline seat assignments and baggage fees; departure taxes, environmental levies and hotel energy surcharges; resort fees, car seats; rental cars; transfers, optional excursions; and items of a personal nature. Rates for packages including a rental car do not include state/local taxes, gasoline, optional insurance, Collision Damage Waiver (CDW), under-age driver charges if under the age of 25, or airport charges, which are payable directly to the rental car company. Minimum age requirements may apply- contact your travel agent or the rental car company for specific information. A valid driver's license and major credit card in driver's name are required.
Hotels in Hawaii resort fees from $10-$47 per room, per night payable directly to the hotel; $29 departure tax payable upon departure from Costa Rica; $28 Antigua departure tax payable at airport upon arrival-cash only, Barbados government levy of $5.50- $10 per room per night, based on the rating/ranking attributed to the hotel by the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association, collected at hotel check-out. Environmental levy is payable at hotels in Cancun – 25 Mexican pesos per room per night. Riviera Maya hotels will collect 20 Mexican pesos per room per day. This list and fees are subject to change without notice.
Tour operators and cruise lines reserve the right to pass through and charge a fuel supplement without prior notice, should the closing price of oil increase above $65.00 USD per barrel on the NYMEX (New York Mercantile Exchange Index). In the event a fuel supplement is charged, this will apply a supplementary charge to both existing and new bookings, regardless of whether such bookings have been paid in full. Your Travel Consultant will advise you if this needs to be collected at any point from deposit-departure.
16. SPECIAL REQUESTS- If you request special arrangements such as adjoining rooms/room locations, bedding requests, specific assistance or special meals, we will pass on your request to the vendor on your behalf. However, since these requests lie outside our contracts with our suppliers, we cannot guarantee special requests unless otherwise stated.
17. HAZARDOUS MATERIALS AND INSECTICIDE NOTICE - Federal law forbids the carriage of hazardous materials aboard aircraft in your luggage or on your person. A violation can result in five years' imprisonment and penalties of $250,000 or more (49 U.S.C. 5124). Hazardous materials include explosives, compressed gases, flammable liquids and solids, oxidizers, poisons, corrosives and radioactive materials. Examples: Paints, lighter fluid, fireworks, tear gases, oxygen bottles, and radio-pharmaceuticals. There are special exceptions for small quantities (up to 70 ounces total) of medicinal and toilet articles carried in your luggage and certain smoking materials carried on your person. Special restrictions and limitations for transporting Hazardous Materials and specifically Lithium Ion batteries, refer to faa.gov/go/packsafe for more information. In the event a carry-on bag cannot be accommodated in the passenger cabin and has to be placed below in a cargo bin for any reason, any electronic device or spare Lithium-ion or any other type of battery permitted in carry-on baggage MUST be removed from the carry-on bag and remain in the possession of the passenger in the passenger cabin. For further information, contact your airline representative. Some countries may require aircraft cabin insecticide treatment for in-bound foreign flights. A list of such countries is available at transportation.gov/airconsumer/spray.
18. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; NO OTHER REPRESENTATIONS- This Agreement will constitute the entire agreement, and supersede all other prior agreements, understandings, representations and warranties both written and oral, among the parties, with respect to the subject matter hereof. EACH PARTY HERETO AGREES THAT, EXCEPT FOR THE REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES CONTAINED IN THIS AGREEMENT, THE COMPANY MAKES NO OTHER REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES, AND EACH HEREBY DISCLAIMS ANY OTHER REPRESENTATIONS OR WARRANTIES MADE BY ITSELF OR ANY OF ITS OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, AGENTS, FINANCIAL AND LEGAL ADVISORS OR OTHER REPRESENTATIVES, WITH RESPECT TO THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED.
When you accepted the Terms and Conditions of the original Trip Agreement, you acknowledge that Travel is a highly regulated environment, and fully understand this is a waiver and release of liability. You verify that you are acting as a representative for all travelers listed on reservation and acknowledges Tropical Travel Inc. shall be held harmless and not responsible for resulting disputes taken by fellow travelers arising due to the signor agreeing to & signing this Agreement. Any payments made constitutes Agreement of the Terms listed above. You expressly RELEASE, DISCHARGE, COVENANT NOT TO SUE AND HOLD HARMLESS Tropical Travel , it's owners, officers, employees, agents, representatives, related entities, independent contracts, volunteers, successors and assigns.
19. Privacy Policy - We sometimes use SMS Text Messages to communicate with you about your existing trip. There are zero fees associated with texting our office. You can opt-out at any time. Data and consent will not be shared with any third parties. We will never text you about anything else, other than your current vacation.