Term and Conditions

Deposits

A signed reservation form and a deposit of $500 per person are required to reserve a place on a tour. We will confirm your reservation upon receipt of both the reservation form and the deposit. Deposits and final payments can be made securely through PayPal. You can pay with credit card or check, or by means of a bank transfer. We never see your financial or personal information.

For reservations made less than 60 days before the tour begin date, full payment is required at the time of reservation.

Payments

Final payment is due 60 days prior to the program begin date. If the balance remains unpaid at that time, we will contact you. If the balance remains unpaid, we reserve the right to treat the reservation as cancelled and to retain the deposit.

Prices

Tour prices are in U.S. dollars. All published prices are guaranteed for trips taken in 2008 and through March, 2009. Occasionally, changes in currency exchange rates or supplier charges may make it necessary for us to change tour prices. However, receipt of tour deposit(s) guarantees the published price at the time of booking, even if the price later increases. Current pricing is always available on our website. Payments are accepted in alternate currencies. Please see PayPal, or ask us about the currencies accepted.

Cancellations

All cancellations must be made in writing to Epicurean Ways LLC and will become effective upon receipt. Please note that cancellations made less than 30 days before the tour begins will result in loss of deposit and final payment. If we receive your written cancellation notice more than 60 days before the tour begins, we will refund your payments less a $500 cancellation fee. If we receive your written cancellation notice less than 60 days but more than 30 days before the tour begins, we will refund your payments less a $750 cancellation fee. If we receive your written cancellation notice less than 30 days before the tour begins, no refunds will be issued. If you find it necessary to cancel your trip, and do so more than 60 days before the tour start date, you will have the option of transferring your payment to another Epicurean Ways trip.

The purchase of travel insurance is strongly recommended as it may cover trip cancellation, interruption, or delay for medical reasons, or other unforeseen circumstances. Epicurean Ways sells Travel Guard travel insurance. Please ask us about the travel plans offered or see Travel Guard

Refunds

No refunds are issued in the event that the participant fails to participate in any part(s) of the program. There will be no refunds in the event you arrive for the program late or leave early.

Please note that problems that may arise while on tour should be addressed promptly with the tour manager or guide, or by contacting Epicurean Ways while you are on the tour. Failure to address such problems while participating in the tour will mean that Epicurean Ways will be unable to offer any adjustment that otherwise might be available.

Tour Conditions

Tour prices given are per person and based on double occupancy. A single supplement will apply for one person occupying a double room. If a tour participant would like to share a double room with another tour participant, Epicurean Ways will try to accommodate the request, but cannot guarantee its availability. Please note that the hotels used by Epicurean Ways have been chosen for their European character, charm, and comfort. Rooms in the double occupancy category sometimes vary in size.

Epicurean Ways LLC tours require a minimum number of participants to operate. This number varies by tour. This minimum number of participants for each tour is listed on our website.

Epicurean Ways LLC reserves the right to cancel any tour at any time before departure for any reason, including insufficient participants to operate the tour. In the unlikely event that a tour is canceled by Epicurean Ways each participant will be given a full refund or allowed to reschedule for an alternate tour date. Epicurean Ways is not responsible for any costs, including airfare or other personal expenses, incurred by travelers.

Epicurean Ways LLC may occasionally find it necessary to modify the stated itinerary due to unforseen circumstances, availability, or in order to improve the trip. In the event that we alter any part(s) of the itinerary, we will may substitute a service or good of equal or greater quality or value for any stated in any itinerary. Epicurean Ways LLC expressly disclaims any liability for any damages resulting from any itinerary changes.

Travel Documents

Each participant is responsible for obtaining and carrying a valid passport and for obtaining the appropriate visa(s) and any other required documentation for travel to the chosen destination. Consult the U.S. State Department’s website where you will find information on passport and visa requirements for U.S. citizens. Travelers who are not U.S. citizens are responsible for complying with U.S. and/or foreign travel document requirements. See the U.S. State Department link above for further information.

Travel Warnings and Announcements

Be sure and check the International Travel Information on the U.S. State Department’s website.

Travel Insurance

We strongly recommend that you purchase travel insurance to protect your travel investment. Epicurean Ways offers our travelers AIG Travel Guard travel insurance. See our Travel Guard ProtectAssist Gold (pdf) or Essential Expanded Silver plan brochures (pdf). Travel insurance coverage includes unforeseen trip related expenses such as trip cancellation, trip interruption, trip delay, emergency medical treatment or evacuation, baggage loss, damage or delay, and more. See a brochure covering The Top 10 Reasons (pdf) for buying travel insurance.

If you choose not to purchase travel insurance, you must indicate that decision by checking the box on the reservation form. In declining the purchase of travel insurance you acknowledge that you understand and accept the risks attendant to traveling without travel insurance and that you have chosen not to acquire it. Epicurean Ways LLC cannot be held liable or responsible for any issues arising from not having travel insurance should you decide not to purchase it. Please call or email us for further information about AIG Travel Guard travel insurance.

Accessibility Issues

Please be aware that access to accommodations, transportation, restaurants, and other sites in Europe may differ from that in the U.S. Handicap accessibility is not guaranteed. Many hotels are small, converted old buildings and may not have an elevator. Streets may present difficult walking conditions. Public sites may not be handicap-accessible. Tour participation requires a minimum level of physical stamina, such as being able to walk uphill or climb stairs. We request that each traveler discuss with us any medical or physical restrictions s/he may have.

Please check your medical coverage to determine if you are covered while traveling away from home. We can advise you as to the types of medical travel insurance available.

By making payment, you certify that to the best of your knowledge that you are in sufficient good health to participate in Epicurean Ways LLC programs and that any special medical or physical conditions or dietary demands that could affect your participation in our programs have been fully disclosed to Epicurean Ways LLC. You understand that health care facilities and services abroad may differ from those you are accustomed to, and may be insufficient for treatment of your health conditions. Please be sure to take all necessary medications with you when you travel abroad. Epicurean Ways LLC cannot guarantee the availability of special accommodations or handicap accessibility on any of our culinary vacations. Please contact us to discuss any condition that may affect your travel or that of other tour participants.

Epicurean Ways LLC reserves the right to not accept nor retain any participant whose health or actions in the sole judgment of Epicurean Ways LLC may hinder or disrupt the culinary vacation program.

Dietary Restrictions and Allergies

Please call us to discuss any allergies, dietary needs or restrictions you may have. We cannot guarantee that any dietary needs or restrictions can be accommodated given the nature of the tour programs, but we will do our best to work with you.

Dispute Resolution

The parties agree to attempt to resolve any dispute between them arising from this Agreement promptly by good faith negotiations. If a dispute has not been resolved by negotiation, the parties shall make a good faith effort to resolve the dispute by mediation to be held in Charlottesville, VA. Should good faith effort to resolve the dispute through mediation fail, the dispute will be determined by the courts of Charlottesville, Virginia. This Agreement will be governed by and interpreted under the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia. Should any legal proceeding be required to enforce any provision of this Agreement, the prevailing party shall be entitled to recover all of its costs and expenses related thereto, including, without limitation, expert witness and consultant’s fees and attorney’s fees. The venue of any dispute between the parties that may arise between the parties of this Agreement, including those arising from it, shall be the courts of the City of Charlottesville, Virginia.

Waiver of Liability

You understand and agree that Epicurean Ways LLC does not own or operate any of the facilities or suppliers of accommodations and services for your trip. Each individual tour participant agrees that Epicurean Ways and its representatives shall not be liable for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay or irregularity, liability or expense to person or property due to any act of default of hotel, transportation carrier, restaurant supplier or other contractor providing services to Epicurean Ways and its participants. Epicurean Ways and its representatives shall not be responsible for any expense or liability due to civil unrest, labor disputes, war or threat of war, acts of terrorism, government restrictions, weather, theft, fire or illness, or any other cause beyond their control. Epicurean Ways and its representatives reserve the right to accept or refuse any person as a participant of an Epicurean Ways tour. Epicurean Ways and its representatives reserve the right to cancel any tour prior to departure for any reason, including insufficient number of participants, or to change itineraries and/or substitute services of equal or greater quality without prior notice.

You are responsible for adhering to the rules and laws of the localities while on tour with Epicurean Ways. The rights and privacy of fellow tour participants must be respected while on tour. We reserve the right to disqualify you before or during any program if we judge your participation may compromise the safety or comfort of others.

You agree to grant Epicurean Ways LLC a worldwide, royalty-free, fully paid up license to use your photographic, video, or digital likeness solely for our promotional and/or commercial purposes.

By reserving your place in the program, you affirm that you understand and agree to these terms and conditions.