Booking Conditions – The Travel Saints

Last updated: 2^nd November

These conditions, together with your written proposal and booking confirmation, form the contract between you and The Travel Saints. Please read them carefully before you book. They set out what you can expect from us, what we ask of you, and what happens if plans change. If anything is unclear, please ask: we would much rather explain now than surprise you later.

1. Definitions

“We”, “us”, “our” means The Travel Saints, a trading name of THE TRAVEL SAINTS, GSTIN 06AISPP2790E2ZV, 15th Floor, Quest Offices, Ocus Quantum, Sector 51, Gurugram, Haryana 122003, India.
“You”, “guest” means every person named on a booking. “Lead guest” means the person who makes the booking on behalf of everyone named on it.
“Journey” means the arrangements set out in your booking confirmation: for example, a Civilisations journey, a Celebrations journey, a Wellness journey, or a journey made for you.
“Private journey” means a journey for you and the people you travel with only. “Small circle” means a journey on set dates shared with other guests, never more than 12. “Private group” means a journey for a group of up to 20 guests who know each other.
“Start date” means the first day of your journey as shown on your booking confirmation.
“Suppliers” means the hotels, transport companies, guides, Saints, host families, venues and other people who provide parts of your journey.

2. Making a booking

Every journey begins with a conversation. After we understand what you would like, we send you a written proposal with your itinerary and price. A proposal is not a booking, and it is valid for 14 days unless it says otherwise.
To book, the lead guest confirms the proposal in writing and pays the deposit (see section 4). The lead guest must be at least 18 years old and confirms that they have the authority of everyone on the booking to accept these conditions on their behalf, and that everyone has read our Privacy Policy.
Your booking is confirmed, and a contract exists between us, when we have received your deposit and sent you a written booking confirmation. Please check the confirmation carefully, including names exactly as they appear in passports, and tell us of any errors within 7 days.
Before we can confirm some arrangements, such as private access to monuments or a place at a host family’s wedding, we may need to check availability with Suppliers. Your booking confirmation will show anything still to be confirmed.
If you book through a travel advisor, the advisor acts on your behalf. Payment to your advisor counts as payment to us only when we receive it. Our contract is still with you.

3. Prices

The price of your journey is the price in your booking confirmation. We do not publish prices on our website, because every journey is shaped around you.
Prices are quoted in US dollars unless we agree otherwise. Euro and pound sterling prices are available on request, and Indian rupee prices are available to guests resident in India. Prices include Goods and Services Tax (GST) at the applicable rate unless your proposal says otherwise.
Once your booking is confirmed, we will only change the price if there is a change in government taxes or fees (such as GST or monument entry fees), or in the cost of transport caused by fuel prices, after your confirmation. We will tell you at least 20 days before your start date, with an explanation of how the change was calculated. If the price rises by more than 8%, you may accept the change, accept an alternative journey if we offer one, or cancel with a full refund. If such costs fall, we will pass on the reduction, less our reasonable administration costs.
Prices are based on the number of guests, dates, room types and arrangements in your proposal. If any of these change at your request, the price may change.

4. Payment

Payment	Amount	When
Deposit	30% of the journey price	Within 7 days of accepting your proposal
Balance	The remaining 70%	60 days before your start date
Bookings made 60 days or less before the start date	100% of the journey price	At the time of booking

Some arrangements require full payment when booked, such as domestic flights, certain train journeys, special permits and some exclusive venues. Your proposal will show these as non-refundable items, and they are payable with your deposit.
For Celebrations journeys, the cost of outfits made or altered for you becomes non-refundable once your style consultation and measurements have taken place.
You can pay by international bank transfer or by RAZORPAY. Any bank or card charges are paid by you, so that we receive the full amount.
If we do not receive the balance on time, we will remind you. If it is still not paid within 7 days of our reminder, we may cancel your booking and apply the cancellation charges in section 7.

5. What your journey includes

Every journey is all-inclusive and cashless, apart from personal expenses. Unless your booking confirmation says otherwise, your journey includes:

stays at the hotels named in your itinerary, in the room types shown;
all meals, from family kitchens to royal dinners;
airport arrival and departure transfers in India, and private transport throughout with an experienced driver;
the Saints, guides, hosts and experiences in your itinerary;
entry fees and private access arrangements;
domestic flights and train journeys shown in your itinerary;
filtered or bottled drinking water during your journey;
a dedicated contact available 24 hours a day throughout your journey.

Not included: international flights; visas; travel insurance; personal expenses such as shopping, laundry, telephone calls and drinks outside meals; tips and gratuities; and anything not listed in your itinerary.

6. Changes you ask for

If you would like to change your booking after confirmation, please tell us in writing. We will try to help, but cannot promise to, because changes depend on Suppliers.
We charge an amendment fee of [USD 50] per change, plus any costs our Suppliers charge us. Changes to the start date or the destinations of your journey made within 60 days of the start date are treated as a cancellation and a new booking.
You may transfer your place to someone else who meets any conditions of the journey, if you tell us at least 30 days before the start date. You and the new guest are jointly responsible for the price, our amendment fee, and any extra costs (for example, new tickets that cannot be transferred).

7. If you cancel

The lead guest may cancel the booking at any time by writing to us. Cancellation takes effect on the day we receive it. Because we will have committed money to Suppliers on your behalf, the following charges apply, as a percentage of the total journey price (or of the price for each guest who cancels):

When we receive your cancellation	Cancellation charge
More than 90 days before the start date	Loss of deposit (30%)
90 to 61 days before	50%
60 to 31 days before	75%
30 days or less before, or if you do not arrive	100%

Non-refundable items shown in your proposal (such as domestic flights, permits and outfits made for you) are charged in full in addition, if they are not already included in the amount above.
If some guests on a booking cancel, the price for those who still travel may change, for example if a room is no longer shared or a group falls below a minimum size.
No refunds are given for any part of a journey you choose not to use once it has begun.
You may cancel without paying a cancellation charge if unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances occurring at your destination, or in its immediate vicinity, significantly affect the performance of your journey or your transport to the destination: for example, war, terrorism, a natural disaster or a serious outbreak of disease, where your government advises against travel to that area.
We strongly recommend travel insurance that covers cancellation, so that you can recover these charges if you have to cancel for reasons such as illness.

8. If we change or cancel your journey

Minor changes. Journeys are planned months ahead, and small changes are sometimes necessary: for example, a different guide or Saint of equal standing, a change in the order of the days, or a different restaurant. We will tell you about them as soon as we can, and no compensation is due.
Significant changes. If, before you travel, we have to make a significant change to your journey (for example, a change of the main destinations, a lower standard of accommodation, or a change in the start date), we will tell you as soon as possible. You may then accept the change, accept an alternative journey of equal or higher standard if we offer one, or cancel and receive a full refund of everything you have paid. If the alternative is of lower value, we will refund the difference.
Cancellation by us. We will never cancel your journey unless we have to. A small circle journey may be cancelled if fewer than [4] guests have booked, in which case we will tell you at least 45 days before the start date and offer you the same journey privately (for a supplement), a different date, or a full refund. We may also cancel if we are prevented from providing the journey by unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances, in which case we will tell you without undue delay and refund everything you have paid.
Compensation. If we cancel or significantly change your journey for any other reason, we will also pay you reasonable compensation, unless the change or cancellation is due to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances.
During your journey. If something goes wrong once you are travelling, we will do everything we reasonably can to put it right quickly and to find suitable alternatives at no extra cost. We may change the itinerary for your safety, for example because of weather, flooding, local unrest, festivals or the sudden closure of a monument.
We will make all refunds due under this section within 14 days.

9. Celebrations: joining a family’s wedding

Celebrations journeys are special, because the heart of the journey is a real family’s wedding. Nothing is staged for guests. These additional conditions apply:

The family’s wishes come first. You are joining as a guest of the family. The ceremonies you attend, when photographs are welcome, and how guests take part are decided by the family. Your host will guide you, and we ask you to follow their advice.
Ceremonies vary. Every community celebrates differently. We will describe the ceremonies we expect you to attend, but cannot guarantee the order, timing or content of any ceremony.
If the wedding date changes or the wedding is cancelled. Families choose auspicious dates well in advance and rarely change them. If a family moves or cancels its wedding, we will offer you a place at another family’s wedding on your dates, or within dates you agree, or a journey of equal value. If neither is acceptable to you, we will refund the price of the Celebrations part of your journey, less any outfits already made for you, which are yours to keep.
Gifts. It is customary for every guest to bring a gift for the couple. Your host will help you choose one. Gifts are not included in the journey price unless stated.
Conduct. We ask every guest to behave with respect towards the family, their customs and their other guests, and to follow the dress guidance for each day. If a guest’s behaviour causes serious offence or distress to the family, we may need to withdraw that guest from the wedding. No refund will be due in that case.
Privacy. Please do not publish photographs or videos of the family, the couple or their guests on social media or elsewhere without the family’s permission.
Outfits, hair and makeup. Outfits are chosen and fitted for you, and styling is provided before each celebration as described in your itinerary. Please tell us about any allergies to cosmetics, henna or fabrics before you travel. Natural henna can stain clothes and nails for one to three weeks; black or “instant” henna is never used.

10. Your responsibilities

Passports and visas. Each guest is responsible for holding a passport valid for at least six months after arrival in India, with two blank pages, and the correct visa. Apply for e-Visas only through the official Government of India website. We will give you general guidance, but cannot be responsible if you are refused entry or boarding because your documents are not in order.
Health. Please take advice from a travel clinic or doctor on vaccinations and health precautions at least six to eight weeks before you travel. If you arrive from or through a country with a risk of yellow fever, you will need a vaccination certificate.
Fitness and medical conditions. Every journey shows an activity level (Gentle, Moderate or Active). Please tell us before booking about any medical condition, disability, pregnancy or mobility need that may affect your journey, so that we can advise you honestly and make the right arrangements. We may decline a booking, or ask for a doctor’s note, if we reasonably believe a journey is not suitable or safe for a guest, and we will always discuss this with you first.
Dietary needs. Please tell us about allergies and dietary needs when you book. We will pass them on to every kitchen, but in a country of shared kitchens we cannot guarantee that food is entirely free of traces of any ingredient.
Behaviour. We ask every guest to behave considerately towards other guests, Suppliers, host families and local communities, and to respect local customs, particularly at places of worship. If a guest’s behaviour puts others at risk or causes serious disruption, we may end that guest’s journey without refund, and the guest will be responsible for any costs.
Local laws. You must obey the laws of India. Some states restrict alcohol (for example, Gujarat and Bihar), drone use needs permission, and photography is not allowed at some monuments and places of worship. Your host will advise you.
Arrival details. Please send us your international flight details at least 30 days before your start date so that we can meet you.

11. Travel insurance

Comprehensive travel insurance is a condition of booking. Your policy should cover medical treatment and emergency repatriation, cancellation and curtailment, personal belongings, and any activities in your itinerary. Please send us your insurer’s name, policy number and emergency number before you travel. If you travel without suitable insurance, you are responsible for any costs that insurance would have covered.

12. Our responsibility to you

We promise to arrange and provide your journey with reasonable skill and care, as described in your booking confirmation. We are responsible for the services we have agreed to provide, whether we provide them ourselves or through our Suppliers.
Services in India are provided in line with local laws and standards, which may differ from those in your home country. A Supplier’s compliance with the laws and regulations of India will be the measure of whether a service has been properly provided.
We are not responsible for any failure to perform your journey, or for any loss, injury or damage, if it was caused by: you or a member of your party; a third party unconnected with the journey whose actions could not have been foreseen or avoided; or unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances.
Except for death, personal injury or illness caused by our negligence, or anything else where the law does not allow us to limit our liability, our total liability to you for any claim is limited to the price you paid for your journey. Where international conventions (for example, the Montreal Convention for air travel) limit a Supplier’s liability, our liability is limited in the same way.
We are not responsible for any services that are not part of our contract, such as excursions, purchases or arrangements you make directly with a shop, guide or other person during your journey, or for advice given by others.
We are not liable for losses that were not foreseeable when your booking was confirmed, or for business losses.
If you or a member of your party has a problem during the journey, we will give prompt and appropriate help, including information about health services, local authorities and consular assistance, and help you to make other arrangements. We may charge a reasonable fee if the problem was caused by you.

13. Problems and complaints

If anything is not as it should be during your journey, please tell your host or your 24-hour contact straight away, so that we can put it right while you are still travelling. If we are not told, we may not be able to help, and this may affect any claim you make later.
If a problem cannot be resolved during your journey, please write to us within 28 days of your return with your booking reference and full details. We will acknowledge your complaint within 7 days and reply in full within 28 days.
If we cannot resolve your complaint, you may refer it to the consumer dispute redressal forums in India, or use the consumer protection bodies in the country where you live.

14. Photographs

We may take photographs during your journey to share with you. We will only use photographs of you, or in which you can be recognised, in our marketing if you have given us permission, and you can withdraw that permission at any time. At weddings, the family’s wishes about photographs always come first.

15. Unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances

In these conditions, “unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances” means events beyond our control whose consequences could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken. Examples include war, civil unrest, terrorism, natural disasters, floods, severe weather, epidemics and pandemics, government action, the sudden closure of monuments or airports, and industrial action affecting the services involved.

16. Your personal information

We use your personal information to arrange and provide your journey, and share it with Suppliers and authorities as needed. Our Privacy Policy explains how we do this and the rights you have.

17. Law and jurisdiction

These conditions and any dispute arising from them are governed by the laws of India, and the courts of Gurugram, Haryana, have jurisdiction. If you live in the United Kingdom or the European Union, you also keep the protection of the mandatory consumer laws of the country where you live, and you may bring proceedings in your local courts.

18. General

If any part of these conditions is found to be invalid, the rest remains in force.
If we do not enforce any right straight away, we can still enforce it later.
If these conditions are translated, the English version prevails.
Only the parties to this contract (you and us) have rights under it.

19. Contact us

The Travel Saints, 15th Floor, Quest Offices, Ocus Quantum, Sector 51, Gurugram, Haryana 122003, India.

Email: [email protected]. Phone and WhatsApp: +91 90081 05051 and +91 99900 53150.