Terms and Conditions

Please read these conditions carefully, because your reservation and payment for a program constitutes acceptance of them.

ODYSSEY PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY

Odyssey Travel programs are primarily prepared for fit mature adults, so you and your travelling companions are sure to share interests. We design all of our programs with mature travellers in mind. In order to ensure congenial travelling companions Odyssey reserves the right to accept or reject any person as a travel program participant and to expel from the travel program any participant whose conduct is deemed incompatible with the interest and safety of the travel program group.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

Most of our international programs include the cost of the standard premium for travel insurance protection provided by a reputable insurance company. Certain premium excesses may be levied by the insurance company and this additional cost will become your responsibility for payment to Odyssey Travel.

It is a condition of travel for all of our international programs that you hold valid travel insurance cover for the full duration of your Odyssey program. You may elect to accept the insurance cover included in the program cost (see Program Inclusions) or provide proof of cover from your insurance company.

Odyssey domestic programs in Australia and New Zealand do not include travel insurance in the price. Comprehensive travel insurance is available in conjunction with your program for an additional competitive cost. Odyssey Travel strongly recommends travel insurance for domestic programs to protect you against loss of deposit or ﬁnal money paid, unavoidable cancellation, personal loss and medical expenses.

Provisions, conditions and exclusions apply. It is your responsibility to comply with these.

PASSPORT AND VISAS

A valid passport is required of Australian and New Zealand citizens for all programs departing Australia or New Zealand.

Visas are required for Australian and New Zealand citizens taking programs in, or passing through, certain countries. If a visa is required for entering a country, you will be advised in the program information.
Foreign passport holders are advised to contact the appropriate consular office for entry requirements pertaining to their participation in a selected program.

OBTAINING A VISA

To assist you to obtain your visas, Odyssey Travel will send you the required visa application forms and instructions. Completed application forms should be returned to Odyssey Travel by registered mail. The cost of visas and collection may be added to your account if not already included in the cost of your program. If you wish to apply directly to the relevant consular office for your visa, you may do so. Remember however, it is your responsibility to have the appropriate visas prior to your program departure.

EXTEND YOUR PROGRAM

In most cases, you can also take a "private extension" after your Odyssey program. This enables you to explore the area on your own.

Remember that the insurance coverage included in your Odyssey program package is not in effect during your "private extension" so you may want to obtain additional insurance coverage for this time period. Also, the cost of airport transfers are not included in going to, or coming from, your private extension. You may wish to extend your Odyssey program by adding an extension arranged by Odyssey Travel. Please ask our Educational Travel Advisers for more information on our many attractive add-on holiday options.

CUSTOMER COMMENTS

Issues that arise while travelling should be brought to the attention of your study/group leader, so that they can be settled immediately. Once you have returned home, any questions should be directed to our Educational Travel Advisers. We feel confident in our ability to work with you to resolve any problem. You must submit complaints in writing within three weeks of your return so that we can attend to them promptly.

OPTIONS

Reservations on programs are confirmed strictly in accordance with receipt of a completed registration form and deposit. As some persons who request options do not ultimately proceed, Odyssey Travel reserves the right to issue more reservation options than spaces available. In order to avoid disappointment we encourage early registration. Alumni members will be given preference to bookings where possible. In the event that the program is full at time of receipt of your payment, you may either elect to go on a wait list or odyssey will refund your deposit in full.

RESERVATIONS AND DEPOSITS

Your deposit must accompany your registration form. Balance of payment is due not later than 70 days before departure and should be paid by credit card, cheque or money order. If you do not pay the balance at this time, we must consider this inaction as a Cancellation and cancellation charges may apply. If you chose to pay by credit card, we will accept American Express, Mastercard, Diners Card or Visa.

Please note that where payment is made by cheque, moneys will not be considered as received until funds are cleared.

Until Odyssey Travel has received the correct deposit amount and has sent you an invoice which confirms our acceptance of the booking, no contract exists between you and the Company.

Where other suppliers require additional deposits (eg: cruises, expeditions or private extensions) you must pay these in addition to the Odyssey Travel deposit.

Any insurance premiums additional to Odyssey Travel included insurance, must also be paid at the time of registration.

Details of the balance of payment owed by you will be included on the invoice. You will not receive any travel documents until full payment has been received.

We reserve the right to correct an error in an advertised price until your account is paid in full. Every booking is accepted subject to the conditions imposed by independent contractors, including the air, cruise, rail, coach, hotel, restaurant, insurance and other companies, firms, or persons concerned with the program. In the event of a difference between Odyssey Travel's conditions and those published by an independent contractor, the conditions of the independent contractor shall apply. We reserve the right ro cancel any participants booking in the event that programs do not operate, if number requirements are not reached or any other circumstances arise that require the cancellation of a program.

SINGLES

On most Odyssey programs, those requesting a single room are charged a single supplement. Single supplements are payable to ensure single accommondation with single beds however the standard and location of these rooms may not always meet the same standards of twin/double rooms. However, by choosing to share a room with another "single" you have the advantage of making a saving and the pleasure of the extra companionship that this offers. If you are travelling on your own, we will do our best to find someone of the same gender and smoking preference to share with you. On certain programs, when a roommate cannot be found, Odyssey will guarantee the single room accommodation at no additional cost to the participant. This guarantee does not extend to pre or post add ons or extensions.

LATE BOOKING

Our overseas bookings are closed 70 days prior to departure date. For certain programs we can waive the 70 day rule. A modest fee of AUD/NZD $50.00 per person is imposed and we must receive full payment (program cost plus fee) with your booking form.

Most of our domestic tour bookings close 28 days (4 weeks) prior to departure date and the waiver of this rule is subject to the same late fee and payment requirements as stated above.

All late bookings must be requested by calling an Odyssey Educational Travel Adviser on 1300 888 225 or (02) 4224 7000 (within Australia) or 0800 440055 (within New Zealand) and are subject to space availability.

PRICING AND SURCHARGES

Whilst we endevour to hold the advertised price for as long as possible, unfortunately oil prices, currency fluctuations, airfare increases and other factors outside our control may force us to ask for surcharges. For air and land programs, if you mail the balance of your payment so that we receive it within 14 days of the date of your invoice, we can guarantee you will pay no ticketed item surcharges because we will have the opportunity to purchase your tickets in advance and have the currency we need to pay for the accommodations. (this guarantee does not extend to non-ticketed items such as new or increased departure taxes and airport charges.) For cruises, however, we cannot guarantee prices as most cruise lines reserve the right to impose surcharges.

The price of your Odyssey program includes a number of elements that together make up a program. We regret that we are unable to make any refund related to the cost of any individual element, such as an included excursion, that you choose not to take.

AMENDMENTS, CANCELLATIONS, CHARGES, AND REFUNDS IF YOU AMEND YOUR BOOKING

You may change any of your confirmed arrangements at any time up to and including 70 days before the planned departure date, subject to availability of accommodation and/or transport. Your total program cost will be recalculated and a new invoice issued. An amendment fee of AUD/NZD $50.00 may be charged. If an amendment is requested fewer than 70 days before departure, Odyssey Travel reserves the right to regard this as a Cancellation, and charges may apply.

IF YOU CANCEL YOUR BOOKING

The following charges will be applied by Odyssey Travel and may be deducted from any refund of moneys if you cancel your booking, together with any suppliers' fees and any irrecoverable costs borne by Odyssey Travel.

YOUR DEPOSIT IS NON-REFUNDABLE.

Note: You should ensure that you have insurance cover against loss of deposit.

No. of Days before Program Commencement Cancellation Charge as % of Total Price

69 to 46 days 30%
45 to 30 days 50%
less than 30 days 100%

These cancellation charges are in addition to any cancellation charges that may be levied by our suppliers.

SMOKING POLICY

We are aware of the difference of opinion between smokers and non-smokers, particularly in such close quarters as lecture rooms and buses. For the comfort of all participants, we ask that there be no smoking during lectures or on the bus, in line with major airline policy. Sufficient stops will be made along the way to accommodate those who smoke.

RESPONSIBILITY & LIABILITY

Odyssey Travel serves only to assist in making necessary travel arrangements for participants, and in no way represents or acts as agents for transportation carriers, hotels, and other suppliers of services connected with the programs. Travel and service are subject only to the terms and conditions under which such accommodations, services and transportation are offered or provided, and Odyssey Travel and their respective employees, agents, representatives, and assigns, accept no responsibility and liability therefore. Odyssey Travel or its servants, agents or employees are not liable for any injury, damage, loss, accident, delay, or other irregularity which may be caused by the defect of any vehicle or the negligence or default of any company or person engaged in carrying out or performing any of the services involved, caused by any other entity or person during the travel program. Additionally, responsibility is not accepted for losses or expenses due to sickness, weather, strikes, wars, or other such causes. All services and accommodations are subject to the laws of the country in which they are provided. Odyssey Travel reserves the right to make changes in the published itinerary whenever, in their sole judgement, conditions warrant, or if they deem it necessary for the comfort, convenience or safety of the program. Odyssey reserves the right to withdraw without penalty any program announced. All parties also reserve the right to decline to accept any person as a member of the program, or to require any participant to withdraw from the program at any time, when such action is determined by the group leader to be in the best interests of the health, safety, and general welfare of the group or of the individual participant. Odyssey Travel does not accept liability for any carrier's cancellation penalty incurred by the purchase of a non-refundable domestic ticket to the program departure city and return. Prior to making your airline booking you must ensure that your program is a confirmed departure as carriers cancellation penalties are not covered by travel insurance in the event that Odyssey Travel cancels a program due to lack of passenger numbers. Baggage and personal effects are the sole responsibility of the owner at all times. As a condition to participating on the designated program(s), each participant must agree to, and sign, the Registration Form and provide or complete any other required information such as Health and Fitness/Medical Forms.

DISABILITIES/DIETARY RESTRICTIONS

If you have any disability, please complete the relevant part of the booking form and attach any further details if necessary. Odyssey Travel reserves the right to consider the information provided by you and to request any further information it considers to be necessary before it can accept your reservation.

Programs are best suited to people who are mobile, able to climb stairs and walk distances without difficulty. You must be able to carry your own baggage sometimes up and down stairs, get on and off coaches, boats, or other forms of transport and keep up with the demands of a physically active schedule without assistance.

We will make every effort to accommodate your special dietary and/or food allergy requirements but are unable to guarantee that we will be able to cater for your specific needs. In signing this registration form you accept and understand these conditions.

The type of information which will be useful is whether your disability restricts or limits your capacity to walk unaided and if so if there are any distances you can safely cover and whether you need the assistance of any special devices or equipment to enable you to travel safely, such as a wheelchair or a guide dog or an assistant.

It is necessary to assess not only your needs and requirements but also the program you wish to go on and the modes of travel used in it and the needs and requirements of the other passengers and of the staff and the extent and nature of any special arrangements that may need to be put in place for you to travel safely with us.

ITINERARY CHANGES

We reserve the right to make a material alteration to your program on, or before, the date the balance of payment is due. If this is necessary, we will inform you as early as possible and you will be entitled to a prompt and full refund. Alternatively, you will have the choice of accepting the alteration or accepting a program of comparable standard, if available. After the date when the balance of payment is due, events may occur that are outside of our control and that force us to make changes in the program arrangements.

If, for any reason, we have to change the details of your program, we will inform you as early as possible. In the event of any major change of your program arrangements involving changes in date of more than one day, or a change of hotels to a lower official category, you may elect to cancel and you will be entitled to a prompt and full refund. Alternatively, you may accept the alteration. We reserve the right to reverse the itinerary from that printed in this catalogue. In such cases, the locations visited and excursions taken will be the same, and this will not be considered a material alteration to the program.

REGISTERED TRAVEL AGENT

Australian & New Zealand College Ltd for Seniors trading as Odyssey Travel is a registered Travel Agent which:

(a) in Australia (Licence Number: 2TA5109 & 2TA32563) ensures protection by membership of the Travel Compensation Fund, and

(b) in New Zealand (Travel Agents Association of New Zealand Bonded Member) ensures protection offered by membership of the TAANZ Bonding Scheme.

PRICES

The prices in this brochure, calculated on known costs and exchange rates at the time of publication, are in Australian and New Zealand Dollars and include currency adjustments, commissions, booking fees, GST where relevant and communication costs.

Odyssey Travel reserves the right to alter these prices without notice if there is an increase in costs to Odyssey.
In the event that Odyssey Travel requires a surcharge from you due to increases in costs, this will be requested in writing. If you do not pay this surcharge, your action will be regarded as a Cancellation by you and Cancellation Charges will apply.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

I/We acknowledge that information provided to Odyssey Travel from time to time will be of a personal nature ("Personal Information").

I/We acknowledge that, from time to time, Odyssey Travel may disclose any personal information to domestic persons or organisations (or outside Australia and New Zealand) for the purposes of making and completing airline bookings and travel related arrangements on my/our behalf and also may conduct in house or external marketing activities and market research. You can gain access to the information Odyssey holds about you by contacting the Executive Director, Odyssey Travel in writing.