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These are the terms under which we offer Castles and Kitchens, LLC Live in Italy Culinary Vacations for individuals and or groups. By registering and paying your deposit for a C&K Vacation, you are entering into this Agreement with us. Please read these terms before making a deposit or payment for a Vacation. 

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Definition

You understand that this vacation is an authentic, immersive experience in a small village in an agricultural region of Tuscany. The food and wine of this region are the livelihood of the local people who proudly share their heritage recipes and social customs with us and our guests. Pork, beef, pasta, cheeses and mushrooms are prominent ingredients upon which the cuisine is built; therefore this vacation may not be suitable for people with dietary restrictions or food group-limiting preferences. Certainly guests are not required to drink alcohol, however learning about and sampling the Chianti Classico wines is an integral part of this vacation.

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Costs and Inclusions

Quoted trip prices are per person, double occupancy except where indicated. Solo travelers will be expected to pay the single supplement fee. Prices include programming, planning, handling and operational charges, including food, beverages and activities where indicated. We will not give a breakdown in the price of a trip or its parts. Please refer to the "Inclusions" section of your personalized itinerary for detailed information regarding which activities and services are included in your vacation cost.

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Items Not Included

The items not included in your Quoted Tour price are as follows: travel insurance, international and domestic airfare, private air charters, airport departure taxes, any other transportation to and from the vacation destination, including auto rental, taxi, car and driver,  and train travel (unless otherwise noted); costs associated with obtaining passports or entry visas; gratuities, excess or any luggage charges, visa fees, tours/activities indicated as optional or not specified in itinerary, hotel accommodations before and after your booked week, items of a personal nature including mini-bar charges, communication charges or other incidentals, or any items not specifically listed as included, are not included.

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Reservations, Deposits & Payments

Reservations are made by directly contacting Castles and Kitchens. A specified non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your space. Your final payment date will be listed on the confirmation you receive from us. Final payment is due  on the due date unless otherwise indicated. For vacations booked within 90 days of departure, the full cost of the trip must be paid at the time of booking to secure your spot. Payments may be made by personal or agency check or by Visa, MasterCard or Amex.

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Cancellation by You:

Deposit is 100% non-refundable at time of booking.

If we receive your cancellation notice ninety (90) to sixty-one (61) days prior to the departure date, we will retain fifty percent (50%) of the total Vacation price.

If we receive your cancellation notice sixty (60) days or fewer prior to the departure date, we will retain one hundred percent (100%) of the Vacation price.

Any penalty imposed by an airline, including for airline service between points on the Tour (“Internal Air”) or travel to or from the Vacation, is your responsibility.

Your decision not to participate on the Vacation due to State Department warnings, fear of travel, illness or any other reason will be deemed a cancellation. If a flight or other delay for any reason prevents you from joining the Vacation on the scheduled date and time, you will be considered a no-show, and we cannot provide a full or partial refund or credit toward a future trip, but you may join the trip late if you wish.

There is no refund for leaving a C&K Vacation early or arriving late, or not participating in any of the components. In addition, clients are subject to any and all cancellation fees imposed on Castles and Kitchens, LLC by any of our suppliers. These cancellation fees and policies may differ from Castles and Kitchens, LLC. It is for these reasons that comprehensive travel insurance is STRONGLY recommended.

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Cancellation or Substitution by C&K:

We will make commercially reasonable efforts to keep the Itinerary as it has been published; however, the final Itinerary may vary due to availability and factors beyond our control. We may in our sole discretion substitute services, activities or goods of similar quality for any services, activities or goods stated in the Itinerary. We reserve the right to cancel any trip because of inadequate enrollment that makes the trip economically infeasible to operate or because of our concerns with respect to the safety, health or welfare of our travelers or staff. If we cancel a trip, our liability is limited to a full refund of your payments to us and we will not be liable for any other costs, damages or refunds of any kind for any loss, delay, inconvenience, disappointment or expense whatsoever in such circumstances. If a trip in progress must be interrupted or canceled, our liability shall be strictly limited to refund of the recoverable cost, any unused portion of the trip.

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Accommodations

Prices are based on double occupancy.  A single supplement fee may be applied for solo travelers. All accommodations are non smoking.

All bedrooms have king size beds and private baths.

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Passports & Visas

All vacation participants must hold a passport valid for six months from their date of arrival in any foreign country. It is the sole responsibility of the trip participants to secure any necessary visas and to secure a passport with sufficient blank pages for immigration and visa stamps.

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Baggage

All baggage is transported at your own risk. Please check with the airlines for specific luggage allowance. All money, valuables and travel documents should be packed in a carry-on bag for which you are responsible for at all times. Castles and Kitchens cannot be responsible for any baggage fees or loss or damage to baggage to or from a C&K Vacation.  A reminder, Comprehensive Insurance is strongly recommended.

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Medical Costs

We strongly recommend that, before traveling, you review your health and other insurance to ensure you have coverage appropriate to meet your needs, and those of your family and dependents, in case of any personal injury or loss of property. Again, Comprehensive Insurance is strongly recommended.

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Travel Insurance

Travel insurance, medical evacuation and doctor/hospitalization and other costs are not included in the vacation price. We strongly recommend you purchase comprehensive travel insurance (including trip delay, trip cancellation, trip interruption, and baggage) and health, accident and medical evacuation insurance are strongly recommended. We can assist you in getting a quote for your travel insurance. Any questions about what travel insurance does or does not cover should be addressed directly to the travel insurance company. If you decline insurance coverage, you will personally assume full responsibility for any financial loss associated with your travel arrangements, and you could lose your travel investment and/or have to pay more money to correct the situation.

 

Events Beyond the Control of C&K

Should events beyond our control require it (including during the vacation), Castles and Kitchens reserves the right to alter or modify planned activities without advance notice, and substitute a component of equal standard.  If any trip has to be delayed due to bad weather, travel conditions, flooding, flight or other transportation delays, overbooking, government intervention, acts of war, acts of terrorism, sickness or any other contingency beyond the control of Castles and Kitchens, the additional costs of the delays, changes and all rerouting will be the responsibility of the vacation participant.

 

Limits on Castles and Kitchens Responsibility

Castles and Kitchens does not own or operate any entity which provides goods and services for your trip. Rather, C&K arranges housing, goods and services from local purveyors, businesses and suppliers. All such persons or entities are independent contractors. As a result, C&K cannot be held liable for any negligent or willful act of any such person or entity or suppliers, their employees or agents or any third person for any personal injury, property damage or other loss, accident, delay, death, inconvenience or irregularity which may be occasioned by reason of any act or omission of any of the suppliers. In no event will we be liable for any injury, loss, claim, damage or any special, punitive, exemplary, direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages of any kind, whether based in contract, tort, strict liability or otherwise, that arise out of or are in any way connected with a C&K vacation package, even if advised of the possibility of such damages. By payment of your deposit and registration on this trip, you agree to the foregoing and also agree that neither Castles and Kitchens nor any of their affiliates or agents, shall be or become liable or responsible for any loss, death, personal injury or damage to person, property damage or other loss, in connection with any accommodations, transportation, touring, dining or other services provided resulting directly or indirectly from any acts of God, fire, breakdown in machinery or equipment, acts of government, wars whether declared or not, hostilities, acts of nature, animals, criminal acts, acts of terrorism, civil disturbances, disaster, weather hazards or climate extremes, strikes, riots, thefts, pilferage, loss or damage to baggage, illness, allergic reactions, disease, choking, epidemics, quarantines, financial defaults of service providers, delays or cancellations or changes in itinerary or schedules, or from any other causes beyond the control of Castles and Kitchens, LLC. Payment of deposit shall constitute consent to all provisions of this Agreement as set forth herein.

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Force Majeure:

We assume no responsibility for any personal injury, property damage or other loss, accident, delay, inconvenience or irregularity which may be occasioned by reason of any matter beyond our exclusive control including but not limited to a delay or cancellation that causes you to miss all or any portion of a Castles and Kitchens Vacation, acts of God, acts of government, war, terrorist acts, riots, disaster, weather extremes or strikes. We have no special knowledge regarding the financial condition of the suppliers, unsafe conditions, health hazards, weather hazards or climate extremes at locations to which you may travel. You understand that health care standards, facilities and services abroad may be different or even inadequate for treating health conditions. For information concerning possible dangers at foreign destinations, we recommend contacting the Travel Warnings Section of the U.S. State Department at (202) 647-5225 or www.travel.state.gov, and click on “Travel Warnings.” For medical information, we recommend contacting the Centers for Disease Control at (877) FYI-TRIP or www.cdc.gov/travel.

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Assumption of Risks and Release:

If you participate in activities during your trip, certain risks and dangers may arise, including, but not limited to, the risk of accidents in remote places without access to medical facilities, transportation or means of rapid evacuation and assistance; the hazards of traveling in unsafe or politically unstable areas or under unsafe conditions; the dangers of civil disturbances, war, extortion, kidnapping and terrorist activities; dangers and risks inherent in activities in underdeveloped countries; and dangers of local law enforcement activity. You hereby expressly assume all of these risks and dangers, and you hereby expressly agree to forever release, discharge and hold us and our agents, employees, officers and directors, harmless against any and all liability, actions, causes of actions, suits, claims and demands of any and every kind and nature whatsoever which you now have or which may hereafter arise out of or in connection with your Castles & Kitchens trip or participation in any activities in which you participate.

 

These terms and conditions, and a participant’s acceptance of them by booking a Castles and Kitchens Vacation package, are governed by Colorado Law.  We would always prefer to resolve any issues through clear communication, understanding of responsibilities, proper manners and good customer service.

 

Thank you for vacationing with Castles and Kitchens!