Booking

1)Request a Booking Form - Send me a Booking Form
2)Read the Booking Conditions below, complete the Booking Form as far as possible and return it to me.
3)You will be issued with payment details for the deposit. You can pay at any stage by bank transfer or PayPal. Payments by PayPal
4)Once your deposit payment is received your place on the trip is booked and I will issue you with an invoice.
5)Your balance payment is due 2 months prior to the trip start date.
6)When the balance payment is received the contract between us begins and you will be issued with a Confirmation of Payment.

Download:

Booking Conditions

Booking Form

Booking Conditions

From Here 2 Timbuktu wants to protect it’s honour.

A committed relationship is preferable to a one night stand.

We will always aim for this in our dealings with you.

1.The Booking Process

All persons (the Client) making a booking with From Here 2 Timbuktu Ltd. (The Company) must complete a booking form, and send it together with a £320 deposit per person per tour . This £320 is credited as €350 against the trip price, according to the company’s rates set at the beginning of the season. See 2. Payment

For trips organised on a bespoke basis (a tailored trip outside the set small group trips) there is a €100 per person preparation fee. This is paid after initial contact and once The Client wants The Company to go ahead with planning a trip. This fee is non-refundable but counts against any trip price subsequently booked. Once The Client is happy with the itinerary, the Booking Fee is required to fix the price and dates as agreed. The deposit payment is 20% of the trip price minus the €100 preparation fee.

Clients booking by telephone or e-mail or in writing, will be understood to have read the Booking Conditions and understood them. Acceptance of the client’s booking will be confirmed by email once the deposit payment has been received. At this point an invoice will be issued for the balance payment. When the balance has been paid the Company will issue a Confirmation Invoice, and it is only at this point that a Contract between the Company and the Client comes into existence. The Contract is between From Here 2 Timbuktu Ltd and The Client, being all the persons named on the booking form intending to travel with The Company. The person completing and sending the booking form warrants that he/she has full authority to do so on behalf of all persons whose names appear thereon, and confirms that all such persons are fully aware of and accept these conditions. No person, other than the Director of The Company, has any authority on the company’s behalf to vary these Booking Conditions.

2.Payment

Trips to North and West Africa are priced in euro (€) because the local African currency is fixed to the euro. Where trips are priced in euro, the deposit payment is in £ sterling and the balance payment in € euro. In April of every year The Company sets the £/€ rate of exchange for the deposit payment. In 2010-11 the deposit payment is £320.

Where trips are priced in £ sterling full payment is in £ sterling.

Clients who wish to pay the trip price a s a one time payment at the Booking stage may pay the full trip price (including the Booking Fee) in euros.

The balance of any trip is due for payment two months before the advertised first day of the tour. Where the tour price is advertised in euro the balance is payable in euro and the Client is responsible for any costs incurred in transferring the balance due to From Here 2 Timbuktu Ltd. In the case of non payment of the balance by the due date, From Here 2 Timbuktu Ltd will treat the booking as cancelled by The Client.

If a booking is made within 60 days of the first day of the tour, then the full amount of the tour price is payable at the time of booking. The total tour price is the price payable for all components being provided by The Company. In addition to the total tour price, The Client accepts that he or she may have additional local costs as specified in some tour descriptions.

Flights and visas are not included in any of the tour prices. Please see Trip Notes for more information about what is included or not included in the price.

3.Cancellation by the Client

A cancellation of the booking by the Client must be made in writing. The date of cancellation will be the date on which the cancellation letter is received by The Company or its agent. The time period before tour departure will determine the level of cancellation charges made by the Company:

60 days or more = refund of 50% of the deposit.

59-30 days = 40% refund of total trip price refund.

29-14 days = 20% refund of total trip price.

13 – beginning of tour = no refund.

(All fees associated with cancellation to be covered by The Client.)

If the reason for cancellation is covered by The Client’s insurance, then cancellation charges may be recoverable.

If the cancellation is not covered by insurance and The Company deems the cancellation reasonable or beyond your control, we will do as much as we can to offer you a credit note for money paid to The Company over and above the booking fee. This courtesy is at the discretion of the company.

4.Changes to the booking made by the Client

Any change to the original booking must be made in writing by the person signing the booking form and must be accompanied by an administration fee of £25 per booking in addition to the cost of any extra services that may be required. Any changes can only be carried out depending on availability of alternative or extra services required, and there may also be cancellation charges to any original services no longer required.

Any charges incurred by any of the Company’s suppliers as a result of any change will be passed on to the Client by the Company.

5.Cancellation by The Company

The Company reserves the right to cancel a tour for any reason, or if the minimum number of clients required to operate the tour is not reached. The Company will not cancel a tour within 60 days of the departure date, except for force majeure, or due to unusual or unforeseen circumstances beyond the Company’s control. When a tour is cancelled, the client may choose between a full refund of all monies paid to the Company or any alternative tour offered by the Company in lieu. If the alternative tour is of a lower value than that originally booked, then the client is entitled to a refund of the price difference, and must pay the price difference for a more expensive alternative tour. The Company will only refund monies paid to it, so please note that if non-refundable or restricted flights have been booked, the Company will not be responsible for any such losses caused by a cancellation.

6.Changes by The Company

Whilst every effort is made by From Here 2 Timbuktu Ltd to operate all tours as advertised, The Company reserves the right to vary or modify a tour, itinerary or its contents at anytime due to prevailing local conditions. The Company reserves the right to cancel or change any of the facilities or services offered in its advertising, and to substitute alternative arrangements of comparative monetary value without compensation, and accepts no liability for loss of enjoyment as a result of these changes. If a major change is known to us, then the client will be told at time of booking. If a major change becomes necessary after the client books, From Here 2 Timbuktu Ltd will inform the client as soon as is reasonable prior to departure. A major change is defined as having a great effect on one in four days of the itinerary. When a major change to a tour is made after the client has booked and prior to departure, then the client may choose between accepting the change, obtaining a full refund of the monies paid for the tour, or accepting an alternative tour offered by The Company in lieu. If the major change is due to force majeure or other unforeseen circumstances, whether prior to departure or during the tour, no compensation is payable but The Company will do everything it can to provide alternative and comparable arrangements at no extra cost to The Client.

7. Substitution of Client

If The Client is prevented from travelling due to death, serious illness or serious injury to The Client or a close relative, or because of jury service, or redundancy, then the booking can be transferred to another person provided the person is suitable for the arrangements being made and the substitute client pays any outstanding balance. Written proof will be required of any circumstances when a substitute Client is requested. There will be an administration fee of £25 and any additional costs incurred will be charged to the substitute Client.

8. Surcharges

The Company reserves the right to impose surcharges on advertised prices up to 60 days before departure for the following reasons - exchange rate fluctuations, increased transport costs, government action or increased fuel charges, The Company will absorb an increase of 2% of the tour cost, and The Client will be responsible for paying any increase in excess of 2%, but if there is an increase of more than 10% of the tour cost excluding insurance premiums the client may cancel the booking within 14 days of the notification of the surcharge and obtain a full refund.

9. Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is mandatory for all clients on a tour organised by From Here 2 Timbuktu Ltd. The Travel Insurance policy must cover personal accident, medical expenses and repatriation expenses. It is strongly recommended that cover also includes cancellation, curtailment, and all other expenses that may arise as a

result of loss, damage, injury or delay. If an acceptable level of insurance is not purchased then The Company may refuse to carry the client, and the Client has no claim against the Company. If the Client does travel with inadequate travel insurance cover, the Company will have no liabilities whatsoever which may arise due to the failure in taking out adequate insurance. The level of Insurance cover must be for a minimum of £350,000 medical expenses, and £50,000 repatriation. The Company will not be liable to meet any expenses should the Client’s insurance cover be inadequate in any respect. Clients should ensure there are no exclusion clauses limiting protection for the type of activities on their tour. In any emergency, if medical expenses exceed level of cover, a money transfer will need to take place from client’s own resources, or from family, friend or other person. The Company has no Travel Insurance liabilities in such a situation, and the client should be aware that the tour price does not include Travel Insurance. In the event that a tour enters a region not covered by the Client’s insurance or the Company’s Public Liability Insurance, From Here 2 Timbuktu Ltd will make every effort to inform the Client. If the Client then accepts to continue with the tour they do so at their own risk and the Company can not be held liable.

10. Travel Documentation

It is the client’s responsibility to be in possession of a valid passport, visa permits, air ticket, inoculations and preventative medicines as may be required for the countries visited during the tour. Information about these matters is given in good faith, but without responsibility on the part of From Here 2 Timbuktu Ltd.

11. Acceptance of Risk

The tours operated or supplied by From Here 2 Timbuktu Ltd take clients to remote regions of Africa as the name of the Company implies. Tours have been chosen to provide clients with an exposure to the true nature of the environment and the communities in which they are travelling. While it is the experience of The Company that the regions visited by our tours are safe, many regions are on “the road less travelled” and there is therefore an element of risk that is different to the risks of normal package tours and to the risks at home. The client acknowledges that the trip may involve a level of personal risk such as injury, disease, discomfort, delay or inconvenience.

From Here 2 Timbuktu will never take you to a region where there is known armed conflict. However, the company cannot be held responsible for random acts of banditry or terrorism or political events beyond its control. From Here 2 Timbuktu will make every effort to minimise these risks and to inform Clients about what they might expect on a tour. All bookings are accepted by The Company on the understanding that the Client accepts responsibility for informing themselves of the risks involved.

12. Age, Fitness and Flexibility

All clients are expected to satisfy themselves prior to booking that they are fit and able to complete the itinerary of their chosen tour as described in the tour description. Persons over 60 years of age may be asked to provide medical evidence of suitability to travel on certain tours. Clients must be a minimum of 18 years of age to participate on tours. Some tours are suitable for children who are accompanied by a parent or guardian who accepts full responsibility for them. From Here 2 Timbuktu Ltd reserves the right to decline a booking at their discretion. The Client acknowledges the need to be flexible on From Here 2 Timbuktu Ltd tours, and the outline itinerary as given for each tour must therefore be taken as an indication only of what each group may accomplish and not as a contractual obligation on the part of the Company. It is understood that the itineraries, schedules, route, transport and facilities may be subject to alteration without prior notice due to unforeseen circumstances which can include climate, politics, social unrest, breakdown, flight cancellations, border difficulties, sickness or any other unforeseeable circumstances.

13. Authority on Tour

Whilst on tour with From Here 2 Timbuktu Ltd, The Client agrees to accept the authority and decisions of The Company’s employees, tour leaders, agents or representatives. The Client must comply with the laws of countries visited at all times including customs, foreign exchange and drug regulations. The Client must heed the advise and guidance of From Here 2 Timbuktu representatives with respect to local customs and sensitivities. Should the client fail to comply with such laws and customs or should The Client’s behaviour adversely affect the safety or well-being of the tour group, the progress of the tour, or the reputation of The Company, then the Company representative or tour leader may order the Client to leave the tour without recourse to any refund.

14. Company Liability and Responsibility

a) The Company will accept liability for the negligence of its staff or agents causing death or physical injury to

persons, or loss or damage to personal property to its extent under English Law. The Company will not accept liability if there has been no fault on the part of From Here 2 Timbuktu Ltd, or its suppliers, and the cause was the fault of the Client, or the actions of somebody unconnected with the tour arrangements or could not have been foreseen or avoided by The Company or its suppliers even if all due care had been executed.

b) The Company will accept liability to The Client if there has not been proper performance of the contract. In such a case The Company will pay reasonable compensation, but will not accept liability or pay compensation if there has been no fault on the part of From Here 2 Timbuktu Ltd, or its suppliers, and the cause was the fault of the Client, or the actions of somebody unconnected with the tour arrangements or could not have been foreseen or avoided by The Company or its suppliers even if all due care had

been executed. Liability is limited to the price paid. In a case of damaged property, the liability is limited to a maximum amount equal to the amount paid by the owner of the property. In all cases the Company specifically excludes all liability for indirect or consequential loss or expense including loss of profits.

c)Where holiday arrangements involve air travel, rail travel, sea travel or hotel accommodation, compensation is limited by the following international conventions respectively, the Warsaw Convention as amended by the Hague Protocol 1955, the Berne Convention 1961,the Athens Convention 1974, and the Paris Convention 1962.

15. Complaints

The Client must inform the tour leader or representative of the Company of any complaint whilst on tour so that the Company tour leader or representative can attempt to rectify or improve the situation. Should the problem remain unsolved, the complaint must be made in writing to From Here 2 Timbuktu Ltd within 28 days of the end of the tour.

16. The Contract

This contract is to be construed, and any dispute between the parties determined under the laws of England and Wales. Any such dispute shall be subject to the sole jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

17. Flight delays, cancellation or failure to make a booked flight.

The Company does not have any responsibility for the Client’s flight arrangements or any liability to The Client for any flight delay, cancellation or failure to make a flight that may arise.

18. Illness or Disability

If the Client suffers an illness or disability or is undergoing treatment for any physical or medical condition, the Client must declare the true nature of such a condition at the time of booking, and make arrangements for the provision of any medication or other treatment required during the tour. Failure to make such a disclosure will constitute a breach of these booking conditions and may result in the Client being excluded from the tour and forfeiting all monies paid to the Company.

19. Food allergies

The Client must notify the Company of any food allergies at the time of booking. It is the responsibility of the Client to ensure the food that is prepared is suitable. Neither the Company nor its suppliers can guarantee compliance with any allergies and the responsibility for compliance is with the Client.