DEPOSITS, PAYMENTS & BALANCE DUE
To secure a booking we require a non-refundable deposit of $1,000 of the tour price. Occasionally, a higher deposit is required but you will be advised about this at the time of booking. If your travel starts within 60 days of booking, full payment will be required at the time of booking. A higher deposit will be required if any suppliers require additional payment at the time of booking (or before the date at which the full balance becomes due). Occasionally, full payment for a particular service (such as your flights) may be required at the time of booking. Deposit can be made by credit card, check, wire transfer or over the telephone. Please be aware that deposits are non-refundable. When booking one of our tours you agree to sign and accept our Terms & Conditions Form, which states that you and your party have read and understand the information on printed on these forms, including a Release of Liability. In order to confirm your booking, deposits are due upon making your reservation. Your reservation is neither guaranteed nor considered complete if we do not receive all the required forms, Booking Form; Terms & Conditions and Liability Release forms. All prices quoted are in US dollars and subject to change. Payments must be made in US dollars. We accept bank Wire Transfer (our preferred method of payment) Visa®, MasterCard®, American Express® and Discover® for tour deposits & payments. Some trips have specific cancellation fees, which are noted on the trip itinerary. Please see specific trip itineraries for details. Payment is due in full 90 days prior to trip departure and may be paid on-line by check, wire transfer, or VISA, Master Card, Discover or American Express credit card. Balance due on the invoice will be auto-drafted using the credit card you provided at booking on the due date. We impose a surcharge of 3.75% on the transaction amount on credit card products, not greater than our cost of acceptance. Please make all payments payable in US funds. If payments are not received by the due date, we may cancel your reservation. Late payments may result in releasing your reservation and re-booking will be subject to availability. Cancellation fees will apply.Our tours fill up quickly, so to guarantee your choice of tour and departure date it is best to book as early as possible.
WARNING ABOUT FRAUDULENT OR SCAM TRANSACTIONS
Take note that Planet Earth Adventures has a ZERO tolerance on fraudulent or SCAM transactions. We only accept the payment types indicated above and on your invoice. No exceptions. Payments of any type or any dollar amount paid on ANY booked tour that exceeds the invoiced amount WILL NOT be refunded until 90 days after the tour has been completed. Any refunds will be made by issuing company check only. If you make any un-authorized CASH deposits into our bank account and those deposits exceed the total invoiced amount, know that you are at risk of loosing your deposit(s) and that your tour could be canceled and/or perceived to be a scam or fraudulent transaction. Planet Earth Adventures takes scams very seriously and we will report and provide any applicable information that we have collected from you such as booking forms, emails, texts, etc. to law enforcement authorities. Please be aware that over-payments could be withheld indefinitely until law enforcement agencies have completed their investigation. If you are trying to SCAM us, think twice!!
PRICE GUARANTEE
Planet Earth Adventures, LLC accepts the risks of currency fluctuations with regard to the price of the trip and accepts the risk of cost changes of items included in the trip package. We guarantee our trip prices through the calendar year. Fuel surcharges may apply in some instances. Prices shown for the tours are per person based on double occupancy and are given in US Dollars. Prices may change slightly. Guests who book their tour prior to final pricing confirmation will receive the lowest rate. Web discounts offered on our site or any other promotion are not valid for our winter tours; bear viewing tours; fishing trips or the day trips featured on our website.
PRE-DEPARTURE INFORMATION
After receiving your trip reservation and deposit, we will send you a pre-departure package that will include general information about the area, a packing list, and a liability release agreement. Please return or fax the liability release agreement immediately.
ROOM OCCUPANCY
All trip prices are based on double occupancy. Single rooms are available for an additional charge, referred to as a "single supplement" in our materials. If you are traveling alone and wish to share a room, we will attempt to find a roommate for you. If we are unable to do so, you will be assessed the customary single supplement.
TRIP CANCELLATION INSURANCE
Planet Earth Adventures understands how disappointing it is for travelers in the event they are forced to cancel their tour, especially one which they have been looking forward to for a long time. But we also plan for these adventures for quite a long period prior to departure and continuously send non-refundable payments to the hotels and our suppliers. Therefore we must strictly adhere to our Cancellation & Refund Policy for all travelers. For this reason, we strongly recommend purchasing a travel protection plan to help protect you and your travel investment. Planet Earth Adventures, LLC recommends that guests purchase a Travel Protection Plan that covers trip cancellation for medical reasons, travel delay, medical expenses, accidental death, lost baggage and medical evacuation. Please call and speak with one of our Adventure Consultants if you have specific coverage questions. CLICK HERE to purchase travel insurance.
CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS
All of our tours operate regardless of weather (rain or shine). Our tour policies go into effect at the time of booking and upon receipt of deposit. Please read our tour policy/conditions. If it becomes necessary to cancel your tour, you must notify Planet Earth Adventures immediately in writing only. Once Planet Earth Adventures receives your written notice, cancellation will take effect. A no-show for a tour will result in no refund. No refunds will be made on individual features, transfers or sightseeing voluntarily omitted by participant. No refunds for unused services will be issued. As we have mentioned throughout our website, we highly recommend that you purchase travel insurance. If the cancellation or change occurs, the per person fee is as follows:
If cancellation takes place from booking to 91 days prior to departure, your full deposit is non-refundable.
If cancellation takes place between 90 to 31 days prior to departure, 50% of the tour cost is non-refundable.
If the cancellation takes place less than 30 days prior to departure, 100% of the tour cost will not be refunded.
If it becomes necessary to cancel your tour, you must notify Planet Earth Adventures immediately in writing only. Once Planet Earth Adventures receives your written notice, cancellation will take effect. Please note that the following charges will apply on cancellation:
CANCELLATION OF A TRIP BY PLANET EARTH ADVENTURES
While Planet Earth Adventures will make every attempt to operate a trip once confirmed, we do reserve the right to cancel a trip, at any time due to insufficient bookings and/or reasons beyond our control that might create unsafe or undesirable travel conditions for the participant. In such case, a full and immediate refund will be issued. However, the financial liability of Planet Earth Adventures shall be limited to the amount paid to Planet Earth Adventures for the land tour only and shall not be extended to cover any other associated travel costs incurred (e.g. nonrefundable air tickets, visa fees if applicable, clothing, equipment, miscellaneous transportation costs, medical expenses, travel insurance premiums, etc.). We reserve the right to refuse acceptance of any participant for any reason at any time. We are not responsible for any additional expenses incurred by such participants. Please thoroughly read all of the Terms and Conditions of Contract when you book any of our tours. These forms can be found below.
TRIP CANCELLATIONS OR CHANGES
Occasionally, a trip cancellation may occur. If we are unable to provide you with another trip that is satisfactory, you will receive a full refund. We are not responsible for additional expenses such as nonrefundable "Advance Purchase" airline tickets. Due to road, weather, or other conditions deemed to be unfavorable traveling conditions by Planet Earth Adventures, trip itineraries are subject to change without notice. The itineraries on the website are subject to modification and change by Planet Earth Adventures or its designated tour operator. Every reasonable effort will be made to operate the tours as planned, but alterations may still occur after final itineraries are sent. We reserve the right to refuse acceptance of or retain any participant for any reason at any time. We are not responsible for any additional expenses incurred by such participants. All cancellations must be made in writing and delivered to Planet Earth Adventures, LLC at the following address: 1791 Hollybrook Circle, Anchorage, AK 99507. Trip-cancellation insurance is strongly recommended. For more information about purchasing travel insurance, please visit the section of our website “Insuring my Trip”
UNUSED SERVICES OR CHANGES
No partial refunds will be given for unused hotel rooms, meals, activities, events, tours, or trip arrangements for any reason whatsoever. Land cost is quoted as a package and credits are not given for services not used. No refunds will be made on items voluntarily omitted by the participant. NOTE: Trip itineraries are subject to change without notice due to road, weather, and other conditions, as deemed necessary by Planet Earth Adventures, LLC. You acknowledge that the nature of adventure travel requires flexibility and acknowledges that they will permit reasonable alterations to products, services or itineraries by the Tour Operator. The route, schedules, accommodations, activities, amenities and mode of transportation are subject to change without notice due to unforeseeable circumstances or events outside the control of the Tour Operator.
FAMILY TRAVEL AND AGE LIMITS
Planet Earth Adventures welcomes families on tours and we often arrange custom tours and departures. We have a minimum age requirement of 6 years for some of our tours. Please call us for these details. On all of our tours, legal guardians of children under 18 must sign a letter of release provided by Planet Earth Adventures and signed by the child’s parent or legal guardian requiring them to make certain that the children do not place themselves, other travelers or wildlife in harm’s way, or jeopardize the enjoyment of the trip for the group as a whole. We also want travelers to understand that we accept minors with the understanding that parents or guardians believe that their child/children is/are unusually mature and capable of acting like an adult. Please call us to inquire about private tours for families with small children.
CHILDREN TRAVELING WITH PARENTS OR GUARDIANS
Planet Earth Adventures generally welcomes children on our adventures. However, while some children are well-suited for some or all of our adventures, others may not be ready for the requirements of structured group travel. We believe that you, as a parent or guardian, are best qualified to decide whether or not your child would enjoy the experience without compromising the comfort of others. We strongly encourage you to call our office to speak with an Adventure Specialist about the specific requirements of the trip you’re considering so that you can make an informed decision about your child’s participation. On all trips, an adult must accompany children 16 years old or younger. A letter of release provided by Planet Earth Adventures and signed by the child’s parent or legal guardian is required for all children aged 16 or younger not traveling with their parent or legal guardian. On family tour programs, children between ages 6 and 11 will travel at a 10% discount. Some restrictions may apply to certain tours. No discounts are offered for bear viewing tours as the child takes a seat in an aircraft.
HEALTH REQUIREMENTS
Participants must be in good physical and mental health. Any physical condition, diet, or treatment requiring special attention must be reported in writing when the reservation is made. Guests are responsible for making Planet Earth Adventures aware of any health limitations and any dietary restrictions in writing 90 days prior to departure date. Planet Earth Adventures encourages participants to consult a doctor for specific medical advice about any activities or destinations. Certain expeditions may require that the participant obtain medical consent prior to departure as a condition of participation.
MEDICAL AUTHORIZATION AND COVERAGE
In the event participant becomes sufficiently incapacitated as to be unable to direct his or her own care, there is no one on the tour who can direct participant’s care, and Planet Earth Adventures is unable or does not have time to contact participant’s emergency contact, the participant, by registering and paying a deposit for a Planet Earth Adventures tour, authorizes any medical treatment deemed necessary in the event of any injury or illness while participating in the activity including, but not limited to, X-ray, examination, anesthetic, medical or surgical diagnosis, or treatment and hospital care which is deemed advisable by, and is to be rendered under the general or specific supervision of, any physician and/or surgeon licensed in the United States, or, if in a foreign country and no physician licensed to practice in the United States is reasonably available, by a duly licensed physician deemed competent to render the necessary care. In addition, the participant certifies that they have medical insurance which will cover personal accidents, medical expenses, medical evacuation, air ambulance, loss of effects, repatriation costs and all other expenses which might arise as a result of loss, damage, injury, delay or inconvenience occurring to the participant, or that in the absence of this medical insurance coverage, the participant agrees to pay all costs of rescue and/or medical services as may be incurred on the participant’s behalf.
PHOTOGRAPHY
We reserve the right to take photographs or videos during the operation of any expedition or part thereof and to use the resulting photography for promotional purposes. By booking a reservation with Planet Earth Adventures, LLC, participants agree to allow their images to be used in such photography; participants who prefer that their image not be used are asked to identify themselves to their tour leader at the commencement of their trip. You consent to any such pictures being taken and grants a perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide, irrevocable license to Planet Earth Adventures to reproduce for any purpose whatsoever (including marketing, promotions and the creation of promotional materials by or with sub-licensees), in any medium whatsoever, whether currently known or hereinafter devised, without any further obligation or compensation payable to you.
INCLUDED IN YOUR TOUR
Accommodations and meals as indicated in the itinerary (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner) entrance fees, excursions, and sightseeing noted as included in the itinerary; ground transportation during the tour; transfers to and from where applicable; services of Planet Earth Adventuresguides, naturalists, tour leaders, and any other staff; baggage handling. Internal Alaska airfare is included on some tours as indicated in the itinerary.
WHAT IS NOT INCLUDED
Air transportation and related fees (except as indicated in the itinerary); any Alaska taxes; activities noted as optional in the itinerary; gratuities for train or ship's crew, unless otherwise noted on the itinerary page; passport and visa expenses; baggage/accident/cancellation insurance; personal expenses, such as laundry, telephone calls, meals (except as indicated on the itinerary) alcoholic beverages; and any other items not specifically noted as included. Costs of accommodations and associated services for delays or other alterations en route, caused by weather, flight schedules, and other events beyond our control are the responsibility of our guests. Planet Earth Adventures will not assume any additional costs.
GRATUITIES
Planet Earth Adventure's Tour Leaders, staff and drivers are all paid salaries for their work. They will go out of their way to make your trip special and do not perform their jobs just for money. However, they do accept gratuities should you determine that they performed their jobs at an outstanding level. Gratuities should reflect your satisfaction with their level of service.
SPECIAL REQUESTS
We will make a reasonable effort to accommodate special requests, such as adjacent or connecting rooms, bed size and dietary needs; however, we cannot guarantee that these requests will be accommodated. On tours with included meals, please advise us of your special dietary needs so that we can notify our suppliers. Please be sure to notify your adventure consultant upon booking.
GUESTS NEEDING SPECIAL ASSISTANCE
Certain tours may include activities that present challenges to or are not suitable for guests with special needs. We strongly recommend that guests requiring assistance be accompanied by a companion who is capable of, and totally responsible for, providing assistance. Neither Planet Earth Adventures nor our suppliers may physically lift or assist guests onto transportation vehicles or otherwise. Some tours may not be suitable due to the level of activity, so please discuss your needs with us when you book your tour. Please contact us to discuss your specific needs.
OTHER IMPORTANT INFORMATION
Planet Earth Adventures, LLC. does not own or operate any entity that is to provide any services associated with your trip, including, lodging facilities, air transportation or activity companies. Planet Earth Adventures, LLC is not liable for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any such person or any other third party. Guests are responsible for making Planet Earth Adventures aware of any health limitations and any dietary restrictions in writing at least 60 days prior to departure date. A medical information form will be provided to you at the time of booking.
CUSTOM TRIPS
We can help you plan a custom adventure for your friends, family, or co-workers. Your group can follow one of our pre-designed trips, or we can help you plan a custom adventure. Please call (907) 717-9666 for more information on custom trips. All custom trip coordinators booking 10 or more people get a trip for free. Some restrictions may apply to certain trips. Please inquire.
BOOKING CHECKLIST
When you book, you will be asked if you have read and understood the Booking Terms and Conditions and our Liability Release forms. Although many people decide not to read the small print, you will find that a great deal of useful information is included within it. We really appreciate you taking the time to do this.
Choose your trip & departure date
Purchase cancellation insurance (optional)
Communicate any dietary needs or special requests
Pay deposit to your travel agent or to Planet Earth Adventures, LLC
Wait for your pre-trip departure package to arrive in the mail or information sent via Email.
Fill out and submit the required forms.
DOWNLOAD FORMS TO BOOK A TOUR
Please note that you will need Adobe Reader to view above forms. You can fill these forms on your computer and either fax them back to (888) 557-0995 or simply scan the forms and e-mail them back to us.