RESERVATION & DEPOSIT

The Booking Form must be completed on your behalf. Your Booking Form should be accompanied by the 10% deposit to enable BCTA to confirm your booking.

All reservations are subject to availability at the time of booking.

All packages are subject to the written confirmation/invoice from BCTA of the requested services and price. Reservations will only be confirmed, once BCTA receives written confirmation of your booking from the airline, room accommodation and tours. The 10% deposit is non-refundable once reservation is confirmed. Payment for the balance (90%) not received within 48 hours, after the Confirmation Booking Notice Advise,  or any reservations already made in respect of the holiday will be automatically cancelled.

CANCELLATION OR REFUND

The following cancellation fees or refunds shall apply if, for any reason, the client cancels a holiday. All cancellation terms are specified on a per person basis.

1. A. Tour Packages/Room Accomodations
* Up to 60 days prior to departure, forfeiture of 10% of the deposit
* Between 36-59 days prior to departure, forfeiture of 20% the total deposit
* Between 8-35 days prior to departure, 50% of the total cost
* Between 0-7 days prior to departure, no refund will be made

In addition to the above, the following will also apply:

B. Airline Portion

Cancellation fees imposed will be subject to airline Tariff Regulations for the international air portion of any flight.

2.  Charter Flights

Cancellation of confirmed charter flight bookings bookings will incur a cancellation fee of 100% of the applicable fare.

No refunds are available after the holiday has commenced or in respect of lost or unused tickets, hotel coupons, meals or any other services not utilised.

Amendment of Confirmed Reservations

Up to 30 days prior to departure, any amendment made to a confirmed reservation will incur a fee of Php 500.00 per change/per file, in addition to any charges levied by ground operators, airlines, hotels or other service provider. Within 14 days prior to departure, any amendment to confirmed travel arrangements will incur a fee of Php 700.00 per change. Once documents have been despatched, any amendment will incur a fee of Php 500.00. Both these fees are in addition to any charges levied by ground operators, airlines, hotels, or other service provider. In the case of a transfer to another tour, the applicable cancellation fees will apply.

Tour Prices

Prices are based on tariffs and rates of exchange  and are quoted in Philippine Pesos and US Dollars. Prices are subject to change without notice. In the event of fluctuations in currency exchange rates, service providers’ tariffs, fuel prices, accommodation rates and other holiday service components, BCTA reserves the right to adjust prices at any time up to and including the date of departure, even after receipt of the balance payment from the client. Acceptance of this arrangement is an express condition of making a reservation. Any alteration to advertised prices will be brought to the attention of your travel agent; however BCTA does not accept responsibility in the event that this information is not passed on to the client by the travel agent. It is recommended that the client checks regularly with the travel agent for any changes.

Tour Operation

Although BCTA will endeavour to ensure that holidays are available as advertised, an express condition of making a reservation is the acceptance by the client that tour itineraries and schedules, advertised accommodation, sightseeing programmes and modes of transportation as outlined in this website and/or supplied in pre-departure information are subject to change without prior notice. Air travel, boat ride and other forms of transport and hotel accommodation are provided by independent operators and all bookings through BCTA are subject to the terms, conditions and limitations of carriers, hoteliers and other service providers.

If your booking needs to be altered due to circumstances beyond our control, we reserve the right to vary your itinerary and inform you of the subsequent changes. If the varied itinerary is only available at a higher cost, the client will bear the increased price. Should such changes result in an itinerary which is materially different from your requested programme and we have accepted your deposit or balance payment, you reserve the right to withdraw from the tour programme and all monies received by BCTA will be refunded in full. BCTA recommends that all clients ascertain from its office or their own travel agent if any change has occurred from the date of confirmation up to and including the date of departure.

If for any reason, BCTA is forced to cancel a tour programme, clients will be offered an alternative tour of a similar standard and arrangement. Should the alternative be unsuitable to the client, all monies paid to BCTA in respect of the original tour programme will be refunded in full.

An alternative itinerary or a refund of monies offered or paid in the event of a tour change or cancellation is in full satisfaction of any claim for loss of enjoyment resulting from the change or cancellation.

Unforeseeable circumstances such as force majeure, adverse weather conditions, airline flight rescheduling, hotel overbooking, technical faults with transportation and boat availability may also have a consequential effect on the content and schedule of the tour after commencement. Any decision made in respect of tour services provided by independent operators to reroute or amend the itinerary due to any of the above, or similar, circumstances is at the discretion of the tour service provider. BCTA shall not be liable for any claim whatsoever arising from such events which affect the schedule and the content of the tour.

Group Departures

Quoted tour prices are based on a minimum number of 4 people travelling together unless specified and staying in twin share accommodation as stated in each tour. Should the minimum number of persons not be attained, BCTA reserves the right to cancel, amend or recost the tour programme. If such an event occurs, we shall endeavour to provide the choice of an alternative tour or the client may continue the tour as amended or cancel participation of the tour altogether in which case a partial refund, less the cancellation fee in addition to any charges of the tour cost.

Single Travelers

Single travellers who are willing to share accommodation with another tour member must advise BCTA at the time of reservation. BCTA will endeavour to match the client with a suitable person for the duration of the selected tour. If BCTA is unable to allocate a suitable person to share accommodation, the single supplement cost as specified is to be paid by the client at the time of balance payment. For clients who choose to have a sole occupancy of a room throughout the tour, the specified single supplement cost will be payable at the time of balance payment.

Items not Included in Your Tour Cost

The tour costs quoted exclude items not specifically referred to in the tour description including, but not limited to, pre-travel documentation, travel insurance, airport departure taxes, excess baggage charges, gratuities, meals (unless specified) and items of a personal nature such as laundry, dry cleaning, beverages, personal accident and medical expenses, incidental expenses, taxis where not part of a regular transfer, telephone and telecommunication charges.

Travel Documents

All clients must be in possession of a valid passport and necessary visas at the time of commencement of travel. All such documentation is the sole responsibility of the client. Your travel agent may assist, on request, in organising the necessary travel documentation. BCTA accepts no responsibility or liability whatsoever for the failure of clients to obtain appropriate documentation.

Travel Insurance

It is highly recommended that clients purchase travel insurance at the time of reservation to cover against various contingencies such as loss of deposit and/ or fare through cancellation, loss or damage to baggage, loss of money and/or travel documents, medical expenses, curtailment charges, personal accident and personal liability.

Health Requirements

Clients should familiarise themselves with any health requirement applicable to areas they intend to visit. The client is solely responsible for compliance with vaccination and other health requirements of governments in countries visited or transited. The Department of Health or medical practitioners will be able to assist with current health requirements and recommendations.

Baggage Regulations & Allowance

In accordance with the International Airline Regulations, the free baggage allowance for economy class passengers is 20kgs (44lbs) plus limited cabin luggage. Excess baggage charges are the sole responsibility of the client. Domestic Airline Regulations within the Philippines, the free baggage allowance for economy class passengers is 10kgs (22lbs). Failure to follow this regulation may result in refusal by airport staff to load suitcases onto the aircraft. The carriage of bottled liquids of any kind (water or alcohol etc) is not permitted in your cabin baggage unless it is purchased after passing through the security area.

Hotel Description

Hotel categories are non-star ratings are representative of advice received from each specific property listed  and are not the decision of BCTA. While every effort is made to ensure all details are correct at the time of publication, BCTA takes no responsibility for advice that has been given in good faith and at the discretion of each property.

Procedure for Lodging Complaints/Claims

Should the client feel that a valid complaint or claim should be lodged with BCTA or its service providers, the client hereby agrees to the following procedures and terms:

1. Should the client feel that a failure in performance of BCTA or its service providers has occurred, the client agrees to immediately inform the local service provider. At this time, the local service provider will endeavour to promptly resolve the matter of complaint and inform BCTA of the specific circumstances. Should the local service provider be unable to assist or be unavailable, the client agrees to contact BCTA, Manila, by telephone or facsimile.

2. In the event of a claim for compensation, the client agrees to inform BCTA in writing within 30 days of the date of tour completion. Relevant receipts and substantiating evidence, must be attached to the letter of claim.

3. BCTA will not be liable for any claims made later than 30 days after the date of tour completion.

Limitation of Liability

Except to the extent that the law imposes a non-excludable liability:

1. All bookings for holidays listed in this website are accepted subject to the conditions of carriage and other conditions imposed by service providers used in each programme or tour.

2. In compiling this website BCTA has used information supplied to it by the operators of the relevant services. BCTA has endeavoured to ensure that the information contained in this website is correct at the time of printing. However, BCTA accepts no responsibility or liability in respect of such information. BCTA does not accept any liability for any loss, damage, inconvenience, delay, injury, irregularity, accident, expense or negligence due to inaccuracy or misdescription howsoever caused by or arising out of provision of services or failure to provide services.

3. BCTA accepts no responsibility for any negligence, loss, damage, omission, accident, detention, diversion or theft in regard to luggage or any personal belongings whatsoever.

4. BCTA will be exempt from all liability in respect of any event, negligent act, omission, death, accident, injury, sickness, irregularity, loss or damage whatsoever, howsoever and by whomsoever caused.

5. The client acknowledges and agrees that he or she shall have no claim or cause of action against BCTA should any carrier, hotelier or other service provider provide services which differ in any way from those specified in this website or as outlined in pre-departure information. BCTA accepts no responsibility for losses or additional expenses due to delay in the provision of services by service providers howsoever those delays are caused. Neither does BCTA accept responsibility for changes to or the withdrawal of services by the service providers.

BCTA makes all bookings and travel arrangements on your behalf on the express understanding that accommodation, travel arrangements or tours. BCTA is not liable for any act, omission, or default on the part of the operator, its servants, agents or contractors, or of any authorised body.

Law of Contract

Any contract arising with the client shall be governed by the laws of the Philippines and any legal action arising therefrom shall be litigated only in the appropriate court having jurisdiction in the city.

Consumer Protection

Details of important consumer Terms & Conditions and Operator Responsibilities relevant to all tour arrangements and information contained in this website are outlined above. It is essential that these conditions and responsibilities are carefully read and understood prior to making a booking. Additionally, details or particular tours described in this website may have altered since publication. Changes in airfares, taxes, fuel surcharges, operators’ tariffs and currency exchange rates may affect the price of particular tours. For these reasons, it is imperative that the client reconfirms all arrangements at the time of booking and prior to paying the balance payment.

For more information, you may contact:
Batanes Cultural Travel Agency
Unit 201 Parc Chateau, Onyx Road,  Ortigas Center, Pasig City, Philippines
Tel. (+63 2) 634-2982  / 635-4810 / 910-8801
Fax. (+63 2) 633-2655   Mobile (63) 917.811.22.82 / (63) 922.821.37.17