I. The Contract All persons wishing to travel on a CASA trip must sign the reservation form. The terms and conditions that follow will bind all such persons. The signer on the reservation form will hereafter be referred to as “the client.” All reservations are made with Chilean Andean Snow Adventures, which will be referred to as “CASA,” or “the company,” hereafter. No one has the authority to vary these terms and conditions on behalf of CASA. The service to be provided is the tour stated on the reservation form, outlined in the trip notes, overview and itinerary. II. Reservations Upon receiving a complete and signed reservation form with a four hundred-dollar non-refundable deposit, CASA will provide a written confirmation of the client’s reservation. Once the client has received this confirmation the contract officially comes into existence. The full balance of the trip cost is due 60 days before the trip departure date. If this balance is not paid 60 days prior to departure, CASA reserves the right to cancel the client’s reservation. If a reservation is made less than 60 days prior to departure, the full balance of the trip is due at that time. III. Cancellations By the client: Any cancellation by a client must be made in writing. The date on which CASA receives the client’s written cancellation will determine the charges applicable. If the cancellation is made more than 60 days prior to departure, the client loses only the $500.00 non-refundable deposit. If the client makes the cancellation 60-14 days before departure, they lose 70% of the total trip cost. Cancellation less than 14 days prior to departure results in a loss of the entire trip price. In addition to the above charges, clients may also be responsible for any insurance premiums arranged through the company. CASA encourages all its clients to arrange travel insurance including cancellation insurance within 10 days of making a CASA reservation. Note cancellation insurance will cover cancellation charges in most circumstances, however it will not cover, for example, a change of mind. CASA will gladly provide a company through which travel insurance will be available, please see Travel Insurance in the section entitled Important Information. If a client is prevented from traveling due to serious illness, death in the immediate family or a similar catastrophe, CASA will consider allowing the client to change to another trip, or allow another to take that client’s space, given that the other also signs a reservation form. If there are additional costs incurred the client would be responsible for paying them. By the company: CASA reserves the right to cancel a tour for any reason, but will not cancel a tour less than sixty days before departure except for force majeure, unusual or unforeseen circumstances outside the company’s control. When a trip is cancelled the client may choose between a full refund of all monies paid and any alternative trip with open reservation space offered in lieu by CASA. If the alternative trip is of a lower value than the originally booked trip then the client is entitled to a refund of the difference. IV. Unused Services There will be no refund for unused services. Optional Extras: Because there are many optional extra activities that become available during the course of the trip the client herein acknowledges that they are not part of the tour contract. Any assistance given by the tour leader and accepted by the client in arranging optional activities does not render the company liable for such costs. Only activities said to be included in the trip notes and overview are included in the trip cost. V. Flexibility Prices and Surcharges: We reserve the right to impose surcharges (or price decreases) up to sixty days before a departure due to unfavorable changes in exchange rates, increases in air fares or other transport costs, taxes, or if government action should require us to do so. Surcharges will be calculated according to how the full extra cost compares to the original costs and the exchange rates. The company will be responsible for the first 2% of the additional charge and the client will be responsible for the balance. If any surcharge results in an increase of more than 10% of the trip cost excluding the insurance premiums the client may cancel the reservation and receive a full refund within 14 days of notification of the surcharge. The Nature of Adventure Travel: The client acknowledges that the nature of the tour is adventurous, physically demanding and challenging. The client realizes that such holidays may involve a significant amount of personal risk. Because of political and cultural differences as well as generally tougher physical conditions, travel to the areas that we visit involves risks outside those we may take in our daily lives. The client is aware of the risk involved and is responsible for making their travel plans. The client appreciates and acknowledges that the nature of this type of travel requires considerable flexibility and should allow for alternatives. The outline itinerary as given for each trip must therefore be taken as an indication only of what each group may actually accomplish and not as a contractual obligation on the part of CASA. It is understood that the route, schedules, itinerary, amenities and mode of transport may be subject to alteration without prior notice due to local circumstances or events, which may include sickness or mechanical break down, flight cancellation, strikes, events occurring due to political disputes, entry or border difficulties, climate and other unpredictable or unforeseeable circumstances. VI. Changes Changes made by CASA: CASA reserves the right to change any of the facilities, services or prices described in the brochure or web site before a reservation is made. If such a change is made, the client will be told or given written information notifying them of the change prior to making the reservation. While CASA will make its best effort to run all tours as advertised, reasonable changes in the itinerary may be made where deemed appropriate, advisable or necessary. If the company makes a major change in the trip, the client will be informed prior to departure when possible. The definition of a major change is deemed to be a change affecting at least one day for every five of the itinerary. When a major change is made prior to departure the client has the option of accepting the change of itinerary, booking a reservation in another trip at equal value, or obtaining a full refund of all monies paid for the trip. If the major change is made due to force majeure or unforeseen circumstances no compensation is payable. Should compensation be payable please see Unused Services in this contract. Changes made By the Client: Changes made by the client must be made 60 days prior to departure. Any extra costs incurred will be charges to the client. Note that scheduled airlines may impose 100% cancellation charges. Transfer from one trip to another can only be made 60 days prior to departure. If such a request is made and accepted by CASA, then CASA reserves the right to charge an administration fee of 10% of the original booked reservation. VII. Trip Leaders Final Word: While traveling with CASA, the trip leader’s decisions will be final on all matters likely to endanger the safety and well being of the group. The client will at all times comply with the laws of all countries visited. If the client fails to comply with the law of the land, or refuses to comply with the decisions of the tour leader, then the leader may dismiss the client from the tour with no recourse to any refund. Claims & Complaints: If a client has a complaint against CASA, the client must first inform the tour leader of the complaint while on tour so that the leader has a chance to rectify the situation. Any further claim or complaint against the company must be received within 30 days of the end of the trip. VIII. Responsibility CASA’s Liability: All services and arrangements made by CASA on behalf of the client are made on the sole condition that the organizers, individually, and CASA, as a company, shall not be held responsible for any injury, death, accident, delay, loss, damage or irregularity which may be occasioned through acts of any company and/or persons engaged in carrying out the arrangements for services described in the trip notes, overview, web site, itinerary and or brochure, or otherwise in connection herewith. CASA acts as an agent for transport companies, hotels, and other contractors, and shall not be held liable for any injury, damage, loss, delay or irregularity that may occur, including, but not limited to any defect in a vehicle or any other means of transport, acts of God, detention, delays or expenses arising from quarantine, strike, theft, force Majeure, civil disturbance, government restriction or regulation, accident by aircraft, boat, bicycle, any motorized vehicle, skiing or snowboarding, mountaineering, or any other form of transportation, activity or sport, or in any guest house, pension, or other form of accommodation. The information in the trip notes and overview are correct to the best of CASA’s knowledge, but we reserve the right to alter any trip at any time without penalty to the organizer. Any additional expense or cancellation shall be borne by the customer. The organizer reserves the right to refuse any service to any customer at the discretion of the organizer. Payment of the deposit is an acknowledgement of the above items. Travel Documents: The client agrees to have a valid passport and necessary visas, permits, certificates of vaccination and any other necessary document for traveling to the destinations in the trip overview and notes. The client also accepts full responsibility for obtaining the items needed listed above. Any advice or information given by the company on visas, vaccinations, passports, clothing, climate, baggage, special equipment etc is given in good faith but without responsibility on the part of the individual or the company. IX. Insurance All persons wishing to travel on a CASA tour are responsible for effecting sufficient personal travel insurance. The client is willing to accept full responsibility for insurance up to limits that the client and the company require. CASA requires that all clients have insurance that covers personal accident, medical expenses, air ambulance, loss of effects, repatriation costs, cancellation insurance and all other expenses which might arise as a result of loss, damage, injury, delay or inconvenience occurring to the client. When the client has taken insurance through the company he/she acknowledges that he/she is satisfied with the level of insurance arranged by the company, and that the company is not liable for disputes between the insurance company and the client. When taking insurance outside of CASA, the client must provide written proof of the insurance ten days after making the initial reservation with the company and be sure to advise the insurer of the type of travel to be undertaken. X. Airlines The responsibility of the airline is limited to the carriage of passengers and baggage in accordance to the conditions of carriage. When the client has taken airfare through the company, the company is not responsible for the carriage of the clients. The clients acknowledges that it is their responsibility to arrive on time to the arrival destination to begin the trip, CASA’s responsibility is free of all arrangements made for air travel, and the client acknowledges that these arrangements are made in good faith but are in no way legally binding. XI. Photographic Release I hereby agree to permit CASA employees and other guests to take photographs and make film records of the trip without further recourse. I understand and agree that such photographs and/or film records may be used for commercial and/or promotional purposes. I have read this document. I understand that it is a release of all claims which are binding on myself, my heirs, members of my family, personal representatives, and assigns. I understand that I am assuming all the risks inherent in international travel, skiing, and snowboarding. I voluntarily sign my name as evidence of my acceptance of the above provisions.