Thanks so much for your interest in joining us on retreat! Prior to confirming your participation, please ensure that you have read, understand, and agree to the following Terms and Conditions.
I have chosen voluntarily to participate in the international trip described above (the “Trip”) (“Trip” is understood to include all activities at destinations, and all travel to and from such destinations) with Explore and Expand LLC. I agree and hold harmless Explore and Expand against any and all claims, suits or actions of any kind whatsoever for liability, damages, compensation or otherwise brought by me or anyone on my behalf, including attorney’s fees and related costs, if litigation arises pursuant to any claims made by me or anyone else acting on my behalf. If Explore and Expand LLC incurs any of these types of expenses, I agree to reimburse Explore and Expand LLC.
This agreement confirms my understanding of the following terms and guidance:
1. Reservation
To reserve your place on one our retreats, please submit your non-refundable and non-transferable deposit specific to the retreat that you desire to participate in.
2. Payment
Payment can be made by cash, check, credit card, or Paypal. Final balances are due 45 days before the departure date of the retreat. Please refer to the website and traveler information packet for the actual due date specific to your trip. If payment of the balance of the retreat price is not received by Explore and Expand LLC by the required time we will assume that you will not be participating on the trip and cancellation charges in accordance with condition 3 will apply.
3. Cancellations
If you wish to cancel your retreat you must notify Explore and Expand LLC in writing. Once we’ve received your notice, cancellation will take effect subject to the following: If cancellation takes place more than 90 days prior to your departure date, any payments made will be refunded minus your deposit. If cancellation takes place between 60 and 90 days prior to your departure date, we will refund 50% of the total retreat cost less your initial deposit and any specific expenses incurred on your behalf by Explore and Expand LLC. No refunds will be available in the event you cancel less than 60 days prior to your departure date. You agree to pay, immediately upon your cancellation, to Explore and Expand LLC any amount forfeited which has not yet been paid.
4. Health and Fitness Requirements
You must be in good physical and mental health to participate on the retreats, and you are strongly advised to consult with your physician about the advisability of your participation. This retreat contains travel to areas with little access to medical services or hospital facilities for serious problems. Medical and evacuation expenses will be your responsibility which is why we strongly encourage you to purchase travel insurance. Explore and Expand LLC reserves the right in its absolute discretion to refuse a participant the right to participate in a retreat on medical or fitness grounds.
5. Cancellation due to Retreat Booking Numbers
Explore and Expand LLC reserves the right to cancel any retreat prior to departure in the event that there are too few people booked, in which case you will be given a full refund of any and all payments made to Explore and Expand LLC . You will not be entitled to claim any additional amounts or seek any compensation for any injury, loss, expenses or damage (either direct or consequential) or for any loss of time or inconvenience which may result from such cancellation (including but not limited to visa, passport and vaccination charges, or departure, gear purchases, airport and airline taxes) so be sure you have travel insurance!
6. Changes, Postponement, Cancellation or Delay
Explore and Expand LLC reserves the right to make changes to any aspect of the retreat if, in the absolute discretion of Explore and Expand LLC, it is necessary to do so due to conditions, government warnings, or for any other reason considered advisable by Explore and Expand LLC. In this event, we will do all we can to transfer any payments made to a future retreat. If this is not possible, travel insurance may compensate you depending on the circumstances.
If either teacher designated is unable to lead the trip for any reason, Explore and Expand LLC, in its discretion will enlist another teacher to lead the retreat. In the event of any change, modification, cancellation, postponement or delay under this condition, you acknowledge that you will have no right of refund of the retreat price (whether in whole or in part) and no right to claim compensation for any injury, loss or damage or other additional expenses incurred by virtue of the change, modification, cancellation postponement or delay.
7. Insurance
We strongly recommend the purchase of travel insurance and it is your responsibility to ensure that you are adequately insured for the full duration of the retreat in case of illness, injury, death, loss of baggage and personal items, cancellation or curtailment. Please make sure your health insurance plan will cover you during travel. Otherwise, choose a travel insurance plan that will cover those risks associated with travel.
8. Assumption of Risk in International Travel; U.S. State Department Warning.
Participation in the Trip and international travel involves risks. These include, without limitation, risks involved in traveling to, from, and within international locations; foreign political, legal, medical, social and economic conditions; different standards of design, safety and maintenance of buildings, public places and conveyances; and local weather conditions. The country or countries to which we will travel may have health and safety standards that differ from those enjoyed in the United States, and you may be subjected to potential risks, illnesses, injuries and even death. You must make your own investigation of these risks and understand them You assume the risks associated with the Trip knowingly and willingly.
You understand that during the Trip, you or other participants may be exposed to communicable illnesses, including but not limited to Covid-19, influenza, colds and Norovirus. You understand and accept that the risk of exposures to these communicable illnesses is inherent in most activities where people interact or share facilities, and that these exposures are beyond the control of Explore and Expand LLC and cannot be eliminated. You agree to comply with any infection control policies and procedures implemented by Explore and Expand LLC in advance of your Trip.
In traveling to cities abroad, you may experience problems associated with urban living, including increased crime, pollution, high population density or standards of living and health standards that are different from those to which you are accustomed in the United States. You acknowledge that it is your responsibility to take every precaution to safeguard your health and to protect your personal belongings from damage or theft. Explore and Expand LLC recommends that during the Trip, you never travel alone, particularly at night. Being alone, especially at night, may present additional danger to your safety and well being.
Although Explore and Expand LLC has organized the Trip, they cannot eliminate all risks or guarantee the safety of participants while abroad. You have read and understood all information on the U.S. State Department website (http://travel.state.gov) about the country or countries to which you are traveling, including, without limitation, the U.S. Department of State Consular Information Sheet and the State Department Warning (if applicable). You also have reviewed the U.S. Centers for Disease Control health advisory information relating to travel abroad found at http://www.cdc.gov/travel, and any additional information available from the World Health Organization website (http://www.who.int/). With knowledge of this information, you have made the independent judgment to participate in the Trip.
9. Force Majeure
Explore and Expand LLC shall not be liable to you for any costs, expenses, damages or refunds if it is prevented (directly or indirectly) from performing any of its obligations under this agreement by reason of act of God, strikes, trade disputes, fire, breakdowns, interruption of transport, government or political action, acts of war or terrorism, acts or omissions of a third party or for any other cause whatsoever outside Explore and Expand LLC reasonable control.
10. Health Insurance; Medical Care; Health and Safety Concerns
You are responsible for obtaining any recommended immunizations before traveling to the destinations on the Trip. You should determine that your insurance is adequate to cover injuries or illnesses that you may sustain while participating in the Trip. You will be solely responsible for payment in full of all costs of medical care you may receive overseas.
You authorize Explore and Expand LLC to obtain appropriate health care for you in the event that you need it but are unable to obtain it for yourself. You further agree to hold harmless and indemnify Explore and Expand LLC for any and all actions taken by Explore and Expand LLC to provide necessary emergency medical care to you during the Trip. If you experience serious health problems, suffer an injury, or are otherwise in a situation that raises significant health and safety concerns, then Explore and Expand LLC may contact your “emergency contact.” Explore and Expand LLC ordinarily will not initiate such contact without first having a discussion with you, but this may not be possible in all circumstances.
11. Standards of Conduct
By participating in the Trip, you assume an important personal obligation to conduct yourself in a manner compatible with local laws and regulations, and with any instructions given by the Trip leaders. You promise to act responsibly and become informed of, and will abide by, all such laws, regulations, policies and standards. This includes laws around prostitution, as well as drug purchase, selling, and consumption on foreign soil. Explore and Expand LLC is not responsible for your well-being or any legal action taken on you if you disregard these laws.
12. Travel Arrangements
Explore and Expand LLC does not represent or act as an agent for, and cannot control the acts or omissions of, any host family, transportation carrier, hotel, tour organizer or other provider of food, goods or services involved in the Trip. Explore and Expand LLC is not responsible for matters that are beyond its control, and it cannot warrant the safety or convenience of the circumstances on the Trip.
13. GENERAL RELEASE
Knowing the risks described above, I agree, on behalf of my family, heirs and personal representative(s), to assume all the risks and responsibilities surrounding my participation in the Trip. To the maximum extent permitted by law, I release, hold harmless and agree to indemnify Explore and Expand LLC from and against any present or future claims, losses, liabilities, costs and expenses for injury to person or property, or for any other damage, which I may suffer, or for which I may be liable to any other person, related to my participation in the Trip (including periods in transit to or from my destination), resulting from any cause, including but not limited to negligence on my part or on the part of any of the released parties.
I certify that I am age 18 or older. I have carefully read and freely signed this Assumption of Risk and General Release Form. I understand and agree that no oral or written representations can or will alter the contents of this document. I agree that this agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of North Carolina (excluding its conflict of laws principles), which shall be the forum for any lawsuits filed under or incident to this agreement or the Trip.