Terms and Conditions

Where Focused Expeditions is an agent for its suppliers of photographic tours

Focused Expeditions acts as an agent on behalf of the suppliers of the photographic tours promoted on its website and these tours are governed by the Terms and Conditions of those suppliers. While every effort is made to ensure that travel products are delivered as promoted Focused Expeditions does not guarantee that this will happen as Focused Expeditions is simply a reseller of these products.

Where Focused Expeditions runs its own photographic tours

Focused Expeditions may also run its own photographic tours from time to time. In these instances, then Focused Expeditions as the tour operator is responsible to deliver the tour as promoted.

Offers

All offers and promotions of services sold through Focused Expeditions are subject to availability and all advertised promotions apply solely to new bookings. Offers can be withdrawn at any time and without notice.

Deposits and Payments

At the time of booking Focused Expeditions will require a per person non-refundable deposit on top of the deposit required by the supplier of the tour you are booking. This is to cover Focused Expeditions for their time in the event you decide not to go ahead with the booking. Note that this extra deposit is part of the overall quote for your travel and not additional to it.

At the time of booking Focused Expeditions will also outline the schedule of payments due to secure and finalise your booking. Failure to pay the deposits due to suppliers by the due date may result in your booking being cancelled – suppliers often do this automatically so it is not something Focused Expeditions can stop. While Focused Expeditions can rebook the itinerary for you please note that the original dates or tour requested may not still be available or that the price may have changed.

Failure to meet final payment deadlines can also lead to cancellation of your booking and any refund of the deposit monies you may have paid will be subject to the suppliers Terms and Conditions.

Once you have paid any money towards a booking it is deemed that you have read and understood theses Terms and Conditions.

Card payments will incur extra fees – 2% for Amex or Diners and 1.25% for Visa or Mastercard.

If a supplier fails to provide the product purchased your remedy lies against the supplier and not against Focused Expeditions except where Focused Expeditions is the operator of the tour.

International travel arrangements are generally paid to the supplier in their local or nominated currency. Where prices are quoted to you in Australian Dollars then these are based on the exchange rate on the day but note that there can be fluctuations in the final price due based on movements in the foreign exchange rates. The quoted price in Australian Dollars will be honoured were you have paid the full amount at the time of receiving the quote. Suppliers can also impose extra charges prior to your making the final payment and Focused Expeditions is not liable if such changes occur. Rates quoted are correct at the time of booking and are subject to change with or without notice.

Focused Expeditions is registered for GST and this tax applies to all domestic travel booked as part of your itinerary.

Our Terms & Conditions are also available as a document.

All monies received from you will be placed into a Client account until dispersed to the suppliers of your travel arrangements.

Confirmations and Documentation

Once you have booked your travel itinerary Focused Expeditions will send you a written confirmation but note that bookings are not deemed to be finalised until all monies have been paid. Final documentation will not be issued by travel suppliers until they have received full payment for their part of your itinerary. Also note that each supplier will have their own terms on deposits and final payments and their own overall Terms and Conditions which govern their part of your itinerary.

On receipt of your travel documents you must check that they correctly reflect the booking you made so that any amendments can be made in good time and avoid any disruption to your travels. Equally you must provide passenger names exactly as they appear in your passports – you may be refused boarding by a cruise line or airline if the name on your booking is different to the one in your passport. Also be aware of any changes to your circumstances – such as having a new baby that needs to be registered on your passport or to have their own passport.

All passengers departing Australia must be in possession of a valid passport with a minimum of 6 month’s validity beyond your return date to Australia. Focused Expeditions requires a copy of your passport prior to making final bookings and you must advise us if you are travelling on a non-Australian passport as this can affect your visa requirements to visit the countries in your itinerary and can also affect your right to return to Australia.

Please check your itinerary carefully before booking it as any changes to an itinerary will incur a fee of $60 per person by Focused Expeditions for their time to make these changes plus the supplier may also charge change fees. These will be advised before any change is made. Where the change is as a result of the travel supplier’s actions you may be able to cancel or rebook without penalty but note that cruise lines and airlines both reserve the right to vary their schedules so your rights to cancel and /or rebook are subject to the suppliers Terms and Conditions.

Equally in the event you need to cancel a booking then any refunds due to you will be subject to the supplier’s terms and conditions.

Note that any packages specifically put together by Focused Expeditions to attend key religious festivals such as the Hajj (ie not bought via a third party) are guaranteed by Focused Expeditions.

Visas

Many countries require visitors to have obtained a Visa for entry prior to arrival and it is your responsibility to ensure that you have valid passports, visas and entry permits. Any costs associated

with not having correct documentation is solely your responsibility. Focused Expeditions can source information on Visa requirements for you from a third party advisory service but we take no responsibility on the accuracy of their information. Note if you are travelling to the USA they have a compulsory Visa Waiver program and you need to apply online at https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov Be aware that not all people will be eligible to participate in the Visa Waiver scheme in which case you would need to apply for entry clearance from the US Embassy prior to your arrival into the USA.

Health and Safety and Insurance

Check with your Doctor about any requirements for vaccinations. Check with DFAT via their www.smarttraveller.gov.au site for any travel advisories that may impact your itinerary

NB – Our photo tour partners all insist that you have your own comprehensive travel insurance organised. This insurance should cover all aspects of the travel purchased as well as providing medical coverage while overseas including repatriation to Australia. Proof of purchase of your Travel Insurance policy needs to be lodged with Focused Expeditions prior to final payments being made.

Liability

Except where Focused Expeditions runs its own tours, Focused Expeditions cannot accept any responsibility for any act, omission or default (negligent or otherwise) of any travel service provider in connection with your holiday over whom Focused Expeditions has no direct or exclusive control and we shall not be liable for any injury, loss or damage including consequential damage arising out of or connected to your travel booking. We act as an agent for travel suppliers and have no responsibility for the provision of those services nor do we warrant regarding the standard of the services to be provided. Your recourse is against the specific travel provider and not against Focused Expeditions.

Privacy

Focused Expeditions respects your privacy and all details collected by you will be used solely for the travel being booked and for the purposes of obtaining feedback from you or for advising you of special offers from time to time. If you do not wish to receive such notifications simply advise Focused Expeditions. For more information on our Privacy Policy refer to our website – www.focusedexpeditions.com/privacy

Schedule of Fees

– Focused Expeditions will collect a non-refundable deposit per person in addition to any deposits required by the travel providers. This will be $150 per person for International travel and $100 per person for domestic travel. Note this deposit is not an addition to the quoted cost of your itinerary.

– Credit card service fees will be charged – 2% for Amex/Diners and 1.5% for Visa/Mastercard

– Booking fees maybe charged as determined by Focused Expeditions, these will be advised before you proceed with a booking.

– Amendments to bookings will attract a charge of $60 per person per change.

– Arranging Visas has a fee of $75 per visa in addition to any fees charged by the relevant consulate or embassy and any costs for postage or couriers to deliver the documentation.

– No cash refunds will be given

– Cheque payments can only be accepted more than 10 days before final payments are due.

– Where Focused Expeditions has to provide documentation to support an insurance claim and the insurance was not bought through Focused Expeditions then a $100 fee will apply.