Terms & Conditions

The terms & conditions below are general in nature. Select a package for specific terms & conditions. When you make a booking, the terms & conditions in effect at that time for your package govern your purchase, and a copy of these terms should be available under Your Booking or attached to your booking receipt email.

Bookings & Prices

Payments, Refunds & Credits

• Changes
• Cancellations
• Included Services
• Trip Operation
• Participation
• Your Information & Privacy
• Miscellanea

To help us provide you with the very best services at the lowest possible prices and avoid confusion and misunderstandings, we ask that you read the Terms & Conditions (the "Terms") below carefully. By booking, registering for, making a payment towards, or participating in a tour or other travel product or service with Pocket Friendly Tours, you agree to the Terms that apply to that package in effect at the time of your booking. These Terms represent a legally binding contract.

Bookings & Prices

We do our best to provide accurate and up-to-date information on our website, but errors may occur. Please confirm pricing and details with us prior to making a booking.

By making travel bookings on our website or with one of our agents, or otherwise purchasing any travel services offered by Pocket Friendly Tours, you warrant that 1) you are at least 18 years of age and have the legal authority to create a binding legal obligation; 2) you accept and agree to all the Terms presented herein; and 3) all information supplied by you for the purposes of that booking is true, accurate, current, and complete to the best of your knowledge.

BOOKING ON BEHALF OF OTHERS: If you make a booking for anyone other than yourself, you are considered the designated contact person for those other travellers. You represent and warrant that you are legally authorized to act on their behalf; that you have obtained all required consents; and that you will inform them of these Terms and warrant that they accept and agree to them. You are also responsible for making all payments due for your booking; notifying us if any changes or cancellations are required; and keeping the other travellers informed of all information relevant to your trip.

REGISTRATION: After you complete your booking, we'll send you an email containing a link to a secure traveller registration form. For most packages, you must complete this form within 5 days of booking. Let us know if you are unable to complete it within this timeframe, or your booking may be subject to cancellation.

CONFIRMATION: After we receive your booking and deposit, we will confirm availability of all components and send you a confirmation email within 1–3 business days. If any option or component you selected is not available, we will alert you and give you the option to modify your booking or to cancel and receive a refund of your deposit.

From the time of your booking confirmation until your final payment; your price may only be changed if: 1) you request Changes or Modifications to your booking; 2) new or increased government taxes or fees are implemented that apply to your package or its components; 3) vendor costs applicable to your package or its components increase. Under any of these circumstances, we will inform you how your package price will be affected.

Once your booking is fully paid the package price will not change, unless: 1) you request Changes or Modifications to your booking; 2) new or increased government taxes or fees are implemented that apply to your package or its components. In either case, we will inform you how your package price will be affected.

SPECIAL MEAL REQUESTS OR DIETS: You may enter special meal requests or dietary restrictions for each traveller when you complete your registration. We will relay your requests to our partners in destination. We cannot guarantee that your requests will be honoured, and some requests or restrictions may be difficult to accommodate in some destinations.

PRICES: Advertised package prices are based on double occupancy rooms or cabins and the least expensive travel dates, departure city, hotels, houseboats and other options available, and do not include Optional Excursions or other optional items, unless otherwise noted. Your total price will vary based upon the dates, flights, hotels, houseboats and other options you select when you book.

Advertised package prices may reflect an "Instant Savings" discount. On occasion, we may also offer price reductions, sale discounts, coupon discounts, or other promotional discounts on certain packages, departures, or services. Such discounts are valid for a limited time, only apply to new bookings, and may have other conditions or limitations. Existing bookings for which a deposit has been received are not entitled to price reductions or discounts that were not valid at the time of booking.

Prices and availability are subject to change until you make a booking and that booking is confirmed. After that, your package price will not change, with some exceptions listed under Confirmation.

All advertised prices and costs are in Indian currency, unless noted otherwise.

Payments, Refunds & Credits

Payments

DEPOSITS: A deposit, paid via one of our accepted payment methods, is required to secure your Tour Booking, which will be applied towards the cost of your package. Selected tours will now require an increased deposit when airfare to and from your destination is included. Deposits vary by package, and some departure dates and/or departure cities may require a different deposit. Please check the package page, start a booking, or contact us to find out the required deposit. Changes or modifications you request to our packages may require an increased or additional deposit. Deposits are generally non-refundable after we confirm your booking, unless covered by our Carefree Booking policy or we cancel your departure.

If you add Travel Protection coverage when you book, the premium will be added to your deposit amount.

FINAL PAYMENT: If any balance is due after making your booking, you must pay this balance via one of our accepted payment methods by your final payment due date. This date varies by package but is most often 30 days prior to departure. The due date for your booking will be listed in the booking process, in your booking receipt email, under Your Booking, and on your invoice. You may make as many payments as you like in any amount until the due date. If you have not paid in full by your due date, your booking will be subject to late fee. If you have not paid in full 15 days after your due date, your booking will be cancelled, and your deposit will be forfeited. If you make payments in excess of your balance due, you can choose to receive a refund of the excess amount or to convert it to a Travel Credit with no expiration date.

PAYMENT METHODS: We accept payments towards your deposit or balance due by the following methods:

Visa, MasterCard: You can use one of these cards when booking or making a payment via our website or with an agent by phone. To pay your deposit with multiple credit cards, please contact us.

GPay or PhonePe account: You can use your GPay or PhonePe account to make payments.
Travel Credits issued by us: To redeem travel credits, please contact us.
We do not accept any other forms of payment. Payments must be made in Indian currency.

Refunds

Refunds will be processed and paid as promptly as possible. If we need to recover funds already paid to our partners for your services, your refund will be issued after those funds have been recovered. Most refunds are processed within six weeks of being requested. Refunds for payments by credit card will be credited to that card, provided your refund does not exceed the amount paid on the card. Otherwise, your refund will be issued by cheque.

Travel Credits

In many cases, we may issue you credits for trip cancellations, referring new travellers to Pocket Friendly Tours, promotions, or other reasons. In some cases, these credits have a stated expiration date, while other credits may have no expiration. To redeem credits, they must be used towards a booking that is made before the credits expire, but the travel need not be complete before the expiration. Expired credits are void and may not be redeemed. In most cases, credits used toward a booking which you later cancel are forfeited, unless the cancelled booking is covered by our Carefree Booking policy or otherwise stated.

Credits are issued to individuals, who must be over the age of 18. In the case of credits awarded to a former traveller who referred a new traveller to us, they are issued to the person who made the referral. In most other cases, including those where a credit is related to a booking, the credits are issued to the person who made the booking. Credits may be transferred to another individual, provided you notify us first in writing.

Credits are issued in Indian Rupees amounts and may be redeemed towards a balance due to Pocket Friendly Tours on a future trip. Credits may not be used towards visa fees, airport, port & border crossing fees, optional excursions, or any other items purchased on tour and/or not payable to Pocket Friendly Tours. You may redeem as many credits as you like towards a new booking. If the new booking totals more than the value of your redeemed credits, you are responsible for paying the difference by the final payment due date. Credits are not redeemable for cash, and any credits not redeemed for a new booking will carry over and be used towards another future booking, provided they have not expired.

Changes

Carefree Booking

The Carefree Booking policy only applies to a new booking—defined as booking without the use of funds on file from a previous cancellation.

The Carefree Booking policy only applies to your original booking—limiting rebooking's to one. Subsequent bookings will be subject to standard cancellation penalties. Additionally, any coupon or discount (other than our Instant Savings) does not transfer from the cancelled booking and therefore will not be applied to the new booking.

• Under this policy, should you:
• Decide not to travel for any reason
• Your booking was not made using a previously cancelled booking's funds
• You let us know before your final payment due date
• You may cancel your booking and choose one of the following:

 

Select another available departure on the same or a different package. We will credit all payments you have made, including any travel insurance premiums, towards a booking for that departure for the same or a greater number of travellers.

Receive future Travel Credits worth everything you have paid, excluding any travel insurance premiums. These credits will be issued to the booking customer and may be redeemed towards any future trip but must be used or transferred within 2 years of your booking.

Receive a refund equal to all payments made, excluding any travel insurance premiums, and other service charges in Travel Credits. These credits will be issued to the booking customer and may be redeemed towards any future trip but must be used or transferred within 2 years of your booking.

You will not be charged any fees or penalties, except:

Changes or cancellations requested after your final payment due date are subject to our standard change and cancellation fees and policies. Carefree Booking may not be available for all packages, including private and custom group departures.

Changes & Modifications

CHANGING YOUR PACKAGE OR DEPARTURE: Requests to modify an existing booking to change your package or to change your departure (to another scheduled departure date for the same package) are subject to availability of the new package or departure. When not covered by our Carefree Booking policy, such changes are subject to fees, which will be added to your balance due. When such requests are received on or before your final payment due date, the change fees schedule below applies. When such requests are received after your final payment due date, they are considered cancellations and are subject to cancellation fees, but any refund due to you after such fees may be applied as a credit towards the new package or departure. In either case, and regardless of our Carefree Booking policy, if the total price of the new package or departure you select (including all selected options and any applicable fees payable to Pocket Friendly Tours) is more than your previous total, you are responsible for paying the difference, which will be added to your balance due. If the total price of the new package or departure you select is less than your previous total, we will apply the difference as a credit to your balance due, or if you have already paid in full, refund you the difference.

EXTENDED STAYS: On some packages, you may be able to extend your stay by departing after and/or arriving before the scheduled dates. We can arrange extra hotel/ housboat nights, and/or transfers, subject to availability and other restrictions. See Changes & Modifications for more information.

Cancellations

Cancellations by You

If you elect to cancel your booking for any reason, you must notify us in writing. Except when covered by our Carefree Booking policy, cancellations are subject to fees which vary by your date of booking, your date of cancellation, and by package; select a package for details. Cancellation fees may change at any time, and your booking is subject to the schedule in effect at the time of booking. A copy of the Terms and fee schedule that govern your booking should be available under Your Booking or attached to your booking receipt email.

When you cancel, we will refund all monies paid, minus:
your deposit or the applicable cancellation fee, whichever is greater
the cost of any issued flight tickets if non-refundable, or any cancellation fee assessed by the airline if refundable

When you request cancellation, we will advise you of the total of these fees and your total refund, if any. In some cases, as indicated in the fee schedule, some or all of the cancellation fee we withhold may be applied as a Travel Credit, which does not expire and can be used toward any future booking.

If you make a booking for two or more travellers, it is possible for one or more travellers on that booking to cancel while allowing the remaining traveller(s) to continue. Cancellation fees will only be assessed on the cancelling travellers. If such a change requires any double occupancy rooms or cabin to be converted to single occupancy, the remaining traveller(s) are responsible for any applicable single occupancy rates, which will be added to their balance due. In some cases, it may be possible for a new traveller to be added to a booking replacing another traveller. If so, a name change fee will apply, as well as any applicable airline & other vendor fees, particularly for any issued flight tickets.

Cancellations by Us

Most of our advertised packages require a minimum number of travellers to operate. We reserve the right to cancel or reschedule any departure due to insufficient demand, unsafe conditions, events beyond our control, or any other reason. If we cancel a departure, we will notify you prior to the final payment due date (unless the cancellation is due to an unforeseen situation that arises after that) and offer alternate dates of travel or a full refund. We also reserve the right to cancel a specific booking or remove a specific traveller prior to departure, at our own discretion, and refund all monies paid to Pocket Friendly Tours.

Included Services

INCLUDED SERVICES: Varies by package; see the "included features" list on the package page.

NOT INCLUDED: For most of our packages, unless otherwise noted, the following items are not included in the advertised package price:

• excess baggage fees
• advance seat reservations
• entry visa fees
• optional extensions & excursions
• personal, baggage & travel insurance
• gratuities
• beverages
• items not specifically mentioned in the itinerary or "included features" list
• any items of a personal nature

UNUSED SERVICES: Unused services cannot be refunded once the trip has begun. No refund can be made for absence by travellers from any part of the itinerary.

Accommodations

Our packages include carefully selected hotels and/or houseboats. Advertised prices are for standard double occupancy rooms or cabins. You can enter your preferred number of beds (one or two) per room or cabin when you book, and we will do our best to honour your request but cannot guarantee it. Single or triple occupancy rooms or cabins may be available upon request, but availability cannot be guaranteed. Special requests (bedding, smoking preference, etc.) are subject to availability and confirmation by the hotel or houseboat.

At least 5 days prior to departure, we will send you a detailed list of all accommodations on your package, including hotel addresses, telephone, and fax numbers. Sometimes it is necessary to change the hotels or houseboat used on your package. In that event, we will make every effort to ensure that substitutes meet or exceed the quality and location of the original.

Optional Excursions

Any activity, transportation, meal, product, or service listed as optional and not expressly included in the itinerary or price of a package is considered an Optional Excursion. In most cases, these Optional Excursions are offered by Third Party Suppliers. Some may be purchased from us with your booking, while others must be selected and paid for in destination, sometimes in local currency. We cannot guarantee availability of Optional Excursions, and for those paid for in destination, we cannot guarantee the price. If an Optional Excursion you paid for with your booking is not available, we will refund your payment for that excursion. We make no warranties and expressly deny any claims or liability whatsoever, including loss of enjoyment, arising from participation in, or the lack of availability of, Optional Excursions or any information provided by us or our representatives about these Optional Excursions.

Travel Insurance

We recommend you carry travel insurance or equivalent coverage. For your convenience, we offer a Travel Protection Plan which may be purchased with most packages.

The plan may not be purchased by itself and must be purchased with a package or other travel product or service. Purchase of the plan is not required to purchase any other travel product or service. We act only as a sales agent for the insurance provider, and questions about coverage or claims should be directed to the insurance provider.

Trip Operation

ITINERARIES: We make every effort to ensure our tours & packages run smoothly and according to the posted itineraries. However, we reserve the right to modify our itineraries as we deem necessary to keep everything running comfortably. Please refer to the latest version of your itinerary on our website prior to travel, which we will also send you at least 5 days prior to departure. The planned itinerary is representative of the types of accommodations, transport and activities planned, but the actual itinerary, including routes, schedules, amenities, modes of transport, and other items, may still be subject to alteration or substitution without prior notice due to circumstances on the ground or upon recommendation of our partners in destination. In these cases, we will make every effort to ensure the changes result in an equivalent or better experience for our travellers. We will not be held liable for any damages related to these alterations.

In rare cases, due to circumstances beyond our control (see Force Majeure below), and for the safety, comfort, and wellbeing of our travellers, it may become necessary to make major changes to our itineraries, including omitting certain destinations or segments of a tour, or even cancelling a departure entirely. Should this occur, we will inform you as soon as reasonably possible. We will also make every effort to obtain refunds from our suppliers for the unused services, which we will refund to you. However, it may not be possible to obtain refunds from all of our suppliers (especially for ticketed flights), and we cannot guarantee a refund of your entire package price. See our Refund policy.

FORCE MAJEURE: Certain unexpected circumstances may arise, such as (but not limited to) weather events, pandemics, quarantines, border closures, acts of governments or authorities, wars, hostilities, political uprisings or civil disturbances, riots, strikes, terrorist activities or the threat of terrorist activities, criminal acts committed by third parties, defects of vehicles or breakdown in equipment, or an Act of God, that are beyond anyone's control, which force a cancellation or disruption of services. These circumstances are considered a force majeure. We will not be held responsible or liable in any way for such events, including death, bodily injury, illness, damage, delay, or other losses caused by such events. While we will always strive to assist our travellers wherever they are in the world when such circumstances occur, any losses or costs resulting from these events will be the responsibility of the traveller.

THIRD PARTY SUPPLIERS: Pocket Friendly Tours makes arrangements with airlines, houseboats, hotels and other accommodation providers, coach companies, transfer operators, and local guides, activity providers, and other independent parties ("Third Party Suppliers") to provide you with some or all of the components of your booking. Third Party Suppliers may also engage the services of local operators and sub-contractors. We take great care in selecting Third Party Suppliers, but we do not supervise or control these suppliers and cannot be responsible for their acts or omissions.

In the absence of our own negligence, we shall not be responsible for any cancellations, delays, diversions or substitution of equipment; loss or damage to baggage or property; injury, illness, or death; or any claims, losses, damages, costs or expenses arising out of inconvenience, loss of enjoyment, upset, disappointment, distress or frustration, whether physical or mental, resulting from the any act, omission, error or negligence whatsoever by air carriers, rail, coach companies, houseboats, hotels, transportation companies, other persons providing any of the services and accommodations to travellers, or any other person not our direct employee or under our exclusive control. Air carriers, rail, coach companies are not to be held responsible for any act, omissions, or events during the times that passengers are not aboard their aircraft or conveyances. We are not responsible for any criminal conduct by third parties.

Participation

LOCAL PURCHASES: We make every effort to give you an opportunity to browse local markets, shops and stores, time permitting. Some itineraries include scheduled stops at specialty stores or factories where you can view a demonstration of a local craft or purchase merchandise. If you decide to purchase these or any other items while on tour, you are responsible for those purchases. We are not responsible for the quality or authenticity of these items. It is always a good idea to comparison-shop and to thoroughly inspect all merchandise before leaving the store or shop, as most stores will not permit you to return or exchange purchased items. Prices may not include shipping/handling fees or customs charges. We are not responsible for the delivery or receipt of any item you purchase while traveling.

LOCAL LAWS: During travel, you must always comply with the laws and regulations of all places visited. Committing any illegal act may result in your removal from a tour and put you at risk of fines or punishment by local authorities, for which we cannot be held responsible.

ENTRY FEES: Some gardens, parks and destinations may require the payment of entry fees, which must be paid directly by the traveller and cannot be included in our package prices. You are responsible for payment of these fees. We do our best to inform you of such fees when you book and/or prior to travel, but we are not responsible for omissions or errors.

Information & Privacy

PRIVACY POLICY: When you make a booking, we require certain personal information (see below). When you use our website (https://www.friendlyplanet.com/), sign up for our newsletter, request a catalog, or interact with us in other ways, we may collect additional or other information, as described in our Privacy Policy. By using our website, booking travel with us, or submitting any personal information to us, you indicate your acceptance of our Privacy Policy.

REQUIRED INFORMATION: To make a booking, we require that you supply certain personal information, including the full legal name, gender, birthdate, and passport information for each traveller, as required by law and/or reasonably required to enable us and our suppliers to provide your purchased travel products and services. We also require contact information, including address, phone number, and email address, from the person making the booking. We request a phone number and email address for all other travellers, except for minors and family members who live together at the same address, so that we may reach you and your travel companions in case of last minute itinerary changes or emergencies. For each traveller, we also require the name and contact information of a designated emergency contact person who is not traveling. You are responsible for verifying that any information you provide for yourself and on behalf of other travellers on your booking is complete and accurate. Under no circumstances will we be liable for any errors or omissions in the information you have provided to us, or any fees or damages related to such errors or omissions.

IMAGES, VIDEOS & MARKETING: While participating in any of our packages, images, photos, or videos may be taken by us, our representatives or contractors, or other participants that may contain or feature you. You consent to any such pictures being taken and grant a perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide, irrevocable license to us, our contractors, sub-contractors and assigns, 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.

Miscellanea

These Terms represents the entire agreement between travellers and Pocket Friendly Tours. There is no additional liability.

If any provision of these Terms is so broad as to be unenforceable, such provision will be interpreted to be only so broad as is enforceable. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision hereof will in no way affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision.

These Terms will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties and their respective heirs, legal and personal representatives, executors, estate trustees, successors, and assigns. In the event that some other person or entity seeks compensation for claims from which you have released us from liability by agreeing to these Terms, you (or your estate) will indemnify and hold harmless Pocket Friendly Tours for all sums reasonably incurred in response to such claims, including our reasonable attorney costs and fees.

We reserve the right to update or alter these Terms at any time. We will post amendments to these Terms on our website at https://www.pocketfriendlytours.com/, and any amendment will take effect immediately upon posting.

We retain the right at our sole discretion to deny access to anyone to our website (https:// www.pocketfriendlytours.com /) and the products and services we offer, at any time and for any reason.