Yassas! We’re excited to welcome you on one of our immersive small group tours or retreats in Greece.
Please note the following Terms and Conditions that will apply to your trip. We’ve kept them as easy to read and straight forward as possible.
It is your responsibility to read and understand our Terms and Conditions. We are happy to clarify or answer any questions you may have.
Feel free to contact tours@greecetravelsecrets.com, and we’ll be happy to assist with any additional information.
Our Contract
All bookings are made with Greece Travel Secrets (ABN 37844761525). By booking with us, you have agreed to these booking conditions (which constitute the entire agreement between you and us), and your booking will be accepted by us on this basis.
Tour/Retreat participation
Our tours and retreats are focused on history, food, wine and cultural experiences and have been designed with adults in mind.
Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate children younger than 16.
Making Your Travel Plans
Because we limit our group tours to a small number of attendees, to ensure a more personal and intimate experience, our tour or retreat will only go ahead if we reach a required minimum number of guests.
1. Your trip or retreat will be confirmed when minimum numbers are reached, at the latest by the final balance payment date, 100 – 120 days before trip departure. If a tour or retreat is sold out, you can assume it is going ahead.
2. If we cancel the trip, we will issue a full refund. If the trip is rescheduled to another date, you can allocate any payments you have made to secure a spot on the new trip dates.
3. Extra time in a destination outside of the tour/retreat start and end date is at your own expense. If you arrive before or after our designated check-in/transfer has been arranged, we can provide suggestions for ways to enjoy your time.
4. Passports must have a minimum of 3 months’ validity at the time of departure from Greece as per the Greek government requirements; however, we recommend ensuring there is 6 months’ validity remaining on your passport. Please make sure you check your current passport and renew it if necessary.
5. Visas may be required for entering Greece, and are at your own expense. You can check the Greek Government Site for more information. It is your responsibility to research the visa and passport requirements for Greece and coordinate your visa within the appropriate timeframes required by your local embassy. We are unable to provide any refunds if you are denied entry to the country.
6. All Tours and Retreats are priced in Euros. We do not have control over worldwide currency fluctuations, and monitoring this will be your responsibility.
Payments
Greece Travel Secrets payments are split into 2 instalments: a deposit to reserve your spot and a final payment for the balance.
- Deposits– A 20% trip deposit is required to secure your place on our tours or retreats
- Balance– the remaining balance is required on the date specified in the tour or retreat itinerary and is usually 90 days before your tour or retreat date.
Cancellation and Refunds Policy
Hopefully, this never has to happen, but sometimes it’s unavoidable. Our cancellation policy is in place to help guests, and to ensure our local partners can cover expenses that may arise from unexpected cancellations.
Cancellations Initiated by You:
If you cancel your trip up to 90 days before departure, you will receive a full refund minus the deposit paid.
Cancellations within 90-30 days of commencement incur a 50% cancellation fee.
Cancellations within 30 days of departure incur a 100% cancellation fee.
If you cannot make a tour or retreat, we allow you to transfer the trip to someone of your choosing, found and assigned by you, no later than 30 days before departure and in writing. In that case, we will be transferring any payments you’ve made to that person, and the new assigned guest will be responsible for making the pending payments. You will be responsible for recovering any monies already paid by the guest yourself.
Cancellations and Refunds After Tour Commencement:
No refunds or credits will be issued for failure to attend or failure to complete the tour, or for arriving late or leaving early. If you arrive late, the full cost will still apply.
We do not issue refunds for any part of the tour or retreat not used, including (but not limited to) meals, activities, or any other services.
Cancellations Initiated by Us:
We reserve the right to cancel tours with inadequate participant interest, in which case your hold deposit will be refunded. Notification of cancellation for this reason will occur a minimum of 3 months before the tour or retreat. As mentioned above, we cannot be held responsible for any personal expenses, such as airline tickets due to changes in itineraries or tour/retreat cancellations before your tour has been confirmed.
Travel Insurance
Because refunds are made available only per the policy outlined above, and we are unable to make exceptions for any reason, including weather, injury/illness, or personal emergencies, we require all guests to take out comprehensive travel insurance to compensate in case of unexpected cancellations.
Insurance should cover you for both travel cancellations and medical emergencies in Greece.
The unexpected can occur, and becoming ill or injured in a foreign country it can be a daunting experience. We require guests to take insurance with international evacuation coverage for all trips. You should book a policy as soon as the trip has been confirmed or even when any other large purchase is made – often the airfares.
We will request proof of your travel and medical insurance details no later than 30 days before departure. Failure to comply with this requirement will result in the cancelation of your booking without refund. .
Prices and Surcharges
Greece Travel Secrets prices are subject to variable and seasonal pricing, both of which are standard practices within the travel industry. This means our trip prices may vary at any time due to demand, market conditions, and availability. There is a chance that different passengers on the same trip have been charged different prices, although it would not be common.
If you like the price you see on our website, then your best option is to book at that time. Any reduced pricing or discounts that may become available after you have paid your deposit will not apply. If you wish to cancel your booking to take advantage of a cheaper price, full cancellation conditions apply. The most up-to-date pricing is available on our website.
Prices are based on currency exchange rates at the time of trip publication. Please note that prices may vary depending on which currency the booking is made in.
We reserve the right to impose surcharges up to 45 days before departure due to unfavourable changes in exchange rates, transportation costs, increases in local operator costs, taxes, or if government action should require us to do so. In such instances, we will be responsible for any change in the exchange rate representing 5% of the trip price, and you will be responsible for the balance. If any surcharge results in an increase of more than 10% of the trip price, you may cancel the booking within 14 days of notification of the surcharge and obtain a full refund.
Please note that a surcharge may be applied to all purchases made by credit card.
Timely Payment
Timely payment is key for the trip to go ahead as planned and for our local partners and agents to be able to guarantee accommodation and activities. We reserve the right to cancel a booking without refund should the final payment deadline not be met.
General Health and Wellness Policy
The health and well-being of all our guests, partners, and staff are of utmost importance to us. If you feel unwell, please let your host kno,w and they can assist with accessing treatment options, including English-speaking practitioners.
We require all guests to consider the health and well-being of fellow guests if they display cold / flu / COVID-19 symptoms and isolate as appropriate.
Trip Itinerary and Inclusions
We provide all tour participants with itineraries before booking and departure. The boutique nature of our itineraries means that they may be subject to minor changes, updates and additions as we get closer to departure. Any changes would reflect the goal of enhancing your tour experience.
For retreats, the itinerary may be more flexible and could depend on the weather, the group interest, local holidays and events and other factors on the day.
Photography / Videography
We aim to make our trips as special as possible, and some tours may include a photographer who will take candid photography throughout the tour at no extra cost.
1. You understand that some of our trips may be accompanied by a photographer/videographer who will be taking photographs of the group.
2. A selection of these images will usually be shared with the group after the completion of the tour for use on social media. You may not sell or otherwise use any of the images taken by us or our photographers or videographers for commercial purposes.
3. In attending a trip with an accompanied photographer, you agree and acknowledge that your image and likeness may be used in future promotional material by Greece Travel Secrets and our partners in Greece. You also agree to grant us a worldwide, royalty-free, perpetual license to use, re-use, distribute, display, create derivative works of, and reproduce any images, photos, or videos (whether directly or through a photo sharing service) in any medium, including but not limited to print, electronic media, or Internet, free of charge and without right to inspection, for any purpose, including to promote and publicize our products and services worldwide. If you do not wish for your photos or video to be taken, please let us know before your tour via email to tours@greecetravelsecrets.com
Accommodation
All tours and retreats are priced on a twin-sharing basis with two guests per room with twin or double bedding.
1. If you are travelling solo, a single supplement will apply per trip/retreat, payable with the final payment. If you would be happy to be paired with a roommate, we may be able to accommodate your request; however, this is dependent on other travellers booking the trip and is not guaranteed.
2. If you are travelling with companions, please let us know in advance and advise the bedding type required so we can pair you in the same room.
3. We are not usually able to accommodate more than 2 guests per room.
4. You are responsible for the safety and security of your belongings within a shared room setting.
Special Requirements
We are committed to making our trips accessible to as many people as possible and will do our best to accommodate dietary restrictions, allergies, medical conditions and other needs of our guests.
By joining our tours or retreats, you agree to notify us of any requirements before reserving a spot so we can confirm that your needs will be met within the limitations of the itinerary, the destination and the trip style.
You also understand that some types of trips may require a minimum level of fitness or mobility, or may not easily accommodate dietary requirements due to the limited choices at the destination or the culinary focus of the trip. For this reason, vegan dietary requirements are not catered for.
We will endeavour to discuss possible options with you before reserving your spot and provide you with the most accurate information available to us for you to make an informed decision.
By joining our tours or retreats, you also state that you know of no physical or mental condition that would create a hazard for you or others, or affect other people’s enjoyment of the trip.
Waiver
Participants assume the risk involved when participating in foreign travel, and any activities and/or pursuits voluntarily undertaken while participating in the tour.
By participating in any Greece Travel Secrets tour or retreat, you agree that you do so at your own risk, are voluntarily participating in these activities, assume all risk of injury to yourself, and agree to release Greece Travel Secrets and our local partners and agents from any claims or causes of action, known or unknown.
Please be prepared to sign a ‘Waiver of Responsibility’ form before you begin your tour. This form is an understanding that all guests need to exercise judgment and care at all times to ensure their own safety and that of their fellow travellers.
Legal Matters, Alcohol and Drugs
You will comply with Greek laws, including public health directives. Failure to abide by this provision may result in immediate termination of your trip without a refund or other liability by us, our local partners or agents.
We do not tolerate drug use of any kind during our trips, and we require responsible alcohol consumption for your safety and that of those around you.
Smoking is not allowed in any booked transport, hotel rooms, inside restaurants, or within the vicinity of the tour group.
Authority on Tour
Greece Travel Secrets tours and retreats are run by an experienced bilingual tour leader and/or Sandy & John Papas. Their decision is final on all matters relating to the safety or well-being of any guest or staff member participating in the tour or retreat.
If you fail to comply with a decision made by them or interfere with the well-being or mobility of the group, they may direct you to leave the trip immediately with no right of refund.
We may also elect not to carry you on any future trips booked. You must at all times comply with the laws, customs, foreign exchange, and drug regulations in Greece, and you also agree to travel in accordance with responsible travel guidelines.
Force Majeure
In case of a Force Majeure event, we are not responsible for performing our obligations and will not be responsible for any resulting damages.
A Force Majeure Event is any circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including without limitation acts of nature, terrorist activities, insurrection, explosion, flood, earthquake, tempest, forceful wind, fire or accident, war or threat of war declared or undeclared, sabotage, civil disturbance, labor strikes, requisition, pandemics, sickness, quarantine, government intervention, weather conditions, and unforeseen circumstances.
If we, our partners or agents are affected by a Force Majeure Event, we, or our agents, may vary or cancel any itinerary or activity without any obligation or liability.
Claims and Complaints
We are committed to creating and delivering extraordinary experiences. However, if any issues arise during a trip, you agree to notify the tour leader as soon as possible so we can find a satisfactory solution that works for everyone.
You agree to send all your complaints in writing by email to tours@greecetravelsecrets, along with any supporting documentation.
Disclaimer
As mentioned, Greece Travel Secrets and all our representatives (herein after referred to as “agents” or “partners”), act only in the capacity as agents or partners for the guest in all matters connected with travel, sightseeing journeys and transportation.
You agree that as agents or partners, we are held free of responsibility for any damage occasioned by any cause, in particular for any damages or expenses or inconveniences caused by late departures, change of schedule or change in activities caused by reasons beyond our control for loss or damage to baggage or any of the participant’s belongings.
For personal injury, death, accident, delay, loss, damage, irregularity or property damage as a result of force majeure or for any other losses or damages incurred by any person or journey participants caused by any delay or change of itinerary or arising out of any act, including, but not limited to, any act of negligence, any person acting for or on behalf of agents for transportation, accommodation or sight-seeing provider or any other person or entity rendering any of these services or accommodations being offered in connection with this journey.
Participants agree that any disputes between Participants and Greece Travel Secrets shall be governed by the laws of New South Wales, Australia. Participants agree to mediate any disputes before the instigation of any litigation.
In the event of any litigation between the Parties to this agreement involving their respective rights or obligations, such litigation shall take place in the State of New South Wales, Australia.
All prices quoted are correct at time of publication, include the cost of operation of the journeys, and are subject to currency changes.