Terms and Conditions
The Tuk Tuk Club – Traveller Terms and Conditions
Valid for bookings from January 1st 2024
IMPORTANT NOTE – these Terms and Conditions have been updated and amended and apply only to bookings made from January 1st 2024. Bookings made prior to this date are covered by the previous booking Terms and Conditions. ‘Bookings’ refers to the date on which the initial deposit or full payment (if no deposit paid) was made
Please read these booking Terms and Conditions carefully, they form an important part of the contract for your travel arrangements.
All programmes advertised in our marketing materials and on our website are operated by The Tuk Tuk Club, a travel brand owned and operated by ETK Co. Ltd, a registered business in Thailand with company number 0125559030065 and with its registered office at 85/49 Moo Ban Waraporn, Bang Len Soi 28, Bang Yai, Nonthaburi, Thailand and it’s branch office at 184/4 Moo 2. Ban Hua Fai. Ban Kad, Mae Wang, Chiang Mai, Thailand
All travel arrangements are sold subject to the following conditions (“Booking Conditions”):
- Insurance.
- Please Note: Adequate and valid travel insurance is compulsory for all customers and it is a condition of the Company accepting your booking that you agree you will have obtained adequate and valid travel insurance for your booking by the start date of your trip.
- You are strongly advised to insure yourself against any possible risk that may occur and in particular to ensure that you have sufficient insurance in respect of expenses, injury, death, repatriation, cancellation and curtailment and dependent relatives. You may be required to carry proof of insurance with you and produce it if reasonably requested by Company employees or suppliers. You should ensure that you are covered for the complete duration of your travels and that there are no exclusion clauses which limit cover for the type of activities included in your travel arrangements.
- Through participating in the Company’s trips, you understand and acknowledge that there is a degree of risk involved in an adventure of this nature involving both the driving of and being a passenger in a ‘Tuk Tuk’.
- By agreeing to these Terms and Conditions you agree to absolve The Tuk Tuk Club, ETK Co. Ltd, and the Directors of any responsibility for injuries / costs incurred as a result of the climate, the driving of you / other customers and / or other road users or any other circumstances when you are driving or a passenger in one of the ‘Tuk Tuks’.
- Booking
- To make a booking you can contact us either directly over the telephone or via our website / online communication. The person making the booking (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Lead Name’) must be 18 years old or over and possess the legal capacity and authority to make the booking and accepts these booking conditions on behalf of everyone in their party.
Multi-Day adventures:
- You will need to pay a deposit (which includes an administration charge) at the time of booking which is £150 per traveller (or equivalent in other currencies). However, for bookings at 60 days or less prior to the start date, full balance payment will be required at the time of booking.
1 Day Adventures
- You will need to pay the full balance at the time of booking
Please see the section on ‘Payment and Credit Card Fees’ below for further details regarding payments and payment dates.
- Upon receipt of your deposit/full payment, we will start to process your booking.
- On acceptance of your booking, we will issue a confirmation note. A contract will exist between us from the date we issue the confirmation note or if you book within 60 days of departure the contract will exist when we accept your full payment. When you receive the confirmation note please check the details carefully and inform us immediately if anything of the details are incorrect.
- It is a condition of your booking that you and all members of your party provide certain information that may be sent to our operational team who will be managing your trip. Failure to provide us with requested information 15 days prior to arrival may result in us needing to cancel or postpone your booking.
- Your personal safety is of paramount importance to us and therefore it is imperative that you advise us at the time of booking of any condition, medical or otherwise, that might affect your or other people’s enjoyment of your booking.
- We believe that all statements made in our marketing materials and website and other marketing materials are factual and correct at the time they are made. Every reasonable effort has been made to describe the booking accurately and to provide the amenities described. We will advise you of any material changes known to us prior to your departure providing there is sufficient time to do so, and, we can contact you.
- Payment
- With the exception of special and or private group bookings (where we develop a programme specifically for your group), if you book 60 days or more before the start date of your programme you will need to pay a deposit at the time of booking as detailed above. We will invoice you for the remainder of the cost of your travel arrangements due before you travel and your confirmation note will contain details of the due dates for further payments where relevant.
- For tours where a deposit has been paid, the final balance must be received by us not later than 60 days before the start date of your adventure.
- If the deposit and/or balance are not paid in time we will cancel your travel arrangements. If the balance is not paid in time, we shall retain your deposit.
- Prices and Surcharges.
- All prices we advertise are accurate at the date published, but we reserve the right to change any of those prices. Prices on our website are updated regularly. Before you make a booking we will give you the up-to date price of your chosen programme including the cost of any peak-season supplements or additional facilities which you have requested. Prices quoted are valid at the time of publication on 1st January 2024.
- Changes in transportation costs, including the cost of fuel, dues, taxes or fees chargeable for services, mean that the price of your travel arrangements may change after you have booked. However, there will be no change within 28 days of your departure. We will absorb any cost changes up to 2% of the price of your travel arrangements but reserve the right to make charges over and above this amount. However, if this means that you have to pay an increase of more than 10% of your programme you will have the option of cancelling and receiving a full refund, except for any amendment charges.
- Details and itineraries shown for tours are indicative only and subject to change due to safety conditions including force majeure and weather conditions.
- Changes and cancellations made by you
- You may change your travel dates free of charge up to 61 days prior to your start date subject to availability on your chosen new travel dates
- If your new preferred travel date is not available you may either request a refund in full or transfer the full sum paid into a travel credit to be used at any date within 12 months from your initial start date.
- Notification of changes or cancellations must be received in writing (email) from the Lead Traveller in your group. Any change / cancellation costs are listed below:
Multi Day Adventures
- 61 days or more prior to the start date of your tour: YOU CAN CHANGE YOUR START DATE FREE OF CHARGE (subject to availability) OR REQUEST A FULL REFUND, INCLUDING YOUR DEPOSIT.
- NOTE – if you’ve booked other services / accommodation (pre / post trip) separate Terms may apply and this will be made clear in your booking email
- 60-31 days prior to the start date of your tour: WE WILL CHARGE A 50% CANCELLATION OR CHANGE FEE TO YOUR BOOKING. Note – any date changes are subject to availability on future dates.
- 30 days or less prior to the start date or your tour: FULL CANCELLATION FEES APPLY AND NO REFUNDS ARE POSSIBLE
- NOTE: Should your trip be cancelled due to COVID-19 related regulations (ie FCO advising against non-essential travel, Thailand not allowing visitors to the country / banning travel) a full refund including your deposit will be made up to 31 days prior to your trip. Should COVID-19 mean you cannot travel from 30 days or less prior to your start date full cancellation fees apply.
1 Day Adventures
- 31 days or more prior to the state date of your tour – NO CHARGE – you can either request a full refund or transfer your booking to a future date free of change
- 30 days or less prior to the start date of your tour – FULL CANCELLATION FEES APPLY
- All communications relating to this contract (in particular any requests to cancel or amend your programme arrangements) must be from the Lead Name in writing and in English and sent by email to [email protected]
- If, once you have started your tour, you elect to leave early / before the end of the tour there are no refunds of any kind available.
NOTE: You are strongly advised to take out appropriate travel insurance at the time of making your booking. Please ensure that the insurance you buy, in addition to the normal elements of any travel insurance, also covers you with regards to cancellations of your trip for reasons beyond your or our control including but not limited to border closures, government advice not to travel, airline failure
- Changes or Cancellations made by us.
- We reserve the right to cancel your booking or make changes to your booking (including without limitation to any of the facilities, services or prices described in our brochures or website). We will endeavour to advise you of any changes known at the time of booking.
- We plan the arrangements for your booking in advance and may occasionally have to make changes, most of which are minor and we will advise you of them at the earliest possible date. If a major change becomes necessary, we will advise you of the change as soon as reasonably possible if there is time before your tour start date. Whether a change is ‘major’ depends on the nature of the trip and may include: a change to a different accommodation (changes will always be made to an equivalent or higher standard); or a change of location for activities.
If we make a major change to your travel arrangements, you will have the choice of either:
(a) accepting the change; or
(b) cancelling your tour, in which case you will receive a full refund of all monies paid.
- We may also have to cancel your travel arrangements, if for example the operation of the programme is dependent on a minimum number of persons booking and that number is not achieved, we reserve the right to cancel the tour. However, in no circumstances will we cancel your booking less than 60 days before the start date of your programme except for reasons of consolidation due to minimum numbers not being attained, force majeure (as defined below), failure on your part to pay the final balance or complete all necessary forms, or for any other reason beyond our control.
- We strongly recommend that you make no travel arrangements to your point of arrival, make any connecting travel that is non-refundable or non-changeable or incurs penalties or incur any costs in respect of visas or vaccinations until such time as your travel itinerary has been confirmed. If you make such arrangements which you are then unable to use due to a change in your itinerary, we shall not be liable to you for the cost of those arrangements. If we are forced to cancel your programme after departure we will, wherever possible, make suitable alternative arrangements. If we are unable to make such alternative arrangements or you reject these for good reason then we will return you to your point of departure and refund you for any unused services, if appropriate.
- Circumstances amounting to “force majeure” including any event which is beyond our reasonable control or the reasonable control of the supplier of the service(s) in question, including without limitation war, threat of war, riot, civil strife, industrial dispute, actual or threatened terrorist activity and its consequences, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, acts of God, adverse weather conditions, flood, epidemic or pandemic illness and all similar events.
7. Processing of Refunds due to you
·
Once you have notified us in
writing of your requirement to make a change or cancellation to your trip we
will confirm, in writing, withing 5 working days such changes / cancellation
and the amount of money due to be refunded.
·
We will then transact the
refund through the same method as we received your payment within the next 5
working days.
8.
Our liability, conditions of carriage and limitations
·
Our obligations, and those of
our partners providing any service or facility included in your programme, are
to take reasonable skill and care to arrange for the provision of such services
and facilities. You must show that reasonable skill and care has not been used
if you wish to make any claim. Standards of, for example, safety, hygiene and
quality vary throughout the region that your tour may pass through. Sometimes
these standards will be lower than those which would be expected in your home
country. The services and facilities included in your booking will be deemed to
be provided with reasonable skill and care if they comply with any local
regulations which apply.
·
By participating in this tour
you acknowledge and agree that an adventure of this nature using a motorized
vehicle is a potentially dangerous activity and as such may expose the
traveller, and other travellers, to a degree of risk of serious bodily injury
or death which may be caused by the travellers actions or omissions or the
actions or omissions of others
·
In recognition of these facts
each traveller elects voluntarily to enter into this Agreement and to assume
all risks of loss, damages, injury or death than may be sustained and to
participate in the tour using a motorized vehicle, at their own risk.
·
Save in the event of any
willful act on the part or the person or entity concerned, none of the Company,
any Official, agents or employees shall be liable to any traveller for death or
personal injury, damage to property or other loss or damage of any nature
whatsoever suffered by any traveller whether arising from participation in a
tour or otherwise.
·
Except where expressly provided
in this Agreement, each traveller jointly and severally undertakes to the
Company to be liable for any death or personal injury to third parties, damage
to property or other claims, losses and costs arising out of any negligent or
willful act of the traveller during the tour.
·
The Company shall have no
liability where the cause of the failure to provide, or failure in, your travel
arrangements or any death or personal injury you may suffer is either
attributable to you, another customer or attributable to someone unconnected
with your tour and is unforeseeable or unavoidable, or is due to a force
majeure event or unusual or unforeseeable circumstances beyond our control, the
consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all due care had been
exercised, or an event which neither we, nor our partners could have foreseen
or forestalled.
·
If any international convention
applies to, or governs, any of the services or facilities included in the
booking arranged or provided by us, or provided by any of our suppliers, and
you make a claim against us of any nature arising out of death, injury, loss or
damage suffered during or as a result of the provision of those services or
facilities, our liability to pay you compensation and/or the amount (if any) of
compensation payable to you by us will be limited in accordance with and/or in
an identical manner to that provided for by the international convention
concerned (in each case including in respect of the conditions of liability,
the time for bringing any claim and the type and amount of any damages that can
be awarded). International conventions which may apply include, without
limitation: in respect of international air travel, the Warsaw Convention 1929
(as amended) or the Montreal Convention 1999; in respect of rail travel, the
Berne Convention 1961; in respect of carriage by sea, the Athens Convention
1974; in respect of carriage by road, the Geneva Convention 1973; and, in
respect of hotels, the Paris Convention 1962. For the avoidance of doubt, this
means that we are to be regarded as having all benefit of any limitations of
compensation contained in any of these conventions or any other international
conventions applicable to your travel arrangements. Other than as set out
above, and as is detailed elsewhere in these Booking Conditions, we shall have
no legal liability whatsoever to you for any loss or damage.
·
If you purchase, or take part
in, any optional activities that are not part of your pre-booked itinerary, the
contract for the provision of that activity will be between you and the
activity provider and not with us. We are not responsible for the provision of
such activities or for anything that happens during the course of its provision
by the activity provider. The decision to partake in any such activity is
entirely at your own discretion and risk. If you do have any complaint about,
or problem with, any optional activity purchased locally your claim should be
directed to the activity provider and not to us.
·
We offer travel arrangements in
areas where standards of accommodation, transport, safety, hygiene, medical
facilities and other infrastructure may, at times, be lower than those you
normally expect. Your booking is accepted on the understanding that you realize
and understand the hazards involved in this kind of tour, including injury,
disease, loss or damage to property, inconvenience and discomfort. The whole
philosophy of this type of travel is one that allows for an adventurous
experience and a substantial degree of on-trip flexibility is required. Changes
in itinerary may be caused by local political conditions, transport
cancellations, mechanical breakdown, weather, border restrictions, sickness, or
other unforeseeable circumstances.
·
Please note that the timings of
travel departures are estimates only. These timings may be affected by
operational difficulties, weather conditions or failure of passengers to arrive
in good time.
9.
Complaints process.
·
If you have any complaint
during your tour you must inform your tour guide or leader immediately. If you
are not satisfied with their actions please contact our Head Office team at [email protected] who will
aim to resolve your complaint on your behalf. Failure on your part to notify us
and our relevant staff will deprive us of the opportunity to investigate your
complaint and to take appropriate action to put things right whilst you are on
your tour and may affect your legal rights.
·
If you are not happy with the
actions taken in response, please follow this up with us within 28 days of the tour
end date by writing to us at [email protected] giving your booking
details and all other relevant information. We will acknowledge your written
notification within 7 days and will provide a full response within 28 days.
10.
Visa, Health, Passport, Travel Documentation.
·
Whilst we are able to provide
basic advice to travellers regarding passports and visa requirements, you
should check with the appropriate Embassy, Consulate or relevant government
agency for the exact requirements for your chosen tour and date of travel. It
is your responsibility to ensure that you have the correct passport and visa
(if required) to gain access to any country/region included in the travel
arrangements which you purchase from us. If you fail to do so, we have no
liability to you for any cost, loss or damage which you suffer, nor will we
refund you the cost of any unused portion of your travel arrangements.
·
We are able to offer advice on
mandatory health requirements; however, we are not medical experts. It is your
responsibility to ensure that you obtain proper and detailed medical advice at
least two months prior to travel for the latest health requirements and
recommendations for your destination.
11.
Privacy Policy.
The Tuk Tuk Club (ETK CO LTD) sets out what
information we collect, how we collect it, and what we do with it.
INFORMATION ABOUT YOU
Your
Information
·
This refers to a combination of
information such as your name, contact details, travel preferences and special
needs/disabilities/dietary requirements that you supply us or is supplied to
us, including any information about other persons on your booking (“your
information”). Your information is collected when you request information from
us, contact us (and vice versa) or make a booking. You are responsible for
ensuring that other members of your party are aware of the content of our
Privacy Policy and consent to your acting on their behalf in all your dealings
with us.
·
We will update your information
whenever we can to keep it current, accurate and complete.
Our Use of Your Information
(1)
For the purpose of providing
you with our services we may disclose and process your information to relevant
parties to allow us to deliver your adventure effectively.
Examples of those who we may share
your information with (name, nationality, date of birth, dietary preferences are:
·
Accommodation providers
·
Our guides
·
Our insurance provider
(2) Information (such as health or
religion) may be considered “sensitive personal data” under some countries Data
Protection Acts. We collect it to cater to your needs or act in your interest,
and we are only prepared to accept sensitive personal data on the condition
that we have your positive consent. By booking with us you also agree for your
insurers, their agents and medical staff to exchange relevant information and
sensitive personal data with us in circumstances where we/they need to act on
your behalf or in the interest of passengers or in an emergency.
·
If you do not agree to Our Use
of Your Information above, we cannot engage/do business with you or accept your
booking.
How long we store your information
·
We will store your contact
details for up to 3 years for the purposes of allowing us to contact you with information
about future adventures offered by The Tuk Tuk Club that may appeal to you
·
We will only store details
around any health declarations you have made to us for a maximum of 12 months
post your travel with us.
How to request a change to your details
/ request a deletion of your details from our records
·
Should you wish to make any
changes to the information we hold about you, request us to delete information,
to request us to disclose information we hold about you or to inquire about our
Privacy Policy please, in the first instance, email [email protected]
·
We will respond to your request
within 5 working days
Direct
Marketing Materials
·
We may from time to time
contact you with information on offers of goods and services, brochures, new
products, forthcoming events or competitions from our company. Our website will
assume you to agree to e-communications when you make a booking. We will tailor
the information we send you unless you tell us not to. This will enable us to
send you more personalised and relevant communications. You will be given the
opportunity on every communication to opt-out of this personalisation.
USE OF TOOLS / “Cookies” and
Links to Other Websites
·
If our contact and dealing with
you is via our website, we may use ‘cookies’. To find out more about the types
of cookies on our website, how we use cookies, to disable them or to change
your preference and more, please refer to the information provided on our
website. By using our website, you consent to our use of cookies.
·
Our website(s) may contain
links to third party websites or micro-sites not controlled or owned by us. For
example, reference sites or ancillary products and services sites. It is your
responsibility to check the status of these sites before using them. Please
read their applicable terms and conditions, etc. carefully.
Monitoring
·
To ensure that we carry out
your instructions accurately, improve our service and for security and fraud,
we may review, monitor and/or record: (1) telephone calls; (2) activities using
CCTV in and around our premises; (3) transactions and activities at all points
of contact; and (4) web traffic, activities, etc. and social media. All
recordings and derivative materials are and shall remain our sole property.
Changes
to this Policy
·
Any changes to this Policy will
be either posted on our website and/or made available on request.
12. Behaviour
·
A booking is accepted on the
strict understanding that you undertake to comply with the laws, customs,
foreign exchange, drug and all other regulations of any country visited during
the tour, as well as all hygiene, safety and security rules.
·
If you commit any illegal act
when on the tour or if in the reasonable opinion of the guide or leader your
behaviour is disruptive, threatening or abusive or is causing or likely to
cause danger, upset distress or annoyance to others or damage property we may
terminate your travel arrangements at any time without any liability on our
part. Full cancellation charges will apply.
·
In these circumstances no
refunds or compensation will be paid to you and we will not meet any costs or
expenses you may incur as a result of your tour being terminated. We may make a
claim against you for any costs and expenses incurred as a result of your
behaviour e.g. the cost of diverting ferry to remove you. Criminal proceedings
may also be instigated.
·
If you are affected by any condition,
medical or otherwise, that might affect your or other people’s enjoyment of the
tour, you must advise us of this at the time of booking.
13.
Trip Notes
·
If we issue detailed trip
notes, all information contained therein will be deemed to be part of the
contract. Trip notes available from our website contain up-to-date definitive
information about the itinerary and travel arrangements. Should there be a
discrepancy between the information in the website or marketing materials and
the trip notes, the information in the trip notes supersedes that in the
brochure or on the website and will be considered the most up-to-date and
accurate.
14.
Participation requirements
·
All customers are expected to
satisfy themselves prior to booking that they are fit and able to complete the
itinerary of their chosen tour as described in our marketing materials and / or
website. Anyone suffering from mobility impairment, illness or disability or
undergoing treatment for any physical or medical condition must declare the
true nature of such condition at the time of booking and make arrangements for
the provision of any medication or other treatment which may be required during
the booking.
15.
Flights & transfers
·
It is your responsibility to
arrange and pay for any flights, including any internal flights, and travel to
and from the meeting point of the tour. We cannot be held responsible for any
action, negligence, or event relating to the purchase, or operation of such
flight tickets, or flights that you purchase. Furthermore, we will not be
responsible for any costs, or refunds, due to changes, or delays in such
flights.
16. Tour
specifics
·
You are responsible ensuring
that you are at the meeting point for your tour on the correct date and time.
Should you arrive outside the agreed start date/time for your tour, whilst we
will take all possible actions to help you meet up with the tour, you may have
to cover transfer costs.
·
The accommodation and board
basis will be contained within individual tour details. It is your
responsibility to advise us of any special dietary requirements. Please be
aware that accommodation, food and facilities that you will be provided with
will be of a local standard.
17.
Law & Jurisdiction
·
This contract, will be governed
by Thai law and the courts of the Kingdom of Thailand shall have exclusive
jurisdiction over any claim arising out of it.
18. Code
of Conduct – driving the Tuk Tuks (self-drive trips)
This code of conduct sets out the standards
required for you to drive one of the Tuk Tuks on the tour.
·
You must complete and successfully
pass all elements of the Tuk Tuk training programme
·
If you don’t pass all elements
of the training programme you won’t be allowed to drive a Tuk Tuk until your tour
Guide / leader is satisfied that you are competent / safe to drive. The tour
Guide / leaders decision is final
·
You must agree to drive within
the ‘convoy’ of vehicles at all times and to follow rules and regulations laid
down by your tour guide / leader with regard to the driving of the vehicles
·
You must at all times consider
the safety or yourself and other travellers when driving the Tuk Tuk
·
You must at all times obey
local road traffic rules and regulations, including but not limited to not
driving a vehicle whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
·
You agree that your tour Guide
/ leader may decide that you are not a competent / safe driver and in such
cases they will be able to ask you to stop driving. This is for the safety of
you and other travellers and the tour Guide / leader’s decision is final