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By checking the box while signing up to be a member (hereafter ‘member’, ‘local chapter member’, ‘chapter member’, ‘Club member’) of a Local Chapter (hereafter ‘Local Chapter’, ‘Local Club’, ‘Club’) or Club Level Member (hereafter called ‘club member’, ‘club level member’, ‘member of the club’) with The Global Expeditions Club (hereafter ‘Global Expeditions Club, ‘The Global Expeditions Club’, ‘GEC’, ‘The GEC’, ‘GEC’s’, ‘the club’, ‘GEC club’, ‘we’, ‘our’, ‘us’, ‘club directors’, ‘GEC directors’), you (hereafter 'you', 'your') willingly agree to and hereby fully accept GEC’s Terms and Conditions set out herein. By checking the box on the sign up page, you agree that you have carefully read, fully understand and fully and willingly accept these Terms and Conditions as set out herein. Age You certify that you are of at least 18 years old on the day that you signed up to become a member and entered into this agreement. Validity These Terms and Conditions are valid for any and all actions and activities related to participation in the GEC, including Local Chapter Leader (hereafter ‘Local Chapter Leader’, ‘LCL’, ‘Club Leader’) events and/or GEC sponsored travel, tours and events. These Terms and Conditions supersede and replace any previously published Terms and Conditions whether oral, posted on our website or published in any fashion or manner. You acknowledge that these terms and conditions apply to all interaction between you and the GEC, you and the GEC Directors, you and the GEC Local Chapter Leaders, you and potential members and Local Chapter Leaders as well as between you and any of our guides, adventure guides, local agents, affiliates, owners, officers, agents, employees, tour operators, contractors and subcontractors (hereafter collectively called our 'agents'). Purpose of This Agreement The purpose of this agreement is to establish and agree to the roles, limitations and liabilities of the GEC, Local Chapter Leaders, as well as to establish and agree to your limitations and expectations as a member. Type of Relationship By agreeing to become a member, you agree that you are becoming a voluntary member of the GEC for purposes of traveling with other members of the GEC on GEC organized tours. You agree that nothing contained in this contract shall be construed to create a partnership, joint venture, franchise, sales representative, contractor, agent or employer-employee relationship between you and us. You shall be free to exercise independent judgment as to the time and manner you may perform the acts you are authorized to perform under this contract. You agree that all non-GEC employee Local Chapter Leaders are independent from the GEC and operate under a separate agreement and maintain full responsibility and liability separate from the GEC and any action, event, trip, tour or promise by a Local Chapter Leader, whether orally or in writing, and whether using the GEC name or not, is an action separate and independent from the GEC. Only tours, trips and events posted on the ‘View Up-Coming Club Trips’ page on the GEC website constitute official GEC tours. GEC Tours The GEC organizes official GEC tours, as posted on the ‘View Up-Coming Club Trips’ page on the GEC website, that are offered to any and all GEC members. Some members or Local Chapter Leaders may also bring a group of members and Local Chapter Leaders together and request that the GEC create a specific tour that is made to fit their needs and desires. These tours may be themed (i.e., woman’s trip, baby boomer trip, age 20-30’s trip, etc.) to indicate what type of people the requester thinks will be best suited for the tour, or it may be a general tour open to anyone. Either way, the GEC does not discriminate against age, gender, race, religion, sexual preference, or any other factor and while a themed tour may be focused, they are still open to any and all members. The terms and conditions for each tour, in combination with these terms and conditions, are set by the tour operator responsible for organizing GEC tours on behalf of the GEC. These terms and conditions will be set forth at the time of purchase or upon request from the GEC or tour operator. Limits of GEC Member’s Participation The GEC is one thing only, an adventure travel club that operates for profit. You agree that you have joined the GEC as a club member for the sole purpose of traveling on GEC tours with other GEC members. You agree that you will not, under any circumstance, way, shape or form, while a member of the GEC or for two (2) full years from the date you relinquish your membership or have it involuntarily removed by the GEC for any reason, try to organize tours, activities or events to any person or member related to the GEC or in any way market travel or any other product to members or person involved with the GEC or met through the GEC. You agree that you have no right whatsoever to use the GEC name or involve any GEC member for any type of profit whatsoever, including free or discounted travel. You also agree that you will not, in any way, suggest, imply or otherwise advise any GEC member or potential member to purchase any kind of travel outside of the GEC where you will earn a direct or indirect profit, whether it is monetary, services rendered, discounted or free travel, or any other type of profit or income. You also agree that you will not in any way, shape or form commit defamation of GEC’s character or reputation through libel, whether implied or stated directly to any members, potential members, media, peers, GEC agents or any other person or 3rd party. The GEC maintains relationships with and earns commissions from tour operator and travel service providers far beyond the tours and types of tours offered on the website, including both adventure and non-adventure related travel services, both domestically and internationally. These commissions are used to run the club, pay for website hosting, fund enhancements and maintenance, pay for advertising and marketing materials, pay for mailing costs, pay for internet advertising, pay for public relations, etc. You agree that by directing GEC members away from the GEC for any travel purchases, whether you profit or not, or by committing defamation of the GEC character or reputation through libel, is a direct breach of this contract and a direct financial detriment to the GEC, and thus you agree to personally make the GEC financially whole. Limits of GEC Member While the GEC, as part of the marketing effort, encourages Local Chapter Leaders to organize and lead various social gatherings with local chapter members and perspective members, including Local Chapter meetings and/or get-togethers, these activities are not in any way mandatory, sponsored or endorsed by the GEC. Local Chapter activities can be conducted via email if the Local Chapter Leader wishes. Local Chapter Leaders are independent contractors and agree to sponsor any and all events under their own will and at their own liability. You agree that the Local Chapter Leader is an independent contractor of the GEC and you agree not to hold the GEC liable in any way, financially or otherwise, for your participation in any event, meeting, get-together, social get together, day trip, etc. with and/or organized by the Local Chapter Leader, even though it may be operated and marketed under the GEC name. You agree that any Local Chapter event that you participate in is done voluntarily and is done without any liability to or association with the GEC whatsoever. Ownership, Copyright and Intellectual Property Rights You agree that all GEC material you receive in copyrighted and trade marked and you agree not to distribute, copy, emulate and/or disclose any marketing, advertising, policies, procedures, payment structures, copyrights, intellectual property, technical or technological secrets, any details of organizations or business affairs, any names of past or present customers or members of the GEC, including within your Local Chapter, or any other information relating to the business or businesses or their affiliates to anyone unless specifically instructed and approved to in writing from the GEC. You agree and accept responsibility that by doing so would cause significant financial damage to the GEC in terms of lost revenue, and reputation and competitive harm that would lead to additional financial harm. Single Supplement Because this is a club for solo and adventure travelers, we try whenever possible to avoid single supplements for those who agree to be matched up with someone of the same gender. While the club can usually avoid these costs, sometimes they are unavoidable due to tour cost or supplier terms and conditions. In these situations, we will include that cost as an additional cost of the tour. Visas Entry laws differ between each country and also differ with respect to the citizenship of the person wishing to enter the country. As the policies of each country continuously change, and our members come from various countries, it is, under all circumstances, solely your responsibility to ensure that any and all Visas are obtained in accordance with the current requirements of each destination country. It is also your responsibility to monitor any changes that may affect your entry into the destination country(s) of your trip and to make any adjustments as needed. The Global Expeditions Club cannot and will not be responsible in any way for changes made to Visa entry policies of any country. Furthermore, any and all costs associated with obtaining the required Visas are solely your responsibility. You are responsible for any expenses incurred as a result of delays or itinerary changes related to your lack of appropriate travel documents. Any information provided by The Global Expeditions Club or our agents regarding visa requirements, is done solely in good faith, but without responsibility on the part of The Global Expeditions Club. Passports It is required by most countries that your passport be valid for at least six (6) months beyond the completion of your trip to be allowed entry into the country. Obtaining or renewing passports, as well as compliance with this requirement and all associated passport rules (of your country and/or the destination country) and costs, is solely your responsibility. You are responsible for any expenses incurred as a result of delays or itinerary changes related to your lack of appropriate travel documents. Any information provided by The Global Expeditions Club or our agents regarding passport requirements, is done solely in good faith, but without responsibility on the part of The Global Expeditions Club. Photos and video on the Adventure The Global Expeditions Club and our agents reserve the right to take photos and video throughout club tours and club get-togethers and to use these photos and videos on our website, brochures and/or marketing materials. Should you choose not to be in any of these photos or videos, please advise The Global Expeditions Club and our agents accordingly. Travel Insurance Travel insurance is mandatory for all travelers while participating in any trip organized by The Global Expeditions Club. By signing these terms and conditions, you agree that it is solely your responsibility to, at minimum, obtain the following coverage, which must be valid for the duration of all travel on any and all Global Expeditions Club trips.
Highly Recommended Travel Insurance Coverage: In addition to the above mentioned mandatory coverage, The Global Expeditions Club highly recommends that each traveler purchase a travel insurance policy that covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. We all know that unforeseen situations can occur at home before or during a trip. This alone is a great reason to purchase full insurance. However, unforeseen situations can happen while traveling too. Weather, airline, transportation or other delays of several days, although not always common, can and do happen. The Global Expeditions Club cannot accept any financial responsibility for situations out of our control, so full travel insurance coverage may help alleviate some of the burden of the costs associated with these or similar types of events, whereas you will otherwise be required to incur the full cost. As such, The Global Expeditions Club highly recommends that full travel insurance coverage be purchased above and beyond the required minimum as stated above. You, together with your personal property (including baggage), are at all time participating solely at your own risk. You are solely responsible for arranging, purchasing and carrying your own insurance. Any information provided by The Global Expeditions Club or our agents regarding travel insurance options, is done solely in good faith, but without responsibility on the part of The Global Expeditions Club. It is solely the responsibility of the adventurer to ensure that proper coverage is obtained. NOTE: It is advisable to purchase the travel insurance as early as possible and to ensure pre-existing conditions are covered appropriately, but do NOT purchase before you receive a written e-mail confirmation of guaranteed departure from the respective tour operator. Expectations of the Member Most of our trips are fast paced and exciting adventures that operate with a high amount of flexibility and thus allow our agents to react and adapt to ever changing situations. While we and our agents make every effort to make your adventure as relaxing and exciting as possible--and in fact most day-to-day processing will go unnoticed by the adventurers--it is possible that events beyond our control (weather, political situations, terrorism, flights, acts of God, etc.) can and will arise. In these situations we ask for the understanding and patience of each adventurer to allow our agents ample opportunity to resolve the situation to the best of our ability. Your safety is first and foremost on the minds of both The Global Expeditions Club and our agents, therefore we or our agents reserve the right to replace, cancel and/or alter any aspect of the adventure either before the adventure starts or while it is in route. You agree that The Global Expeditions Club cannot and will not be held responsible for any of these events in any shape or form. Safety Global Expeditions Club tours may involve risks above and beyond those encountered on more conventional and unadventurous trips. Trips involving such activities as surfing, whitewater rafting, trekking, high altitude trekking, skydiving, SCUBA diving, bungee jumping, canyoneering, repelling, cage diving, mountain biking, kayaking, or any other activities that carry risk of any kind, have inherent dangers that can result in serious injury and even death. Our agents can help reduce these dangers through their knowledge, experience and training, but they cannot eliminate these dangers. By accepting these Terms and Conditions you fully accept all risks associated with any and all activities offered on any trip or service organized by The Global Expeditions Club or the tour supplier. Likewise, you agree to accept all responsibilities for your own actions on any trip or services purchased through The Global Expeditions Club or the tour supplier, including your willingness to voluntarily participate in any and all activities offered on said trip or services. Although our agents may provide you with advice and directions, it is ultimately your responsibility to determine where your limits of capability and experience are and to avoid crossing these limits. You agree that you will not hold The Global Expeditions Club or any tour supplier accountable in any way for the choices and decisions you make during any trips and/or services you purchase that are organized through us, or by any tour supplier. Travel that is organized by The Global Expeditions Club and purchased through our agents may also involve dangers due to political and religious disturbances in the countries we travel to. The Global Expeditions Club organizes trips in some geographical regions where, among other things, the standard of accommodation, transport, safety, hygiene, cleanliness, medical facilities, telecommunications, infrastructure, political stability, and crime level (both petty and violent) may not be of the standard that you are accustomed to or would find on a more conventional trip. The safety of roads and the standard of driving practices may also be inferior in some of these regions relative to what you are accustomed to. You agree that we will not be held accountable for any of the above situations, nor any road or any other accidents that occur during your travels with us or our agents. By agreeing to these Terms and Conditions in full, you accept the risks outlined in the above two paragraphs and fully assume all responsibilities while traveling with The Global Expeditions Club or any tour supplier. You further agree to release The Global Expeditions Club or any tour supplier from any liabilities connected to these risks. Age We require that all members be at least 18 years of age unless pre-approved in writing by The Global Expeditions Club. On all adventures where approval is given by the GEC, it is exclusively and wholly the decision of the parent and/or legal guardian who requested approval to determine the safety and appropriateness of the trip for all children under the age of 18. Any information or advice provided by The Global Expeditions Club or our agents with regards to the appropriateness of a particular trip for children under the age of 18, whether orally, in writing or on our website, is done solely in good faith, but without responsibility on the part of The Global Expeditions Club. Handicap Limitations Due to the limited availability of adequate facilities for handicapped persons in many of the countries that we offer adventures in, (with particular emphasis on 3rd world countries where virtually no facilities exist to accommodate handicapped people) our trips are not typically advisable for people in wheelchairs or with handicaps that require any type of advanced facilities or walking aids. Persons with handicaps are more than welcome to join the club as members, but it is solely the member's responsibility to discuss the destination and physical requirements of each trip with their physician and to decide the appropriateness of the trip on their own. The GEC will not be held responsible for any decisions you make or limitations that may occur if you choose to participate in the GEC tour. Fitness Level Due to the enthusiastic pace of most of our GEC tours, it is expected that each member be of at least an average level of fitness and mobility. It is advised that all members visit with their doctors to determine if they are physically and mentally capable of participating in the type of trip they wish to purchase and/or if any vaccinations are needed or recommended. It is solely the responsibility of the members to ensure that any and all vaccinations that are required are obtained and to acquire and carry a recognized certificate for proof of inoculation where required. Unacceptable Behavior The Global Expeditions Club and/or our agents reserve the right to allow, deny, or release at any time, any members who's physical, mental or health conditions or general behavior impedes with the operation of GEC tours and/or the rights, enjoyment or welfare of the other members, our agents or the local people, without any refund due for unused travel and solely at the cost of the member. The refund of the unused portion of the land services, if our agent(s) chose to offer a refund, is the limit of our agent(s) liability. Under no circumstance is The Global Expeditions Club or any tour supplier subject to any financial liability. It is solely the responsibility of the member to judge the appropriateness of participating in any GEC tours. Cultural immersion is an important part of the experience on our trips. As we are visitors in a foreign country, it is expected that all members approach this subject with tact, grace and sensitivity. Any member who is disruptive, endangers him/herself or the group, the travel experience, or breaks local laws may be removed immediately from the GEC trip at the complete discretion of The Global Expeditions Club and/or our agents, with no refund due and completely and wholly at the member's own expense. Promptness Many of the trips we offer operate on a tight schedule. It is therefore imperative that you and/or the group stick to a strict schedule to avoid missing any pre-arranged reservations, including transportation, sightseeing, accommodation, etc. The Global Expeditions Club's agents will make every reasonable effort to inform the group of departure times, however it is solely the member’s responsibility to ensure that they are punctual and arrive at the designated departure point for any and all scheduled group transfers on time. Any member who does not make the scheduled group meeting times, for whatever reason, will be excluded with no refund due from the activity or, in the case of transportation, required to arrange their own transfer at their own expense. Furthermore, any member who misses any scheduled flight or transportation, for any reason, will be solely responsible for all costs and arrangements to rejoin the group or to return to the original departure city and no refunds, credits or other compensation will be given by The Global Expeditions Club or our agents. Flights and/or transfers missed due to events out of the control of The Global Expeditions Club, their agents, representatives, and/or guides, and any associated costs (such as hotel, transportation, or additional flight costs), are solely the responsibility of the member and where allowed the member’s mandatory travel insurance. Limitations on The Global Expeditions Club's Responsibility The Global Expeditions Club and its affiliates, owners, officers, agents, employees, Local Chapter Leaders, advisors, contractors and subcontractors (hereafter in this paragraph 'The Global Expeditions Club') purchase transportation, hotel accommodations, restaurant services and other services from various independent suppliers and tour operators that are not subject to our control. Neither The Global Expeditions Club nor any associated organization, agent, employee, Local Chapter Leader, advisor, contractor or subcontractor shall be held liable for any act, default, injury (including death), loss, expense, damage, deviation, delay, curtailment or inconvenience caused to or suffered by any person or their property, howsoever arising, which may occur or be incurred by any organization or person, even though such act, default, injury, loss, expense, damage, deviation, delay, curtailment or inconvenience may have been caused or contributed to: (a) by the act, neglect or default of The Global Expeditions Club's owners, officers, agents, employees, advisors, contractors and subcontractors, or of any person for whose act it would otherwise be responsible, or (b) defects or failures of any aircraft, vessel, automotive vehicle or other equipment or instrumentality under the control of independent suppliers and tour operators. In addition, The Global Expeditions Club and our agents cannot and will not be liable in any way for delays in departure, cancellation, alterations or interruption of your vacation arrangements caused by weather conditions, technical problems of any aircraft, vessel, automotive vehicle or other transportation, equipment or instrumentality, strikes, war, terrorist activity, civil commotion, acts of God, or any causes beyond the control of The Global Expeditions Club. In all cases refunds cannot and will not exceed any amount that results in a financial detriment to The Global Expeditions Club. In no event will The Global Expeditions Club be responsible for incidental, consequential or special damage or loss suffered by any person. In issuing tickets and coupons for transportation to the purchaser by any means and making arrangements for hotel or other accommodation, The Global Expeditions Club is not acting as principal but only as agent for the companies, corporations or person providing or offering the means of transportation and accommodations. To the extent The Global Expeditions Club shall not be acting as an agent, as stated above, it shall be deemed to be acting as an agent of the purchasers in arranging or booking transportation and accommodation. The Global Expeditions Club reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions at any time and from time to time without any prior notice. In the event that The Global Expeditions Club is ruled liable, The Global Expeditions Club' maximum liability, for any reason whatsoever, will be limited to the amount paid to The Global Expeditions Club for its services. Tips If at the end of your trip you feel that your guide(s) did an outstanding job, tipping is greatly appreciated. While tipping is highly encouraged, as it is how most guides earn their living, the choice to tip is optional and the amount is completely discretionary. Reservations, Deposits, Payments and Cancellations. Reservations, deposits, payment and cancellation terms and conditions are the responsibility of the tour operator/agent that is organizing and offering the trip on the GEC’s behalf. In addition to these terms and conditions, should you purchase any GEC tour, you agree to abide by and be subject to the GEC’s agent’s terms and conditions. Should the GEC organize any tours or events, you agree to abide by these terms and conditions and any terms and conditions presented to you and signed by you at the time of purchase. Applicable Law and Liability: These Terms and Conditions, together with any User Agreements incorporated in our website, constitute the entire agreement between us related to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any prior understanding or agreements (written or oral) regarding the subject matter and may not be amended or modified except in writing or by making such amendments or modifications available on the website. This User Agreement and its performance shall be governed by the laws of the State of New Hampshire, United States of America, without regard to its conflict of laws provisions. You agree and submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts located in the state of New Hampshire, United States of America, in all questions, disagreements and controversy arising out of your use of this site and this User Agreement. In no event will The Global Expeditions Club or our agents be liable for any indirect, consequential, punitive, multiple, incidental, special or exemplary damages, however caused, and whether in contract, tort or under any other theory of liability, and regardless of whether The Global Expeditions Club or our agents have been advised of the possibility of such damages. Notwithstanding the foregoing, The Global Expeditions Club’s total liability for damages hereunder shall in no event exceed the amount actually paid by you directly to The Global Expeditions Club for the trip giving rise to the claim. Likewise, the Global Expeditions Club’s agent(s)’ total liability for damages hereunder shall in no event exceed the amount actually paid by you directly to The Global Expeditions Club’s agent(s)’ for the trip giving rise to the claim. Other Important Information: Any and all information, advice or promises provided orally or in writing to you by any member of The Global Expeditions Club, our Local Chapter Leaders, or our agents is done solely in good faith, but without responsibility on the part of The Global Expeditions Club. These Terms and Conditions are always the final and ultimate rules and supersede any other communication from us or our agents. The Global Expeditions Club reserves the right to amend these Terms and Conditions at any time and from time to time without any prior notice. Global Expeditions Club 1465 Woodbury Ave, #253 Portsmouth, NH 03801 www.globalexpeditionsclub.com 1 (617) 645-7689 E-mail: info@globalexeditionsclub.com |