Terms and Conditions
Environmental Policy
We know that travel can have a detrimental effect on the environment. At the same time, we believe in the power of the tourism industry to open our eyes to the beautiful landscapes that need protecting and to motivate us in our efforts to do so. To reconcile these, we:
Are paperless/fully digital. All our communications, itineraries, etc. with our clients are online, and we avoid the use of paper in our office.
Reduce (plastic) pollution and water consumption. Desertification and water pollution are two of the biggest environmental challenges we face in Morocco. Because these issues affect our lives every day, we are mindful of how the ways we live can perpetuate or combat them. We encourage our clients to be mindful of these issues while they are visiting, offering information and suggestions to reduce water consumption, plastic waste, etc. We also educate the local families we work with on these issues and share ways that they can make a sustainable difference, for instance encouraging them to use reusable pottery bottles for drinking water.
Support local and organic food systems. In the big cities, we aim to source organic food when possible. Most of our tours involve visits to rural areas, where food systems are inherently local and organic. Many of the families we partner with grow their own food such as wheat and olives and keep some small livestock like chickens, sheep, or even cows. In many cases, the bread, oil, vegetables, and more that you will eat was not only made by their hands but came from their fields. If dates are in season, we may even pick some from the trees for you to try! How much more local can you get?
Help you be a responsible visitor. Our tours involve visits to very special and unique ecosystems that are greatly affected by climate change and human impacts. Given the challenges our country faces, there are many interesting environmental and ecological projects being done to combat this. Some of our tours include visits to these organizations, and we can add more experiences like this to any trip. For all our tours, we encourage clients to pass through and interact with these environments in a respectful way.
Pricing and Payment
An early reservations are encouraged to confirm your space and secure the best
tours. Reservations are accepted when we receive the initial deposit with a Reservation
Form and Release of Liability signed by each adult 18 years or older.
Deposit requirement are as follow:
20% of tour cost for all trips is generally non-refundable.
In many cases once a deposit is received it will be forwarded to service
providers in-country. Additional deposits may be required for some trips,
especially in peak seasons, when tours have been chartered, or if permits to
visit archaeological or wildlife sites have been purchased in advance. It may
be necessary to adjust prices up or down 30 days before departure to allow for
changes in group size, rooming status or currency fluctuations. The principal
trip balance is due 90 days prior to departure. Failure to deliver complete
payment 30 days prior to departure will be considered notification of
cancellation by default and is subject to cancellation charges as stated below.
Initial deposits and air payments may be made by check or VISA, MC or AMEX. The
balance of tour cost is payable by check or credit card. MSITravels reserves
the right to deny participation to anyone whom it deems unsuitable for a trip.
Payments, Cancellations and Refunds
Full payment of the trip balance is due 90 days prior to departure. If you must
cancel before departure, money will be returned less the cancellation fees
charged by MSITravels, plus any additional non-refundable cancellation fees and
payments already advanced to hotels / Riads , Transport and local operators:
- Days
Prior to Departure: Fee Per Person
- 91 or
more: $300
- 61-90
days: Initial deposit amount
- 31-60
days: 50% of tour cost
- 30 or less:
100% of tour cost
*Note: Cancellation may result in additional penalties
charged by local hotels, operators and Transportation, occasionally as much as
100% of the cost. Deposits for all trips are non-refundable unless noted
otherwise.
If you leave a trip in progress, for any reason, MSITravels will not refund any
monies. No refunds will be made for any unused portions of your tour (including
but not limited to meals, transport, lodging, sightseeing, trekking), including
those that are the result of your removal from a tour and for reasons related
to weather, terrorism, civil strife, personal, family or medical emergencies or
any other circumstances beyond our control. MSITravels does not insure plane
tickets, missed flights or anything dealing with your travel, plans or
arrangements.
Thus, we strongly recommend you to purchase trip
cancellation and interruption insurance at the time of booking, as this will
cover trip cancellation charges in certain circumstances.
MSITravels Alumni Discounts
Previous travelers with MSITravels, our MSITravels alumni, are eligible for
increasing discounts on additional trips: On your second trip with us you
qualify for a 5% discount, with discounts increasing by 1% for each subsequent
trip up to a maximum of 10%. All discounts are subject to change, are not
applicable on child rates, or when booking through a third party or in
combination with other discounts.
Tier Pricing Based on Group Size
Published Tour costs are per person based on group size of a minimum of two or
more persons in double occupancy. Any increase or decrease in per person cost
due to group size is confirmed 30 days before departure.
Expenses Covered
Due to many factors beyond our control we reserve the right to change our
prices without prior notice, even after you have signed up. However, we do our
best to avoid increasing prices without advance notice. Normal price increases
generally are not passed on to participants who have already advanced a
deposit. Normally, we include the cost of all guides, leaders, permits,
accommodations, transportation, and most meals as stated in the planned
itinerary [B-Breakfast, L-Lunch, D-Dinner]. Vegetarian and special diets can
usually be accommodated. The tour cost includes profit and charges incurred by
MSITravels. for research, itinerary development, reservations, office
administration and pre-departure information services. Quoted costs represent a
complete package price; itemized individual costs are not available.
Costs not included in the price are some meals as noted in the trip itinerary,
transfers if not arriving or departing on the scheduled group flights, soft
drinks and liquor, medical expenses, costs of hospitalization or evacuation,
laundry, airport departure taxes, accommodations en route to the destination,
visas, , gratuities and insurance. If a trip must be extended or an itinerary
modified due to weather, road conditions, lack of transportation, political or
civil disputes, medical emergency or other causes beyond our control, the
associated costs including any nonrecoverable costs are not included in the
trip rates or refunds. In such circumstances it is your responsibility to pay
directly for actual extra costs in the field (i.e. food, transport,
accommodations, etc.). Carry extra traveller's checks and credit card for
contingencies and obtain trip cancellation/interruption insurance available in
your pre-departure dossier.
Requests to Make Changes to Booked Tour
If a traveler wishes to make a change to their tour itinerary after we have
confirmed the tour, the traveler must notify MSITravels as soon as possible in
writing. Please send a typed statement with date,
name, and signature by email. Any modification of dates, upgrades, alteration of
itineraries, or other requests by you will incur extra charges, as discussed
further below. The fee will vary according to the type and scope of the change.
Any confirmed changes will become due immediately and are payable by the client
using a major credit card.
If a traveler or group wishes to change their tour dates, it will be dependent
upon availability. Our suppliers, which include hotels/Riads and transportation
providers, often impose additional fees or penalties for changes and
cancellations. As such, if a change of dates is granted, traveler(s) will be
expected to pay any associated fees or cost differences in order to re-arrange
transport, hotels, or any other fees. If a traveler or group requests a change
of tour dates before a trip’s start date and it cannot be arranged, it may be
treated according to our cancellation policy. No changes of tour dates can be
made 60 days before an already booked tour. MSITravels does not cover any
charges due to such changes.
Proviso
Regarding Change and Cancellation Requests
MSITravels may choose to work with any
tour changes or cancellations on an individual basis. The parameters above help
to safeguard both parties should an issue beyond our control arise. Although
much easier if requests or cancellations are made 60 days or more before a
trip’s start date, when a traveler(s) requests changes or cancels a trip, we
will work with them to the best of our ability to accommodate.
Baggage
Baggage and personal effects are at
owner’s risk throughout the tour. All costs incurred for lost, damaged or
delayed baggage is at owner’s expense.
Pre-departure
Services
On receipt of your deposit and signed Reservation Form we forward a
comprehensive Pre-departure Dossier. This contains our exclusive MSITravels
Destination, Detailed program map, immunization information, and other permit
forms, a trip checklist, reading list, travel supply catalog, cross-cultural
information and optional trip extensions. We can help you obtain specialty
travel items such as travel bags, water purifiers, repellants, clothing, maps
and guidebooks. You will receive a final trip packet including Final Reminders,
datails and information in your destination 2-3 weeks prior to departure.
Documentation
(Visas and Passports )
Travelers should also research information
regarding visas to enter Morocco. Your passport must have at least six months
of validity upon your in-country arrival date. MSITravels will not be held
liable or refund any monies for any reason if your entry is prolonged or denied
into Morocco.
Depending on your country of residence or origin, you may be required to obtain
a visa before arrival. Citizens of the United States, Canada, Europe Union,
Australia, and New Zealand can stay for a period of 90 days before exiting
Morocco. Holding a resident card or green card to any country, does not mean
that you can enter Morocco with it. You may still need to apply for a visa. Be
prudent and careful to check your government’s pages online and by visiting or
contacting the nearest Moroccan consulate or embassy.
It is your responsibility to obtain valid and effective documentation,
including passports, visas, permits, and vaccination certificates, where
necessary. You also assume complete and full responsibility for checking and
verifying any and all passport, visa, vaccination, or other entry requirements
of each destination and all safety or security conditions at such destinations.
You are solely responsible for any adverse consequences resulting from missing
or defective documentation. MSITravels may provide information or advice given
on visas, vaccinations, climate, clothing, baggage, special equipment, etc. in
good faith as a courtesy to you. MSITravels is not responsible for any errors
or omissions as to the information provided.
Traveling
with MSITravels Means that you Accept Being
- Ready to leave at the departure city at
the tour departure day and time. We are not responsible for any losses due to
cancelled or missed flights, changed flight itineraries, late arrivals, or
early departures.
- Flexible and accepting of a different
culture and customs – Flexible with your tour correspondent(s), guide(s),
driver(s), & hotel staff
- Following all rules, decisions and advice
of the guide or staff
- Accepting and accommodating of host
country nationals
- Complying with all local laws
- Adequately assessing your abilities
- Respecting other participants
Our decision, or the decision of the local
operator or guide, is final on all matters that may threaten the safety or
interfere with the well-being of the group or individual travelers. We, or the
local operator or guide, have the right to remove anyone who we i) judge to be
incapable of meeting the rigors and requirements of participating in the tour
activities; or ii) determine to detract from others’ enjoyment of the tour.
Accommodations
Unless a specific accommodation is requested, we reserve or recommend the best
available, reasonably priced, charming hotels/Riads with private bath, hot
water, good service, value and sustainable management practices. Prices are
based on two persons sharing a twin-bedded room. Established camping desert
feature full size walk-in tents for two persons with Bedouin-style bedding or
sleeping pads. On trekking and camping trips tents, sleeping pads or
mattresses, wash basins, toilet facilities, cooking equipment, lanterns, pack
animals and portering gear are provided. Participants must furnish their own
clothing, soft-luggage and day pack. Sleeping bags are necessary for some
trips, but are usually available for rent. MSITravels reserves the right to
substitute equivalent or superior hotels/Riads.
Single
Supplement
Single supplement is the additional cost of a single traveler not sharing a
room in double occupancy. If you request single accommodations you will be
charged the single supplement. If you are willing to share a room we will
attempt to match you with another traveler of the same gender, in which case
the single supplement will be waived. However, if we are unable to find another
traveler with whom you can share a room in most cases you will be charged the
single supplement.
Photo
Release
MSITravels, its agents and assigns reserve the right and permission to
copyright and use, re-use to photographic portraits, images or videos of
individual participants over 18 years of age that you send to us, or that are
taken by our guides and/or other travelers of you individually or in a group,
in any medium, including but not limited to print, electronic media, or Internet,
free of charge and without your right to inspection, for use in promotional and
publicity purposes related to its travel program.
*NOTE : otherwise, If you do not want us to use any images of you that are
taken by us or other participants during the expedition, you must inform us in
writing before your trip departs.
Medical
Requirements
Good physical and mental health are essential for the enjoyment of these
active, outdoor trips. You may travel in rugged areas removed from modern
medical facilities. Good physical conditioning is recommended as preparation
for all trips, especially those involving trekking. By forwarding the deposit
and signed Reservation Form, the passenger certifies that he/she does not have
any physical or other condition of disability that would create a hazard for
him/herself or other passengers. It is essential that any participant with a
medical condition requiring regular treatment or which may be affected by
vigorous activity, high altitude, heat, cold, other natural phenomenon, or
particular foods, notifies MSITravels and the trip leaders, in writing in
advance of MSITravels. Assumes no liability for medical care nor for special
dietary requirements. Participants may be required to furnish a doctor’s
statement of good health. The judgment of MSITravels, or the local operator or
guide, shall make the ultimate determination of an individual trip
participant's fitness to embark upon, or to continue a trip. Once a trip has
been confirmed medical circumstances will not be considered as exceptions to
our cancellation policy. All participants must be covered by a current medical
insurance policy applicable for overseas travel for the duration of their trip.
Proof of coverage may be required.
Travel
Protection/ Insurance
MSITravels highly recommends that you purchase a travel protection plan to help
protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. Travel
protection plans can include coverage for Trip Cancellation, Trip Interruption,
Emergency Medical and Emergency Evacuation/Repatriation, Trip Delay, Baggage
Delay and more.
For your convenience, MSITravels has no liability to cover anyone’s medical
costs or exit from a country in any situation.
Payment,
Deposits and Acceptance of Booking
To make a booking, you must complete our
booking request and submit it to us along with the specified deposit for your
trip. Acceptance of your booking must be confirmed in writing by us. There is
no contract for services between you and MSITravels without such written
confirmation. Payment may be made in the manner specified on the booking form.
We reserve the right to treat any reservation that is not fully paid according
to the reservation and payment terms as a cancellation and subject to the
cancellation terms below.
Those
who Sign Up Late or Last Minute
If a traveler wishes to travel within 60
days within a trip’s start date, the deposit will be due first, followed by the
final payment soon thereafter. MSITravels reserves the right to process final
payments automatically at any time before the trip start date and will send
clients a receipt.
Responsibility
Please be aware that MSITravels works with
and hires host-country nationals to help with its tours. We hire parties that
are competent, reliable, and qualified in what they do, based on information
that is reasonably available to us. These goods and services are not under our
control, however. Because we act only as an intermediary for independent
vendors and suppliers, we assume no responsibility for their actions or
inactions, including delay, cancellation, overbooking, financial default or
strike.
Claims
and Complaints
If you find a problem or something that
does not meet your expectation, or claim any failure by MSITravels or any of
its vendors or suppliers, you must promptly notify us or the local operator or
guide so that the problem can be rectified, if possible. Failure to do so while
you are on the trip will result in your ability to claim compensation from
MSITravels being extinguished or at least reduced. Further, if you make any
changes on your own without following the notice procedure described above, you
assume responsibility for any added costs you may incur and forfeit any
potential refunds.
If satisfaction is not reached through this notice procedure during the trip,
you must submit further complaint in writing to us within 30 days of the end of
the tour. We will not accept any liability for claims received after this
period.
Amendments
MSITravels reserves the right to update
and/or alter these terms and conditions at any time, and shall post the updated
terms and conditions on its website at www.msitravels.com. Any such amendment
shall take effect 10 calendar days following their posting to MSITravels’
website. You may access the most current terms and conditions at any time on
MSITravels’ website or by sending a written request to us by fax email.
Travelers shall be deemed to have accepted any amendments to these terms on the
date that they take effect, i.e., 10 calendar days following their posting on
MSITravels’ website. MSITravels recommends that all travelers review and
familiarize themselves with the latest terms and conditions on MSITravels’
website prior to their trip.
Force
Majeure
MSITravels will not be deemed in breach of
this agreement or otherwise liable to you, by reason of delay in performance or
nonperformance of any of its obligations under this agreement to the extent
that any such delay or nonperformance is due to any Force Majeure. “Force
Majeure” means any circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including
without limitation acts of God, terrorist activities, insurrection, explosion,
flood, tempest, forceful wind, fire or accident, war or threat of war declared
or undeclared, sabotage, civil disturbance, labor strikes, requisition, sickness,
quarantine, government intervention, weather conditions, and unforeseen
circumstances.
If MSITravels and/or any of its suppliers or vendors are affected by Force
Majeure, they shall be entitled to, and may in their sole and absolute
discretion, vary or cancel any itinerary or arrangement in relation to the
expedition. We must normally make substantial and non-refundable payments to
its suppliers far in advance of the scheduled departure date. As such, payment
of any refund by us to you as a result of the nonperformance of any obligations
will be less any non-refundable deposits and third party cancellation fees.
Further, we shall be entitled to deduct from any refund recoverable the
reasonable actual and potential costs to MSITravels of the Force Majeure.
Limitation
of Remedies
You agree that to the extent consistent
with applicable law, the maximum amount of recovery to which you may be
permitted to recover from MSITravels shall not exceed the land cost of your
trip with us. To the maximum extent permitted under applicable law, MSITravels
shall not be liable for any special, consequential, indirect, incidental or
other damages, including lost profits, whether such damages arise in contract,
negligence, tort, under statute, in equity, at law, or otherwise, even if
MSITravels has been advised of the possibility of such damages. You expressly
waive any right you may have to recover such damages.
Severability
You agree that if any portion of this
agreement is found by a court to be void or unenforceable, the remaining
portions of the agreement shall remain in full force and effect. Any
unenforceable or invalid provision will be replaced with one that is valid and
enforcement and which achieves, to the extent possible, the original objectives
and intent of the original provision.
Successors
and Assigns
This agreement shall inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon MSITravels and the participant and their respective
heirs, legal personal representatives, successors and assigns.
Headings
Headings in this agreement are for
convenience only and shall not be used to interpret or construe its provisions.
Merger
This agreement is the final, complete and
exclusive statement of the parties’ agreement on the matters contained in this
agreement. This agreement supersedes all prior negotiations and agreements.
On advancement of deposit to MSITravels, you agree to be bound by this
agreement.