RISA Travel Terms of Service

Please ensure you have read, understand and accept the following Terms of Service before booking with us.

 

PASSPORTS. All individuals departing from the United States of America must be in possession of a valid passport. You cannot travel if your PASSPORT or RESIDENT CARD is expired. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have valid travel documentation, including but not limited to passports and visas, which meet the requirements of immigration and other government authorities at every destination. A government issued ID is required for travel within the USA.

 

WE DO NOT CHECK PASSPORT EXPIRATION DATES. As the passport holder, it is your responsibility to make sure your passport is still valid before you travel. Please, make sure that you have at least SIX MONTHS on your passport after your return date to the U.S. Apply several months in advance for a new passport.

You are responsible for confirming with the United States Department of State or representative government agency of the country to which you are traveling the requirements for visas and/or other requirements for admission to your destination. Any fines, penalties, payments, or expenditures incurred because of such documents not meeting the requirements of those authorities will be your sole responsibility. 

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PAYMENT PLAN. If you are paying a reservation in installments you must follow these rules, or your reservation could be cancelled:

• 90 days before the travel date: Half reservation price must be paid.

• 60 days before the travel date: The total reservation price must be fully paid.

• For cruise reservations the Total Price must be paid 120 days before the departure

• Frequency of installment payments: Bi-Weekly or Monthly.

• Minimum installment payment amount: $350.

• If there is a Payment Plan Agreement signed, its provisions shall be considered part of this Terms of Service.

 

DEPOSIT. The non-refundable deposit per person is $350, regardless of the initial payment amount. The deposit must be paid in full within 45 days after the reservation date.

 

CANCELATIONS AND REFUNDS. The cancelation of a reservation is requested to RISA Travel by the client who paid for the reservation. The cancelation is requested by written notice. Verbal cancelation notices are not accepted. The cancelation date is the date the written cancelation notice is received by RISA Travel. If the reservation is canceled after it was rescheduled, the cancelation refund is calculated based on the original departure date, before rescheduling.

 

The deposit is non-refundable. Besides, if there is a cancelation request the right to receive a refund is limited, as set forth in the following schedule:

• Cancelation 121 days or more prior to departure: Shall be refunded the amount paid, less non-refundable deposit, less non-refundable items (see next).

• Cancelation 60 to 120 days prior to departure: Shall be refunded up to 50% of the reservation price, less non-refundable items (see next).

• Cancelation 59 days or less prior to departure: No refund available.

 

Credit card refunds are issued to the credit card used for payment. If the credit card used for the original payment is no longer available, the refund will be issued as credit to be used for future travel with RISA Travel. Payments received in cash/check/transfer may be refunded by bank transfer.

 

NON-REFUNDABLE ITEMS. In addition to the refund calculated based on the cancellation date, cancelled bookings may incur charges of up to 100% of the price of the booking, because the following non-refundable items:

• ​Airline tickets.

• Cancellation penalties imposed by hotels, cruise lines, wholesalers, tour operators, and other providers.

• Fees for visa requests, and any visa fees paid by RISA Travel.

• Any service already paid by RISA Travel to a provider.

• If the airline, the tour operator or any other service provider cancels a flight or any other service, the refunds or credits available to the customer are entirely depending on the provider terms and conditions. Some providers do not offer cash refunds, but instead issue credit vouchers for future use. RISA Travel by itself cannot issue refunds or credits for services cancelled. RISA Travel must follow the policies of the airlines and the other providers.

 

TRAVEL INSURANCE. The reservations do not include Travel Insurance. Risa Travel recommends that you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. RISA Travel is not an insurance company. We don’t sell travel insurance. RISA Travel has no responsibility for the representation, description of coverage, submission, binding coverage, payment or adjustment of any insurance claims.

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Any questions regarding the insurance policy and any insurance claims that may fall under the relevant travel insurance policy must be submitted to the insurance company identified in the policy. Customer is responsible for notifying the insurance company before the date of travel of any changes to the trip. Changes to be notified to the insurance company include and are not limited to price, destination, start and end date of the trip.

 

ADDITIONAL FEES:

• Some fees or taxes may be payable at airports or at hotels.

• Additional fees for baggage may apply.  Please contact your airline or refer to its website for detailed information regarding their baggage policies.

• A $25 non-refundable fee will be charged per each returned check

• A $25 non-refundable fee will be charged for any changes or revisions made after initial deposit in addition to any fees imposed by third party suppliers for the change or revisions.

• We primarily accept payments by check, transfer or cash. If the customer chooses to pay using any credit or debit card, we charge a 3% convenience fee. A 3% administrative fee will be deducted from every credit card refund. The refund administrative fee will be 6% if the 3% convenience fee was not charged with the original payment transaction.

• A $100 non-refundable fee will be charged per credit card transaction charged back.

 

SARGASSUM ADVISORY 
Sargassum is a free-floating seaweed that is especially prolific in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico. While beneficial to ocean life, these large free-floating seaweed mats often wash up on beaches. The amount of seaweed on the beaches fluctuates based on the time of year and ocean currents. While resorts do their best to maintain the beaches for their guests, you may experience some inconvenience during your stay.
 

RESERVATIONS INCLUDING PASSENGERS FROM CUBA TO DOMINICAN REPUBLIC.

If passengers from Cuba cannot travel for any reason, passengers from outside of Cuba keep their reservation and the reserved travel date.  The cancellation terms of reservations with passengers from Cuba are the same that apply to all reservations. The fact that passengers from Cuba cannot travel for any reason, does not give additional right of cancellation, refund or rescheduling for passengers from outside of Cuba.

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CONDITIONS OF TICKETS CUBA – DOMINICAN REPUBLIC FOR SUMMER 2023:

• The Ticket includes a suitcase of 23 kilos (50 pounds) and a carry-on or personal item. Only suitcases are allowed as luggage, no boxes.

• It will not be possible to take additional suitcases due to lack of space in the hold.

• In the event of change of travel date requested before starting the trip, the cost of the reissue will be $200.

• If a pax has to change the date of the original return flight to be extended, the value of the change will be $500.

• The pax that does not travel (No Show) for whatever reason, will be full penalty without the right to refund.

• The pax whose visa was denied will be entitled to a refund of 100% of the airfare.

• The pax whose visa approval cannot be carried out in the week that was requested and was granted days later, will not have a refund or compensation. In that case, there is no charge for date change.

• Pets are not allowed in the hold or as emotional support animals.

• Unaccompanied Minors (UM or YT) must have approval on a case-by-case basis and a cost of $100 per person.

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SCOPE AND NATURE OF OUR SERVICE AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY. RISA Travel acts as a travel agent only. We sell various travel related products on behalf of numerous transport service providers, including, but not limited to hotel, tours, airlines, cruise and rail. RISA Travel obligations to you are to make travel bookings on your behalf and to arrange relevant contracts between you and the travel service providers. We have no responsibility for these services, by virtue of the fact that we have no control or legal relationship over its personnel, equipment, operation or property. Our service does not constitute and should not be regarded as a recommendation or endorsement of the quality, service level, qualification or rating, type of accommodation of any Trip Provider (or its facilities, venue, vehicles, (main or ancillary) products or services) made available, save as explicitly indicated or set out otherwise.

 

A request to the hotel cannot be guaranteed. We are not responsible for flight delays or for flight changes decided by the airlines. All bookings are subject to the terms and conditions and limitations of liability imposed by these travel service providers. You understand that your legal recourse is against the specific provider not RISA Travel.

 

RISA Travel and its employees, affiliates, officers, directors, successors, agents, and assigns do not own or operate any entity which provides goods and services for your travel including without limitation, lodging facilities, airline, vessel, motor coach, or other transportation companies, guides or guide services, local ground operators, providers or organizers of optional excursions, food service providers, etc. All such persons and entities are independent contractors and are in no way affiliated to RISA Travel. You may see the name RISA Travel affixed to motor vehicles, on signs around the hotel or elsewhere. This use of our name is purely for reasons of identification and does not denote ownership, supervision, or control by RISA Travel in any way.

 

RISA Travel is not liable for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any travel service provider or of any third party. RISA Travel is not responsible for any injury, loss, death, inconvenience, delay, or damage to person or property in connection with the provision of any goods or services whether resulting from, but not limited to, acts of God or force majeure, illness, disease, acts of war or civil unrest, insurrection or revolt, animals, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind, overbooking or downgrading of accommodations, mechanical or other failure of airplanes or other means of transportation, or for any failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart on time. If due to weather, flight schedules or other uncontrollable factors you are required to spend additional night(s), you will be responsible for your own hotel, transfers and meal costs. Baggage is entirely at owner’s risk.

 

Customer specifically agree that RISA Travel does not accept liability for failure to meet any of our obligations to you if the failure is due to events beyond our reasonable control. If we fail to meet any of our obligations, we shall only be reliable for direct losses and not for any indirect or consequential losses. Where we are liable to you our maximum liability to you shall not exceed the price of your reservation, unless otherwise stated by law.

 

CREDIT CARD TRANSACTIONS. Maximum credit card payments per credit card: $5,000. Maximum credit card payments per customer: $8,000.
If for any reason, any travel service provider is unable to provide the services for which you have contracted, your remedy lies against the provider, and not against RISA Travel and in the event that payment has been made to RISA Travel by credit card, you agree that you will not seek to charge back your payment to RISA Travel. If RISA Travel incurs any costs, including but not limited to attorneys’ fees, to recover any payments charged back, you agree that you will be liable for these costs. If the credit card is declined, you guarantee that you will settle any amounts owing to RISA Travel via money order or cash immediately.

 

PROVIDERS ALTERNATIVES AND ADD-ON ITEMS. We reserve the right to change Airline and other providers. Should your hotel be unavailable, we reserve the right to change it for one of equal or better category.

 

The add-on items including but not limited to Excursions and Concerts are offered as courtesy. We will make proper arrangements to deliver those services; but if for any reason they can’t be delivered it doesn’t entitle to refunds, exchanges or compensations of any kind.

 

FLIGHT CONFIRMATION AND PLANE SEAT ASSIGNMENT. We strongly suggest that clients reconfirm exact flight times with the carrier prior to departure. Air travelers are required to check in at least 3 hours prior to departure time for domestic flights and 4 hours for international flights and must report to the gate at least 1 hour prior to departure time. Failure to comply may result in the loss of the seat to another passenger.

 

Airfare taxes and fuel surcharges are subject to change without notice until paid in full and air tickets issued. Airfares may change without notice prior to e-ticket issuance. Fares may not be available on all flights and/or travel dates while certain fares may only be available for new bookings.

 

If you want the seats of your group to be together, please ask the agent what the extra cost is, since the least expensive fares do not usually allow to select specific seats. Many airlines do not allow advance seat assignments for groups. Most airlines secure seat blocks for groups, but do not assign passengers to specific seats until airport check-in.

 

GROUP TRAVEL PACKAGES. In each tour, the itinerary specifies the services included on the trip. As a rule, a strictly literal approach must be followed that leads to the conclusion that, what is not specifically listed as included in the tour price, is excluded. The order of the activities in the itinerary can change. Besides, in the event that it is not possible to carry out an activity on the itinerary for reasons beyond the control of the tour operator, it will be replaced by another activity.

 

Not Included in the Rates. U.S. and International arrival and departure, and other government-imposed fees. Port taxes; passports; visas and vaccinations; tips to your tour director, host, driver, local guides, and/or ships' crew; gratuities on ferries, trains, and cruise ships; laundry; telephone; minibar; alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel or restaurant); optional excursions; airport transfers on non-qualifying flights; porterage at airports and train stations; travel insurance premiums; carrier baggage fees; and all other items of a personal nature.

 

Hotels mentioned in itinerary are samples used as reference only. Special requests such as elevators, air conditioning, etc. are not guaranteed in all properties. In addition, even if a property has amenities such as air conditioning or elevator, it is not guaranteed that it will be operational during your stay. All rooms have private bathroom and TV. Some of them also offer a mini-bar, safe box, and hair dryer. Many hotels in Europe do not have air conditioning or local legislation establishes limited dates of use. In some circuits exist certain slight differences within the quality of the hotels located in the same city. Due to narrow streets, buses are not always able to park in front of the hotel. In this case, passengers may have to walk a short distance with their bag to the hotel. In several cities the hotels where groups stay are not located near the city center.

 

Please keep in mind that standards, bed sizes and room dimensions can however vary between hotels of the same class, in different countries, and even in the same country. Numerous hotels do not have triple rooms offering, instead, standard rooms based on twins or double bed with an extra bed which may be a camp-bed style or a sofa-bed. Triple room in cruises are typically composed of two twin bed and one bunk bed. We do not recommend a triple room unless you travel with kids as condition may often be cramped. Most of hotels in Europe do not accept more than three people, including minors, per room; if you are travelling in a family of four with under kids under three, you may consider booking two bedrooms. There is a limited number of triple bedrooms in each hotel, and on some exceptional occasion it may be necessary the use of a double and a single room instead. Booking a triple room implies the acceptance of these conditions.

 

HEALTH AND SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS. It is your responsibility to ensure you are aware of any health requirements for your travel destinations and to ensure that you carry all necessary vaccination documentation. Please advise the airline/hotel/service provider of any special requirements you may have, for example, special meals, medical requirements and so on.

 

Governments and local officials could implement travel requirements related to diseases. Keep in mind that travel requirements are updated often and can change rapidly, so we recommend checking the country, city, and state websites before your trip for the latest information. Also, the airlines, transportation services, entertainment companies and facilities, tours operators, and hotels could put in place preventative measures to reduce the spread of diseases. Tourism and transportation service providers have information available online regarding their policies. It is crucial that you keep updated with the most current information since the protocols, measures, and restrictions are constantly evolving.

 

Please be advised that RISA Travel only acts as your travel agent. Therefore, RISA Travel is not responsible in any way for the acts or omissions, protocols, restrictions, or measures applied by any country, city, state government, airport, hotel, tour operator, transportation services, hotels, or any other individual or company. By booking with RISA Travel you further acknowledge, understand, appreciate, and agree that your participation in any travel may result in possible exposure to and illness from infectious diseases, including, but not limited to, MRSA, Influenza, and COVID-19. While actions may reduce this risk, the risk of serious illness and death does exist. By traveling you knowingly and freely assume all such risks, both known and unknown, even if arising from the negligence and assume full responsibility for your participation and exposure.

 

PHOTOGRAPHS & MAPS. All photographs and videos are shown on the site for informational purposes only and may not represent the actual item category purchased. Maps represented on the site are shown for informational purposes only and display only approximate locations and attractions and are not intended to be exact in every detail.

 

REFUSAL OF SERVICE. RISA Travel assumes no liability for the acts of the service provider in refusing service. Service providers reserve the right to refuse service to travelers at their sole discretion and including without limitation if the traveler lacks proper documentation for the country of destination, has a contagious disease, is under the influence of alcohol, drugs or narcotics and/or manifests disruptive and/or unruly behavior.

 

POLICIES ON PICTURES. The customer accepts that as soon as you board a plane or enter other provider facility, you're in a private space and are beholden to the rules of the airline or the provider, whether you know about them or not. The client must confirm with the airline or other providers what their policy is on photography and video on board airplanes or in other private spaces. Some Airlines and other providers have policies prohibiting filming other passengers or company personnel, using any voice or audio recording or transmission while on an aircraft or in other private spaces, photography or video recording of company personnel, other customers, aircraft or other equipment or procedures and company monitors. Some airlines and other providers have internal policies that allow employees to stop passengers from taking photographs or filming at their discretion.

 

TEXT OFFERS AND ALERTS. You can sign up to receive periodical text or MMS messages with RISA Travel promotions and special offers either by texting "RISA" to 305-306-2222 or in the booking request. By doing that, you consent to receive up to four messages per month sent by automated means. Signing up to receive text or MMS messages is not a condition of purchase. This service is free from RISA Travel, but carrier message and data rates may apply. To take advantage of the RISA Travel text or MMS messaging features, you must have a text and MMS messaging-enabled mobile device with a text messaging plan. Message content is not available on all carriers.

 

To stop receiving promotional text or MMS messages from RISA Travel, simply text "STOP" to 305-306-2222. We will remove your mobile number from our subscriptions list. This will not disable your ability to use RISA Travel other SMS features. It will only remove you from our promotional text messaging subscriptions list. To start receiving our promotional texts again, text "RISA" to 305-306-2222, and we'll add your mobile number back into our promotional database.

 

JURISDICTION. These Terms of Service shall be construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida.

 

NEGOTIATION. The customer shall attempt in good faith to resolve any dispute arising out of or relating to RISA Travel services promptly by negotiation. Any party may give the other party written notice of any dispute not resolved in the normal course of business. Within 15 days after delivery of the notice, the receiving party shall submit to the other a written response. Within 30 days after delivery of the notice, both parties shall meet at a mutually acceptable time and place. Unless otherwise agreed in writing by the negotiating parties, the above-described negotiation shall end at the close of the first meeting of executives described above ("First Meeting"). Such closure shall not preclude continuing or later negotiations, if desired.

 

All offers, promises, conduct and statements, whether oral or written, made in the course of the negotiation by any of the parties, their agents, employees, experts and attorneys are confidential, privileged and inadmissible for any purpose, including impeachment, in arbitration or other proceeding involving the parties, provided that evidence that is otherwise admissible or discoverable shall not be rendered inadmissible or non-discoverable as a result of its use in the negotiation.

 

At no time prior to the First Meeting shall either side initiate an arbitration or litigation related to RISA Travel services except to pursue a provisional remedy that is authorized by law or by Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services, Inc. or its successor (JAMS) Rules or by agreement of the parties. However, this limitation is inapplicable to a party if the other party refuses to comply with the requirements of Paragraphs above.

 

MEDIATION. If the matter is not resolved by negotiation pursuant to paragraphs above, then the matter will proceed to mediation as set forth below.

 

The customer agrees that any and all disputes, claims or controversies arising out of or relating to RISA Travel services shall be submitted to JAMS, for mediation, and if the matter is not resolved through mediation, then it shall be submitted to JAMS, or its successor, for final and binding arbitration. Either party may commence mediation by providing to JAMS and the other party a written request for mediation, setting forth the subject of the dispute and the relief requested. The parties will cooperate with JAMS and with one another in selecting a mediator from the JAMS panel of neutrals and in scheduling the mediation proceedings. The parties agree that they will participate in the mediation in good faith and that they will share equally in its costs.

 

All offers, promises, conduct and statements, whether oral or written, made in the course of the mediation by any of the parties, their agents, employees, experts and attorneys, and by the mediator or any JAMS employees, are confidential, privileged and inadmissible for any purpose, including impeachment, in any arbitration or other proceeding involving the parties, provided that evidence that is otherwise admissible or discoverable shall not be rendered inadmissible or non-discoverable as a result of its use in the mediation.

 

ARBITRATION. The customer agrees that if the matter is not resolved by negotiation or arbitration, any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to RISA Travel services, shall be settled by arbitration administered by JAMS, under its commercial arbitration rules. The number of arbitrators shall be one. The place of arbitration shall be Miami, Florida. Judgment on the award rendered by the arbitrator may be entered in any court of Miami Florida.

 

In any arbitration arising out of or related to RISA Travel services, the arbitrator(s) are not empowered to award punitive or exemplary damages, incidental, indirect or consequential damages, including damages for lost profits; and the parties waive any right to recover any such damages.

 

As exception to the arbitration, individual claims can be brought in small claims court in Miami Dade County.

 

CLASS ACTION WAIVER. The customer hereby waives the right to any class action proceeding or counterclaim against RISA Travel, its affiliates, successors or assigns, whether at law or equity, regardless of which party brings suit. Any claims against RISA Travel must be brought only in individual capacity and not as plaintiff or class member or representative action. This waiver shall apply to any matter whatsoever between the customers and RISA Travel which arises out of or is related in any way to the reservation, the services provided by RISA Travel, its affiliates, successors or assigns of the business and/or any goods, property or services.

 

PRIVACY POLICY.  RISA Travel is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of your personal information. Our Privacy Policy is available for viewing here: https://www.risatravel.com/privacy

 

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