Policies
Terms and Conditions
Flexibility
As the nature of this type of travel requires a certain amount of flexibility on the part of the traveler. It should be understood that certain modes of transport, itineraries and amenities may be subject to change as a result of unforeseen local events such as climate, strikes, mechanical breakdown, political insurrection, etc. We will always endeavour to provide replacement components of an equal or greater value.
Unused Services
There are no refunds for unused services. Discounts can not be given if the client requests changes in program once deposit has been paid. I.e. missing a day of a multi-day trip does not result in a partial refund of trip price once the trip has been booked and initial deposit paid.
Acceptance of Risk
Each traveler assumes the risk of injury to his/her person or property resulting from any of the inherent dangers and risks of adventure travel and may not recover from Smiling Albino for any injury resulting from any of the inherent dangers and risks of biking, hiking, boating, motorcycling, elephant riding, etc. This includes, but is not limited to: weather and road conditions; existing and changing weather conditions; bare spots; rocks; stumps; gravel; trees; collisions with natural objects, man-made objects, or other bikers, hikers, pedestrians, motorized vehicles, variations in terrain; and the failure of participants to act within their own abilities.
Each traveler has the responsibility for knowing the range of his/her own ability and to act within the limits of such ability. Each traveler expressly accepts and assumes the risk of and all legal responsibility for any injury to person or property resulting from any of the inherent dangers and risks of adventure travel. Each traveler has the duty to heed all posted information and other warnings and to refrain from acting in a manner which may cause or contribute to the injury of themselves or others. It is important that clients realize that they are responsible for making themselves aware of the risks involved and of making their decisions accordingly.
Authority on Tour
At all times Smiling Albino adventure leaders make final decisions on matters likely to endanger the well being of the tour. Clients must always abide by the laws, customs and regulations of all countries visited on Smiling Albino adventures.
Travel Documents
Every traveler must be in possession of valid travel documents, including passports for the duration of all Smiling Albino adventures. Note: your passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 months after landing in order to legally enter most countries in Asia, including Thailand, Nepal, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, Indonesia, Singapore, among others.
Booking Payments:
Payments for trips are paid as following: 50% at time of booking, final 50% no later than 60 days prior to trip date.
Cancellations & Refunds:
If you must cancel your Smiling Albino adventure, the request must be e-mailed to info@smilingalbino.com and requested by the individual who booked the original trip. Refunds for booked trips will be paid out as following.
- 61 days or more prior to trip start date = 80% of deposit/90% of total price returned
- 32 to 61 days prior to trip start date - 50% of deposit/75% of total price returned
- 0 to 31 days prior to trip start date - 0% of deposit/50% of full price returned
- 7% VAT of trip or deposit total is non-refundable
- Smiling Albino is always happy to reschedule a client's adventure date if needed. In fact, we prefer to reschedule a client for another trip date than have them entirely cancel their vacation.
Unused Services: There are no refunds for unused services. Further, discounts can not be given if the client requests changes in program once deposit has been paid. I.e. missing a day of a multi-day trip does not result in a partial refund of trip price once the trip has been booked and initial deposit paid.
Insurance
Each traveler must acknowledge that the price of the adventure alone does not cover the cost of any insurance. Each traveler is responsible for purchasing and possessing his/her own personal travel and medical insurance. Insurance must cover personal accident, medical expenses, air ambulance, loss of effects, repatriation costs and all other costs resulting from loss, damage or injury. Travelers are also recommended to have Trip Cancellation Insurance to recover costs should unforeseen events make their trip not possible, or in the case that unforeseen events cause the guest to incur additional expenses, such in the case of delays, weather, strikes, political strife, etc, Smiling Albino will not be held responsible for these additional expenses.
Responsibility
Each traveler booking an adventure with Smiling Albino does so with the understanding that Smiling Albino will not be held responsible for any injury or death, accident, delay, loss, damage or irregularity resulting from acts undertaken on a Smiling Albino adventure. This includes such irregularities as vehicle defects, acts of God, delays, government restriction, civil disturbance, accidents by boat, bicycle, elephant, motor vehicle or any other form of transport or any form of accommodation.
Your Health and Fitness
Smiling Albino participants must be in a reasonable level of health and fitness before undertaking any of our adventures. If you have questions about your health please consult your family doctor. Smiling Albino insists that each participant be equipped with his/her own emergency medical insurance that includes emergency air evacuation for the duration of their Smiling Albino adventure. We strive to put your interests and safety before our own so you can have the experience of a lifetime.
Optional Extras
Optional extras (e.g. island jet skiing) do not form part of an adventure program contract. It is understood by each traveler that any assistance given by Smiling Albino in arranging such extras does not render the company liable for such extras.
Packing
Checked baggage limitations on international flights are generally 44 pounds (20 kilos) of checked baggage in economy class, and 66 pounds (30 kilos) in business class. Excess baggage charges are costly (1.5% of the highest adult fare per kilo on average,) so please pack appropriately! No-frills airlines such as Air Asia have a 15kg weight limit and roughly $3US per kg overage. Smiling Albino is not responsible for additional luggage charges.
Damage to Property or Vehicles
Participants are aware that any damage to persons or property caused by the participant, or any damage to rented vehicles caused by them (for example bicycles, motor scooters, cars), whether intentional or not, are their own financial responsibility. Smiling Albino is not responsible for damage caused by participants to any vehicle, property or other persons during a Smiling Albino adventure.
Accuracy of Information
Upon booking a trip each traveler must provide their name as written in their passport, as well as their passport number and expiration date. Each traveler is responsible for notifying Smiling Albino if airline tickets reserved in their name have incorrect details such as name spellings, designations, etc. Smiling Albino will not be held responsible for replacement tickets if names or designations changed from the time of original booking.
Prices
Prices posted on the Smiling Albino site or in our printed materials are subject to change without notice, mostly due to changes in foreign exchange and costs of international commodities (like oil). We will honour any quoted price for 20 days after a proposal has been delivered to a potential adventurer.
Awesomeness
Trips with Smiling Albino are very likely to be the best travel adventure you'll take. Whether you're doing a luxury buying tour in Bangkok, a 100+ km a day burn through Nepal, or merely parking yourself on a beach on the Andaman Sea, we'll stake our reputation on the experience you have.
Site Policies
If you have any questions about our policies or information on this page, please contact us. Rather than extensive babbling legalese, like many sites, here are our policies in plain English.
Security
There is no secure connection on any portion of this site. Please do not send any sensitive information (i.e. credit cards) via any of our forms. We do use cookies as a matter of course to track your choices which are sent to the booking form. Any cookie that smilingalbino.com stores can only be used by this site and will not be sent to any third parties. We do not process or present any information from third party systems like banner advertising that may track your movements across the Web.
Privacy Policy
Smiling Albino keeps all the information our clients and site guests send us completely private and will not deliver information to third parties unless we get your permission and have a good reason to do so. We will use the information you send us to better answer your questions, help develop our trip schedules and understand what our customers are really after.
Newsletter
Smiling Albino periodically ships out newletters and announcements on a variety subjects and at semi-random intervals. If you receive an email from Smiling Albino and aren't interested in getting any more, follow the instructions included with the email or contact us (easiest is at info@smilingalbino.com) and we'll ensure you are not contacted again.
Copyright
All information on the SmilingAlbino.com site is copyright Smiling Albino unless otherwise noted. Please do not use any of the content on this site without our permission as we do derive revenue from our photos, essays, quotes and travel descriptions. We can make pictures and quotes available to you upon request. If you have a request for republication of Smiling Albino content, please let us know what you want, medium you want to use the content for, how long the content will be presented and what the purpose of the publication is. There may be costs associated with using Smiling Albino content, but it's not really likely that there will be costs, since we're pretty easy going.
Disclaimer
The information and content on the SmilingAlbino.com site is posted in good faith and is accurate to the best of our knowledge. That said, we cannot guarantee 100% content accuracy. You should verify any of the information on the site with us or your other travel providers - including dates, prices, weather, festivals, banana ripeness, addresses, hair colour - before you fly across the world and land in Bangkok, Katmandu or Phnom Penh.
Fine Print
Smiling Albino feels strongly about what it sells - so much so that nothing in this fine print is of serious import. There are a few things here though that someone willing to read to the end of a page labelled "policies" font may find interesting.
Chock-full-o-fun
Smiling Albino adventures are chock-full-o-fun, except where chock-full-o-funness is prohibited by law.
Exciting Food
Smiling Albino adventures should not be mixed with an excess of Brussels sprouts, lima beans, brewer's yeast or Spam, except with an accompanying doctor's note.
Pedestrian Safety
Smiling Albino recommends caution when walking across the street in foreign countries, especially when you wake up not knowing what country you're in and what side of the street they drive on where you are, or on the really odd chance that your new street is a one way with signs that are ignored anyway.
SPCA
Smiling Albino fully endorses the SPCA and their campaign to spay and neuter your pets.
Oral Hygiene
Smiling Albino may not remind you to brush after every meal while on our adventures, but we do feel that a good daily course of oral hygiene will likely provide you with a modicum of joy as you age - especially since there is evidence of a connection between poor and missing teeth and dementia.
Likeability
The Smiling Albino team is made up of people whom the people who take our trips actually like.
No Aversions
It is recommended that those individuals who have an aversion or allergic reaction to fun, adventure and really good food should not join a Smiling Albino trip.
Take the Time
Question: why wouldn't you spend as much on your vacation per day as you make while you are working? Answer: you should, life is too short not to.
Animals vs. People
Smiling Albino adventures have never been tested on animals, only on people. Lots and lots of people.
What We Hope
Smiling Albino hopes that you'll take one of their adventures.
What You Deserve
Really, you deserve it. Believe us, not that negative friend that you only hang out with because you've known them since Grade 2.
We Are Very Serious
We are serious - serious as a hefty bag of rottweilers - it's the best travel money you'll ever spend.
Reading Habits
Why are you still reading this? Go book one of our adventures...
Thanks
Thanks for reading.
