Animal Communication Retreats Ltd
These Booking Terms and Conditions form the basis of your contract with Animal Communication Retreats Limited of 4 Tabernacle Street, London EC2A 4LU, UK. In these Booking Conditions, ‘you’ and ‘your’ means all persons named on the booking form (and anyone added at a later date) and ‘we’, ‘us’ and ‘our’ means Animal Communication Retreats Limited (“ACR”).
If you book a Retreat with Animal Communication Retreats Limited either through the animalthoughts.com website or otherwise, you agree to the following terms:
- The Contract: When you make a booking you confirm that you have the authority to accept and do accept on behalf of yourself and others on your booking form the terms of these booking conditions. A contract will exist with us only after you have:
- acknowledged acceptance of these terms electronically by ticking the relevant tick box in the booking form and
- made the appropriate payment and
- we issue a Confirmation Email Receipt verifying the details of your booking. You must contact us immediately if any information which appears on the Confirmation Receipt or any other documents appears to be incorrect as it may not be possible to make changes later. We regret we cannot accept any liability unless notified of any inaccuracies in any document within 10 days following the date of the document.
- Please read carefully the details of a retreat on the Site before you register your interest and/or book a retreat. In particular, please read the Suitability section to ensure that you comply with the requirements. Please also note that the Daily details may be subject to change.
- Unused Services: No refunds will be made for any unused services. Credit will not be given for alterations for any reason after commencement date of the retreat.
- ACR reserves the right to cancel a trip for reasons of Force Majeure (i.e. natural disasters, epidemics etc.) or unavoidable acts. In this Agreement ‘force majeure’ means any cause directly attributable to acts, events, happenings, omissions, accidents or Acts of God beyond the reasonable control of ACR, Allikai Voyager, the Crew, or the passengers (including, but not limited to, strikes, lock-outs or other labour disputes, civil commotion, riots, acts of terrorism, blockade, invasion, war, fire, explosion, sabotage, storm, collision, grounding, fog, governmental act or regulation, contaminated fuel, major mechanical or electrical breakdown beyond the Crew’s control and not caused by lack of maintenance and/or Aliikai’s Voyage negligence). In the event of this happening, ACR will advise you at the earliest possible date. No refund will be issued in such instance. It is especially important that you purchase appropriate travel insurance. In particular, this is a wilderness experience subject to weather conditions and changes in wildlife activity. ACR has paid for all retreat expenses, including, but not limited to, accommodation, chartered private yacht, cruise director, crew and chef, full-board, retreat activities, guides and activities, in advance. These costs are irrecoverable. Therefore, in the event of a retreat programme or partial programme being cancelled due to weather conditions (or any other reasons beyond our control) there are no refunds or replacement programmes. We do not provide travel/programme cancellation insurance that covers these eventualities.
- Trip cancellation due to reasons caused by you: ACR reserves the right to cancel your trip if behaviours from you is justifiable to do so. Behaviours such as non respect of safety rules on land, on board or underwater, showing lack of respect to other passengers including the retreat facilitators, ignoring snorkelling code of conduct by disturbing or harassing other passengers or wildlife. In such instance ACR will not refund the payments already made. Claims against ACR will not be entertained.
- Cancelling your booking: If you have to cancel, please inform us by e-mail. No cancellation can be considered accepted until receipt of your email and a confirmation email send by ACR. The refund policy is viewable here. There is no rescheduling or transfer on any cancellation.
- We carefully select the accommodation provider, and where appropriate, the transport provider, for each of our retreats. However, you agree that each retreat is subject to the accommodation and transport providers’ own terms, which we shall provide to you upon request. Please read these terms carefully before you pay the deposit for a retreat. You expressly agree that we are not liable for the acts or omissions of accommodation and/or transport providers or other third party attending or involved on the retreat.
- Special requests: Although we will do our best to accommodate them, we cannot guarantee any special requests. Failure to meet any special request will not be a breach of this contract.
- Ability, agility and pre-existing medical conditions: You hereby certify that you are in good health and that you are physically and mentally capable of handling the hazards of the retreat which may include but are not limited to boating, swimming, snorkelling, 7-nights onboard vessel with some overnight travel, hiking, weather conditions, exposure to wild animals, marine life, mammals and fishes, walking, and all other conditions associated with the “Animal Communication Retreat.” By confirming a booking, you certify that you do not have any mental, physical or other condition or disability that would create a hazard for yourself or other passengers. ACR reserves the right to cancel or withdraw any person as a member of the tour at any time in case of improper medical conditions. In such instance ACR will not refund the payments already made. ACR assume no liability. The yacht is operating in remote locations where access to medical care can take several days.
- In view of the nature of the retreats we offer, we regret we must reserve the right to decline any booking or cancel (in the event of the development, deterioration or change of any disability or medical condition occurring after confirmation) whenever we reasonably feel unable to accommodate the needs or restrictions of any particular client or where, in our reasonable opinion, the medical condition or disability of the client concerned is likely to have a significant adverse effect on other clients taking the same retreat. We further reserve the right to cancel any programme participation and impose cancellation charges if we are not fully advised of any relevant disability or medical condition at the time the booking is made and/or promptly notified of any development, change or deterioration occurring after booking. On occasions, the decision to cancel can only be made at the time the person concerned joins the tour as it may only be apparent at this stage that their disability or medical condition cannot be accommodated. Any client affected by a disability or medical condition must ensure they have notified this to their travel insurers and that their travel insurance will cover it, and we may request evidence that the disability or medical condition is covered. Furthermore all clients with pre-existing medical conditions including disabilities must have emergency evacuation coverage, and bring a copy of this cover with them on their retreat. In the event a client has an emergency and we do not have evidence of coverage in our possession, we of course will act in good faith and do all we can to get the client to adequate care. The client accepts responsibility for full reimbursement of our costs in such an eventuality.
- Retreats incur a non-refundable deposit and each retreat operates its individual refund policy. Please check the details of a retreat on the Site for details.
- Instalment Payments: Payment for a retreat is by instalment, and you agree that if you fail to pay an instalment within 14 days of the due date for that instalment, we shall be entitled to treat such failure as cancellation of the booking, all fees paid remain non-refundable and non-transferable.
- Passport and Visa: You are responsible for all passport requirements (including the required unexpired time on your passport depending on the destination), and visa as appropriate for a retreat. No refunds will be made if improper documentation results in your being denied entry into either country.
- Delay: ACR is not responsible for delays in flights at any stage of travel to and from the retreat location nor delays in obtaining health test results or other clearances required by airlines, governments or other relevant authorities. If you don’t show up at the meeting point, we will wait for you as long as possible without disturbing the trip (according to the departure time foreseen and the other passengers expectations). However, if you cannot arrive on board before the scheduled boat departure (indicated in the schedule description), ACR has no obligation to wait for you and your trip will be de facto cancelled, non-refundable and non-transferable. ACR takes no responsibility for changes to any flight schedule (delay or cancellation) made directly by you or your agent.
- You agree to behave carefully if the retreat includes access to animals. You agree to take full responsibility for your interactions with animals. We are not liable for any loss, damage or injury you may suffer or for any loss of or damage to your property at a retreat including as a result of your interaction with an animal unless, and only to the extent that it was caused by our negligence.
- Our maximum liability to you whether in contract, tort or otherwise shall in no circumstances exceed the total Fees paid by you for the retreat. Your statutory consumer rights are not affected.
- You recognise and agree that the activities of yachting, snorkelling, being close to wild animals, sleeping onboard a moving vessel, remote location within the wilderness, kayaking, paddle-boarding, speedboat cruises, hiking, driving on roads and highways and all other hazards and exposures connected with these activities do involve risks and dangers inherent with these activities. You acknowledge that in consideration for being allowed to take part in the “Animal Thoughts event”, you accept and assume all of the dangers that are inherent in all of the above activities, whether or not these dangers are obvious or necessary.
- You understand and agree that damages resulting from illness, personal injuries or death which may be sustained by reason of, or while engaged on, any retreat whether due to the ownership, maintenance, use, operation or control of any aircraft, helicopter, automobile, bicycle, boat, vehicle, hotel, common carrier or any other conveyance used in carrying out these trips, ACR assumes no liability due to any cause whatsoever whether caused by failure or delay or other irregularity, acts or omissions occurring during a retreat under which the means of transportation or other service provided thereby is offered or supplied by owners, operators or public carriers for and on behalf of ACR. ACR shall not be held responsible for any injury to person (whether or not resulting in death) or damage to property arising out of any act of war, insurrection, revolt or other civil uprising or military action occurring in the countries of origin, destination or passage. In case of a medical problem arising during the trip, either on board or on shore, which results in costs for rerouting the boat, evacuation, use of aircraft or repatriation, including the likely other passengers refund for the alteration of the cruise, the responsibility for payment of these costs, belongs solely to the passenger who caused it.
- Losses or damage of personal belongings: ACR does not take any responsibility for loss or damage to guests’ personal belongings that are happening while on retreat, onboard the vessel or due to Force Majeure.
- Data protection policy: In order to process your booking we need to use the information you provide. We may pass on relevant information to travel providers in respect of travel to and from Indonesia elements, where we are assisting you with those arrangements. Therefore in making a booking for you, you consent to this information being passed to the relevant persons. The company will hold your information and may use it in future to inform you of offers electronically. If you do not wish to receive such approaches please tell us so we can advise our providers, we have no control over their policies.
- Travel Insurance: For your own safety, well-being and financial protection, it is essential that you are adequately insured. All material facts likely to affect your insurance must be declared to your insurer at the time of booking. If you make a booking and then have to cancel it because you are unable to arrange appropriate insurance you will be liable for all costs (See section 7). This insurance should cover trip cancellation/interruption, including inability to travel or cancellation by ACR or Aliikai Voyager due to severe weather, emergency evacuation coverage, pandemic or other force majeure, and should cover your total retreat costs. In the light of the Covid-19 pandemic, it is particularly important that you obtain a full insurance policy that covers against Covid-19 related risks such as ‘Cancel For Any Reason’ or CFAR policies. Failure to arrange appropriate travel insurance is entirely your responsibility and will not change either party’s obligations under these Terms and Conditions. You are therefore responsible for providing your own travel/cancellation insurance. If you do not secure travel insurance, you accept that you are responsible for all non-refundable charges including as per Clause 5 above and additionally undertake to make full refund to ACR for any costs expended on your behalf before, during or after your retreat programme.
- Changes to the retreat programme: Mother Nature – the weather and the wildlife – are not under our control and sometimes it may be necessary to make changes to the retreat programme, accommodations or boat. We are not responsible for any consequences arising from such changes, cancellations or delays of programmes. In particular, failure to see particular species of wildlife will not be a breach of contract on our part. The itineraries communicated by ACR to you are just for information and can be altered or changed anytime according to the prevailing conditions during the cruise.
- Waiver of liability: In consideration of your participation in the “Animal Thoughts event,” you do hereby release “Animal Communication Retreats Ltd,” Pea Horsley, and their agents and employees, from any legal liability for any and all injury or death caused by, or resulting from your participation in “Animal Thoughts event” activities, whether or not such injury or death was caused by their negligence or from any other cause.
- In consideration of my participation in the “Animal Thoughts event”, you do hereby release Animal Communication Retreats Ltd and their agents, employees, from any legal liability for any change or interference in their programmes that could be caused by changes in Wildlife Protection laws, Park Fees, or any new environmental laws.
- Furthermore, you hereby waive, release and discharge the “Animal Thoughts event,” Animal Communication Retreats Ltd, Pea Horsley, and their representatives, successors and assigns for any and all losses of property, personal injuries, damages and claims, even injuries resulting in death, whether caused by the negligence of “Animal Thoughts event” or any other cause that you might sustain as a result of taking part in the “Animal Thoughts event.”
- You agree that this agreement is to bind your heirs, estate, your assigns, legal guardians, personal representatives and yourself.
- You agree that this release and waiver agreement is intended to be as broad and inclusive as permitted, and that if any part of this agreement is held invalid you agree that the rest shall continue to have full legal force and effect.
- Jurisdiction: These Terms and Conditions will be governed by the laws of England.
THIS IS A RELEASE OF LIABILITY AND A STIPULATED DAMAGES AGREEMENT. DO NOT SIGN THE AGREEMENT IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND OR DO NOT AGREE WITH ITS TERMS.