TERMS & CONDITIONS

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Effective Date: April 15, 2025 Business Name: Essence Expeditions  Welcome to Essence Expeditions. These Terms & Conditions govern your use of our website and any travel planning, booking, and related services provided by Essence Expeditions. By accessing this website, requesting a quote, submitting payment, or booking travel services with us, you agree to be bound by these Terms & Conditions.  

1. About Essence Expeditions Essence Expeditions is an independent travel business that assists clients with researching, planning, and booking travel services, which may include but are not limited to flights, hotels, resorts, cruises, vacation packages, ground transportation, excursions, and group travel arrangements.  We act solely as an intermediary between you and third-party travel suppliers. We do not own, operate, manage, or control the travel services provided by those suppliers.  

2. Acceptance of Terms By using this website or purchasing travel services through Essence Expeditions, you confirm that you are at least 18 years old and legally able to enter into a binding agreement. If you are making a booking on behalf of other travelers, you agree to inform them of these Terms & Conditions and accept responsibility for all payments, information, and obligations related to the booking.  

3. Travel Supplier Responsibility All travel products and services are provided by independent third-party suppliers, including airlines, hotels, cruise lines, tour operators, and transportation providers. Essence Expeditions is not responsible for the acts, errors, omissions, warranties, breaches, or negligence of any supplier, nor for any personal injury, death, property damage, delay, inconvenience, loss, or additional expense resulting from any act or omission of any supplier.  All bookings are subject to the terms, conditions, and policies of the applicable supplier.  

4. Quotes, Pricing, and Availability All quotes are based on current pricing and availability at the time they are provided. Prices are not guaranteed until a deposit or full payment has been received and the booking has been confirmed by the travel supplier.  Travel prices may change at any time prior to confirmation due to supplier updates, availability changes, fuel surcharges, taxes, currency fluctuations, or other factors outside of our control. Essence Expeditions is not responsible for price increases that occur before a booking is secured.  

5. Deposits and Payments A deposit and/or full payment may be required to confirm your reservation, depending on the supplier and type of travel booked. By making a payment, you authorize Essence Expeditions and/or the applicable travel supplier to process that payment for the agreed-upon travel services.  All payment deadlines provided to you must be met. Failure to make payments by the stated due date may result in cancellation of your reservation, loss of deposit, additional fees, or changes in pricing.  Unless otherwise stated in writing, all deposits are non-refundable and non-transferable.  

6. No Refund Policy All payments made to Essence Expeditions are non-refundable.  Essence Expeditions does not provide refunds under any circumstances, including but not limited to: - Client cancellations - Missed payments - Failure to travel - Denied boarding or entry - Personal emergencies - Changes in travel plans  Once a payment is submitted, it is considered final.  Please note that all travel services are provided by third-party suppliers (including airlines, hotels, cruise lines, and tour operators), each with their own cancellation and refund policies. Any potential refunds, credits, or changes are subject strictly to the terms and conditions of the supplier and are not guaranteed.  If a supplier offers a future travel credit instead of a refund, the traveler agrees to accept and comply with the supplier’s terms, including expiration dates and restrictions.  

7. Changes to Bookings Any changes requested after a booking is confirmed, including but not limited to name changes, date changes, room changes, traveler substitutions, or itinerary revisions, are subject to approval by the travel supplier and may result in change fees, penalties, or fare increases.  Essence Expeditions reserves the right to charge an additional service fee for processing changes, where permitted.  

8. Travel Documents and Entry Requirements It is the traveler’s sole responsibility to obtain and carry all required travel documents, including valid passports, visas, identification, vaccination records, and any other entry documentation required by the destination or supplier.  Many destinations require that passports remain valid for at least six months beyond the date of return. Failure to present proper documentation may result in denied boarding, denied entry, cancellation, or additional costs. Essence Expeditions is not responsible for any losses or expenses resulting from a traveler’s failure to obtain or present proper documentation.  

9. Travel Insurance Travel insurance is strongly recommended for all travelers. Coverage may help protect against certain losses related to trip cancellation, trip interruption, medical emergencies, delays, baggage loss, and other covered events.  If you decline travel insurance, you acknowledge that you understand the risks and accept full financial responsibility for any losses, expenses, or disruptions that may arise before or during travel.  

10. Group Travel For group trips organized or promoted by Essence Expeditions, all travelers must comply with the specific payment schedule, cancellation terms, and booking conditions provided for that group trip.  Missed payments may result in cancellation of your reservation without refund, subject to supplier terms. Group rates, amenities, and promotional offers are based on supplier terms and minimum participation requirements and may change if those requirements are not met.  Essence Expeditions is not responsible for the failure of any traveler within the group to make payments or comply with trip requirements.  

11. Client Conduct All travelers are expected to conduct themselves in a respectful and lawful manner throughout the travel experience. Essence Expeditions reserves the right to refuse service or terminate travel planning assistance for any client whose behavior is abusive, threatening, fraudulent, harassing, or otherwise inappropriate.  If a traveler is removed from a trip, denied boarding, denied lodging, or otherwise penalized due to their own conduct, no refund shall be owed by Essence Expeditions.  

12. Risks and Limitation of Liability Travel may involve risks beyond our control, including but not limited to illness, injury, accidents, delays, cancellations, weather events, natural disasters, labor disputes, supplier bankruptcy, acts of terrorism, civil unrest, government actions, border closures, and public health emergencies.  By booking travel through Essence Expeditions, you voluntarily assume all such risks. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Essence Expeditions shall not be liable for any direct, indirect, incidental, consequential, special, punitive, or other damages arising from or related to your travel arrangements, supplier services, website use, or inability to travel.  

13. Website Use You agree to use this website only for lawful purposes. You may not use this website in any way that could damage, disable, overburden, or impair the site or interfere with any other party’s use of the site.  All content on this website, including text, graphics, logos, branding, images, and other materials, is the property of Essence Expeditions unless otherwise stated and may not be copied, reproduced, republished, or distributed without prior written permission.  

14. Accuracy of Information You are responsible for providing accurate traveler names, dates of birth, contact details, and any other required information exactly as it appears on government-issued identification and travel documents. Essence Expeditions is not responsible for fees, delays, or losses resulting from inaccurate or incomplete information submitted by you.  15. Electronic Communication By using our website or submitting forms through Essence Expeditions, you consent to receive communications from us electronically, including emails, invoices, payment reminders, travel updates, and service-related notices.  

16. Service Fees Essence Expeditions may charge planning fees, research fees, quote fees, change fees, cancellation fees, or other professional service fees. Any such fees will be disclosed before they are charged. Unless otherwise stated, service fees paid to Essence Expeditions are non-refundable.  

17. No Guarantee of Travel Experience Essence Expeditions does not guarantee specific outcomes, experiences, views, amenities, upgrades, weather, or uninterrupted travel. Photos, descriptions, and promotional materials are provided for general informational purposes and may not reflect the exact final experience.  

18. Governing Law These Terms & Conditions shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Alabama, without regard to conflict of law principles. Any disputes arising from these Terms or from services provided by Essence Expeditions shall be handled in the appropriate courts located in Alabama, unless otherwise required by law.  

19. Changes to These Terms Essence Expeditions reserves the right to update or modify these Terms & Conditions at any time without prior notice. Any changes will become effective upon posting to this website. Your continued use of the website or our services after such changes constitutes your acceptance of the revised Terms.  

20. Contact Information Essence Expeditions Email: lisamoore@theessenceoftravel.us Website: www.theessenceoftravel.us