All bookings are made with MelaninTravelTribe, LLC.  By booking a trip with us you are deemed to have agreed to these Booking Conditions (which constitutes the entire agreement between you and us) and your booking will be accepted by us on this basis. The services to be provided are those referred to in your booking confirmation notice.

DEPOSIT REQUIREMENT:
For all trips, you are required to pay a non-refundable deposit (set forth in the trip details) per person per trip for your booking to be confirmed. If your booking is made within 60 days of the departure date then the full amount is payable at the time of booking.  Please note airfare/hotels may be higher 60 days before departure, so fares may be slightly different than what is quoted.  You will be notified accordingly if this is the case.

CANCELLATION POLICY:
If you cancel your trip, you will receive a “Trip Credit” that can be used on a future trip up to 1 year after the cancellation date. We allow you to transfer your trip deposit to another traveler, for hotel/activities only. There is a one time transfer fee of $50 per trip.  Please note that fees paid for airline tickets cannot be refunded or transferred under any circumstances.  If airfare has been purchased, you will be given your record locator to contact the airline company to discuss using your funds at a later date.  Also, depending on the supplier/hotel, cancellations within a certain time frame may be subjected to a cancellation fee. In the event of such a fee, this will be subtracted from your paid funds and the balance returned to you or your Trip Credit Bank.

TRIP CONFIRMATION:
On receipt of your deposit, subject to availability & at our discretion, MelaninTravelTribe, LLC will reserve your place on your selected trip. A contract is only made between you and us upon your booking being confirmed & accepted by us & our communication thereof to you.

FINAL PAYMENTS:
If we accept your booking we will issue a confirmation notice along with a payment plan for the balance. A contract will exist between us from the date we issue the confirmation invoice or if you book within 7 days of departure the contract will exist when we accept your deposit. Please refer to your booking confirmation notice for details regarding final payments.

MISSED PAYMENTS:
After two missed payments, your trip will be cancelled. You may reinstate your trip within 7 days of cancellation by bringing your account up to date. A late fee of $25 will be issued if you fall behind 2 payments.

PASSENGER DETAILS:
In order for us to confirm your travel arrangements you must provide all requested details as outlined in the confirmation notice and / or follow up communication. Necessary details include full name as per passport, date of birth, nationality, passport number, passport issue and expiry date, dietary restrictions, emergency contact information and any pre-existing medical conditions you have which may affect your ability to complete your travel arrangements.

CANCELLATION BY THE TRAVELLER:
Cancellations must be received in writing (support@melanintraveltribe.com) and will become effective on the date of receipt. Cancellations are subject to the following policy per person:

• 90+ days out: 100% refund (deposit is kept but can be transferred to a different trip, and must be used within a year).  Refunds subjected to terms noted above under “Cancellation Policy”  Note: if you paid in full initially, and do not want to move the deposit to a different trip, there is a $200 cancellation fee.
• 89-60 days out: 50% refund or reschedule for a different trip.
• < 59 days out: 0% refund.

Please note this is a guideline for most trips however, this may differ on a case by case / trip by trip basis.

TRIP CANCELLATION BY MelaninTravelTribe, LLC:
In the rare event that it becomes necessary to cancel the trip for reasons beyond our control, including, but not limited to, terrorism, strikes, acts of governments (i.e. travel bans), weather, health & safety (i.e. COVID19 like occurrences) etc. we will reschedule or cancel the trip. If we cancel your trip, you can transfer amounts paid to an alternate departure date or receive a full refund. In circumstances where the cancellation is due to external events outside our reasonable control (as outlined above), refunds will be less any unrecoverable costs. We are not responsible for any incidental expenses that you may have incurred as a result of your booking including but not limited to visas, vaccinations, travel insurance excess or non-refundable flights. If we reschedule and you are unable to attend the new dates, we will offer refunds in a queue based on the booking date as we fill your spot, but we cannot guarantee a full refund.

Your travel insurance should cover these circumstances should they occur.  Please note attempting to obtain a refund through MelaninTravelTribe, LLC plus your travel insurer is illegal and strictly prohibited.

ITINERARY:
You appreciate and acknowledge that the nature of this type of travel, particularly to to international destinations, requires considerable flexibility and you should allow for alternatives. The itinerary provided for each trip is representative of the types of activities contemplated, but it is understood that the route, schedules, itineraries, amenities and mode of transport may be subject to alteration without prior notice due to local circumstances or events.

MelaninTravelTribe, LLC reserves the right to modify program itineraries, including arranged sightseeing, route, schedules, itineraries, accommodations and amenities and at any time due to unforeseen circumstances or circumstances beyond our control. Every effort will be made to operate itineraries as planned, but alterations may occur after the final itinerary has been issued.

PASSPORT REQUIREMENTS:
It is the traveler’s sole responsibility to obtain and have available when necessary the appropriate valid travel documents. All guests are advised to check with the appropriate government authority to determine the necessary documents. A valid passport is required for U.S. citizens travelling to all international destinations. Passports must be valid for six (6) months after the return of your journey and should also have sufficient blank visa pages for entry and exit stamps.

Non- U.S. citizens should contact the appropriate consular office for entry requirements pertaining to their journey.

Note that any name changes after you complete your booking and any changes in passport information after your final payment may result in additional fees.

You may be refused boarding without liability for refund, payment, compensation, or credit of any kind if you do not have proper documentation, and you will be subject to any fine or other costs incurred by MelaninTravelTribe, LLC which result from improper documentation or noncompliance with applicable regulations.

VISA REQUIREMENTS:
Travel visas are required for many countries visited on our packages. We will send instructions for U.S. citizens, including application forms if applicable, in your confirmation packet. However, it is the responsibility of each traveler to determine visa requirements and comply with them and to secure the proper travel documents. MelaninTravelTribe, LLC will not be held responsible for any charges, trip interruptions, or cancellations due to incorrect or missing visas.

PHOTO AND VIDEO RELEASE:
MelaninTravelTribe, LLC reserves the right to take photographs and video during the operation of any program or part thereof and to use them for promotional purposes during the program and thereafter. By booking a program with MelaninTravelTribe, LLC, You consent to us using images or video of you taken during the trip for advertising and promotional purposes in any medium we choose. We promise to only use images or video of you for MelaninTravelTribe, LLC marketing purposes, including being included on our social media pages. Please note we will never sell pictures or video of you to anyone else, unless you give us permission). You grant us a perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide, irrevocable license to use such images for MelaninTravelTribe, LLC publicity and promotional purposes.

AUTHORITY ON TOUR:
Our group trips are run by a travel leader. The decision of the leader is final on all matters likely to affect the safety or well-being of any person participating in the trip. If you fail to comply with a decision made by a group leader, or interfere with the well-being or mobility of the group, the group leader may direct you to leave the trip immediately, with no right of refund. We may also elect not to carry you on any future trips booked., and you also agree to travel in accordance with our responsible travel guidelines.

CLIENT RESPONSIBLITY:
You must at all times comply with the laws, customs, foreign exchange and drug regulations of all countries visited, and you also agree to travel in accordance with our responsible travel guidelines.

Should the Client fail to comply with the above or commit any illegal act during the trip, or, if in the opinion of the client’s behavior is causing or is likely to cause danger, distress or material annoyance to others, MelaninTravelTribe, LLC may terminate that client’s travel arrangements without any liability on MelaninTravelTribe, LLCs’ part and the Client will not be entitled to any refund for unused or missed services or costs incurred resulting from the termination of the travel arrangements, including, without limitation, return travel, accommodations, meals, and/or incidentals.

Clients agree that they are responsible for any costs incurred by MelaninTravelTribe, LLC, MelaninTravelTribe, LLC’s suppliers or MelaninTravelTribe, LLC’s partners, as a result of damage, destruction, theft, or excess cleaning fees related to Client’s accommodation, transport, or other use of facilities while on a MelaninTravelTribe, LLC trip. Clients agree to immediately report any pre-existing damage of this kind to staff of the accommodation, transportation service, or facility (as appropriate) and/or a MelaninTravelTribe, LLC representative as soon as possible upon discovery by the Client.

ACCEPTANCE OF RISK:
You acknowledge and agree that participation in activities, such as adventure travel, involves inherent risks and dangers of accidents, personal and bodily injury (including death) and property loss or damage. You agree that you have considered the nature and extent of the risks involved and voluntarily assumes all such risks associated with participating in these trips. If you decide to participate in any activities including, but not limited to, any excursions involving animals, riding on animals, scuba diving, snorkeling, hot air ballooning, ziplining, high altitude treks, climbing, whitewater rafting, primate tracking and any activity which MelaninTravelTribe, LLC considers to carry inherent risk of serious illness, injury or death (“Activities”) then you fully understand and acknowledge that Activities carry with them various inherent risks, including serious illness, injury or death and you take complete responsibility for your own health and safety and agree to assume all risks of injury, illness or death, whether foreseen or unforeseen, that may befall you as a result of participating in any Activities and agree to release MelaninTravelTribe, LLC and its employees and representatives from any liability whatsoever related thereto.

DAMAGES:
We accept no responsibility for accidents, damage, baggage losses, delays and/or accidental expenses due to weather, strikes, wars, terrorism, criminal acts committed by third parties, hostilities, civil disturbances, riots, strikes, sickness, quarantine, defects of vehicles or breakdown in equipment, or to the fault or default of any company used for carrying out these packages.

Regarding any and all services and accommodations furnished, we expressly disclaim all responsibility or liability over any matter whatsoever for loss, damage, injury or expense to property or person due to any cause whatsoever occurring during the duration of the trip or otherwise. All such losses or expenses will be borne by the passengers.

MANDATORY TRAVEL INSURANCE:
In response to the swift, unexpected economical and financial impact caused by COVID19, please note that all clients must have travel insurance.  Proof of travel insurance is required, no less than 30days prior to departure.  Failure to provide proof of policy may result in your booking being cancelled.

PHOTOS AND VIDEOS:
TravelSparkes reserves the right to take photographs and video during the operation of any program or part thereof and to use them for promotional purposes during the program and thereafter. By booking a program with MelaninTravelTribe, LLC, guests agree to allow their images to be used in such photographs and video.

You consent to us using images or video of you taken during the trip for advertising and promotional purposes in any medium we choose. We promise to only use images or video of you for MelaninTravelTribe, LLC marketing purposes (ie, we will never sell pictures or video of you to anyone else, unless you give us permission). You grant us a perpetual, royalty-free, worldwide, irrevocable license to use such images for MelaninTravelTribe, LLC publicity and promotional purposes.

ANY PAYMENT TO MelaninTravelTribe, LLC CONSTITUTES YOUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET OUT HEREIN AND IN MORE SPECIFIC PRE-TRAVEL DOCUMENTATION, INCLUDING THE GUEST INFORMATION FORM.