Terms & Conditions
1. Introduction
These Terms and Conditions (“Terms”) govern the relationship between Beyond Postcards Travel, a California‑based travel advisory business (“Company”, “we”, “us”), and you, the client (“Client”, “you”).
By engaging our services, signing this agreement, or paying our invoice, you agree to these Terms on behalf of yourself and all travelers in your party.
2. Scope of Services (Luxury & Honeymoons)
We specialize in luxury leisure travel and honeymoon experiences, including custom itineraries, premium accommodations, private transfers, exclusive tours, and bespoke experiences.
We act solely as a travel advisor/agent arranging travel services with independent third‑party suppliers such as hotels, villas, cruise lines, tour operators, transportation providers, and destination management companies (“Suppliers”).
We do not own or operate any Supplier; your contracts for actual travel services are directly with those Suppliers under their own terms and conditions.
3. Client Responsibilities
You agree to provide accurate and complete information for all travelers (full legal names as on passports/IDs, dates of birth, contact details, loyalty numbers, and any special requests).
You are responsible for reviewing all proposals, itineraries, confirmations, and invoices and notifying us of any errors or discrepancies within 48 hours of receipt.
You agree to read and comply with each Supplier’s terms, including deposit schedules, final payment due dates, cancellation/change rules, minimum‑stay requirements, dress codes, and resort or cruise policies.
4. Professional Fees, Luxury Per‑Trip Planning, and Payments
We charge non‑refundable professional planning fees on a per‑trip basis for luxury itineraries and honeymoons. The fee amount is quoted and agreed before we begin design work and is due upon engagement. Typical ranges for complex luxury or international trips are $125–$299 per trip, depending on destination, trip length, and complexity.
The per‑trip planning fee covers advisory time, research, custom itinerary design, up to three proposal revisions, booking and coordination with Suppliers, document preparation, and reasonable support before and during travel. This fee is separate from and in addition to the cost of the trip and any Supplier charges and is not applied toward Supplier payments.
If you request a new trip concept that is materially different from the original brief (for example, changing from Europe to the South Pacific, or from a resort stay to a multi‑country itinerary), a new per‑trip planning fee may apply, which we will discuss with you in advance.
5. Commissions and Pricing
We may receive commissions or incentives from Suppliers; these are separate from our planning fees and do not increase the price you pay compared with booking the same publicly available rate directly.
Prices, taxes, and fees are subject to change until paid in full and ticketed; Suppliers may alter rates due to currency fluctuations, tax changes, or yield management.
We are not responsible for price decreases or promotional rates that become available after your booking is confirmed and paid.
6. Bookings, Changes, and Cancellations
All reservations are subject to availability and Supplier confirmation at the time of booking. Luxury and honeymoon properties may enforce stricter deposit, minimum‑stay, and cancellation rules (e.g., holiday blackouts, high‑season restrictions).
Changes or cancellations are governed by the Supplier’s policies, which may include non‑refundable deposits, partial refunds, future credits only, or 100% cancellation penalties.
In addition to Supplier penalties, we may charge our own agency change fee and/or cancellation fee per booking or per itinerary, which will be disclosed to you in advance.
7. California Seller of Travel Disclosures (If Applicable)
If we are required to register as a seller of travel, our California Seller of Travel (“CST”) registration number will appear here: CST #2073234-00.
California law may provide protections such as the Travel Consumer Restitution Fund (“TCRF”) for eligible transactions; where applicable, we will include the legally required TCRF notice in your confirmation documents.
Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California.
8. Travel Documentation, Entry Requirements, and Name Changes
You are responsible for ensuring that all travelers have valid passports (with at least 6 months’ validity beyond return date), visas, and any other required documents for all destinations and transit points.
Requirements may vary by nationality and can change at any time; you must confirm current rules with the relevant consulates, embassies, and official government sources before travel.
Airline and Supplier name‑change rules are strict; correcting names after ticketing may incur additional costs or require re‑ticketing at current fares.
9. Health, Honeymoons, and Fitness to Travel
You are responsible for confirming that you and your companions are medically and physically fit to participate in selected activities, including but not limited to spa treatments, adventure or water sports, altitude destinations, and long‑haul travel.
Health, vaccination, and testing requirements (including for pandemics or outbreaks) are set by governments, carriers, and Suppliers and may change with little or no notice.
Any denial of boarding or entry, quarantine orders, or added costs resulting from your health status, documentation, or failure to meet requirements are solely your responsibility.
10. Travel Insurance (Strongly Recommended)
We strongly recommend comprehensive travel insurance, including coverage for trip cancellation, interruption, medical expenses, emergency evacuation, baggage loss, supplier default, and “cancel for any reason” where available.
You acknowledge that if you decline recommended insurance, you are fully responsible for any losses, out‑of‑pocket expenses, or penalties arising from events that insurance may otherwise have covered.
If you purchase insurance, you must review the policy terms, exclusions, and deadlines for time‑sensitive benefits (such as pre‑existing condition waivers).
11. Luxury Supplier Standards and Changes
We work with Suppliers that generally meet elevated service standards appropriate for luxury and honeymoon travel, but service levels and amenities are ultimately controlled by each Supplier.
Suppliers may make changes to accommodations, room categories, aircraft, ships, schedules, or experiences (e.g., renovations, restaurant closures, spa capacity limits, or activity changes) at their discretion.
Reasonable changes by Suppliers do not entitle you to a refund from us; any remedy will be governed by the applicable Supplier policy.
12. Assumption of Risk and Limitation of Liability
Travel involves inherent risks, including but not limited to illness, injury, crime, terrorism, natural disasters, pandemics, labor disputes, supplier insolvency, and changes in government policies or border controls.
To the maximum extent permitted by California law, you agree that we are not liable for any acts, errors, omissions, or breaches of Suppliers, nor for any personal injury, death, property damage, loss, delay, inconvenience, or irregularity arising out of or related to any travel services.
Our total aggregate liability, if any, for claims arising from our own services shall be limited to the amount of agency planning fees you actually paid to us for the itinerary at issue.
13. Force Majeure and Events Beyond Control
We are not responsible for failure to perform or for delays caused by events beyond our reasonable control, including but not limited to acts of God, natural disasters, epidemics or pandemics, government actions, war, civil unrest, strikes, or major technical outages.
In such circumstances, Supplier policies will control options such as credits, date changes, or partial refunds; our agency fees remain non‑refundable.
You understand that “force majeure” events may require itinerary changes, reduced services, or cancellation, and that travel insurance may be the only means of financial recovery.
14. Data Protection and Privacy (California Focus)
We collect and use your personal information to provide travel advisory and booking services, fulfill legal obligations, and communicate with Suppliers and insurance partners as needed.
We may share your information with Suppliers, insurance providers, and payment processors to arrange and support your trip; these parties will process your data under their own privacy policies.
California residents may have certain rights under state privacy laws; if applicable, you may contact us to request information about our data practices and to exercise any available rights.
15. Credit Card Authorization
By providing a credit card or other payment method, you confirm that you are authorized to use it and you authorize us and/or Suppliers to charge it for agreed‑upon travel services, fees, and applicable taxes.
Some charges will appear under the Supplier’s name (e.g., hotel, cruise line, airline) rather than ours, even when we facilitated the booking.
You agree to review charges promptly and contact us if you believe there is any error related to a transaction we processed.
16. Complaints and On‑Trip Issues
If you encounter an issue during travel, you must report it immediately to the relevant Supplier so they have an opportunity to resolve it (e.g., front desk, butler, excursion desk, ship’s guest services).
You should also notify us as soon as reasonably possible; we will make reasonable efforts to assist, but we do not control Supplier decisions or remedies.
Any formal claims or disputes related to Supplier performance generally must be addressed directly with the Supplier, under its terms and applicable law.
17. Governing Law, Venue, and Dispute Resolution (Orange County)
These Terms and any dispute or claim arising out of or relating to them shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without regard to conflict‑of‑law rules.
The parties agree that the sole and exclusive venue for any legal action or proceeding arising out of or relating to these Terms or the services we provide shall be a court of competent jurisdiction located in Orange County, California, and each party irrevocably submits to the jurisdiction of such courts.
Before initiating litigation, the parties agree to make a good‑faith effort to resolve disputes informally. You may also elect to include a mediation or arbitration step here (for example, non‑binding mediation in Orange County) and should have a California attorney draft any specific ADR language.
18. Amendments and Severability
We may update these Terms from time to time; the version in effect at the time your invoice is issued or your booking is confirmed will apply to that trip unless changes are required by law.
If any provision of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions will continue in full force and effect.
19. Acceptance
By signing below (physically or electronically), paying our invoice, or otherwise confirming your booking, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agree to these Terms and Conditions on behalf of yourself and all travelers in your party.
Client Name: ____________________________
Signature: ______________________________
Date: __________________________________
Company Representative: _________________
Signature: ______________________________
Date: __________________________________