General Information, Terms and Conditions

Group Pricing: Trip prices are based upon a minimum number of paying participants. Unless otherwise specified in the Trip Invitation letter, prices are guaranteed by STA for groups of thirty-five (35) or more participants with the exception that any price increases passed on to STA from third party suppliers after registration, but prior to the tour, will be charged to the participant.

Occupancy Rates: STA makes reasonable efforts to accommodate occupancy requests. Minors (under 18 years old) are automatically registered and priced on the quad rate (4-5 occupants per room). Adults (18 and older) are registered and priced at double occupancy by default. Parents and children sharing a room must select the appropriate occupancy rate when registering. If STA is unable to accommodate adults in a double or triple room because of group configuration and/or hotel availability, adults will be registered at the single occupancy rate and charged for any change in the final occupancy status. The final invoice will reflect the fees due.

Tour Director: STA and the Tour Director accompanying the trip reserve the right to make additions and deletions as believed advisable or necessary for the well being of the group in their sole discretion.

Passengers with Disabilities: Participants with disabilities are welcomed on the tours, and must be accompanied by a companion capable of providing all assistance required and needed at all times while traveling, and not require special assistance from STA or its suppliers. Passengers with disabilities must notify STA in writing by the Registration Deadline of their status and of the identity of their paid travel companion who will be responsible for providing any necessary assistance.

Conduct Expected: Each student participant is expected to act responsibly and adhere to reasonable behavior guidelines established by the participating Tour Director and chaperones. Any failure to respond to the guidance of the Tour Director and chaperones and to the group's behavior guidelines will result in the immediate return home of the offending participant. Any participant sent home will be sent at the sole expense of the parent/guardian. Additionally the parent/guardian shall hereby defend, indemnify, and hold harmless STA against any and all third-party claims arising out of any conduct or omission in breach of these terms and conditions or that otherwise create liability for STA.

Video/Photographic Likeness: Any photographic, film, video likeness or audio recordings of participants while on tour may be edited and used by STA in future marketing campaigns without any notification or compensation to the participant.

Registration: Participants may register online, by fax or by mail. Only one registrant per form, and please do not send cash. Register online at www.schooltoursofamerica.com; fax your completed registration form with credit card payment to 713-973-1223; or mail your completed registration form and payment to School Tours of America, PO Box 550379, Houston, TX 77255-0379. All registrations are subject to cancellation fees.

Payment Options: Participants may pay in full upon registration, or following registration, receive monthly payment coupons based on the remaining balance ($4 handling fee for each coupon payment). A $40 fee is charged for checks returned for any reason. Post-dated checks are not held. No personal checks are accepted after the final payment deadline has passed. Money is not transferable (except between immediate family members) from one registrant to another. Balance must be paid in full 70 days prior to departure.

Payment Protection Program

Payment Protection Program Benefits: Due to the lengthy planning and payment period prior to the actual tour, the possibility of having to cancel is high (examples: illness, death in the family, accidents, behavior violations, financial difficulties, employment relocations, and more). Our Payment Protection Program (PPP) protects your investment from the moment you register until the date of departure. Cancel at any point prior to departure and receive a full refund of the trip price (less the cost of the PPP). The PPP will also pay your travel expenses home in the event of a family emergency during the tour. Additionally, the PPP fee can be conveniently added to your payment schedule.

Cost of Payment Protection Program: This program is an additional fee and is not included in the tour price. The PPP is only available upon registration and will be added to your initial deposit when you elect to be enrolled in this optional program. Based upon the quad price of your tour, enrollment in this program is calculated as follows:

Quad Tour Price

Program Fee

Less than $700

$89

$700-$1,099

$119

$1,100-$1,399

$139

$1,400-$1,699

$169

$1,700-$1,999

$199

$2,000 and up

$219

If you are paying at least 50% of the trip price upon registration and wish to purchase the Payment Protection Program, please add the cost to the registration fee with a notation that it is for the PPP. Merchandise expense, handling or processing fees, and any applicable penalties are earned at the time of each transaction and are not subject to PPP refund.

Cancellation by Registrant Not Participating in the Payment Protection Program: If the registrant is not participating in the Payment Protection Program, cancellation by the participant or organization will subject the participant to the cancellation charges, which can be as high as 100% of the tour price. All notices of cancellation must be in writing and fees for cancellation will be based on the post office postmark (no metered mail please). Money is refunded to the original payer.

Cancellation Charges Per Registrant:
Cancellation MORE than 65 days prior to departure...Registration payment
Cancellation 46-65 days prior to departure...45% of trip cost
Cancellation LESS than 46 days prior to departure...85% of trip cost

Cancellation or Rescheduling by Tour Director or Other: In the event the Tour Director or other entity associated with the Tour Director chooses to change the departure date, the standard cancellation charges remain effective for the original departure date. Cancellation of a tour without STA's consent is subject to standard cancellation charges.

Cancellation by School Tours of America: STA reserves the right to cancel any tour at its sole discretion. In the unlikely event a tour is cancelled by STA and STA is unable to reschedule, all funds collected from any registrant will be promptly refunded in full. Money is refunded to the original payer.

Non-Responsibility: School Tours of America, LLC (STA), and its employees, shareholders, agents, and representatives use third party suppliers to arrange tours, transportation, sightseeing, lodging, and all other services related to this tour. STA is an independent contractor and is not an employee, agent, or representative of any of these suppliers. STA does not own, manage, operate, supervise, or control any transportation, vehicle, airplane, hotel or restaurant, or any other entity that supplies services related to your tour. STA is not affiliated with any other tour operator. All suppliers are independent contractors, and are not agents or employees or representatives of STA. All tickets, receipts, coupons, and vouchers are issued subject to the terms and conditions specified by each supplier, and by accepting the coupons, vouchers, and tickets, or utilizing the services, all customers agree that neither STA, nor its employees, agents, or representatives are or may be liable for any loss, injury, or damage to any tour participant or their belongings, or otherwise, in connection with any service supplied or not supplied resulting directly or indirectly from any occurrence beyond the control of STA. STA assumes no responsibility or liability for any delay, change in schedule, loss, injury or damage or loss of any participant that may result from any act or omission on the part of others; and STA shall be relieved of any obligations under these terms and conditions in the event of any strike, labor dispute, act of God, or of government, fire, war, whether declared or not, terrorism, insurrection, riot, theft, pilferage, epidemic, illness, physical injury, quarantine, medical or customs or immigration regulation, delay, or cancellation. STA accepts no responsibility for lost or stolen items. STA reserves the right to refuse any registrant or potential registrant at its sole discretion.

Forum Selection: To the maximum extent allowed under applicable law, participants waive any and all claims against STA. Subject to the Arbitration provision below, participants consent to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of Harris County, Texas, in any litigation concerning, arising out of, or related to the trip, including airfare and accommodations and any and all other services booked through STA. Actions may be brought only within Harris County, Texas State and Federal courts, as appropriate, and nowhere else (unless such courts cannot establish jurisdiction over the parties), and Texas law will be applicable to any and all such litigation, without regard to its conflict of laws provisions. The prevailing party in any such litigation will be entitled to reasonable attorneys' fees and costs.

Binding Agreement to Arbitrate: Upon demand of any party, whether made before or after the institution of any judicial proceeding, any claim or controversy concerning, arising out of, or related to the trip, including airfare and accommodations and any and all other services booked through STA, shall be settled by binding arbitration in Harris County, Texas, in accordance with the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association, and any judgment upon the award rendered by the arbitrator(s) may be entered in any court of Harris County, Texas having jurisdiction thereof.

Brochure Printing Disclaimer: STA is not responsible for any typographic or printing error in any brochure, itinerary, confirmation, or related material.

Severability: If any provision of these terms and conditions shall be held unenforceable, such provision shall be struck and the remainder shall remain enforceable.

California Only: CST 2065169-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California. STA does not have a location in California and therefore does not participate in the California Travel Consumer Restitution Corporation. California law requires certain sellers of travel to have a trust account or bond. STA has established a trust account. Upon cancellation of the transportation of travel services where you, the customer, are not at fault and have not canceled in violation of the terms and conditions, if any, of the contract for transportation and services, all sums paid to School Tours of America, for services not received by you will be promptly refunded by School Tours of America.

State of Florida: Seller of Travel Reg. No. - ST35964.

State of Nevada: Seller of Travel Reg. No. - 2003-0360

State of Washington: Seller of Travel UBI No. - 602246577. If transportation or other services are canceled by School Tours of America (STA), all sums paid to School Tours of America for services not performed in accordance with the contract between STA and the purchaser will be refunded within thirty days of receiving the funds from the vendor with whom the services were arranged.

Contact Us: Call or write the Customer Service Department of STA if you have questions.

Rev 08/25/2015