SCHOOL TOURS OF AMERICA LLC
GENERAL INFORMATION, TERMS & CONDITIONS
Welcome to School Tours of America! We take learning on the road by providing well-planned, affordable educational tours. We customize each trip so travelers experience their program in an exciting and safe way. School Tours of America, LLC (“STA”) is a professional tour operator specializing in educational tours, which are supervised and chaperoned by educators and parents for eligible students to places of interest, importance and history. By registering for this trip, you expressly represent that you have read and agreed to the terms and conditions of School Tours of America.
Group Pricing: Unless otherwise specified in the Trip Invitation letter, trip prices are all-inclusive (except for some airline baggage fees) and based on a minimum 35 full-paying participants. Prices are guaranteed by STA for groups meeting the minimum number of fully-paid participants stated in the Trip Invitation letter, with the exception that any price increases passed on from third-party suppliers after registration, but prior to the tour, will be charged to the participant.
Occupancy Rates: Upon registration, minors (under 18 years old) are automatically registered and priced at the quad occupancy rate (minimum 4 per room) by default. Adults (18 and older) are registered and priced at double occupancy by default, unless otherwise noted on their registration form. When appropriate, parents/guardians and children requesting to share a room MUST note the appropriate occupancy rate when registering for the tour. STA makes all reasonable efforts to accommodate occupancy requests. STA and our hotel partners prohibit minors (under 18 years old) from rooming single occupancy.
Group Leader: STA and the Group Leader 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. Group Leaders and their chaperones are not employees of School Tours of America.
Participants with Disabilities: Participants with disabilities are welcome and must always be accompanied by a companion capable of providing all required and needed assistance and must not require special assistance from STA or its suppliers. Participants with disabilities must notify STA in writing no later than the Trip Registration Deadline of their status and of the identity of their non-discounted, paid travel companion who will be responsible for providing all necessary assistance.
Special Dietary Requirements: For safety and liability reasons, STA and its representatives cannot be responsible for directly accommodating any food allergies, or dietary requirements and restrictions, and is not responsible for any issues or problems associated with the same. All scenarios and special dietary requests regarding food and drink, including allergies, or dietary requirements and restrictions, are the sole responsibility of the participant. While most meal establishments can offer general options, STA cannot guarantee that options will be available. Just in case, we recommend packing extra food/snacks if accommodations cannot be met.
Respectful Environment: School Tours of America (STA) is committed to fostering a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students and travelers on our tours. To ensure a positive experience for everyone, we expect all participants to adhere to the following standards of conduct or risk being removed from the tour at the traveler's expense. Travelers are expected to treat all fellow participants, staff, and members of the host community with courtesy and respect. This includes refraining from any harassment, bullying, or discrimination based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, disability, or any other personal characteristic. Travelers are expected to respect the privacy of others. This includes not taking or sharing any photos or videos of others without their consent.
Conduct Expected: Each student participant is expected to act responsibly and adhere to reasonable behavior guidelines established by the participating Group Leader and chaperones. Any failure to respond to the guidance of the Group Leader and chaperones and to the group’s behavior guidelines will result in the immediate return home of the offending participant. Any participant sent home for behavior or disciplinary issues 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.
Prohibited Items: In the interest of safety, the possession or carrying of firearms, weapons of any kind (including but not limited to knives, explosives, or replica weapons), or illegal substances is strictly prohibited on all School Tours of America trips and at any tour-related locations. This applies to students, chaperones, and all tour participants. Violation of this policy may result in immediate dismissal from the tour and potential legal action.
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: Upon registration, participants may pay in full; or choose the EzPay option with equal monthly payments automatically being debited from your account with no fees; or choose to receive monthly payment coupons based on the remaining balance ($6 handling fee for each coupon payment that is made online, by phone, or mailed). 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 at least 70 days prior to departure, or risk immediate cancellation.
Payment Protection Program (PPP): 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 PPP protects your investment from the moment you register until the trip departs. Once you have fulfilled the PPP cost, your investment is protected. Cancel at any point prior to departure and receive a full refund of the trip price (less the cost of the PPP). 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 price of your tour, enrollment in this program is calculated as follows:
If the trip price is less than $500, the program fee is $89;
If the trip price is between $500-$699, the program fee is $109;
If the trip price is between $700-$1,099, the program fee is $139;
If the trip price is between $1,100-$1,399, the program fee is $179;
If the trip price is between $1,400-$1,699, the program fee is $229;
If the trip price is between $1,700-$1,999, the program fee is $259;
If the trip price is between $2,000-$2,299, the program fee is $279;
If the trip price is between $2,300-$2,599, the program fee is $309;
If the trip price is between $2,600-$2,899, the program fee is $339;
If the trip price is between $2,900-$3,199, the program fee is $369;
If the trip price is $3,200 or above, the program fee is $399.
During the registration process, if you wish to participate in the PPP, please add the appropriate cost of the PPP (see above) to the registration fee with a notation that it is for the PPP. Merchandise fees, handling and processing fees, and NSF fees are non-refundable 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 PPP, 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 postmark (no metered mail please). In addition, all cancellations must include the participants full name, group name and participant ID number. Money is refunded to the original payer.
Cancellations can be sent to:
School Tours of America
P.O. Box 550379
Houston, TX 77255-0379
OR
Send an email to: cancel@schooltoursofamerica.com
Cancellation Charges Per Registrant:
Cancelling MORE than 65 days prior to departure = 25% of trip cost retained by STA
Cancelling 46-65 days prior to departure = 50% of trip cost retained by STA
Cancelling LESS than 46 days prior to departure = 100% of trip cost retained by STA
Cancellation or Rescheduling by Group Leader or Other: In the event the Group Leader or other entity associated with the Group Leader 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 canceled 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.
Additional Risks: Additional risks and dangers may arise including, but not limited to, hazards of traveling in undeveloped areas, hazards of travel by boat, train, automobile, aircraft and other means of conveyance, animal interactions, forces of nature, political unrest, other unrest, hazardous local customs and practices, differing levels of sanitation, differing standards of safety, risks associated with water, food, plants, insects and differing animal regulation, accident or illness in areas lacking means of rapid evacuation or medical facilities, and acts of national and local governments and unrest and acts of others against governments. These risks are not an exhaustive list but are examples of many kinds of risks. You are voluntarily participating in these activities with the knowledge that there are significant dangers involved, and you hereby agree to accept any and all risks. As lawful consideration for the agreement with STA to participate in such trips and activities you agree you will not make a claim against STA, its related companies or its personnel or sue for bodily injury, emotional trauma, death, property loss or damage or other loss, cost or expense, however caused, as a result of or related to your contracting for, traveling to or from, or in any and every other way participating in the trip. You release STA, its related companies and its personnel from any and all claims, known or unknown, arising from contracting for, traveling to or from, and in any and every way participating in a trip. This release of liability and assumption of risk agreement is entered into on behalf of you and all members of your family and party, also including minors accompanying you. This agreement also binds your heirs, legal representatives and assigns. Security is a major concern to all of us and the situation globally is constantly changing. Events around the world, coupled with the “Travel Advisories” put out by various governments, may at times necessitate changes to the accommodations and itinerary or even trip cancellation. You must accept these risks involved in travel to any country that may experience security difficulties and accept responsibility for your own travel decisions. Where the guest occupies a motor coach seat fitted with a safety belt, neither STA nor the Operator nor its agents or co-operating organizations or service providers will be liable for any injury, illness or death or for any loss or damages or claims whatsoever arising from any accident or incident, if the safety belt is not being worn at the time of such an accident or incident. This exclusion and limitation of liability shall not be used to imply that the Operator or its agents or affiliated entities are liable in other circumstances.
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.
State of Florida: Seller of Travel Reg. No. – ST35964
State of Nevada: Seller of Travel Reg. No. – 2003-0360
State of 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 Washington Only: Seller of Travel UBI No.– 602246577. If transportation or other services are cancelled 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.