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TERMS & CONDITIONS
OpentourUSA is pleased to present its 2009 Tariff of Accommodations and Services across the United States.
General Terms:
Rates All OpentourUSA rates are quoted U.S. Dollars. Validity We are featuring products valid from April 1, 2009 to March 31, 2010
Extra special product:
You can always look on our website for special, value-added offers. Whether its a rate reduction or a specially-priced package, check out this special section online often for updated news! |
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MORE ABOUT ACCOMMODATIONS:
Hotel Star Ratings & Descriptions In the United States there is no official star-rating system. OpentourUSA uses its own rating system which may differ from ratings published by other Tour Operators. Room category descriptions are as correct at the time of publishing as possible. However, the hotels reserve the right to amend their description at any time. OpentourUSA cannot be held liable in any way to you nor to any third parties should this information change.Descriptions are based on information provided by the hotel. Rates Are quoted in U.S. Dollars and are per night inclusive of applicable taxes and represent Standard, Run-of-House accommodations unless otherwise stated. Forms of payment It is customary for hotels in the USA and Canada to request a credit-card deposit upon check-in to cover any incidental charges. Unused funds will be refunded upon check-out. Some hotels may accept a cash deposit in lieu but this cannot be guaranteed. Bed types Double rooms may contain only one double bed. Passengers requiring separate beds should specifically request this at the time of booking. Separate beds will then be placed on request subject to confirmation by the hotel. Triples and Quads are often 2 doubles or 2 Queen beds. Rollaways, cots, and cribs can be requested (additional charges paid directly to the hotel). Convention or Premium Dates These are times are regular rates cannot be guaranteed. If the hotel confirms availability, Premium rates will be confirmed at the time of booking. These will include all applicable taxes. Family Plan Hotels will usually allow up to 2 children in a room free of charge up to a certain age limit. Each hotels policy may differ according to bedding. Non-listed hotels We can make these reservations for you, but OpentourUSA may have to prepay them to the supplier. Once OpentourUSA has prepaid suppliers for non-published services, there are no refunds or credits for unused Meals: services, even in the event of full cancellation of the booking. Non-listed hotels and services may also be subject to handling fees which may cause rates to be higher than the suppliers published rate. This will not be a basis for claims or refunds. Meal Plans Generally begin with dinner on the day of arrival end with breakfast on the day of departure. There are specific hotels where these plans may be included in the rate. Special Requests: Must be indicated at the time of booking. OpentourUSA will make every effort to confirm them but cannot guarantee them. Tax Increases: Our prices include all relevant federal, state and locally imposed taxes. These taxes are subject to change, often at short notice. Any increases are beyond the control of both OpentourUSA and our suppliers. Should taxes increase, we will notify agents / clients and bookings will be adjusted to reflect the revised tax rates. When problems may occur on occasion, circumstances beyond our control (such as hotel closures, hotel sell out situations, force majeure), may mean that passengers have to be moved to alternate accommodations. If the circumstances are deemed to be beyond our control, then OpentourUSA will not be responsible for any additional cost incurred in finding alternate accommodation. Rest assured, whatever the circumstance, OpentourUSA will assist your passengers in every way possible. Black-out Dates Black-outs can be added at any time by the hotels. During blackouts, hotels are in critical occupancy status and are only prepared to honor existing reservations. Name and date changes may not be permitted after existing reservations have been reported to the hotel. |
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HOTEL BOOKING POLICIES:
How to send bookings you can send bookings via fax, email or electronically (preferred) Then - OpentourUSA will reply with a confirmation number. Your reservation has been accepted! Email: res@opentourusa.com. Fax: 212 971 7242. What we need from you In order to expedite your confirmation, please provide the following information when making a booking:
-- Full passenger names, including first names, childrens ages (as some restrictions or reductions may apply).
-- Number of passengers per room. Bookings for more than 4 passengers per room are always on request and must be reconfirmed by an OpentourUSA staff member to be valid.
-- Bookings for more than 4 rooms traveling together may be treated as a group and some hotels may add porterage charges. Any extra charges as a result may be billed to you.
-- Accommodation category (single, double, suite etc.).
-- Arrival and departure dates for each hotel.
-- City (State may be required in the case of more than one city with the same name).
-- Number of nights for each hotel.
-- Any special instructions/requests/comments relating to the booking (such as handicapped-accessible room, bed types, non-smoking room, high floor etc.).
-- Flight details (only if early or late arrival affects hotel check-in time versus room availability)
-- Your file reference number and full company name and contact information on each communication. What happens next So you know what to expect.
-- Requests are subject to availability; confirmations are usually sent within 24 hours except for Hawaii, National Parks and non-listed hotels. We will respond to these requests as soon as possible.
-- Our response will include your booking reference number (if provided) as well as an OpentourUSA booking number that must be used in all future correspondence.
-- If a request cannot be accommodated, OpentourUSA will endeavor to confirm a guaranteed alternative hotel, unless you advise OpentourUSA that you do not want to be offered alternative hotels.
-- If the confirmed alternate hotel is not acceptable to your client, OpentourUSA must be advised to cancel this alternate hotel or any resulting no-show charges will be billed to you. All reservations are guaranteed for the first night. If you need to cancel the alternate hotel, OpentourUSA will acknowledge this in writing. What you need to know - You are responsible for providing OpentourUSA with notice of all cancellations and/or amendments either through written notice (fax or e-mail) or electronically (through BLINK) and must be in receipt of an OpentourUSA acknowledgement of such. Any bookings that have not been cancelled are considered live reservations and are subject to cancellation penalties. (These are listed in this same section). |
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MORE ABOUT OUR RESERVATION SYSTEM:
Our online reservation system, BLINK, is an efficient electronic service offered to facilitate hotel and ground transportation bookings at the properties and services published in this tariff. OpentourUSA holds room inventory in selected properties to enable instant online confirmation, while in others, we may require a longer response time for confirmation. Who gets to BLINK Our online system is offered to wholesalers who are in good credit standing, allowing them to make and administer all reservations. BLINK cannot be used to reserve group reservations (more than 4 rooms or 10 passengers). Disclaimer: we do not accept multiple bookings for the same party in the same hotel as this may be considered a group booking. Hotels will charge a higher room rate as well as porterage charges when this rule is violated. To use BLINK we need you to register your company online. You will receive your OpentourUSA login. Use it every time you book online to ensure secure transactions and tracking of your reservations. Please dont! - The sale of FIT hotel rates on the Internet without prior explicit written approval from OpentourUSA is strictly prohibited. Violation will incur immediate cancellation of your contract with OpentourUSA. |
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MORE ABOUT FIT SERVICES:
-- Reservation Requests should be made through our Online Reservation System starting April 1, 2009 (we will provide you with detailed information and instructions) or temporarily sent by email to res@opentour.us. You will receive a written confirmation.
-- Requests must always provide full names of all passengers, airport, flight number, scheduled arrival / departure time and hotel.
-- Waiting time for International Flights is 90 minutes after landing. -- Waiting time for Domestic Flights is 45 minutes after landing.
-- Once arrived at the destination airport in New York, passengers must be instructed to look for a green apple shaped sign OpentourUSA. Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Miami, Orlando, Washington DC, Boston Airport transfers, passengers will find a guide with a sign with their name.
-- Passengers will meet our guide after leaving the Baggage Claim Area. It is mandatory that passengers call our toll-free number 1.888.949.9559 should they not find the guide once picked up their baggage. We will immediately contact our personnel via radio helping your clients to find our guide. Passengers who will not call us will be charged as no-show.
-- Appointment Excursions: It is the Passengers responsibility to contact our toll-free number the day prior to the excursion to confirm the pick up time and location.
-- Passengers must arrive on time at the appointments. Passengers arriving late at the appointments will not be refunded.
-- Appointments Evening Excursions: Verrazzano e Dintorni (New York By Night), we will pick up from the same hotels; pick up time vary according to season see chart above. Passengers must call to confirm pick up time and location.
-- Payment must be received by check payable to OpentourUSA, Inc. 1270 Broadway Suite 803; New York, NY 10001 within 30 days from the day service was rendered. Any outstanding invoiced amounts will be charged to the Master Account Credit Card on file.
-- Any Changes (flight and/or time) or cancellations of confirmed services must be received at least 24 hours prior scheduled time in order to avoid 100% penalty (except where otherwise stated).
-- We will apply a surcharge of $20.00 per service for transfers operated between midnight and 6:00AM (SIC/PRIVATE/LIMO).
-- December 24th We operate transfers and morning tours only (no By Night Tour or Harlem Jazz Tour).
-- December 25th We operate transfers but no excursions.
-- December 31st No night tours (By Night Tour Harlem Jazz Tour) transfers will not be operated between 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM January 1st .
-- January 1st We operate transfers but no excursions.
-- July 4th No night tours (By Night Tour Harlem Jazz Tour). |
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MORE ABOUT OUR GROUP SERVICES:
What we can provide Through out sister company, Atelier of the Incentives we can offer exclusive group pricing for just about any itinerary. Each group request will be costed individually based on prevailing supplier rates and availability at time of request. The final exclusive net rate will then be offered with the selected departure date and inclusions. |
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MORE ABOUT CHANGES AND CANCELLATIONS:
When there are changes made Itinerary changes by clients will happen once in a while. Once the passenger has arrived in the USA and/or Canada, itinerary changes can only be made by contacting OpentourUSA. OpentourUSA will not refund cancelled or changed hotel and services. What happens with Unused Services There will be no refund for any portion of a pre-packaged program that is not used by the passenger. Terms & Conditions When you are charged OpentourUSA acknowledges and confirms all booking activity from the initial reservation to any changes and cancellations thereafter. It is your responsibility to ensure you have an OpentourUSA confirmation for your latest activity or you will be charged accordingly. OpentourUSA is not required to advise cancellation policies with each booking unless it is an exception to the rule. Our reservations office hours are Monday-Friday 8:00 AM to 6:30 PM Eastern Standard (NYC) Time. Messages received after these hours are not processed until the next business day. For example, a change or cancellation received on Saturday for an imminent arrival will not be reviewed until Monday morning and therefore may be subject to no-show or cancellation penalties. How are you charged The charges are per person. Any deviations or updates to these policies will be specified with each product on our website www.OpentourUSA.com. FIT Hotels Cancellation 2 days prior or no show. One night charge plus any additional penalties imposed by supplier, unless indicated otherwise at time of confirmation. Exceptional Cancellation Policies At certain hotels, different policies apply which will be indicated at time of booking. At some hotels name changes will be considered as cancellations as will any amendment which results in a reduced length of stay, including early departure. These are clearly indicated on our website. FIT Services No charge 3 days or more. 2 days or less 100% Broadway Show Tickets Due to the variety of shows offered and product availability, please refer to our website www.OpentourUSA.com for specific show cancellation information. |
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MORE ABOUT PAYMENT PROCEDURES:
You must establish an account with OpentourUSA in order to book our services. This will require a floating deposit and/or a letter of credit that will determine your credit limit. Once your account is established, invoices are issued within the week prior to the first service and must be paid within 30 days from the date of issue, or sooner, if your credit limit has been reached. Non-payment may result in cancellation of future services. Payments can only be accepted in US Dollars by draft/check payable to a US bank, or by transfer to our account. Payments should be sent by wire transfer to: When sending payment by wire transfer, please alert OpentourUSAs Accounting Department of payment with a detailed list on how to apply payment against your account. Faxes should be sent to 212-971 7242 and e-mails to Accounting@OpentourUSA.com. |
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MORE ABOUT OUR OPERATIONAL POLICIES:
Vouchers: OpentourUSA does not issue vouchers for FIT passengers. A separate voucher must be issued for each hotel and or supplier, including any pre or post nights booked in conjunction with any package tour. Your vouchers must clearly indicate: Booked and payable by OpentourUSA and show the OpentourUSA booking number. This information must be printed in English and appear in a prominent place on your voucher to ensure proper servicing by the supplier. Vouchers should also include OpentourUSAs New York office telephone number 212-222-9433. In exceptional instances where passengers are traveling without vouchers, OpentourUSA may issue replacement vouchers but cannot be held responsible for any inconvenience or additional charges which may apply. A service fee of US$25 per room per hotel or per person per service will be added for unauthorized vouchers in addition to any fees charged by the supplier. OpentourUSA will not be held accountable for any vouchers issued without a confirmation from OpentourUSA and we reserve the right to refuse to honor vouchers for services not booked through OpentourUSA. If a hotel accepts your voucher listing OpentourUSA as the responsible payee, your account will be invoiced automatically based on hotel charges plus an additional $25 fee as detailed above. Smoking:Smoking is not permitted on touring or sightseeing motor coaches in the USA and Canada. Smoking is also restricted in most hotels and restaurants and in certain cities, bars and lounges. Guests with disabilities: OpentourUSA regrets that its representation cannot devote the level of special attention and accommodation that a passenger with a particular disability may require. Passengers needing assistance for personal needs must be accompanied by an able companion.
Guide Services: All private guide services can be requested in English, Italian, and Spanish. Other languages may be available upon request and higher prices may apply. Sightseeing & Admissions: All sightseeing tours operate on a seat-in-coach basis, unless specifically indicated otherwise. Some service suppliers will pick up and/or drop off passengers at specific hotels, but this is not guaranteed. In most instances, passengers will have to make their own arrangements to/from departure and/or arrival points. Sightseeing tours do not include admissions (unless specifically indicated otherwise).
Airport Transfers: Due to heightened security measures, representatives can no longer meet arriving passengers at the arrival gates. Instead, the driver or guide will meet the passenger either in the baggage claim area or at curbside in front of the terminal building. Passengers must be informed about this procedure. Meals: All meal prices include the specified meal, taxes and gratuities. Some beverages - usually soft drinks or coffee/tea - may be included. Any beverage that is not included must be paid for directly by the passenger at the time of consumption. |
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MORE ABOUT CLAIMS AND ADJUSTMENTS:
Passengers must immediately contact the New York office by telephone at 1-888-949-9559 or 212-222-9433 if any problems develop in order for OpentourUSA to intervene and resolve the problem. Passengers should know the OpentourUSA booking number for easy reference. If passengers do not contact our offices at the time of the problem, we may not honor claims sent to us at a later date. Claims for refunds and adjustments must be made in writing within 45 DAYS after our services are rendered. Claims must be accompanied by full details and documentation (hotel folios, receipts, vouchers, photos, cancellation numbers etc.). Whenever passengers cancel a hotel/service directly, they must be able to supply a cancellation number, hotel/service supplier contact name and the date of cancellation. Whenever passengers are asked to pay directly to the supplier, they should contact OpentourUSA immediately. Receipts and/or proof of payment must be submitted to OpentourUSA for a legitimate claim or request for a refund or adjustment. What happens next OpentourUSA will do its utmost to respond to claims/adjustments as soon as possible. Our average response time is 21 business days. Correspondence regarding claims and adjustments should be sent to the attention of our Customer Service Department at fax number: 212-971.7242 or e-mail: CustomerService@OpentourUSA.com. Any discrepancy claimed on an invoice must be accompanied by your calculations to that point. Any cancellations and adjustments made on a booking will be reflected on your next Statement of Account. All previous invoices will be voided. Please be aware that OpentourUSA does not authorize any deductions of amounts due for pending claims, until we are given the opportunity to research the matter and reach a mutual agreement. OpentourUSA maintains separate Change and Cancellation Policies from hotel or service suppliers. A hotel or supplier waiving a fee does not necessarily imply that OpentourUSA will automatically waive its fees. Liability Waivers Some suppliers providing adventure activities may require participants to complete and sign a liability form which is mandatory and locally processed. Passengers must be made aware of this procedure and know that they will not be provided the service should they refuse to sign the Liability Waiver Form. Each supplier has its own form. What to expect Below you will find the most common terms & conditions usually included in a Liability Waiver agreement: (please have these translated for your passengers if possible!)
-- Any risk, dangers and hazards of the activity are fully understood and assumed by the passenger.
-- The possibility of personal injury, emotional trauma, illness, unanticipated event, death, loss or damage to property is entirely at the passengers own risk.
-- The passenger agrees to waive any and all claims against the company arising from the participation in adventure activities.
-- The agreement will be effective and binding upon heirs, next to kin, executors, administrators and all persons who may be entitled to assert a claim as a result of the injury of the passenger.
-- The passenger confirms being mentally and physically fit and fully able to participate in adventure travel. There are no special medical requirements but exceptions would be included in the form if applicable.
-- A parent or guardian will have to read and sign the agreement on behalf of passengers under 18 years of age. |
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MORE ON OUR PROMISE OF SERVICE (RESPONSIBILITIES):
OpentourUSA reserves the right to substitute hotels of equal or better standard for those mentioned in the tour itineraries and to alter sightseeing schedules and/or types of transportation whenever and wherever we deem it operationally necessary. The suppliers of transportation, sightseeing, hotel accommodations, meals and other services and attractions, as well as tour escorts, are independent contractors and not agents or employees of OpentourUSA and therefore neither OpentourUSA nor any of its affiliates shall be liable for any personal injury or death or damage to or loss of property arising out of the performance or non-performance by such persons and entities or arising out of other incidents while on tour including without limitation equipment breakdown, accidents, theft, lost or damaged baggage, strikes, delays and cancellation of or changes in itinerary, schedules, etc. By making a reservation, you acknowledge the foregoing and agree to advise your clients of the foregoing and to hold harmless OpentourUSA and its affiliates from any and all damages, liability and expenses (including attorney fees) arising out of any claim or legal action related to the foregoing. We strongly recommend that appropriate insurance be obtained prior to arrival. Travel documents, including visas, as well as compliance with custom regulations, are the responsibility of the passengers. OpentourUSA will not be responsible for costs incurred by passengers not having proper travel documentation. |
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FAQ and Credit Card policies for BLINK:
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Is my credit card number safe?
Blink uses the Secure Sockets Layer and Private Communication Technology security standards that are supported by Microsoft Internet Explorer 3.0 or later. SSL encodes your personal information (such as your password, address and phone number, or your credit card number) so that it is available only to you and the Blink travel agent who will help make sure your travel planning goes smoothly. This encryption makes doing business over the Internet as secure as making a purchase by telephone. |
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Why doesn't Blink accept my credit card?
For your protection, Blink requires the mailing address for ticket delivery to be the same address where the bill for your credit card is sent each month. When you enter your credit card and billing information, please make sure the address and ZIP or postal code are correct. Also, address verification isn't available for certain types of debit cards. In this case, simply enter another valid credit card and billing address. |
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Do I always have to use the same credit card?
No, you can use as many different credit cards as you wish. For example, you can store the information of the credit cards you use most frequently so you don't have to type the credit card information every time you use it. Then, any time you want to use a different credit card, you can just select the card you wish to use and add the last four digits of that card. If you wish to use a card you haven't stored, you can still click the Add a credit card link in the Billing page. This will allow you to enter use a new credit card for this transaction, but it won't remove the original credit cards from our files. check the Remember this credit card for future use box when you enter this new credit card and it will be saved with the others. |
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Using internationally-based credit cards
Blink accepts major credit cards issued by banks worldwide. However, due to technical, regulatory and/or other limitations, there are some countries for which we currently do not support foreign credit cards or billing addresses.
When entering your billing address on the 'Add a credit card' page, be sure to select "Non USA billing address" to enable the international billing address format. If you do not see your country listed, please let us know immediately and we will add it! |
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What if I need to change my travel arrangements?
If you need to change your travel arrangements less than 24 hours before arrival call Blink at the telephone number listed on your itinerary. To cancel or change a reservation or purchase, see Modify Booking |
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Supplying or changing credit card information
If you’ve never supplied credit card information to Blink, or if you'd like to supply a new card, you must select a card type and supply a cardholder's name and the card number and expiration date. You must also supply the credit card billing address. We won't charge your card until you click Complete this purchase now.
This information must also be supplied when you decide to use a different card than the one we have on file for you. You can use a different card by clicking Add a credit card.
Everytime you are reserving or purchasing a service , or storing your credit card for Express booking, our system will verify your card with the issuer to ensure that it's valid. |
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Verifying a credit card already stored with Blink
If you already have a credit card on file with us, your first option will be to use that card for this reservation or purchase by supplying the last four digits of the credit card number. This allows us to verify your card without your having to send sensitive credit card information over the Internet.
You may use a different credit card any time you choose. Click Add a credit card to supply information for a different credit card. |
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Other possible charges
Some accommodations require prepayment, most charge if a traveler does not check in to a reserved room as scheduled, and some reservations are nonrefundable if canceled. There may be cancellation charges for certain guaranteed services in BLINK like air tours and Broadway or Las Vegas shows. Familiarize yourself with all rules that may apply to your reservation. |
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