Azores.com Travel & Tours – Terms of Service
Terms and Conditions
General Note:
Azores.com Travel and Tours is d.b.a. (doing business as) of Portugal Online Corp, a California, USA corporation. Any reference to Azores.com Travel and Tours imply the legal connection with Portugal Online Corp.
Contents
1. General Information
2. Contract
3. Vouchers
4. Payment
5. Passports and Visas
6. Other Terms
1. General Information
It is necessary to read these Terms and Conditions before making your reservation. It is important that you understand the contractual relation established when using the booking service of Azores.com Travel and Tours.
Azores.com Travel and Tours functions is an online travel agency for tour packages and tourist activity services. The portal allows for the reservation of the aforementioned services and issues vouchers to clients manually once the booking is confirmed by the various third party suppliers providing the services. The Company functions as an intermediary between the tourism companies (Suppliers) and the customer, and allows the customer to have a customizable and flexible travel package by selecting services and options tailored to their needs. All services made available by the Suppliers are compliant with Portuguese law.
How to contact the Azores.com Travel and Tours Customer Support service:
By Phone – by calling +1 831-427-2757 during business hours (4:00AM to 8:00PM, EST, Monday- Sunday);
By Email – travel@azores.com
2. Contract
Azores.com Travel and Tours functions as a travel agency. From now on, the term “Supplier” refers (but is not limited to) the following entities: hotels, aparthotels, touristic housing, tourist activity operators, airlines and rent-a-car companies.
A package refers to the bundle of flights and accommodation(s); accommodation(s) and activities; flights, accommodation(s) and/or transfers.
A “reservation” or “booking” refers to the acquisition of products or services made through Azores.com Travel and Tours, which we have approved. The approval on the part of Azores.com Travel and Tours will be communicated through a Voucher, which will be sent to your e-mail address.
When making a reservation with Azores.com Travel and Tours, and when the service of your choice is available, the resulting contract will be between you and Azores.com Travel and Tours. Should you have any doubts before your trip, any and all questions related to the selected travel package should be addressed with Azores.com Travel and Tours. Any specific questions concerning the chosen services with a Supplier must be addressed with the Supplier directly.
Although we do our best to ensure the availability and accuracy of the services published on Azores.com Travel and Tours, some errors may occur in your reservation. Once we become aware of the existence of such flaws, we will do everything possible to inform you of the occurrence within 72 hours after your booking. We reserve the right to cancel your booking, without any prejudice to you or to Azores.com Travel and Tours. Should the Supplier cancel or modify your reservation, you will have the option to choose another alternative offered by the Supplier or cancel your reservation. If the Supplier cannot offer a viable alternative within the 72 hour window, we reserve the right to cancel your booking without any type of compensation.
Any commissions, taxes and/or fees required by the government, any other authority, or by the Supplier of the selected service(s) are to be paid for in full by the customer, including any requests made after the issuing of your booking confirmation.
The organization of the trips available on www.azores.com is under the responsibility of Portugal Online, a company registered with the California Seller of Travel, number 2114755, with headquarters at 575 McDonald Road, Aptos, California. Portugal Online is a California corporation with EIN 20-1112506 and state registration . Portugal Online is doing business (dba) as Azores.com Travel and Tours registered in the county of Santa Cruz.
When a trip organized by Azores.com Travel and Tours is the subject of a dispute, these general conditions and the specific terms found in the customer’s voucher represent the contract that binds the two parts.
2.1 Cancellation
For pre-paid travel packages, there are specific cancellation policies that apply, and, as a rule, they are non-refundable. These policies are described on every tour package.
Regarding airfare, the customer is also bounded by the airlines rules, regulations and policies available when ticketing and on respective websites.
Regarding any and all tours purchased, in the event of a no-show or cancellation on the arrival day, the customer is responsible for paying the entire cost of the reservation. The cancellation policy will be presented in the client’s voucher, including any special conditions imposed by the Supplier(s) and conditions that have priority over the general cancellation policy. The cancellation policy is spelled out with every tour package displayed online.
The only airlines booked by Azores.com Travel and Tours is Azores Airlines (aka SATA International). The airline defines its own flights’ cancellation and alterations policy, meaning that there may exist non-refundable fares and/or penalties applicable in cases of cancellation or changes to the reservation. It is the customer’s responsibility to ask Azores.com Travel and Tours for information about these conditions before making the reservation.
2.2 Reservations Cancelled by Azores.com Travel and Tours
Azores.com Travel and Tours reserves the right to cancel an organized trip if the number of participants does not meet the minimum number required, when the trip depends on a certain number of participants. In these cases, the customer will be informed via e-mail of the cancellation within 8 days.
2.3 Changes
If a customer wishes to change their existing reservation date, or make any other changes (subject to Supplier availability), the customer must pay an alterations fee.
If the changes are requested after the trip has begun, and for reasons unrelated to Azores.com Travel and Tours (e.g.: prolonging the stay, changing the flights), the prices of the services and products will be additional and informed to the clint.
Azores.com Travel and Tours and its suppliers can alter the order of the routes, modify the departure hours or replace the hotels with others of similar category and localization, whenever there are justifiable reasons, having to inform the customer of the alteration as soon as they are aware of it.
2.4 Withdrawal
Customers are free to withdraw from the trip or cancel it altogether at any time. However, they are responsible for paying any and all charges and penalties as stated on the cancellation policies. Additionally administrative fee not to exceed of $100 plus taxes per traveler will be charged.
Should it be the case, and if any refund is due, the customer will be refunded the difference between the amount paid and the fees and penalties mentioned above.
The reservation fees on www.azores.com are related to the processing of the reservations and vary according to the type of product. Fees are not refunded if the cancellation of the trip is due to the customer’s request or if it is the customer’s responsibility.
2.5 Hotels and Accommodations
Azores.com Travel and Tours provides hotel services which are included in the overall tour package.
Hotel services are provided by third party suppliers. Once the trip starts thee contract is between the customer and the hotel company. All changes, inquiries and issues must be addressed with the hotel company. You should inform Azores.com Travel and Tours of any issues with the Supplier as we can intercede and moderate the outcome with the hotel.
Any complaint related to your accommodations should be handled directly with the Supplier, the sole party responsible for ensuring the conditions specified in your voucher. You should also inform Azores.com Travel and Tours of any complaint you make to the Supplier.
2.6 Rent-a-Car
Azores.com Travel and Tours provides rental car services which are included in the overall tour package. They are referred to as self-drive tours.
Rental car services are provided by third party suppliers. Once the trip starts the rental care contract is between the customer and the rental car company. All changes, inquiries and issues must be addressed with the rental car company.
All drivers must have a valid driver’s license and credit card in order to rent a car. Please take into consideration that additional costs or fees (such as optional insurance, fees for additional drivers, etc.) may be incurred after your booking and they should be paid at the time the car is handed over to the customer.
3. Vouchers
Any and all bookings made by the customer with Azores.com Travel and Tours will be specified in an electronic voucher sent via e-mail, up to two weeks before travel begins. The voucher contains all the information related to the booking (dates, duration, names and contact information for the suppliers of the selected services. Please read all the information on your voucher carefully. Before travelling, you must print out your voucher and present it as a proof of your reservation upon arrival.
Azores.com Travel and Tours only uses information provided by the customer during the booking process on the website and, as such, is not to be held responsible if the customer does not receive their voucher due to incorrect or mistaken contact information, or if the voucher is considered spam by the customer’s email security options. The customer is responsible for immediately notifying Azores.com Travel and Tours in case of a change of address, email or phone number. The name the customer provides for their voucher must match the name on their passport/I.D. for security and verification purposes.
3.1 Luggage
If the customer’s luggage is damaged in flight, the customer must file a complaint directly with the airline immediately after noticing the damage. The customer is obligated to file a complaint with the airline the moment their bag is discovered as missing, deteriorated or destroyed.
3.2 Departure and Arrival Times
The departure and arrival times are indicated in the local time of the respective city and according to the schedules of the airlines.
3.3 Travel Insurance
Travel Insurance is not included in any travel packages offered by Azores.com Travel and Tours. Azores.com Travel and Tours offers customers the option to purchase insurance to cover customers should they need assistance or in case of cancellations.
4. Payment
Payments are done by credit card, PayPal or bank transfer. All payments are subject to the terms and conditions defined during the purchase process.
4.1 Refunds
Once the trip starts, Azores.com Travel and Tours does not owe any refund for services that aren’t used by the customer for reasons unrelated to Azores.com Travel and Tours, or in such case that they cannot be substituted by other equivalents.
4.2 Reservation Fees
For each pre-paid travel package reservation, certain reservation fees or deposits are charged in accordance with the standing prices available on www.azores.com tour pages, which are provided to the customer when solicited.
4.3 Airport Taxes
The airport taxes are always included in the final price of the reservation, unless otherwise specified, in which case they must be paid locally by the passengers in the airports where they are required.
4.4 Taxes
The final prices of the reservations reflect a total value that includes taxes at the standing legal rate.
5. Passports and Visas
The Autonomous Region of the Azores is integrated in the Portuguese Republic, a member state of the European Union, and as such, the citizens of the other European Union countries can enter Portuguese territory without a visa or a passport, by presenting only their national identification document. Citizens of countries outside the European Union must check with their local authorities about any specific documents that may be required when traveling to Portugal prior to booking their trip.
Disclaimer: The customer is responsible for contacting the relevant Embassy or Consulate for additional information. Requirements may change and you should check for up-to-date information before booking and departure. Azores.com Travel and Tours accepts no responsibility if you are refused entry onto a flight or into any country due to your failure to carry the correct and adequate passport, visa, or other travel documents required by any airline, authority, or country, including countries you may just be transiting through. This includes all stops made by the aircraft, even if you do not leave the aircraft or airport.
6. Other Terms
The original version of these Terms and Conditions was written in English before being translated to other languages. The translations made available online are only a courtesy to our customers. In case of dispute over the content or interpretation of these Terms and Conditions, or in case of incoherence or differences between the Portuguese version and a translation, the Portuguese version will always prevail. The Portuguese version is available on our website (when choosing the Portuguese interface) and it can be sent to you if you express your desire in writing. All the specific conditions of each service will appear on the respective vouchers.
The client must have all the personal or family documentation required (identity card, military documents, minor authorization, visas, vaccination certificates, and other necessary documents). Azores.com Travel and Tours denies any responsibility whatsoever for the denial of visas or entrance of the customer into a foreign country. In these cases, the “Withdrawl” section applies, and the customer is responsible for all other costs brought on by the situation.
Citizens of the European Union:
– Customers (whatever their age) who are citizens of the European Union must have their civil identity document (passport, ID, etc.);
– In order to be eligible for medical assistance they must have their European Health Insurance Card;
Non-EU Citizens:
– Customers (whatever their age) who are citizens of non-EU countries and who wish to travel to the Azores must have a civil identity document (passport) and a visa when necessary. Please note that many countries require that the passport has a minimum validity of six months starting from the entry date into this country. The client is responsible for getting all the information on visa requirements;
– The customers who are citizens of non-EU countries must verify the specific information relating to the necessary documents for entering Portugal with the embassies/consulates of their origin countries;
– Minors, whenever they are not accompanied by the person who holds parental rights, can only enter or leave national territory by showing a written authorization, dated and signed by the person holding the parental rights and this authorization must be notarized.
6.1 Azores.com Travel and Tours Responsibilities
Azores.com Travel and Tours and its Suppliers are not responsible for any damages that may occur during your trip, nor in the case of injury or death. Azores.com Travel and Tours is responsible only for the errors of its own reservation service, and cannot be held responsible for the errors of its Suppliers, and as such, the customer must file their complaints directly with the Supplier(s).
6.2. Customer Responsibilities
The customer is responsible for having all required documents on his/her person while traveling, and for checking their validity. The customer is also responsible for providing accurate information for all relevant parties while making the reservation. The customer must respect the conditions imposed by the Suppliers as stipulated in the reservation voucher. The client cannot behave in an inappropriate manner, as to offend or harm others or destroy the property of others. In these cases, Azores.com Travel and Tours and its suppliers have the right to cancel your reservation without reimbursement and without compensation, so as not to be responsible for any damages incurred.
6.3 Customer Obligations
The customer agrees to certain obligations, including but not limited to:
• Financial responsibility for all the transactions made in their name;
• To be at least 18 years old and have legal capacity;
• All the information concerning the customer and the people accompanying his on the trip must be legitimate;
• Azores.com Travel and Tours cannot be used for speculative, false, or fraudulent reservations;
• The transmission of any threatening, pornographic, political, racist, or any other type of illegal material is strictly prohibited;
• The client cannot modify, copy, distribute, transmit, reproduce, publish, license, transfer, sell or derive any information, software, products, or services obtained through Azores.com Travel and Tours. Additionally, the client also accepts:
– Not to access, monitor or copy the content or information from this website by using a robot, spider, or any other automatic means or manual process, with any objective, without written permission from Azores.com Travel and Tours;
– To not violate the restrictions of this website, nor avoid or prevent the security measures imposed with the purpose of limiting access to the website;
– To not overload, in any way, the technological infrastructure of Azores.com Travel and Tours and its suppliers.
6.4 Questions & Complaints Related to Your Reservation
Should the customer have any doubts or complaints related to their reservation, they should contact the Azores.com Travel and Tours Customer Support team prior to travel. Customers who wish to file a complaint related to a Supplier during their trip should contact the Supplier directly and ask for written confirmation that the complaint was filed before the return/check-out date.
6.5 Using the Services of Azores.com Travel and Tours
The Azores.com Travel and Tours reservation central does not accept responsibility for your ability to access and use the booking service, nor does it take responsibility for any interruption that might occur during the use of your service. Azores.com Travel and Tours does not guarantee that the reservation service is completely virus free or that it doesn’t have other properties that might lead to the loss of information.
6.6 Azores.com Travel and Tours Website Content
Azores.com Travel and Tours offers all the general information on our webpage for guidance purposes only. Azores.com Travel and Tours reserves the right to alter any aspect of the page, its content and the reservation service itself at any time, including, but not limited to, the availability of the Suppliers, certain characteristics, information, and/or databases. Azores.com Travel and Tours does not guarantee that the information is always up-to-date and it is the responsibility of the customer to make sure that they understand and respect all relevant requirements. Azores.com Travel and Tours does not guarantee that the information available on the website (including, but not limited to prices, descriptions, and dates) is free of errors or omissions, but we are doing everything possible to correct any error or omission that might appear in a timely manner.
6.7 Customer Reviews, Comments, Photos, and Other Submissions
Customers will have the opportunity to send us their opinions on our booking service and/or our Suppliers through a specific form, which will be available after the conclusion of the reservation. After their trip, customers receive an e-mail with a link to a questionnaire, through which they can communicate their degree of satisfaction with our services, as well as provide suggestions for improvements and/or alterations. By filling out the form, the customer agrees to renounce any ownership of the information provided to us. Azores.com Travel and Tours and its Suppliers reserve the right to use, copy, distribute and/or publish this content through any means and in any shape. By filling out the questionnaire, the client agrees:
• To be the author of their submission, or to own the rights to the text;
• To only submit the information that is accurate on the date the form is filled out;
• To not introduce any false commentary, information or material, or any malicious, defamatory, abusive, or obscene material or anything that might be interpreted as such;
• To not attempt to deceive, nor encourage any fraudulent or illegal activities.
6.8 Force Majeure
Azores.com Travel and Tours will not be held accountable for any flaw that might occur during the contract when they are caused by force majeure events. These include, but are not limited to: government intervention, wars, civil commotion, hijacking, fire, flood, accident, storm, strikes, lockouts, terrorist attacks, or industrial action that might affect Azores.com Travel and Tours and its suppliers.
6.9 Currency
In general, the prices on Azores.com Travel and Tours are expressed in Euro, since this is the currency used in Portugal. When making a price estimate in your local currency, please take into account the possible currency fluctuations, which may alter the final price of your trip.
6.10 Copyright and Trademarks
Azores.com Travel and Tours and its subsidiaries, trademarks, logos, photos, videos, texts, and other types of copyrighted material mentioned on this page are the property of their respective owners. All the content is protected by the copyright and intellectual property laws of Portugal and of foreign jurisdictions. The unauthorized use of this content can violate the copyright in force, the trademarks, and other intellectual property laws. The material published on the Azores.com Travel and Tours webpage is property of Azores.com Travel and Tours or its suppliers unless otherwise specified.
6.11 Privacy Policy
The terms of the Privacy Policy of Azores.com Travel and Tours are incorporated in these Terms and Conditions. The client agrees to the use of his information by Azores.com Travel and Tours and its suppliers, in conformity with the terms and objectives established in the Privacy Policy of Azores.com Travel and Tours. In order to see the complete Privacy Policy, please visit that respective section on the website.
6.12 Alterations to the Terms and Conditions
Azores.com Travel and Tours reserves the right to modify or update the Terms and Conditions related to the use of the reservation service without notifying the customer. The current version of the Terms and conditions will be published on the webpage starting with the date it enters in use. To continue using this page after the alteration of the Terms and Conditions is to accept the alterations brought to it.
6.13 Governing Law
These Terms and Conditions constitute a contract between the customer and Azores.com Travel and Tours, which is an United State of America-based reservation central, governed by California laws. The client agrees that any dispute shall be resolved by Santa Cruz County, California Court, in conformity with the laws of California. The client also agrees with the fact that, although Azores.com Travel and Tours does not strictly insist on the enforcement of these Terms and Conditions, it does not constitute the renunciation of this agreement.
6.14 Notes
Other specific conditions will be included in the information that accompanies each reservation.
The present terms and conditions may be complemented by any other specific terms, as long as all parties involved agree.
Due to the constant change in fuel prices, alterations may be made to the fuel supplement included in the price of your reservation.