BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS

“You” and “Your” means all persons named in a booking (including anyone who is added or substituted at a later date). “We”, “us”, “our” and Mates’ Escapes means PlaySeeGo Travel Group Pty Ltd.

BOOKINGS

A booking request is accepted when we issue a written booking confirmation and you have paid your deposit. It is at this point that a contract between us and you comes into existence subject to these Booking Conditions. We reserve the right to decline any booking at our discretion. No employee of ours other than a director has the authority to vary or omit any of these Booking Conditions or to promise any discount, refund or credit.

SERVICES

The services we provide to you are limited to (a) the arrangement and coordination of your travel arrangements to be delivered by independent third party suppliers; and (b) the delivery of travel arrangements which we directly control. This includes (often significant) work undertaken prior to travel to arrange and coordinate the delivery of your travel arrangements.

PRICES & EXCLUSIONS

Prices stated are in Australian Dollars ($AUD) and are current at the time of publication. The most up to date pricing is available on our website. The price includes accommodation, transportation and other inclusions as per the published itinerary.

International and domestic airfares and airport/hotel transfers are not included unless specifically stated. Costs associated with passports, visas, vaccinations, insurance, meals (other than those stipulated), emergency evacuation costs, gratuities, and all items of a personal nature are not included.

PRICE SURCHARGES

We reserve the right to surcharge the cost of your booked travel arrangements prior to commencement for circumstances beyond our control such as currency devaluation, fuel or air fare surcharges, or the imposition of new or amended Government charges.

We will not surcharge for currency fluctuations once full payment has been received by us.

DEPOSIT

A per person deposit as specified for the individual package is required within 7 days after we accept your booking. If no deposit amount is specified for a particular package, then the deposit amount is $250 per person.

The deposit represents a fee payable to us for services associated with the processing and confirmation of your booking and any consultations on travel arrangements that we may provide to you. Because these services are provided as soon as we confirm your booking, the deposit is non-refundable other than where we cancel your travel arrangements for reasons other than Force Majeure (see below).

Please note that we may not hold any services for you until we receive payment of your deposit, meaning that services may become unavailable or prices may increase, in which case you will be responsible for paying the increased price, and we will not be responsible if services become unavailable.

FINAL PAYMENT

Payment in full must be received at least 60 days prior to the commencement of your trip unless otherwise stated.

For late bookings (bookings within 60 days of departure), full payment is required at the time of request. Late bookings may incur a surcharge or late booking fee. You acknowledge that we may not be able to confirm services for late bookings, in which case we will provide you with a refund of any payments received for those services.

We are under no obligation to remind you of a payment becoming due. If we fail to receive a payment from you by the due date for payment in clear funds, then this will be deemed a cancellation by you (see below). Note: some trips may require payment (including full payment) earlier or in additional instalments and this will be advised with the booking confirmation.

CANCELLATIONS BY YOU

If you wish to cancel your trip for other reasons, we require written notice. Cancellation fees will apply as follows:

  • More than 60 days prior to departure, cancellation fees per person will be the sum of: (a) deposit; (b) $250; and (c) the value of cancellation fees charged by airlines and other suppliers and operators; and
  • Less than 60 days prior to departure, cancellation fees per person will be the sum of: (a) deposit; (b) $500; and (c) the value of cancellation fees charged by airlines and other suppliers and operators.

Please note that any cancellation terms for a particular trip as may be specified on our website, in marketing material or in a booking confirmation will override the standard cancellation fees above.

General

You agree that the deductions and cancellation charges specified above are reasonable, represent a genuine pre-estimate of our loss and are required to protect our legitimate business interests.

For group departures, a transfer of a confirmed booking to another departure date at your request is deemed to be cancellation of the original booking.

ILLNESS OR VACCINATION STATUS PREVENTING TRAVEL  

 If due to any illness, suspected illness or failure to satisfy any required tests (such as a PCR or rapid antigen test in relation to Covid-19) or vaccination requirements:

  • an airline or other common carrier refuses you carriage;
  • a hotel or vessel refuses to accommodate you; or
  • we or our suppliers (acting reasonably) exclude you from the trip

and you are consequently prevented from commencing or continuing your trip, then:

  • if you have already commenced your trip, we will provide you with reasonable assistance to arrange alternative travel arrangements or to continue the trip. This will be at your cost.
  • if you have not commenced your trip then we regret we will not be in a position to provide such assistance.

We will not be liable to refund the cost of your trip (or any part of it) because we would have already paid (or committed to pay) suppliers and we would have already performed significant work preparing for the delivery of your trip and servicing your booking.

We will not be responsible for any other loss or loss you incur in connection with your booking (for example, airfares and visa expenses) if you are prevented from commencing or continuing your trip in these circumstances.

CANCELLATIONS OR RESCHEDULING BY US

In these Booking Conditions, the term Force Majeure means an event or events beyond our control and which we could not have reasonably prevented, and includes but is not limited to: (a) natural disasters (including not limited to flooding, fire, earthquake, landslide, volcanic eruption), adverse weather conditions (including hurricane or cyclone), high or low water levels; (b) war, armed conflict, industrial dispute, civil strife, terrorist activity or the threat of such acts; epidemic, pandemic; (d) any new or change in law, order, decree, rule or regulation of any government authority (including travel advisories and restrictions).

Force Majeure – Prior to travel

If in our reasonable opinion we (either directly or through our employees, contractors, suppliers or agents) consider that your travel arrangements cannot safely or lawfully proceed due to a Force Majeure Event then we at our discretion may elect to:

  • reschedule your travel arrangements (in whole or in part); and/or
  • cancel your travel arrangements (in whole or in part), in which case our contract with you will terminate (in whole or in part).

If we cancel any of your travel arrangements, neither of us will have any claim for damages against the other for the cancelled arrangements. However, we will at our election:

  • issue you with a credit note equal to payments received by the time of cancellation attributable to the cancelled travel arrangements, redeemable within 12 months of issue against new travel arrangements subject to terms and conditions in effect at that time; or
  • refund payments attributable to the cancelled travel arrangements less: (a) unrecoverable third party costs and other expenses incurred by us for the cancelled travel arrangements; (b) overhead charges incurred by us relative to the price of the cancelled travel arrangements; and (c) fair compensation for work undertaken by us in relation to the cancelled travel arrangements until the time of cancellation and in connection with the processing of any refund.

Force Majeure – During travel

If due to Force Majeure we cancel travel arrangements after your trip has commenced, we will provide you with a refund of recoverable third party costs for cancelled travel arrangements only.

Force Majeure – General

If we provide you with any alternative services or assistance where travel arrangements are cancelled or rescheduled due to Force Majeure, then you agree the amount to be refunded to you will be reduced by the value of these services and assistance.

You acknowledge that the terms in this section are reasonably necessary to protect our legitimate business interests. We strongly encourage you to purchase travel insurance that adequately responds to cancellation and rescheduling risks associated with Force Majeure events.

Other cancellations

If we cancel your travel arrangements for reasons other than Force Majeure, you will be offered (at your election) a refund of all funds paid, or the offer of a trip of substantially equal quality if appropriate.

We will not be responsible to you for any other expenses or loss you incur if your travel arrangements are rescheduled or cancelled whether or not due to Force Majeure.

AMENDMENTS BY YOU

We will endeavour to accommodate amendments and additional requests. You acknowledge that these may not be possible to fulfil, and for group departures a transfer of a booking to a different departure is deemed a cancellation. An amendment fee of $50 per person will be levied to cover communication and administration costs for any changes to bookings. You will also be required to pay any additional costs charged by suppliers.

AMENDMENTS BY US

Prior to travel

Occasionally, we may need to make amendments or modifications to the itinerary and its inclusions and you acknowledge our right to do this. If we become aware of a significant change to your itinerary or its inclusions prior to the commencement of your trip (where the trip can still proceed), then we will notify you within a reasonable time.

During travel

You acknowledge that the itinerary, modes of transport, accommodation and/or the trip’s inclusions may need to change during your trip due to local circumstances beyond our reasonable control, including road conditions, poor weather, changes in transport schedules, and/or vehicle breakdowns. You agree that we have the right to pass on any costs we incur for alternative arrangements we put in place for your benefit in these circumstances.

General

To the fullest extent permitted by law, we will not be responsible for any omissions or modifications to the itinerary or the inclusions due to Force Majeure or other circumstances beyond or control happening after we have accepted your booking. This includes any loss of enjoyment or distress caused by omissions or modifications.

If you are entitled to any compensation for any modifications or omissions, then you agree it will be reduced by the value of any alternative services we provide which you accept.

We will not be responsible to you for any other expenses or loss you incur resulting from any amendment or change to the itinerary or its inclusions.

EVENTS & TICKETS

Events

Your travel arrangements may be associated with a particular event, for example a sporting event (Event). We do not operate any Event. You acknowledge that we have no control over the Event and will not be liable for any representations, actions, omissions of the Event organisers.

You acknowledge that the cancellation or postponement of the Event, or the withdrawal or disqualification of any team or individual (Event Change) will not in any circumstance be considered a cancellation of travel arrangements by Mates’ Escapes. If you choose to cancel your booking due to an Event Change, then cancellation fees and charges will be applied in accordance with the ‘Cancellation by You’ condition above.

We give no warranties (and expressly disclaim any warranty) that the Event will take place at a particular time, at a particular place, in a particular format, to a particular standard or at all.

Tickets

Mates’ Escapes does not issue any tickets. Tickets are issued by or for Event organisers. You acknowledge that all tickets are subject to the terms and conditions and limitations of liability imposed by the Event organiser and associated venue operators.

Tickets are non-transferable and cannot be exchanged. If you lose your ticket (or if it is stolen), we will use reasonable endeavours to assist you to obtain a replacement ticket from the Event organiser or other supplier. Additional charges may be payable. We make no warranty that the ticket will be able to be replaced, and we are in no way responsible if it cannot be replaced.

Venue maps are given as a guide only and are issued by venues or Event organisers. We will use reasonable endeavours to meet special requests, but we do not promise that we will be able to meet that request, or that tickets will be located in a particular area or sat together.

You must not advertise any ticket for resale. If you do so, you acknowledge that the ticket may be cancelled by the Event organiser. If there are any issues with your ticket and it does not permit entry to the Event for whatever reason, then you agree that our maximum liability is to refund you the face value of the ticket.

Tickets for Events within Australia are generally sent by post to your nominated address approximately 1-2 weeks prior to the Event. For international Events, tickets may be delivered to your hotel or may be sent as an e-ticket to your nominated address. Please ensure you have access to your email address while travelling.

UNUSED & DENIED SERVICES

No refunds will be made for of any travel arrangements not utilised, whether by choice or because of late arrival or early departure. This includes the failure of transport to operate according to schedule, which we disclaim responsibility for.

If you are not fully and validly vaccinated against Covid-19 in the destination(s) where services are to be provided, and particular suppliers refuse to provide you with travel arrangements, then you agree you will not be entitled to any refund for those arrangements. We will not be responsible to you for any loss or expenses you incur (including loss of enjoyment or the costs of alternative arrangements) if you are denied services in these circumstances.

MINIMUM NUMBERS

Some trips are based on a minimum number of passengers travelling. We will advise you prior to confirming your booking if this is the case. If a trip fails to satisfy minimum numbers, the trip may be cancelled or re-costed. If the trip is cancelled, we will at your election refund you all payments made or credit payments towards alternative arrangements. We will not be responsible for any other travel arrangements affected by, or any additional costs incurred, as a result of cancellation.

GROUP AIRFARES

A number of domestic and international airlines may be used in conjunction with trip. All airfares are subject to availability and will be subject to carrier imposed terms and conditions.

A deposit is required to be paid to secure group fight arrangements. We will notify you of the deposit amount and when this needs to be paid (Fight Deposit). Final payment (Flight Balance) is due no later than 28 days prior to the first departure in the group booking (Final Payment Deadline). The Final Balance will be re-confirmed via email prior to the Final Payment Deadline. Ticket taxes and carrier imposed surcharges will be recalculated and communicated prior to the Final Payment Deadline and any increase in taxes and surcharges needs to be paid with the Flight Balance.

Failure to pay the Flight Balance and any increase to taxes and surcharges by the Final Payment Deadline may result in the booking being cancelled without notice. Applicable fees for cancellation will apply.

The following terms apply to late group flight bookings:

  • For bookings made less than 28 days before the first departure in a group booking, full payment is required no later than 72 hours after we confirm that we are holding group flights.
  • For bookings made 7 days or less before the first departure in a group booking full payment is required no later than 72 hours after we confirm that we are holding group flights.

If you reduce the group size after you have paid the Flight Deposit, the following terms apply:

  • If 20% or less of the group is cancelled before the Final Payment Deadline, 100% of the Deposit Amount can be used towards the Flight Balance for the remaining group.
  • If more than 20% but less than 100% of the group is cancelled before the Final Payment Deadline, the Fight Deposit attributable to any cancelled passenger above the 20% group size cannot be utilised and is forfeited.
  • If 100% of the group is cancelled at any time, 100% of the Flight Deposit will be forfeited.

The percentages above will be rounded up to the nearest whole number of passengers when calculating the Flight Deposit utilisation or forfeiture of it.

ACCOMMODATION

We reserve the right to substitute hotels, vessels and other forms of accommodation with properties or vessels of a comparable or higher standard.

CLIENT NAMES – EXACTLY AS PER PASSPORT

For security reasons, airlines and our overseas suppliers require names to be given exactly as stated in your passport. If you do not advise the correct information and we have to re-issue airline tickets or other documentation, then you will be responsible for any fees charged (such as airline cancellation charges or re-issue fees) in addition to our own reasonable administration fees.

TRAVEL INSURANCE

We strongly encourage you to be adequately insured for the duration of your trip. We recommend comprehensive travel insurance to cover cancellation, medical requirements, luggage, repatriations and additional expenses. The choice of insurer is yours. We strongly suggest you purchase insurance at the time you pay your deposit. This is because cancellation fees and charges are payable from that time.

PASSPORTS, VISAS

It is a requirement that you hold a valid passport and any required visas for your trip. It is your responsibility to ensure that you are in possession of the necessary documentation to comply with the laws and regulations of the countries to be visited.

VACCINATIONS

We strongly encourage you to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 with a vaccine approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration. This is so health risks for yourself and others you come into contact with can be mitigated. Subject to the Illness or Vaccination Status Preventing Travel section above, if you choose to travel without being fully vaccinated, then you do so accepting the implicit risks to your health and you agree to provide us with waivers and releases as we may require.

It is your responsibility to obtain genera vaccinations and preventative medicines as may be required for the duration of the trip. Any information provided by us is given in good faith.

HEALTH & FITNESS

It is your responsibility to ensure that you have a suitable level of health and fitness to undertake the trip of your choice.

If you suffer from a medical condition which may reasonably be expected to increase your risk of needing medical attention, or which may affect the normal conduct of the trip, then you must advise us at the time you make your booking request.

We may request you to provide an assessment of your medical condition from a qualified medical practitioner. If the assessment indicates that you will require special assistance from personnel which we cannot reasonably provide, then we may cancel your booking. Provided you notified us of your medical condition at the time you made your booking request, we will provide you with a full of refund of payments made. If you fail to notify us at that time or if you fail to provide a medical assessment within a reasonable time of our request, then this will be considered a cancellation by you.

We reserve the right to cancel your booking if any changed or non-disclosed medical conditions mean that you will require special assistance which we cannot reasonably provide.

We strongly suggest that your travel insurance policy includes comprehensive cancellation coverage.

DIETARY REQUIREMENTS

Special dietary requests are required to be notified to us at the time of booking. Although we will use reasonable endeavours to accommodate requests, we cannot guarantee requests will be met by suppliers. It is your responsibility to check that meals and beverages do not contain any allergens. We expressly disclaim any liability for meals or beverages that contain allergens.

INDEPENDENT SERVICES

We are not responsible for any additional activities or excursions which are not included in the booked itinerary or which we sell as agent for the principal operator. Any advice or recommendation made by a guide or local representative does not make us responsible.

ACCEPTANCE OF RISK

You acknowledge that travel involves personal risks which may be greater than those present in your everyday life. This could be as a result of the adventurous nature of your trip or the visiting of destinations which present geographical, political or cultural risks and dangers.

You should consult guidance issued by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) applicable to the destinations within your itinerary. You acknowledge that your choice to travel is made having had the benefit of DFAT guidance, and you accept any additional personal risks associated with your travel. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we disclaim any liability for these risks.

RESPONSIBILITY

Services supplied by independent suppliers

Where a third party over whom we have no direct control (Independent Supplier) is the supplier of travel arrangements that form part of your trip, you acknowledge that our obligations to you are limited to taking reasonable steps to select a reputable Independent Supplier and arranging for them to provide those travel arrangements to you. Independent Suppliers over whom we have no direct control include but are not limited to airlines, railway and cruise operators, hoteliers, independent transport companies (i.e., vehicles not operated by us) and common carriers.

To the fullest extent permitted by law, we will not be responsible to you for any loss, damage, personal injury or delay attributable to the actions or omissions of an Independent Supplier.  Any claims you have in this regard must be made against the Independent Supplier. You acknowledge that the Independent Supplier’s liability to you may be limited by their own terms and conditions.

Services we directly control

To the extent only that we are the principal supplier to you of travel arrangements or other services which we control, then we will provide those travel arrangements and services with reasonable skill and care.

We will only be responsible for our employees in the course of their employment, and for our agents and suppliers (where we are not the supplier’s agent or where the supplier is not an Independent Supplier) if they were carrying out the work we had asked them to do.

We will not be responsible for any loss, damage, claim or expense caused by the acts or omissions of yourself, of any other third party not connected with the provision of the travel arrangements or services, or due to an event of Force Majeure.

General liability limitation

While we endeavour to meet scheduled arrival and departure times, we cannot guarantee this. We will not be responsible for any loss or additional expenses you incur for any missed connections/services attributable to delays.

You acknowledge that travel arrangements or services which comply with local laws and regulations will be deemed to have been properly performed, even if this would not be considered the case in Australia.

Australian Consumer Law and corresponding legislation in State jurisdictions in certain circumstances imply mandatory conditions and warranties into consumer contracts (“Consumer Warranties”). These Booking Conditions do not exclude or limit the application of the Consumer Warranties. Other than the Consumer Warranties, we disclaim all warranties.

 To the fullest extent permitted by law, our maximum liability to you under these Booking Conditions, in tort (including negligence) or at law is limited to arranging for the travel arrangements to be resupplied or payment of the cost of having them resupplied.

ROOM SHARE

We offer a matching service for solo travellers who are willing to share twin accommodation, saving on single supplements. Only travellers of the same sex will be matched. There are no guarantees that a match will be possible and we do not warrant the suitability or characteristics of any persons we match. Please do not request a room-match if you snore. Please note that a person we match you with is not responsible to provide any assistance to you. If we are unable to find a match, single supplements will apply.

AUTHORITY ON TOUR

When joining a group tour, you undertake to conduct yourself in a manner conducive to good group dynamics. If you act in a manner that threatens or disrupts the safety or enjoyment of others on the tour, the tour leader may, acting reasonably, require that you leave the tour. You will not be entitled to any refund for unused services and you will be responsible for any additional costs you incur.

IMAGE RELEASE

When on tour, we may take photographs or make recordings of you and your activities that identify you. We reserve the right to use any images and/or recordings for promotional and marketing purposes. You consent to this use and acknowledge you will not be entitled to any payment or other compensation. If you do not consent to the use of your image or likeness, please advise us as least 21 days prior to the commencement of your tour.

ALTERNATIVE DYNAMIC CANCELLATION FEE PROVISION

You may cancel your booking by giving written notice to us. Cancellation fees and charges will be levied as follows irrespective of when notice of cancellation is received:

  • any amounts we have paid or have contractually committed to pay to third parties to deliver your travel arrangements which we cannot reasonably recover (for example payments made or due to airlines and ground operators);
  • a fee which is the greater of the deposit and 25% of the booking value to compensate us for work performed up until the time of cancellation (including work performed in connection with your travel arrangements prior to your booking) and our loss of profit; and
  • a fee which is the greater of $200 and 5% of the booking value to compensate us for processing the cancellation and any associated refund.

Cancellation fees and charges will not exceed payments received by us at the time of cancellation. If after the application of these fees and charges there is a surplus of payments you have made to us, we will refund this to you within a reasonable time.

You agree that these cancellation fees and charges are reasonable and required to protect our legitimate business interests.

Any payments we have made to third parties will only be refunded to you once we have deducted the above cancellation fees and charges and once we have actually recovered the amounts from the third parties. We will use reasonable endeavours to recover third party payments, but we make no guarantee that we will be able to make recoveries.

For group departures, a transfer of a confirmed booking to another departure date is deemed to be cancellation of the original booking.

COMPLAINTS

In the event of a problem with any aspect of your travel arrangements you must tell us or make our representative or our local supplier aware of such problems immediately.

We will only consider and be responsible for claims made against us where we or our suppliers have had the opportunity to put things right on the ground. If you notify us of a problem during travel and we haven’t resolved it to your satisfaction, then you must make any claim in writing within 30 days from the end of your travel arrangements.

DEEMED ACCEPTANCE

If you place a booking on behalf of another party, you represent and warrant us that you are duly authorised to provide the agreement and consent of the other party to be bound by these Booking Conditions. You agree that you will be responsible for any loss or damage we incur if this is not the case.

GENERAL

The contract between PlaySeeGo Travel Group Pty Ltd trading as Mates’ Escapes and you is governed by the laws of the State of Victoria. Any disputes shall be dealt with by a court with the appropriate jurisdiction in Victoria.

If any provision of these Booking Conditions is found to be unenforceable, then to the extent possible it will be severed without affecting the remaining provisions.

Any personal information you provide to us will be collected, stored, used, protected and shared in accordance with Australian Privacy Principles, and our Privacy Policy, which is published here: https://www.matesescapes.com.au/privacy/

Credit Card Surcharges

Surcharges apply with all Credit Card payments:

Domestic Cards:  1.75% + 30c per transaction.

International Cards: 1.75% + 30c per transaction

How to Contact Us

If you have any questions or concerns about the Terms and Conditions on this page, or for any events or travel services, please contact us at [email protected]

Updated: 06/07/2023