Terms & Conditions

TRAVEL TERMS & CONDITIONS

Valid as of March 1st, 2023

By making a payment to Sagres Vacations ("Sagres Vacations') or participating in a Sagres Vacations tour, cruise, or event ("Trip") you agree to these Travel Terms and Conditions set forth herein together with any additional documentation we give you (collectively "The Agreement") and any additional terms and conditions of any Supplier that are applicable to your travel arrangement.  The Agreement describes what you are legally entitled to expect from us when you book your Trip, in addition to important obligations you enter into as a traveler ("Member") that affect your legal rights.  Therefore, it is of vital importance that you read The Agreement in its entirety. The lead traveler is responsible for sharing The Agreement with each traveler for whom they make a booking. If the booking is made by a Travel Advisor, the Advisor is responsible for providing all travelers with a copy of The Agreement. Sagres Vacations is not responsible for any Member's unawareness of the Terms and Conditions or any other provisions in The Agreement due to the failure of the lead traveler or Travel Advisor to share this information with all other travelers.  If you have any questions about The Agreement you should contact us before making any booking.

 

RESERVATION AND PAYMENT

Our team is ready to book your reservation.  Final payment is due as indicated on your itinerary.  You must make all payments on time and in accordance with the instructions that we provide you. If we do not receive any payment due in full and on time, we reserve the right to treat your booking as canceled by you in which case the cancellation charges set out below will become payable.  We reserve the right to refuse a booking without giving any reason and shall, in that event only, return any deposit received.  Reservations are non-transferable.  

Unless otherwise noted, a $500.00 non-refundable deposit is required for each traveler is required at the time of booking. Payment of the deposit to Sagres Vacations constitutes acceptance of these terms and conditions. Sagres Vacations reserves the right to modify these terms and conditions at any time, without notice. If your travel arrangements include scheduled air, you are required to purchase the full air ticket cost at the time of booking.  Balance is Due 60 Days before all tour programs, except cruises.  For all Cruise Programs, the balance is Due 120 days before departure. If you are booking your travel program within 60 days of departure, final payment is required at the time of booking.

 

CANCELLATIONS

More than 61 Days Before Departure: Your non-refundable deposit will be retained.

60-0  Days Before Departure: 100% of land/or cruise Price Total.

Cancellations of confirmed reservations result in penalties and fees assessed by our travel suppliers.  Airline tickets are 100% non-refundable once paid in full.  

 

REVISIONS AND CHANGES TO ITINERARY

A handling fee of $25.00 per transaction will be assessed for any change or revision made during a reservation. A change of departure date may result in cancellation.

 

INCLUDED IN A SAGRES VACATIONS TRIP

Prices are per person based on double occupancy and include all accommodations; airport transfers and land transportation as detailed in each Trip itinerary; basic internet where available in hotel rooms and aboard riverboats (service levels are not guaranteed); entertainment and special dinners as arranged by Sagres Vacations; shore excursions and sightseeing; standard luggage handling (see Luggage Policy); services of Sagres Vacations Directors and local tour guides.   All names and deposits are required at the time of booking. Meals are included as specified in the customer itinerary.

Cabins/Rooms with two beds are usually reserved for doubles. The price for rooms/cabins occupied by one person is higher than those when two or more people share the cost of a room.

 

NOT INCLUDED IN SAGRES VACATIONS TRIP

Unless otherwise noted, trip prices do not include your airfare and related taxes to the departure point and from the ending point of your Trip (see Airline Reservation Service section).  The terms and conditions of the air carrier including the cancellation terms apply to your airfare. 

Sagres Vacations Director and Driver gratuities are not included and are voluntary for all land tours.

As a service, Sagres Vacations will make hotel reservations before or after your trip on a space-available basis upon request. These hotel charges will be added to your Trip cost.  Personal Expenses such as phone calls, room service, alcoholic and bar beverages, laundry, airline excess luggage charges, and other optional incidental extras are not included.  This list is illustrative and not a complete list of every item not included.

 

AIRLINE RESERVATION SERVICES

Airline reservations may be purchased through Sagres Vacations for travel originating in the United States, Canada, and Australia. By using Sagres Vacations' air services, you agree that Sagres Vacations, in purchasing, selling, or otherwise arranging air transportation, is acting only as your agent with air carriers, who are independent contractors.  Sagres Vacations is not liable or responsible for any accident, death, personal injury, illness, property damage, delay, or other loss or expense of any nature whatsoever arising directly or indirectly out of any act of God, or any actions or omissions (including any failure to provide services) or default of, any carrier.  Your airline ticket purchased through Sagres Vacations constitutes a contract between yourself and the airline. Sagres Vacations is not liable for and does not assume responsibility or accept claims with regard to seat assignments, name changes, schedule changes, flight changes, missed connections, cancellations, claims for a refund or reimbursement of airline ticket fees, or any other loss or expense incurred by you for any reason whatsoever (including, without limitation to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization of a carrier or similar relief from creditors).  Sagres Vacations must handle ticketing for Sagres Vacations’ special fares, which are subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed until reserved.  Special fares cannot be combined with any other promotional offer. Sagres Vacations’ air services must be purchased in conjunction with a Sagres Vacations Trip.  Electronic ticket numbers will be mailed with the final documents. Should you cancel or change your flights before or after departure, all airline cancellation and change fees will apply.  It is your responsibility to confirm all departures 24 hours in advance and to be aware of any changes by the carrier.

 

TRIP MEMBER CONDUCT

By participating in a Sagres Vacations Trip, a Member agrees to be bound by all rules and guidelines established by Sagres Vacations, its representatives, and your Sagres Vacations Director(s).

Sagres Vacations reserves the right to terminate your Trip if you are abusive of others, or your behavior disrupts the Trip or if your physical condition negatively impacts the enjoyment of the other guests. Sagres Vacations will make no refund and will accept no liability if you must leave the trip.  Sagres Vacations is not responsible for any costs incurred by you due to removal from a vacation.

When you book with us, you accept responsibility for any damage or loss caused by you. Full payment for any such damage or loss (reasonably estimated if not precisely known) must be paid directly at the time to the accommodation owner or manager or another supplier. You must indemnify us for the full amount of any claim (also including legal costs) made against us.

 

TRIP MEMBER HEALTH AND SAFETY

You participate in the activities of the Trip at your own risk.  Climbing, hiking, extensive walking, touring in general, use of various transportation and recreational vehicles, and other physical activity may involve a greater risk of injury or death than the activities in which you may participate during your daily life. By taking part in such activities, you incur and assume all of the risks that such activities present. As Sagres Vacations is not qualified to evaluate your fitness, you (or your doctor) must evaluate your fitness for any given tour or activity. Sagres Vacations assumes no liability or responsibility for any Damages which may result from your participation in any activity during the Trip. 

You may be required to sign waivers on or before the departure date. Failure to sign waivers may prevent you from participating in the Trip or from participating in specific Trip activities. 

 

ITINERARY CHANGES AND FLEXIBILITY

Sagres Vacations pledges to make every effort to operate all Trips as advertised. Travelers should be flexible as situations may arise that necessitate changes or exceptions to the itinerary. Sagres Vacations reserves the right to alter or curtail the itinerary and substitute hotels, sightseeing, and/or conveyances as it is deemed necessary. Any savings realized by these changes will be refunded to guests. Any resultant expenses will be covered by Sagres Vacations.

 

CANCELLATION POLICY

You have the right to cancel your reservation with Sagres Vacations at any time prior to departure of the Trip.  However, regardless of the reason cancellations result in costly expenses, therefore a cancellation may result in a penalty fee that increases the closer the cancellation is to departure.  Fees vary between Trips; please see the specific Cancellation Fees and Schedules for your Trip as specified in your Registration Form. 

 

CANCELLATION BY SAGRES VACATIONS

We reserve the right to cancel or reschedule any departure for any reason.  If we cancel, except in the case of extreme circumstances as detailed below, we will offer alternate arrangements.  We may at our sole discretion offer travel vouchers or refunds in accordance with our cancellation policy above.  You are responsible for any additional costs for air tickets or other travel arrangements not made by us.

 

LUGGAGE POLICY

Due to space limitations during your Sagres Vacations Trip, we ask that you please limit your checked luggage to one average-size suitcase per person. Besides complying with the Sagres Vacations restriction noted above, you should also be sure to research and comply with all airline baggage restrictions relating to your flights to and from your Sagres Vacations Trip. Researching and complying with airline luggage restrictions is your responsibility and Sagres Vacations cannot be held responsible for any costs, or disruptions to travel, caused by your failure to research and comply with airline policies. PLEASE NOTE that if you are booked on a Trip that includes on-tour flights, the checked luggage weight restrictions for these flights may be lower than the weight restrictions for your international flights, details will be provided in your personal travel documents provided prior to your Trip.

Although every effort is made to handle your luggage carefully, we cannot be responsible for loss or damaged luggage and personal effects due to breakage, theft, or fair wear and tear through hotel, airline, and ground transportation handling. It is important to have adequate insurance to cover these eventualities.  

 

HOLIDAY AND MUSEUM CLOSURES

Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen circumstances, or many religious, state, and local holidays observed throughout the world. 

 

ERRORS AND OMISSIONS

While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of the information in our brochures, on our website, or communicated by our reservation staff, errors or omissions are possible and Sagres Vacations is not responsible for such errors. If a mistake is made in billing, we reserve the right to correct the invoice and you will be responsible for proper payment.

 

TRAVEL DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS

The Transportation Security Administration requires all passengers to provide their name, date of birth, and gender when making all airline reservations. For international travel, US citizens require a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond their return flight date. Non-US citizens should contact their booking agent or appropriate consulate for information on all necessary documents. It is your sole responsibility to secure and/or pay for any and all visas, reciprocity fees, affidavits, immunizations, and any other requirements to be permitted entry into each destination. Your failure to have proper visas and/or passports will likely result in you not being able to leave a country or enter a destination and no refund will be available in any such case and Sagres Vacations will have no liability in such case.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some destinations may have specific requirements including but not limited to proof of a negative COVID-19 test, a vaccination, and health insurance. These guidelines are in addition to and may go beyond, Sagres Vacations' requirements.  It is your sole responsibility to understand the requirements specific to your travel destination(s). In addition, Sagres Vacations reserves the right to require additional documentation in order to participate in a tour or cruise, in which case you will be informed of the requirements ahead of your trip.

Failure to have proper visas and/or a passport, or other required documents, will likely result in you not being able to leave a country or enter a destination. No refund will be available and Sagres Vacations will accept no liability in such a case.

 

TRAVELING WITH MINORS AS A GUARDIAN

By allowing a minor to participate in a Sagres Vacations Trip, the parents and/or guardian of the participating minor agree to be solely responsible for the supervision and welfare of the minor on the Trip and to ensure that the minor follow all written and verbal rules of safety.  The parents and/or guardian of the participating minor, for themselves and on behalf of the participating minor, hereby release and discharge, and agree to hold harmless, Sagres Vacations from and against any and all damages (including, without limitation, emotional trauma) suffered or incurred by such minor.

If you are traveling as the guardian of a child/children, we strongly suggest that you carry a letter from both parents of the child authorizing emergency treatment in the event of illness or accident.  For travel abroad, many foreign countries have specific entry requirements for children under 21 who are traveling internationally without BOTH parents. (These requirements are in response to the increased incidence of children being abducted and taken abroad.)  PLEASE NOTE THAT SAGRES VACATIONS IS NOT RESPONSIBLE for the disruption of travel caused by improper documentation for children traveling without both parents.

 

TRAVELERS NEEDING SPECIAL ASSISTANCE

Special Dietary Requests: The restaurants, hotels, caterers, and numerous other partners we work with all do their best to accommodate special dietary requests from you. However, given the diverse nature of those food providers (from small wineries to grand hotels to world-famous restaurants, some of our partners are better able than others to accommodate such requests.  We therefore cannot guarantee that all dietary requests can be accommodated at every meal.  Also, please note that where dietary requests can be accommodated, choices will frequently be limited.

Mobility:  Sagres Vacations regrets that it cannot provide special assistance for walking, wheelchairs, motorized scooters, dining, or other personal needs. If you need such assistance, you must be accompanied by an able companion who will assist you. We regret that some itineraries cannot accommodate wheelchairs or motorized scooters.  Sagres Vacations may require you to produce a doctor's certificate certifying you are fit to partake in the Trip. If Sagres Vacations is unable to reasonably accommodate your needs or believes that your health and safety could be compromised, Sagres Vacations reserves the right to refuse you a place on the Trip.

 

PHOTOGRAPHY AND VIDEO ON TOUR

Occasionally, Sagres Vacations will use photographs and/or videos taken on the tour by fellow guests, your Sagres Vacations Tour Guide, or professional photographers for use in print, internet, and other promotional purposes.  If you prefer that your image not be used in any marketing activities, please notify your Sagres Vacations Tour Guide at the start of your Trip.

 

EXTREME CIRCUMSTANCES

Sagres Vacations assumes no liability for, any loss, damage, delay, or cancellation resulting in whole or in part from an Act of God or any other Force Majeure condition, including, without limitation: fire, volcanic eruption, environmental pollution or contamination, inclement weather, earthquake, low or high water levels, flood, water or power shortages or failures, tropical storms or hurricanes, riots or civil commissions or disturbances, and any other acts of a similar nature, sabotage, arrests, strikes or labor disruptions, restraint of rulers or peoples, expropriations, acts of terrorism, war, insurrection, quarantine restrictions, government health advisories, epidemics, pandemics, or warnings or alerts of any kind of nature, government seizures, refusal or cancellation or suspension or delay of any government authority or any license, permit or authorization, damages to its facilities or the travel supplier and its facilities, or any other unforeseen circumstances or any other factors unforeseen by Sagres Vacations that impacts negatively on, or hampers, its ability to fulfill any of its contractual conditions.  In the event that any of these conditions apply, Sagres Vacations shall be excused, discharged, and released from performance to the extent such performance is so limited or prevented, without liability of any kind including liability to make any refund. However, in a Force Majeure occurrence, Sagres Vacations reserves the right to issue a credit to you in lieu of a money-back refund, applicable to a future Sagres Vacations Trip.

 

SUPPLIER AGREEMENTS

Sagres Vacations does not own, manage, control, run, or operate any transportation or recreational vehicle (including any motor coach, boat, helicopter, and/or airplane), hotel, restaurant, or any other supplier of services connected with a Trip.  All tour services are subject to the terms and conditions specified by the supplier of such service and to the laws of the countries in which the services are supplied.  The passage contract (Conditions of Carriage), when issued by the airlines concerned, shall constitute the sole contract between such airlines and the Trip Member.

 

LIMITS ON SAGRES VACATIONS' RESPONSIBILITIES

It is our aim to give each of our patrons the best possible service and attention.  All Members of Sagres Vacations Trip should be aware that, in arranging restaurants, transportation (including air transportation),  motels, hotels, and other accommodations or any other service, Sagres Vacations and its agents, employees, officers, directors, and affiliates are acting only as agent for the Member and assume no liability or responsibility for any accident, death, personal injury, illness, property damage, delay or other loss or expense of any nature whatsoever (collectively, "Damages")  arising directly or indirectly out of any act of God or any actions or omissions of, or default of, any restaurant, carrier (including airlines), motel, hotel, or other person or supplier of services providing any of the services, programs, or accommodations offered in connection with a Trip.  All such restaurants, carriers (including airlines), motels, hotels, and other persons or suppliers providing services, programs, or accommodations are independent contractors. 

By participating in a Trip, a Member agrees that Sagres Vacations shall not be liable or responsible for any Damages, or any problems concerning any restaurant, carrier (including airlines), motel, hotel, or other person or supplier providing services, programs, or accommodations, resulting directly or indirectly from any occurrences beyond the control of Sagres Vacations, including but not limited to acts of God, casualties, vehicle defects, natural disasters, labor disputes, theft, equipment breakdowns, cancellations of the itinerary, delayed departures and arrivals, missed connections, quarantines, pilferage, weather, government restraints, hijackings, mechanical defects or failures, terrorist acts, or defaults or negligence by any restaurant, carrier (including airlines), motel, hotel or other supplier providing tour services, programs or accommodations.  By participating in a Trip, a Member further agrees that Sagres Vacations shall not be liable or responsible for any damages arising out of or relating to any Trip, except to the extent arising out of Sagres Vacations’ gross negligence or willful misconduct.

 

MODIFICATIONS TO TRAVEL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Sagres Vacations reserves the right to correct any errors or omissions in its published materials and to amend these Travel Terms and Conditions at any time as the result of any material changes to legislation or regulation.  All amended Travel Terms and Conditions shall automatically be effective upon being posted by Sagres Vacations to the website Sagres Vacations.com.  Accordingly, guests should check the website Sagres Vacations.com prior to travel in order to ensure they are aware of any changes.

 

CONTROLLING LAW AND JURISDICTION

It is agreed by Sagres Vacations and the Member that all legal claims, actions, and proceedings against Sagres Vacations under, in connection with, resulting from or incident to a tour may be instituted, if at all, only in a state or federal court within the State of Massachusetts, USA, to the exclusion of the courts of or in any other state or jurisdiction except that Sagres Vacations may elect, at its sole discretion, to litigate the action in the county or state where the guest is located.  It is further agreed that all such claims, actions, and proceedings shall be governed by and decided in accordance with the laws of the State of Connecticut.  In no event shall Sagres Vacations be liable for other than compensatory damages, and you hereby waive all rights to punitive damages. You agree that you will only bring claims against Sagres Vacations in your individual capacity and not as a plaintiff or class member in any purported class action or representative proceeding. You understand and agree that no claims will be considered and that you will not bring suit against Sagres Vacations unless you have first provided written notice of claim to Sagres Vacations within 30 days after the tour or cancellation of the tour.

You acknowledge and agree that we may change these Terms and Conditions from time to time and that those changes become effective immediately. If we make material changes, we will provide you with notice. Your continued use of our services following the notification of any changes constitutes your acceptance and agreement to be bound by such changes.  You agree to be bound by the Terms and Conditions that are in effect at the time of travel or cancellation.