Terms & Conditions 2023 - the small print everyone loves
It is very important to us that each of our young Grow Abroad customer's experience will be fun and safe in every aspect. This includes, but is not limited to, requiring criminal background checks from host family and staff members, or submitting detailed instructions, expectations, and program rules documentations for visiting students and group chaperones.
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1. Our Services
Our services correspond to the description in this website, travel documents, and especially the written booking confirmation. You are welcome to inform us of any special requirements prior to your child’s arrival and we will do everything possible to fulfill these requests though we cannot guarantee them. 2. Booking and Contract
A booking is confirmed and these Terms shall apply when Grow Abroad, has received the online booking form from the Client and the Client has received written confirmation from Grow Abroad in the form of a booking confirmation By sending us filled out online booking form you enter into a contract, which is binding as soon as you receive a confirmation from us. The contractual partner is the person responsible for the booking, including third party bookings. 3. Payment
After receiving your enrollment form via email, we will send you a notification of its receipt and ask you to pay a deposit of 15% of the total program cost. The final payment is due after receiving further travel documents - but no later than 21 days before commencement of the booked trip. i. Deposits: At time of booking any Grow Abroad, LLC program, a non-refundable deposit of 15% of total program cost per person per program is due from the Client to Grow Abroad. If the booking is made 60 days or less prior to departure, full payment is due at the time of booking. The non-refundable deposit should be sent to Grow Abroad. Should the Client cancel their booking for any reason, the deposit amount as defined, will be held by Grow Abroad. These deposits expire two years from the date they were submitted, and may be used towards any Grow Abroad program that begins within this time frame by the Client who originally made the cancelled booking. The deposit has no cash value and is transferable. ii. Final Payment: Clients should refer to the confirmation invoice sent by Grow Abroad and/or its authorized agent and/or their applicable confirmation email for details regarding final payment for any Programs booked. Payment of the balance of the price for any is due 60 days before the departure date of the Program to depart. If full payment is not received by such due date Grow Abroad may treat the booking of such Program as cancelled and shall retain the deposit paid on booking. If a Program is booked less than 21 days before the departure date of the Program to depart then the full amount is payable at the time of booking in order for the booking to be confirmed. If, for any Program, payment terms differ from those outlined in this section, the applicable terms will be communicated to the Client prior to booking and shall also be detailed on the applicable invoice. iii. Client Details: As a condition to valid confirmation of any booking with Grow Abroad the Client must provide all necessary information as requested by Grow Abroad along with their final payment. If the Client fails to provide such information prior to 60 days before the departure of the purchased Program, Grow Abroad reserves the right to treat such booking as cancelled and levy any cancellation fees deemed reasonable by Grow Abroad. The information required from each Client will be communicated to the Clients, or to the Grow Abroad authorized agent, during the booking process. 4. Health Regulations
Participants must be in possession of valid passport documents and are responsible for the observation of border regulations in the home country and in the United States. We highly recommend a to add a travel health insurance to the participant's regular coverage. *MEDICAL CONDITIONS AND SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS Grow Abroad, LLC cannot offer advice of a medical nature. All Clients should consult their physician regarding their fitness for travel. It is the Client’s responsibility to assess the risks and requirements of each Program in light of such Client’s limitations, physical and mental fitness and condition, and any medical requirements or issues of such Client. Grow Abroad makes no representations and gives no warranties in relation to the standard of such facilities or medical treatment. Grow Abroad will endeavor to accommodate the special requests of Clients, such as dietary and accommodation requests, but such requests do not form part of these Terms or the contract between Client and Grow Abroad and Grow Abroad is not liable for any failure to accommodate or fulfill such requests. 5. Cancellation by Participant
By Client: Any cancellation of a booking by a Client must be delivered to Grow Abroad in writing and be acknowledged by Grow Abroad in writing. The applicable cancellation fees shall be determined with reference to the date on which the request to cancel is received by Grow Abroad or its Agents and are expressed hereinafter as a percentage of the total price paid for the cancelled program.
6. Cancellation by Grow Abroad LLC
ii. By Grow Abroad, LLC: Grow Abroad will not cancel a booking on any program once confirmed, in accordance with these Terms, except for reasons of ‘Force Majeure’, which shall be defined as unusual or unforeseen circumstances outside of the reasonable control of Grow Abroad. When a program is cancelled by Grow Abroad before the agreed date of departure for reasons not arising from the fault or negligence of or within the reasonable control of the Client, the Client shall have the choice of: 1) accepting from Grow Abroad a substitute program of equivalent value, where such substitute is reasonably available; 2) accepting from Grow Abroad a substitute program of lower value and to recover from Grow Abroad the difference in price between the price of the program originally purchased and that of the substitute program; or 3) accepting from Grow Abroad a full refund of all monies paid for the cancelled program Grow Abroad is not responsible for any incidental expenses or consequential losses that the Client may have incurred as a result of the cancelled booking such as visas, vaccinations, non-refundable flights rebooking flights or airport transportation , or loss of enjoyment, etc. Grow Abroad reserves the right to issue a full refund in lieu of the choices above, in its sole discretion. Where after departure a significant element of the program as described cannot be provided, Grow Abroad will make suitable alternative arrangements for the continuation of the trip program. If it is not possible to provide a suitable alternative or the Client reasonably rejects any suitable alternatives, Grow Abroad will provide the Client a refund of unused programs. *If a participant's disruptive behavior prevents Grow Abroad, LLC from accomplishing programming goals or breaks youth-applicable laws of the United States, we reserve the right to cancel the contract immediately and without any warning. Grow Abroad reserves the right to dismiss any student who we deem have violated any of the conditions for participation in our programs, have become an overall hindrance to the group process or the stated goals and integrity of the program, or have an active and contagious health condition. If this is the case, Grow Abroad will dismiss these students without refund. 7. Unused Services
Neither Grow Abroad nor its authorized agents shall offer or pay any discounts or refunds for missed or unused services which were missed or unused by the Client due to no fault of Grow Abroad, its agents, or representatives, which shall include any termination of the Client’s participation in the tour Program due to the Client’s own fault, negligence or breach of these Terms. 8. Flexibility
The Client acknowledges by booking a Program and/or agreeing to travel with Grow Abroad that the nature of this type of travel requires considerable flexibility and acknowledges that they will permit reasonable alterations to the Program and/or itinerary by Grow Abroad. The Client acknowledges their understanding that the route, schedules, itineraries, amenities and mode of transport may be subject to change without prior notice due to circumstances or events, which may include sickness or mechanical breakdown, incidents in the location where the Program will be operated, flight cancellations, strikes, events emanating from political disputes, entry or border difficulties, extreme weather and other unpredictable or unforeseeable circumstances which are beyond the reasonable control of Grow Abroad. 9. Client Responsibility
The Client must at all times strictly comply with all applicable laws and regulations of all countries and regions visited on the applicable Program. Should the Client fail to comply with the above or commit any illegal act when on the Program or the Client’s behavior is causing or is likely to cause danger, distress or material annoyance to others, Grow Abroad may terminate that Client’s travel arrangements on any Program immediately without any liability on Grow Abroad’s part and the Client will not be entitled to any refund for unused or missed services or costs incurred resulting from the termination of the travel arrangements, including, without limitation, return travel, accommodations, meals, and/or incidentals. Clients agree that they are responsible for any costs incurred by Grow Abroad, Grow Abroad’s suppliers or Grow Abroad’s partners, as a result of damage, destruction, theft, or excess cleaning fees related to Client’s accommodation, transport, or other use of facilities while on the Program. Clients agree to immediately report any pre-existing damage of this kind to staff of the accommodation, transportation service, or facility (as appropriate) and/or a Grow Abroad representative as soon as possible upon discovery by the Client. Client agrees to take all prudent measures in relation to their own safety while on any Grow Abroad Program, including, but not limited to, the proper use of safety devices such as seatbelts, harnesses, and helmets, and obeying all posted signs and warnings in relation to Client health and safety. Grow Abroad shall not be liable for any failure on the Client’s part to comply with these recommendations. 10. Acceptance of Risk
THE CLIENT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT THE NATURE OF GROW ABROAD’S PROGRAMS ARE ADVENTUROUS AND MAY INVOLVE AN AMOUNT OF RISK TO CLIENTS’ HEALTH AND/OR SAFETY. TO THE FULL EXTENT PERMISSIBLE BY LAW THE CLIENT HEREBY ASSUMES ALL SUCH RISK AND DOES HEREBY RELEASE GROW ABROAD FROM ALL CLAIMS AND CAUSES OF ACTION ARISING FROM ANY DAMAGES OR INJURIES OR DEATH RESULTING FROM THESE RISKS INHERENT IN TRAVEL, VISITING FOREIGN DESTINATIONS, AND PARTICIPATING IN ADVENTUROUS ACTIVITIES SUCH AS THOSE INCLUDED IN PROGRAM ITINERARIES. Accommodation, transportation, activities and excursions, and other components of Grow Abroad’s Programs will be arranged by Grow Abroad with suppliers local to the region where the Program operates, who may themselves engage the services of local operators and/or sub-contractors. Grow Abroad at all times endeavors to appoint reputable and competent local suppliers and to comply with all applicable laws and regulations concerning health and safety in the regions where Programs operate. The terms and conditions of all suppliers of Program components will be applicable to the Program component provided by such supplier and are expressly incorporated into these Terms and Conditions. These may limit or exclude liability of the supplier. The liability of Grow Abroad will not exceed that of any supplier of any Program component. The components that make up each Program tour shall be regarded as having been satisfactorily performed and delivered solely in reference to the regulations and laws concerning health and safety in the applicable jurisdiction where such component is operated. |
11. Liability
Grow Abroad is not responsible for any damages, expenses, losses, or claims which are attributable to the fault of any Client, the unforeseeable or unavoidable act or omission of a third party unconnected with the provision of any services that form any part of the Program(s), or a force majeure event (as herein defined). Force Majeure: Grow Abroad shall not be liable in any way to the Client for death, bodily injury, illness, damage, delay or other loss or detriment to person or property, or financial costs both direct and indirect incurred, or for Grow Abroad failure to commence, perform and/ or complete any duty owed to the Client if such death, delay, bodily injury (including emotional distress or injury), illness, damage or other loss or detriment to person or property is caused by Act of God, war or war like operations, mechanical breakdowns, terrorist activities or threat thereof, civil commotions, labor difficulties, interference by authorities, political disturbance, howsoever and where so ever any of the same may arise or be caused, riot, insurrection and government restraint, fire, extreme weather or any other cause whatsoever beyond the reasonable control of Grow Abroad; or an event which Grow Abroad or the supplier of services, even with all due care, could not foresee. THE CLIENT MUST COMMUNICATE AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY, IN WRITING, TO GROW ABROAD LLC ANY SUCH FAILURE THAT THE CLIENT ALLEGES HAS OCCURRED. In the event that any loss, death, injury or illness is caused by the negligent acts and/or omissions of Grow Abroad or of the third-party suppliers of any services that form part of the Contract then Grow Abroad limits its liability Grow Abroad shall not in any circumstances be liable to Clients for any loss or anticipated loss of profit, loss of revenue, loss of use, loss of contract or other opportunity or for any other consequential or indirect loss or damage of a similar nature. For claims not involving personal injury, death or illness or which are not subject to the Conventions referred to above, any liability Grow Abroad may incur for the negligent acts and/or omissions of its suppliers shall be limited to a maximum of the price which the Client paid for the Program, not including insurance premiums and administration charges. Grow Abroad will not at any time be liable for any loss of or damage to valuables of any nature. The Client agrees that they shall be precluded from making a double recovery by making the same claims and seeking recovery against Grow Abroad and its suppliers, contractors or other third parties. 12. Limitation
Any claims regarding the contract must be made no later than one month from the termination of the program. Your right for claims is limited to one year starting from the termination of the program. Any claims regarding unauthorized or illegal action must be made within three years from the date of the termination of the program. 13. Travel Documents
i. Valid Passport: The Client is entirely responsible for securing and must be in possession at all times while on a Program of a valid passport required for entry, departure and travel to Grow Abroad Programs, and for re-entry to the Client’s country of residence or departure (passport must be valid 6 months past the last date of travel with Grow Abroad), as well as all visas, permits and certificates including vaccination certificates, insurance policies, required for entry. ii. Vaccinations: Clients should consult the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and / or their local travel doctor for information in respect of any recommended vaccinations required. It is the Client’s responsibility to check with their doctor to make sure that they have any recommended vaccinations or medication suggested for Grow Abroad Program destinations. iii. Documents: Please note that all travel documents for Programs such as vouchers, itineraries and invoices will be sent electronically, via email to the e-mail address provided on booking upon receipt of full payment by Grow Abroad. 14. Grow Abroad, LLC Privacy Policy
Grow Abroad and its related parties are committed to protecting your Personal Information that you share with us. We want you to understand our Privacy Policy and what it means to you, our customer. Please take a moment to review this Privacy Policy. By using our website or the services offered by us, you are consenting to our use of such personal information as you provide to us as described herein. Any questions you have about our Privacy Policy, or the information contained herein can be directed to [email protected] Grow Abroad collects personal information only to the extent necessary to deliver the services, products, or information you, or an agent or other party booking on your behalf. Grow Abroad, either directly or through our agency and booking partners collects, holds, uses and discloses, only as necessary the following personal information from customers and others in the course of offering services or providing services to you: full name, age, home address, phone number, e-mail address, passport and travel medical information when required, residency, nutrition preferences, trip destination information, credit card and/or other payment information, etc. The collection of this information is done to allow us to provide services to you as requested. We may also collect personal information, including contact information, if you elect to subscribe to our newsletter which we will use only to provide you with the service you have requested (or other substantially similar services directly related to your request). Grow Abroad uses this personal information to provide the services and/or products you have requested, or to provide you with information about those services or Grow Abroad. Grow Abroad may use your personal information to book products and services for you or on your behalf from our third party suppliers and service providers, or other service providers or merchants for whom we act as agent from time to time. Please contact us if you have any questions about providing or not providing Personal Information when booking or otherwise dealing with Grow Abroad. We collect information from customers during the booking (or opt-in) process, or during the inquiry process where required, via our sales channels, such as our website booking form, using medical forms filled out by you or your authorized representative, through on-line evaluations submitted by you, or through other individuals who make or update bookings on your behalf, or otherwise interact with us on your behalf, including during the inquiry process. The security and integrity of your Personal Information is important to us. All personal information is stored in secure databases to prevent unauthorized access. Passwords, encryption devices and firewalls protect these databases. Please note however that no data transmission over the Internet can be guaranteed to be 100% secure. While we take all steps to ensure the safety of your data, we cannot ensure the security of information you transmit to us over the Internet. Access to your personal and private information is limited to: authorized employees, of Grow Abroad, and any of the third-party suppliers who require your information to provide the travel or other services you have requested (transportation services, activity providers, and tour guides who deliver the services you purchase through Grow Abroad or that we arrange on your behalf) We keep our employees and our third party suppliers and other partners informed about our policies and procedures and require strict compliance with this Policy in order to ensure your information remains protected. Unauthorized access and/or disclosure of client information are strictly prohibited. Third Party Partners and Suppliers: Grow Abroad will share your information with the outside suppliers who perform services on our behalf. As you would expect, certain information must be provided to these suppliers in order to facilitate your booking and in order to provide you with service(s) you have requested. Please be assured that Grow Abroad and its contracted suppliers never sell, lease or trade information about you or your travel information to other parties in the ordinary course of conducting its business. Grow Abroad retains participant personal information for as long as is reasonably required, with consideration to the purpose for which it was collected or a related or ancillary purpose, and to our legal and regulatory obligations. Grow Abroad deletes or otherwise destroys participant personal information after a reasonable period of time. On occasion, you may have to provide your personal information to us again where it has been so deleted. Complaints If you have any complaints about Grow Abroad ‘s collection, use, disclosure, or dealing with your Personal Information, if you believe that Grow Abroad is in violation of or have any questions about Grow Abroad’s compliance with applicable privacy legislation in relation to your Personal Information, please send a written letter or an e-mail to [email protected] Grow Abroad takes all complaints regarding your privacy and Personal Information very seriously. Upon receipt, the Privacy Officer will review your complaint and will provide a written response to the return address indicated in the complaint. Media Release I, the client, do hereby consent and agree that Grow Abroad, LLC, its employees, officers, or agents have the right to take photographs, videotape, or digital recordings of me from any Grow Abroad trip/event/activity/program and to use these in any and all media, now or hereafter known, and exclusively for the use of Grow Abroad. I further consent that my name and identity may be revealed therein or by descriptive text or commentary. I do hereby release to Grow Abroad, its agents, and employees all rights to exhibit this work in print and electronic form publicly or privately and to market and sell copies. I waive any rights, claims, or interest I may have to control the use of my identity or likeness in whatever media used. I understand that there will be no financial or other remuneration for recording me, either for initial or subsequent transmission or playback. This agreement is subject to the laws of the state of North Carolina, USA. Any dispute arising between the parties will be heard and/ or litigated only in a court of competent jurisdiction sitting in Buncombe County, NC, USA. Your electronic signature on the Bookings Page indicates your consent to and agreement of the above. You have the right to withdraw your agreement at any time by informing us in writing. Furthermore, you have the right to obtain information on data saved about you. In this case please contact Kathleen Wilson (managing member Grow Abroad, LCC): [email protected]. 15. Insurance
CLIENT ACKNOWLEDGES THAT IT IS SUGGESTED THAT ALL CLIENTS OBTAIN TRAVEL INSURANCE WITH A MINIMUM MEDICAL, EVACUATION, AND REPATRIATION COVERAGE OF US$200,000 covering all applicable dates of any travel with Grow Abroad LLC and this insurance should cover personal injury and emergency medical expenses. It is encouraged that Clients also extend their coverage to include cancellation, curtailment, and all other expenses that might arise as a result of loss, damage, injury, delay or inconvenience occurring to the Client. Grow Abroad shall have no liability for loss, theft of or damage to baggage or personal effects of Clients while participating in a Program. Clients should not leave personal belongings unattended in any public areas, on board any mode of transportation, or elsewhere, and are responsible at all times for their own effects and belongings. Grow Abroad cannot accept responsibility for and in no event shall be liable for loss or damage of valuables or other articles left in or on facilities used by Grow Abroad such as hotels, homestays, vessels, expedition vehicles, or any other mode of transportation. The Client acknowledges that the cost of the program does not include any insurance coverage for such Client, and that the Client is to obtain separate coverage at an additional cost to the Program price. When obtaining travel insurance the Client must ensure the insurer is aware of the type of travel to be undertaken so that the insurer may properly cover travel on the applicable Grow Abroad Program. |
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www.GrowAbroadLLC.org
Email: [email protected] Managing Member/Director: Kathleen Wilson Registered with North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State. Tax ID# 81-4368300. |
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Safety First!
Grow Abroad, LLC takes pride in partnering with renowned educational institutions and residential facilities to establish and maintain effective safety standards and procedures across our program variations. We conduct annual safety prevention reviews that evaluate the performance and physical conditions of partnering properties in the organization’s portfolio to inform ongoing refinements to our safety training and other incident prevention measures, ex. tracking near misses and implementing corrective actions when they occur.
In alignment with our goal to maintain a consistently high standard of safety performance, Grow Abroad, LLC encourages its staff, visiting clients, and group leaders alike to identify and document trip-related risks and hazards so the management can schedule inspections and subsequent follow-ups.
In alignment with our goal to maintain a consistently high standard of safety performance, Grow Abroad, LLC encourages its staff, visiting clients, and group leaders alike to identify and document trip-related risks and hazards so the management can schedule inspections and subsequent follow-ups.
