BOOKING TERMS AND CONDITIONS

By booking a trip with Nordic Ski Adventures You are deemed to have agreed to these Booking Terms and Conditions (which constitutes the entire agreement between You and Nordic Ski Adventures.) Your booking will be accepted by Nordic Ski Adventures on this basis.

For the purposes of these booking terms and conditions, “Us”, “Our” and “We” refers to Nordic Ski Adventures and “You” and “Your” refers to You, the guest.

Amendment of Terms

We reserve the right to change, modify, add or remove portions of these terms and conditions at any time.
We will endeavor to highlight any significant or substantive changes to You where possible, however this is not guaranteed.

Deposits

You are required to pay a non-refundable deposit of twenty percent (20%) per person per trip for Your booking to be confirmed and such payment is due and payable at the time of booking.
In the event Your booking is made within 60 days of the departure date, then the full amount of the trip is payable at the time of booking.

Acceptance of booking and final payments

If We accept Your booking we will issue a confirmation invoice.
A contract will exist between Nordic Ski Adventures from the date of issue of the confirmation invoice or if You book within 60 days of departure the contract will exist when we accept Your payment.
Please refer to Your booking confirmation invoice for details regarding the final payment.
Payment of the balance of the trip price is due 60 days before the departure date and in the event this balance is not paid on or before the due date, We reserve the right to treat Your booking as canceled, using Our absolute discretion.

Prices & surcharges

All quoted prices are in Australian dollars.
Prices are based on currency exchange rates as of March, 29 2024.
We reserve the right to impose surcharges up to 60 days before departure due to unfavorable changes in exchange rates, increased transportation and local operator costs.
In such instances, we will be responsible for any amount up to 2% of the trip price and You will be responsible for the balance.
If any surcharge results in an increase of more than 10% of the trip price You may cancel the booking within 7 days of notification of the surcharge and obtain a full refund.
Our trips have a tiered pricing structure, a 4 person and a 6+-person price. A 5-person trip will incur the same price as a 4-person trip.
All deposits are based on the 4 person price for any given trip, regardless of the number booking on the trip. The second and final payment will be invoiced at the 4 person price regardless of the number of guests actually booked onto the trip.
For all trips with 6 or more persons, a discount will be applied to match the 6 person advertised price. This discount will be applied and refunded to all guests on the day of departure of the trip.

Your details

For us to confirm Your travel arrangements, You must provide all requested details, with the initial deposit and booking of the trip.
This includes Our medical and health form and the fitness and ski ability form, so that We are aware of any pre-existing medical conditions You have which may affect Your ability to complete Your travel with Us.
Failure to provide the requested details may result in additional charges or non-refundable cancellation of Your trip.

COVID 19

All clients must adhere to any and all COVID-19 government-imposed travel mandates, vaccine requirements, rules and regulations of Italy as applicable during the trip.
All adult clients traveling with Nordic Ski Adventures must be fully vaccinated for COVID-19, with a Therapeutic Goods Administration approved vaccine.
All clients are required to be COVID-19 negative upon arrival In Italy.

Cancellation by You

If You cancel Your booking, cancellation fees will apply.
A cancellation will only be effective when Nordic Ski Adventures receives written confirmation of the cancellation.
If You cancel a trip:

60 days or more prior to departure. The initial deposit is non refundable.
59 to 31 days before departure, or if You have already paid Your final payment, Nordic Ski Adventures will retain 60% of the final payment.
30 days or less prior to departure, we will retain 100% of the booking.

You are strongly advised to take out cancellation insurance at the time of booking which will cover cancellation fees.
If You leave a trip for any reason after it has commenced, We are not obliged to make any refunds for unused services.
If You fail to join a trip, or join it after departure, or leave it before its completion, no refund will be made.

Guaranteed departure

Our trips are guaranteed to depart once the minimum group size of 4 people have paid the required deposit.
Do not book Your airline flights before we communicate with You that the minimum number has been reached.
For the avoidance of doubt, in the event You incur any loss or costs prior to Us communicating with You that the minimum group size has been reached, You hereby completely indemnify and hold Us harmless for any such loss or costs incurred.

9. Cancellation by Nordic Ski Adventures

Except when Force Majeure (as defined in paragraph 10, Force Majeure) and/or reasons related to COVID-19 results in the cancellation of a trip and provided You are not in anyway in breach of these Terms and Conditions, if We have to cancel Your trip, we will tell You as soon as reasonably practicable and if there is time to do so before departure, we will offer You the choice of:
a 100% credit of monies paid for Your trip, less any direct expenses incurred by Us, eg non refundable deposits charged by third parties, bank fees, etc; or
a refund of monies paid, less any direst expenses incurred by Us, eg non refundable deposits charged by third parties, bank fees, etc.
Please read any notification and respond promptly as if You do not respond to us within the timescale given Your booking may be canceled.
If You choose to accept a credit resulting from cancellation by Nordic Ski Adventures, it does not have an expiry date and may be applied towards other available trips offered by us.
Such credit cannot redeemable for cash, nor transferable to another person.
If You choose to accept a refund, we will pay reasonable compensation except where the cancellation is due to unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances, which means a situation beyond our control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken.
In the event of any cancellation, there will be no claim for damages by either party against the other party and We are not responsible for any incidental expenses that You may incur as a result of Your booking including but not limited to visas, vaccinations, travel insurance excess or non-refundable flights.

10. Force majeure

Except where otherwise expressly stated in these Booking Terms & Conditions We will not be liable or at any time be required to pay You compensation if our contractual obligations to You or our contractual rights are affected by “Force Majeure”.
For the purposes of these Booking Terms & Conditions, “Force Majeure” means any event beyond Our or Our supplier’s control, the consequences of which could not have been avoided even if all reasonable measures had been taken and includes but is not limited to acts of God, natural disasters, acts of government, strikes, lockouts or other industrial disturbances, blockades, wars, insurrections or riots, epidemics, pandemics, landslides, fires, storms, floods, explosions or other similar causes beyond Our or Our suppliers control.
Advice from the Department of Home Affairs, Department of Health or any other such relevant government foreign office to avoid or leave a particular country may constitute Force Majeure, using Our discretion.

Exclusions

For the avoidance of doubt, the price of Your trip does not include:

Airfares;
Excess baggage charges;
Lunch, snacks and beverages, unless specifically mentioned in the itinerary;
Ski hire;
Passport and visa fees;
Travel insurance; and/or
Optional activities, tips and all personal expenses.

Age & health requirements

The minimum age of any client is 16 at the time of travel.
All travellers under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a legal guardian.
We do not guarantee family rooms or adjoining rooms for families however, we will make every effort to do so.
Nordic Ski Adventures has no upper age limit, though we remind You that our trips are physically demanding, and clients should ensure that they are suitably fit to ski for at least half a day, and most days of the trip.
As a requirement to book a trip with Nordic Ski Adventures, You are requested to complete our medical and health form and the fitness and ski ability form.

Passport and visas

You must carry a valid passport and have obtained a visa (if deemed necessary -please see https://www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/europe/italy).
Your passport must be valid for 6 months beyond the duration of the trip.
Nordic Ski Adventures is not responsible if You are refused entry to Italy because You lack the correct passport, visa or other travel documentation and for the avoidance of doubt, all such requirements are Your sole responsibility to arrange.

Travel insurance

Travel insurance is mandatory for all our clients and should be taken out at the time of booking.
Your travel insurance must provide cover against personal accident, death, medical expenses and emergency repatriation.
Nordic Ski Adventures recommends Your insurance covers cancelation, curtailment, personal liability and loss of luggage and personal effects.
You must ensure that Your policy covers You for snow sports.
You must show proof of Your travel insurance before departing on our trip and in the event you have not obtained the required travel insurance prior to departure, You will not be permitted to join the trip.
You must provide Your travel insurance policy number and the insurance company’s 24-hour emergency contact number on the first day of Your trip as You will not be able to join the trip without these details.
If You have travel insurance connected to Your credit card or bank account please ensure You have details of the participating insurer, the insurance policy number and emergency contact number with You rather than the bank’s name and credit card details.

Prompt assistance

If, whilst You are on a trip, You find Yourself in difficulty for any reason, We will use all reasonable endeavors to offer You such prompt assistance as is appropriate in the circumstances.
We will provide You with appropriate information on health services, local authorities, consular services and assistance with finding alternative travel arrangements.
In the event You require our assistance as a result of Your own actions which does not arise as a result of Our actions, Our employees or sub-contractors, We will not be liable for the costs of any alternative travel arrangements or any other such assistance You require.

Change of itinerary

Nordic Ski Adventures will endeavor to the best of its ability to operate our trip as described, however Nordic Ski Adventures reserve the right to change the trip itinerary from time to time.
You acknowledge due to the nature of traveling in the mountains in winter, this does require on Your behalf, a degree of flexibility and You should allow for alternatives that may occur to the itinerary.
The itinerary provided for each trip is representative of the types of activities contemplated, but it is understood that the route, schedules, amenities and mode of transport may be subject to alteration without prior notice due to local circumstances or events.
Nordic Ski Adventures does not guarantee exact arrival and departure times and is not liable for any failure to make connections with any other service. You may incur additional costs as a result of a delay, change or failure to meet the itinerary which for the avoidance of doubt, We will not be liable for.

Acceptance of risk

You acknowledge that the nature of the trip is adventurous and that participation in any snow sport involves a degree of heightened personal risk.
Activities that You will be participating in, include but are not limited to cross country skiing, skiing in a downhill ski resort, tobogganing, snow walking, walking on icy and snowy roads and footpaths.
Nordic Ski Adventures is not liable for any loss including loss of enjoyment, loss resulting from delays, consequential or direct loss.

Authority on tour

Our trips are run by a trip leader.
The trip leader’s decisions are final on all matters likely to affect the safety or well-being of any person participating in the trip.
If You fail to comply with a decision made by the trip leader or interfere with the well-being or mobility of the group, the trip leader may direct You to leave the trip immediately, with no right of refund, using the trip leader’s absolute discretion.
You must at all times comply with the laws, customs, and drug regulations that are present in Italy, and You also agree to travel following our responsible travel guidelines and the Australian government’s travel guidelines and regulations.

Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law:

You hereby fully release and hold us indemnified for all and any liability for any loss, death, injury or damage which You may suffer (directly or indirectly) in connection with or arising out of Your participation in a trip, or any breach of these Booking Terms and Conditions, except to the extent such loss, death, injury or damage is caused by Us as a result of our negligent actions and in such an event, any claim You may have will be limited to the amount of money You have paid Us;
You release Nordic Ski Adventures, its officers, employees, from all and any liability and expressly waive any claims You may have against us arising out of or in connection with Your participation in a trip;
Any condition or warranty which would otherwise be implied by law to these Booking Terms and Conditions (Implied Warranty) is excluded. To the extent an Implied Warranty cannot be excluded, our liability in respect of the Implied Warranty is limited to (in our absolute discretion):
the provision of a similar trip to an equivalent value; or
a refund of the total amount received by us from You in connection with Your booking;
Any claim by You is excluded to the extent that it is for indirect or consequential loss, loss of profits or economic loss, however it arises, or for indirect, special, punitive or exemplary damages; and
You acknowledge and agree We contract with a network of hotels, snow sport and transport businesses to assist in the running of our trips and We are not in anyway responsible for the acts and omissions of these third parties.

Applicable law

The laws of Victoria, Australia govern these Booking Terms and Conditions to the fullest extent allowable.
Any disputes in connection with a trip or these Booking Terms and Conditions must be initiated in the courts of Victoria, Australia.
In the event that any term or condition contained in these Booking Terms and Conditions is unenforceable or void by operation of law or as being against public policy or for any other reason than such term or condition shall be deemed to be severed from this contract or amended accordingly only to such extent necessary to allow all remaining terms and conditions to survive and continue as binding.