Does anyone know Vacation Express cancellation policy?

[JWK]

I have a friend who booked the Royal Hideaway through Vacation Express. She is supposed to be there this week but of course Wilma altered that. She bought insurance and her TA told her that she could only get a voucher. Is that true? I thought that since the resort is not open she could get a refund. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[cancunman007]

or did V.E.? If she did then all she gets is a voucher. Minus 100.00 for the cost of the ins. Give or take a few dollors. She has to use that voucher within a year.

[cancunman007]

I cant spell.

[Shammy]

EVERY tour operator has it's own policy - and many of them are bending rules because of the magnitude of this event (some only on a case by case basis)...but below is the general policy for Vacation Express, and they do not appear to be bending their rules. If she was informed of the policy by her agent, then I'm sure her agent has already checked with Vacation Express and has given her the correct info.

If tour operators were to refund all monies already paid to each and every person that was forced to cancel, they be out millions. They are trying to hold onto what money they can and are asking people simply to plan another trip within the next year. Not really too much to ask when you think about how much they'd be refunding if they had to - and it would be fair to say that most people will simply plan another trip sometime in the future.

Would it be nice if they gave cash back? Sure, absolutely. But their contract says they they don't have to, and unfortunately, many companies are exercising their right not to.

VACATION EXPRESS


Cancellations & Changes: There is a $50 per person fee for any changes, including name substitutions, made once initial payment has been received by the Operator. Within 45 days of departure, a change in departure date, hotel or number of passengers will be treated as a cancellation, and cancellation charges will apply. Name changes are subject to hotel and airline acceptance and penalties. Once scheduled air tickets are issued, no changes are allowed. Cancel 45 days or more prior to departure-pay $100 penalty per person. Cancel 31-44 days prior to departure-pay penalty equal to 50% of package price. Cancel 30 days or less prior to departure-pay penalty equal to 100% of package price. If final payment is not received 45 days prior to departure, the Operator has the right to cancel your reservation and retain applicable penalties.



Penalty Protection Plan (PPP): If the Vacation Express Penalty Protection Plan was purchased, all applicable cancellation charges (not change fees) as per this Terms and Conditions contract will be refunded in the form of Vacation Express travel certificates, valid for travel departing no later than one year from the original departure date, to any charter destination using the original type of air transportation. Travel certificates are issued in the original names of the passengers on the booking at the time of cancellation. The certificates are non-transferable and name changes will not be accepted. PPP can be repurchased when rebooking clients' vacation with the original PPP voucher. Please note that the newly purchased PPP will only offer full protection for cancellation until the original date of departure. Under no circumstances does the PPP Plan allow for a full or partial cash refund, nor is it extendible. Please note that PPP insurance plan provides limited medical benefits only. It does NOT provide basic hospital, basic medical, or major medical insurance as defined by the New York State Insurance Department. Section II of the PPP is underwritten by Virginia Surety Company and is provided in excess of all other valid and collectible insurance or indemnity, and shall apply only after such other benefits have been paid. Cash settlements are available on the PPP plan only after departure through insurance claim procedures as specified in the "Description of Coverage" pamphlet. The PPP plan is non-refundable. Refer to the Pricing Introduction page of the Vacation Express brochure for more information, and check with your travel agent for complete details on insurance coverage.






Responsibility: The Operator's and/or their agent's liability is limited. They act as agents for the Participant in relation to travel and accommodations whether by motorcoach, private car, boat, aircraft, or any other mode of transportation. The Operator, and its parent, subsidiaries, and affiliates will not be responsible or liable for injury, personal injury, property damage, property and other losses, accident, delay or irregularity which may be caused either by reason or defect, through the acts or default of any company or person contracted in conveying passengers or in carrying out the arrangements of the tour, or as direct or indirect acts of God (such as storms, hurricanes, earthqaukes), dangers of the sea, fire, breakdown of machinery or equipment, acts of governments or other authorities de jour or de facto, wars, hostilities, terror, civil disturbances, strike(s), riots, theft, pilferage, epidemics, quarantines, medical or custom regulations, or from any other cause beyond the Operator's control. The Operator reserves the right to decline to accept any participant as a member of the tour, or to cancel a tour if necessary. The sole and exclusive responsibility and liability of any airline used in the Operator's programs shall be in accordance with and as limited by the contract of a carriage in the participant's ticket, the applicable tariffs, and the provisions of the Warsaw Convention. Please note, hotels may require security deposits (in some cases cash) at their discretion.