Payment and Reservation Policies

PLEASE READ AND UNDERSTAND THESE POLICIES BEFORE SUBMITTING YOUR APPLICATION TO ACONCAGUA EXPRESS (AE)

Payment Schedule

* Please note: AE strongly recommends that you buy trip insurance for all trips. Please visit “links” on our website, or call our office for details.

Expeditions & Trekking Trips

• At time of reservation – $1,000 USD deposit or $1,500 USD (if airfare is included in trip cost)
• 90 days from departure - Balance of trip cost. All balances are due 90 days prior to departure date unless otherwise specified.
• If the trip is booked with in 90 days of departure date full payment is required at time of booking.
• Participants whose balances are not received by the 90-day deadline as stated above, risk forfeiture of their place on the expedition.

Policy as it pertains to trip deposits

If the participant cancels, we cannot refund your deposit or tuition. If we cancel, or you are not accepted due to not passing medical or prior experience screening, there will be a 100% refund. We recommend that you buy cancellation insurance immediately after paying your deposit. This insurance protects you if you are unable to join the expedition for personal or family medical reasons.

Custom Trip Planning

• You will be charged a non-refundable $150 fee to price and organize your custom trip. The fee will be applied toward your deposit when you sign up for the trip. Normal payment and cancellation policy then applies.

Date Change Fee Policy

• All date changes must be received in writing along with new application.
• $ 100 fee for all date changes.
• Any change from trip departure can be extremely difficult and is subject to all incurred expenses as assessed by AE.
• All date changes are for credit only (no refunds) and valid for one year from written change notification and receipt of new application.

CANCELLATION POLICY

• If you decide to cancel your trip or change your itinerary, Aconcagua Express must be notified in writing. Your trip will be cancelled from the date written notice is received. Reimbursement policy is directly related to how far ahead you notify the cancellation of your trip, and the amount to be retained for office and administration fee is as follows:

• More than 120 days from Trip Departure: $200 Fee
• 120 to 60 days from Trip Departure: $500 Fee
• 59 to 45 days from Trip Departure: 50% of Trip Cost
• Less than 45 days from Trip Departure: 100% of Trip Cost
• If proper written cancellation notice is not received, amounts paid and reservations made will be forfeited.

AE is not responsible for expenses (e.g. nonrefundable airline tickets, visa fees, equipment, etc.) incurred by trip members in preparing for cancelled trip, regardless of cancellation reason, or for any additional expenses should the trip members have embarked or returned prior to or after any scheduled date. AE is not responsible for expenses incurred due to any deviation from the schedule undertaken by choice of trip participant. AE alone reserves the right to cancel (in accordance with the above terms), or postpone any trip due to acts of man (e.g. war, terrorism, etc.), or nature beyond AE’s control.

Participant Responsibility

• Trip participants are responsible for their own well-being. This includes good health and strong physical condition. Participants joining a trek, mountaineering expedition or ski tour may be required to obtain a physician's release prior to departure. Expedition members are responsible for: knowing all pre departure information, preparing proper equipment and clothing, conforming to basic standards of personal hygiene (to minimize the risk of traveler’s diseases) and acting in a considerate manner toward all group members and with respect for each country’s customs.

Airline Responsibility

• The air carrier will not be held responsible for any act, omission or event while the passenger is not on-board the designated aircraft or terminal conveyance. Passenger/Airline contracts stand in effect while the passenger is on-board each particular aircraft. This applies to all carriers.