MYANMAR PROGRAM TERMS and CONDITIONS

RESERVATION
Since ARTIS group sizes are limited we advise you to book at least 9 months in advance. All programs are on a first-come-first-served basis. Upon our receiving your completed trip Registration, Medical and Agreement to Participate forms and the appropriate nonrefundable deposit, we will confirm your reservation, providing space is still available. Each participant must submit a separate signed application. The balance of your program cost must be paid by check. All program payments submitted less than 30 days prior to trip departure must be in the form of a cashier’s check, money order or the equivalent. Note: Any persons registering after Sept. 20th risk not being able to fly with the group and may be responsible for booking their own flights and ground transportation to the “base city.” If you sign-up late ask for details. Also, sign-ups after Aug. 10th will be charged an additional late fee of $100.

Payment schedule & nonrefundable deposit
Registration until: May. 8th $300.00
Late registration: additional late fee $50
From May 8th to Aug. 10th $400.00
Aug. 10th to Sept. 10th late fee $100
Half Payment due before Sept. 1st
Sept. 1st to Sept 25th $500.00
Payment deadline: Sept. 25th - Balance in full

The above schedule will be followed unless alternative arrangements have been made with ARTIS or your college. Upon receiving your deposit you will receive an orientation packet, and pre-departure information including clothing and supplies lists during your group meetings at your college or directly from ARTIS if you are an independent participant. Your air tickets, final bulletin with instructions for meeting the group and a mail/phone contact abroad will be sent out one month prior to departure. If payment installments are not received within 5 days past the due date or your check bounces a $25 late fee will be charged and ARTIS reserves the right to treat the reservation as cancelled. Additionally, no one will be allowed to depart on a trip unless all payments and necessary documents have been received. In the event of a late sign-up (i.e. less than 45 days prior to departure), a charge will be added to your final invoice to cover the cost of express delivery of your air tickets and/or trip documents.

CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS
If you’ve made payment and you must cancel your reservation, your payment will be returned minus a cancellation fee as follows: All deposits are nonrefundable. For any cancellations after the dates below, the cancellation fee will be:

Prior to Aug. 10th: full refund (minus deposit)
Aug. 10th to Sept. 1st:
50% of program cost (minus deposit)
Sept. 1st to Sept. 25th:
85% of program cost (minus deposit)
After Sept 25th: 100% of program cost.

Because the airline tickets are nonrefundable, the air tickets will be forwarded to you in lieu of their cash equivalent plus any remaining cash amount.

All program fees are based on group participation and no partial refunds will be given for unused class excursions, field trips or museum fees. We highly recommend that all clients purchase trip cancellation insurance (see insurance section).

ARTIS reserves the right to cancel any trip prior to departure for any reason whatsoever including insufficient sign-up. The refund of all payments received shall release ARTIS from any further liability. A trip cancelled due to insufficient sign-up would normally occur a minimum of 45 days prior to departure.

ARTIS makes advance payments for hotel, train and other reservations several months before the travel date. If a trip is cancelled before April 1st due to acts of God, war, terrorism, etc. ARTIS will refund all money not spent in advance and use its best efforts, short of legal actions, to recover and refund the most we can of the balance as soon as possible. After April 1st only participants that have purchased trip cancellation insurance will be refunded.

ARTIS is not responsible for expenses incurred by trip members in preparing for a cancelled trip.

These paragraphs (together with the Release of Liability section of the application form) define our responsibility with respect to all our trips. PLEASE READ THIS CAREFULLY. Payment of your deposit represents your acceptance of the following terms and conditions:

COVERED EXPENSES
Prices quoted are based on current foreign exchange rates. We endeavor to keep our prices as published but reserve the right to raise Program Fees if there are exceptional cost increases beyond our control. See the section titled PROGRAM FEES WILL COVER as listed in this brochure to determine what your expenses will cover. The ARTIS tour fees do not include : college credit, personal expenses, such as meals (unless stated), Fax and phone use, independent travel, passport fees, porter charges, etc. or additional expenses arising from delays or other causes beyond our reasonable control.

INSURANCE
All participants have limited insurance which is valid abroad. Participants are covered by ARTIS through Travelex Group Travel Insurance. This insurance policy will cover Common Carrier/Scheduled Air, Accident Medical, In-Hospital Sickness, Baggage and Travel Assistance/Medical Evacuation. Detailed brochures will be provided for each participant explaining the coverage. College students may purchase an International Student ID card. Cards can be purchased for around $30 and includes additional insurance. We recommended the purchase of Trip cancellation insurance; this reimburses you for nonrefundable air and program costs, should you have to cancel the trip due to personal or family illness, acts of terrorism, etc. Trip cancellation insurance brochures are available from ARTIS upon request.

VISAS / PASSPORTS
All US citizens must have a valid US passport. All passport applications and requirements are available at your local US Post Office. All passport processing will be through your post office. Apply for your passport as soon as possible to avoid disappointments later. American citizens do not need a visa, if their stay is less than three months. If you are not a US citizen then call the Consulate (of the country you’ll be visiting) located in your region of America to find out if a visa is required for your nationality. All nationalities requiring a visa must have a valid American visa or Green Card before they can depart from America. Normally it takes one-two months for the host Consulate to process a visa.

HEALTH
Participants should have a personal supply of any special medications which they may need, and we suggest you take special dietary items, vitamins, etc. All participants must be in good physical and mental health, free from any alcohol or drug problems and able to do extensive walking (1-2 miles at a time) plus climbing of stairs, etc. ARTIS cannot be held responsible for any incidents due to overexertion by participants. Currently, no inoculations are required for any of our tours. In addition, all participants must fill out the medical form accompanying the registration form and return to ARTIS.

AIRLINE CLAUSE
Money paid to ARTIS for air tickets is money paid in trust for the airlines, and ARTIS can assume no responsibilities for fluctuations in price or schedule. In the event of a default, clients must look to the defaulting airlines. It is the participants sole responsibility to verify that all airline bookings, spellings, itineraries, etc. are correct and meet their needs. ARTIS will not be responsible for any penalties or other charges made by the airlines due to any reasons whatsoever.

AIR FARES
ARTIS program prices include air fare from a designated port city to a destination city and return only. All participants are responsible for additional transportation costs to and from your home city to the port city. However, due to our group buying power, ARTIS sometimes can negotiate free or inexpensive connecting flights into our port city ( i.e. New York- JFK ) from your city. Before you buy air fare into the port city, contact ARTIS and we may be able to purchase it cheaper for you. Normally our international flight group tickets to Asia are booked without an open return. This means it will be necessary to pay an additional fee to the airline for anyone planning on traveling independently after the program and returning at a later date. In planning your extended stay it is cheaper to schedule your return date on a Monday through Thursday. However, ARTIS must have your set return date at the time of booking the group ticket (Sept 10th). Your return date cannot be changed without penalty. Unless you are planning on traveling independently after the program, you will probably want to return with the group on the designated return date.

MINIMUM TOUR REQUIREMENTS
Not all participants are college students. We encourage a wide range of ages (minimum 18 years of age) and levels of artistic development to foster an exciting learning environment. Generally, about two thirds of our participants are college aged while the remainder are professionals and retirees. The only requirements are that you should be in good physical and mental health, free from any alcohol or drug problems, have a flexible attitude about overseas living and limit your luggage to what you can personally carry. In addition, participants over 70 years of age or anyone hospitalized in the last 2 years must have their medical form signed by their doctor. (See Health above.)