BOOKING TERMS AND CONDITIONS

The purchase of your travel booking constitutes a contractual agreement between the traveler(s), customer(s), and/or purchaser(s)(collectively as “you” and “traveler”), and Studentuniverse.com Inc. (“StudentUniverse”, “we”, “us”), pursuant to the following terms and conditions (“Terms”, “Agreement”):

Please read this entire agreement carefully. It includes a Dispute Resolution clause under which certain disputes must be decided by an arbitrator and without a judge or a jury trial.

TRAVEL AGENT:

StudentUniverse (or any of its affiliated entities) acts as a travel agent only. We sell various travel related products on behalf of numerous transport and accommodation service providers, including, but not limited to airlines, coach, rail, and cruise line operators, and hotels. StudentUniverse does not own, operate, manage or control these independent suppliers of services and is not liable for their acts or omissions. StudentUniverse’s obligations to you are to make travel bookings on your behalf and to arrange relevant contracts between you and the travel service providers. We have no responsibility for these services, nor do we have the authority to make any warranty or representation regarding their standards. Fulfillment of a request cannot be guaranteed. All bookings are subject to the terms and conditions and limitations of liability imposed by these travel service providers. You agree that your sole legal recourse is against the specific provider, not StudentUniverse or its affiliates, parent company, shareholders, directors, officers, employees, agents, or contractors. Conditions can change rapidly in a country at any time. It is your responsibility to check the USA Government Travel advisories for your intended destination at https://travel.state.gov/content/travel.html.

HOTEL TERMS & CONDITIONS:

  • StudentUniverse enables the instant booking and payment (full or 10% deposit) of travel accommodation through our website (/hotels) and those of our affiliate sites.
  • Anyone can book accommodation with StudentUniverse Hotels; you do not have to be a student.
  • On the booking of any accommodation you will receive a reference number and a booking confirmation email from hotelinfo@studentuniverse.com. We advise you also to print the on –screen confirmation. If you require your confirmation email to be re-sent, please contact us (email to: hotelsupport@studentuniverse.com).
  • All accommodation details and contact information are printed on your booking confirmation email.
  • Specified hotels may offer student discounts. These hotels will be clearly marked and confirmation of the discount possibility will be included in the booking confirmation email.
  • The student will receive said student discount only upon arrival and only if a valid Student Identity Card is presented to the hotel. It is the responsibility solely of the hotel to deduct the discount upon your arrival.
  • Amendment and cancellation policies differ per hotel. Please see your booking confirmation email for details of your booking provider and confirmation reference.

AIRFARE TERMS & CONDITIONS:

Some fares are for verified students, teaching faculty, and youth aged 16-25 years old only. StudentUniverse and/or its partners have the right to check a user’s student, faculty, or youth status prior to issuing a ticket, and may request additional documentation if needed. By purchasing a ticket from us, you give StudentUniverse explicit consent to contact your school to verify your current enrollment status. Ticket holders must have current student or faculty identification and/or proof of age with them when traveling. Airlines can deny boarding without the proper identification.

All fares are subject to change without notice prior to full payment, and may be thereafter adjusted as further set out below.

Forced overnight stays for any reason, including changes of itinerary, are not the responsibility of StudentUniverse.

If you arrive late for a flight according to the airline’s check-in requirements, or miss a flight, for ANY reason, you will lose the total value of your ticket. It is entirely at the airline’s discretion to provide you with a seat on a later flight. StudentUniverse is not responsible for an airline’s not providing you with a seat on a later flight, nor any additional charges that the airline may impose for this reason, nor the full loss of value in your ticket.

Airlines have specific guidelines for minors traveling without an adult (“Unaccompanied Minors”). These guidelines vary by airline and some may charge an additional fee for services they may provide to Unaccompanied Minors. You must contact your airline directly and or visit its website for specific information regarding these guidelines and/or any additional fees. You are solely responsible for any such fees.

Additional fees for baggage may apply. You are solely responsible for any such fees as well. Please contact your airline or refer to its website for detailed information regarding their checked baggage policies, or alternatively please visit www.libertytravel.com/flights/baggage-fees.jsp for more information.

TOURS AND WORK ABROAD TERMS & CONDITIONS:

  • Bookings must be secured with a $250 deposit or full payment if the start date is within 60 days of the first booked service of your tour. This deposit is non-refundable unless your tour is cancelled by us. Final payment is due 60 days prior to the tour start date.
  • If a deposit was paid by credit card, you agree that the card may be debited for final payment without further approval by the balance due date.
  • Some bookings and other products and services made available by StudentUniverse are subject to additional terms and conditions disclosed to the buyer during the order process. Such terms and conditions may be disclosed by use of hypertext links. You agree that you are bound by such additional terms and conditions.
  • Travel insurance is recommended for all bookings. StudentUniverse is not an insurance company.
  • Travelers are responsible for ensuring that they have all necessary travel documents and visas.
  • Refund Policy. Transport and accommodation providers have differing cancellation policies and rules. These policies and rules are binding on you, so be sure to review them before purchase. In addition, StudentUniverse has its own cancellation policies and rules to which you also agree:
    • Cancellation received 60 days or more before departure of first product to depart in relevant booking: Deposit to be held.
    • Cancellation received 59-30 days before departure of first product to depart in relevant booking: Deposit shall be held and an amount equal to 50% of the remainder of the payments made by you in respect of the cancelled product shall be refunded to you.
    • Cancellation less than 30 days before departure of first product to depart in relevant booking: No refund due.

IMPORTANT CONDITIONS:

Prices are subject to increase prior to the time you make full payment. Prices are not subject to increase after you make full payment, except for charges resulting from increases in government-imposed taxes or fees. By agreeing to these Terms, you expressly acknowledge your acceptance of these conditions (i.e. increases before full payment and increases attributable to government-imposed taxes or fees after full payment will be your responsibility) applicable to your purchase.

CANCELLATION AND AMENDMENT FEES:

Please be aware that most travel bookings are non-refundable and cancelled bookings will incur charges. These charges can be up to 100% of the cost of the booking, regardless of whether travel has commenced. Where we incur any liability for a cancellation fee or charge for any booking that is canceled, you agree to indemnify us for the amount of that fee or charge. Whether the cancellation is initiated by you or the provider, in addition to any supplier and airline cancellation/amendment fees, we may charge the following fees on a Per Passenger, Per Booking basis in our sole discretion: (A) Domestic US flights: Cancellation Fees: $75.00 / Amendment Fees: $75.00; and (B) Flights to/from the Rest of the World (destinations outside of USA) Cancellation Fees: $250.00 / Amendment Fees: $150.00.

PAYMENTS:

A credit or debit card must be used to confirm any booking. By making the reservation with a credit/debit card, you authorize us to make a charge against that card.

We and or our affiliates may charge an online booking fee; this fee is highlighted upon payment and is always non-refundable.

You are responsible to the accommodation provider for payment of the remaining owed balance, together with any charges for additional services subsequently contracted and, where applicable, any service charges or tax.

We accept no responsibility for any extra expenses that may arise, extra hotel taxes and fees, cancellations or freight charges from your bank or credit card company.

In securing the reservation with your credit card details, you confirm that you and all travelers are over the age of eighteen (18) and that you are solely responsible for the remainder of the payment to the accommodation provider upon arrival.

CREDIT CARD TRANSACTIONS:

If, for any reason, any travel service provider is unable to provide the services for which you have contracted, your remedy lies against the provider, and not against StudentUniverse. In the event that payment has been made to StudentUniverse by credit card, you agree that you will not seek to charge back your payment to StudentUniverse. If the credit card information is passed through to the travel services provider and you seek to charge back your payment from the provider, you agree to indemnify StudentUniverse against this chargeback from the provider, including without limitation any air debit memos charged to StudentUniverse. If StudentUniverse incurs any expense, including but not limited to attorneys’ fees, to recover any payments charged back by your credit card company, you agree that you will be liable to reimburse StudentUniverse for such expense. If the credit card is declined, you guarantee that you will settle any amounts owing to StudentUniverse immediately by money order or payment in cash.

TRAVEL PROTECTION:

For your protection, we recommend that you purchase trip cancellation and travel accident protection. However, you agree to look solely to the insurer, and not to StudentUniverse, its affiliates, parent company, shareholders, officers, directors, agents, employees, or contractors with respect to any policy of insurance purchased or offered through the StudentUniverse or affiliate websites. No representation or description of the protection made by StudentUniverse to you constitutes a binding assurance or promise about the protection, and you agree not to rely upon any such representation. StudentUniverse is not an insurance company and has no responsibility for the submission, payment, or adjustment of any insurance claims. Any claims that may fall under the relevant travel protection policy must be submitted directly to the insurance company identified in the policy.

ADDITIONAL FEES:

Additional taxes and surcharges that cannot be pre-collected may be charged locally by car rental agencies, hotels or other suppliers. Most properties and vehicle rental/leasing companies require a credit card imprint at check-in.

RESPONSIBILITY:

We strive to make sure your travel arrangements are satisfactory. However, StudentUniverse and its affiliates, parent company, employees, shareholders, subsidiaries, affiliates, officers, directors, successors, agents, and assigns do not own or operate any entity that provides goods and services for your travel, including, without limitation, lodging facilities, airline, vessel, motor coach, or other transportation companies, guides or guide services, local ground operators, providers or organizers of optional excursions, food service providers, etc. All such providers are independent contractors and are in no way affiliated with StudentUniverse or any of StudentUniverse’s affiliated entities. You therefore agree not to look to StudentUniverse and/or its affiliates, parent company, employees, shareholders, subsidiaries, officers, directors, successors, agents, and assigns with respect to any act or omission of such providers.

LIABILITY:

StudentUniverse is not liable for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of any travel service provider or of any third party. In addition, and without limitation, StudentUniverse is not responsible for, and need not make any reimbursement or refund for, any injury, loss, death, inconvenience, delay, or damage to person or property in connection with the provision of any goods or services if resulting from acts of God, force majeure, illness, disease, pandemic, quarantine, acts of war or civil unrest, insurrection or revolt, embargoes, blockades, boycotts, animals, strikes or other labor activities, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind, overbooking or downgrading of accommodations, weather conditions, sanitary conditions, lack of medical care, mechanical or other failure of airplanes or other means of transportation, any failure of any transportation mechanism to arrive or depart on time, or any other matter not within StudentUniverse’s direct control. Also, be advised that certain foreign facilities such as air-conditioning systems in public places, hotels, and motor coaches may not be up to U.S. standards. If, due to weather, flight schedules, or other uncontrollable factors, you are required to spend additional night(s), you will be responsible for your own hotel, transfers, and meal costs. Baggage is entirely at owner's risk. You may see the name StudentUniverse affixed to motor vehicles, on signs around the hotel or elsewhere. This use of our name is purely for reasons of identification and does not denote ownership, supervision, or control by StudentUniverse in any way. The prices of these tours are based on rates in effect (including foreign exchange rates) at the time of printing and are subject to change without notice. Under circumstances where liability cannot be excluded, such liability is limited to the value of the purchased travel arrangements. To the extent permitted by law, you specifically agree that StudentUniverse is not liable for any consequential damage or punitive, statutory, multiple, exemplary, or other form of damage not measured by actual damage.

PASSPORTS:

All individuals departing from the United States of America must be in possession of a valid passport. Please check that your passport is valid for 6 months or longer than your intended travel time. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have valid travel documentation, including but not limited to passports, visas, transit visas, green cards, and/or certificates of authenticity, which meet the requirements of immigration and other government authorities at every destination. You are responsible for confirming with the United States Department of State or representative government agency of the country to which you are traveling to confirm the requirements for visas and/or other requirements for admission to your destination. Any fines, penalties, payments or expenditures incurred as a result of such documents not meeting the requirements of those authorities will be your sole responsibility.

REAL ID:

Beginning October 1, 2021, if you plan to use your state-issued ID or license to fly within the U.S., it is your responsibility to make sure it is REAL ID compliant. If you are not sure whether your ID complies, please check with our local state department of motor vehicles, or visit www.tsa.gov/real-id.

One-way fares to non-US destinations can require special visas. If you do not obtain the necessary travel documents, you will be denied boarding and lose the full value of your ticket. StudentUniverse is not responsible for an airline’s not providing you with a seat on a later flight, nor any additional charges the airline imposes for this reason, nor the full loss of value in your ticket. The US government keeps a list of travel requirements for all countries at http://travel.state.gov.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS:

Travel documents, including, without limitation, airline tickets, hotel vouchers, tour vouchers or any other document (whether in electronic form or otherwise) are used to confirm an arrangement with a service provider. Travel documents may be subject to certain conditions and/or restrictions such as, but not limited to, being nonrefundable, non-date-changeable, and subject to cancellation and/or amendment fees. Travel documents cannot be transferred to another person to use. All airline tickets must be issued in the name of the passport/photo identity holder. An incorrect name on a booking may result in an inability to use that booking and the booking being cancelled. Any errors in names, dates and timings may result in an inability to use that booking and the booking being cancelled. Any errors in names, dates, or timings on your documentation will be your responsibility if not reported at the time of booking. Please reconfirm your flights at least 24 hours prior to departure.

HEALTH AND SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:

It is your responsibility to ensure you are aware of any health requirements for your travel destinations and to ensure that you carry all necessary vaccination documentation. Please advise your consultant of any special requirements that you may have, for example, special meals, medical requirements, and so on. StudentUniverse is not responsible for providing you with this information. Travel carriers and local authorities at travel destinations may require specific testing prior to boarding and/or upon arrival at your destination, including, but not limited to, a temperature check as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. You may be denied entry onto your carrier and/or entry upon arrival at your destination, or be required to self-quarantine at your destination and upon your return to the United States. You must comply with local government regulations. Additional costs are your responsibility. Check with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for current information prior to and during your travel. www.cdc.gov.

INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS:

Some countries require insecticide spraying of aircraft prior to a flight or while you are on the aircraft. Federal law requires that we refer you to the Department of Transport disinfection website at http://airconsumer.dot.gov/spray.htm.

REFUSAL OF SERVICE:

Service providers reserve the right to refuse service to travelers at their sole discretion and including, without limitation, if the traveler (i) lacks proper documentation for the country of destination; (ii) has a contagious disease; (iii) is under the influence of alcohol, drugs or narcotics; and/or (iv) manifests disruptive and/or unruly behavior. StudentUniverse assumes no liability for the acts of the service provider in refusing service.

PRIVACY POLICY:

StudentUniverse is committed to protecting the privacy and confidentiality of your personal information. Our Privacy Policy, which you agree may be updated from time to time in our sole discretion, is available for viewing at https://www.studentuniverse.com/about-us/privacy-notice.

ELECTRONIC OR HANDWRITTEN SIGNATURE:

You may acknowledge and agree to these Terms: (i) electronically, including by e-mail; (ii) by handwritten signature; or (iii) by your payment of the invoice and/or your use of the services provided by StudentUniverse or any other travel supplier related to your booking. All such means will be deemed sufficient to bind the parties to the terms and conditions of this Agreement.

GOVERNING LAW:

The construction, validity, and performance of these Terms and any disputes between the parties shall be governed by and construed according to the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, without giving effect to its conflicts of law principles, and any federal laws applicable therein.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION:

We strive to resolve any dispute amicably. If we are unable to do so, any dispute arising out of or relating to this Agreement (including the interpretation, validity, breach, performance, or negotiation thereof) or your relationship with StudentUniverse (a “Dispute”) shall be resolved by final and binding arbitration governed by the Federal Arbitration Act, 9 U.S.C. §§ 1 et seq., and administered by the American Arbitration Association under its Consumer Rules. The right and obligation to arbitrate under this provision shall extend to any claim by or against StudentUniverse’s affiliates, parent company, officers, directors, employees, agents, or contractors. Without derogation of the obligation to arbitrate, any court proceedings relating to a Dispute, including but not limited to confirmation or vacatur of any arbitral award, shall be conducted exclusively in the state or federal courts sitting in Boston, Massachusetts. Upon confirmation, any arbitral award may be enforced in any court of competent jurisdiction.