Eastern Escapade

Voyista Booking Terms and Conditions

Outlined below are the booking conditions for your Voyista trip. These conditions are current, as of January 1st, 2018.

1) What am I paying for?

When you pay for your Voyista trip in full, the following is included:

• Accommodation for each night of your travel. This usually means staying in some of the best hostels across the world, which we hand-pick and verify for a variety of traits. They will have safe sleeping conditions, opportunities for social interaction, and front desk support available 24/7. On some longer trips, you may spend a couple nights zipping to your next city in a night train, where you’ll have a spot in a bunk to sleep.
• A meal is included every day. This typically will be a European-style breakfast. This usually consists of baked bread, toast, juice, milk, sliced meat, cheese, spreads, and/or fruit. Some nights you’ll have an included dinner instead, often consisting of local cuisine. Our partner hostels arrange these meals and their times vary, so make note of when the meals are when you arrive in a new city.
• All transportation from one city to the next is covered. You’ll usually be traveling by rail or plane. When these methods are occasionally not viable to go to some cities, you’ll take a coach bus.
• Airport transfers within your trip are covered. We’ll tell you how to get to the airport the best way to make your Voyista flight. We may provide you with money in advance for you to pay in cash for the transportation.
• Walking tours in most destination cities. These tours often focus on the history and identities of cities. Some walking tours have a specific cultural focus as well. The tours are facilitated by partner hostels. The guides rely on tips, which are appropriate if you feel you got something positive out of the tour.

What does my deposit include?

• Your deposit secures a spot on the Voyista trip that you chose.
• We won’t start booking reservations for your actual trip until you pay in full, however.
• You may get a full refund within 48 hours of booking your deposit. After 48 hours but before 40 days prior to departure, you can transfer your deposit to another trip or cancel your trip and keep it as credit. Once you pay in full, however, you are committed to your listed departure date.
• If you selected the flight booking option, we will send you the cheapest airfares we can find to and from your Voyista trip, within 48 hours.

The following is NOT included with your Voyista trip:

• Travel insurance isn’t included. We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance for your journey to cover any unforeseen medical expenses or extenuating circumstances.
• Any meals not specified in your trip itinerary. Lunch will never be covered by Voyista, so plan on bringing spending money for these meals.
• Any expenses that result from rescheduling, delay, or cancellation of flights, trains, buses, or reservations that occur from events that are out of Voyista’s control (bad weather, strikes, mechanical failure, etc.). We’ll do our best to accommodate you though in these occurrences.
• Any fees relating to visas, passports, or immigration are not included in your Voyista trip.
• Transportation within cities or to excursions during your free time is not covered by Voyista.
• Entrance fees, fares, and tariffs of daily activities within cities are not covered by Voyista. You are free to pick and choose what you want to do and whether you spend money during your free time!

2) What should I know about the accommodation?

We strive to book you in top-rated hostels that we’ve personally verified as being great for travel. Here is some information about where you’ll be staying:

• The places we book you in will have English-speaking staff, and have a worker available at the front desk 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. If you ever have a question or problem, feel free to go to them for help.
• You’ll be staying in shared rooms, which often include bunk beds. Most other travelers there will be like you–going from city to city and enjoying the world!
• Lockers will be available to store your personal belongings. We recommend keeping the most valuable things with you during the day, however.
• There may be key deposits that you will have to give to the front desk when you arrive (typically no more than about five dollars). When you checkout, remember to get this deposit back.
• Hostels will offer social activities for you to meet other travelers and explore the city. Consider spending a few dollars to go out on the pub crawl, or enjoy a free walking tour during the day!
• Your hostel will offer you a breakfast and/or dinner every day of your trip. Make sure to take advantage of this! Eating times will change from hostel to hostel, though, so keep this in mind.
• If you request it, we can try to book you in same-gender rooms as often as possible. This isn’t guaranteed, however.

3) What should I know about the transportation?

We will get you from city to city in the most effective way possible. You’ll usually be taking train or plane. Here’s what you should know:

• Plan to arrive at the airport at least two hours before departure and at the train station at least 30 minutes before departure. Make sure you have your boarding passes and passport.
• We book our travelers on trains when possible, as they are the most scenic and enjoyable way to go from city center to city center. Sometimes travel by air is more effective, so we’ll book plane tickets for you in this scenario. In some rare instances, a bus is the most viable option, and we’ll book you in a coach if this is the case.
• We’ll cover your transportation to the airport. This usually involves taking a bus or the metro from the city center. We’ll offer you detailed instructions on how to get there. We may refund you the cost of this transportation so you can pay for it in cash in person.
• If you miss a connection or departure, we are not responsible for getting you to the next location. You may have to purchase a new ticket or find alternative methods of transportation. If you contact us, we’ll do our best to help you–but keep in mind that you’re fully responsible for any cost of getting caught back up to where you should be.

4) What is Voyista’s suggested maps app?

Our suggested maps app allows you to never get lost and have directions available to you offline, 24/7 on your phone. Here’s how it works:

• Once you purchase a trip, receive a link to download the trip to our suggested maps app.
• You can download all the cities in advance and have access to ATMs, restaurants, grocery stores, train stations, our hostels, and your full itinerary.
• You’ll have this information offline, so you won’t need wifi to pull it up. If you have GPS on your phone, it will show your location, too!
• Get directions to anywhere you want to go, any time. This makes finding your way back to our hostel late at night a breeze!
• During the day, go to some of the best restaurants we suggest or to some of the cities’ top attractions. All of these will be color-coded by category and visible with pins on the app!

5) What are the included suggested itineraries?

Voyista offers a comprehensive suggested itinerary for each trip listed on our site. These itineraries include daily activities that we suggest for each city. They are only a suggestion, however; you are free to do whatever you want! Spend the day relaxing in the hostel if you want, or go out and explore–it’s your choice. The itineraries we offer are expertly curated and we recommend that you explore the attractions we suggest. The costs/entrance fees for these suggested sites, however, are not included in your Voyista trip. We tell you how much they cost; the nice thing is, many of the attractions are free!

6) When should I book my Voyista trip?

We recommend booking your trip and paying for it in full as soon as you can. This will us to finalize your journey details sooner and ensure that you get booked in our number one choices for partner hostels. You’ll ensure that you get better connections from city to city, as some will get fully booked the longer you wait.

7) Do I need travel insurance?

We recommend purchasing travel insurance for your Voyista journey. We do not offer it at this time for purchase. Travel insurance will cover any unforeseen medical expenses and other costs you may unexpectedly incur on your Voyista trip. Voyista, Inc. is not liable for any of these costs; they will be your responsibility. Because of this, travel insurance is a good idea to purchase.

8) If I haven’t paid in full, how can I change my trip or departure date?

If you would like to change your trip or departure date and it is still more than 40 days before your trip, feel free to email us at support@voyista.com.

9) Can I book within 30 days of my desired departure date?

You will not be able to book a trip departing in less than 30 days on our website. Call us or email us at support@voyista.com if you require traveling sooner this. We may be able to still book your trip, but we can’t guarantee anything.

10) What if Voyista needs to modify or cancel my trip?

We’ll keep you fully updated if, for some reason, we have to modify your trip because of something on our end. If this change affects the overall value of the trip significantly, we may offer you an appropriate refund at our discretion. This isn’t likely to happen, however–we’ll do our best to help you see the world!

11) When can I get a refund?

If you have only paid the deposit and it is more than 30 days before your travel date, we can transfer the deposit to another date or another trip. If you have paid in full, we cannot offer you a refund of any amount, unfortunately, given that things are booked in advance. If something (such as a meal, transfer, etc.) is missing from your trip while you travel, please feel free to email us at support@voyista.com. If we find it was our fault, we can offer you a refund that corresponds to the value of what we failed to include.

12) What if I need to leave my trip early?

We will try to work with you if you leave your trip early, but we can’t guarantee you a refund of any amount in this scenario. All your reservations will be booked in advance and many can’t be refunded. We are also not responsible for your transportation or accommodation once you stray from your original itinerary in this scenario.

13) What is Voyista’s cancellation policy?

If you have only paid the deposit and have to cancel your trip more than 30 days in advance, you use the deposit for another trip or for different dates. If you have paid in full for your trip and then cancel, however, we can’t guarantee you a refund of any amount. This is because we start booking your reservations as soon as you pay in full. We will try to recover some of the amount, but unfortunately we can’t offer a refund of any amount. Because of this, make sure you are committed to traveling when you pay in full for your journey!

14) Will you find my flights to and from the beginning and end cities on my trip?

Yes! We offer a service to do this after you select your trip. It will cost a $100, and we will find you the best deals available for your date range, guaranteed. If you find cheaper flights on the same dates, send them to us and we’ll refund you the charge. Keep in mind that we will not actually book the flights for you; rather, we will send you links for you to purchase them yourself. Voyista doesn’t book anything until you arrive at our partner hostel the first day of your trip.

15) How does payment for my trip work?

There are two options of payment for your Voyista trip::

• Pay in full when booking your trip. You will pay everything at once, up front.
• Pay a deposit when initially booking your trip. You’ll then be responsible for paying the remaining balance at least 30 days before your departure date. If you don’t do so, you’ll be liable for late fees, trip cancellation, and/or loss of your deposit.

We accept major card brands. You may have to call your bank in advance to authorize the large payment going through. If you have issues with paying these amounts in mass, we may be able to work out alternative multi-payment solutions. Email us at support@voyista.com if you require a special arrangement (we can’t guarantee a solution, however).

16) Can I make special travel arrangements?

Yes, you can! We can usually work with you if you require special adjustments to your Voyista trip. We may be available to do some of the following (charging you more when needed):

• Add or remove days in certain cities.
• Remove or add certain destinations to your trip.
• Book private rooms in our partner hostels.
• Add or remove days from the beginning or end of your trip.

We can’t guarantee anything, though. This is all conditional. Email us at support@voyista.com if you have special requests that you absolutely need. We can tell you before you book if it’s possible. When you actually book a trip, only do so if you are content with no special arrangements being available. We can’t ensure anything without talking to you beforehand.

17) When does my tour officially begin and end?

Your Voyista trip begins when you check in to our Voyista partner hostel on the first day of your trip. It ends the morning after the last day of Voyista-booked accommodation. We are not responsible for any bookings or reservations outside these time periods.

18) How should I prepare for my Voyista trip?

We offer you a comprehensive packing list and preparation guide once your purchase a trip. There are a few things that you should start considering before you buy a trip:

• Make sure you have a passport that will be valid for SIX MONTHS AFTER your trip ends.
• Apply for and acquire any necessary visas for your journey. Check your country’s state department to see what is needed. Voyista isn’t responsible for getting you a passport or any visas.
• If you know which trip you will be taking and when you will be departing, purchase your plane tickets as soon as possible. Prices will go up considerably the longer you wait. If you can’t find any good deals, consider having us search for cheap flights for you.

Release and Agreement

By signing and electronically submitting the Voyista checkout form and purchasing a trip, I understand and agree to the following stipulations and recognize that I am the one taking this trip (or am a parent/guardian of said person if they are under the age of 18):

1. I understand and acknowledge that this tour is marketed by Voyista, Inc., a US-based booking agency that coordinates travel outside the United States.
2. Voyista, Inc. and affiliated companies, partners, and other companies acting on its behalf (including employees, officers, agents, independent contractors, and representatives of Voyista, Inc.) do not own or operate any of the entities that provide good and services for our journeys (including hostels, transportation companies, walking tour companies, food providers, or any other providers of excursions or activity). I acknowledge and realize that all these entities, companies, and persons are independent contractors and are not employees of Voyista, Inc..
3. Without limitation, Voyista, Inc. is not responsible for any traveler’s losses or damages of property, injury, death, delay, or inconvenience in connection to or in cause of any goods or services offered by Voyista, Inc.. Voyista, Inc. is not liable for any of these occurrences, which may result from, but is not limited to acts of God, acts of government, acts of war or civil unrest, acts of terrorism, strikes or related labor activities, criminal activities, overbooking, downgrading of accommodations, problems with accommodations (heating, electrical, plumbing, etc.), mechanical failure or other problems with airplane, train, or bus transportation that affects the ability to depart or arrive on scheduled time, disease, sickness, epidemics, food poisoning, lack of access to adequate medical care, problems with evacuation in emergency, any negligent or willful failure or acts of a third party, or any other cause that is not in the direct control of Voyista, Inc..
4. I agree to release Voyista, Inc. from, and agree not to sue Voyista, Inc. for, any and all claims of any nature related to my participation and purchase of a Voyista-sponsored trip. This includes, but is not limited to, claims for breach of contract, negligence, breach of express or implied warranties, wrongful death, or any statutorily based claim. I hereby unequivocally and unconditionally waive any and all claims and demands for any damages, costs, expenses, and losses of any nature whatsoever, including attorney’s fees, on arising out of or on account of any and all personal injury, bodily injury, death, mental anguish, emotional distress, property, or any other damage that I may suffer because of any cause whatsoever in any relation to my participation in a Voyista, Inc. tour. I agree to release Voyista, Inc. from any and all decisions to cancel, delay, or modify the tour as a result of unforeseeable events that are beyond the reasonable control of Voyista, Inc.. These events include occurrences or situations that make the tour impossible or commercially unreasonable, unsustainable, or impractical for Voyista, Inc. to conduct. Voyista, Inc. may also make necessary changes to increase the quality of the tour; I release Voyista, Inc. from any and all decisions related to this as well.
5. Voyista, Inc. shall have no liability or responsibility for me whatsoever when I am absent from Voyista activities, including free time in cities, as well as periods of time before Voyista journey begins and after my Voyista journey ends.
6. I agree to the fact that my Voyista tour begins with the check in to my Voyista-arranged accommodation on my first travel day and ends upon the morning after my last night in Voyista-arranged accommodation. Flights to these beginning and end cities are not included on my Voyista journey and I am responsible for finding transportation to the beginning city and from the ending city of my journey.
7. I understand that travel abroad is different than travel within the United States and that it is not similar in many ways. Travel outside of the United States can possibly involve risk and inconvenience, including but not limited to climate, geographic, natural, hygienic, infrastructural, transportation, civil, criminal, or stability conditions. I understand that medical facilities may not be immediately available or at all available during part or all of my Voyista journey and may not be equal to the medical conditions of my own country. I assume all risk of any and all bodily injury, emotional or mental trauma, death, property loss or damage, and inconvenience resulting from negligence or any acts from all persons or entities related to my Voyista trip and caused by any (but not limited to) the conditions just mentioned. I have the intention and will fully assume all risks of this overseas travel and participation in my Voyista, Inc. trip and to release Voyista, Inc. from any and all liabilities to the maximum extent permitted by law.
8. I understand, acknowledge, and agree to the fact that this release includes and applies to activities not directly offered by Voyista, Inc. on my tour that may be considered risky. This includes, but is not limited to, activities such as skydiving, surfing, water-related activities, cultural-related activities, extreme sports, as well as the use or operation of vehicles, including but not limited to mopeds, scooters, motorbikes, motorcycles, cars, and ATVs.
9. I understand and agree to the fact that Voyista, Inc. reserves the right to refuse or cancel my trip at its sole discretion. If this event occurs, fees and refunds will be allocated according to the Voyista booking and cancellation policy. I understand that if this occurs within 40 days of my trip’s beginning, I may not have the right to any refund.
10. Any and all loss or damage to baggage or property, or death or injury, resulting from travel by air carrier is subject to and limited by the airlines’ contract of carriage, its tariff, and the Montreal Convention or Warsaw Convention and their amendments, or both.
11. I understand and agree to abide by any and all local laws while I am traveling on a Voyista journey, including those related to the consumption of drugs and alcohol. I understand that disobeying or abusing these said laws, even if done so unintentionally, will waive my right to a refund of any part of the cost of my journey. This may also result in cancellation of my journey at my own expense and result in me being responsible for finding transportation back home. I understand that if local authorities are to be involved, I will be subject to the laws of the country that I am visiting and actions resulting in my incarceration will result in immediate termination of my Voyista journey. I agree to waive the right to a refund for any of my Voyista jouney’s price and am responsible for any transportation if this is to occur.
12. If I become incapacitated or ill during my Voyista journey, Voyista, Inc. is not responsible for any costs relating to medical treatment or transportation to medical facilities or transportation to another country or back home. Voyista, Inc. and its contracted entities reserve the right to contact the emergency contact given prior to departure on my Voyista journey for any reason whatsoever. I agree to the fact that these rights listed transcend and all privacy regulations that may apply. Voyista, Inc. makes no warranty that it will be able to properly cause appropriate treatment to be administered or timely administered in the case of injury. Voyista, Inc. is also not responsible for monitoring my health or any health care that I may necessitate on my Voyista journey.
13. I agree to abide by Voyista, Inc.’s regulations and directions of any personnel or entity contracted by Voyista, Inc. during my travel. These personnel include, but are not limited to, any workers at booked accommodation, workers at the airport or train station, bus drivers, flight attendants, or train conductors. These regulations may include, but are not limited to prohibitions on driving/renting motor vehicles, possession and/or usage of drugs or alcohol, overconsumption of drugs or alcohol, disruptive actions, damage to property, or causing or threatening bodily harm to another person. I acknowledge and agree that Voyista, Inc. or its contacted entities may dismiss me from my trip, accommodation, or transportation at my sole expense for the failure of not following such rules or directions, or for any other reason that Voyista, Inc. or its contracted entities deem in its sole discretion requires my dismissal from my tour, accommodation, or transportation. I understand and acknowledge that in the case of said event, I waive the right to a refund of any part of my trip price, and that Voyista, Inc. may terminate my trip, which in this case I am fully responsible for the price of arranging further transportation and accommodation from then on.
14. I acknowledge, understand, and agree to abide by the times scheduled on my Voyista, Inc. trip related to itinerary locations, including but not limited to departures from cities and arrival at accommodations. Failure to be on time for a scheduled departure or arrival may result in Voyista, Inc. or its contracted entities to leave without me, refuse my accommodation, or not offer me transportation. In this case, I will be fully responsible to make my own arrangements at my own expense to catch up to my original itinerary plans. Voyista, Inc. is not responsible whatsoever for arranging this.
15. I understand that it is my full responsibility to obtain the necessary travel documents, including but not limited to passports, visas, and reservations, unless specifically arranged by Voyista, Inc.. Failure to secure these documents does not constitute grounds for a refund of any amount from Voyista, Inc.. I also understand that Voyista is not responsible for the loss of passports, visas, airline tickets, train tickets, or any other documents. I understand that Voyista is not responsible for lost or damaged luggage or any other belongings. In the case of a lost airline or train ticket, or a missed Voyista, Inc. booked flight, train, or bus, I acknowledge that I am solely responsible for meeting the airline’s, train company’s, and/or bus company’s requirements, both logistical and financial, for replacing said ticket and travel arrangement.
16. I understand that Voyista, Inc. reserves the right to make changes in my trip’s itinerary and departure date, and to change transportation arrangements, including substituting airline or method of travel from city to city. In the event that this occurs, refunds may be appropriately allocated at the discretion of Voyista, Inc..
17. I understand that I am fully responsible for any personal expenses that I incur while staying at Voyista-arranged accommodation or while traveling on Voyista-arranged transportation. This includes, but is not limited to, phone call charges, damage costs, and any other extra charges incurred for any reason. I will be required to pay upfront at the hostel. In the case that Voyista, Inc. is charged, I will be appropriately charged for the amount on my given method of payment.
18. I understand that this trip is organized primarily for those aged 18 to 35 years of age. Booking is not allowed for those aged under 18 at the time of travel. Those aged over 35 at the time of travel may still book a journey, but I understand that, in this case, I may be placed in alternative accommodations that may not be up to the quality standards set by Voyista for its usual accommodation. This will occur in cases where the partner hostel has an age ceiling in place for its occupants. I understand that Voyista curated journeys that are intended for younger travelers, in terms of accommodation, transportation, and activities that are chosen.
19. This Release and Agreement along with Voyista’s Booking Conditions constitute the entire agreement between Voyista, Inc. and me with reference to the subject matter within the agreements and conditions. I understand that I do not rely upon any promises or agreements that are not included within the agreements and conditions listed here, including but not limited to any oral statements made to my by Voyista workers or contracted entities, or any marketing by Voyista on social media or on other mediums. This agreement may only be amended or modified in a writing signed by Voyista, Inc.. The waiver by Voyista, Inc. by any provision of this agreement shall in no way affect any of the remaining provisions of this agreement, and the agreement shall be interpreted as if such clause or provision was not contained in this agreement.
20. This agreement and performance of it shall be governed in all respects, by the substantive laws of the State of Connecticut. In the event of a claim by either party, dispute or proceeding arising out of my relationship with Voyista, Inc., or any claim that arises, whether or not related to this agreement, the literature of the Voyista trip or the Voyista trip itself, shall be resolved solely in courts of the State of Connecticut and/or the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut.
21. Voyista, Inc. and its contracted entities may use any photographic, film, video, or digital likeness taken of me, as well as any of my comments while on a Voyista, Inc. trip, and any of my own photographic, film, video, or digital content shared by me with Voyista, Inc. through any format, for use of future publicity or marketing and without compensation to me. I understand this, and also agree to have Voyista, Inc. use my contact information for future Voyista, Inc. promotions. I have read the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy outlined at www.voyista.com and I consent to Voyista, Inc.’s processing of my personal data as set forth in the privacy policy mentioned. Electronically submit your acceptance of the conditions listed above only after you have read these documents in full and understand the contents and effects of these agreements. This electronic signature is made when you purchase your trip in full or make a deposit on the Voyista website. If you book over the phone, you will have to go online and electronically agree to these conditions. If you fail to agree to these Booking Conditions and Release and Agreement, you will forfeit your travel and be subject to a cancellation of your Voyista trip.