TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Your travel booking is made with Travel Curators Pte. Ltd., a registered company (Travel Agent License Number: 342525) in Singapore located at 12 Marina View, Asia Square Tower 2, #23-01, Singapore 018961 (referred to in these terms and conditions as “Travel Curators”).

1. GETTING STARTED

1.1. Our approach to creating truly unique travel experiences begins with understanding as much as we can about what interests you. Such information may be gathered by our experienced curators in person, on the telephone or via other modes of communication.

1.2. At this point, you are also responsible for informing Travel Curators of any special arrangements (e.g. avoidance of raw food or Japanese traditional bedding) that you would require or health conditions (e.g. pregnancy, motion sickness, handicap, chronic illness) that could have an effect on your trip experience. Any medical information that you share with us will be held in the strictest confidence. We shall endeavour to accommodate your needs as far as possible but there is no guarantee that all your requests can be met.

1.3. At Travel Curators, we do not work with fixed itineraries. Every trip is customized from the ground up and this takes time, effort and knowledge built up over many years. As such, once we establish where, when and how you wish to travel and are satisfied that this is feasible, we will require a minimum non-refundable Trip Creation Fee (“TCF”) of Singapore Dollars 800 per person to start creating your bespoke trip. Under certain circumstances, this fee may be higher.

1.4. Upon receipt of payment for the TCF, we will prepare an itinerary for your consideration and present it to you within 7 to 28 days depending on the complexity of your trip.

1.5. The bespoke trip we create for you will be priced as a complete package that includes components with confidential contract rates with partners. As such, we are unable to and do not under any circumstance provide a breakdown of costs. Should you not be satisfied with the final trip price (“Travel Fee”), we will endeavour to adjust your bespoke trip to meet your budgetary requirements.

2. PAYMENTS

2.1 Once the itinerary has been agreed, you will be invoiced for 100% of the Travel Fee. Please note that until the invoice is paid in full, all arrangements are subject to availability and / or price change.

2.2 All payments to Travel Curators are to be made by telegraphic transfer directly into the bank account of Travel Curators, as follows:

Beneficiary Bank: UNITED OVERSEAS BANK LIMITED Beneficiary Bank Code: 7375 Swift Code: UOVBSGSG Beneficiary Name: Travel Curators Pte. Ltd. Beneficiary Account Number: 365-303-835-4

2.3. Payment of the Travel Fee shall constitute agreement and acceptance of the terms and conditions set forth in this document by you.

2.4. If any payment remains unpaid after seven days past the due date of the payment, Travel Curators reserves the right to cancel your bespoke trip without notice. You will be liable for any additional costs incurred.

2.3. Payment of the Travel Fee shall constitute agreement and acceptance of the terms and conditions set forth in this document by you.

2.4. If any payment remains unpaid after seven days past the due date of the payment, Travel Curators reserves the right to cancel your bespoke trip without notice. You will be liable for any additional costs incurred.

3. PRICES

3.1. Bespoke trips created by Travel Curators are typically priced in Singapore Dollars, and occasionally in Japanese Yen.

3.2. Travel Curators reserves the right to impose surcharges in respect of cost increases incurred during the creation of your bespoke trip. These may include but are not limited to increases related to currency fluctuations, increases levied by partners used for your bespoke trip or government action. If the increase is in excess of 10% of the Travel Fee, you will be given an option to withdraw from the bespoke trip and we will give you a full refund of all money paid to Travel Curators less the TCF paid. No refunds will be given if currency rates improve. We will not increase the price of your bespoke trip less than 30 days before departure nor will it be increased if the cost increases are less than 2% of the Travel Fee.

3.3. Unless otherwise stated, the Travel Fee typically does not include cost of airfare, visas, additional baggage fees; personal expenses; optional sightseeing; gratuities fees, which are at your discretion; and travel protection insurance.

4. CHANGES OR CANCELLATION BY YOU

4.1. If, after payment of the Travel Fee, you wish to change your bespoke trip in any way, we will do our utmost to make your changes but this may not always be possible. You may also be asked to pay for any costs that we incur in making these changes.

4.2. You may cancel your bespoke trip at any time by paying a cancellation fee stipulated in the table below. The effective date of cancellation will be upon our receipt of your written notification.

Effective date of cancellation Cancellation fee
91 days or more before departure None
61 – 90 days before departure 30% of Travel Fee
31 – 60 days before departure 50% of Travel Fee
0 – 30 days before departure 100% of Travel Fee

5. CHANGES OR CANCELLATION BY TRAVEL CURATORS OR ITS SUPPLIERS

5.1. Some aspects of your bespoke trip may be operated by third party suppliers (“Suppliers”). These may include and are not limited to accommodation, land/sea/air transportation, activities, and food and beverage services. These aspects may be dependent on factors outside Travel Curators’ control and if they are amended or do not materialize for any reason, Travel Curators will ensure that you are promptly notified of any significant changes but no refund will be given. In addition, Travel Curators does not accept responsibility and is not liable for any negligent acts or defaults of any Supplier not directly under its control.

5.2. Travel Curators aims to run your bespoke trip as created. However, occasionally, it may be necessary to make minor changes to your trip and in such situations, no refund will be made. If Travel Curators is unable to offer a significant proportion of the trip, you will be offered an alternative trip of equal or greater value which Travel Curators, at its sole discretion, deems suitable.

5.3. Travel Curators retains the right to cancel your bespoke trip entirely if the quality of your bespoke trip, in our sole opinion, is deemed to be compromised. In this unlikely event, you will receive a refund of the Travel Fee less any losses incurred by Travel Curators. No refund will be issued if Travel Curators is forced to cancel or make significant changes to your bespoke trip due to circumstances beyond our control. Such circumstances include but are not limited to man-made or natural disasters, acts of god, and adverse weather conditions.

6. INSURANCE

6.1. Travelling to a different country is inherently risky and despite all reasonable precautions that Travel Curators takes, accidents may happen during your bespoke trip, and significant costs may be incurred for matters relating to medical treatment for injuries and/or urgent transportation. 6.2. To be properly insured against such situations, we strongly recommend that you purchase comprehensive travel insurance that include sufficient cover, especially regarding cancellation, curtailment, theft, accident, repatriation, medical, third party, liability for injury to others and death, and loss or damage to equipment.

7. YOUR BEHAVIOUR AND RESPONSIBILITIES

7.1. We are committed to taking the hassle out of a fun and rewarding travel experience. In return, we require your help to ensure that you stay healthy and fit; to prepare yourself by reading about the places you are visiting and understand that local living standards, practices, lifestyles, facilities may be different (often in delightful ways) from what you are used to. We hope this makes for a more authentic and rewarding adventure.

7.2. In further consideration for participating in your bespoke trip, you agree that Travel Curators, or its designate, may use any photographic or film records of your bespoke trip for promotional and/or commercial purposes, without any remuneration to you.

7.3. You are responsible for obtaining all required travel documentation. You must obtain any required visas and have a passport that is valid for at least six months from the start date of the trip. You are also responsible for checking in for all flights and other travel arrangements in good time and with the correct documentation. Travel Curators will not be responsible for any costs incurred by you not having the correct documentation when required or failure to be on time for departure.

7.4. You are expected to behave decently and with consideration to Travel Curators’ staff and our Suppliers and must comply with rules and regulations set by them from time to time. Travel Curators reserves the right to remove any traveller from all or part of the bespoke trip if Travel Curators feels they are behaving in an unacceptable manner. In such a situation, Travel Curators will not be responsible for repatriation or any costs incurred, and no refund will be given.

7.5. You are responsible for looking after the accommodation where you stay and will be liable for any damages inflicted on the properties occupied by you during your bespoke trip.

7.6. You acknowledge and agree that some of the activities that you will participate in have a risk of accident and injury. Therefore, you will not take any unreasonable risks, and if you do, you are responsible for your own actions.

7.7. All of your property is your own responsibility.

8. TRAVEL CURATORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES

8.1. We are grateful for the faith and trust you put in us to plan your trip and will do our utmost to create and deliver the perfect travel experience for you.

8.2. Our aim is to provide you with reliable and personalized service. We will respond to your requests promptly and will keep you informed as your itinerary evolves.

8.3. If at any time you have questions or concerns we ask that you let us know immediately. Any complaints or suggestions about your trip should be made to Travel Curators at info@japancurator.com, and every effort will be made to create a better travel experience for you.

9. LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY

9.1. Although Travel Curators takes all reasonable precautions to prevent accidents or injury, travel involves risks. In the absence of its own wilful negligence, neither Travel Curators nor its employees, or agents shall be liable for economic loss and physical or mental injury, direct or indirect, arising in connection with your trip and the actions of any third party service providers.

9.2. In addition and without limitation, Travel Curators is not responsible for any injury, loss, or death, or damage to property in connection with the provision of any goods or services whether resulting from, without limitation, to acts of God or force majeure, weather, quarantines, illness, disease, acts of war, civil unrest, insurrection/revolt, animals, labor unrest including strikes, criminal or terrorist activities of any kind, overbooking or downgrading of services, food poisoning, mechanical or other failure of means of transportation or travel delays, travel advisories or warnings.

10. LAW & JURISDICTION

10.1. These terms and conditions and all disputes arising out of or in relation to the contract entered into between Travel Curators and you will be interpreted in accordance with and governed by the laws of Singapore.

10.2. In entering into a contract with Travel Curators you accept that any dispute arising from such contract will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Singapore court.