Terms & Conditions

Booking Process

A 50% deposit of the cost of the tour/per person is required to reserve a space on our tours. Tour price is in US dollars.

A guest can also pay the full amount of the tour at the time of reservation.

If the 50% deposit is made, the balance for the tour is due 90 days before the start of the tour. An invoice will be emailed 30 days prior to final payment date.

Payment options include:

1)   PayPal: An electronic invoice is sent to you that you may pay by credit card or through your PayPal account if you are a subscriber.

2)   Check: Payable to “Sicily Connect” and mailed to our address. Send us an email for full details.

3)   Electronic Bank Transfer: Send us an email for full details.

Once an initial deposit or full payment is made, Sicily Connect will send guests an electronic invoice reflecting the payment information. Sicily Connect will provide each guest with additional information and several forms to complete. These include:

1)   Introductory letter and travel tips

2)   Detailed preliminary itinerary

3)   Release of liability form - requiring review and signature

4)   Questionnaire (note your interests, specific travel plans, health concerns/food allergies and emergency contact information)-requiring review and signature

5) Terms & Conditions - requiring review and signature

Once the above required documents are reviewed and three forms are completed, signed and returned to Franca Gilbert at sicilyconnect@gmail.com along with a deposit- your tour booking is complete. 

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations Made by Guests

  • Cancellations made 30 days or less from the date of your deposit:

  • You will receive 100% refund if you choose to cancel your travel plans, less any processing fees if paid using our website or PayPal.

  • Cancellations made after 30 days from the date of your deposit and before 90 days prior to the start of the tour:

  • Guests who paid the full amount upon booking the tour: Sicily Connect will refund 50% of the amount paid, less any processing fees. The remaining 50% of the amount paid may be used as a deposit for a different Sicily Connect tour within one year from the travel start date of the initial tour booked. This option is based on the availability of a second tour and at the discretion of Franca Gilbert, Sicily Connect owner.

  • Guests who paid the 50% deposit upon booking the tour: this deposit is now non- refundable. However, it may be used as a deposit for a different Cheese Journey within one year from the travel start date of the initial tour booked. This option is based on the availability of a second tour and at the discretion of Franca Gilbert, Sicily Connect owner.

  • Cancellations made 90 days or less prior to the start of a tour, will result in the loss of the full amount paid for the tour.

Exceptions to this Cancellation Policy cannot be made for any reason, including personal emergencies. There is no partial refund for leaving a tour early or arriving late. If you anticipate any reason that you may need to cancel your reservation on our tour, please consider travel insurance (see below).

Cancellations Made by Sicily Connect

Sicily Connect reserves the right to cancel this tour in the event of:

·National/global disaster, health risk or any unsafe conditions in the travel area. Travel restrictions imposed by national or international government regulations due to Covid or any other cause.

·Insufficient enrollment for the tour 91 days prior to the tour.

Though a tour cancellation is very unlikely, all guests who booked a tour will receive an email from Sicily Connect on or before 91 days to confirm the final status of the tour. Sicily Connect will provide periodic updates prior to this deadline.

If for any of the above reasons the tour is cancelled by Sicily Connect, deposits and payments, less any processing fees if guest paid using Pay Pal, will be returned to guests within 14 days. Sicily Connect is not responsible for a guest’s non-refundable flight expense, any hotel or booking fees prior to or after the Sicily Connect tour if Sicily Connect is forced to cancel the tour. Please consider travel insurance (see below).

Travel Insurance

We highly recommend you purchase travel insurance. Life is unpredictable and you want to ensure you are financially covered if you need to change your travel plans.

There are several options including insurance through your credit card, insurance broker, airline, or travel agent. These websites below also provide travel insurance and can assist you to determine what option is best for you.

www. travelinsurance.com

www.travelexinsurance.com

ww.axatravelinsurance.com

Flights

All Sicily Connect tours begin and end on location, therefore roundtrip travel (flights as well as train, bus or other transportation means) to the tour start/end location is not included in the tour price.  At the time of booking, explore what flight options you prefer.

However, please wait to purchase your tickets until we have passed the potential cancellation date as noted in terms and conditions.

Changes to the Itinerary

Sicily Connect reserves the right to make partial changes to the stated itinerary. This may be due to inclement weather or an emergency involving the host and/or producers, or Covid restrictions. We will do our best to keep any changes to a minimum.

Photo Release

During all tours, Sicily Connect photographs activities, locations, and guests for use in marketing/publicity materials, or posts on social media and website. Please notify us if we are not free to use photographs of you for these limited purposes. If you do not inform us in writing that we are not to use photos that include you, it will be understood that you accept this.

Activity Level, Food Allergies, Health Limitations

Guests must be able to walk one mile per day unimpeded, which may include city and village streets, vineyards, farms and inclines. Guests will need to be able to walk unassisted up two flights of stairs and stand for 30 to 45 minutes. If you have any concerns regarding activity level, please contact Franca Gilbert. Please disclose any allergies, health conditions or physical restrictions on the Sicily Connect questionnaire. If you have any specific concerns, please contact Franca at sicilyconnect@gmail.com to discuss.