Policies
Vaccinations
Giving the current climate with COVID-19, all travelers will need to show proof of vaccination prior to departure.
Agreement of Participation
Travelers will be representing their country on this trip. They agree to conduct themselves in accordance with the rules of Tusker Travels Inc. and the designated tour company. Travelers should understand the conditions and procedures of Tusker Travels Inc. and the designated tour company from the paperwork I have been given and/or online at www.tuskertravels.org and/or https://www.explorica.com; www.eftours.com; https://acis.com.
Travelers will follow the laws of the countries visited and will act as a good ambassador. Travelers recognize that a foreign country has its own culture and travelers will demonstrate respect for these cultural differences. Travelers recognize that they will be exposed to a steady stream of new situations and experiences. Travelers understand that there may even be some inconveniences in which they will be flexible and accommodating.
Travelers will take reasonable care of others and themselves during this trip and will not take unreasonable risks that might endanger my, or another’s, health or life.
Travelers must be medically fit and not suffer any mental disabilities or physical limitations other than those disclosed on the Health and Medications Form that will hinder their ability to attend their trip.
Travelers are aware that itinerary details are subject to change and the times and dates of activities may vary. Travelers understand that these changes are to ensure that everyday is designed to make the most of the experience for everyone involved. Travelers recognize that all activities require their full attendance and participation.
Acceptance onto the trip may at any time be revoked by the chaperones/directors. This includes any conduct in which my behavior causes a lack of safety for others or themselves. If a traveler is requested to leave the program, for any reason, the traveler understands that they will forfeit the trip price in its entirety and further understand that they will incur additional costs to arrange for immediate travel home.
Travelers will follow the laws of the countries visited and will act as a good ambassador. Travelers recognize that a foreign country has its own culture and travelers will demonstrate respect for these cultural differences. Travelers recognize that they will be exposed to a steady stream of new situations and experiences. Travelers understand that there may even be some inconveniences in which they will be flexible and accommodating.
Travelers will take reasonable care of others and themselves during this trip and will not take unreasonable risks that might endanger my, or another’s, health or life.
Travelers must be medically fit and not suffer any mental disabilities or physical limitations other than those disclosed on the Health and Medications Form that will hinder their ability to attend their trip.
Travelers are aware that itinerary details are subject to change and the times and dates of activities may vary. Travelers understand that these changes are to ensure that everyday is designed to make the most of the experience for everyone involved. Travelers recognize that all activities require their full attendance and participation.
Acceptance onto the trip may at any time be revoked by the chaperones/directors. This includes any conduct in which my behavior causes a lack of safety for others or themselves. If a traveler is requested to leave the program, for any reason, the traveler understands that they will forfeit the trip price in its entirety and further understand that they will incur additional costs to arrange for immediate travel home.
Supplemental Fees
Supplemental fees must be paid on the tuskertravels.org website no later than 2 months prior to departure. A late fee of an additional $100 will be added for travelers who have not paid the supplemental fees by the due date. To pay the supplemental fees, click on the drop down menu, choose “store” and choose the trip your child is attending. Supplemental fees must be paid at once through the website. The supplemental fees include:
-Non-Included Tips: Pre-calculated tips per traveler. Tip money includes tips to our tour director, who is with our group 24 hours per day while we are abroad, bus drivers to and from the airports abroad and in NY, specialty tour guides while we are abroad, buses for day trips, etc.
-Tee Shirt: Each trip will include a unique designed tee shirt that relates to the area of travel. (Shirts will be ordered based on the T-shirt size previously chosen on this online application).
-Additional insurance
-Administrative Fees: Other administrative costs and expenses.
-Non-Included Tips: Pre-calculated tips per traveler. Tip money includes tips to our tour director, who is with our group 24 hours per day while we are abroad, bus drivers to and from the airports abroad and in NY, specialty tour guides while we are abroad, buses for day trips, etc.
-Tee Shirt: Each trip will include a unique designed tee shirt that relates to the area of travel. (Shirts will be ordered based on the T-shirt size previously chosen on this online application).
-Additional insurance
-Administrative Fees: Other administrative costs and expenses.
Waiver & Indemnification: Non-District Sponsored Trip
Travelers and their parents or guardians understand that this is a Non-District Sponsored Trip. No school district is not connected to the trip, and, therefore, hereby release the District and hold it and its agents, officers, and employees harmless from any claims for monetary damages for property or economic loss or inconvenience of any kind or for personal injury, as such may be caused directly or indirectly by, or result from said trip, including indemnifying and holding harmless the District from the direct and indirect consequences of said trip.
Waiver & Indemnification: Tusker Travels Inc.
Tusker Travels Inc., Tusker Travels Inc. Directors, volunteers/chaperones, and the nurse consultant cannot be held responsible for any injury, loss, damage, accident, delay, or expense resulting from events beyond its control, including, without limitation to, acts of God, war, natural disaster, instability, strikes, incidents of politically motivated violence, sickness or quarantine, disease, medical, health and safety, terrorism, government restrictions or regulations, and, in the absence of gross negligence, arising from any vehicle, or from any act or omission by bus or car rental agency, steamship, airline, railroad, taxi or tour service, hotel, restaurant, school, university, or any other firm, agency, company, or individual.
Tusker Travels Inc. and its Directors reserve the right to cancel a tour at any time, for any reason. Tusker Travels Inc., Tusker Travels Inc. Directors, volunteers/chaperones, and the nurse consultant cannot be held responsible for any loss or expense resulting from its decision to cancel a tour and the resulting expense will be based on the travel protection/insurance package purchased from the tour company at the time of enrollment.
If the highest level of trip insurance /travel protection is not included in the tour price, travelers and their parent/guardians may opt to purchase additional coverage (if available) through the tour company upon enrollment. The request for additional coverage must be indicated on the tour enrollment form and/or on the enrollment link AND the request must be emailed to the Tusker Travels. Directors at the time of enrollment ([email protected]).
Tusker Travels Inc. and its Directors reserve the right to cancel a tour at any time, for any reason. Tusker Travels Inc., Tusker Travels Inc. Directors, volunteers/chaperones, and the nurse consultant cannot be held responsible for any loss or expense resulting from its decision to cancel a tour and the resulting expense will be based on the travel protection/insurance package purchased from the tour company at the time of enrollment.
If the highest level of trip insurance /travel protection is not included in the tour price, travelers and their parent/guardians may opt to purchase additional coverage (if available) through the tour company upon enrollment. The request for additional coverage must be indicated on the tour enrollment form and/or on the enrollment link AND the request must be emailed to the Tusker Travels. Directors at the time of enrollment ([email protected]).
Confidential Character References
3 confidential character references are REQUIRED for an application to be considered complete and approved for review. Travelers will need to send the following link to 3 teachers (1 may be an employer). It is the travelers responsibility to ensure that the confidential character references are completed prior to the deadline of any price increase.
***If you have traveled with Tusker Travels within the last year, you do not need to complete Character References when applying for a new trip***
https://www.tuskertravels.org/confidential-character-reference.html
***If you have traveled with Tusker Travels within the last year, you do not need to complete Character References when applying for a new trip***
https://www.tuskertravels.org/confidential-character-reference.html
APPLICATION APPROVAL PROCESS
The committee will review applications and return a "Yes" or "No" decision. The committee consists of Christine Lepkowski, William Maelia, Christine Brooks, Anna Timone, and Angela Holder. The decision of the committee is final; the committee is not required to give parents, guardians, or travelers a reason for denial. No information contained in the confidential character references will be shared with the traveler or his/her parent or guardian. Students already enrolled in the trip through the tour company who are denied will be removed from the trip and are responsible for any cancellation fees.
*Tusker Travels Inc. is an equal opportunity company and does not discriminate against applicants because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability status of an otherwise qualified individual. Acceptance decisions are made without consideration of these or any other factors that are prohibited by law from considering.
*Tusker Travels Inc. is an equal opportunity company and does not discriminate against applicants because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, disability status of an otherwise qualified individual. Acceptance decisions are made without consideration of these or any other factors that are prohibited by law from considering.
Traveler Letter of Interest
All travelers applying to a Tusker Travels Inc. trip will need to write a paragraph to the Tusker Travels Inc. Trip Leader(s) detailing the reasons why you are interested in participating in this Tusker Travels Inc. trip.