Terms & Conditions

INTRODUCTION

1. KONTES TRAVEL is a Class A licensed travel agent registered as a member of the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB License 13410) Kontes Travel also trades as www.kontestravel.com . Hereinafter referred to as “KONTES TRAVEL”
   2. These booking conditions apply to the person making the booking (the Guest) and all other persons on whose behalf the booking(s) are made.
   3. These terms and conditions apply to all bookings made through KONTES TRAVEL. A deposit is paid for a tour provided by KONTES TRAVEL is taken to be an acceptance of these terms and conditions.
   4. KONTES TRAVEL acts as agents on behalf of all the suppliers (including airlines, tour and cruise operators, car hirers and accommodation providers) in your booking.
   5. The Guest is contracting with KONTES TRAVEL for the provision of certain services. In almost all cases the services will be provided by 3rd party suppliers including airlines, tour operators, hotels, museum and historical sites. Any terms and conditions applied by those suppliers to their Guests also apply to your booking. Copies of those terms and conditions are available upon request.
   6. These booking conditions govern the Guests’ relationship with KONTES TRAVEL Should a supplier be unable to provide one of the services contracted for KONTES TRAVEL will provide an alternative and equivalent service. or otherwise provide a refund for that service of portion of the itinerary.
   7. Any Guest making a booking must be at least 18 years of age and must be authorized to make the booking on behalf of the members of the party.

DEFINITIONS

8. Within these terms and conditions the following words have these meanings:
   a-) The Guest – a person or persons who pays KONTES TRAVEL for the provision of travel services. hotel accommodation, car rental, airfares tours and other services.
   b-)The tour – any package of services provided by KONTES TRAVEL as agent for its suppliers.
   c-) The tour commencement – the date on which the first KONTES TRAVEL service is to be provided. Typically this will be an airport transfer on arrival in Turkey, though it may be another service which is first to be provided.
   d-) Suppliers – 3rd parties including but not limited to airlines, hotels, museums, historical sites, gulet operators, cruise operators, tour operators, transfer companies and guides which provide tourism services to KONTES TRAVEL guests.

THE CONTRACT

9. After we have received the Guests’ deposit or full payment (if applicable and we have issued a receipt, a contract will exist between the customer and KONTES TRAVEL effective from the date printed on the receipt. The terms and conditions of each supplier in the booking with will also apply to the guests’booking. Once the contract(s) is made, the airlines, accommodation provider and any other supplier is responsible for providing the guest with what the guests has booked.

AGENCY

10. KONTES TRAVEL acts as a travel agent. We arrange travel services and sell travel related products on behalf of suppliers such as airlines, tour and cruise operators, car hirers and accommodation providers. In doing so KONTES TRAVEL gives no warranty nor makes any representation regarding the services to be supplied or the products purchased by the Guest . The Guests’ booking will be subject to the terms and conditions applied by the provider of the service or products. The Guest accepts that if the travel services or products are not supplied in accordance with the booking, the remedy lies with the service provider and not KONTES TRAVEL.
11. KONTES TRAVEL undertakes to try to resolve all disputes and issues at first instance. KONTES TRAVEL undertakes to represent services provided by others accurately and reasonably. KONTES TRAVEL undertakes to act in good faith and attempt to find alternatives if a supplier cannot or will not supply the contracted service. KONTES TRAVEL will not be liable for failures on the part of suppliers or any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of the provision of services by third party suppliers.

PRICES

12. Every effort is made to ensure that the prices quoted to you are correct. However KONTES TRAVEL acts only as an agent and relies on information provided to us from the suppliers of the travel services and products. KONTES TRAVEL undertakes to bring to Guests’ attention any change in price made prior to the Guest completing their booking and paying the balance of the price.

AIRFARES CONDITIONS

13. Many airfares are subject to strict conditions regarding amendments, cancellations and refunds. If KONTES TRAVEL is required to re-issue a ticket due to the provision of inaccurate or unclear information, the Guest will be required to pay for the re-issue. This may amount to the purchase of a new full fare ticket. The Guest is responsible for providing their name (and all names of all people travelling in their party) as it appears in their passports and undertakes to take care to provide passport numbers with accuracy.
14. If KONTES TRAVEL is required to re-issue a ticket due to its own error KONTES TRAVEL will bear the full cost of such re-issue.

AIRLINE TAXES AND FUEL SURCHARGES

15. All airfares are subject to taxes and charges levied by the relevant governments and the airlines themselves. From time to time governments increase airport taxes and levies and airlines impose fuel surcharges without notice. KONTES TRAVEL will endeavour to notify the customer of such charges in advance but reserves the right to pass on fuel and tax increases levied by governments and/or airlines, without notice.

AIRLINE E-TICKETS

16. All domestic Turkish airlines and most international airlines now issue electronic tickets called e-tickets, rather than paper tickets. The guests will be provided with the details of their flight booking and a reference number. The guests may not receive any other documentation confirming flights. All passengers travelling on an e-ticket will be required to produce photo identification at check in.
17. The airline on which the guests is/are booked may change its departure time or cancel a flight. KONTES TRAVEL will notify guests of changed departure times where possible and endeavour to reorganize other arrangements to ensure guests meet scheduled departures. However KONTES TRAVEL has no liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of an airline delaying or cancelling flights.

PAYMENT TERMS

a-) KONTES TRAVEL requires 50% of total tour fees to be paid deposit. Once your deposit is paid, we provide a receipt immediately. We then proceed to purchase your flight tickets, make hotel reservations and organize your tour. We will also need your personal information, such as Date Of Birth, passport numbers, next of kin contacts – this information is required to book your tickets and also keep your details on our file during your travels.

b-) KONTES TRAVEL requires the balance of all tour fees to be paid in full, at least 21 days prior to the tour commencing.

c-) Failure by the guest to pay the balance of tour fees at least 21 days prior to the tour commencing may result in TurkeyTravel.com cancelling the booking and retaining the deposit.

d-) KONTES TRAVEL accepts payments by Visa Card, Master Card or international bank transfer to bank account. KONTES TRAVEL does not accept payment by American Express, Visa Debit, Master Debit cards or Dinners Club cards.

e-) Bank Fees incurred as a consequence of international bank transfer are the responsibility of the guest.

AGENTS COMMISSIONS

27. KONTES TRAVEL may contract with another travel agency (“commissioning agency”) for the provisions of services to their customers. KONTES TRAVEL will be responsible for the provision of those services via its suppliers to the guest, who will travel and enjoy the tourist service.
28. KONTES TRAVEL will advise the commissioning agency of the price of the tours, and what percentage of this price the commissioning agency may retain. The commissioning agency may charge their guest tour fees greater than the price advised by KONTES TRAVEL but should not charge the guest tour fees less than the price advised by KONTES TRAVEL

CANCELLATION FEES

Reservations may only be canceled by submitting a formal written notice sent via email or certified mail directly to our agency. Because we pre-pay and secure local boutique hotels, high-speed ferries, and domestic flight entities well in advance on behalf of our travelers, our cancellation policy is strictly structured based on the timeline below:

• ⚠️ DOMESTIC FLIGHTS & FERRIES ARE 100% NON-REFUNDABLE: Once domestic flight or ferry tickets are officially issued, they cannot be modified, and a 100% cancellation fee applies to that portion of the package immediately, regardless of when the cancellation notice is received.
• ⏳ Land Portion Cancellation Scale:

For the remaining land portion costs that are legally recoverable from our local hotel and transfer entities, refunds are calculated as follows:

• Notice received 31 days or more prior to arrival/tour start date: 100% Refund (No cancellation fee applies to the land portion).
• Notice received between 31 and 21 days prior to scheduled tour: 75% Refund of the land portion.
• Notice received between 21 and 14 days prior to scheduled tour: 50% Refund of the land portion.
• Notice received 13 days or less prior to scheduled tour: No Refund will be issued.

AMENDMENTS

33. Amendments to a tour, initiated by the guest after the payment of a deposit, may attract and amendment fee. Amendments requiring changes to bookings for hotels, tours, flights, cruises charters, vehicle rentals and/or transfers on three or more days of an itinerary will ordinarily be charged a Euro 100 amendment fee.
34. Amendments requiring changes to bookings for hotels, tours, flights, cruises, charters, vehicle rentals and/or transfers no five or more days of an itinerary may be regarded as a full or partial cancellation of a tour and result in a great percentage of tour fees consistent with the cancellation provisions above.
35. Costs incurred by KONTES TRAVEL as a result of amendments (such as non-refundable airfares which are cancelled, or cancellation fees imposed by hotels or tour operators) will also be passed on to the guest. The guest will be advised of the aggregate of such costs and given the opportunity to continue with the amendment. Agreement to continue with the amendment is taken as agreement to accept the advised amendment cost (as well as any amendment fees)

LIABILITIES

36. KONTES TRAVEL bears no liability or responsibility for tours cancelled due to illness, injury or death of a guest or close relative or partner of a guest or any other personal matter. KONTES TRAVEL bears no responsibility of liability for tours cancelled due to natural disaster, terrorism, environmental catastrophe or changed governmental travel advisories.
37. As i KONTES TRAVEL is only acting as an agent, it bears no liability in respect of the supply of any element of a booking including any liability for illness, personal injury death, or loss of any kind, delay and inconvenience caused directly or indirectly by any provider of travel services or products or by other third parties unless caused by KONTES TRAVEL negligence. Any claim for damages for injury illness loss or death must be brought against the relevant supplier of the travel services or products.
38. KONTES TRAVEL bears no liability if a guest is unable to enjoy services provided due to them being incarcerated or detained by governmental authorities or refused entry into Turkey or any other country where services were to be provided.
39. Nothing in these terms and conditions shall be read as excluding, restricting or modifying rights under relevant Turkish legislation.
40. KONTES TRAVEL warrants to act in good faith to procure services from suppliers which use safe vehicles, aircraft and sea-going vessels. KONTES TRAVEL warrants to procure services only from fully licensed guides and tour operators. KONTES TRAVEL undertakes to only contract with suppliers it reasonably believes take care to protect the health and safety of their guests.
41. KONTES TRAVEL undertakes to provide a mobile phone contact for a fluent Turkish/English speaker, available 24 hours per day while the guest is in Turkey, to assist in resolving emergencies or unexpected contingencies.
42. KONTES TRAVEL strongly advises guests to take out their own comprehensive travel insurance policies, providing coverage for property loss and/or damage, medical expenses and repatriation back to the home country in the case of injury, illness or death. KONTES TRAVEL advises guests to take our appropriate travel insurance at the time of paying a deposit as the policy should also cover loss of deposit and cancellation fees.

INCLUSIONS AND EXCLUSIONS

43. Generally inclusions and exclusions are to be determined by the individual contract between KONTES TRAVEL and each guest on an individual bases. The contract is contained largely in the itinerary attached to each booking, together with reference to these terms and conditions.
44. If an itinerary is silent as to whether an item is included or not, the following generally applies.
45. KONTES TRAVEL ours generally include
46. Tolls, traffic fines incurred by professional drivers, fuel and parking fees
47. Regular buffet breakfast at each hotel during the hours usually provided
48. One arrival transfer and one departure transfer between hotels and airports
49. KONTES TRAVEL tours generally exclude
50. Special breakfast provided very early for customers with early departures where hotels are unable to accommodate early breakfasts
51. Late checkout for customers who will not be picked up from the hotel until late on their final date at that hotel
52. Turkish Visa Fees
53. International airfares
54. Mini bar charges, phone calls, laundry, meals other than those described in the itinerary
55. Drinks with meals
56. Charges incurred due to damage by the customer to the hotel or vehicles provided
57. Items of a personal nature
58. Travel insurances except as required under Turkish Law
59. Additional arrival or departure transfers between airport and hotel for customers is one party who are arriving or departing on different flights
60. Gratuities or tips for driver and/or guide which are optional but customary

FORCE MAJEUR

61. KONTES TRAVEL shall not be liable for any loss or damage incurred as a consequence of KONTES TRAVEL or any of the suppliers being unable to perform their obligations under the guests’ contract(s) due to unusual or unforeseeable circumstances (“a force majeure event”) beyond the control of the party affected by the force majeure event.
62. In the event of a force majeure event, KONTES TRAVEL may. at its sole discretion, assist the guest to make alternative travel arrangements or to provide a partial refund for services not provided.

PASSPORT AND VISAS

63. It is the guests own responsibility to ensure they have a valid passport at the time of travelling. Such a passport should have validity for 6 months beyond the planned date of return to the home country.
64. It is the guests’ responsibility to ensure that they hold all necessary visas and permits.

SPECIAL NEEDS OR REQUIREMENTS

65. Guests with chronic illness, reduced mobility, physical or intellectual disability or other special needs should advise these prior to booking their tour with KONTES TRAVEL will advise whether or not such special needs or requirements can be accommodated and may recommend a modified itinerary. KONTES TRAVEL may impose surcharges for meeting additional needs of guests such as particular vehicles with easy access, hotel rooms with wheelchair access or wide hallways or special assistant guides.
66. KONTES TRAVEL reserves the right to refuse to provide services to a guest with special needs where it is unable o accommodate those needs or where it would not be safe to do so.
67. Special dietary requirements should be advised more than 30 days prior to the tour commencing. KONTES TRAVEL will endeavour to see that suppliers provide safe meal options for passengers with allergies or food intolerances, but cannot guarantee safe meals in all cases of all allergies.

DISPUTES

68. KONTES TRAVEL requests that dissatisfaction with services is reported by email to the individual KONTES TRAVEL agent with whom the guest communicated prior to the tour, or by calling the 24 hour contact by mobile phone. KONTES TRAVEL shall attempt to resolve the matter immediately and will act in good faith in trying to meet the guests needs in accordance with the contract. If the guest remains dissatisfied they must write to KONTES TRAVEL within 28 days from the end of the tour. Failure to notify dissatisfaction at the time it occurs may mean KONTES TRAVEL is unable to resolve the dispute after the guest returns home.

DATA PROTECTION AND PRIVACY

69. In order to process your booking, KONTES TRAVEL needs to pass your details on to the relevant suppliers. TurkeyTravel.com will take all reasonable precautions to ensure the security of that information.
70. KONTES TRAVEL is required to retain credit card information for up to seven years from the date of the charge to the card. KONTES TRAVEL undertakes to store credit card information securely. whether it be in locked cupboards or secure electronic information systems.