T&Cs for Nigel Hicks’ photography tours
Booking and payment
When booking any of our photography tours you will need to pay a non-returnable deposit of £150 per place in order to confirm your booking. The remainder of the cost will need to be paid at least eight weeks before the start of the tour. If you wish to pay for the tour in instalments please talk to us about this so that a standing order can be set up. If booking eight weeks or less before the start of the tour you will need to pay the full amount to confirm your booking. Anyone booking for more than one person is responsible for paying for everyone in their party. You must be at least 18 years of age to make a booking.
If full payment is not received by us at least eight weeks before the start of the tour we reserve the right to cancel your booking and retain any payments already made by you.
Payment is by cheque, PayPal (using your credit or debit card) or by BACS bank transfer only.
Cancellation
All photography tours by Nigel Hicks Photography need a minimum of four confirmed bookings to go ahead. If we fail to get this minimum number by eight weeks before the tour is due to start then we reserve the right to cancel the tour, at which point we will refund all money you may have already paid for the tour, including your deposit, though no further compensation will be available. We will always endeavour, however, to do our best to ensure that the minimum number of bookings is reached and exceeded.
The only other reason that we may have to cancel a tour is if there are forces outside our control that make it impossible or highly inadvisable to proceed (for example, but not limited to, natural disaster, warfare, Foreign and Commonwealth Office warning against or prohibition of travel to the region to be toured). In these circumstances, all money you have already paid will be refunded, but not the deposit. No further compensation will be available.
If you find that you have to cancel your booking please do so as early as you possibly can. Your £100 deposit will not be returned and neither will any other costs that we incur as a direct result of your cancellation. Any other money you have paid will be refunded provided you cancel your booking at least eight weeks prior to the start of the tour. If you cancel your booking between eight weeks and four weeks before the start of the tour we will refund 50% of the tour cost, if between four weeks and two week we will refund 25% of the cost, and if less than two weeks before the tour then we will refund 10% of the tour cost.
Variation of tour
We will always try to keep as close to the advertised itinerary as possible, but there may be occasions when it has to be varied, such as the result of adverse weather conditions, or inadequate time available to visit all places listed as possible.
Furthermore, we are not in control of the hotels’ daily operations, and it may very occasionally be necessary to change a hotel booking. If this happens, accommodation will be swapped for a hotel of a similar standard.
Delays
If any of your flights are delayed for any reason, this is out of our control and responsibility, and you will be responsible for any additional costs you incur. If this happens during your outward journey please try to let Nigel Hicks know as he may be expecting your arrival at a particular time.
Additional costs
The cost of your photography tour includes bed and breakfast accommodation for the duration of the tour, plus transportation within the region to be visited and photographed, plus Nigel Hicks’s guidance and photography tuition. Unless specified otherwise, the fee does not include any flights, lunches, evening meals, refreshments, snacks, souvenirs, gifts, insurance, excursions additional to those specifically included in the itinerary, or any other personal purchases. These are your own responsibility.
Passports, visas and essential documentation
You are responsible for ensuring that you have all the correct documentation needed to visit the country to be toured, and we are not responsible in any way if you or anyone in your party is refused entry to the country.
Travel insurance
We provide no insurance for yourself, your belongings or your camera equipment. You are strongly advised to ensure that you have adequate insurance for the tour.
Liability
Nigel Hicks Photography disclaims any liability for any loss, damage, accidents, sickness or changes in schedule caused by any circumstances. We reserve the right to alter routes, itineraries and departure times at any time and without notice. Although we will always do our best to ensure that our photography tours are conducted as safely as possible, we cannot predict all eventualities. Tour participants are ultimately responsible for their own safety at all times.
Data protection
An inevitable part of the booking process is that you supply us with some of your personal data. This will be retained by us and will be passed onto only those third parties that need to know as part of the process of arranging a tour (eg hotels). We may also use this personal data to keep you informed of our future photography tours, courses and products. If you do not wish to receive this information please let us know.
Complaints
If you feel you need to make a complaint during the tour then please do so immediately so that the problem can be rectified if at all possible. Any complaints you need to make following the completion of the tour should be sent to Nigel Hicks Photography in writing within 30 days of the end of the tour. Please bear in mind that once the tour is finished we cannot make any changes or refunds.
Dispute resolution
If you do find yourself in a dispute with us about an online booking or payment, we will always do our utmost to ensure that it’s possible to resolve that dispute together amicably and informally. However, in the unlikely event that you feel unable to get a satisfactory resolution then you can take your case to the European Union’s Online Dispute Resolution service. You can find out about this by