TERMS OF SERVICE
The Great Saints Pilgrimage with Jon Leonetti is operated by SacredWay Pilgrimages, LLC (SWP) and is subject to SWP’s Terms of Service, which are reproduced below.
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SWP’s Expectations of Our Pilgrims
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Participation. SacredWay Pilgrimages (SWP) and suppliers contracted for services reserve the right to refuse to accept or retain any traveler whose behavior is deemed likely to affect the smooth operations of a tour or adversely affect the enjoyment or safety of other passengers. SacredWay Pilgrimages, its agents, and suppliers shall be under no liability to any such person for refund, compensation, repatriation, or any other matters arising.
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Whitelisting. Please ensure to "safelist" emails from SacredWay Pilgrimages. Make sure that you never miss important communications regarding your pilgrimage. Unless it’s stored in your account, here is how you do it: Open email from SacredWay Pilgrimages, click on the arrow next to an email icon on the far right. Select “Add To Contacts”. You will see the text “Added *Email Address* to contacts” appear at the top of the screen, meaning SWP has been added to your safe senders list, and it will not go into your spam box.
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Travel Insurance. We highly recommend a travel insurance plan. Once purchased, the premium is non-refundable. To ensure the pre-existing medical condition is covered, you need to pay for it at the time of registration, or within 21 days of the initial trip deposit. Without pre-existing coverage, protection can be purchased up to 72 business hours prior to trip departure. Available to all with US residence.
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Passports, Visas, Visa Waiver & Documents. A valid passport is required, and it must be valid at least 6 months after your return date. It is the traveler’s sole responsibility to obtain and have available when necessary the appropriate valid travel documents. All guests are advised to check with the appropriate government authority in each country visited to determine the necessary documents. At times, a Hotel or Cruise Vessel May require you to hold your passport. When and if a visa or visa waiver is required, it is the passengers responsibility to obtain one. SWP owners, agents, or employees cannot be held liable for clients not having proper passports, visas, visa waivers, or other travel documents. Cancellations due to a lack of appropriate documents will incur usual penalties. A Passport Card is not useful for International Air Travel. Attempting to use this instead of a Passport Book will result in a denial of boarding by the airlines and entry by the legal authorities.
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Assigned priest, guest speaker, group leader or tour guide. In the rare event that the assigned priest, spiritual director, guest speaker, group leader or tour guide can no longer attend, your reservation will remain unchanged and you agree to travel as per our terms.
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Special Medical Conditions & Those Who Need Special Assistance. You must report any disability requiring special attention to SWP at the time of registration. We regret that we cannot provide individual assistance to any tour participant for walking, dining, while in their room, on flight, getting on and off motor coaches and other vehicles, or other personal needs. A qualified and physically able companion(s) must accompany passengers who need special assistance. It is the Traveler’s responsibility to arrange for such assistance prior to making their reservations. We will make an effort to accommodate passengers with disabilities by reserving handicap accessible rooms where available, however, we cannot guarantee and are not responsible for any denial of services by carriers, hotels, restaurants, or other independent suppliers. Be aware that our tours are operated outside the U.S. where the Americans with Disabilities Act is not applicable and facilities for disabled individuals are limited. The touring motor coaches are not equipped with wheelchair ramps or lifts. Motorized scooters are unsuitable and impossible to accommodate. SWP is not responsible for any medical condition that occurs prior, during or after the tour. A pregnant woman is advised not to travel after 6 months of pregnancy. We recommend bringing a companion; note that level of comfort may be adversely affected by long flights, layovers, or long bus rides through remote locations.
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Young Travelers. Travelers who are less than 18 years old on the departure date must be accompanied by an adult, if this adult is not the parent, or traveling with only one parent, it is recommended that a notarized letter be written by the parents, or non-traveling parent granting authorization to including the dates of tour (from/to just in case of medical emergencies). We also suggest that you contact the appropriate consulate and airlines because they may have additional requirements. An infant is defined as anyone who is under the age of 24 months for the entire duration of their trip. A child is defined as any one between the ages of 24 months and 11 years for the entire duration of their trip.
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Travel Advisories. It is the responsibility of client / guest / pilgrim to become informed about their destination with most current travel advisories by referring to the U.S. State Department’s travel website at travel.state.gov or by phone at 888 407 4747. In the event of a State Department Travel Advisory against travel to the specific destination location(s) of the trip, should the guest still choose to travel, notwithstanding any travel advisory, the guest assumes all risk of personal injury, death or property damage that may arise out of the events like those advised or warned against as per terms and conditions.
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Physicality of Our Tours. Most SacredWay Pilgrimages require upwards of 2-3 miles of walking per day, sometimes up/or down hills, and with areas uneven terrain. It is suggested that you practice walking approximately 3 months before departure or prepare physically, until you are able to build to walking 3 miles without discomfort.
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Baggage. Please follow the general rule of traveling light. Each tour participant is permitted to bring one carry on bag (8" x 14" x 22"), and one personal item (i.e. purse, laptop case) and one checked bag weighing up to 50 lbs. (23 kg) and maximum dimensions of 62 in (158 cm) calculated by adding the length + the width + the height of the bag. Please check with your specific airline to verify the size and weight allowances. SWP is not responsible for the loss of, theft of, delay, or damage to a participant's belongings.
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Luggage Responsibility. SWP is not responsible for loss or damaged luggage and personal effects due to breakage, theft, or fair wear and tear through hotel, airline and ground transportation handling. It is important to have adequate insurance to cover these eventualities.
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Airport Transfers. Transfers to/from Fiumicino Airport (FCO) are arranged through SWP on a Group Basis (as a group). Should your flights arrive/depart through an airport different than Fiumicino airport (FCO) or arrive/depart outside of the arrival time of the Group, you are responsible for your transfer to/from the Airport (detailed instructions will be given). Group arrival times and specified Airport(s) will be identified to you by SWP.
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Cancellation. In rare cases, a tour may be canceled. Therefore, please do not purchase airfare until instructed by Jon and his team at SacredWay Pilgrimages. Any purchased airfares are the sole responsibility of the client.
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Notification and Remedy. If upon returning from your trip, you wish to inquire about any services provided, please ensure that all correspondence is received by email to Jon.Leonetti@gmail.com, within 30 days of the tour completion date. This will enable us to make a timely investigation.
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Pilgrim’s Expectations of SWP
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Final Documents. Final documents are sent approximately four (4) weeks prior to departure (including Name tag with Lanyard, Luggage Tags, and Preparation/itinerary guide). Should there be any errors it is the guest’s responsibility to contact SWP via email within 24 hours.
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Hotel Accommodations
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Double Occupancy. Hotel accommodations are based on twin-bedded or double rooms (double occupancy). SWP reserves the right to substitute similar category hotels without prior notice.
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Sharing Room. Guests are to provide us with the name of their travel roommate at time of registration.
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Triple Room. In most hotels triple accommodations is possible, no reduction in cost. Due to the pace of our pilgrimage, we do not recommend triple rooms (it is a challenge to open up all three suitcases; take showers). Some Hotels are not set up for triple rooms. Please note the “third bed” could be a sofa bed, or a fold up bed.
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Room Upgrades & Requests. Some hotels offer upgrades on request. Specific requests such as adjacent or connecting rooms, bedding requests. Please note that while every effort will be made to secure a special request, it cannot be guaranteed.
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Private Rooms and Single Supplement. If a guest is traveling Solo, private rooms are possible on request basis, and the guest is responsible for the additional Single Supplement fees. Travelers without a roommate will be responsible for the single supplement. Please note that some hotels' single rooms are smaller than a standard room.
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Meals. We try to accommodate special meal requests by forwarding those requests to restaurants we work with, however, we, hotels and Restaurants are not able to guarantee dietary requests. If someone has a high intolerance or an allergy please contact Jon and his team (before registering) at SacredWay Pilgrimages to ensure accommodations are possible.
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Photography and Videography During Pilgrimage. SWP reserves the right to take photographs and videos during the operation of any tour or pilgrimage and to use them for its purposes thereafter. By booking with SWP, you agree to allow images to be used in such photographs and video. Guests who prefer that their images not be used are asked to advise us in writing at any time prior to departure and to identify themselves into their Local Tour Guide at the beginning of the pilgrimage.
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SWP Itinerary. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication of the tour, rather than a contract of places to be visited. Occasionally local religious holidays, national days, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of visits or the missing of certain visits. We will have daily Mass and strive to be in Churches or places as indicated, however an alternative site for Mass will be arranged if needed.
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Financial Considerations
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Denominations. Our costs are based on USD. Prices are per person in double occupancy.
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Deposit, Payment Schedule & Registration. A $500.00 non-refundable per person deposit is required at the time of booking with a reservation application. Each deposit paid covers SWP services including but not limited to, account management and administrative upkeep. Full payment is due 90 days prior to the departure date. If a booking is made within 90 days of departure, full payment is due then.
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Form of Payment. Checks, ACH, American Express, Discover, Visa and Master Card. Payments made electronically are subject to a 3% processing fee. In case of any billing error, we reserve the right to re-invoice and correct billing.
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Price Guarantee. Prices are guaranteed once the trip is paid in full. Although not expected, prices may change due to significant external factors. SWP is not required to itemize costs and services.
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Not Included. Tips to our tour guide and driver; Travel Insurance; Passport and Visa Fees, Items of a personal nature (such as telephone calls, mini bar, laundry) drinks and lunches (when not mentioned).
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Printing Disclaimer. SacredWay Pilgrimages is not responsible for typographical or print Traveler's errors including errors in trip cost. We reserve the right to re-invoice or correct billing at any time.
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Traveler Cancellations and Refunds. Cancellations must be received in writing from the email address used to register for the tour and will become effective on the date of receipt. Cancellations for standard tours are subject to the following penalty:
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Date of Registration:
91 days prior to departure – Penalty is $500 per person
61-90 days prior to departure – 25% of total trip cost
31-60 days prior to departure – 50% of total trip cost
30 days prior to departure or less – No refund
Please Note: Refunds can take 30-60 days to be processed.
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8. Partial Room Cancellation. If a guest cancels or leaves a pilgrimage and a roommate remains, an
additional supplement may apply.
9. Tour Cancellation and Force Majeure Event Affecting Pilgrimages. In the event a pilgrimage is canceled,
postponed, delayed, or rescheduled due to force majeure (i.e. Act of God, State of War, Terrorism, Strike,
Pandemic, etc.) or any other condition beyond reasonable control, the purchase will be honored for an
equivalent attendance to the next scheduled occurrence of the pilgrimage. The pilgrim will be expected to
either attend or transfer to purchase accordingly. No cash refunds will be issued. On rare occasions, a tour
departure may be canceled due to a lack of participation. In this event only, SWP will contact you with
options. SWP is not responsible and does not assume responsibility for any additional costs or any fees
relating to the cancellation of air tickets or other arrangements not made through SWP. Such cancellations
are not the fault of SWP. Great efforts will be made to accommodate passengers.
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4. Disclaimers
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Responsibility Clause. SWP acts as a tour operator. The suppliers providing air or ground transportation, sightseeing arrangements and hotel accommodations for the tour program are not SWP employees. By utilizing SWP services you agree that SWP, its employees, officers, and agents will not be liable for any change in flight or itinerary schedule, strikes, delay, acts of governments, fires, riots, theft, pilferage, epidemics, quarantine, medical or customs regulations, accident, loss, injury, or damage to you or to those traveling with you in connection with any accommodations, transportation or any other services or resulting directly or indirectly from any occurrence or conditions beyond its control, including defects in vehicles, breakdown in equipment, thefts, delay or cancellation of, or changes in itinerary for any act, omission, or event during the time you are on tour, or on board the aircraft. Neither SWP and/or agents of the suppliers concerned are to be held responsible for the late arrival or departure on return of passengers at airports or hotels due to inclement weather or other reasons, nor are we to be held liable for payment or any refund for transfers or unused service, hotel accommodations or meals occasioned by such late arrivals at the hotels holding rooms as confirmed itineraries. Passengers must bear all such losses or expenses. To guard against unforeseen health or other circumstances, we recommend you purchase insurance. SWP is not responsible for circumstances beyond its control. In circumstances where trip cancellations resulting from the inability for trip to depart or operate as scheduled, such as cancellations due to acts of war and/or terrorism, war, force majeure, act of God, civil unrest, illness, disease, criminal or terrorist acts of any kind, or if natural disaster takes place, SWP, its employees and agents, are not liable for any restitution, and in addition, without limitation are not responsible for any injury, financial or physical loss, death, inconveniences, traumas, or damages with connection to any inclusions other provisions of any goods of services included.
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Risks Assumed. There are inherent risks in travel as our tours go at times through remote locations, far from medical facilities. SWP guests are to assume all associated risks and complete responsibility, including illness, injury or even death by participating. You agree to indemnify and hold SWP harmless, with respect to any claim made to SWP by anyone else which is related to your participation.
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Waiver of Liability/Hold Harmless. By accepting the terms and conditions, I agree and acknowledge that I may be giving up important legal rights and remedies available to myself, my family, my heirs, successors, and assigns. For value received, I agree on behalf of myself, my heirs, successors, and assigns (“Our Behalf”) that I assume all risks and waive any claim of liability of any nature whatsoever against, and agree to indemnify and hold harmless, SacredWay Pilgrimages et al. with respect to any and all actions, claims or demands that may be made or brought on Our Behalf against SacredWay Pilgrimages et al. arising out of, or in connection with, travel to, or attendance at the tour or any other activity I may engage in while participating in the tour/event. Further, for value received, for any injury to third parties that may arise because of my own actions or omissions, I agree to indemnify, hold harmless and defend SacredWay Pilgrimages et al. with respect to any and all actions, claims, expenses or demands arising therefrom that may be made or brought against SacredWay Pilgrimages et al., including, but not limited to, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses arising in connection therewith.
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Nature of Risks. I understand that voluntarily traveling to, and attending, a tour/pilgrimage at this time may involve certain risks beyond the control of SWP, its officers, directors, volunteers, and agents, in connection with the tour - and all parishes within it, and their respective officers, directors, volunteers and agents, and chaperons or representatives associated with the tour (hereinafter referred to as Diocese et al). Such risks include, but are not limited to, accidents, emergencies, epidemics/pandemics, exposure to reckless conduct of other persons, and/or negligence of security and medical personnel. SacredWay Pilgrimages et al. hereby disclaims any and all liability and responsibility for any such risks. I understand that I will be at various sites, such as hotels, restaurants, tourist sites, or on tourist excursions. If during any break in the tour there may be an opportunity to participate in recreational or other activities, participants do so at their own risk and subject to all terms and conditions set by any recreational or other provider.
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FORUM SELECTION AND CHOICE OF LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED AND INTERPRETED PURSUANT TO THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF IOWA BY MUTUAL AGREEMENT OF THE PARTIES HERETO AND THE FEDERAL AND STATE COURTS IN IOWA SHALL HAVE EXCLUSIVE AND SOLE JURISDICTION OVER ANY DISPUTE, CONTROVERSY OR SUIT ARISING RELATIVE TO THIS AGREEMENT.
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DISPUTES/CLASS ACTION WAIVER. YOU AGREE THAT YOU WILL ONLY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST SACREDWAY PILGRIMAGES IN YOUR INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS ACTION OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING.
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ERRORS AND OMISSIONS. While every effort is made to ensure the accuracy of information on our website or communicated by our staff, errors or omissions are possible and SWP is not responsible for such errors. If a mistake is made in billing, we reserve the right to correct the invoice and you will be responsible for proper payment. SWP reserves the right to correct any errors or omissions and to amend these Terms and Conditions at any time as the result of any material changes to legislation or regulation. All amended Terms and Conditions shall automatically be effective upon being posted on our website. Accordingly, all are expected to check the content of relevant tours on our website, and its terms and conditions found on [hyperlink] prior to booking and prior to travel in order to ensure they are aware of any changes.
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No resale. You cannot resell, rebrand, or “frame” our Services or provide them to your clients or any third party’s clients, for instance, as a service bureau, regardless of whether you charge for doing so. No legal entity can use our Services unless it has a contract with us.
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Limitation on damages. AS A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF THE BASIS OF OUR BARGAIN YOU AGREE THAT OUR AGGREGATE LIABILITY IN ANY MATTER IS LIMITED TO THE LESSOR OF $5,000 OR THE FEES WE RECEIVED IN CONNECTION WITH THE SERVICE TO WHICH THE MATTER IS RELATED.
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SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this Agreement shall be held or made invalid by a court decision, statute or rule, or shall be
otherwise rendered invalid, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected
thereby.