The per person program fee includes hotel accommodation during the trip, most meals, daily cultural and culinary activities, cooking classes, tips/gratuities on Culinaria meals and other scheduled activities, Culinaria bus transportation, mid-Culinaria air transport (when applicable), and expert guides.
Air travel, non-refundable passport fees, excess baggage charges, optional excursions, extensions, meals not detailed in itinerary, tips to tour escort and long distance bus driver, expenses incurred during free time periods, airport taxes that are collected on the spot in foreign airports, departures taxes, airport fees, airline and federal security fees and ticket handling fees, surcharges due to changes in currency, any mandatory new or increased fees/taxes/fuel surcharge (if any) levied on airline tickets, hotels, incidental expenses in hotels, hotel room upgrades, and transport to/from the airports.
Travel program begins after you arrive at the first hotel accommodation. Travelers must make their own round trip travel arrangements and join the program at the first hotel accommodation. Oldways, hosts, and chefs are not responsible for the participant in any way when the participant is not part of the main group.
Oldways reserves the right to make changes in fees, departure cities, itinerary sequence, trip direction, hotels, optional excursions, and activities. Oldways may cancel a program due to insufficient enrollment, unforeseen operational difficulties, lack of projected availability or any other reasons.
Please check with your air carrier directly for their specific baggage liability limitation. Some airlines are strictly adhering to their policy of one carry-on bag. Airlines are not responsible for any act or event during the time the participants are not on board their planes or conveyances. Luggage travels at the risk of the participant, and Oldways is not responsible for any delay of, loss or damage to it or its contents. The participant’s contract in use by the airline, when issued, shall constitute the sole contract between the airline and the participant. Any and all transportation companies mentioned herein shall have or incur no responsibility for liability to any traveler aside from their liability as common carriers.
If canceled before 90 days prior to departure for any reason, deposits and program payments will be reimbursed in full, except for a cancellation fee of $375. Between 60 and 90 days prior to departure, 50% of the total tour price is forfeited, including the deposit. If cancelled 30 days prior to departure or less, no refund is possible. There are no exceptions to this policy. We understand that emergencies of all nature do arise, however there are no exceptions to this cancellation policy. Of course, if the trip is canceled for reasons force majeure (such as the pandemic or war or natural disaster), Oldways will refund the registration in full.
Participants waive and release Oldways, and trip hosts and chefs, Oldways’ affiliates, agents, directors, officers, and employees and including any person or entity employed or utilized by Oldways in any foreign country, from all claims arising from any injury, loss, damage, accident, delay, or expense resulting from events beyond its control, including without limitation, acts of God, war, terrorism, strikes, incidents of politically-motivated violence, sickness or quarantine, government restrictions or regulations, and, in the absence of its own gross negligence, arising from the use of any vehicle or from Oldways selection of, or from any act or omission by any bus or car rental agency, steamship, airline, railroad, taxi or tour service, hotel service, hotel, restaurant, school, university, or other firm, agency, company or individual. Participants understand that Oldways will be taking pictures and videos during the tour that may appear on social media, online, and in email communications.
Participants agree to be fully vaccinated.
Oldways has procured medical and evacuation insurance for all Culinaria participants while traveling on one of our Culinarias with an Accident & Health policy from The Hartford. Additionally, Hartford partners with International Medical Group (IMG), a leading global assistance provider, to give us 24/7 access to medical and travel assistance services anywhere in the world. The policy also gives you as a Culinaria participant insurance for medical expenses, evacuation, and repatriation.
Since 1990, IMG has offered travel assistance services and a global network of medical providers to millions of people in nearly every country around the world. Working across time zones and in different languages, IMG’s commitment to “Being There” provides end-to-end coordinated care – so you can feel secure while traveling.
Please let us know if you need more information about the medical insurance.
While we cannot offer travel insurance for the cost of the trip or your air travel, here are three widely used travel insurance companies:
Allianz
Travelex
Travel Guard by AIG
