Terms + Conditions for Group Travel
This document outlines what we agree to provide when you sign up for a trip, and what you agree to do in return. This is very important information, so please read it carefully before you complete your reservation request.
Legal Responsibilities: Karen Gros is a resourceful trip organizer and travel companion, and as such will be responsible for making all reservations for accommodations, as well as organizing, booking, and facilitating group activities and domestic transportation where included. Ms. Gros is not a professionally licensed tour operator. Neither KG Wellness LLC nor Karen Gros and her agents and assigns own or operate any person or entity, which is to or does provide goods or services for these trips. Because neither maintains any control over the personnel, equipment, or operations of these suppliers, KG Wellness LLC and Karen Gros assume no responsibility for and cannot be held liable for any personal injury, death, property damage or other loss, accident, delay, inconvenience, or irregularity which may be occasioned by reason of (1) any wrongful, negligent, willful or unauthorized acts or omissions on the part of any of the suppliers or other employees or agents, (2) any defect in or failure of any vehicle, equipment, or instrument owned, operation or otherwise used by any of these suppliers, or (3) any wrongful, willful or negligent act or omission on the part of any other party not under the supervision of KG Wellness LLC and Karen Gros. Additionally, neither KG Wellness LLC nor Karen Gros accept responsibility for losses or expenses due to sickness, lack of appropriate medical facilities or practitioners, weather, strikes, theft or other criminal acts, war, terrorism, civil unrest, computer problems, or other such causes. All services and accommodations are subject to the laws of the country in which they are provided. You agree that any dispute concerning, relating to this contract, the brochure or any other literature concerning my trip, or the trip itself, shall be resolved exclusively by binding arbitration according to the then existing rules of the American Arbitration Association in Arkansas. Substantive Arkansas law will govern such proceedings.
Passports are required at your expense. Your passport must be valid for 6 months beyond the date of returning home.
Reserve Your Spot:
To reserve your spot on a trip with us, you must agree to these Terms + Conditions, as well as Are We A Good Fit?
Contact me to request a reservation application.
Trip payments: Bank transfers are the accepted form of payment. Checks may be accepted if able to pay in person. Credit or debit cards are not accepted for any trip payments. Trip payments are non-refundable. Travel insurance is therefore required.
Trip Capacity: All trips are limited to 8 persons (Paris may accommodate a maximum of 10). Reservations are accepted on a first come, first served basis. A minimum number of 6 people is required for the trip to be a go. Should the trip not make due to insufficient numbers, all monies paid to me would be refunded.
Exchange rate: Trip prices are based on the currency exchange rate as of the date of booking. If the Euro becomes valued at more than 5% above this rate prior to trip departure, you agree to pay the additional increase.
Group Activities: Trip activities are subject to change. Traveling is full of surprises, and we need to be flexible. We, therefore, reserve the right to make changes in the published itinerary whenever, in my sole judgment, conditions warrant, or if we deem it necessary for the comfort, convenience, or safety of the group. We reserve the right to withdraw from any activity announced. Uncompleted or unattended group activities in the itinerary are not cause for refund.
Accommodations: All trips are priced based on shared occupancy (i.e. two persons per bedroom). Please understand that “a bedroom” in France (whether in hotel, apartment, or B&B) consists of either one (1) large bed, meaning a king- or queen-sized bed OR two (2) twin beds. In some cases, a room will be composed of two twins which can be made up as one large bed, or made into two separate twins; in the latter case, please note that the twin beds are sometimes positioned very close to each other, and occasionally even touching, though made up with separate linens and bedcovers. In general, one-bedroom apartments in Paris consist of one queen-sized bed; note that separate twin beds are rare for one-bedroom apartments. This may mean that two roommates in Paris may need to share one bed. Please consult me at the time of booking if you have preferences about the bed arrangements.
For Paris: Each party traveling together will have their own private apartment with all amenities. Apartments will be located within a 15-minute walk of one another. Shared occupancy means that two people traveling together will share a one-bedroom apartment; four people will share a two-bedroom, etc. Odd-numbered parties traveling together may share one apartment by utilizing the high-quality sofa bed provided in the living area, if desired to avoid a single supplement. Please inquire about studio possibilities for single travelers. All travelers, should they prefer, have the option to stay in a hotel rather than an apartment. Please let me know if you prefer a hotel instead of an apartment. Should the amount of the hotel exceed the amount budgeted for the apartment, please note you would pay the difference.
For Provence: All rooms have private bathroom and toilets (with the exception Provence during first 8 days where there are six bedrooms and five bathrooms/five toilets, thus one full bathroom with double lavatory is shared among four travelers of the same gender). For single travelers, it is possible to request a private single room at a supplement; please inquire. In the case of 3 people traveling together, it may be possible to secure a triple room, or add an extra bed into a double room to avoid a single supplement; please inquire.
Social Responsibilities: We reserve the right to decline to accept any person as a member of the trip, or to require any participant to withdraw from the trip at any time, when such action is determined by her to be in the best interest of the health, safety, and general welfare of the group or of the individual participant. We want everyone to have a good time, but it could happen that someone participating in an activity could misbehave or do things that are incompatible with the safety, comfort or convenience of other members of the group; you understand and agree that in those circumstances, we have the exclusive right and discretion, to expel a traveler (even you), at the traveler’s own expense, from an activity at any time, without any claims or complaints by you against us or KG Wellness LLC. Thank you for respecting protocol when traveling, as discussed in Is this the Right Tour for You?
Participants could be photographed by me or other trip participants. Please let us know if you prefer those photos of you, as well as comments by you, not be used for the promotional purposes of future tours.
Travelers between the ages of 17 and 21 must room with and be accompanied on the trip by a parent or guardian. Travelers without a parent or guardian must be at least 18 years of age at the time of trip departure. Activities on the trips are designed for adults; therefore, children under the age of 17 are not permitted except on private family tours.
No Smoking: All tours are non-smoking for the health and comfort of the entire group. There is no smoking inside any apartment, inside any building or room, anywhere on the premises of the villas in Provence, or during any of the group activities. If you do smoke, kindly smoke only outdoors and downwind from the group. Thank you for your attention and understanding. Your cooperation is greatly appreciated.
Baggage limit: For your convenience and that of the group, we ask that each traveler bring no more than one medium-sized checked bag (max 55 linear inches, L x W x H) and one small carry-on/personal item. I cannot stress enough how much you will appreciate traveling light. Please note: Baggage and personal effects are always the sole responsibility of the owner. We do not have porters. You will carry your own bags up to your room, which, in Provence may entail walking over gravel and up a flight of stairs. In Paris, we try our best to secure apartments with elevators, however, on occasion we choose an apartment with one or two flights of stairs. Please be mindful of overpacking.
Packing suggestions: It is not necessary to pack a different outfit every day. Think mix and match, and try to get away with as few pieces as possible. Try to avoid bringing something you will wear only once. A simple accessory can add an evening twist to a casual day outfit. Two things that determine the enjoyment of your trip are good shoes and pacing (see below). Bolo, Merrell, Born, Cole Haan, and Clarks are among the brands of smart & stylish, yet comfortable walking shoes. We recommend bringing the minimum, 2-3 outfits/combinations is plenty, many items can be worn several times before needing to be laundered.
Laundry: For Paris: Some apartments have a clothes washer, others do not; very few have dryers. It is common to hang clothes inside the apartment to dry. For Provence: Kindly pack efficiently as all luggage for 9 passengers must fit in the minivan. We will have access to laundry facilities, the villas in Provence are equipped with washer and dryer. Expect mild to warm sunny days, and cool evenings; rain or cold weather is possible, and as with anywhere, the weather is becoming more and more unpredictable. Bring sturdy walking shoes.
Traveling can be physically demanding. To enjoy the experience, you will want to be in fairly good shape. Whether you are 28 or 78, you will get more out of your experience if you get in shape before you leave. Paris is a walker’s city. Depending on how you plan your free time, you may find yourself averaging 5-10 miles of walking per day. You will likely encounter uneven cobble stones, and compact soil pathways such as those in the Tuileries Gardens or Luxembourg Gardens. Standing during sightseeing tours or museum visits can be hard on the legs and feet. If you plan to use the metro a lot, you must be able to walk quickly, aptly and have no trouble climbing a lot of stairs. Paris buses offer a pleasant alternative to the metro, allowing maximum visibility of this beautiful city. Taxis are an option (at your own expense); taxi stands are found at major museums and monuments, as well as some of the larger squares and commercial areas. Note that taxis in Paris can rarely be hailed on the street, as in New York City. Uber is efficient, keep in mind the language barrier with the driver. Allow extra time if using Uber. For Provence: We will be staying in authentic residences, which includes carrying luggage up and down stairs, and over gravel. Please be prepared for lots of walking, hill climbing, cobblestone alleys, and narrow or spiral staircases.
Pace yourself: Avoid over scheduling your free time; it is important to balance your time between intense and relaxed periods. In general, I advise adding only one or two outings in addition to the group activities. Most travelers prefer wandering aimlessly during free time, rather than be on a schedule the entire trip. You will not enjoy your trip if you do not stop to smell the roses. Assume you will return. Slow down and ask questions. Most locals are eager to assist and point you in their idea of the right direction. Often, letting go of our rushed agendas leads us to the greatest reward of traveling: spontaneous magical moments.
Trip insurance is required for all travelers, to protect your investment in the event of a (covered reason) for cancellation, trip interruption, medical, evacuation. Trip insurance is not included in the trip price. Trip cancellation is covered if any member of our group (ie. travel companion), including myself, must cancel for a covered reason. To qualify for the pre-existing conditions coverage, ALL nonrefundable monies (including airline ticket or nonrefundable rate for extra nights in a hotel) MUST be insured WITHIN 15 DAYS of purchase of policy. For that reason, we highly recommend that you purchase your Travel Guard policy within 15 days of paying your initial trip deposit. Additionally, it is recommended to purchase the travel insurance offered by your airline carrier for the value of your flight at the time of booking.
Disabilities: Any pre-existing physical, mental, or emotional disability that may require attention or treatment must be reported in writing prior to the beginning of a tour. All travelers are required to complete, sign and return, prior to the trip departure date, a Medical Release and Waiver Agreement.
You have read and agree to these Terms & Conditions.
You have read and agree with Are We A Good Fit?
Any payment to Karen Gros constitutes acceptance of entire contents of the aforementioned documents.