GEM Travel, LLC — Terms & Conditions

These Terms & Conditions ("Agreement") govern travel services arranged through GEM Travel, LLC ("GEM Travel," "we," "us," or "our"). "Traveler," "you," and "your" refer to each person making or participating in a reservation.

By making a reservation, submitting a deposit or payment, electronically accepting these Terms & Conditions, or authorizing GEM Travel to make travel arrangements on your behalf, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and agreed to these Terms & Conditions.

Travel Documents and Traveler Information

You are responsible for reviewing all invoices, confirmations, itineraries, tickets, and other travel documents immediately upon receipt and notifying GEM Travel promptly of any errors.

The name provided for your reservation must match your valid government-issued identification and, when applicable, your passport.

GEM Travel is not responsible for costs, penalties, denied boarding, or other losses resulting from incorrect information provided by the traveler or the traveler's failure to review travel documents.

GEM Travel's Role as Agent for Suppliers

GEM Travel acts as a sales agent for airlines, hotels, resorts, cruise lines, motorcoach companies, tour operators, transportation providers, attractions, excursion companies, rental-car companies, and other independent travel service providers ("Suppliers").

These Suppliers are independent entities and are not employees, agents, or controlled entities of GEM Travel.

GEM Travel is not responsible for a Supplier's acts or omissions, schedule changes, cancellations, delays, service interruptions, financial default, failure to provide services, failure to issue refunds, or failure to honor future travel credits.

Supplier terms, cancellation policies, refund policies, and other restrictions may apply to your reservation in addition to GEM Travel's Terms & Conditions.

Pricing and Availability

All prices and availability are subject to change until the required deposit or full payment has been received and the applicable Supplier confirms the reservation.

Quotes are not guaranteed reservations.

Airlines, cruise lines, hotels, resorts, tour operators, transportation companies, governments, and other Suppliers may impose taxes, fuel surcharges, government fees, resort fees, transportation charges, or other price adjustments.

Where permitted by the applicable Supplier agreement and law, you are responsible for such increases.

Deposits and Payments

The deposit required for each trip will be stated on the applicable booking page, invoice, proposal, or confirmation.

Unless specifically stated otherwise in writing, deposits and GEM Travel planning, service, administrative, and change fees are non-refundable.

Travelers who select a payment plan are responsible for making payments according to the payment schedule provided.

A payment reminder is a courtesy. Failure to receive a reminder does not eliminate your responsibility to make payments by the required due dates.

All balances must be paid by the stated final payment deadline.

Failure to make required payments may result in cancellation of your reservation and the application of applicable cancellation penalties.

A $45 late fee may be assessed for late payments.

Returned checks or returned payments will be assessed a $45 fee.

Minimum Participation / Cancellation by GEM Travel

Certain GEM Travel group trips require a minimum number of paying travelers for the trip to operate at the advertised price and with the advertised inclusions.

The applicable minimum enrollment requirement will be stated on the trip's booking page, proposal, invoice, confirmation, or other trip-specific materials. Minimum enrollment requirements may vary by trip.

If the required minimum enrollment is not reached, GEM Travel reserves the right to:

• continue operating the trip as originally planned;

• offer travelers a revised price or modified itinerary, which the traveler may accept or decline;

• modify included services when appropriate and with notice to affected travelers; or

• cancel the group trip.

Whenever reasonably possible, GEM Travel will make a minimum-participation determination approximately 60–90 days before the scheduled departure date. However, a decision may be required earlier or later because of hotel, motorcoach, cruise, airline, attraction, ticketing, or other Supplier deadlines.

If GEM Travel cancels the entire group trip solely because the stated minimum participation requirement has not been reached, GEM Travel will refund to the traveler any trip payments that remain in GEM Travel's possession and have not already been paid or committed to Suppliers.

Amounts already paid to a Supplier will be refunded to the traveler to the extent the Supplier returns those funds to GEM Travel or authorizes a refund to the traveler.

If a Supplier has imposed a non-refundable deposit, ticket cost, contractual cancellation charge, administrative fee, or other non-refundable expense before GEM Travel cancels the trip, that amount may be deducted from the traveler's refund. GEM Travel will identify any such non-refundable Supplier expense applicable to the traveler's booking.

GEM Travel will not retain the unused portion of a traveler's trip payments as profit when GEM Travel cancels a trip because the minimum participation requirement was not met.

Any GEM Travel planning, research, consultation, or other professional service fee that was separately charged for services already performed remains non-refundable unless GEM Travel states otherwise in writing.

Refunds involving Supplier-held funds are subject to the Supplier's processing time and will be issued after GEM Travel receives the applicable refund from the Supplier.

GEM Travel is not responsible for independently purchased airfare, hotels, transportation, excursions, insurance, or other arrangements that were not booked through GEM Travel. Travelers should avoid purchasing non-refundable independent arrangements until the group trip has been confirmed to operate.

Cancellation by GEM Travel under this section is separate from cancellation by the traveler, which is governed by the Cancellation by Traveler section below.

Cancellation by Traveler

If you wish to cancel your reservation, cancellation must be submitted in writing to francine@mygemtravel.com.

Your cancellation becomes effective on the date GEM Travel receives your written cancellation notice.

Unless different cancellation terms are stated for your specific trip or required by the applicable Supplier, the following cancellation schedule applies:

• Beginning 30 days after receipt of the non-refundable deposit through 180 days before departure: cancellation charge equal to 50% of the total vacation price.

• 179 days or fewer before departure: cancellation charge equal to 100% of the total vacation price.

Supplier penalties may also apply.

Travel insurance does not eliminate GEM Travel's or a Supplier's cancellation policy. Whether an insurance company reimburses you depends upon the terms, exclusions, and covered reasons contained in your individual insurance policy.

Failure to make payments does not constitute a cancellation request. You remain responsible for submitting written cancellation notice and for any applicable cancellation charges.

Travel Insurance

GEM Travel strongly recommends purchasing appropriate travel insurance.

Depending on the policy purchased, travel insurance may provide coverage for certain trip cancellations, interruptions, medical emergencies, delays, baggage losses, and other covered events.

Coverage varies substantially by policy. Not every circumstance, destination issue, epidemic, pandemic, pre-existing condition, cancellation, or Supplier failure is covered.

Descriptions or discussions of insurance provided by GEM Travel are for general informational purposes and do not constitute a guarantee that a particular claim will be covered.

It is your responsibility to review the insurance policy, coverage limits, exclusions, deadlines, and requirements.

If you decline travel insurance, you accept the financial risks associated with traveling without that protection.

GEM Travel is not responsible for an insurance company's approval or denial of a claim.

Passports, Visas, Entry and Re-entry Requirements

You are solely responsible for determining and complying with all passport, visa, identification, vaccination, health, immigration, customs, and other entry or re-entry requirements applicable to your trip.

Requirements may apply to your final destination as well as countries through which you transit or connect.

Requirements can change at any time.

Many international destinations require passports to remain valid for a specified period beyond the travel dates. Do not assume that a passport that is valid on the departure date satisfies the destination's requirements.

Refunds will not be issued by GEM Travel because a traveler has an expired or insufficiently valid passport, lacks required documentation, or fails to meet applicable entry requirements.

Parents and guardians traveling with minors are responsible for determining whether consent letters, birth certificates, custody documentation, or other documents are required.

Criminal History and Entry Restrictions

Certain countries may restrict or deny entry to travelers based on criminal history, including certain misdemeanor or felony convictions.

GEM Travel does not determine a traveler's eligibility to enter a country and cannot guarantee admission.

It is the traveler's responsibility to:

• research the destination's entry requirements;

• contact the appropriate embassy, consulate, or government authority when necessary; and

• obtain appropriate legal advice if there is uncertainty regarding eligibility to travel.

GEM Travel is not responsible for denied entry, denied boarding, trip interruption, additional expenses, or loss of travel funds resulting from a traveler's criminal history, immigration status, legal status, or failure to satisfy entry requirements.

GEM Travel will not issue a refund for these circumstances unless a refund is otherwise available under the applicable Supplier's terms.

Risks of Travel

Travel involves inherent risks, including but not limited to illness, injury, accidents, weather events, natural disasters, transportation disruptions, civil unrest, labor disputes, terrorism, crime, health emergencies, epidemics, pandemics, and other circumstances outside GEM Travel's control.

GEM Travel does not guarantee the safety, security, accessibility, or suitability of any destination or travel service.

Travelers are responsible for evaluating their personal circumstances and determining whether travel is appropriate for them.

Current destination and travel-advisory information is available through the U.S. Department of State Travel website.

Health-related destination information is available through the CDC Travelers' Health website.

By traveling, you acknowledge and voluntarily accept the risks associated with your trip.

Accessibility, Mobility and Special Needs

Travelers are responsible for notifying GEM Travel of mobility limitations, accessibility needs, allergies, dietary requirements, or other special requests that may affect their travel arrangements.

GEM Travel will communicate reasonable requests to Suppliers but cannot guarantee that a Supplier or destination will be able to accommodate them.

Travelers requiring personal assistance are responsible for traveling with an appropriate companion when necessary.

Changes Requested by the Traveler

Traveler-requested changes are subject to availability, Supplier rules, fare differences, cancellation penalties, and applicable GEM Travel change or service fees.

Once travel has been booked, GEM Travel cannot guarantee that dates, names, room categories, flights, excursions, or other components can be changed.

Supplier Schedule and Itinerary Changes

Airlines, hotels, cruise lines, motorcoach companies, tour operators, attractions, and other Suppliers may change schedules, routes, accommodations, equipment, activities, or other components of a trip.

When circumstances outside GEM Travel's control require a change, GEM Travel will make reasonable efforts to communicate material changes and assist with available alternatives.

Such changes do not automatically entitle a traveler to a refund. Refund eligibility will depend upon the applicable Supplier's terms and circumstances.

Reservation Rule Violations

Travelers agree not to intentionally purchase or use airline tickets in violation of airline rules, including hidden-city, point-beyond, back-to-back, or other prohibited ticketing practices.

Airlines may cancel remaining flight segments, deny boarding, assess additional fares, or take other action when their ticketing rules are violated.

GEM Travel is not responsible for losses resulting from a traveler's intentional violation of an airline's fare or ticketing rules.

Credit and Debit Card Transactions

GEM Travel may facilitate payments to Suppliers or, in some transactions, collect payments for travel services.

When funds are transmitted to a Supplier, the Supplier's refund and cancellation terms may govern those funds.

Travelers agree to contact GEM Travel promptly regarding a billing or service dispute so that GEM Travel has an opportunity to review the matter and, when appropriate, work with the applicable Supplier.

Nothing in these Terms & Conditions is intended to waive any consumer right that cannot legally be waived.

Shuttle and Transfer Information

When airport transfers or shuttle transportation are included or arranged, you are responsible for providing accurate flight information by the requested deadline.

Failure to provide flight information on time may prevent GEM Travel or the Supplier from arranging transportation. Additional transportation costs resulting from missing or inaccurate information may be the traveler's responsibility.

Travel Documents and Final Instructions

Provided your account is paid in full by the Final Payment Due Date, final itineraries, travel instructions, and available travel documents will generally be provided by email approximately 30 days before departure or as they become available from the applicable Suppliers.

Supplier documents may be released later than 30 days before departure.

You are responsible for reviewing all final documents upon receipt.

Price Drops After Booking

If a Supplier reduces its price after your reservation has been confirmed, GEM Travel may attempt to obtain the lower price when the Supplier permits repricing.

Repricing is not guaranteed and may require cancellation and rebooking, may result in the loss of existing benefits or inventory, and may be subject to Supplier penalties and GEM Travel service fees.

Force Majeure and Events Beyond GEM Travel's Control

GEM Travel is not responsible for failure to perform travel services when performance is prevented, delayed, interrupted, or materially affected by circumstances beyond GEM Travel's reasonable control.

These circumstances may include severe weather, natural disasters, acts of government, war, terrorism, civil unrest, labor disputes, epidemics, pandemics, transportation interruptions, Supplier failures, or similar events.

Refunds, credits, substitutions, or rescheduling resulting from such events will be subject to Supplier policies and the specific circumstances involved.

Limitation of Responsibility and Release

To the extent permitted by applicable law, GEM Travel is not liable for the acts, omissions, negligence, delays, failures, or defaults of independent Suppliers or other parties outside GEM Travel's control.

By booking travel through GEM Travel, you acknowledge the inherent risks associated with travel and agree that GEM Travel, its owners, employees, agents, contractors, group leaders, and affiliates will not be responsible for losses arising from risks or circumstances outside GEM Travel's reasonable control, except where liability cannot legally be excluded or limited.

Claims, Governing Law and Jurisdiction

You agree to notify GEM Travel in writing of any claim relating to GEM Travel's services within 30 days after completion of your trip.

To the extent permitted by applicable law, any legal action arising from this Agreement must be commenced within one year of the event giving rise to the claim.

This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.

To the extent permitted by law, legal proceedings against GEM Travel, LLC arising from this Agreement shall be brought in the appropriate court located in Baltimore City, Maryland.

If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in effect to the fullest extent permitted by law.

Acceptance of Terms

By making a reservation, submitting a deposit or payment, or electronically accepting these Terms & Conditions, you confirm that:

• you have read and understand these Terms & Conditions;

• you agree to GEM Travel's payment and cancellation policies;

• you understand that Supplier terms and conditions may also apply;

• you understand the importance of travel insurance;

• you accept responsibility for obtaining required travel documents and satisfying destination entry requirements; and

• you understand the financial risks associated with cancellation and non-refundable travel arrangements.

Making a reservation or submitting payment for a GEM Travel package signifies your acceptance of these Terms & Conditions.