Your booking is arranged with Bicol Beyond, also known as Donsol Eco Tour. They have been the trusted Bicol provider of Thresher Shark Divers and Philipines Dive and Travel for over 15 years and you will not be in better hands.
EMERGENCY CONTACT DETAILS
1. For emergency concerns you may contact us through email, mobile, or phone as shown below.
2. Email: travel@bicolbeyond.com / carmel@bicolbeyond.com / seija@bicolbeyond.com
Office: +63-917-882-0042 (Office Hours: Daily except on Public Holidays; 9AM to 5PM Philippine Time)
Emergency numbers (please be mindful that these are personal numbers, so for emergency only): Mobile: +63-917-506-3554 / +63-995-324-6095 / +63-928-191-6042
3. Please be reminded that we are following Philippine time (+8 GMT), emails sent late in the evening or early morning may not be noticed as we would be asleep. For late evening or early morning calls, we would appreciate it if these were emergency situations only as someone will have to wake up to answer the call.
GENERAL TERMS, CONDITIONS, ADVISORIES & TRAVEL INFORMATION
CANCELLATION, REFUNDS, & REBOOKING
1. For activities and transfers cancelled 7 days or less from the scheduled date of activity are non-refundable.
2. Cancellation and refunds of accommodations will be subject to the rules and policies of the hotel or resort.
3. Partial cancellation for a group: Deposits for groups are taken as a deposit for each group member and the cancellation policy applies to each person. For example, if one group member cancels, their portion of the deposit will be non-refundable according to the refund policy above unless someone else can fill their space.
4. For cancellations due to force majeure or fortuitous events, the following policies shall follow:
a. ACTIVITIES cancelled due to force majeure or a fortuitous event may be rebooked within one (1) year from the original schedule OR a refund of 70% may be provided.
b. Rebooking, reschedule, or refunds for land, sea, or air TRANSFERS and for ACCOMMODATIONS will be determined by the transport carrier and the accommodations facility.
c. Any refunds are to be processed by the Bicol Beyond central office. The client will be responsible for shouldering any bank or transaction fees for the processing of the refund.
5. There will be no refunds for activities on the itinerary that are not done by decision of the guest even if in cases of illness. Bicol Beyond may assist in obtaining the necessary medical certificates or necessary documentation for the guest to claim losses from the guest’s insurance company.
6. For activities cancelled by Bicol Beyond’s operations team due to operational concerns, full refund will be given.
7. Transaction charges for the refunds will not be covered by Bicol Beyond.
8. All refunds will be processed by the Bicol Beyond’s central office.
FORCE MAJEURE & FORTUITOUS EVENTS
1. Should your trip be affected by a case of force majeure or a fortuitous event, Bicol Beyond will take all possible measures and endeavor to come up with an alternative travel plan and schedule that is acceptable to the client. Bicol Beyond will try its best to work with the different suppliers for the best possible arrangement for the client to avoid any additional costs. However, should there be additional costs incurred, this costs are to be shouldered by the client.
2. Bicol Beyond has full commitment to monitoring any typhoons or any fortuitous events that can be tracked or monitored and we will provide you with the best advice and alternative actions possible. Our team will always be happy to answer any concerns.
a. Please refer to the CANCELLATION, REFUND, & REBOOKING section above for the details for the cancellation, refund, and rebooking policies.
TRAVEL INSURANCE & SAFETY CLAUSES
1. We do not provide or require any Travel Insurance. For your security and peace of mind, we strongly encouraged you to purchase your own Travel Insurance before visiting the Philippines.
2. Rest assured that our company takes all the necessary measures for your safety and security. We do our very best to give you a smooth flowing and wonderful holiday. However, there are situations which will be out of our control, such as your personal health, weather and airline rules and policies.
3. Bicol Beyond and its affiliate companies will not be responsible for any injuries, accidents, or death.
4. Bicol Beyond and its affiliate companies will not be responsible for expenses incurred due to airline, ferry, or bus delays or cancellation, lost luggage, health issues, or other unwanted and unforeseen scenarios.
5. Claiming against the insurance company is the responsibility of the guest Bicol Beyond and its affiliate companies will assist in providing all the necessary paperwork/documentation.
6. The client is responsible for informing Bicol Beyond and its affiliate companies of any allergies, dietary restrictions, and health restrictions preferably prior to arrival so that necessary arrangements can be made.
7. All scuba divers must present proof of certification prior to all in water activities. Scuba divers will only be allowed to dive within the limits of their certification and/or proven experience.
8. Please be reminded of the NO FLYING AFTER DIVING rule. We recommend a MINIMUM of 18 HOURS surface interval after the final dive before flying.
9. There are activities considered to be risky and we may ask you to sign a waiver form for certain activities. Bicol Beyond and its affiliate companies reserves the right to not to allow a guest to do an activity and Bicol Beyond and its affiliate companies will not be obliged to give any refund if in case the guest refuses to sign the waiver form.
ITINERARY CHANGES
1. We encourage you to coordinate any itinerary changes with your travel consultant. You may opt to re-arrange the itinerary (i.e. dates of the various activities) on-site provided that Bicol Beyond is given ample time to prepare. Re-arranging of the itinerary is subject to approval and may be subject to surcharges and penalties.
2. For hotel/resort accommodations, the standard check-in time is 2:00 PM and the standard check-out time is 12:00 NN. Early check-in or late check-out may be requested, but is not guaranteed. Approval of this request is dependent on the room availability at the hotel/resort.
3. Bicol Beyond and its affiliate companies reserves the right to change the travel itinerary without notice if safety, weather or other conditions beyond the control of Bicol Beyond and its affiliate companies require that such changes be made.
ARRIVAL
1. For arrivals, please look for a sign with your name. If you are unable to find your pick-up, please contact our office at +63-917-882-0042. Our office is open daily from 9AM to 5PM Philippine Time. For outside hours, you may contact your Travel Consultant’s direct line.
2. Should there be any changes in your flight schedule, ESPECIALLY FOR YOUR ARRIVAL, please contact us through phone immediately so that we can reschedule your transfers. If the vehicle has already been dispatched, you will have to pay for additional transfer fees. Email, SMS, or other messaging communication will only be valid once someone on our team CONFIRMS and ACKNOWLEDGES that we received the change in flight information.
MONEY & PAYMENT
1. Cash payment in PHP or USD is the preferred payment mode.
2. If you wish to do any money exchange, you will get the best exchange rate at the Manila Airport. There are also other money changers in most cities like Cebu City, Legazpi City, etc.
3. ATM/Cash Machine
a. Should you need to take out money, it is advisable to take out money in Legazpi City or in other main cities as there are more ATM/Cash Machines there.
b. There is 1 ATM/Cash Machine in Donsol but during the busy season it can be unreliable as the bank is not always able to replenish the cash on time. Also, the bank charges in Donsol are double the bank charges of banks in Legazpi City.
c. There is no ATM/Cash Machine on Ticao Island Resort.
4. Credit Cards
a. Most establishments in Legazpi City accept credit card payments.
b. Most establishments in Donsol accept credit card payments but credit card payments are subject to bank processing fees of about 5%.
c. Donsol Eco Tour and its affiliates like Ticao Island Resort, Casa Simeon, and Fun Dive Asia accept all payments through the different PAYMENT METHODS mentioned above. Bank transaction fees may apply depending on the payment option selected.
5. Guarantee & Safety Deposits
Resorts/hotels may request for a guarantee/safety deposit or your credit card information upon check in. This will be returned to you upon check out and as based on resort/hotel terms and conditions regarding damages and unsettled accounts.
INTERNET & MOBILE PHONE ACCESS
1. There are 2 main mobile providers in the Philippines – Globe Telecom and Smart Communications. A local SIM card is inexpensive (about PHP50) and is easily purchased in most retail outlets called loading centers or sari-sari stores. Phone credits can be purchased through e-load in denominations starting as low as PHP15. You can also avail of data plans with Globe Telecom and Smart Communications. Your data plan will work in most places around the Philippines as long as mobile phone signal is available.
2. Donsol
a. Most beach resorts in Donsol have internet access from the resort’s restaurant. Do not expect much from the internet in Donsol as it can slow and intermittent. There are internet cafes in the main town of Donsol (called locally as the bayan). The bayan is a 15 minute tricycle ride from the beach area and will cost about PHP50 per tricycle per way. Rates may be higher in the evening.
b. Mobile phone signal is good in general in Donsol.
3. Ticao Island
a. Ticao Island Resort has an internet tower but due to the fact that Ticao Island is quite remote, internet access/signal can still be quite unreliable at times.
b. There is also an internet café in the main town which is about a 45 minute motorcycle ride from the resort. The motorcycle ride will cost about PHP150 per way and rates may be higher in the evening or during bad weather.
c. Mobile phone signal is available in selected areas around the resort, not all areas have good mobile phone signal. The best mobile phone signal is in the restaurant area or near the dive center. Globe Telecom has the better mobile phone signal in the resort.
ELECTRICITY
1. The electrical outlets in the Philippines run on 220 volts
2. Outlets have 2 flat plugs (see illustration).
FOOD
1. Vegan and vegetarian food are readily available upon request. Although most meals will have a vegetable dish included, we can arrange for meals specifically for vegans and vegetarians.
2. You are responsible for informing us of any allergies or food restrictions you may have.
3. Please inform your travel consultant if you have special dietary requirements so that our operations team can be informed and can make the necessary arrangements.
AIRPORT TAX
1. Please be advised that the information given below is based on the date that this document was prepared and any updates may not be reflected in this document.
2. Airport terminal fees are already incorporated in your plane ticket price.
3. For Philippine passport holders leaving the Philippines, the Philippine Travel Tax, may or may not be included with your international ticket price. Please check with your airline or travel agency on this.
VISA & IMMIGRATION
1. VISA and immigration rules differ depending on the passport that you hold. most countries are granted 30 days free visa on arrival. Make sure you fill out the online form in advance of arrival https://etravel.gov.ph/
2. Should you need to extend your VISA, you are encouraged to file for the extension at least 5 days prior to the expiration of your VISA. Please be advised to be dressed properly. Shorts and slippers are not allowed at the Immigration Office.
GUARANTEES AND LIABILITIES
1. Donsol Eco Tour does not guarantee the presence of Whale Sharks, Manta Rays, and other wildlife during the guests visit. Donsol Eco Tour will not be liable for the absence/non-appearance of Whale Sharks, Manta Rays, or other wildlife. It is understood that the Whale Sharks, Manta Rays, and other wildlife are beyond the control of Donsol Eco Tour. Donsol Eco Tour, can only hint on the probability of sightings of the Whale Sharks, Manta Rays, and other wildlife during the guests’ stay.
2. Although, Donsol Eco Tour has safety measures and precautions in place to contribute to the safety of the guests’ personal belongings and valuables, guests are advised to be responsible for the safe keeping of their personal belongings and valuables. Donsol Eco Tour will not be liable for loss or damage of personal belongings and valuables.
Confirming your booking signifies that you have read and understood the above.