Terms & Conditions

Definitions:

Booking: An agreement to participate in a village stay for which the deposit has been paid in full.

Commencement Date: The date the village stay begins.

Commencement Time: The time allocated to meet Village Stay Fiji staff at the Meeting Point.

Deposit: The non-refundable amount paid per person to secure their booking.

Meeting Point: The location in the prearranged town where the Customer will first meet with Village Stay Fiji staff to commence their village stay.

Village Stay: The entire experience with Village Stay Fiji from the Commencement to the end.

1. Basis of Contract

1.1 The terms and conditions apply to every contract for services by Village Stay Fiji to the customer and cannot be varied or supplanted by any other condition unless expressly accepted in writing by Village Stay Fiji.

1.2 Payment of a deposit indicates the Customer’s acceptance of the terms and conditions. A contract is formed once the Customer has paid the deposit.

1.3 Different products may have specific terms and conditions, deposit requirements and cancellation charges applicable to the product. These will be communicated in the quotation or prior to the Customer making a booking.

1.4 Customers who book with Village Stay Fiji are also bound by the terms and conditions of any relevant Suppliers insofar as they relate to the Product, and the Customer accepts and agrees that:

It is the Customer’s responsibility to read and understand the Suppliers terms and conditions as provided to them; and
In the event of an inconsistency between these terms and conditions and the Supplier terms and conditions, that these terms will prevail to the extent that they relate to and contract between the Customer and Village Stay Fiji.

2. Making a Booking and Payment

2.1 A booking made without a deposit being paid is considered a invalid. Deposit must be paid immediately in order for the booking to be valid.

2.2 Deposit – a deposit of AU$58 per person is required in order for a booking to be valid.

2.3 Final payment – unless otherwise agreed in writing, the final payment must be received by Village Stay Fiji staff in cash at the Meeting Point on commencement of the village stay experience.

3. Cancellation Policy

3.1 Customers who cancel a booking will not receive a refund for their deposit.

3.2 Village Stay Fiji has worked hard at minimizing booking fees. As a result, your booking fee is non-refundable from the time of purchase. It is transferrable to another suitable person, and dates can be changed via consultation up to 60 days prior to departure. After this time, a change in booking date will incur a new booking fee. Village Stay Fiji will refund your booking fee in full in the instance that the trip must be cancelled by Village Stay Fiji for safety reasons. Refer section 3.3 of the Terms and Conditions.

3.3 Village Stay Fiji reserves the right to cancel any tour due to unforeseen circumstances where Village Stay Fiji deem it either unsafe, as in extreme weather events, cyclone, fire etc, or an adverse event of cultural significance. This can include, but is not limited to, the death of a person of significance to the village where a mourning period may be observed. In this instance, Village Stay Fiji will provide, at the customers discretion, an alternative stay if available, or a full refund.

3.4 Any village stay unable to proceed secondary to COVID lockdown/restrictions will be offered a rebooking on a date suitable for the Customer or a refund of deposit, less any credit card surcharges if applicable.

3.5 No refunds are available for any Customers required to end the village stay early due to breaking the Customer Code of Conduct (section 4).

4. Duty of Care and Customer Code of Conduct

Village Stay Fiji has a legal duty of care to take reasonable steps to ensure the safety of all Customers and staff.

4.1 Village Stay Fiji has a strict duty of care protocol regarding intoxicated and/or disrespectful behavior exhibited during a village stay.

4.2 Customers who are deemed to be becoming intoxicated by Village Stay Fiji staff will:

a) be notified that they are at risk of having their village stay terminated.

4.3 Customers who are deemed to have become intoxicated by Village Stay Fiji staff and/or are acting disrespectfully to other Customers, Village Stay Fiji staff, or Suppliers will:

a) be notified that their village stay will be stopped immediately.

b) be removed from the village by Village Stay Fiji staff.

4.4 Customers who are deemed to have become heavily intoxicated by Village Stay Fiji staff and/or are acting disrespectfully and/or aggressively to other Customers, Village Stay Fiji staff, or Suppliers will:

a) be notified that their village stay will be stopped immediately. Village Stay Fiji will notify the police.

b). be removed from the village by Village Stay Fiji staff or local police.

4.5 No refund for bookings will be given if any Customer has their tour cancelled due to intoxicated and/or disrespectful behaviour.

5. Damages, Cleaning, & Befouling

Village Stay Fiji makes every effort to provide a clean, safe environment for all Customers and staff. However, it is understood by the customer that conditions in the village are basic.

5.1 It is the responsibility of the Customer to organise and provide personal preventatives for travel sickness and any other personal medication required. Customers must advise Village Stay Fiji staff if feeling unwell as soon as possible.

5.2 It is the responsibility of the Customer to notify Village Stay Fiji of any Customer who may suffer from motion sickness or have any medical condition that could impact the village stay in any way.

5.3 The Customer is liable for the cost of cleaning and/or repairing any damages occurring to any vehicle’s or building’s interior utilised during a village stay as a result of any spillage of fluids, food, vomit, other stains, and unpleasant odours.

5.4 Village Stay Fiji will contact the Customer to recover any cost for cleaning and/or repairs where damage to a vehicle or building is caused by any Customer.

6. Property

6.1 Village Stay Fiji recommends that all Customers have personal travel insurance.

6.2 The Customer agrees and accepts that Village Stay Fiji accepts no liability or responsibility for any loss or damage to personal belongings or luggage or for any injury or loss of any type during a village stay.

6.3 It is the responsibility of the Customer to contact Village Stay Fiji if any items are lost during a village stay.

6.4 Items found at homestays after the completion of a village stay will be held in lost property by Village Stay Fiji staff.

6.5 Customers seeking a lost item will be requested to provide the following details to assist in a search for the item:

a). Booking number

b). Village stay commencement date and meeting point location

c). Item description

d). Best contact number/email address

7. Illness

7.1 Village Stay Fiji strongly recommends that all Customers have personal travel insurance.

7.2 The Customer should notify Village Stay Fiji of any pre-existing medical condition that might reasonably be expected to affect their village stay.

7.3 The Customer agrees and accepts that Village Stay Fiji accepts no liability or responsibility of any loss or damage incurred by the Customer as a result of any pre-existing medical condition or health issue of the Customer.

7.4 It is the responsibility of the Customer to notify their host or guide in the event of any medical illness during a village stay as soon as possible.

8. Children

8.1 Customers aged between birth and 18 years old are considered Children on all Village Stay Fiji experiences.

8.2 All Customers considered to be Children as per 8.1 are to be accompanied by a responsible adult at all times during any village stay.

9. Waivers

9.1 All Customers must complete an insurance waiver form upon arrival at the Meeting Place.