Rules & Regs

FAQ’s

How do I hold or reserve a spot for a trip?

If you would like to go with us, on any of these trips, please read, sign, date and return the Deposit & Cancellation Policy/Sign-up Form, to me with a deposit check made payable to, me, Michael Baker, (not Mike Baker) in the specified amount. The deposit is non refundable, non changeable and nontransferable. A deposit is required from each person going and is applied towards the cost of the trip. Mail your deposit along with this Deposit & Cancellation Policy/Sign-up Form to: Michael Baker 1449 Moore Circle Corona, CA 92882.

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If I pay and then decide I don’t want to go, can I get my money back?

If you sign up for one of our trips and then cancel, all monies paid, including the non refundable, non changeable, nontransferable deposit, no money will not be returned to you.  These trip are non-refundable period.  That’s why I ask that you make sure you want to go when you sign-up. There will be no exceptions!!!
If you sign up for one of our trips and then cancel after the tickets have been ticketed, and have an outstanding balance, as mentioned above, that balance will still be considered owed. And if that balance is not paid in full before a specified date, unless other arrangements have been made, it may result in legal actions. You will be held responsible for all legal fees resulting from that legal action.
Again, all cancellations must be in writing.

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If I sign-up and pay for my trip, and then decide I don’t want to go, can I have someone else go in my place?

Yes, it is transferable but only before the airline tickets are written.  After the airline tickets are written, the trip then become Non-Transferable as well!  And furthermore, if you are going to transfer your trip to someone else, before the airline tickets are written, you MUST submit that request to me in writing and I must approve it!  Make sure you allow plenty of time for this process if you are going to transfer your trip to someone else! There will be no exceptions!!!! All tickets are non refundable, non changeable and nontransferable, period.

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What if the Airline(s), Hotel(s) or the Tour Operator Company(s) we are using,  cancels, changes or postpones any our part of our trip? How will I get my money back?

Great question!  If for any reason, the airline cancels any of our flights and/or the Hotel cancels any or part of our Hotel stay, or the Tour Operator Company providing our optional side trips cancels or changes any or part of our optional side trips, or we have to postpone this trip for any reason,  I (Michael Baker or Wishing You Were Here Travel or Travel143) will not be held financially, emotionally or legally liable for any financial loss incurred by this act including but not limited to any Hotel costs, Hospital costs, insurance costs, transportation costs (Flights and Airport Transfers) or optional excursions.  Remember we are booked as a GROUP, so we fall under different rules than individuals booking a trip. Because all of my trips are nonrefundable, I suggest purchasing Trip Insurance. This is only a suggestion. I do not provide Trip Insurance for any of my trips.  If you would like to purchase Trip Insurance, I have a contact person that can help you with that.  Her name is Roxanne Walters, and her telephone number is 949-386-8424. Let her know that you are with the Michael Baker group and you would like a Trip Insurance quote.  Trip Insurance is an added cost to you, if purchased.  The purchase of Trip Insurance, from Roxanne Walters, must be purchased within 12 to 14 business days of paying your deposit!  Also please note, not all Trip Insurance policies cover every part of all trips so ask if you purchase trip Insurance what is covered and what is not before you purchase Trip Insurance. Just another side note, if you choose to purchase Trip Insurance from Roxanne Walters, I Michael Baker, do not receive any kind of compensation from your purchase of Trip Insurance.

If you would like to purchase Trip Insurance on your own, and not go through Roxanne Walters, feel free to do so. Furthermore, if you cancel your trip and have an outstanding balance, including any balances for any of the optional side trips, those balances will still be considered owed and due.  And, if those balances are not paid in full before the specified date, unless other arrangements have been made with me, and agreed upon by me, it will result in legal actions, and you will be held responsible for all legal fees from the result of any and all legal actions

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Once I get to our final destination, do I have to stay with the group the entire time?

No. We go as a group, stay in the same hotel as a group, but you have the freedom to come and go as individuals.

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What if I pay for an “Optional Trip” and then get sick during my stay and can’t go on it? Will I be refunded?

Sorry, but no! All “Optional Trips” are non-refundable once paid for and cannot be used for another trip.

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May I pay for the entire trip when I sign up or do I have to stick to the payment schedule?

You may choose to pay for the trip in full if you like! I set up a payment schedule just to make it easier for all going!

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What if I miss a payment? Am I canceled from the trip and lose all my money?

If you miss a payment, just get in touch with me ASAP so you and I can work something else out! No, you won’t be canceled from the trip as long as your balance, for the trip, is paid in full by the date specified.

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May I pay for the trip with my Credit Card?

Yes through Venmo only. I also accept cash, checks and/or money orders all made payable to Michael Baker (not Mike Baker).

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What if I don’t have a valid Passport when it comes time to go? Can I still go?

That actually is not up to me. That is up to the airline. But, with that said, I already know the answer. The answer is…if you do not have a valid Passport at the time of travel…you will not be allowed to go! The rule of thumb is…make sure your Passport is valid and you have at least six months of time still left on your Passport at the time of departure.

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Why do I have to provide my D.O.B. (Date of Birth) and my Passport number to you?

I will make this one easy…The airline requires them at the time your tickets are ticketed.

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Do I have to share a room or can I go as a single?

If single rooms are available, you may sign up to stay in a single room. Granted, you will have to pay for the single supplement but if it is offered, yes you may.

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What does the cost of the trip cover?

The cost of each trip includes: 1. Round trip air from LAX to our destination. 2. Hotel stay. 3. Airport transfers to and from the hotel. 4. Taxes and Services Charges.

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What doesn’t the cost of the trip cover?

Anything not mentioned in the “What does the cost of the trip cover?” section.

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Can I suggest a destination for future trips?

Absolutely! I am always asking and looking for new places to take the group to!

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Do I have to tip everyone?

It has always been customary to tip those who provide a service for you or to you but that is entirely up to you! As for me, I always make it a point to tip those who provide a service to me or for me. By the way, the tip doesn’t have to be big. It just says thank you for what they did!

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Do I have to be on time if I go on any of the “Optional Trips”?

If you decide to go on any or all of the “Optional Trips” with us, I have always asked the group to be on time. I do this so we can get to our destination as soon as we possibly can so we can spend the most amount of time there. If you are running late, a message or phone call, to me, would be nice; otherwise we leave at the set time with or without you.

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What if it rains and we are supposed to go on an “Optional Trip”…..will we still be going?

We go come rain or shine on all of our “Optional Trips”. The weather has always been one of our biggest challenges no matter where we go! I tell everyone before we go, always pack an umbrella, a rain coat and wear a pair of good sturdy waterproof shoes!

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Will I meet any of the others going on the trip?

Yes, you will get to meet most, if not all of the others in the group that are going on the same trip! I have a pot luck meeting at my home about a month before we set foot on the plane for all of those going on the trip! I do this for many reasons. #1. It gives everyone going, a chance to meet each other. #2. It allows me to meet everyone going as well. #3. It allows me to hand out the other materials they will need on the trip in order to make their stay a more enjoyable one! For instance, I hand out wrist bands, wipes, flags, pens, informational sheets, ear plugs, emergency cards, and other information I think they just might need while on their trip! I go over what kind of clothing to wear and what not to wear. I talk about what kind of luggage to bring and what to stay away from. I go over both the monetary currency of the country as well as the electric currency of the country. I cover a multitude of other important information so everyone going will be well educated before they get there. It is too hard and a waste of time to do this when we get to where we are going!

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Do I have to go to the meeting at your home?

No, you don’t have to attend the meeting but as you read, you will miss out on a lot of necessary information.

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May I take my one month old baby with me on the trip or my 98 year old Father/Mother?

Yes you may bring anyone with you as long as I am aware of all going from the start and they have been paid for in full before we go! Infants and children usually have a special airfare. So, if that is your desire, you may bring them but let me know well in advance!
If you have an elderly person coming on the trip with us, please let me know far in advance also. I need to pass this information on to the airline as well. The airline wants and needs to know this information and usually have special arrangements to help with the elderly as they board the flight, during the flight and de-boarding. The airline wants to make their experience as pleasant as possible and so do I!

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