The Gastronomad Experiences Terms & Conditions

 

The Gastronomad Experiences, a service provided by Elgan Media Inc., include the following:

  • Unique travel itinerary;

  • A specialized Gastronomad approach to travel;

  • Specific, planned meals, tastings and beverages; 

  • Transportation during the Experience, plus two and from the airport;

  • A variety of activities and classes

Gastronomad Experiences do not include: 

  • Any travel expenses, including airfare, to arrive to or depart from the Experience city or region

  • Personal expenses;

  • Food of any kind beyond that provided as part of the Experience;

  • Beverages of any kind beyond that provided as part of the Experience;

  • Personal purchases of any kind;

  • Souvenirs;

  • Medical expenses and medications or hospitalizations;

  • Tips or gratuities beyond that chosen by the organizers of each Experience

Reservation and Payment

Each Experience is booked in its entirety and pre-paid in full upon booking. Alternatively, you may pay a non-refundable deposit in advance to reserve your spot until six months before the first day of the Experience. Should you choose to not join the experience, the spot will be opened for others six months before the start and your deposit will not be returned. Payments can be made directly to our bank by wire transfer or by credit card via our website. 

Cancellation Policy

Gastronomad Experiences are not "tours" and Elgan Media Inc. are not tour guides. The Gastronomad approach and lifestyle organizes and plans activities and gatherings mostly outside the tourism industry. Most of the costs for each experience are paid far in advance by Elgan Media Inc. in non-refundable payments. Elgan Media Inc. is therefore unable to provide refunds or discounts at any time or for any reason or circumstance. Each event, meal, outing, and activity is optional, but no refunds or discounts will be provided if any is missed, either due to opting out or due to other circumstances, such as flight schedules or other events.

In cases where circumstances (such as the coronavirus pandemic or other events beyond our control) require the postponement of Experiences all payment for the postponed event will be applied to the event on the new date. If Elgan Media Inc. cancels an event, guests will get a full refund. If we hold an event, and the guest cancels for any reason, we reserve the right to not issue a refund. (We recommend travel insurance to compensate for a trip you cannot take and an Experience you cannot attend.)

Also: If you cannot attend an Experience for whatever reason, you may find another person, couple or group to fill the spots you reserved and we will accommodate that replacement for a $250 administrative fee to be paid by the original party who cannot attend. This must be communicated no less than two weeks before the beginning of the Experience.

In order to fully accommodate our guests, we ask that each guest fill out a brief questionnaire, which asks for any dietary restrictions, a variety of personal preferences and (of logistical necessity) details about flight or train arrivals and departures, so that we may schedule pickups. We will consider non-response to our emails on the questionnaire and/or refusal to fill out this questionnaire or provide the same information by either the original or substitute guest up until two weeks before the Experience as notice that you will not be attending the Experience and are, in effect, cancelling your participation.

In all cases, of course, we will pursue reasonable accommodation.

Schedules and Itineraries

Gastronomad Experiences are planned in minute detail, but those plans are kept secret. Guests won’t know what each meal or activity is until just before we do it. We don’t share our itinerary.

We try to keep activities and schedules as planned. However, we reserve the right to change any aspect of the schedule and offer alternative itineraries to our guests in the event of circumstances or events out of our control or for any reason. There is limited chance of this occurring, but it can happen due to the unpredictable nature of weather, traffic, construction, political situations, emergencies, etc. We reserve the right to change or reorder scheduled meals and/or activities as we see fit. 

Foodie Activities, Tastings and Classes

If you have food allergies or intolerance or a severe allergies or strong dislikes for certain foods, it's important that you let us know and understand that it's ultimately your responsibility to ask questions about ingredients, as well as not accept any food without knowing its origin or ingredients each and every time before you drink or eat anything.

Note: Gastronomad Experiences are for adults 21 and over. Drinking alcohol is optional, of course, but we will be spending time in bars, wineries and other locations where minors are not allowed.

Photographs and Videos

Elgan Media Inc., reserves the right to use any photographs and videos taken during an experience for any purpose, including for sales and marketing and including photographs and videos clearly showing participants.

Legal Information

Making a payment to attend any of the Gastronomad Experiences grants and constitutes consent of the terms and conditions explained herein. Our Experiences begin on your arranged pickup time and end at the designated ending time or drop-off point.

We reserve the right to refuse acceptance of any guest at our sole discretion without notice or cause. We reserve the right to remove any guest for any reason without notice. A removed guest will not receive refund or credit. All funds paid for any Gastronomad Experience will be forfeited and considered nonrefundable.

Gastronomad Experiences or Elgan Media Inc., cannot be held responsible for acts beyond its control, ie: acts of Nature, Acts of War, Planned or Unplanned attacks. We are not responsible for damages or losses including loss of income from persons or entities not controlled by The Gastronomad Experiences, such as Restaurants, Chefs, Caterers or any provider or producer. We are not responsible for any injury or health-related event that takes place before, during or after the Experience. In the event of any claims, disputes arising from our relationship or caused by The Experiences, all parties consent to having their grievances heard in the jurisdictions and venues of the courts in the United States of America.

Waiver of Liability

It is each individual participant’s responsibility to read and understand the terms and conditions of The Gastronomad Experiences prior to the reservation and attendance of each Experience.

By making a payment to attend any Gastronomad Experience event, you agree that The Gastronomad Experiences and Elgan Media, Inc., their employees, owners, affiliates, officers, directors, successors, agents, and assigns, do not own or operate any entity which provides, or is to provide, goods and services for The Experiences, including food services providers, food and producers or suppliers. As a result, The Gastronomad Experiences, Elgan Media, Inc., Mike Elgan and Amira Elgan are not liable for any negligent or willful act or failure to act of such third person, or of any other third party.

In addition, you acknowledge that you have voluntarily applied to participate in The Gastronomad Experiences designated on this application and that you do so with full knowledge of the risks and dangers involved, including but not limited to:

– Negligence in the conduct or arrangement of this trip in any respect from inception to completion;
– Physical exertion for which you am not prepared;
– Forces of nature;
– Transportation failures whether by car, boat, by foot, or by any other conveyance;
– Consumption of alcoholic beverages;
– Risks associated with food or impure water consumption;
– Civil unrest; terrorism;
– Criminal activity;
– Accidents or illnesses and without access to means of rapid evacuation or availability of medical supplies or services;
– The adequacy of medical attention once provided;
– Other guests or participants' conduct;
– Damaged, stolen, lost, or misplaced luggage or property.

By making a payment to attend any Gastronomad Experience event, you HEREBY AGREE TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN WELFARE AND PROPERTIES AND ACCEPT ANY AND ALL RISKS OF DELAY, UNANTICIPATED EVENTS, INCONVENIENCE, ILLNESS, INJURY, EMOTIONAL TRAUMA OR DEATH.

Further, you acknowledge that participation in The Gastronomad Experiences is based upon your agreement to this Liability Waiver and that you hereby RELEASE AND DISCHARGE FOREVER Elgan Media, Inc. FROM AND AGAINST ANY AND ALL LIABILITY ARISING FROM YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE EXPERIENCE. You agree that this release shall be legally binding upon you personally, all members of your family, and all minors traveling with you, your and their heirs, successors, assigns, and legal representatives, it being my attention to fully assume all the risks associated with this trip and release Gastronomad Experience and Elgan Media, Inc. from any and all liabilities to the maximum extent of the law.