Holiday Packages Refund Policy
• As per Government of India regulations, any applicable refund for Indian or international tours booked through Santa Monica Tours & Travels will be processed only by account payee cheque in Indian Rupees (INR), irrespective of whether the tour payment was made partially or fully in a foreign country.
• Refunds are strictly issued after verification and approval by Santa Monica Tours & Travels or any third-party supplier.
• Convenience fees, specific promotional rates, and non-refundable airline or hotel are excluded from cash-back or standard monetary refunds.
• If the guest decides to cancel the holiday package for any reason, they shall immediately submit a, email/ written application to the Company along with the original receipt issued by the Company. Cancellation charges will be applicable as per the Cancellation policy. Any non-refundable third-party service, such as an airline, cruise, or hotel, may incur a full cancellation charge in addition to the applicable cancellation charges mentioned in Santa Monica Tours & Travel’s policy.
• Refund eligibility will be determined based on the cancellation policy applicable to the specific booking.
• No refunds will be provided for expenses incurred due to circumstances beyond our control, including but not limited to force majeure events such as natural disasters, floods, earthquakes, pandemics, epidemics, war, government restrictions, or other unforeseen events, as well as flight cancellations, airport closures, delays, accidents, adverse weather conditions, medical evacuations, supplier policies, visa rejections, visa delays, and other similar circumstances.
• The company reserves the right to postpone or cancel advertised tours without assigning a reason. In such cases, a full refund will be provided, and no compensation claims will be entertained.
• Refunds for cancelled holiday packages will generally be processed within 10–15 working days from the final confirmation of the cancellation request, which is subject to applicable cancellation charges and terms.
• The stated timeline is an indicative processing period and not a guarantee. Please note that refund timelines may vary depending on airline, hotel, third-party supplier, payment gateway, and banking procedures. Any delays caused by these factors may extend the time required for the refund to be credited to your account.
Cancellation Policy
In case of any cancellation of booking, it is mandatory to inform Santa Monica Tours & Travels in advance by writing or email. The cancellation will be effective only on the receipt of an email/ written cancellation letter, following which cancellation charges will be levied as per the terms of cancellation.
Domestic packages
|
When Cancellation is made |
Cancellation Charges |
|---|---|
|
45 days before departure |
Non-refundable deposit amount of INR 5,000 |
|
Between 44 days to 31 days |
25% of the tour cost |
|
Between 30 days to 15 days |
50% of the tour cost |
|
14 days before departure |
100% of the tour cost |
|
No show |
100% of the tour cost |
Domestic (Inside Kerala)
|
When Cancellation is made |
Cancellation Charges |
|---|---|
|
45 days before departure |
Non-refundable deposit amount of INR 2,500 |
|
Between 44 days to 31 days |
25% of the tour cost |
|
Between 30 days to 15 days |
50% of the tour cost |
|
Between 14 days to 8 days |
75% of the tour cost |
|
7 days before departure |
100% of the tour cost |
|
No show |
100% of the tour cost |
SAARC (Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, and Maldives)
|
When Cancellation is made |
Cancellation Charges |
|---|---|
|
45 days before departure |
Non-refundable deposit amount of INR 10,000 |
|
Between 44 days to 31 days |
25% of the tour cost |
|
Between 30 days to 15 days |
50% of the tour cost |
|
14 days before departure |
100% of the tour cost |
|
No show |
100% of the tour cost |
Japan or South Korea
|
When Cancellation is made |
Cancellation Charges |
|---|---|
|
45 days before departure |
Non-refundable deposit amount of INR 25,000 |
|
Between 44 days to 31 days |
25% of the tour cost |
|
Between 30 days to 15 days |
50% of the tour cost |
|
14 days before departure |
100% of the tour cost |
|
No show |
100% of the tour cost |
Long Haul (Europe, Africa, Turkey, China)
|
When Cancellation is made |
Cancellation Charges |
|---|---|
|
45 days before departure |
Non-refundable deposit amount of INR 25,000 |
|
Between 44 days to 31 days |
25% of the tour cost |
|
Between 30 days to 15 days |
50% of the tour cost |
|
14 days before departure |
100% of the tour cost |
|
No show |
100% of the tour cost |
Long Haul (America, Australia, New Zealand)
|
When Cancellation is made |
Cancellation Charges |
|---|---|
|
45 days before departure |
Non-refundable deposit amount of INR 1,00,000 |
|
Between 44 days to 31 days |
25% of the tour cost |
|
Between 30 days to 15 days |
75% of the tour cost |
|
14 days before departure |
100% of the tour cost |
|
No show |
100% of the tour cost |
Long Haul (7 Lakhs and Above)
|
When Cancellation is made |
Cancellation Charges |
|---|---|
|
60 days before departure |
Non-refundable deposit amount of INR 1,00,000 |
|
Between 60 days to 30 days |
75% of the tour cost |
|
30 days to before departure |
100% of the tour cost |
|
No show |
100% of the tour cost |
Insurance Refund Policy
1. Most travel insurance companies allow you to cancel your policy for a full or partial refund before your trip begins, subject to the insurer’s terms and conditions. Refunds, if applicable, may be subject to cancellation charges.
2. Some insurers offer a refund if your visa is rejected, only if expressly permitted under the applicable policy terms and conditions and upon submission of the required supporting documents.
3. Some insurers allow amendments to travel dates or other policy details, instead of cancelling, subject to their amendment rules, eligibility criteria and applicable charges.
Visa Refund Policy
At Santamonica Tours & Travels Pvt. Ltd., visa fees, VFS fees and our service charges are subject to the following refund terms. Visa fees and service charges are generally non-refundable once the application has been submitted to the relevant embassy or consulate. For applications not yet submitted, refunds may be considered after deducting applicable administrative and processing charges. In the event of visa rejection, a refund is not guaranteed. Any eligible refund will be subject to the policies of the respective embassy or consulate, service provider, and applicable terms and conditions.
1. Government / Embassy Visa Fees
• Government, embassy, consulate, and e-Visa fees are non-refundable once paid or once the application is submitted/processed, irrespective of visa approval, refusal, cancellation, or withdrawal.
• Fees are also non-refundable due to travel cancellation, incorrect visa category, processing delays or failure to travel.
• Duplicate or excess payments may be refundable if permitted by the concerned authority and subject to its prescribed procedure and timeline.
2. VFS / Visa Application Centre Fees
• VFS service and value-added fees are refundable only where permitted under the applicable VFS refund policy.
• Eligible refunds may apply for timely appointment cancellation or duplicate/excess payments.
• No refund is normally available for visa refusal, missed appointments, late cancellation, voluntary withdrawal or incomplete applications.
• Bank, transaction, currency conversion or other applicable charges may be deducted from the refund.
3. Santamonica Service Charges
• Our service charges cover professional assistance, documentation guidance, application preparation, appointment assistance and related visa services.
• Once our services have commenced, service charges are non-refundable, regardless of the visa outcome.
• Visa approval is solely at the discretion of the concerned government/embassy/consulate and payment of our service charge does not guarantee visa approval.
4. Refund Processing
Where a refund is approved, it will be processed according to the applicable authority’s policy and, wherever applicable, through the original payment method. Processing timelines and deductions may apply.
Important: Visa processing times and decisions are controlled by the respective government authorities, embassies, consulates and visa application centres and are beyond Santamonica’s control. By making payment for our visa services, the applicant acknowledges and accepts this Refund Policy.
Flight Ticket Refund Policy
• Cancellation Charges: Cancellation of airline tickets is subject to the applicable airline cancellation penalties and the travel agency’s service fees.
• Non-Refundable Tickets: For non-refundable tickets, certain airline taxes and other charges may also be non-refundable, depending on the airline’s fare rules.
• Cancellation Time Limits: Cancellation policies and permitted cancellation time frames vary by airline. Please check with us for the applicable terms and conditions before issuing the ticket.
• Refund Processing: Refunds are subject to airline approval and applicable fare rules. Eligible refunds shall be processed after deducting applicable airline penalties, service fees, convenience charges, and other disclosed charges. Refund timelines are subject to the airline and payment service provider’s procedures.
