Service Agreement & Terms of Service

These Service Agreement & Terms of Service (“Agreement”) explain the services provided by Authentic Travel Experiences (“ATE,” “we,” “us,” or “our”) and the responsibilities of clients (“you” or “your”) when purchasing travel planning services from ATE.

By purchasing ATE services, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to these terms.

1. What ATE Provides

ATE provides personalized travel research, organization, and planning services designed around your interests, travel style, budget, preferences, and trip goals.

Depending on the service purchased, ATE may provide:

Customized travel itineraries
Destination and activity recommendations
Restaurant and food recommendations
Outdoor and local experience recommendations
Accommodation suggestions
Transportation suggestions
Packing lists
Grocery and shopping recommendations
Local food and farmers' market recommendations
Recommendations designed around family travel needs
Travel planning that takes stated accessibility needs into consideration
Other personalized research and planning agreed upon as part of your service

ATE's goal is to help you spend less time researching and planning and more time enjoying your trip.

2. What ATE Does Not Provide

ATE is a travel planning and research service and is not a traditional travel agency or travel management service.

Unless specifically stated otherwise, ATE does not:

Book accommodations
Purchase airline, train, bus, or other transportation tickets
Book rental cars
Book activities or excursions
Purchase event tickets
Make payments on your behalf
Provide emergency assistance
Provide real-time troubleshooting while you are traveling
Guarantee availability of recommended businesses, activities, accommodations, restaurants, events, or attractions

All final bookings and purchases are the responsibility of the traveler.

ATE may provide links, contact information, recommendations, or instructions for making bookings, but the traveler is responsible for completing and confirming those reservations.

3. Recommendations and Third-Party Providers

ATE researches and recommends third-party businesses, accommodations, restaurants, activities, transportation providers, and other services.

ATE does not own, operate, or control these third-party businesses.

Prices, availability, schedules, policies, quality, accessibility, hours, and services offered by third parties may change without notice.

ATE is not responsible for the acts, omissions, policies, cancellations, service quality, injuries, losses, or other actions of third-party providers.

Travelers are responsible for reviewing the terms, cancellation policies, fees, requirements, and other conditions of any third-party service before booking.

4. Authentic and Off-the-Beaten-Path Travel

ATE specializes in helping travelers discover local, unique, and less-touristed experiences.

Some recommended locations may be unconventional, rustic, remote, or different from traditional tourist destinations.

Depending on the destination, travelers may encounter:

Limited or no cell service
Limited or no public restrooms
Unpaved roads or parking areas
Limited accessibility infrastructure
Fewer services or amenities
Seasonal closures
Limited operating hours
Rustic accommodations or facilities
Locations that are less developed or less predictable than traditional tourist destinations

These characteristics can be part of the authentic travel experience ATE is designed to help clients discover.

Travelers should consider their own comfort, physical abilities, transportation needs, and safety when deciding whether to visit a recommended location.

5. Accessibility Planning

ATE is happy to consider accessibility needs when researching and developing travel recommendations.

Clients are encouraged to provide detailed information about accessibility requirements, including mobility, transportation, lodging, bathroom access, terrain, service animals, dietary needs, or other relevant considerations.

ATE will make reasonable efforts to identify options that appear appropriate based on the information available at the time of planning.

However, ATE cannot guarantee that a location, business, accommodation, activity, trail, transportation provider, or other third-party service will meet a particular accessibility standard.

Accessibility features can change, and information provided by third parties may be incomplete or inaccurate.

Clients should independently confirm accessibility requirements directly with the provider before making a reservation.

6. Weather, Closures, and Unexpected Changes

ATE cannot control or predict weather, natural events, road conditions, closures, cancellations, construction, public events, operating schedules, or other circumstances that may affect a trip.

ATE cannot guarantee that music schedules, special events, festivals, attractions, restaurants, businesses, or other activities will operate as expected.

ATE will make reasonable efforts to research current information and, when appropriate, may recommend alternative activities or options.

However, conditions can change after an itinerary has been completed.

Travelers are responsible for confirming important information before and during their trip.

7. No Real-Time Travel Assistance

ATE does not provide 24-hour or real-time travel assistance.

If an activity is unexpectedly cancelled, a restaurant closes, weather changes your plans, a road becomes inaccessible, or another issue occurs during your trip, you are responsible for making necessary arrangements.

Clients who require guaranteed reservations, emergency assistance, 24-hour support, or real-time travel troubleshooting may wish to use a traditional travel agency or travel management service.

8. Client Responsibilities

Clients are responsible for providing ATE with accurate and complete information necessary to create their travel plan.

This may include:

Travel dates
Destination
Number and ages of travelers
Budget
Travel preferences
Accommodation preferences
Dietary requirements
Accessibility requirements
Transportation needs
Interests and activities
Relevant limitations or concerns

ATE's recommendations are based on the information provided by the client.

Clients are responsible for reviewing their itinerary and recommendations and determining whether each recommendation is appropriate for themselves and their travel companions.

9. Travel Documents and Requirements

Travelers are responsible for obtaining and confirming all necessary travel documents and requirements, including passports, visas, identification, vaccinations or health requirements, permits, reservations, licenses, and other documentation that may be required for their trip.

ATE does not provide legal or immigration advice.

10. Planning Timeline and Revisions

ATE generally allows approximately four weeks for the planning process.

The exact timeline may vary depending on the length, complexity, and timing of the trip.

After the initial consultation and questionnaire, ATE will conduct research and prepare an initial proposal.

Clients will have an opportunity to review the proposal and request reasonable changes within the scope of the service purchased.

ATE will make reasonable adjustments based on the client's feedback.

Additional planning or research outside the original scope may require an additional fee, which will be discussed with the client before additional work begins.

ATE may accommodate shorter planning timelines for spontaneous or last-minute trips when availability permits.

11. Fees and Payment

ATE's planning fees are separate from the cost of travel.

Planning fees do not include:

Accommodations
Transportation
Meals
Activities
Admission fees
Rental vehicles
Travel insurance
Other travel-related expenses

Payment is due according to the payment instructions provided by ATE.

ATE accepts payment through Venmo.

If payment is made through Venmo, the transaction is also subject to Venmo's applicable terms and policies.

12. Cancellation and Refunds

ATE begins the planning process when the completed client questionnaire is submitted and planning officially begins.

If a client cancels before the first draft of the travel plan is delivered, the client may receive a 50% refund of the ATE planning fee.

Once the first draft has been delivered, planning fees are non-refundable.

ATE understands that a client may feel that a plan does not fully meet expectations. Clients are encouraged to communicate concerns promptly, and ATE will make reasonable adjustments within the scope of the purchased service.

13. Changes Requested by the Client

ATE includes reasonable revisions as part of the planning process.

Significant changes to the destination, travel dates, trip length, number of travelers, or overall scope after research has begun may require additional planning time or an additional fee.

ATE will discuss any additional fee with the client before beginning substantial additional work.

14. Accuracy of Information

ATE makes reasonable efforts to provide current and useful travel information.

However, prices, schedules, hours, availability, accessibility information, business operations, road conditions, and other travel information can change.

ATE does not guarantee that all information will remain accurate through the date of travel.

Clients should confirm important information directly with the relevant provider before traveling.

15. Limitation of Responsibility

ATE provides travel planning and recommendations based on information available during the planning process.

ATE is not responsible for losses, expenses, injuries, delays, cancellations, missed reservations, changes in business operations, weather events, natural disasters, transportation disruptions, or other circumstances arising from the client's travel or from third-party providers.

Clients are responsible for making their own travel decisions and for determining whether a recommendation is appropriate for themselves and their travel companions.

16. Travel Insurance

ATE recommends that travelers consider appropriate travel insurance based on the nature and cost of their trip.

ATE does not sell travel insurance and does not provide insurance advice.

Travelers should independently evaluate whether travel insurance is appropriate for their circumstances.

17. Agreement to Terms

By purchasing an ATE planning service, submitting payment, or otherwise engaging ATE for travel planning services, you acknowledge that you have reviewed and agree to these Service Agreement & Terms of Service.

ATE reserves the right to update these terms from time to time. The version posted on this website will identify the date it was last updated.

18. Contact

If you have questions about these terms or your ATE planning service, please contact:

Authentic Travel Experiences
Email: info@authentictravelexperiences.com
Website: authentictravelexperiences.com

Last Updated: September 23, 2026