Cancellation, Rescheduling & Booking Policy

1. Transparent 3-Phase Booking Flow

At Cultural Travels, booking your dream holiday involves zero stress and zero hidden surprises:

• ✓ Phase 1 (Complimentary Itinerary Design): We architect a custom day-wise itinerary, verify room and cab availability, and share authentic direct-vendor cost breakdowns. This phase is 100% free of charge with ₹0 advance commitment.
• ✓ Phase 2 (Concierge Engagement): When you approve the itinerary proposal, you confirm our engagement by paying our single, transparent flat concierge planning fee.
• ✓ Phase 3 (Direct Vendor Lock-In): Flight PNRs, train berths, hotel rooms, and private cab bookings are reserved directly in your primary traveler name with original tax invoices shared immediately.

2. 48-Hour Concierge Fee 100% Money-Back Guarantee

Once direct hotel bookings and transport assignments are locked and on-trip concierge dispatch begins, the flat concierge fee covers our travel architects' comprehensive planning labor and continuous 24/7 on-trip operational readiness.

3. Direct-Vendor Cancellation & Refund Pass-Through

Because Cultural Travels does NOT inflate supplier rates or take secret commissions, we charge ₹0 Cancellation Fees from our side. All refunds provided by underlying service providers are passed directly and transparently to you:

• ✓ Hotels, Resorts & Homestays:

  Cancellations follow the individual property's published cancellation timeline. Properties booked under standard free-cancellation windows (typically up to 7–15 days before check-in) are refunded 100%. If a peak festive tariff is non-refundable, our concierge team advocates directly with property management for date-shifting or hotel credit vouchers.

• ✓ Private Cabs & Chauffeur Transfers:

  Advance cab deposits are 100% refundable or adjustable up to 48 hours prior to scheduled airport or station pickup. Cancellations within 24 to 48 hours may carry a nominal vehicle hold fee mandated by regional taxi unions.

• ✓ Flights & Train Bookings:

  Flight cancellations are governed by official airline fare rules, and train cancellations follow IRCTC railway refund schedules. The exact refundable balance remitted by the carrier is passed directly back to your account.

4. ₹0 Concierge Fee for Date Rescheduling

Life is unpredictable—work schedules change, family emergencies arise, or health issues can suddenly occur. We believe travel companies should be partners, not adversaries.

5. Bad Weather & Natural Disruptions (Force Majeure)

In the event of flight cancellations due to dense fog, severe snowfall pass closures (e.g. Rohtang Pass, Gulmarg Apharwat, Zojila), landslides, or rough sea advisories preventing catamaran ferries in the Andaman or Lakshadweep islands:

• ✓ Your 24/7 personal concierge immediately activates emergency rerouting protocols.
• ✓ We liaise directly with airline duty managers and hotel owners to waive cancellation fees or convert reservations into open-date credits.
• ✓ If alternative transport or extra nights are required, we secure direct vendor rates with zero agency markups.

6. Rapid Refund Turnaround Times

• ✓ Concierge Planning Fee Refunds: Processed within 24 to 48 hours via UPI or original online payment mode.
• ✓ Hotel & Transport Partner Refunds: Remitted immediately upon receipt from the service provider (typically 5 to 7 banking days depending on bank clearance).

7. How to Request Cancellation or Date Rescheduling

No endless IVR phone queues or robotic chatbots. Simply message your assigned concierge officer on WhatsApp with your trip reference: