Cancellation & Refund Policy

This Cancellation & Refund Policy outlines the terms and conditions applicable to travel services booked through Vinu Holidays. By confirming a booking and making an advance payment, the guest acknowledges and agrees to the terms set out below.

Booking Confirmation

• A booking shall be considered confirmed only upon receipt of the required advance payment and the issuance of a written confirmation from Vinu Holidays.

• All bookings are subject to availability at the time of confirmation. Rates, accommodation, transportation, and other services cannot be guaranteed until the booking is officially confirmed.

Cancellation Policy

All cancellation requests must be submitted in writing via email or WhatsApp. Cancellation charges will be calculated based on the date and time on which the written cancellation request is received by Vinu Holidays.

The applicable standard cancellation charges are as follows:

• 60 days or more prior to arrival: 10% of the total tour cost (or the actual non-refundable deposits paid to suppliers to secure bookings, whichever is higher).

• 59 to 30 days prior to arrival: 20% of the total tour cost.

• 29 to 15 days prior to arrival: 25% of the total tour cost.

• 14 to 8 days prior to arrival: 50% of the total tour cost.

• 7 days or less prior to arrival, including No-Show: 100% cancellation charges (No Refund).

Minimum Cancellation Charges

Irrespective of the cancellation slabs listed above, a minimum administrative service charge of 10% of the total tour cost shall apply once a booking has been confirmed. This fee covers non-recoverable operational expenses, communication overheads, and initial reservation processing.

Amendments to Confirmed Bookings

• Any request for amendments to a confirmed booking—including changes to travel dates, accommodation choices, vehicle types, itinerary flow, or guest details—shall be subject to availability and may incur additional modification fees.

• Any price increase levied by hotels, transport providers, or suppliers arising from such amendments shall be borne entirely by the guest.

Peak Season & Special Bookings

Certain bookings are subject to much stricter, often 100% non-refundable cancellation terms imposed directly by our third-party suppliers. These strict terms override our standard cancellation slabs and apply heavily to:

• The Peak Festive Period: Bookings falling between December 10 and January 20.

• Festivals & Long Weekends: Major regional festival seasons (e.g., Onam, Deepavali) and gazetted long weekends.

• Specialty Inventory: Houseboat bookings, premium luxury resorts, private pool villas, and safari packages.

• Promotional Rates: Special promotional, non-refundable, or flash-sale packages.

In these instances, the independent cancellation and retention policies of the respective hotels or operators will take absolute precedence.

Cancellation After Tour Commencement

If a tour is cancelled, cut short, or altered after its official commencement, no refund shall be provided for any unused portion of the itinerary. This includes, but is not limited to, accommodation, transportation, pre-arranged meals, sightseeing, entry tickets, activities, or any other coordinated services.

Refund Policy

• Refunds, where applicable, shall be processed in strict accordance with the cancellation terms and slabs stated above.

• Supplier Dependency: Vinu Holidays operates as a facilitator; therefore, refunds can only be issued to the guest after we successfully recover the corresponding funds back from the respective hotels, transport providers, houseboat operators, or other vendors.

• Processing Timeline: Once the underlying refunds are successfully cleared and secured from our suppliers, Vinu Holidays will process your refund within 7 to 14 working days, subject to standard banking and accounting procedures.

• Refunds will be executed back to the original payment method or via direct bank transfer wherever possible.

• Any applicable bank charges, payment gateway fees, currency conversion charges, or transaction processing costs will be deducted directly from the final refund amount.

Non-Refundable Situations

No refund or compensation shall be applicable under the following circumstances:

• No-show at the scheduled time or location of arrival.

• Early departure, incomplete stays, or voluntary itinerary reductions initiated by the guest.

• Unused services, missed sightseeing windows, or late arrivals resulting in missed activities.

• Personal emergencies, sudden illness, or unexpected changes in personal travel plans.

• Delays, disruptions, or cancellations caused by circumstances beyond our reasonable control.

Force Majeure

Vinu Holidays shall not be held liable or legally responsible for any loss, delay, cancellation, injury, additional expense, or inconvenience arising from circumstances beyond our reasonable control. This includes, but is not limited to: natural disasters, floods, landslides, adverse weather conditions, cloudbursts, government restrictions or sudden regulatory changes, strikes, labor disputes, transport disruptions, political unrest, civil disturbances, or public health emergencies.

In the event of a Force Majeure disruption, any potential refunds, rescheduling options, or credit notes shall be subject solely to what can be recovered under the active policies of our respective hotels, transport providers, houseboat operators, and activity vendors.

Final Note

We strongly recommend that guests review these terms and conditions carefully before making an advance payment. For any clarification regarding this policy, please feel free to contact the Vinu Holidays team prior to booking confirmation.