Terms & Conditions

Please Read This ~ It's Important

The terms “PMCA,” “we” and “our” refer to Soul Kitchen Inc., a Colorado corporation operating under the names Peggy Markel Culinary Adventures and Peggy Markel, which offers and operates all the Culinary Adventures and other trips presented on this website.

All trips are offered subject to PMCA’s standard terms and conditions, which are found on our website and by request. Please review the terms and conditions carefully prior to completing your reservation. Some of these terms and conditions are set out below to draw your attention to the fact that our obligations to you are limited.

ITINERARY CHANGES

PMCA has the right to make partial changes to the stated itinerary. We will do our best to keep changes to a minimum, but we reserve the right to make changes as we deem appropriate.

PRICES, DEPOSITS AND PAYMENTS

PMCA operates Culinary Adventures around the world, but as a US company, we present our prices in USD on our site, unless stated otherwise. We charge different prices for single and double occupancy and those prices are clearly presented on the website, in the program description and registration forms. We charge a single supplement to individual travelers to account for higher costs of providing private accommodations.

Trip prices include accommodations, cooking instruction, tours, tastings, ground transportation and transfers during the program, and most meals as listed in the itinerary. We serve and include wine and bottled water with our meals, but not cocktails. Airfare is not included. Prices are subject to change without notice.

A $2,000 per person deposit is required to reserve a space in a program. Balance is due 60 days prior to departure for most programs, except India where half of the balance is due 90 days prior to departure and the remainder is due 60 days out. If making a reservation within 60 days of departure, payment is due in full at time of booking.

We accept payments via personal check, American Express, VISA, and MasterCard either through our website or by making other arrangements directly with our office.

CANCELLATIONS / LEAVING EARLY

For cancellations 61 days or more prior to departure, fees paid are refunded less the $2,000 non-refundable deposit. Cancellations made 60 days or less prior to departure will result in the loss of all monies received. Travel insurance is not mandatory but is highly recommended so that you are covered in the event of the unexpected.

Exceptions to this cancellation policy cannot be made for any reason, including personal emergencies. There is no refund for leaving a program early or arriving late.

TRIP CANCELLATION BY PMCA

PMCA reserves the right to cancel any program prior to its start, in which case all monies received by PMCA will be refunded. In the event of cancellation, PMCA is not responsible for any loss incurred on account of non-refundable or non-transferable air tickets or other unrecoverable travel costs. We strongly recommend travel insurance.

TRAVEL AND CANCELLATION INSURANCE

PMCA does not sell travel insurance but we strongly recommend that you purchase a plan that would cover you in case of cancellation, as well as provide health insurance coverage abroad.

Many credit card and insurance companies provide this service, or you can contact a travel agent of your choice to purchase it. We also recommend one of these companies: World Nomads, Travel Allianz and Patriot Platinum Insurance.

ELIGIBILITY

Our Culinary Adventures require guests to be in good health and be physically fit. (For example, in Italy, some of our hotels feature flights of stairs and we often walk through markets on cobblestoned streets and uneven ground. In Spain, we hike through the hillsides and acorn forests, and in Morocco, we ride camels and donkeys, climb stairs and hike, sometimes at altitude. Please inquire about the physical requirements of your particular trip.)

There are no general age limitations on trips, but we expect guests to be in good general health, have a flexible and adventurous attitude and the ability to keep up with group activities as described in the program itinerary.

All minors must be accompanied by an adult and we reserve the right to accept/reject minor participation on a case-by-case basis.

RELEASE AND ASSUMPTION OF RISK

Traveling entail risks—and rewards—beyond those encountered at home. In order to join us in a Culinary Adventure, we count on our Guests to ensure they are healthy and fit, to read our correspondence and recommendations, and to appreciate that in some countries local living standards, practices and services (including medical) may differ from those in your country of origin.

By sending a deposit toward your trip, you certify that you do not have any physical condition or disability that would create a hazard for you or other travelers. All PMCA trips involve physical activity that can be moderately demanding, including the risk of serious personal injury, including permanent disability and death from accident, illness or the actions or negligence of other persons. In addition there are other risks, such as theft or loss of or damage to property.

The Guest hereby acknowledges that they have voluntarily applied to attend a trip organized by PMCA and that PMCA relies in part on others to provide cooking instruction, overnight accommodations, personal tours and transportation to and from such tours. PMCA while exercising reasonable care in selecting such premises and independent contractors, does not guarantee without limitation their suitability or performance. In the event a lessor, independent contractor or contractors fail to provide or perform in a manner which materially diminishes the services or accommodations provided to the guest, PMCA’s liability shall be limited to refunding an amount to the guest from the fee paid which approximates the percentage of the PMCA’s program which has been compromised or lost.

Except as provided above, Guest further herein acknowledges and agrees to release, absolve, indemnify and hold harmless PMCA, its organizers, sponsors, shareholders, and employees from any injury or loss caused by or resulting from the leased accommodations or employment of any and all independent contractors (the “Agreement”), unless such injury or loss resulted from the gross negligence of PMCA in selecting such premises or employing such party(s).

This agreement shall also serve as a release and assumption of risk from Applicant’s heirs, executors, administrators, and all members of Guest’s family.

Guest has carefully read this Agreement, understanding that they are releasing certain legal rights that they otherwise have and enter into this Agreement freely and voluntarily. Guest understands that PMCA, in accepting my application to attend, does so based on this representation.

TRAVEL DOCUMENTS AND PASSPORTS

Guests are responsible for checking passport and visa requirements for each country they will visit during their Culinary Adventure.

TRAVEL RECOMMENDATIONS

PMCA sometimes offers recommendations of third-party services for accommodations or travel excursions before or after a program. These are suggestions and we make no representation or guarantee as to the level of service or experience a guest will receive.

PHOTO RELEASE

PMCA photographs class activities for use in brochure/publicity. Please notify us if we are not free to use photographs of you.